Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Jing Yao, he is determined

"What's wrong? Is there anything else?" Ye Yunzheng raised his eyes and found He Anting looking at him. He blurted out, "Brother, that handkerchief is so unique."

It's no wonder he asked. Apart from the fact that it looked familiar, that handkerchief should be used by elderly people. It's neither elegant nor gorgeous. Marigolds are used to celebrate birthdays.

It doesn't look like what He Anting used at all.

He Anting put away the handkerchief upon hearing this, and tucked it into his bosom, as if unintentionally revealing it: "It's a gift from someone else, it's indeed unique."

Ye Yunzheng suppressed his smile and said, "I see. If nothing else, Yunzheng will return home first."

He Anting nodded.

He left in the cool night, and He Anting's expression was unclear.

The house was silent, with only the sound of long boots stepping on the ground. Ye Yunzheng's doubts still remained in his heart. He remembered where he had seen the handkerchief just now.

He saw him at Lanxiang Pavilion yesterday afternoon.

The chrysanthemum was so eye-catching that he was curious at that time, wondering how could there be a handkerchief embroidered with chrysanthemums.

How could He Anting have an identical handkerchief? He was confused, especially since He Anting half-heartedly said that the handkerchief was a gift from someone else.

He returned home with a gloomy face and went straight to Lanxiang Pavilion.

Jing Yao was a little surprised by his arrival: "Prince."

Under the dim light, Jing Yao's face looked even more charming. He hadn't looked at her carefully for a long time. After she became pregnant, she became even more charming and beautiful.

Her waist was still slender, but the plump parts were becoming more plump, especially her eyes, which were hazy and pure, as if moistened by spring rain.

He knew Yao'er was beautiful, but he never thought that her beauty might bring other desires.

Thinking of this, Ye Yunzheng was secretly shocked.

"Yao'er." He didn't know how to ask. He suddenly thought of He Anting's reaction when Yao'er fell on the pleasure boat.

It is indeed suspicious.

But He Anting had never paid any attention to women, so why did he look at Yao'er differently?

Even though I had scolded her before.

He couldn't believe that He Anting was also that kind of clichéd man, tempted by beauty? But there were so many beautiful women in the world, why would he covet his brother-in-law's woman?

Seeing Ye Yunzheng's bad face, Jing Yao asked, "Prince, what happened?"

"I remember seeing a very nice handkerchief in your room yesterday, one embroidered with chrysanthemums. Is it still there?"

He felt a pang of anxiety when he asked the question.

Jing Yao understood, looking a little embarrassed: "I gave that handkerchief to the county lady today. If the prince likes it, I will embroider another one for you."

She said this, but felt puzzled in her heart.

She made that handkerchief for her mother, hoping that her mother would be in good health, live a long life, and stay with her for a long time.

It was just that the county lady happened to be ill, so she gave it to her as a token of her appreciation.

The prince usually uses elegant things like bamboo and clouds, so why did he suddenly fall for a handkerchief?

Ye Yunzheng felt a little cold in his heart.

How could it appear in He Anting's hands when it was presented to the county lady?

It can't be that the county lord gave it to him.

Either Yao'er lied or He Anting lied.

He looked at Jing Yao's expression. Yao was simple and would not lie. That meant He Anting was... demonstrating.

Ye Yunzheng thought it was ridiculous.

She was just an ordinary beautiful woman of humble origin, not to mention she was pregnant with his child. She belonged to him both body and soul. Why would He Anting be like this? He must have been overthinking it.

Maybe... maybe it's just a coincidence.

That handkerchief was also an ordinary item, not something extremely rare and priceless. It might just be a coincidence.

Ye Yunzheng suppressed his depression and made a decision in an instant. He had to take her with him when he was sent to Jiangnan, otherwise he would be worried: "Yao'er, how are you doing lately?"

Jing Yao was extremely obedient and did not forget to speak well of He: "It's very good. The young lady is very attentive and has never been short of supplements."

Ye Yunzheng nodded and asked her a few more questions before seeing a tired look on her face: "Go to bed."

Jing Yao was shocked: "Prince, Prince, you want to sleep here?"

"No?" Ye Yunzheng looked at her inquiringly.

Jing Yao twisted her sleeves, but before she could say anything, Ye Yunzheng said, "I won't sleep on the couch with you. I'll sleep on the couch."

"Ah? The soft couch is so uncomfortable. The prince has official business tomorrow, so how can he make do with it? Why not go to the young lady's place or sleep in the study? And if the young lady knew about it, I'm afraid..."

She looked conflicted, and Ye Yunzheng also realized that the yard was full of He family members, and they would probably know what was going on in a moment.

Thinking of this, he had to give up his plan: "Okay, then I'll go back to the study."

Not only did he have trouble sleeping that night, but He Anting also had trouble sleeping.

Jing Yao's words during the day kept lingering in his mind, and he couldn't get rid of them. He knew that her true thoughts were hidden beneath the joke.

At that moment, He Anting calmed down.

He is not a hot-blooded, love-crazed young man who does things without considering the consequences.

That night he dreamed of Jing Yao again.

She was as beautiful and charming as a blooming peony. She was soft and delicate in his arms, calling him cousin. He kissed her cheeks tenderly and kneaded her, wishing he could rub the person in his arms into his bones and blood.

The friendship in the dream was so strong that it seemed to be overflowing.

He was awakened in the middle of the night, the burning and swollen feeling making him gasp slightly. Then he opened the cabinet irritably and took the small clothes into the bathroom.

…

Muyunzhai

He Qingyun helped Ye Yunzheng get dressed. Before dawn, the maid in the yard had already prepared everything.

"Sir, this chicken soup was cooked in the kitchen last night. We added a lot of nourishing herbs into it." Mrs. He thoughtfully served it to him all night.

Ye Yunzheng hummed, as if thinking about something.

"Ah's daughter, you've been married for almost four years, right?" He suddenly asked. He Qing's daughter smiled and said, "Almost four years, but I've known you for eight years."

Eight years, how many eight years can one have in a lifetime? These were her best years, He Qingxuan felt emotional.

Fortunately, everything was going in a good direction, and she worked diligently as the Crown Prince's wife. When the Crown Prince had a child, the title of the Earl's Mansion would be inherited smoothly, and her reputation in Bianliang would also be consolidated.

Ye Yunzheng looked at her and said, "Yes, Ah-jung is intelligent and dignified. If you can manage this mansion in an orderly manner, I can focus on government affairs. It is my great honor to marry you."

He Qingxuan was a little flattered: "Is the prince's mouth filled with honey?"

Ye Yunzheng held her hand and said, "My eldest brother called me yesterday and mentioned the matter of being exiled to Jiangnan."

"I know. It'll take a few months, right? What's wrong?"

Ye Yunzheng sighed: "Big brother said that Jiangnan is in urgent need of taking up the post, and he wants me to do it as soon as possible."

He Qingyu was surprised: "So urgent?"

He paused and said, "Well, I'll leave the affairs of the mansion to you. If you don't want to take care of it while I'm away, you can share some of the household expenses with your aunt."

He Qingxuan was alert when she heard this: "How can I trouble my aunt? Don't worry, I've been the housekeeper for many years, and I have Madam Zheng and Lianqiao by my side, so there's no need to trouble my aunt yet."

Ye Yunzheng nodded: "That's good. There is one more thing. I plan to take Aunt Jing away."

He Qingxuan's face changed immediately: "No." Her anger suddenly surged up. She said why the prince was so nice this morning. It turned out that he was waiting for her here.

She refused bluntly, and Ye Yunzheng felt a little embarrassed, and the warm atmosphere became stagnant.

He Qingxuan also realized that her tone was a bit harsh, so she tried to speak gently, "Jing Shi hasn't even taken a stable pregnancy yet, it's only been less than two months. Going to Jiangnan, the road will be bumpy and the waterway will be rocky. How can Jing Shi endure it? No way."

Ye Yunzheng's expression was indifferent. He knew she meant well, but he couldn't bring himself to speak coldly. "I've asked Yao'er, and the doctor said she's in good health, can eat and sleep well, and she doesn't have the morning sickness that most women have. But I'll try to wait until she's pregnant before leaving."

He Qingxuan felt a chill in her heart when she saw him trying so hard to fight for it. He was leaving, but he didn't feel reluctant to leave his wife who had been with him day and night. Instead, he was determined to take that vixen away with him.

She clenched her palms tightly: "Is the prince so reluctant to let her go? Why is he worried about her staying at home?"

Ye Yunzheng was getting a little annoyed with the tug-of-war with her: "I have made up my mind about this matter. It's not possible that I can't even make the decision on this matter."

He Qingxuan wanted to say something, but Ye Yunzheng looked at her and said, "If you insist on going against me, or asking the county lady to get involved in this, you'll be slapping me in the face. I've always known that if elders get involved too much in a couple's affairs, it will only drive them further apart. So, even when Aunt criticizes you, I've always protected you."

"A'er, I hope you can be more sensible." He scolded her with a cold face.

This was the first time he said such harsh words, and it was because of that vixen. He Qingyu was completely stunned.

Her body trembled slightly and her throat seemed hoarse.

Ye Yunzheng had no appetite: "I'm going to court first." After saying that, he stood up and left.

No one touched the bowl of chicken soup until it became cold and boring.

Two lines of clear tears flowed down her cheeks. Mother Zheng felt extremely distressed, but she wiped away her tears and said, "That little bitch must have whispered something in her ears, asking the prince to take her away."

"Should we tell the county lady about this?" Mother Zheng asked hesitantly?

He Qingxuan hesitated as well. She scoffed coldly, "Since my master has said so, how can I go against him? But if you ask me to watch them live together, I can't do that either."

He Qingxuan wiped away her tears, stood up and said, "Let's go back to the He Mansion first."

At the stone table in Guanlan Courtyard, Qi Yue sipped the finest Rain-Previous Longjing tea and nodded in admiration, "Uncle, sit down and drink your tea. Why are you standing?"

He Anting was playing with a string of coral and jade beads in his hand. "Have you found the quack doctor I asked you to find last time?"

"My uncle ordered me to do so, so I dare not delay. However, considering Dean Han's ability, what kind of difficult and complicated disease would make my uncle seek out a quack doctor? I have to tell you in advance that most of those quack doctors are unorthodox."

He Anting hesitated: "I'm just asking."

"Okay, I'll call someone right away."

Qi Yue didn't know where he found this person, but he was wearing a Taoist robe and had an immortal look.

"Greetings, distinguished sir." The old man bowed. He Anting dismissed his attendants and even asked Qi Yue to leave.

"Sir, do you know about the Shuangsi medicinal Gu?"

The old man smiled and said, "It's something from Xidong, a common aphrodisiac."

He Anting continued to ask: "Is there any solution for those who have been infected with this Gu?"

The old man's smile faded. "No, it's just... it can be covered. The Shuangsi Medicine Gu is in the mother Gu. If something happens to the mother Gu, the child Gu will also weaken, causing the infected person to become weak. However, another child Gu can be put in, and the two will bite each other, thus achieving a state of prolonging life."

He Anting paused. "You mean there's no solution, but if someone else wants to move the Gu, then it's possible."

The old man nodded: "Yes."

He Anting felt strange in his heart. He didn't expect it to be like this. The Chinese medicine poison that he and Jing Yao were given was really an accident. He wanted to remove it, otherwise, if she was under the control of the poison and he was not there, wouldn't something bad happen?

But he hesitated now. It should be said that letting her go was impossible.

"Does anyone else know about this?"

The old man smiled and said, "Of course, but not much. The people who sell this medicine should know about it."

He Anting's heart was hanging: "Thank you, I understand."

In an instant, he made the decision.

He wanted Jing Yao, so he decided to do something immoral.

He gave the old man twenty taels of silver in the hope that he would keep the matter secret from anyone in the future.

When He Qingxuan returned home, she happened to see He Anting sending someone away. She took a few quick steps and said, "Brother."

He Anting stopped and asked, "Is there something that brought you back?"

He Qingyu was unhappy: "If nothing happens, can't you come back? I'm your sister, why are you like this? You're not as nice to me as before."

He Anting calmly pointed out: "You came back yesterday and the day before yesterday."

"Oh, that's enough. You're more annoying than my dad. Brother, give me your business card." She stretched out her hand to ask for it.

He Anting frowned: "What do you need a name card for?"

"I'll go find Doctor Han, just give it to me. I haven't been feeling well lately." She said coquettishly.

He Anting glanced at her and said, "Go find Qingwu and get it."

"I knew my brother was the best to me." He Qingxuan smiled, bowed playfully, and turned to leave when He Anting called her, "Where's Ye Yunzheng?"

He Qingyu was confused: "The official is in the government office."

He Anting paused and said, "Oh? Then I won't bother him. I left something with him. I'll go directly to the study to get it."

He Qingxuan naturally wouldn't think of anything else and just said perfunctorily that she understood.

After his sister left, He Anting went to the uncle's house.

After her brother left, He Qingxuan's smile disappeared in an instant. She asked Qingwu to go straight to the palace to invite Doctor Han.

Doctor Han originally thought that the Crown Prince's wife was unwell, but he didn't expect that after entering the room, she would start by asking, "Is there any medicine that won't hurt people but can make them weak and powerless? It would be best if it can create a pulse that simulates an illness."

…

When the strange maid came to invite someone, Jing Yao was embroidering a handkerchief in the house. The marigold handkerchief was given to the county lady, and she wanted to embroider a more unique and beautiful handkerchief for her mother.

Ningxiang looked at the newcomer suspiciously: "Why haven't I seen you before?"

The maid smiled and said dignifiedly, "I am Madam Gu's servant. It's normal that Miss Ningxiang is seldom seen."

When Ningxiang saw that she recognized her, she let down her guard and went into the house to inform her.

When Jing Yao heard that Madam Gu wanted to ask her to come over, she agreed without thinking. Usually, Yun Qiao was with her. Ningxiang watched the three of them leave.

Jing Yao followed the maid around. She had been at the Bo Mansion for almost half a year, and even someone with a poor sense of direction would have recognized most of the roads. She wondered, "Sister maid, this doesn't seem to be the way to Madam Gu's place, does it?"

The maid smiled kindly: "Who said Madam Gu asked you to go to her yard?"

Jing Yao blinked and said "oh".

But when they got there, Jing Yao realized something was wrong: "Why is this the prince's study?"

The maid stepped aside and said nothing: "Auntie, please come in."

The female servant was mysterious, and the place was not unfamiliar, so Jing Yao was not on guard. However, when Yun Qiao entered, she was stopped outside the house.

Jing Yao slowly walked up the stairs and opened the door.

"Gu..." She immediately fell silent. The original "Mrs. Gu" turned into a tall man as tall as a bamboo or a pine tree. He was dressed in a steady black robe, with black hair tied up high with a golden crown. He looked noble and full of aggressiveness.

"Why are you here?" Jing Yao cried out in surprise.

He Anting sat in the seat that belonged to Ye Yunzheng, flipping through Ye Yunzheng's things casually and leisurely. He was very different today.

"Close the door and come in." He commanded, and Jing Yao subconsciously did as he said.

"You, you lied to me?" she asked hesitantly after coming back to her senses.

He Anting nodded and waved to her: "Come here."

Jing Yao was reluctant to get closer: "What do you have to say? Just tell me."

He Anting was displeased when he saw her resistance: "What are you afraid of? I won't eat you."

Jing Yao felt that he was implying that she was being sentimental, and her face flushed. "Why did you lie to me? Tell me quickly."

He Anting then conveyed to Jing Yao what the doctor had said to him.

Unexpectedly, Jing Yao was only disappointed for a moment after hearing this, and then nodded as usual.

He Anting asked, "Aren't you afraid?"

"What's there to be afraid of? You're so capable, nothing will happen to you." She was quite confident, and her look was actually a little cute.

He Anting felt an inexplicable itch in his teeth, wanting to bite her cheek, but he restrained himself: "Thank you for your trust, but I'm not a god, I can't be perfect, and...what if, and I mean what if, the person who put the poison on her found out that she made a mistake, she might do it again."

Jing Yao indeed hesitated.

"Aren't you afraid of being cursed by someone else again? What if the child is hurt?" He Anting coerced him earnestly, slowly approaching.

"Besides, you need me." He said more firmly.

Jing Yao was enveloped by his breath, which made her flustered and confused. She didn't know how she became like this.

She seemed to have fallen into a pit.

He Anting leaned over slowly like a madman on fire, his lips approaching, his gaze falling on her eyes, nose and then soft lips, charming and ambiguous.

He leaned slightly closer tentatively, but did not kiss her, as if just giving her a signal, a signal to continue.

Jing Yao's face turned extremely red and she was completely at a loss.

Suddenly, Qing Wu knocked on the door and whispered, "Master, Prince Ye is back."

The words woke Jing Yao up from her dream, and she immediately stepped back, putting some distance between them.

She was at a loss: "I, I..."

He Anting calmly comforted him: "Don't worry, think about it carefully and go back first."

Jing Yao bit her lip and nodded. Just as she was about to leave, He Anting raised his hand, clamped her jaw, and turned her around.

His thumb rubbed against her plump lips, rubbing off a piece of lipstick. Jing Yao didn't understand why, so He Anting let go of her hand: "Go ahead."

After the person left, he thought for a while, raised his hand and wiped it, and the conspicuous lipstick was rubbed on his lips.

Ye Yunzheng did not come back for Jing Yao. Ming Yi told him that He Qingyun returned to the He Mansion after he left. He rushed back as soon as he left the court, and was prepared to be scolded on the way.

But I didn't expect to meet someone who shouldn't be there.

"Brother...you." He looked surprised.

He Anting said calmly, "Since you were not here, I went directly to your study to get the transfer list from the Ministry of Personnel."

His behavior was inappropriate both morally and logically. Even though Ye Yunzheng was his subordinate and brother-in-law, he could not disregard his privacy and cross the mansion into his private territory to take things away.

Sure enough, Ye Yunzheng's face didn't look good. He glanced at him and found that his lip color was a little strange.

It was too bright, like he had applied a light layer of lipstick. It was obvious that he was wearing black today, which made the color more prominent.

He is very sharp-minded and usually understands government affairs quickly. He also spends a lot of time trying to figure out his colleagues and superiors.

He Anting knew his actions best.

Considering his behavior of taking things without asking and invading the territory forcefully, Ye Yunzheng was almost certain that he was stealing his prey.

Ye Yunzheng stared at him intently, forgetting all the usual respects for each other.