Chapter 28 Chapter 28 I Want to Marry Yaoer as My Equal Wife

After returning home that day, Jing Yao discovered something bad: she seemed unable to leave the house.

Not only was she not allowed to leave the house, but even if she spent more than fifteen minutes outside for a walk every day, Ming Yi would come and urge her to return to the courtyard. When asked, he would just say it was the prince's order.

Jing Yao felt a little uncomfortable in comparison, but it was probably related to the reason why she was "lost" that night.

It’s all He Anting’s fault. He caused her to lose her freedom.

But what is even more strange is He Qingyun's attitude. Her eyes are always blank and dazed, sometimes cold and sometimes confused, which is very strange.

Jing Yao felt creepy every time she went to her yard to pay her respects.

Two or three days later, it was time to go to Gu's house for dinner. The Bo family would gather at Gu's house every five days. Early in the morning, Gu came lazily and late.

Ye Yunzheng and his wife had already taken their seats, and their son Ye Yunheng had also arrived. Jing Yao made an exception and asked her to sit at the end because she was pregnant, so she didn't have to stand and greet them as usual.

It was Jing Yao's first time to eat at Gu's restaurant. Yun Qiao stood by and served her the dishes.

Gu mentioned the night Ye Yunzheng took her out, and said in a dissatisfied tone, "Are you living too well? You have to go to such crowded places. Boss, you are an official, so why are you still so unstable? And you."

She changed the subject and looked at Jing Yao.

Jing Yao looked at her nervously. Gu was certain that it was she who instigated the prince to go there. Before she could finish her words, Ye Yunzheng put down his chopsticks and said, "Auntie, Yunzheng has something to say."

Gu was interrupted but still asked patiently, "What's the matter?"

"Yao'er has done a great job in giving birth to a child. I want to marry her as my second wife."

When these words were spoken, the whole room was shocked.

"What did you say?" He Qingyu had a bad temper and was very proud. Ye Yunzheng had never expressed such thoughts before.

She had a huge argument with him after returning home that night. He Qingyu cried until her eyes were blurred with tears, accusing him of changing his heart. Ye Yunzheng seemed to have changed into a different person, saying, "Why don't you ask your brother what he did?"

He Qingxuan was stunned. What did this matter have to do with her brother?

The two of them had been in a cold war for two or three days, and He Qingyun still couldn't understand what he said that day.

She didn't expect that he would give her such a big "surprise" today.

Lord Lingyun and his wife were also shocked and looked at each other. She did not react as strongly as He Qingyun, and she even had some understanding. His wife was strong-willed and had a bad temper, while his concubine was gentle, well-behaved and lovable, and she also gave birth to children for him.

Although marrying a co-wife is a bit beyond the rules, it is acceptable for the sake of the child. Co-wife is just a verbal title. How can she, a merchant girl with no background or family, really expect to be on equal footing with He Qingyu?

"I don't agree." He Qingxuan gritted her teeth, her hand holding the chopsticks trembling slightly.

Ye Yunzheng's face was calm: "Ah'an, once you marry, you must obey your husband. Which of these rules says that you are disobeying your husband?"

He Qingxuan's face turned pale. She stood up suddenly and left the house angrily without even saying hello.

Gu complained lightly, "Look at this rule. He must be going back to his parents' house to complain again. Zheng'er, I'm afraid the county lady won't agree to you taking a concubine."

She had seen it all the time. Ye Yunzheng was being humble to that family for the sake of his future. What happened now?

Ye Yunzheng continued to drink his porridge, unaffected: "This is our family affair. The county lady is an outsider after all. It is unreasonable for outsiders to interfere in family affairs."

Lord Lingyun and his wife looked at each other. Lord Lingyun had been away from the court for a long time, holding an idle position for many years, and his family was supported by his two children, so he had nothing to say.

Only Ye Yunheng frowned, he always felt that things were not simple.

Jing Yao couldn't eat. She hadn't digested Ye Yunzheng's words just now and was still in shock and confusion.

But more of it is confusion.

From the beginning to the end, she had no choice. She started out as a concubine, then had an affair with He Anting, and now she was being pushed to be a co-wife.

Jing Yao was very worried. After breakfast, Ye Yunzheng was probably busy and left in a hurry. The Ling Yunbo couple had no appetite to eat either, so everyone just dispersed.

After returning to Lanxiang Pavilion, Yunqiao asked her, "Auntie, why do you seem unhappy?"

Jing Yao casually picked up a piece of candied plum and put it in her mouth to chew: "Why should I be happy? It's not what I want to do."

The sweet and sour taste made her frown relax. "How can the prince be so shameless? He didn't even tell me about such a big thing. If he had told me, I would have stopped him in advance. Now, the young lady and the county lady will definitely think I instigated it. Who knows, they might poison me one day."

Yun Qiao sometimes admired her. She looked weak and slow on ordinary days, but she was very smart at critical moments.

"But didn't Auntie always say she didn't want to be a concubine? Isn't it good to have the opportunity to be a wife?"

What good is that? What will happen to this child in my wife's belly, whose blood relationship I don't know?

She still had to find a way to dissuade the prince from doing that.

"Why is it such a black and white choice? Can't I have neither? Of course I'm just thinking about it." Besides, she didn't think the He family would agree.

He Qingxuan returned to the He Mansion and immediately went to the county lady to cry, "Mother, I wanted a child, but now Zhenglang wants to make that bitch his wife and treat her as his equal. How can there be a place for me in the future?"

The county lady's face was twisted with anger. The Lingyun Marquis' Mansion was deliberately slapping her in the face and the Xian'an County Prince's Mansion.

"Let me change my clothes. I will go to the Bo's Mansion to meet Madam Gu."

Mrs. Gu seemed to have known the news in advance and was not at home. Even the uncle was out for a social event.

The county lady sneered and said, "Okay, the whole family will hide from her, right?"

"Take me to the Jing family's courtyard."

…

Wenyuan Pavilion

The imperial inspection is about to begin. It will be mainly led by the Ministry of Personnel's Examination and Reward Department, supervised by the Censorate, and coordinated by other departments. Officials below the fourth rank will be assessed.

Ye Yunzheng understood why He Anting suddenly wanted to advance the time of his exile to Jiangnan. It turned out that he had dirty intentions, so he would not let him get his wish.

Three nights ago, he went to Prince Yin's mansion and expressed his intention to surrender, as well as his hope that Prince Yin and Xue Zhongcheng would keep him in Bianliang during this imperial inspection.

King Yin was a little surprised. When asked the reason, Ye Yunzheng did not tell the truth, but just said that he felt it was not a good time.

The King of Yin agreed without asking any further questions.

After He Anting arranged the affairs of each department, he left the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate, discussed and determined the process, and called Ye Yunzheng.

Everyone dispersed, leaving only two people, one standing and one sitting. He Anting was in a high position and had a deep aura, while Ye Yunzheng was young and fierce, and his previously restrained temperament was no longer concealed.

"When are we leaving?" He Anting asked, staring at him.

He really didn't even bother to act. Ye Yunzheng sneered in his heart: "Since the imperial examination is going to take place, I think it won't be too late to leave after the inspection. It will be more legitimate."

When he was exiled to Jiangnan, his official position had already been determined: Tongpan of Yangzhou. He was currently a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Personnel, while Tongpan was a sixth-rank official.

What we had agreed upon before was just a formality to prepare for future promotions. Now, haha, I'm afraid they want to block him there and prevent him from coming back.

He Anting's eyes were deep and his expression was intriguing: "You seem very dissatisfied."

Ye Yunzheng's eyes were slightly cold: "How dare this humble official? It's about what the elder did that night three days ago. I don't need to tell you."

He Anting was a little surprised when he tore off the veil.

He frowned and thought deeply, not sure what his attitude towards Jing Yao was, whether he was making it clear or hiding it.

"What I do has nothing to do with you. If I want something, you have to give it to me. Doesn't Lord Ye understand such a simple truth?" He used his power to suppress others as if it was his right, hoping that Ye Yunzheng would transfer all his resentment to him.

Ye Yunzheng clenched his hands tightly: "You are shameless."

"You're using your power to pressure me into exile. Aren't you afraid that I'll expose this to the County Master?"

He Anting was a little amused. "It was you who first proposed sending Jiangnan out. I remember you asked Ah-yi to vaguely tell me about it. How come it's being forced now?"

"It's impossible to have both." He pointed out Ye Yunzheng's thoughts.

Ye Yunzheng sneered. So what if he was the Prime Minister? Forcibly taking someone else's concubine was an act of rebellion.

He Anting didn't want to make things too awkward with him: "You should also understand that Ah-ju is your wife. She has been with you for many years. What about you? How do you treat her?"

Ye Yunzheng didn't want to argue with him and just walked away.

He Anting raised his eyebrows slightly, not caring much. When he returned home that night, the steward came to ask for help in a hurry: "Something happened. Sir, please go to the county lady and take a look."

"What's wrong again?" He didn't even raise his head, feeling a little irritated. He wasn't a judge, and he didn't make decisions for them all day long.

"The county lady forced the second young lady to divorce the prince, but the second young lady refused to do so and is now making a scene that threatens to kill herself."

"What?" He Anting frowned.

Along the way, the steward finally told him the whole story: "The county lady was furious after returning from the uncle's mansion. This old servant has never seen the county lady so angry. In the afternoon, she forced someone to bring the concubine here. In the evening, the prince found out and came to demand her. He probably argued with the county lady. Now the county lady said that either the second young lady and the prince should divorce, or the concubine should be sent to the farm to nurse the baby."

The veins on He Anting's forehead were throbbing and his face was gloomy. He really underestimated Ye Yunzheng and wanted to marry a concubine.

In the past few times, he didn't take Ye Yunzheng's tricks seriously, but this time he was a little uneasy.

Inside Zhenning's residence, the candlelight was bright and the atmosphere was solemn. He Qingyun stared at Ye Yunzheng and Jing Yao resentfully with her red and swollen tearful eyes.

Jing Yao sat at the end, feeling innocent and uneasy. "County Lady, Prince, I think the matter of becoming a co-wife should be forgotten. I am of humble origin and truly unworthy of being on equal footing with the Young Madam."

He Qingxuan said coldly, "Stop being so hypocritical. After instigating this, you're pretending to be a good person again. Do you think I can't see what you're up to?"

Jing Yao shut up. She felt so wronged. It was clearly the prince's decision, so why was everything put on her?

I really think highly of her.

Why didn't the prince explain? Shouldn't he have defended himself by saying "it had nothing to do with her"?

She was forcibly invited here by the county lord in the afternoon and had already received a harsh reprimand. They were probably concerned about the offspring in her belly. The county lord only warned her not to have any other thoughts and locked her up for the whole afternoon. Now she was hungry and tired.

I'm so sleepy that I can't even open my eyes.

The first thing He Anting noticed when he stepped into the room was that she was secretly yawning with her hands covering her lips.

When He Qingxuan saw her brother coming, she felt more confident: "Brother."

"Mother." He Anting nodded.

"Now that you're here, try to persuade your sister. It's not like my He family's daughter can't get married. Even if she divorces, she can still find a good man. Why bother with this half-cooked meal?"

He Qingxuan shook her head: "I won't divorce."

Ye Yunzheng's face looked grim. He had not expected things to get to this point. He naturally did not want to divorce. At least for now, as long as he could gain a foothold beside King Yin, he still could not fall out with He Anting.

But he was not that worried. He Qingyun was still devoted to him, and perhaps this could force He Anting to give up his dirty thoughts.

He was silent for a moment.

He Anting looked at his sister's tearful eyes and couldn't help rubbing his eyebrows. He was too impatient and shouldn't have provoked Ye Yunzheng, which indirectly made his sister angry.

He tapped the table slowly with his fingertips, lowering his brows in thought.

Ye Yunzheng said appropriately, "Yunzheng can guarantee that even if I marry a concubine, I will never shake A's position."

He Anting's eyes darkened. "Marrying a concubine is out of the question, and neither is divorce. Back then, you asked for Ah-yu's hand in marriage in front of my father and swore to treat her well for the rest of your life. Ye Yunzheng, it's only been a few years now, and you're going to be so ungrateful?"

Jing Yao couldn't agree more.

Ye Yunzheng smiled coldly: "I will certainly fulfill my promise. Marrying a concubine is another matter. County Lady, Big Brother, this is the family affair of my Lingyun Marquis's Mansion. You are the ones who decided whether to take me in. I have never kept a concubine, and I have never favored a concubine over my wife. A'an should be respectable, so please do not interfere in this matter anymore."

"I'm going to marry my second wife."

He Qingxuan looked at him for a long moment and said, "Mother, I want to talk to him alone for a few words."

Then the two of them left the main hall.

The county lady was exhausted, but He Anting looked at the figure sitting at the end and said to her, "It's so late, mother, you should go and rest. I'll stay and take care of the aftermath."

The county lady nodded and said, "When Ah-yi comes out later, ask her to come find me."

He Anting walked up to Jing Yao, and Jing Yao raised her head from her robe and said, "Master He, I didn't ask the prince to take a concubine."

"I know." He believed her.

Suddenly, Jing Yao's stomach growled loudly.

Jing Yao felt a little embarrassed and ashamed. She held her belly and hesitated.

He Anting ordered Qingwu: "Prepare the meal in the side room, don't disturb mother."

Jing Yao was a little embarrassed: "Thank you."

The two of them got up and went to the side room. Qingwu was very efficient and brought dinner in no time. A bowl of steaming black chicken soup wontons was placed in front of Jingyao, along with a plate of braised beef, stir-fried bamboo shoots, braised shrimp, and cherry meat.

He Anting watched Jing Yao eat the entire time, occasionally adding more food to her bowl. Only when the food was gone did he ask, "Is that enough?"

Jing Yao was also very hungry. She realized that she seemed to have eaten too much and her face turned red. "That's enough. I ate a bit too much..."

He Anting picked up a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her mouth with gentle force and a focused look. Jing Yao only saw her own shadow in his eyes, and she almost drowned in it.

She quickly looked away, and He Anting said bluntly: "I won't let Ye Yunzheng marry you as his co-wife."

Jing Yao mumbled "oh". She hadn't wanted to do it in the first place, but she felt relieved after hearing his words.

"Come here." He extended his hand. Jing Yao was a little nervous. "What are you going to do? The prince and the young lady and the county lady are here."

He is too arrogant, Jing Yao refused cautiously.

"If you had agreed to me directly earlier, there wouldn't be such a scene today." He Anting snorted coldly. Even if it was his fault, he would not admit it.

Jing Yao didn't think so. She pouted. These two men were both big troubles, and it would be the same no matter which one she agreed to.

Being high and mighty, not bothered by worldly matters, only caring about one's own preferences without regard for the wishes of others.

She squeezed the candied cherry and sighed.

"It's no different with you and him." Jing Yao couldn't help but mutter, but it was this sentence that made the irritable He Anting stunned.

How could he be the same as Ye Yunzheng?

He naturally thought that she simply didn't understand. Someone as proud as He Anting would never think that there was anything wrong with his way.

Doesn't his repeated bowing and concessions explain it? Why doesn't she understand?

"I'm leaving now. The prince will get suspicious." Jing Yao cleaned her hands and teeth, stood up, bowed, thanked him, and left while holding up her skirt.

She didn't know what Ye Yunzheng and He Qingyun said, but on the way back, Ye Yunzheng still looked unhappy. He walked straight ahead and Jing Yao almost couldn't keep up.

After He Anting came out, he felt a little depressed. He went straight out of the house and went to the mansion of Duke Hengguo, and called Qi Yue out for a drink.

"What's going on with my uncle tonight..." He was extremely surprised and quickly asked the waiter to bring two jars of good wine.

He Anting looked at the clear wine swaying in the glass and said, "If a woman says that being with others is no different from being with me, what does that mean?"

Qi Yue almost spit out the wine in his mouth: "Who?"

"It has nothing to do with you. She already has...a husband." He Anting's face looked unnatural and he concealed the key point.

Qi Yue's face froze, somewhat incredulous. He Anting actually had this habit: "Then it's not love, it's just making do."

"What do you mean?"

"It means she longs for a comfortable life. Maybe her husband isn't doing a good job, but you're not much better than him. Agreeing to you would mean ruining her current relatively comfortable life, so she's naturally unwilling to do that."

He Anting's face was not good: "How can I be compared with that person?"

Qi Yue laughed even more. "You think you're better than that man, so you have to make that lady understand that being with you is different from being with him. Tell her sincerely, from her perspective, not just based on your own opinion."

At last, Qi Yue reminded: "It is immoral to interfere with other people's marriages. Think twice, little uncle."

He Anting seemed to be lost in thought, as if he understood something.

…

The county lady finally did not stop Ye Yunzheng from marrying a concubine. On the second day, Ye Yunzheng had already discussed an auspicious day with Gu and He Qingyun. According to etiquette, the three books and six ceremonies, as well as a matchmaker, had to be prepared.

All the etiquette for being a legal wife must be followed.

The news soon reached the Jing Mansion. Everyone in the mansion was shocked, but Jing Yao's mother turned pale.

She was lost in thought for a moment, then hurriedly asked Madam Yu to go to the bottom of the box and take out the sealed box.

Nanny Yu knew that this was her most precious thing, so she quickly took it out.

He opened the box, and inside was a somewhat worn crimson scroll.

She was in a state of melancholy. At first, Cui had told her that she intended to have Yaoyao become a concubine for the prince of the Lingyun Marquis's mansion, but she had rejected her words and she did not take it to heart.

Yaoyao has already signed an engagement with someone else and has a fiancé, so how can she become someone else's concubine?

Later, she never expected that when she was seriously ill, Cui dared to threaten Yaoyao, and the silly girl Yaoyao agreed. She then hid the engagement certificate at the bottom of the box, not that she still had any delusions.

However, the law clearly states that one is not allowed to destroy a letter of engagement without permission. Anyone who dares to do so will be punished with sixty strokes of the cane.

He had been struggling with how to break off the engagement.

Out of the blue, the prince suddenly wanted to make Yaoyao his co-wife, so this marriage had to be called off.

Otherwise it would affect their respective marriages. He decided to go to He's house in person and deal with the engagement letter privately with the county lady.