After leaving Chengqian Palace, Ye Jingchen thought he would meet Xie Chang'an outside the palace, but Xie Chang'an did not appear until he returned to the East Palace.

Ye Jingchen had a bad feeling.

Upon learning that Xie Chang'an had left the palace, he immediately followed suit.

The journey from Donghua Gate to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion normally takes a quarter of an hour, but he arrived in less than half an hour.

When Ye Jingchen was studying military strategy under the Duke of Zhenguo, he frequented the Duke's mansion for three years, and all the servants there knew him.

After dismounting, he went straight into the mansion, where the gatekeeper immediately bowed to him.

"Has Chang'an returned to his residence?" he asked as he walked.

"The young master returned to the manor early this morning."

Upon hearing this, Ye Jingchen changed from walking to running and headed towards Chang'an Residence.

When he arrived at Chang'an Residence, he saw the Second Young Mistress and the Third Young Mistress in the courtyard.

"Greetings, Second Aunt and Third Aunt. Is Chang'an here?" Ye Jingchen asked after bowing.

The two hurriedly returned the greeting.

“Your Highness, Chang’an is in her room,” said the Third Young Mistress.

When Ye Jingchen entered Xie Chang'an's room, he saw the Duchess standing by Xie Chang'an's bedside wiping away tears, and Mr. Li was also there.

"Grandmother, Mr. Li, how is Chang'an now?" Ye Jingchen asked hurriedly.

"I'm fine," Xie Chang'an replied. Although it was only three words, Ye Jingchen could still tell that Xie Chang'an was very weak.

Mr. Li stepped aside, and Ye Jingchen saw Xie Chang'an lying on the bed, his back completely wrapped in fine gauze, like a mummy.

Although the wound had been bandaged, Ye Jingchen could still smell a strong stench of blood.

Ye Jingchen had always known that the Zhenguo Duke's family discipline was very strict, but he did not know that they would beat someone so badly. Xie Chang'an's entire back was wrapped in fine gauze, and some parts of the gauze looked a bit dark in color, probably because it had been soaked with blood.

Ye Jingchen could hardly imagine how terrible Xie Chang'an's back wound would have been if it hadn't been wrapped in fine gauze.

"Why didn't you wait for me? Why did you come back alone?" Ye Jingchen asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Although the boards didn't hit him, he felt as if his back was hurting.

"The wound has been bandaged. Don't move around too much, and don't get it wet. I'll come back tomorrow to change the dressing," Mr. Li said before leaving.

"Your Highness, the calamity that has befallen Chang'an today is all because of you—"

"Grandmother!" Xie Chang'an quickly spoke up, interrupting the Duchess's unspoken words, "I was the one who forced things. His Highness the Crown Prince is innocent. This beating is what I deserve, and I accept it willingly."

As Xie Chang'an spoke, he reached out to take Ye Jingchen's hand.

Ye Jingchen quickly grasped his hand, their fingers intertwined.

The Duchess looked at this scene with a grim expression, and she didn't even wipe away her tears.

"Take good care of yourself, I'm going to see your mother." She said and left.

"What's wrong with Mother?" Ye Jingchen sat down by the bed and asked.

"She said she had failed in her parenting and had taken the family punishment upon herself," Xie Chang'an said guiltily after a moment of silence.

Ye Jingchen didn't know what to say.

The people of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion are all people of integrity.

"I'm the one who wronged her," Xie Chang'an said again.

"Actually, you misspoke just now," Ye Jingchen said, squeezing Xie Chang'an's hand.

"What?" Xie Chang'an asked in confusion.

“If I didn’t like you too, there would be no use in forcing it. So the fate between us is not something you can force, but a two-way journey that was destined from the very beginning!” Ye Jingchen said to Xie Chang’an with a smile.

"A two-way journey?" Xie Chang'an repeated the word, and smiled.

His heart softened, and the wound on his back didn't seem to hurt as much as before.

"Does it hurt a lot when the board hits you? You must not have pleaded with the ancestors and grandfather as I told you to." Ye Jingchen's other hand hovered over Xie Chang'an's back, wanting to touch the wound wrapped in gauze, but he didn't dare, afraid of hurting Xie Chang'an.

“This is what I have to bear, you don’t need to worry. Mr. Li’s ointment is very effective, and it will be fine after a while,” Xie Chang’an said softly.

"Your injuries are not suitable for returning to the palace. I will stay at the Duke of Zhenguo's residence with you for the time being," Ye Jingchen said.

Xie Chang'an was delighted to hear this, but also somewhat worried, and asked, "Will your father agree? Will he be angry?"

“I talked to him a lot today, and his attitude has softened. I’ll try to play the victim with him, and maybe he’ll agree,” Ye Jingchen said.

"And let's also play the victim for Uncle Xie."

"You call my mother 'Mother,' so why do you still call my father 'Uncle Xie'?" Xie Chang'an asked.

Ye Jingchen chuckled, "I'm just used to calling him Uncle Xie. When I see him in the future, I'll change how I address him. But in front of my father, it's more appropriate to call him Uncle Xie, otherwise he'll get angry again."

Xie Chang'an knew what Ye Jingchen was planning, and smiled wryly, "Can their relationship be repaired?"

"It is quite difficult, but we have to give it a try. Maybe it will work? After all, their relationship is different now. They are in-laws. There is no need to be as petty as when they were young, right?" Ye Jingchen said with a smile.

Ye Jingchen chatted with Xie Chang'an, and soon it was lunchtime.

Xie Chang'an has difficulty moving around, so Ye Jingchen fed him lunch.

He was quite experienced in feeding people, having often fed Ye Jinghe before.

When feeding Xie Chang'an, he was attentive, gentle, and considerate, coaxing Xie Chang'an like a baby. Xie Chang'an felt a sweet and sour feeling in his heart.

He finally understood why he was so keen on targeting Ye Jinghe after his rebirth—because he had been filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred from the very beginning.

Ye Jingchen's gentle and considerate side was something he only got to enjoy more than a decade later, while the little madman got to enjoy it right from the start!

If he had been a real little brat when he was young, Ye Jingchen would have loved him so much. Would he have fed him and put him to sleep every day?

After feeding Xie Chang'an lunch, Ye Jingchen coaxed him to take a nap. Ye Jingchen had endless patience for the person he liked.

Only after Xie Chang'an fell asleep did he leave the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and rush back to the palace.

"Why are you here again?" The emperor looked at Ye Jingchen with obvious disdain.

"Father, I need to ask for leave," Ye Jingchen said directly.

The emperor, his face stern, said, "Why are you taking leave out of the blue? Don't tell me it's because Xie Chang'an was punished according to family rules!"

When the emperor learned of this news, he felt very pleased, as if he had finally gotten rid of a pent-up anger.

Xie Shaoling's son dared to covet his son, he deserves to be severely punished!

“Father, you know how terrible the family rules of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion are. I need to go and take care of Xie Chang’an, otherwise I won’t feel at ease,” Ye Jingchen said.

"Is there no one left in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion? Does he need you, the crown prince, to personally take care of him?" the emperor asked angrily.