039 Kiss

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying you're looking down on me for coming?"

Madam Yuan was somewhat unconvinced and retorted directly, "I'm your own mother, would I ever harm you!"

Seeing his growing impatience, Madam Yuan softened her tone and continued, "I'm doing this all for your own good, Jing'er. How can you not understand my heart? You don't even have a son now. Who will carry your coffin and burn incense for you after you pass away!"

Yuan Chongjing said nonchalantly, "Fine, I won't die, okay? I'll go find the elixir of immortality, I'll take medicine, I can live for a thousand or ten thousand years, I'll be immortal!"

Madam Yuan chuckled at his words, "You silly child, why are you talking nonsense? Alright, I won't ask you about that anymore. You've been staying in the manor all day, so you probably don't know, but Xu Biyun was divorced by the Duke of Luo, who wrote the divorce papers for her. Later, she took her son, Luo Song, to go back to her parents' home. But for some reason, the Xu family's gates were tightly shut, and no matter how much they knocked, they wouldn't open the door. Now the two of them, with their bedding, are about to be homeless. Jing'er, what do you think we should do?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chongjing sat down quietly again, carefully considering the key points. First came the rumors, then the dismissal from the manor; Xu Biyun's current situation clearly indicated that the other party, seeing that the path to the Dali Temple was blocked, was setting a trap to force him into a corner!

He has to jump into this hole.

If he performs well, he can win over Xu Biyun. When the affair between Duke Luo and the Fifth Prince is exposed in the future, Xu Biyun can add fuel to the fire. To protect Luo Yanzhi and Luo Song's status in the Duke's mansion and the public's opinion, she would certainly not refuse.

Yuan Chongjing quickly figured it out: "Mother, where are they?"

Madam Yuan immediately became alert: "Didn't you say you had nothing to do with Xu Biyun? Why are you still bothering with them? You're just getting yourself into trouble."

"You don't need to worry about this. Mother, go find a courtyard for Biyun and her son to stay in for now. I'll go see her after I've discussed it with Li Yang."

Madam Yuan's face immediately showed a conflicted expression: "Should we take her into the household? This matter requires careful consideration. Yang'er has been with you for four or five years now; she has served you well, even if she hasn't done anything particularly meritorious. Besides, she gave birth to Xiao Taozi..."

Yuan Chongjing interrupted her, "Can you stop thinking like that? There's really nothing between us. I just felt sorry for her and wanted to help her. Never mind, there's no point in talking about this with you. I'm going to discuss it with Li Yang. Mother, you go and take care of it first."

"Mother will go now. But Jing'er, you have to talk to Yang'er about this properly. If she gets angry and hits you or scolds you, you must not talk back, okay? After all, you were the one who made the mistake first, so let's be patient with her."

Yuan Chongjing didn't want to say anything more to her: "Alright, alright, I understand. You can go now."

After dealing with Madam Yuan, Yuan Chongjing realized that Li Yang had gone out to see someone off and hadn't returned yet, almost half an hour had passed. He got up and went out of the main hall, where he saw Bei Hai returning from outside. He asked, "Did you see Li Yang?"

Beihai pointed to the gate in the distance: "The young mistress has gone out. She just left. It seems she went back to the Li residence. She was in quite a hurry."

Yuan Chongjing's heart skipped a beat. Thinking of what his mother had just said, he hurriedly asked, "Did they just leave? From which direction?"

Hokkaido: "Just come out from our courtyard gate. Second Young Master, what happened? Did you upset the Young Madam again?"

Yuan Chongjing didn't bother to explain to him: "Go and get the carriage, I'm going out."

“No, Second Young Master,” Bei Hai stopped him. “When the Dali Temple released you, they said you were not allowed to leave the Yuan residence unless there was a reason. If you go out and are discovered, Song Hezhou will definitely not let it go.”

He always thought that Song Hezhou was able to release Yuan Chongjing because he was forced by Lord Song and Wei Qin.

In fact, not only him, but everyone thinks so.

Yuan Chongjing kept walking: "Go quickly!"

Bei Hai only dared to offer this one piece of advice, and seeing that Yuan Chongjing still did not change his mind, he went to fetch the carriage.

***

Li Yang did indeed return to the Li family.

She had thought it over. Rather than letting the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince have it so easy and trying to ruin her relationship with Yuan Chongjing, it would be better to hand over the evidence now and make them busy for a few days.

Since Yuan Chongjing's memory has not yet been restored, she can give him the evidence first, then explain the situation to him, and then hand it over to Beihai so that he can pass it on to His Highness the Crown Prince of Yuzhou.

As soon as she entered the courtyard of the Li residence, she saw her younger brother, Li Ting, striding angrily out with a stick as thick as his arm. His imposing manner was almost overwhelming; had she not reacted quickly, the stick would have struck her!

"Stop! Li Ting, why are you back at the academy instead of attending class at this hour?" Li Yang shouted at him.

"Sister? Sister, why are you back?" Li Yang asked, and before she could answer, she added, "Did Yuan Chongjing kick you out? I knew it! I could tell he was no good when he married you! Sister, wait for me, I'm going to beat him up to avenge you!"

"Nonsense!" Li Yang grabbed his arm and pulled him back, then forcefully snatched the wooden stick from his hand. "Instead of studying properly, you're acting like a gossipy old woman. Where did you hear such nonsense?"

Li Ting had grown taller and stronger in the past two years, and with his martial arts training from his father since childhood, he was a head taller than Li Yang. He looked at the stick that Li Yang had snatched away and thrown to the ground with some resentment, muttering, "If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place. If Yuan Chongjing is good to you, why would anyone spread rumors?"

Li Yang was so angry that she hit him on the head: "You said 'if you don't want anyone to know,' but you've learned a couple of phrases already, daring to use classical Chinese in front of your sister! Brother Jing is your brother-in-law, is it your place to call him by his name?"

Li Yang shrank back as he hit her, the big guy looking like a timid little quail, but still shouting loudly, "I'll call him! He dared to do something to betray you, I'm not only going to call his name, I'm going to beat him up! I'll beat him until he's black and blue, his teeth are bulging and he won't even recognize his own mother!"

Li Yang was amused by his words: "Alright, don't believe what those people outside are saying. Is that sneaky guy outside your classmate? Hurry up and go back to class with him."

Li Ting glanced outside in confusion, and sure enough, behind the stone lions outside the courtyard gate, stood a person dressed in a male scholar's robe. He said, "Luo Pingping! What brings you here!"

Luo Pingping chuckled and ran up to the two of them to greet them: "Hello, sisters~"

Upon closer inspection, Li Yang recognized the person as Luo Pingping, the younger sister of Luo Yanzhi and Luo Minzhi from the Luo State Duke's Mansion. She thought to herself, "What a coincidence! Judging from this, there must be something unusual between Luo Pingping and Li Ting."

Li Ting immediately stepped in front of Li Yang, and said to Luo Pingping with a stern face, "Who let you come! Get out of here!"

Luo Pingping didn't care about his tone and gently shook his clothes: "Oh dear~ I was just worried about you~ This morning the teacher said that if you can't memorize what he taught today, he'll hit you with a ruler thirty times."

Upon hearing the word "thirty feet," Li Ting's tall frame trembled slightly. But thinking of Li Yang standing beside him, he immediately straightened his back: "I don't care! It's just thirty feet, or even three hundred! I can take it! I'm going to beat Yuan Chongjing up today!"

Li Yang went up and slapped him on the back again: "If you don't go to the academy, believe me, I'll beat you up first! Luo Pingping, right? I'm giving you a task today: drag this brat to the academy!"

Luo Pingping replied happily, "Okay~ Don't worry, sister, I will definitely bring him back!"

Li Yang shoved and pushed him out the door, then threatened him, "Come back to the academy with me right now!"

Li Ting pouted and was reluctantly pulled away by Luo Pingping.

Watching their playful figures disappear into the distance, Li Yang seemed to see a scene from her and Yuan Chongjing's time at the academy. She smiled nostalgically and turned to enter the Li residence.

Neither of Li's parents were at home today. Li Yang returned to her room, opened the wardrobe, and found the bundle she had hidden. Before she even left the room, she heard Yuan Chongjing already at the door.

Li Yang walked out carrying her bundle, and the two met at the gate of the mansion.

As soon as Yuan Chongjing saw her, he rushed over and called out, "Li Yang!"

"Hmm?" Li Yang was a little puzzled by his actions: "Why did you leave the residence? Are the people from the Dali Temple still at the gate? Won't they see you?"

“I came to find you,” Yuan Chongjing replied, then asked her with a hint of grievance, “Why did you go back to your parents’ home without saying a word?”

Li Yang gestured for him to look at the bundle on her back: "I came back to get something."

Yuan Chongjing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "I thought..."

"What did you think?"

"It's nothing. Now that you've got it, let's go home. I still have something to discuss with you."

Li Yang nodded, then instructed the servants to explain things to her parents when they returned before getting into the carriage with Yuan Chongjing to return to the Yuan residence. Seeing him hesitate the whole way, Li Yang said, "If you keep holding it in, we'll be at your doorstep. What is it you want to say?"

Yuan Chongjing made up his mind: "Did you hear about it on your way back?"

"What?"

"Xu Biyun and Luo Song were kicked out of the Duke of Luo's mansion, and the Duke of Luo wrote the divorce papers on their behalf. The Xu family also refused to acknowledge them, and now the two are homeless."

"I've heard about it," Li Yang said, not wanting to hide anything. "I heard it from my mother at home. Everyone's saying Luo Song is your son. What's your opinion?"

"You believe me?"

Seeing his surprise, Li Yang said with a smile, "What's there to believe or not believe? Three years ago, you were in Chenzhou, and we spent every day together. Even if you had the desire, you didn't have the time."

Yuan Chongjing felt a little relieved. If she was still in the mood to joke with him, then everything was alright. Thinking about his next decision, he carefully said, "I had my mother find a courtyard for them to stay in for now."

Li Yang lowered her eyes, then raised them again: "Okay."

With just one glance, Yuan Chongjing knew she had seen through his intentions. He smiled genuinely: "Thank you, Li Yang."

The affection in his eyes was genuine, and Li Yang's heart trembled. She laughed it off, saying, "There's nothing to thank me for. We're husband and wife, so I should just go along with you."

A warm current seemed to surge into Yuan Chongjing's heart. He watched as her hands, hanging limply at her sides, were clasped together, her fair, delicate fingers twisted like hemp rope. His world, his body, seemed to be so easily kneaded by her, rising and falling, turning and shifting.

He reached out, trying to cover her hand, to stop her from tormenting her emotions.

Just as his hand reached out, the carriage curtain was lifted, and Bei Hai rushed in shouting, "Second Young Master, Young Madam, big news!"

Yuan Chongjing's hand spun in mid-air before retracting.

Neither of the other two noticed his movements. Bei Hai said excitedly, "Young Madam, I heard that something big happened in the court just now."

"What's up?"

Hokkaido: "A middle-aged couple came to the Dali Temple, saying they came from Hukou Town in Qingzhou. Hukou Town is adjacent to the Tiger River. Last year, the Tiger River flooded, and His Majesty ordered the Fifth Prince to oversee the repair of the river embankment. The couple said that this summer the embankment collapsed, and the flood submerged three nearby villages, causing countless deaths and injuries. They begged their way to the capital to file a lawsuit against the personnel responsible for repairing the embankment."

"You went to the Dali Temple?"

“Yes, we found Song Hezhou. Their journey to the capital was fraught with difficulty; they were nearly killed countless times along the way, but were rescued by someone. The one who rescued them was a disciple of the Song family. Later, they were taken to the Dali Temple,” Beihai replied.

Now that Song Hezhou has taken on this case, it means the matter is settled. Regardless of whether the Fifth Prince orchestrated it or not, he'll be busy enough just clearing his name for the time being.

Li Yang didn't know if the Crown Prince was behind this, but even if he wasn't, he was probably involved. He knew how to lie low and endure, how to calmly and patiently achieve his desired results step by step.

After Bei Hai finished speaking, he ran out again. Li Yang asked, "Brother Jing, do you think the Fifth Prince is behind this?"

"Whether it's the Fifth Prince or not is unimportant; what matters is who he'll push forward," Yuan Chongjing said. Three villages were destroyed, countless villagers were killed or injured, and with Song Hezhou involved, this matter won't end easily, nor can it be resolved simply by the Fifth Prince pushing forward a few officials.

The most likely scenario is that he will push the Third Prince forward.

If only we added more fire!

Li Yang took off the bundle she had been carrying and placed it on his lap, saying mysteriously, "Open it and take a look."

Yuan Chongjing opened it with a puzzled look: "What is this?"

"The fire you want," Li Yang said.

Yuan Chongjing was surprised that she had seen through his thoughts. He opened the bundle and found that it contained books. Yuan Chongjing silently questioned her with his eyes. Li Yang gestured for him to open the books: "Take a look at what you remember inside."

After Yuan Chongjing saw what was recorded inside, he slightly opened his eyes and asked, "This, this is?"

Li Yang nodded: "Yes, the things you hid before you lost your memory."

The evidence that the Third Prince framed the Crown Prince five years ago, as well as the records of various traps and assassinations he set up on the Crown Prince's way to Yuzhou.

Yuan Chongjing eagerly opened and looked through them one by one, then asked, "Where did you find them?"

"In my room."

At her words, Yuan Chongjing abruptly stopped flipping through the books: "In your room?"

“Yeah, that big wardrobe behind my bed. You know,” she leaned closer to him, her head almost touching his, her eyes blinking as she stared at him, “think about it carefully, why did you hide it in my wardrobe?”

Yuan Chongjing felt a little flattered by her gaze, and with a slightly flushed face, he shook his head and replied, "I...I don't know."

Li Yang suppressed a laugh, sat back down, casually adjusted her clothes, and said naturally, "What else could it be? It's just that I feel it's the safest and most reassuring place from the bottom of my heart."

She thought Yuan Chongjing wouldn't answer, but to her surprise, he paused for a moment and then gave a serious "hmm".

"What did you 'hmm'?" Li Yang asked with a smile.

Yuan Chongjing turned his head away from her.

Li Yang tugged at his sleeve on the shoulder and asked coquettishly, "I'm asking you, what did you 'hmm' about?"

Yuan Chongjing tried to dodge twice but failed: "Ugh, aren't you annoying?"

“No, no, I’m not annoyed at all,” Li Yang sidled up to him, grabbed his arm and shook it: “Just tell me already.”

Yuan Chongjing stopped dodging and straightened his shoulders slightly to make her hug him more comfortable: "Maybe." Perhaps at that time, he felt that the safest place and the person he could trust the most was her.

Seeing that he did not resist, Li Yang tentatively and happily tilted her head and put it on his shoulder.

Maybe, that's just a possibility. Maybe, that's true. If it's true, then it means that before he lost his memory, he was special to her, unique, and someone he trusted.

The wooden wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs on the ground, making a low rumbling sound that constantly passed through the carriage and reached the ears of the two people.

None of them moved.

When the carriage stopped in front of the Yuan residence, Bei Hai lifted the curtain again and poked his head out: "Second..."

He was so shocked by the sight before him that he couldn't speak. He swallowed hard several times before stammering, "Second Young Master, Young Madam, we've arrived at the door."

Yuan Chongjing didn't move. Li Yang reluctantly let go of his arm and turned to complain to Bei Hai in a low voice, "Bei Hai, your driving skills are getting better and better."

Bei Hai smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, young mistress."

After Li Yang got out of the car, when Bei Hai went to help Yuan Chongjing, he saw the smile on Yuan Chongjing's lips and realized what Li Yang meant.

She thinks he's disturbing their lovey-dovey moments.

Bei Hai gave an awkward laugh and lowered his head, hiding behind Yuan Chongjing.

***

Madam Yuan had a very difficult night.

She had long noticed the change in the relationship between Li Yang and Yuan Chongjing; as a mother-in-law, she was naturally pleased to see her son and daughter-in-law getting along well. However, when she went out to find Xu Biyun that afternoon, Xu Biyun neither confirmed nor denied Luo Song's identity when she inquired about his background.

This matter had been swirling in her mind for a long time, choking her and causing her heart to ache.

So after dinner, while Li Yang was putting Xiao Taozi to sleep, Madam Yuan quietly came to Yuan Chongjing's room: "Jing'er?"

Yuan Chongjing closed the book and stood up from the desk: "Mother, you've come at this time because everything is settled?"

Madam Yuan nodded and said softly, "It's not far from our mansion, behind Lin'an Street, next to the sesame seed cake shop. It used to be my mother's private residence. Although the courtyard is not big, it is clean and elegant, and it's enough for the mother and son to live in."

"Hmm, that works too," Yuan Chongjing said. "Did anyone see them leave with you?"

"No." Madam Yuan thought he was afraid Li Yang would find out, so she thought for a moment and still advised, "These things can't be hidden, Jing'er. Rather than having Yang'er find out and get angry with you in the future, it's better for you to be honest with her now. Between husband and wife, the most unbearable thing is to hide things. You've already made a big mistake, and it's not good to keep it a secret any longer."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Li Yang's voice came from outside the door: "Mother, what are you hiding?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Yuan trembled slightly. Seeing Li Yang walk in with a smile, Madam Yuan looked somewhat embarrassed: "No, it's nothing."

Li Yang looked at her curiously, and said with a hint of dissatisfaction and grievance, "Mom, how come you and Jing-ge are hiding something from me?"

Hearing this, Madam Yuan felt even more guilty. Without thinking, she blurted out, "Well, I have something to do. Yes, your father is waiting for me to go back and sleep together. Oh no, I have to go back and sleep with your father. Sigh, I'll go now. Jing'er, you and Yang'er have a good talk."

After she finished speaking in a fluster, stood up and walked out, Li Yang watched her back as she walked out of the room before bursting out of a laugh.

Yuan Chongjing no longer held back and laughed, "Why are you teasing her?"

Li Yang said, "What, you're feeling sorry for your mother now? Why didn't you expose me for knowing all along that she took in Xu Biyun?"

Yuan Chongjing also had his own motives. If Li Yang hadn't done this, Madam Yuan could have kept nagging him for half an hour. He still had things to do and didn't have time to listen to her. Yuan Chongjing didn't answer her question, but instead said, "I want to hand the evidence over to Beihai and have him personally make a trip to Yuzhou to see what His Highness the Crown Prince thinks."

To exonerate His Highness the Crown Prince, the choice of person must be carefully considered. The candidate must have sufficient status and position, and must not have any apparent connection with the princes. This is not a matter that Yuan Chongjing alone can decide.

Li Yang said, "Okay. But there might be danger on this trip to Beihai, so we need to bring a few people with him."

Yuan Chong nodded: "Don't worry. This matter should be handled sooner rather than later. I'll make the arrangements now."

After discussing the matter with them, Bei Hai took the evidence and left Kyoto overnight. Yuan Chongjing secretly saw him off and returned to his room late at night.

A bright candle burned in the room, casting a dark shadow on the person inside. Li Yang was still sleeping on her small bed, her breathing long and even, as if she were already fast asleep.

Yuan Chongjing squatted down in front of her, silently watching her sleeping face. He had never noticed before that she was so docile and obedient when she slept, her eyes tightly closed, her long eyelashes casting a row of shadows on her cheeks in the candlelight. Her nostrils flared slightly with her breathing, her lips were pursed, and the corners of her lips were slightly upturned, as if she were smiling.

He was so engrossed in watching her that when his gaze finally left her lips, Yuan Chongjing realized that Li Yang had woken up sometime earlier and was staring at him.

Startled, Yuan Chongjing muttered a curse and immediately stood up, trying to get away.

But whether it was because he had been squatting for too long or because he stood up too quickly, Yuan Chongjing felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and countless golden stars flashed. His body seemed to have lost its support, and he fell downwards.

The imagined pain didn't come; Yuan Chongjing only felt himself fall onto something soft. Through the still-flickering stars, he realized he had fallen on Li Yang.

"I'm sorry."

He reached out to support himself on the bed frame, trying to stand up. The next moment, the bed creaked and shook, and then the bed frame and four legs came apart.

*Plop*

The two of them fell directly to the ground.

Fortunately, Yuan Chongjing reacted quickly, and at the moment of falling, he straightened his arm and braced himself above Li Yang.

That's why he didn't press down on her again.

Their eyes met, their thoughts and feelings were so close. Yuan Chongjing's chest heaved rapidly, his heart pounding faster and faster. He silently berated himself; they had already had a child, yet he was still acting like a clueless young boy, so awkward about the very thing he wanted to do.

His gaze slowly changed, moving down from her eyes. When it finally landed on her, he said, "Why are you pouting?"

Only after he spoke did he realize how hoarse his voice was.

Li Yang blinked innocently: "I didn't!"

"Yes, it is!"

Li Yang didn't want to argue with him: "If you feel you're at a disadvantage, then you can say that too."

Yuan Chongjing obediently pouted.

The next moment, I saw the undisguised smile in her eyes.

Yuan Chongjing was annoyed that he had been bewitched by her. Seeing that she was about to laugh triumphantly, his eyes darkened, and he pressed down on those lips that he hated so much but now desperately longed for.

He lowered his hands, propped his upper body up with his elbows, closed his eyes, tilted his head, pouted, and pressed down directly.

He lacked skill, but instinct remained. With that adventurous spirit, he quickly grasped the key points and moved further inside.

The man's dominance was on full display at this moment, leaving her no room to back down. Li Yang had nowhere to retreat, and was almost suffocating from his onslaught. She opened her eyes, wanting to push him away, but found that his eyes were closed, his expression gentle, as if he were lost in a kiss.

The gentle touch of lips and tongue makes one unconsciously want to indulge in it until the end of time.

Then, with the sound of the door opening, Little Peach's sobbing voice rang out: "Waaah~ Mommy~ Little Peach is scared~~"

Little Peach, carrying her embroidered little pillow, walked into the room, wiping away her tears and looking aggrieved.

As soon as she entered, she saw her father on top of her mother, choking her and making her mother's face turn red. Little Peach was so frightened that she immediately forgot her nightmare, threw down her little pillow, clenched her fists, and rushed over, shouting, "Mother! Father, don't bully Mother! Don't be afraid, Mother! Little Peach is here to save you!"