Chapter 145 A Man's Three Parts Drunk

"Have you been able to find out who among these people is guilty?" the Crown Prince asked.

Xiao Ling shook his head: "These people all have some status in the harem, and there's nothing unusual about them for now."

"Moreover, there has been no progress with Du Shaoqing either."

After hearing this, the Crown Prince sighed and said, "Alas, there's no need to rush. Let's rest first."

He then gestured to the eunuch to serve tea to Xie Yunman and Xiao Ling.

Xie Yunman silently picked up the cup in his hand, lowered his head and pondered, clearly absent-minded.

The Crown Prince asked, "Minister Xie, have you discovered anything?"

Xie Yunman did not answer, but instead asked the Crown Prince:

"The maternal family of Prince Rui is the Ye family, formerly the Marquis of Yongyi?"

Who were the Ye family's relatives by marriage at that time?

Upon hearing this, the crown prince looked at the young eunuch beside him, who quickly turned around and began searching through a pile of scrolls.

Soon all the information about the Ye family was found.

Xie Yunman carefully studied the family tree of the Ye family.

Suddenly he spotted a familiar surname, Jin, marked it with charcoal, and then looked back at the thick palace register.

After checking everything, Xie Yunman breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, I have made some progress. I will report back tomorrow after verifying the information."

Upon hearing this, the prince's expression softened considerably.

The Crown Prince warmly entertained the three at the Eastern Palace.

Du Zhengming and Xie Yunman were quite relaxed and comfortable during the meal, but Xiao Ling looked unhappy.

The Crown Prince ignored his erratic behavior and chatted happily with Xie Yunman and Du Zhengming.

As the banquet ended, the Crown Prince asked Xiao Ling:

"You've been drinking, why don't you stay at the East Palace for the night?"

Xiao Ling shook his head: "No, I need to go home to see my wife and child."

The Crown Prince chuckled upon hearing this and ordered that Xiao Ling be safely escorted back.

After Xiao Ling returned home, she remained sullen and angry.

When Xie Yunyu saw him return, she got up from the soft couch beside the bed.

"Why are you back so late today?"

Xiao Ling walked towards Xie Yunyu, reached out and hugged her, resting his head on Xie Yunyu's shoulder.

Xie Yunyu smelled the alcohol emanating from him.

"Have you been drinking?"

"Yes, Yu'er, I feel a little unwell."

Xiao Ling acted coquettishly.

Xie Yunyu heard this and reached out to pat him:

"Okay, I'll have someone make you a hangover soup."

"My own wife is the best. Unlike your second brother, hmph!"

Xie Yunyu turned her head and glanced at Gu Yu at the door. Gu Yu quickly went downstairs to have someone make a hangover soup.

"What did my second brother do to you again?"

Xie Yunyu whispered in Xiao Ling's ear, trying to push him away.

However, Xiao Ling held Xie Yunyu tightly and wouldn't let go.

“Your second brother isn’t close to me, but he’s quite close to that Du Zhengming.”

As he spoke, he reached out and released Xie Yunyu, then put his hand on her shoulder and looked at her, asking a question.

"In your second brother's heart, does he hope that Du Zhengming is his brother-in-law?"

Upon hearing that Du Shaoqing had been brought up, Xie Yunyu quickly tried to appease him:

“My second brother can have his own ideas, but I can just ask you to be my husband.”

Xiao Ling smiled with satisfaction after hearing Xie Yunyu's words.

He lowered his head and kissed Xie Yunyu on the lips.

"I know that Du Zhengming went to your house to propose marriage. Don't you still have feelings for him?"

Xie Yunyu frowned after hearing this: "What are you talking about, 'what are you talking about everywhere'?"

He then slapped his nose in disgust.

"You reek of alcohol, it's suffocating! Go wash up right away."

Xiao Ling had drunk some alcohol and, in a state of semi-drunkenness, began to act out.

"My wife, you are mine. Don't think about Du Shaoqing anymore."

Xie Yunyu continued to coax, "Okay, okay, I'm yours, I am now and I will always be yours."

"Then promise me that you will only have me in your heart and will not think about Du Zhengming."

Xiao Ling persisted relentlessly.

“I never had feelings for him. The marriage proposal was just because my family thought he was suitable for marriage.”

Xie Yunyu explained.

Xiao Ling was somewhat satisfied after hearing this.

Soon, Gu Yu brought over some hangover soup. Xiao Ling drank the soup and went to wash up.

After returning home, he went to bed and hugged Xie Yunyu, continuing to whine and act coquettishly.

Xie Yunyu sighed inwardly and could only continue to hold and comfort her.

As he coaxed her, Xiao Ling's hands began to wander.

Today, Xiao Ling's pattern was different from usual. As she worked, she asked Xie Yunyu:

"My wife, do you only have me in your heart?"

Xie Yunyu was left with no choice but to speak with difficulty.

"It's...in my heart...only...you..."

Xiao Ling, still with a mischievous grin, continued, "So you never liked Du Zhengming at all?"

Xie Yunyu remained silent this time, her rationality returning slightly.

"At this point... how could you... mention someone else..."

Xiao Ling immediately became unwilling, and said with a sullen face:

"My wife...you're being mean to me...don't you love me anymore..."

Xie Yunyu was in a limbo at this moment:

"I love you, I love you the most..."

Xiao Ling was satisfied with what he heard, and then became even more ruthless, almost silencing Xie Yunyu.

"Xiao Ling... be gentle..."

"Call me husband."

"Husband...husband...my lord...ah...ah..."

...

After a long while, Xie Yunyu lay on the beach, panting like a dried-up fish.

After a while, she turned her head and glanced at the refreshed man beside her, then raised her hand and punched him lightly.

"Are you sober now?"

Xiao Ling turned around with a grin and pulled Xie Yunyu into his arms.

"Yes, with my wife's help, I'll naturally sober up quickly."

Xie Yunyu scoffed, "A man who's three-tenths drunk will act until you cry; that's no exaggeration."

Xiao Ling chuckled, pulled Xie Yunyu closer, and kissed her temple.

"My wife, this is called marital intimacy."

Xie Yunyu asked, completely bewildered, "What exactly did you learn at Xiyun Temple?"

You have none of the Buddhist teachings, Zen principles, or concentration.

"And yet, he's so...so enthusiastic about this..."

Xiao Ling whispered in her ear, "I have Buddhist teachings, Zen wisdom, and concentration."

You are my wife, I just lack the willpower to stay with you.

In this vast world, amidst countless fleeting moments, you are the only exception.

Xie Yunyu laughed: "You make it sound like I'm outside the Three Realms and outside the Five Elements."

Xiao Ling nodded seriously.

"In short, you are different from others, my wife."

Then he whispered in Xie Yunyu's ear:

Of the myriad things in this world, I love three: the sun for the morning, the moon for the evening, and you for every morning and evening.

Xie Yunyu smiled silently and placed her hand on Xiao Ling's hand, which was resting on her waist.

"May I be like a star and you like the moon, shining brightly together every night."

Upon hearing this confessional poem, Xiao Ling finally felt satisfied and fell asleep in Xie Yunyu's arms.

The next morning, Xiao Ling woke up feeling refreshed and looked at Xie Yunyu, who was still half asleep in bed.

Remembering what happened last night, he tenderly lowered his head and kissed her.

Then he quietly got up, put on his clothes, and left.

Xie Yunyu slept until the sun was high in the sky before getting up.

The vast mansion was now left with only her as its master.

The eldest princess and Xiao Ling have been staying in the palace recently, while the Duke of Qi, who is in charge of the Ministry of Works, has to go to the yamen every day.

Therefore, Xie Yunyu was the only idle person in the mansion.

I got up and went to check on the children first. Seeing that both children were fine, I went to have breakfast.

Just after we finished eating, an announcement came from outside that the Second Prince's Consort had arrived.

Xie Yunyu was puzzled. Qin Yingying? What's she doing here?

But they still came out to greet them at the second gate.

"Greetings, Second Prince's Consort." Xie Yunyu bowed.

Qin Yingying smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, no need for formalities."

After Xie Yunyu got up, she led Qin Yingying inside.

"I wonder what brings you here today, Second Sister-in-law?"

Qin Yingying laughed and said, "What, can't I come to see you?"

Xie Yunyu smiled and replied, "Sure, why not?"