Chapter 24 Chapter 24 In front of the prince, she sat on his lap...
Jing Yao was still confused when he interrogated her. She lay there blankly with the quilt in her arms, and it took her a long time to realize where she was.
She sat up and grabbed the quilt helplessly.
There was still some trace of spring between her eyebrows and eyes, and the misty water vapor seemed to be even thicker.
Why is he asking this?
Jing Yao felt a little embarrassed for a moment: "Why do you ask this, sir?"
The warm atmosphere between the two of them suddenly cooled down, the wrong thing was emphasized again, and the invisible barrier became solid and unbreakable.
He Anting's eyes were cold: "It was you that night."
His words were firm, and Jing Yao could hear a hint of anger in them.
What's going on? She was a little confused. Didn't He Anting know about it a long time ago?
She didn't intend to meet Yun Qiao's gaze, but her eyes fell on the embroidered handkerchief and embroidered shoes in her hands, and her gaze was fixed on them.
So He Anting just found out?
It was just my own misconception before. Jing Yao grabbed the quilt and looked distressed, but it seemed that knowing it earlier or later did not affect the outcome of the matter.
She couldn't help but lower her head, feeling that his gaze was as heavy as a thousand pounds.
He Anting must have felt that she was a fickle woman.
Thinking about the intimacy just now, Jing Yao felt even more ashamed. How could she do this? She had clearly rejected him harshly first, and now he was pestering her.
"Sorry, I'd better go now." She hurriedly lifted up his clothes and glanced at her own dress. Except for being a little sticky and sweaty, the rest of her dress was intact.
Jing Yao breathed a sigh of relief silently, then lowered her head to put on her shoes.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she was about to fall.
However, she didn't expect that her body became a little weak, and she couldn't help leaning forward when she stood up. She screamed, and was firmly supported by a pair of hands. She hurriedly distanced herself, but did not see He Anting's dark face.
During the struggle, a tear fell on the back of He Anting's hand, like a broken flower in the mud.
He Anting's cold face froze a little. He wanted to say something but stopped himself, but he was extremely grateful in his heart.
Fortunately, it was her that night.
The resistance that had always lingered in his heart suddenly disappeared, and he no longer had to worry about a marriage he didn't want to accept.
His expression looked much better when Jing Yao didn't notice.
"Why are you so fond of crying? Stop crying, it's not good for your health." Jing Yao was crying with her head down and couldn't stop. He Anting spoke.
Perhaps because his tone had improved, Jing Yao wiped her face and said, "I, I didn't cry."
It’s so annoying. Why does she cry so much? She never cried so much before. It must be because she’s pregnant.
"Madame Yu said that pregnant women have big mood swings. I didn't mean it." Jing Yao muttered.
"Tell me, what happened that night." He Anting became more serious, helped her sit down and wiped her tears. Jing Yao calmed down and slowly told the truth of that night with a nasal tone.
At the end, she emphasized: "It was really a maid who tricked me in and locked the door. I didn't lie."
She was afraid that He Anting would think she was lying and that this was some kind of trick to climb up the social ladder, so she looked very sincere.
He Anting hummed, his face turning cold. It was obvious that the person who drugged him must be Xue Ningzhen. Her thoughts and plans were extremely meticulous. Jing Yao had accidentally disrupted the situation, but she was able to make the plan work and deceive him until now.
He Anting has been in official career for many years, and has experienced countless battles, schemes and calculations. If he takes a wrong step, he will be doomed. He originally did not take such a girl seriously, but now it seems that King Yin is behind it and fanning the flames.
He just felt disgusted when marriage was used as a threat.
"I will take care of this matter." He didn't mean to say more, and asked Jing Yao to swallow her doubts.
The truth was revealed. Jing Yao whispered, "Thank you for your help today, sir. It's getting late. I have to go back to the mansion."
She tried to pull her hand back, but she didn't.
When she raised her eyes, she was still in shock. He Anting lowered his eyes and looked at her. When their eyes met, Jing Yao's heart sank and she felt inexplicably uneasy.
"If I ask you again what you said that day, what would your answer be?" The bottom line that He Anting had been defending retreated again.
Even he himself did not expect that one day he would reach this point.
He Anting felt that she had no reason to refuse again.
The mellow voice gently fell on Jing Yao's heart, and her already sore eyes became hot again. Hadn't the previous question already given her the answer?
Even that night...it couldn't change anything. He really cared about the baby in his belly, and she couldn't guarantee anything.
I can't bear to bury this life.
"I..." She lowered her head, bit her lip and said nothing.
She was a little afraid of him, so she didn't dare to tell the truth. She was considering how to talk to him tactfully to satisfy him.
The silence made the relaxed atmosphere between the two of them stagnate again.
He Anting's heart, which had been hanging in the air, fell heavily.
How could he approach her with a smug face after she rejected him like that? It would be too disgraceful.
"It's getting late. I'll take you home first." He Anting withdrew his hand and retreated to a suitable distance. He didn't press her any further and lightly changed the subject. "Are you feeling any worse for wear? Do you have abdominal pain? Nausea?"
Although his tone was calm and his voice was cold, Jing Yao still felt his concern, even though this concern might be insignificant to him and was just a casual polite remark.
But Jing Yao couldn't bear to be cruel to those who showed kindness to her.
distressed.
She shook her head: "No."
"How should I go back?" Jing Yao asked eagerly?
"Are you so afraid that your prince will find out?" He Anting sneered.
Jing Yao felt that he was talking nonsense. Was he going to get angry in the prince's face?
"You can stay in the side room for one night and then return home after the effect of the medicine wears off," he suggested.
"Forget it, I'd better go back home." Jing Yao said weakly. The Bo Mansion is watching her very closely now. If she doesn't return home at night, there will be a big fuss.
He Anting's expression was cold: "Whatever, this body is not mine."
Despite all the sarcasm, Jing Yao was still not stopped from returning to the Bo's Mansion. It was obviously something she should have done with confidence, but in the end, she even lacked the confidence to walk.
She asked nervously, "You brought me back to the mansion, aren't you afraid that the county lady will find out?"
He Anting remained calm: "She is sick and lying down. Ye Yunzheng is there with her."
He is so filial. His mother is sick, but he is not worried at all.
"By the way, can you return those things to me?" Jing Yao looked at the personal belongings she had left on the table with a bit of embarrassment.
He Anting remained calm: "No."
"Huh?" Jing Yao looked up in surprise, not understanding why. "Why?"
"How can you take something back after it's been in my hands? Are you going to continue using it? Isn't that a bit against the rules?"
He used the rules to pressure her, and Jing Yao found it difficult to refute for a while.
It seemed to make some sense, but also a little strange. How could a man who was not hers secretly hide a woman's personal belongings?
But she was tongue-tied and didn't dare to argue with him. Just give it to him. Maybe he would burn it later when he knew it was his. Otherwise, how could he keep it as a treasure? She pouted reluctantly.
Those were her favorite handkerchiefs and small clothes.
When Jing Yao left the house, He Anting also sent her out. In fact, she felt that it was too conspicuous and it would be better if Qing Wu sent her out. However, because of his unhappy expression, Jing Yao was tactful enough not to offend him.
She was wrapped from head to toe in a very tight milky white cloak, with the hood hanging softly on her bun. When she walked, she looked like a butterfly floating in the sky.
Jing Yao followed He Anting closely.
Suddenly, she heard a few faint voices coming from the front. Jing Yao was startled and subconsciously grabbed the clothes around He Anting's waist, her heart in her throat.
Ye Yunzheng and He came together, and the four of them met on a narrow road under the corridor. Jing Yao was glad that Yun Qiao was not with her, otherwise she would have been exposed.
Realizing that it was against the rules, Jing Yao quickly let go of her hand.
The silent wind suddenly rose up and blew gently across her face. The lowered hood instantly stuck tightly to her face. When Ye Yunzheng glanced over, he only saw a snow-white figure. The sunlight cast a layer of gold all over her body, and a small snow-white jaw was faintly visible under the hood.
He couldn't help but take another look.
"Brother, you..." He Qingxuan looked at the two of them in shock, dumbfounded and speechless, and her scrutinizing gaze fell on the back of him.
"This is the nun from Qingyun Temple. We came here today to discuss something. How is my mother?" His expression did not fluctuate at all, and he did not feel guilty or uncomfortable because of the gazes of the two people.
Jing Yao knelt down and saluted as he said.
He Qingxuan didn't believe him and was about to say something, but Ye Yunzheng interrupted his wife's tactless behavior: "Mother is fine, she just had a heat stroke."
He Anting nodded when he heard that, and asked him rather deliberately, "It's hard for you to be so concerned. It must have delayed a lot of things. There's no one left in the mansion. It's just a small matter, why bother you?"
He Qingxuan had a strange look on her face, thinking that her brother was being rather strangely polite today. Zhenglang was her husband, and serving their mother was his job, so how could he ask whether it was a bother or not?
He already said he has time to spare, so why are you being so polite, brother?
Ye Yunzheng heard this and said, "There's nothing to delay. I'm not busy with official duties today, and I don't have anything else to do. I have some free time."
Jing Yao, under the cloak, felt her heart sank when she heard this and bit her lips tightly. Although she was mentally prepared, she was still a little hurt by these words.
If you can't do it, why should you agree to it?
She seemed to be naive enough to bring shame upon herself.
He Anting smiled faintly. He Qingyun looked at Jing Yao and said, "Brother, since you are a nun, why are you covering your face? You look so shameful."
"A'er." Ye Yunzheng stopped her in a low voice.
"What does it have to do with you? Take care of your own business." He Anting rarely frowned and scolded her.
He Qingxuan was a little bit unbelievable and wanted to say something, but He Anting took the woman away.
When passing by each other, Ye Yunzheng always felt that this figure was somewhat familiar.
The two did not speak again until they walked out of the mansion. The carriage stopped in a secluded place. Jing Yao was somewhat glad that the mansion did not give her a carriage for travel. She was not afraid of renting a carriage.
She got into the car and handed the cloak to He Anting: "Sir, thank you today." She said sincerely.
He Anting looked up at her, seeing her pair of eyes like petals, his brows slightly furrowed, but in the end he said nothing.
Jing Yao got into the carriage, and the curtain separated the two of them.
After a short walk, she returned to the mansion. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she ran into Ningxiang. She glared at her, "Where have you been, Auntie? Why are you back just now? The prince has been waiting for you in the house for a long time."
Ever since she became pregnant, Ningxiang's attitude towards her was different from before, and there was even some respect in her words.
"I went back home to visit my relatives today and was delayed for a long time." Hearing that Ye Yunzheng was there, Jing Yao couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
She then walked into the house with her skirt lifted up. Ye Yunzheng was rummaging through her things at the table. On the table were some small things she usually used to pass the time, such as the Nine Rings Linked Toys, clay figurines, and shadow puppets.
Jing Yao is very good at entertaining herself. When she was a child, she could play with these things and talk to herself for a long time when no one was playing with her.
But in fact, she is a very protective person. She doesn't like anyone other than her mother touching her things. But Ye Yunzheng is always curious about her things, so she doesn't dare to say anything.
"Prince."
Ye Yunzheng suddenly looked up: "Yao'er, where have you been?"
Jing Yao pretended nothing had happened: "I went to accompany my mother today." She did not mention his broken promise, nor did she blame him.
A trace of guilt appeared on Ye Yunzheng's face: "Yao'er, I didn't mean to break the appointment today. It's just that the county lady is ill and can't get away. How about tomorrow?"
"It's okay. The prince is busy with official duties, so there's no need to go and see him specially. Let's talk about it next time when you're free." She smiled understandingly.
Ye Yunzheng felt inexplicably uncomfortable in his heart, but he was not used to forcing others, so he nodded lightly.
The news that He Anting brought back a woman and was holding her soon reached the ears of the county lord.
She was so frightened that her illness was cured, and she jumped up and asked someone to find out.
However, everyone in the house kept their mouths shut, and no one could get any information, no matter how detailed. The sealing off was obviously the work of her adopted son.
The county lady was full of doubts and felt uneasy.
She was not the type to hold back, so she called He Anting over and questioned him.
He Anting glanced at her and said, "If Mother is free, she can go to Fayun Temple to burn incense or play mahjong with the Duke's wife next door."
The county lady was furious again. What kind of son dared to speak to his mother like that? But he was the prime minister and she couldn't control him.
We had to ask people to watch carefully to prevent them from bringing back some women of questionable character.
…
Prince Yin's Palace
Xue Ningzhen was so anxious that she was running around in circles. Princess Yin arrived late and, seeing her sister's anxious look, she asked curiously, "What's wrong? What happened that makes you so anxious?"
Xue Ningzhen rushed over: "Eldest sister, save me."
Princess Yin looked shocked: "Don't be impatient, speak slowly."
Xue Ningzhen told Princess Yin about her drugging and was scolded: "Are you stupid? You're already throwing yourself into disarray before anyone else has done anything."
Xue Ningzhen felt very aggrieved: "I'm afraid too."
"It doesn't matter. He has no evidence in his hands now and can't catch any handle. Where is Mrs. Qian hiding now?"
"In the other courtyard." Princess Yin thought for a moment and said, "It's not very safe. I'll send someone to the other courtyard tonight to bring Mrs. Qian to the palace. I don't think He Anting, who has great power, will dare to do anything."
Xue Ningzhen breathed a sigh of relief: "Then, then our marriage."
Princess Yin was annoyed and her face was grim. "He doesn't know what you concealed that night. If he dares to break off the engagement, I will go to the palace and seek justice from the Empress."
Xue Ningzhen felt relieved: "Thank you, elder sister."
"Do you know who the woman was that night?" Princess Yin asked again.
Xue Ningzhen nodded, her face twisted a little as she spoke: "I know, she was a concubine of the Lingyun Marquis's son who was not worthy of being on the stage."
Princess Yin felt a little disgusted when she heard this. How unfortunate it was that such a favored son of heaven was involved with a lowly concubine.
"That's it. Even if he knows about He Anting, what can he do? Can he still marry that concubine?" Princess Yin smiled faintly, with an expression of extreme disdain.
"Then forget about the good reputation of Old Master He and the good reputation of the Xian'an Prince's Mansion."
Xue Ningzhen snorted, "How could He Anting possibly be interested in her? I've seen that woman before. She's flirtatious, frivolous, and pretentious. It's obvious she's restless. Even if He Anting doesn't marry her, what if she threatens him with the unborn baby?"
Princess Yin crushed a grape and said, "I heard that the Prince of Lingyun is in the Ministry of Personnel. Although his wife is stupid, he is a young talent and very cunning. How could he be deceived by a concubine?"
Xue Ningzhen's eyes lit up: "Eldest sister means..."
"How could Prince Ye keep a vixen who is restless and wants to seduce her uncle and confuse his bloodline?"
…
Ever since breaking the appointment that day, Ye Yunzheng always felt a little guilty towards Jing Yao, so he specially set aside a day to take her out for a walk.
He was both upset and angry, her heart pounding with anger. Mother Zheng told her to be patient, saying that she still had ninety days left and she would not have to endure this anger again.
Ye Yunzheng chartered a pleasure boat, wanting to take Jing Yao for a boat trip on the lake while the weather was good. Jing Yao was naturally happy to be able to eat, drink and have fun.
The Qinhuai River is sparkling, as if broken jade is scattered, the emerald green lake water ripples, and willow branches float gently, giving a sense of spring and bright scenery.
Jing Yao sat on the pleasure boat, holding a handful of fish food in her hand and sprinkled it into the lake. The fish rolled over and over in a scramble for the food.
In another pleasure boat, Xue Ningzhen looked at the man in front of her with a cold face, and her heart was throbbing more and more.
This man's appearance, stature, family background, and political affairs are all top-notch. She deserves a man like him, not those ugly guys following behind her.
"It's such a beautiful spring day, why don't you smile, sir?" Xue Ningzhen acted as if nothing had happened, which made He Anting frown.
What are you doing again?
Now that the truth was out, he didn't bother to say a word to her. Their marriage was just a rumor. In fact, the matchmaker hadn't come to their house, nor had they exchanged letters. As for the betrothal gift, there was no sign of it.
Little did he know, the Xue family had already been flaunting their power outside by relying on the name of his future wife.
It's just that he turned a blind eye to it before.
However, due to the emperor's influence and some shameful things, he did not choose to break off relations with the Xue Mansion and the Yin Palace.
"Miss Xue, please tell me what you have to say."
"If there is nothing wrong, can't you come out to find the master?"
The pleasure boat drifted slowly on the river, and soon it met another pleasure boat on the lake.
Ye Yunzheng has always been a good person. He noticed He Anting and the others with his sharp eyes and stepped forward in time: "Brother."
He Anting nodded, and glanced calmly at the pink figure at the end of the boat, and was certain in his heart that, as expected, bright colors still suited her.
Xue Ningzhen, however, felt contempt in her heart, thinking that she was just a vulgar and frivolous toy to warm the bed. She did not show it on her face, but her plan in her mind had already been initially achieved.
She strongly invited Ye Yunzheng to go on the boat with her. After thinking for a while, Ye Yunzheng pulled Jing Yao onto their pleasure boat.
"Slow down." He held her arm and said carefully.
Jing Yao hummed, feeling a burning gaze that made her feel a little uncomfortable. She looked up and saw He Anting staring at her without blinking.
She was subconsciously a little nervous, and her expression became unnatural.
Xue Ningzhen's eyes fell: "It is said that the prince has a beautiful concubine by his side, and he is extremely pampered. Now I see it, it is indeed well-deserved."
Ye Yunzheng smiled faintly: "My wife is virtuous, so she can take a beautiful concubine for me."
He did not forget to praise He Qingyun in front of He Anting. For a noble family, reputation is the most important.
"Please sit down." Xue Ningzhen said.
Ye Yunzheng was the first to go to He Anting, and Jing Yao hesitated for a moment and followed closely behind him. She was concerned about her status and didn't want to sit down directly. When she was hesitant, Xue Ningzhen winked at the maid behind her.
The maid pretended to go forward to pour tea, but accidentally bumped into Jing Yao. Jing Yao lost her balance and immediately fell towards He Anting.
The next moment, her soft buttocks sat firmly on his legs, and her hands supported herself randomly.
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