Chapter 5 Chapter 5 I really didn't expect him to be so cold
Jing Yao stammered, not daring to say anything. She struggled to stand up, but her legs gave way. Yun Qiao quickly supported her, "Auntie, are you okay?"
"It's okay, it just hurts a little."
It was more than just a little painful, it was extremely painful. Jing Yao was actually very afraid of pain, but she was used to enduring it. She limped back to Lanxiang Pavilion holding Yun Qiao's hand.
Yun Qiao took out her treasured mint ointment and carefully applied it on her knees. The red, swollen and bleeding knees looked extremely miserable.
Yun Qiao blew the flute while instructing her. Jing Yao moaned and ate a bowl of rose-filled dumplings with relish.
The next morning, she went to wait outside Muyunzhai before dawn.
After a night's sleep, her knee didn't feel much better. Walking felt like walking on a knife edge. The pain made her face pale, and she had to stand in the corridor.
The weather is not very good today. There are fine raindrops falling, wetting her hair.
Inside the house, He Qingyu helped Ye Yunzheng get dressed. Taking advantage of her good mood, Ye Yunzheng said, "The emperor will be leaving for the spring hunting at the palace in five days. I want to take Concubine Jing with him."
He's face changed slightly. How could he take that concubine with him on the spring hunt? Wouldn't that make people laugh at him?
But Ye Yunzheng wanted to take Jing Yao out for some relaxation, so he held her hand and said, "Ah Yao, the criticisms against you in Bianjing are getting more and more intense. It won't do you any harm to take Jing with you."
He's face was startled, and suddenly a warm feeling came over her. She still couldn't believe it: "Zheng Lang."
The resentment and frustration in my heart dissipated a little.
Mother Zheng came into the room and winked at He, who immediately understood: "Of course I listen to Zheng Lang's words. Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Serve the food. Mother Zheng, call everyone in to eat together."
Mother Zheng responded, and despite Ye Yunzheng's inexplicable gaze, she called Jing Yao in.
After touching her beautiful face, Ye Yunzheng's expression darkened slightly, and his hands on his knees curled up inexplicably.
He smiled and said, "We are all family. Sister Yao must have felt wronged yesterday. Let's sit down and have a meal together today."
Ye Yunzheng glanced at Jing Yao unconsciously, and said against his will, "She is just a concubine, how can she sit with the mistress? Let her serve on the side."
He was satisfied. Ye Yunzheng breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the atmosphere in the room was inexplicably unbearable. "I'll be leaving first. The morning court is about to begin, and I have to go to the cabinet first."
He was a little disappointed, but she didn't stop him: "It's cold, please put on more clothes."
She stood up and served him personally. The handsome man and beautiful woman looked like a painting. Mother Zheng glanced at Jing Yao with pride, who was ignored, wanting to see her disappointed reaction.
Jing Yao's mind was wandering. She was starving, and the meat pie on the table was emitting tempting heat. She couldn't help but grumble.
Mother Zheng thought she was just trying to cover up her loss and inability to face the situation, and she couldn't help but feel even more proud.
After Ye Yunzheng left, He Qingyun restrained her smile, sat back at the table, and her eyes fell on Jing Yao.
She was indeed a very beautiful woman. Even He Qingyu, who prided herself on her talent, couldn't help but be jealous of such a worldly beauty.
She was wearing a light-colored jacket with narrow sleeves. It was not solemn and gorgeous, but it perfectly outlined her slender waist, on which were her full breasts, unlike those of ordinary women.
The slightly rounded cheeks on her gorgeous face neutralize the impactful complexion and add a touch of tenderness and softness.
Bah, vixen.
He Qingxuan was furious. She stirred the bird's nest carelessly and asked, "How old are you this year?"
Jing Yao answered obediently, "Young Madam, sixteen."
"Sixteen, the age of beauty." He Qingyu seemed to be lost in reminiscence.
"Back then, the prince and I got married at this age. When he proposed, he knelt before my father and begged for a long time before my father agreed."
Jing Yao didn't quite understand why He Shi said this to her.
He's tone suddenly turned cold: "How long do you think you can keep his favor? Men are just attracted by your youth and beauty. Young and beautiful women are like leeks in the field, one crop after another. Don't take yourself too seriously."
Jing Yao listened with one ear and out the other. She had been standing there for nearly half an hour and her legs were aching so much that she was almost dizzy.
He Qingyun became even more angry when he saw her cotton-like appearance.
"You're such an eyesore, you clumsy talker. Get out of here."
Jing Yao felt as if she had been pardoned. She lowered her head, endured the pain, and limped back. She could understand what He meant.
Calling her here was simply to remind her to behave herself.
She was tired of hearing these things. Why did no one control Ye Yunzheng's legs when everyone said it? What was the point of just talking to her?
Jing Yao also didn't understand why everyone looked up to her.
Yun Qiao couldn't help but feel angry for her aunt.
"Don't be sad, Auntie. The prince will come back in a few days." Yun Qiao comforted her.
Yun Qiao was angry, but Jing Yao hissed, "It hurts, go slower."
"Don't be sad, Auntie. The young lady is just jealous of you."
Jing Yao looked bewildered. She uttered a slow "oh" and then didn't respond. Yun Qiao was a little annoyed by her slowness. "Auntie, why don't you react at all? You can't do this tomorrow. Take advantage of your injury to cry to the prince and act like a spoiled child. Maybe the prince will soften his heart."
Reaction? Jing Yao was so happy that she couldn't wait to be happy. She hoped that the prince and He Shi would get along well. That way, He Shi would be happy and would not cause trouble for her.
She said it perfunctorily, but in her heart she wanted to use the wound to buy some jewelry.
…
Jing Yao tossed and turned all night and didn't sleep well. When she got up, she was ashamed. She was afraid of pressing on the wound and didn't dare to roll around freely.
Yun Qiao came into the room and urged, "Auntie, please make a cake yourself today and send it to the prince's study."
Jing Yao turned over and said, "Let's not go. The prince is really displeased with me right now."
Yun Qiao was very disappointed: "Even if it's because the prince is angry, it's better for you to cry, act like a spoiled child and admit your mistakes than to do nothing. Think about it, wasn't Cui like this at home? She held the master's heart tightly..."
It would have been fine if Cui Shi was not mentioned, but as soon as she did, Jing Yao's face turned stern: "Don't mention her."
Yun Qiao also knew that she had said the wrong thing: "Yes, I will go prepare the meal for Auntie."
Jing Yao felt disgusted whenever Cui was mentioned. She felt disgusted with her father, Cui, and herself.
Because of this, she didn't eat much breakfast.
Ye Yunzheng ignored Jing Yao for two days and went to Muyunzhai every day. He became more and more radiant.
Yun Qiao saw that her master was really heartless, and she still had the urge to embroider and thought that this couldn't go on any longer.
She made up her mind and took the food box to block the prince in front of the mansion gate in the evening.
After about two quarters of an hour, a carriage stopped in front of the mansion gate. A handsome figure got out of the carriage. Yun Qiao's eyes lit up: "Prince."
Ye Yunzheng recognized that this maid was someone close to Jing Yao.
"What is it?"
Yun Qiao handed over the food box: "Prince, this is the cake made by our aunt. Although she injured her leg, she still cares about you. Our aunt said that she knows she was wrong and asks for your mercy."
Ye Yunzheng's expression changed slightly: "Is she okay?"
Yun Qiao suddenly had an idea: "The aunt doesn't show it on her face, but she cries day and night. She doesn't say it, but she feels wronged in her heart."
Ye Yunzheng's heart softened: "Forget it, I'll go see her."
Yun Qiao was overjoyed: "Oh."
Upon learning that Ye Yunzheng had gone to Lanxiang Pavilion, He's face darkened again.
Jing Yao was still reading a storybook and eating snacks in bed with great interest. She was lying on the bed. When Ye Yunzheng entered the room, he saw her looking as lazy as a cat.
"Yao'er."
The clear voice brought Jing Yao back to her lost thoughts.
"Prince?" She was stunned for a moment, then quickly stood up and got out of bed gracefully.
"Don't move. Your leg is still injured. Sit down." Ye Yunzheng helped her sit back on the couch. "Are you angry with me?"
Jing Yao shook her head honestly: "I dare not."
Ye Yunzheng just thought she was saying this: "Yao'er, I've wronged you. The He family is very jealous and cruel..."
Jing Yao's heart suddenly rose, and she quickly stopped him: "No, no, I...I am not wronged."
Oh my god, don't hurt her.
There are He's spies everywhere here. If He hears this, she will definitely think that she is the one who instigated the discord.
Seeing her panic, Ye Yunzheng's heart sank. "If I hadn't made you kneel yesterday, He would have definitely taken her anger out on you."
Before he could finish, Jing Yao covered his mouth with her hand, and a faint fragrance drifted into his nose, making him suddenly dazed.
The soft and slippery little hands made a fire surge in his body.
Jing Yao didn't notice his deep eyes. Her heart was beating very fast as she looked out cautiously.
"Prince, there's no need to say more. I understand everything, I understand." Jing Yao comforted him with a pale face.
Ye Yunzheng lowered his eyes. He knew she was soft-hearted, but he still hardened his heart: "But He is my wife after all. I have overstepped the boundaries. From now on, I will strictly follow the rules of the backyard and will not come here on other days."
Is there such a good thing?
Jing Yao's eyes lit up, and she said sweetly, "Don't worry, my lord. I understand everything."
Seeing how sensible she was, Ye Yunzheng felt a bit unhappy, but he suppressed his unhappiness and said, "In three days, it will be the spring hunting day. You should come with me and have some fun."
In fact, Jing Yao didn't really want to go to the spring hunt. As a concubine, she would be ostracized and ridiculed if she went.
She said tactfully, "I'm afraid my status as a servant isn't suitable."
"That's fine. There aren't that many rules. Just don't show up in front of others."
Having said this, Jing Yao just agreed.
But before the spring hunt, he received an invitation from the Princess of Pingyang County.
Ningxiang walked into the room arrogantly and announced, "The young lady said that the county lord is going to the Fayun Temple outside the city to burn incense, and ordered my aunt to go with him. She said that she should worship Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth, so that she can have a child soon."
Jing Yao responded slowly and changed her clothes reluctantly.
She rested for two days and her knees didn't hurt much anymore. She dared not disobey the county lady's order. If she said something bad about her to Cui again, her mother would be angry.
"Let's go, let's go." She would pretend to be a quail, kowtow and come back. Before leaving, she did not forget to stuff four pieces of glutinous crystal cakes into her purse.
She left Lanxiang Pavilion and went to Muyunzhai first, where she stood aside and waited, waiting for He to finish packing and come out before following her.
The county lord naturally left the city in a grand procession, accompanied by two old women, four or five maids, and a number of guards.
He and the county lord were in the same carriage, and she was unlucky enough to be in the same carriage with He Qingwan.
"Why are you here?" He Qingwan exploded when she saw her. Jing Yao pretended not to notice. "The county lady asked me to follow her. She said she wanted to go and pay respect to the Goddess of Fertility."
She deliberately brought up the county lord to prevent He Qingwan from picking on her again.
Sure enough, when He Qingwan heard this, she just said a few hurtful words to her, repeating the same words over and over again, and Jing Yao could just let them go in one ear and out the other.
Fayun Temple is quiet and ancient, with tall plane trees blocking out the sun. The view is filled with sandalwood and green. Maids hold umbrellas for the masters, one to block the sun, the other to cover up their excessive beauty.
Jing Yao got off the carriage obediently, holding up her skirt, but was bumped by He Qingwan with her shoulder. She snorted and ran to the county lord to act coquettishly.
The group climbed the stone steps and entered the temple. In such good weather, there were quite a few pilgrims in the temple. Yun Qiao carefully protected her master from being squeezed.
Jing Yao's mind was completely focused on the road ahead when she suddenly heard the county lady's voice raise, "Why are you here?"
Jing Yao felt that her vision was blocked by the bamboo umbrella, so she stretched out her white little hand and raised it, and her eyes were immediately caught by the tall figure.
He Anting came here today with his uncle from the Prince of Xian'an's mansion. His uncle has just turned thirty and is the Princess's late-born son. He is now a general in Qingzhou on the northwest border and has finally returned after ten days.
"Eldest sister." Cui Yan bowed from a distance with a smile on his face, and the two began to chat about family matters. He Anting's eyes fell on the lilac-colored figure at the back, whose head was completely covered by the red plum umbrella.
She and the maid behind her were like headless stakes, motionless, and seemed to be trying to cover up their crimes.
He Anting: ...
Jing Yao hid her face under the umbrella, muttering to herself, "I can't see her, I can't see her."
Unfortunately, the greetings of the two sisters of the He family rang in my ears one after another: "Uncle."
She couldn't help but know the etiquette, so she raised her umbrella awkwardly, bowed gracefully, and whispered, "General Cui, Lord He."
The moment the umbrella was raised, Cui Yan was amazed: "Who is this...?" What a unique girl.
He Anting, who understood everything, said calmly, "Yun Zheng's concubine."
The county lady was about to attack to provide cover, but her own son revealed her identity. She glared at He Anting.
Cui Yan showed disappointment: "If you are a concubine... why did you come with my elder sister?"
Cui Yan didn't know about the Ye family, so the county lady told him the truth: "Her mother is Cui Fengyun."
Cui Fengyun is the Cui family that Jing Yao hates the most. She was born in the Prince of Xian'an's Mansion and was born to a concubine.
Cui Yan suddenly realized: "If that's the case, you should call me uncle."
Jing Yao said obediently, "Uncle."
Because of their different status, Cui Yan didn't want to start a conversation, so he spoke to the county lady side by side.
He Anting caught a glimpse of the figure out of the corner of his eye and followed behind obediently.
Several people entered the hall. Jing Yao followed the county lady and knelt on the cushion with her hands folded to worship the Buddha. She was beautiful and bright, and even though she was only wearing a plain jacket, she attracted many people's attention.
He Qingwan cursed secretly, "Fox charmer." These words fell into He Anting's ears, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look over.
All I could see was her beautiful and delicate profile, kneeling upright on the cushion, her eyes lowered, her nose small and straight, her lips full and round. The light from outside the hall shining through instantly turned her lips a light cherry pink, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly, like butterfly wings.
He recalled the shame and anger on her face when he exposed her trick at the uncle's house that day. He never expected that she would still not give up today.
He Anting did not believe that these three encounters were coincidences, but he thought that this woman was really scheming. Since he became a cabinet minister, countless undercover agents, spies, pawns, assassins, and beauties had wanted to get something from him.
What's more, he hadn't had a full night's sleep for decades, which made him very suspicious.
He Anting withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes coldly. This was not something worth his concern.
After worshipping the Buddha, the county lady called Jing Yao over and said, "Go to the back. There is a temple dedicated to the Goddess of Childbirth. Go and worship her there."
"Yes." Jing Yao didn't show it on her face. She lifted her skirt and went to the back obediently.
She won't bow.
Having heard that the vegetarian food here was very good, Jing Yao found a room to avoid being seen and asked the young monk for a portion to fill her stomach.
The dish was indeed light, but refreshing. Jing Yao ate it slowly, one bite after another. Yun Qiao was anxious and urged her several times, "Auntie, eat quickly. We still have to go to worship the Buddha after we finish eating."
"It's okay, you can do it for me." Jing Yao said perfunctorily.
Yun Qiao knew that her aunt was hopeless, so she accepted the task resignedly, thinking that it would be a waste not to pay her respects.
Now that the person had left, her ears were free and Jing Yao ate more happily.
Not long after, there was a sudden noise outside. Jing Yao looked puzzled. She stood up and leaned to the crack of the door to look, but found that all the people had rushed out.
She didn't care about anything else and quickly opened the door. She grabbed a passing novice monk and asked, "What happened? Why are you running?"
"Donor, please leave immediately. An assassin has suddenly appeared in the temple and has killed countless people. He is now hiding here. The prefect of Kaifeng has already brought people to search the temple."
Jing Yao was startled and subconsciously walked out. When she reached the front hall, she realized that Yun Qiao was missing.
She called out a few times but no one answered, so she gritted her teeth and turned back.
He couldn't stop her, so she just didn't bother to care.
Jing Yao was worried and asked everyone she met, but the pilgrims were in a hurry to escape and had no time to pay attention to her.
She walked along the road to the Guanyin Temple. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw a cold light flash in her eyes and saw a sword across her neck.
Jing Yao was stunned for a moment, her heart almost stopped beating, and her body was frozen, not daring to move.
The assassin covered his face and looked at the beauty in his hands with great interest: "I didn't expect that I could have such a beautiful woman in the face of life and death today."
"You think too much. There is no life, only death." A low and cold voice suddenly sounded, and He Anting slowly walked into the yard, his figure tall and straight.
The smoky gray color of the afterglow ignited Jing Yao's hope for life.
The assassin had just mixed in with the pilgrims and naturally knew that Jing Yao and He Anting were together.
"Prepare a car for me, otherwise I will kill her." The sharp blade moved towards Jing Yao's snow-white neck, and a little bright red blood seeped out.
He Anting looked at him indifferently, with an impatient expression: "Whether she is dead or alive, it's none of my business."
Jing Yao's heart sank and her face turned pale. She really didn't expect him to be so cold-hearted. Even if human life was worthless in the eyes of powerful eunuchs like them, she was still a member of the Bo Mansion after all. How could he just give up on her like that?
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