Defending Love
Chapter 33: Defending Love
The next time Jiang Qingci saw the two was in the Wei family courtyard at night.
Still somewhat impressed by Yi Huan beside him, he couldn't help but ask, "Didn't he give it to Geshuer?"
"Your Highness, you don't know that the Jiedushi actually sent someone to deliver it back two days ago. I don't know why the Jiedushi did this, so I accepted it."
Jiang Qingci nodded to show that he understood. He didn't have much time to talk about the trivial things in the backyard, but he left without feeling very satisfied.
This banquet is a banquet for entering the Fu Prefecture, and its purpose is nothing more than to curry favor with the Eastern Palace.
Peng Zuoyan had long since given up the idea of clinging to Jiang Qingci. Thinking of the person following him, he turned back slightly and said, "Ah Huan, if you don't want to go, then we won't go."
"We've come this far, aren't we going to go? You're not afraid of traveling with a concubine, so why should I be afraid?"
Jiang Qingci showed up and found a quiet place in the yard to sit down, playing chess with black and white pieces. He shed his crown prince demeanor and became more indifferent besides being noble.
Wei Yang came over with his hand raised, bowed and greeted, then stepped to the left and introduced, "Your Highness, this is my daughter Tingyue. We have distinguished guests in our residence, and Tingyue came to say hello."
“…Greetings, Your Highness.”
Jiang Qingci passed by the young woman kneeling on the gravel road to pay her respects and pretended not to know what she was saying. "What does Minister Wei mean?"
"Tingyue has admired Your Highness since she was young. It just so happens that today, there is a banquet at home, so she begged me to see you. Your Highness, I am deeply in love with you, and I cannot say more for the sake of my dignity. As a father, I can't help but say a few words. Please don't be offended."
"Look up."
Wei Tingyue knelt with her upper body straight, her skirt that was tied at the waist made her look even more delicate and slender. Her timid eyes had a tenacity. If it weren't for her face that looked like a pear blossom, Wei Yang would not have offered her up.
Jiang Qingci hummed a sound, neither light nor heavy, "Stay."
Wei Yang was overjoyed and whispered to comfort him, "Tingyue, serve His Highness well."
Wei Tingyue did not respond, having already seen through their father-daughter relationship which was full of self-interest.
This was a gift, not even a low-ranking Fengyi, with no name or status. After all, he was a minister of the Ministry of Works, but he looked as ugly as a brothel madam soliciting customers.
"Then, I'll take my leave. Please enjoy yourself and don't be polite."
Glancing at Wei Yang who was leaving, Jiang Qingci's eyes fell on the face of Wei Tingyue who was still kneeling. She was delicate, quiet and polite, which was pleasing to her liking. She didn't mind his ridiculous behavior of giving her away.
"Stand up and come sit down."
Yi Huan glanced at the scene and commented, "Selling your daughter for fame is unworthy of being a parent."
"No matter how bad it is, it's someone else's family affair. Have a cup of tea and don't be angry." Peng Zuoyuan poured a cup of tea and didn't pay attention to anyone or anything else.
"You're not much better."
Peng Zuoyan laughed and retorted, "What does it have to do with me? Ah Huan's words are biased."
"Your name is Wei Tingyue, which two characters?"
"Courtyard, crescent moon."
The voice of the girl next to him was a little hoarse. Jiang Qingci picked up the wine at hand and gave it to her. As soon as the spicy wine entered her throat, she choked and coughed.
Jiang Qingci pinched her chin and lifted it up, squinting his eyes to look at the mouth stains on her lips, and said arrogantly, "Do you know that Minister Wei gave you to me?"
Wei Tingyue trembled slightly from time to time, humiliation flashed in her eyes, but she didn't say anything.
Jiang Qingci closed the distance between them and asked, "Tingyue, are you willing to follow me?"
"Will Your Highness beat this servant?"
"ha."
Jiang Qingci pulled the corners of his lips and looked down at the girl in his arms. His heart moved slightly, and he moved his lips closer to her as if to kiss her.
Not to mention that there were many guests in the main courtyard, this small courtyard was also guarded by palace soldiers. Wei Tingyue was not prepared for being stared at by everyone and hid in panic with a look of panic on her face.
Jiang Qingci's breath fell on her ear, and a low chuckle made Wei Tingyue extremely regret dodging just now.
The next second, Wei Tingyue was knocked to the ground by a slap from him.
Wei Yang ran over in shock, blaming and scolding Wei Tingyue, raising his hand to hit her in the face.
"What is Minister Wei doing?"
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I was so busy that I angered you. Please don't blame me. Ling Tingyue will apologize to you."
Wei Tingyue was forced to kneel down by him, lowering his head to hide the mockery and anger on his face.
A seventeen-year-old girl is at the age of blooming beauty. Her chest-length purple skirt is a little loose because of the movement of bending over. Jiang Qingci only needs to lower his head to see her fair, soft and delicate beauty, as well as her waist, which is flexible and slender.
Jiang Qingci couldn't help but sigh at Wei Yang's thoughtfulness. This person was well chosen, and this shirt was also well chosen.
He softened his tone, not wanting to see these two people for the time being, "Take them away first."
"Yes, it is my fault for disturbing Your Highness's mood. I will take them down right away."
"Ah Huan, this is someone that the Eastern Palace ordered to be taken away and that the Wei family's Minister had locked up. How dare you interfere? Tsk tsk."
Peng Zuoyan followed behind Yi Huan. After knowing her plan, he had no intention of stopping her. Although he was shocked in his words, he looked like he was watching the fun and did not show any fear at all.
"The prince only said to take her away, but they took it upon themselves to lock her up. It's better to follow the prince than to be forgotten by him."
Yi Huan had only decided to intervene after careful observation and consideration. Madam Wei was probably having a hard time in the Wei family, so rather than continue to be harassed, she might as well give it a try and get out.
She pried open the door lock, and Peng Zuoyan stood guard at the door with his arms folded, his eyes constantly fixed on Yi Huan who was lying on his side.
Taking advantage of the loophole in Jiang Qingci's words and picking the lock of the owner's house seemed like something she would do.
"Madam Wei, I have unlocked the door. After the banquet, it is up to you whether to go with the prince or not."
“…Why are you helping me?”
"I can't stand the Wei family bullying you."
Wei Tingyue chuckled softly. Even a sympathetic outsider could help her, but her heartless biological father wanted to give her away.
"The door is open. Have you figured out how to leave?"
"Didn't Wei Yang give his daughter to him? Of course I have to go with him."
Wei Yang had better pray that she is not favored, otherwise, the kindness he showed her cannot offset the resentment she has harbored over the years.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is arbitrary and cold-blooded, and his temper is not one that can be easily controlled, but at least there is still room for struggle.
Just as Yi Huan thought, Wei Tingyue would choose to go out.
"How could there be such a father and aunt in the world?"
When it comes to her parents' relationship, Wei Tingyue is disappointed again and again.
Wei Yang's love was short-lived. Even though his unloved concubine finally gave birth to a child, it couldn't change Wei Yang's dislike for her. Wei Tingyue was thirteen years old when Wei Yang plotted against her because of her face. He trained her until she was seventeen, but she was just a pawn in Wei Yang's future.
Yi Huan was silent for a moment, then said, "Not all parents are worthy of being called parents. They didn't fulfill their responsibilities. It's not your fault."
"Wait, what's your name? Thank you."
"Yi Huan. You're welcome."
The two of them returned along the narrow path. Peng Zuoyan saw that she was in a low mood and brought up the topic, "Ah Huan, you don't seem to have much awe or fear towards the nobles."
"If those in high positions are unfair, should those at the bottom still cling to their ignorance and allow themselves to be manipulated and oppressed?"
"But people are not born equal. Power is heaven, and you must kneel before heaven."
The two people have different positions, and no amount of argument can change the other party.
Yi Huan's conviction stems from her own experience. "It's just like this now, but it will be the same in the future, not just for men and women, but also for all classes."
Yi Huan grew up in a society of freedom, equality and justice. Even after a lifetime, the class oppression here could not assimilate her.
Peng Zuoyan put his hands on her shoulders and asked tentatively, "Ah Huan, what kind of environment has cultivated your personality?"
Yi Huan reached out to push him, but obviously couldn't move him, so he retracted his hand.
"I can have whatever personality I want. Why do you care so much? You have so much free time."
"I only care about you, and I can't control you." Peng Zuoyan walked forward and hugged her, throwing away the doubts in his heart.
It was precisely this kind of rebelliousness that attracted him. No matter where Yi Huan heard these words, the important thing was that she was being held alive in his arms at this moment. He didn't ask where she came from or what her future would be. Yi Huan was a human being, not a ghost or monster.
"Stay away from me."
Peng Zuoyan suddenly thought of something and said with a hint of meaning, "Ah Huan, today is the eighth day."
"What do you mean by 'let me go on the eighth day'? This is someone else's yard. Hey my waist, are you sick?"
It was naturally the days since her period ended. Peng Zuoyan calculated the time and smiled strangely, "Ah Huan, I'm just a little excited thinking about having a good, in-depth conversation with you tonight."
"You're a fucking psychopath, get out of here..."
Yi Huan was silenced by his lowering head and struggled violently.
Peng Zuoyan was distracted and noticed the sound of footsteps. He reluctantly left her lips and took a step back seriously.
Seeing her disapproval, Peng Zuoyan deliberately nodded and said, "Ah Huan, wipe your lips. Your lip balm is all smudged."
Peng Zuoyan discovered a restaurant with good food, so he dragged Yi Huan there to have breakfast early in the morning.
Yi Huan didn't quite understand his action, and said in a sleepy tone: "Why don't you just come and eat by yourself? I don't want to eat, can't you buy it and send it to your house?"
"Since you're here, if you still want to eat, I'll deliver it to your house next time."
Peng Zuoyao personally served a bowl of porridge and handed it to him, saying, "This salty porridge is good. Try it."
"I don't like drinking it..." The pushing hand touched the hot bowl. Yi Huan didn't intend to take it. He let go of his hand again. The bowl of fresh meat porridge happened to be spilled under his abdomen, and hot steam could be seen rising up.
Yi Huan fell silent, anticipating that he would be furious and say something insulting. But after a moment's silence, Peng Zuoyan simply took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped it briefly, then used his left hand to comfort her, "It's okay, you eat first, I'll go change my clothes."
After returning from the clothing store, Peng Zuoyan was still in the mood to tease her, "I checked on Ah Huan, luckily Ah Huan is fine."
"It's okay..."
Yi Huan realized something was wrong when he met his suggestive eyes, and immediately changed his tone and said, "It would be better if it's gone."
"If she really died, not only would I cry, Ah Huan would cry every night too."
"Just shut up, you're saying all sorts of nonsense."
He pestered her at night, and she realized that he wanted a child and was serious about it.
At night, Peng Zuoyan half-knelt on the bed, his rough and dry hands seemed to light a fire, stroking and pressing, as if deliberately provoking her pleasure.
Yi Huan suddenly pushed his hands away. The more he felt that he was different in every way, the more uneasy he became.
"Peng Zuoyan, you're out of line."
"Ah Huan, you guessed it all." Putting her hand on his heart, Peng Zuoyan forced her to see more clearly and said, "Why don't you say it? Didn't you guess who lives in it?"
Yi Huan felt a strong fear about his love for her. She thought Peng Zuoyan would definitely control her more firmly. Love, why did she feel love for him?
"Are you a bitch?! I don't like you!"
"Ah Huan, Cui Luan is dead in name only. I will not take a second wife in the future. As long as you nod, I will take you as my wife. You will be the lady of the mansion."
Yi Huan avoided his sight and said evasively: "You are drunk."
You know best whether I have been drinking or not.
Peng Zuoyan held her face with a scorching gaze and pressed her, "Ah Huan, what are you afraid of? Status, gold, silver, love, everything I have can be given to you. Can't you just nod your head?"
I said I didn't like it.
Yi Huan covered his ears and retorted soberly, "I'm not that important. It's your fantasy that I'm more important. If the time comes to make a choice, you'll still give up on me. I'm not important to you."
"You still blame me for giving up on you, Ah Huan. I didn't see clearly before. From now on, I will protect you and will never abandon you."
Peng Zuoyan leaned over and placed his hand on the back of Yi Huan's hand, and gently persuaded her, "Ah Huan, let go of the past and start a relationship with me sincerely, okay? We have known each other for six years. I treat you seriously, and I hope we can have a future."
"But I don't love you! No matter how long, how many lifetimes, or how many years pass, I will never love you." Yi Huan dodged his touch and shouted excitedly: "Are you trying to drive me crazy, Peng Zuoyan?"
"Who do you love then? Chao Lanyu? He died a long time ago. You've been guarding a dead man for five years, and I've been guarding you for five years. Yi Huan, the mourning period for a widow has come. Are you going to guard your heart and soul for him forever? Can you look forward to it? I can treat you well, even better than he did."
Peng Zuoyan slumped his shoulders, his face showing aggrieved resentment, and the way he pleaded made it seem as if she had hurt his feelings first.
"How could you say such shameless words? Peng Zuoyan, let me remind you of something you forgot. It was you who robbed me, you killed Ah Yu, you disrupted the trajectory of my life. Your actions are worse than those of an animal. How can you still have the audacity to ask me to love you?"
"I can make it up to you."
Yi Huan angrily avoided his touch, and said firmly, "Not enough! Your evil deeds will surely be punished. You said you liked me, huh? That's what you deserve. I tell you today and forever, I will never love you. As long as I am alive, the person I love most is Chao Lanyou."
I can't forget him, and I can't remember his face clearly.
Yi Huan suddenly burst into tears. When she thought of A Yu, she could not even remember Chao Lanyu's face.
He did not appear in dreams. Apart from Yi Huan's worries, no one in this world remembered that in a small village in Guanghan County, there was a young man named Chao Lanyu who fell from a mountain and died in a foreign land.
Time is so cruel. It not only separates lovers by life and death, but also erases the memory of him in her heart.
Yi Huan opened her tearful red eyes and sobbed, "Peng Zuoyan, I beg you not to love me. I don't want your love."
"Ah Huan, I'm sincere. Why don't you believe me? I won't do any worse than them. Ah Huan, let's start over. Dwelling on the past will only wear you down."
"Your love is too casual, it's charity. Love is about equality and dedication, but you can't even show basic respect."
Peng Zuoyan pondered for a moment, his temper rising. He lowered his voice and said, "Ah Huan, you only know how to drink the penalty wine, right? If it were anyone else, they would definitely be ecstatic. Why are you different?"
"It's not that I'm different, it's that I have someone in my heart." Facing his angry face, Yi Huan still said: "Why should I agree to your love? I'm not your mother who has to obey you all the time. You may have forgotten the pain you brought me, but I can't. I will remember it for the rest of my life and hate you forever."
"I was helpless before, but I won't do that anymore. Ah Huan, you are very important to me. If I abandon you, I will be abandoning myself."
Peng Zuoyan paused and hypothetically said, "If I had appeared earlier and come to my senses, I would have been good to you..."
"When I was fifteen, I realized I liked Chao Lanyu and moved out of his house to prepare for marrying into his family in the future. Even if you showed up earlier, what would it have been?"
Peng Zuoyan approached her knees, grabbed her wrist and asked, "Ah Huan, you really want to irritate me, don't you?"
"Look, you say you love me but you imprison me at the same time. This is not love."
He loosened his grip and leaned in to speak.
"I can change it."
"But I don't want to change with you. When you didn't love me, you treated me like a concubine, hurting and humiliating me. When you loved me, you held me in high esteem. Your feelings are too shallow. You asked for Madam Cui to marry you. How did you treat her? Why should I be a moth? I'm not saying this to ask you to change. I'm just telling you a fact. I've been loved and I've loved others. Your feelings are too cheap and too unequal. Let's just be concubine and husband, isn't that good?"
"I am not fire. I will not burn you to ashes. I will always protect you."
Is he someone who doesn't understand what people are saying? Yi Huan retorted loudly: "Why should I respond when you love me? There is someone in my heart."
"Then throw him out and I'll move in."
Yi Huan suddenly laughed, poked his heart and said, "You can't kill him in my heart, do you still want to get into my heart and throw him out?"
"Ah Huan, you should look forward. Do you want to stay in the past your whole life, living with your memories? You are neither human nor ghost, you should look forward."
"You ruined my life that was supposed to be going well."
Looking forward, if Yi Huan didn't want to look forward, he would have given up long ago. It was because of these heartwarming memories that he gritted his teeth and looked forward.
Peng Zuoyan spoke earnestly and sincerely, "Can't you try to fall in love with me over time? I can give you anything."
"I've heard such words before, and Brother Lu has done it for me."
Peng Zuoyao thought about the brother Lu she mentioned and recalled, "...Zhang Lu?"
After they first met in childhood, which family did Peng Zuoyuan plot to harm?
"Brother Lu and A Yu are both willing to die for me. We are equals. Whether it's family or love, I can't accept you."
Peng Zuoyan sighed and explained, "Ah Huan, love isn't about exchanging your life for yours. If I die and no one protects you, leaving you to face the difficulties alone would be harmful to you. No matter how many nice words I say to you, they must be seen in action. I've spent my whole life protecting you. Isn't that enough?"
Yi Huan's eyes were clear, and he obviously didn't believe his high-sounding words.
"Initially, it was Brother Lu who was willing to sacrifice his life so I could live, and later, Ah Yu was willing to risk his own life to save me. You said I was important, but you first imprisoned me and then abandoned me several times. Am I important? I was indeed important when you were using me."
Speaking of the past, Peng Zuoyan couldn't deny it and could only pour out his true feelings: "Ah Huan, I won't do that again."
"I'm not asking you to trade your life for mine. I'm just asking you to see through yourself. You can take back your care at any time. I don't want to sacrifice everything to be favored by you, and then end up with a face that I despise."
When the Zhang family encountered trouble, there was a famine. People in the Zhang mansion died or fled, leaving only the two of them to depend on each other.
Zhang Lu stuffed the last half of the dry biscuit into the hands of the seven-year-old Yi Huan and said in a hoarse voice, "Huanhuan, you eat it."
"Silly, if I eat you I'll be hungry and will starve to death."
"Then let's eat together."
"Okay." Yi Huan broke it into two pieces impartially, and the words spoken with the child's body were also coquettish.
Twenty-seven-year-old Zhang Lu was pampered by his family with fine clothes and delicious food. Not only was he the only boy in the family, but he also avoided people and things because of his autism. His mental state was similar to that of Yi Huan.
The next night, Zhang Lu ate the remaining dry biscuits with great relish, saying, "They are so delicious, Huanhuan."
Yi Huan swallowed the dry biscuit in small sips and touched his cheek with heartache.
The Zhang family is very nice, and Brother Lu is simple and kind. Now, alas, it’s all a natural disaster, but it’s okay. In the future, she will support Zhang Lu and wait for him to grow up.
In the dead of night, Zhang Lu couldn't sleep because of the cramps in his stomach. He said, "Huanhuan, I want you to live."
"We live together."
"Huanhuan, here, besides me, there's only you."
Yi Huan knew what he meant. He was autistic, and she communicated with him, helped him and encouraged him. That's why Zhang Ru's world accepted him, and he began to walk out of the world. It had nothing to do with love, but the purest friendship and support.
Zhang Lu blinked his big, moist eyes and looked into the distance and said, "Huanhuan, will you accompany me from now on?"
Yi Huan held him with her short arms, caressing his hair and saying, "Yes, not only me, but also my godfather, godmother, and Nanny Chang. If we...are not here anymore, we will go to their place and we will be reunited. Then we won't be hungry or beaten, just like when I first came home."
"Huanhuan, don't cry."
Zhang Lu raised his hand to wipe her tears and said with all his strength, "Huanhuan, don't come looking for me. I want you to live well."
"We all have to live well."
But we are almost starving to death, Ahuanhuan.
Her fingers touched the dry biscuits left for her in her sleeve. Zhang Lu smiled suddenly and covered her eyes lively, saying as he did in the past, "Let's have a competition to see who opens their eyes first."
"Ha, good."
Until he could no longer hold on and his right hand fell on his leg, Yi Huan could no longer detect his breath, and the cake fell out.
"Zhang Lu, you're a big liar!"
Peng Zuoyan hugged her, angry that she mentioned other men, and said arrogantly: "So what, Ah Huan, now and in the future, the only one by your side can only be me. They died, and you will never be able to."
"Ahuan, let's have a baby."
After saying this, Peng Zuoyan seemed to think this was a good solution and took off his shirt one by one.
When he approached with his bare arms, Yi Huan gathered all his strength and slapped him, scolding him: "Get out! Get out!"
"I don't want to have a child with you, you're just trying to be a bitch, right?"
Peng Zuoyan touched his cut brow bone, knelt down and looked up at her from below, a fierce look flashing across his face, "Since you can't laugh, then we will cry for the child."
The mud was accompanied by the pleasure of cursing. Peng Zuoyan had heard enough of her unwillingness and leaned over to block her words with his lips.
Peng Zuoyan still had to exert himself and take care of her. When he paused, he didn't want to pull away. He kissed her cheek lovingly, hugged her and said, "Ah Huan, if you resist, I will be even tougher than you. From now on, I have plenty of time to spend with you."
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