Chapter 32: He asked me to ask you if you have such a fetish...
Yang Yan raised his eyes and looked at Chai Heng deeply, with an indescribable deep meaning in his eyes.
After a long while, he said, "Okay."
He agreed so readily, which was completely different from before. Chai Heng had known him for so long, but she had rarely seen him so submissive.
"You knew it was a humiliation, but you still agreed. Yang Yan, don't tell me that after we divorced, you started to like me, right?"
Chai Heng sat at the table, playing with the teacup boredly while staring at him.
Yang Yan was silent for a moment: "Why do you think I only like you after the divorce?"
"What else? Are you going to tell me you loved me in your past life?" As this thought occurred to her, Chai Heng began to despise herself for her own wishful thinking. Even though she had relied on this wishful thinking and wishful thinking to get by for over a decade in her past life.
Yang Yan knew that no matter what he said now, she would no longer believe him.
But she couldn't help but speak calmly, "I've never liked anyone else. In the past and now, the only person I've ever liked is you."
Chai Heng was stunned by these words, but then she smiled in relief. She didn't believe such nonsense, and the setbacks she'd experienced in her past life wouldn't allow her to believe it either. So she just pretended she hadn't asked that question and returned to the topic of "substitute."
"Cui Miao likes to wear bright red or dark clothes. Since you agreed, you can put away your pile of white clothes later."
"Cui Miao is also very good at using swords and spears, but you will never be able to match him in this regard. I won't force you to do that."
"If you can move later, you can change your clothes first. In the afternoon, you can ask people who know Cui Miao about his daily preferences. Write down fifty items and have them sent to his villa outside the capital."
She casually said this, then seriously taught him how to be a good stand-in. These were all the steps she had sorted out step by step during her past life, starting with what to wear, then carefully observing the person she was imitating, noting what they liked to eat, what they liked to do, and what catchphrases they had.
Yang Yan looked at Chai Heng with an unfathomable expression. Rather than feeling humiliated, at this moment, he was truly reflecting on himself, thinking about how bad he must have done to make her really think that he liked Xue Ruyue. He wanted to see her become Xue Ruyue, and he studied the steps of being a stand-in so thoroughly.
"Looking at me like that, you're not going to regret it, are you?"
"I'm not like you. I won't go back on my word." Yang Yan said.
He was implying that she had clearly promised to come back at twilight hour a few days ago, but she never did it.
Sensing the allusion, Chai Heng turned away uncomfortably. She had said goodbye to Cui Miao not long ago, and the reason she returned to the Marquis' residence so early wasn't just to let out a sigh of relief, but more importantly, to retrieve her badge from the Imperial Guards. She had left in a hurry this morning and didn't have the badge, so when she went to ask for leave from the Imperial Guards, she didn't have the chance to tell Cui Rushi that she wouldn't be going starting the next day.
Now I come back early just to go there again in the afternoon.
"Didn't you ask for leave this morning? Why are you holding the badge?" Yang Yan couldn't help but feel suspicious when he saw her suddenly stand up and take the badge from the box on the dressing table.
"Lord Cui said there is a mission at Dongzhimen this afternoon, so I have to go out with the sign." Chai Heng made up a story.
The Jingwei Division only does odd jobs, and they really do have missions when they're asked to. Yang Yan didn't think much about it. "Prince Jing and his wife will be back tomorrow. When will you go to clean up the post station? I've already bought the things we need. As usual, when you go, have Zhou Jiu find someone to bring the things with you."
Chai Heng said, "No need. I've already prepared some things myself. I'll go to the post station as soon as I wake up tomorrow morning."
"Your villa in the suburbs of Beijing is still too far from the post station. Are you sure you must leave the mansion tonight? Do you want to leave a day later?" Yang Yan said this not out of selfishness. Chunchun felt that the villa was indeed far away, and Prince Jing and his wife would arrive early tomorrow morning, so she would wake up before dawn.
Chai Heng rejected his kindness: "No need."
She finally had a chance to escape, but she didn't do it quickly. Isn't that stupid?
Yang Yan knew exactly what she was worried about. She was simply afraid that if she delayed any further, he would change his mind.
"I won't trap you anymore."
"Don't worry."
He wasn't someone who changed his mind every now and then. Letting her go back to his villa outside the capital was easy, but what about letting her go back to Furong Mountain? Chai Heng didn't want to reveal to him her intention to leave with her master and mistress this time. Because she wanted to leave so badly, she realized how precious this opportunity was, how hard it had come.
"You should think about how to be a qualified substitute here. Don't forget to send the fifty articles I asked you to copy to me in the evening." After a pause, Chai Heng said, "Of course, even if you don't send them to me, I can't do anything to you. It's up to you." After speaking, he took the sign and left the mansion again.
As soon as Chai Heng left, Zhou Jiu came back.
"I see my lady is out. Is there anything I can do for you, sir?"
He arrived at the right time.
Yang Yan ordered: "Go to the Wucheng Military Headquarters and find the East City Military Commander. Ask him what Cui Miao likes to drink, what he likes to do, and what kind of clothes he likes to wear."
Zhou Jiu: "Although Madam has been very close to him recently, you don't have to be so perverted in your concern for him."
Yang Yan didn't know how to explain to Zhou Jiu, but no matter how he explained, it seemed like he had brought it upon himself, so he simply didn't explain.
"If you've been talking too much lately and can't change this habit, I don't mind changing your housekeeper."
Zhou Jiu quickly shut up and was about to leave when he remembered something he had to say: "Oh, my lord, the old marquis is here. He's been here a long time. I asked him to wait in the hall until you finished talking to your wife before coming over, but he refused. He's been standing at the door listening to you and your wife talk for a long time. I'll ask him to come in now."
When Yang Yan heard this, a vein on his forehead jumped. He didn't even need to think about it. He knew that his dead father must have a gloating expression on his face at this moment.
As expected.
As soon as Zhou Jiu left, he heard Yang Shiduo's voice: "You came back from Xirong, weren't you still full of energy? How come after such a while, you have gotten yourself into this state?"
"I heard you ran into a fire to save someone yesterday. I don't know if they appreciate your kindness, but right now, there's no guarantee anyone would even want you as a replacement."
When Yang Shiduo spoke in a sarcastic tone, he really meant it, especially after his son Yang Yan became an adult and suffered many setbacks at his hands, so he enjoyed seeing him suffer.
How could Yang Yan not know his father's thoughts? He asked coldly, "Did you come here to tell me this?"
"That's about it, does it hurt?" He slapped his eldest son on the shoulder, where there was also a whip mark. Being hit so hard by chance, Yang Yan couldn't help but let out a muffled groan, and cold sweat instantly seeped out of his forehead.
"If father is here to make things worse, he can leave now." He gasped twice and looked at Yang Shiduo with a cold face.
Yang Yan's face can be described as a combination of Yang Shiduo and his mother Lu. His eyebrows and eyes are actually very gentle, just like his mother.
Looking at his stubborn son, Yang Shiduo suddenly thought of his deceased first wife. He thought of how Yang Yan, just like Yang Qingping, was a newborn and cuddly. Even when he was four or five years old and still a boy, he would still tug at his clothes and call him "Daddy" in a soft and sweet voice. Later, he didn't know what had happened, but he grew up to be this cold-blooded, heartless, and insensitive person.
"I told you to look at your heart clearly earlier, but you refused. Now, you've completely driven me away."
"Those who can't see their own hearts are destined to suffer. I advised you before because I hoped you could turn the tide while there was still time. Now I advise you because I feel that since we are father and son, there are some principles that a father must teach you, such as not being too attached to things that you can no longer grasp."
Yang Shiduo was also a man who had lived two lives. He was reborn earlier than Yang Yan and Chai Heng, and he knew that everything should be done in moderation.
In particular, the main reason why Yang Yan couldn't see his own heart clearly in the past was that Chai Heng loved him. People who are favored are always fearless. He took advantage of Chai Heng's love for him and could do whatever he wanted.
But now that she no longer loves him, his only support is gone. Forcing it any further would only bring him trouble.
So Yang Shiduo came today to persuade him to let it go.
"Your grandmother has a distant relative's child in Qianyang. She's sixteen years old this year and is of marriageable age. If you really can't let go of Chai Heng, and you're tired of not being able to get her, you might as well find another wife. After all, Chai Si is unlikely to turn back. You've been with her longer than I have, and you should know that she may seem gentle, but she's actually very strong. Once something is decided, nothing can change it. If she says she doesn't like you anymore, then she doesn't like you. So, you might as well get married again. After ten or twenty years, maybe you'll forget you ever had a wife like Chai Si."
Yang Shiduo stroked his beard and began to come up with his bad ideas.
Yang Yan frowned, very impatient: "Is this the reason why you changed your wife after my mother died?"
Yang Shiduo: “…”
"I am advising you, my child. Why are you talking like that?"
"My engagement is no joke. I will only have one wife in my life." Yang Yan taunted, "You have a habit of getting addicted to marrying, but I don't."
Yang Shiduo: “…”
We can't continue the good conversation.
"Since you're determined not to accept your father's idea, then forget it. Besides your grandmother's relatives, you have two cousins who are also of marriageable age and are said to have beautiful faces. I'll wait and see for you, just in case you change your mind one day."
Yang Yan: "Aren't you ready to leave yet?"
Yang Shiduo: "Okay."
Having said that, he rolled out quickly.
*
Chai Heng came out of the Beijing Guard Division. She had just said goodbye to Cui Rushi and cried with everyone in the division. Her eyes were still red.
"Hey, that's the fourth young lady, madam." Madam Chai's sedan chair happened to pass by the Beijing Guard Department. Nanny Xu opened the curtain and looked outside. She saw Chai Heng standing at the door at a glance.
Mrs. Chai was originally going to visit her eldest daughter today. Naturally, she wanted all her daughters to be present for her birthday, but Chai Heng had no intention of giving her any slack. After much thought, she decided to ask her eldest daughter for help to see if she could act as a lobbyist and mediate.
Otherwise, if Chai Heng really didn't come tomorrow, not to mention that she did miss her, but with so many mouths in the capital, there would inevitably be a lot of gossip, saying that she treated Chai Heng, her daughter who had returned from Furong Mountain, harshly or something like that.
Unexpectedly, we bumped into each other halfway.
Aunt Xu quickly closed the curtain again: "The fourth young lady is right there, do we still need to go to the eldest young lady?"
"Never mind. My eldest sister's mother-in-law keeps giving her rules all the time, so it's not easy for her to go out. Since we've met today, how about this? You go down and tell Chai Heng directly that it's my birthday tomorrow and I want her to come home."
Mrs. Chai covered her handkerchief, and the word "want" was an excuse she took the initiative to give to Chai Heng.
"Then Madam, you won't go down?"
Madam Chai said, "There's no mother in the world who would beg her daughter to come home. If I go down today, I'll be controlled by this child tomorrow. It will be difficult to make her obey in the future. Go ahead, I'll wait for you here."
Aunt Xu thought about it and immediately got out of the carriage.
Chai Heng never expected to run into someone from the Chai Mansion at the gate of the Beijing Guards. The moment she saw Nanny Xu, she was stunned for a moment.
Soon she called out, "Mammy."
After not seeing her for a long time, Chai Heng looked much thinner. Although Aunt Xu didn't have much contact with Chai Heng, she had witnessed her life from returning home to getting married, and for a moment, she was filled with emotion.
"Fourth Miss, Madam said a while ago that you and your son-in-law had divorced. How could such a big thing not be announced to your family? If you have suffered any injustice, it is better to go back and tell us than to be alone."
Although Nanny Xu had been with Madam Chai for many years, she was much softer-hearted than Madam Chai. When she was in the Chai family, she was one of the few Nanny who was patient with her.
Chai Heng's hand was taken by Aunt Xu, who kept stroking it. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but she felt it was not right, so she tried to comfort Aunt Xu: "I have not suffered any injustice. It is just inevitable that couples will have disagreements. Yang Yan and I really couldn't live together, so we divorced. This is also very normal."
Aunt Xu sighed, "How could a couple divorce after just one quarrel? It must be that my son-in-law has a bad temper, and you, young lady, can't stand it."
Then he got back to the point, "Tomorrow is a big day. You should know that it's our Madam's birthday. Your brothers and sisters are all coming back. Fourth Miss, are you really not going to come back to see them? Madam said she wants you back."
In the past, Chai Heng would have more or less made up some excuse to deal with Madam Chai. But after she attacked the Xue family in her previous life, Madam Chai's actions had truly chilled her heart. She didn't want to pretend anymore, so she simply withdrew her hand.
“Hey.”
Aunt Xu was obviously stunned for a moment.
Chai Heng said, "My master and his mistress will be returning to the capital from Xirong tomorrow, and I want to be with them. Since I've been accompanying my mother, I won't be able to be with them. I hope you can understand me, Ma'am."
"this……"
Nanny Xu never expected that Chai Heng would use Prince Jing and his wife as an excuse.
"Prince Jing and his wife raised you when you were young, and that was a favor. But Madam is your biological mother. You must distinguish clearly between the relative and the distant relative."
Chai Heng didn't want to listen anymore. "The words 'inside and outside' are very well said, but Mammy, I can tell the difference very clearly. I've lived for so many years and been married once, so I know who treats me well and who doesn't."
She paused as she spoke, "If it was Mother's idea to come to me, then please tell her that she doesn't need to wait for me for her birthday tomorrow. She already has her sister, brother, and Miss Xue to accompany her. There's no need to force me to come along to make up the numbers."
Aunt Xu didn't expect her to be so determined, and her face turned blue and red. "How can this be called making up the numbers? Fourth Miss, Fourth Miss!" As she was speaking, Chai Heng had already started walking towards the villa in the suburbs of Beijing.
As a respectable housekeeper, Nanny Xu couldn't chase her in the street, so she had to return empty-handed.
Because they were far away, Mrs. Chai didn't hear anything clearly in the carriage. She just saw Chai Heng left before Aunt Xu finished speaking.
"What did you say? Why did she walk so fast?" asked Mrs. Chai.
Nanny Xu said, "I didn't say anything. I just tried to persuade the Fourth Young Lady to come back, but she refused. She said she had to accompany Prince Jing and his wife tomorrow, so she wanted you, Madam, to stay with the other young ladies and Miss Xue."
After hearing this, Madam Chai was half disheartened, but she quickly pretended not to care. "A grown-up child is no longer under the control of her mother. Let her do whatever she wants. I used to discipline her for her own good. One day she will understand. Then she will know whether it is better for Prince Jing and his wife to indulge her blindly, or for a strict mother like me to love her more. When she understands, she will come to me and admit her mistakes."
Aunt Xu: "Yes, madam, then we..."
"Let's go and let her think about it."
*
It took Chai Heng an hour to return to the small courtyard outside the capital from the Beijing Guards. When she returned, people from the Marquis' Mansion were waiting for her outside the door.
Yang Yan hadn't fully recovered yet, so after copying the fifty items, he sent someone to deliver them. He was always efficient and never procrastinated, but Chai Heng hadn't expected him to be so quick.
Chai Heng opened the paper and took a look. Even though the person copied it while lying on the bed, the handwriting was still very good. However, at the end, he inexplicably left a big ink dot on Cui Miao's name.
Chai Heng frowned. Yang Yan usually liked to be clean and would not allow any paper he wrote on to be dirty, so it was obvious that he did this on purpose.
"Madam, my Lord asked me to ask you if you are satisfied with the transcription."
"I'm not satisfied. Tell him that this big ink dot is clearly disrespectful to the person he's trying to imitate. Make him copy it again. Keep copying until he can go to court tomorrow morning."
It was just right that she needed to use up some of his energy during these few days to prevent him from interfering again when she left later.
The servant who brought the gift nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go back and tell your Excellency. By the way, Madam, your Excellency also asked me to ask you. He heard that Commander Cui likes to run around the yard shirtless. He said that he is injured and it is inconvenient and he does not want to do such an indecent thing. He wants to know if you have such a habit now. If so, he can also take it off."
Chai Heng pursed her lips and said speechlessly: "Let him go."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
