Chapter 060
Zhan Yue sat leisurely on a stool, with a relaxed look on his face. His eyebrows were slightly raised, and the tails of his long and thin eyes were bent downwards, which brought a bit of indescribable temptation, making his face look like a peach petal.
Jiashan couldn't help but look at him a few more times, and said angrily, "Aren't you leaving soon?"
Zhan Yue opened his arms and said, "We have to go."
"However, I will be back for dinner in the evening," Zhan Yue said.
Seeing that Jiashan was still standing there without moving, he simply walked up to him, grabbed Jiashan into his arms, and held him carefully for a while.
His embrace was thick and warm, as if it filled Jiashan's empty heart that had been unable to sleep last night. Her eyelashes drooped, and Zhan Yue's tall and slender figure vaguely entered her sight.
Jiashan hesitated for a moment, and finally reached out and put his arms around his back.
"Wait for you." Jiashan said softly.
Zhan Yue took advantage of his height and gently stroked Jia Shan's hair. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips, and he whispered in her ear, "Okay."
"If you have anything to discuss with me, you can also tell me in the evening." Zhan Yue stared at her, his tone slow and leisurely, as if he was not in a hurry.
It seemed as if Jiashan saw the long flow of love and peaceful years in the long life ahead.
Jiashan's heart was filled with excitement. Just as he was about to take the initiative to kiss Zhan Yue, the voices of Jianlan and Dancui were heard outside -
Jianlan asked hesitantly, "I have brought the clothes. Do you want to change into them now?"
Zhan Yue couldn't help wanting to hold her for a while longer. He was on duty in the palace last night, and he didn't feel any difference at first, but after holding the beauty in his arms, he felt that the bed in the duty room in the palace was hard and uncomfortable, and was not as good as his own bed in any way.
No wonder the ancients said, "The hibiscus tent is warm for the spring night, and the king will not attend the court early from now on." He finally realized it today. If it weren't for the fact that there was something waiting for him at the Five Armies Commandery, Zhan Yue really wanted to hold her like this until dark.
Jiashan was not as brave as him. When she heard Jianlan and Dancui were waiting outside, she pulled herself out of his arms, urging him, "Go quickly."
"Don't keep people waiting." Jiashan pushed him quietly.
Zhan Yue reached out and gently pinched Jiashan's waist before walking away.
His force was neither too strong nor too light, so it didn't hurt at all, but it made Jiashan inevitably agitated.
Jiashan rubbed the place where he had pinched, feeling ashamed and angry, and felt that he had spoiled him too much in some things.
After Zhan Yue left the house, Su Yu came in and reported, "Your Highness, the Princess of Qin sent an invitation. There is a pear garden in the suburbs of the Qin Palace, and she would like to invite you to go there to enjoy the flowers in a few days."
"There is also the Mansion of the Duke of Yue, the Mansion of the Marquis of Zhongyi... several families have sent people to distribute invitations, all wanting to invite you to their homes for a gathering, and even the reasons are similar." Su Yu was holding many invitations in her hands, probably these were the "several families" she was talking about.
Jiashan just raised the corners of his mouth and smiled sarcastically.
They had never been so attentive before Yuankang's eyes showed no signs of recovery. These noble families were always more sensitive than others and were used to flattering the powerful and bullying the weak. It seemed that Yuankang's affairs had caused quite a stir.
Yuankang and Jingfei were both in the palace and could not please him for the time being. It happened that I left the palace and got married, which gave them this opportunity.
Jiashan said, "Except for the Princess of Qin, just turn down all the others. There is no point in dealing with them."
She never liked hypocrisy and flattery, especially the faces of some people among them, she had seen them once in her previous life. Jiashan did not live to this day relying on their protection.
The Prince of Qin was her biological uncle, and the Princess of Qin was equivalent to Jiashan's biological aunt. On the day of her wedding, the Prince of Qin, Zhao Youqi, carried her to the bridal sedan. The relationship between them was always a little bit special.
Princess Qin had a good reputation in the capital. In the previous life, when Zhao Youcheng was made the crown prince and everyone rushed to flatter Shuxian, Princess Qin was one of the few who still treated her the same as before.
Jiashan will always remember this kindness.
Su Yu said "yes", and she prepared breakfast for Jiashan before leaving.
In the afternoon, Zhan Yue was away, so Jia Shan studied in his room. He also thought about who served his mother twelve years ago, who among them might collude with outsiders, and who, besides Concubine Zhuang, was most likely to attack Yuan Kang.
When it was almost time for dinner at night, Zhan Yue returned as promised.
The meal had already been set on the table, but Jiashan was waiting for him at the table and had not yet opened it.
He sat down beside her and couldn't help saying, "I asked you to wait for me, not to make you hungry."
"Next time, you can eat first. At worst, you can ask the servants to re-arrange the dishes." Zhan Yue said.
He did not return early, and his colleagues in the Governor's Office originally wanted to invite him to dine at the "Louwailou" in Beijing, but Zhan Yue declined the invitation on the grounds that he had a wife at home.
Everyone knew that Lord Zhan was married and was in the honeymoon period with the princess, so no one dared to disturb them.
Zhan Yue originally thought that by this time, Jia Shan must have already used it. But when he came back, he saw her waiting for him.
He felt soft and a little angry at the same time, so he gently scolded her.
Jiashan smiled and said, "Don't be so self-indulgent. I took a nap in the afternoon and ate an extra bowl of noodles when I woke up, so I was delayed until now."
"Who is waiting for you?" Jiashan said with flushed cheeks.
Zhan Yue also shook his head, and Zhan Yan smiled and said, "What a ruthless princess."
Although he said so, Jiashan still kept helping him to arrange the dishes himself, and his movements revealed a kind of casual, natural intimacy.
Zhan Yue smiled, and a feeling that was not strong but subtle and pervasive arose spontaneously.
This emotion can give him strength when he is down, and inspire him to think when he is happy. It is like a magic needle that stabilizes the sea, always supporting him unwaveringly.
In the past, the people who supported him were thousands of miles away, but now, they are finally within reach.
Zhan Yue's eyes and eyebrows were filled with unspeakable satisfaction. His dark eyes were fixed on Jiashan.
After dinner, Zhan Yue went to take a shower first, while Jiashan asked Su Yu to make the bed.
A lamp was lit in the inner room, and the bright flame was shining brightly. Perhaps because she had been with Dancui for too long, Suyu asked softly, "Your Highness, do you want me to stay and keep watch today?"
"You little devil." Jiashan said without even raising his eyelids, "I think it's time to marry you off."
Su Yu's level was not high, and she soon failed to make trouble and was made to blush. She said: "I will accompany His Highness for a few more years."
"If you stay with me any longer, you'll become an old maid." Jiashan sighed bitterly. She walked forward, gently put her arm around Suyu's shoulders, and said kindly, "Girls have a short blooming period. Dancui and the others are still young, so there's no need to rush. But your matter should be put on the agenda."
"As I recall, your hometown is Zhili." Jiashan said with a smile, "Zhili is close to Beijing. When you get married, you can invite your family to come and get together. I haven't seen them for so many years. Do you miss them?"
Once a maid of honor entered the palace, she would basically cut off all ties with her family, unless she was granted grace to leave the palace.
The princess' words hit the nail on the head for Su Yu, so she stopped being polite and simply agreed.
Turning around, Zhan Yue just came in. Su Yu did not disturb them and retreated respectfully.
When Su Yu left, she still had a smile on her face. Zhan Yue couldn't help but ask, "What were you two, master and servant, whispering about?"
"No." Compared to his enthusiasm just now, Jiashan's expression was a little dull.
She rubbed her eyebrows, patted the seat beside her, and motioned Zhan Yue to come and sit over.
Zhan Yue walked slowly, and seeing Jia Shan frowning, he asked in a deep voice, "What's wrong?"
Jiashan was silent for a while, her eyes were as dark as the night, and she said faintly: "Yesterday afternoon, I went to Pei's house to meet Kong."
Jiashan spoke in a low voice, with a blank expression on her face. Zhan Yue couldn't help but stare at her for a long time, and he placed his hand on Jiashan's small palm.
The warm palm completely enveloped her in an instant.
Jiashan let out a long breath, and then said calmly: "Kong Lihui confirmed what you said."
Jiashan paused and said, "Your guess is correct."
Zhan Yue didn't say anything, but just held her hand tightly and waited patiently for her to finish speaking.
Jiashan closed her eyes slightly, and she placed a finger on her forehead, gently rubbing the acupuncture points on both sides. She whispered, "Twelve years ago, I was also very young and didn't remember much. I can't remember many of the people around my mother. But I know that my mother trusted Madam Zheng the most. It seems that there was also a female official named Lanbi who followed my mother for a long time. Later, when my mother passed away, she was released from the palace."
"Su Yu is young, but among the young palace maids, she is particularly prudent and steady in her work. Because of this, she has won the favor of her mother."
Jiashan's expression was very cold and her eyes were dim. "My mother is not a careless person. She must have been very careful about her diet when she was pregnant. If an outsider wants to take action, there will be palace maids to help."
"I'm a little scared--" Jiashan's voice was hoarse, her tone trembled, and she didn't finish the rest of the sentence.
With the previous experience of Hanzhu as a lesson, Jiashan originally thought that he no longer cared about betrayal.
But Madam Zheng was her wet nurse, who had taken care of her since she was a child. Suyu stayed by her side and served her as much as Hanzhu did. Hanzhu was sometimes lazy, so Suyu always served her more.
If it was someone else, it would be fine, but if it was one of them...
Jiashan almost didn't dare to think further.
Zhan Yue sat beside her and saw Jia Shan trembling. He could not help but put his arm around her shoulders and patted her back from time to time.
"The queen is pregnant, so they won't be the only ones around her." Zhan Yue whispered, "Besides, they have been with you for so many years, can't you tell the difference between their sincerity and their fakeness?"
"Don't panic." Zhan Yue held Jiashanlou in his arms and coaxed him, "Don't be afraid."
Jiashan lay quietly on his chest, listening to his strong and powerful heartbeat, which came clearly into his ears like the sound of crisp metal and stone.
It seemed to tell her that there was always someone in this world who was closely connected with her.
Jiashan suddenly felt very at ease.
She moved, snuggled up to him and said, "I'm not afraid anymore."
Zhan Yue smiled.
He let Jiashan lie on his lap and stretched out two fingers to press the acupoints on her forehead. His fingertips felt cool, and seemed to have the effect of refreshing her mind.
Zhan Yue said gently: "It's an old matter, and it's always inconvenient to investigate it. Don't worry."
"After you return home, I will take you to a farm outside the capital," Zhan Yue said calmly, "The people there are more convenient to use than yours."
Zhan Yue could not have come this far without any soldiers, he must have loyal followers, either those Fu Shiyu left for him, former loyal servants of the Fu family, or those he trained later.
This is no secret among the aristocratic families. As long as the number of people is not so large as to make the emperor jealous, no one will care.
Jiashan just couldn't imagine that Zhan Yue would share all this with her without reservation after only being married for a few days.
This is what he uses to make a living.
She raised her eyes and saw that Zhan Yue's eyebrows and eyes were clear, and the moonlight and stars seemed to have been plucked into his eyes. Jiashan's eyes could not help but become slightly moist.
She lay on his lap, her expression softened, and silently hooked her finger at Zhan Yue.
Zhan Yue raised the corner of his mouth slightly, thinking that she had something to say, and bent down slightly.
Jiashan, however, held his face devoutly with her hands. Zhan Yue happened to look down at her, and their eyes met.
Zhan Yue opened his lips slightly, and in a hoarse voice, he called out her nickname in a low voice: "Ling Jiang."
"Tsk." Jiashan blinked lightly.
As his eyes moved, Jiashan suddenly put his arms around his neck.
Without hesitation, she raised her face and took the initiative to kiss Zhan Yue's thin lips, which were slightly bloody. The unfinished words were instantly swallowed up between his lips and teeth.
Jiashan caressed the back of his neck lovingly, like a kitten with its claws retracted, using extremely gentle force.