Chapter 102

The departure of Old Lady Wen was like the removal of the pillar that had supported the Duke Anguo's mansion for decades. The entire Duke Anguo's mansion was in chaos.

The Duke of Anguo had long been free at home, so there was no such thing as Ding You.

Officials like Zhan Tai and Zhan Shaoying asked their superiors for three days off to keep vigil for Old Lady Wen. Zhan Yue was the only one who had to go to court as usual during the day, as his position as the Nine Gates Commander was too special. He only went to the mourning hall alone at night to sit for a while.

At a time like this, naturally, some people would use the term filial piety to maliciously slander him.

But this time, Zhan Yue and Jia Shan don't have to bother dealing with it.

Emperor Zhanghe personally reprimanded the official who had reported Zhan Yueyi, and threw the scepter at him, pointing at his nose and scolding him: "If you have the ability, I will replace Zhan Yanqing and assign you to take over the post at the Nine Gates for three days. If the capital is safe and sound during these three days, I will immediately promote you and confer you a title. If you make any mistakes, you will be beheaded!"

"Do you dare to respond?" Emperor Zhang He asked with narrowed eyes.

Yu Shi was originally asked by someone to report Zhan Yue, but seeing that Emperor Zhanghe was so angry, he dared not say a word. He picked up his board and ran away in shame.

From then on, no one dared to say that Zhan Yue was "unfilial".

Because he had to keep vigil, Zhan Yue did not go back to the princess's residence with Jia Shan, but stayed in the Anguogong residence. He had been much quieter these days and looked thinner.

Jiashan was never at ease with him, so he simply stayed with him in the three-story courtyard of the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

As Jiashan's pregnancy progressed, she became more and more restless at night.

When she woke up in the middle of the night, she felt the bedside was cold again, and it was obvious that Zhan Yue had been gone for a long time. Jiashan did not want to sleep anymore, so she called Dancui to put on her coat, and asked Jianlan to go to the kitchen to make some midnight snacks and bring them to the mourning hall.

The funeral hall was very lively at night.

Not only Zhan Yue was there, but Duke An Guo and Zhan Tai were also keeping watch.

Although Lady Wen's temperament was not as kind as other mothers, for Duke Anguo, his own mother had died after all.

His eyes had turned red from crying these days, and he looked much shabbier, with a few grey hairs on his head. After guarding the spirit for several days in a row, he looked haggard and could hardly stand.

Zhan Tai held his arm and whispered, "If you keep guarding, your body will not be well. Dad, go and rest. Your son is here."

Duke Anguo wiped his tears with his sleeve and glanced at Zhan Yue who was standing on the other side.

But Zhan Yue wasn't even looking at them.

Compared with the Duke of Anguo, he seemed to be the one with a pale face. His expression was calm, his eyes seemed to be empty, and it seemed that he was looking through the long years and looking at his own desolate childhood.

Duke Anguo felt inexplicably guilty and quickly looked away. He coughed twice before slowly and with difficulty leaving the mourning hall.

After Zhan Tai had been kneeling in the mourning hall for an hour, Zhan Shaoying came again. He used the same method that he had used to take Duke An away from Zhan Tai, and helped Zhan Tai away. He then knelt in front of the mourning hall.

After several times of this, Zhan Yue still didn't look at them. He stood there like a wooden stake, not even moving.

The three of them didn't even have a chance to say a word to Zhan Yue.

Zhan Yue only wore a simple white shirt over his inner garment. Although he was thin, his shoulders and back appeared very broad and strong.

When Jiashan arrived at the funeral hall, Zhan Shaoying had just replaced Zhan Tai. Hearing footsteps, Zhan Yue finally made a move and turned his head immediately.

Dancui had already supported Jiashan in.

Zhan Yue frowned slightly and spoke his first words of the night. He whispered, "Why are you here? The mourning hall is filled with gloomy energy. You are in a state of panic now. Go back quickly."

"What's the matter with the yin? You are just scaring yourself." Jiashan didn't care. She raised her delicate eyebrows and was calm. There was a sense of pride and nobility between her eyebrows. She said, "I am a princess, so why should I be afraid of yin?"

After she finished speaking, she smiled again, her expression as gentle as the bright spring sunshine: "When I woke up, I saw that you were not by my side, so I couldn't sleep well. I guessed that you must be here with grandma, so I came to see you."

Zhan Yue looked down and saw her big belly. He couldn't help but pinch his brows and said, "It's still early before dawn."

"Be obedient," he said with a stronger tone, "go back and rest."

Jiashan didn't listen, and just said, "I've already taken a nap, let me stay with you for a while."

Seeing that Zhan Yue still refused, Jia Shan narrowed her eyes, looking like a deer in the woods. She tugged at his sleeve and said, "Don't chase me away, okay?"

Zhan Yue remained silent, but his sleeves were not pulled open in her hand.

Jiashan then took the noodles that Jianlan had just prepared and coaxed him, "You didn't eat much for dinner, so eat a little now. You stay up all night long, and if you don't eat anything, your body won't be able to bear it."

She felt that she was being a bit long-winded, but she still advised him kindly: "You still have to go to the Governor's Mansion tomorrow morning. Right now, the safety of the capital is in your hands. You can't fail."

Zhan Yue just shook his head and replied, "I can't eat it."

"You have to eat even if you can't." Jiashan's tone was unquestionable. She glanced at him and put the chopsticks to his mouth.

Jiashan touched the corner of Zhanyue's mouth with chopsticks, as if no one was around, and asked, "Do you really need me to feed you?"

Jiashan's words were so intimate that Zhan Yue felt embarrassed. He had no choice but to take the bowl and chopsticks reverently and start eating obediently.

Zhan Yue had rarely been so embarrassed in front of others. Dan Cui and Jian Lan, who were serving him, found it strange but did not dare to look at him any longer. They just lowered their heads and chuckled in unison.

Even Zhan Shaoying, who was kneeling in front of the coffin, turned his head unconsciously to look at the two of them.

Jiashan was unaware.

Zhan Yue devoured the bowl of noodles in no time. Although he ate it like a cow chewing a peony, he still finished it thoroughly. Jia Shan finally felt relieved. She asked Dan Cui and Jian Lan to leave first, and she stayed in the mourning hall with Zhan Yue.

In the past few days, Zhan Yue was often silent, even when he was with Jia Shan. Upon hearing that the old lady had passed away suddenly, the only one who was truly sad in the whole family, apart from the nine-year-old Zhan A-li, was probably Zhan Yue.

Jiashan had also experienced the pain of the death of a loved one. At this time, any words of comfort were useless, so she simply said nothing and just accompanied him quietly.

The night grows deeper and deeper, and occasionally there are sparse starlight twinkling in the vague night sky, like the eyes of old friends and relatives in a dream.

Jiashan didn't know when she fell asleep on the table. When she woke up, Zhan Yue was no longer by her side, and she was wearing a coat with his fragrance.

Zhan Shaoying in the mourning hall also stood up from in front of the coffin, and sat opposite Jiashan without knowing when.

When Zhan Shaoying found Jiashan woke up, he was flustered for a moment, and almost knocked over the teacup at hand in his panic.

Jiashan pretended not to see him. She held her belly and slowly stood up from the stool. She picked up the clothes on the table and prepared to go out to find Zhan Yue.

As the saying goes, men should be dressed in soap and women should be dressed in filial piety.

Jiashan was also wearing mourning clothes today. She had a slim figure, and although her waist was not as slender as before because of her pregnancy, her curves looked fuller because she had gained some extra flesh.

She had a look with curved eyebrows, a small mouth, and a charming look.

Zhan Shaoying wanted to look away from her, but he was like a possessed man and couldn't take his eyes off her. Later, his eyes seemed to be a little crazy, staring at Jiashan motionlessly.

Jiashan had intended to pretend not to see it, but when he saw that he was becoming more and more outrageous, he frowned in disgust and was about to scold him harshly.

For some unknown reason, Zhan Shaoying spoke first.

He swallowed nervously and asked softly, "How are you, Princess?"

Jiashan glanced at him and wanted to say, "It's none of your business whether it's good or not." But then he thought that would sound like a sarcasm, so he smiled and said in a friendly tone, "It's good that you care about me."

"Your fourth uncle and I are like a couple from heaven. Can't you see that, my son?" Jiashan used his fingernails to pick at the tassels on Zhan Yue's robe and slowly opened his rosy lips.

She smiled coolly, her tone carrying a chilly tenderness: "A few days ago, the Crown Prince's wife said that Yanqing relied on the support of the princess and did not distinguish between the old and the young and the high and the low."

"I think my son and nephew are no less capable," Jiashan said in a clear and melodious voice, "When we meet in the future, please call me Fourth Auntie."

Zhan Shaoying suddenly looked up at her.

Jiashan's face was rosy and charming, like the color of fresh cherry blossoms. She said softly, "Don't go out and let people say that the descendants of the Duke's Mansion are uneducated."

Zhan Shaoying was stunned. His fiery eyes seemed to be poured over his head by a basin of cold water, making him look like a drowned dog.

Jiashan no longer looked at him, but turned around and went out to look for Zhan Yue, holding his clothes.

Zhan Yue was already standing at the door of the mourning hall.

He didn't know how long he had been watching and how much of their conversation he had heard. His majestic figure blocked out most of the night outside the mourning hall. His eyes stayed on Zhan Shaoying, and the outline of his face was very cold.

Zhan Shaoying felt guilty for being a thief, and his breathing became inexplicably heavy.

Jiashan walked over calmly, put the outer robe back on Zhan Yue, and said unhappily, "It's cold at night, how can you walk outside wearing only a single piece of clothing?"

Zhan Yue smiled at her, grabbed Jiashan's hand that was helping him put on clothes, put it on his lips and gave her a passionate kiss.

"Seeing you were asleep, I was worried that you would catch a cold." Zhan Yue's voice was extremely gentle.

Jiashan felt a warm feeling in her heart. She looked at him intently and bent down to help him tie the belt of his clothes.

Zhan Yue said, "In another hour, it will be daybreak. Since you are sleepy, go back to sleep now."

He glanced vaguely in the direction of Zhan Shaoying and whispered, "I'll be back later."

Jiashan understood what he meant, so he no longer insisted. After giving him a few words of concern, he was supported by Dancui and Jianlan and returned to the courtyard.

As soon as Jiashan left, Zhan Yue's expression suddenly changed. With heavy steps and cold eyes, he slowly walked to Zhan Shaoying's side.

His robe was gorgeous and wide, with indigo silk embroidered with Bi'an beast patterns. He looked at Zhan Shaoying for a while, then looked away.

Zhan Yue stood with his hands behind his back, and a slow voice echoed above Zhan Shaoying.

He said, "Next time, I'll have to be careful of your tricks."