031 Reading Love Letters
Yuan Chongjing finally came over from behind. Li Yang stroked Xiao Taozi's hair and said, "Daddy's back. Xiao Taozi, why don't you go and talk to Daddy?"
Little Peach shook her head and snuggled closer to Li Yang: "No, I want Mommy to hold me~"
Li Yang gestured for Yuan Chongjing to take Xiao Taozi's cloth bag and bundle, while she herself stood up and walked back and forth at the doorway, carrying Xiao Taozi. Having missed her afternoon nap and spent most of the day in fear, Xiao Taozi cried for a short while before falling asleep in Li Yang's arms.
She was still clutching Li Yang's clothes tightly in her hand.
Unable to untie her, Li Yang had no choice but to carry her to the back of the gate, and said sarcastically in a shrill voice, "Oh, sister-in-law, how elegant you are! You can even find interest in this corner."
The eldest young mistress, dressed in a bright peach-colored long dress, awkwardly emerged from behind the door. She had been blocked by Li Yang and Yuan Chongjing and couldn't leave for a while. She had planned to come out after they left, but Li Yang had still managed to spot her.
"I... I was just worried about Xiao Taozi."
Li Yang's face was gloomy, his eyes fixed on her with hostility and a hidden threat: "That's right, as Xiao Taozi's aunt, it's only natural for you to worry about her. But you should also know that I'm Yu Yi and Xiao Li'er's aunt as well. When I have time, I'll go and 'worry' about them. That would be just as appropriate."
The young mistress was so intimidated by her imposing presence that she leaned back against the wall behind her, finally finding support. She stammered, "Yes, yes, yes."
Li Yang didn't say anything more, just looked at her coldly, then smiled sinisterly before leaving with Little Peach in her arms.
"Oh my, that really scared me to death! My sister-in-law's eyes were like they were filled with knives. She wanted to skin me alive!" After she and Yuan Chongjing had walked away, the eldest young mistress patted her chest and said to the maid beside her, "Go and tell my father not to ask me to do this kind of work again. My sister-in-law is holding a grudge against me now. We're still sisters-in-law. How can we get along peacefully after this gets out?"
The maid said, "But Miss, we also have to think about the Yang family."
The eldest daughter-in-law said disdainfully, "What Yang family? I'm the daughter-in-law of the Yuan family now. I'm still thinking about spending my life with Brother Yue. The Yuan family is my home. Don't think I don't know what my father is planning. I don't care who he wants to do things for. Out of consideration for our father-daughter relationship, I'll help him if I can. But if he threatens my life, don't blame me for turning my back on him."
Seeing that she was really about to get angry, the maid didn't dare to persuade her anymore and bowed her head in agreement.
Meanwhile, Li Yang, carrying Xiao Taozi, stormed back to the courtyard. Xia He, who was tidying up the room, greeted her as she entered, "Young Madam is back."
Li Yang tried to put Xiao Taozi on the bed, but her hand was gripping Li Yang's clothes tightly and she couldn't untie them. She had no choice but to sit down with Xiao Taozi in her arms and scolded in a low voice, "How could you take care of Xiao Taozi, letting her run out by herself?!"
Xia He was a little confused until she saw the bundle and cloth bag in Yuan Chongjing's hand. Then she understood: "Please forgive me, young mistress. The eldest young mistress brought Miss Li'er here today. She said she wanted to play house with her and spread rumors, so we packed this for her."
Yuan Chongjing was also worried. Seeing that Li Yang stopped talking, he handed the luggage to Xia He and said, "You can go out first."
Xia He glanced at the two of them, then walked out with a worried expression.
Little Peach seemed to be having a bad dream, whimpering and trying to wake up. Li Yang picked her up and rocked her a couple of times until she calmed down. When she looked up and saw Yuan Chongjing still standing there, she said irritably, "You go out too."
"When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer!" Yuan Chongjing left the room dejectedly. It was better to be out; he needed time to think things through.
Beihai had parked his carriage in the courtyard and was already sitting on the veranda waiting for him. Seeing him come out, Beihai trotted over: "Second Young Master."
He had served as an official for five years, and even with amnesia, his insight and vigilance remained. Following Li Yang's words, Yuan Chongjing quickly realized something deeper. Regardless of whether the Duke of Luo's mansion did it intentionally, the rumors spreading like wildfire were likely being fueled by someone.
He summoned Bei Hai: "Go and investigate where these recent rumors about me are coming from. Be discreet and don't let anyone find out. Also, go to the Duke of Luo's residence and, if possible, follow Luo Minzhi to see who he's been in contact with in private."
When politics were involved, Bei Hai became serious: "Yes. Second Young Master, what about Madam Biyun from the Divine Physician's side? Should we send someone over?"
Yuan Chongjing pondered for a moment and said, "Let it be. Li Yang and I will be going over there for acupuncture in the next few days, and we'll keep an eye on her while we're at it."
“Okay.” Hokkaido looked at Yuan Chongjing’s still worried face and carefully apologized: “Second Young Master, when I was with the Divine Doctor, I accidentally let it slip to the Young Madam that you went to Xishan to see her yesterday.”
Seeing that Yuan Chongjing was about to get angry, Beihai immediately explained, "The young mistress was deeply moved by what I said and was very excited. So she's angry with you now, not because of me! It's because you, Second Young Master, didn't seize this opportunity."
Yuan Chongjing was so angry that he raised his foot to kick him, but Beihai nimbly dodged it: "The young mistress is the most soft-hearted towards you. Second Young Master, maybe if you use a self-inflicted injury trick, she won't be angry anymore. I'm going out to take care of some business first. Second Young Master, think it over carefully here!"
After he finished speaking, he ran out like a little rascal. Yuan Chongjing couldn't outrun him, so he didn't even chase after him, but just sat in his chair pondering Bei Hai's words.
Although he was used to the current relationship between the two, Yuan Chongjing still couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart to show weakness to Li Yang so directly.
But being strong wasn't an option either. Just seeing her cold face on the way back made Yuan Chongjing feel very uncomfortable.
He felt that Li Yang shouldn't be like this. She was lively, cheerful, bright, and energetic. Every day, she appeared in his life like an invincible giant, full of vitality, filling his dull and boring world with strength and giving him the courage to live each day to the fullest.
Instead of now, when she sees him, her smile fades, and she speaks coldly and indifferently, as if his presence no longer evokes any emotion in her, and the two have no connection whatsoever.
He felt uncomfortable.
He didn't want to see her like this.
He has to show weakness!
Yuan Chongjing was confined to his study and pondered for a long time, but he couldn't come up with a good solution.
He paced anxiously around the desk several times, until finally his gaze fell on a wooden box on the bookshelf behind it.
If he remembered correctly, this wooden box contained letters he and Li Yang had exchanged during their four years in Chenzhou with their respective parents. Li Yang had even shown him these letters before, to confirm their marital relationship.
Yuan Chongjing opened the wooden box and looked inside. Sure enough, it contained the same letters he had seen before. Flipping further down, he noticed the envelopes were now pink, decorated with strangely shaped flowers. He knew these were 'love letters' Li Yang had written to him after they returned to the capital. There were quite a few, more than twenty in total.
Looking at the pink, flower-adorned envelopes, Yuan Chongjing hatched a plan. He carried the wooden box to Li Yang's room. The door was open, and Xia He was coming out carrying a wooden tray. Yuan Chongjing stopped her: "What is Li Yang doing? Is Xiao Taozi awake?"
Xia He said, "Miss Taozi hasn't woken up yet. I just applied medicine to the young mistress, and she's resting on the couch holding Miss Taozi."
Yuan Chongjing chuckled. It was good he wasn't awake; otherwise, Li Yang wouldn't dare make a sound. He gestured for Xia He to walk away, then stood in front of the door, took a letter from the wooden box, and read it aloud: "My beloved Jing-ge, it's late. As I write this letter, you're already fast asleep in bed. But I can't sleep, not because I'm not tired, but because looking at your sleeping face, my heart is pounding wildly."
His tone rose and fell, full of emotion with each word. Before long, Li Yang appeared at the door, holding Xiao Taozi, her face contorted with shame and indignation: "Yuan Chongjing! Shut up!"
Yuan Chongjing looked at her, his mouth never stopping: "Ah, my Jing-ge, your thick eyebrows and big eyes, your high nose, your full lips, and even the prickly stubble on your chin, all of them fascinate me so much. Every night, when I lie in your arms in bed..."
Seeing his voice getting louder and louder, as if he wanted to call in all the servants and maids outside, Li Yang was furious, ashamed, and annoyed. She just wanted Yuan Chongjing to shut up as soon as possible, but Xiao Taozi was still asleep, so she couldn't run over or yell at him.
Having no other choice, Li Yang kicked off her shoes and threw them directly at Yuan Chongjing.
She wasn't using much force, and the two were far apart; even if Yuan Chongjing wasn't feeling well, he could have easily dodged it. But seeing the shoe coming straight at him, Yuan Chongjing didn't even think about dodging. He even stretched out his head to catch it when it veered off course.
Li Yang watched helplessly as her shoe hit him on the forehead. She hissed, "Yuan Chongjing! Are you out of your mind?!"
Yuan Chongjing glanced at her, then pretended to be hurt by her shoe, clutching his forehead: "Ouch, that hurts! I'm going to faint! I can't see! Someone, help me up!"
Even Li Yang, whose acting skills were poor, couldn't bear to expose him.
She stopped looking at him and walked into the inner room with Little Peach in her arms.
Seeing this, Yuan Chongjing bent down to pick up her shoes and followed her into the room. He placed the shoes beside her feet and explained, "I was tidying up the study just now and accidentally saw them."
"I clearly put them at the very bottom of the box!" Li Yang said through gritted teeth.
Yuan Chongjing raised an eyebrow innocently: "Maybe...they want me to see it."
"You did it on purpose!"
"If that's how you put it, then there's nothing I can do."
"you!"
“Alright,” Yuan Chongjing led her to sit down on the couch and said seriously, “I’ve come to tell you something.”
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