"But what?" Ye Shangzhou looked down at Qiao Zhen, who seemed to be deep in thought.
Qiao Zhen frowned and pondered for a while, but couldn't remember anything. She muttered, "This place just looks familiar, but I can't remember when I've been here before."
Xiao Ling: [This is the original owner's hometown. Surprised? Unexpected?]
Qiao Zhen: [Huh?]
As if to confirm what Xiao Ling had said, a boy dressed in brown linen clothes, who looked about fourteen or fifteen years old, rushed into Qiao Zhen's arms, "Auntie!"
"?!" Qiao Zhen stared at the boy in disbelief, utterly shocked. The original owner of this body was only twenty years old; how could she possibly have such a grown nephew?!
With a dark expression, Ye Shangzhou dragged the boy out. "Men and women should not touch each other."
The boy still clung to Qiao Zhen's arms, "Auntie, I'm Qiao Liang, don't you remember me?"
Qiao Zhen was stunned, as if struck by lightning. She stared blankly at the boy before her, the original owner's memories flooding back. This boy was indeed the original owner's nephew. The original owner had entered the palace as a maid when she was seventeen, and the boy before her was only twelve at the time. "It's kind of you to still remember me. You've grown up so much in the blink of an eye. I came here by carriage, and this place felt familiar, but I couldn't remember where I was."
Qiao Liang scratched his head. "Auntie, do you want to go back and visit? Grandma and Grandpa miss you so much, and Dad misses you too. When you first left, Grandma cried every day, and Grandpa's eyes reddened a few times too."
Ye Shangzhou's face was so black it was almost dripping ink.
Qiao Zhen immediately scolded, "Qiao Liang! Stand up straight! Why do you still act like you've never grown up?"
Qiao Liang felt wronged, but could only kneel properly beside Qiao Zhen.
Seeing that he was sitting quietly, Qiao Zhen softened her voice, "Auntie came here this time because she has something to do. If she has time next time, she will go back to visit. Please let the family know that Auntie is safe and well."
Ye Shangzhou knew that Qiao Zhen was considering his feelings, and his mood was complicated. His gaze shifted between Qiao Zhen and the boy several times. "No need. I have some free time today, so I'll accompany you back to take a look."
Qiao Liang then noticed the man next to Qiao Zhen. "Auntie, who is he?"
"..." How should I answer this? Is your aunt this man's concubine? Is this man your aunt's husband? But without a doubt, this man is a tyrant.
Ye Shangzhou looked at Qiao Zhen with a half-smile, waiting for Qiao Zhen to introduce herself.
Upon seeing Ye Shangzhou's amused gaze, Qiao Zhen had a very bold idea: why not introduce this man as her kept male concubine?
Xiao Ling: What the hell is so bold?
Qiao Zhen reached out and intertwined her fingers with Ye Shangzhou's. "He is your aunt's husband, but not your uncle."
This statement was very euphemistic, but the implied meaning was: she was a concubine.
Qiao Liang was no longer a child and was aware of these matters. He quietly looked up to examine Ye Shangzhou; he was quite handsome and dressed very well. Especially since he had accidentally touched the fabric of Qiao Zhen's clothes earlier, which was very smooth, it seemed that his aunt was doing well, and that was enough.
Qiao Zhen picked up Ye Shangzhou and said, "A Liang, let's go by carriage."
Qiao Liang's gaze was fixed on Ye Shangzhou's legs.
Ye Shangzhou looked very uncomfortable.
Qiao Zhen gave Qiao Liang a wink, and Qiao Liang then looked away and followed Qiao Zhen eagerly. "You haven't been back for several years. The roads here have been repaired. Auntie, let me show you the way in a bit."
"You give the driver directions in a bit, and I'll memorize the way by looking out the window." Qiao Zhen said as she carried Ye Shangzhou into the carriage. She looked up and saw Ye Shangzhou standing close by. His cold, hard features outlined his face, and his thick, sword-like eyebrows would shoot out a chilling aura with the slightest raise of his eyebrows. He rarely showed any strong expressions, so his face was almost wrinkle-free.
Ye Shangzhou was placed on the long couch. He looked back at Qiao Zhen without any embarrassment and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Qiao Zhen grinned, "You look incredibly handsome today! Even more handsome than yesterday and the day before."
Ye Shangzhou was pleased with her flattery, and he pinched her chin and kissed her heavily, saying, "Save those words for me tonight."
Before Qiao Zhen could say anything more, she heard Qiao Liang chattering on the carriage shaft, "Auntie, my mother gave birth to another little sister. The doctor found out last year, and she's been pregnant for half a month now. She's so beautiful. Grandma said that she looks exactly like you when you were little."
Qiao Zhen's attention was diverted by Qiao Liang. She lifted the curtain of the car and leaned against the window, looking at the familiar path. "The baby hasn't even opened up yet after half a month. Is Mother teasing me?"
There was silence outside the carriage for a long time, then Qiao Liang whispered, "Grandma misses you too. She originally thought that since the current emperor couldn't wage war, Father had escaped a calamity. But then the Night Palace started recruiting palace maids, and Grandma could only watch helplessly as you were taken away by those people. Everyone knows that the current emperor... It's a miracle that you're safe and sound."
There was a flicker of emotion in Ye Shangzhou's eyes. "How is the current emperor?" he asked with a hint of interest. "There are no outsiders here, so you can speak freely."
Qiao Zhen felt this was a good time for Ye Shangzhou to get to know himself properly, so she raised her voice, "Yes, there are no outsiders here, so just talk."
Qiao Liang said indignantly, "The current emperor is arrogant and tyrannical, with the heart of a despot. He is becoming increasingly proud, stubborn, cruel, and inhumane. He must be a big fat pig who is ugly, old, lewd, and has big yellow teeth!"
"Pfft." Qiao Zhen originally wanted to hold back her laughter, but she really couldn't hold it in, and a series of laughs burst out from her lips. "Hahahaha, so vivid and lifelike, hahahaha, big yellow teeth."
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