34 Sharing the same bed
◎Sleeping in the same bed with her◎
There was a heavy rain in the middle of the night, and the weather was particularly cool in the morning.
"Good morning, Madam." Ping'er brought hot tea and smiled happily.
Wei Ziyan drank a lot and slept soundly at night. She didn't know it was raining in the middle of the night, nor did she know that someone was sleeping in the same bed with her.
When she got up, Qiu Luo smiled like this while changing her clothes, as if he had gotten something good.
She felt a little uncomfortable at the time, so she didn't think much of it. After Leng Xiang had massaged her head expertly, the pain was gone. She drank two sips of tea to soothe her throat, and then she asked Ping'er if anything good had happened.
"Young Madam, the eldest master is back!" Ping'er answered in an unusually cheerful tone.
Hmm...
Wei Ziyan had a vague recollection of Yan Qizheng's appearance at the wedding banquet yesterday. She'd been surprised at the time that praying to the Weaver Girl was more effective than praying to the Bodhisattva...
But are they so happy that Yan Qizhen is back?
"The eldest son has moved back into his bedroom and no longer sleeps in a separate room from the young mistress!"
With a "puff", Wei Ziyan sprayed out the tea in her mouth.
"What did you say?"
Qiu Luo wiped the water droplets that had splashed onto the corners of her clothes with a handkerchief, smiling with her eyes curved, "Ping'er said that the eldest young master stayed here last night and this morning asked Aunt Lengxiang to remove the bed in the study."
“…”
Remove? Share a bed with her?
What is Yan Qizhen going crazy about?
"Where are the others?"
"The eldest son is out-----"
"The eldest son is out-----"
Ping'er and Qiuluo spoke in unison, then stopped at the same time.
"The eldest master said he has official business to attend to, but he will be back later to have dinner with the young lady." Even the dignified and reserved Leng Xiang smiled.
As soon as she finished speaking, Ping'er and Qiuluo nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, the eldest master said that he would come back to accompany the young lady."
"The eldest master also said that he has informed the Madam, so the young lady doesn't need to pay her respects today."
"Yes, Master, please let the young lady rest more. If you have a headache, you can take two Ningxiang pills..."
The two of them chattered back and forth, making it so noisy that it was a headache.
Wei Ziyan rubbed her messy hair, turned around silently, and let the usually quiet Du Juan comb her hair slowly.
She wouldn't leave the hospital today, so she could just wear a simple bun and a jade hairpin. However, why did the flowered hairpin Du Juan chose for her look a little unfamiliar?
"This," Du Juan replied in the mirror with a smile, "The eldest master bought this for the young lady on his trip."
Um?
Wei Ziyan's eyes widened slightly, and she saw Dujuan bringing a red brocade box, stretching out ten slender hands, and slowly opening it in front of her.
It was filled with hairpins, flower hairpins, and step-shaking ornaments, sparkling with gold and dazzling, almost blinding her eyes.
"These were all brought back by the eldest son for the young lady. He said they were all beautiful, but this hairpin with flowers especially complemented the young lady's natural beauty..."
she:"……"
So that day, everyone in Fuxitang seemed to have received good news, their eyes and faces full of unconcealable joy. Several maids crowded into the small kitchen, busy as if it were a holiday.
Wei Ziyan asked Leng Xiang to tell them not to make it too grand. If it was too deliberate, Yan Qizheng would misunderstand her as trying to curry favor. But Leng Xiang quickly replied, saying that it was the eldest son and Madam Yan who had asked the kitchen to do it.
Madam Yan instructed that they make soups that the eldest son and the young lady would like, while the eldest son instructed that they make a few more dishes that the young lady would like.
Wei Ziyan deeply felt that Yan Qizheng was not right!
Before, my kindness to her was like that of a friend, with a limit. Now, buying her jewelry, caring about her every detail, and even eating and sleeping with her has gone beyond friendship and is something only her husband can do!
What exactly did he go through?
He was so mean to her when he left! How come after coming back from his trip, he suddenly became so... warm to her?
Could it be that he regrets it and doesn't want to divorce her?
Wei Ziyan's heart was in turmoil. She stroked Bai Er's soft fur and felt more and more uneasy. If this was really the case...
"Madam, the eldest daughter has broken into the yard!" Ping'er suddenly rushed in and shouted seriously, "She looks like someone has provoked her. She looks so fierce."
Wei Ziyan frowned unconsciously.
Yan Qizhuo had been quiet since he was punished to Xuanyi Temple last time. Why did he want to cause trouble for her again?
Just as I stood up and was about to go out to take a look, a sharp female voice came from outside: "I wonder who dares to stop me——"
Wow, this lady is much more arrogant than her!
As Wei Ziyan took a step away, Bai'er followed her, meowing and clinging to her feet. So she simply picked up Bai'er and left the house.
Yan Qizhu didn't wait for the message to be passed, and rushed in aggressively, making such a loud noise that it alarmed everyone in the courtyard.
Qiu Luo and Leng Xiang were trying their best to stop her in front. The servants and maids didn't dare to come forward and all leaned forward to watch from behind.
As soon as Wei Ziyan showed up, Yan Qizhu pushed away the maidservant who was in the way and rushed to her.
Just as he opened his mouth to curse, he suddenly caught sight of Bai Er in her arms. He stared blankly, as if he had seen something extraordinary.
"What's wrong with me, young lady?" Wei Ziyan took advantage of her moment of daze and spoke first. "There are so many people here, young lady, are you going to curse again, or do you plan to fight?"
"Bah!" Yan Qizhu came back to his senses and suddenly spat at her, cursing, "You are such a despicable villain who complained about me behind my back!"
He had come with great momentum, and the beginning should have been a powerful blow. However, seeing Bai Er pause for a moment, his momentum weakening somewhat, Yan Qizhu had to compensate with words, not giving the other party a chance to retort, and continued to press forward with sharp words.
"Don't think I'll be afraid of offending you if you bring up Big Brother!"
"I, Yan Qizhu, hate cowards like you who can't be scolded or beaten, and can only find others to stand up for you!"
"If you can't stand me, just attack me directly if you have the guts. Hiding behind my back and complaining will only make me despise you even more!"
Yan Qizhu pointed at her nose angrily. Wei Ziyan was completely bewildered by the scolding: "What's wrong with you? I'm suing you? What do you have that's worth me suing?"
"Why are you pretending? Didn't you complain to Big Brother..."
"Yan Qizhu——"
A loud shout suddenly came from the sky, interrupting Yan Qizhu's accusation.
As the eldest daughter's face changed slightly, everyone saw Concubine Hui step into the courtyard at a lightning pace. Behind her hurriedly followed two maids and the third young master Qifeng.
"mother--"
Yan Qizhu was somewhat dissatisfied with being interrupted, but was sternly scolded by Aunt Hui: "Asshole! How dare you come to my eldest sister-in-law to make trouble? Why don't you go back and reflect on your mistakes! Qifeng, take your sister back!"
Aunt Hui has come forward in person, how can we allow her to continue to be so presumptuous?
So, Wei Ziyan saw the eldest lady glaring at her unwillingly, then turned around and left with her brother in hatred.
"Zi Yan," Aunt Hui did not forget to speak up for her daughter, "Qi Zhu is ignorant, don't bother with her. Aunt Hui will discipline her and stop her from making trouble again."
Aunt Hui was relatively young, a middle-aged beauty with a lingering charm. She spoke in a gentle and courteous manner, with a slightly awkward smile. Since she was an elder, she couldn't afford to be disrespectful.
"Don't worry, Aunt Hui, Zi Yan won't take it to heart." Wei Zi Yan smiled at her, "But why is Third Sister so angry? What happened?"
Hearing her ask this, Aunt Hui's face became more and more embarrassed. She tried her best to purse her lips and deny it, "Nothing, but I said a few more words to her."
After saying that, he hurriedly said goodbye.
Before leaving, Aunt Hui stared at Bai'er in surprise for a moment, as if she was worried, and told her again not to have the same opinion as Qizhu.
Although what happened today had nothing to do with Wei Ziyan, she was extremely curious about what had happened because she was disturbed for no reason. Should she at least know what was going on?
After the others left, Wei Ziyan asked the maids around her, but they all shook their heads, saying they knew nothing. After a moment's thought, Wei Ziyan asked them to find a servant who was familiar with Concubine Hui's side and have him go and find out quietly.
Wei Ziyan's hands were tired from holding Bai Er, so she turned around and went back to the house to rest. Thinking of the expressions of Yan Qizhu and the third aunt when they looked at Bai Er, she asked Qiu Luo puzzledly if he had noticed.
"Yes," Qiu Luo nodded, "The eldest lady and Aunt Hui seemed very surprised."
As for the reason for the accident, Leng Xiang, who knew everything about the matter, had a rough guess.
"The eldest master has been raising Bai Er like a baby for three years. He never lets Bai Er leave the yard and doesn't like outsiders to tease him. The eldest lady has come to visit a few times before, but the eldest master didn't allow her to hold him."
"You're not allowed to hold me?" Even Wei Ziyan felt it was an exaggeration for such a treasure.
"Yes, the eldest master said that Bai Er is a lackey, and he will recognize anyone's scent as his master. So even among the people in the courtyard, the eldest master only allows a few specific people to get close to Bai Er."
Leng Xiang smiled when she said this.
"As soon as the young lady entered the house, the eldest master sent Bai Er to her and even let Bai Er stay in the house and play with her all day. It's clear that the eldest master treats her differently."
"Wow," Qiu Luo finally understood. "No wonder the eldest lady and Concubine Hui reacted like that when they saw the young lady holding Bai Er. They must have thought that the eldest lady was wrong to scold her earlier. How could the young lady be ignored? The eldest master is clearly very kind to the young lady!"
Those words gave Wei Ziyan goosebumps. When she looked at Bai Er again, she felt like she could vaguely see its owner's face, and she couldn't shake it off...
Not long after, the servant who went to inquire about the news came back running.
"The eldest young lady was fined by the eldest young master and her salary forfeited for three months."
"I heard that the eldest master went to see the eldest lady early in the morning." The servant reported in detail.
"The eldest young lady was still asleep when she was severely reprimanded by the eldest young master. Discontented, she talked back, and was fined her monthly salary. Also obsessed with money, she was furious and would have raged if Concubine Hui hadn't intervened. It's said that the eldest young master wasn't polite either, threatening to send her to the temple to copy sutras and repent if she continued to behave in a disorderly manner and cause unrest in the household."
It turned out that Yan Qizhu came here to vent her anger because she was scolded by her eldest brother. But what did it have to do with her? It wasn't her who ordered it, she had no knowledge of it at all, and it wasn't her who complained behind his back!
Just as he was wondering, Ping'er clapped her hands and cheered: "The eldest master really went to stand up for the young lady!"
The others also looked delighted.
"How would the eldest master know?" Wei Ziyan felt something was wrong and glanced at every maid in the room with a probing look. "Who among you filed the complaint?"
The maids were stunned. Ping'er was about to raise her hand to confess, but Qiu Luo hugged her.
Qiu Luo spoke for her: "Ping'er only told the eldest master last night that the young lady had been wronged, but she didn't dare to report the eldest lady. It was the eldest master who went to see the lady that night and learned about it from her."
No wonder...
Wei Ziyan finally understood the whole story.
When she thought of what Yan Qizhen had done for her, goose bumps appeared on her back again.
He did so many things secretly, as if he was standing up for her. What was he trying to achieve?
Could it be...
Do you really think they are husband and wife?
"Madam, I didn't mean to be nosy..." Seeing her silence, Ping'er thought she was unhappy. "When I saw the eldest master was going to the study again, I just wanted to help Madam stay with him."
Wei Ziyan was so angry that she laughed.
"Are you helping me?"
"Young Madam, don't you remember?" Ping'er pouted. "Sister Qiuluo can testify that the young madam pestered the eldest master last night, fearing that he would leave. She also said..."
She's pestering...
How could she possibly keep pestering Yan Qizhen?
Wei Ziyan's eyes almost widened: "What else?"
Ping'er lowered her head in embarrassment.
"The young lady also said..."
"To follow the eldest son..."
"...Become a couple..."
…………
The emperor has been in poor health recently, so the crown prince has been managing government affairs and has been living in the Eastern Palace. When Yan Qizheng left, the crown prince and several ministers were discussing tax reform and had no time to spare.
Tax reform was a matter of great importance, and it would take more than a minute to discuss it. Yan Qizheng changed his route and went to the Ministry of Justice to ask Yu Sugong for something. As soon as he entered, he heard a lively commotion.
It turned out that Minister Wu's second son was getting married, and everyone in the Ministry of Justice had received an extra gift from the Minister. At this moment, everyone was eating wedding cakes and reminiscing about the lively wedding banquet yesterday.
All the officials here, except Yu Sugong, were present to congratulate him. When Yan Qizheng appeared, Yu Sugong was sitting alone in the corner, listening to the people around him talk excitedly.
A clerk named Shen greeted Yan Qizheng, complimented him on his good complexion, and offered him a piece of wedding cake. He readily accepted it, pursed his lips, and thanked him.
"Speak of the devil, and he will appear." Yu Sugong looked at him meaningfully with his peach blossom eyes. "I was wondering what you were rushing to do yesterday. Turns out you were going to pick up your wife."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Shen said to him with a smile, "My wife kept complaining to me last night, saying that Captain Yan was a caring person. Not only did he come to pick her up personally, he wouldn't even let her go on her own. She also said that seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. Captain Yan clearly seems affectionate and loyal, and those rumors about him being unkind and unfaithful are probably untrue."
Yan Qizhen understood what was going on and smiled awkwardly.
"Master Yu didn't go to the wedding banquet yesterday?"
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was present in person yesterday. As Minister Wu's right-hand man, there was no reason for Yu Sugong not to go.
"Why would I go? I don't have a wife waiting for me to pick her up." Yu Sugong's teasing reply drew laughter. The official then said with a smile, "Our Lord Yu is not unwilling to give face to the Minister, but he simply doesn't dare to attend the wedding banquet."
This is strange. Why wouldn't you dare to attend a wedding?
Confused, Yu Sugong explained himself: "The Taoist fortune teller said that I am unlucky in marriage. Whoever's wedding banquet I attend will have their marriage end prematurely."
Taoist priest?
Oh, what Yan Qizheng distrusted most was Taoist priests! They were swindlers and frauds!
"I didn't believe it at first," Yu Sugong shook his head helplessly, "but later on, my own marriage was bumpy. The two weddings I attended ended in divorce within six months."
That... is a bit mysterious...
Yan Qizheng was suddenly startled. On the day of his wedding...
Seeing his face tense up in an instant, everyone started joking. Shen Yuanwailang even deliberately joked: "Captain Yan is getting nervous now, it's too late!"
Everyone was in high spirits, but knowing that he came today for serious business, Yu Sugong stood up with a smile and led Yan Qizhen to the inner hall.
"Does Madam like the jewelry that the Imperial Envoy has chosen?"
Yu Sugong asked casually, and Yan Qi was just imagining the scene of waking up in the morning. The woman beside him, her face peaceful as she slept, couldn't help but raise the corners of her eyebrows and lips slightly.
"Probably."
The spring light that unconsciously flashed in her eyes and the radiance on her face made Yu Sugong imagine the sweetness of "a short separation is better than a new marriage". He couldn't help but sigh twice and exclaimed: "No wonder she looks so good!"
Yan Qizhen's smile deepened as he stuffed the remaining wedding cake into his mouth.
"Here." After arriving at the inner hall and closing the door, Yu Sugong handed a handkerchief to him.
"This was the embroidered handkerchief Zhang Chao was carrying at the time."
Yan Qi was spreading it out and saw an embroidered pattern of a small bridge and flowing water, with a weeping willow waving in the wind on the bank.
willow……
"Hiss—" Yu Sugong also discovered the clue at this moment, "Could this 'Liu' refer to the Liu family?"
"Maybe..." Yan Qizheng tapped his chin lightly, "It's Miss Liu."
A burly, rough man had specially bought a woman's embroidered handkerchief. Yu Sugong suddenly realized, "Could it be that Zhang Chao assassinated the Crown Prince for Miss Liu's sake?"
"Whether it is true or not, you will know after asking."
"The Ministry of Revenue's records clearly state that the Liu family in Liangjing has absolutely no connection to the Northern Frontier Liu family. Are you sure Liu Yu'er is an orphan of the Liu family?"
Yu Sugong went to the Ministry of Revenue to check early in the morning. Although the Liu family in the capital that Liu Yuer had taken refuge with was of the same clan, their ancestors for three generations had no connection with the Liu family far away in the northern border.
Yan Qizhen knew whether Liu Yuer was right or not.
"I'd like to borrow this handkerchief."
"If you just go to the Liu family to question them, what if Liu Yu'er refuses to admit her identity and runs away secretly?"
Seeing that he was confident, Yu Sugong's worries changed direction again.
"How about taking a few people with you and bringing the person back for a slow interrogation?"
It's no wonder he was worried. After escaping death, Zhang Chao risked his own life to assassinate the prince. His purpose might be related to the Liu family. His Royal Highness the Prince would definitely ask them to find the whereabouts of the orphan girl of the Liu family.
If Liu were to escape right under his nose, how would he explain to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?
But according to the Crown Prince's style, as long as there is a suspicion, even if it is unjust, the person must be arrested and interrogated strictly. Liu Yu'er is a woman, so she must suffer in the prison of the Ministry of Justice.
Considering her miserable life experience and the sisterly relationship with Zi Yan, Yan Qizhen didn't want to arrest her right away.
"Master Yu, please allow me to check first."
Yu Sugong shook his head: "It's useless for me to agree. It depends on whether His Royal Highness the Crown Prince agrees."
In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, several officials who were discussing matters walked out one after another, including the Minister of Personnel Fang Jikai.
It seemed that the marriage between the Wu and Qi families had indeed contributed to Minister Fang's surrender. Yan Qizheng silently withdrew his gaze and responded to the call to enter with Yu Sugong.
Wu Minglu was still standing in the hall. Li Chengtai, who was sitting at the top, looked energetic and seemed to be in a good mood. Seeing the increasingly happy expressions on the two men's faces, he offered them seats without formalities.
"I'm very relieved that you two have returned safely," Li Chengtai said in a warm tone. "What did you find out on this trip?"
"Reporting to Your Highness," Yu Sugong had just sat down when he stood up again. "Captain Yan and I have identified the assassin and have made some new discoveries."
As he spoke, Yu Sugong reported in detail the investigation process of Zhang Chao and the Liu family, as well as the whole process of dealing with County Magistrate Luo on the night of his departure.
"Captain Yan knows best what happened next."
At this point, Yan Qizheng stood up and continued.
"After Lord Yu left the city, Magistrate Luo led his men in pursuit. I disguised myself as an officer and mingled with them."
He was following at the end on horseback, and when he left the city gate and entered the tree-lined path, he hit Magistrate Luo's horse's butt with a stone. The horse was startled and ran into the woods, and Magistrate Luo fell off his horse, and everyone was in chaos.
Later, another group of people came riding in a large crowd, led by the "military advisor" mentioned by County Magistrate Luo.
The scar on his left forehead was clearly visible in the moonlight. Yan Qizheng recognized this face. In the Northern Frontier military camp, he stood behind the King of Liao.
"I told you to keep a close eye on him, and this is what you did?" the man angrily scolded Magistrate Luo, who had broken his leg. "Now he's escaped, you go explain to the prince yourself!"
After Yan Qizhen finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment.
From this point of view, the Shen family is just a scapegoat, and the real mastermind behind the assassination of the prince is undoubtedly the fourth prince Li Youxu.
From suspicion to confirmation, this result is not unexpected, but the Fourth Prince's ambition is shocking!
The gentleness on the Crown Prince's face had long since vanished, his gaze cold and awe-inspiring. "Fourth brother is so audacious. Clearing the Northern Frontier is urgent."
"But," Wu Minglu expressed his doubts, "The emperor has high hopes for the King of Liao. Without solid evidence, it will be difficult for him to believe it."
"The King of Liao didn't attack me in the barracks, probably because he didn't expect us to uncover Zhang Chao and the Liu family. I speculate that the King of Liao may not be aware of Zhang Chao's existence, and it's the Liu family that he fears—perhaps they're hiding the King of Liao's secrets, and they're afraid we'll uncover something, which is why they're killing me."
Yan Qizheng said calmly, "We should find Miss Liu as soon as possible and ask her the truth. Perhaps we can dig up solid evidence."
"That's easy." Wu Minglu turned around and instructed Yu Sugong, "Take a few people and take Liu back to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation."
"Your Majesty is in poor health. It is not appropriate to mobilize a large army. It is better to act in secret." Before Yu Sugong could respond, Yan Qizheng spoke to the Crown Prince, "Leave this matter to your subordinates. I will bring Liu back and investigate thoroughly."
But as a woman, Li Chengtai was sure that she could not escape.
"Okay." He agreed immediately, "Bring him back and interrogate him thoroughly."
"yes."
After being disturbed by Yan Qizhu in the morning, Wei Ziyan felt suffocated staying in the house.
It rained last night, and the weather is cool, so I wanted to ask Liu Yu'er to go out for a walk. I had previously discussed going to the mountain resort to escape the heat, but Liu Yu'er hadn't been in the mood. Wu Guanyi got married yesterday, so I'm sure he's also feeling down, so it's a good idea for us to go out and relax.
Unfortunately, the weather was not good. The two had just started walking on the street when the sky turned cloudy and it was about to rain, so they had to go home.
The carriage stopped outside Liu's house. When Liu Yu'er got off, Wei Ziyan saw Yan Qizhen not far away.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
