Chapter 61 You bastard, she's your sister...
Yu He'an pulled her behind the artificial hill and hid her there.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the treetops, falling on his handsome face, with a patch of light landing precisely on his high, straight nose.
"Wasn't Father looking for you?" Her gaze lingered on the patch of light for several seconds before falling back to her feet helplessly. She whispered, "Brother, I have to go back."
"Heh... Catch the liar first. He never keeps his promises to me." Yu He'an pursed his lips, glanced at her helplessly, took a step closer, and pinned her against the artificial hill.
A powerful leg slammed open her knees, forcefully pressing between them, and he bent down to envelop her in his arms.
Memories of that night flooded back, a tingling sensation spreading down my spine. This position was too dangerous; it wasn't the proper distance between siblings.
Even with the artificial hill providing cover, if a passing maid were to see it, she wouldn't be able to explain herself no matter how many mouths she had.
"Let go." She struggled, but her wrist was gripped tighter and tighter.
What did you just say to He Sheng?
They were so close, their foreheads almost touching, and most importantly, this person was personally chosen by Yu Tan.
What's so good about him? Yu Tan actually chose him.
After fermenting for dozens of days, the lid of the aged vinegar was lifted, and a sour smell filled the air.
At the dinner table, her hand was held by Yu He'an. She was worried about being seen, so she didn't care what she was saying to He Sheng.
"I don't remember."
"Yaoyao, do you remember what you said? You promised me to stay away from He Sheng." Yu He'an moved closer, their noses almost touching.
Holding her hand in front of Old Madam Song, putting her in an embarrassing situation, Yu Tan suddenly struggled, her wrist breaking free of the grip, and said angrily, "You promised me, what if Grandmother sees us?"
If you see it, of course you'll admit it.
He desperately wanted to be seen by everyone.
The names Yu Tan and Yu He'an were linked together, causing a great uproar and making the whole city go crazy.
Yu Tan lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the ground, her long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath her eyes, making her look extremely lonely and pitiful.
The proud and arrogant Yu Tan disappeared into that rainy night when she was stripped of her title as the wife of the Marquis.
She tried her best to maintain balance, to preserve this illusory peace, and to considerately take care of everyone.
"Nowhere to be found." Yu He'an sighed and took a half step back.
Yu Tan thought she had finally persuaded Yu He'an and breathed a sigh of relief when the scent of cedarwood approached and her lips felt warm.
Yu He'an's kisses were extremely aggressive, forcefully conquering her territory. In the midst of their passionate caresses, he pried open her teeth, drawing her in and making her entangled and fall into his trap.
The hand that had been pushing against Yu He'an's shoulder slowly slid down and no longer obstructed him.
His large hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his embrace with such force that it felt as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
The heat made her mind blurry. She tried to tell herself that this was wrong, but someone kept tempting her to fall into it.
In her daze, she seemed to hear footsteps. She tried to push him away, but her struggles were no match for Yu He'an.
"Ah..." came a gasp.
She was so frightened that her hair stood on end, just like a frightened cat arching its back in defense. The moment Yu Hean released her, she slapped him across the face.
She was so terrified and furious that she slapped him with all her might, leaving a pale handprint on his handsome face that quickly turned red a moment later.
Yu Tan didn't dare to see who had discovered her, so she immediately lifted her skirt, lowered her head, and ran away.
Yu He'an touched his left cheek, which had been slapped, and stared at the newcomer with impatience.
"Young...Master." Changming's face showed no curiosity about the siblings' affair, only a survival instinct fearing a beating from his master. He swallowed and peeked out from behind the artificial hill. "The Marquis...the Marquis is looking for you."
Yu He'an pursed his lips, feeling impatient at being interrupted, and strode towards the study.
Changming whispered, "Young master, why don't you apply an ice pack first before going to see the Marquis?"
*
The Marquis's residence, study.
Yu Zheng, dressed in a black round-necked robe, sat upright in a grand chair, his eyes sharp and his domineering aura radiating. He was like a lion in his prime, guarding his territory. Zhao Qiuci, dressed in a moon-white narrow-sleeved riding outfit, stood to Yu Zheng's left.
When Yu Zheng saw the person who had come, his eyes softened and became gentler.
"Father, Qiu Ci." Yu He'an entered the study unhurriedly and stopped several meters away from Yu Zheng, in a distant and not-so-close position.
His expression remained as indifferent as ever, but the left cheek bore a handprint, with swelling even around the mark, making his cold face look comical.
Even the usually composed Yu Zheng's eyes widened in surprise.
Who slapped him? He never slapped Yu He'an.
Is his son so obedient that he'll get slapped?
Yu He'an may appear outwardly virtuous and kind, but the Yu family members are all ruthless to the core. For Yu He'an to chop off the hand of the person who slapped him was considered a relatively mild reaction from him.
"Father, I'll be going now." Zhao Qiuci curtsied and took his leave. When he passed Yu He'an, he paused for a few moments, saw the handprint on his face, and suppressed a smile.
Yu Zheng clenched his fist and coughed lightly twice. "What happened? You didn't do anything to anyone, did you? This is Bianjing, you can't just run wild here."
"fine."
He intended to brush him off with just two words, so it wasn't surprising that Yu He'an didn't tell him the reason.
After Ning Weiqing left, he guarded the border for many years, leaving Yu He'an and Yu Tan in the Marquis's mansion in Bianjing, and the bond between father and sons became weak.
Over the years, Yu He'an was raised by his teachers and instructors. Before he left home to guard the border, seven-year-old Yu He'an told him, "Father, I want to take the imperial examination and become an official."
He readily agreed. Guarding the border was hardly a good path. Yuhe was intelligent and had known since childhood which path she should take.
It is a joyous occasion when a military general's family produces a civil official who is of high moral character, bringing honor to their ancestors.
Over the years, however, he has become increasingly unable to understand what Yu He'an is thinking.
Yu Zheng picked up his teacup and took a sip: "With the Emperor's illness, the princes' ambitions have been stirred up. The struggle for the crown prince position between the eldest prince and the third prince has been going on for a long time, and the court is full of intrigue. You and the fifth prince made this trip. Was it in the Emperor's name, or on the third prince's side, or did even the fifth prince have this ambition?"
Yu Zheng, seemingly unintentionally, quietly began to inquire about Yu He'an's team.
Yu He'an's tone was cold and tinged with sarcasm: "Father, what kind of answer do you want to hear? The Fifth Prince is just doing his job for the Emperor? The Marquis's Mansion was able to remain neutral and escape unscathed in both struggles for the throne? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
“Back then, the Marquis’s mansion was able to remain untouched by various forces because of the turmoil at the border. The Yu family had to guard the border back then, but now…” Yu Zheng put down his teacup.
So what if he didn't want to get involved?
After the great victory, the emperor issued three edicts ordering him to return to the capital. However, even after he had been back in Bianjing for so long, the imperial decree to reward the three armies had not yet been issued.
Yu He'an: "Father, you understand. We can't give up the Marquis's mansion. We have to choose a way out."
Yu Zheng frowned in worry: "Then it shouldn't be the Fifth Prince. The First Prince is known for his virtue and morality, but he secretly mines iron ore and his rebellious intentions are too much. It should be the Third Prince, who is supported by the aristocratic families."
The Fifth Prince was the riskiest option. His mother, Consort Xian, was out of favor, and his father and brothers from his maternal clan did not hold important positions. Chu Yun Ce had always been on the fringes of being the heir to the throne, and no one had any faith in him.
The third prince's maternal family is the Pei family. They suddenly rose to prominence more than twenty years ago and have a vast network of connections. The current head of the family, Pei Shen, is the Duke of Wei and concurrently the Grand General of the State.
By all accounts, the Third Prince has a better chance of winning.
Yu Zheng silently observed his son, Yu He'an, wondering what he was thinking, but was then drawn to the slap mark on his face.
Yu He'an suddenly asked, "Father, do you think Xie Ling will betray us?"
"Xie Ling? Why are you suddenly mentioning him?"
Yu Zheng was taken aback and fell into deep thought.
Recalling the days when Xie Ling joined the army, he distinguished himself with his martial arts skills, possessing his own methods of marching without relying on military books.
He had saved him from flying arrows during the fierce battle; he was a spirited young man who could easily have been promoted after that battle. How could such a person possibly betray him? But the evidence was right there in front of him.
“No, how could that be?” Yu Zheng sighed deeply. “It’s just that we haven’t been able to find out for so many years.”
"Father couldn't find out because he didn't know the background. Xie Ling joined the army to investigate Zhao Ziyin's case, which involved Zhao Ziyin embezzling disaster relief funds. Pei Shen rose to prominence during that investigation and began his rapid rise through the ranks."
Yu Zheng was stunned; he hadn't expected Xie Ling and Zhao Ziyin to be involved.
Xie Ling had inquired about high-ranking officials in Bianjing from him, and had asked Pei Shen indirectly several times, but he was not in Bianjing for many years and could not give him any clues. Later, Xie Ling became very close to Pei Shen's nephew, Pei Zhao.
"Xie Ling? Zhao Ziyin?"
If that's true.
"Yaoyao is General Xie's daughter."
Yu Zheng's pupils contracted as his hands, which were resting on the armrest of the armchair, clenched tightly.
He only found out that Zhao Qingwu was the mastermind behind the substitution back then. "Zhao Qingwu is the daughter of Zhao Ziyin, the Minister of Rites? Zhao Qingwu and Xie Ling had a daughter named Yaoyao. Did Xie Ling want to overturn Zhao Ziyin's case back then?"
Everything makes sense now. If the Third Prince were to ascend the throne, the Pei family would be at its zenith, and the cases of Zhao Ziyin and Xie Ling would never be redressed. That's why Yu He'an sided with the Fifth Prince.
Yu Zheng was so angry that the veins on his temples bulged, and he slammed his hand on the side table.
“Yu He’an, when did you become so impulsive? Are you gambling with the entire Marquis’s mansion? You’re willing to stake the whole mansion just to clear Yu Tan’s name.”
Yu He'an said calmly, "Father, you misunderstand. I have high hopes for the Fifth Prince, Chu Yunce. Compared to the other two, he is neither hypocritical nor lacking in magnanimity, and he is also tolerant of others."
Do you really think he's as simple as he seems, and that he's the one who found me?
These two cases are an opportunity. Chu Yunce needs an opportunity, and I need his help.
Furthermore, I never intended to drag the Marquis's family into this. In this competition, you can choose to side with either the First Prince or the Third Prince.
I'm the one who's taking the gamble. Now I'm telling you, if we disagree, we should take out the family tree as soon as possible and cross out the three characters "Yu He'an" just like we did with Yu Tan.
It would be best to stage another grand spectacle to expel me from the manor, announcing that the Marquis's manor and Yu He'an have no further connection, and that nothing I do from now on will involve the Marquis's manor.”
Yu He'an never expected to receive his help; this was clearly a veiled indication that Yu Tan was to be expelled from the Marquis's residence.
"You, Yuhe'an." It's truly a case of the son driving his father to despair.
Yu Zheng roared, slammed his fist on the table, and flew into a rage. For so many years, Yu He'an had pretended to be well-behaved, but this time he was about to be driven mad.
When exactly did Yu He'an develop this rebellious streak? Perhaps it was when he stopped following his own path, waiting for this day to break free from his control.
He recalled Madam Song's worries before Yu Tan's marriage. He hadn't believed them before, but now it seemed they were mostly true.
"What exactly are you and Yu Tan...?" The once imposing voice softened, carrying the helplessness of a father.
What does that count for?
If it weren't for their meddling, he would have investigated the case, cleared Yu Tan's name, and perhaps Yu Tan would have been coaxed into agreeing.
Now it's considered unrequited love on his part, and he even forcibly took it from me.
"You're mistaken. It's me who has always loved her, but couldn't have her."
There was an unusual red spot at the corner of Yu He'an's lips, like a remnant of lip rouge. Yu Zheng suddenly realized something, and her face turned red and then white.
"You bastard, she's your sister, and she's married."
No wonder Yu He'an had a handprint on his face; he thought someone else had slapped him. It was Yu Tan who slapped him.
“It’s not like that anymore. You kicked her out yourselves,” Yu He’an added calmly. “She’ll be getting a divorce soon.”
"You...aren't you afraid I'll break your legs?" Yu Zheng cursed angrily, pointing his finger at Yu He'an's nose.
"Does Lord Yu intend to assault an official of the imperial court without permission?" Yu He'an, unconcerned about Yu Zheng's anger, turned and left. "I am not Yu Tan, I am not so easily manipulated. I am being frank with you because you are my father."
"I dare not accept such praise."
While guarding the border, when drinking with some veteran generals, they often praised him, saying, "Yu Hou gave birth to Yu He'an. Father and son, one a warrior and the other a scholar, are truly blessed."
He's so angry he's practically fuming.
Watching Yu He'an's retreating figure without turning his head, Yu Zheng stepped back and said, "Don't upset your grandmother. She's not as thick-skinned as me and can't withstand your antics. She's old and has her moments of confusion."
"I know."
Seeing that Yu He'an didn't turn his head, Yu Zheng angrily said, "I'll bring out the family genealogy and expel you from the family in a moment."
"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Yu."
"One day, I'll break this little brat's legs." He wouldn't budge, he was determined to do it.
Yu Zheng gritted his teeth in anger, swept his hand across the table, and smashed all the cups and saucers on the side table to the ground with a loud bang. He slumped into the armchair in a dejected manner.
Will Ning Weiqing blame him in the afterlife for raising such a child?
*
Zhao Qiuci came out of the study and walked towards Mingjingzhai.
When they encountered Granny Liu, who had stopped Yu Zheng's confidant He Ying, who was followed by an elderly woman in her seventies and a middle-aged doctor, He Ying looked troubled but saw her as a savior.
Zhao Qiuci approached: "What's wrong?"
Liu Mama curtsied and explained her purpose: "The old lady heard that the Marquis has found the witness who was switched back then, and wants to hear the details of the past. She specifically sent me to ask for the person."
He Yin said with difficulty, "The Marquis instructed that the person must be brought to him and must not pass through anyone else's hands."
Granny Liu said, "The old lady said she wants to hear it."
They froze for a moment, both turning their gazes toward her.
Why are you looking at her?
She wanted to know more.
Author's Note: Thank you 40763048, MiMaoXiHaYeZeChiHuoBabyBaoYuanZi29, and BaoYingMingYue's Nutrient Solution [hug]
Thank you for your company. [hugs]
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