Translator: Kats Editor: Perriemix
It was the beginning of autumn, but the weather was still hot. The afterheat this year was extra strong.
The night sky was dark, the air pressure was low, and it seemed that there was a storm coming.
Ye Jiayao was worried. She didn’t know what she’d do if it rained since both of them didn’t have an umbrella.
Helian Jing, on the other hand, was relaxed. As long as he was with Yaoyao, he wouldn’t care even if it hailed.
“Yaoyao, I am telling you, that Wei Liujiang is disgusting. He even has the nerve to say that we intentionally framed him!”
Ye Jiayao nodded sympathetically. Well, to be honest, they really did frame him. Chunyu planned this thing out so perfectly that Wei Liujiang wasn’t able to defend himself. However, to actually come outright and say that the Helian Royal Mansion framed him was equivalent to asking for a death sentence. Helian Mansion had nothing against him, who would believe him of that accusation?
“You really cannot find the servant? What will you do now?” Ye Jiayao asked curiously.
Helian Jing sneered, “My mother said that Wei Liujiang and his wife are dogs. It’s possible that they had worked together to set First Lady Ye up. Now, they even dare deny it and accuse the Helian Mansion? Mother will not let this go that easily. My brother has already sent people to Yang Zhou to investigate.”
Ye Jiayao hid her astonishment. Was it really possible? She had thought that Wei Liujiang was a kind man because the servants of the Wei Mansion adored him. She was not so sure now. And if she actually thought about it, it was indeed strange that he did not care when his real wife was taken away by the bandits. Instead, he immediately moved on to Jinrong. If that didn’t scream cold-blooded man, she didn’t know what will.
Ye Jiayao mused, “Since Second Lady Ye substituted for the First Lady Ye, then the Ye and Wei families must’ve covered up for it, too. It would be hard to find anything that can incriminate them.”
Helian Jing smiled coldly. “The truth will always prevail. It was a guarantee that they missed something and that’s where we’ll start. During the dinner, Wei Liujiang’s wife said that the Second Lady Ye is sick and was sent to her grandmother’s house to rest. We’ll check up on the grandmother’s house and see if Second Lady Ye is really there.”
The Ye family would not be able to go against the Helian Mansion, especially with how determined and ruthless this royal family was. That thought actually settled Ye Jiayao.
It seemed that those two dogs would encounter bad fortune soon.
“Arrgh! Mu Qinchu and Wei Liujiang are such douchebags! I will beat them to a pulp if I see them again,” Helian Jing exclaimed angrily.
“Why are you so indignant?” Ye Jiayao felt bad. Chunyu used the Helian family to exact their revenge and now they were caught in the middle of it.
Helian Jing replied, “They made my mother mad and they did horrific, shameless things inside our home. For that, I will make them suffer.”
“So if I make your family mad one day, you’ll make me suffer, too?” Ye Jiayao was upset. If Little Jing finds out the truth one day, would he be angry at her? Would he blame her?
Helian Jing turned to her with a slight smile. “You? How could you ever do that? My grandmother adores you. When I greeted Old Ancestress this morning, she gushed about you!”
Helian Jing cleared his throat and squinted his eyes, thinning his lips a bit. He said, mimicking his grandmother’s voice, “Little Jing, Li Yao was not born in a rich family, but he has a good personality. He is much better than your other rich and spoiled friends.”
Ye Jiayao laughed, kicking him playfully. “Stop that! That’s creepy!”
Helian Jing dramatically said, “I was praising you! Why are you kicking me? Gosh!”
The two of them talked and laughed until they finally arrived at the Prince’s mansion.
Helian Jing reported their presence and after a short wait, someone came to take them inside.
The Prince was still discussing business with some people in the study when they arrived so they were asked to wait at the side hall.
They waited for a while before they were permitted to enter the study.
The Prince didn’t look well and kept pressing his temples.
“Peace with Your Highness …”
“Peace with your Prince Highness…”
Helian Jing made a hand gesture while Ye Jiayao had to kneel down.
The prince didn’t recognize Ye Jiayao at the time so he simply smiled at Helian Jing. “Young Royal Highness, to what do I owe this visit?”
Helian Jing laughed. “Crown Prince, I accompanied Li Yao here because he wanted to bring you a few new ice cream mooncakes to taste.”
Li Yao? The prince frowned slightly before suddenly exclaiming, “You’re Li Yao from Heavenly Residence?”
Ye Jiayao worked hard to keep the disappointment off her face. The Crown Prince has already forgotten her?
“Yes, Your Highness. Last time, you asked me to bring anything tasty to you so I brought this special mooncake that I made for Your Highness to taste,” Ye Jiayao said respectfully.
“Your Highness, this mooncake is really delicious. It was served at my grandmother’s dinner last night and everyone was so impressed!” Helian Jing gushed.
The Prince smiled. “Yes, my lady talked about that new ice cream mooncake. She wanted to get a few to try at dinner.”
Ye Jiayao brought up the ice box. “If Your Highness and Lady like it, just ask someone to deliver a message and I will bring them to you immediately.”
The Prince waved for one of his servants to take it and said happily, “You really have a good heart.”
Ye Jiayao said, “It is Your Highness’ goodwill that got me to this point. I am very grateful to you and since making good food is all I know, this is the only way I could repay you.”
“It may be the only skill you know, but you’ve more than mastered it. And since you’re offering this, I have one thing to ask you,” the Prince said.
“Your Highness, I will do whatever you ask. Even if it’s not in my capabilities, I will do my best to deliver it to you,” Ye Jiayao immediately said submissively.
Helian Jing stayed silent. Yaoyao did not need any help talking to the Crown Prince, he was already saying all the right things. Yaoyao really did know how to properly suck up.
The Prince was impressed with Li Yao. He had met up people who could utter flatteries so easily, but he rarely met someone who’s sincere in what they say.
“My lady is pregnant and she doesn’t have a good appetite recently. She is sick of the food in the Emperor’s kitchen already. Since you seem to know new and fresh dishes, could you make her one?” The Prince requested.
Ye Jiayao suddenly felt pressured. It was not easy to please the Prince’s wife. She was pregnant with the future heir and Ye Jiayao was sure to be drawn and quartered if she made any mistakes.
“So? Could you?” the Prince prodded.
Ye Jiayao swallowed back her unease. It wasn’t as if she could really say no. “I will try my best. However, I need to know what kind of physique your lady is in, what she can eat, what she can’t, and her favorite food and flavors.”
The Prince nodded, approving of how thorough and meticulous Li Yao was.
“Little Chuan will take you to see Doctor Liu and Wet Nurse Zhang. You can ask them anything about my lady’s health,” the Prince said.
Helian Jing and Ye Jiayao walked out of the mansion about an hour later.
The heavy rain that was looming the whole night finally came down as they got out. The Prince had someone send them home with a cart. Helian Jing had no choice but to leave his horse at the palace and come back for it tomorrow.
Helian Jing insisted to send Yaoyao home first.
Ye Jiayao couldn’t dissuade him so she just allowed it.
When they were near the alleyway, Ye Jiayao wanted to get off but Helian Jing didn’t let her. “You’ll get soaked if you go out in this heavy rain. Don’t you live in the alley? Driver, please get in.”
Helian Jing opened the umbrella and escorted Yaoyao up until the door.
“I’m here, you can go back now,” Ye Jiayao said as she knocked on the door.
Helian Jing studied the house. It was relatively new and pretty quiet in a noisy area. It was a relief to see where Yaoyao lives because he’d been worried that he’d been living in a bad condition.
“Aye, open the door.”
The door opened and everyone fell into a stunned silence.
Ye Jiayao didn’t expect for Chunyu to actually open the door.
Chunyu didn’t realize that Little Jing would actually walk Yaoyao to the door. After all, why would Little Jing do that for a man?
Helian Jing was stupefied. So the friend that Yaoyao talked about was Brother Chunyu? Brother Chunyu arranged the living place for Yaoyao?
Chunyu was the first to recover from the shock. “Little Jing, you took Li Yao away. I couldn’t find him and I was just getting ready to leave. Come, come inside and talk!”
Xia Chunyu turned around and called loudly, “Uncle Jiang and Auntie Jiang, there is a guest.”
He wanted to warn the Jiang family not to give away Yaoyao’s real identity yet.
Everyone came into the room and Jiang Yue brought some tea while Auntie Jiang gave them clean towels. She then excused herself to make some eggs.
They wiped the water off their clothes and Helian Jing asked, “Brother Chunyu, why are you here?”
Xia Chunyu replied casually, “Oh, it is Uncle Jiang and Auntie Jiang’s house. They’re from Black Wind Ridge and I come here to visit them sometimes.”
Helian Jing nodded in understanding. He was initially surprised why Brother Chunyu was here so late at night. However, he was feeling a bit cheated. He wanted to take Yaoyao home many times but he always refused while Brother Chunyu could just sit around here any time. Now that he knew where Yaoyao was living, Helian Jing would be sure to come visit often in the future.
Ye Jiayao cleared her throat and asked, “Heir-Son Lord, why were you looking for me?”
“It is not a big deal. I just wanted to ask you for a few ice cream mooncakes since my servants couldn’t get any today. The women in my family wanted them. I had a chat with Uncle Jiang since you were not here and the rain caught up with me,” Xia Chunyu answered.
“Okay. I will make a few more tomorrow and you can come and take them,” Ye Jiayao said.
“I want some as well,” Helian Jing reminded her immediately.
Ye Jiayao’s lips twitched. “I know. Don’t worry.”
“Right, where did you two go so late at night?” Xia Chunyu asked perfunctorily. He already knew that they went to the Prince’s mansion since he followed them there.
Helian Jing responded, “Yaoyao was sucking up to the prince.”
Ye Jiayao turned to him and knocked his head with her finger. “I did no such thing!”
