“A hidden chamber? Why, do you want to hide turnips?” Xia Chunyu quipped.
Ye Jiayao glared at him. “It’s to hide you.”
His smile deepened. “Is it because you don’t want to share me with the rest of the world?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m serious. I want a hidden chamber that only the two of us would know how to access.”
It may be because she lacked a sense of security in this world. God forbid something ever happens, she wanted someplace safe she could retreat to.
“Okay,” he conceded after seeing how serious she was. “Do you want Uncle Jiang to design the mechanism when the time comes?”
She beamed. “Yes, that’s a great idea!”
He balked at her. He was just joking!
In the Jing An Marquis’ mansion, Liu Li asked, “So Jinxuan and Chunyu went to their farmland?”
Little Ya nodded. “Yes. It’s said that there are a few things they need to do over there. Heir-son Lord has five more days left of his vacation, though, so the servants think that they’re just there as a leisurely visit.”
“What did Madame say about their vacation?” Liu Li asked, her teeth gnashing with annoyance.
“Nothing. I think she thinks that the couple deserved that vacation.”
Liu Li pursed her lips. “I don’t care about Chunyu but I’ll find a way to bring Jinxuan back here.”
Today was the third day of smoking wormwood, but the doctor said that the baby hasn’t improved at all. The situation’s just getting worse and worse. The fetus hasn’t moved for over half a month and it was useless for her to take medicine and continue smoking some wormwood. If she dragged this on, her body would take the toll.
They still weren’t sure what went wrong. It might be an accident now, but Liu Li feared that it will happen again the next time she gets pregnant.
If circumstances would permit it, Ye Jiayao would never leave the farm. It was like she was living in a safe, tranquil bubble here. All the problems and drama in her life seemed to have faded away.
Even Chunyu was enjoying the leisurely time away. He would ride horses every day, fish, and even make some delicious food with Yaoyao. And at night, he would make love to his wife over and over again. It was the best vacation he’s ever taken.
On their third day at the farm, urged by Chunyu, Ye Jiayao made fresh cakes.
The rose syrup was ready by now and the only thing she needed to make was the pastry.
She mixed the flour with soaked fresh rose petals and added butter and sugar to it. She covered it and let it rest for thirty minutes.
She launched into the whole process of kneading and shaping the dough almost mindlessly. This was actually kind of therapeutic for her.
Xia Chunyu sat beside her and watched her work, intrigued by her techniques and skills. Xiang Tao and the others looked on as well, attentively remembering everything that she was doing.
Xia Chunyu even tried to shape one by himself. The result wasn’t necessarily good, but it wasn’t half bad either all things considering.
Ye Jiayao turned to her husband and said, “Why don’t you help me like this in the future instead of just standing around like a bodyguard? I’ll be more than happy to teach you.”
He shook his head. “No, no, I’m good. I just did that for fun. If I learn how to cook, I might surpass your skills. I don’t want to overshadow you.”
Ye Jiayao blew him a raspberry. Why does she like him again?
“Hey, hey! We’re cooking! Be careful not to get your spit in the food,” Xia Chunyu said with a laugh. “I have no problem with it, but I don’t know about the others.”
She smacked his arm, blushing with embarrassment.
Song Qi’s so used to the couple’s antics that he paid them no mind. Xiang Tao and the others, however, were trying hard to suppress their laughter.
Suddenly, Zhu Wang rushed in, panicking. “Heir-son Lord, Heir-son Lord!”
Chunyu immediately sobered up. “What is it?”
“There’s a guard from the embassy looking for you.”
Xia Chunyu frowned. A guard from the embassy? Something bad must have happened.
He put down the pastry he was fiddling with and told Yaoyao, “Stay here, I’ll go and have a look.”
Chunyu came back moments later, saying, “Pack up. We need to go back. Ah Ruan is in trouble.”
Ye Jiayao wiped her hands clean and led her husband out of the kitchen. “What trouble? What’s wrong with Ah Ruan?”
“The Third Prince told the Emperor that he wants to marry Ah Ruan,” he answered.
She froze. Why now? And why so sudden? “Did the Emperor agree?”
He shook his head. “It’s up to Ah Ruan. In any case, I think that His Majesty approves of the Third Prince too. They said they asked Ah Ruan this morning and she neither refused nor agreed. She said she wanted to discuss it with us first.”
“Why is she hesitating? She should’ve just turned it down!” Everyone knew that Ah Ruan liked Little Jing. Why would she consider marriage with someone she doesn’t like?
“It’s not that simple. Come on, we need to go back.”
Ye Jiayao moved. This involved Little Jing’s happiness and she’s going to do everything she can to make sure it doesn’t get ruined.
Since she didn’t have the time to finish the cakes, she had the servants pack it up and take it with them.
In a matter of minutes, they were boarded in the carriage, headed for the embassy in the city.
When she heard that Yaoyao was coming, Ah Ruan rushed out of her room anxiously. “Sister Yaoyao, thank God you’re here. I’m so worried.”
“Where is Helian Jing?” Chunyu asked.
“He’s at the Ministry of War. I… I haven’t told him yet,” Ah Ruan answered.
Xia Chunyu immediately ordered Song Qi to rush to the Ministry of War to get Helian Jing.
“What did the Queen say?” asked Ye Jiayao.
Ah Ruan frowned. “She said a lot of good things about the Third Prince. And… it just sounded like I shouldn’t refuse. I also asked Lord Bumu, the assistant emissary who came with me, and he was all for me marrying him too.”
Ye Jiayao could understand where this Lord Bomu was coming from. The Third Prince has been performing well recently and he’s deeply loved and favored by the Emperor. A marriage to him would be more beneficial for Nanyue and Huai Song’s stability.
What she couldn’t figure out was the Queen. The Crown Prince was the Queen’s son. If the Third Prince was to marry Ah Ruan, he’d have the support of the king of Nanyue and he’d have more ammunition to compete with the Crown Prince.
“The Empress Dowager also wanted me to marry the Third Prince!” Ah Ruan added sadly. Although she wanted to marry Little Jing, she couldn’t be selfish. She has the interests of two countries to think about.
“What about you? What do you want to do?” Ye Jiayao asked. She knew that things were not that simple, but she still wanted to know what’s on the Princess’ mind.
“If I knew what to do, I wouldn’t have asked for you, Sister Yaoyao.”
Ye Jiayao turned to her husband. He’s the expert in political interests and matters so he should have a logical opinion about all of this. “Chunyu, what do you think?”
“I don’t think it is a good idea to marry the Third Prince,” Xia Chunyu answered.
“But if the Emperor, the Queen, and the Empress Dowager all agreed to it… it’s not going to be very easy to persuade them to change their minds,” Ye Jiayao hedged.
“Yes, it’s not going to be easy, but it also depends on the Helian family’s stance on this,” he argued.
As long as Little Jing agrees to marry Ah Ruan, and as long as he’s backed by Elder Princess Yu De and the Old Ancestress, they’d be fine. The Emperor wouldn’t dare to push the matter against the Helian mansion. Plus, the Emperor’s original intention was for Ah Ruan and Helian Jing to get together anyway.
Ah Ruan blushed. She actually also wanted Yaoyao and Xia Chunyu to talk to Little Jing. She’s already hinted at her feelings to him but he seemed completely oblivious. Was she supposed to take the initiative to propose the marriage?
“Don’t worry,” Ye Jiayao assured Ah Ruan. “We’ll talk to Little Jing when he arrives.”
Helian Jing stomped to the embassy.
He demanded to Song Qi angrily, “What is this about? I’m busy with work!”
Song Qi answered, “I think you’d better ask the Heir-son Lord, Young Royal Highness. He ordered me to come and get you.”
Helian Jing paused. Was this a set up by Ah Ruan? Or was this a setup made by Chunyu to push him to Ah Ruan?
When he walked into the room, he immediately grumbled, “Brother Chunyu, what’s the matter?”
Xia Chunyu and Ye Jiayao exchanged glances.
Xia Chunyu stood up and put a hand on Little Jing’s shoulder, leading him out of the room. “Let me tell you something.”
