The next day, Ye Jiayao brought Deng Haichuan to Yu Wang’s residence.

She did not expect Yu Wang to be in and even sought her attendance.

She didn’t know Yu Wang very well and including his back view, she has only seen him a total of three times. Her impression of Yu Wang comes mostly from the very few things Chunyu mentioned.

This person does not show his feelings on his face but is very decisive and harsh. He certainly is competent. Otherwise, he would not have won the support of so many people within such a short time.

Nobody knows how much ambition he is hiding under that calm exterior and Ye Jiayao doesn’t want to guess and probe as it is not something that she can decide and take control of either. The only thing she is concerned about not is, Yu Wang has been studying her with those dark and gloomy eyes for almost three minutes, looking at her like that silently.

An invisible pressure is pressing on her like a collapsed wall and she can tell that he is not very happy.

Ye Jiayao’s palm starts to perspire. Actually, she doesn’t want to offend this person but she has no choice but to do it.

She holds her head up high, forcing herself to not back down, welcoming his examining gaze uprightly.

Yu Wang is secretly shocked. There are very few people who could be this calm under his gaze. Even those officials would not be able to help it but to avert his gaze, showing any kinds of uneasiness be it guilt or fear.

Ye Jinxuan, she is indeed a legendary character.

A beautiful woman who is not only able to escape unscathed after walking into a bandits’ nest, she even managed to capture Xia Chunyu’s heart. A woman who dressed up into a man to work as a chef in Heavenly Residence can make it grow into Jin Lin’s best restaurant in a mere few months and has unparalleled culinary skills with various kinds of styles and is even good friends with Jin Lin’s most prominent noblemen like Helian Jing and Zhao Qixuan. She even dares to go against Liu Li and instead of going out of luck, she even won the recognition of His Majesty and the Crown Prince. It is even said that the Crown Prince gave her his calligraphy… in the end, she managed to push Liu Li aside and become the Second Young Mistress of the Jing An Marquis’s Residence.

She is indeed not simple… a mere government sub prefect’s daughter can actually have this level of means.

However, what shocked him the most is what happened on the day of the wedding. She was abducted and trapped in a well. She was injured and frightened yet she could still push through and finish the course of the feast. If he had known he would have given her a huge blow so that she would not be able to continue despite being able to escape.

However, the key is that he has underestimated Xia Chunyu’s capabilities. He actually managed to find that abandoned well so quickly.

F course, he did all these not because he wants to pit himself against her and Xia Chunyu. On the contrary, he actually admires this couple. If they could be under his use, it would definitely help him soar higher.

Thinking to this point, the corner of Yu Wang’s lips turn up into a smile, making him look less cold and profound as he was previously.

“Madam Xia is thoughtful, I am happy for the Queen Consort to know that she has a friend like you.”

Ye Jiayao smiles “Since we are friends, I would naturally have to put in some effort, this is just a little help.”

“It is a little help to you but it managed to implicate me.” Yu Wang smiles lightly.

Ye Jiayao maintains her smile “Her Highness is wise beyond average, no matter what she says, it is for your wellbeing, why should you mind?”

 Yu Wang lowers his gaze in a smile “That is right, however, I don’t like people telling tales behind my back.”

Ye Jiayao replies “I would never dare. I just feel sorry for the Queen Consort and doesn’t wish to see her lead such an uncomfortable life. Of course, all these are your family matters and I would have no right to interfere but I was just thinking that the Queen Consort is, after all, the princess from South Vietnam and is the apple of the South Vietnamese King’s eye. If the Queen Consort leads a happy life, the South Vietnamese King would naturally be more at ease and the friendship between South Vietnam and Huai Song can be ever more stable, isn’t that so?”

Yu Wang’s smile deepens, making it, even more, thought-provoking “To think that Madam Xia actually is quite concerned about the country and its people.”

Ye Jiayao smiles lightly “I would not say I am concerned about the country and its people but have heard a lot of stories about the grape trellis in the backyard falling*.”

Yu Wang’s gaze darkens as Ye Jiayao looks at him smiling just like that.

After a while, Yu Wang continues “The person you brought should stay, from today onwards, he would be in charge of the Queen Consort’s meals.”

Ye Jiayao bows slightly “Thank you, I shall take my leave.”

Once Ye Jiayao left, a beautiful woman appears from behind a screen.

“My Lord, why did you agree to it?” the woman pouts, questioning unhappily.

Yu Wang takes a look at her and sounds a little cold “In future, give the Queen Consort some respect and stop making things difficult for her.”

The woman whines “My Lord, are you going to let a woman play with you at the palm of her hand?”

Yu Wang replies coldly “I don’t like what she did but she has reminded me, I do not want the grape trellis in my backyard to fall. I can love you and pamper you but I would not allow anyone to spoil my plan.”

After saying his piece, Yu Wang brushes his sleeves and leaves. A sinister and ruthless gaze surfaces from the woman’s beautiful eyes. Well done, Ye Jinxuan, since you are not going to make life easy for me, I am not going to make life easy for you too.

Ye Jiayao goes straight to Ah Ruan’s place after that.

Ah Ruan looks as if she has a lot on her mind. Once Ye Jiayao arrives, she got everyone to leave, even Xiao Man and Qiao Xi are chased out.

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“Sister Yaoyao, did you go to see the Consort?”

Ye Jiayao nods “It is almost Mid-Autumn so I went around the palace to give out some mooncakes. I brought some for you too.”

Ah Ruan sighs “Sister Yaoyao, why did you do that?”

She does not believe that Sister Yaoyao would enter the palace simply to give out mooncakes. Last night, Yu Wang came straight to her room after leaving the palace, telling her unhappily to tell him any requests she has straight away instead of inciting others.

She knew immediately that it must be because of Sister Yaoyao, who else would stand up for her?

“Actually, I wanted it this way, it is not Yu Wang’s fault.” Ah Ruan says. she can marry Yu Wang but she cannot really face him. To say the truth, she actually is glad that Yu Wang got Lin as his concubine.

Ye Jiayao looks at her solemnly for a long time, saying “Ah Ruan, I know what you are thinking inside, however, what is the point of you continuing to be depressed? All you are doing is harming yourself and Little Jing.”

Ah Ruan looks sluggish and is a little confused. What has this got to do with Little Jing?

Ye Jiayao sighs, saying with heartfelt earnest “Ah Ruan, I hate to say things that resign to fate but since the situation has turned out like this, we can only face it. Being depressed and sad would not help and would only complicate matters. Previously, everyone was guessing that you would marry Little Jing and now you are so cold towards Yu Wang, what would he think? Even if he doesn’t like you, he would still hold it in mind! Wouldn’t he hate Little Jing even more? Besides, would anyone care if you are doing well or not? Only those who care for you would be upset.”

Ah Ruan lowers her head in silence.

“The future is still long and you wouldn’t be able to get rid of your title as the Queen Consort. If you continue on like this, you would be eaten up by people without bones left. I am not trying to scare you but the battles between women are so venomous and bitter that it would not lose to a men’s fight. Ah Ruan, wake up! It is a big regret if two lovers cannot be together but there are more to our lives than just love, for example, kinship or friendship. Don’t forget you are still carrying the mission with the status of the South Vietnamese Princess…”

Ah Ruan cannot help but be moved, her eyes are wet.

Ye Jiayao caresses her shoulder “Ah Ruan, pull yourself together, you are not alone, you still have me and Little Jing. Little Jing has been very worried about you, don’t let him be even more upset, alright?”

She has said whatever she could but this road is Ah Ruan’s. She hopes that Ah Ruan could think things through and get over it!

Back in the Marquis’s residence, Ye Jiayao finds out that Jinyao is actually back.

“Jinyao? What are you doing back here? Where is your second sister?”

Jinyao replies “Second Sister returned overnight upon hearing that Second Brother-in-law is fine. I sent Second Sister back to the Wei Residence and both the Old Master Wei and Madam Wei are in so I came back.”

Ye Jiayao is even more astonished “Wei Liujiang is alright? How can this be?”

She knows about Wei Liujiang retracting his testimony but she didn’t think that he would not have to shoulder any responsibilities and is released just like that.

“I am not sure too, Second Sister said that if it is convenient for you, could you make a trip down to the Wei residence?”

Ye Jiayao thinks about it for a while “I will wait for your brother-in-law to return and discuss this with him.”

She waited till nightfall when Xia Chunyu returned.

Ye Jiayao takes the outer clothing he takes off as she asks “I heard that Wei Liujiang is released, do you know about it?”

Xia Chunyu’s lips raise into a smile “I wanted to tell you this the day before but you ignored me.”

Ye Jiayao glares at him “When have you become so self-conscious? Just because I ignored you, you don’t talk to me?”

Xia Chunyu says innocently “In all honesty, I tried ways and means to coax you, how is that not talking to you? I just don’t know if you would be happy or not upon hearing the news. If it makes you even more pent up, wouldn’t I be looking for a scolding?”

Ye Jiayao says gloomily “Then are you intending to only tell me the good news and not the bad ones in future?”

“Of course not.” Xia Chunyu smiles meekly. He was almost depressed to death these few days. It makes him feel more terrible when Yaoyao ignores him compared to scolding him. Never would he have thought that his emotions would be in control of another person for the rest of his life.

“Are you not angry anymore?” Xia Chunyu holds her shoulders as he asks, currying her favour.

Qiao Xi retreats consciously and even closed the door behind her.

Ye Jiayao says slowly “I sent Deng Haichuan to Yu Wang’s residence today and even met Yu Wang.”

Xia Chunyu’s hands tighten immediately “What did he say?”

Ye Jiayao tells him honestly “He was a little unhappy because I hinted Consort Shu yesterday when I went to the palace. Consort Shu might have lectured him. However, he did say that Deng Haichuan can stay and Ah Ruan’s meals would be taken care of by Deng Haichuan.”

Xia Chunyu frowns “Yu Wang is not someone that is easy to deal with, next time when you go to the Yu Wang’s mansion, be more careful.”

Ye Jiayao agrees “I believe so too, he is someone that is unfathomable. When he looked at me with those gloomy eyes, it feels a little suffocating, unlike the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is gentle and mild as a jade, giving off an amiable feeling.”

“Chunyu, do you think Yu Wang would hold a grudge against me for doing that?” Ye Jiayao is uncertain and is afraid of bringing Chunyu trouble.

Xia Chunyu smiles “It wouldn’t go so far as that, besides, I am here? If he dares to do anything to you, I wouldn’t care if he is Yu Wang or not.”