Chapter 22: Tough Backbone

Huai Ning saw the Crown Prince from afar, and angrily turned her gaze away, her mouth pouting.

“I’ll go back to the palace first, we can play again later.” Huai Ning said to Yao.

Yao nodded: “Okay.”

Huai Ning turned and left, not even bothering to say goodbye to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was used to her antics, and could only let her be.

The eunuch came again to invite the Crown Prince to the Hua Dian, so the Crown Prince got up and left, today’s banquet was for the sake of appearances, everyone else was fine.

Ling Xiao didn’t get up and leave with the Crown Prince, he was still in the corner pavilion, facing the pavilion, his eyes lowered, and he didn’t move.

He had been so angry just now, and now he was a little afraid, because since Ling Xiao had started to act, this was the first time he had seen him like this, at Ling Chen’s memorial service, he had ordered Rong Shi Chang to be whipped.

And he had punished the Rong Mansion, calling it a den of thieves.

Such a ruthless person, if he was offended, how could he let it go?

If he had offended him, he had offended him, even if he hadn’t argued like this today, he would still be disgusted.

Thinking about it this way, he felt a little more at ease.

Ling Xiao waited for a while, seeing that she didn’t come over to soften him up, his face became a little more difficult.

“She has a pretty tough backbone.”

After a moment of stalemate, he finally got up and walked towards her.

Yao heard his footsteps, and suddenly quickened her pace, as if she was facing a punishment, she didn’t know what kind of punishment she would receive.

Ling Xiao finally came up to her and stopped.

Yao twisted her fingers, struggling, she raised her head, her lips tightly pressed together, full of vigilance and alertness, not a trace of fear was revealed.

Ling Xiao smiled inwardly, “She’s still afraid.”

“Stubborn girl, she thinks she’s really fearless.”

He said: “Still standing there? Go back to the mansion.”

Yao was stunned, she even thought that Ling Xiao would strangle her on the spot, but he didn’t, he just said these light words.

It was as if nothing had happened between them.

“Is that it? Is it over like this?”

Ling Xiao turned and left, Yao was still standing there, not reacting.

Until Ling Xiao had taken several steps, Yao finally came to her senses, and hurriedly followed his footsteps.

Chen Shiyun had been waiting for Ling Xiao, she had even staged this play, so much so that she hadn’t even been able to say a word to him.

If she had really said something, wouldn’t it have been a waste of all this preparation? She should have given him some leeway.

She saw Ling Xiao coming from the long bridge from afar, and hurriedly greeted him.

“Marquis…”

Before she could finish, she suddenly felt a fierce aura, Ling Xiao’s face was gloomy as he walked past, not even looking at her.

Chen Shiyun stopped, not daring to take another step forward.

She was straightforward and bold, but this was the first time she had seen such an aura that made her tremble with fear.

She didn’t dare to touch bad luck.

Yao was far behind Ling Xiao, and it was difficult for her to keep up with his pace.

His legs were long and his steps were big, unless she had wings, she wouldn’t be able to keep up.

By the time they reached the East Palace, she was already a few steps behind.

Yao gave up, anyway, she didn’t have to go back to the mansion with him, maybe she would go back to the mansion herself.

Thinking about it this way, Yao didn’t bother to follow, and simply slowed down her pace.

Ling Xiao turned his head slightly, noticing that the woman behind him was walking slower and slower, he pursed his lips, and also slowed down his own pace.

Yao had already given up, she thought she would definitely be left behind, but when she looked up, she saw that they were only a step apart.

She stared blankly at his broad back, suddenly feeling a little confused.

Sometimes she felt that Ling Xiao’s temper was very bad, he always opposed her, and seemed to dislike her.

Sometimes, she felt that he didn’t seem to dislike her that much.

The long palace was very quiet, only occasionally a eunuch passed by, and they would quietly lower their heads and walk by, not making a sound to disturb them.

She followed his pace lightly, the red walls on both sides of the palace seemed to erect a barrier, separating them from the world.

Ling Xiao had never been so quiet, but he didn’t feel impatient, he could hear the sound of her footsteps behind him, light and slow, the suppressed anxiety in his heart instantly dissipated, for the first time he felt a sense of peace.

Suddenly, a thought popped into his head, “If this road could go on forever.”

“See the Marquis off.”

The Imperial Guards saluted.

She came to her senses, and saw that they had already reached the majestic palace gate.

Ling Xiao’s carriage was still waiting at the palace gate, and Chi was also holding Ling Xiao’s horse and waiting.

Yao bit her lip, and said to herself: “I’ll go back to the mansion first.”

Ling Xiao didn’t say anything, he directly mounted his horse, but he didn’t leave, instead he waited for Yao’s carriage.

Yao thought he would go first, but seeing that he was still waiting, she hurriedly got into the carriage.

Ling Xiao then kicked his horse’s belly and returned to the mansion.

When they arrived at the mansion, Ling Xiao went straight back to his courtyard to read, without saying a word.

Yao was puzzled, “Is this really over?”

“He said he would hold a grudge, but he didn’t say anything else, he’s just waiting for the right opportunity.”

“He should be able to do it, right? It’s so easy to deal with, how could he bother a distinguished military marquis to hold his breath and swallow his anger?”

But, this matter seemed to be over just like that.

For several days in a row, Ling Xiao didn’t even show his face.

Yao gradually relaxed, she really didn’t have time to worry about this.

Er smiled: “This servant told Madam, the Marquis can’t hold a grudge like that, he’s still thinking about the old man, the old man loves Madam, he will definitely not let Madam suffer any grievances.”

Yao shook her head: “Don’t let the old man worry.”

Lin Shi treated her very well, and she had caused trouble for her.

Yao’s eyes became firm again: “But I won’t swallow my anger, if I really can’t stand it, I’ll move out, anyway, I have my own shop.”

This Marquis’ wife, she didn’t really want to be.

Er hurriedly said: “Madam, don’t say that, how could this huge Marquis’ mansion not accommodate Madam? Madam was married in by a proper matchmaker, no one can say anything, the old man also allows it!”

“Just in case, always leave yourself a way out.” Yao smiled.

“Madam is right.”

“I have to go out today.” Yao pulled open a drawer, took out a stack of manuscripts, “I still have to go to Xi Lou to see Mo Gongzi, and give him my husband’s manuscript.”

“It’s just right, I’m going to deliver some goods today, this servant will have the carriage prepared.”

“Okay.”

Xi Lou.

The carriage stopped at the door of Xi Lou, and Yao bent down and got out of the carriage.

The servant recognized her and greeted her warmly: “Madam Jiang has arrived!”

His attitude was much better than last time, the goods he delivered were indeed good, and Xi Lou was also doing well.

“I’m here to deliver goods, and there’s something I want to talk to Mo Gongzi about.”

“Oh, what a coincidence, our Gongzi is here today, but our Gongzi…”

The servant lowered his voice: “Madam’s business, Gongzi said it would be more convenient, Gongzi can make the decision.”

Yao still shook her head: “I’ll still talk to Gongzi, please help me ask, just say that I brought the manuscript.”

“Okay, please wait in the pavilion for a while, Madam, I’ll go and invite Gongzi.”

Yao nodded: “Thank you.”

Yao was led by the servant to the pavilion, and as soon as she entered the private room and sat down, a man dressed in brocade robes and with a noble air walked in on his own.

He was a little plump, his face was full of the fleshy air of wealth and wine, although he was adorned with jade, he still looked sleazy.

“This is Madam Jiang.”

His eyes were fixed on her, his gaze was sticky and scrutinizing.

He had been staring at this woman since she entered the door, he had seen countless women, but he had rarely seen such a beauty, she was simple and elegant, but also graceful and charming, her face was pure and clean, without a hint of charm, she was truly a fairy.

He had asked the servant, and this woman was actually just a woman who delivered goods to Xi Lou.

He was interested, he was usually very impatient with coming here to manage things, but he had never been so attentive, and he had bumped into a beauty today.

Yao’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, she was already uncomfortable.

The servant hurriedly said: “This is our Gongzi.”

Then the servant smiled obsequiously at Mo Shu Jie: “This is Madam Jiang who delivers goods to our Xi Lou.”

Mo Shu Jie pointed at her: “No wonder, I smelled something fragrant as soon as Madam entered.”

Yao’s face completely turned red: “Gongzi, please be respectful!”

“Oh, it’s okay to compliment Madam a little, why are you so angry?” Mo Shu Jie thought it was funny, he teased, “What did you use to beg Mo Zichen for? This Mo family is not your master.”

“The famous families in the capital are all clear, there’s no one with the surname Jiang, this woman relies on a little capital to do business and even runs errands in person, she’s nothing but a lowly person.”

“Since that’s the case, why would she dare to speak so harshly to me?”

“She must be a bag of money.”

Mo Shu Jie licked his lips, and smiled as he leaned towards Yao: “Madam Jiang, don’t worry, this one is easy to talk to, just beg softly, and he’ll agree to anything.”

Yao felt a surge of nausea in her stomach, and she turned and left directly.

Mo Shu Jie saw that she wasn’t interested, and immediately changed his face, he reached out to grab her.

But his wrist was suddenly clamped.

Mo Zichen clamped his wrist, his face, which was usually full of casual air, was unusually serious at this moment: “Madam Jiang is also a guest of Xi Lou, brother, are you making Xi Lou lose face?”

Mo Shu Jie’s face changed, he cursed: “What are you, a nobody! You dare to teach me a lesson!”