Since the other person had already said so much, Leng Yiqing was too lazy to say anything more, so she smiled frankly and said, "I'm the one who chased her away. I don't want anyone to take my place, so what? If you're not happy, go talk to your mother! This backyard of the Crown Prince's residence is my territory, after all. I don't need to ask for your opinion to drive away a woman."
Su Zhengyang chuckled wryly. Just a few months ago, this woman had so grandly declared she didn't love him and would let him be affectionate with others. A few days ago, she had completely ignored him at the entrance of the Typhoon Shelter restaurant. Now, she was saying such things. Even if he were stupid, he could tell she must have some other purpose in returning. But what exactly that was, he needed time to observe.
"Fine, you've got guts! We'll see!" he said angrily.
Hearing this, Leng Yiqing suddenly thought of something funny and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "I'm not fertile! But you probably aren't either, it's been years and you haven't produced even half a child!"
"You...you..." Su Zhengyang was speechless, choked by these words. He angrily turned and left, leaving Leng Yiqing still laughing heartily at what he had just said.
But that's far from enough. After laughing, Leng Yiqing still needs to think carefully about how to do a good job with the Emperor and Empress. She doesn't want things to be like last time, where Su Zhengyang unilaterally wanted to divorce her, but the Emperor and Empress gave a strict order to keep her as the Crown Princess no matter what.
She hadn't thought it was a big burden before, but now that she had someone on her mind, everything else was superfluous. She didn't want to keep suppressing her feelings like this. As a modern woman who had received a modern education, she had to strive for her own happiness.
"Sister Qing!" Xiao Xiang greeted Leng Yiqing respectfully.
Leng Yiqing glanced at her casually and said unhurriedly, "Who sent you?" In truth, Leng Yiqing knew nothing and was uncertain of nothing. She did this deliberately to either make more enemies or secure an ally.
"Huh?" Xiao Xiang looked at her in surprise, her face completely innocent. But she was puzzled; why hadn't he told her yet?
"Huh? Hehe, just kidding!" Seeing her expression, Leng Yiqing guessed that perhaps she really was just a maid. In that case, she would treat her better, which would be like having another helper.
But then another question popped into her head, and she hurriedly asked Xiao Xiang, "Do you know what happened to Shen Jiaxue? Why did she suddenly leave? And right after I got back to the manor!"
"I don't know!" It all happened so suddenly, and no one had told her what was going on. But she believed it could only be Su Yunmo's arrangement. She knew Shen Jiaxue would leave sooner or later, so she wasn't surprised. Leng Yiqing, on the other hand, was somewhat confused.
Chapter 31: Who is truly sincere?
After leaving, Su Zhengyang remained resentful, wondering if he should seize an opportunity to get revenge on Leng Yiqing. However, for three whole days after that day, there was no movement from Qingxin Pavilion. Not knowing what this woman was up to, he naturally didn't dare to make a move.
He had nowhere to vent his frustration at Shen Jiaxue's abrupt departure, so he finally set his sights on Jiang Yuelin. After having a few drinks, he went to Jiang Yuelin's courtyard to cause trouble.
Jiang Yuelin already knew about this, and to her, it was a very gratifying thing. However, she never expected that Su Zhengyang would be so distressed over such a woman, and even come to talk to her about it. She was on the verge of a breakdown.
"She cheated on you with another man. Now that she's gone with him, isn't that a good thing? What's there to miss? What's there to be angry about? Do you only feel happy when someone cheats on you on your own turf?" Jiang Yuelin's words struck a nerve and brought tears to his eyes.
But he ignored him and instead voiced his doubts: “All we saw was a silhouette in the window. We searched inside for so long, but apart from her maid, we didn’t find any men. I believe we must have made a mistake.”
"What's the use of mourning and regretting after someone's gone? You should cherish what you have now!" Jiang Yuelin only wanted to do everything she could to get him back as soon as possible.
"It must be Leng Yiqing who's behind this. Otherwise, why did Xue'er leave as soon as she came back?" He voiced his confusion and resentment.
Seeing Su Zhengyang's frustrated expression, Jiang Yuelin shook her head helplessly and sighed deeply. Was this the useless man she was so eager to pursue? If it weren't for the position of Crown Princess and her bright future, she wouldn't have bothered fighting for it at all!
"Ha! That Leng Yiqing is really bold, showing no respect for you at all. I never saw that coming before. You can't judge a book by its cover!" She naturally wouldn't let go of this opportunity to stir up trouble. "If we don't teach her a lesson, I'm afraid the entire Crown Prince's residence will belong to her in the future."
"She dares?!" Su Zhengyang was furious and slammed his fist on the table. The murderous intent in his eyes showed that he wished he could kill Leng Yiqing right now.
Jiang Yuelin walked over to him considerately and comforted him with a smile, "Zhengyang, calm down! It's really not worth getting sick over a woman like that."
"Hmph!" Su Zhengyang snorted disdainfully.
"Don't you still have me? Look, all these years, I've never had a change of heart towards you!" Jiang Yuelin knew when to strike while the iron was hot. This gave Su Zhengyang, who was feeling lost, a sliver of confidence.
Looking at the three women in his backyard, he realized that only Jiang Yuelin was truly dutiful. She always obeyed him without question and never overstepped her bounds. He had neglected her for so many years because she seemed so ordinary.
"Yes! I took you as my concubine after seeing your dance back then, but who knew it would delay your life for so many years," Su Zhengyang sighed. Now it's time to make it up to her.
"None of this matters. As long as the Crown Prince still knows how good I am, I'll be content." She smiled seductively, her whole body limp in Su Zhengyang's arms.
"Yes, yes! Look at you all, in this Crown Prince's residence, there's no longer the term 'your subject' or 'concubine' used. It's all 'you' and 'me,' no respect at all!" Su Zhengyang teased her, finding a sense of ease and naturalness with her. Perhaps this woman was exactly what he needed most!
She looked up, meeting his passionate gaze, and was momentarily stunned. Su Zhengyang slowly lowered his head, saying, "Have a child for me!" Leng Yiqing's mocking words kept echoing in his mind. He refused to believe he was a useless man. From this day forward, he would stay at Yuemingxuan every day. He would use facts to prove to that woman that he had no problems; the only problem was with her.
After several rounds of passionate lovemaking, Jiang Yuelin said shyly, "How can Your Highness torment me like this in broad daylight?"
"Hahaha, are you going to beg for mercy now? No way! It's not over yet!" With that, he pounced on her again.
As Jiang Yuelin was pinned beneath him, her senses gradually returned to normal. She had felt his anger after being taken from her for so long. Although she knew he was venting his resentment, having a child was a long-held wish of hers. With a child, her position would be more secure. Perhaps she could then rise through the ranks by virtue of her son.
After two hours of this ordeal, she had lost her initial enthusiasm. Now, she was enduring wave after wave of aches and pains, trying her best to bear it for her future and for this rare moment of passion.
Finally, he collapsed, exhausted, beside her. Jiang Yuelin looked at the sleeping Su Zhengyang and smiled triumphantly.
Chapter Thirty-Two: An Unexpected Incident
The saying "ideas are often grand, but reality is harsh" perfectly describes Leng Yiqing's situation. Having been at the Crown Prince's residence for three days, she has absolutely no idea where to begin. With Su Zhengyang, she didn't even need to lift a finger; a few words were enough to infuriate him, and he probably already wants to divorce her! The real problem lies with the Emperor and Empress; it seems she needs to think things through carefully.
"Sister Qing, you'll get bored sitting in the house all day like this," Xiao Xiang advised her.
"But I don't know what to do!" Leng Yiqing couldn't help but lament the backwardness of this era, especially for a woman of her status and position who didn't have to do anything, being waited on hand and foot. Staying idle like this would only lead to her becoming stagnant. She needed to find something to keep herself occupied.
"I heard from the ladies that Prince Yun bought several fine horses from somewhere, giving one to the Emperor, one to General Leng, and even one to the Crown Prince..." Before she could finish, she saw Leng Yiqing's lifeless eyes. Disappointed, she stopped herself. It seemed currying favor with this master wasn't easy. What kind of job had Su Yunmo found for her?!
"Hiss... clatter clatter clatter..." As they spoke, a horse's neigh and the sound of strong hooves could be heard, gradually fading away from the vicinity.
Leng Yiqing wiped the cold sweat from her brow and couldn't help but laugh. He was really carefree! Riding a horse in the manor, deliberately right next to her courtyard. Was he trying to show off? Unfortunately, she had absolutely no interest in that. But this Su Zhengyang was far too childish; where was the bearing of a crown prince? He was utterly incompetent. She wondered what the emperor was thinking, allowing someone like him to be crown prince for so many years.
"Would you like to ride a horse?" Su Yunmo suddenly appeared at the courtyard gate, smiling gently as always.
Leng Yiqing was genuinely startled: "Were you riding a horse in front of my courtyard just now?"
"It's Zheng Yang!"
Three simple words, but Leng Yiqing believed: "Only he could do such a thing."
"Hahaha! You know him very well!" Su Yunmo laughed, but there was a hint of sourness in his voice.
"Hmph!" Leng Yiqing scoffed.
Su Yunmo knew she was a woman who couldn't sit still, which was why he had specially asked acquaintances to find some fine horses. Was it worth spending so much money just to win her smile? He wasn't sure, but he had to do it: "They've gone riding. Why don't we go riding too? Aren't you most afraid of being bored?"
"Riding a horse?" Thinking of the news reports she had seen before, weren't there quite a few people who were injured or killed by horses' hooves? She always hesitated to approach that behemoth.
Su Yunmo didn't give her a chance to think, and directly pulled her towards the courtyard gate. She rarely could refuse his invitation, so she reluctantly walked to the gate of the Crown Prince's residence.
Upon seeing the horse, a feeling of blissful contentment filled her heart. Leng Yiqing stared at Su Yunmo, mesmerized. What kind of man was he? Why hadn't such a man been discovered yet?
Standing next to a tall, imposing horse, it looked like a miniature pony, only half the size of a large horse. Most importantly, Su Yunmo had placed a soft cushion on the hard saddle, and wrapped the reins with several layers of fine gauze. It was more like a comfortable rocking chair than a horse.
"Don't look at me like that. I just don't want you to get hurt." Su Yunmo said casually, but it left a deep mark on Leng Yiqing's heart. Like Su Zhengyang back then, this man was also worth pursuing. If she couldn't go back to the present, and if nothing unexpected happened, this man was someone she could rely on for the rest of her life.
"Yunmo, thank you!" Leng Yiqing looked at the tall and handsome man in front of her with adoration. He had given her endless warmth and care since she first arrived here.
"Cough cough cough!" Afraid that outsiders would overhear, at this time, he was still just her royal uncle, and her overstepping of the bounds would likely give others cause for gossip. "Let's go somewhere else to talk."
She then mounted her horse with a flourish, her robes billowing, moving like a wisp of dust, and sat leisurely, watching Leng Yiqing. Not to be outdone, she tried to mount her horse in the same manner as Su Yunmo, but ended up getting caught in the stirrups.
"Damn shoes! This upturned thing on the front is so annoying!" Leng Yiqing angrily took off her shoes and climbed onto the pony's back cleanly and neatly.
"Hahahaha!" Su Yunmo couldn't help but burst out laughing. "How come you have no ladylike reserve at all?"
It's said that in ancient times, modesty was considered beautiful, but as a white-collar worker in a modern metropolis, she had no time to dwell on such things. She would fight tooth and nail for anything she wanted, anything she desired to conquer. Only in this way could she have a chance to defeat greater rivals and climb the social ladder. Therefore, she was very unconvinced by Su Yunmo's comments. With a show of smugness, she raised her whip and spurred her horse away.
"Watch out!" Su Yunmo didn't have time to stop her. He wanted to tell her that although this horse was small, it was just as fast as the large horse he was riding. He had no choice but to spur his horse and catch up.
"Help!" Leng Yiqing completely forgot that she didn't know how to ride a horse at all. Her impulsive actions were about to lead to a terrible mistake. The people and objects rushing past her filled her with panic, and she was being tossed about on the horse's back. She forgot how to stop. Besides calling for help, all she could do was close her eyes and tighten the reins.
Danger eluded them time and again, and the little horse narrowly avoided other oncoming carriages. The people on both sides of the street were already in danger and had long since moved away.
She didn't know how long they ran like this, far away from the streets and the crowds, the horse continued its gallop into the woods. For some unknown reason, the horse suddenly reared up, turned sharply, and threw Leng Yiqing heavily onto the hard, gravel road.
☆, Chapter Thirty-Three: Clear Memories
Su Yunmo hurriedly dismounted and rushed to her side, but she seemed to have completely lost consciousness, her eyes gently closed.
"Yiqing!" Su Yunmo tried calling her softly, but there was no response. He suddenly became nervous. Had she hit her head? This was not the result he wanted.
"Yiqing! Yiqing!..." He pulled her into his arms, gently patting her cheeks and calling her name repeatedly, hoping to bring her back to her senses. But all of this was in vain; she still did not respond.
Su Yunmo knew things might be serious. Without hesitation, he picked her up and rode back to the Crown Prince's residence. In just a short while, the once vibrant Leng Yiqing lay quietly. He desperately told himself that she had just fainted, that it was alright, and that he could just call the imperial physician.
Inside the Crown Prince's residence, the maids and guards were dumbfounded to see Su Yunmo carrying their Crown Princess and barging around like this, but dared not say a word. Their immediate priority was to find their Crown Prince; they absolutely could not allow this prince to ruin the Crown Princess's reputation.
Su Yunmo couldn't care less about any of that; with everyone in this state, his only concern was Leng Yiqing's condition. As soon as he reached the entrance of Qingxin Pavilion, he loudly summoned Xiao Xiang.
Seeing him holding Leng Yiqing, his eyes filled with such eagerness, Xiao Xiang felt a pang of sadness. Had he fallen in love with this woman? If not, then who was he putting on this show for?
“Mo…you…” She wanted to investigate, but Su Yunmo didn’t care at all.
"Go quickly and summon the imperial physician!" At this moment, he only had eyes for her.
She had once desperately hoped that this cold-hearted man would fall in love with her. From the first glance, she was attracted by his gentle and refined temperament. She was willing to do anything for him, just to awaken his love. However, he only had his business in mind. He had his own things to do. Even after monopolizing the economic lifeline of the entire Yilong Kingdom, he still refused to rest.
When exactly did he begin to care about her? He said he had his reasons, and she believed him. Only now, seeing something different in his eyes, does she realize that his reason was love!
After carefully taking his pulse, the imperial physician said easily, "It's just excessive fright. Just take a few doses of medicine as prescribed."
"Then why won't you wake up?" Su Yunmo asked anxiously.
The imperial physician smiled, extended his thumb, and pressed firmly on her philtrum: "She's just been frightened and has fainted. She'll wake up soon."
He spoke so casually, but to Su Yunmo, he seemed as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He didn't even know when the imperial physician had left.
"Mo, have you fallen in love with her?" Xiao Xiang asked him hurriedly after the imperial physician left.
Su Yunmo gave her a sharp look: "You're meddling too much!"
"Are all the vows we made meaningless? Why are you suddenly treating me like this?" Xiao Xiang cried, expressing her grievances and resentment.