☆、166, Two Men vs. One (Chen x Chaohua)
Ouyang Yue couldn't help but glance at Baili Chen, who had already pounced over excitedly and hugged her tightly. Hmph, how could he possibly stay still? The beauty was right in front of him, and she was the one he liked. If he didn't make a move, would he be a saint or a monk?
Looking at Baili Chen's beaming face, Ouyang Yue couldn't help but shake her head and sigh, "I never expected the Emperor to make such an arrangement; it's truly beyond everyone's expectations."
Baili Chen gently stroked Ouyang Yue's hair: "Yes, it really surprised everyone. He's played with so many people, and he's happy to watch the show."
Ouyang Yue looked up at the mocking expression on Baili Chen's face, but she was puzzled. Ever since she last met Baili Chen, she had sensed that there was a secret between Baili Chen and Emperor Mingxian that outsiders could not know, and that Baili Chen was not as favored and loved as outsiders imagined.
Ouyang Yue suddenly remembered that Baili Chen's original alias was Leng Jue. That cold and ruthless aura was something that truly favored people would develop into. Unless they were born with a sinister and ruthless aura, or they had killed many people and had blood on their hands, they would not have grown up like that. As a former special agent, she knew that feeling very well, and she did not think that Baili Chen was the former type of person.
It is worth pondering under what circumstances he would become like this. Perhaps he is not as flamboyant, domineering and unscrupulous as imagined. That is just a facade in front of the world. She had a vague feeling about this after these two incidents.
Ouyang Yue thought for a moment and said, "But now it seems that the court is in even more chaos, and you will become the target of everyone's attacks. I'm afraid even more people will target you."
Baili Chen sneered, his face full of confidence. He lowered his head and gently kissed Ouyang Yue's forehead with his soft lips, saying, "Yue'er, you don't need to worry. I can handle all of this."
Ouyang Yue disagreed: "It's one thing if you can handle it, but if you can't make the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince stand against each other, it will cause you a lot of trouble and danger. What's worse, if they unite, what can you do even if you are confident? Can you really guarantee your safety?"
No one can fathom Emperor Mingxian's thoughts. Naturally, the Crown Prince and the Fifth Prince would regard every possible threat as an adversary. Naturally, if the two of them joined forces to attack Baili Chen, it would be an extremely dangerous situation for him: "I still think you've taken a bit of a risk this time."
Baili Chen replied, "Fortune favors the bold. If I don't take the risks, I might have to accept the fact that you'll be married off to someone else. I'd rather take any risk than allow that to happen." Baili Chen had said these words before, and there was no point in dwelling on them now. She knew that everyone's pursuits and concerns were different, and she couldn't judge others by her own standards.
Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. You always sneak into the Princess's residence at night. Now, let me show you around." As she spoke, Ouyang Yue's eyes curved into crescent moons, and her expression carried a hint of teasing. It was fortunate that Baili Chen was naturally thick-skinned; otherwise, most people wouldn't have been able to stand Ouyang Yue's expression.
Baili Chen nodded in agreement: "That's right. Before, it was always at night, and I could only see you, the only beauty under the flowers, Yue'er. Back then, my great-aunt rarely went out, so she didn't like to invite guests. It's rare for anyone to have ever been to the Princess's residence. I've never really been there before. I've heard that the environment of this residence is much more elegant than the Crown Prince's residence."
Ouyang Yue glanced at him sideways: "Seriously, I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as you. You can even say it so seriously, without a hint of embarrassment. You really are..." Ouyang Yue was speechless. This person's shamelessness was truly remarkable. If you thought he was being overly shameless about something a moment ago, you'd soon find that what you considered shamelessness was far too thin for Baili Chen. His face would only get thicker and thicker; there was nothing you couldn't see, only things you couldn't imagine. People were saying that his habit of coming at night was inappropriate, and he actually took it as a compliment?
After leaving Shuangxue Pavilion, the two walked along a small path. The servants of the Princess's residence gradually disappeared into the distance. Baili Chen couldn't help but frown and say, "I didn't expect the Princess's residence to have so many servants." It's because of them that he hasn't been able to eat any tender tofu. He should have known better than to listen to his wife's suggestion to come out. Now he has to be so restrained.
Baili Chen was so frustrated because the two of them were walking side by side on the path of the princess's mansion, with Ouyang Yue introducing him to the various sights of the mansion. But how could there not be any servants passing by along the way? If Baili Chen wanted to pull and hug Ouyang Yue in the Frost and Snow Pavilion, that would be absolutely impossible. Now, he couldn't even hold her hand.
Although the two are engaged, they are still only engaged and not married. They are not a real couple yet. If Baili Chen does something improper and it gets out, it will damage their reputations. Neither Baili Chen nor Ouyang Yue are afraid, but being unafraid does not mean creating trouble for themselves. So, Baili Chen is currently in a state of seeing but not being able to have or touch her. How can he not be depressed?
"This is the largest pavilion in the Princess's residence. The pond in the middle connects directly to the three main avenues of the Princess's residence, and it is also a place where you can see half of the Princess's residence. There are a total of eighty-eight pink lotuses and two white water lilies planted in this pond, a total of one hundred. Not one more and not one less. They are all Grandmother's favorite things. Every year she would personally bring people to cultivate and care for them. It can be said to be a unique feature of the Princess's residence." The two walked along a winding path and saw a pavilion that was five or six meters high, standing directly on a pond with three interconnected paths. The entire pavilion was surrounded by a circle of beautiful and holy lotuses, and various colorful carp swam around playfully in the pond from time to time.
Baili Chen glanced at the pleasant environment. In terms of the size of the lotus pond, this place could not compare with the Crown Prince's residence. However, each lotus flower here stood tall and graceful, possessing a refined and noble temperament, as if each one was an incarnation of Princess Shuangxia. How could the purely ornamental lotus flowers in the Crown Prince's residence compare?
Baili Chen sighed inwardly. His great-aunt was truly a lover of flowers; the sight of these lotus blossoms showed just how much care she had taken. And… Baili Chen looked at Ouyang Yue, and noticed that as she introduced the flowers to him, her eyes sparkled, and her smile was genuine—a beauty that came from within, even carrying a hint of tenderness. Baili Chen recalled when he first met Ouyang Yue. Although she wore a smile, it was a cold and distant, fake one. Even when she smiled, the smile never reached her eyes; even when she smiled, he could sense her unhappiness.
It was clear that Ouyang Yue liked her grandmother, Princess Shuangxia, and her brother, Xuanyuan Chaohua. Baili Chen couldn't care less about anything else. He grabbed Ouyang Yue's hand and said earnestly, "Yue'er, I will definitely make you smile like that in front of me, entirely because of me."
Fortunately, the servants of the princess's residence were quite tactful. Seeing Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen strolling together, they quickly withdrew. At this moment, there were only the two of them in the pavilion. Ouyang Yue was stunned for a moment, then looked at Baili Chen and smiled: "What smile?"
Without saying much, Baili Chen pulled her along, and the two sat together on the stone bench in the pavilion, turning slightly to admire the beautiful pond scenery. Ouyang Yue slightly withdrew her arm, and Baili Chen turned his face away. She said, "However, I've always had a question: was the cause of the fire at the Imperial Ancestral Temple discovered by the Emperor? Or is it really related to the Third Prince, or is there some other reason?"
Baili Chen smiled coldly: "Yue'er is so smart, she's already figured it out."
Ouyang Yue shook her head: "I only guessed a little bit."
Baili Chen chuckled softly, "With Yue'er by my side, how could I bear to make you worry and leave you again? I won't cause trouble for myself. Even if any of them suspect that I did it, they will definitely not be able to find any evidence."
"It really is you." Ouyang Yue smiled helplessly.
Baili Chen's eyes curved slightly, his gaze filled with schadenfreude: "Actually, I didn't do anything. Fifth Brother thought he had handled this matter very carefully and comprehensively, and that all his plans were perfect. I completely agree with that and admire him very much. So, when I felt that the impact after the incident was too small, I just added fuel to the fire."
It turns out that the sudden illness and departure of the Imperial Ancestral Temple Assistant was at Baili Jian's behest. Of course, the Assistant's death afterward was also Baili Jian's way of silencing him. However, the only deviation from Baili Jian's original plan was that he only intended to burn down the large tree in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and then spread rumors that the Crown Prince's misbehavior caused the temple to catch fire. Also, he wanted to make sure that the Crown Prince's current task conflicted with the Imperial Ancestral Temple. At that time, the Crown Prince's residence was holding a selection of consorts, so the final chosen consort would naturally be someone who was at odds with the Crown Prince. Regardless of the reason, this should be carefully considered. If this plan succeeds, Emperor Mingxian will have a 30% chance of changing his mind, but that 30% is quite significant. Then, if Consort Sun were to offer a few words of advice, the possibility would be even higher.
Of course, the out-of-control fire at the Imperial Ancestral Temple made things even more complicated, and Emperor Mingxian naturally had to take it into account. What he investigated was probably only related to Baili Jian. Even if he suspected someone else, the evidence pointed to the Fifth Prince, Baili Jian. Baili Jian wasn't stupid; he must have had a reason for his actions. Convicting him based solely on this was impossible; what he would find in the end would likely only be superficial.
Baili Jian will be fine, and Consort Sun will be fine too. It won't be easy for Emperor Mingxian to investigate further. What could possibly happen to Baili Chen, who's just taking advantage of the situation?
This method is somewhat despicable and shameless. Even Baili Jian would probably only think that his plan had miscalculated, and in the end, what he wanted to burn down a tree turned into burning down a house. This method of using someone else to do the dirty work and achieving the most ideal goal is something that Baili Chen could come up with. He is simply cunning.
However, Ouyang Yue couldn't help but laugh when she looked at Baili Chen: "Well done!"
Upon receiving Ouyang Yue's praise, Baili Chen grinned and said, "Of course, of course! With me on the job, you're worth two people. How could it not be good? Anyone who dares to mess with you will be punished, right?"
Ouyang Yue nodded in agreement without a care in the world, saying, "That's right. I won't offend others unless they offend me, but if they do, I will punish them severely."
Baili Chen's eyes shone brightly as he held Ouyang Yue's hand with praise: "My wife is truly a kindred spirit; that's exactly the point."
The two exchanged a glance and then burst out laughing. They looked like a pair of unscrupulous duo, and in the near future, they might even be called the Unscrupulous Couple. It was easy to foresee how they would team up and create more unlucky people in the world, but that was a story for another time.
Inside the Frost and Snow Pavilion, Xuan Yuan Chaohua followed Princess Shuangxia to the small flower hall in the inner room. After the two sat down, Princess Shuangxia waved her hand, and all the servants except for Granny Shan withdrew unceremoniously. Xuan Yuan Chaohua looked unwell and hesitated as she glanced at Princess Shuangxia. Seeing this, Princess Shuangxia smiled kindly and said, "Just say what you want to say. Why be so hesitant?"
Xuan Yuan Chaohua immediately replied, "Grandmother, how could you let Yue'er meet with the Seventh Prince in private? Although everyone in the Princess's residence is trustworthy, it's hard to guarantee that no word will leak out. What if it damages Yue'er's reputation?"
Princess Shuangxia looked at Xuanyuan Chaohua's dark face, his expression full of depression, his eyes wide and his teeth clenched, as if he wanted to fight someone. Princess Shuangxia smiled helplessly and said, "Look at you. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Yue'er was your wife. This is the first time I've ever seen you care so much about a young woman. It's a pity it's Yue'er. If it were any other woman, I would have arranged the marriage for you."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua's face darkened even more: "Grandmother, Yue'er is my sister. Now she's been kidnapped without any explanation. Moreover, Baili Chen and I have been arguing since we were little. Who knows what his purpose is in pestering Yue'er? Maybe he just wants to take this opportunity to show off to me. That would harm Yue'er. Of course I have to pay attention. Besides, we're talking about Yue'er right now. Why are you bringing this up in my name, Grandmother?"
Princess Shuangxia shook her head: "Chaohua, I used to be very strict with you because I wanted you to achieve something extraordinary. You have always been very obedient since you were a child. By the time I realized it, you had become somewhat inflexible. You only act like a child when you are with Baili Chen. You look like a child who can't get candy now."
Xuanyuan Chaohua was displeased: "Grandmother, how could this be? I am a general, please don't make fun of me. Does Grandmother not care at all about Yue'er's marriage to Baili Chen? If Yue'er marries into the royal family, there will be endless trouble. I am determined to protect Yue'er from harm. I don't want her to marry into that family."
Princess Shuangxia sighed, "You don't want to, and neither do I, but reality doesn't allow us to not want to. With your status and Yue'er's status, she was bound to marry a prince. Now that she has married someone she likes, it is already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune."
“But…” Xuan Yuan Chaohua frowned deeply again, but swallowed the rest of his words.
As the mistress of the princess's residence, Princess Shuangxia was well aware that Xuan Yuanchaohua had discovered Baili Chen's intrusion into the residence. She, however, turned a blind eye, though she didn't approve of the affair herself. She never discussed it with Ouyang Yue, knowing her granddaughter was strong-willed and not the typical sheltered young lady. She knew what she was doing and would protect herself. Ouyang Yue's desire to escape the royal family was virtually impossible, a fact Princess Shuangxia understood perfectly. Therefore, she never tried to stop her. When Baili Chen made his efforts and ultimately married Ouyang Yue, Princess Shuangxia remained silent, even pleased with the outcome.
Xuanyuan Chaohua still grumbled with dissatisfaction: "Grandmother, you have always been very good to the Seventh Prince. I'm afraid you might not agree to it if it were someone else."
Princess Shuangxia didn't refute, but nodded with a smile: "You're right. I really feel sorry for Chen'er. You two grew up together since you were little. Although you always like to argue, you should know that he's not a bad person at heart. He's a good person. And Yue'er has you and the support of the Princess's Mansion. I'm sure she won't be bullied or taken advantage of wherever she marries. Plus, she likes it herself. What could you possibly be dissatisfied with in this marriage?"
“Of course I’m not satisfied, my sister is already married.” Xuan Yuan Chaohua retorted directly, and then shut up. Princess Shuangxia looked at Xuan Yuan Chaohua and couldn’t help but chuckle: “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s have some tea with Grandmother. It’s been a long time since we’ve had this. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Xuanyuan Chaohua responded and then picked up the teapot to carefully pour the tea. Princess Shuangxia smiled faintly, and a warm atmosphere instantly filled the room.
Originally, Baili Chen should have left after delivering the marriage certificate, but who is Baili Chen? If he really wanted to be shameless, would he let you leave as you pleased? Despite Xuan Yuan Chaohua's extreme dissatisfaction in seeing him off, Baili Chen ended up having lunch because he kept chatting with Princess Shuangxia. As a result, Princess Shuangxia politely invited him to stay for lunch, and Baili Chen naturally accepted the invitation.
The most lively person at the dinner table was none other than Baili Chen: "Grandma, your grand-nephew remembers that you really like this anchovy. Please have some more."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua glanced at Baili Chen and said indifferently, "This is the princess's residence. Whatever dish Grandmother likes, the kitchen will naturally make it. Do you need to explain it to her?"
Baili Chen smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, I was just thinking that my great-aunt felt uncomfortable because of my sudden visit, so I took the initiative to warm her up."
"What brother-in-law? I'm not your brother-in-law. Stop trying to claim kinship." Xuan Yuan Chaohua's face darkened, and he couldn't help but look at Ouyang Yue: "Sister, didn't you see how shameless this guy is? He still tries to argue even after I said that. Don't let him take advantage of your pure and kind heart. You have to see his true colors."
Ouyang Yue's lips twitched slightly. Xuan Yuan Chaohua's words made her sound like a silly rabbit. Was she really that easy to fool? But seeing Xuan Yuan Chaohua's slightly flushed face, she gently smiled and said, "Brother, don't worry, your sister will look carefully."
Xuanyuan Chaohua immediately nodded: "Yes, look carefully. See his true colors before the wedding. If you don't marry him then, you'll still have a chance."
Upon hearing this, Baili Chen immediately became displeased: "Brother-in-law, how can you ruin your sister and brother-in-law's marriage like this?"
Xuan Yuan Chaohua's eyebrows twitched: "Everyone says not to call me brother-in-law, but I'm not. And you're not my brother-in-law either. Stop talking nonsense here, or believe me, I'll throw you out of the princess's residence and never let you set foot here again."
Upon hearing this, Baili Chen shrugged and sighed helplessly. He picked up a piece of fish that Princess Shuangxia liked and handed it to her, saying pitifully, "Grand Aunt, please try it. This might be the last time this imperial grand-nephew sets foot in the princess's residence and serves you food."
Hearing Baili Chen's concession, Xuan Yuan Chaohua finally showed a hint of satisfaction. However, she inadvertently caught the disapproving looks from Princess Shuangxia and Ouyang Yue, and immediately realized that Baili Chen was deliberately putting on a show. What was he pretending to be pitiful for? This scoundrel was a master of acting; pitiful was a description for women, and this guy actually dared to put on such an expression. However, in front of her grandmother and sister, Xuan Yuan Chaohua wouldn't be so foolish as to continue showing her dissatisfaction.
Xuanyuan Chaohua immediately picked up a bamboo shoot and handed it to Ouyang Yue's bowl: "Sister, don't you like the light flavor of bamboo shoots? Try it."
Baili Chen's eyes lit up, and he reached out with his chopsticks to pick up food and put it into Ouyang Yue's bowl. However, he was stopped by another pair of chopsticks. Xuan Yuan Chaohua said with a forced smile, "No need. Seventh Prince, you can eat your own food. You and Yue'er are not married yet. It is not proper for you to take food like this. If outsiders see or hear this, it will be very bad for your sister. What do you say, Seventh Prince?"
Baili Chen also forced a smile: "You're right, but everyone here is a trusted confidant. Who would spread the word? When we eat together, the most important thing is the atmosphere. That's how we show that we're getting along well. As for those formalities, my brother-in-law is a great general. In this rugged border region, how can he be so formal? Don't worry about it."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua pushed his chopsticks away, shoving Baili Chen's chopsticks, which were holding bamboo shoots, in front of the latter. He laughed and said, "You can't say that. Since there is such etiquette, it should be observed. Especially since you are a prince of the royal family, you should be even more mindful of etiquette in order to set a good example."
Baili Chen suddenly smiled, looking very handsome. With a forceful push, he pushed the chopsticks back to Ouyang Yue's bowl, saying, "But the court has always been advocating the slogan of sharing joy with the people. As a prince, I should naturally take the lead. Besides, my great-aunt and Mingyue are not outsiders, but relatives. A harmonious relationship between relatives shows the preciousness of kinship. How can those vulgar customs compare to that?"
A cold glint flashed in Xuan Yuan Chao Hua's eyes: "That may be true, but the separation of men and women is a great taboo in society. The Seventh Prince likes to enjoy himself with the people, so why don't you go out and find a few beggars? You could have a good drink and chat with them, and it might even turn out well. Don't waste time here." Suddenly, he exerted force and pushed the chopsticks away, knocking the bamboo shoot off Bai Li Chen's chopsticks. Now there was nothing left to hold onto.
A glint flashed in Baili Chen's eyes, and then he picked up the Dongpo pork in front of him and put it into Xuan Yuan Chaohua's bowl: "Since Mingyue is not okay, then brother-in-law, are you alright? This Dongpo pork is very hot and delicious, and leaves a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth. Brother-in-law, please have a taste."
"I will not eat the food of those who talk nonsense. As long as the Seventh Prince changes your title, we can all be happy." With that, he pushed the Dongpo pork, which wobbled in the center of the table.
Baili Chen's face darkened slightly: "Why is my brother-in-law being so disrespectful? We'll all be family in the future, so let's be harmonious. Don't be so petty, brother-in-law." Baili Chen then pushed, trying to use the force to send the Dongpo pork flying. However, Xuan Yuan Chaohua was prepared. The two of them then pushed and shoved each other in front of the table. Two pairs of chopsticks were constantly intertwined, with a piece of Dongpo pork, its bright red color and juicy texture, swaying back and forth.
Swaying... swaying...
"Thump!"
Finally, after the two of them pushed and shoved each other, the Dongpo pork officially committed suicide and fell directly into the soup in the middle of the table, splashing up several droplets of water. Everyone present was stunned for a moment. The two of them were fighting so fiercely that they lost control of their strength, which caused the pork to fall.
Princess Shuangxia's previously gentle smile turned somber, and Ouyang Yue also frowned slightly. Princess Shuangxia glanced at them and said, "Have neither of you grown up? How childish." If it were anyone else, the two would have been furious, but at this moment, they dared not refute Princess Shuangxia's words in the slightest. Instead, they lowered their heads, looking extremely cautious.
"Hmph, what a mess of a meal." Princess Shuangxia stood up abruptly, flicked her sleeve, and left with Granny Shan.
Ouyang Yue slowly stood up, gently touched her lips with a handkerchief, calmly glanced at the two of them, smiled, and just as they were expecting her to say something, Ouyang Yue turned around and left.
"Moon!"
"younger sister!"
Baili Chen and Xuanyuan Chaohua immediately shouted, then glared at each other angrily: "What else do you want, to copy me!"
"What else do you want? Learn from me!"
Their eyes widened even further: "You shameless bastard, how dare you kidnap my sister!"
"What are you saying? This is an imperial decree from the Emperor. Yue'er and I are in love with each other. This is the most perfect relationship."
"If you say so, then so be it. I would say you have ulterior motives."
"So what if you're Yue'er's brother? If you hinder someone else's happiness, you'll be struck by lightning."
"Fine, let lightning strike me then! I'm the good brother who loves my sister dearly. I'll see if God is blind enough to strike me with lightning!"
"My sincerity towards Yue'er is as clear as the sun and moon. Any talk of ill intentions is nothing but malicious slander from petty people!"
"Who are you calling a villain!" Xuan Yuan Chaohua roared.
"Whoever answers, I'll call them out!" Baili Chen roared back defiantly.
"You're asking for it!" Xuan Yuan Chaohua immediately swung his fist. Baili Chen dodged and said with a dark face, "I think you're the one asking for it!" As he spoke, he raised his leg and kicked out. Xuan Yuan Chaohua took two steps back and then flew up to stop him. The two immediately began to fight. How could the hall withstand their fighting? The dining table, which had not yet been cleared away, began to scatter bowls and plates everywhere with a 'clattering' sound. The servants who were serving in the hall immediately scattered and fled. Plates were flying around in the air, and it was almost like a circus act.
The commotion was so great that the entire princess's residence heard about it. Servants began to gather outside, while inside, curses and accusations continued, and the sounds of fighting and breaking filled the air. The servants immediately began to point and whisper among themselves. Suddenly, two people rushed out of the hall. Without saying a word, they immediately reached out to grab Baili Chen and Xuan Yuan Chaohua by the shoulders. The two tried to dodge, but Princess Shuangxia's angry voice rang out: "Anyone who dares to resist will never be allowed to set foot in the princess's residence again."
Baili Chen and Xuanyuan Chaohua stopped immediately. The two servants beside Princess Shuangxia each grabbed one of them by the shoulder and walked out. Originally, with Baili Chen and Xuanyuan Chaohua's martial arts skills, they could have dodged or broken free, but Princess Shuangxia gave the order, and the two immediately fell silent.
Ah Da and Ah Er strode swiftly to the lotus pond in the princess's residence, and suddenly swung their arms with great force.
With two "plop, plop" sounds, two figures suddenly darted out of the lotus pond. Baili Chen and Xuanyuan Chaohua rushed up in a disheveled state, with green leaves even on their heads. They looked at each other, both gritting their teeth.
Ah Da's hoarse voice rang out at the same time: "The Princess said that you should have a good wake-up call in the lotus pond." After saying that, she turned and left, but it was hard to say how effective this warning was. Baili Chen and Xuanyuan Diminghua snorted coldly and turned their heads, and they really did not continue fighting.
Ouyang Yue stood at the corner of one of the intersections, watching, then turned and left. Chuncao was a little stunned and said, "Miss, are you going back? Aren't you going to go and see the young master and the seventh prince?"
"What's so interesting about it?"