Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Yan Jiuchao shopped around the streets and alleys of the Capital for an entire day. Only when the people on the streets were gone did Yan Jiuchao return home in satisfaction.
When Yu Wan went to the Young Master Manor to deliver the shoes, Yan Jiuchao was not there. It was Uncle Wan who received Yu Wan. Yu Wan could not say that she had specially come to deliver the shoes, so she said that she had entered the Capital to buy ingredients. When Uncle Wan asked again, he knew that her family was going to hold a banquet.
However, there were many things to do these few days, so Uncle Wan forgot about this. When he remembered that he had to tell Yan Jiuchao, Yan Jiuchao went to court again.
Uncle Wan hurriedly rode his horse to look for him, but he found out that the Emperor had ended court in advance. Uncle Wan seriously suspected that the Emperor was angered by his little lunatic.
Uncle Wan waited at the entrance until it was dark before Yan Jiuchao returned. At this time, the banquet in the countryside had long dispersed.
Uncle Wan decided not to mention it. Anyway, Miss Yu did not invite the Young Master to the banquet. ⦠He would never admit that he was afraid that the Young Master would blame him when heâs angry.
Yan Jiuchao alighted from the carriage and saw Uncle Wan at the door. He asked, âWhy are you still waiting for me at the door today? Whatâs the matter?â
Uncle Wan said without changing his expression, âNothing.â
âIf thereâs nothing, why are you standing here?â Yan Jiuchao narrowed his eyes.
Uncle Wan braced himself and said, âTo take a breather!â
Yan Jiuchao sized him up skeptically and walked towards him with a cold expression.
Seeing that he was about to collapse, Uncle Wan pointed at his shoes and said wittily, âItâs so beautiful!â
Yan Jiuchaoâs expression changed in a second. âTake your time to breathe. Iâll go in first.â
......
Uncle Wan, who had escaped a disaster: ââ¦Phew!â
However, Yan Jiuchao still found out about Yu Wanâs family from the spies in the end. Ever since Yan Jiuchao found out that Yan Huaijing had âpesteredâ Yu Wan several times, he sent spies to keep an eye on Yan Huaijing. Yan Huaijing went to Lotus Flower Village, and the spies followed him all the way. When they heard the commotion in Lotus Flower Village, they knew that the Yu family was holding a banquet today.
âYoung Master.â The spy knelt on one knee on the floor of the study and bowed piously.
The most powerful spy under Yan Jiuchao was Shadow Six, but Shadow Six was not the only one he could use.
Yan Jiuchao sat behind his desk and glanced at him indifferently. âWhat did you find?â
The spy said, âThe Second Prince went to Lotus Flower Village to see Miss Yu.â
Yan Jiuchao picked up the Kongming Lock on the table. âWhy is he meeting her?â
The spy frowned. âThe Second Prince⦠seems to be asking to marry Miss Yu.â
Yan Jiuchaoâs hand froze.
The spy continued, âAs a secondary consort.â
He had long known that this fellow had ill intentions. As expected, while he was choosing a consort, he went to propose that girl to be his secondary consort! Yan Jiuchao sneered. âSecondary Consort? Is this Yan Huaijingâs sincerity? Heâs really something!â
The spy did not dare to judge the mastersâ rights and wrongs. He only lowered his head and reported, âMiss Yu did not agree. She said that she will not be someoneâs secondary consort.â
âGood.â Yan Jiuchaoâs expression softened.
The spy thought to himself,?Young Master, whatâs with your reaction? Donât you think Miss Yu doesnât know the immensity of heaven and earth? Is she willing to be your secondary consort when she doesnât even agree with the princeâs proposal? With her background, she canât be the first wife of any rich family.
However, the spy could just curse silently. He did not have the guts to say it out loud. The spy continued, âHis Highness also mentioned Young Master.â
Yan Jiuchao paused. âWhat did he mention about me?â
âHe asked Miss Yu, âCan Yan Jiuchao fight for the position of the Princess Consort for you?ââ The spy imitated Yan Huaijingâs tone.
Yan Jiuchao snorted and asked, âWhat did she say?â
The spy imitated Yu Wanâs expression and tone again. âMiss Yu said, âI donât know if he will or not. I only know that Your Highness wonât.ââ
Not long after the spy left, Shadow Thirteen entered the room.
Shadow Thirteen had been guarding the door just now. He had heard every word of their conversation. Unlike the spies who were only responsible for one-sided missions, he, Shadow Six, and Uncle Wan were all Yan Jiuchaoâs trusted aides and were almost responsible for all of Yan Jiuchaoâs matters. The spies were not sure how much Yan Jiuchao had feelings for Yu Wan, but Shadow Thirteen understood.
Shadow Thirteen said, âYoung Master, should we send someone to keep an eye on Miss Yu?â
Yan Jiuchao glanced at him coldly. âWhy should we keep an eye on her? Sheâs not a criminal!â
There were only two types of people that Yan Jiuchao had spies keep an eye on. One was enemies, and the other was hostages. Yu Wan was neither of them. She had her own space and freedom.
Besides, no one liked to be spied on.
âJust keep an eye on Yan Huaijing,â Yan Jiuchao said indifferently.
âYes,â Shadow Thirteen agreed.
Seeing that he was not leaving, Yan Jiuchao said, âWhatâs the matter?â
Shadow Thirteen said, âWe found traces of Zhou Huai⦠The Second Princeâs men also found him.â
Yan Jiuchao snorted. Just as he was about to speak, Uncle Wanâs voice sounded from outside the door. âYoung Master, Miss Yan is here.â
It was most likely in the name of seeing the children to see if Yan Jiuchao was in the manor.
âYoung Master, do you want to reject her?â Shadow Thirteen asked.
âNo need. Call her in.â Yan Jiuchao paused and instructed, âBring the little young masters to take a shower.â
Shadow Thirteen understood and instructed the nanny to carry the three little lads to the small bath.
Since Yan Ruyu was not their biological mother, there was no need for her to see the children anymore.
Yan Jiuchao met Yan Ruyu in the reception pavilion.
Yan Ruyu was dressed very elegantly. She looked simple and clean, but every part of her was exquisite and scheming. However, in the eyes of Young Master Yan, who had been beautiful since he was young, he was more beautiful than her when he looked in the mirror, so he was not so easily moved by this appearance.
âYuâer greets Young Master.â Yan Ruyu held the food box and bowed gently.
Yan Jiuchao nodded indifferently.
Yan Ruyu placed the food box on the table beside Yan Jiuchao and opened the lid. âOn the day of the pleasure boat, I lost my composure. I canât hold my liquor well. I shouldnât have drunk too much. I hope Young Master can forgive me.â
âItâs fine,â Yan Jiuchao said.
He still looked indifferent, but the more he did so, the more relieved Yan Ruyu was. However, she could not help but feel a little disappointed.
Yan Ruyu took out the snacks from the food box. âI donât know what flavor Young Master likes, but I made some according to the childrenâs preferences.â
âThey like this?â Yan Jiuchaoâs gaze landed on a plate of milky pumpkin pancakes. The pumpkin pancakes were sweet enough, and there was a layer of frosting on the outside.
Yan Jiuchao thought of Xiaobaoâs rotten baby teeth and frowned. The food sent by the Yu family had always been half the sugar.
âThey⦠donât like it?â Yan Ruyu noticed his expression.
Yan Jiuchao said without thinking, âItâs too sweet.â He actually couldnât taste it, but with so much sugar, he knew how it tasted.
Yan Ruyuâs expression froze and she said with a trace of grievance, âThen Iâll make something light and refreshing next time.â
Yan Jiuchao fell silent.
Yan Ruyu was so embarrassed that her face turned red. When she came to the Young Master Manor earlier, he always avoided her. Today, she finally saw him, but his face was cold. Why was this man so hard-hearted?
In order to resolve the awkwardness, Yan Ruyu asked about the three children.
Uncle Wan said from outside the door, âThey just went to take a shower. Itâll take a while.â
Yan Jiuchao took the opportunity to say, âI think itâs getting late. Why donât you go back first and come back another day?â
Since the order to leave had been given, Yan Ruyu could not be shameless. She stood up and bowed, taking the snacks that Yan Jiuchao despised and left.
âShadow Thirteen.â Yan Jiuchao returned to the study room.
Shadow Thirteen flashed in. âYoung Master, are you going toâ¦â
âItâs not about Zhou Huai.â Yan Jiuchao interrupted him.
Shadow Thirteen was stunned. Before Miss Yan came, werenât they talking about Zhou Huai? If they didnât continue talking about Zhou Huai, could there be something else?
Yan Jiuchao tapped his fingers on the table. âWhat is everyone saying about me and Yan Ruyu?â
âWhy are you suddenly asking about this?â Didnât Young Master not care about those rumors the most? The outside world had already said that Young Master was crazy, but Young Master didnât even bother to answer.
Yan Jiuchao said coldly, âNow you have the guts to ask me, right?â
âI wouldnât dare.â Shadow Thirteen lowered his head. âYoung Master, do you want the truth?â
Yan Jiuchaoâs eyes were cold. âTry lying if you dare.â
Shadow Thirteen coughed lightly. âItâs nothing. Itâs just that Yan Ruyu gave birth to Young Masterâs children and will marry into the Young Master Manor to be the matriarch in the future.â
âWhen did I say I wanted to marry her?â Yan Jiuchao frowned.
Shadow Thirteen curled his lips and said, âYou didnât say that, but isnât it obvious? The Yan family has been vindicated, and Miss Yanâs father has been promoted. Isnât His Majesty giving your wifeâs familyâs face by valuing the Yan family so much?â
âShe⦠thinks so too?â Yan Jiuchao said sadly.
âWhich her?â Shadow Thirteen was stunned for a moment before he reacted. âYouâre talking about Miss Yu. Itâs most likely true. The entire world thinks so!â
Yan Jiuchao stood up and walked out of the door without another word.
Shadow Thirteenâs eyebrows twitched. âYoung Master, itâs so late. Where are you going?â
Yan Jiuchao turned back. âThatâs true. I canât go. You go.â
Shadow Thirteen: â???â
⦠.
Shadow Thirteen wanted to slap himself. What kind of mouth was that!
Yu Wan was tired for the entire day. After washing up, she lay down beside Little Bruiser. Sleepiness came quickly, and before long, she was in a daze. However, just as she was about to fall asleep, someone pried open her window!
Yu Wan suddenly opened her eyes!
âMiss Yu, itâs me.â Shadow Thirteen whispered.
Shadow Thirteen only pried open a small gap in the window latch. He stood outside the window and did not enter.
Yu Wan put on her clothes and gently walked to the bed. She pushed open the window and said, âShadow Guard, why are you here?â
Shadow Thirteen closed his eyes and said, âYoung Master asked me to bring you a few words.â
âWhat is it?â Yu Wan looked at him strangely.
Shadow Thirteen went all out and said, âYoung Master said that he wonât marry Yan Ruyu. Stop being jealous of Yan Ruyu.â
Yu Wan was stunned. When did she become jealous of Yan Ruyu? She had never been jealous at all!
âAlso, one pair of shoes is enough to please Young Master. Thereâs no need to make four pairs and send them over. Itâs as if youâre afraid that the Young Master doesnât understand your pain of missing him.â
Those three pairs were for the children! They were mainly for the children! His were just done incidentally!
Yu Wan clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.
âAlso, youâre a girl. But you and the Young Master arenât official yet, no matter how much you like him, you have to keep it in your heart. Donât be too explicit. A girl has to be reserved.â
Yu Wan was about to explode with anger. Listen, listen, listen, what is he saying? She was not reserved when she made shoes for him?! Then what was the point of him giving her shoes?!
Yu Wan gritted her teeth and said, âGo back and tell him that I wonât give him the shoes anymore! Ask him to return it to me!â
âYoung Master expected Miss Yu to say that and has already asked me to send the things over,â Shadow Thirteen said. He bent down and picked up two heavy bags from the ground. âThe things Miss Yu wants are all in the box.â
Yu Wan felt as if her heart had been stabbed. In order to make shoes for him and the children, she pulled an all-nighter, until her eyes were swollen, to make them. In the end, he said that she was not reserve enough and returned all her hard work to her.
There were two boxes. It was obvious. One contained his shoes, and the other contained the children.
âMiss Yu, Iâve given you the things. Iâll leave first.â Shadow Thirteen placed the things on the table inside the window and used his qinggong to leave.
The window lintel did not have any support, and the things fell down and smashed heavily against the frame, startling the sleeping Little Bruiser.
Yu Shaoqing was also woken up by the commotion. He quickly walked to Yu Wanâs room. âAh Wan! Whatâs wrong?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Yu Wan suddenly felt a little wronged. She did not want her father to know about her and Yan Jiuchao. She composed herself and said in her usual tone, âItâs nothing. Thereâs a rat. It has already run out of the window. Dad, go and rest. Iâm sleeping too.â
âAre you really alright?â Yu Shaoqing asked worriedly.
Yu Wan smiled and shook her head. âIâm fine.â
Yu Shaoqing walked around the house again and after confirming that there was no danger, he returned to his room to sleep.
The more Yu Wan thought about it, the angrier she became. She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She simply lifted the blanket and got off the bed. She found a pair of scissors and ruthlessly cut open the bag.
âEverything Miss Yu wants is inside.â
Ha, what she wanted? Why didnât he say that he despised it and returned it to her?! How much did this guy despise her? He actually asked Shadow Thirteen to return it to her overnight!
Yu Wan opened the first brocade box angrily. There was indeed a pair of shoes inside, but it was not the black cloth shoes she had made for Yan Jiuchao. Instead, it was a pair of red embroidered shoes.
Yu Wanâs hand that was holding the scissors suddenly stopped.
Yu Wan opened the second brocade box. Inside was not the three pairs of tiger shoes she had made for the little munchkins, but a red wedding dress.
The wedding dress was as bright as fire, and her heart was also on fire.