Chapter 58

  Zi Ruoye looked at the person in front of her, wearing a pure white brocade robe with silver silk edges, embroidered with elegant yulan flowers, each one shy and reserved. The face that had clearly improved a lot was Liu Qingyou, but she didn't understand what was happening at this moment.

  "Did you just say that again?" She must have been hallucinating; she had just heard Liu Qingyu say something he absolutely could not have said.

  Liu Qing's beautiful eyes seemed to have lit a fire, he had made such a big decision, but this person actually looked terrified! Was he that scary? Why avoid him like a wolf? She was afraid of him and wanted to do it even more!

  "I've been living in your palace since today!" As he watched Zi Ruoye's eyes widening bit by bit, he found that scaring this idiot in front of him was also a very interesting thing.

  "You... you... You said you want to live in my palace?" Zi Ruoye, however, looked as if she had seen a ghost in broad daylight, trembling as she pointed at Liu Qingyu, her voice filled with obvious incredulity.

  Listening to this bastard call himself 'I' is indeed much more pleasant than her calling herself 'Your Majesty', and Liu Qingyu felt that Zi Ruoye was subtly creating distance between them. Sometimes a man's intuition can be quite accurate, and Zi Ruoye thought so too - she felt those people hadn't reached the point where she could call them 'mine', while with Liu Qingyu, she wanted to draw a line of demarcation.

  "Why?" Zi Ruoye's eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing, before she finally spat out three words. Why did you move into the Wang Manor, why didn't you take out that imperial edict, why not?

  "Are you going to keep me standing here all morning? Although I'm not that delicate, I've just recovered from a serious illness!" Liu Qingyou said with some resentment. The person was so startled that he forgot to invite him in!

  Zi Ruoye was about to continue asking when Liu Qingyou gave her a glance, and after looking around, it was indeed true that the passersby were all staring at them. The speed at which rumors spread in this capital city, she, as a public figure, had personally experienced countless times. She could only let them enter first, and the little servant grape who followed Liu Qingyou also ushered the servants carrying luggage into the house.

  He originally thought that the young master would have a falling out with the prince, but unexpectedly, the young master actually wanted to move into the palace!

  "What's wrong with you?" Ziyue Ye was really confused by Liu Qingyou, he dared to enter the palace so openly, and in the future, wouldn't there be times when he would have contact with Li Yu? Even if they met in private, there would still be many obstacles. With just one word from the emperor, everything could be settled at that time.

  Liu Qingyu saw Zi Ruo Ye with a hesitant expression, her eyes were filled with complex and unclear emotions, and she felt slightly disheartened. However, she said, "This is the latest method thought up by Young Master! Come in, I'll tell you about it." After that, she directly walked towards the main hall.

  This young master? How come there's another new self-proclaimed title again?

  Zi Ruoye's eyes sparkled with a faint smile as she followed Liu Qingyou's footsteps to hear his approach.

  She called someone to bring hot tea, and she herself leaned back in her chair, drinking wine with abandon. "What plan do you have?" she asked. "Isn't the imperial edict I gave you enough? That imperial edict could let Li Yutian live a lifetime as long as he wanted, and never regret it. Thinking of this, Ziyue Ye suddenly remembered that when Li Yutian married for the third time, she seemed to have sent no betrothal gifts?

  However, she was unconscious for those few days, so that's it. After a moment of thought, Ziyue Ye directly threw the matter to the back of her mind. Instead, she looked at Liu Qingyou with a puzzled expression, recalling how he had fainted in the Chancellor's mansion. Wasn't it because he had encountered Li Yucheng again when he was ill, which made him too heartbroken and thus fainted?

  At that moment, the expression in her eyes became even more complicated. She had thought that Liu Qingyou would take out the imperial edict on the eve of Li Yu's wedding, or even earlier. She thought that such a proud man would not share a wife with others. Now, if he took out the imperial edict, what would happen to the man who was supposed to marry Li Yu?

  Liu Qingyou heard Zi Ruoye's words, and his hand paused for a moment, causing the water in the teacup to sway gently. "If Young Master lives here, Li Yu will pay more attention to him! She'll definitely be jealous! So Young Master thinks it's best to live with this scoundrel, let her...let her..." He gritted his teeth and said things he had never said before. In fact, Li Yu had already said those words when this scoundrel got married, but what he wanted to say was not that, yet the words that came out of his mouth were still angry at her.

  Liu Qingyu bit her lip and remained silent. Zi Ruo Ye nodded as if she understood, but it was actually a provocative tactic. What if Li Yu didn't fall for it?

  "But is this really proper?" He casually moved into the palace, which wasn't good for his reputation. Moreover... he glanced at Liu Qingyu and asked with a puzzled tone, "Are you willing to share a wife?"

  Liu Qing's eyes widened in surprise, serving only one wife... How could he not have thought of this question? He had originally wanted to be carefree with the person he liked, roaming the world. He had never seen the outside world, and for the sake of the four words "Shen Suan Zi", he had been tied to the capital for twenty years. His eyes dimmed slightly, how could he not have thought of a lifetime together?

  But now... her eyes lightly lifted, looking at the sitting posture of Ziyue Ye on the opposite side. She just sat there, as if nothing in the world could enter her heart. Before, I thought she was just a shallow and frivolous person, but now I think she's like a cloud, visible yet untouchable.

  This bastard is already married...

  "Others can, this young master also...can." He lightly sipped his tea, thinking to himself that he had been too foolish before and hadn't understood his own heart. Liu Qingyou still didn't know how Yun Cong had accompanied Zi Ruoye for a year and a half, or how she had almost lost her life for Zi Ruoye's sake. When he found out, he would start to feel heartache for Yun Cong.

  Zi Ruoye felt that the surprises she received today were really too many, first of all, Liu Qingyou wanted to live in her palace just to provoke Li Yu, and secondly, Liu Qingyou actually loved Li Yu to such an extent.

  "Although these are your decisions, you should take another look at Li Yu." Ziyue Ye gave a faint evaluation, with her legs crossed and a rogue expression.

  "What's wrong with her?" Although he no longer had feelings for Li Yu, he still wanted to ask, and this topic was something they could discuss for a while, which would also get her to talk more to him.

  "Hmm..." She didn't want to comment further, some things are more convincing when seen by the person themselves. After taking a sip of wine and letting out a comfortable sigh, "This king doesn't dare say more, you should observe carefully yourself. You should look at a person from multiple aspects before deciding whether or not to marry."

  Liu Qingyou looked at Zi Ruoye, was she hinting something to herself? Li Yu... slightly furrowed his brow in thought, although he increasingly disliked this person, yet he couldn't find any other reason to detest him, except for those few times when their hands touched.

  Seeing her like that, hesitating to speak, Liu Qingyou said, "If others can enter the palace, why can't this young master?" As soon as he spoke, he regretted it. How could he say such a thing again?

  "Not really, I'm not worried..." Zi Ruoye hesitated for a moment and said softly, but before she could finish speaking, Yun Ning had already entered.

  "Your Highness." The main hall's large door, Yun Cong, wearing a pink dress, slowly walked over, casually coiling her hair and securing it with a red jade pin. The purple pearl on the pin shone with a captivating soft light, her slender figure exuding charm, entrancing one's heartstrings.

  Zi Ruoye heard Yun Ning's voice and stood up, pulling him to sit down. "Why did you get up? Why don't you sleep a bit more?" She had been tossing and turning this morning too.

  Looking at the ambiguous light in Zi Ruoye's eyes, Yun Ning's face slightly flushed, but she replied, "Yun Ning is not so weak, just need to rest for a while." Her eyes slightly turned, and she had already heard the servants say that Liu Qingyao was going to move into the Wang Mansion. A gentle smile, "Liu Gongzi, only greeting now, really sorry."

  Liu Qingyu's expression changed slightly, and her every move seemed to be filled with a captivating charm. She nodded slightly, "It's nothing. From today on, I'll be staying here, please...". She paused for a moment, "Please don't mind."

  Yun Cong was taken aback, shaking his head slightly. "This is the king's mansion, how could Yun Cong possibly see ghosts?" In fact, at this moment, Yun Cong was almost half the master of the king's mansion, and what he said still had some effect.

  Zi Ruoye didn't bother with the overly polite conversation between the two men, instead looking at Yun Xue's snow-white jade neck, where a few ambiguous red plum blossoms bloomed, making her skin as white as snow even more crystal clear and alluring.

  Yun Ning saw the person next to him staring at himself, slightly stunned, and after a while, he suddenly realized that Zi Ruoye was looking at his neck, and conditioned reflexively covered his neck. Didn't this guy even... How come he didn't see it when he washed up today!

  Why is this person still looking at him when someone is around?! He immediately glared at Zǐ Ruò Yè with a scolding gaze, hoping she would behave herself! However, Zǐ Ruò Yè just smiled lightly and then calmly continued drinking her wine.

  Liu Qingyu saw the unspoken ambiguity between the two, and lowered his eyelids to cover up the expression in his eyes. He also saw the mark on Yun Cong's neck, although he was inexperienced, but he still knew what it was. "Have you arranged where Young Master Ben will stay?" His hand in his sleeve clenched lightly, trying hard to control his emotions.

  "Hmm?" Zi Ruoye tapped her forehead with a wine jug, "You can just live in the Linglan Pavilion. It's close to Meng'er's courtyard, and you two can chat more often." With a gentle smile, Zi Ruoye was thinking that she hoped Liu Qingyou wouldn't accidentally enter when Shangguan Meng was studying array formations.

  "Is it... is it close to your place?" Liu Qingyou said in a low and slightly embarrassed tone, her voice was very soft, if not for Zi Ruoye's good hearing, she might not have heard what Liu Qingyou was saying. Yun Cong looked at Liu Qingyou with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with understanding and tenderness.

  It seems that Liu Gongzi has taken a liking to Wang Ye... Looking at Zi Ruoye again, he found that this person still hadn't noticed. He couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

  "Hmm? It's not too far from the king's house, but it's also not very close," Zi Ruoye thought for a moment, as if she had to make several turns. Is this considered far or near?

  Is it far or is it near!

  Liu Qingyou's heart was once again set aflame by the ambiguous words of Zi Ruo Ye, "It's best not to get too close to this bastard's house, I don't like it!"

  Zi Ruoye was taken aback, "Should we arrange a more distant courtyard?" Zi Ruoye blinked her eyes, but was considering this method, and couldn't help asking, "Would it be even farther away?"

  Liu Qing's beautiful eyes lit up again, "Too far, Young Master Ben has walked tiredly!" He picked up the teacup and gulped down water, hoping to use tea to extinguish the fire in his heart.

  Then it's still Linglan Pavilion... Not too far or too close, this should be what he wants.

  Yun Ning looked at the two people in front of her, opened her mouth to say a few words, but changed her mind and thought it was better to let Wang Ye figure it out himself.

  "Wife! Wife! Wife!" The soft and sweet voice of Shangguan Meng could be heard from afar. He had just woken up to hear the little servant say that his wife had come by, which he found strange since usually his pillow would have fallen off the bed. But today, it was back in its original place. Upon hearing that Ziyue Ye had been there, Shangguan Meng quickly got dressed and washed up, asked for her location, and then ran over to meet her.

  "Madam! Hmm? Are Cloud and Liu brothers also here?" Officer Guan ran to the main hall, only to see that apart from Zi Ruoye, there were two others. Her small face was flushed red like a ripe apple from running over, looking adorable and tempting enough to make one want to take a bite. Liu Qingyou heard the sound of someone approaching and immediately thought of the little figure at the birthday banquet that day. Although he was younger than them, he had stood up and scolded that rascal's behavior, and at that time, he really believed it. But now, it seemed like it might be fake. Moreover, when everyone was criticizing Yun Cong, this young man was the first to stand up for him, with visible anger in his dazzling eyes. At that moment, Liu Qingyou knew that this man was braver than him.

  "Meng'er, what's wrong?" Seeing him rush over in a hurry, Zǐ Ruò Yè asked curiously. Shàng Guān Meng took a few deep breaths before automatically snuggling into Zǐ Ruò Yè's arms, contentedly rubbing against her.

  "Huh? How did you end up running into my arms? The soft and fluffy little body is quietly nestled in my own, Zi Ruoye lowered her head with some helplessness, "Meng'er, you still haven't told me how you ran so urgently?"

  The little man raised his head from Zi Ruoye's arms, with a slight complaint and dissatisfaction, saying, "Wife, why didn't you tell me when you came? I won't be greedy for sleep next time, wife. Next time you want to find me, I will definitely get up and we can make babies together!" Shang Guan Mou swore solemnly, promising that next time he would not be lazy and would let Zi Ruoye pounce on him, and they could create a great life plan together!

  Liu Qingyou's heart felt a slight pang of sourness as soon as Shangguan Meng entered and directly snuggled into Ziyueye's arms. Seeing that Ziyueye didn't show any signs of rejection, her heart felt even more sour and bitter. Upon hearing Shangguan Meng's words, she was taken aback, her voice laced with a hint of anger, her eyes fixed on Ziyueye with a resentful gaze, "You... you scoundrel, seductress!" She turned her head away in resentment, not wanting to look at him again and get even angrier.

  Zi Ruoye was also left speechless by Shang Guan Meng's words, she didn't have any improper thoughts at all, she just went to see what Shang Guan Meng was doing in the house all day, but found that this little guy seemed to be sleeping all day, kindly helped him cover the quilt and picked up the pillow, apart from that, she really didn't do anything else. Looking at Yun Cong, with a "I'm very innocent, I'm really very innocent" expression.

  "Pfft!" Cloud Condensation was amused by Purple Leaf's appearance and nodded lightly, "I trust you." The three short words told Purple Leaf that no matter what time it was, he always trusted her.

  Shangguan Meng continued, "Isn't the wife looking for me to have a baby with me?" Her big eyes sparkled like the pure white snow of Mount Tian, and she gently pulled on Ziyue's sleeve, seeking confirmation.

  "Not...," Before he could finish, he saw that Yu Rou's eyes were brimming with tears, and she was about to cry. He quickly changed his words, "Yu Rou is still young now, having a baby can be said in a few years."

  "That's good. Mēng believes his wife. His wife can't deceive Mēng." He buried his small face in Zǐ Ruò Yè's bosom, and his wife refused him again, feeling sour in her heart, her small nose slightly wrinkled, but she didn't cry anymore.

  "Ah... a word once spoken cannot be taken back even by eight horses." Zi Ruoye said with a smile, but the smile was somewhat forced. For now, let's just take things one step at a time.

  Shangguan Mengya was in Ziyueye's arms, without seeing Ziyueye's expression, her small face still buried in her chest, but thinking about how to have a baby with Ziyueye. However, the wife surprisingly agreed, so she couldn't refuse Mengya! Her sparkling eyes were full of smiles, warm and sweet.

  Liu Qingyu felt like she was sitting on pins and needles at this moment, feeling that the not-so-large hall seemed to have been divided into two worlds, one was their world, and the other was her own world... in her world, he didn't exist.

  Get up, walk to the front of Zǐ Ruò Yè, "This young master's illness has just recovered, now wants to go back to the house, you take me there. I don't know the way." After finishing, his eyes glanced to one side, although he said it out loud, but what if she refused?

  Zi Ruoye was taken aback, "Meng'er, why don't you play with Yung first? Liu Gege isn't feeling well, I'll take him to rest first." She lowered her head and spoke softly to Shangguan Meng. Liu Qingyou had indeed just recovered from a serious illness, and the patient was most important, so she would still rely on him.

  Shangguan Meng reluctantly let go of Ziyue Ye's waist, allowing her to walk out. Liu Qingyou saw how easily Ziyue Ye agreed with him and felt a faint sweetness in his heart. Why did this fool always follow his lead?

  "Let's go. Nowadays, this king is not even as good as a small servant~" laughed and joked, holding the small wine jug and leading the way. Liu Qingyou followed behind, but no one saw the slight curve of his mouth, and even his footsteps were much lighter.

  Shangguan Meng looked at the disappearing figures of Ziyue Ye and Liu Qingyou, feeling a bit disappointed as he withdrew his gaze. He saw Yun Cong drinking tea without any expression, and asked slightly puzzled, "Brother Yun, is your heart still hurting? My heart is sour now."

  Looking at Shangguan Meng, he subconsciously muttered to himself, Yun Ning was taken aback, remembering the words he and Shangguan Meng had exchanged that day. He smiled softly, his voice gentle and warm, "My heart still hurts, but it's also sweet, and a little sour." Only now the sweetness outweighed the pain, and the slight sourness could be ignored.

  It's sweet and sour, but it still hurts. It's so complicated... Shangguan Ming touched his chest, but he only had one feeling, that was sourness.

  "Will Brother Liu also live in the Wang Manor?" I heard Father say that, apart from him, the husband of the King had two more, Cloud Brother was one he already knew, so was the other one Brother Liu?

  "Hmm, he lives in the Bell Tower not far from your courtyard." Recalling what Prince Wang said to her yesterday, it turns out that she had already known her own identity, but that was another identity that even Prince Wang might not have been aware of. Her eyes, like rippling water, were tinged with a faint smile.

  Liu Qingyu was gazing at the scenery inside the Wang Fu, he came and left in a hurry every time. He only went to the front hall, plum forest, and that bastard's main room. Thinking of that day when she accidentally saw that book, her cheeks flushed slightly red. Now thinking about it, this bastard reading that book really suits her personality.

  Liu Qingyou followed closely behind Zi Ruoye, step by step, without missing a beat. Zi Ruoye walked ahead, seemingly taking in the scenery within the manor, and subconsciously slowed down his pace, leisurely sipping his wine. The two of them walked on, soon arriving at the plum forest.

  Plum blossoms had long since disappeared, leaving only bare branches. Now it was the time for sprouting, but all that could be seen were dark brown branches everywhere. Liu Qingyu stopped in her tracks and looked at the bare plum forest, saying out loud, "Is this a plum forest?" Her voice was filled with doubt. She remembered the last time she saw it, it was in full bloom, red as fire.

  Zi Ruoye turned her head to look in the direction of Liu Qingyou, and lightly glanced at the plum forest. With a pained expression, she said, "Isn't that right? I was originally thinking of picking some plum blossoms to make wine. But someone chopped them down randomly, not even leaving any scraps behind."

  Liu Qing's eyes fluttered back, and she saw Zi Ruo Ye with a seemingly regretful expression. She recalled the time he got angry and swung his sword at her in the plum forest. "It's just wine! I'll have the servant bring some from the manor later." Wine ghost! Although that plum forest was his doing, Liu Qing felt a slight twinge of apology in her heart, but looking at Zi Ruo Ye's expression, she couldn't muster up any apologetic feelings.

  Zi Ruoye's eyes sparkled as soon as she heard the wine, and she looked at Liu Qingyou with a hint of mischief. "How can this be? Hehe, just give me five or six jars of good wine, that's all I need. These aren't part of our agreement, are they?"

  That greedy and cheap appearance really left Liu Qingyou speechless, how could she be a princess! Just for the sake of a few barrels of wine, she actually made such an expression, gritting her teeth and staring at her, "You wine ghost!"

  "I can do without the beautiful scenery, but I must have good wine to accompany me!" Zi Ruoye walked up beside him, smiling as she spoke. She then shook the small wine jug in her hand, indicating that what she said was not empty words.

  What is called being able to be without beautiful women accompanying him, but cannot have fine wine as a companion. In his view, this person probably can't lack either of these two things.

  "But the little servant who followed you, is his name Xiao Putao? Hmm... " He seemed to be pondering, narrowing his eyes. This Xiao Putao knew that he was also a perceptive person just by looking at his eyes.

  Liu Qingyou heard her mention Xiao Putao and scolded, "You damned rascal, don't be allowed to catch my servant's attention! Young Master doesn't allow it!"

  "His Majesty now has Cong'er, so forget about Xiao Putao. Even if I wanted to, shouldn't I consider who his master is?" If she really had any conscience, the person in front of her would probably kill her. With Yun Cong, she was already content.

  Liu Qingyou's eyes slightly dimmed as he heard Zi Ruoye openly express her affection for Yun Cong in front of him, and he slowly tempered the bitterness in his heart. "Yun Cong...he is very happy...I wonder if I will also get such happiness?"

  Although the voice was small, Zi Ruo Ye who was standing beside him heard it and comforted with a smile, "Even if your plan doesn't succeed, there's not only one woman named Li Yu in this world. You should broaden your horizons, maybe you'll find her." This Liu Qing You is not like the usual Liu Qing You, he is a man who can quickly regain his composure even after failure.

  He gently lifted his head, looking at the purple leaf beside him, and his smiling eyes were filled with encouragement for him. However, he felt bitter, this bastard only knew how to persuade him to find another woman. Although they had delayed their wedding, he was now considered half of her husband, but this bastard always pushed him away.

  "Hmm. It'll probably work out, I suppose." He said with a false tone, but he had no idea what to do next. When this bastard finds out that it was just an excuse, would he have to leave? After all, this bastard didn't like him...

  Liu Qingyou stood in front of the small courtyard gate of Linglan Pavilion, looking at those three words, which were written by that scoundrel Zi Ruoye... It seemed that almost every sign was written by her own hand. She stepped into the pavilion, and Xiao Putao had already entered a step ahead to sweep the floor. Although no one lived there, someone still came to clean up every day. Xiao Putao just put away the things they would use on ordinary days.

  "Is it okay here?" Zi Ruoye sat in front of the stone table outside the house and asked with a smile.

  Liu Qingyou looked around and found that it was indeed a elegant residence, without any unnecessary artificial hills or strange rocks, every place was very cleverly arranged, nodded slightly, "From now on, this young master will live here."

  "It's fine if you like it." Zi Ruoye stood up, "Li Yuruo has sent a letter to see you, take some people with you, after all, men should be careful." On the surface, she brought people with her, but secretly, she was taking pictures of the shadows following them.

  Liu Qingyu nodded slightly, feeling a little happy about her thoughtfulness, but still turned around, "Ben Shao Ye has martial arts skills!" Self-defense should be possible, even if the martial arts are not good, but his lightness is still very impressive.

  Zi Ruoye didn't argue with him, his martial arts were indeed... "It's always good to have someone by your side. Will you be eating in the courtyard by yourself from now on, or will you be accompanying me?" She and Yun Cong had always eaten together, but after Shangguan Meng entered the palace, that little one didn't need her to ask, he just stuck around on his own.

  "This young master will of course be with you all! Little grape... little grape can't cook!" He didn't want to be alone, he didn't want to be separated from that bastard so clearly, just like two worlds, telling him, her world doesn't have him.

  "Hmm, then I'll have someone come and call you later." Actually, the palace has a chef, so it's not a problem if Grape doesn't know how to cook. It's just more lively when everyone is together, so Ziyueye swallowed half of what she wanted to say and smiled, saying

  He nodded slightly, and really moved in, although the faint helplessness on that bastard's face was visible, but he couldn't think of a way to get close to her otherwise. In short, taking one step at a time is still a step. He smiled lightly and shallowly, elegant and fragrant, yet strong, like a jade orchid just blooming.

  Liu Qingyou's personality was a bit eccentric, but his temperament was light and elegant, with a hint of stubbornness. Zi Ruoye gazed at Liu Qingyou's smile, lost in thought for a moment, before suddenly turning around, indeed, he was a man who could tempt people with his charm.

  Li Yu knew about Liu Qingyou's move into the Wang mansion that afternoon, and perhaps she had already made up her mind that Liu Qingyou was loyal only to her. Unintentionally, she found herself in agreement with Liu Qingyou's insincere words. She really thought this was one of Liu Qingyou's little tricks, a ploy to lure someone into underestimating her. With a gloomy smile, she thought to herself that as long as Zi Ruoye didn't marry Liu Qingyou, then Liu Qingyou would eventually be hers.

  "How can I make a man fall in love with me?" Li Yu asked the housekeeper beside her, who was very close to her.

  "A man's concerns are just about seeking joy, miss, you just need to send some small gifts and that's it. Miss, I'm afraid you've taken a liking to Master Liu? Why don't we let the steward handle this matter, what do you think?"

  Li Yu listened to the steward's words with great relish, and she didn't have the mind to curry favor with Liu Qingyou. When the time came, people would be in her hands, and it would all be hers. Would she still need to bring up old scores? Humph! She measured him and found that he didn't have the guts. Did he really think she was the same kind of person as that weak and incompetent Ye Wang?

  Sometimes people are too confident and become arrogant, as the saying goes, "arrogance leads to one's own downfall", ultimately ending up with a self-inflicted fate.

  It's been a few days, and Liu Qingyou looked at the various decorations on the table with a slight frown. These were all sent by Li Yupa's people. She really wasn't afraid of that bastard, openly sending gifts to him, and they were all small things that women used to please men. She had someone return them before, but the next day new ones would arrive again.

  "Prince, this Deputy Li is really going all out, isn't he?" Grape stood by, looking at the dazzling decorations with a slight frown, not expecting that Deputy Li, although being a general's subordinate, would also have such thoughts about men.

  Liu Qingyu didn't want to look at those ornaments again, they were mostly extremely luxurious and obviously from the Golden Jade Pavilion, although each one was worth a lot, but none of them suited him. From the way they looked, it could be seen that the person who sent the gift wasn't the owner themselves, thinking back to Yun Cong's hair always only having that red jade hairpin inlaid with purple pearls, which was the most suitable for Yun Cong. It was as if that hairpin had been made specifically for Yun Cong.

  It wasn't until I heard what Shangguan Mou said while we were eating that I found out the hairpin was actually given by that bastard, and it's true that everything he gives is one-of-a-kind.

  "Grapes, you'd better put away these trinkets and return them to that person. I'm afraid all of these trinkets together aren't even worth the purple pearl on Yun Cong's red jade hairpin, that bastard is really..."

  The little grape looked at the ornaments with some heartache, somewhat reluctant to part with them. "Why do you have to return them? Doesn't the young master like them?" So many beautiful hairpins were being returned just like that.

  Just as she was about to respond, Ziyueye burst in, also staring wide-eyed at the food arranged on the table, her mouth making sounds of amazement. She knew that Li Yu had been sending gifts very frequently these past few days and was a bit curious, so she came over to take a look. Unexpectedly, she saw a whole table full of hairpins and earrings. It's worth noting that Liu Qingyu never wore those things.

  Li Yu really has a big hand, she doesn't even know that the General's Mansion is so rich, all of these are gold and jade decorations, just look at the hairpins on top, they add up to several thousand taels.

  "Little grape, wait a minute. Liu Qingyou, these are all silver, and Li Yu actually gave them to you, why didn't you just accept them? " Zi Ruoye looked like she was staring at money with a greedy expression, which was really vulgar. She continued, "Besides, didn't you return them a few days ago, and now she's giving them to you again, and you're still hesitant?" They're all silver!

  Looking at her dispirited appearance, Liu Qingyou felt angry but couldn't get angry, "These are all Young Master's things, Young Master will deal with them as he sees fit!"

  Zi Ruoye couldn't help but glance at those hairpins with some regret, selling them could exchange for a lot of wine money, yet he was clearly a prince, but put on a poor and shabby appearance.

  Xiao Pu Tao was trying not to laugh on one side, he had re-recognized the king these past few days, although occasionally making him blush and teasing him for fun, but many times the king was just being playful, teasing the young master and other two masters to be happy. Gradually, he also understood who was in Liu Qingyou's heart, but was worried about their family's young master's insincere personality. His gaze wandered between Zi Ruo Ye and Liu Qingyou, softly sighing, not knowing when the young master would fulfill his wish.

  "What's with that look, don't tell me you're not even bothered about a few hairpins in the grand Wang estate!" Seeing her disappointed expression made him angry. If he had kept those accessories, wouldn't it mean he accepted Li Yu? He bit his lip and turned away in anger.

  "It's not that either." Zi Ruoye said with a smile, the gold and jade accessories are good, but they're too common, what she likes is not the value of the hairpin that can be exchanged for wine money!

  "But your method might have actually worked. Looking at Li Yu's fierce attack, it seems that she has a firm determination towards Liu Qingyou. Otherwise, the several thousand taels of silver she spent would be a waste, right? Maybe next time we can let Zi Yanran dig out a few thousand taels from Li Yu to replenish the national treasury."

  Thinking of this, Zi Ruoye's half-drunk eyes narrowed slightly. The three-year war had caused severe losses to the national treasury; perhaps it was time to think of a solution.

  Liu Qing's body stiffened for a moment, and his heart was slightly panicked. "Not, not so fast! This young master wants her...". He bit his lip, suppressing the panic in his heart, "Only if Li Yuer is truly sincere with me will it do!"

  He originally thought that Li Yu would not come to find him again after he entered the Wang Fu, after all, didn't he moving into the Wang Fu mean that he had rejected Li Yu? But Li Yu was still sending him small gifts as usual. He thought that this bastard would be unhappy when he saw others giving him gifts, but it seemed that this bastard was even happier than him.

  But now even he didn't expect things to develop like this, biting his lip, "Anyway, this young master thinks it's not time yet."

  "It's fine if you decide for yourself." The other day when she went to court, Liu Chengxiang found her and said a lot of things. Liu Qingyou actually lived in her mansion, so his safety was something she had to guarantee. Although she always felt that Liu Chengxiang looked at her with an expression that seemed to want to say more but stopped himself, since he didn't speak, she couldn't force him either.

  She replied softly, "Do you know... where to buy sugar lotus seeds?" She had given some to him, and he had eaten all but one. The last one, which he always kept in his pocket, had its sugar coating melted, which pained him, yet he couldn't bear to eat it.

  Sugar lotus seeds? Didn't she bring these for him on her last visit not long ago?

  "That thing may be sweet on the outside, but it's bitter at heart. Is it delicious?" She had wanted to buy some honey dates or something, but after searching for half a day, she only found sugar lotus seeds.

  "Hmm. Next time this young master falls ill, he won't be afraid of taking medicine!" He didn't dare mention the sugar lotus seeds she sent last time that he couldn't bear to finish eating, if this rascal found out, he'd probably laugh at him, a hairpin as precious as this ornament can't compare to a single sugar lotus seed.

  "If you want to eat, I'll bring some back for you next time I go out." Although she didn't know why Liu Qingyou was so fond of sugar lotus seeds, it wouldn't be a problem to bring some back for him next time she went out.

  Her heart skipped a beat, Liu Qingyou didn't expect Zi Ruoye to agree to buy it for her personally. A faint sweetness spread in her chest, "Then you go help Ben Shao tomorrow and buy some. After some time, sugared lotus seeds will be gone." After some more days, she might not be able to buy them anymore.

  "Don't worry, I'll just go buy a big jar and bring it back for you to eat until you're sick of it." He didn't mind the tone she used to order him around at all, but today's weather was starting to get humid, which wasn't good for storing sugar lotus seeds.

  Xiao Putao stood by, even more helpless. Young Master, how could you...how could you ask Wang Ye for sugar lotus seeds? At the very least, shouldn't you be asking for a hairpin like Yun Gongzi did?!

  "Wife! Wife!" From a distance, Shang Guan Meng's voice was heard, and the warm yellow figure instantly pounced into Zi Ruoye's arms. He had just learned that his wife went to find Liu Gege, but she passed by his small courtyard, why didn't she come to find him? And this time he wasn't even studying formations outside!

  Zi Ruoye had already subconsciously opened her arms when she heard Shangguan Meng's voice, and as expected, the little one really did pounce into her embrace.

  Just as he was about to speak, a barrage of questions came from the little one, "Wife came to find Brother Liu but didn't come to find me, Meng Er is very bored alone in the courtyard. Is Wife afraid of being trapped by the formation again? No way, Meng Er last time was just an accident that trapped Wife inside, there won't be a next time." The little head buried in Zi Ruo Ye's arms rubbed back and forth, what if Wife was really too scared to come to his courtyard again.

  She never said she was afraid. "Meng'er, today is just right to find Liu Qingyou for something, and you've always been locking yourself in your room, I thought you were sleeping again, so I didn't go."

  The little nose wrinkled slightly, "The wife is telling a lie, it's already broad daylight now, and Meng'er isn't a lazy pig, so she wouldn't still be in bed at this hour." She directly buried her small face into Ziyu Ye's embrace, her voice muffled.

  Liu Qingyu glanced at Shangguan Meng in Zi Ruoye's arms, and a hint of envy flashed across her eyes. The initial jealousy had now turned into a faint admiration. Only Shangguan Meng would dare to throw himself into that scoundrel's arms without any reserve, not even Yun Ning had done so before.

  Zi Ruoye was left speechless by Shang Guan Meng's words, and if he said that he was just a little lazy pig, his precious tears would probably roll down again. He could only weakly say, "Next time I definitely won't, I won't pass by Meng'er's small courtyard without going in."

  The person in his arms nodded slightly with satisfaction, lifted up her small apple face and asked, "Does the mistress have something very important to discuss with Brother Liu?"

  "That's all said. What do you want to do, Meng Er?" Looking at his bright eyes, there were still words that hadn't been spoken, Zi Ruoye stretched out her fingertips and gently poked his chubby little face, asking.

  He was suddenly poked in the face, and Xiang Jun's small hands covered his own cheeks. He disliked it the most when others poked his cheeks. From childhood to adulthood, there were not a few people in the mansion who had teased his cheeks. His small face was slightly dissatisfied, but thinking that the other party was Zi Ruoye, he pouted and put down his hands, with an expression of resignation, "If wife likes poking Xiang Jun's cheeks, then poke away! However, Xiang Jun wants to go out and play today, so..."

  "Hmm? Is this an equivalent exchange?" Zi Ruo Ye's eyes were filled with amusement as she gazed at him, his expression so bold and daring as if he had abandoned all restraint. She smiled softly and said, "Meng'er thinks it's fine to take the attendants out without reporting back to me." A man is a human being, not an animal; locking them up in the house serves no purpose. It will only grind away at their individual characteristics.

  Liu Qingyou was taken aback, looking at Zi Ruoye. No woman would let a man go out so casually, but she did. Even her mother only occasionally allowed him to go out. If he hadn't always sneaked out, he thought that in this life, the first half of his life would be spent in the Prime Minister's mansion, and the second half would be spent in his future wife's mansion, unable to go out.

  "Ah... Ah is thinking..." Opponent finger, Shangguan Meng hesitated and looked at Ziyue Ye, then quickly lowered his head, looked again, and quickly lowered his head. Ziyue Ye raised an eyebrow, only then did she understand what he meant. Was he asking her to accompany him out?

  Digression

  The fish has been delivered, and it's even better than expected...

  Pfft!