Chapter 018: So Embarrassing

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Yuetang guessed he had returned to initiate a formal separation. After all, they had registered their marriage with the authorities, and leaving things unresolved would inevitably bring trouble. She had promised him that once she had a child, she would let him go. Now that the child was born, naturally, he was no longer in a hurry.

Forced vines bear bitter melons. Though she did not know if this child was a boy or a girl, after much contemplation, Yuetang decided to let him leave. If the emperor later insisted she bear a son to inherit the title, she could always have another child.

Unexpectedly, this time he stayed. All preparations for childbirth had been made at Bieye; Yuetang found no chance to slip away, so she had no choice but to give birth in their village home. While she strained inside the room, he paced outside restlessly like a wild beast.

She thought he would bring up the separation after the child’s full month celebration, but he didn’t. Instead, within that month, he even learned how to change the baby’s diaper.

With her sixteenth birthday approaching, she could no longer delay. On the child’s hundred-day celebration, she was ready to confront him.

But on that day, he went out—and didn’t return until nightfall.

So Yuetang left behind a wooden box containing a farewell letter, clearly stating she would never disturb him again in this lifetime.

Along with it was a formal separation agreement, ten thousand taels of silver, and the deeds to a garden in Gusu and several excellent shops at the docks.

Consider it the price he paid to buy Arly.

Thus, the chapter with Aqi was closed.

Now, all she knew was that the child she had borne with such effort had died because of the Du family’s conspiracy, and at the hands of the Zhang and He families!

She vowed to kill Zhang Shaode!

To retrieve her seal!

To raze the Marquis of Guangling’s mansion to the ground!

She quickened her pace, soon leaving Lanqin behind, rushing through the alley toward their residence on the other side.

…

“Twelve wen! Sir, if you want it, ten wen will do.”

The vendor smiled warmly, offering Yan Bei a new spinning top.

Yan Bei handed over a broken silver coin and bought five tops in total, including some for Arly’s little friends.

Arly was growing more sensible, always envying the children outside playing. Yan Bei forbade him from going out and only allowed the household guards who had settled down to bring the children into the mansion to accompany him day and night.

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Five spinning tops, five servings of snacks—all from the Baoshan Hall, no less.

Why did he buy them personally?

Because Arly had recently learned to play house and had begun to envy the children in the outside world who bought gifts for their fathers themselves.

After boarding the carriage, Yan Bei rested his chin on his hand, watching the street. They hadn’t gone far before the carriage stopped.

A guard knocked on the carriage wall, then bowed and stepped inside.

“Report to the Prince’s Mansion: The Du family is indeed in trouble. They have two deputy commanders under their command, both fourth-rank generals in the court and related by marriage. However, one of the families was involved in a homicide yesterday. The victim’s wife, initially suspected, was later struck and killed, proving her innocence.

“Before the case was clarified, evidence of murder was found near the victim’s sister-in-law.

“That sister-in-law was sent to prison by both families yesterday. Unexpectedly, while imprisoned, she accused her grandfather of foul play. The Marquis’s mansion is currently dealing with this family’s aftermath.”

Yan Bei withdrew his gaze from the woman’s fleeing figure down the alley. “What foul play?”

“Not explicitly stated, but it seems related to the murder of Princess Yongjia, who was ambushed by bandits on the outskirts of the capital three years ago.”

“Princess Yongjia?” Yan Bei lowered his hand. “What was said?”

“No direct mention of the princess, only the incident in the capital’s suburbs three years ago in July. Many significant events occurred then, but the only murder in that area was Princess Yongjia’s.”

Yan Bei opened his folding fan and fanned slowly. “Wasn’t it already confirmed that vagrants committed the crime? I remember the scene was chaotic, many dead, and weapons of all kinds. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. After the late emperor’s funeral, the court finally stabilized. The emperor and empress dowager each ordered multiple investigations, all concluding it was the work of bandits.”

Yan Bei slowed his fan further.

“If it was bandits, then the Liu family’s claims must be slander and blackmail?”

The guard hesitated, then said, “I cannot be certain. But just half an hour ago, General Wude died. According to servants who fled the He family, it was at the hands of his mentally unstable wife, who has recently lost a child.”

“Oh?”

The woman in the alley had vanished. Yan Bei withdrew his gaze from the empty lane. “What is General Wude’s full name?”

“He Jianzhong,” the guard replied, seeing the blank look in Yan Bei’s eyes. “The He family is so obscure in the capital that it’s understandable if Your Highness doesn’t know them.”

Yan Bei usually listened to street rumors for amusement but never interfered, especially with matters concerning the Marquis of Guangling’s mansion.

The guard thought this was no different and was about to withdraw.

Yan Bei, however, waved his fan to stop him. “So many dead, each in different ways, like a chain of events—this is not normal. Go and gather more information, then report back to me.”

The guard dismounted.

Yan Bei glanced once more at the alley and lowered the carriage curtains.

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The slender waist of the woman running in the alley earlier was undoubtedly supple.

Just from her back, she could rival Arly’s mother by seven or eight points.

“Your Highness, the two dancers that Lord Chu tried to send before also had very supple waists.”

As that voice rang clearly in his ear, Yan Bei suddenly recalled the presence of Ji Shanguan Cui Xun in the carriage.

He looked up.

Cui Xun sat on the footstool below, hands folded, smiling knowingly. “The young heir is already three years and four months old. If Your Highness finds the long nights lonely, it is only natural.”

Not only were songstresses and dancers sent as gifts from time to time, but the Ministry of Rites had also submitted several memorials requesting the emperor to select a princess consort for Yan Bei. Yet he had never revealed a hint.

Today, to gaze at a woman’s back for so long was truly rare.

Yan Bei’s brow twitched.

What was he saying?

No, what had he just been thinking?

He had been entertaining impure thoughts about a passing woman’s waist!

How did this happen?

He actually had such wicked ideas!

And he hadn’t even seen her face!

How shameful.

He slowly averted his gaze, shaking his fan solemnly. “If I’m not mistaken, the duty of the Prince’s Mansion’s disciplinary officer is ‘to guide thoughts and correct behavior’—‘dancers’?”

Cui Xun immediately slapped his own mouth. “I deserve death!”

Yan Bei continued in a serious tone, “The Shen, Mu, and Chu families are forming factions.

“What is Chu Yi’s intention in sending dancers? Don’t tell me you don’t know.”

Under Yan Bei’s stern words, Cui Xun prostrated himself again. “My lord! It is my own filthy mind! I will copy the ‘Heart-Washing Classic’ ten times when I return!”