126 Making Up (1/2)

Xia Chunyu didn't know about Consort Mei's incident, so when she dropped that bomb, he was shocked. What did Consort Mei want with Yaoyao?

He was still pondering over that when Yaoyao left.

He stared at the empty seat in front him, recalling her tone and her expression...

No! This is not good!

He stood up and rushed to her room.

Ye Jiayao placed a square homespun cloth on the bed, opened the cupboards, and started packing. She did not have many things. All the woman's clothing she has was what Chunyu asked Song Qi to buy, and she wouldn't be taking those. He could keep it or throw it away.

However, even though she only has a few things, they were all valuable so staying at an inn would not be safe. She did not want to go to Lai Fu Inn because Manager Du would just worry about her. Her only other option was Heavenly Residence. Now that she was the Head Chef, and an Imperial Mobile Chef, at that, she was positive that Shopkeeper Li would permit her to stay in the Lotus Attic for the night. Maybe she could even talk him into giving her her own room tomorrow. Mmm, I think I'm set...

Just as Ye Jiayao was bundling up her bag, her door opened.

Xia Chunyu, upon seeing the baggage she was holding, raced in and snatched it away.

”What are you doing?” Xia Chunyu asked, flustered.

Ye Jiayao replied emotionlessly, ”Give me back my baggage.”

”No, stop. Don't be so childish. How do you think Uncle and Auntie Jiang will feel when you leave the house?” Xia Chunyu said softly

Ye Jiayao sneered, ”Leave me alone. I'm very grateful for making all these arrangements for me, but I don't need nor want it anymore. I accepted it then because I thought you were doing it because I was special to you. Now, though, since you've made yourself clear, I can't stay here any longer. I don't care if I have to sleep on the streets, I'm not going to continue to stay here.”

Ye Jiayao made a move to take her bag back but Xia Chunyu held on tightly to it.

”What? I didn't say anything! You are putting words in my mouth.”

”Just stop, okay? If yanking me around like this is fun to you, well, count me out.”

”I had a drop too much, I was spouting nonsense. I'm sorry,” Xia Chunyu apologized. The last time she left him, he spent a great deal of effort to coax her back. If she leaves now, with Little Jing dogging her step all the time, she might not come back.

Ye Jiayao scoffed, ”In vino veritas.”*

”Alright. I admit I said all those things just to spite you. It's just... you don't consider my feelings. The day before, I waited so long for you at the back door but you ended up leaving with Little Jing without even telling me. When I came back today to the news that you were in the palace, you can't even begin to imagine the fear I felt. I only found out that you're safe when I rushed into the palace!

”Then I went to look for you at Heavenly Residence, intending to have a meal with you, but your co-workers informed me that you were with Little Jing. Again. How do you want me to think? You are dressed up as a man, you can land yourself into all sorts of trouble. Yaoyao, I was so angry because I care about you.

”When we fight, it is just natural that we would talk brashly. We'd try to make each other feel horrible and guilty, but I... don't like seeing that I hurt you. I felt terrible saying those words. I'm sorry. Don't leave, alright?” Xia Chunyu said, pouring his heart out in every word.

Ye Jiayao's heart lightened up. She forgives him, but she still could not stay at the house anymore.

”Chunyu, I... I really don't want to stay here anymore. I have never liked staying here. It's not that I don't want to live with Uncle and Auntie Jiang, but it's the feeling of staying here. I feel like I am some mistress that you are hiding from everyone else.”

”This is only a temporary arrangement. When your status is reinstated, I will find a way to marry you,” Xia Chunyu explained to her. He knew that Yaoyao was a strong, prideful woman who would not settle for less.

Ye Jiayao stared at him in shock. This was the first time she heard him say that he would marry her.

While she was still in a daze, Xia Chunyu stuffed her baggage back into the cupboard.

”Don't go. Auntie and Uncle Jiang treats you like family. If you leave, they will be extremely upset. They'll think that you don't like them. Plus, I would just constantly worry about you if you stay somewhere else.”

Xia Chunyu pulled her into his embrace, slowly tightening his arms around, rubbing his cheek against her silky hair. He said in a low voice, ”I was just jealous. I don't like to see you and Little Jing being so close.”

”I treat Little Jing as a little brother!” Ye Jiayao protested.

”But he is still a man. Believe me, I can tell that Little Jing does not treat you the same,” Xia Chunyu said worriedly.

”Nonsense. Little Jing doesn't even know that I am a woman.”

”That's not an issue. You're friends with Zhao Qixuan, right?”

Oh. Oh, no.

”If he finds out the truth in the future, it'll be so awkward, don't you think? You have to be more mindful and keep your distance.”

Ye Jiayao was still in disbelief. Does Little Jing really like her?

”Tell me what happened with Consort Mei,” Xia Chunyu asked, changing the topic.

”Huh? Oh. Consort Mei wants me to hand over the secret recipe to the ice cream mooncake. I heard that the shopkeeper of Ju Xian Yuan is a Mei and is actually Government Minister Mei's relative.”

”They are,” Xia Chunyu confirmed.

This Consort Mei really dared to use His Majesty's adoration towards her to give her family business more profits? And to think that she was the daughter of the Director of the Board of Rites. All the moral teachings have gone to waste on her.

”Did she do anything?” Xia Chunyu asked.