138 Heavenly Residences New Owner (1/2)

That took the wind right out of Ye Jiayao's sails.

”Well... I'm not going to let this go. Just you wait!” Ye Jiayao huffed.

Xia Chunyu stifled his laughter and said, ”I will wait.”

He inched closer to her, forcing her back against the wall. He propped her up with his arms, trapping her in his embrace, and asked in a low voice, ”Now, care to explain how you fell into the water?”

It was Ye Jiayao's turn to be distressed. She should have known that it would get back to him. He has spies everywhere!

”I wanted to swim. Am I not allowed to do that anymore?” She did not want to tell him about Little Jing's confession because she knew that it would only cause more trouble.

”Really? You went to cruise the river with Little Jing and just ended up swimming in the water?” Xia Chunyu probed, his eyes narrowed into slits. ”You fell so ill after that night swim that Little Jing even had you looked over the imperial physician, and you still don't have anything to explain?”

How did he... the Jiangs!

Ye Jiayao snapped, ”Why should I explain anything to you? What is it to you?”

For a second, he looked stunned before his face turned back to that cold calmness he was famous for. ”What is it to me? Are you still not clear about that? Or are you really not concerned about my feelings? Or maybe, maybe you just enjoy the feeling of having two men running around you in circles?”

He might have sounded perfectly gentle when he said that, but Ye Jiayao could feel his suppressed anger and disappointment.

How was she supposed to answer these questions? Truthfully, she didn't have faith in their future together. He was supposed to marry Liu Li! If His Majesty bestows a marriage, could he really defy an imperial decree for her?

Besides, Little Jing was a good friend. She couldn't throw away their friendship just because the kid thinks he has feelings for her. Wasn't there a middle ground? A balance?

The pain in her lower abdomen started to become distinct, pulsing.

”You're putting too much thought in this. Isn't Little Jing still a child?” Ye Jiayao said weakly.

Xia Chunyu lifted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. ”Yaoyao, look at your guilt in my eyes. You know that Little Jing is no longer a child. Many men have already settled their marriage by the age of 16.

”Now, if you really like him that much, then, make a decision right now. I'm not going to fight a brother for a woman. I won't force you to choose me because I will never allow my woman to think of another man when she is with me.”

He has his limits. He could allow her to run around and cook or open her own restaurant, but he could not tolerate other men.

Ye Jiayao couldn't even concentrate on what he was saying because her stomach felt like it was trying to rip itself apart.

Xia Chunyu finally noticed her face getting paler and paler as beads of perspiration dotted her forehead. Sh*t! I've seen this before.

”Yaoyao…”

She couldn't answer him, the pain too much for her to bear. It felt like this was even worse than the previous times.

He immediately picked her up in his arms and brought her inside the carriage. ”Go, go, go!”

Ye Jiayao huddled in his embrace, clinging tightly to his collar, gritting her teeth to prevent herself from crying out. F*ck! Why the f*ck does it hurt so badly?

Xia Chunyu's heart filled with anxiety as he felt her uncontrollable trembling. ”Song Qi, faster!”

When they finally reached home, he carried her to her room and called for Auntie Jiang. Auntie Jiang quickly prepared a heat pack for Yaoyao to hold over her tummy while Jiang Yue brought her brown sugar water.

After a few minutes, Yaoyao's face started to regain its color.

Xia Chunyu pulled Auntie Jiang aside to ask, ”Auntie Jiang, is her problem untreatable?”

Auntie Jiang replied, ”I am not sure about that. I have heard that with proper care during confinement after childbirth, it will get better.”

He frowned. There were many women in his house, but he has never seen someone suffer from their period like Yaoyao. As soon as everything settles, he would have to ask the imperial physician about this. If it could not be cured, there could be at least something they could do to lessen her pain. Xia Chunyu didn't like seeing Yaoyao in so much hurt.

Ye Jiayao hugged the heat pack, curling into a ball.

Xia Chunyu sat beside her on the bed.

”Feeling better?”

Ye Jiayao hummed groggily.

Xia Chunyu sighed. If he could, he'd stay here with her and rub her stomach to make her feel better just like he did in the mountains.

After sitting there for a long while, watching her, she finally drifted off to sleep. Xia Chunyu covered her with a blanket and just as he was about turn away, he saw a tassel peeking out from under her pillow. Not wanting to disturb her, he carefully pulled it away, intending to put it somewhere else.