The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Lan Garden.

The study was filled with calming incense; its scent was subtle and quite pleasant.

All was quiet, with only the soft sound of a brush sliding across the rice paper.

Wei Zhao kept his eyes down, processing the confidential letters sent by the Wei family army that required his decision, without even glancing up at the uninvited guest.

Xiao Huaiyan: "It's already this late, and I've been sitting here for quite a while. Why haven't you gone to fetch your sister-in-law yet? I'll come with you; it'll keep you company."

Wei Zhao ignored him.

“I passed by on my way here and saw Ying Yin’s advisor.”

Wei Zhao paused slightly.

Xiao Huaiyan was very disgusted.

"He said he wanted to see a nice house, but his words implied that Ying Yin was offering too little."

Was that an ordinary house?
The Second Prince's residence is right next door.

"That's outrageous! I've never seen anyone more shameless than me when it comes to asking for money."

"After all, it's not a small amount, and Ying Yin expressed his reluctance. The advisor then simply said that he wanted it."

That's really unreasonable.

Those who value profit and are greedy often outperform those who are unpredictable and indifferent to desires. This gives Ying Yin the illusion that he can keep Jia's advisors loyal to him by using mundane things.

Wei Zhao raised an eyebrow.

He'll support you as long as you don't contact him.

Does anyone know how to handle things like Ying Fuyan?
He covered the legitimate expenses, and if he didn't give any, he would desperately try to squeeze Ying Yin out of her.

Xiao Huaiyan: "Ying Yin finally agreed, and he was quite generous to that advisor."

After receiving the money, the staff member left without hesitation, and Xiao Huaiyan followed him as if possessed.

Ying Fuyan was in poor health and walked very slowly. He wandered around to a deserted alley, but then stopped.

Turning around, I found myself in an empty alley.

He wasn't surprised and spoke up.

"Why is Young Master Xiao following me? Do you think you can hide so well just because you're good at martial arts and I can't find you?"

Xiao Huaiyan was surprised that even a sickly man had practiced martial arts.

He stopped hiding and emerged from the shadows.

Ying Fuyan remained gloomy, his eyes devoid of any light.

"Or is it that Prince Xiao wants to learn how to ask for money from me, and then try it out on Wei Zhao?"

These words...

Not a single word was something Xiao Huaiyan wanted to hear.

It made it seem like he was very familiar with this advisor, Jia.

The two maintained a distance from each other.

Xiao Huai spoke in a lazy tone, showing no embarrassment at being caught.

"I was just curious. Jia, your advisor, is really capable. He trains Ying Yin like a dog, making him listen to you so obediently."

Ying Fuyan glanced at him from head to toe.

— "She doesn't look like me."

Xiao Huaiyan: ? ? ?
No, why would I want to look like you?

I am your son!

Ying Fuyan seemed to be recalling something, making no attempt to conceal his identity, but he didn't say much.

"When your mother was pregnant with you, she couldn't take her eyes off me whenever she saw me. She said many times that she wanted to give birth to a child like me."

At this moment, Xiao Huaiyan stood up, placed the desk on his back, and looked at the man in a dark robe.

"He actually knew I had a birthmark on my shoulder! How did he know such a private thing? You didn't even know!"

Wei Zhao also... didn't want to know.

He put down his pen and looked at him listlessly.

"what."

faint.

"Then... things are hard to explain between you two."

Xiao Huaiyan: ?! ?
"Who is he?"

Wei Zhao stared at him intently: "You already know, don't you?"

Xiao Huaiyan's throat tightened: "I wasn't born before the incident at the Prince of Yan's mansion. After the Prince of Yan died, my father secretly went to visit him in his place of exile."

"But I didn't expect that."

"My father told him everything!"

Doesn't he have any pride?

Xiao Huaiyan found a seat and continued to try to make his presence felt.

"Ying Yin found a dragon robe in the Duke of Zhou's mansion. Did you do that?"

Wei Zhao did not react.

Xiao Huaiyan: "These people are probably doomed. News has come from the palace that the Empress has been imprisoned."

"His Majesty is quite interesting. There are quite a few people who have been harmed by the Duke of Zhou's mansion, but he has treated them lightly, and everyone has been angry but could only accept their fate and swallow their grievances. Now that he has been tricked and fooled, he will not let the matter drop."

"If you don't slap him, he won't feel the pain."

Xiao Huaiyan scoffed.

"That's true. What do other people's lives matter? The majesty of Heaven cannot be violated."

Wei Zhao did not react.

Xiao Huaiyan, however, became pleased.

"The Chu family is going to suffer again."

"I thought I had escaped a disaster, but who would have thought that the Duke of Zhou's mansion would drag me into this mess? Even if they didn't know the child had been switched, they were still involved." He was well-informed.

Chu Liulang, after drinking, wanted to kill the child, just as the Crown Princess, who was on her way to pick up her daughter, saw it.

"If Chu Liulang intended to murder a royal daughter, having his head chopped off ten times would be too lenient."

"As for Chu Ning, she is quite fond of that child and has raised him well; it's her good fortune."

Xiao Huaiyan spoke until his throat was dry, and Wei Zhao finally raised his eyes.

"Someone is coming."

The next instant, a dark shadow flashed by.

Rong Di appeared and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "General."

Wei Zhao continued with his official duties, his lips moving slightly.

"Throw it out."

"Yes!"

Xiao Huaiyan: ? ? ?
Xiao Huaiyan dodged Rong Di's outstretched hand that was trying to restrain him.

One grabs, the other dodges.

He could manage a few rounds, but after a while, Xiao Huaiyan started to struggle.

Xiao Huaiyan cursed, "You dog!"

Rong Di: "I am merely following orders."

I'm not insulting you.

There were only three people inside.

Rong Di's face changed instantly. He became ruthless, grabbed Xiao Huaiyan's arm, and dragged him outside.

Why doesn't the young master scold his subordinates, but instead scolds the general?!

Xiao Huaiyan: ...

ill.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After the banquet at the Ningguo Marquis's residence ended.

As soon as Yu Tingwan stepped out of the threshold, she saw the carriage parked at the bottom of the steps.

"Sister-in-law!"

Xiao Huaiyan stood by the carriage, having waited for who knows how long. He called out to her when he saw her, but glanced sideways at Shen Zhiyi beside her.

"Hey fellow inmate, how's the matchmaking going?"

Shen Zhiyi was puzzled, and Yu Tingwan muttered to herself, "It's strange, we keep running into Prince Xiao these past few days!"

Yu Tingwan walked steadily, without the slightest sign of unease, descending the steps with a soft, melancholy voice: "The song you sang today was even more pleasing to the ear than the last one."

Shen Zhiyi suddenly realized.

"This...they've caught up with the Ning family already?"

She admired him.

"Xiao Huaiyan, how much do you admire him?"

Xiao Huaiyan: ? ? ?
He looked incredulously at Yu Tingwan, the stumbling block.

"Sister-in-law, this is...perfect?"

Did they cover it up for him again?
Yu Tingwan seemed not to hear him, her eyes fixed straight ahead as she brushed past him, lifted her skirt, and climbed onto the carriage.

Wei Zhao lifted the curtain and welcomed her in, speaking to the astonished Xiao Huaiyan.

"Not this time."

"She's just immoral."

Xiao Huaiyan: ? ? ?
She's so immoral, why are you so proud of yourself!
After getting into the carriage, Yu Tingwan turned a deaf ear to what was happening outside.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

There are no outsiders left.

No need to drink anymore.

But she didn't know what she was supposed to do.

They had no idea when the wheels started turning and heading back to the Duke of Shun's mansion.

The girl sat upright.

Her little hands were pressed on her knees, as if undergoing the most rigorous scrutiny.

Yu Tingwan glanced sideways at the man beside her: "Husband, don't you think you've been getting too close to Prince Xiao lately?"

Wei Zhao:?
Yu Tingwan said very seriously, "You must remember that your chastity is your most precious thing."

As soon as she spoke, the smell of alcohol filled the carriage.

Wei Zhao narrowed his eyes, leaned closer, and frowned: "How much did you drink?"

Yu Tingwan was deeply distressed: "You have so many men around you."

Wei Zhao pulled the man into his arms, but didn't want to talk to the drunkard.

Yu Tingwan urged, "Explain yourself quickly."

Wei Zhao's eyelids twitched incessantly.

Under Yu Tingwan's burning gaze, he cooperated listlessly, but his explanations were weak and unconvincing.

"I am very clean."

Yu Tingwan thought there was nothing wrong with it; Wei Zhao took a bath every night.

But she seemed unable to understand, her eyes misty as she accused and questioned.

"Then Zhaozhao, why won't you kiss me?"

(End of this chapter)