Mrs. He's condition had improved a lot. Unfortunately, she was old and had taken a great toll on her body before. Even if she got better, she wouldn't live for many more years.
Mrs. He already knew that Xiao Jinghan was still alive. Holding Yi Qing's hand, she sighed with emotion, saying that finally the clouds had cleared and the moon was shining bright. She was so touched that she shed tears. It took Yi Qing quite a while to finally take her leave.
"Come on, what's the matter?" Deng Xiao sat leisurely on the official's hat chair with his legs crossed.
"Do I have to have something to talk to you about?"
"Then you must miss me." Deng Xiao looked at Yi Qing seriously.
"I do have something." Yi Qing felt as if she could see Xiao Jinghan dueling with Deng Xiao.
"I knew it. Go ahead." Deng Xiao didn't bargain anymore.
"How did the Earl of Yi'an end up like this after we left the capital?" Yi Qing didn't mince words.
"It's quite normal. You two, husband and wife, outsmarted them so badly."
"Tell me in detail."
"At that time, the Earl of Yi'an borrowed usury to raise silver. But the silver was gone. With the compound interest of the usury, he had to swallow his pride and go to reconcile with the creditor. In the end, his mansion was taken away, and only then was the matter settled. After that, relying on his title, the earl went around sponging off others. He became a nuisance in the capital, just like a fly that everyone disliked. Finally, your mother, Mrs. Di, couldn't stand it anymore and secretly subsidized them with a mansion in Mao'er Alley. Only then did they settle down."
Yi Qing didn't expect that this matter was related to her mother. When would her mother ever change her ways?
"Oh, before, he went to the Duke Di's Mansion the most, using the pretext of being in - law relatives." Deng Xiao added.
"What a thick - skinned person." Yi Qing said with a look of disgust.
"Now do you realize that your man is useless and you still have to come to me when something happens?" Deng Xiao said, with a gleam of triumph in his eyes.
Just then, Xiao Jinghan stepped into the main hall. The temperature in the hall instantly dropped by three degrees. Yi Qing turned her head and saw Xiao Jinghan coming in with a dark face. She hurriedly rushed over like a fluttering butterfly. How could she be caught again?
"Who do you say is useless?" Xiao Jinghan stared at Deng Xiao.
"He is useless. It must be him." Yi Qing said in a hurry, thinking of appeasing this master first.
"I never said I was good at it. If you really want to try..." Deng Xiao wasn't angry. If he got angry with Yi Qing, even a cat with nine lives would have drunk the Mengpo's soup in the underworld several times.
Yi Qing was instantly petrified. She mechanically turned her head and stared at Deng Xiao. Had this guy been training his thick - skinnedness during the time they hadn't seen each other? "How about we tell your mother about this? Maybe it'll stop her from worrying blindly."
Deng Xiao's face finally changed. His mother was his Achilles' heel, and Yi Qing actually dared to threaten him like this.
Yi Qing was also angry. Some jokes could be made, while others couldn't. Before, she didn't know that Xiao Tian was actually Xiao Jinghan. But now, if he still made such jokes, then let's see who couldn't take it.
Xiao Jinghan picked up Yi Qing and left, leaving Deng Xiao alone. He got angry for a while and then gave a bitter smile.
Xiao Jinghan directly stuffed Yi Qing into the carriage and then pressed himself on top of her.
"Please listen to my explanation. I really had something to ask him." Yi Qing saw that Xiao Jinghan's eyes were red. Why was he becoming so petty?
"I don't want to listen." Xiao Jinghan deftly undid Yi Qing's clothes.
Although Yi Qing had made such jokes and thought about such things before, couldn't they find a more secluded place?
She gritted her teeth tightly to stop herself from crying out, but Xiao Jinghan didn't intend to let her go.
"Tell me, who is useless?" Xiao Jinghan whispered in her ear.
"Um..." Yi Qing was too weak to speak. She could only let Xiao Jinghan do as he pleased. Why did it seem like Xiao Jinghan was smiling?
Outside the carriage, Xue Miao'er had been listening for a long time. This was probably what those people outside the General's Mansion wanted to know. She wondered if she should note down the time.
When Yi Qing was like a puddle of water nestled in Xiao Jinghan's arms, Xiao Jinghan was finally satisfied. Indeed, it was easier to deceive her when she felt guilty.
"You asked Deng Xiao about the Earl of Yi'an." Xiao Jinghan poured a cup of tea, tested the temperature, and then gave it to Yi Qing.
Yi Qing took a sip of the tea and felt a little better. "Yes."
"Why didn't you just ask me?"
"This is your business. What if it brings back the painful memories of your childhood? Deng Xiao is an outsider, so his views are more objective."
Xiao Jinghan knew that Yi Qing always spoke without restraint but was very capable when it came to handling things. But he still felt unhappy about this. "Don't worry. To me, they are also outsiders."
"True, they are outsiders. But only you know your own experiences, and it was them who caused those experiences."
Xiao Jinghan stopped talking and ordered the coachman, "Go back to the mansion."
"Go to the Duke Di's Mansion." Yi Qing immediately gave another order.
"Why go to the Duke Di's Mansion so late?" Xiao Jinghan was puzzled.
"To cry!" Yi Qing said righteously.
She couldn't bear the fact that her mother had secretly subsidized the Earl of Yi'an. Although she didn't plan to immediately recognize her mother and have a harmonious mother - daughter relationship, her mother shouldn't cause her trouble, right?
"I won't allow you to cry." Xiao Jinghan said seriously.
"She won't listen to me. What else can I do?" Yi Qing was always adaptable. This was nothing to her.
"Then I'll tell you another thing." Xiao Jinghan knew that Yi Qing might have some trick up her sleeve.
"What?"
"Mrs. Sima has been sent to the medical center. It's said that she hit her head and the injury is quite serious."
"Why?" Yi Qing didn't think that Mrs. Sima was the kind of person who would hit a pillar and try to kill herself just because of humiliation.
"This hasn't been investigated clearly yet." Xiao Jinghan didn't know either.
The Duke Di's Mansion was having dinner. When they arrived at the main hall, they could hear hearty laughter. It was obvious that it was the voice of the old duke.
Since Bai Yutang came, she was very good at making the elders happy. There was more laughter in the Duke's Mansion than before.
"Old Duke, General Xiao and his wife are here." Gu Changze reported.
Mrs. Di was stunned. She suddenly turned around and looked at Yi Qing. This child was very stubborn. This was the first time she had come to the Duke's Mansion.
"Xiaohan, quickly bring Yi Qing over here to sit. Hurry up and tell the kitchen to cook some more dishes and bring two more sets of bowls and chopsticks." The Duke Di was also very excited.
Although Xiao Jinghan had grown up here, after he assisted the emperor to ascend the throne and then went to Li City to defend the border, except for that one time when he came at night, he hadn't been here.
The two of them stood there motionless. Yi Qing lowered her head, looking extremely aggrieved.
"What's wrong?" The Duke Di looked at Yi Qing.
"Grandpa, you have to avenge me." Yi Qing was on the verge of crying.
Xiao Jinghan's heart ached. Although he knew that Yi Qing was pretending, he still felt sorry for her.
"What on earth happened?" The Duke Di was shocked.
He only had one daughter, and now only this one granddaughter. Although the granddaughter hadn't recognized him yet, she acted boldly and resolutely, just like someone from their Di family. He had been happy about this for a long time. What kind of grievance had she suffered to be like this?
Mrs. Di even stood up and supported Yi Qing. Yi Qing had never shown weakness in front of her. Now that she was like this, Mrs. Di instantly felt that even if it meant going through fire and water, she would avenge Yi Qing. "Tell mother what's going on. Mother will definitely avenge you."
She had always avoided Xiao Jinghan, but now she didn't care anymore. This relationship couldn't stay like this forever.