Yi Qing nodded vigorously. At this moment, even if it wasn't true, it had to be.
"I really just wanted to go out of the mansion for a stroll," Yi Qing promised.
Xiao Jinghan stared into Yi Qing's eyes. Slowly, he leaned over and nuzzled into her neck, as if he were caressing a precious treasure that had been lost and found.
Yi Qing felt Xiao Jinghan's cautious movements, and her heart ached inexplicably. She never knew that in their relationship, Xiao Jinghan could be so insecure and humble.
"Xiao Jinghan, what's your given name?" Yi Qing reached out and gently hugged Xiao Jinghan.
"Shuo, the 'Shuo' in 'when everyone keeps saying the same thing, even a stone can be melted.' " Xiao Jinghan wondered why Yi Qing suddenly asked this.
"Brother Shuo," Yi Qing whispered in Xiao Jinghan's ear.
Xiao Jinghan suddenly sat up and looked at Yi Qing. Yi Qing gently bit her lip and avoided Xiao Jinghan's burning gaze. She really wasn't suited to this kind of thing. It was so embarrassing.
"What did you just call me?" Xiao Jinghan looked at Yi Qing in disbelief.
"If you didn't hear it, forget it," Yi Qing murmured.
"I want to hear it again," Xiao Jinghan looked at Yi Qing expectantly.
"Such an embarrassing thing is enough to do once," Yi Qing thought she must have had a momentary brain short - circuit just now.
"Eh?" Xiao Jinghan stared at her.
Yi Qing was held tightly by Xiao Jinghan and couldn't move. The pit she dug for herself was a bit too big. "Brother Shuo," she called out, feeling her face burn.
"Qing'er," Xiao Jinghan gently pressed his forehead against Yi Qing's.
Before, Yi Qing liked him rationally. If he did anything the slightest bit wrong, he felt that Yi Qing would leave. But the moment Yi Qing changed the way she addressed him, he finally felt Yi Qing's dependence on him, and he felt a bit more at ease.
When one cares too much, one can be as unreasonable and insecure as a child. Xiao Jinghan used to think he could control these feelings, but in the end, he realized he had thought too simply.
Perhaps no matter how passionate a relationship is, it's not as good as the feeling of a calm and harmonious union.
Yi Qing was enveloped by Xiao Jinghan's aura and felt that he had become much softer. "What's wrong with you?"
"Tell me more about Bai Yutang," Xiao Jinghan shifted to his side and pulled Yi Qing into his arms. "You've been causing such a stir because you've always suspected there's something wrong with her."
"Aren't you angry?" Yi Qing was surprised.
Xiao Jinghan wasn't angry. He just cared too much about his sworn brother. "Since Qing'er has doubts, there may really be something wrong."
Yi Qing looked at Xiao Jinghan in surprise. Acting coquettishly with Xiao Jinghan was really useful?
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Xiao Jinghan tapped Yi Qing's nose. "I'm not angry at all that you suspect Bai Yutang. It's just... she's the only daughter of my sworn brother."
"What if she's not?" Yi Qing probed.
"I'll tear her to pieces," Xiao Jinghan said resolutely.
Yi Qing looked at Xiao Jinghan in surprise. This man was so ruthless. She liked it. "And there's been no news from the Princess Chang's mansion. I want to find out what's going on."
"You!" Xiao Jinghan looked at her dotingly. He also knew about the incident where Yi Qing disfigured Qin Qian. "Don't you have secret guards? Ask them to find out what's going on."
"They're your people. If you have any ideas, they definitely won't tell the truth," Yi Qing pretended to be angry.
"What ideas could I have?" Xiao Jinghan stared at Yi Qing.
"The idea of taking multiple wives and concubines," Yi Qing said playfully.
Xiao Jinghan's hand tightened slightly on Yi Qing's waist. Yi Qing wriggled restlessly. "Am I wrong?"
"I can teach you a way," Xiao Jinghan looked at Yi Qing and smiled dotingly.
Yi Qing was a bit skeptical.
Xiao Jinghan whispered in Yi Qing's ear, "You can wear your husband out so that he has no energy to look for others."
Yi Qing was speechless. "That's too difficult."
"That's what makes it challenging."
Yi Qing showed that she had self - awareness. "It's time to eat," she said and tried to get out of bed.
"Okay," Xiao Jinghan started to "devour" her directly.
Yi Qing found that she was increasingly being led astray by Xiao Jinghan recently. She thought Xiao Jinghan just didn't want her to get out of bed.
"Madam, Miss Ruo Hong is here," Sang Sang bowed.
"Ruo Hong?" Yi Qing thought she didn't know this person. She suddenly sat up and looked at the woman beside the bed.
She was wearing a light green cross - collar dress. Her hair was in a simple snake - coiled bun, decorated with a simple silver hairpin. With a face as small as a palm, she was quite a beauty, but Yi Qing always felt that she had seen her somewhere.
"Slave Ruo Hong pays respects to Madam," Ruo Hong bowed.
"Have we met somewhere?" Yi Qing was curious.
"No. The martial arts I practice is special. It makes people feel a sense of familiarity, as if they've seen me somewhere but can't remember," Ruo Hong explained.
Yi Qing was curious. Isn't this just a common face? She didn't expect there to be such a strange martial art. "Who sent you here?"
"The General sent me. From now on, I'll follow Madam. If Madam wants to know any news, she can order me to find it out. I only listen to Madam."
Yi Qing suddenly understood. She had protested yesterday, and today Xiao Jinghan had sent this person over. "You go and keep an eye on the Princess Chang's mansion. No matter what happens, come back and report to me in the evening."
"Yes," Ruo Hong bowed and left.
"Sang Sang, help me with my makeup," Yi Qing suddenly felt in a great mood.
Xiao Jinghan no longer confined Yi Qing to the General's mansion, but she had to take guards with her when she went out.
If she had known that Xiao Jinghan was so easy to handle, she wouldn't have sneaked out. Maybe she really should make an effort to make Xiao Jinghan unable to get out of bed either.
She led a group of people to the Duke Di's mansion. She had ignored Bai Yutang for two days. If she went to probe at this time, it shouldn't arouse Bai Yutang's suspicion. But unexpectedly, Di and Bai Yutang weren't at home. They had gone to the Yuan's mansion to enjoy the flowers.
Bai Yutang really acted quickly. Although the chance encounter with the young master of the Yuan's mansion hadn't been very successful, if they met again in a short period, it could deepen the impression and make them feel it was fate.
Yi Qing didn't want to be too obvious. So she simply accompanied her grandfather and chatted with him. "Grandfather, tell me something about the General's sworn brother. I can see that the General cares so much about Yutang because of his sworn brother."
Hearing Yi Qing's question, Duke Di sighed with emotion. "Xiao Han was still young when he came to our mansion. Your mother was a woman after all. At that time, Cheng Yi just came back and spent more time with him. When Xiao Han first started learning archery, the bow didn't fit his hand, so Cheng Yi made one for him personally. They got up at dawn to practice martial arts together. When Xiao Han first started learning martial arts, he was in poor health, so Cheng Yi used his own salary to buy medicinal baths for him to strengthen his body..."
Just listening to this, Yi Qing was a bit touched. At that time, when Xiao Jinghan was driven out of the Earl Yian's mansion, he must have been very desolate. It was at that time that he met Bai Chengyi, who gave him warmth and companionship in the world.
"However, Cheng Yi was a bit too forthright. He couldn't bear to see others being punished and always took the blame for others. So he didn't achieve much in the army," Duke Di said with a bit of regret.