Chapter 41: The Heir is a Woman (41)
"I thought Boss Xiao would propose some harsh conditions, but I didn't expect this," He Zheng'an thought to himself. Having signed a fairly decent contract—not as large as imagined, but enough to keep him satisfied—he began envisioning future large-scale collaborations with Xiao Changsheng, which was exactly what the man had hinted at previously. "Boss Xiao is a straightforward person; I didn't realize he even knew the Heir."
Because he was in such high spirits, and because his brother-in-law didn't look like he was there to teach him a lesson, He Zheng'an couldn't help but feel a bit smug.
He was a man who loved face and performance. Having just accomplished something, he couldn't resist trying to prove to his brother-in-law that he was still capable.
"Mhm, we met once. Last time I took my second sister to see Jiang Yueming getting beaten, he was standing right next to him. It left a deep impression," A-Zhen explained leisurely.
Since her sixth brother-in-law had asked, she certainly had to explain.
He Zheng'an's smile froze. He had heard about the Jiang Yueming incident from Yu Xin; apparently, the man had to endure more than forty more beatings before his debts were cleared.
The surroundings felt chilly, and the area closest to his brother-in-law was the coldest.
*Xiao Changsheng is actually acquainted with Jiang Yueming,* He Zheng'an thought. It seemed that in the future, aside from legitimate business, he shouldn't get too close to Xiao Changsheng.
Though his brother-in-law was fierce, even he looked down on someone like Jiang Yueming, who beat his wife nearly to death.
After visiting Ning Yuxin once more, A-Zhen truly went off to tend to her business, with no intention of returning. She had left several people to assist Ning Yuxin. Xiao Changsheng likely wouldn't plot against He Zheng'an again, but as for what would happen later, she didn't know. With her people watching, she could protect Ning Yuxin, her daughter, and the two elders of the He family.
As soon as she returned to the capital, A-Zhen encountered palace officials. It was said that Earl Weian had entered the palace to file a formal imperial complaint against her.
"Prince Ning, Earl Weian claims you poisoned his entire family. What do you have to say?" Ye Ji asked. His dark gaze stared at A-Zhen. They hadn't seen each other for quite some time, and the moment she returned, she had to deal with this trivial nonsense regarding Earl Weian. It was truly annoying.
But since it had caused such a stir, it could not be ignored.
A-Zhen first bowed, then looked at Earl Weian. "Earl Weian, why are you saying this? Are you not standing right here in good health?"
Earl Weian's eyes were filled with hatred. "Prince Ning, stop playing dumb! Dare you swear that you never drugged my family?"
A while ago, he had made efforts to conceive, but after many days of no progress, he thought it was due to physical depletion. He had summoned a physician to regulate his health, only to discover he could no longer father children. Subsequently, his wife was also diagnosed with infertility.
While he was still wondering who had done this, Yuan Jia had jumped out and claimed it must have been Ning Zhen.
Initially, he hadn't quite believed it, but then Yuan Jia mentioned another matter: that Ning Zhen had administered a sterilization drug to Ning Yutong on her wedding night.
Thus, Ning Zhen had a motive to poison them.
Earl Weian was driven mad with rage, but Ning Zhen had not been in the capital at the time, and no one knew where she had gone. Upon hearing she had returned, he rushed to the palace to complain. Ning Zhen had caused him to lose his lineage; this time, he was determined to make her pay the price.
"I swear, I indeed did not drug you," A-Zhen said in a flat tone. "That being said, Earl Weian, shouldn't an accusation be accompanied by evidence?"
"You are seeking revenge!" Zhou Yuan Jia, standing to the side, shouted with bloodshot eyes. "You are seeking revenge against us!"
"Revenge?" A-Zhen looked at him and asked, "You and my sister have already gone your separate ways. Why would I seek revenge?"
"You..." Zhou Yuan Jia suddenly fell silent, simultaneously being pinned down by his father. He couldn't speak; to speak would be to admit their crime.
"Earl Weian, so you have no evidence at all?" Ye Ji felt extremely impatient. He had actually felt a moment of tension, only to find they had come to accuse someone without even being prepared.
Every time A-Zhen came to file a complaint, she brought witnesses and physical evidence in perfect order. If the evidence hadn't been conclusive, he wouldn't have convicted people in the past.
What, had they not learned from her?
Two fools.
The father and son were speechless, their legs trembling in fear under Ye Ji's questioning. Earl Weian felt regretful; he had been too impulsive.
"Your Majesty, I will certainly find the evidence."
Ye Ji waved his hand impatiently. "Then find the evidence first." He paused, then said coldly, "It had better be conclusive. This is not a place for your games. This time, considering... you have indeed suffered great loss, you shall not be punished."
*Now, get out.*
*Don't waste my time.*
The father and son had no choice but to leave in resignation.
As Zhou Yuan Jia departed, he continued to glare viciously at A-Zhen. It had to be Ning Zhen; it couldn't be anyone else.
"Father, it can be cured. We will seek a divine physician," Zhou Yuan Jia whispered. Ning Yutong had certainly been affected and was now well. And Ning Yulan, whose body had been ruined by the Duke's manor, was also well now, wasn't she?
If they could recover, their family could recover too.
Hou Rongfa dismissed everyone. Ye Ji walked swiftly to A-Zhen and pulled her toward Chenhua Hall. Seeing her hands were empty, his expression remained calm as he asked casually, "Were you in such a hurry to enter the palace that you forgot something? Do you want me to call someone to fetch it for you?"
By saying it this way, she should understand what he meant, right?
She had promised to bring him a gift when she returned from her trip. Where was the gift?
Just as the words left his mouth, he felt something added to his wrist. Looking down, he saw a string of Buddhist prayer beads wrapped around it. He reached out to touch them; they were warm and smooth, carrying a faint fragrance that was refreshing to the mind.
It was a fine thing.
With his sharp eyes, he noticed that one of the beads was even engraved with his own name.
"Quite unique. I like it very much," he said. He leaned closer to her, his face showing little emotion, but his voice was incredibly clingy. "I like it very much."
Even if it were just an ordinary object, as long as it was from her, he would like it.
But this was a fine piece; it couldn't have been easy for her to find, meaning she had put her heart into it.
"As long as you like it. It wasn't a waste of time for me to make this myself," A-Zhen said.
Hearing this, Ye Ji liked it even more. He hadn't expected that she had made it herself.
Once she went off to her business, he wanted to go to the iron-barred palace to reflect. A-Zhen was so good to him; how could he keep thinking about locking her inside?
It was his fault.
He was the one who deserved to be locked up!
"Hou Rongfa, go get some hand cream immediately!" Ye Ji shouted.
Hou Rongfa responded with a numb expression: *Fine.*
"The matter regarding Xiao Changsheng has been investigated. He is a man from the Western Desert, swapped during his childhood," Ye Ji said while applying the hand cream to A-Zhen. Since she had mentioned him, he naturally wanted to share the result. "I haven't moved against him for now; he might be useful in the future."
The Western Desert dynasty had ambitions, but he didn't intend to deal with the man haphazardly; he would find an opportunity to return a "great gift."
"I have observed the celestial signs. The year after next, there will be a drought in the North and floods in the South. It will be severe; prepare early," A-Zhen said. "Some surrounding small nations will also suffer, and there may be chaos. The situation in the Western Desert will likely be less severe."
Ye Ji was suspicious. Could one observe celestial signs for the year after next?
But since she said it, he would certainly prepare.
She almost never mentioned political affairs, as if she didn't care much. But the two times she did, they were both regarding the safety of Northern Xia. Thinking that this was because of him, Ye Ji's heart felt warm.
How could he have thought she would leave?
Even if there came a day when she did, he would not be able to bear hurting her in the slightest.
As for that palace, he should just lock himself in.
He needed to stay locked up more often to keep his mind clear.
"Two years ago, a batch of high-quality seeds was cultivated. They have already been trial-planted with very good results, and they have been improved over the last two years," A-Zhen added. "I will give them to you tomorrow. Start storing grain early; it should be enough to deal with the natural disasters the year after next."
He didn't need her to tell him about other preparations; he would arrange them.
Ye Ji didn't know what to say. In all his years as Emperor, this was the first time he had experienced the feeling of someone helping him. In his most difficult times in the past, he had always carried everything alone.
"This time, I must grant you a title of nobility," Ye Ji said, grasping her hand. "This is your merit."
Not because of the relationship between them.
Perhaps she didn't care for such things, but he did.
"I'll start you with a Commandery Prince, and promote you the year after next. It will be legitimate."
He wanted to show the world how wonderful his beloved was.
"Don't forget to reward those who cultivated the high-quality seeds," A-Zhen reminded him. This time, she did not refuse; she indeed deserved a princely title.
"I will not mistreat those with merit. All who have contributed shall be rewarded."
The next day, A-Zhen presented the high-quality seeds. Everyone who had entered the palace with her received rewards.
The entire court was convinced regarding her appointment as a Commandery Princess; the trial-planting data was right there, making it impossible to oppose.
With A-Zhen's reminder, Ye Ji secretly arranged for preparations to be made.
Half a year later, A-Zhen received a letter from Guanquan City. The letter stated that He Zheng'an had gone out wandering alone and had been caught by illegal miners.