Chapter 2

Chapter 2

That night, in the Prefect’s study, He Yan gazed at me with deep, tender emotion and said that the kindness I had shown him was higher than mountains and deeper than the sea. He would never forget it for as long as he lived.

I stamped my foot and thumped him on the chest.

His hand trembled slightly as he caught my fist. I looked up and happened to see him clenching his back teeth.

Madame Prefect and the Prefect exchanged a smile. “Husband, you must describe this scene in detail in your memorial!”

“My lady, I know.”

And just like that, He Yan and I stayed at the Prefect’s residence.

The Prefect treated the two of us as honored guests, serving fish and meat at every meal.

Only, after eating the dishes at the Marquis Manor, I always felt something was still missing.

Another seven days passed before the Prefect’s memorial finally received a reply.

The Emperor lavished praise on He Yan. At the same time, the people sent by the Marquis Manor to fetch He Yan arrived as well.

Before we left, the Prefect held a farewell banquet at his residence. Once the feast ended, He Yan and I boarded the carriage back to the Marquis Manor.

The carriage could only be described as luxurious. There were fruits, drinks, and comfortable cushions.

The Marquis Manor truly did things on another level.

After three days of being jolted around on the road, the carriage finally stopped at the gates of the Marquis Manor.

Standing at the entrance to welcome us was Concubine Li, the Old Marquis’s concubine-in other words, the mother of the wretch who had schemed against He Yan.

The struggle for the position of Heir Apparent in the Marquis Manor was a matter of life and death. There was no helping it. They really did have a noble title to inherit.

I followed behind He Yan. Whoever he bowed to, I bowed to. Whoever he smiled at, I smiled at too.

By the time a maid led me to the courtyard arranged for me, I was already utterly exhausted.

But the moment I saw the dishes laid out on the table, all my fatigue vanished.

Ah! Braised pork knuckle in soy sauce, sticky rice chicken, ham and fresh bamboo shoot soup-I had finally tasted the delicacies of the mortal realm again!

After I had eaten and drunk my fill, the maid brought hot water. Once I washed off the dust from head to toe, I was glowing with life again.

After a beautiful night’s sleep, I got up bright and early and asked the maid to take me to the Marchioness’s rooms.

The maid looked at me and could not help reminding me in a whisper that the Marquis Manor was managed by Concubine Li.

I picked up a pastry and stuffed it into her mouth.

“Thank you, but Brother Yan told me that after his mother passed away, it was the Marchioness who married into the family and raised him. To him, the Marchioness is both his aunt and his mother. So whether by sentiment or by propriety, I have to go pay my respects to her.”

The maid shut her mouth and said no more, quietly leading the way.

When we arrived outside the Marchioness’s courtyard, the old woman guarding the gate went in to report our arrival. However, the message she brought back was that the Marchioness told me to return.

I did not linger and went straight back.

After spending another day eating and drinking well, I rose early again the next morning and went to the Marchioness’s door.

I still did not get to see her.

I was not discouraged. I went four days in a row, and on the morning of the fifth day, the Marchioness finally let me in.