Chapter 103：Bothered

When they arrived at the courtyard entrance, Ye Jiayao's struggle began anew.

"What's the matter? They are not strangers." Xia Chunyu didn't want to put her down.

Ye Jiayao said, "Don't you think that this is really mean? What do you treat me as? Your mistress? My reputation and fame would be ruined, more so than it already is. I don't need your support. I can provide for my own needs."

Xia Chunyu didn't know how to respond. He wanted to give her silver so she wouldn't have to work so hard, but he knew she'd never take it. She's more than likely to throw it in his face rather than accept it.

Xia Chunyu had no choice but to put her down. "Then I'll go in, too, and sit with you for a bit."

"No." Ye Jiayao had suspicions of what that 'sit' really meant.

Xia Chunyu tamped down the urge to yell at her for turning him away. "I'll pick you up tomorrow night."

"You shouldn't. There are too many people in the restaurant. If you were seen strolling outside when you were meant to be staying at home, the Emperor would think you're insincere."

Ugh! I can't do this, I can't do that... I've already waited for so long! Do I really have to go back now?

Xia Chunyu said cheekily, "If you compensate me, I'll go."

Ye Jiayao pinched his nose and laughed. "Come earlier tomorrow night, I'll make you something nice."

Food temptations don't work with him. He has a craving for something even more delectable.

Xia Chunyu backed her up against the wall, holding her against him. He stared down heatedly at her, his breath coming out in ragged pants.

Ye Jiayao could feel his eyes on her as if it was a physical touch. She placed her hand on his chest and she could feel how fast his heart was beating, almost as if it was keeping pace with her own. They were standing so close together that all she could breathe in was his scent, making her weak in the knees.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you leaving yet?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Compensation." His lips were raised in a gentle smile, like a kid who was asking for an extra sweet treat.

A guy who was normally so cool and collected was acting cute all of a sudden. Ye Jiayao shook her head in confusion.

"What compensation?" Ye Jiayao tried to push him away but she failed. In the next second, his lips descended on hers.

She tasted like flowers, clean, pure, and lovely. He couldn't tear himself away. All he wanted to do was stay right here in this moment. He pressed on her deeper, wanting more, wanting everything.

The courtyard door suddenly opened and Jiang Li stuck his head out.

They jumped apart so fast, it was like they were cattle prodded.

Ye Jiayao glared angrily at Chunyu, her cheeks beet red. She told him not to do this again!

Xia Chunyu looked up and acted as if he was looking at the stars.

Jiang Li opened the door because he heard some noise outside, not even thinking that he might disturb something. He closed the door immediately, put the latch in, and leaned against it. Why did he open the door like that? He should've just peeped out quietly! Now he had placed Third Madam and the Heir-Son Lord in an awkward situation.

Xia Chunyu pounced back on her the moment the door closed again.

"Stop!" Ye Jiayao dodged his advances and tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge. What? Did that idiot Ah Li lock this?

Xia Chunyu laughed and stepped back. "Go call for someone, I'm going to go back now."

Ye Jiayao scowled at his retreating back and knocked again. A few seconds later, Jiang Yue came and opened the door.

"Sister Yaoyao, you are back! I told my brother to stay by the door, where did he go?" Jiang Yue mumbled.

Ye Jiayao figured that he must have felt embarrassed and hid away.

"Maybe he had something else to do. Yue-er, do you have hot water?"

"Yes, it had been boiling on the stove! I'll grab it for you."

Ye Jiayao returned to her room and was surprised when she was immediately surrounded by two rabbits as soon as she opened the door.

Ye Jiayao looked down, stunned. "Da Bao, Er Bao..."

Oh, my. It's my precious little babies.

Ye Jiayao knelt to carry Da Bao.

"Sister Yaoyao, Da Bao is pregnant. She'll be a mother rabbit," Jiang Yue said as she brought the water in.

Ye Jiayao touched Da Bao's bumpy stomach and exclaimed furiously, "Who did this? Who did this?"

It had only been a few months since she had last seen Da Bao and now, she will be a mother? Which bastard did this?

Jiang Yue pointed at Er Bao and smiled. "Ask him."

"What? It's Er Bao?"

Ye Jiayao's turned him over and spread his legs to check. How did she miss this? How could she not know that Er Bao was a male?

Er Bao, surprised by the intrusion, struggled away from her hands. He jumped onto the bed and hid in the corner, his red eyes staring at Ye Jiayao innocently.

Ye Jiayao said angrily, "How dare you run away? Don't you know that rabbits don't eat grass near their burrow? Tell me, who did you learn this from?"

Jiang Yue couldn't stop laughing as she watched Sister Yaoyao talk to the rabbits as if they really understood her.

"Da Bao, tell Mummy, did you volunteer? Did Er Bao force you?"

Da Bao jumped onto the bed and cuddled with Er Bao in response.

Ye Jiayao sighed in defeat. "Alright, I won't bother you. You better love each other forever, okay?"

That night, Ye Jiayao slept peacefully, hugging Da Bao and Er Bao.

Early next morning, as the bell rang from the clock tower at 5 AM, four sides of the city gates opened. Three luxurious carriages drove into Jin Ling City, heading towards Assistant Minister Mu's house.

Ye Jinrong flipped open the carriage's curtain and looked at the bustling city of Jin Ling. Her chest filled with hope and ambition as she sensed a brighter future in this rich capital.

Ji Nan and Yang Zhou were nothing compared to Jin Ling. This was the underfoot of the Emperor, the most flourishing place in Hua Song. As long as Liujiang stands out in the examination, his uncle would be able to make sure that he stayed in Jin Ling. She too would gradually blend in with the higher society of the women in Jin Ling and become one of them. That would surely be an honor.

The carriage arrived in front of Assistant Minister Mu's house where Wei Liujiang, Madam Mu, and Mu Qinchu were waiting for them.

Not far away, Song Qi was hiding at the street corner with a woman.

"Did you see her clearly?" Song Qi asked.

The lady answered, "Yes, I saw it clearly. The woman who's standing next to the son-in-law is the second lady of the house of Ye."

Song Qi sneered distastefully. "Let's report it to the Heir-Son Lord."

Xia Chunyu was sitting in the study when Song Qi rushed in to give his reports. 

Xia Chunyu turned to the lady and asked, "Would you like to leave with twenty ounces of silver now or stay and help me complete another mission? I'll give you another thirty ounces of silver then."

The lady nodded, eager for more silvers. "I am willing to stay and listen to your orders, Heir-Son Lord."

"Alright. Song Qi, give her the twenty ounces of silver and arrange for her to be sent to the hamlet to work. Wait for my next orders."

Song Qi ushered her out as Manager Zhao, who was taking care of the shipping logistics, came in for a meeting.

"Heir-Son Lord, the matter at the Heavenly Residence is solved."

Xia Chunyu raised a brow. "Did you trouble them?"

"No, no. Boss Sun was terrified by the previous matter and wanted to sell the restaurant. He didn't even care about the price. Shopkeeper Li was a bit harder since Heavenly Residence was the result of his years of hard work. I managed to convince him in the end, though, and he reluctantly agreed," Manager Zhao explained.

Xia Chunyu nodded, pleased. "When will the contract be signed?"

Manager Zhao laid out a paper in front of him."I had arranged it to be tonight. This is the contract that Boss Sun, Shopkeeper Li, and I drafted. Please take a look at it, Heir-Son Lord." 

Xia Chunyu looked at it carefully and smiled.

According to the contract, Shopkeeper Li would need to help to take care of Heavenly Residence for another three months without revealing that it had been bought from him.

"This is great!"

"Heir-Son Lord, after we spend this money, we wouldn't have any left to buy products."

Manager Zhao felt arduous. Both the building and Heavenly Residence cost one hundred and sixty thousand ounces of silver. It's almost all of what they had gained from sailing these past few years. He felt sorry for the Heir-Son Lord. What business was better than trading on the sea?

"Why are you panicking when I'm not? I heard that it hasn't been peaceful on the sea lately. We'll just stop for a while and see how it goes later," Xia Chunyu told him.

He and Helian Xuan worked together and got two ships. Hua Song's silk, tea leaves, and porcelain were very popular overseas. They earned quite a bit every trip, and after four years, he has managed to save hundreds of thousands of silver.

However, this business' risks were huge. If they were to encounter tsunami or pirates, they would lose everything. They were just very lucky that no problems had risen in their three years of running.

He had always wanted to invest in a more reliable business that would have a stable earning. The idea of buying a restaurant came to him after Liu Li's incident.

He believed that as long as Yaoyao was in charge, the business would continue to be great.

Xia Chunyu was excited to see Yaoyao's reaction when she finds out that the restaurant was soon to be his.

Manager Zhao nodded in acquiesce and said, "I shall head on to arrange it."

After he left, Xia Chunyu picked up a piece of paper and wrote a letter. He then asked Song Qi to send it to the Helian Mansion.

After Helian Xuan received the letter, he asked Little Jing for the guest list and found out that Assistant Minister Mu's name wasn't on it.

"Write an invitation for the Assistant Minister Mu of the Ministry of Industry. Remember to mention that he should bring female companions," Helian Xuan told his younger brother.

Helian Jing asked, "Why are you inviting him?"

First of all, Assistant Minister Mu wasn't qualified to attend the celebration. Second, he never had any interactions with their family. Third, he just simply disliked Mu Qinchu.

Helian Xuan pursed his lips. He didn't know what Xia Chunyu has planned, but since it wasn't really a big deal, he'd indulge him.

"Just write it," Helian Xuan ordered.

Helian Jing obediently wrote an invitation according to his brother's orders and sent it to the Assistant Minister Mu's mansion.