Chapter 120：Caught

Susu had always been calm and cool but right at this moment, he was feeling unsettled.

This guy was a madman. He couldn't believe that Qixuan would associate with the likes of this chap.

Susu's face darkened and he turned around to leave.

Ye Jiayao's voice rose when she said, "Zhao Qixuan, if he dares to leave the capital city, you should visit their mansion every day and pay your respects to Governor Su. You can just say that you are doing filial piety for Susu."

Susu went on, his fists clenched.

"And when you adopt a child, you can say it's your and Susu's love child. On new years or festivals, you can take him to see his grandpa and grandma."

Susu felt himself stumble.

"Let him hide. That's what he does best, isn't it? Don't worry, even if he crawls to the deepest hole at the end of the earth, everyone in Jin Ling already knows that he belongs to you."

Susu couldn't take it anymore. He turned around and glared at his former lover, "Zhao Qixuan, if you dare to do those things, I'll destroy you."

Zhao Qixuan wasn't intimidated. Li Yao enlightened him and gave him a glimmer of a chance. If he wanted Susu, dancing around him wasn't going to cut it. No, if Zhao Qixuan wanted Susu, he'd just have to take him.

"Then, you better destroy me now," Zhao Qixuan said affirmatively.

"You…" Susu spluttered angrily.

He stepped towards Zhao Qixuan and grabbed his collar.

Zhao Qixuan just looked at him calmly, fully prepared to let him do whatever he wanted.

"Susu, Qixuan, can't you two talk properly? Just calm down…"

He might as well have been air for all the attention that the two lovers paid him. 

Ye Jiayao dragged Helian Jing away. "Let them solve their problem. This has gone on for far too long. We have to let them hash this out because all this evasion and waiting around is not healthy for either of them. Life is too short for them to continue with this back and forth when it's clear as a day that they love each other. Come on, Little Jing, let's go."

Ye Jiayao turned around and walked away, feeling a little bit mad at the two gays and their annoying pseudo-relationship.

Helian Jing watched Yaoyao walk away and turned to the two men. He said worriedly, "Just talk this out, don't fight. Zhao Qixuan, I'll come back to find you later."

When they returned to the horse cart, Ye Jiayao hugged herself and didn't say anything.

Helian Jing was also quiet, his thoughts occupied. Zhao Qixuan and Susu weren't the only ones affected by Yaoyao's words. It actually made him examine his own heart properly.

He and Yaoyao met in Shang Dong which was thousands of miles away. They went on the same boat, slept on the same bed, and from there, they basically lived together for a while.

There was a time when he thought that he'd lost Yaoyao forever, and that greatly devastated him. Their meeting at Heavenly Residence was his second chance and here he was, still dawdling over his feelings.

No more. Yaoyao was right. Life is short, and he must seize every chance and leave no regrets. He couldn't just be like Susu and run away everytime the going gets tough. Even if it's a road with no way back, Helian Jing was still determined to take it.

"Yaoyao…" Helian Jing hedged.

"What?" she snapped. She was feeling all kinds of raw and annoyed so she was out of patience at the moment.

Maybe, Helian Jing figured, he'd travel on that one-way road next time. "I'm just worried that they would fight."

"It doesn't matter if they fight. They've kept their feelings bottled for too long, they need a release. Sometimes, we hurt the ones that we love the most, may that be physical or verbal abuse."

Yaoyao swore at him a lot. So does all that verbal abuse meant that he loved him? Helian Jing smiled foolishly. 

"Yo, what's with the creepy smile?" Ye Jiayao looked at Little Jing strangely. This kid's really weird.

"Oh? Um, nothing. I just remembered how hilarious Susu's face is earlier," Helian Jing lied.

Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes, her annoyance returning. Susu might look beautiful and carved but his pretentiousness ruined his appeal.

By the time they returned to the small yard, it was already 7 PM. In ancient time, it was already very late.

"You should go back! I have some things to do." Ye Jiayao didn't want him to come in because she knew that Auntie Jiang was already resting by this time.

"Okay. I will come and find you tomorrow, then."

"Don't you have a job? Why do you always seem to have ample free time?"

"I don't have a lot of free time! There are many things to do in the military department. We even needed to fight West Magnolia recently."

"I think you are idle," Ye Jiayao told him. "See you."

Helian Jing smiled affectionately. "See you."

Jiang Yue and Jiang Li were still awake as they have to help Ye Jiayao make ice cream every day.

Ye Jiayao asked them, "Did Heir-Son Lord come here today?"

Jiang Yue shook his head.

"How about Song Qi?"

"He didn't come either."

"Should I go to the Heir-Son Lord's mansion?" Jiang Li offered.

"No, no, I am just asking." Ye Jiayao was worried that Chunyu might be mad at her. She didn't meet him and she even neglected to send the mooncakes she promised!

It was the middle of the night when someone carrying a bag sneaked into the kitchen stealthily. The person opened the sack of the sweet rice flour on the ground.

A fire lit up.

The person covered his face and made a run for the door.

"Liu Qisheng," Zhao Qixuan breathed disappointedly as he stopped him at the door. "It's really you."

Deng Haichuan lighted the oil lamp.

"Liu Qisheng, do you really think that we are that dumb to let you screw us over twice?"

Liu Qisheng schooled his features to look indifferent, knowing that he could not escape this situation.

"Why are you doing this?" Zhong Xiang questioned him.

Liu Qisheng rolled his eyes but remained quiet.

"Do you think your silence will save you? We caught you red-handed! The evidence is all here and there's no way you can deny it." Deng Haichuan wanted to wipe that look off his smarmy face.

"Have you caught the traitor?" Cui Dongpeng and all the other chefs rushed in.

"Liu Qisheng, it is really you. How can you even do this?" Cui Dongpeng scolded.

Everyone looked down on him.

"It is too much."

"Jealousy does not excuse this!"

Zhong Xiang lifted his hands, gesturing for everyone to stop talking. He stared at Liu Qisheng somberly. "Give me one reason. Tell me why are you doing this!"

Liu Qisheng said, "I don't have anything to say. You already caught me. I will just leave you guys be."

Deng Haichuan laughed coldly. "Leave? You're not going to get away that easily."

"You set us up in the birthday party at the royal mansion and we let it go. Now, these mooncakes belong to the restaurant and you are making a mess again. Are you trying to ruin Heavenly Residence's name?" Cui Dongpeng demanded angrily.

"I didn't want to harm Heavenly Residence. I did it because I don't like you guys," Liu Qisheng said answered bitterly.

"So? I don't like you either." Deng Haichuan punched him and Liu Qisheng fell over.

Deng Haichuan still wanted to give him few more beatings but Zhong Xiang pulled him back. "Lock him up first. We'll deal with him in the morning when Li Yao and Shopkeeper Li are here."

Cui Dongpeng found a rope and tied him up.

"This is against law," Liu Qisheng yelled, struggling against his bonds.

Cui Dongpeng snorted. "So is sabotage, you blithering idiot."

Ye Jiayao came to work in the morning and saw Zhong Xiang waiting for her at the door.

"Li Yao, we caught him."

"Is it Liu Qisheng?" Ye Jiayao was not surprised. He succeeded once and that gave him the confidence to do it again.

Zhong Xiang nodded silently.

"We found 20 silvers and one prescription in his bed. The prescription should be his dad's as his dad has tuberculosis."

"What do the 20 silvers mean?" Ye Jiayao asked.

Zhong Xiang said, "His family is quite poor. His father has tuberculosis and his mother went blind last year. He's the eldest son and he has five younger brothers and sisters. His salary is used to cure his father and mother. When he didn't have enough, he would borrow from me. It's not possible for him to have so many silvers. I asked others in the restaurant too, but no one lost money nor lent him some. I think the 20 silvers has a dubious background."

Ye Jiayao nodded, already having an idea of what was going on. She was surprised, however, to learn the hard life that Liu Qisheng was leading.

"Is Shopkeeper Li here yet?

"Not yet."

Ye Jiayao said, "Take me to see Liu Qisheng."

Liu Qisheng was locked in the bedroom and tied up in the corner. Half of his face was swollen and his lips were broken, too.

He turned his face to the other side when he saw Ye Jiayao coming.

Ye Jiayao took a stool and sat cross-legged in front of him. 

"Do you really find me annoying?" Ye Jiayao asked casually.

Liu Qisheng remained expressionless.

"Last time in the royal mansion, we already suspected that it was you who did it. We didn't say anything afterward because we didn't have enough evidence. I really didn't think you'd be so stupid to try again.

"I figured that you did that because you were jealous. You were jealous of my skills, my connections, the money I earn, and how I'm treated by everyone. You hate me because Zhong Xiang, your best friend, left you and partnered up with me. You hate that you're a first-class kitchen hand and yet people like Cui Dongpeng who are a level below you got the chance to cook for Helian's birthday feast..."

"You hate the five of us, so you want to destroy us."

Liu Qisheng still didn't show any reaction.

Ye Jiayao said coldly, "That was all the reason why you did what you did the first time. Now, what could be the reason for the second time?"