Chapter 152：Who Cares

Zhao Qixuan toppled the pieces on the chessboard and said brattily to Su Yi, "I quit."

They were playing chess in the Zhao's house compound near the Bai Ta Temple and it was clear that Su Yi was beating Qixuan by a mile. 

He then turned to Little Jing who was playing with a bird by the window and remarked, "You've been here for days, haven't you? You should go home, Little Jing."

Qixuan and Susu seldom have free days together and here was Little Jing, playing the third wheel and destroying his romantic plans.

"I have no place to go. Leave me alone and just mind your own business," Helian Jing retorted, teasing the bird with a hair clasp.

"How can I do that when you're here every day?" Qixuan said as patiently as he could.

Su Yi couldn't help but laugh at the sight of his lover reigning in his temper.

Qixuan glared at him and frowned. He couldn't just kick Little Jing out of his home since it would look disgraceful and disloyal to turn away his friend. However, he wanted and needed his own personal space back. He has to make his friend see reason and get him out of here.

"Just tell me what the problem is, Little Jing. If you're angry at your family and want to avoid them for a while, you are more than welcome to stay at my other house as long as you want to. If you're angry at Heavenly Residence's new shopkeeper for not agreeing to release Li Yao, I will talk to him for you. Little Jing... hiding like this won't solve your problem. The only way you'll overcome it is if you face it head on," Zhao Qixuan said.

"It's my problem, you can't solve it," Helian Jing threw him a supercilious look and continued to play with the bird.

Zhao Qixuan was on the verge of breaking down. "The player sees less clearly than the bystander. We can help you, you know? Two heads are better than one."

"Don't rope me into your scheme," Su Yi said softly.

"I'm just making an analogy," said Zhao exasperatedly.

With a muffled sigh, Helian Jing tossed the hairpins away. "I'm going out."

He couldn't tell them that Yaoyao was really a girl and what's more, the now famous First Lady Ye. That was Yaoyao's secret to tell, he couldn't just go blurting it out to everyone.

So no, Zhao Qixuan couldn't help him.

"He's never going to leave," Zhao Qixuan cried out.

Su Yi put the last piece in the chess box and stood up. "I'm going out, too."

"Where are you going? I will go with you."

"If you want Little Jing to leave, stay here," Su told him firmly.

He walked to the edge of the garden pool where Little Jing was sitting and started, "You know that Qixuan was right. You're not going to solve anything by hiding out in here."

Helian Jing stayed silent.

Su Yi sighed and continued, "If you want to hide in here, though, that's fine. I'm just a bit worried that with all of us cooped up in here, no one would be able to help Li Yao if Liu Li decides to look for him again."

Helian Jing suddenly tensed. The last time Liu Li summoned Yaoyao to the palace, it was only Susu's quick thinking to involve Elder Princess Yu De that got her out of there. Now, if she gets in trouble again, there would be no one to help her, especially now that she and Chunyu had a falling out.

The more he thought about it, the more nervous Helian Jing got.

"I'm... I'm going back home. I've been out for a few days and I'm sure my family's worried. Thank Zhao Qixuan for me," Helian Jing said and swiftly walked out of the place.

Su Yi watched his retreating figure, smiling at his success.

Ye Jiayao reached the end of her patience and set out to the Jing An Marquis Residence in the evening. 

The guard recognized her and immediately said, "He's not here."

Her shoulders slumped in disappointment. She was just about to turn away and leave when Xia Chunfeng came out.

"Li Yao, what are you doing here?" Xia Chunfeng wondered.

"Ah? Chunfeng... "

"Are you here to see my brother? Come on, I'll take you inside."

Ye Jiayao looked at the guard accusingly. "You said he's not here."

The guard shrugged and said quietly, "I just take orders from him. Many people have come here to see him but he refused them all."

"Let's go, I'll show you the way," Chunfeng ushered her in with a smile.

In the study, Xia Chunyu was drinking a cup of tea and listening to his older brother plead a case.

"My brother, these people have apologized sincerely. You should just accept it and forgive them, otherwise, you'll unnecessarily offend three families," Xia Chunli said. "Besides, one of them is still your father-in-law, you have to at least let him save some face."

"An apology does not absolve them of doing harm to others," Xia Chunyu said.

"You can't take an eye for an eye. They're sincerely sorry for what they've done. Isn't that enough? Wei Liujiang's political career is already ruined as well as that of the Assistant Minister Mu and Ye Binghuai's. The girl doesn't even come out now because she's so ashamed. Don't you think they've learned their lessons?" Xia Chunli rallied, trying to persuade his brother.

"Why are you taking this up with me? It's the Fangs that holds the key. They love Ye Jinxuan very much so they will do everything to avenge her," Xia Chunyu explained.

"The Fangs take orders from you. If you tell them to stop, they will," Xia Chunli said with a smarmy smile. 

"Second Brother, look who came here to see you." Xia Chunfeng came into the study with Li Yao in tow.

Xia Chunyu looked at Yaoyao before turning back to his older brother. "Give me some time to consider this. I'll get back to you with my answer."

Xia Chunli smiled. "Fine. I shall go now."

When Xia Chunli left, Xia Chunyu turned to his younger brother with a scowl. "Leave us alone."

"But..." Xia Chunfeng looked at the two of them worriedly. "You guys behave, okay?"

"Close the door," Xia Chunyu told him.

When they were finally left alone, Xia Chunyu began indifferently, "What is it?"

"Where are my aunt and uncle? I want to see them," said Ye Jiayao.

"You can't. Not now."

"Why? They are my family!" Ye Jiayao insisted furiously.

Xia Chunyu sneered, "Don't you know how many eyes are watching us? It's dangerous times for all of us. You are an imperial chef, don't you understand what that means? You've intentionally deceived the Emperor. I don't think you realize just how severe the punishment of that will be. It's not only your head that will be on the chopping block if he finds out about it the wrong way."

Ye Jiayao was properly chastised. She didn't think that it would be really that complicated.

"Then why did you even bother with all this?" she demanded. "I was perfectly content just to stay as Li Yao. My life is none of your business."

Xia Chunyu felt disturbed. He had risked so many things for her and yet she wasn't even the least bit grateful.

"Not my business? Then whose is it, Jing?" Xia Chunyu snapped back, his frown fierce.

"So what?" Ye Jiayao goaded him purposely.

Xia Chunyu suddenly stood up and walked to her, his form vibrating with anger. Ye Jiayao actually stepped back a little, afraid of what he might do.

"Ye Jinxuan, you will do as I say and stay in Heavenly Residence and out of trouble. Don't even think about involving Little Jing here, he won't be able to help you. In fact, I really wouldn't count on him too much. Do you think that the Helian family will accept you? You are and always will be my woman, Ye Jinxuan. It's best that you keep that in mind," Xia Chunyu hissed.

"Your woman? Is that why you came to Liu Yiyi?" Ye Jiayao asked angrily.

Xia Chunyu's eyes were cold when he replied, "You are more open than a whore, Jinxuan. It seems that you are more suitable to be in a brothel than Liu Yiyi."

"Don't f*cking compare me to that bitch!" she yelled, so angry that she was seriously so close to punching him.

Xia Chunyu felt his anger growing by the second. If this conversation went on any longer, he wouldn't know what he'd do.

"Song Qi, show her the way out," Chunyu demanded loudly.

Song Qi hurriedly came in and paused at the sight of the Heir-Son Lord and Miss Ye going toe-to-toe with each other.

Ye Jiayao turned around stalked out of the room without another word.