Second Marriage

On the way back, Ye Shen had no excuse to pretend to be a fake husband and wife with Xiao Youning. He was lectured by his dear father-in-law and did not dare to get too close to her.

It was actually the little girl who was daring and did things that made him no longer be pure in his desires.

At the beginning, Xiao Youning did not realize that Ye Shen was deliberately avoiding her. On the way back through the waters, when Ye Shen left the room, she tugged his sleeves and left him with a firm kiss. When she was stopped by him, she had a faint understanding that he was afraid that this small incident would set off a war.

Throughout the journey, she was honest and no longer dared to cling to him too much.

Although Ye Shen was heading back, he had already taken care of the betrothal gifts.

Half a month after they left Datong, his servant delivered the betrothal gifts to the barracks. Marquis Ningyuan looked at the pile of betrothal gifts and he more or less knew that Ye Shen was in a hurry.

He thought of how Fifth Master Ye was always dressed in a Daoist robe and acted indifferent, when in fact, he was very unrestrained on the inside. It made Marquis Ningyuan coldly snort. The betrothal gifts were accepted, but if Ye Shen wanted to exchange bazi, he would have to wait for the Marquis to return to capital, and there was also the engagement period to prepare.

When Ye Shen got a reply, he could only smile bitterly.

The journey back to the capital went smoothly but at a deliberately slow pace. Xiao Youning reached the capital a month and a half later.

The Xiao Family’s outstanding service was no longer new information in the capital. Instead, there were rare remarks on the streets about how the newly married wife of the Li Family had returned to her maternal home and was living there for more than a month. The gossip constantly came back and spread reaching Xiao Youning’s ears as soon as she entered the capital.

On the other hand, Yuan Guo was extremely disgusted by it. “It’s so humiliating, weren’t they a match made in heaven? How could they become the talk of the capital as soon as they got married?”

She smiled with an indifferent attitude. “Why do so many people know about this if they were really trying to cover it up? This is obviously putting the pressure on the Li Family. Did they think it was easy to be a relative of the imperial family?”

It was almost autumn in the capital. Xiao Youning had changed into thicker clothes. Ye Shen sent her back to the house she bought and asked, “Do you still want to live here? The Marquis Residence has been unsealed, and the Emperor has sent someone to clean it up.”

“I will stay here and go home when my father comes back. I will be lonely there, since it is really deserted. It is a bit livelier here. And…” She paused and glanced at him quickly. “It’s more convenient for you to come here, since it is not as conspicuous.”

Ye Shen smiled, he liked her honesty and that she was able to express her desires clearly. It was worthy of his best shameless efforts on this trip, he finally got through to her.

“Okay, then rest well. I am going back to the palace.” He looked at her and affectionately touched her temple and caressed her ear with his fingers. After seeing her blush, he turned to leave.

The Emperor had received the item Ye Shen had sent back. When he heard about his arrival to the capital, he immediately summoned him and smiled happily. “You have done a great service. How do you want zhen to reward you?”

It was really difficult to talk about rewards when it was with the Emperor.

Ye Shen had a special identity and didn’t want a lot of things. In addition, it was impossible for gold and silver treasures to enter his eyes, which made it hard to think of a reward.

Ye Shen briefly thought about it as he stood in front of the emperor. Then, kneeling, he made his request. “Previously, this official had asked His Majesty to grant him a marriage. As for this generous reward, this official will be bold once more.”

Once he was kneeling, it took a long time to leave the Qianqing Palace. The Emperor’s laughter traveled through the hall, making the guards outside wonder what could have delighted the Emperor.

On the same day, Ye Shen left the palace with Jian Yin and returned to the Ye Family.

When Eldest Master Ye learned that Ye Shen was coming back, he took every servant with him to wait for his arrival at the gate. This news reached Old Master Ye, he was so angry that he choked up and couldn’t get up for a long time.

When Eldest Master Ye finally saw his younger brother after so long, he ignored all pleasantries and was not reserved as he kept on asking Ye Shen questions.

“Where has Fifth Brother been these days? How come I heard that you have accomplished a great service? When others tell me congratulations, it makes your brother unable to know what to say.”

“We’re family. Just look at you, you are about to be married and have already performed a great service.”

“Which girl have you decided on? That way, my wife and I can be sure about her and pay her a visit first. It would be good for us to show how important it is to us.”

Ye Shen could only give a vague reply when confronted by his eldest brother’s many questions. “Eldest Brother will know which girl it is in a few days.” Then he put his hands behind his back and went to see his mother.