Professional Ethics of a Concubine

Although Prince Xie Jin knew that Ye Qingzhi and the others were all fine, he was still a little frightened along the way.

When he returned to the princess's mansion, he did not go to see his aunt, but went straight to Ye Qingzhi's residence, because he asked the servants and found out that the children were with her.

After entering the courtyard and seeing that Ye Qingzhi and the children were all fine, the prince felt relieved.

"Father, you're back!" When Mingyu saw the prince, she happily ran to him and saluted him first.

"Are you scared?" The prince looked at him and reached out to touch his head.

"No, I'm not afraid at all!" Mingyu shook her head, looking very powerful, and even danced to recreate the scene for her father:

"My mother and my elder sister were very smart. They knew there was something wrong from the beginning and asked Elder Shen to lead the way. When the arrows were shot out, Elder Shen shouted that there was danger.

Then the guards rushed out, and they chopped off the arrows and sent them flying. We were fine, and I wasn’t even scared, and it was over…”

Mingyan came over, saluted Xie Jin, and smiled as she started to expose his shortcomings.

"I heard you say it was so lively and awesome, but who was it just now? As soon as he came out, he told me that his sister was scared and his palms were sweaty."

Mingyu was embarrassed and protested with a red face, "Sister, I'm not that scared. I was just sweating from nervousness."

Mingyan smiled and followed his words and said, "Yes, yes, you are nervous, and I am scared."

"Sister, you lied again. I saw Brother Kang standing in front of you to protect you. You were smiling happily at that time. How could you be afraid at all?"

Mingyu became serious all of a sudden because she had just been caught telling a lie, and she immediately spoke loudly.

The prince raised an eyebrow.

Mingyan,...

Xie Niankang,

Ye Qingzhi,...

I am most afraid of the air suddenly becoming quiet, and I don’t know who is the most embarrassed right now.

It is most likely his son Xie Niankang.

"Ahem, Your Highness, you are sweating all over. We are fine, but I am sorry to have made you worried."

So, Ye Qingzhi walked over to Xie Jin, wiped his sweat off his face, and said in a very abrupt way,

"You must be hot and tired after rushing back from the military camp. I'll ask them to prepare some hot water. You can take a shower and have a meal first. We can talk later.

"Father, I am sorry to have worried you. Please wash up and have your meal first. We have already eaten, so we will go back to the room to rest."

Mingyan also took advantage of the situation and spoke as if nothing had happened.

If you ignore her slightly red ears, her calm and dignified expression is indeed quite intimidating.

The prince responded with a smile, but he had no intention of teasing his daughter. She was already a grown-up girl, so how could she say anything casually? He just pretended not to hear.

"Ah, you're leaving now? I, I haven't finished talking to father yet..." Mingyu was quite unhappy when being dragged out by her sister.

"I'll tell you a new story when we get back, one you've never heard before." Xie Niankang pulled his other hand, wanting to take him away quickly.

"Wow, Brother Kang, what's the new story?" Mingyu instantly forgot about her father, broke away from her sister's hand, and pulled Xie Niankang instead, and asked happily.

"Let's go back to the house and talk." Xie Niankang quickened his pace.

“Okay, okay.” Mingyu jogged after him.

Mingyan followed behind them, looking slightly annoyed.

The three of them went away in a noisy and quarrelsome manner.

Xie Hongbao and the fifteenth and sixteenth princes were still a little dazed, and they didn't know how the matter was resolved after just two sentences.

However, they were also very perceptive and immediately bowed to the prince and Ye Qingzhi and took their leave.

"I'll give you a day off today. You don't have to do your homework. Go back and take a nap. When you wake up, I'll play Cuju with you."

Ye Qingzhi said to Xie Hongbao and the others, "Tell Mingyan and the others later."

The fifteenth and sixteenth princes immediately agreed happily.

Xie Hongbao was more calm and didn't look happy. Instead, he looked at the prince hesitantly, and it was obvious that he had something to say to him.

The Crown Prince asked the fifteenth and sixteenth princes to go back first, and then asked Xie Hongbao with a smile, "Do you want to know about your father's news?"

"Yeah!" Xie Hongbao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked excitedly, "Uncle, is my father at the border? When can I see him?"

He really missed his father and hoped to see him soon.

"Your father is not at the border at the moment, but in Shangjing City of Chu." The prince patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile to comfort him.

"Wait a little longer, at the latest in two months, and you will be able to see him."

"Two months, that's really fast." Xie Hongbao said sensibly, "Thank you, uncle. I'll take my leave now and won't disturb you and the tutor."

After saying this, Xie Hongbao bowed and left.

Ye Qingzhi looked at his leaving back and couldn't help but sigh,

"It feels like just a blink of an eye, the children have grown up, Hongbao is much calmer than before, and he speaks and acts in an orderly manner."

"Adversity makes people grow more easily." Xie Jin said, "If he had not been the crown prince and had not experienced these things, he would not have grown so fast."

"That's not entirely true." Ye Qingzhi said with a smile, "Your Highness has had a smooth journey, but your growth is obvious to all, and it makes people admire you even more."

"That's because I have the help of the Grand Tutor." Xie Jin smiled and held Ye Qingzhi in his arms. He touched her body, kissed her, and said,

"I was really scared when I heard that you guys got into trouble, but luckily you were safe."

For a moment, Xie Jin really regretted bringing them here, thinking that they would be safer in the Imperial City without these risks.

However, this "weak" emotion only lasted for a moment before being digested by Xie Jin without any internal friction.

Because if time goes back, he will still bring them out again.

"His Highness has always said that I am a blessed person with good luck. And with Xiaokang here, he can still bless us. Even if there is danger, we will be able to overcome it."

Ye Qingzhi smiled and rubbed his back, saying as if coaxing a child,

"Don't be afraid, it's all over. Your Highness, don't worry. It's just a small matter."

The prince was amused by her teasing tone, but his mind did relax and he wanted to hug her and kiss her again.

However, Ye Qingzhi pushed him away with disdain, "You are sweating all over, go wash yourself."

Prince,...

However, before I had time to feel sad, I heard Ye Qingzhi say,

"Your Highness and I will go take a shower together. I have also sweated a lot just now. My body is sticky and uncomfortable."

Although it is the beginning of autumn, it is still quite hot during the day. Moreover, Ye Qingzhi has been dealing with various things since she came back, so she has not had time to wash up.

Xie Jin's eyes suddenly lit up in surprise. He picked her up again, rubbed her, and said in a sweet voice, "Qingqing still cares about me."

Ye Qingzhi pinched his ears amusingly, then frivolously hooked his chin and stroked his cheek with her fingers.

"I was frightened today and I need a handsome man to calm my nerves. You look good, so I'll choose you!"

Prince,...

How about I thank Master Ye for his reward?

-

On the other side, Xie Niankang hesitated for a long time and asked Mingyu to go back to the room and wait for him. He called Mingyan and said to her,

"That... is what happened today. I stood in front of you. It was my duty because you are the princess.

Besides, you were right next to me at the time. If I didn’t do something and something really happened, I would be at fault. If Mingyu was next to me, I would also stand in front of him.”

Mingyan's pretty face sank slightly, and she frowned and said, "I know. Why do you have to explain so much?"

"...I'm just afraid that you might misunderstand me." Xie Niankang scratched his head, forced out an awkward smile, and tried to make his words clear:

"If you think too much about it and think that I am doing this with some affection or deep meaning, that would be bad."

Xie Niankang felt that Aunt Qingzhi was unreliable and he had to do this himself.

Mingyan laughed when she heard this. She was annoyed by his evasive attitude. She looked at Xie Niankang with some embarrassment and said,

"Okay, since you want to make things clear today, I'll ask you clearly, what did I do to displease you that made you avoid me like a snake?"

"No, no." Xie Niankang waved his hand and explained seriously.

"My princess, you misunderstood. When I first met you, I felt that you were the most dazzling and beautiful woman in the world.

She is beautiful and noble, no one can compare to her, and it is not something a wild boy like me can dream of, so I stay away from her. "

Ming Yan snorted when she heard this, "This is the first time you've used your clever words to make me happy."

"Every word I said was from the bottom of my heart." Xie Niankang said with a stern face, "How can the truth be used to flatter? The princess also has a prejudice against me."

"You have a prejudice against me. You praised me as a flower of wealth and luxury. The implication is that the first impression I gave you was that I was delicate and could only bloom indoors for people to admire. I had no other value in existence."

Mingyan's pretty face turned slightly cold as she said unhappily.

Xie Niankang thought about it, and did not argue, but just said,

"That was the princess three years ago, not you now. You now really can't be described as a rich and beautiful woman anymore."

"Does the current me make you want to avoid me even more?" Mingyan asked him, "Are you afraid of me anymore?"

"Princess, believe me, few people will not be afraid of you in the future." Xie Niankang smiled and said bluntly,

"We have different ideas and cannot work together. You are so smart, you should understand what I mean."

"What is your way? What are you planning?" Mingyan asked him.

"The world is so big, I want to travel around and see it all." Xie Niankang said with a smile, his eyes fascinated.

"In two years, or at most three years, I will no longer stay in the palace."

Mingyan nodded and said coldly, "Okay, I understand."

After hearing this, Xie Niankang felt relieved. He thanked Mingyan and then turned and left.

Mingyan also turned around and went back to her own courtyard. On the way, she saw a cluster of red flowers poking their heads out. She couldn't help but reach out and pick one, then stared at the flower in a daze for a long while.