After the arranged marriage, I pampered the sickly regent.

"Your Highness, the second young master of the Duke's mansion wishes to see you."

A guard's report came from outside the courtyard. Ye Qingwu hesitated slightly upon hearing this, knowing that Ye Yuanfeng would come to explain that the Duke's mansion had received the news.

If that's the case, she'd like to meet him.

"Your Highness, please wait here. I'll go take a look."

After Ye Qingwu finished speaking, she walked out of the house, leaving Zhan Sijing alone in the same spot.

Watching her departing figure, Zhan Sijing frowned, his eyes filled with unspeakable worry.

"Cold wind."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a person appeared in the courtyard, then entered the house, cupped his hands and said to Zhan Sijing, "Please give your orders, Your Highness."

"From now on, protect the princess's safety in secret, and make everyone in the mansion more vigilant, especially those in the palace."

"But in this way, Your Highness, you wouldn't be..."

Leng Feng was worried; even with the princess present, the curse that would come two days later still hung in everyone's hearts.

"The king is fine."

Zhan Sijing replied that if the outcome was predetermined, he could not allow anyone to threaten Ye Qingwu.

In the pavilion.

Ye Qingzhu was overjoyed to learn of Ye Yuanfeng's arrival. She came to Ye Yuanfeng with a worried expression, "Second brother, when sister comes later, you must talk to her nicely and not do anything offensive."

“My sister’s status is very different now, and I’m worried that you will end up like me.”

Ye Yuanfeng, who already harbored some dissatisfaction with Ye Qingwu, became enraged.

"Do you think I'm afraid of her!"

"Qingzhu, tell me, did Ye Qingwu do something to you?"

"With me here, you don't need to be afraid."

Ye Qingzhu kept her head down, glancing up at Ye Yuanfeng from time to time, looking quite troubled.

"Second brother, please don't ask anymore, sister, she..."

As Ye Qingzhu was speaking, she caught a glimpse of a figure walking towards her out of the corner of her eye. She immediately pretended to be terrified and took a few steps back. "Second brother, sister is here."

Seeing Ye Qingzhu's appearance, Ye Yuanfeng became even more certain that all of this was closely related to Ye Qingwu.

"Oh, you two are both here."

Seeing Ye Qingzhu standing with Ye Yuanfeng, Ye Qingwu knew without even thinking what this person had said.

"Ye Qingwu, what kind of nonsense is this, locking Qingzhu up here? I know you are the Regent's Consort, but this is no excuse for your reckless behavior!"

Ye Yuanfeng glared at Ye Qingwu and said fiercely.

"I locked her up?" Ye Qingwu found it amusing. "Ye Yuanfeng, Ye Qingzhu is standing right next to you. How can you say she's locked up?"

"If you're really bored, go and read some poetry and books, so you don't get into trouble and have to clean up your mess."

Ye Qingzhu was stunned, and her gaze toward Ye Qingwu was filled with disbelief.

Wasn't this bitch always timid and cowardly when she saw Ye Yuanfeng before, never daring to say a word?

Why are they so different?

This is just right; the worse the relationship between the people in the Duke's mansion and Ye Qingwu, the better it is for her.

Thinking of this, Ye Qingzhu stepped forward and said to Ye Qingwu in a dissuading tone, "Sister, I know you are angry about what happened before, but you can't talk to Second Brother like that."

“No matter what, he is still your own brother. What you are doing will hurt his feelings.”

Ye Yuanfeng snorted heavily, his tone full of disdain.

“Qingzhu, don’t apologize to her. Even if it was something that happened before, Ye Qingwu was the one at fault.”

"Ye Qingwu, if you have any conscience at all, come over and apologize to Sister Qingzhu!"

"And I, Ye Yuanfeng, don't have a sister like you!"

In his heart, only a gentle and kind woman like Ye Qingzhu was his sister.

"Second brother, I am so touched by what you said."

Ye Qingzhu's voice choked with emotion as she looked at Ye Yuanfeng with adoration.

Ye Yuanfeng raised his head, clearly enjoying Ye Qingzhu calling him "Second Brother" repeatedly.

"Don't be afraid, Sister Qingzhu. With me here, she won't dare to do anything to you."

Ye Qingzhu nodded, then looked at Ye Qingwu with a smug gaze.

Even if he's her own brother, so what? He's still completely fooled by her words.

With Ye Yuanfeng around, Ye Qingwu won't have an easy time even if I do nothing.

"Are you two finished talking?"

Ye Qingwu watched the two of them quietly, arms crossed, her eyes full of mockery.

Seeing Ye Qingwu like this, Ye Yuanfeng was very displeased. "Ye Qingwu, so you don't want to let Qingzhu leave?"

"If you want, you can take her away now."

"Provided that she has the guts."

"Ye Qingwu, what did you do to Qingzhu?" Ye Yuanfeng asked angrily.

Helpless, Ye Qingwu turned to look at Ye Qingzhu.

"Ye Qingzhu, do you dare to leave?"

Ye Qingzhu froze, her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly. She knew very well that it was someone from the palace who had brought her here.

Those people were acting on the Emperor's orders, so even if her father, Ye Xuan, came, there was nothing he could do.

The reason she sent Jiang Wenjin to the Duke's mansion to deliver the message was simply to have the people there send someone to cause trouble.

"Second brother, this matter is a bit complicated, and I'm afraid I can't leave for a while."

"Ye Yuanfeng, my patience is limited. I didn't let you into the manor to listen to you go crazy."

"If you can't explain your purpose today, I don't mind repeating what happened last time."

Ye Qingwu smiled slightly and said to Ye Yuanfeng, "Would you like to give it a try?"

Ye Yuanfeng's pupils contracted, and he unconsciously took a step back as he recalled that experience.

"Second brother, what's wrong?"

Noticing Ye Yuanfeng's difference, Ye Qingzhu was puzzled and subconsciously thought of that day.

"Ye Qingwu, my father told me to tell you that since you have severed ties with your Duke's Mansion, don't involve the Duke's Mansion in any trouble you cause."

What kind of behavior is this?!

"Or do you want to drag the entire Duke's mansion down with you to fulfill your revenge!"

"Then you should go back and tell Duke Ye that those are the Emperor's will, and it is not something I can control."

"Instead of sending you here when you have time, you might as well go to the palace and plead with the Emperor."

"Someone, escort this second young master away!"

As soon as Ye Qingwu finished speaking, two guards came out.

Upon seeing the suddenly appearing guards, not only Ye Yuanfeng but also Ye Qingzhu were shocked.

She clearly remembered that there was no one around just now, so how come two guards appeared as soon as Ye Qingwu said one sentence?

Did they follow Ye Qingwu's orders from the beginning and lie in ambush nearby?

That scoundrel is truly cunning!

"I'm not leaving, Ye Qingwu. If you don't give me an explanation today, this isn't over!"

Ye Yuanfeng said through gritted teeth. Before coming here, he had promised Ye Xuan that he would make Ye Qingwu come crying and apologizing.

Now that Ye Qingzhu has chased him away like this, how can he save face?

The most crucial thing is that I won't be able to explain myself to Ye Xuan when I go back.

"Don't go?"

Ye Qingwu sneered.