Chapter Ninety-Eight: Fallen from the Mortal Realm, Descending into Demonhood

That evening, Jing Yijun and Qin Haizhou came together to visit Yang Yaozong.

Yang Yaozong had rested on the bed for a full day. After taking the medicine Mu Qinghan had prepared for him, and with Yin Ruxin personally tending to him through massage and acupuncture, his spirits were excellent.

That afternoon, when Jing Yijun had gone to inspect the Secret Investigation Bureau, Qin Haizhou had been there as well. Naturally, he had seen the change in Jing Yijun’s attire. The two of them would continue to have dealings in the future, after all. So Jing Yijun told Qin Haizhou that she and Yang Yaozong had already become husband and wife, and asked him to keep it secret. She explained that Yang Yaozong’s identity still needed to be resolved, so for now it was best that fewer people knew about their relationship.

Qin Haizhou understood at once. In his heart, he admired Yang Yaozong even more. He had never imagined that the emperor valued Yang Yaozong so highly as to betroth a princess to him. And a princess, no less, a daughter of heaven so proud and exalted, yet willing to yield so much for Yang Yaozong’s sake.

When he walked up beside Yang Yaozong, Qin Haizhou thought that the princess must surely know Yin Ruxin was Yang Yaozong’s woman, and yet still allowed Yang Yaozong to stay here. He clicked his tongue in admiration, thinking that Brother Yang’s charm was truly extraordinary. He waggled his brows at Yang Yaozong with a mischievous look.

Seeing Qin Haizhou’s expression, Yang Yaozong guessed he must already know that he and Jing Yijun had become husband and wife. So he teased, “Brother Qin, are you here to bring a wedding gift?”

Qin Haizhou slapped his forehead in embarrassment. “Ah! I was only happy for you, Brother, and forgot all about the gift. Look at me, making such a mess of things.” Then he remembered that he had also forgotten about the gift he had promised to prepare for Yin Ruxin. Feeling awkward, he smiled sheepishly and bowed to Jing Yijun and Yin Ruxin. “You two, please don’t blame your elder brother for being impolite. Next time, next time I’ll surely prepare proper gifts for both of you.”

At first, only Jing Yijun had been shy because of Yang Yaozong’s words. But the moment Qin Haizhou spoke, both Jing Yijun and Yin Ruxin became thoroughly embarrassed. The two of them said almost at once, “Brother Qin,” then glanced at each other. Their faces flushed red as they smiled in mutual embarrassment, then both gave Yang Yaozong a reproachful look.

Seeing how perfectly in sync Jing Yijun and Yin Ruxin were, Yang Yaozong found them exceedingly adorable. When he saw the two ladies looking at him with shy annoyance, he coughed twice and gave an awkward smile. “Brother Qin, I was only joking with you. Please don’t take it seriously.”

But Qin Haizhou was quite earnest. “That won’t do. Besides...” He let out a couple of chuckles, then said a little bashfully, “Besides, I really do have something else I need to thank you for, Brother Yang.”

Yang Yaozong looked at his shy expression with curiosity. “What have I done for Brother Qin that deserves thanks? I don’t recall helping you with anything.”

Qin Haizhou said awkwardly, “Ever since Brother Yang told me about that matter, I changed my... cough cough... method. Yesterday, Old Master Mu came to my residence to take the pulse of your two sisters-in-law, and he told me that both of them are pregnant.”

Because Yin Ruxin and Jing Yijun were present, Qin Haizhou was too embarrassed to explain himself in detail to Yang Yaozong. As he spoke, he kept winking at Yang Yaozong with an expression that said, You understand.

Yin Ruxin and Jing Yijun were both baffled. They stared at Qin Haizhou in confusion. Only when they heard that his two wives were pregnant did they flush crimson and realize that his hesitant, half-finished manner must have had something to do with that. But inwardly, they were still wondering what exactly Yang Yaozong had said to Qin Haizhou.

Yang Yaozong’s eyes widened in delight. He looked at Qin Haizhou and said sincerely, “Then I must congratulate Brother Qin. Brother Qin, you’re truly formidable!”

Qin Haizhou was pleased to hear Yang Yaozong praise him so highly, and for a moment he even forgot that Yin Ruxin and Jing Yijun were standing nearby. He laughed heartily, then said a little shyly, “Your two sisters-in-law still want to take a concubine for me. Since they’re both pregnant at once, they won’t be able to take care of me themselves.”

Yang Yaozong was momentarily speechless, then burst out laughing. “Then shouldn’t I congratulate Brother Qin on three blessings arriving at once?”

Qin Haizhou blinked, looking somewhat confused. “How is that three blessings?”

Yang Yaozong smiled. “Your two wives are pregnant at the same time. Isn’t that two blessings? And now they want to take you a concubine. Doesn’t that make three?”

Only then did Qin Haizhou react. “Yes, yes! Ha ha, three blessings indeed. Brother Yang, you should take good care of yourself as well. Brother also hopes you’ll become a father soon, so the two of us can arrange a marriage between our children and become in-laws. Make our bond even closer.”

Yang Yaozong glanced toward Jing Yijun and Yin Ruxin standing nearby. Both of them had lowered their heads in embarrassment, looking at a complete loss.

Following Yang Yaozong’s gaze, Qin Haizhou noticed Jing Yijun and Yin Ruxin as well, and only then realized he had become carried away. Silently cursing himself, he quickly recovered. With an awkward smile, he smoothly changed the subject. “I’ve already had the people lurking against Brother Yang arrested. There were indeed four of them. When we went to seize them, one man was already dead inside the house. After interrogation, we learned that the dead one was the third among them. When we made the arrests, we also injured several of our brothers. Fortunately, Brother Yang, you had warned us in advance that those men were no weaklings, so we made preparations ahead of time. Otherwise, who knows how heavy our losses would have been. That scar-faced brute, their leader, had an extremely tight mouth. We couldn’t get anything out of him at all. The second and fourth did confess some things, but it was all information we already knew. They were sent by the Prince of Qin to protect the eldest heir, Jing Min, and had no other mission. As for the matter of lying in wait against you, it was ordered by the eldest heir, Jing Min, who told them to remove you, Brother Yang. They had thought it would be a simple task. Who would have guessed, ha ha, that they would meet a mad scholar who didn’t fear death? As for why they failed to kill you in the end, it was because Steward Fang from the Prince of Qin’s heir residence intervened and took you back to the heir’s residence.”

Yang Yaozong nodded. “Mm. The one ranked third must have been killed by me. He was only badly injured at the time; he probably died because he wasn’t treated in time.”

Qin Haizhou waved it off. “Then he had it coming. What do you plan to do with the other three?”

Just as Yang Yaozong was about to speak, Jing Yijun answered first.

In a cold voice, Jing Yijun said, “Aren’t they the four brothers? Since one of them is dead, let the other three accompany him.”

Qin Haizhou gladly accepted the order. “Very well! I obey the princess’s command!”

He had mainly come to visit Yang Yaozong. Seeing that Yang Yaozong was in good condition and that everything he needed to say had already been said, and guessing that the newly married couple must have things they wanted to say to each other, he took his leave first.

Yin Ruxin had already felt that those who had harmed Yang Yaozong deserved death. Now that she saw Jing Yijun so decisively give the order, her opinion of Jing Yijun immediately improved. She also felt much closer to her. Taking Jing Yijun by the hand, she guided her to sit beside Yang Yaozong’s bed. “Let Sister the Princess keep you company. I’ll escort Brother Qin out, then prepare a few side dishes. In a little while, Sister the Princess can eat here with Yaozong.”

Feeling Yin Ruxin’s warmth toward her, Jing Yijun was also pleased. She nodded and said shyly, “Thank you, sister.”

After Yin Ruxin and Qin Haizhou left, Yang Yaozong took Jing Yijun’s hand and said gently, “There was no need to go this far. We could have locked the three of them up in our own prison first, and once the matter with the Prince of Qin was settled, handed them over to the Ministry of Justice.”

Jing Yijun replied solemnly, “I will not allow anyone to hurt you.”

Yang Yaozong pulled her into his arms. “Mm. I know.”

He stroked her back and sighed. “I’m the one who ruined your path of cultivation, making a clear and untroubled immortal fall into this tangled and complicated mortal world.”

Feeling Yang Yaozong’s affection, Jing Yijun said with quiet resolve, “I did it willingly. What of it, if I fall into the mortal world for your sake? Even if you were to drag me down into demonic ways, I would still do so gladly.”

Yang Yaozong had not expected the ever-proud Jing Yijun to speak such deeply moving words of love. If his body had been well at that moment, he would certainly have cherished her properly. He tightened his arms around her and said softly, “Did the Crown Prince’s first day attending court and governing in the emperor’s stead go smoothly?”

Resting in Yang Yaozong’s embrace, Jing Yijun smiled happily. “Mm, it went smoothly. He was only a little nervous. Third Imperial Uncle was there with him today, so the ministers did not dare make things difficult for him. Besides, Lord Qin and the others are still in court as well, and they will help Jing Sheng too. You should just recover in peace and not worry about him. He still wants to come see you, but he has only just begun to govern in the emperor’s stead, and there are many matters he needs to understand and handle. I spoke with Jing Sheng already. Once our residence is properly arranged, if he has time, I’ll let him visit you. Or if you’re feeling better, you can also go into the palace to see him.”

Yang Yaozong nodded. “Mm. The Crown Prince is at the age when he must begin to stand on his own. Since the Prince of Wisdom appeared in court today, did he reveal any flaws?”

Jing Yijun lifted her head and smiled at him. “No. Third Imperial Uncle was disguised by Eunuch Shun to look like the emperor. Without a careful look, I wouldn’t have been able to tell either. And he handled affairs very properly, so naturally the ministers could not discern anything.”

Yang Yaozong nodded again and asked, “By the way, how is the arrangement of our residence coming along? You’ve worked hard these past days.”

Jing Yijun shook her head. “It wasn’t hard. It really didn’t need too much arranging; people already clean there every day. Only some of the furnishings in the rooms needed replacing, and I’ve already sent people to purchase them. Today I also selected twenty maidservants, twenty guards, and ten eunuchs from the palace to work at our residence. The only thing missing is a house steward. Does Brother Yang have anyone in mind?”

Yang Yaozong was a little surprised. “So many people? How big is our residence?”

Jing Yijun could not help but laugh. “If you look at the size of our estate, this is already considered a small number. Once you’re feeling better, go see it for yourself and you’ll understand.”

Yang Yaozong nodded. “I’ve rested for a day, and with Ruxin’s treatment, I’m much better already. How about I go with Ruxin tomorrow to have a look? As for a steward, I don’t really have anyone in mind. You can decide as you see fit.”

Jing Yijun nodded. “Mm, all right. I’ll come tomorrow and take the two of you there together. It will also let Sister Ruxin choose a courtyard she likes.”

Yang Yaozong was moved once more by Jing Yijun’s thoughtfulness. Softly, he called, “Jun’er.”

“Mm?” Jing Yijun lifted her eyes to him.

Yang Yaozong lowered his head and lightly kissed her cherry-red lips. “You’re really too good to me.”

Then he deepened the kiss.