One day,
Huaiyu remembered and opened it to find land deeds, house deeds, field deeds, and several banknotes totaling one thousand taels of silver inside.
For a moment, he felt the gift was too valuable and didn't know how to handle it.
Ming Li took his hand, "Keep it. Daddy is afraid his son's husband will run away, so he's bribing you with money."
Ning Huaiyu glared at him, "Don't talk about Daddy like that."
Ming Li stopped smiling, pressed his forehead against the other's, and looked into his eyes.
"Not even married yet, and already calling him Daddy, hmm?" His voice was bewitching Huaiyu.
Ning Huaiyu's eyes darted away, "If you don't like it, I won't call him that next time."
Ming Li held him tight. "I like it. I like it to death."
Ning Huaiyu flushed bright red. The flower mark on his forehead tempted Ming Li . His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice hoarse and magnetic.
"Huaier, may I kiss you?"
Ning Huaiyu was stunned for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Mm."
Ming Li cupped Huaiyu's face as if holding the world's most precious treasure and placed a kiss on his flower mark.
The gentle touch seemed to carry deep affection with countless words. Ning Huaiyu's body trembled slightly, his hands unconsciously clutching Ming Li 's sleeves.
Ming Li pulled away slightly, gazing tenderly at Huaiyu.
"The rest I'll owe you for now. Wait until you're fully recovered."
Ning Huaiyu shyly lowered his head, his cheeks rosy like sunset clouds. "Ming Li ..."
Ming Li held the person in his arms and gently swayed. "Huaier, would you be willing to come live in the palace with me?"
Ning Huaiyu looked up: "It's quite nice here. I... I don't want to go."
"Please! Please! The vast palace has only me. It's so lonely!" Ming Li acted coquettishly.
"Aren't the palace maids and eunuchs people?" Huaiyu retorted.
Ming Li looked at him in surprise, "How can they compare to my fragrant, soft Huaier!"
"Shameless."
Ning Huaiyu slapped him, but in the end, obediently followed Ming Li into the palace.
Ming Li originally wanted him to stay in the Empress's palace, Changle Hall, but Huaiyu was unwilling, plus it was too far from where the emperor handled government affairs. So he could only hide the beauty away, letting him live in the secluded Orchid Fragrance Pavilion.
Though not as luxurious and grand as Changle Hall, Orchid Fragrance Pavilion had its own elegant charm. The courtyard was filled with various orchids; when spring came, the breeze would carry their fragrance everywhere.
The furnishings inside were simple yet warm: a carved bed, exquisite screens—every detail showed careful thought.
From then on, the palace had another master, greatly favored by the emperor. That person had eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn water. A straight nose, vermilion lips naturally red, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned with a hint of a smile, adding to his captivating charm.
His ink-black hair was casually tied up, a few strands falling beside his fair neck, making his skin seem even more like snow. His slender waist seemed too thin to grasp. His every movement exuded a unique elegance, making him unforgettable.
However, that person behaved very low-key, never involving himself in palace intrigues.
Every day, he just read books and played the zither in his residence.
The emperor would come daily to eat with him and stay overnight at Orchid Fragrance Pavilion, his favor never ceasing. But these are all later tales.
After the New Year, spring wasn't far off.
The snow on the west slope of Yunxi Village also gradually began to melt.
The sun was good today. Ming Xi brought out the quilts and mattresses to air on the ropes Ling Cang had tied. Xiao Bai twisted at his feet, lifting a hind leg to scratch an itch.
The village chief tottered down the slope. Seeing Ming Xi from afar, he shouted, "Ling family, is your husband home?"
Ming Xi turned around. "Yes, he is."
"Does the chief have business?"
The chief said urgently, "Yes, wait for me to come down."
With that, he quickened his pace. The snow had just melted, and the ground was muddy. The chief's foot slipped, and he sat on the ground.
Ming Xi was startled and hurried forward to help him up. "Chief Uncle, are you alright?"
The chief stood up. "I'm fine. Just need to change clothes when I go back. Quickly, take me to find your Ling lad."
Ming Xi supported the chief into the house.
"Ling Cang, the chief is here."
Ling Cang heard and came out from the vegetable shed, glancing at the chief. "What is it?"
The chief said with a bitter smile, "Do you remember that bully who drowned in the Ten-Mile River?"
Ling Cang nodded.
"The magistrate found out from somewhere that you said he wouldn't live past the next day. He says you killed his son. He's in Yunxi Village now, demanding I hand you over."
After speaking, he lowered his head, not daring to look at Ling Cang. This matter was also their fault. Back then, he had specifically told everyone not to spread it, but with many people, words inevitably get out. No matter what, it must have been someone from the village.
"How does the chief want me to handle this?" Ling Cang said with a smile.
"Can you go and explain?"
Although he didn't know where Ling lad got his information, now that the magistrate named him, how could a small village chief dare disobey? He still had to consider the village. After all, Ling Cang was an outsider household.
Ling Cang saw through everything, then let out a soft laugh.
"Remember, this is you asking me. In the future, no matter what happens in Yunxi Village, do not come to me."
Ming Xi immediately stood by Ling Cang's side.
"Should we tell Father?" This magistrate acting like this probably wasn't a good official.
Ling Cang reassured him: "It's fine."
The chief felt that Yunxi Village might lose something this time, but he couldn't worry about that now; he had to get through this first.
So he nodded heavily.
Behind the door, the Land God was so angry he was blowing his beard and glaring. "Useless thing! Everyone in the three realms knows that clinging to Ling Cang can ensure eternal peace. This person is actually pushing the Divine Emperor away?"
"Fine, lead the way."
Ming Xi grabbed him. "I'm coming too."
Ling Cang nodded and took his hand. "Let's go."
Outside the village chief's house in Yunxi Village stood full of officials, with a circle of villagers surrounding them. The magistrate sat inside the house, legs crossed, his body obese, face full of rough, fleshy features, greatly contrasting with the rumors of being people-oriented, kind-hearted, and good.
"Where is the man? Hurry up and hand him over to this official!" the magistrate roared, his voice like a bell, buzzing people's ears.
"Magistrate, please be patient. We've already gone to fetch him. The west slope is a few steps away; he should be here soon," the clan elder soothed.
The magistrate glanced around and sneered. "If it weren't for his curse, my son wouldn't have fallen into the Ten-Mile River. If he doesn't confess today, Yunxi Village will take the blame!"
"See? I told you all to favor that outsider. Now we're going to suffer," Zhang Cheng spat and cursed.
"Yeah, he's just an outsider after all. This time, he can't implicate the village," someone said.
"The village has taken him in for so long; that's already good enough. Since he caused the trouble, he should be the one to pay."
"If he hadn't cursed him that day, the magistrate's son wouldn't have died."
"Yeah, yeah!"
In a few words, the crowd had already pinned the murder charge on Ling Cang.
"Stop talking, he's here," someone reminded.
Everyone looked. Ling Cang, holding Ming Xi i's hand, walked leisurely, not like someone being accused, but more like someone out for a stroll.
"He really is good-looking. What a pity."
"Is that a ge'er next to him?"
"This ge'er is really beautiful."
Hearing the man had arrived, the magistrate immediately stood up from his chair and glared angrily at the newcomers.
But when his eyes moved to Ming Xi , he paused for a moment, then a light flashed in his eyes, hard to detect. Like a hungry wolf spotting a tender lamb, he blatantly revealed greed and possessiveness, disgusting to see.
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