No matter what was discussed, it would all be blown away by the mountain wind. Only these rocks and stones were eternal. Wise men have said that carving one’s name on a stone stele would make it rot faster than a corpse, so Yun Ye had no intention of leaving his name for eternity.

Whoever walks the return path will feel resentful, much less when one is being escorted back by others—this made one even more furious. Li Rong had been exposed to many bad influences these past few days, such as cursing. The person who cursed the most in the group was precisely his father. This made young Li Rong believe from the bottom of his heart that cursing was also a skill. The person he admired most was Father. If Father could curse, why couldn’t he?

When Li Rong stepped on a land leech and very smoothly cursed, he was pressed onto his furious uncle’s thigh and had his bottom soundly spanked. The unscrupulous father watched from the side with a grin—he had nothing to say about uncle disciplining his nephew.

“Tainting the imperial bloodline.” This was the assessment Li Tai gave Yun Ye. Feng Ang, however, praised him greatly from the side and planned to betroth his most beautiful little granddaughter to Li Rong, speaking with firm words that brooked no refusal.

Yun Ye didn’t object, nor did he speak rudely. Instead, he expressed gratitude, only saying that Li Rong’s marriage needed to be discussed with his mother. This was fact. Feng Ang smiled and said he’d await good news.

This was the best opportunity to mock Feng Ang. Li Tai didn’t think Yun Ye’s heart had suddenly become broader. However, he felt that Li Rong marrying Feng Ang’s granddaughter had only benefits and no drawbacks. But looking at the incident where the Cui family wanted to betroth their precious pearl to Yun Shou and was strongly refused, Yun Ye seemed to dislike forming marriage alliances with great families. Not understanding the meaning within, after making camp, he asked Yun Ye why his attitude this time was completely different from how he treated the Cui family. Was it because Li Rong wasn’t a legitimate son?

“Lady Xian’s bloodline would be suitable for any family’s sons, which naturally includes my son. Some people you must respect. I can humiliate Feng Ang, but I absolutely won’t humiliate the Feng family ancestors. These are two different things. When Anlan returns, I’ll definitely discuss this matter thoroughly with her. Whether it works out or not, we’ll go to the Feng household to express our thanks.”

Yun Ye spoke very solemnly. Whether to accept or reject the Feng family’s embroidered ball depended on Li Anlan, not himself. In the end, Li Rong was Li Anlan’s child. Although he also had a share, for such a major matter, it was better to let her make the decision.

Feng Ang was very satisfied with Yun Ye’s attitude. The more prudent he was, the more it showed Yun Ye didn’t look down on the Feng family. If he could use his legitimate granddaughter to obtain the Yun family’s forgiveness, the deal was worthwhile. But thinking about how his momentary loose tongue invited disaster and forced him to lower himself like this greatly pained him. Damn it, are you amazing just because you’re clever and capable?

Lingnan had many mountains. All along the route, tigers roared and apes cried—full of ancient atmosphere. Such mountains were completely unsuitable for human habitation. Thinking about that enormous sinkhole he saw when he crossed the great mountains alone back then, Yun Ye was filled with reverence for these great mountains. Limestone terrain—heaven knew what changes a thousand years of rainwater erosion would produce. That he could survive was truly extremely fortunate. The Tango Queen’s skull had been enshrined in the Yun family ancestral temple for four years, while he still rushed about in the mortal world, living in fear and desolation, not a day of peace of mind. No wonder many ancients would rather retreat deep into the mountains than enter the rolling red dust. Being human was truly difficult. If only he could be carefree like those two monkeys on the cliff copulating without inhibition—having a slightly larger brain capacity was actually quite disadvantageous. Thinking ahead and behind, living without satisfaction.

“They’re just monkeys mating. No need to watch so intently with drool flowing, right? It’s not like you lack women at home. I heard you searched the entire city of Yangzhou looking for beauties. Don’t know if there are any left over—send me two. I didn’t bring wives or concubines to Lingnan. I don’t know how to endure three years.”

Li Tai looked sideways at Yun Ye, reminding him to mind his status and not peep at monkeys doing their business. He also tactfully raised his own request. Coming to Lingnan alone naturally made him feel lonely.

“Since Your Highness is unwilling to return to Chang’an right now, then stay a while longer. With no one attending you, naturally there are many inconveniences. This old man has already arranged a residence for Your Highness in Yongzhou, with servants and household staff fully equipped. Although Lingnan is impoverished, we don’t lack beauties. Pearl divers are famously graceful. Prince Wei will know after one try.”

Old lecher! Yun Ye cursed inwardly. Li Tai was already stroking his chin and riding alongside Feng Ang. From their animated expressions, they weren’t discussing anything good. Hepu’s pearls were famous, as were the taro there, but most famous were the pearl divers.

Even Yun Ye, who had no research into beauties, knew that swimming a lot would sculpt one’s figure, much less those women who had to dive to the seabed every year to harvest clams and gather pearls. Li Anlan had told him about it—they held bamboo tubes in their mouths, jumped naked into the ocean, and searched for clams on the seabed. The famous South Sea pearls came from their hands. This side of the South Sea had many fish, but also many sharks. Encountering them while diving made surviving and returning difficult. Every year, pearl divers were eaten by sharks, and the dangers under the sea weren’t limited to just sharks. If you encountered a large clam with its shell open feeding underwater, this was the best opportunity. The pearl diver would reach her hand inside to feel for pearls, using a bamboo tube to prop open the clam’s shell to prevent it from closing. If the bamboo tube propping the clam wasn’t positioned well, the arm would be clamped by the large clam, and she’d drown alive.

The most terrifying danger came from octopuses. These creatures most loved eating clams, so where there were many clams, there were also many octopuses. If entangled by one of these fellows, the end would be miserable.

Now it seemed that more dangerous than octopuses was Li Tai with his brain controlled by his crotch. When Prince Wei arrived at a locality, officials would always present some local products. These local products would naturally include pearls, taro, gold, silver, and such. Of course, pearl divers—a gift suitable for both young and old—were naturally the top priority. Officials dispatched here would bring back one or two when returning north, much less the dignified Prince Wei.

Returning to Yongzhou, a large residence opposite the Princess’s mansion became Li Tai’s temporary palace. Feng Ang had already decorated it anew. It occupied even more land than the Princess’s mansion. The hurriedly returned Li Tai and Yun Ye didn’t bid farewell but drilled into the new residence together with Feng Ang, preparing to experience Lingnan’s local customs.

The one who was naturally most delighted by Yun Ye’s return home was Lingdang. Her belly was already very large—in just over two months, she’d give birth. Seeing Little Lingdang’s joyful appearance, Yun Ye felt that whether he saw Guilin’s scenery or not didn’t really matter.

“Auntie will definitely give birth to a little sister!” They say children’s assessments of the gender of fetuses in pregnant women’s bellies are most accurate. Li Rong stated his judgment without hesitation. Yun Ye stole a glance at Lingdang and saw her face full of joy, knowing she preferred a daughter.

“As long as it’s a child of my husband and this concubine, I’ll love them. If it’s a boy, he’ll definitely be as intelligent and handsome as my husband—he’ll be a fine man. If it’s a girl, I hope she can grow up as beautiful as Na Rimu.”

“Talking nonsense. Lingdang is also very beautiful. Why would your child need to look like Na Rimu? With just her alone, I’m already worried to death. A few more would kill this old man.”

Lingdang had no resistance whatsoever to her husband’s unoriginal sweet talk. She rested her head on her husband’s shoulder coquettishly. At times like this, Li Rong’s managing matron, Lady He, would lead the young master away, leaving space for the marquis and Third Madam.

Pregnant women were troublesome. Their feet often swelled like steamed buns, and they had to get up frequently at night. Yun Ye never let others handle these matters. He massaged Lingdang’s legs and helped her during the night, no matter how many times, never complaining.

Lingdang had become increasingly clingy recently, sometimes even learning to act coquettishly. This behavior was very rare for Little Lingdang. She came from palace maid origins and knew she wasn’t qualified to act coquettishly. Sometimes when she saw Na Rimu pounce like a tiger onto her husband’s back, laughing uninhibitedly, she envied it and sometimes wanted to try it. Years of palace confinement life had influenced her too deeply. She was forever like a little rabbit, ready to be startled at any moment.

Yun Ye, who was reviewing documents, again heard Little Lingdang’s murmuring voice. Knowing he’d been working too long and aroused Little Lingdang’s dissatisfaction, he put down his brush, turned around, and pinched Little Lingdang’s nose. This girl’s nose was most sensitive—a gentle touch made her face flush red.

It was time for a walk. Yun Ye helped Little Lingdang look at the autumn osmanthus in the garden. This was precisely the season when osmanthus fragrance overflowed everywhere—the entire garden was filled with rich osmanthus scent. Looking up at the full moon in the sky, though not the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was equally bright and clear.

Little Lingdang stubbornly grabbed Yun Ye’s hand and asked him to close his eyes, saying she had a gift for him. Yun Ye would naturally cooperate with such small games. He closed his eyes and spread his palm, feeling Little Lingdang’s warm lips briefly touch his face before quickly leaving. Something hard appeared in his hand.

Opening his eyes, he found Little Lingdang hiding behind the pavilion pillar, while in his hand he held a round, smooth green stone. Very familiar—this was one he’d picked up for her from the Yellow River bank. Who’d have thought this silly girl actually carried it with her.

No matter how he called, Little Lingdang wouldn’t come out. About to become a mother, how could she still be so shy? Yun Ye was preparing to walk behind the pavilion to pull this silly woman over—tonight the garden hadn’t been fumigated with naphthalene smoke, there were many mosquitoes, and she was dressed lightly. Wasn’t she afraid of mosquito bites?

“Hand over my sister, or I’ll kill her.” An agitated female voice came over. Yun Ye looked carefully and only then discovered Little Lingdang had been seized by a woman painted all over in gaudy colors, her mouth and nose covered, a gleaming fish-gutting knife at her throat. Yun Ye’s whole body jolted. His first instinct was to reach for the hand crossbow at his waist—he came up empty. At home, Yun Ye never carried such things.

Little Lingdang blinked anxiously, hoping her husband would quickly run. But at this moment, even if it meant killing Yun Ye, he wouldn’t move his toes an inch. His wife was still in someone else’s hands—where would he go?