step by step

Chapter 267

"No, I trust you, but I can't take any chances."

She raised her eyes to look at him, the clear eyes made Zhuo Yibai's heart tremble.

He pursed his lips, and his tense expression slowly melted away, "Why? We used to suffer together, how could I hurt you? I remember that you and I have never been so sympathetic before."

When he spoke, his expression was extremely sincere, his brows were full of sincerity, and his gaze seemed to be able to burn the flesh of a person, making her dare not raise her eyes.

Ye Zhaoyan was stunned, "It's just"

Zhuo Yibai waited quietly for her next words.

She hesitated.

Looking at those clean and dazzling eyes like stars, Ye Zhaoyan thought of the phrase "loyalty and loyalty".

The heart beat violently.

"Could it be because of King Qing's affairs... Are you really going to marry him as the rumors say?" Zhuo Yibai finally couldn't help asking the doubts in his heart.

"No, it's not just..." Ye Zhaoyan forced a smile on his face, "Nowadays, there are so many barriers between us, why bother to communicate with each other, which only adds to the embarrassment. Mr. Zhuo, I know you have a good impression of me, but I don't like you. There is no friendship. One day, we will be no match for reality after all, so I have to be a pair of strangers. Since we are strangers, why bother to care about each other?"

When she spoke, her voice was very low, her eyes sparkled, and she looked a little fragile.

However, what he said was absolutely indifferent.

Zhuo Yibai was stunned, not knowing why there was a huge pain and loss in his chest.

Was she rejecting him with these words?They used to have such a tacit understanding and tied life and death on each other, how could she say the word "stranger" so easily.

"You..." He wanted to ask her, but couldn't find a suitable wording.

"Is what you said true?" He couldn't believe it. Could it be that what he felt before was all false?

Ye Zhaoyan pursed his lips and lowered his eyes, and nodded lightly, "It's absolutely true."

Seeing his gloomy gaze, her heart felt like being stabbed by a needle. She didn't want to go any further, and turned her head slowly, "Anyway, we finally meet again." She whispered, her voice There is a bit of hoarseness in it, like a gold stone that has been honed by gravel. "It's a pity that I left in a hurry last time and didn't reminisce about the past."

After finishing speaking, he turned and left without hesitating, walking very slowly without stopping for a moment.

Zhuo Yibai's eyes still stayed on her back and never left.

Until she completely disappeared before his eyes, he still maintained his original posture, unable to look away for a long time.

Ye Zhaoyan returned to Ye Mansion soon, and saw two beautifully decorated carriages parked in front of the mansion from a distance, surrounded by many servants and maidservants.

She couldn't help wondering, it stands to reason that there is no festival at this time, so it is impossible for so many people to visit Ye Mansion.

But after a while, she figured out why.

The Ye family's carriage is top-notch, obviously not of ordinary honorable specification.

This is King Qing sending his servants over to give gifts.

He is a smart person, maybe he saw that the Ye family was looking for a good son-in-law for Ye Zhaoyan, and deliberately used this method to show his strength and intentions to everyone.

In this way, not only can it deter others and make them give in despite difficulties, but it can also remind Emperor Donglin of his determination.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help showing a mocking smile.

Sure enough, in the eyes of the royal family, interests are always more important than kindness. Even if it is a general who has sacrificed half his life for himself and suffered a lot of physical damage, their choice is only a trade-off. Hesitant to abandon.

And the Ye family.
"Miss Ye, this is the longevity peach sent by His Highness Prince Qing. Would you like to eat it now or put it in the ice cellar?" A maid from Prince Qing's mansion ran over to greet Ye Zhaoyan in person. Doubt and surprise at the same time, how come such a big gift is delivered, but Miss Ye is not showing any joy?
"Miss." Zhuyu ran over and called, "You must have been exhausted after driving a long way outside. The general and madam are waiting for you inside. Let's go in earlier!"

"Yeah." Ye Zhaoyan nodded slightly, turned around and entered the yard.

As soon as she stepped into the main hall, she felt the atmosphere freeze.

Ye Wenxuan was sitting upright behind the table with a gloomy face, while Ye Fugui sat on his left side, frowning slightly.Ye Zhengping, who was supposed to be on the far right, was nowhere to be seen, leaving only Old Qi and Ye Wenxuan's cronies.

Ye Wenxuan was wearing a dark purple brocade robe, with a handsome and stern face. Although he looked a little haggard, the cold aura of iron and blood killing was still chilling.

Presumably they already knew the situation in front of Ye Mansion.

Ye Zhaoyan sighed secretly, after all, the Ye family could not escape the control of Emperor Donglin, and her marriage this time might be a disaster.

"You're back." Seeing Ye Zhaoyan enter the room, Ye Wenxuan's expression turned pale.

Ye Zhaoyan walked up to Marven Ye, "Granddaughter pays a visit to grandpa."

Ye Wenxuan looked at the young granddaughter in front of him, with mixed feelings in his heart.

She is his only blood.

The more she grew up, the more she reminded him of his dead wife. Back then, she was also so stunning and heroic.Her empathy, and her kindness, she will never give up to a man, is something he will never forget.

He thought he could teach Ye Zhaoyan to grow up, let her marry a good family, and live a happy and peaceful life, but he didn't expect that he was all to blame for his own incompetence.

Thinking of this, Ye Wenxuan's tone became a little heavy, "Good boy, you are a good girl, it's because grandpa failed to protect you well."

"Grandpa, don't blame yourself." Ye Zhaoyan shook his head and said seriously, "You have done enough for me."

"Zhaoyan." Ye Fugui held her by the shoulders and looked at her guiltily, "It seems that King Qing will come to propose soon, and Grandpa is so anxious to enter the palace to meet the saint, but His Majesty has avoided seeing her." .”

Ye Zhaoyan's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly understood what Brother Donglin's plan was.

It turned out that he promised Ye Wenxuan to think about it before, but it was just a stopgap measure, to delay for a while and prepare for the marriage proposal.

During this period of time, Prince Qing was not idle. He not only spread the news that Emperor Donglin wanted to bestow a marriage, but also hinted among the nobles that he would not marry unless he was the daughter of the Ye family. According to the gift list, almost all honorable family members in Jindu City, as well as officials with status inside and outside the court were invited to attend the banquet at Prince Qing's Mansion, with the purpose clearly revealed.

Not only did the Ye family lose face, but it also put pressure on the Ye family.

But the Ye family did not respond for a long time, which made him angry, so he took this opportunity to send someone to give gifts to inform him that he wanted to propose marriage, trying to force the Ye family to agree to the marriage.

"Zhaoyan," Ye Wenxuan said with mixed feelings in his heart, "Don't worry, no matter what, Grandpa will never let anyone force you and ruin our Ye family."

Ye Zhaoyan took a deep breath and tried to calm down, "Grandpa, don't worry, Zhaoyan has a plan."

(End of this chapter)