My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 50: I Don't Agree. 

　　After Xie Jue left, the room fell silent again.

　　It was deathly quiet.

　　The sticky air gradually dissipated.

　　Yun Ling lay in bed for a long time before the heat on her face subsided. She got up, threw back the covers, and pulled her loose nightgown closed.

　　She got out of bed, wiped the thin sweat from her body, changed into clean clothes, and went back to sleep.

　　The room was dim and hazy.

　　Yun Ling closed her eyes. Just a moment ago... Grand Eunuch An came knocking. She didn't need to look to know how dark his face was.

　　Yun Ling pulled the covers higher, not wanting to think about it anymore. She turned over and drifted off to sleep.

　　……

　　On the other side, in the prison, Xie Jue entered with a gloomy expression, carrying the chill of the night. The jailer, seeing him, quickly opened the cell door.

　　Pei Yuan respectfully invited Xie Jue inside.

　　Outside the cell, there were specially assigned Jinyiwei guards, and the food was also subjected to multiple inspections. The place was surrounded like an iron barrel, making it impossible to enter easily.

　　This was to prevent Cao Zhiping from being killed.

　　Inside the cell, Cao Zhiping was covered in blood, his wounds festering, and he was already half-dead, but his life was not in immediate danger. This was a unique method of the Jinyiwei, where torture could harm the skin without breaking the bones, allowing a person to endure maximum suffering without losing their life.

　　Even so, Cao Zhiping still had not uttered a word, demonstrating that he was a tough character. Or perhaps, he had something more important than his own life.

　　Pei Yuan respectfully presented the findings he had gathered. “Cao Zhiping is nearing forty, originally from Zezhou. His family is quite wealthy, and he used a large sum of silver to be appointed to the position of Diangji. He has worked his way up from county magistrate to deputy, but he has no great talent and is an ordinary person. It wasn't unusual for him to have multiple wives and concubines. The only oddity was that he'd apparently sold the concubine he deeply loved just a month prior. He was renowned in Dianji for his affection for her and had even planned to elevate her status after his first wife's death.”

　　Xie Jue frowned. “You mean this useless man is doing this for a woman?”

　　“Not entirely,” Pei Yuan shook his head. “Cao Zhiping is over forty, and both his parents are deceased. He has no sons, only an eighteen-year-old daughter. He was almost driven mad trying to have a son, and has forcibly married several daughters from innocent families. I suspect that this pregnant concubine and his daughter are all in the hands of the mastermind behind this.”

　　“The only two family members, his daughter and his beloved, were kidnapped. In addition, he probably has some leverage over himself, so Cao Zhiping was forced to be the scapegoat. He is a pitiful man.”

　　Xie Jue, after hearing this, showed no emotion, instead cursing, “Fool.”

　　He can't even protect his own woman and child, yet he's being blackmailed, and instead of thinking of a way to save them, he only knows how to sacrifice himself—utterly incompetent.

　　Xie Jue said, “Wake him up!”

　　A Jinyiwei immediately brought a basin of cold water and splashed it on Cao Zhiping's face. Cao Zhiping, who had been unconscious, shuddered and slowly opened his eyes.

　　Upon seeing Xie Jue, he cursed, “It was me who robbed the disaster relief funds! Kill me quickly, what are you waiting for?”

　　“Even if you continue to interrogate me, my answer will remain the same!”

　　Xie Jue's expression was cold and ruthless as he said, “What if I were to kill your daughter and that concubine?”

　　“What—” Cao Zhiping's pupils constricted, and his expression changed drastically for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. “I don't know what you're talking about. A concubine? I sold her off a long time ago.”

　　Though it was just a fleeting moment, it was enough for Xie Jue to confirm his suspicions.

　　He took a step back, his thin lips curling into a chilling smile. “Even if you wish for death, it won't do you any good.”

　　“I am the Dali Temple Chief Justice and also in charge of the Imperial Prison in the capital. I've solved countless difficult and mysterious cases. A small silver case like this is nothing. Even if you die, I will continue to investigate. Finding the person behind you will only take some time; it's not difficult.”

　　“The most important thing is, I have a bad temper and hold grudges. I've killed countless people. Once I find that person, even if you're dead, I will send your daughter and the child in that concubine's belly to hell together. You won't be able to protect them.”

　　Cao Zhiping's face was filled with anger, his eyes almost bulging. “You—”

　　“I'll give you a day to consider. As long as you speak up, I guarantee I can save their lives. Whether you believe I can find out the truth or you continue to cover for that person, the choice is yours.”

　　With this kind of person, as long as you find his weakness and are even more ruthless than those behind him, you can threaten him.

　　Xie Jue coldly left a sentence and turned to leave.

　　Cao Zhiping is a fool; without giving him time, he won't be able to understand the stakes involved.

　　Pei Yuan had someone guard the place and immediately followed.

　　“Cao Zhiping is now caught between two difficult choices; no matter what he does, he's dead. Your Highness, do you think he'll speak?”

　　Xie Jue replied, “Tomorrow will reveal everything.”

　　Pei Yuan nodded. What His Highness had just said was truly shocking; it sounded even colder and more impatient than usual. Although the case had made some progress, His Highness didn't appear pleased.

　　After a moment of thought, Pei Yuan dared to ask, “Your Highness, is something bothering you?”

　　Upon hearing this, Xie Jue suddenly stopped in his tracks.

　　He turned his head and gave Pei Yuan a faint glance before continuing to walk forward with an expressionless face.

　　Pei Yuan scratched his head in bewilderment. The case is progressing, so why isn't His Highness happy?

　　It doesn't make sense.

　　Or is there something he doesn't know, or did he inadvertently disturb His Highness? (T/N: LoL, this silly guy. 😂)

　　——

　　Xie Jue left the prison and returned to the Golden Gate Inn after Hai time (9 PM to 11 PM). After changing into clean clothes, he returned to his room. Inside the silken tent, Yun Ling was already asleep, her breathing calm and even.

　　Perhaps she was tired, or perhaps she was sleeping soundly; she didn't wake up when he returned.

　　She slept quietly, her black hair falling onto the pillow. Her face was turned towards the inside of the bed, revealing only half of her delicate face. In the dim candlelight, her skin was fair, her lips red, her eyebrows delicate, and her nose exquisite. Even asleep, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

　　Xie Jue didn't intend to wake her. He lifted the curtain, took off his boots, and got into bed.

　　……

　　Yun Ling used to be a light sleeper in the palace, easily awakened by the slightest sound.

　　Over the years, after constantly moving from place to place and finally settling down in Meiyang County, her sleep became more peaceful. But she would still wake up at certain times.

　　The light in the silken tent was dim. Yun Ling's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze falling upon the hazy gauze curtains.

　　She had slept quite well. Thinking that he might not return, she hadn't waited for him and had fallen asleep without realizing it.

　　Just as she thought about getting up, she suddenly felt a heavy weight resting on her waist.

　　She paused for a moment, her awareness fully returning.

　　Her back was pressed against a warm, solid presence, and she realized that she was enveloped in his embrace. The arm resting on her waist was his.

　　When did he come back? How did he manage to be so quiet? He didn't even ask her to get up and serve him. She had been completely unaware of his presence.

　　His body heat and scent enveloped her, a pervasive warmth that spread through the covers. Held in his arms, her body remained stiff and still.

　　Perhaps her movements had awakened him; his arm shifted slightly, and his voice, still husky from sleep, murmured, “Awake?”

　　“Yes,” Yun Ling responded, maintaining her position without turning around. “Your Highness, when did you return last night?”

　　“At Zi time (11 PM to 1 AM).”

　　“So late.”

　　“Mm.” Xie Jue closed his eyes again, but still held her close.

　　Warmth and fragrance filled the silken tent.

　　His arms, strong and powerful, gently tightened, enclosing her completely in his embrace.

　　After lying still for a while, feeling his breathing even out, Yun Ling slowly and carefully turned around to get up. As she gently sat up, she saw his dark, bright eyes looking directly at her. He hadn't been asleep at all.

        She froze for a moment, “Your Highness, you're not sleeping?”

        Xie Jue looked at her without moving, speaking slowly,

        “I woke up, and then I couldn't sleep.”

        Her smooth black hair cascaded down her slender back, her small face fair and lovely. She was wearing a white sleeping garment, delicate and soft. Holding her in his arms had allowed him to sleep peacefully through the night.

　　For a long time, he had wanted to do this—to hold her in his arms, to possess her freely, even losing control a few times. In the Eastern Palace, although most of his thoughts were consumed by her, he was reluctant to admit how soft-hearted, indulgent, and infatuated he was with her.

　　The gentle yet stubborn woman had unknowingly filled his eyes and heart.

　　Seeing him awake, Yun Ling sat up straight and softly asked, “Your Highness, do you want to get up? I can help you change.”

　　Just then, as Grand Eunuch An entered with water, both the Prince and Yun Ling were already awake.

　　But the Prince was still standing by the bed, looking down as Yun Ling carefully arranged his clothes.

　　Grand Eunuch An chuckled softly, placed the water down, and quietly withdrew.

　　After their morning ablutions, Grand Eunuch An had the breakfast brought in. At that moment, Pei Yuan rushed in to report, “Your Highness, Cao Zhiping suddenly died in prison last night!”

　　The room fell silent instantly.

　　As soon as there was a hint, someone had already slipped into the prison to kill him. They were certainly quick!

　　Xie Jue sat down impassively, lowered his gaze, and took a sip of ginseng soup before quietly asking, “Did he confess last night?”

　　A long night naturally brings many dreams. Xie Jue wouldn't truly have let Cao Zhiping consider it for a whole day.

　　It was merely a ploy to lure the killer.

　　Pei Yuan smiled, “He did.”

　　“And the assassin has also been apprehended.”

　　Cao Zhiping was also involved, but he wasn't the mastermind. He wasn't stupid either; he'd left a trail of correspondence as a safeguard. His dying wish was for the Prince to protect his family.

　　Xie Jue curled his lips slightly, “Excellent.”

　　“Issue my order, arrest them.”

　　Pei Yuan: “Yes.”

　　Yun Ling was also very pleased. The 200,000 taels of silver had been recovered. Not only was the case solved, but it was also good news for the people of Yunze.

　　After Pei Yuan left, Yun Ling asked, “Your Highness, did you already know who the mastermind was?”

　　He simply lacked evidence. So, while he appeared to be investigating the case, all his actions were designed to force the mastermind to reveal themselves, to sacrifice a pawn to save the king. And in doing so, he gathered the evidence.

　　“Yunze is rife with incompetent officials, many of whom bought their positions for a hefty price, and it all points to the Provincial Governor of Yunze,” Xie Jue said coldly. “Qin Yi. He was demoted to Yunze by the old emperor over a decade ago, yet he remained arrogant, resentful, and greedy. He's nothing but a mediocre talent; I wonder how he achieved his past successes.”

　　Yun Ling was puzzled, “Was the Provincial Governor's previous record really that impressive? If he's truly incompetent, how did he achieve that? Could it be some secret method?”

　　Xie Jue replied, “I'll know once I interrogate him. His intentions behind stealing the disaster relief funds likely involve something else.”

　　Yun Ling nodded, feeling more reassured.

　　In any case, it seemed that the relief funds were finally on their way to being recovered.

　　……

　　From the beginning, Xie Jue had a clear idea of the mastermind behind the silver case while reviewing the backgrounds of all the officials in Yunze. However, without evidence, he couldn't easily convict anyone.

　　Before Cao Zhiping died, he not only confessed the identity of the mastermind but also provided evidence of his interactions with the Provincial Governor of Yunze, Qin Yi. With both witness and material evidence in hand, Xie Jue ordered troops from the capital to apprehend Qin Yi and imprison him in Zezhou.

　　With the mastermind captured, the silver case was essentially resolved, pending only the discovery of the hiding place for the two hundred thousand taels of silver.

　　Once the location of the hidden silver is discovered and the silver case is concluded, Xie Jue will leave Yunze and return to the capital.

　　This means she will also leave Yunze, and it's highly likely she will never return again in her lifetime.

　　After packing her belongings in her room, before leaving, Yun Ling still wanted to visit a few temples in Dianji.

　　Then she heard the Crown Prince say, “I've already had people check. No one here has seen your amulet.”

　　Yun Ling was startled, “Your Highness, how did you know I wanted to ask about that? And how did you manage to have people check...?”

　　Xie Jue turned to look at her, “Since you want to find out about your origins, I will also take this matter to heart.”

　　“However, Yunze is quite large, and it's unlikely we can complete the search in a short time. Once we return to the Capital, I will send the most skilled Jinyiwei investigators to look into it.”

　　Staring at him for a moment, Yun Ling swallowed, not expecting him to be so concerned.

　　Pressing her lips together, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

　　Xie Jue merely gave a soft “Hmm.”

　　Yun Ling put down the packed bag, walked to his side, and asked, “Your Highness, will you return to the Capital after you go to Zezhou and find the hidden silver?”

　　Xie Jue: “What? Are you reluctant to leave this place?”

　　“No,” Yun Ling shook her head.

　　The mastermind had been caught, and the silver case was resolved. Yet, she still had one unfulfilled wish.

　　If she returned to the Capital, it would be difficult to come back here again. But if she didn't fulfill this wish, she wouldn't have peace of mind.

　　She took out a clay figurine she had made from her bag, with the three characters ‘Wú Shēng Píng’ carved on the back. “That's my master's name. Your Highness, do you remember? I had a master in the Palace, a horse breeder. His hometown is in Pengshui County, just below Zezhou. His wish was to one day return to Pengshui and be buried there. I couldn't bring his ashes with me when I left the Palace, so I made this clay figurine. I plan to build a cenotaph for him. It's a way to fulfill his wish.”

　　She also wanted to recover her master's indentured servitude money and the deeds to his family's land from his uncle.

　　Actually, if he hadn't come to Meiyang County, Yun Ling had planned to visit Pengshui County after settling down in Meiyang.

　　She hadn't gone before because she wasn't secure enough in Meiyang County; she was still wanted. It would have been unwise to show herself. She also learned that her master's uncle, the family that sold him into the Palace, was living a prosperous life, a local official of some standing. Powerless and without influence, she knew that ordinary people couldn't fight officials; going would only bring sadness.

　　He was right about some things. In this world, without power, you can't even protect yourself, let alone avenge your loved ones.

　　But she also knew that under the current circumstances, he wouldn't let her leave his side easily. So, she pretended to want to run away earlier to make him suspicious. He misunderstood her, and naturally felt guilty. This was all to make it possible to make this request now.

　　She was afraid she wouldn't have another chance after returning to the Capital, and she didn't want any regrets.

　　Therefore, she absolutely had to go to Pengshui County.

　　However, he was going to Zezhou to interrogate Qin Yi, so he wouldn't have time to accompany her. She would have to go alone.

　　“This is my only wish, Your Highness, please grant it?” Seeing him remain silent, Yun Ling anxiously grasped his hand. “If Your Highness is worried about my safety, you can send someone to protect me and accompany me.”

　　The situation was very similar to when she wanted to go to Guanyun Temple before. But this time she didn't intend to run away, though she understood why he might be suspicious.

　　“I really just want to personally retrieve what belongs to my master, and it would be much easier to do so with Your Highness's influence. Once we leave Yunze, I'm afraid I won't have another opportunity. Your Highness is overseeing the regency, and once the silver case is settled, you'll return to the capital. Where would you have the time to accompany me to Pengshui County and waste time?” Yun Ling explained earnestly. “So, while Your Highness is investigating the silver case, I'll settle the matter in Pengshui County and then return to Zezhou to meet up with Your Highness. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?”

　　Xie Jue's face was dark, and he pried her fingers apart one by one. “This matter, I will not agree.”

________________

Glossary:

Here's how the ancient Chinese timekeeping system worked:

- 12 hours: The day was divided into 12 “hours,” each lasting two modern hours.

- Starting point: The first hour, Zi (子时), began at 11 PM and ended at 1 AM.

1. Zi (Rat - 子时): 11 PM - 1 AM

2. Chou (Ox - 丑时): 1 AM - 3 AM

3. Yin (Tiger - 寅时): 3 AM - 5 AM

4. Mao (Rabbit - 卯时): 5 AM - 7 AM

5. Chen (Dragon - 辰时): 7 AM - 9 AM

6. Si (Snake - 巳时): 9 AM - 11 AM

7. Wu (Horse - 午时): 11 AM - 1 PM

8. Wei (Sheep - 未时): 1 PM - 3 PM

9. Shen (Monkey - 申时): 3 PM - 5 PM

10. You (Rooster - 酉时): 5 PM - 7 PM

11. Xu (Dog - 戌时): 7 PM - 9 PM

12. Hai (Pig - 亥时): 9 PM - 11 PM

Important Note: This table shows the traditional correspondence between the hours and the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The exact timing of these hours could vary slightly depending on the time of year and location.

….

T/N: This chapter is so sweet and highlights Yun Ling's cleverness! Best FL ever! Xie Jue also shows significant character development; sweeter, though still tsundere as always. 😂 

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