Chapter 249: Whoever Dares to Harm My Husband, I

"As for my purpose today… it truly is to ask a favor," Gao Yang said bluntly.

"I hope my aunt can consent."

"Oh?" Zheng Guanyin asked in surprise, "You really do have a request, huh?"

What her situation is now, Gao Yang could not possibly be unaware of.

Frankly, she's just an ordinary woman under house arrest—what help could she possibly offer to Gao Yang, the favored Princess?

After the surprise, Zheng Guanyin did not refuse at once, but said, "Then tell me, I was only being polite earlier. If there's anything I can help with, I will certainly not decline."

Gao Yang first showed a look of delight, then switched to a sorrowful expression: "It's like this."

"A few days ago, my husband was used by a treacherous man, who, through his hands, caused a great uproar in the court; even the Duke Cai Duke Du Ruhui, who was recuperating at home, was slandered, forcing Father Emperor to imprison him in the Heavenly Prison."

"Originally, that would have been the end of it, since the treacherous man only borrowed my husband's hand and used him a little; it was nothing serious."

"However, yesterday my sister and I missed home, and my husband said he would take us back to Chang'an for a few days. Yet today, as we were returning to Chang'an, General Niu Jinda came to the door, urging my husband not to go back, saying Chang'an is in chaos now; my husband has already been used once, and if he steps into Chang'an again, he may be exploited again."

"Nevertheless, my husband insisted on returning, claiming he is just a peripheral figure and will only stay a few days; no matter how the turmoil in Chang'an spreads, it cannot reach us."

At this point, Gao Yang paused, sighing plaintively, "To be honest, aunt, my sister and I have repeatedly urged my husband with General Niu, but he simply would not listen."

"Although, strictly speaking, that turmoil that caused court chaos does not directly affect my husband, it ultimately originated because of him."

"The old saying goes well: not afraid of ten thousand, only afraid of that one chance."

"Now that my husband is returning to Chang'an, my heart keeps pounding nonstop, and I have a persistent bad premonition."

"Relax," Zheng Guanyin comforted patiently, "Actually, your husband has some point. A few months ago I heard he went to Weinan County to take up the post of County Magistrate, and you went with him."

"A County Magistrate may wield considerable power locally, but in the grand scheme of the court, he is indeed a minor figure; no matter how chaotic the court becomes, what does it have to do with your husband?"

"Even if you say you're only staying a few days, what difference would it make even if you stayed longer?"

"Your husband indeed holds great power in Weinan County, but once he comes to Chang'an, he is merely an ordinary county lord; those high‑ranking figures above will not pay special attention to him."

"Of course, if you're truly worried, you could return to Weinan County with your husband earlier," Zheng Guanyin said with a smiling reassurance.

"That's what they say." Gao Yang shook her head and sighed, "But I recall my husband once told me: no matter what, never hand over the initiative to others; that's an extremely foolish approach."

"I would rather make a mistake than do nothing at all."

"Is this why you came to see me today?" Zheng Guanyin first clarified, then asked in doubt, "But I don't think I can help you much in this regard."

"You can." Gao Yang, eyes smiling, "No matter how you say it, you were once the Crown Princess, and my uncle once gathered so many confidants, many of whom benefited from his favor. You, you hold an astonishing network of connections in your hands."

She didn't give Zheng Guanyin a chance to speak, continuing, "I don't need you to do much for me; I just need you to contact some people and deliver a message to the treacherous man who exploited my husband."

Zheng Guanyin's smile gradually faded; she lifted the tea cup beside her and took a gentle sip.

"What message do you want me to carry?"

"It seems I can't say 'carry a message,'" Gao Yang pretended to ponder, her previously gentle expression gradually turning cold: "Instead of saying carry a message, please, aunt, help me beg them."

"Beg them! Raise your noble hand! Stop thinking about using my husband and dragging him into this."

"Is that alright?"

"What if they refuse?" Zheng Guanyin asked.

"They refuse…" Gao Yang seemed a bit disappointed, "If they refuse, there's nothing I can do; I can only ask them to die!"

Her tone was very calm, so calm that it seemed she were recounting a trivial matter.

Zheng Guanyin's eyelids couldn't stop twitching; Xiang Lan and another maid no longer dared to listen, silently stepping back.

Gao Yang spoke to herself, "I am a woman, a married woman, currently pregnant, soon to be a mother."

"For me and the child in my womb, my husband Chen Yan is the most important person; after all, only if he is well can I and the child be well."

"It is commonly said that women are outwardly expressive, and a married daughter is like spilled water; I think this saying makes sense—no matter what others do, at least for me, Chen Yan is my whole world."

"And I am more than willing to stand behind Chen Yan, to be treated by him as a woman without much sense, for as he says, a life of bickering and playfulness is not a kind of happiness?"

"But if someone repeatedly exploits my husband, this brainless woman will also go mad," Gao Yang said with a smiling gaze at Zheng Guanyin.

Although she smiled, Zheng Guanyin felt a bone‑chilling cold, her hair standing on end, and her breath halted.

A moment later, Zheng Guanyin said in a deep voice, "That's only your speculation; perhaps the person you mentioned never intended to continue exploiting…"

"Is this important?" she began, but Gao Yang cut her off, looking seriously, word for word, "Aunt, do you think this is important?"

"I already said before that handing the initiative over to others is the most foolish act; I don't want to gamble that the 'scoundrel' won't exploit my husband. What I want is to absolutely prevent this from happening."

Zheng Guanyin's breathing suddenly grew rapid; her fingers beneath the wide sleeves dug deep into her palm, drawing blood without her noticing.

Gao Yang's words were so blunt; how could she not realize that Gao Yang had already identified who was behind all this?

However, even though Gao Yang knew it was her, she still changed the original treacherous man to a scoundrel.

How is that different from pointing at her nose and cursing her directly?

A junior dares to act like this……

Anger exploded in her chest, Zheng Guanyin felt her vision blacken, while Gao Yang remained relentless.

"Aunt, as the niece once said, 'marry the chicken, follow the chicken; marry the dog, follow the dog.' My husband insists on returning, and I am also helpless, so I can only seek your help."

"Please be sure to deliver my words to that scoundrel; I, Li Zhaotang, am not a kind‑hearted person; anyone who dares to move my husband, I'll fight them to the death!"

"......"