Chapter 325: Explosive Argument

Five days passed, and the Marquis of Weinan's mansion grew increasingly lively; the entire estate was decorated in a festive, joyous manner.

From time to time, one could see servants bustling about everywhere.

And during those five days, Chen Yan stayed peacefully at home, never going out.

The people outside, as well as Cheng Yaojin's wife and others, thought Chen Yan was preparing for a grand wedding, so they didn't think further.

Only Gao Yang, who was his pillow companion, saw that Chen Yan had something on his mind, occasionally zoning out and often appearing absent‑minded.

Sometimes even her two short remarks, Chen Yan didn't argue with her.

Gao Yang grew a bit worried; when night fell and they were about to rest, she saw Chen Yan gently rubbing his own belly, as if feeling the child's movements inside. She wanted to say a few caring words, but when the words reached her lips, they turned into:

"Tsk, I'm telling you, have you had enough of touching?"

"Touching every day, touching every day, if you don't find it annoying, I find it annoying!"

"Moreover, you're still looking so absent‑minded—what girl are you thinking about now?"

Chen Yan: "......"

He was too lazy to argue with Gao Yang, withdrew his hand, and said, "If I don't let you touch, then I won't, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Stop babbling; keep babbling and I'll beat you up when the child is born."

"Ha, go ahead and try!" Gao Yang wasn't scared at all, sneering, "If you don't hit me, I already look down on you."

Chen Yan's mouth twitched; he almost forgot that this person has an M attribute.

He isn't scared at all.

He waved his hand, turned around, and said, "Alright, alright, I'll let you have a good time later."

Gao Yang:?

Originally, she intended to go along with the conversation, gradually bring up Chen Yan's recent worries, and then offer some comfort.

But now Gao Yang was truly angry.

Such matters were tacitly understood by the couple; both knew, and no one had ever pointed it out.

Yet Chen Yan's line "I'll let you have a good time later" was equivalent to stating her little hobby outright.

Gao Yang instantly erupted, clawing at Chen Yan and pulling him back.

"What do you mean? What does 'let me have a good time' even mean?"

"Do you really think I enjoy you pressing my feet? What kind of crazy idea are you cooking up, do you think I don't know?"

"We're all about the same weight; on what grounds do you say that?"

WTF!

Chen Yan exploded, sprang up from the bed like a leaping carp, and glared, "You're spouting nonsense!"

"What little thoughts do I have?"

"Aren't I doing everything just to make you feel a bit better?"

"It's one thing if you don't appreciate it, but you actually slander me?"

"I spit!" Gao Yang laughed in anger, "Make me feel better?"

"Do you want to see what you're saying?"

"You bastard, you're getting more and more shameless; you can even utter such brazen, disgraceful words."

"I'll ask you this: let me feel better—does that mean you press me in the morning, press me at night, press me when I'm in a good mood, and also press me when I'm in a bad mood?"

"I do nothing all day, just let you press my feet, and you still say it's to make me feel better!"

"I really want to kick you!"

"Ah, right, right!" Chen Yan, not wanting to be outdone, stuck out his neck and said, "Hey, you need some face!"

"But who was the one back then hopping around in front of me all day, constantly picking fights for no reason, deliberately provoking me, and then at night making sure the door was locked?"

"What kind of crazy scheme are you plotting, do you think I don't know?"

"Do you remember what you said back then?"

Chen Yan, choking his voice, mimicked Gao Yang's earlier tone: "Hey, haven't you eaten? You're so gentle, I'd have thought you were playing with me."

"Damn it, I always thought loving my wife required care, but you keep babbling and make me exert force."

"You're really too shameless."

Gao Yang's face flushed bright red; indeed, those were her words.

But that was before she was pregnant; since carrying the child, she has been very restrained.

Yet Chen Yan still brought it up.

Gao Yang, her big belly protruding, stood up and glared at Chen Yan.

The couple each refused to yield, spittle flying, their argument growing louder.

The words spoken would be enough to shame a seven‑foot man.

Fortunately, the Bo Mansion was huge, and their room was in the center with no one living nearby; otherwise the servants would have gotten a glimpse.

The two argued for a long time, eventually growing exhausted, dry‑mouthed, and lay back down.

For a moment, neither spoke again, only their breathing.

After a while, Gao Yang, hoarse, said, "I'm thirsty!"

"If you're thirsty, won't you get water yourself?"

"I'm cold."

"You're cold and you still argue with me?" Chen Yan retorted, but eventually softened, got up, and fetched Gao Yang a glass of water.

After Gao Yang finished drinking, he poured himself another glass.

Gao Yang watched Chen Yan return to the bed, his back to her, and the anger in her heart lessened considerably.

His tone softened.

Husband, do you have something on your mind?

"Yo, I've become a husband again?" Chen Yan's expression was hard to put into words, both angry and amused.

"Ah, tell me then." Gao Yang twisted Chen Yan's body over, took his hand and placed it on her own belly, "Consider it for the sake of the child, okay?"

Her eyes sparkled, a stark contrast to the irritable, quarrelsome demeanor she had just shown with Chen Yan.

There was a hint of coquettishness.

Chen Yan instinctively gave a gentle touch.

Six months along, when he felt with his hand, he could already sense the child inside moving.

Occasionally, he could even see Gao Yang's belly being lightly nudged.

Chen Yan's heart softened instantly, "It's not really a secret, I'm just pondering a few things..."

Then, he relayed to Gao Yang both the words Prince Wei had said to him last time and what Du Ruhui had told him.

As a married couple, there's nothing that can't be said.

Moreover, Gao Yang is usually very tight‑lipped.

After listening for a long while, Gao Yang frowned and said, "Father Emperor won't harm you."

Chen Yan rolled his eyes, "I never said your Father Emperor would harm me; that's not what I'm thinking about."

"Mainly, since I returned, whenever I recall Cai Duke's words, I find them contradictory—he clearly saw the problem early on yet kept silent, instead first dragging me into something about the Champion Marquis, then bringing your Father Emperor into it."

"What he told me sounded fine at first glance, but upon careful thought, one realizes there's a hidden meaning behind his words."

"He first gave an example about Emperor Gaozu of Han, saying this and that, leading me to a misunderstanding, then immediately refuted it."

"Then he said His Majesty values emotions highly, and later added another twist, reminding me that His Majesty has a scale in his heart; when that sentiment threatens him, he will discard it without hesitation."

"There are many other things; later he even brought up why you are favored, and the weight Empress Changsun holds in His Majesty's heart."

"He only told me the crux of the issue after he finished laying out the problem."

Chen Yan sighed gloomily, "Sometimes I really want to hammer this group, because they never speak clearly, they're not at all frank; their words are always clouded, forcing me to guess and infer."

Gao Yang empathized.

Because most people in the palace used to be like that, especially the concubines and such—truly.

"So, what does Cai Duke actually mean?"

Chen Yan replied silently, "He's reminding me, and also guiding me."

"......"