Chapter 42: Chen Yan: You gonna hit me?

Chen Yan!!!

Princess Gao Yang stormed into the Bo Mansion, her eyes blazing with fury, as if about to erupt.

Chen Yan, get out here for this princess!!

She fixed her glare on a passing maid and demanded sharply.

The maid, panicked, hurriedly replied, 'Princess, I've been busy cleaning the rooms; I don't know where Lord Bo went!'

The maid wasn't telling the truth; after all, she'd been in the Bo Mansion for years and knew that if Chen Yan hadn't gone out, he'd most likely be sunbathing in the back yard or fiddling with some strange gadgets.

Still, even if she knew, she didn't want to say.

Because Chen Yan treated them extremely well, never scolding or beating them, giving them four days off each month to visit family, and paying them very high wages.

As a long-time servant of the Bo Mansion, she naturally understood that Princess Gao Yang and Chen Yan were on bad terms; they'd even fought once before in the mansion.

Seeing Princess Gao Yang storming over in anger, the maid guessed she meant no good and therefore didn't want to reveal Chen Yan's whereabouts.

Princess Gao Yang, still seething, didn't suspect anything and began searching the Bo Mansion.

The maid attending her, Xiang Lan, could no longer hold back and advised, 'Princess, Marquis of Weinan might have gone out; he's not in the mansion. Shall we head back?'

'I'll wait for him in the Bo Mansion!' Princess Gao Yang gritted her teeth, saying, 'Today I must ask him what he's up to.'

'I'm his fiancée, yet he's gone and written a poem for Changle!'

'Lines like "Outshining antiquity, lotus blushing at jade cheeks"—is he trying to make me die of anger?!'

Within the Imperial Palace, she and Changle were close in age, both being princesses, and often gathered to chat and relieve boredom.

Today, with nothing to do, she went to Changle's princess residence to find her.

Unexpectedly, upon entering, she found Changle holding a sheet of paper, dazed, not noticing her arrival.

Curious what Changle was looking at, so engrossed, she walked over to have a look.

At first, seeing the line 'Outshining antiquity, lotus blushing at jade cheeks' on the paper, she was surprised by the quality of the verse but didn't think much of it.

But when Changle noticed her come in and saw that line, she became very flustered, her eyes flickering with guilt.

Princess Gao Yang sensed something off and quickly asked where the poem came from.

Changle hemmed and hawed, refusing to say, and kept trying to shoo her away, no matter how she pressed.

At that moment, Princess Gao Yang's intellect skyrocketed, and she instantly turned into a Sherlock Holmes.

Recalling that Changle had been running to the Weinan Bo Mansion the past two days, plus the fact that Chen Yan had just composed the immortal poem 'Invitation to Wine,' she immediately demanded of Changle whether the poem was Chen Yan's work.

Although Changle didn't admit it, Princess Gao Yang noticed that when she uttered Chen Yan's name, Changle's guilt intensified, confirming her suspicion: the poem was definitely Chen Yan's.

Princess Gao Yang instantly exploded with rage.

What is this?

She was clearly Chen Yan's fiancée, the one he was to spend his life with.

It would have been bad enough if he hadn't written her a poem, but instead he wrote one for her imperial elder sister.

And it was a beauty poem, no less!

How could she possibly accept that?

She immediately rushed to the Weinan Bo Mansion!

Chen Yan, I know you're home—get out here now!

Princess Gao Yang kicked open the main hall door, stepped inside, saw no trace of Chen Yan, and immediately went to search each room one by one.

The servants of the Bo Mansion dared not stop her, only able to watch helplessly.

Xiang Lan was near tears, 'Princess, we really should leave now, or else...'

'What would happen then?' Princess Gao Yang glared, fury uncontainable: 'He Chen Yan has already wronged me—does he dare to strike me?'

Xiang Lan bitterly replied, 'Princess, do you really think the Marquis of Weinan wouldn't dare?'

'This... this is the Bo Mansion!'

Compared to Princess Gao Yang, Xiang Lan was far more sober.

From previous encounters, what does the Marquis of Weinan have to fear?

He even dared to strike Princess Gao Yang in the Imperial Palace, let alone in the Bo Mansion.

She thought, what's the difference between Princess Gao Yang's action and her own walking right up to let the Marquis of Weinan strike her?

Xiang Lan's words reminded Princess Gao Yang of her previous beating, and she unconsciously covered her rear, her face showing a hint of unease.

But Princess Gao Yang remained defiant, not the least bit cowed: 'So what if it's the Bo Mansion?'

'Last time, if it weren't for my carelessness letting that hateful Chen Yan seize the chance, who'd hit whom was still uncertain.'

Hearing this, Xiang Lan hastily urged, 'Princess, but they outnumber us—we'd lose if we fought!'

Princess Gao Yang sneered, 'What, do the Bo Mansion servants dare to lay a hand on me?'

'Get out of my way—I don't want to argue about this!'

Having said that, she shoved Xiang Lan aside and continued the search.

Xiang Lan couldn't do anything else, worried about the princess's safety, so she reluctantly followed.

Soon, the mistress and maid had searched the front courtyard, still finding no sign of Chen Yan.

Princess Gao Yang hesitated not, taking Xiang Lan straight to the back courtyard.

Upon entering the back courtyard, she immediately saw Chen Yan lounging in a bamboo chair, belly up with little Sizi, basking contentedly in the sun.

Qing'er stood helplessly beside Chen Yan, and seeing Princess Gao Yang approach, whispered, 'Young master, Princess Gao Yang has come looking for you.'

'Come on then, worst case we trade blows—who's afraid of whom?'

Chen Yan gave a light snort, indifferent.

Little Sizi poked out his head, seeing Princess Gao Yang, and cheerfully greeted, 'Older sister, come take a look at me~'

Princess Gao Yang saw this, her anger value kept rising, she shouted angrily: "Chen Yan, what do you mean?!"

"Nothing much." Chen Yan, without lifting his head, said lazily.

Then explain to me, why did you write such a poem for Changle? Do you even know who your fiancée is?!

Gao Yang rushed up to Chen Yan, seeing he still had a lazy expression, she really wanted to kick him.

However, she still had her reason, out of consideration for Xiao Sizi's presence, she didn't act.

After hearing Gao Yang's words, Chen Yan froze for a moment, puzzled, asking: "What poem?"

"... Eh?" Gao Yang's aura stalled, she blinked, looking at Chen Yan's puzzled face, which didn't seem feigned, she was somewhat confused about the situation.

Could it be that the poem wasn't written by Chen Yan?

Suddenly, an idea popped into Gao Yang's mind.

Upon reflection, Changle seemed never to have said that the poem was written by Chen Yan.

It was all just her personal speculation, without any evidence.

Gao Yang's aura instantly weakened, and most of her anger dissipated.

After a silence of two seconds, she somewhat uncertainly asked: "Just that line 'Beauty obscures antiquity, lotus blossoms shame jade-like beauty', right? It has nothing to do with you?"

"Oh, that one." Chen Yan showed an expression of sudden realization, laughing happily: "That was indeed written by me."

"You hit me!"

Gao Yang:???

Chen Yan!!!

Inside the Weinan Bo Fu, a furious roar suddenly rang out!