Even though he was a bit annoyed, Helian Duo still went to wash a clean towel and gently wiped the wound for her.
"You're really a heartless father," she said.
After he applied the ointment to the wound, Cheng Xiran murmured in reply, "I'm not unaware of what kind of person he is. I had anticipated a situation like this today."
To her surprise, Helian Duo smiled upon hearing this. In that smile, Cheng Xiran always felt there was a hint of cruelty, not a pure one.
"Do you know that Cheng Zhiyue and Helian Yue's wedding is approaching?"
Cheng Xiran was rather stunned. "How could that be? Weren't they supposed to get engaged early next month?"
"The Empress Dowager means to skip the engagement and have her directly married into the family," Helian Duo said with a deeper smile in his eyes.
Cheng Xiran suddenly felt a chill and couldn't help shivering. She still wondered, "Why? Is it because the rumor of them spending the night together was spread and the Empress Dowager thought it was immoral?"
Seeing Helian Duo shaking his head, Cheng Xiran began to ponder.
Noticing the charming smile on his lips, she seemed to understand everything in a flash. She lowered her voice and guessed, "Is Cheng Zhiyue pregnant?"
Everyone present was stunned.
While packing the medicine box, Helian Duo replied in a deep voice, "Although there are no imperial physicians coming and going in the Cheng Mansion, based on my years of experience in dealing with things, it's indeed so. Think about it. Which woman in the world would be willing to compromise on her marriage for a lifetime? And if you're observant, you should also notice that Cheng Zhiyue's state has been different from before recently."
Helian Duo was right. Cheng Zhiyue always cared most about her reputation. For her to compromise, if there were no more serious reasons, it was estimated that even Prime Minister Cheng wouldn't want his daughter to be wronged. Then the only possibility was that she was pregnant and had to get married earlier to avoid being despised by others in the future.
Suddenly, Cheng Xiran's eyes lit up and she got excited. She said with a smile, "Then there will be a good show to watch!"
Helian Duo echoed, "Don't worry. Since they hurt you, I definitely won't let them off easily."
Hearing this, Zuo Yan went out first. "Since the prince is taking care of the young lady, we'll leave first!"
Zhuque and Yun'er also followed him out. Not long after, Yun'er came back and pulled Mu Li, who was still standing there without any sense of propriety.
In the empty room, only the two of them were left.
"It's my fault. I didn't think things through. I've been busy meeting the envoys from Yulin Kingdom these two days and didn't think about this matter for a moment."
Before Cheng Xiran could reply, she was suddenly embraced by Helian Duo. "You can rest assured. As long as I, Helian Duo, am alive, I'll protect you for one more day. This kind of thing will never happen again in the future."
Actually, no matter what sweet words he said, they couldn't compare to this one hug.
Who made her such an easily satisfied little woman?
Before Cheng Xiran could answer, Helian Duo paused and then continued, "After this period of business is over, we'll also get married. Of course, we won't be like Cheng Zhiyue. We won't miss any of the wedding ceremonies. By then, I'll make you the happiest woman in the whole capital city."
Cheng Xiran was touched. Unable to hold back, she gave him a "smack" on his cheek.
Helian Duo was stunned at first, then leaned over to ask for more. He thought Cheng Xiran would dodge, but she actually cooperated very well. Their lips met, and they were very happy.
A moment later, Cheng Xiran sat facing the window and watched Helian Duo's figure gradually disappear. She suddenly felt that the moonlight tonight was so beautiful. Even though it was a crescent moon, it had its unique beauty.
Early the next morning, she was woken up by Xue Lianyu.
"Xiran, hurry up and get up. Something terrible has happened!"
Although this guy was standing in the yard when he said this, he was shouting at the top of his voice. There was no way Cheng Xiran couldn't hear him.
She sat up on the couch gloomily. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Zhuque looking at her anxiously. Seeing her wake up, Zhuque quickly said, "Miss, you're finally awake!"
"What's going on? I was sleeping soundly..."
Cheng Xiran lay down again.
But she heard Zhuque say in a hurry, "Reporting to the miss, something has happened to the newspaper office. No, it's Cheng Zhiyue's newspaper office that has an issue!"
"What does the trouble with her newspaper office have to do with me?" Cheng Xiran pulled the quilt over her head.
"Alas, it's Cheng Zhiyue. In today's newspaper of her newspaper office, there are all kinds of tabloid articles about the miss and Young Master Xue. Most of them are fabricated, but they seem very real. Even the fact that Young Master Xue just went to the mansion to visit the old lady has been distorted by her!"
Cheng Xiran sat up "swish" and quickly got out of bed. "I knew it. Xue Lianyu never comes without a reason. I didn't expect there really was a big problem!"
After washing and dressing up, Cheng Xiran opened the door and saw Xue Lianyu sitting on the railing with a bitter face.
Seeing her come out, he quickly approached. "Xiran, something terrible has happened!"
Cheng Xiran pouted. She took the red bean cake handed by Zhuque, took a bite, and then replied, "Don't be afraid. You and I are innocent. No matter how indecent the articles she writes are, just ignore them."
"This won't do. Haven't you read that newspaper?"
As he was speaking, Xue Lianyu took out the newspaper from his pocket and handed it to Cheng Xiran. Then he continued, "Mu Tou went out early in the morning. I couldn't find him. Otherwise, how could I have woken you up?"
"Cheng Xiran is promiscuous. First, she tried to seduce Xue Lianyu but failed. Then she tried to seduce the Regent. How did she manage to handle these two men so skillfully? What kind of sorcery did she use?"
Cheng Xiran read it out with a smile.
Xue Lianyu got even more anxious. "Why are you still saying it out? Don't you think these words are so shameful?"
Cheng Xiran laughed even more. "It's me who is being criticized. You're the victim. Why do you feel ashamed?"
"Xiran, this is not something to be joked about. If the common people really believe her words, you won't be able to hold your head up in the future!"
Xue Lianyu tried hard to persuade her.
Cheng Xiran didn't care at all. "Do you think I'll be afraid?"
But Zhuque stood on Xue Lianyu's side and advised, "Miss, why don't you ask the prince's opinion? After all, people's words are terrifying. If this matter isn't handled properly, it will be troublesome for the miss's future life."
Cheng Xiran chose to ignore it. She casually threw the newspaper away, turned to Xue Lianyu, and asked, "Have you had breakfast? It's still early. You probably haven't. Let's go out and eat wontons together?"
Saying that, she was about to pull him, but Xue Lianyu dodged to the side. "What time is it? Don't you know how to avoid suspicion?"
Cheng Xiran got angry for no reason. She rolled her eyes at him. "Go if you want, or not. I'll go by myself!"
Suddenly, she thought Xue Lianyu was such a useless guy. She wasn't even in a hurry yet.