The Princess And The Lord

Because Zhao Li Xin left abruptly and quickly so the news came far too late for the Zhuang family, Zhuang Mu Tao was in his study room when he received the news coincidently Jiang Yu Ran was there too. Zhuang Mu Tao's eyebrows knitted closely although he knows he can't delay Long Ming any longer however he still feel disenchanted.

He waved his hand to sign his servant to leave the room. Jiang Yu Ran calmly sips his tea elegantly, the ship had left for almost a day and yet no one dare breaking the news to the Zhuang family, Jiang Yu Ran is convinced it was Hei Shen doing.

Zhuang Mu Tao displeased expression made the corner of her lips faintly curved "What are you upset about, you already delayed Long Ming departure for almost three days, it's already a miracle Long Ming didn't retaliate to us" she sneers while gently put down the teacup on the table next to her.

"Still is sooner than I thought" he snorts in discontent.

Jiang Yu Ran rolls her eyes, did her stupid husband want to provoked Long Ming until he kicks their manor front gated and slaughters them all like the Lu clan and heavenly Jade Pavilion, does he think infuriated Long Ming is a joke? she is too tired to rebuked her husband so she swallows her anger "Whatever, I just here to announce you that I send Mu Zi to Ping Guo village for treatment, is quite far from here but it suits for his condition, you are fine with it right?" she said casually.

he is startled, no one told him about this before "Ping Guo village? Is that at the Liang Zu kingdom territory?" Zhuang Mu Tao peered towards her.

"Is that a problem?" she look completely oblivious.

"You send him so far away…" Zhuang Mu tao gnashes his teeth.

Jang Yu Ran stunned but then giggles "What, are you suddenly worry about him? oh, Please" she waved her hands in jest "You never care about him even when he is young and healthy and now he is crippled and sick you suddenly grow a conscience?" she mocked him, she knows his husband character too well, is there anything Zhuang Mu Tao lack in his life it is 'conscience'.

He squints his eyes then lifts the wine cup and walks towards her "He is still my Son…" he said righteously then he takes a seat opposite her.

Jiang Yu Ran didn't hide her disgusts toward him "You have another son, Zhuang Bao Jie he is more capable and stronger compare to Zhuang Mu Zi beside you have so many concubines who know which one of them would bear another Son for you..." she said with cynical smiles while pouring herself another cup of tea.

"If it's a long time ago, I would think that you are jealous of me" he smiles faintly there's a flashed of melancholy in his eyes but it's disappeared before Jiang Yu Ran could see it. 

Jiang Yu Ran sneer in disdained "You can think whatever you want my dear husband" she said calmly without an ounce of sentimental feeling left in her eyes. She finishes her tea then raised from her seat "I should not bother you any longer dear husband, have a nice day" she bowed her head politely like a good subordinated then she walked toward the door.

"What if I say no!" 

She halted her footstep as she turns around with a frown, Zhuang Mu Tao put down his wine cup then clasped his hand above his stomach as he waiting for Jiang Yu Ran's reply. As a wife how could she not understand her husband's temperament, That man is a control freak he likes the feeling that everyone should follow his order regardless other than his old man Zhuang Zhen Yu everyone without exception has to follow his order, including her.

Jiang Yu Ran did follow everything he said just like a brainless doll or at least that's how she presents herself in front of him but one thing she could never pretense is her feeling for him.

Zhuang Mu Tao has realized since a long time ago that the woman who stands in front of her is not the same young woman who was madly in love with him, she used to stare at him with passionate eyes that could melt even his cold heart but now that fire has nowhere to be found.

Zhuang Mu Tao hated to admit that he missed that young woman, so sometimes he deliberately provoked her just to see the flare in her eyes once again although is not the same but is better than the cold gaze she uses to gave to him.

"Doesn't matter, he already left…" she said calmly.

Zhuang Mu Tao expression darkens "You dare send him away without my permission? who do you think you are?!" he hits the armchair violently.

Jiang Yu Ran's expression didn't change, she's not even startled "Is your father that gives me permission if you still remember your father is still the patriarch of the Zhuang family, doesn't he?" she quipped. 

Her word only make him more furious "So you went behind my back instead!" he stood from his chair with fist clenched at his side.

Jiang Yu Ran found his anger is ridiculous "Why are you so mad, Zhuang Mu Zi is heavily ill he had no used to be here and his courtyard is a wreck so why forces him to stay there, he had no used anymore he might not live for too long so why wasted money for him and your father agree with me, besides who is Zhuang Mu Zi anyway, he just a boy without a mother and maternal family, why are you worry so much" she said with nonchalant attitude but Zhuang Mu Tao knows better.

"Jiang Yu Ran!" he shouted loudly "Don't treat me like a fool, you think I don't know you've been protected him all this time, I don't know why you pay so much attention to other woman son don't you remember you have another Son!" he berated her for taking away Zhuang Mu Zi, not because of love but mostly because he is a control freak, and Zhuang Mu Zi remind him with that woman. the woman who hated him until the day she died.

"I REMEMBER!" she shouted back at him "And I've been done everything as a good mother should! but you kept Bao Jie away from me because you worry one day when he grows up he would use him as a weapon against you and you use Mu Zi to incited his dissatisfaction towards me, do you think I don't know it?" a look of bitterness swept across her face.

She doesn't know since when he become warry with her he kept Zhuang Bao Jie from her, he spoiled Zhuang Bao Jie rotten, gives everything he wants and never gives him punishment, while Jiang Yu Ran who is concerns with her son future so she becomes more strict to Zhuang Bao Jie.

the harder Jiang Yu Ran to Zhuang Bao Jie the more Zhuang Mu Tao spiled him, he make Jiang Yu Ran as the bad guy, and when Zhuang Bao Jie old enough he used Zhuang Mu Zi to caused a rift between the Mother and Son and so the distance between her and Zhuang Bao Jie got deeper.

There's slight remorse crept inside his heard but his pride pressed that uncomfortable feeling deep inside him before it make him feel anything more. Meantime Jiang Yu Ran shut her eyes as she tries to control her anger, is no used to angry right now, she can't change the past so why bother to think it over.

She takes a deep breath then slowly open her eyes, the anger is still there "Rather than worry about me and Mu Zi, you better worry about that woman Lao Min Na, I don't know why you trust the woman who has no qualm to betray her own fiancé and seduced other men" she scoffed.

"Do you know it was Zhao Yi Chen who protects her when she was bullied at the Lao Manor but when he mysteriously ill she suddenly left him with the reason searching for the medicine and yet she runs around with Jin kai and even lived in Mystique lake for a long time, do you think a woman like that can be trusted?" she lifted her chin arrogantly.

"If she can treat his benefactor like that what would she do to us" Jiang Yu Ran snickered then turn around but before she left she said again "Lao Min Na is a great alchemist and physician but suddenly Zhao Yi Chen is sick and no one can't cure him. Do you ever wonder why Zhao Yi Chen suddenly sick?" after she said her piece she pushes the door open and left out the room leaving Zhuang Mu Tao with a distraught expression.

Jiang Yu Ran didn't bother to explain further it's such a wasted to talk with a petty man like Zhuang Mu Tao since he won't believe her either. When she got out the old maid and another young maid has waiting for her just a few steps outside the study room.

"Madam, something wrong?" the old maid worriedly said. The old maid is her nanny and part of her dowry, she is more like a family than a servant for Jiang Yu Ran.

"Nothing more than the usual, thankfully we had sent Zi'er right away" she sighs.

"Thankfully they work very fast so everything went smoothly" the old maid smiles in relief. The 'they' that she mentions is Hei Shen sect members, t was them who proposed the plan to move out Zhuang Mu Zi before something else happened. 

Jiang yu ran went behind Zhuang Mu Tao to persuaded her father-in-law first, unlike Zhuang Mu Tao who is more tricky his father is more efficient, once Zhuang Mu Zi lost his value he lost his interest to him instantly so Jiang Yu ran used the mysterious incident yesterday as an excused that Mu Zi condition worsens than ever and need to recuperated somewhere far away, she hinted her father-in-law that she intend to wipe her hand cleans from Zhuang Mu Zi.

Zhuang Zhen Yu had no problem, Zhuang Mu Zi never have so much value in a first-place after all so get rid of him is not a hard decision and he doesn't think his son would mind either since Zhuang Mu Tao never pay any attention to Zhuang Mu Zi and just like that Jiang Yu Ran managed to send Zhuang Mu Zi out and Yu Qin out of the manor less than a day.

Jiang Yu Ran sits on the small pavilion in her garden, the old maid pours a warm tea carefully. Jiang yu ran waves her hands and the old maid and the other maids left her alone. She looks down at the teacup in front of her, slowly she lifts the teacup, she could smell the nice fragrant from the tea leaves and she smiles before she takes a sip.

Her rigid face turns relaxed, a warmed smiles bloom on her face "He will be safe right now, the thing I could do for you, this time I could do it for your Son….he is free right now" Jiang Yu Ran let out a long exhales she feel the heavy burden in her shoulder finally gone, she looks heavenward and lift her teacup to the air "Be at peace sister…" A gentle warm breeze suddenly came as it caresses her cheeks softly, Jiang Yu Ran close her eyes and smile.