30 Chapter Thirty

◎I drank some wine during our last wedding night and thought it was a dream, but now I'm completely sober. ◎

Chapter Thirty

Putting aside their past grievances.

With such an icy expression and a chilling aura, this was the Xie Lang that Wei Mingzhao knew.

Seeing him like this, Wei Mingzhao felt a little better.

"I've heard that Lord Xie is currently investigating the Regent's wife."

Upon hearing this, Xie Lang immediately turned serious and narrowed his eyes: "How did you know?"

Wei Mingzhao scoffed, "If Wanyan can't find her mother-in-law for a day, she won't sleep well for a day. How could I not know that?"

Before Xie Lang could react, Wei Mingzhao seized the opportunity to threaten him, saying, "It's quite a coincidence that I've obtained some information. If Lord Xie wants to know, he'll have to do me a favor."

Xie Lang squinted: "What is it?"

"I am often away from home due to official duties. If your wife is free, please have her visit the residence more often and have a chat with Wanyan."

Upon hearing this, Xie Lang sneered: "You hurt Xie Wanyan in the past, and now you're acting like a decent person?"

They were once brothers who shared their hearts and souls, but now, though separated and barely reconciled, they know best where to stab each other that hurts the most.

"Xie Wanyan did not want to marry you in the first place."

Wei Mingzhao's face also darkened: "Whether she wants to marry or not, she is now the mistress of my Wei family and has raised two children for me. Even if she dies, she will be buried with me!"

That's hard to refute.

Xie Lang turned his head and swallowed his anger, then said impatiently, "I agreed, so what is it?"

Wei Mingzhao scoffed at him: "Lord Xie seems to dote on his wife quite a bit, but he's nothing special."

Seeing that Xie Lang was about to change his expression, Wei Mingzhao stopped talking and got down to business, "I received news that the Regent's Consort entered the manor the day after your mother passed away. Isn't that a coincidence?"

Xie Lang did not respond, his tense face relaxing slightly.

Wei Mingzhao suddenly understood, his gaze turned icy, and he raised an eyebrow, saying, "So Lord Xie had already guessed it. No wonder he suddenly wanted to welcome Lady Liu into the manor."

He bowed to him with a sarcastic gesture, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"Lord Xie is indeed as ruthless as ever, willing to sacrifice himself for what he wants. I admire him."

Wei Mingzhao flung his robes and left, while Xie Lang stood frozen in front of the damp tunnel wall for a long time.

My mind is racing.

If my mother-in-law really faked her death to escape, then given the bond between her and my mother, my mother might not actually have passed away.

Overwhelmed by his turbulent emotions, Xie Lang's eyes reddened, and he slammed his fist into the blue brick, instantly turning his knuckles into a bloody mess.

After a while, when Xie Lang returned to Jialan Garden, he put on his gentle and kind mask again.

Liu Qingqing had temporarily put away the Crimson Sun Silk and the Pearl of the East Sea.

This gold ingot is a real problem; it certainly wouldn't do to put it in the main room. Just as she was wondering what to do, Xie Lang returned. Xie Lang, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed her hesitation.

Without hesitation, he took off his private vault key and handed it to her: "If you have nowhere else to put it, just leave it here."

Liu Qingqing looked puzzled.

Xie Lang explained, "This is the key to the private vault. Now that I've given it to you, it's yours from now on."

Liu Qingqing was surprised: "For me?"

Xie Lang nodded: "The private treasury is yours, and the things in it also belong to you, Madam. I hope you will treat me well in the future."

What's wrong with her these past few days? She's been getting hit repeatedly, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.

But now is not the time to talk about that. Since Xie Lang has given it to her, and Liu Qingqing is already his legal wife with whom he has consummated their marriage, there's nothing she wouldn't dare to accept it. Besides, having such a priceless reward laid out in broad daylight is making her uneasy.

It's best to put it in the private treasury, which is guarded by the government guards and is much better than putting it in the main house.

The burly man kicked open the exquisitely carved door with a single kick.

Seeing that everything was settled, the couple prepared to go out.

This was the first time the two had gone out together since their marriage.

As soon as Liu Qingqing boarded the carriage, she noticed the fine cloth wrapped around Xie Lang's hand. Xie Lang followed her gaze and lowered his eyes to look over it, then put his hand back to his side and explained in a low voice, "I accidentally hurt my hand."

Liu Qingqing glanced at him, then looked down at the fine cloth. "The weather is getting warmer lately, my husband, please be careful."

Xie Lang nodded in agreement, and Liu Qingqing said nothing more.

The original plan was to go out of the city for a vegetarian meal, but when the carriage stopped in front of Jialan Residence, Liu Qingqing turned around in surprise to look at Xie Lang.

Before Liu Qingqing could ask, Xie Lang said, "I'm afraid you won't be used to vegetarian food. Let's eat here and then leave the city."

Liu Qingqing nodded, feeling a warm and comfortable sensation in her chest.

Xie Lang was indeed a rare upright and virtuous man in the capital, and he treated her better and better each day.

Perhaps it was fate that made her exchange him for the difficult days of living under someone else's roof in the Liu family.

After entering Jialan Residence, Xie Lang scanned his surroundings and glanced at Liu Qingqing as if by chance, observing her expression.

If the Regent's wife is indeed his mother-in-law, then everything makes sense; the Regent's wife must be secretly protecting him. The question is, does his wife know this?

He should have realized long ago that the little girl who had been neglected in the Liu family for many years could not have grown into such a beautiful young woman.

But his wife was looking around, as if everything was new and exciting.

Did she know that Jialan Tower was the property of the Regent's wife? Didn't she find it strangely coincidental that the name of their courtyard was the same?

If she knew, then her acting skills would be truly exceptional.

But then I thought about the storybook she hid, and her inner self that was different from her outward appearance.

Xie Lang lowered his eyes and curled his lips, thinking to himself that his wife always seemed to give him unexpected surprises.

Xie Lang took even better care of her during this meal, and even personally served her the dishes.

For the first time, Liu Qingqing felt a sweet joy welling up inside her, and her gaze towards Xie Lang seemed to be laced with honey. The love that she had sealed deep within her heart finally flowed out uncontrollably.

Xie Lang returned the smile with a faint smile.

In a particularly good mood, Liu Qingqing ate a large meal without realizing it.

Just then, Xie Lang suggested going out of the city for a spring outing to digest their food, and Liu Qingqing readily agreed.

To her shame, she had never been out in spring.

She only heard her father and brothers take Liu Qingying on a spring outing, and heard Liu Qingying say how wonderful the spring outing was when she returned home, but she didn't know what the spring outing was like.

It must be a lot of fun, right?

Otherwise, why would Liu Qingying always be so animated when she mentions it?

Not long after leaving the city, there was a tea stall, and next to it was a kite stall.

Liu Qingqing peered curiously through the window, and Xie Lang then told the coachman to stop.

Xie Lang patted her shoulder lightly: "Go pick one."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing turned around abruptly, her eyes sparkling like stars. "Really?"

Xie Lang chuckled: "What's fake about that?"

Liu Qingqing's eyes curved into a smile, and she suddenly leaned down and gently hugged him. In a moment, she turned around, got off the carriage, and picked up a kite.

This was the first time she had ever seen so many different styles of kites!

Xie Lang curled his fingers slightly, and seeing that she couldn't decide for the time being, he got out of the car after a while.

Liu Qingqing was carefully selecting a kite not far away. Xie Lang looked around and whispered, "There seem to be fewer beggars in the city these days."

An old man who was adding firewood to boil water nearby heard this and replied, "Your Excellency is unaware of this, but today some kind-hearted people are distributing porridge outside the city. It's quite a spectacle; they say it's enough to feed the refugees in the capital for a year."

"Even though it's just porridge, it's better than nothing. Some of the guys drank it for a few days and then went back to work. At least things have settled down. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to set up a tea stall here; it would have been taken over long ago."

Xie Lang nodded knowingly, then asked, "Does the old man know who is distributing the porridge?"

The old man frowned and thought back, "I really don't know, I only know that I asked the temple abbot to distribute porridge. I haven't seen any kind people come."

He exclaimed in admiration, praising, "This person is not doing anything for fame or fortune, but only for practical purposes; truly a great act of kindness."

With the refugees filling their stomachs, petty theft and other crimes in the city decreased, as did disputes with the city's residents. For a time, the capital city even seemed to be thriving.

That's exactly right.

Xie Lang became curious about this great philanthropist who did things anonymously.

If this person does things without seeking fame or fortune, then what is it for?

Before long, Liu Qingqing finally chose her kite.

The two chose a clearing in the mountains. Xie Lang stood beside her and whispered instructions on how to place it. Liu Qingqing listened attentively and carefully manipulated it.

Their fingers touched involuntarily, and as the kite steadily soared into the sky, they smiled at each other.

Liu Qingqing was filled with heat and had never felt so happy.

On the way back to the city, Xie Lang accompanied her to the clinic and shops again.

Today was a hurried day, and there wasn't time to investigate further, but Xie Lang's submissive attitude towards his wife still deterred those with ulterior motives. Unfortunately, the old doctor who had sent Liu Qingqing and her husband for a checkup last time was out on house calls today.

He didn't do anything, just followed behind her like a silent warrior.

The clinic owner, who had been so arrogant last time, turned pale with fright.

Those watching couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

The rumor that Lady Xie was not favored by Lord Xie was thus dispelled.

On the carriage back to the manor, Liu Qingqing was puzzled as to why time was not enough and why he still had to accompany her to prick her feet at every place.

Xie Lang didn't answer, but changed the subject, saying only, "Madam, don't look down on yourself. If you want to do it, then do it."

After a long silence, Liu Qingqing opened up to him for the first time.

She turned her head slightly to look at him, her voice as light as willow catkins, "But I'm afraid."

When traveling, Xie Lang always kept his distance from others.

But then he took her hand with his own, saying, "What's there to be afraid of? You still have me."

He tightened his grip on her fingers, "Don't be afraid."

The next day, Xie Lang was busy again, working from dawn till dusk. Sometimes, when she couldn't go home, she would send someone or have a white dove inform her.

Even when he returned home late at night, you could see that his cheeks had become noticeably thinner.

Liu Qingqing then realized that he had squeezed out time to be with her that day, and that he had changed his mind recently. Why did he accompany her on this trip? It was just to let the world see that he was supporting her.

This experience gave her a taste of the kind of marriage described in storybooks.

Days passed by.

Before we knew it, it was the fifteenth day.

I drank some wine during our last wedding night and thought it was a dream, but now I'm sober.

Liu Qingqing had been nervous since evening, thinking that Xie Lang had been busy lately and might not be coming back tonight.

I want him to come back, but I'm also afraid he will.

When they first got married, the thought of sharing a room was perfectly normal, but after consummating the marriage, he became shy and embarrassed, feeling like he had a rabbit in his arms, unable to find peace all day long.

After dinner, I really couldn't stand or sit still.

They had hot water brought out, sprinkled flower petals, and let the child soak in the bathtub for a good while.

His skin relaxed, and when he came out of the bath, he hadn't returned yet, and the tension in his mind also eased.

I didn't wait any longer after nightfall.

He blew out the candles and went to bed, crawling under the thin blanket and staring blankly at the ceiling.

I can't say whether I feel relieved or disappointed.

It tastes strange, like syrup and vinegar mixed together.

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.

In the quiet night, the creaking of the wooden door sent chills down Liu Qingqing's spine. She pulled the blanket over her chest and sat up abruptly, looking towards the doorway.

[Author's Note]

Next chapter preview: He thought... he wasn't addicted to women.