Chapter 34 I am who I am. Xie Dang's voice was hoarse, "I was wrong."...

Thank you twice in one summer

The soft pillow became damp without my noticing.

Xia Rushi, amidst Xie Pan's deep, reasoned voice, managed to cast aside her troubles and fall asleep.

Xie Pan stood like a gatekeeper, firmly blocking the way in front of the dormitory.

Xie Dang did not know when Xie Pan returned to the military tent.

When his hair was frosted over and the sunlight stung his sore eyes, he realized he had been standing there all night.

The golden rays of the sun climbed up the clouds, scattering a light, golden glow across the ground.

A faint sound came from inside the room, and Xia Rushi got up. Xie Pan immediately came out of the military tent upon hearing the sound. He glanced at his brother, who was standing blankly in the courtyard, and then went to fetch hot water to take to the room.

There were no servants to attend to Tingzhuxuan. Since Xia Rushi arrived, Xie Pan had been doing everything himself.

Xie Pan was very busy, bringing in water. A little while later, he took out the used water and poured it away. Then he brought in the breakfast that Uncle Ya had brought back.

Soft voices filled the room, the man's voice deep and the woman's voice gentle, each taking turns speaking.

They treated him as if he were invisible, doing whatever they wanted with him.

He watched them live their lives like this every day, just like a married couple. Even more down-to-earth than he and she had been back then.

At that moment, he suddenly understood what Xie Pan meant by disgusting.

Even though he knew that at least for now, Jia'er and Xie Pan hadn't crossed any lines, and were even behaving within acceptable bounds, the scenes unfolding before his eyes made him feel suffocated, and he wished he could gouge his eyes out so he wouldn't be able to see anymore!

You only know the pain when the knife pierces your own skin.

It hurts a lot.

It hurts so much...

Amidst the morning hustle and bustle, Xie Dang quietly departed alone.

He carried the sword and headed straight for the small courtyard where the secret prison was hidden.

He is a reliable person.

Today I have come to report that the "bandits" who appeared out of nowhere were indeed hired by the Lin family.

She's certainly generous and willing to spend money; she's a true daredevil.

However, Xie Dang's men still managed to find some clues and follow them to uncover the truth.

There is one more thing.

It was Pei Cong, who had saved his life before. He thought Pei Cong was Lin's deceased husband, but he was still alive.

It's true that I was poisoned at that time, but not enough to kill me. From that day on, I went into seclusion in a small village on the frontier.

I never expected it to be found so easily.

However, he had previously trusted Pei Cong, who had saved his life, but due to a moment of carelessness, he was tricked into this situation.

Xie Dangli stood there listening, but his soul felt as if it had already died once.

"Should we re-examine the Lin family?" Wei Mingzhao asked tentatively.

He hadn't even returned home for his wedding these past few days; he'd just stayed here. He knew how important this moment was to Wanyan.

Wei Mingzhao stared intently, afraid of making a mistake.

After a while, Xie Dang shook his head.

"To murder a woman of noble birth is a crime punishable by death. Furthermore, to harm others is an additional offense, and the punishment will be combined!"

"And... what about Lin's son?"

Wei Mingzhao quietly raised his eyes and asked.

Xie Dang remained expressionless, seemingly lost in thought. "You decide what to do."

His voice trembled.

If Wei Mingzhao is left to handle it, he'll definitely go all out.

That means they're not going to care anymore, they're not going to protect them.

Wei Mingzhao's eyes darted around, and he felt relieved, but only half relieved until everything was settled.

Wei Mingzhao acted swiftly, informing the Dali Temple that very day. However, he concealed the fact that it involved a man and a woman, only stating that it was a murder.

Not to mention Xie Lang was the former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and now he has been promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

The Dali Temple is extremely efficient.

For multiple crimes, the most severe punishment is death by a thousand cuts.

Before Lin fainted in the dark cell, she kept pressing on the deep wound that Xie Dang had stabbed her with his sword.

That was the only thing Xie Dang had ever willingly left for her...

Before losing consciousness, Lin was both crying and laughing.

She struggled to crawl to her son's side, only able to touch his cold fingertips, which she then gripped tightly.

She regretted it.

I wish I hadn't gone to the Golden Water Bridge. If I hadn't gone to that bridge, I wouldn't have seen the man who would be etched into my soul.

What did she gain after all her scheming?

Fearing that Lin would die too soon, the execution was scheduled for noon today.

Wei Mingzhao used his connections to get Lin Shi a special spot.

Wei Mingzhao visited the Marquis's residence and returned to Tingzhuxuan for the first time. He didn't dare to look around and spoke respectfully with his eyes down.

Upon hearing the news, Xia Rushi was only momentarily lost in thought before continuing to pack her bags.

Xie Pan watched longingly from the side.

"What about Lin's son?" Xia Ru asked.

Wei Mingzhao choked, wondering how to explain. He planned to kill the man that very night. But he feared that if he spoke, Aunt Jia might think he was ruthless. His reputation had already been poor since joining the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

They were all children she had watched grow up, so even if Wei Mingzhao didn't say it outright, she could tell just by looking at him.

Xia Ru sighed, "The child is innocent after all, let's not go too far."

Wei Mingzhao lowered his head: "Understood."

Then they gave him some medicine to make him forget everything, and then they'd see if he was tough enough to survive.

Upon receiving the order, Wei Mingzhao hurried off, for if he returned too late, he would be killed.

Xie Dang watched Lin Shi breathe her last, and only after that did he return to his residence.

But they didn't go to listen to Zhuxuan.

He suddenly remembered that Lin had said she had touched him from head to toe hundreds or thousands of times while he was asleep.

I felt nauseous and kept gagging.

He had hot water brought in, and he soaked in it, scalding his skin until it turned bright red.

He used a loofah to scrub every inch of his body repeatedly until the bathwater turned bloody.

He stared blankly at the large expanse of red until the water had completely cooled down.

He never imagined that he would be separated from Jia'er; they were meant to live to old age together.

He felt a cool sensation on his face, and when he raised his hand to touch it, he realized that he had shed tears.

Xie Dang looked in the direction of Tingzhu Pavilion and could vaguely see the gentle candlelight there, but the mist gradually obscured his vision, making it impossible for him to see clearly.

With the courtyard wall collapsed and no longer obstructing his view, he could even faintly hear her voice.

She was talking to Xie Pan, her voice light and cheerful, just like she always had to him.

He realized that his relationship with Jia'er was over, and that Jia'er had no chance of forgiving him.

The following morning, Xie Pan received an urgent order and went to the main camp.

Her skin was sore and bleeding, and every inch of her body trembled with pain as her clothes brushed against it. Xie Dang remained unfazed, and in the morning she carefully washed herself again, changing into her favorite moon-colored brocade robe.

Inside Tingzhu Pavilion.

The high-ranking and powerful Marquis Xie Dang knelt before Xia Rushi, lowering his noble head.

He tried to touch her with trembling hands, but she thought he was dirty, so his hand froze in mid-air.

When he reached out his hand to her, he revealed his arm, which had just scabbed over.

Xia Rushi knew what was going on at a glance.

"Xie Dang, I hope you are well."

As Xie Dang suddenly looked up, Xia Rushi continued, "It's not for anything else, but for you, for the Zhongwu Marquis's mansion, for my children to be well."

Xie Dang's suddenly bright eyes gradually fell silent, and his lips moved as he murmured something.

He wanted to say something, but he was too ashamed to speak. Anything he said at that moment would seem like an excuse.

"I know I was wrong."

Xie Dang's voice was hoarse, "I was wrong."

Xia Ru stared at the top of his head and then noticed that he already had a few gray hairs.

They were childhood sweethearts, had children, and were about to grow old together, so why did he get distracted and start holding someone else's hand?

Is there anything wrong with her?

My heart ached terribly, and though my lips moved, I said nothing.

Saying anything now would be futile.

Xia Rushi turned around and closed the door. Leaning against the door, she closed her eyes and finally shed two lines of tears.

I don't know if it was for myself or for him.

The soft sound of the door closing felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, bending Xie Dang's straight back.

Xie Dang slowly lowered himself, resting his forehead on his hand, tears falling silently.

-

The increasingly tense situation on the border prevented Xia Rushi from leaving.

Hearing that war was imminent, Lang'er went to Yingcheng early. After a while, Wei Mingzhao also went, and Xia Rushi was no longer able to leave; she had to stay in the capital to protect her children.

To Xia Rushi's surprise, one day someone stopped in front of her carriage and said that someone from the Regent's Palace wanted to see her.

Xia Ru was suspicious. She reached for the dagger hidden in her clothes, hesitated for a moment, but then followed the man.

Unexpectedly, after entering the gate of the Prince's Mansion and passing the screen wall, she saw her close friend whom she had not seen for a very long time.

Even after so many years, she recognized Ying Yi immediately!

Ying Yi is alive!

After the initial surge of joy came lingering doubts—does my beloved know this?

This was the first question she asked after their reunion.

As expected, Ying Yi's eyes immediately reddened, and Xia Rushi's heart skipped a beat. After Ying Yi told her the whole story, Xia Rushi couldn't hold back her anger and, as always, gave Ying Yi a good scolding.

Given their respective positions, these words were already considered an overreach.

Ying Yi has changed; she is no longer the same as before.

Ying Yi showed no airs of a princess in front of Xia Rushi, covering her face and crying out in pain, asking her what to do.

Xia Rushi felt uncomfortable seeing this and sighed, but what could she do about it?

She was quite heavy-hearted after leaving the Regent's Palace.

I feel sorry for Qingqing.

Then I realized that the capital city is truly a captivating place, and people's hearts are easily bewitched.

Xia Rushi packed her belongings and placed them in the cabinet. With the outbreak of war on the frontier, the court issued an order that Xie Dang and Xie Pan must both be ordered to go to war.

The two went to fight the enemy in different directions.

The Northern Qiang and Northern Rong tribes were coming with overwhelming force, leaving no time for sentimentality. Both of them quickly packed the necessary items.

The army will set off early tomorrow morning.

The entire mansion was brightly lit that night, yet it was eerily quiet.

Every time Xie Dang went to the battlefield, it was Xia Rushi who packed his bags.

With a formidable enemy at hand, everything else had to be put aside. Xia Rushi readily put aside recent events and continued preparing clothes and medicine. She carefully packed the Yanluo Pills she had obtained from Ying Yi, along with the Baiyu Ointment. Various prescriptions were prepared.

However, unlike before, this time Xia Ru prepared two sets of everything.

Just as Xia Rushi was finishing packing, Xie Pan returned from the camp and followed silently behind her.

His lips moved, and he mustered the courage to say something. But then he clenched his fists and swallowed all his words back.

Time waits for no one.

Just as I finished packing my bags, someone came from outside urging me to leave early.

"Xie Pan".

Xie Dang called him from outside.

Xie Pan took the baggage she gave him, and after a long pause, he managed to say, "If I come back, will you come and get me?"

Xia Ru smiled at him, as if casually smoothing his wrinkled collar, and gently agreed, "Okay, I'll come pick you up."

Xia Ru glanced at Xie Dang standing by the hanging flower gate, looking utterly lonely. His usually bright eyes were now incredibly dull. He was about to go to the battlefield to protect his country, and Xia Ru didn't want to bother with his petty matters.

After seeing Xie Pan to the courtyard gate, Xia Rushi nodded and smiled at Xie Dang, "You all have to get home safely. We're all waiting for you at home."

Xie Dang's eyes reddened, and he nodded emphatically at her.

Wearing a veil, Xia Rushi accompanied the old lady as they saw the person out of the city.

Outside the city, there were ordinary people seeing people off. No matter how noble their status, once the army set off and looked back from afar, they would just be ordinary black dots.

"The situation in the world is unstable."

The old lady patted her hand. "I know you want to leave, but you can't now. Why don't you stay and help me in the manor? Who knows if there are wolves and tigers lurking in the shadows, trying to take a bite out of the Marquis's manor?"

Xia Ru looked at the layers of figures in the distance.

Their ordinary love and hate become so insignificant in the face of great changes in the world and the insecurity of human life.

Regardless of what happened before, she hoped that both of them would be well.

As for what happens next, we can only say if we come back alive.

The Northern Qiang and Northern Rong tribes had been lying low for over a decade, waiting for this battle, and then launched a multi-pronged attack with the ferocity of tigers and wolves.

That fierce stance made it look like they were about to bite off a piece of meat!

The locals called the soldiers there "Northern Demons," with their red faces and angry eyes, seemingly oblivious to pain.

In the initial engagement, our army suffered heavy casualties. Fortunately, Xie Lang noticed something amiss and, together with Wei Mingzhao, dispatched multiple teams to destroy the opium hidden in the military supplies by the Northern Qiang and Northern Rong.

After losing the opium, the opposing two armies began to show signs of weakness.

Who isn't afraid of death or pain?

Our army seized the opportunity to catch up, capturing ten cities in succession and killing several of their generals!

For some reason, Xia Rushi was restless that day, her eyelids twitching.

I felt uneasy, as if something was about to happen!

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Author's Note: Next Chapter Preview:

After passing out, Xie Dang realized that his soul had floated out of his body.

He stood there for a while to catch his breath, then drifted towards Tingzhu Pavilion.

He floated back inside and saw a scene that made his eyes widen in horror.