Chapter 63

◎I want to see him alive, or I want to see his body if he's dead.

Chapter Sixty-Three

They didn't know where the young lady had gone either.

At first, we were overjoyed that Miss was alright! But then we panicked. Where did Miss go without a word? Why didn't she give them a hint? Did she just leave like that? She's been lying in bed for seven days with no one to take care of her. What are we going to do?

Xie Lang's cold, sharp gaze swept over them one by one. Granny Li was heartbroken, Qingju was bewildered, and Zhao Pansheng pretended to be calm.

Xie Lang seemed like a completely different person. His gaze was cold and his whole body exuded a murderous aura. He immediately ordered, "Order the Dali Temple to investigate the case. Temporarily seal the city gates, strengthen the search, and no one is allowed to leave the city!"

"Xie Wu, you interrogate her."

After saying that, he pointed at Zhao Pansheng.

Xie Wu was immediately startled, his gaze darting around, but he steeled himself and walked up to Zhao Pansheng, calling out in a low voice, "Miss Zhao..."

Zhao Pansheng's eyes flickered: "I don't know either..."

An eerie silence fell over the main room, as if even the air itself had frozen. Xie Lang clenched his fist and hissed, his knuckles cracking, sending chills down everyone's spines. The others were too frightened to move.

"It's alright if you don't want to talk about it, but just think about whether your young lady's body, after taking that medicine and lying in bed for seven days, can withstand such heavy rain outside?"

His voice, which sounded both angry and resentful, suddenly became hoarse: "She's always been afraid of the cold."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Pansheng suddenly looked up at the adult.

What do you mean by that, sir? How do you know the young lady took the medicine?

How could an adult know this!

A chill ran down Zhao Pansheng's spine, as if she were being watched by a ghost. Hadn't everything she had done during this time been seen by the adults?

What do adults know?

Such profound thoughts, how terrifying.

Just then, a bodyguard appeared and whispered something to Xie Lang.

"An hour ago, a servant saw the quiet maidservant who was usually by the lady's side leave Jialan Garden with a little maid."

Xie Lang immediately looked over, and his white, jade-like eyes were covered with red veins.

"Where did they go? Go find them!"

He uttered each word carefully.

The guards quickly left, and Xie Lang, unable to sit still, paced back and forth in the main room.

The rain outside was getting heavier, and every patter of the downpour felt like a blow to the hearts of everyone inside.

A suffocating silence spread through the room.

The three women, including Granny Li, gathered together and finally breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that it was Lin Mei who had taken the young lady away.

If we were to talk about the four of them, the one who is the most composed would be Lin Mei.

She possesses a worldly wisdom and an indomitable spirit that defies societal norms.

At that time, she refused to stay with her gambling husband, even if she was beaten, she would not back down or compromise. That's why her husband sold her to a brokerage firm in a fit of anger.

Before long, someone rushed in to report that someone had seen two suspicious people not far from the city gate. It was raining heavily at the time, but when they chased after them to question them, they saw the two people slip into a side alley. They couldn't find them, so they didn't look for them anymore.

There are suspicious signs heading straight for Jinshan Temple.

Xie Lang tightened his jaw and moved with lightning speed, disappearing before anyone could react.

Everyone was stunned.

Jinshan Temple.

It was that same naive young novice who opened the door. Seeing the person entering, dressed in luxurious robes and exuding an extraordinary air, he knew they were a noble person. But why did their face resemble that of a demon? It was quite frightening.

"The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has come to find you personally; do not stop him."

The attendant beside the nobleman whispered a threatening message, explaining his purpose.

The young novice was startled, never expecting that the Dali Temple would be involved. He quickly led the person to the side room.

But no matter how I thought about it, I couldn't believe that lady could be a bad person.

The lady's eyes were the clearest he had ever seen; the abbot said that only a truly virtuous person would have such eyes.

Those are the most genuine and benevolent eyes in the world.

Leading people to the door of the side room, the young novice monk retreated to the side.

Xie Lang hurried inside; the room had already been cleaned. Only the charcoal brazier still held a little warmth, and the room carried her faint, elegant fragrance—all traces of her presence.

The young novice monk stood guard to the side, feeling somewhat flustered. He wondered why there was such a large commotion, but secretly he felt relieved that the lady had left quickly.

"Lord Xie, what's wrong? Is something unusual?" The young novice monk pretended not to know.

Xie Langtong hadn't slept all night, and the black brocade robe he was wearing for the banquet at the Prince's mansion was already soaked by the rain, with water still dripping from the hem.

"As far as I know, Jinshan Temple does not allow worshippers to stay overnight."

His dark eyes gleamed with an eerie light. "Why did you keep them here?"

The young novice monk quickly replied, "You mean that lady?"

He suddenly realized: "That lady is a very kind person. Before the abbot went into seclusion, he told me that if that lady were to fall into trouble, I must not stand by and watch."

Why?

"My lord, you may not know this, but last year many refugees came to the capital and lingered in the suburbs. They were starving and there was a hint of unrest. When the lady came to offer incense that day, she learned of this and gave the temple a large sum of money to distribute porridge. Although it was thin porridge, it helped many people get through the ordeal."

Xie Lang listened quietly, raising an eyebrow slightly in surprise.

“At that time, I was worried with the abbot that these refugees couldn’t find work, and it wouldn’t work to keep giving them porridge. Later, I heard that the lady had replanted medicinal herbs on her estate and built a new house. We picked some good people to work for her. Although there weren’t many people, they all saw hope. Other landlords also hired some people. Seeing that there was hope, these people were afraid that their landlords would not be able to find work, so they stopped making trouble and most of them went to the right path.”

Xie Lang was stunned, and in a daze, he seemed to see her smiling kindly at these people.

She shines in a place he doesn't know, illuminating those around her.

But he... was completely unaware.

She never told him.

Why didn't she tell him?

He suddenly remembered the time he went to the farm to look for her, when Ying Yucheng was by her side, but at that time...

Is it possible for Ying Yucheng to know?

The young novice monk sighed, “It is so difficult for a woman to do this. Fortunately, the lady married into a good family. I heard that her husband is of a very good character and always follows her around, protecting and protecting her.”

Just as he was sincerely praising the lady, he inexplicably saw the lord's cold gaze and dark aura.

The young novice monk shut his mouth.

The young novice's words were like salt sprinkled on a wound.

He is her husband!

“That’s not her husband.”

He argued in a hoarse voice, then asked quickly, "Where did she go?"

So fast, as if afraid of being asked any more questions.

The young novice, oblivious to the danger, knew the nobleman was displeased, so he kept quiet, led the way to the door, and pointed in the direction the lady had left.

Following the direction pointed out by the young novice, Xie Lang walked ahead, his eyes scanning the surroundings like those of a hawk.

The mountain streams flowed swiftly, and the loess soil had long since turned into muddy, suffocating mud. Even before reaching the valley, one could hear the thunderous roar of the water, which was quite frightening.

Everyone became even more cautious.

"Can we find them? The current is so strong, I see trees being uprooted and swept away, let alone people."

"The chances of finding him are slim. Search carefully. It will get dark soon, and if he is unconscious, we will really be in trouble if we can't find him."

"Stop talking. Didn't you see how grim the adults' faces looked? I wonder which criminal has escaped, that's why they're searching so urgently."

"That's right, he must have committed a heinous crime, otherwise why would he flee here in this weather? He might even lose his life if he doesn't escape properly."

When Xie Wu caught up from behind looking for the adults, he heard all this and shouted sternly, "Shut your mouth and get to work!"

He approached the adult and saw him staring blankly at the torrent below. Rainwater flowed over the wounds on the adult's hands, and red droplets dripped down.

Xie Wu hesitated and whispered to him, "Sir, your wife is very fortunate and has a long life ahead of her. You...you should also take care of yourself."

Xie Lang never expected her to be so resolute. She had just woken up from taking the death-preservation drug and was already determined to escape from his side, going to such lengths!

His heart ached suddenly. How had he treated her badly? How had he made her so resolute?

There was a commotion ahead, and someone came running up quickly carrying something; it turned out they had found a shoe.

The shoe was stuck in the mud, covered in wet mud, and the pattern on it was no longer visible. There were rope marks at the ankle. Xie Lang's eyes suddenly reddened, and he wiped away the wet mud with his hand.

"My lord! Let me do it!"

Xie Wu knew that the master was very particular about cleanliness, so he hurriedly went to take it, but the master dodged him. Xie Wu was bewildered for a moment, then looked at the master and saw that the master's eyes seemed to be red, and his heart skipped a beat.

Her jade-like fingers brushed across the dirty shoe surface, finally revealing the pattern—it was the pair of red brocade shoes with tapestry patterns that she always loved to wear.

He clutched the shoe tightly and followed the man to the steep slope where the shoe had been found.

The slope was steep and muddy, with a raging torrent below. The guards had to be tied together in pairs with ropes around their waists before they dared to go down to search.

And what about her...?

The guard who found the shoes, unaware of the situation, assumed he was on orders to apprehend a wanted criminal. Upon seeing this, he couldn't help but beam with joy. "My lord! In this situation, that person must have fallen into the river. With the current so strong, it's impossible for anyone to come out alive once they fall in. They would have been swept to the bottom long ago. No matter how good a swimmer is, it would be difficult to survive."

Upon hearing this, Xie Lang took a step back and steadied himself against the tree trunk, his fingers gripping tightly. His gaze shot towards the guard like a sharp sword, and the guard immediately looked alarmed, wondering what he had just said wrong.

"Go away, go find some more." Xie Wu shooed the man away.

"Liu Qingqing"

The sound of the rushing water disturbed his peace of mind, making his heart pound. Xie Lang murmured with difficulty, "How exactly have I wronged you?"

His hands, clasped behind his back, were trembling slightly. His face was expressionless as he stared at the rushing water in the ravine.

He didn't understand. He thought he had treated her well, so why would she risk her life to leave him?

Time dragged on, like a sharp blade slowly cutting into one's body, subjecting one to excruciating pain.

Xie Lang stood alone on the cliff, while Xie Wu stared intently at the adult.

Just now, the lord said he didn't trust others and leaped down, startling Xie Wu so much that he broke out in a cold sweat! If anything happened to the lord, he would have to pay with his head to see the Marquis!

Unfortunately, even though the adults searched for it themselves, and searched for several hours without giving up, from dawn to dusk, there was still no trace of it.

"Search again."

Xie Wu couldn't help but advise him: "Your wife is so intelligent and methodical; she will surely be safe and sound."

Someone came to report this matter.

"Reporting to you, sir, we found chain marks on a tree trunk not far from where the shoes were. It seems the fugitive may have used that to escape."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wu breathed a sigh of relief!

Even a person of steel and iron will not be able to endure several days without sleep. Xie Lang staggered two steps and was supported by Xie Wu. Only then did Xie Wu realize that the adult's body was burning hot!

"Hurry back to the manor. Only when the master is fully recovered can we continue our search for the lady!"

Xie Wu earnestly advised, "Madam should have left safely."

Xie Lang's vision was blurry, but in his daze he seemed to see her figure, standing there turning around and smiling at him.

He reached out to her, then opened his eyes to find himself before a familiar curtain.

After a high fever, I feel completely exhausted.

He suddenly remembered that she had also had a fever a few times before, and felt the same way.

She lifted the quilt and was about to get out of bed when she turned her head and saw her grandmother sitting on a low stool by the bed, and she stopped in her tracks.

"What happened?"

The old lady said calmly, "The mansion has been quite lively lately, but no one has told this old woman."

Xie Lang frowned: "Grandmother, everything is fine here."

The old lady chuckled softly upon hearing this: "Nothing? Then where is my granddaughter-in-law? Why hasn't she come to see me?"

Xie Lang lowered his brows and remained silent, as if shrouded in thick fog.

Seeing him like this, the old lady couldn't help but sigh. Her grandson was still the same as when he was a child, so stubborn and unable to think straight.

"Lang'er, when will you get rid of your stubbornness and self-righteousness? You and Wei Mingzhao were so close back then, like brothers who would go to great lengths for each other. When the Wei family fell on hard times, you knocked him unconscious, tied him up, and hid him to protect him from being implicated. He didn't even get to see his family one last time before they were exiled. Later, his mother and niece died on the way, and from then on, you two fell apart. Have you ever thought about what Wei Mingzhao wanted?"

What does my granddaughter-in-law want?

Xie Lang was puzzled; he still didn't realize he had done anything wrong.

“But the Wei family has been framed. Only by keeping a spark can they have a chance to rise again. Are we going to let him act rashly and get hurt as well? If we do, the Wei family will have no chance of recovery, let alone revenge.”

After Wei Mingzhao joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he joined forces with Xie Lang to swiftly overturn the Wei family's case. However, they could never go back to the way things were before.

Xie Lang had no regrets. If he had let Wei Mingzhao go back then, given his personality, he might have been tied up and exiled along with him. It was better for him to tie him up.

“Lang’er, Grandmother didn’t say you were wrong, but other people are people too, and they have feelings. They can’t be as rational as you. You should always ask them what they think before you do anything. Grandmother talked to you about it back then, thinking you had learned your lesson, but who would have thought you would fall in the same place twice?”

Xie Lang remained silent, his hands supporting him on the bed, his head bowed, revealing the back of his neck. He showed a rare moment of bewilderment and vulnerability in front of his grandmother.

“You were different from other children when you were young; you always considered things carefully. Over the years, your grandmother thought you had changed, but she never expected that you were just good at pretending.”

The old lady sighed, "Is the same true for your marriage to Qingqing? Are you planning to dedicate two years of your time to her, sheltering her from the storms of life, but then feel it's not worth investing your whole life in her, so you're preparing for a divorce in three years?"

"When did my grandson ever say he wanted a divorce from her!"

Xie Lang immediately stood up and retorted in a loud voice, swaying as he barely managed to steady himself.

When did he say that? He never said that!

The grandfather and grandson looked at each other.

"What's the point of shouting like this now? Qingqing can't hear you anyway."

The old lady waved for him to sit down, but he did not move.

The old lady recalled with a faint look in her eyes: "If you didn't say why Qingqing was so sad, could it be that she was just imagining things? It must have been a rainy day. Qingqing said that she got caught in the rain that day and was delirious with fever when she thought about many things. Why don't you think about when you said that?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Lang's mind raced. Which rainy day?

Suddenly, she remembered that it seemed to rain exceptionally hard the day Liu and his son came to the manor, and she fell ill afterward. What did he say back then?

Xie Lang has an excellent memory; the words he spoke that day come back to him as soon as he thinks about them!

That day, Xie Wanyan came to the mansion and questioned him, asking if Qingqing would have nowhere to go if he divorced her.

He countered – how did she know he had nowhere to go?

What came before this...?

Liu Xu probed whether Liu Qingying had a chance to enter the Regent's Palace.

He said, "Qingqing is gentle and refined, but inferior to Qingying."

His wife entered the Marquis's mansion, and Liu Qingying was better than his wife, so she naturally had a chance to enter the Prince's mansion.

Everything made sense then; after that, she refused to share a room with anyone, her heart filled with despair.

Suddenly, a thunderclap struck Xie Lang's heart, and he slumped into his chair. He instantly remembered her swollen eyes, her forlorn expression, and the marks on her body…

"I'm not..."

He wanted to argue that he didn't mean it that way, and he also complained that she didn't ask him.

Wasn't he good to her?

The autumn rain falls on the rooftops and then down the eaves like pillars of rain. It's like someone's regret, or someone's tears.

A gust of wind blew, and the damp moisture blew onto Xie Lang's astonished face. It seemed as if a drop of water was getting into his eye, making his eyes red.

"Think about it carefully. You always feel that the affection is weak, you look down on people who are troubled by love, and you feel that this kind of petty love has nothing to do with you. Qingqing has already left as you wished, so why are you still looking for her?"

Seeing her grandson's bewildered and pained expression, the old lady softened.

She stood up and patted Xie Lang's broad, sturdy shoulder. "You've grown up. If you can't go on like this, then it's over. Don't look for anyone else. Didn't you already give her the divorce papers?"

After saying this, the old lady sighed deeply again before walking out...

This mansion looks so imposing from the outside, but who could know that it has long since turned to sand inside?

The footsteps faded into the distance, the sun began to set, and the room was shrouded in shadow. The slowly crawling shadowy mass swallowed Xie Lang whole.

When the night watchman's clapper sounded outside, the man's eyelashes, which seemed frozen in place, finally trembled.

He stood up; his legs were already stiff.

Xie Lang went to Tingzhuxuan.

He pushed open the door, ignoring the mute man's attempts to stop him, looked around, and went straight into the Second Hospital.

In the corner, under the shadow of bamboo, a lamp was lit, and his mother, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, was sitting at the table brewing wine.

Upon seeing him arrive, she simply pulled her rabbit fur brocade cloak tighter around herself and said, "You've come."

She seemed so light and natural, as if she hadn't disappeared for two years, as if she wasn't in her second uncle's courtyard.

It was as if... the person who signed the divorce papers for him wasn't her.

Xie Lang walked to the stone table, and Xia Rushi filled the wine cup in front of him. Xie Lang tilted his head back and drank the cup of wine.

Then I heard my mother ask, "It seems Qingqing has already left."

Xie Lang suppressed his anger, his hands clenching tightly on his lap. He asked, puzzled, "Why is Mother..."

"Why did I sign that divorce agreement for you?"

Xia Rushi laughed, "Do you expect Qingqing to be trapped in this Marquis's mansion and suffer all kinds of grievances? She's like a flower that's gradually withering, haven't you noticed?"

"It's a good thing that you have no interest in love and don't want any weaknesses. Then go find someone who is equally cold-hearted. If the court needs a marriage alliance in the future, you can marry a foreign princess without any feelings, which will help the court solve its problems."

"...But we're doing very well."

Xia Rushi sighed, "Lang'er, when will you understand that true happiness lies in mutual satisfaction? If only one person says it's good, then it's not necessarily true. If it's good, why did you leave, Qingqing?"

At this time, Xia Rushi still thought that Liu Qingqing had left the Marquis's mansion smoothly, unaware of the changes that had taken place.

"Qingqing is very kind-hearted, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to survive in the Liu family. Since she said she doesn't want to be with you anymore, then she really doesn't want to be with you anymore. It's a good thing that you can part amicably, and it also fulfills the friendship between me and her mother."

Xie Lang lowered his eyes, silently pondering these words.

A clean break?

It was another amicable parting.

Xie Lang scoffed inwardly, but he didn't think this was a good breakup.

She abandoned him without even looking back.

Today she finally understood that her grandmother knew she was leaving, and her mother knew too. She had even said goodbye to them.

What about him?

He was her husband, but he was unaware that she had long intended to leave.

There are many things about her that he doesn't know.

He closed his eyes tightly, forcing himself to change the subject and ask, "What does Xie Conglin's mother want to do?"

He swallowed hard. "I've kept it from my father; he doesn't know yet."

Xie Conglin was the son of Xie's father and another man.

A cold glint flashed in Xia Rushi's eyes: "This is between your father and me, it's none of your business."

"Do not tell your father about what happened at Tingzhuxuan."

Xie Lang suddenly felt a headache coming on. How could they all have such big ideas?

"What are my second uncle's plans now?"

Xia Rushi: "Oh, your second uncle thought I had amnesia and lied to me that he was my husband."

Xie Lang: "..."

My head hurts even more.

"Hurry up, your second uncle will be back soon."

Xie Lang stood up: "Mother, aren't you afraid that this will leave no way back for Father?"

Xia Rushi's face tightened: "Ever since I knew your father was tainted, there has been no way out for me between him."

Xie Lang: ...

"Don't worry about me, I have my own plans."

Xia Ru said meaningfully, "What you should be thinking about right now is your own business. If you can't find it, then the fate has run its course, so don't force it anymore."

When Xie Lang saw his mother raise her eyebrows again, as if to send him away, he turned around and took two steps but stopped. "Mother, don't say that again next time. I haven't divorced her. She is still my wife."

Xia Rushi ignored him and continued to rub salt into Xie Lang's wounds, saying, "Then you should hurry up and find her, lest she have already married someone else and had a son by the time you find her."

Xie Lang: "..."

He turned and left.

Back at Jialan Garden, the messenger reported that the current was too strong; even a fisherman who grew up by the sea and was an excellent swimmer would not survive if he fell into it.

Not to mention the flash flood hadn't subsided yet; this raging torrent had already swept people away to who-knows-where. Unless you were a god, who could survive?

Xie Lang stood there, stunned, not even noticing when the person had left.

We just brushed past each other, but now I can't find her anymore?

"My lord, it's late and chilly outside. Please go back to your room."

Xie Wu came to persuade him.

Xie Lang seemed frozen, and after a moment of relief, he silently returned to his room.

"Go and get some wine."

Xie Lang glanced at the dark and empty main room and said absentmindedly, "It's too cold tonight."

Xie Wu froze, then hurriedly obeyed the order to fetch the wine, quickly bringing it to the main room. Remembering Miss Zhao's instructions, he forced himself to speak.

"Granny Li and the others asked the master to allow them to leave the Marquis's mansion and live in a house outside."

Xie Lang lowered his gaze, his pupils obscured by the shadows of his eyelashes: "No. They will live the same way they did in Jialan Garden in the past, and they will live the same way now."

He waved his hand, "Go down and close the door."

A day and a night have passed, and Liu Qingqing has vanished without a trace.

The mud on that shoe had long since dried.

With just a fleeting glance, I could almost see her clinging to the grass, unable to hold on, and ultimately falling into the water...

My heart felt like it was being torn apart.

Xie Wanyan laughed at him for being heartless and insensitive. Now, he seemed to know what it felt like.

The door closed, and the main room was deathly silent.

With only one lamp lit, the darkness, like a monster's gaping maw, swallowed most of the room, making the luxurious main hall appear somewhat terrifying.

He looked around and vaguely saw her curled up in the corner of the bed, afraid of the dark, in the dead of night.

He suddenly looked up and drank a glass of wine.

The starlight and moonlight fell upon this poor man, who sat there motionless all night until he finished his wine and until dawn broke.

He still couldn't understand why she wanted to leave.

They had shared many meals at this eight-immortal table, they had leaned against it and kissed, and finally she used her engagement jade pendant and family heirloom jade bracelet to press the divorce papers on this table.

When Xie Wanyan arrived, she saw Xie Lang looking unusually disheveled.

His face was pale, and he was still wearing the black robe he had worn at the banquet that day. The yellow mud that had stained the hem of the solemn robe had long since dried, and when he raised his hand, one could see the deep, bone-revealing wounds on his wrists and palms.

Just now, Xie Wu said that Xie Lang recklessly flew off to search for people on the mountain, and seemed oblivious to the pain of his injuries.

Xie Wu begged her to treat Xie Lang's wound properly.

She felt a pang of heartache but also a sense of relief, as she had repeatedly warned him against it!

He was as stubborn as a mule and wouldn't listen to a word, acting all high and mighty with an air of strategizing.

The flash flood that day was so huge, there was absolutely no way they could have survived.

Although no body was found, everyone had a feeling that Liu Qingqing was probably gone.

Thinking of this, my eyes, which had been aching from crying for a day and a night, started to well up with tears again.

She and Wei Mingzhao also went to search with people, but in the end Wei Mingzhao shook his head at her.

Thinking of this, Xie Wanyan strode forward, raised her hand and struck Xie Lang, her voice trembling with anger, "Let people bully her because she has no father or mother, no one to rely on, and no one to love her. You've bullied her until she's lost everyone. Are you satisfied now!"

Xie Lang, however, remained unresponsive, like a mindless dummy, enduring her beatings and scoldings without reacting, as if only his soul had left his body.

A slap landed on Xie Lang's face with a crisp sound, and Xie Lang's face turned to the side. Xie Wanyan froze, and after seeing his slightly reddened eyes, she also turned her head and wiped away her tears. "Are there any of her clothes at home? Even if it's just a cenotaph, it's better than letting her be a lonely ghost."

"Why are you holding a funeral!"

Xie Lang, who hadn't reacted before, was enraged upon hearing this, "She's just sick!"

Xie Wanyan's gaze was complicated: "...Why are you like this? Did you suddenly start caring about her after she left? Did you suddenly fall in love with her?"

"I didn't..."

Xie Lang clutched his chest in bewilderment, wanting to say that he didn't love her, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"I just feel empty here."

He was so empty he could hardly breathe.

Since they got married and started living a good life together, he never thought of separating from her.

If we're talking about love, he can't even define what love is right now.

But ever since they were betrothed as children, and after they got married, he never imagined that anything other than death could separate them...

From that day on, Xie Lang seemed to become a different person.

The once upright and self-disciplined gentleman Xie Lang has become a ruthless and stern man.

If he was a smiling tiger before, he has now become a cold-faced demon.

When Lord Xie was promoted to the second-rank Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, a colleague asked him curiously why his wife was not present at the banquet.

Lord Xie only said that his wife was recuperating at home.

Even for unavoidable social engagements, he would only make a brief appearance before returning home early to be with his wife. No one dared to stop him; who in the capital didn't know that Lord Xie and his wife had an extremely close relationship?

Xie Lang now spends every night in the main room of Jialan Garden. As time goes by, the scent of Liu Qingqing in the room gradually fades. Xie Lang keeps having nightmares, and in his dreams, it's always the hillside of Jinshan Temple. He can't hold onto her wrist, or she breaks free from his grasp with red eyes and tears streaming down her face, and they always end up falling into the rushing torrent.

Xie Lang woke up with a start, grabbed the dagger beside him, and slashed his arm without looking at it, showing no mercy whatsoever.

The sight of blood and pain jolted him from his terrifying nightmare.

Pain is not real, and dreams are all false.

He lowered his eyes to reassure himself, "It's all fake. She's so clever; she can even play dumb and create a diversion right under my nose. She shouldn't be in any trouble."

Nothing will happen.

She must be living a good life.

In just six months, his face became thin, cold and gloomy, and his aloof and arrogant gaze was no longer concealed.

He would go to Jinshan Temple every time he had a day off, and he would also ride his horse at full speed to search for her whereabouts.

He refused to believe she was dead.

But the men he sent out were like people adrift in a vast ocean, with no one bringing back good news. This filled him with anxiety and unease.

Every time he looked at the deep ditch where the floodwaters had receded and the sun had reappeared, his heart felt as if it were being stabbed.

But he resented her, asking why she didn't tell him if she had any complaints.

Without a word, she waved her hand and casually tossed him aside.

Why?

He had felt her intense love and dependence deeply; her unwavering gaze suffocated him…

Now that she's left so easily and gracefully, why does he still feel like he can't breathe?

Why?

-

The people of the remote city of Ying are simple and honest, and there is a generous and open-minded spirit among both the government officials and the common people.

It is said that the capable minister in the capital, Lord Xie, who was as pure and upright as a lofty mountain, has suddenly changed. He is now cold and stern, and his methods are ruthless and extraordinary. He used to leave some room for maneuver in his actions, but now he shows no mercy whatsoever. He is like a jade-faced Yama, even more ruthless than the fearsome Wei Mingzhao.

He even imprisoned the Yue family and later banished them from the capital. Rumor has it that this was because Lady Xie was being mistreated in her private quarters, and Lord Xie was avenging his wife.

Some people say that Madam Xie must have encountered some trouble, otherwise why hasn't she shown her face for more than half a year?

Some bold people went to ask Lord Xie about it, but Lord Xie said that the lady had only caught a cold and that she had a pre-existing condition from her time at the Liu residence, so she hadn't fully recovered yet.

Liu Qingqing, however, was unaware of this; she had neither inquired nor cared.

As autumn turned to spring, she was enjoying her time in Yingcheng.

When she escaped from the Marquis's mansion, besides the silver notes and gold, she also took with her the parchment scrolls and books left to her by her mother.

With these resources, she opened a clinic, and now, while her future may not be bright, her life is quite prosperous.

She rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the setting sun outside, feeling as if her time in the capital was a thing of the past. Since arriving here, she hadn't inquired about anything happening in the capital; whether it was good or bad, it was none of her concern anymore.

She had to thank Xie Lang. That day, when she slipped down the hillside, it was he who tied the chain to her ankle and hung it on a thick tree trunk on the slope, saving her life. Otherwise, she would have fallen into the raging torrent and been left with nothing but bones.

Although it left a deep scar that hasn't fully healed yet, it's still a blessing in disguise.

More than half a year has passed, and now that she thinks about it, Xie Lang treated her quite well. It's just that he's a deep thinker, and they don't get along. Besides, love can't be forced; how could she harbor resentment just because he didn't love her?

At the beginning of her marriage, all she asked for was a place to live, hot meals, and to be able to retrieve all of her mother's dowry. Xie Lang had already helped her achieve that, but later she became too ambitious and started to have unrealistic expectations.

Their minds were different, and they were no longer on the same path. Although the ending was somewhat heated, they could be considered to have parted amicably.

The past has been turned over in Liu Qingqing's heart.

She sincerely wished the princess good health and that Xie Lang would find a good wife.

Judging by the time, Liu Qingying has already come of age. I wonder if she will be marrying into the Marquis's mansion now?

She also had a new beginning. After arriving in Yingcheng, she changed her name to Lin Mei. They referred to each other as sisters, and she was now called Lin Qing.

The past is light and gentle, the future is light and carefree.

Liu Qingqing closed her eyes listlessly, feeling the spring breeze brushing against her cheeks, feeling quite comfortable.

"Miss Lin..."

A clear, melodious voice rang out. Liu Qingqing turned around and saw the man standing behind her looking concerned and worried. She composed herself and smiled at him gently.

The man's name was Fu Xiuzhu, whom Liu Qingqing found on her way to Yingcheng. She originally intended to save him and leave him there, but unexpectedly, Xiuzhu knew medicine. It just so happened that they were going to open a clinic, and Xiuzhu had nowhere else to go.

Perhaps it was the thought of having nowhere to go that moved Liu Qingqing, and she finally decided to keep the person there.

"Dr. Fu, is something the matter?"

When Fu Xiuzhu heard her call him that, his gaze dimmed for a moment. He lowered his eyes so she wouldn't see it, and then smiled as he spoke of the interesting things that were being talked about outside, "I heard that a high-ranking official is coming to the capital today, and all the neighbors have gone to the city gate to see the excitement. Would Miss Lin like to go and take a stroll along the way?"

But Liu Qingqing's heart clenched at the mere mention of the capital, so she stopped talking and asked, "What kind of high-ranking official could command such a display?"

"He resembles Lord Xie, the Vice Minister of War, who is said to be handsome and dashing."

Upon hearing the surname Xie, Liu Qingqing frowned.

It seems they don't even want to hear that word.

And I've heard that this Lord Xie is quite handsome...

Could it be Xie Lang? She thought it couldn't be; Xie Lang was clearly the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and besides, his father-in-law was the Minister of War. How could father and son both be in the Ministry of War? She realized she was overthinking it. How many families in the world shared the surname Xie?

But she still cautiously asked, "Does Doctor Fu know what this Lord Xie's name is?"

Fu Xiuzhu tilted his head and pondered, then suddenly clapped his hands, "It seems to be called Xie Lang! Lang means beautiful stone."

"who?"

Liu Qingqing took two steps back and held onto the window frame, her pupils suddenly contracting.

Just then, a lively commotion and the clatter of horses' hooves came from outside the window.

[Author's Note]

Next chapter preview:

It was Xie Lang!