Chapter 82

◎“Do you think your good husband will choose you or your sister?”◎

Chapter 82

He turned around, picked up the sack, and flew away.

Liu Qingqing felt a sudden jolt, and taking advantage of this moment, she mustered her courage and unscrewed the ring. Inside the ring was itching powder, which she secretly sprinkled through a gap in the tattered cloth onto Fu Xiuzhu's neck. Then she carefully closed the ring again.

She was put down again after a short while. Fu Xiuzhu placed her in the corner of the wall.

There seemed to be a commotion coming from afar, along with the smell of burning.

Liu Qingqing dared not move.

He quickly closed his eyes when he heard footsteps approaching.

Sure enough, the sack was pulled off from above the next moment, ruffling her hair.

Suddenly, a light appeared before her eyes. She squinted, and after her eyes adjusted, she saw Fu Xiuzhu squatting in front of her, watching her leisurely.

From what he had said before, she knew that pretending to faint was pointless.

Who exactly are you?

She looked directly into Fu Xiuzhu's eyes, "Was saving you back then part of a scheme set up from that moment?"

Fu Xiuzhu simply sat down next to her and chatted with her as if they were old friends.

He wasn't faking it then; once he left the royal court, his good brother naturally wanted to eliminate any future trouble. So he forced himself to faint early where she would pass by, but unexpectedly, he was very lucky, and she actually caught him. Secondly, Madam Xie was kind-hearted and saved his life.

Otherwise, if they had waited there, they would have bled to death long ago.

Conceal your identity and tell her only what you can say.

After listening to him finish speaking, Liu Qingqing asked quietly, "Doctor Fu, let me die a quick death. Were those rumors in the city also spread by you?"

Fu Xiuzhu smiled, her peach blossom eyes curving into crescents. "Madam Xie is very intelligent."

"Why did you stop pretending again?"

Fu Xiuzhu laughed: "Of course I just recognized Lord Xie. I've long heard that Lord Xie loves his wife very much. Wouldn't it be foolish not to use his weakness?"

It was initially intentional, but seeing her lack of attachment to the powerful and influential Lord Xie, they overestimated her abilities. Therefore, since the matter at the royal court was not yet resolved, they were in no hurry to do anything. Otherwise, before Lord Xie discovered it, they could have simply kidnapped Miss Lin, oh no, Miss Liu, and taken her directly to the royal court.

He refused to believe that anything could not be obtained under severe torture.

"Why are you arresting me? I'm just an ordinary citizen," Liu Qingqing asked, puzzled.

Fu Xiuzhu laughed, "This young lady is Lord Xie's darling, how could she be an ordinary person?"

Hearing this, Liu Qingqing lowered her eyes, seemingly saddened. "Doctor Fu is overthinking it. If he cared about me, why would I abandon everything to come to Yingcheng to start over?"

Fu Xiuzhu smiled again: "Then we'll wait and see."

It was clearly a face, but at that moment it looked like it had been turned upside down.

Liu Qingqing swallowed hard, forcing a smile, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."

Fu Xiuzhu stood up, his eyes lowered. "Whether I'm disappointed or not, it's up to me."

The lights in the courtyard burned behind him, making it impossible for her to see his expression.

After saying that, he grabbed Liu Qingqing's arm, easily lifted her up, pushed open the door of the east wing, and threw her onto the bed.

Liu Qingqing quickly moved to a corner. Fu Xiuzhu smiled when he saw this, turned around and left. Suddenly, he felt itchy all over, probably because his clothes were too rough.

Through the window, she saw Fu Xiuzhu raise his hand, and a squad of guards appeared and stood watch outside the east wing.

It looked like even a fly would have a hard time getting in.

Liu Qingqing's heart tightened, knowing that this time it would be difficult to end things peacefully.

I wonder where Xie Lang is right now, and whether he knows that... something has happened to her?

Liu Qingqing was filled with anxiety, not knowing what Xie Lang would do.

I wonder if Xie Lang will see the signal she gave him?

But she dared not hope that he would disregard everything... to save her.

What does Fu Xiuzhu want from her again?

She needed to think things through carefully, so she forced herself to calm down and looked around before realizing that this was actually the village head's courtyard!

This was a brilliant move to hide her in the dark; who would have thought she was being concealed in such a place?

She needs to think of a way to save herself.

Fearing being overheard, Liu Qingqing pulled back the covers and, under the cover, touched her bracelet, earrings, and hairpin.

Thankfully, they're all still here.

Now all I can think about is how to use these medicines.

Xie Liu, being in the shadows, should inform Xie Lang.

But she also had to prepare for both possibilities.

Liu Qingqing was preoccupied with her own thoughts and did not notice the bamboo tube that had been protruding through the crack in the window, from which a wisp of white smoke rose. A moment later, Liu Qingqing fainted.

When she woke up again, it was already bright outside. As her consciousness returned, she quietly looked around, and her heart sank suddenly.

Before her stood this luxurious canopy bed; she was no longer in the small side room of the village head.

Suddenly, with a creak, the door was pushed open.

A series of light footsteps sounded, and Liu Qingqing quickly closed her eyes.

The man had already reached the bedside, and a familiar jasmine scent wafted over. Liu Qingqing clenched her hands, her breath catching in her throat.

That was the smell of Xiao Ying, the smell that had given her nightmares every night.

"My dear daughter, I know you're awake."

Xiao Ying's voice held a strange, manic laugh, "I've prepared a surprise for you, and I cordially invite you to come and see it. Get up quickly. The show won't wait for anyone."

-

Xie Lang rushed back to Ying and went straight to the clinic.

He found the clinic empty. He stood in front of the closed door for only a moment before a figure appeared behind him.

"My lord! Madam has gone to the countryside to avoid trouble."

"where?"

"That is the Goddess Village."

Having found his destination, Xie Lang mounted his horse and headed towards the Goddess Village.

He hadn't had a moment's rest on the road for a whole day and night; he had never felt so anxious. He had to see Liu Qingqing; only when he saw that she was alright could he feel at ease.

After a few days apart, he seemed to have some new insights.

Although he couldn't quite define what love was, he knew that if he had feelings for anyone, it would only be her!

He wanted to tell her that from the first time he saw her at the Liu residence after leaving the Northwest, he had never intended to abandon her.

Xie Lang seemed to have awakened some understanding of love, and she could no longer see him in her eyes.

He wanted her to teach him.

She likes it, so she teaches him how.

Thinking of the annoying mosquitoes around her, Xie Lang's eyes darkened.

He is the man who is most suitable for her!

He ran tirelessly toward the Goddess Village, but when he got close, he saw the towering flames and his heart skipped a beat.

A bad feeling swept over him, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave!

His hand tightened involuntarily on the reins, and the wound on his palm reopened, soaking the reins with blood, but he was oblivious to it.

Soon after, they saw villagers carrying basins and buckets, running back and forth to fetch water to put out the fire.

"Hurry! Call some more men!"

"Miss Lin is still inside! Hurry! Hurry!"

"With a fire this big, how could they possibly be saved? They'd be burned black by now!"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Xie Lang's mind went blank for a moment.

He hurriedly dismounted and ran in that direction.

Only one thought occupied his mind—did she not want him anymore, and... ran away again?

Ignoring all attempts to stop him, he rushed into the courtyard, which was ablaze with flames. The flames engulfed the dilapidated wooden house, illuminating most of the night sky. The old wood crackled and popped as it burned, and the entire main house teetered on the brink of collapse.

There were many people coming and going, and as they passed by, Xie Lang caught a glimpse of the man named Yu Run from Qingfeng Pavilion.

She even brought that man with her when she went to the countryside!

Xie Lang felt a sharp pain in his chest, staggered two steps, and coughed up two mouthfuls of blood while holding onto the courtyard wall. At this moment, he couldn't care about anything else; his heart was filled with bitterness and pain. He wiped the blood away and hurried towards the main house.

The main room was already engulfed in flames, the raging fire devouring everything, leaving no trace of tables or chairs.

Xie Lang dipped his face towel into the water vat, covered his mouth and nose, and ran inside without a second thought.

Suddenly a bird chirped, but Xie Lang had no time to think about it.

Seeing that the adults were about to step onto the steps, Xie Qi, who was hiding in the shadows, could not wait any longer. He covered his face with a cloth and disguised himself as a villager, squeezing into the crowd and stopping the adults. "My lord!"

Xie Qi looked anxious, fearing he wouldn't be able to stop the adults.

As expected, seeing the adult's cold face, he said in a hoarse voice, "Let go."

Xie Qi was startled when he saw the man's bloodshot eyes, and missed his chance. Seeing that he could not stop the man before he came to his senses, he quickly whispered, "Madam is not here."

Xie Lang stopped abruptly, turning his head sharply. His Adam's apple bobbed. "What did you say?"

Xie Qi hurriedly said, "Madam is not here."

Xie Lang had just breathed a sigh of relief and hadn't even had a chance to ask where she was when Xie Qi reported back with embarrassment, "My lord, please forgive me, but Madam has been kidnapped."

Suddenly, a breath caught in his throat, and the veins on Xie Lang's forehead bulged!

"Xie Liu wanted to rescue her first, but Madam instructed us not to move. Now that Madam has been moved away, Xie Liu and the others have gone with her, leaving me here to wait for the master's return."

Xie Lang's voice, which had just recovered, suddenly became extremely hoarse: "Where is she?"

The guard whispered something in his ear, and he waved for the guard to leave. He calmed himself down for a while.

He was so flustered that he forgot to ask the guards.

Looking down at his trembling fingers, Xie Lang slowly clenched his fist.

Not far away, Lin Mei, her face covered in soot, was hurriedly running back with a basin of water.

Upon seeing the adult, she froze, slowed her pace, and stared intently at him. Seeing the adult nod slightly at her, Lin Mei took two steps back, her hand slipped, and the basin of water fell to the ground. Then she covered her mouth and began to cry.

Seeing the man's expression, I know that the young lady is alright.

Thankfully, the young lady is unharmed; otherwise, how would she explain this to Granny Li and the others?

Xie Lang glanced at the gradually brightening sky and knew he needed to find her as soon as possible.

Even knowing that Xie Liu and his entire team were secretly watching him, he couldn't feel at ease.

How could she be so bold! She actually dared to use herself as bait.

Did she give her the token so that she would do this?!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Before leaving in a hurry, Xie Lang glanced at Yu Run as they passed each other with a tense expression.

He also secretly made a grudge against Liu Qingqing.

He rushed back to the villa, where the steward handed him a visiting card.

Xie Lang unfolded it, and after seeing the words written inside, he couldn't help but frown.

-

In a courtyard house in the city, Liu Qingqing was locked in a side courtyard and was fast asleep.

In the brightly lit study, Madam Ying knelt humbly before Fu Xiuzhu, mustering her courage to whisper, "I have a plan to offer to the prince."

Fu Xiuzhu raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about it."

The thought of this plan going through twisted Xiao Ying's terrifying face. "Liu Qingqing's heart is tied to my daughter. Why don't we have my daughter sow discord between them? If Liu Qingqing becomes disheartened, he might harbor resentment and seek revenge, and he might reveal everything we know!"

Fu Xiuzhu's eyes darted around, and after a moment's thought, he nodded, "Then go and do it."

He wasn't interested in Xiao Ying's hasty scheme, but suddenly wanted to see "Miss Lin" completely give up on Lord Xie. He also wanted to see Lord Xie bewildered and helpless.

He scoffed. Ever since Xie Lang became famous a few years ago for killing a famous general of the Northern Qiang, his father had been saying that he was a good-for-nothing and that he wished his son was his son.

His father and Lord Xie were old rivals. The more his father envied him, the more miserable he became over the years, constantly being gossiped about behind his back. He only felt better after Xie Lang was suddenly transferred back to the capital, far from the battlefield.

Isn't Xie Lang omnipotent? Isn't he very capable?

He wanted to see if the not-so-useless Lord Xie could not salvage his wife's pathetic state.

Unable to contain her restless excitement, Xiao Ying hurriedly went to make preparations.

Her elder sister, who caused her lifelong suffering, had long since passed away, and all her hatred could only be vented on her sister's beloved daughter. If her sister could see her daughter suffering so much because of her, she would surely be filled with rage.

Xiao Ying chuckled softly.

She felt a sense of satisfaction watching her bloodline suffer!

She followed the long corridor to a small courtyard, which was her lodging in Yingcheng.

The courtyard was small, with only a few rooms, and it was completely bare, without even a blade of grass or a tree.

As the door opened, sunlight streamed in, falling on the face of the girl sitting at the table.

The girl looked towards the door and saw Liu Qingying!

Liu Qingying, unlike her usual charming and innocent self, now had a stern face and silently looked at Madam Ying.

Madam Ying was in high spirits, swaying her slender waist with great pleasure. She sat down beside her daughter and asked, "My dear girl, you once said you wanted a man like Xie Lang. Do you still want one now?"

Liu Qingying: "Why does Mother ask that?"

Madam Ying chuckled, then covered her lips with delight and said sweetly, "Tomorrow I will send Xie Lang to you. You can have some fun with that precious Liu Qingqing."

Liu Qingying's eyes flickered slightly, "Why does Mother always have a problem with my sister?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Ying glanced at her and said coldly, "Why can't I go over? Did I ruin her marriage or take away her dowry? Didn't I give it all to her?"

Xiao Ying snorted coldly, her eyes blinded by hatred. The exhilarating feeling of about to take revenge made her unable to calm down. Xiao Ying gently advised her, "If it can make your sister suffer unbearably, will you go? Others can do this, but only you can defeat your sister."

Liu Qingying lowered her eyes: "I'll go."

Little Ying was overjoyed and took out a white jade porcelain bottle from her bosom. "Tomorrow morning, just sprinkle this water on yourself. Don't worry about anything else."

Madam Ying held Liu Qingying's hand and said, "Trust your mother, and your mother will definitely protect you."

Liu Qingying looked at her mother expressionlessly.

Her mother, who used to love her deeply, gradually went mad after being punished at the Liu family's residence. She would mutter incoherently all day long, and sometimes she couldn't even understand what her mother meant.

After giving away the porcelain bottle, Xiao Ying did not keep any more.

Looking at the door that had been closed and locked from the outside, Liu Qingying grasped the white porcelain bottle.

-

In a daze, she seemed to see Liu Qingying.

Liu Qingying looked at her expressionlessly, "Sister, I'm really jealous of you."

Liu Qingqing hadn't expected it to start this way. After regaining her composure, she looked over in surprise.

You read that right, it really is Liu Qingying.

The next moment, Liu Qingying glanced at the chain on her wrist, frowned slightly as if she couldn't bear it, but still looked away.

“Sister, I have never had a heart-to-heart talk with you. Do you know that you are the most resilient person I have ever met? It seems that nothing matters to you, and nothing can defeat you. I do not have this kind of mentality, and I envy you so much. I always want to be with you, but you do not want to pay attention to me. I am jealous of you, and I envy you. With you, my noble elder sister, I feel so insignificant.”

Liu Qingying was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, and her words were incoherent. "But I really liked you, so I endured all this to get close to you. But when you disappeared without a word, I was filled with rage. I valued you so much, and what did you take me for! Some cat or dog? Someone you could summon and dismiss at will!"

She raised her voice, trembling with a sob in it.

"Sister, you have let me down. Then don't blame me for being sorry too."

Liu Qingqing: "..."

I don't understand what she's saying.

But Liu Qingying didn't seem to expect her to say anything. She leaned over and put a bottle under her nose. Caught off guard, she smelled it and fainted again.

Before fainting, I felt a chill in my heart; the situation involving the Ying family and their daughter was not as simple as I had imagined.

After an unknown amount of time, as if a nightmare were replaying, something was placed in front of her nose. Liu Qingqing sniffed it, her consciousness returned, and she gradually came to her senses.

The scene was hazy, as if she were above the clouds, and she thought she was dreaming.

Suddenly, his neck was grabbed. "Look!"

Behind me, Xiao Ying's distorted, excited voice rang out.

Little Ying? How could it be Little Ying!

Liu Qingqing pinched the soft flesh on her leg hard in the shadows, forcing herself to wake up.

He secretly touched the ring on his hand and the bracelet on his wrist.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was still there.

At this moment, Xiao Ying pressed down on the back of her neck with all her might, forcing her to look out.

Only then did she peek out through a layer of hazy white mesh.

It was an empty courtyard, and upon closer inspection, it appeared that there were snacks and wine on the stone table.

Liu Qingqing remained calm, wanting to see more clearly.

The view was very narrow and not very clear, but there were dense tree canopies in the corner that swayed in the wind. Xie Liu and his men might be hiding here.

Liu Qingqing tried to comfort herself not to be afraid, but her heart was still pounding and her mouth was dry.

As Xiao Ying gazed at her stepdaughter's delicate, flower-like face, she thought to herself, "How long ago was it that I was just like that?"

She raised her hand to touch her face in a daze, but only felt the horrifying deep furrows on her face.

That's all thanks to Xie Lang!

A fierce fire ignited in Xiao Ying's eyes. She would never suffer a loss!

Her stepdaughter seemed indifferent, just like her enviable elder sister.

But in reality, after more than a decade of her harassment, Liu Qingqing's biggest fear was not being chosen, and she was even more unwilling for others to choose Liu Qingying between her and Liu Qingying.

This was a cause planted by Xiao Ying himself, so naturally he knew what the result would be.

This is the result of more than ten years of painstaking preparation by Xiao Ying. Once Liu Qingying is involved, Liu Qingqing will act like a dog guarding its food!

What's the use of protecting her? She wants Liu Qingqing to watch as her daughter gradually takes everything away from her!

She hates it.

Little Ying smiled, but as she smiled, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Why did the elders of the clan separate her from her husband when she was able to get a good marriage?

She was clearly pregnant with her lover's child, but the elders in the clan said that her sister was about to get married and they shouldn't interfere with the wedding. They forced her to drink a bowl of medicine and abort the child!

Her poor child turned into blood and was poured into the filthy sewer by the servants in the house, disappearing completely from this world!

Tanlang was captured by his clansmen and imprisoned in the courtyard. He was then captured and taken back by his family.

This family of three was forcibly separated!

They were forcibly separated!

She was indignant! She was consumed by hatred!

Several years passed in this way. Then, her lover secretly came to see her, saying that her elder sister possessed a miraculous medicine. If they obtained this medicine, they could rise to great heights and be together forever. No matter the cost, they had to get it!

Tanlang begged her, saying he missed her so much he couldn't sleep.

He cried out his heartfelt feelings, vowing to die with her even in death.

She then made a ruthless decision and took advantage of her elder sister's soft heart to enter the Liu family.

Liu Xu was gentle by nature, and she couldn't help but watch her whenever she smiled. Liu Xu's smiling profile reminded her of Tan Lang; how similar the warm and gentle Lady Liu was to Tan Lang!

For a moment I was in a daze; so much time had passed...

Hearing voices outside, Madam Ying snapped out of her reverie and looked outside. It was her daughter.

She was always suppressed by her elder sister, and finally, by snatching Liu Xu away and infuriating her sister, she had gotten her revenge. But that wasn't enough; she wanted Liu Qingqing to see that neither she nor her daughter could compare.

They couldn't keep anything from that mother and daughter! They would all be taken away by her!

To avenge the past!

She chuckled softly, the horrifying knife wounds stretching her face into twisted wrinkles, making her look terrifying in the light and shadow.

A moment later, another set of footsteps sounded.

Liu Qingqing then saw Xie Lang walk into the courtyard.

Little Ying whispered in his ear, "Do you think your good husband will choose you or your sister?"

She spoke to Liu Qingqing, as if she were also speaking to her sister through the passage of time.

Her unfocused eyes fell on Liu Qingqing's fair face. Xiao Yingshi snapped back to reality, touched her face, and leaned close to her ear, stabbing her in the heart, "It feels bad to have never been chosen before, doesn't it?"

“Your father and brothers didn’t choose you, and your husband didn’t choose you either. So what if you are the legitimate daughter of the Liu family? You’re not even as good as willow catkins in the sky.”

Xiao Ying made thorough preparations.

There was incense in the courtyard, and she also had Liu Qingying spray it on herself.

The fragrance acts like a catalyst; once you smell it, it will bewitch your soul.

She wanted Liu Qingqing to open her eyes wide and see clearly that the good husband she cherished had chosen someone else.

Outside the wall, in the courtyard, Xie Lang turned around when he heard footsteps.

But his face darkened when he saw who it was.

Liu Qingqing choked on her breath, frowned, and turned her face away, unwilling to look.

But Xiao Ying grabbed her chin and forced her to look ahead as the two people gradually approached.

Suddenly remembering something, Xiao Ying leaned close to her ear again, "Speaking of which, I don't know what kind of quarrel you had with Xie Lang and came to Yingcheng to hide? Did the medicine I gave you make him dislike you?"

Liu Qingqing's heart tightened. "What medicine?"

"That medicine... is the most despicable. Even the most dignified woman would be worse off with it than with the stuff from a brothel. It is something a gentleman would not stoop to."

Madam Ying gloated, "Is it because you used that medicine that you incurred the displeasure of the noble Lord Xie? This is my wedding gift to you, do you like it?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing's eyelashes trembled as she gazed at the two people in the distance, her heart sinking.

[Author's Note]

Next chapter preview:

Fu Xiuzhu whispered in her ear, his eyes fixed on her face, "I think you're very interesting, and you're suited to spread your wings and fly over the grasslands."