Zhao Xiheng rummaged around in the drawer, but there was indeed no key inside.

Wei Li brought the key back. She felt that he wouldn't be interested in her dowry box; it was probably lost somewhere and he hadn't noticed.

However, the key that fell was unusual; it was hanging at the end of the trunk, containing her most precious dowry. Although she didn't look at it and it wasn't particularly valuable, if someone actually picked it up and opened the trunk, she would be utterly humiliated.

He became famous overnight.

Wei Li usually seems quite reliable, but he failed at this crucial moment.

Zhao Xiheng didn't even have time to cultivate new ginseng seedlings. To avoid losing face, she quickly called someone to accompany her out to find the key.

This is the first time Zhao Xiheng has left this courtyard since she moved here more than four months ago.

She held up an umbrella to shield herself from the sun and prevent herself from getting a tan.

Actually, the sun in Pingzhou isn't very strong in April.

The guards, who had been so idle they were practically listless, suddenly perked up, their eyes gleaming with a bright light. After so many months, they finally had a chance to prove themselves!

Zhao Xiheng thought Wei Li was strange, and his subordinates were strange too. Why were they so excited about her going out?

She withdrew her foot and looked at them with a puzzled expression.

One of them, who appeared to be the head guard, was slightly agitated, his voice trembling with excitement, "Madam, the lord has ordered that you are not allowed to leave this courtyard."

Then, in a hurry, someone was sent to inform Wei Li that the lady was leaving the courtyard! The lady was leaving the courtyard!

Zhao Xiheng, “???”

She frowned.

His high-pitched and cheerful tone made it sound like he was shouting, "The lady has given birth! The lady has given birth!"

Is it something to be happy about just stopping her from leaving the yard?

So now that he wants to take a concubine, he's locking her up and forbidding her from leaving? Even Chen Shimei wouldn't do that.

Zhao Xiheng spent the harsh winter in Pingzhou happily inside the house, not daring to step outside the courtyard even once, so naturally she didn't know that Wei Li had issued such an order last year.

She felt particularly uncomfortable after hearing that Zhao Mingjin's envoy had brought a beautiful woman with him and rushed to meet her.

He's taking a concubine, so what? Why lock her up? What a heartless man! Is he going to keep her locked up in this little courtyard to make room for someone else?

"I'm leaving today, get out of my way!" Zhao Xiheng tried her best not to appear like a shrew, maintaining her elegant and dignified demeanor.

"Madam, the lord has said that you are not allowed to step out of the courtyard. Please do not make things difficult for us."

Although Zhao Xiheng rarely went out, her maids frequently came and went. As they walked around more, they became familiar with the guards and learned that the lady was a kind and considerate person who was very easy to serve.

He thought to himself that after saying all that, the gentle and kind lady would probably go back now.

Zhao Xiheng ignored him, lifted her leg and stepped outside the door, then slightly raised her chin, "What? I've already stepped out of the courtyard, are you going to chop off my leg or something? Let me out, even if the lord blames you, I'll take the blame."

It wasn't that she absolutely needed to find the key, nor was it that she absolutely had to leave this door today; she was simply rebellious and unhappy about being locked up by Wei Li.

The guards looked at each other in dismay. They dared not even come near Zhao Xiheng, let alone chop off her legs, for fear of touching something they shouldn't and being found out by Wei Li.

How could they dare to move!

The lord told them not to let the lady go out, but didn't tell them how to prevent her from going out.

The group, who had initially been excited and delighted, now looked somewhat worried and formed a circle around Zhao Xiheng, calling out, "Madam, Madam, don't go any further."

"Instead of trying to stop me, you should help me find the key. Once I find it, I'll go back."

Looking at these people, her anger towards Wei Li grew stronger and stronger, and she felt extremely wronged.

Why should he be confined to the house while he takes a concubine? Why can't he go out? Is he a prisoner?

She'll go out every day from now on, constantly showing herself in front of him and his bunch of mistresses, just to infuriate them!

Spring comes late to Pingzhou, and there isn't much vegetation on the ground in April. When the spring wind blows, the sand and dust get into Zhao Xiheng's eyes, and her eyes are red. "Get out of the way."

The guards wore stern faces on the surface, but in their hearts they were already calling her "Grandma." If she didn't go back soon, they would have to kneel down and beg her.

To outsiders, it seemed that Lady Zhao Xiheng had no human rights and was being bullied by some guards, to the point that she was almost in tears.

At least that's how Xie Qingyu saw it; he happened to pass by this place while walking through the pavilion in the lake.

Seeing this scene, he could even imagine what kind of life Zhao Xiheng was living here, that even some guards dared to disrespect her.

As soon as Xie Qingyu stopped, the two groups of beauties wearing white veils and bamboo hats behind him also stopped. With a gust of wind, the beauties' clothes fluttered, creating a truly beautiful scene.

Zhao Xiheng's gaze was naturally drawn to the young man leading the group; he seemed quite familiar to her, possessing an extraordinary air about him.

Xie Qingyu's eyes welled up with tears. He approached her, bowed respectfully, and tried to keep his tone as calm and gentle as possible, "A-Dan, I am Song Jie. Do you still recognize me?"

Zhao Xiheng never expected to see Xie Qingyu again in Pingzhou. After so many years, she never imagined that the reunion would be like this. She thought she would never see him again in this lifetime.

She was lost in thought for a moment, then looked Xie Qingyu up and down before bowing back. "Of course I remember. The last time I saw Brother Songjie was six or seven years ago. Time flies. I didn't expect you to still be like this..."

Zhao Xiheng couldn't think of a suitable word to describe Xie Qingyu for a moment. She felt that she had been with Wei Li for a long time, and his cultural level had also been dragged down by him.

After thinking for a moment, she blurted out, "So presentable."

After he finished speaking, he couldn't help but slap his head, blaming it all on Wei Li.

However, the fact that she hasn't started acting like a hypocrite is already a pleasant surprise.

Zhao Xiheng smiled, trying her best to maintain an elegant demeanor and defuse the awkward situation.

Xie Qingyu's eyes were like a tranquil lake, deep and serene. When she smiled, she broke through the distance between them. "A-Dan is still very interesting."

He didn't expect that when he saw Zhao Xiheng again, she had a strong Northeastern accent, even though she had only been in Pingzhou for less than half a year.

When Zhao Xiheng was in the palace, she could chat with people awkwardly and insincerely for half an hour. But since she came to Pingzhou, her threshold for awkwardness has lowered. She can't keep up with small talk. Xie Qingyu clearly has nothing to talk about and is forcing a conversation with her. She feels uncomfortable and wants to end the conversation as soon as possible.

"You've come as an envoy, huh?" Zhao Xiheng glanced at the beauties following behind him.

He thought to himself, "These are Wei Li's concubines? They don't even show their faces."

"Hmm." Xie Qingyu replied succinctly. He felt that if he talked to Zhao Xiheng any longer, he would end up speaking with a thick Northeastern accent.

"Okay, go ahead, be careful. Don't argue with Wei Li, he's actually quite easy to talk to," Zhao Xiheng instructed him.

Since he was there to do errands for Zhao Mingjin, he couldn't stop him from going, otherwise he wouldn't be able to explain himself. He had to let him meet Wei Li at least once.

Xie Qingyu lowered her eyes slightly. Easy to talk to?

Could it be that A-Dan has feelings for Wei Li, which is why she thinks that way?

If Wei Li were any more agreeable, why would no one be willing to go on a mission to Pingzhou, and why would Zhao Mingjin send him instead?

But Zhao Mingjin's deputy envoy was following behind him, and there were many things he wanted to say, but he couldn't say them now.

So all I could do was bow to her again and say goodbye, "I'll be careful."

After the two said goodbye, the deputy envoy nudged him and said, "Why didn't you mention the marriage to Princess Jingcheng earlier? I think she's quite satisfied with you."

Xie Qingyu felt disgusted, but she didn't show it on her face. She just said calmly, "Wei Li's men are all around us. We haven't finished discussing things with him yet. If we talk to the princess without him, it will only cause more trouble if things don't go well later."

The deputy envoy then gave up and nodded sheepishly.

Xie Qingyu glanced at him; what he wanted to say, he naturally couldn't say in front of this person.

Wei Li brazenly crossed his legs on the table and took a mirror to look into his mouth.

The mirror was taken from Zhao Xiheng's dressing table.

Xie Qingyu and the deputy envoy were led in. Wei Li didn't even look up, and just casually threw the mirror on the table.

The envoy sent by Zhao Mingjin last time did not leave a good impression on Wei Li. He felt that this envoy was just like the last one, an arrogant and cunning fellow.

Here comes another woman? But she's just asking for trouble.

"Young Master Wei."

The voice was clear as spring water, crisp as the sound of jade striking, neither hurried nor slow, neither humble nor arrogant.

Wei Li looked up and saw Xie Qingyu with delicate features, but what was most remarkable was his overall demeanor, which was just right, like a Chinese ink painting carefully painted by a master calligrapher and painter. No one appreciates it, no one praises it, and no one dares to defile it.

He subconsciously put his legs down from the table.

Xie Qingyu had been trying to figure out what kind of person Wei Li was all along the way. She had only heard that he was young and cruel.

My impression of her today was indeed unpleasant. Firstly, I witnessed Zhao Xiheng being looked down upon, and secondly, although she was beautiful, she was dissolute and exuded a fierce aura.

The thought that Ah-Dan had been taken as a wife by such a person filled him with unease.

If he had tried his best to argue with Emperor Shunhe that day, perhaps A-Dan wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

Before Xie Qingyu could speak, the deputy envoy hurriedly interjected, "The Emperor has ordered us to exchange the princess back to the court."

He pointed to the beauty behind him, "This is the beauty I'm exchanging for. Please accept it."

Wei Li's face instantly turned cold. He had only thought that they were there to see someone off, but he didn't expect them to come and snatch someone away from him. He had originally wanted to see what kind of trouble Zhao Mingjin would cause, but now there was no need to say anything more.

"Drag it out." He endured the pain on his tongue and forced a nonchalant tone.