Chapter 8: Term "Maximum Two Years"

Xiao Qiyu was so tall that if Cui Ying wanted to look into his eyes, she would have to crane her neck, which was very strenuous. Therefore, whether in the past or now, she rarely looked him in the eye when she spoke.

But at this moment, facing Xiao Qiyu's approach and questioning, Cui Ying raised her chin and looked directly into his eyes. Her slender neck was as white as jade, and she was as noble and elegant as a little peacock.

"Why didn't you mention it?" Cui Ying asked in return.

The sunlight swayed, and the verdant shade under the corridor was like a cloud. A red crabapple blossom extended in, brushing against Xiao Qiyu's cheek almost imperceptibly.

Xiao Qiyu turned his head and brushed aside the flowers that were in his way. The bright red color made him involuntarily think of the little red dress he had seen that morning.

His tone was heavy, tinged with a burning frustration: "Grandmother is old and in poor health, and I don't want to upset her."

After all, he was raised by his grandmother, who was more important to him than anything else.

Cui Ying smiled: "I think the same way you do."

Xiao Qiyu looked at her with surprise.

The crabapple blossoms were vibrant and beautiful, the young girl smiled radiantly, and two wisps of hair by her temples fluttered in the wind, softly clinging to her forehead.

"Although my aunt is not my biological grandmother, she watched me grow up. Every time I visit her, she prepares a lot of my favorite foods for me. I remember all her kindness."

"Not to mention that my grandmother and aunt have been good friends for many years. My grandmother often tells me in the past two years that as people get older, there are fewer and fewer people around to talk to, and when they open their eyes, they don't know who has passed away. They become more and more lonely as they live."

Cui Ying frowned unconsciously and said with great concern, "Breaking off the engagement is nothing to me, but if my aunt gets hurt because of me, I will blame myself for the rest of my life, and my grandmother will definitely be very sad."

The corridor fell silent, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the trees and the whispering of the flowers.

Xiao Qiyu gave an "Oh," his expression nonchalant, and slowly opened his lips: "So, you're planning to take this charade for real?"

Cui Ying's eyes widened, wishing she could immediately wash her ears with water: "Pah! Who wants to take this charade seriously!"

"It's just for the sake of our parents, we'll share a room for a few days," she said angrily, taking two steps back, her soft, tousled hair seemingly exploding in frustration. "Besides, I don't think there are absolutes in this world. For example, who says that once you're married, you can't get a divorce? Who says that a husband and wife have to share a bed? Anyway, from now on, you'll be you and I'll be me. Apart from sharing the same roof, there's no difference from before."

Xiao Qiyu snorted, the black ribbon tied to her ponytail swaying with her breath: "That would be best."

Cui Ying, however, seemed not to have recovered yet, rubbing her arms incessantly, trying to get rid of the goosebumps all over her body.

Xiao Qiyu glanced at her and took a step forward: "Don't worry, after Grandmother passes away, I will write a divorce agreement, and we will part ways as if this marriage was never made."

Cui Ying caught up with her and said, "That's good. At that time, Auntie wouldn't be alive and wouldn't be able to see it, so she won't be sad."

After she finished speaking, she felt Xiao Qiyu's steps stiffen for a moment, and immediately realized that she had said the wrong thing. She quickly corrected herself: "I didn't mean that... Oh, don't worry, there are so many skilled imperial physicians in the palace. With them around, Auntie will definitely live to be a hundred years old."

As soon as he finished speaking, not only Xiao Qiyu was stunned, but Cui Ying was also stunned.

The two fell silent at the same time, and then simultaneously thought of a question—if their grandmother lived a long and healthy life, another ten or twenty years, would they still want to get a divorce?

Cui Ying: "..."

Cui Ying: "Xiao Qiyu, I suddenly have a very outrageous question to ask you."

Xiao Qiyu: "If you know it's treasonous, then don't ask."

For the first time in her life, Cui Ying didn't go against him. She didn't ask anything he didn't want to ask. She walked behind him with a droopy face and a calm expression, seemingly lost in thought.

Xiao Qiyu turned his head slightly and took in her serious expression, which looked as if she were going to collect a debt.

She really, really didn't want to be with him.

The vibrant colors outside the corridor suddenly lost their luster. Xiao Qiyu exhaled a breath of sullen air and said coldly, "At most two years. After two years, no matter how Grandmother's health is, I will personally go to the Empress Dowager and ask for a divorce from you."

Cui Ying's eyes lit up instantly, and she looked up to ask, "Why?"

Xiao Qiyu: "Their relationship is strained."

Cui Ying: "It's a deal!"

She immediately felt her head was no longer heavy, her steps were lighter, and even the noisy birdsong on the eaves sounded pleasant.

As soon as he was in a good mood, his stomach started to protest. Earlier, Madam Wang had wanted them to stay for a meal at the Bodhi Hall, but neither of them had agreed, so Cui Ying only had a few pastries to fill his stomach.

"I'm going to eat!" Cui Ying quickened her pace, as excited as a bird released from its cage, without waiting for Xiao Qiyu at all.

Xiao Qiyu stood still, as the rain of crabapple blossoms fell in a flurry. He quietly watched Cui Ying's clothes flutter as she ran.

Suddenly, he opened his lips and called her name:

"Cui Ying."

Cui Ying stopped, turned to look at him, her almond-shaped eyes bright.

"It's nothing." Xiao Qiyu turned her face away, her tone indifferent. "Go eat your food."

Cui Ying rolled her eyes at him: "That's ridiculous."

Only after that bright and lively figure gradually disappeared into the distance did Xiao Qiyu raise his eyes and look again.

Petals fell gently, the crabapple blossoms had a faint, unscented fragrance, and the boy's unspoken "thank you" was buried together under the lush moss at the bottom of the corridor.

...

Inside the Bodhi Hall, coughing continued incessantly, the aroma of incense and medicinal herbs on the offering table mingling together, creating a heavy and intense atmosphere.

After serving Wang the medicine, Qin sat by the bed and listened to the maid's report:

"Reporting to the old lady and the madam, since leaving the Bodhi Hall, Seventh Madam has gone back to her own courtyard to have her meal. Seventh Master did not eat; he rode out of the mansion to go on duty at the Vermilion Bird Gate."

Upon hearing this, Madam Qin frowned: "It's only the second day of the marriage. Instead of staying home with his wife, he's busy with his duties?"

Anyone could see that the young couple didn't get along.

After sighing, Qin turned to Wang and complained, "These two children have been at odds for a long time. How could the Empress Dowager suddenly bestow a marriage upon them? And you, Mother, you accepted the decree as soon as it came down without even going to the palace to inquire—"

Wang said, "It was I who asked the Empress Dowager to grant a marriage between Qilang and Sanniang."

Qin was stunned, speechless.

After a long while, Qin Shi finally recovered and stammered, "Mother, what's wrong...?"

Wang's cough subsided somewhat, but her breathing was heavy and rough, like withered branches and rotten wood: "Third Sister is the most beloved granddaughter of the Eldest Princess, and also the only daughter of her parents. Her maternal grandfather is the 53rd generation direct descendant of Confucius, the Duke Yansheng, whom even His Majesty has to show deference to. With such a family background, social standing, character, and appearance, you can't find another like her even with a lantern. If it weren't for the fact that I grew up with the Eldest Princess since childhood, would you think the Yongding Marquis's family could have climbed up to her?"

After hearing this, Madam Qin was speechless and remained silent for a long time.

Wang sighed, staring at the character "寿" (longevity) in the longevity painting on the bed curtains, her gaze distant: "How many more days can I live? If I cannot properly arrange Qilang's marriage before I die, I will not be able to rest in peace."

After a long pause, Qin Shi nodded and said, "Mother's vision is far-sighted, and I, your daughter-in-law, am truly envious. However, Seventh Brother and Third Sister have been at odds since childhood. Forcing them together like this may not be a good thing, especially since Seventh Brother doesn't like Third Sister..."

Wang: "Seventh Brother doesn't like Third Sister? Who told you that?"

Qin Shi: "This... is known to everyone in the capital."

The smoke from the incense offering drifted and swayed, and as Wang listened to her daughter-in-law's words, her thoughts suddenly returned to a summer day nine years ago.

For two months after his birth mother's death, the little child refused to eat or drink. When he woke up, he would crawl under the small, dark bed and stay there all day. People often had to forcibly pull him out and pry open his mouth with brute force before he could eat or drink.

Seeing her child grow thinner and thinner every day, Wang panicked.

She has already lost her son and daughter-in-law, and she cannot afford to lose her grandson as well.

To prevent her grandson from being reminded of his parents by seeing these objects, she ruthlessly sent him to the private school of the Duke of Wei's mansion, forcing him to interact with other children day after day without ever slacking off.

Finally, after attending school for half a month, Xiao Qiyu finished school and was doing his homework when he finally spoke.

His first words were, "Grandmother, Cui Ying is so noisy."

Wang smiled, her eyes crinkling, and asked him, "Besides Cui Ying, who else is making noise?"

Xiao Qiyu thought for a moment and said, "There's no one else, but Cui Ying is the noisiest."

"Do other people also think Cui Ying is noisy?"

"No, they all like Cui Ying very much."

"Hmm? Then Cui Ying must be doing very well?"

Xiao Qiyu thought for a moment and nodded: "Cui Ying is very good, she is good to everyone."

They were only unkind to him.

To encourage her grandson to speak more, Wang asked, "Since everyone else likes Cui Ying, do you like Cui Ying?"

The little boy remained silent, but suddenly he wrote with much more force, and the ink soaked through the rice paper.

"dislike."

He said, "Cui Ying doesn't like me, and I don't like her either."

...

The cough dispelled the smoke. Wang didn't say much to Qin, took a couple of sips of tea, and looked at Qin's face.

"Second son's wife, your mother is not well. Over the years, the whole household has been managed thanks to you. I have seen all your hard work."

Wang held Qin's hand, her breath weak, but her tone was secretly much firmer: "I know what you're thinking."

“Your elder brother’s illegitimate daughter is the same age as Qilang, and she is not yet married.”

"I also sent someone to observe him secretly. He is indeed a talented and handsome boy. He is well-versed in poetry and literature and has beautiful handwriting. Although his birth mother is not of high social standing, he was raised by his stepmother and has a very refined demeanor."

Madam Wang sighed and earnestly advised, "But don't you think about it? Seventh Master has practiced martial arts since childhood. He may appear calm on the surface, but he is more stubborn than anyone else. Which ordinary young lady can control him? If he stomps his foot, which woman would dare to go against him?"

"Among all the young ladies in the city, only Xiao San Niang dared to go against him, and only Xiao San Niang could make him feel the joys and sorrows of a living person."

Wang released Qin's hand, gently patted the back of her hand, and said meaningfully, "Now that I've put it this way, do you understand what I mean?"

Qin's face had been alternating between pale and flushed, her expression stiff and embarrassed. Upon hearing this, she could only nod and say, "Mother, don't worry, your daughter-in-law understands."

A note from the author:

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Is anyone reading this book? The comments are so lukewarm that it makes me feel like I'm playing a single-player game qwq