35 quarrel

◎Weren't you the one who insisted on not letting me go?◎

After not seeing him for two months, Wei Ziyan was stunned when she suddenly saw him in person.

Yan Qi had just come out of the palace and headed straight for this place, not wanting to run into his wife. He was also slightly surprised. Their eyes met, but he was the first to recover and approach the carriage.

The maids' words from that morning were still fresh in her mind. Wei Ziyan lowered her eyes awkwardly, her fingers twisting unconsciously together. She wondered if it was Qiu Luo's talkativeness that had led him here.

Seeing this scene, Liu Yu'er also thought that Yan Qizheng came for his good sister, and smiled slightly: "Master Yan, are you here to take Zi Yan home?"

Yan Qizheng stood two steps away and didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Wei Ziyan in the carriage and said softly, "You go back home first. I have something to ask Miss Liu."

Wei Ziyan raised her head, and after a moment of surprise, her heart tightened.

"Is there anything you can't ask me in front of me?"

"Just official business."

Afraid that she would misunderstand him again like before, Yan Qizhen quickly explained, but she still refused to give in.

"No matter what, Sister Liu and I are like sisters. There's no need to avoid suspicion." Wei Ziyan stepped down from the carriage and took Liu Yu'er's arm. "Isn't that right, Sister Liu?"

The word "official business" made Liu Yu'er suddenly understand, and she naturally guessed why Wei Ziyan was doing this. Glancing at the rather helpless Yan Qizheng, Liu Yu'er turned to her good sister and smiled softly, "I think it's best to avoid suspicion."

"Sister Liu..."

"It's okay, you go back first."

Liu Yu'er patted the back of her hand, not gently but firmly. Wei Ziyan pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth drooping slightly. She glanced at Yan Qizheng again and turned to get into the carriage.

"Take the young lady back home." Yan Qizheng ordered the servant driving the horse.

"Yes, young master."

The carriage turned around and slowly drove away.

Yan Qizheng turned around and faced Liu Yuer: "Can I have a moment to talk?"

"good."

The sky was covered with dark clouds and the sky was gloomy.

Half a mile away, an open-air teahouse stood with its sign fluttering in the wind. The owner was about to close up shop when he saw two generous customers arrive and immediately offered them tea.

It was about to rain that day, so Yan Qizhen skipped the formalities and got straight to the point.

"Could you tell me the truth about Miss Liu's maiden name and background?"

Liu Yu'er, who was sitting opposite him, showed no surprise when she heard this. She smiled calmly and asked, "Master Yan, did you make this special trip? Didn't you already have an idea in mind?"

Yan Qizheng said bluntly: "Then Miss Liu must know Zhang Chao."

This time, Liu Yuer's expression suddenly changed.

"I just came back from the northern border." Yan Qizhen added lightly.

The intelligent Liu Yuer immediately understood that he did not learn her name and life experience from Wu Guanyi.

"Did Master Yan go to the Northern Frontier specifically to investigate the Liu family?"

She wanted to know what was so important that it was worth traveling thousands of miles to investigate. But Yan Qizheng didn't answer her directly. Instead, he took out a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"Does this piece of brocade look familiar to you, Miss Paliu?"

Liu Yu'er's eyes fell on it: "I haven't seen it."

"When Zhang Chao died, he had this handkerchief hidden on his body," Yan Qizheng said slowly. "A man about to embark on an assassination mission bought a handkerchief like this. Even though he ended up covered in blood, he didn't stain it at all."

Liu Yu'er held a teacup tightly in her hand, staring at the weeping willow on the embroidered handkerchief in disbelief, as if she had a belated realization of pain.

"Actually..." Yan Qizheng continued, "It was you who wanted to assassinate the prince. Zhang Chao did this for you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sad woman in front of him closed her eyes and shed silent tears.

"You came to Liangjing incognito because of the Crown Prince. You came to me because I am close to the Crown Prince. You approached Ziyan because of her relationship with me..."

Liu Yuer covered her eyes with her hands and cried even harder.

"You knew that swords have no eyes, yet you still tricked Zi Yan into going to the cherry forest, causing her to almost—"

"Sister Liu didn't lie to me!" Before Yan Qi could finish his words, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side.

Wei Ziyan already felt that it was too much of a coincidence!

Yan Qizheng was on a business trip to the northern border, where Liu Yuer's hometown happened to be. Yan Qizheng came to see Liu Yuer right after returning to Beijing, so it must be something bad.

She heard the entire conversation just now. It was obvious that the powerful enemy Liu Yuer mentioned was the prince!

The crime of assassinating the prince is unforgivable. No matter what, she cannot let Liu Yuer admit to this crime!

"Sister Liu has just recovered from her illness and is too weak to withstand your questioning."

After saying that, Wei Ziyan was about to help Liu Yuer up, but Yan Qizheng was a step faster and quickly stood up and grabbed her wrist: "Don't be silly!"

No matter how strong his force was, Wei Ziyan couldn't pull herself away at all. Just as she was about to struggle, a dark shadow flashed before her eyes. Yan Qizheng suddenly stepped back, and her wrist loosened.

Then, the dark shadow stood in front of her.

Wu Guanyi?

"Shou Zhong?" Yan Qizhen also saw the person who forced him back with a punch, and suddenly frowned.

"Don't force her." Wu Guanyi opened his arms slightly and stood in front of Yan Qi.

I know he doesn't like this marriage, but after all, on the first day of his wedding, he was not at home to deal with his new wife, but suddenly came here and told him "don't force her" for a woman?

In his perplexed thoughts, Yan Qi suddenly recalled Zi Yan's inexplicable words from last night -

"He's already married..."

"It's impossible to be with my sister anymore..."

So, he and Liu Yuer...

Yan Qi was still feeling surprised when Liu Yu'er stopped crying and said sadly, "I didn't know Zhang Chao would assassinate the prince in the cherry forest that day..."

"You're lying!" Yan Qizhen didn't believe it.

Perhaps because she saw someone was protecting her, Liu Yu'er insisted, "I really don't know anything about his whereabouts."

"If you refuse to tell the truth, I'll have to take you back to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation. I'm afraid you'll suffer some physical pain."

"Don't even think about it!" Wu Guanyi stopped Yan Qizheng again, "Wu Kun, take the two girls away!"

Seeing the two people fighting, Wei Ziyan hurriedly helped Liu Yuer up and left with the guard named Wu Kun.

But where to go? Without giving it much thought, Wei Ziyan could only follow the guards to the nearby carriage. A guard was waiting in front of the carriage. Wu Kun seemed to have received instructions long ago. As soon as the two of them climbed aboard, they whipped their horses and drove off.

All of this fell into Yan Qizheng's eyes. He retracted his fists and feet and took a step back: "You want to hide him?"

Wu Guanyi did not answer, but remained silent instead.

"Wake up!" Yan Qizheng shouted at him, "She's using you! Her name isn't Liu Yu'er at all, her name is Liu Huijue, not just a simple..."

"I know her name is Liu Huijue. How could she be so extraordinary?" Wu Guanyi said with a cold face, "She's just a person whose relatives were murdered. She's left alone and helpless, so she came to Liangjing to seek refuge with distant relatives."

"She told you?"

"yes."

In order to draw a clear line between them that day, Liu Yuer told him her life story.

For this reason, Wu Guanyi didn't believe that she had any ulterior motives.

On the contrary, he was eager to be used by her - that way, the entanglement between them would continue and it would be difficult to distinguish...

"Ever since I learned about her life story, I have been sending people to secretly guard the Liu residence. No matter what, I will not stand by and watch her being taken away!"

Wu Guanyi looked at Yan Qizheng with determination: "Even if the Crown Prince personally orders her to be arrested and thrown into the Ministry of Justice, I will rescue her at all costs!"

Rumble——

Thunder rumbled in early autumn and large raindrops fell.

"How long do you think you can protect her?" Raindrops fell on Yan Qizhen's face.

He didn't know what happened to his good friend during the time he was away from the capital. He obeyed the prince's wishes and married the second daughter of the Qi family, but now he was determined to disobey the prince at all costs.

Not to mention the capital, the whole world belongs to the king, where could he hide the person?

"I know." Wu Guanyi wiped the rain from his eyes and clasped his hands together: "If you still consider me a brother, give me one day."

"Sister-in-law, I will ask someone to send her back safely."

…

The dripping rain suddenly took a turn for the worse, and in an instant it was pouring down.

The sky and the earth were covered with a vast expanse of darkness. The rain gradually subsided until dark, but it still did not stop.

The entire courtyard of Fuxi Hall was like a golden mountain flooded with water, and branches and fruits blown down by wind and rain floated on the ground.

A snow-white Persian cat crouched at the edge of the corridor, carefully paddling with water and scraping fruit with one paw. It was deeply engaged in the play. Yan Qi was sitting nearby, lost in thought.

When he left, the fruits of these date trees were still flowers...

Under the corridor at the other end, several maids looked at each other in confusion.

The young mistress went out in the afternoon and hasn't returned yet. The eldest son did come back two hours ago, but after changing into his soaking wet clothes, he's been sitting there ever since.

When it was time for dinner, Ping'er went to ask the eldest master if he wanted to have dinner, but he just waved his hand and sent her away.

Ping'er and the others lamented the dishes and soup carefully prepared by the small kitchen, but Qiuluo was only concerned about her young lady. Why was there no one in the yard even though the lights were on?

"Young Master," Xu Ji suddenly ran into the yard, his voice echoing throughout the silent Fuxi Hall.

"The young lady is back!"

Everyone's spirits perked up instantly, and they eagerly looked towards the courtyard gate. Soon, a slender figure stepped in and walked along the corridor towards them.

Qiu Luo was about to run over when she was stopped by Aunt Leng Xiang. Following her aunt's gaze, Qiu Luo saw the eldest son, who was sitting like a bell, stand up.

The lanterns under the eaves illuminated the view. Yan Qizhen first saw the face clearly, and then noticed that most of the clothes were wet, and there was mud and water on the ground where he passed.

In such heavy rain, is this how Wu Shouzhong sends people off?

He didn't realize that his expression wasn't looking good at the moment. Furthermore, the corridor was narrow, and by standing in the middle, he was blocking the way, as if waiting for someone to come back and interrogate him.

"Don't ask me, I won't tell you." Wei Ziyan raised her face, ready to argue with him.

However, the look in his eyes that was fixed on her face flashed, and Yan Qizhen seemed to want to say something but hesitated, then he stepped aside to make way.

"Go change your clothes."

A deep voice fell into Wei Ziyan's ears. She glanced at him with a hint of surprise and hurriedly passed by him.

"Miss, you are finally back."

Qiu Luo went forward and found that her clothes were wet and her feet were covered in mud. He asked in surprise, "How did you get so wet?"

Leng Xiang and the others also came over and immediately went into the house and got busy. They went to the bathroom to prepare water, found clean clothes, served hot tea, and cleaned the water stains on the floor...

Bai Er couldn't help but run in to join in the fun. Yan Qi was standing outside the house, listening to the commotion inside, and instead felt a strange sense of peace.

Du Juan came out with a pile of dirty clothes, and Yan Qizheng called her: "Ask the kitchen to heat up the soup."

"Yes, Master." Du Juan agreed and asked, "Do you want the dishes to be heated up too? Today we are cooking dishes that the young lady likes."

Yan Qizheng nodded his chin and said, "Okay."

So, when Wei Ziyan came out of the bath, a table of dishes was set out on the Eight Immortals table in the outer room. Yan Qi, who was sitting at the table, looked over, as if waiting for her to come over and eat together.

Just now in the bathroom, she quietly asked Qiu Luo about it. It seemed that the eldest master was in a very bad mood after returning home. He sat silently in the yard until she came back.

She had a feeling Yan Qizheng would settle that afternoon's debt with her. She should have found an excuse to go to sleep, but she hadn't eaten in a while, and the aroma of the food was too tempting.

Wei Ziyan swallowed her saliva, thinking that it would be unfair to go to bed on an empty stomach, so she straightened her clothes and sat down opposite Yan Qi.

Today's dishes looked just like what she wanted, so Wei Ziyan picked up her chopsticks and started eating. Firstly, she was really hungry, and secondly, she was worried that Yan Qi would start to settle the bill and she wouldn't have a chance to eat.

She had already thought about it. If he wanted to settle the score, she would just use the excuse of "no talking while eating, no talking while sleeping" to postpone it until after dinner. Anyway, she had to focus on the present. However, from the moment she sat down until now, Yan Qizheng hadn't asked a single question about what happened today. He just ate with her as if nothing had happened.

Wei Ziyan couldn't remember the last time she felt so calm. She just felt that Yan Qi was acting strangely and it was almost impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Just as she was lost in thought, a bowl of soup suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Eat slowly and drink some soup to warm your stomach."

The tone of his words was the same as the previous sentence "Go change your clothes quickly", just like a caring and considerate expression between an ordinary couple.

Wei Ziyan stared down at the bowl of soup, and those horrifying words from the morning popped up in her mind again.

"The eldest master said he had some official business to attend to, but he would be back in time to have dinner with the young lady."

"The eldest master asked me to make a few more dishes that the young lady would like."

"This... the eldest master bought this for the young lady on his trip."

"The eldest master has moved back to his bedroom and will no longer sleep in a separate room from the young mistress!"

For a moment, the food in her esophagus seemed to swell, blocking her breathing and making it difficult for her to breathe, as if it was stuck in her throat.

Wei Ziyan put down her chopsticks: "I'm full."

Just as she stood up, her wrist felt tight and Yan Qi grabbed her across the table.

"Are you full? Wu Shouzhong has time to feed you?"

“…”

Wei Ziyan choked.

The guards drove the carriage out of the city gates and took them to a small, square house on the outskirts of Beijing. Not long after, Wu Guanyi emerged, dripping wet. It turned out he'd noticed something and had already made plans for today: if Liu Yu'er couldn't stay in the capital any longer, he'd take her far away.

But Liu Yu'er didn't want this to happen. The two argued for a long time, and she often tried to persuade them. Later, when it was getting late, Wu Guanyi hurriedly called the guards to drive her back home.

"Eat well."

Yan Qizhen's voice brought her back to reality, but how could she have the heart to eat at this moment?

"You clearly remember what happened this afternoon, why are you pretending nothing happened?"

Facing the question, Yan Qizheng frowned slightly: "Didn't you say not to ask, so you won't tell me?"

"I..." Wei Ziyan paused, then decided to take him down a rabbit hole. "Since you're so obedient, can you help Sister Liu?"

Really, everyone wants to protect Liu.

Yan Qi looked at her, but didn't answer for a moment. He knew the prince's style too well, so he couldn't make a rash promise before he knew all the facts.

"Even if you don't consider my face, Mr. Wu is your good friend after all. Can't you help him out for his sake? Although Mr. Wu is married, he will definitely not stand idly by and watch Sister Liu get into trouble!"

"I'm not going to stand by and watch." Yan Qizheng rubbed his brows with a headache, "But whether I can help and how to help, it will take some time to figure out..."

"You're just afraid of being implicated!" Wei Ziyan interrupted him angrily, "Because you're afraid of the Crown Prince and dare not disobey him!"

I used to think he was open-minded and unconventional. But compared to Wu Guanyi's unwavering determination, he was just a cold-blooded, cowardly fellow!

It's a pity that she had placed her hopes on such a person before. Her feelings were really wasted!

Wei Ziyan felt that she had made a mistake, left the table angrily, and sulked in the inner room.

After a while, there were noises outside, as if the maids were clearing away the dishes. Then, footsteps approached from afar, and someone walked in.

"Miss..." Qiu Luo looked worried, "Why are you angry with your uncle again?"

"Where are the others?" Wei Ziyan looked behind her.

"My uncle has gone to the study."

Wei Ziyan was unhappy and went to bed early. However, her stomach, which was full of anger, gradually deflated. She tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The hypocritical face kept appearing in front of her eyes.

She was so exhausted that her mouth was dry and she called Qiu Luo.

While holding the cup to drink water, he heard Qiu Luo muttering softly: "Isn't the son-in-law going to sleep in the study again tonight?"

Wei Ziyan's hand holding the cup trembled slightly. If he didn't sleep in the study, why would he sleep here?

It's better to fall asleep early to avoid being upset. Wei Ziyan finished drinking the water and was about to lie down again when she heard a noise outside. Qiu Luo had just said he was going to go out and take a look when Ping'er quickly slipped in.

"Young Madam, the eldest son is here to bathe!"

Wei Ziyan glanced at her and said, "Just take a bath, why are you yelling?"

Ping'er pouted and looked over with Qiuluo, her thoughts clearly revealed in her eyes.

Wei Ziyan opened her almond-shaped eyes and warned them sternly, "Don't bother thinking of anything crooked! I don't need to please him, understand? Get out and don't disturb my sleep!"

In the bathroom, Leng Xiang had already put away the clean clothes. Yan Qi was pointing at an extra tub and asking what was going on. He hadn't taken it seriously when he saw it yesterday, but today he found it an eyesore.

"The young lady bathes every day and says the old tub is too big and wastes water, so she got this smaller one."

After hearing Leng Xiang's answer, Yan Qizhen didn't say anything. He waited for the maid to go out, took off his clothes and soaked in the water.

I was sulking in the study, and it hadn't dissipated yet.

Indiscriminately accusing him of being implicated! Little did she know that in order to save her good sister from imprisonment, he persuaded the prince to come alone for questioning, hoping to uncover the truth as soon as possible so that he could mediate with the prince.

She and Wu Guanyi had suddenly taken the person away, and hadn't he kept it a secret for them, not letting anyone know? Otherwise, the soldiers would have left the city to hunt them down, and she wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight.

Furthermore, he was clearly unhappy, yet he still left her in the rain and skipped meals. And she? She didn't trust him at all and even called him a coward.

All the kindness I showed her was wasted!

Even after he finished showering, dried his hair and went to the bedroom, Yan Qizhen still felt the tightness and irritability in his heart.

However, at this moment, only a single candle was lit in the bedroom, leaving the room in darkness. The figure lying on the bed was motionless, probably having fallen asleep long ago.

It was late at night and everyone was asleep. Even if he was upset, he wouldn't wake someone up and start a fight.

Yan Qi was just letting out a frustrated sigh, preparing to go to bed. Before his hand even touched the edge of the bed, the figure suddenly sat up, its pair of distinct black and white eyes suddenly widening in the dim light, while a wary rebuke pierced his eardrums.

"what you do?"

"What am I doing?" Yan Qizheng was furious at the question. "Are you a fairy from heaven or a beauty on earth? Why do you fantasize all day long about me doing something bad to you?"

"you--"

"Have I ever told you that as long as I, Yan, don't like you, you can never climb into my bed even if you throw yourself into my arms?"

"Who threw themselves into my arms?" He sarcastically taunted her with two consecutive remarks, causing Wei Ziyan to slam the bed in excitement. "I'm sleeping soundly in this bed, why did you come in?"

"I'm coming in to sleep."

"Go to the study and sleep! We're not really married, so why do you suddenly want to sleep in the same bed with me? And why do you buy me so many jewels for no apparent reason? If you don't have some other ulterior motive, why are you pretending to be nice to me?"

Wei Ziyan's sharp questions hurt Yan Qizhen to death.

Is he being hypocritically nice to her?

Even though the light in the room was already quite dim, Yan Qizheng couldn't help but feel the darkness in front of his eyes. His chest felt heavy, as if a huge stone had fallen on it, and it also felt like he had been punched twice at the same time, and it was still aching.

"What are my intentions?" He stared at the unpredictable woman in front of him in disbelief. "Weren't you the one who kept pestering me last night and wouldn't let me go?"

"I was drunk..." Wei Ziyan argued confidently, "I don't even remember what I did. Are you going to take my every word and action so seriously?"

Are you drunk?

Yan Qizheng sneered, "Who was it that was called an 'abandoned woman' and cried in front of her mother?"

“.......”

Unexpectedly, he suddenly brought up this matter, and Wei Ziyan shrank her neck quietly.

"I...I'm being scolded and I can't cry? I'm a normal girl, why should I be called an 'abandoned woman'?"

"girl?"

Yan Qizheng looked at her coldly.

"A nice girl would seduce a man who is bathing?"

It’s time to review this old account!

Wei Ziyan, who had been feeling a little insecure just now, straightened her back and imitated his previous tone: "Are you the reincarnation of Pan An, or are you as handsome as Song Yu? How dare you think I would seduce you?"

"you--"

"Have I ever told you that I hope to part ways amicably and happily? I hope you'll show mercy and let me go free soon. Why would I bother deliberately provoking you?"

“…”

Every word and every punch hit Yan Qizheng's chest closely.

So he was just being too sentimental again, and it was all just his imagination?

Last night's self-absorbed thoughts were like being peeled back layer by layer, now shamefully exposed. Yan Qizheng was almost furious!

She is dreaming of parting ways amicably!

"Wei Ziyan!"

Yan Qizhen bent down, met her eyes, and spitted out words from between his teeth.

"I never thought of showing mercy... You want me to set you free? Wait for the next life!"

【Author’s words】

Thank you for checking in, thank you for watering, keep updating every day!