Chapter 10. The lotus petals still held specks of fresh...

In the teahouse facing the street, the elegant seats by the window on the second floor were filled with the aroma of tea, but Xie Linyuan had a pot of wine in front of him.

The aroma of the wine overpowered the fragrance of the tea. Xie Linyuan picked up the white porcelain cup, drank it down in one gulp, and then put it down again.

The bottom of the cup struck the table with a loud thud, then shattered into pieces, turning into almost dust in an instant.

His brows were lowered, his eyes as dark as ink, exuding a fierce aura that could not be concealed. The sunlight by the window fell on his pale, sharp profile, as if it were also tainted by the coldness emanating from him, making the entire room seem to be filled with frost and cold.

The atmosphere inside the room froze for a moment.

The Third Prince Xiao Jian laughed and said, "It seems that Brother Xie is not in a good mood today. I wonder who has upset you."

Who is it?

Xie Linyuan raised an eyebrow and laughed, his peach blossom eyes rippling. "It's nothing but a plaything."

She doesn't deserve it.

woman?

The Third Prince Xiao Jian did not continue speaking, but instead said, "I invited General Xie here today simply to catch up with you. You should be in high spirits after your victory, but unexpectedly, your family has suffered this misfortune. I hope you can take heart in your grief."

Xiao Jian brought up the matter of Xie Linyuan's elder brother, poured Xie Linyuan a cup of tea, and slowly said, "Your brother's matter is truly strange. How could bandits have infiltrated a royal temple right under the emperor's nose, robbed and killed the entire temple without a single survivor, and..."

The Third Prince Xiao Jian took a sip of tea. He had a clear and handsome appearance, unlike Xie Linyuan, who was handsome and beautiful, or Xie Linyuan, who was arrogant and domineering. He exuded a calm and composed temperament in every gesture.

"Moreover, the robbers were all highly skilled in martial arts and well-trained. They did not look like robbers but rather like suicide squads. After being arrested, they all committed suicide in prison."

Xie Linyuan didn't even lift his eyelids. He swirled his teacup, and the slowly rising steam dampened his long eyelashes. He narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a half-smile, "What do you mean by that, Third Prince?"

Xiao Jian did not answer Xie Linyuan's question directly. He placed the teacup on the table and gestured to the guards behind him.

Xie Linyuan also glanced at Qingshan standing behind him, and then the two of them went to the outer room, where they stood guard outside the door with their swords.

Xiao Jian continued, "Your brother is an important official of the court, and General Xie has made outstanding military achievements and enjoys high prestige. I believe General Xie understands the meaning behind this better than I do, so I don't need to say more."

"I believe Brother Xie is not one to sit idly by and wait for death. If you need my assistance..." Xiao Jian chuckled and raised a cup of wine to Xie Linyuan, "I would be more than happy to do so."

Xie Linyuan raised an eyebrow and drank the wine: "Thank you, Your Highness."

That's all.

Xiao Jian didn't press for details, but instead brought up other matters: "I heard that your brother was previously engaged, and his fiancée was also in the Xie family. They were a perfect match and were about to get married, but now they are separated by death, which is truly regrettable. I would like to ask Brother Xie to convey my condolences."

No sooner had Xiao Jian finished speaking than Xie Linyuan suddenly lifted his eyelids and looked at him.

At that moment, even Xiao Jian, who was usually calm and composed and never showed his emotions, felt a chill run down his spine and was suddenly jolted.

Xie Linyuan was used to battlefield combat, and looking at others with this kind of gaze was no different from looking at a blood-stained blade.

It is the natural alertness of wild beasts.

Xiao Jian was sweating profusely, wondering which word he had said had touched a nerve with Xie Linyuan, when Xie Linyuan finally spoke lazily.

He leaned back in his chair with a relaxed posture, even a slight smile on his lips, making it impossible to discern whether his words were filled with joy or anger, pleasure or hatred.

Perhaps even he himself couldn't tell the difference.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but there's no need for you to trouble yourself. My brother entrusted me with the task before his death, instructing me to marry her. The funeral at home just ended, so we didn't make any arrangements, but now..."

But then he paused, tilting his head slightly as if looking somewhere, his long, slender fingers curling up as he tapped the table.

"She already belongs to me, Xie Linyuan."

He was referring to things, not people.

"I see." Xiao Jian replied, apologizing, "It was my fault. It just so happens that the Princess will be holding a flower-viewing banquet in a few days. At that time, noble ladies and gentlemen from all the families in the capital will attend. The invitations should have already arrived at your residence. Brother Xie can take this opportunity to bring his family to the banquet."

Xie Linyuan lowered his long eyelashes, and a misty look appeared in his peach blossom eyes.

family?

Take her with you?

That's ridiculous.

Seeing that Xie Linyuan remained silent, Xiao Jian continued, "We cannot disregard the Princess's request. At that time, noble ladies and gentlemen from all the families in the capital will be attending. With your appearance and high position, Brother Xie is admired by countless noble ladies in the capital. If you do not wish to cause trouble, it would be best to bring your family."

"And..." At this point, Xiao Jian smiled with a somewhat ambiguous expression, "The Princess has always favored Brother Xie, so it would be best if Brother Xie brought his family along."

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness." Xie Linyuan said expressionlessly, leaning against the window facing the street. Outside the window was a bustling street with people coming and going and shouting.

He glanced at it casually, and then, as if he had seen something, his gaze lingered for a moment, and his expression froze for a instant.

As Xiao Jian stood up, seemingly preparing to leave, he added, "There's one more thing. Wu Zizhuo is the commander of the Imperial Guards. Although he appears to be nothing more than a playboy, with a carefree and frivolous lifestyle, he has done a lot of clean-up work for His Majesty, both openly and secretly. He is ambitious and has long coveted your position as Grand General. He may be waiting for an opportunity to make his move. Brother Xie, please be very careful." The Third Prince, Xiao Jian, seemed to be offering this advice out of great concern.

Xie Linyuan withdrew his gaze and stood up, saying calmly, "Wu Zizhuo commands the Imperial Guards. The Imperial Guards have lived in peace for too long, and I'm afraid they've forgotten what it's like to be on the battlefield. They can't even lift a sword; they're nothing but good-for-nothings. Your Highness need not worry."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a strong killing intent emanating from his dark pupils. He truly did not take Wu Zizhuo seriously: "If he wants to sit in my seat and take my place, he'll have to see if he has the ability."

Xiao Jian chuckled: "General Xie is absolutely right. Indeed, General Xie has truly fought his way through the battlefield. The people in the capital have been living comfortably for too long."

"I believe that you and I will be good allies. I believe you also know how to resolve the Xie family's current predicament."

Xie Linyuan raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.

"If the general has made a decision, he may come to me at any time. I will take my leave now. Goodbye."

Xie Linyuan bowed and said, "Take care."

After Xiao Jian left, Qingshan came in and saw his master leaning against the window, looking down at something.

He walked over and looked down, only to see Miss Su and her maid just entering a shop.

Although she was wearing a veil, her maidservant recognized her at a glance.

Judging from the name, the shop looks like a pharmacy.

Xie Linyuan withdrew his gaze and only instructed, "Find out what this woman bought at the pharmacy."

Qingshan replied, "Yes, I will investigate immediately."

——

Faced with someone like Xie Linyuan, Su Muying had no choice but to take a risk.

She couldn't afford to wait any longer. If she couldn't conceive again, her mother might not be able to keep her.

After humiliating her in the mourning hall, Xie Linyuan fed her a bowl of contraceptive soup, showing his extreme disgust for her and his determination to never touch her again.

She had no choice but to do this in order to survive.

Su Muying comforted herself, thinking that she would be able to leave this place soon.

Once she gives birth to a child for the Xie family, she will be able to leave this place.

So she put on her veil and went out with Xiao Rong.

It wasn't just to buy aphrodisiacs, but also to find out news about Anzhou.

She managed to buy the medicine, but the news she gathered was bad.

“Anzhou, you can’t go there now. It’s ravaged by war. I heard that the Prince of Shunyang has rebelled and seized control of his own territory. The imperial court will definitely send troops, and the people will suffer again. Sigh…”

She returned to the Xie residence, dejected and heartbroken.

The moment Su Muying stepped into the Xie residence, it felt as if someone had suddenly grabbed her heart and was choking her.

She couldn't breathe, a feeling of suffocation crept over her, and then, images from the funeral hall flooded back uncontrollably.

On the pillars, on the altar, in front of the memorial tablets...

He stripped away all her shame and dignity.

He even turned her face so that she could see Xie Lin'an's memorial tablet.

Let her watch, watch in such a shameful way.

Xie Linyuan's condescending attitude towards her and the look of disgust in his eyes were like sharp blades, slowly cutting into her skin.

Su Muying shivered.

She thought of Xie Lin'an.

She wanted to go see him and talk to him.

Will he forgive her...?

Su Muying went to Xie Lin'an's mourning hall.

Before going to Xie Lin'an's mourning hall, she specially burned incense and washed herself clean, and changed into a plain white dress without any decorations or dirt.

There were no other hairpins or hair ornaments in her hair, only a white jade hairpin.

It seemed that only by doing so could she dare to face him.

It's like looking up to her god.

She was afraid she would desecrate him.

Although the moonlight had been tainted since that day.

Not long after Su Muying went to Xie Lin'an's mourning hall, Xie Linyuan also returned to his residence.

Upon returning to his residence, as the servants greeted him, he asked only, "Where did that woman go?"

He never called her by her name.

In his eyes, those three words were her name.

Everyone in the manor knew who Xie Linyuan was referring to, so they replied, "It looks like they went to the eldest young master's mourning hall."

Xie Linyuan lifted his eyelids and gave a cold smile.

"Hypocrisy"

The next moment, he also walked towards Xie Lin'an's mourning hall.

——

Xie Lin'an has been buried and the mourning period has passed. His mourning hall should have been removed long ago, but Xie Linyuan ordered that it not be removed.

No one knew why he did this, but no one dared to say a word, not even Xie's mother.

Xie Lin'an's mourning hall remained in that place, with incense burning, eternal lamps lit, and white banners hanging, as if constantly reminding others that he was dead.

And what was the cause of his death?

When Xie Linyuan arrived at the mourning hall, Su Muying was lighting incense.

She lit three incense sticks, and the wisps of smoke curled around her like a few strands of mist, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere.

In this dream, she wore a plain white dress without any embellishment, much like a white mourning garment. Her hair was adorned only with a jade hairpin, and her silky black hair fell down, the interplay of white and black highlighting the woman's extremely aloof and holy nature.

It is as if it is not to be profaned.

It completely overshadowed her stunning and charming appearance.

When she looked up at the memorial tablet and offered incense, her expression was so peaceful and pure, like that of a pilgrim.

This was an expression rarely seen on her face, and one that Xie Linyuan had never seen before.

The fragrance of incense wafted slowly, and when it reached him, his eyelashes trembled slightly as he lowered them. Suddenly, the image of a girl in a green dress, carrying a bouquet of flowers, walking slowly through the misty corridor after the rain flashed into his mind.

Xie Linyuan's peach blossom eyes momentarily lost focus, but then, when he caught a glimpse of the white figure in the mourning hall out of the corner of his eye, they suddenly turned into a deep, cold abyss.

After offering incense, Su Muying knelt on the prayer mat and spoke.

"Lin'an, I didn't dare to come, and I had no face to see you... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

She kept saying sorry, her voice, which had been clear and melodious just moments before, suddenly turned into a sob. She even covered her face with her hands and couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

Afraid of being overheard, she cried very softly, her thin back trembling slightly. She covered her face and curled up into a ball, looking so sad and helpless.

This was an emotion that Su Muying had never shown in public.

She dared not, and could not, reveal her vulnerability and helplessness.

Even when Xie Lin'an was alive, she never did, but now, in front of his memorial tablet, she had a good cry.

She was still talking, her voice muffled from crying, but it was still very clear.

"Before you died, you said you wanted me to embroider a sachet for you so you could always carry it with you. I had already finished it and was going to burn it for you before you were buried, but I lost it... Waaah... I looked for it but couldn't find it..."

"How about I embroider another one for you, the lotus flower that you love the most..."

"Lin'an, do you blame me...?"

...

The girl inside the mourning hall was still crying and talking, while outside the hall, a light drizzle began to fall, creating a misty atmosphere.

Xie Linyuan stood in the rain, the drizzle wetting his long eyelashes. As the raindrops on his long eyelashes trembled and were about to fall, he slowly opened his hand, revealing the purse he had found in the mourning hall that day.

He turned it over to the side, and there was a lotus flower with intricate craftsmanship and lifelike appearance.

The lotus petals were still stained with specks of blood, a testament to the great effort the embroiderer had put in.

It is extremely precious.

A note from the author:

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The dead white moonlight is invincible [doge emoji]