Chapter 900 His Surprise (Two Chapters Combined)

"What did you say? Who died?"

She asked calmly.

Gao Qiang was about to speak when he suddenly realized the atmosphere was a bit off. He scratched his head blankly and asked, "Did I... say something wrong?"

What do you think...? Xiao Heng knew that with his mother's intelligence, she probably couldn't hide it any longer. He glanced at his mother's protruding belly, which looked like she might give birth at any moment, and was really worried that something might go wrong and affect the baby.

He said earnestly, "I haven't figured it out yet. I'll handle it. Mother, go inside and rest for a while. I'll tell you when I've sorted things out."

Princess Xinyang said seriously, "No need, I'm fine, you can speak."

"This..." Gao Qiang scratched his head, leaned closer to Xiao Heng and asked in a low voice, "Should I tell him or not?"

Xiao Heng sighed deeply: "Go ahead and tell me."

At this point, there's no point in remaining silent any longer.

Gao Qiang said "Oh," and then asked awkwardly, "What did I mean to say?"

"Who died?" Princess Xinyang reminded him.

Gao Qiang suddenly realized: "Ah, four (yes), four is referring to this four, General Xiao is dead!"

"Where did you hear this news from?" Xiao Heng asked.

Even though he already had Long Yi's painting, Xiao Heng still prayed for even the slightest miracle, or perhaps he was mistaken and that person might not be his father.

Gao Qiang then explained the whole story.

Marquis Xuanping secretly entered the State of Yan. He did not have a proper travel permit for the State of Yan. In order to avoid causing some unnecessary disputes and misunderstandings, Marquis Xuanping, Tang Yueshan, and the old Marquis all used the identity of the Crown Princess's advisor.

Among them, Marquis Xuanping was appointed a general by Shangguan Yan in a time of crisis.

His sudden disappearance naturally raised questions among some people.

Shangguan Yan publicly claimed that he had gone to find medicine for the Ghost King of Ghost Mountain.

The Ghost Soldiers were a civilian army that protected many local people from the Jin army, and the people were very friendly to the Ghost Soldiers' leader.

Hearing that they were searching for medicine for him, everyone was looking forward to General Xiao's early return.

A month passed, and instead of news of General Xiao's safe return, the Black Wind Cavalry's junior commander dispatched experts from the Shadow Division to the icy plains to retrieve the bodies.

It is said that General Xiao successfully brought the medicine back from the other side of the ice field and handed it over to his companions, but he did not leave the ice field alive.

Upon hearing this, both mother and son fell silent.

No one expected this outcome; a vibrant person suddenly disappeared from their life, making it hard to believe it was real.

Gao Qiang asked, "That person just now... was it His Highness the Four Ghost Kings?" As he spoke, he glanced at the mother and son, and hurriedly said, "I didn't ask anything! I didn't ask anything!"

Xiao Heng felt a deep, agonizing pain, as if his heart were being gripped by a giant hand. He wanted Shangguan Qing to live, but he also didn't want his father to sacrifice his own life.

They, father and son, didn't know how to get along with each other before. By the time they finally understood, the opportunity had passed.

He clenched his fists, his eyes gradually reddening: "Why...why did this happen..."

Gao Qiang panicked: "I...I don't know why this happened...If I had known...I wouldn't have said anything..."

Is it too late to regret it now?

I feel like I've made a huge mess of things.

Will his master punish him when he gets back?

I'm out of my monthly allowance again!

"Then...then...I...I..." Gao Qiang felt he had to disappear immediately, otherwise he might not be able to leave alive.

Just then, the door repairman arrived.

His eyes lit up: "I'll fix the door! The door I broke! I'll fix it myself!"

After running a couple of steps, he turned back and said dejectedly, "Take care... my condolences!"

Losing his father was no easier than losing his brother, and Xiao Heng held back his tears.

He no longer has a father.

Unlike his previous angry words, this time, he had truly lost him.

...

When Yu Jin invited the imperial physician over, Gao Qiang was helping the craftsmen repair the courtyard gate that he had kicked down. Xiao Heng was no longer there.

Yu Jin sensed that something was wrong in the atmosphere of the house. She wanted to ask what had happened, but the servants all avoided her gaze.

She looked at Gao Qiang, who didn't dare to say anything this time. He avoided her gaze and waved his hand, saying, "Don't ask me, I won't say! I don't know anything!"

She murmured, "Has something happened to the young master?"

Her first thought was that Shangguan Qing's condition had worsened. After all, she couldn't think of anything else that could have caused such a panic.

She hurriedly led the imperial physician to Shangguan Qing's room.

The furnishings inside the room remained unchanged, but the atmosphere inside was so heavy it was suffocating as soon as you stepped inside.

Yu Jin frowned slightly and unconsciously clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

She stepped across the threshold and walked towards Shangguan Qing's bed: "Princess!"

Princess Xinyang sat on a stool in front of the bed with her back to the door, her back as straight as ever.

But her silhouette looked somewhat melancholic.

Could it be that something really happened to the young master?

"Imperial Physician!" she called back, urging the imperial physician.

The imperial physician, carrying his medicine chest, stepped across the threshold.

He approached Princess Xinyang from behind and bowed to her, saying, "This humble official greets Your Highness."

Princess Xinyang hesitated for a long time before finally replying indifferently, "Take Qing'er's pulse."

Yu Jin looked at the expressionless princess with concern, then stepped aside to make it easier for the imperial physician to take her pulse.

The imperial physician examined Shangguan Qingzai carefully and bowed to report: "Your Highness, the young master seems to have been poisoned, but judging from his pulse, his life is not in immediate danger."

If there's no danger to your life, then the antidote must be working.

Why does the princess still look unhappy?

The imperial physician didn't dare ask who this young man, whom Princess Xinyang cherished so much, was; he only vaguely felt that the man's appearance was somewhat familiar.

He said, "Young master, you can continue taking the antidote. I will go and prescribe a gentle remedy for you."

"Thank you for your trouble," said Princess Xinyang.

The imperial physician left with his medicine chest.

Yu Jin closed the door slightly before returning to Princess Xinyang's side, asking curiously, "Princess, what happened? Why is everyone acting so strangely?"

"Xiao Ji is dead," Princess Xinyang said calmly, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

But whether she truly felt completely at peace with herself, only she herself knew.

Yu Jin was taken aback upon hearing this: "Princess, who told you this? Are you mistaken? Didn't the Marquis go to find medicine for the young master? He's already brought it back..."

“He’s not coming back,” Princess Xinyang said.

She had already seen Long Yi's paintings. She was well-versed in the geography of various countries, so of course she understood what the Ice Plains was like. The Ice Plains in the dead of winter was an ice mountain inferno, a deadly chasm that no one could cross.

She couldn't imagine what kind of willpower he had to bring the antidote back from the blizzard.

Yu Jin knelt down, took Princess Xinyang's hand, and looked up at her: "Princess..."

Princess Xinyang murmured, "I once thought about getting rid of this man, but I never expected it to be like this."

Yu Jin's nose tingled: "Princess..."

Princess Xinyang said calmly, "Birth, old age, sickness and death are all normal occurrences, but he died too quickly."

Yu Jin held her mistress's hand tightly with heartache: "Princess, if you are sad, just cry it out. Crying will make you feel better."

Princess Xinyang said, "I am not sad for myself, but for my three children. When I was raising Aheng, I always felt that it didn't matter whether Aheng had a father or not, since he was always in the military camp and never came back all year round."

"Wasn't it because you wouldn't let him come to the Princess's residence?" Yu Jin said, choking back tears. "I've seen the Marquis riding past the Princess's residence several times..."

Princess Xinyang did not deny that she disliked Marquis Xuanping, but she had her reasons: "He always made Aheng cry... Aheng saw him only a handful of times a month. I often felt that he was dispensable as a father. But when he was really gone... I realized... it was different."

Yu Jin said sadly, "Even though the Marquis wasn't around anymore, he hadn't gone far. He was always secretly protecting you and the young Marquis. As long as you and the young Marquis turned back... he was always there..."

"But this time, he's really gone."

No matter how many times she turned back, the man would never wait for her again.

"When His Majesty said he would bestow me upon him in marriage, I thought my nightmare had begun. You know he has a bad reputation, is highly skilled in martial arts, and has a strong personality. I don't care about his reputation. I'm just a pawn to win over powerful ministers. What difference does it make who I marry? But I can't get close to men. If it were someone else, it might be easier to control them."

But Marquis Xuanping, that dashing young man, had made great military achievements at a young age, and was so powerful that the entire royal family was wary of him.

“Although I am a princess, how can I not let my husband touch me on our wedding night? I was prepared to be humiliated by him… I was young then, and my temperament was not like it is now. I still had some youthful impulsiveness, so I even thought that if I really couldn’t bear the humiliation, I might as well commit suicide.”

The dagger pressed against his chest was originally meant for her.

She never thought he would compromise.

He returned to his room reeking of alcohol, staggering as he walked, but the moment the door closed, all traces of drunkenness vanished.

He whispered to her, "I'm not drunk, don't be afraid."

She gripped the dagger hidden in her wide sleeve tightly.

He picked up the jade ruyi on the table and lifted her veil.

She clearly remembered his eyes at that time, filled with the innocence and beauty of youth, seemingly unrelated to the rumored philandering and unruly nature.

He was dressed in a bright red wedding gown, his face exquisitely beautiful, and with a blush of newlywed shyness and joy, he bent down and looked at her with a smile.

However, what awaited him was a cold dagger that almost pierced his chest.

"Don't touch me, or I'll kill you!"

"I cannot disobey the emperor's decree; I never intended to marry you."

"We can maintain the nominal status of husband and wife without having the actual relationship. You can take concubines, as many as you want, I won't interfere."

"Of course, you shouldn't interfere in my affairs either."

"From now on, unless summoned by me, you are not allowed to set foot in the Princess's residence!"

She watched as his clean and beautiful smile gradually froze, like a piece of perfect jade that she had shattered completely with her own hands.

She could feel the icy chill emanating from him.

She thought he would take her dagger and then humiliate her to the extreme.

He didn't.

He simply asked, "Qin Fengwan, are you serious?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, he sneered, straightened up, threw away the jade ruyi in his hand, and tore off the silk ribbons and red flowers from his body. He left the bridal chamber, which was covered with the character for "double happiness," without looking back.

Their marriage has come to an end.

She thought, this is fine too.

It was pouring rain, her carriage broke down halfway, and she was soaked to the bone.

His army happened to be passing through the street.

She turned away from him, not wanting him to see her disheveled state.

But he still saw it.

She thought he would definitely mock her relentlessly, trying to make up for the embarrassment of their wedding night.

But he still didn't.

The young general dismounted and took off his raincoat, handing it to her.

She didn't go to pick it up.

She dared not touch any of the man's belongings.

He turned his head, frowned as he glanced at her, walked over, and draped the raincoat over her shoulders.

That was the first time she had been so close to a man since she grew up. Her face turned pale, and she even choked on her breath.

"Get away from me! Don't touch me!" she said coldly, turning her face away, and threw away the raincoat he had draped over her.

He paused for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Quickly, he bent down to pick up his raincoat, which was dirty in the mud, mounted his horse, and left without a word.

It was pouring rain, and Long Yi and the others weren't around. The guards were slow in repairing the car, and she was almost frozen stiff.

Before long, a brand-new carriage drove out of the heavy rain and stopped in front of her.

The coachman handed her an umbrella: "Madam, a young gentleman just sent us to pick you up."

She always tried her best to avoid this man, but she always inevitably ran into him, especially during her few embarrassing moments.

She took Xiao Heng to the street to buy snacks. Four-year-old Xiao Heng got into trouble and begged Long Yi to take him away to seek refuge.

She led Yu Jin through the crowded streets.

The lantern festival, held every three years, draws people from all over the country to the capital.

She and Yu Jin were separated by the commotion. She was pushed to the side and knocked over an old lady's stall. The old lady cried and begged her to pay for the damages, but all the money was with Yu Jin.

The old woman hugged her legs, which made everyone around her cry.

She stood there helplessly, completely unaware that her hair and clothes were already in disarray.

"Xiao Lang, who is she?"

Upstairs, in the Soft Fragrance Pavilion, a flamboyantly dressed woman nestled beside him, leisurely watching his folly.

“My wife,” he said.

The woman paused for a moment, then covered her face with her fan and smiled: "Is that the princess you neglected in your mansion? She doesn't look like much."

She looked down and realized that her clothes were somewhat disheveled.

She looked at the crowd surging towards her, and at the men's malicious gazes, and suddenly her illness flared up.

Suddenly, a cloak covered her completely, and someone grabbed her wrist and led her out of the crowded throng.

...

Some things don't seem like a big deal until you think about them carefully. Only when you recall them do you realize that they weren't completely unconnected as the world perceived them to be.

She had seen him practice swordsmanship, she had seen his heroic figure on horseback, and he had also seen her most unspeakable moments of embarrassment.

They met at the mansion, bumped into each other on the street, and encountered each other in the palace, but they acted as if they were strangers, ignoring each other.

Princess Xinyang said calmly, "After the death of the Prince of Liang, my illness seems to have improved somewhat."

Yu Jin was startled, tears welling up in her eyes: "Princess..."

She clutched her stomach and stood up. "Aheng has gone to prepare for his funeral. You should go and prepare too."

"Yes." Yu Jin wiped away her tears and sadly withdrew.

The princess was so pitiful; she became a widow at such a young age.

What will happen to the young marquis? What will happen to the young master?

And what about the unborn child?

Yu Jin went to the Marquis's residence to inform them that they should also prepare for the funeral.

The gate to the courtyard was repaired, and Gao Qiang said goodbye to her.

She nodded, thanked him, and told him to take care on his journey.

As dusk fell, snow began to drift down from the sky, large flakes falling silently.

In this world, even sorrow is silent.

The courtyard was extremely quiet.

She walked in the snow, her shoes making a crunching sound.

Thump!

Something slammed heavily against the gate.

She frowned slightly. The servants were all busy in the backyard, and no one went to open the door.

She frowned at the tightly closed courtyard gate, hesitated for a moment, and then walked over.

She opened the vermilion courtyard gate, and suddenly there was a sound of wind amidst the snowflakes. Goose feather-like snowflakes rushed towards her, and she instinctively raised her hand to shield herself.

When she looked towards the door again, she saw nothing.

Just as she was about to close the courtyard gate, she paused.

She stepped over the threshold and looked towards West Street.

There was still no one there.

Just then, a low laugh came from behind.

She turned around blankly.

Amidst the swirling snow, a tall, travel-worn man leaned lazily against the cold wall behind him, arms crossed, his long legs striding stylishly through the snow.

He was covered in dried blood, his face was pale, and he was barely breathing.

He turned his head to look at her, his pale and handsome face backlit by the snow, a carefree smile tugging at the corners of his bloodless lips: "Qin Fengwan, you look really ugly when you cry."

Sorry, it's getting late, this chapter was very difficult to write.

I'm a writer of sweet romance novels, *fist pump*

(End of this chapter)