Chapter Fifty-Four: Don't Forget What You Promised Me

"No!"

Shen Qingnian squeezed out a single word out of fear.

Xie Yanzhi loosely hooked his belt. "Cousin, what did you say?"

Xiao Huaiyi finally noticed Shen Qingnian's unusual behavior.

He then noticed that the girl in front of him was pale and her lips were trembling slightly.

Shen Qingnian turned her face away, bit her lip, and uttered a few more words: "Young Master Xiao, if I have caused you any misunderstanding before, please forgive me."

“Miss Shen! Yesterday…”

Xiao Huaiyi was greatly surprised. Just yesterday, she had shyly asked him to come and propose marriage as soon as possible, but after only one night, she suddenly became unwilling.

"Miss Chen, is someone coercing you?"

Xiao Huaiyi could only think of this reason. A young lady of such lowly status and beauty must have many suitors.

Upon hearing that she had been coerced, Shen Qingnian suddenly felt her eyes sting, so much so that tears were about to spill over.

After so many days in the capital and so many things that have happened, finally someone is concerned about whether she has been coerced.

Her heart was filled with bitterness. He was the only person who cared about her feelings, but she was about to hurt him and break off their relationship.

Shen Qingnian could feel the hand pulling on her belt tightening its grip; it was Xie Yanzhi's way of telling her to quickly give up on Xiao Huaiyi's hopes.

She looked up into Xiao Huaiyi's affectionate eyes, her fingers intertwined as if she had made a great decision, and slowly opened her mouth.

“Young Master Xiao, I received a letter from my mother last night, and only then did I learn that I have been engaged to someone since childhood, and I will be returning home to get married soon.”

Hearing her say this, Xie Yanzhi couldn't help but feel a little contemptuous. She really loved to lie, and she could spout lies so easily.

"I wish you, sir, to find a good match soon and have a happy and fulfilling life."

The gentle voice rang out, but it sounded so grating to Xiao Huaiyi's ears.

With a clatter, the cup in Xiao Huaiyi's hand fell onto the table, and he reached out to pick it up again.

Seeing his thunderstruck expression, Shen Qingnian felt a stinging sensation in her mouth, so stinging that she could only open her mouth, wanting to comfort him, but unable to utter a sound.

She genuinely wanted to spend her life with him.

“Miss Chen! You…”

Xiao Huaiyi stared at Shen Qingnian, trying to see if there was anything unusual on her face, but in the end he found nothing.

Shen Qingnian stood up with difficulty, bowed to Xiao Huaiyi, and turned to walk out the door.

Xiao Huaiyi got up to chase after him, but was stopped by Xie Yanzhi.

There was another "thump," and something fell onto the table.

"Is this yours? I'm returning it to you on behalf of my cousin."

As Xie Yanzhi spoke, he left Xiao Huaiyi and Ping An in the house and followed Shen Qingnian downstairs and out the door.

Xiao Huaiyi stared at the jade pendant he had given her on the table, speechless, unable to recover for a long time.

Yuan Qing had been waiting in the carriage. When Xie Yanzhi and Shen Qingnian came over, he quickly brought over stools and lifted the curtain to let them into the carriage.

Shen Qingnian didn't know how she got downstairs. She only knew that she couldn't appear too sad at this moment, lest she anger Xie Yanzhi.

Sometimes it will even harm Xiao Huaiyi.

Ling'er was now bound hand and foot, and could only lean against the carriage window to watch what was happening outside. When she saw her mistress get off, she could only make muffled sounds, but unfortunately, her mistress didn't hear her.

Seeing that they were about to return to the manor, Yuan Qing helped Ling'er remove the cloth from her mouth and then draped a cloak over her legs, saying, "It's chilly at night."

Ling'er glared at him, turned her head away and ignored him, looking out the car window instead.

As the carriage started moving, the wind blew up a corner of the curtain, and Ping An saw Ling'er. He ran towards the carriage and spread his arms to block it.

Yuan Qing was startled and quickly reined in the carriage, asking angrily, "What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?!"

Ping An pulled a small paper packet from his sleeve. "Yuan Qing, I'm giving Ling'er some pine nuts."

The carriage suddenly stopped, and before Ling'er could react, she fell heavily onto the couch, and she was very unhappy.

Suddenly, she heard someone calling her from the window: "Sister Ling'er."

Ling'er struggled to sit up and looked, only to find that everything was alright.

"Brother Ping An!" Ling'er was happy to see Ping An and called out. She wanted to reach out and roll up the carriage curtain, but then she remembered that her hands and feet were still tied. The look of joy on her face disappeared, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

She desperately wanted to tell Brother Ping An that she was tied up and ask Young Master Xiao to come and rescue them.

But when Yuan Qing tied her up, he said that if everyone found out, the young lady's reputation would be ruined, and it might even implicate Young Master Xiao.

After all, the eldest son is the heir apparent who holds real power.

So she couldn't let Brother Ping An see her like this.

He then put his hands inside his cloak.

"Sister Ling'er, please keep these pine nuts safe. My husband and I are leaving the capital this time, and we don't know when we will return."

"Oh," Ling'er responded softly. So Brother Ping'an had come to say goodbye.

Looking at the bag of pine nuts, she really wanted to take it, but she couldn't.

Seeing that Ling'er wouldn't take it, Ping'an simply tossed the pine nuts onto the soft couch through the curtain.

Just as he was about to speak, Yuan Qing drove the carriage away.

"Yuan Qing!" Ling'er called out.

"Master and Miss Qing have already gone far ahead; we must hurry and catch up."

After saying this, Yuan Qing ignored Ling'er. He felt somewhat guilty towards her.

This morning, following his master's orders, he tied up the people who had escaped from Qianyue Residence.

He had been looking for a while but no one came out. Unexpectedly, Ling'er, looking silly, walked into his line of sight with a cloak.

When the carriage arrived at the Marquis's residence, Shen Qingnian followed Xie Yanzhi without saying a word. When they reached the intersection, Xie Yanzhi turned around and saw that Shen Qingnian's expression remained normal, except that she hadn't spoken a word the whole way.

She was back to her usual dignified young lady demeanor.

He frowned. This woman really knew how to take things in stride. He was somewhat impressed.

Before seeing Xiao Huaiyi, she seemed very reluctant to part with him, but now that she has broken up with him, she reacts calmly without crying or making a fuss.

What does she really care about?

"The seventh day of next month is an auspicious day," Xie Yanzhi said casually, his hands behind his back.

Shen Qingnian suddenly looked up, her face full of surprise.

Xie Yanzhi noticed her change and whispered in her ear:

"Don't forget what you just promised me!"