Chapter 45 It Was You All Along!

After Zhao Lige left the study, Zhao Liyou angrily swept all the teaware off the table, the sound of it shattering piercing the air. His chest heaved violently; his half-brother's cold warning still echoed in his ears. To bow down to a son of a concubine was worse than death!

"What's there to be so smug about! You're just a bastard born of a lowly servant!" he growled, his eyes filled with malice.

At this moment, Chen Jiao carried in ginseng soup and gracefully walked in. She glanced at the mess on the ground, understood what was going on, but put on a gentle and considerate face and said softly, "Why is Li Lang angry? If you get sick from anger, I will be heartbroken."

She placed the ginseng soup on the table, nestled into Zhao Liyou's arms, and drew circles on his chest with her slender fingers. "Second brother is young and impetuous, and his words are a bit rash. Lilang is the eldest son, so please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart."

Her words were like feathers, gently scratching at Zhao Liyou's vanity. He hugged Chen Jiao and snorted, "Jiao'er is so sensible. That Zhao Lige, relying on Father's occasional trust, dares to disregard me! And that Chen Qing! If she hadn't refused to hand over her dowry, we wouldn't be in such a passive position!"

A glint of malice flashed in Chen Jiao's eyes, and she continued, "Speaking of my sister... sigh, her hot pot restaurant is doing very well now. She's probably long forgotten who she is, let alone her marriage agreement with her husband. Right now, she's probably in some corner, laughing at us."

Her tone carried just the right amount of grievance and provocation.

Provoked by these words, Zhao Liyou felt a surge of old and new grudges, and he suddenly stood up: "Laugh at her? She doesn't deserve it! Come on, Jiao'er, accompany your husband for a walk. I want to see how long her shabby shop can stay popular!"

He wanted to see for himself whether the woman he had once despised, who now seemed to be doing well, could still maintain that aloof demeanor in front of him! He wanted her to know that what Chen Qing didn't want, he, Zhao Liyou, could casually give to someone else, and that Chen Jiao was a thousand times better than her!

Chen Jiao was secretly delighted; this was exactly the effect she wanted. She not only wanted to marry well, but also to utterly crush Chen Qing under her feet!

Just past noon, Qingyun Hot Pot Restaurant was packed, steaming and filled with enticing aromas. Chen Qing was checking accounts behind the counter when he heard a slightly noisy commotion coming from the doorway.

"Oh, so this is the famous hot pot restaurant in Qingzhou? It doesn't look like much!" Zhao Liyou swaggered in, arm in arm with Chen Jiao, followed by several henchmen, instantly attracting the attention of all the diners.

Chen Jiao was dressed exceptionally flamboyantly today, wearing a bright red brocade jacket with gold trim, her hair adorned with pearls and jade, her makeup exquisite, and her eyes filled with undisguised smugness and provocation. She clung tightly to Zhao Liyou, as if she wanted to etch the identity of "Zhao family's eldest young master's fiancée" onto her forehead.

Chen Qing raised his head, his gaze sweeping calmly over them, his face expressionless, and he only nodded slightly to the waiter beside him.

The waiter understood and stepped forward politely to ask, "Young master and young lady, would you like to dine? There are private rooms upstairs."

Zhao Liyou seemed not to hear her, her gaze falling directly on Chen Qing with undisguised contempt and scrutiny. She clicked her tongue twice and said, "Miss Chen, it's been a long time. You're still as charming as ever."

He deliberately drew out his words, his gaze lingering on Chen Qing's still voluptuous figure, the sarcasm in his voice unmistakable.

Chen Jiao covered her lips with a handkerchief and let out a sweet laugh: "Husband~ How can you say that about your sister? Your sister is just carefree and plump. Besides, your sister is now running her own restaurant business and is always in the public eye, so she probably doesn't have time to take care of her appearance. How can I, your younger sister, have such a leisurely and fortunate life, as long as I find a suitable husband, I will be content."

The malice in her words was like poisoned needles, relentlessly piercing me.

The restaurant fell silent instantly. All the diners put down their chopsticks and watched the scene unfold with a variety of expressions: some disdain, some curiosity, and some sympathy for Chen Qing.

Pei Xuan and Xiao Wu were furious, their faces turning ashen, their fists clenched so tightly they cracked, wishing they could kick the two men out immediately. Wang Zhong quickly stopped them with a look, then looked at Chen Qing with concern.

Chen Qing slowly closed the ledger and walked out from behind the counter. Today she was wearing an elegant light blue dress, without any makeup, and her hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin. Although she did not have Chen Jiao's bright and dazzling appearance, she had her own calm and unapproachable demeanor.

She walked up to Chen Jiao and Zhao Liyou, not looking at Zhao Liyou, but calmly staring directly at Chen Jiao, a faint hint of pity playing at the corners of her lips: "If you've come to visit today for a meal, Qingyun Pavilion welcomes you. But if it's to show off your 'leisurely good fortune' that you've obtained through so much scheming, even offering yourself up..."

She paused, her voice clear and steady enough for everyone in the shop to hear: "There's no need for that. After all, behind this good fortune lies so much grievance and bitterness, only the person drinking the water knows whether it's hot or cold. If you think it's a blessing, then enjoy it. Why come to my little shop and disturb the peace of other customers?"

"You!" Chen Jiao's smugness froze instantly, turning into a flush of shame and indignation.

Chen Qing's words were like a sharp blade, precisely tearing away the unsavory aspects beneath her glamorous exterior and laying bare her most secret schemes before everyone.

Zhao Liyou also felt humiliated; Chen Qing's words had taken his own insults too! He angrily retorted, "Chen Qing! How dare you! Jiao'er is my fiancée, whom I will marry through proper channels! You, a woman rejected by your family, ugly and unwanted, dare to spout such nonsense here? I think you're just jealous!"

"Jealousy?" Chen Qing finally turned his gaze to Zhao Liyou, his eyes cold as ice, carrying a knowing indifference. "Young Master Zhao overestimates himself. I, Chen Qing, act only with a clear conscience. My joy comes from establishing myself through my own abilities, from the loyal servants by my side, and from the recognition of my skills by these diners. It is not about depending on anyone, much less gaining that pitiful sense of superiority by belittling others."

Her gaze swept over the customers in the shop who were nodding and showing their approval, finally settling on Zhao Liyou and Chen Jiao. Her tone carried a hint of mockery: "As for appearance, it's nothing but superficial. Those with ugly hearts, even if they have stunning looks, are still repulsive. Those with rich inner lives, even without exceptional beauty, still radiate their own brilliance. Young Master Zhao, Young Madam Zhao, don't you agree?"

Her words were neither humble nor arrogant, but reasonable and well-founded, directly nailing Zhao Liyou and Chen Jiao to the pillar of shame.

Someone in the store shouted "Good!" first, followed by a chorus of agreement and low snickers.

Zhao Liyou and Chen Jiao stood there, their faces alternating between pale and flushed, as if they had been stripped naked and displayed in public, utterly humiliated. Zhao Liyou wanted to retaliate, but Chen Jiao held her back tightly. She finally understood that on Chen Qing's turf, they had no chance whatsoever, neither in terms of reason nor in terms of imposing presence!

"Let's go!" Zhao Liyou angrily flung her sleeves, grabbed Chen Jiao, and fled almost in panic amidst the open and subtle mocking gazes of the room.

As soon as they stepped out of the store, Chen Jiao burst into tears, this time with genuine emotion. Zhao Liyou irritably yelled, "What are you crying for! Isn't it embarrassing enough already!" He turned around and glared fiercely at the Qingyun Hot Pot Restaurant sign, his resentment towards Chen Qing reaching its peak.

As evening fell, a light snow began to fall again. After finishing his business at the shop, Chen Qing took a carriage back to Huan Courtyard. When they reached the entrance of a quiet alley not far from the courtyard, the carriage slowed down once more due to the snow making travel difficult.

Just as Chen Qing was about to instruct the driver to take a detour, he heard a woman's terrified cries and a man's rude shouts coming from the alley.

"Help! It's a robbery! That's my life-saving money for my child's medical treatment!"

"Get out of my way, you old bastard! If you don't let go, I'll beat you up too!"

Chen Qing's eyes narrowed, and he immediately lifted the carriage curtain, saying to Pei Xuan, who was driving, "Stop the car! Let's go take a look!"

She led Pei Xuan quickly into the alley, where they saw two thugs violently snatching a purse from an old woman. The old woman held on tightly and refused to let go, but was pushed and shoved until she fell to the ground in the snow, her face covered in tears.

"Stop!" Chen Qing shouted sternly.

The two thugs turned around and saw a well-dressed woman and a capable-looking follower. They were stunned for a moment, then said in a nasty voice, "Mind your own business! Get out of my way!"

Before Chen Qing could give any instructions, Pei Xuan darted forward and subdued the two thugs in a few swift movements, snatching back his money pouch.

Chen Qing stepped forward to help the old woman up, put the money bag back into her hand, and said gently, "Grandma, it's alright now. Go back quickly and be careful on the way."

The old woman thanked her profusely, wiped away her tears, and hurried away.

Just then, from the other end of the alley, a tall, slender figure walked through the snow. The person wore a black cloak, stood tall and straight, and walked with a steady gait, looking like a traditional Chinese ink painting amidst the swirling snow.

As he approached, Chen Qing could see the man's face clearly by the dim light of the lanterns under the eaves of the houses at the alley entrance—his features were well-defined, his nose was high and straight, and his deep eyes looked particularly calm in the snowy night. It was Zhao Lige!

He clearly saw Chen Qing as well as the thugs who had just been chased away by Pei Xuan. He paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Chen Qing was utterly shocked. How could it be him? How could he be here? Could he be the neighbor next door who played the zither and flute with her every night and whom she considered a confidant?

Zhao Lige's gaze met Chen Qing's in mid-air, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed as if a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. He didn't speak, but simply gave Chen Qing a very slight nod, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, his expression complex and unreadable, containing concern, inquiry, and perhaps even a hint of... knowing approval? Then, he regained his usual coldness, and without stopping, walked straight to the quiet courtyard next door, pushed open the door, and entered.

It really was him!

Chen Qing stood there, gazing at the courtyard gate that had been closed again, his heart filled with turmoil.

That night, Chen Qing was filled with turmoil. She sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, snowflakes falling silently, wetting her hair and clothes. She stared at the wall next door, her mind replaying Zhao Lige's deep eyes from the daytime, and the sound of the flute that had accompanied her through countless difficult times every night for the past few months.

After an unknown amount of time, the familiar sound of the flute finally rang out again.

The sound of the flute tonight is unlike any other. At first, it carries a hint of hesitation and tentativeness, its tone fluctuating, as if the flutist's heart is also unsettled. Gradually, the flute's sound turns low and melodious, like a murmuring spring, telling of untold loneliness and burdens; yet interspersed within are a few clear and melodious notes, as if recalling the encounter during the day, carrying an indescribable mix of emotions.

Chen Qing listened quietly, sensing the inner world revealed in the flute music, a world completely different from Zhao Lige's usual cold and hard exterior.

As the music ended and the lingering notes faded, Chen Qing took a deep breath, got up, went back to his room, and brought out his guqin.

She sat before the zither, her fingertips plucking the strings. The music was initially somewhat chaotic, reflecting her turbulent emotions. But soon, the music became firm; she stopped speculating and questioning, simply following her heart, pouring all her shock, gratitude, curiosity, and a strange, unconscious stirring into the strings.

The music was clear and resonant, carrying questions, sincerity, and an open attitude of willingness to listen.

A zither and a flute intertwine once again in this snowy night.

The sound of the xiao seemed to be touched by the sincerity in the qin music, and gradually let go of its hesitation, becoming more and more fluent and profound, as if responding to her question.

After a long while, all was silent.

Chen Qing pressed down on the trembling strings, looked towards the direction next door, and finally spoke, her voice exceptionally clear in the silent snowy night:

"Young Master Zhao, the moonlight is exceptionally beautiful tonight. May I ask what brings you to this flute music that has been playing for the past few months?"

Her voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable frankness. She needed to know whether his months-long companionship was a coincidence or had ulterior motives.

A long silence fell over the other side of the wall. Only the soft rustling of falling snowflakes could be clearly heard.

It felt like an eternity. Just when Chen Qing thought he wouldn't get a response, a deep, magnetic voice pierced the night, carrying a barely perceptible sigh:

"Upon first hearing the music, it felt as if I had met an old friend. Upon learning that it was you, I felt even more fortunate."

His voice paused, as if he were carefully choosing his words, before finally settling into a concise yet weighty statement:

"I have no other intention than to wish that kindred spirits will always be with me."

Chen Qing was stunned. True friends are always there…

These four words, like a pebble thrown into a lake, rippled outwards. Looking at the courtyard bathed in moonlight, the snow reflecting on her slightly flushed cheeks, the turmoil in her heart caused by the daytime conflict and unexpected discovery strangely subsided.

She picked up her violin, turned around and went back to her room, without asking any further questions.

Separated by a wall, Zhao Lige looked up at the tall acacia tree, which seemed to embrace the two of them, towering and silent in the still snowy night.

After a long silence, he received no response from Chen Qing and sighed softly.

With a slight twitch of her fingers, the flute played a mournful tune, like a sobbing lament, a sorrowful melody that seemed to echo the repeated questions of a young woman abandoned by her lover.

Chen Qing lay on the couch, tossing and turning, unable to bear it any longer. Finally, she got up and played the zither in response.

Upon receiving a response, Zhao Lige smiled under the moonlight.