33 Chapter Thirty-three
◎Why should she be in my heart?◎
Chapter 33
Almost instantly, everything was destroyed, and Xie Lang could only hear his own heavy breathing.
His mind was racing, and just as he was about to ask another question, he heard approaching footsteps. Xie Lang stood up and restrained himself, standing to the side.
Granny Li and Zhao Pansheng repeatedly wiped Liu Qingqing's forehead with damp handkerchiefs. Qingju had also finished decocting the medicine, and the group helped Liu Qingqing take it.
Although she initially refused to drink the medicine, Granny Li held Liu Qingqing in her arms and coaxed her softly. After much effort, she finally managed to get the medicine into her mouth.
Xie Lang stood there like a pillar.
Granny Li was a perceptive person. After she finished her work and saw that the medicine had taken effect, the young lady was no longer feverish and was sleeping soundly, she tidied up and left the main room.
After leaving, Granny Li was overjoyed.
She lowered her voice and said to Zhao Pansheng, "Look at how much the young master is staring at the young lady now, he was looking at her without missing a beat."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Pansheng turned to look at the closed door, hesitated, and bit her lip. Just as she was about to catch up with Granny Li and speak, Xie Wu came from the hanging flower gate.
When Xie Wu saw her, his gaze paused for a moment, then he looked at Granny Li, nodded to her, and then nodded to Zhao Pansheng.
"Greetings, Granny. Greetings, Miss Zhao."
Granny Li stopped in surprise, then smiled gently, "Thank you, Brother Wu."
Everyone in the courtyard called Xie Wu that. The younger ones were fine, but when Granny Li suddenly started calling him that like everyone else, Xie Wu's face immediately turned hot with embarrassment. His eyes flickered and quickly glanced at Zhao Pansheng before looking away again.
Fortunately, his dark and thin face didn't show any redness. He quickly pointed towards the main room and said, "I'll go find the master."
Granny Li smiled and said, "Madam has just fallen asleep, Brother Xie, please be gentle."
Xie Wu nodded frantically, as if he had turned into a mouse and was being chased by a cat, quickening his pace.
Granny Li and Zhao Pansheng walked around the stone path into the kitchen. When they could no longer see anyone, Granny Li sighed and said, "It's rare to see that the usually taciturn Brother Xie Wu is now talking to us."
Zhao Pansheng lowered his eyes, concealing the deep emotions within them.
Before Zhao Pansheng could answer, she remembered and asked again, "What were you trying to say to me?"
Zhao Pansheng shook his head and smiled, "I suddenly forgot. I'll tell you when I remember."
Granny Li glanced at her and frowned: "I told you last time I gave you those black sesame seeds to nourish your body, but you kept making excuses. Don't say anything more, I'll bring them to you in a bit. You've been neglecting things since you were young, how can you forget things so easily at such a young age..."
"However, Xie Wu is different from what I initially thought. I assumed he would be a cold and aloof person, but he's still just a young boy."
Granny Li was already past fifty, and to put it bluntly, Xie Lang was still a young man in her eyes.
Granny Li kept nagging, but Zhao Pansheng didn't say a word in response, listening patiently with a smile on his face.
Before meeting the prostitute, no one had ever treated her this well.
The young lady is a good person, and the people around her are also good people.
Because she was spared a life of poverty by her mistress, she was determined to die for her.
Inside the main room, Xie Lang remained standing in the same spot, unmoved.
If you look closely, you'll notice that his hands, which are behind his back, are trembling.
Since their marriage, he knew Liu Qingqing's personality. Although she was somewhat naive, she was calm and composed and would never speak nonsense.
This is the first time someone has said they have seen their mother since she went missing.
He was certain his mother was still alive because he and his elder sister had committed a grave act of disrespect—they dug up their mother's grave in the dead of night.
There was no trace of the mother's body inside the heavy coffin!
My mother married young, and was only sixteen when she gave birth to my eldest sister. She was eighteen when she had him.
My mother was a heroine who took up arms and went to the battlefield with my father when she was fifteen. She was brave and strong and would practice shooting every morning.
He was not even fifty years old yet, how could he have suddenly passed away?!
He wasn't in the capital when his mother disappeared, but he vaguely knew that his father and mother seemed to have something going on. His elder sister also said that she had accidentally witnessed his parents arguing. He had witnessed it too.
In the past, they had always been loving and had never quarreled.
The long-awaited news was finally in front of him. Xie Lang felt his blood surging, and he could only restrain himself from disturbing Liu Qingqing by clenching his fists tightly.
After waiting for half an hour with difficulty, seeing that her eyelashes were trembling and she seemed to be waking up, he immediately stepped over.
However, because her legs became stiff from standing for too long, she knelt down by the bed.
With a muffled thud, Liu Qingqing was startled and immediately opened her eyes. Turning her head, she saw Xie Lang kneeling by the bed, his strong hands supporting him on the edge of the bed.
A surge of warmth welled up in her heart. She vaguely knew she was feeling unwell, but she never expected Xie Lang to stay here and watch over her.
"My husband..."
She had barely uttered a word when he grabbed her hand. "How are you feeling now?"
Liu Qingqing tasted it and felt much better; her head was no longer dizzy.
"It's probably because I sweated this morning and then got a chill, it's nothing serious."
"What happened this morning?" Xie Lang asked patiently.
Liu Qingqing suddenly remembered and hurriedly grabbed Xie Lang's hand, struggling to sit up. Xie Lang supported her shoulders and sat down beside her after she was settled.
"I woke up early today and suddenly felt like taking a stroll in the garden..."
After learning that Aunt Jia might still be alive, she knew that this matter was of utmost importance. However, she could not let Xie Lang know about the ramblings she had heard last time, so she could only tell him every moment and every detail she could remember.
"As I was looking at the strange rock, I saw a figure through the gap in the stone forest."
Liu Qingqing squinted and recalled carefully, as if time had turned back more than an hour, "Just looking at her back, I felt that she looked like Aunt Jia, so I stared at that person running towards the waterside pavilion. Perhaps the sound of her running woke her up? Before I could get a good look at her when I reached the edge of the corridor, I saw that person turn around and look at me..."
Looking up at Xie Lang, she saw his piercing gaze and his taut, handsome face, and felt ashamed. "When I looked again, there was no one there."
Xie Lang swallowed hard, forcing a smile to comfort her, "It's alright, perhaps you misread it."
Even so, she changed the subject and asked, "Did you see the person's face clearly?"
Even if Liu Qingqing wanted to say that she could see clearly, she couldn't, and could only shake her head with guilt, "The lake was shrouded in mist at dawn, and I couldn't see very clearly."
If she weren't familiar with Aunt Jia, she wouldn't have recognized her just by looking at her from behind.
"Don't think about these things. You must have had trouble seeing her because you didn't get enough rest last night. Mother has passed away, how could you possibly see her?"
After a moment of silence, Xie Lang raised his hand, paused in mid-air for a moment, and then gently patted the back of her hand to comfort her, "There are no such strange and chaotic things as souls in the human world, so don't scare yourself."
Liu Qingqing couldn't figure out what he was thinking, and nodded in confusion.
Her cheeks and round nose were flushed from the fever, and her eyes were brimming with tears. Xie Lang's heart softened, and he gently touched her forehead with the back of his hand. "Sleep a little longer, don't think too much."
Perhaps due to the effects of the medicine, Liu Qingqing quickly fell asleep again.
After she fell into a deep sleep, Xie Lang led his men to the garden.
He ordered Xie Wu to guard the entrance to the garden, and then proceeded alone along the route Liu Qingqing had described.
Step onto the stone arch bridge over the lake and walk to the other side.
He carefully sprinkled some of the powder he had taken from the Embroidered Uniform Guard on the ground.
They held their breath and concentrated, afraid that even the slightest breath would disturb the divine.
He refused to miss a single opportunity, but the result disappointed him.
The arched bridge connects the Hou Mansion's kitchen to the front courtyard. Servants used to walk around, their footsteps a chaotic mess, making it impossible to discern their pattern.
It's always like this!
Xie Lang clenched his fist and slammed it against the red pillar.
Every time he finds something unusual, it inexplicably breaks off, as if someone is watching his every move and tightly blocking his path.
He scanned the surroundings sharply, but all he saw were red flowers and green willows.
And the rustling of bamboo groves beyond the high walls and green tiles.
Separated by a wall.
The woman in the courtyard stood with her arms crossed, glaring angrily, while Xie Pan lowered his head and remained silent.
After a while, he suddenly bent his heavy knees and knelt down in front of her, his strong arms encircling her slender waist.
Within moments, warm tears soaked through her thin shirt.
-
During the day, Liu Qingqing was sometimes asleep and sometimes awake because of the medicine she had taken.
Granny Li was uneasy and went to consult the family physician.
The physician said that the lady had been under a lot of stress and her emotions had been fluctuating greatly, so this would help her calm down and recuperate.
Only then did Granny Li put her mind at ease.
When Liu Qingqing woke up, she picked up the account book and looked at it.
The steward of the Marquis's mansion is indeed capable of handling things independently; his annotations are excellent, and she can understand about 70-80% of them just by looking at them.
If you still don't understand something, just put it all together and ask the manager next time.
She felt like she had turned into a sponge, wanting to absorb everything she needed to learn over the years.
I just regret that there isn't enough time.
For dinner, I also used easy-to-eat noodles.
You need to take medicine after eating.
Granny Li then coaxed the young lady, "Miss, you don't know how much your husband cares for you. He came back to the courtyard as soon as it got hot during the day and stayed with you the whole time."
With a pained expression, she tilted her head back and drank the medicine in one gulp, displaying a rather dashing air.
He had just swallowed the medicine when his hand trembled as he reached for the sour apricots, quickly chewed them roughly, and swallowed them. He acted like a child again.
Finally, she managed to suppress the smell of the medicine. Suddenly, she remembered how she had taken the medicine that morning.
Xie Lang has always been there.
In the storybook, the female protagonist is unconscious and cannot be given medicine, so the male protagonist drinks it himself first and then leans down to kiss her to help her recover.
Just thinking about it makes my face burn, and I feel like the sour apricot is dipped in honey.
"Did you take this medicine in the morning as well?"
She was afraid that her thoughts would be discovered, so she kept her questions hidden.
"That's right, this is the medicine."
Thinking back to that morning, Li Mama still felt a tightness in her chest. "No matter what, Miss refused to open her mouth to drink the medicine. I had to hold her in my arms and coax her for a long time, just like when she was a child."
The heat on her face instantly cooled down.
Liu Qingqing curved her lips into a smile, then picked up her teacup and drank some water as if to cover up her embarrassment.
Perhaps it was the effect of the medicine that made me drowsy; after looking at the account books for a while, my eyelids became heavy again.
Liu Qingqing simply crawled back into bed. Although the summer night was getting hot, she still liked the feeling of being wrapped in a thin blanket.
As I drifted off to sleep, I realized it had been a long time since I had read a storybook...
Although Xie Lang told her during the day not to scare herself, he went back to the main room to stay overnight.
Even the servants knew that the master and his wife had a very good relationship, and when they learned that the wife had been frightened, they rushed back.
It was late at night.
With a creak, the door was pushed open.
Xie Lang returned to the main room under the starlight and moonlight. Afraid of disturbing her peaceful sleep, he had already washed up in the study. After returning and changing into his nightgown, he went to the bedside.
By the moonlight, he saw her sleeping properly on his side, her hand lingering on his pillow.
Xie Lang picked up her hand and gently placed it back, then carefully felt her temperature. Only when it was no longer hot did he lie down beside her and close his eyes.
The chirping of crickets and the croaking of frogs outside mingled together, keeping him awake. He glanced at her sleeping face for a long time before looking away.
I was indeed sick; this minor illness lingered for three or four days before I fully recovered.
But after she was able to walk, Granny Li felt that the young lady's spirit was much better than before, and her eyes were even brighter than before!
Perhaps it is like nurturing a flower, because now Li Mama feels that the young lady is like a flower bud about to bloom!
"To be honest, the young master really cares about the young lady, because he's been staying home these past few days and going to court early every morning."
The more Granny Li looked at Lord Xie, the better she seemed, and she couldn't help but sigh, "Miss has finally made it..."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing smiled, but the sweetness in her eyes was undeniable.
She also felt that things were good now, that getting married was good, and that Xie Lang was good too.
She vaguely felt that something was missing, and this time she grasped the knot that flashed through her mind. Suddenly she remembered and asked, "Why has the Liu residence been so quiet lately?"
Given Ying's personality, she should have caused trouble long ago.
Hearing this, Granny Li was overjoyed, her face full of schadenfreude. She darted around to make sure no one was watching before speaking freely, "Miss, you've come to the right place. Madam Ying has been in a real bind lately and can't spare any attention for us."
Liu Qingqing asked excitedly, "Oh?"
Granny Li: "I heard that a few days ago, the higher-ups sent a singing girl to Lord Liu. Lord Liu was so infatuated that he took her as a concubine. It seems that the singing girl is pregnant."
She paused slightly, lowering her voice, "Given Xiao Ying's temperament, she's probably dealing with the new concubine's belly right now. She hasn't given birth to a boy in all these years, and if I were to give birth, she wouldn't be able to handle it; where would she put her face?"
Liu Qingqing was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. She had originally thought that she would laugh heartily if she heard it, but now she could only feel a faint sensation.
Her good father could never spend his life with someone else.
"And what about my sister-in-law?"
Now, in the Liu family, the only person she still cares about is her sister-in-law.
Her thoughts drifted away, and she remembered that beautiful, slender woman, as gentle as water. She always wore a jade hairpin and gazed tenderly at her elder brother.
Actually, she wasn't very close to her sister-in-law. She didn't even know what kind of person her sister-in-law was in private, and they hadn't spoken much. But she knew her sister-in-law was a good person.
Although her sister-in-law was not friendly to her on the surface, she secretly gave her charcoal and food after she married into the Liu family.
Even her father and brothers ignored her, but a woman from another family who married into the family secretly cared for her.
With her sister-in-law's secret help, she was finally able to eat hot food for two years.
Now that things are getting chaotic in the backyard of the Liu family mansion, I wonder if it will affect my sister-in-law.
After thinking it over, Granny Li shook her head, not having heard anything.
Liu Qingqing pondered for a moment, then summoned Zhao Pansheng, "Go to the outer courtyard and see if Xie Wu is there. If the master is not busy, ask Xie Wu to come over."
Zhao Pansheng accepted the order and went to find the person, but unfortunately he couldn't.
In broad daylight, Xie Wu naturally went to his post with his superior.
Although I don't know what it is, Xie Wu seems to hold some kind of official position in the government.
Upon returning to report, Liu Qingqing didn't say anything, only waved his hand.
After hesitating for a moment, she took Li Mama's hand and said, "Mama, let's go for a walk in the garden."
Granny Li hurriedly had someone bring a cloak for the young lady to wear, fearing that she would catch a cold again and have to take medicine.
Following the route taken a few days ago, Liu Qingqing recalled every place, slowly walked around the stone forest, and then walked to the corridor next to the waterside pavilion to look at the opposite shore of the lake.
Looking around carefully, one sees that even a living person has nowhere to escape from these green-tiled, high-walled structures, and cannot disappear in an instant.
The bamboo grove in my second uncle's courtyard across the street is quite eye-catching.
Perhaps I misread it.
Could it really be Aunt Jia's spirit?
She lowered her eyes and stared at the emerald green bracelet on her wrist.
If it's Aunt Jia's soul...
Why doesn't Aunt Jia come and see me?
After sitting by the waterside pavilion for a while, Granny Li urged her to go back. Knowing that Granny Li was anxious, Liu Qingqing complied with her wishes.
After returning to her room, she picked up the account book again. She had learned a lot recently and applied what she had learned to Jialan Garden. And it turned out to be quite useful.
Through her continuous actions, she gained a lot of insights, gradually developed her own understanding, and became more and more composed.
For example, some things can't be rushed.
She was originally the type to think three steps ahead before taking any action, but now, after being tempered and influenced by Xie Lang, she has become even more cautious.
It's been a while since I last read a storybook.
The itching from the ant bites has been gone for a while now, and I feel much better.
In addition, soaking in herbal decoctions daily has greatly improved my cold constitution.
She felt much more comfortable; no longer shrouded in mist during the day, she had the energy to get things done.
While Liu Qingqing was looking at the account books, Li Mama was searching around, and Jialan Garden was gradually brought together.
Zhao Pansheng and Qingju are making pastries in the small kitchen.
It was the same box the Regent had given them last time, and he had even given one to each of them. The two maids noticed that their mistress seemed to love eating it but was also reluctant to eat it, so they decided to try it themselves.
Flour is precious these days, so we dare not use it carelessly.
They could only gather together, break off a small piece of pastry, and savor it slowly, trying to imagine what it would taste like. The green tangerine on their tongue seemed to say, "It tastes like milk..."
what else……
Zhao Pansheng's gaze was intense, while Qingju tilted her head, deep in thought.
Just then, there was a knock on the doorframe.
Zhao Pansheng looked up at the sound and saw Xie Wu standing at the door. He cleared his throat when he saw her looking at him. "Miss Zhao, did you come to see me for something?"
Zhao Pansheng nodded hurriedly, whispered a few words to Qingju, and then went outside.
Xie Wu was standing in the doorway when Zhao Pansheng stepped across the threshold, the wind ruffling the ends of his hair brushed against his cheek. Xie Wu's ears instantly turned bright red.
He paused for a moment before quickly following.
A new bamboo grove has been planted behind the kitchen, which complements the delicate new willow tree.
Zhao Pansheng stopped by the bamboo grove, her bright eyes looking at him. Xie Wu felt as if there was something in his throat, and he swallowed several times, but it didn't get better. He didn't care and hurried over.
"Miss Zhao?"
Xie Wu spoke first.
Zhao Pansheng then said, "Brother Xie, it was Madam who sent me to find you. She probably has something to ask you. Madam just took her medicine and may feel drowsy in a little while. Brother Xie, please go quickly."
Xie Wusu listened carefully, and, accepting Zhao Pansheng's kindness, bowed to her in thanks, saying, "Then I will go now, thank you for reminding me, Miss Zhao."
A gentle breeze caressed her face, but Zhao Pansheng remained silent, tucking her stray hairs behind her ears and smiling softly.
Xie Wu hurried to the main room, and felt his legs inexplicably weak as he went up the steps.
He only snapped back to reality when he heard his wife calling him.
Xie Wu: "I heard that Madam is looking for me."
Liu Qingqing put down the account book, pondered her words for a moment, and realized that it was not easy to talk about her family's affairs.
Do you know how my elder brother is doing these days?
If it weren't for the fact that Liu Yuanzhou was his wife's brother, he wouldn't have needed to remember him.
Xie Wu immediately searched his memory before answering, "I haven't heard of anything unusual."
Liu Qingqing's fist, hidden in her sleeve, gradually loosened.
He added, "I would trouble you to inquire about my sister-in-law's situation today."
Seeing Xie Wu's questioning expression, Liu Qingqing patiently explained, "When I was still unmarried in the manor, my sister-in-law secretly protected me a lot."
Xie Wu understood immediately, clasped his hands in a fist and accepted the order, "Madam, rest assured, I will do my best!"
After Xie Wu walked away and disappeared through the hanging flower gate, Liu Qingqing did not pick up the account book again.
For some reason, I feel uneasy and anxious all day.
This premonition came true at dinner.
Xie Lang ate elegantly and quickly, but after finishing, he didn't leave; instead, he patiently waited for her. Liu Qingqing then quickened her pace, but Xie Lang told her not to rush.
How could Liu Qingqing not be anxious? He clearly looked like he had something to say.
She quickly swallowed the last bite and wiped her lips with a handkerchief.
"Is something the matter?"
He seemed quite uneasy when asked.
Seeing the fear in her eyes, Xie Lang quickly reassured her, "It's not a bad thing, don't overthink it."
"The Regent's wife will be hosting a banquet in a few days, inviting young ladies from the capital. Please attend as well."
Seeing Liu Qingqing stare wide-eyed in confusion, Xie Lang chuckled and explained, "Perhaps they're looking for a husband for their son. They're asking you to go because you're a new bride and they're just helping out."
I see.
It really isn't a bad thing.
Liu Qingqing finally felt relieved.
And yet, as noble as the Regent's Consort, she wouldn't need any help hosting a banquet.
Liu Qingqing knew this was because Xie Lang had influence with the Regent, and the Regent's wife was simply giving him face.
But since she was going, she made thorough preparations so as not to embarrass Xie Lang.
-
Having been taught manners as a child, Liu Qingqing thought long and hard before sending an invitation to Xie Wanyan through Granny Li.
Xie Wanyan was decisive and efficient. Upon receiving the invitation, she returned to the Marquis's residence and went straight to Jialan Garden.
He swaggered into the hanging flower gate and asked, "Are you looking for me?"
Appearing like a ghost, she startled Liu Qingqing, causing her red lips to part slightly. She looked just like a frightened kitten.
Seeing this, Xie Wanyan couldn't help but click her tongue and mutter softly, "This little thing is so lovable, no wonder Xie Lang, that bastard, protects it like it's nothing."
Liu Qingqing snapped out of her daze and hurried over, "What did you say, sister?"
Xie Wanyan waved her hand: "It's unusually hot today, have someone prepare some fruit wine."
Looking back, I would never dare to make fruit wine, but other honey water would do.
I've learned a lot lately, so it's time to show off my skills.
Sure enough, Xie Wanyan drank it all in one gulp, exclaiming repeatedly, "What kind of drink is this? It's so refreshing!"
Liu Qingqing: "It's a sour fruit soup made from green oranges, which is hung in a well. It's especially refreshing to drink in the summer."
Xie Wanyan's eyes lit up: "That's really true."
Yesterday, that scoundrel kept pestering her, and she wasn't in a good mood, but this sour fruit drink made her feel happy.
Xie Wanyan: "What brings you here?"
Liu Qingqing: "In a few days, the Regent's Consort will be hosting a banquet. As you know, I lost my mother at a young age and have no one to teach me etiquette. I would like to ask you to give me some pointers this time."
Xie Wanyan nodded.
She is straightforward and quick to teach.
When bowing to someone of high status...
Liu Qingqing listened attentively, her eyes fixed intently on Xie Wanyan, mimicking her perfectly.
For some reason, Liu Qingqing felt that Xie Wanyan's mood had dropped after learning about her learning etiquette, and the sympathy and pity in his eyes when he looked at her could not be concealed.
A warm feeling washed over Liu Qingqing, and she couldn't help but say to her, "Sister, my life is getting better now."
Xie Lang knew the Regent's Consort's true identity, and Xie Wanyan naturally knew it as well.
Unexpectedly, Xie Wanyan turned around abruptly after hearing this and said, "I have urgent business with Xie Lang. You continue practicing, I will come again tomorrow."
He then left in a hurry.
Xie Wanyan didn't say anything nonsense. After bidding farewell to Liu Qingqing, she went straight to Xie Lang's study.
Finding no one at the entrance, he went down into the tunnel in one go.
The long, dimly lit tunnel allowed the slow footsteps in the distance to be clearly heard.
Xie Lang was indeed there. She quickened her pace and, sure enough, saw him walking towards her from the other end of the hall.
Xie Lang raised an eyebrow in surprise when he saw that the visitor was an angry Xie Wanyan.
Xie Wanyan never inquired about where the other end of the tunnel led, nor did she care to know.
She felt as if her chest was about to explode; all she wanted to ask Xie Lang today was one question.
"How could you bear to let Liu Qingqing see the Regent's Consort?!"
Should I go alone to see that loving mother and filial son?
"Have you lost your mind? Do you even care about her?!"
Do you have her in your heart?
Xie Lang slowly chewed over and repeated these words, then frowned and looked back, "Why should she be in my heart?"
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview: Liu Qingying stood beside him, her watery eyes looking at her, looking extremely obedient.
To thank everyone, there will be two updates tomorrow! Updates will return to 6 PM, love you all!
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