46 Chapter Forty-Six
"Do you think I'd eat people? Why are you hiding?"
Chapter Forty-Six
Where is the lady?
Upon hearing this, after several days of longing and looking at each other, it was clear that the young lady was not in her room. Granny Li's heart tightened. No matter where the young lady had gone, she had to make it up to her.
Granny Li led the way, saying, "Perhaps they've gone for a walk to digest their food."
This seemed rather illogical, so Xie Lang asked in confusion, "Why isn't anyone following us?"
Qingju belatedly realized what was happening, and her expression stiffened slightly.
Xie Lang glanced at everyone with a deep gaze, then pointed at Qingju and said, "You speak."
Seeing this, Granny Li clenched her hands. "This man is truly an official; he knows how to pick on the weak." She was about to interrupt him.
Before she could speak, Xie Lang raised his hand to stop her, "Granny, I'm asking about her."
Without Liu Qingqing by his side, Xie Lang did not conceal his murderous aura at all. Qingju trembled in fear and said timidly, "Madam said she went to the study to find you and didn't want us to follow."
This was unexpected.
But he didn't see her?
They had gone to look for him, but perhaps they couldn't find him and went somewhere else on the way.
Before Xie Lang even realized it, he had already found a good excuse for Liu Qingqing.
With his murderous aura gone, Xie Lang transformed back into his original dignified gentleman, nodding with a noble air. "In that case, it seems that Madam has taken the wrong path. I will go and meet her."
They just put it down so easily?
Everyone watched Xie Lang leave Jialan Garden. Although his steps seemed slow, he walked quickly and disappeared from sight in no time.
Granny Li and Qingju blinked at each other, their faces full of disbelief. They looked at each other.
Zhao Pansheng, who was lagging behind, stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Xie Lang walked out of Jialan Garden, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He clearly knew the lady's whereabouts before, so why does she suddenly seem to have distanced herself from him?
He had no idea what she'd been busy with lately. She used to seek him out and ask him questions whenever she had doubts, always hovering around him and talking, but that hadn't happened lately.
He originally planned to marry her, and thought that mutual respect would be enough.
But when things actually turned out the way he wanted, he felt... it wasn't to his liking.
Before I could figure out what was going on, a familiar figure approached in the night.
Xie Lang was surprised, and he let out a soft breath.
Liu Qingqing seemed to be thinking about something, and although she was very close, she did not see him.
She stopped abruptly just before crashing into his arms, looking up in alarm. Seeing it was him, her tense shoulders and arms relaxed. This scene, for some reason, softened Xie Lang's heart.
I wanted to ask her where she had gone and why she hadn't brought any servants with her.
Seeing the nervousness and unease in her eyes, Xie Lang sighed inwardly, "Never mind."
I remember she caught a cold a few days ago, so I leaned over and touched her with the back of my hand. Luckily, it wasn't too cold, so I withdrew my hand.
He seemed not to notice her frozen hand.
"Let's go back to our room."
Xie Lang stood beside her, his voice gentle, "It's chilly outside, remember to bring a cloak next time."
It was the tenderness of her memory; Liu Qingqing bit her tongue, refusing to let herself be consumed by it.
She instinctively wanted to bow, but then felt it was too deliberate and stopped herself, saying, "Okay."
The two walked side by side.
Xie Lang slowed his pace to match hers.
For the first time, Liu Qingqing wondered why this corridor was so long.
It's definitely not good to give someone a dirty look for no reason; if she angers Xie Lang, she'll be in big trouble.
Liu Qingqing had no choice but to pretend to go over and asked curiously, "Is my husband going to the study?"
Before Xie Lang could answer, Liu Qingqing said to herself, "If my husband has urgent business, please don't delay. It's not far from Jialan Garden, just a few steps away. I can go back by myself."
Xie Lang arrived in such a hurry that he didn't even bring a lantern.
Now, twilight has fallen, with only a faint glimmer of light, and the darkness seems to be swallowing up the corners of each other's clothes.
Xie Lang swallowed his helplessness, his voice remaining normal, "I've been feeling tired lately, and I'd like to go back to my room to rest early tonight."
Liu Qingqing felt a pang of regret, but then wondered if he was uncomfortable in the study and had gone back to the main room to sleep. Though she thought this, she dared not show it, forcing a hint of surprise, "That's good. Your Excellency is very busy with official duties and needs to rest well."
After saying that, she bit her lip.
Unbeknownst to her, her true thoughts beneath this facade were laid bare to Xie Lang's keen eyes.
Xie Lang: "Yes, thank you for your concern, Madam."
Liu Qingqing: ...
Back in her room, Liu Qingqing rushed to the bathroom to wash up as if she were escaping.
After dawdling for a while, Xie Lang was changing clothes when she came out. Upon seeing her, Xie Lang quickly stepped aside.
Seeing Xie Lang avoid her and go to the bathroom, Liu Qingqing pouted.
Who wants to look like this?
It was as if she was ruthless and determined to destroy him; she used to think about it, but now she didn't want to at all.
Liu Qingqing holds grudges.
Knowing that he disliked her and was already thinking about divorce, she disdained to cling to him.
Before he returned, Liu Qingqing quickly lay down.
She first lay flat on her back, but felt breathless due to nervousness, so she simply turned her back to him.
Nowadays, it's considered extremely disrespectful for a wife to sleep with her back to her husband, but she can't care about that now.
Just pretend I'm asleep, who cares about respect?
Fearing Xie Lang would notice something amiss, she pulled the brocade quilt up to her shoulders, covering most of her face.
Hearing Xie Lang finish washing up and come out of the bathroom, Liu Qingqing gasped nervously. Afraid he would hear, she quickly covered her mouth.
Close your eyes and beg and plead, he'll just fall asleep, whatever you do, don't wake him.
The 5th and 15th of the lunar month, which I used to look forward to, now give me the creeps every time they approach.
Fortunately, today is neither the fifth nor the fifteenth of the lunar month.
Xie Lang's hair was still damp, and afraid that it would make her uncomfortable, he took a handkerchief and wiped it for a while. After touching it again, he found that it was only damp, so he walked towards the bed and saw her huddled in the quilt from afar.
Xie Lang pursed his lips, thinking that she was probably tired and had fallen asleep first.
He took another step after thinking it over.
As he approached, the candlelight dimmed, allowing him to see clearly. Her long hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, covering his head.
Xie Lang's gaze slowly swept over the area, remaining motionless for a long while.
Pretending to be asleep, Liu Qingqing dared not move an inch, not daring to let him know she was awake. The thought of sharing a room with him made even the tips of her hair feel repulsive.
Xie Lang, of course, had no idea what she was thinking, staring at the blanket that almost covered her head.
Didn't your previous cold symptoms get better?
How could it be covered so tightly?
It's only early autumn, and although the nights are getting cooler, she'll easily sweat because she's wrapped up so tightly. If she kicks off the blankets and gets caught in the wind, she'll easily catch a cold.
Xie Lang couldn't help but recall that she had caught a cold and had a fever a while ago, so he took a step forward and gently lifted the corner of the blanket to stretch it down.
But she curled up into a ball like a frightened hedgehog and turned around, her bright eyes filled with terror.
Xie Lang remained motionless in the same bent-over position for a long time, staring intently into her eyes.
First came doubt, then a furrowed brow.
"Do you think I'd eat people? Why are you hiding?"
Liu Qingqing knew something was wrong and quickly said, "I'm sorry, my husband, I just had a nightmare."
Fearing he might overthink, I embellished the details of his dream as meticulously as possible: "I was fleeing in the mountains, and a brown bear was chasing me relentlessly. It was terrifying."
The silky black hair that had just been spread out on his side had long since been gathered back by its owner. Xie Lang lowered his eyes for a long time, his face somber, lost in thought.
"My husband, I'm going to sleep now."
Hearing that she was going to sleep, Xie Lang extinguished the candle, got into bed, and lay down beside her.
Xie Lang lay down, and the bedding rippled slightly, spreading towards her.
What was once a thrilling surge of passion has now turned into sharp, thorny wood chips. She felt as if her entire body was covered in these chips, a painful, piercing sensation, yet she dared not move.
After a while, there was silence on his end.
Liu Qingqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She should no longer need to have sex with him. If she were to do so with him today, she feared she wouldn't be able to hide any clues. Who was Xie Lang? He was the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a man of almost supernatural wisdom.
It must be said that her mother chose an excellent husband for her.
The only flaw was that he didn't care about himself. She was a burden to him, hindering her freedom.
Liu Qingqing's greatest strength is that she is self-aware, open-minded, and unwilling to trouble or bother others.
Let's wait a little longer.
She listened to Xie Lang's calm breathing and spoke to him in her heart.
Wait a little longer, and once she has found a place to go, we'll give him his freedom.
I'm afraid I'll talk in my sleep.
If Xie Lang found out about all this, it would be all over. Liu Qingqing didn't dare to sleep all night. Even when she was sleepy, she pinched the soft flesh inside her legs, the pain bringing tears to her eyes.
She pinched herself hard, reminding herself not to show any emotion. She was quite conflicted about him now; sometimes she thought he was a good person, sometimes she hated his heartlessness, and sometimes she felt that she was being unreasonable.
Sometimes, she thought darkly that he was as cold and heartless as the people in the Liu family, and if he found fault with her, she would be powerless to resist. Before leaving, she dared not let him notice anything unusual. Her palms and the insides of her arms were covered with scars.
She stayed up late into the night, so tired that she lost track of time, and her legs ached at the slightest touch.
She finally couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep. She had been lying on the other side of the wall all night and felt uncomfortable all over. After falling asleep, she turned over and, as she had done many nights before, rested her forehead lightly against Xie Lang's strong shoulder.
Hearing her finally calm breathing and feeling her snuggle closer, Xie Lang slowly opened his eyes and looked down at her peaceful sleeping face.
Perhaps it was his breath tickling her face, because she rubbed against his shoulder in a daze.
Xie Lang held his breath.
Sure enough, in no time, she skillfully squeezed into his bed.
With a single stride, her slender legs wrapped around his waist and abdomen. Xie Lang groaned, then quickly fell silent, afraid of waking her. At the same time, her fair arms snaked down his chest.
In the past, Xie Lang would have interrupted her actions.
But today, he raised his hand, then stopped, turned his head and endured it, letting her do as she pleased.
In the end, Xie Lang's muscles convulsed and trembled uncontrollably, and fearing to wake her, his usually composed and handsome face was flushed with layers of red.
He let go of her hand after she fell into a deep sleep, and then he felt as if he had come back to life.
I escaped with my life...
Although she was angry, it wasn't that she wouldn't touch him.
All of the previous events were likely caused by physical discomfort.
I understood it immediately after thinking about it.
The lady has been quite fond of his body since she married him... and it's unlikely that it will change so easily.
Thus, my heart, which had been hanging in suspense for several days, finally settled down.
While she was lying down, Xie Lang quickly got up, glanced down, and went to the bathroom.
After a long while, Xie Lang came out, changed his clothes, and instead of rushing out, he turned back to the bedside.
Liu Qingqing was sleeping soundly, looking as if she was having a sweet dream, and finally a smile appeared on her face.
Lately, she's been in front of me...
Helpless, Xie Lang bent down to pull the quilt up for her. Just as he was about to get up, she seemed to find it too hot and kicked the quilt away.
Her fair, jade-like legs were covered in red marks.
Xie Lang frowned.
-
Outside the hanging flower gate of Jialan Garden.
Xie Wu was waiting for the master to go to the training ground, but when the time came, the master still hadn't come out. Xie Wu naturally didn't dare to urge him, so he waited patiently.
He looked around, but couldn't find Miss Zhao anywhere.
How strange, it turns out we always seem to run into each other.
He's been going this way a lot lately, but he can't find anyone there.
Could it be that the master angered the lady, and he ended up eating potstickers at Miss Zhao's place too?
How wronged he was!
Just then, my ears twitched, and I peeked out. Sure enough, the main door was open, and the adult was striding down the steps. He didn't stop tidying his leather belt as he went down the steps.
Xie Wu hurriedly went to greet him, "Sir, are you going to the training ground again today?"
Hearing this, Xie Lang suddenly stopped. He had been leading his wife in physical training, but he wondered if she had slacked off during this time.
He suddenly felt guilty, realizing he shouldn't have treated her coldly because of some unfounded accusation.
Never mind, I'll make up for it slowly later.
"grown ups?"
Xie Lang snapped out of his daze, glanced at the time, and said, "It's too late. I won't go today."
Shewyn Nahan.
Wow, that's rare! You always go to the training ground without fail, rain or shine, but today you're skipping it all.
But this is the first time.
For some reason, Xie Wu felt that the adult, who had been depressed for a long time, was in a much better mood today. But even though he was better, he fell into deep thought.
He observed her cautiously, not daring to ask any questions. He was, however, thinking about going to find Miss Zhao and say a few words after leaving the office.
He felt that now that the adult was better, perhaps Miss Zhao would also pay attention to him.
"I'll send the household physician to check on Madam's pulse today," Xie Lang said, then raised his hand again, "but not for now. Is there a female physician in the household?"
The contradictory questions left Xie Wu bewildered. "Reporting to you, sir, there are no female doctors in the household. For ordinary women's illnesses, we always invite female doctors from outside."
These days, it's hard enough for ordinary people to have enough to eat, so how can they afford to send their daughters to study medicine?
Xie Lang said, "It's not a woman's disease. Go and find a female doctor who can treat skin diseases, and be quick."
Xie Wu quickly agreed: "I'll take care of it today."
-
Under the clear blue sky, it was past noon when Liu Qingqing woke up.
The moment she regained consciousness, she was startled awake. She opened her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that no one was beside her.
His brocade quilt was still laid out, neatly beside her.
She lay down again and decided to stay in bed a little longer.
I carefully recalled and savored the moment I met Aunt Jia yesterday.
Aunt Jia said, "There are plenty of men in the world, don't waste your time..."
Did he know she was considering leaving?
If Aunt Jia knew she was really leaving, would she still say that?
Aunt Jia angrily added, "Could it be that he's like the Marquis, doing nothing right?"
This allowed her to glimpse the reason for Aunt Jia's departure.
But seeing how deeply the Marquis cared for Aunt Jia, she wondered what he had done to upset her to such an extent.
Now that Aunt Jia is with Second Uncle, the once clear water has been stirred up. Since Second Uncle has taken in Aunt Jia for so long despite the pressure, she has a feeling that even if the truth is revealed one day, Second Uncle will not let go, and neither will the Marquis. They will definitely not let it go peacefully.
Just thinking about it makes me tremble with fear.
I wanted to lie down a little longer, but Granny Li was already so anxious that she was knocking on the door and meowing like a cat.
That's true, what kind of matriarch sleeps until the afternoon?
There were still matters to attend to at the manor, so she couldn't act willfully.
What was originally something I did willingly, I now find tiring when my mindset changes.
Like carrying a heavy stone shell on one's back.
The time I get up is random, and I combine two meals into one.
After she finished, Granny Li whispered to her, "The Prince's Mansion has sent another invitation."
This is the third post recently.
She was ill when she received the first letter, suffering from a high fever and unable to move. Naturally, she replied that she could not visit.
She felt better during the second letter, but was still slightly unwell. Fearing that her illness might affect the princess, she found an excuse to leave.
But this is the third one...
As the saying goes, once is enough, but not three times, let alone the fact that she had repeatedly offended the princess.
But since she wanted to divorce Xie Lang, she was unwilling to go to the Prince's Mansion.
Otherwise, it would cause trouble for Xie Lang and his future wife.
It's a real shame, though, because she and the princess got along very well.
Composing herself, Liu Qingqing took the invitation and asked, "Did the Princess say which day it was?"
Granny Li: "The Princess said that you can go anytime after you are fully recovered."
Liu Qingqing glanced at the blazing sun in the sky and said, "Then let's do it tomorrow."
Then he thought again, "How about the day after tomorrow? I'll make something for the princess in the next couple of days."
Consider it a token of gratitude, leaving the princess with something to remember her by.
-
The Regent's Palace.
Li Ying was playfully asking his mother when she could bring his sister back to the mansion.
He added, "I found a nice hot spring resort for my sister, but I haven't seen her lately, and I don't know how to give it to her."
This struck a chord with Ying Yi. Lately, her daughter had become strange, like a little hedgehog hiding in its hole, impossible to call out. She could feel her son's intense gaze fixed on her, and she dared not show the slightest worry, fearing that this little tyrant would storm into the Marquis's mansion and demand an explanation.
Just then, a servant came to report.
"Your Highness, a young man named Ying Yucheng has sent a visiting card requesting an audience."
Ying Yi was surprised, then her face lit up with joy. "Ying Yucheng? How old are you?"
The servant pondered, "He looks to be in his early twenties, a refined and cultured young man."
Once Ying Yi had a clear idea of what was going on, she quickly stood up and said, "Quickly, welcome them in."
Ying Yi was overjoyed. Her daughter was now living in the Marquis's mansion without any family support, which made it difficult for her to intervene in many matters, a constant worry for her. She had only reconnected with her brother a couple of years ago and knew how difficult it was for him to defend the border against the enemy, so she felt embarrassed to trouble him.
But when the nephew finally arrived, it was like someone had handed him a pillow when he was dozing off.
She was instructing the maid to quickly prepare tea and snacks when she remembered that Ying Yucheng had a sweet tooth when he was young, and once he even made a fuss with his brother because he couldn't have any rock candy.
He couldn't attend to Li Ying for a moment. When he turned his head and saw Li Ying looking at him expectantly, he explained in a low voice, "This is your cousin. Mother has held him before."
As she spoke, she looked toward the door and said softly, "Back when your mother had your older sister, she even considered arranging a marriage between them when they were children."
Li Ying's eyes lit up, and he suddenly said, "Mother, then I'll stay out of here for a while. You and my cousin can have a good chat. If I stay here, my cousin won't feel uncomfortable."
Ying Yi thought about it and agreed, so she let her youngest son play by himself.
Li Ying left the back hall but did not go far. He turned back and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, stepped on the lotus stone basin and leaped onto the branch. Then, he used his legs to push off the wall and onto the top of the hall.
But unexpectedly, I ran into an acquaintance.
Li Ying pursed his lips, took two steps forward, and hesitantly bowed, saying in a low voice, "Father."
Li Jin glanced at him and said, "Hmm."
A healthy body is full of confidence.
Father went to the main camp, so why is he on the roof of Mother's palace?
Li Ying dared to think but not to ask, only feeling that his father was very clingy.
If he were married, he would never do this!
The father and son stood an arm's length apart, neither of them speaking.
After a while of waiting, we saw people entering the hall. If we delayed any longer, we'd miss the chance to eat something hot.
Li Ying was anxious, so he pretended to glance sideways and said, "Father, I just saw a tile that looks broken in Mother's palace. I'll go look for it."
After saying this, he got up to leave, but then his father said, "In that case, let's go together. You've never repaired a palace roof before, so don't startle your mother."
Li Ying: "..."
Inside the hall at this moment.
Ying Yi looked at the handsome Ying Yucheng with eyes full of loving admiration, but also with regret and nostalgia.
She stepped forward and gently patted his shoulder. "It's been so many years. You've grown so much. You look just like your father when he was young."
Ying Yucheng clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, saying, "My father also wanted to come this time, but he simply couldn't get away. He asked me to bring you some things, saying that you would like them."
Upon hearing this, Ying Yi raised her hand. The head maid, Bei Zhi, quickly took it and opened it for Ying Yi to see.
These were all the snacks she used to love eating when she was at the border, like dried fruit and dried meat.
Upon closer inspection, there was also half of the raisins from the Western Regions that her brother had once insisted on eating but hadn't bought for her.
My brother is still treating her like a little child.
My throat suddenly felt sore, and my eyes welled up with tears.
We chatted for a while, and I asked them how their family had been doing all these years.
Fearing he might overthink things, Yingyi didn't want to create a rift between family members, and also mentioned that Ming had lost many memories in previous years due to some reason.
Ying Yucheng dared not accept such treatment from the princess, and quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "As far as my father is concerned, it is all the better that you are healthy and safe. My father asked me to pass on a message to you."
Ying Yi asked curiously, "What did you say?"
Ying Yucheng lowered his eyes respectfully and said, "Father said that your happiness is the most important thing, and you don't need to worry about anything else. If things don't go your way, there will always be a courtyard for you at the Ying residence on the border. Father will personally clean it every time he takes a break, and Father will always be waiting for you to come home."
On the rooftop, Li Ying secretly glanced at his father, and sure enough, the wise and mighty regent's face darkened.
Li Ying pursed his lips, feeling a pang of worry for his father.
Even husbands and wives will flee for their lives when disaster strikes, let alone fathers and sons.
If his mother returned to the Ying family, Li Ying had no other thoughts; after all, she was his mother no matter where she went. He could simply follow her.
He also knew that his father and mother's relationship had been strange for the past two years, and that his mother was angry with his father. It had been three years already, hadn't it? His father couldn't get into his mother's bedchamber.
Oh no, I should say that the mother kicked the father out of their bedchamber.
Before her sister had even returned to the palace, her cousin arrived.
This is really going to give Father a hard time!
However, knowing his father's temperament, he dared not imagine what would happen if his mother left...
Inside the hall, Ying Yi was unaware that two living people were eavesdropping above him.
Zheng was deeply moved and raised his hand to cover his face, afraid that if he looked at the face that was so similar to his brother's, he would burst into tears. At the same time, he gestured to Bei Zhi, who deftly brought over a wooden box and handed it to Ying Yucheng.
Seeing that the princess was unable to hide her tears, Bei Zhi spoke on her behalf, "Young Master, the master has a favor to ask of you."
-
"Miss, Miss!"
Granny Li jogged all the way into the Marquis's mansion. She was used to putting on an act to keep the troublesome servants in Jialan Garden in check for her mistress, but this was the first time she had ever run so freely in front of others.
He stopped just in front of Liu Qingqing, still panting with his chest heaving.
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Granny Li: "There's a young man at the door who says he's your cousin! Your cousin from the Biaoying family on the border!"
"Cousin?"
Liu Qingqing looked blank, as if she hadn't understood what Granny Li was saying. "My cousin?"
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
Hearing what sounded like a familiar voice, Xie Lang frowned, lowered his eyes, and listened intently for a while, his expression not looking good.
It could be vaguely discerned that it was Liu and a man.
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