56 Chapter Fifty-Six
◎"Could it be that my husband loves me?"◎
Chapter 56
A divorce agreement?
Xie Lang's brow twitched, thinking he had misread the words due to exhaustion from his journey. He focused his gaze, and indeed, it was still those three words.
Divorce Agreement.
The three cold words seemed to exude a chill, seeping through the paper and spreading to his palm.
It also says something on it: "May my husband find a better wife after the divorce..."
He lifted his eyelids and glanced at her indifferently, only to see her eyes shining brightly, full of anticipation and longing.
What is she expecting? What is she dreaming of?
A strange emotion churned within Xie Lang's chest, like scorching magma flowing inside, burning his throat and tongue until they were parched and cracked.
He then fixed his deep gaze upon her.
Does she know the hardships and dangers outside?
Where can she go after leaving him?
Should we return to the Liu residence?
Why couldn't he stay in the Marquis's mansion? He had always thought they had a very good relationship.
This divorce letter was a bolt from the blue, or at least a devastating blow.
He clutched the thin divorce papers tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing but he remained silent.
Seeing his expression, Liu Qingqing also suppressed her smile.
Regardless of the circumstances, having already delayed his plans, she bowed respectfully to him and said sincerely, "You are a true gentleman who keeps your promise and marries me according to the marriage contract. Since our marriage, I have been able to leave the Liu family and reclaim all the dowry my mother left me."
This was the first time Liu Qingqing had spoken frankly to him since their marriage. Xie Lang gazed at her intently, without interrupting.
"This is already a beautiful dream for me. I dare not covet anything else. I have already delayed your marriage, and I dare not delay you again because of my selfishness. Therefore, I write this letter of divorce to you. May you have everything go well from now on, may you achieve great success, and may your career flourish and reach new heights. May everything go smoothly for you and may you achieve great things again."
Xie Lang chuckled softly; he had never known his wife was so eloquent.
That sounds so nice.
Ah, she doesn't even call him "husband" anymore. These repeated calls of "sir" are so grating.
grown ups……
How come he never thought those two words sounded so awful before?
Seeing him lower his eyes and remain silent, Liu Qingqing assumed that he had agreed.
Even though he looked inscrutable at that moment, she took it as him being embarrassed because she had spoken up first.
She saw what she wanted to see, but didn't receive a single word from him, nor did he try to stop her.
With the dust settled, the waves that surged in Liu Qingqing's heart were initially filled with joy, but as the waters receded, what remained was a faint, salty sense of melancholy.
So he lowered his eyes, about to turn around and gather his things, "Sir, there is pen and ink on the table, please come here."
Why the divorce?
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly heard him ask in a hoarse voice.
Liu Qingqing was speechless and stood silently with his back to him.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. How could she put it? It wouldn't be appropriate to say that she preemptively acted because she knew you wanted a divorce first.
She also has her pride.
He turned around and replied softly, "I do not wish to delay you any longer."
"But I didn't feel like I was held back."
Xie Lang glanced at her, folded the divorce papers and stuffed them into his clothes, then picked up the other copy of the divorce papers that was on the table.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the glistening sugar coating of the candied hawthorn berries placed to the side had melted into a sticky syrup, as if mocking him for returning home full of anticipation only to be met with this resounding slap. It was glaringly obvious.
Xie Lang narrowed his phoenix eyes, looking at the stunned woman, then his gaze swept around, finally taking in the empty main room. His heart suddenly clenched.
“I thought we were getting along very well. If you have any unspeakable troubles, you can tell me. I know that I have been away from the capital a lot lately, which may have made me neglect you. I will be fine in a while.”
Ignoring Liu Qingqing's increasingly wide eyes, he continued in a cold voice, "Don't mention divorce again. I'll pretend I don't know anything about it today."
He paused slightly, then said, "I will be staying in the study tonight. Madam, please rest well."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Liu Qingqing standing there.
As Xie Lang descended the steps and the door was about to close, he suddenly stopped and turned around.
From a distance, the morning glow spread out and condensed into a honey-colored light, slowly closing. Through that increasingly narrow gap, Xie Lang looked directly into Liu Qingqing's eyes. Liu Qingqing's eyelashes trembled, filled with astonishment and bewilderment.
The door closed, blocking their intertwined gazes. Xie Lang remained motionless in his previous posture. Suddenly, a gust of wind brushed against his clothes, the thin paper inside making an unpleasant, subtle sound as it rubbed against the fabric. Xie Lang's brow furrowed, and he strode straight towards the outer courtyard.
The servants in the courtyard hunched their shoulders and lowered their heads, not daring to make a sound.
Even the most foolish among them could sense something was amiss. The candied hawthorns with straw targets that the adult had just carried were far too eye-catching; it was clear he was trying to please his wife. As a result, he stormed out of the room shortly after entering.
Even a blind or deaf person could tell that the master of the house was having a disagreement. They wouldn't dare to walk right into the line of fire.
This was far from what she had expected, almost the complete opposite of what she had anticipated, leaving Liu Qingqing stunned and speechless for a long time.
Catching a glimpse of the candied hawthorns, resembling red coral, placed by the door, Liu Qingqing felt a pang of panic. What was wrong? Why wouldn't he sign the divorce papers?
Could it be that he's also the kind of man with a terrible temper like those in storybooks, who only allows himself to bring up divorce but not his wife?
Liu Qingqing was completely baffled.
In just a short while, Xie Lang had already left Jialan Garden. At this moment, it was not yet dark, and with a quick glance, he could see a whole courtyard of unsightly mahogany chests in the side courtyard.
He stepped closer, stopped in front of a box, bent down and lightly touched the yellow seal on it with his knuckles, which looked like a talisman and was still damp.
A hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes; the lady was clearly eager to leave.
He raised his hand to summon a servant, and with a flick of his finger, ordered, "Put all these mahogany boxes back in."
The servants moved swiftly, immediately pairing up to carry the mahogany chest back into the storeroom, and in no time the courtyard in the side yard was empty again.
"When did Madam give the order?" Xie Lang asked.
The quick-witted servant replied, "Madam instructed us two days ago to move these boxes out and sort them out. They were finished at noon today and are now being hung outside to dry."
Two days ago? He just left Beijing two days ago.
Xie Lang had a plan in mind.
Xie Lang: "Madam, what will be the use of her afterward?"
The servant shook his head blankly to indicate that he did not know, so Xie Lang nodded slightly to indicate that he understood, and turned to leave the side courtyard.
Upon arriving at the study, he whistled, and Xie Liu suddenly appeared like a ghost.
"Has the lady been acting strangely lately?"
Xie Liu then recounted what his wife had been busy with recently, which was no different from the message he had delivered earlier.
Xie Lang waved for Xie Liu to leave, then sat alone in his study, sorting through his thoughts. He couldn't understand why Liu Shi had suddenly proposed a divorce.
Delaying him?
Why would someone have such a strange and unusual idea?
Aren't they doing very well?
After thinking it over, Xie Lang concluded that Liu Shi was probably just saying it in anger.
However, he did not feel that such a serious matter should be used to vent his dissatisfaction.
Just say what you need to say.
Furthermore, it was just said in anger. If she left the Marquis's mansion, where could she go?
Putting aside the fact that she didn't know the true relationship between the princess and her, the undercurrents inside and outside the Regent's Palace meant that ordinary recognition and occasional visits were acceptable, but if they lived in the palace for a long time, open and covert attacks would be absolutely unacceptable.
Where will she go next?
In this vast capital city, he couldn't imagine where she had gone.
Xie Lang knew that she loved him very much, and that her eyes were always filled with the moon and stars whenever she looked at him.
Thinking about it this way, my inexplicably tense heart relaxed a little.
Let her calm down tonight.
After thinking it through, Xie Lang went to wash himself first.
He hadn't slept for two days and two nights in his haste to get back to the capital, so he went to rest on his bed in the dark room of his study. But for some reason, despite feeling dizzy, he couldn't fall asleep.
On the other side, Liu Qingqing stood by the octagonal table, lost in thought for a long time.
The man left as fast as the wind. On the table were the finest writing materials prepared for him, but in the blink of an eye, he disappeared, taking with him the two divorce papers she had carefully written.
This turned out to be very different from what she had expected.
For some reason, her legs went weak and Liu Qingqing was about to fall when she quickly regained her senses and grabbed the table to steady herself.
Granny Li, who had been waiting anxiously outside, seized the opportunity to slip in and hurriedly asked her mistress, "Has the young lady made a decision?"
The way the son-in-law looked when he left didn't seem quite right.
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing shook her head in a daze, looked at Granny Li for a long while, and then said slowly, "My husband... no, the master said he has no intention of divorcing me."
Not only did he refuse to divorce her, but he also took away the divorce papers she had carefully written.
Before he returned to his residence, Liu Qingqing's thoughts were in turmoil, but no matter what, she never imagined that Xie Lang would refuse to divorce her!
As expected, Granny Li opened her mouth wide in surprise upon hearing this, exclaiming, "What should we do now?"
The dowry chests have all been brought out!
Liu Qingqing, unaware of the situation, remained silent for a few moments before saying hopefully, "Perhaps the master will send back the signed divorce papers tomorrow?"
Caught off guard, Granny Li was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Just then, she spotted the bright red candied hawthorns hanging from the straw mat by the door.
"Miss, what is this...?"
When Xie Lang returned to the manor, Granny Li was checking the orders in the storeroom and did not see the magnificent sight of the imposing adult outside carrying a bunch of candied hawthorns.
Liu Qingqing snapped out of her reverie, followed the nanny's gaze, paused slightly, and replied, "It was bought by the master."
As she spoke, she looked down at the skewer of candied hawthorns on the table. She tasted one, and it was deliciously sweet and sour. This was the first time someone had bought her candied hawthorns, and it tasted exactly like the only time she had ever had them as a child.
No, it tastes better than the skewer she used to sneak a bite of when she was a child.
Granny Li was stunned by the adult's extravagant spending and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you buying so much?"
It was like robbing a merchant!
Liu Qingqing then remembered this matter and said to the nanny, "Nanny, please distribute the rest to Jialan Garden."
That night, Xie Lang, who was staying in the study, couldn't sleep, and Liu Qingqing, who was alone in the main room, also couldn't sleep.
She tossed and turned on the bed. The road ahead was all laid out, but she never expected to get stuck at the very beginning.
She turned over, her undergarments rustling against the bedding. She frowned, her face contorted with distress, never expecting Xie Lang to disagree with the divorce.
She assumed Xie Langxu would be surprised when she produced the divorce papers, but given his upright and self-disciplined gentlemanly nature, and considering his previous statement to Xie Wanyan that he would divorce her in three years, she thought he would hesitate for a moment to save face for her, pretending to try and persuade her to stay, and then, under her sincere insistence, he would readily sign the divorce papers.
Given his personality, he might even give her some money to keep her safe and arrange for a highly skilled guard to protect her for a while.
But why didn't he sign? Liu Qingqing was completely baffled.
If she could go back to that day when she was soaked to the bone in the rain behind his study, or even those days when she was bedridden from the rain, she would have been overjoyed to see him like that even on just one of those days. She would have been completely smitten and would have cherished him dearly, continuing to live her life with him.
But he didn't come. In those lonely, cold days, as if she had opened her eyes to see through many falsehoods.
Thinking about it, how could they be considered a truly loving couple?
She was hiding things from him, and so was he. What's the point of hiding from each other and being wary of one another?
Is she going to spend her whole life deceiving herself and fooling herself like this?
No, that won't work.
She wasn't the type to wallow in self-pity, nor would she sulk and lose faith in love after being neglected by him. She felt that life was so long; should she give up entirely just because one marriage didn't go her way? She certainly wouldn't.
She thought about getting a clean divorce from him, leaving the capital for a place with simple and honest people, where she might find a good match again. But who knows? She'd just have to let nature take its course.
He didn't love her, and he wanted to confine her to this secluded mansion, which she refused.
She had rarely experienced genuine affection since childhood, so true feelings were like sweet dew to wild grass. She longed for a heartfelt connection with the person she shared a room with every day, not just empty pretense.
Thinking about this, it became clear that she still had to leave.
Even though Xie Lang's resolute refusal and departure were like a butterfly lightly touching a calm lake, causing slight ripples, his eyes hardened again.
Fortunately, he calmed himself down in the main room, otherwise he might have been bewitched by his good looks.
As dawn broke, Liu Qingqing could no longer resist and closed her eyes for a brief moment of drowsiness.
To her surprise, when she opened her eyes, she saw a figure beside the bed. She was instantly startled awake, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was Xie Lang.
I had just breathed a sigh of relief when yesterday's memories flooded back, and that sigh of relief was only half lifted.
"Madam, Grandmother has summoned us to pay our respects."
Xie Lang bent down to help her, but saw her turn to the side as if by accident, her long, cool hair sliding through his fingertips. Xie Lang looked down at her, still in the same position as before.
Liu Qingqing pretended not to notice; it wasn't appropriate for them to be so close even though they were about to divorce. Although she liked his appearance, she was a person with principles and would never take advantage of someone she shouldn't.
As she got down from the ground, she secretly glanced at Xie Lang. Seeing that he seemed stunned and motionless, she hesitated for a moment, then slipped into the clean room without saying anything.
Little did she know that every subtle movement she made was being observed by his sharp eyes. The door to the washroom closed softly, and Xie Lang slowly straightened up, her right index finger and thumb gently rubbing together as she was about to help him.
Because she was going to see the old lady, she didn't dare keep her waiting, so Liu Qingqing quickly washed up and came out. She went to the wardrobe to get some new clothes to change into, but when she turned around, she met his fixed gaze. Liu Qingqing's fingers, gripping the dress, trembled slightly as if in a spasm. She tightened her grip, and, enduring his gaze, returned to the washroom, intending to change away from him.
A hint of surprise flashed in Xie Lang's eyes at first, but after understanding what she was thinking, his narrow eyes narrowed slightly, and then an unreadable emotion rose in his eyes.
He chuckled softly, but there was no hint of amusement in his eyes. A moment later, the faint smile vanished, and he raised an eyebrow expressionlessly.
Contrary to Liu Qingqing's expectations, Xie Lang did not approach the washroom. Sensing her rejection, he instead gentlemanly walked towards the main room door.
The lilies of the valley and hyacinths that were originally placed on the flower stand by the door have also disappeared, leaving only the sandalwood flower stand that originally belonged to Jialan Garden standing there all alone.
He stepped forward and tapped the table with his knuckles, making a thumping sound.
Xie Lang's eyes darkened; he loathed this feeling of being out of control.
Hopefully, his wife won't do anything rash, otherwise he doesn't know what will happen.
Liu Qingqing acted quickly. Just as she was about to leave the washroom, she thought for a moment and put the nightgown she had changed out of her arms back in.
That's too eye-catching.
Since she brought up divorce with him, he acted as if nothing had happened, but she began to have concerns.
On the way to the old lady's Shian Garden, the two walked side by side without saying a word.
Xie Lang didn't mention the previous night's events along the way, and Liu Qingqing didn't feel comfortable bringing it up either, so she could only awkwardly follow beside him. She kept wanting to take a step back, but the man beside her was like a jackal or a tiger; if she slowed down even a little, he would glance at her sideways, so Liu Qingqing had no choice but to pick up her pace and keep up.
They arrived at Shian Garden quickly, and to their surprise, the old lady was waiting at the entrance.
Liu Qingqing and Xie Lang exchanged a glance and quickened their pace in unison. They stopped at the bottom of the stone steps and bowed to the old lady to greet her.
May Grandmother be well.
"May Grandmother be blessed."
The greetings were different; although the two bowed their heads in greeting, they subconsciously looked at each other.
Their eyes met briefly before they looked away.
The old lady, who was sitting on the stone steps, did not notice the young couple's subtle exchange. She quickly told them to get up, "We're all family, no need for formalities. Come in, breakfast is ready."
"The reason I invited you here today is because I recently acquired a jar of pickles. Although it's nothing rare, it's the taste I've always loved since I was a child, and I wanted you to try it too. It's been many years since I came to the capital."
After Liu Qingqing stepped onto the stone platform, the old lady supported Liu Qingqing's arm and left Xie Lang aside.
Xie Lang caught a glimpse and chuckled, "Grandmother is biased."
Hearing this, the old lady glared at him, "You little rascal, always talking nonsense! You're never home and you're still jealous of Qingqing! Are you a three-year-old or something?"
Xie Lang touched the tip of his nose with his knuckles. He knew that his grandmother was giving him face. If it were just the two of them, his grandmother would have pointed at his nose and scolded him: "You're not in a hurry all day, yet you have the nerve to be jealous of Qingqing!"
After scolding him, she turned to Liu Qingqing with a gentle smile and said, "I really like the jewelry that Qingqing bought for me. Grandmother accepted it this time, but you must not do it again next time."
The old lady smiled and scolded her, "You spent so much money, keep it for yourself."
Despite saying that, the old lady smiled so happily, her loving gaze like a gentle spring breeze, like green waves floating on a lake in spring, warm and comforting, showing that she was quite fond of her.
"I heard you bought quite a lot for Wanyan and those two little ones, that's really expensive."
Liu Qingqing repeatedly said it was no problem, and added, "Since I married into the Marquis's mansion, everyone has accepted and treated me kindly. This is just a token of our appreciation."
Upon hearing this, the old lady's smile widened even more.
What do they fear most in their old age? Nothing more than the younger generation being ignorant and unable to uphold the family's reputation.
Although her granddaughter-in-law is still young, she is well-mannered and knows how to conduct herself properly, making her a promising candidate to be a matriarch.
Xie Lang was unaware that Liu Qingqing was so adept at speaking politely, so he raised his long eyebrows and looked at his wife's beautiful face with a meaningful gaze.
"Okay, okay, okay."
The old lady grasped Liu Qingqing's fair hand and patted it twice, speaking with great enthusiasm, "I am grateful for your kindness. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, just come and find me!"
After saying that, he invited them to sit down.
Breakfast was already laid out on the octagonal table, still steaming hot.
The selection was limited: plain porridge, pickles, and some steamed buns.
"I've prepared a simple meal, please don't find it offensive," the old lady said.
How could they dare to complain?
Breakfast was eaten quietly, the old lady's gaze occasionally lingering on the young couple's faces. After wiping her lips with a handkerchief, the old lady let the two go home, but before leaving, she suddenly asked Xie Lang, "Have you visited your father recently?"
Xie Lang's expression tightened slightly upon hearing this, but quickly returned to normal. "Father has been busy with official duties at the camp lately, so it's not appropriate to disturb him."
With just one sentence, the old lady took in Xie Lang's expression and didn't ask any more questions.
In her heart, she thought it was good that Xie Dang hadn't returned to the manor recently, otherwise... The old lady looked in the direction of Tingzhu Pavilion, shook her head and sighed.
How come these younger generations are more capable of causing trouble than the last?
That's it, everyone has their own destiny.
Xie Lang and Liu Qingqing left Shi'an Garden hand in hand.
Even after walking out, Liu Qingqing still couldn't understand why the old lady had called them over for breakfast. Was it for these pickles? But it didn't seem so, since the old lady hadn't eaten much herself.
Liu Qingqing turned around in confusion and saw the old lady still standing at the door watching them. When she saw her turn around, she waved to her. Liu Qingqing gave a slight curtsy.
The old lady waved to her again and called out, "It's getting cold, go back quickly."
Only after they had gone far away and could no longer be seen did the old lady sigh.
She chose Lang'er, and with Lang'er's intelligence, she should already know. Such a fine young lady shouldn't be given away to someone else.
Whether in the inner palace or in a mansion outside, every family's life revolves around women; only when women are good can the family prosper for generations.
Is Lang'er going to suffer the same fate as his father?
Xie Lang was just lost in thought when he heard the noise and turned around to find Liu Qingqing lagging behind, looking rather reluctant to leave.
He remembered what had just happened and stopped.
In the distance, the golden-red sun had climbed up the tree branches, and the amber light that fell upon her enveloped her, making her appear as if she were ascending to heaven in a myth.
Xie Lang frowned and stepped forward to grab her wrist.
Liu Qingqing turned around in surprise, her eyes meeting his.
Why were they all polite, but I wasn't?
Xie Lang suddenly brought up this matter, his bright black eyes fixed on her, "Have I treated my wife badly?"
Unexpectedly, he brought this up. Liu Qingqing's red lips trembled slightly, and after thinking it over, she finally mustered her courage and whispered, "I was thinking about the time in front of Lili's mansion..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xie Lang's expression darkened, and the large hand gripping her wrist tightened slightly.
"We're doing so well, why do you keep bringing up divorce? If I've done anything wrong, please tell me directly, my lady."
After saying that, he glanced at her raised brow, then swept his gaze over her slender wrist that he was holding, paused for a moment, and finally let go of her hand.
"This is not something to joke about; do not mention it again in the future."
His voice was somewhat deep, "I also don't like being threatened."
Liu Qingqing: "..."
What's wrong with this person? Why is he suddenly so unreasonable?
She went along with his wishes and suggested a divorce, but he wasn't happy about it!
Those cold words spoken in the pouring rain—what did they mean by "others are better" and "divorce from her"? Was she just dreaming?
Who joked with him? Who threatened him?
After being thoroughly rebuked, Liu Qingqing became annoyed.
He seemed reluctant to talk more, but his cousin was leaving the next day.
What should we do?
She felt a lump in her throat; why did he never listen to her?
His words were tinged with anger.
I might as well have a good talk with him here.
Why is my husband unwilling to divorce me?
Liu Qingqing's eyes flashed with barely concealed anger as she asked sarcastically, "Could it be that my husband has feelings for me?"
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
Goodbye.
wrong……
It should be... never to be seen again.
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