59 Chapter Fifty-Nine
He had driven her to this point! He had driven her to this point!
Chapter 59
"How could it be you?" Liu Qingqing was speechless.
Xie Lang's eyebrows curved into a smile, but there was no laughter in his eyes. "Why can't it be me?"
"Me and you..."
Before Liu Qingqing could finish speaking, Xie Lang placed his jade-like index finger to his lips. Liu Qingqing noticed this and, for some reason, remembered where his finger had previously touched. Her eyes flickered, and she looked away, continuing in a low voice, "The one I put on the table and..."
"Liu Qingqing",
He suddenly interrupted her, calling her name like that for the first time, and both of them were stunned when he spoke. Xie Lang was the first to come to his senses, licking his lips. Before he could look up, he heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching. Taking advantage of her dazed state, he stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, "Look, your cousin is here."
"Don't move! Arrows don't have eyes. What if they accidentally hit my cousin?"
His voice was eerie, like a ghost's.
Liu Qingqing turned around abruptly and saw her cousin riding towards her. A moment later, she gently twisted her wrist, trying to break free from Xie Lang's hot palm.
Xie Lang refused to give up even a fraction of it.
"Madam, please don't make decisions on your own. Take another look at the area under the city gate; isn't it quite lively?"
After saying that, he raised his voice softly, "Someone, take the lady's horse away."
As she got closer, she seemed to notice her cousin's stunned gaze. She then came to her senses and tried to pull her hand away, but found that he was holding it tightly. He then forcefully shoved his palm down between her fingers, intertwining theirs, and she couldn't move an inch.
She didn't have time to think that this was the first time Lord Xie had been so intimate with her in public.
His deep, enchanting voice rang in her ear. She looked up quickly, and when she saw him clearly, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Behind Li Mama and her companions, armored guards from the Marquis's mansion had appeared without them noticing, and Hongye, whom she had ridden there, had also vanished!
"Madam is intelligent; she should know what to do."
"Why are you doing this!" Liu Qingqing asked through gritted teeth, puzzled.
Xie Lang looked up at the sky and said, "The weather has been bad lately, so it's not a good time to travel far."
As they were talking, Ying Yucheng arrived in front of them, dismounted, and stared intently at Liu Qingqing with his gentle eyes.
Seeing that Liu Qingqing's face was not good and her brows were furrowed, she turned her gaze to Xie Lang, who held a high position.
After bowing to Xie Lang, she glanced at their clasped hands, her brow furrowing slightly for a moment, before asking directly, "Why does my cousin seem to be in a bad mood?"
Liu Qingqing was in a state of confusion and was hesitating, not knowing what to do, when Xie Lang beat her to it.
Xie Lang actually took her hand and bowed to Ying Yucheng in return, answering confidently, "My cousin is returning home, and I am naturally reluctant to part with him."
Liu Qingqing: "..."
She couldn't help but glare at him.
Xie Lang noticed this, and with his good temper, he turned his head and smiled at her.
When Ying Yucheng saw this scene, he glanced at their still clasped hands and felt a pang of disgust.
He swallowed hard, and after a long pause, he said in a low voice, "If my cousin is reluctant to leave, she can come to the Northwest for a visit when she has free time. It's quite different from the capital."
Xie Lang chuckled lightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Ying Yucheng remembered that his cousin said she would go to the Northwest with Xie Lang after their divorce, but now, standing side by side, Xie Lang had a calm and unrestrained gentlemanly demeanor, which was not like what his cousin had said.
If they were truly divorcing, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
Could it be that they just had a tiff? But my cousin isn't a capricious person; she wouldn't just spout nonsense like that.
Thinking of this, Ying Cheng calmed down and looked directly at Xie Lang, saying, "Thank you, Lord Xie, for allowing my brother and me to say goodbye in a moment."
Xie Lang raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, looked down at Liu Qingqing, and gently instructed her, "Then Qingqing, go ahead. I'll wait for you here."
He then looked at Ying Yucheng and smiled, "It just so happens that Granny Li went to buy breakfast for Madam and hasn't returned yet. Please make yourself at home, cousin."
You haven't had breakfast yet?
Ying Yucheng hurriedly looked at his cousin, then remembered that it was still early and that his cousin had never gotten up this early before, which explained why she looked unwell.
Seeing that Lord Xie let go of his cousin's hand and let her walk to the side with him, while he turned aside to avoid eye contact and give them enough space, Ying Yucheng's tense heart relaxed slightly.
"Cousin, are you hungry?"
Liu Qingqing looked past him and saw the figures of Granny Li and a few others at the city gate in the distance. For a moment, she could only hum in response.
Upon hearing this, Ying Yucheng quickly took out a bag of hot pancakes from his bag and handed it to her, saying apologetically, "It was my oversight; it's too early. Cousin, please eat something to fill your stomach."
Liu Qingqing's thoughts drifted as she took the hot pancake, its steaming aroma filling her nostrils. She felt the heat and drifted off into a daze, her eyelids growing hot.
Ying Yucheng lowered his head and stared intently at her expression. He then glanced at Lord Xie, who, though turned away from them, was still guarding them and hadn't gone far. Not wanting to ask too directly, he thought for a while and could only ask vaguely, "How is my cousin?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped the hot pancake oil paper bag. She knew that Granny Li and the others were on the other side, and she didn't know where the archers were. She dared not risk putting them and her cousin in danger.
She didn't dare to gamble.
She looked up at her cousin, and could only manage a forced smile before saying, "Okay."
As that sound faded, my longing for the Northwest, like a light cloud in the sky, was blown away by the wind...
Ying Yucheng stared at her, noticing her slightly reddened eyes, as if she had a thousand words to say. Just as her lips moved slightly, Lord Xie, who had been waiting quietly not far away, turned his head to look over.
As fellow military officers, Ying Yucheng knew of Lord Xie's past reputation in the army, which was like that of a war god descended to earth.
He then thought of the princess, who now held a high position in the Regent's Palace.
He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his expression was gentle. He condensed the myriad thoughts in his heart into a single sentence: "If anything happens in the future, write to the General's Mansion."
As soon as she finished speaking, she glanced at Lord Xie and asked, "Does my cousin have any other instructions for me?"
Liu Qingqing wanted to go with her cousin, but she couldn't.
Behind her were several people, including Granny Li. Although she didn't know why Xie Lang was acting this way, she couldn't be willful and drag others down with her.
The stifling sadness made her eyes well up with tears, and she dared not blink, afraid that if her eyelashes touched them, tears would well up.
She gently shook her head, but glistening tears flew into the air with the movement. Her voice trembled as she said, "Take care, cousin. If you have time in the future, please visit your uncle and aunt again."
Ying Yucheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he subconsciously wanted to raise his hand, but he froze in mid-air under the sudden gaze from the side.
This scene unfolded vividly before Xie Lang's eyes, causing his gaze to grow cold.
He felt that his mind was broad enough to navigate the boat!
Xie Lang stepped forward, seemingly unintentionally standing between the reluctant cousins, and gently pressed down Ying Yucheng's hand with his golden whip.
"It's getting late, so I won't keep you any longer, cousin."
Xie Lang took Liu Qingqing's slightly cool hand again, clenching it in his palm. He smiled gently and said, "When my wife and I have time in the future, we will definitely visit your maternal uncle's family."
Liu Qingqing lowered her eyes, as if she were in a daze.
"Cousin?" he called softly.
Liu Qingqing snapped out of her daze and forced a smile at him. "Cousin, hurry up, or we'll be homeless tonight."
This means she's really not leaving him.
He knew it when he saw Xie Lang, but he still held onto a sliver of hope. That sliver of hope vanished like ice melting into water, leaving only a deep sense of loss.
Ying Yucheng and his remarkably well-matched husband bowed once more, and solemnly bid farewell, saying, "Until we meet again!"
He gripped the reins tightly, turned around, mounted his horse, glanced at his cousin, and then stared at the ruthless and renowned Lord Xie Lang.
Only the two of them understood that glance.
"drive!"
The galloping hooves kicked up dust, and after a moment only the sound of hooves could be heard, and no one could be seen anymore.
Liu Qingqing stood still, gazing longingly into the distance.
Upon seeing this, Xie Lang's eyes turned icy, and he scoffed, "So you're heartbroken like this?"
Liu Qingqing, suppressing her resentment, could no longer hold back and shook off his hand. This time, Xie Lang let her shake him off easily.
As more and more pedestrians came and went, Liu Qingqing knew what was important. Even if he disrupted her plans, she would not make a scene with him outside.
The horse was nowhere to be found, and Liu Qingqing walked silently toward the city gate.
Xie Lang strolled leisurely behind her, his gaze lightly falling on her as she moved.
She was like a cat with its fur standing on end, her every step aggressive and menacing, as if she wanted to stomp a hole in the ground, showing no trace of gentleness.
Xie Lang tilted his head, finding her behavior quite amusing.
If only the man beside her hadn't been so angry with her, his gaze darkened. With a slight raise of his hand, a carriage drove towards them and came to a steady stop in front of Liu Qingqing.
In an instant, Liu Qingqing turned around and glared at him angrily.
Xie Lang stepped forward, took her hand, and placed it on his raised arm. "Get in the carriage, Madam."
Liu Qingqing didn't want to rely on her help. Luckily, she was wearing Hu clothing today, and her legs were long, so she got into the carriage on her own. But she didn't see the deep gaze of the man behind her.
Xie Lang followed closely behind.
Inside the carriage, Liu Qingqing hid in a corner, angrily turning her face away and refusing to look at him.
Xie Lang was not annoyed and sat down beside her.
"Let's talk back at the manor."
After saying this, Xie Lang leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes to rest.
Although he appeared calm, he held her hand tightly.
Ying Yucheng urged his horse forward, and the horse galloped away. It wasn't until an hour or so had passed that he realized something was wrong.
Why is Lord Xie calling him "cousin" like his cousin this time? How strange!
He turned around hastily, but all he could see was a vast expanse of mountains and fields, and he could no longer see the graceful figure beneath the city gate.
Xie Mansion.
When the lady's carriage stopped in front of the gate again, the gatekeeper poked his head out, thinking he was seeing things, and quickly rubbed his eyes. The next moment, he saw the master get out of the carriage first, then turn around and extend his hand.
A fair hand lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a woman's hand and a stunningly beautiful face. Ignoring the adults, the gatekeeper, after carefully examining the woman's face, realized it was the lady! The gatekeeper, in a panic, stepped on his right foot and rushed to open the door.
After coming down, the lady ignored everything else and went straight into the mansion. The gatekeeper, seeing the master following behind the lady with a normal expression, was not annoyed.
His father had once been a gatekeeper in the Marquis's mansion. Before he came here, his father had told him that the Marquis's mansion was different from other mansions. In other mansions, the men were in charge and had the final say inside and outside. In the Marquis's mansion, even the men had to be mindful of the lady's mood and serve her well.
He had heard that Lord Xie was reluctant to get married, and that rumors circulated that his wife was treated coldly after the wedding. Now it seemed that wasn't the case. He never expected... he couldn't escape this curse either.
Liu Qingqing went straight back to Jialan Garden. When she reached the hanging flower gate, she looked up at the intricately carved auspicious clouds and flowers above.
Yesterday I thought we'd never see each other again, but today I'm back before noon.
What a slap in the face!
Liu Qingqing closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
I never knew Xie Lang was so difficult to deal with!
Perhaps because she hadn't slept enough, or perhaps because she was too angry, she felt dizzy and was about to fall when her back hit a warm wall and a pair of strong hands gripped her slender waist.
Liu Qingqing suddenly woke up, shook off the large hands, used the leverage to stand up, and walked towards the main room.
The steady footsteps followed behind her.
She climbed the steps and stopped in front of the main house, then pushed the door open with both hands.
Sunlight streamed in through the crack she opened, allowing her to see the room's furnishings once more. Though she had only left yesterday, the room felt as if a million days and nights had passed, and it exuded an unfamiliar aura.
The first thing I noticed was the divorce papers lying quietly on the octagonal table, just as they had been when she left yesterday.
She frowned slightly in disbelief and walked over to see clearly. Sure enough, the jade pendant that had been pressing down on the divorce papers remained untouched. But then she noticed signs that the bed had been used!
Liu Qingqing was so angry she laughed!
"What is Lord Xie doing?"
She turned around abruptly, and sure enough, Xie Lang was just a foot behind her.
"Lord Xie?"
Xie Lang slowly savored these three words.
Liu Qingqing moved the jade pendant aside, picked up the divorce papers and shoved them into Xie Lang's hand, asking angrily, "I've already agreed to the divorce and am leaving this wealthy mansion without a care. Why are you making things difficult for me again?!"
Go along with him?
Her cool fingers brushed against his knuckles. Xie Lang opened his arms and held her close. As she struggled, he lifted his eyelids to look at her and said calmly, "Let me warm your hands."
That's it, the feeling of powerlessness when punching a ball of cotton.
His kindness is colorless and odorless, yet poisonous.
Liu Qingqing's shoulders slumped in dejection.
Once she calmed down, Xie Lang looked away from the thin paper that had been stuffed into his hand.
As he had expected, she copied another divorce agreement, which contained some nonsense about parting ways peacefully.
He then said, "Madam, you should know that a divorce agreement is invalid without a signature."
As soon as the last word was written, he saw the two characters Xie Lang written in thick ink at the end of the page.
After a moment of silence, Xie Lang suddenly gave a light, mocking laugh.
"Madam is truly...always surprising and admirable."
He never expected that his good wife would actually bring up his mother, who had faked her death and disappeared without a trace.
The mother didn't let them spy on her at all, but instead had the lady sign a divorce agreement.
For a moment, Xie Lang didn't know who to be angry with first.
"Madam, let me see your share."
After a moment of silence, Liu Qingqing finally took out the divorce papers from her bosom and handed them to him.
At this point, she knew she could no longer leave peacefully. Whether the divorce papers existed or not, she couldn't keep him at bay in his residence. It would be better to compromise a little to lull him into a false sense of security.
Xie Lang accepted it and remained silent for a long time.
He walked to the ever-burning brazier and threw the two divorce papers into it.
He looked down at the flames licking the white paper and black ink, the firelight reflecting on his handsome face, yet revealing his loneliness.
He suddenly turned to look at her and said, "In the Xie family, there are only widows, not divorces."
He paused slightly, then let out a strange, soft laugh, before his next words carried a rather profound meaning: "Otherwise, how could my mother have died?"
Liu Qingqing: ...
She looked at him in astonishment, as if she had never known him before.
His calm and gentle expression filled her with fear; she had heard that the sea was calm before the giant, man-eating waves surged forth. Her heart pounded.
Xie Langding recognized Aunt Jia's handwriting. She handed over the divorce papers to inform him that Aunt Jia had agreed to their divorce, but without compromising their dignity.
But she never expected that even though the matter had been brought to the table, he would deny it!
Isn't he afraid that she'll reveal the news that Aunt Jia is still alive?
Liu Qingqing was completely baffled.
"If we don't open our hearts to each other, what's the point of being a couple like this?"
Liu Qingqing simply laid it all out and sincerely advised him: "I know you're hiding something from me, and you know I'm hiding something from you. We're both still young. Even if we can't be together, we still have plenty of opportunities to spend the rest of our lives with the right people. Why trap yourselves in this situation?"
Xie Lang chuckled softly, his deep, magnetic laughter sounding surprisingly powerful in the empty main room.
Can't get along? Plenty of opportunities to spend the rest of your life with someone else? Trapped here?
How could he have never known that his wife was so sharp-tongued, that every word she uttered was like a dagger piercing his heart?
"Could it be that the adult likes me?"
Her soft voice echoed from inside the room, mingled with the crackling of burning charcoal.
After she asked, Xie Lang remained silent for a long time.
Liu Qingqing's heart, which had been pounding with excitement, was suddenly filled with a sense of desolation as she let it fall again.
After the scorching flames consumed the last words on the book, leaving only ashes in the fire, Xie Lang returned to Liu Qingqing.
"Madam, I don't want to lie to you."
"Although it has nothing to do with love, I feel that we are doing well. Madam's heart is as clear as a mountain stream. I will accompany Madam to explore the mansion properly in the next two days."
Nonsense about love!
Liu Qingqing thought he was insane! He was like a stupid village dog that couldn't understand human speech!
Xie Lang then changed the subject, saying, "If I am not here, I would appreciate it if you would not leave Jialan Garden."
Liu Qingqing's eyes flickered as she struggled to suppress her anger: "I won't leave for now."
Xie Lang's eyes were like deep pools: "Madam, you are all-powerful, I don't believe you."
Even his faked mother could be brought out to sign the divorce papers for her, so what can't she do?
"I have urgent business to attend to today and cannot stay with you at home. Please do not be angry or upset, Madam. I will return this evening."
After Xie Lang finished speaking, he opened the door and with just a wave of his hand, a team of agile guards quickly surrounded the outside of the hanging flower gate.
"The nanny and the lady's maid will be back soon, so please don't worry, madam."
After saying this, Xie Lang walked away.
Liu Qingqing hurriedly caught up, but was stopped by a guard as she was about to pass through the hanging flower gate.
"Please don't make things difficult for me, Madam."
They actually intend to lock her up!
Liu Qingqing no longer cared about being virtuous and gentle, and shouted loudly, "Xie Lang!!"
The sound instantly silenced everyone around Jialan Garden.
The instigator didn't even turn his head, but simply raised his hand and waved it at her with a rather nonchalant air.
Liu Qingqing was so angry that her heart and lungs felt like they were going to explode, and she smashed the door frame!
Xie Lang, with his keen hearing and sharp eyesight, could naturally tell how angry his wife was after being captured.
Are you upset that you can't leave with your cousin?
A deep light welled up in Xie Lang's eyes, and something within them seemed about to burst open.
She would never know that before he set off today, he saw those exquisite little chains in the storeroom, took them in his hands, thought about them for a long time, and then put them back.
Xie Lang sighed softly, "It's a pity that my wife doesn't know his good intentions."
He lied to his wife, saying there was no urgent business that day. He went into the study and then into the secret passage within it.
He sat motionless on the soft couch in the courtyard of the underground passage, like an ancient god. Only a few oil lamps were lit in the secret passage, and Xie Lang was almost completely enveloped in darkness.
Suddenly, the tunnel door rattled.
The stone gate made an unpleasant sound as it rolled over the fine dust and dirt on the ground, followed by a series of light footsteps.
Before Xie Lang could even look up, he heard Wei Mingzhao's gloating and mocking voice.
"I heard that your wife is indeed leaving with her cousin today?"
Wei Mingzhao walked through the dimly lit passageway, clapping his hands repeatedly. "If Lord Xie hadn't personally gone to arrest him, I'm afraid I would be left alone in my empty room, without even a wife."
As they spoke, the person had already reached Xie Lang. Wei Mingzhao, who was always particular about cleanliness, didn't care about anything else at the moment. He leaned lazily against the damp stone wall, just so he could get as close as possible to see this person make a fool of himself.
"..."
Xie Lang glanced at him indifferently, then ignored him.
Unfazed by the cold shoulder, Wei Mingzhao continued, "Do you think you're a god descended from heaven, with everything under your control? You, Lord Xie, are so powerful, doing things entirely according to your own will, caring nothing for the lives of others."
Thinking of what Xie Lang had done in the past, Wei Mingzhao's eyelids twitched even now, and he couldn't help but say sarcastically, "Has Lord Xie not learned his lesson after all these times?"
Xie Lang remained silent, just like a stubborn rock that wouldn't understand!
Wei Mingzhao's face finally turned cold. "I think Lord Xie, who is high and mighty, will only be satisfied when he ends up all alone!"
Seeing Xie Lang's stubbornness, Wei Mingzhao was furious. He thought, "This is like a dog biting Lü Dongbin—it doesn't appreciate a kind heart!" He couldn't possibly enlighten this stubborn rock!
His trip was in vain!
Wei Mingzhao turned and left.
The secret passage returned to silence, the damp air filled with the fishy smell of moss.
It wasn't that he didn't answer Wei Mingzhao; it was just that there were some things he didn't know why.
But he knew one thing—he and Liu Qingqing were his original spouse, and those other wild flowers, weeds, and savages should stay out of his way!
At this moment, in the main room of Jialan Garden.
Liu Qingqing's fair face flushed red with anger as she paced back and forth in the room. What kind of mess was this?
What's going on with us agreeing to a divorce but then being dragged back?!
Even now, she still can't believe that Xie Lang could do such a thing!
Just then, Granny Li and the others returned and trotted in.
The guards at the gate readily let the person into the courtyard.
Granny Li rushed towards her young mistress, her face full of confusion and hesitation. "Miss, what... what's going on?"
Liu Qingqing didn't know either, and just shook her head.
Her carefully laid plans were completely disrupted, leaving her utterly bewildered.
Granny Li secretly observed the young lady's expression, and after thinking it over, she finally voiced her guess: "I'm afraid the master has a deep affection for the young lady and is unwilling to divorce her, which is why he resorted to this desperate measure."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing sneered: "How could he possibly like me? He's just too proud to admit it."
I never expected Xie Lang to be such a vulgar man.
"elder sister?"
A hesitant shout came from afar at the doorway.
Liu Qingqing looked in the direction of the sound and saw Liu Qingying hesitating at the hanging flower gate. When she saw her sister looking over, she quickly waved to her, "Sister, what's wrong?"
Why are there so many guards?
The image of Liu Qingying waving at her was mirrored in the image of Xie Lang waving at her just moments before.
Liu Qingqing choked on her breath. Since he liked Liu Qingying, she would grant them their wish.
She then let Liu Qingying into the courtyard and instructed Granny Li to prepare more dishes for dinner and also to serve some fine wine.
By evening, dinner was ready.
Liu Qingqing then sent someone to invite Xie Lang. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Liu Qingying's curious gaze. Liu Qingqing's eyes were indifferent, and her expression was numb.
Although Liu Qingying has changed a lot, you can't judge a book by its cover. She had no intention of getting entangled with them, so she decided to let them just give her a quick death.
She thought she would have to wait a while, but unexpectedly she heard servants greeting her and bowing; Xie Lang had returned.
"I wonder if it's because Liu Qingying came to the mansion? Why haven't I seen him return so quickly before?" Liu Qingqing sneered inwardly.
Although I was unhappy inside, I still had to put on a show in front of others.
She greeted him with a smile, but inwardly she was filled with malicious speculation: if he saw Liu Qingying there, would he be overjoyed?
The thought, once it crossed my mind, felt like being washed with salt water over a wound that hadn't yet healed.
She originally wanted to stay far away, but they seemed unsatisfied and insisted on humiliating her right in front of her.
What could she do?
He actually drove her to this point! He actually drove her to this point!
A faint sense of hatred rose in his heart.
She hurried out to greet him, and seeing Xie Lang's faint smile, Liu Qingqing couldn't help but smile and step forward.
"My lord is back. Come and have dinner with us. We have some new fruit wine at home today. It's cold outside, so we'll have a pot to warm ourselves up."
Xie Lang somehow figured it out in less than a day?
It's good that he's come to his senses. He reached out his hand and led her into the main room. As soon as they entered, he glanced up and froze.
Unexpectedly, there was someone else in their main room. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was his wife's younger sister. Xie Lang immediately recalled the conversation he had overheard between his wife and her younger sister behind the bamboo grove, and his heart sank.
His gaze was fixed on his beloved wife with a somber expression, and he felt a suffocating sensation in his heart, as if a huge rock was pressing down on it—a feeling he had never experienced before.
What is she trying to do?
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
She felt like her world had collapsed.
Where is the truth? Where is the falsehood?
--
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