64 Chapter Sixty-Four
It was Xie Lang!
Chapter Sixty-Four
She looked outside in the direction of the sound, and the tall man on horseback, with a figure as upright as a pine tree and a face as handsome as the moon, was none other than Xie Lang!
Even if he turned to ashes, she would still recognize him.
She stared at him blankly, her heart pounding like thunder. Just as he turned his head slightly as if to look up at her, she suddenly ducked behind the window frame.
Why would he come to Yingcheng?!
The gentle spring breeze that had been blowing just moments before suddenly seemed to be filled with dampness, covering her mouth and nose, making it impossible for her to breathe.
She then remembered that Fu Xiuzhu was still in front of her. Perhaps because her actions were rather strange, he was looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and worry.
"Did you see anyone you recognize?"
Liu Qingqing snapped back to reality, her lips parted slightly and then closed again, swallowing the complex emotions in her heart, she shook her head, "How could I know such an important person? I was just intimidated by their aura."
Someone downstairs called Fu Xiuzhu. He glanced at her again, and Liu Qingqing forced a smile. The person downstairs urged him again before he finally went down.
Liu Qingqing leaned stiffly against the window, not daring to move. Only then did she realize that her back was covered in cold sweat. She gripped the windowsill tightly to keep herself from falling to the ground.
Just then, she heard hurried footsteps and was startled, feeling her legs go weak.
The next moment, Lin Mei appeared at the top of the stairs, walking towards her with a worried look in her eyes.
From downstairs came the little girl's adoring praise.
"Lord Xie is so handsome and unparalleled, the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life!"
"Forget it. Lord Xie is already married and I've heard that he and his wife have a very good relationship. You're just indulging in wishful thinking."
"You're so boring. Let me think... It's a pity I didn't hear Lord Xie speak. I wonder if Lord Xie's voice could lull one to sleep!"
"Hey, aren't you ashamed? I'll tell Brother Tie Niu later!"
"Don't say it! I won't say it anymore, okay?"
Lin Mei walked up to her and knelt down. "Miss, what should we do?"
Since arriving in Yingcheng, they had pretended to be sisters, and Liu Qingqing had started calling Lin Mei "elder sister," forbidding her from calling her "young lady." Today, Lin Mei was also panicking…
Who would have thought that after fleeing so far, they would still almost run right into each other?
Liu Qingqing suppressed her thoughts and forced herself to calm down.
"Sister Mei"
A sense of unease and anxiety made her swallow repeatedly. She gripped Lin Mei's hand, her eyes filled with panic, "...Won't we be discovered?"
Lin Mei was also afraid, but since her mistress was already panicked, she couldn't show it.
"I doubt Lord Xie will stay here for long. If we stay hidden here well for a few days, we will not be discovered."
Liu Qingqing suddenly realized and murmured, "That's right, we can hide for a few days and won't be discovered."
He, a high-ranking official of the second rank, would never come to their small clinic.
After thinking it through, Liu Qingqing's heart, which had been gripped so tightly by the monster that it felt like it was about to burst, finally relaxed a little. But it was still pounding, and she was terrified.
She was afraid to see him, afraid to be taken back to the capital, and afraid of everything they represented.
Whether it's Xie Lang or her... nominal mother, they all seem like inhuman monsters steeped in power to her now.
She even suspected that Xie Lang's initial compromise in marrying her might have been due to the Regent's Palace. Marrying her was like a pledge of allegiance. Of course, he no longer needed that pledge, but who wouldn't want to take things further?
Seeing that her mistress was frightened, Lin Mei helped her to the backyard to rest. She instructed the servants not to disturb her.
Both of them were preoccupied and did not notice Fu Xiuzhu's probing gaze from behind the pillar.
Their current residence in Yingcheng consists of shops in the front and a courtyard in the back for them to live in.
After closing the shop, Fu Xiuzhu lived in the front shop, while Liu Qingqing and Lin Mei lived in the back.
Just as Liu Qingqing had predicted, Xie Lang's arrival in Yingcheng indeed stirred up a great deal of trouble.
Within just a few days, the streets and alleys were filled with talk of how unique and elegant Lord Xie, who had come from the capital, was.
Liu Qingqing squinted in the courtyard behind the shop, not even stepping out of the door.
She calmed down and resumed eating and sleeping as usual. It's only a few days, how could she not outlast him?
Meanwhile, Xie Lang had already settled down.
The Regent had a villa in Ying City, and he granted Xie Lang permission to stay there upon his arrival. This caused an uproar throughout the court, demonstrating Xie Lang's immense influence!
Although the regent is only a king in name, who among the officials in the capital doesn't know who truly holds supreme power? Could it be that young emperor who is only interested in having fun?
In that case, it will be only a matter of time before the incomparably illustrious Lord Xie enters the cabinet and becomes prime minister!
Therefore, as soon as Xie Lang's trip was decided, the villa was surrounded by local gentry and prominent families who had come to admire him.
Not to mention the people of Yingcheng were incredibly bold, even ordinary local gentry dared to come and join in the fun by sending visiting cards.
What if we could see him?
Xie Lang waved his hand dismissively, and Xie Wu knew that Su Shen had gone outside to chase people away.
The gentleman means that no guests will be received today.
Six months later, Xie Wu looked quite different.
His once clear and honest eyes were now filled with bitterness and sorrow.
The master is not doing well, and he hasn't been doing well either. Since his wife's fate became unknown, Miss Zhao has stopped speaking to him...
Not only did she ignore him, but the cold look in her eyes made his heart tremble.
After chasing the people outside away, Xie Wu walked back dejectedly.
Upon reaching the flower hall, he saw that the master had disappeared sometime earlier. He circled around looking for him and finally saw the master standing by the lake in the detached courtyard, gazing up at a willow tree.
Xie Wu nervously swallowed and looked over as well.
This willow tree... is thicker than the one in Jialan Garden, and its drooping branches are more supple.
If the willow tree in Jialan Garden had grown for another ten years or so, it would look just like this.
Xie Wu hesitated for a moment, but still did not go forward to disturb the adult.
The past six months have been tough for the adults... They've been working through the night, and they've visibly lost weight and become silent.
Even worse, after the lady was seventy-nine days old, the master inexplicably vomited blood and could no longer speak.
After finishing his shift, he returned to the main room and closed the door. The brocade shoes covered in wet mud that he had found were still on the dressing box in the main room. Every time he went to the main room to find the master, the main room was not lit. The master was like a ghost hiding in the darkness, appearing at some unknown time with a pale face. Every time that happened, the hair on his body would stand on end.
The man was enveloped in a heavy bitterness, his clothes seemingly soaked in bitter melon juice. Xie Wu wanted to advise him to let go as soon as possible, but he couldn't bear to disturb him whenever he saw the man staring blankly at things related to his wife.
For dinner, the lady ate mutton soup noodles, a dish she often enjoyed at the Marquis's residence.
Since the lady left, the master has either had the kitchen make the plain noodles that the lady loved, or mutton soup noodles.
well.
If only I had known...
The next morning, amidst the chirping of birds, Xie Wu went to wake the master. As soon as he stepped into the room, he saw the master open his eyes. Those once bright and dazzling eyes were now silent and bloodshot.
Xie Wu then knew that the master had not slept all night again.
This time, the official's visit to Ying was ostensibly to reward the soldiers on behalf of the Regent, but in reality, he had important business to attend to.
A spy reported that spies from the Northern Qiang and Northern Rong tribes had secretly infiltrated Yingcheng. The lord's purpose in coming here was to use himself as bait, to make a big show of things and alert the enemy.
-
"The lord is injured! Someone come quickly to treat him!"
Anxious shouts came from outside the clinic. Several soldiers carried a person and rushed into the clinic. "The master has been assassinated! He rescued the person from his horse and held the child in his arms. The child is unharmed, but the master has fainted."
Several soldiers surrounded the man and carried him to the bed.
Liu Qingqing hadn't been sleeping well these past two days. She was looking for medicine behind the counter when these people came in such a hurry that she didn't have time to avoid them.
Now, the mere mention of the word "adult" makes her throat tighten.
But the man did not utter a sound, so he must have truly fainted.
"The gentleman is unable to speak. If he is in pain and cannot make a sound, please be careful, doctor."
Hearing this, Liu Qingqing felt relieved.
It probably isn't Xie Lang.
The clinic currently has two doctors. The more senior doctor, surnamed Zhang, happened to be out on a house call. Someone from the county town below came to request his services, saying that a wall had collapsed and injured several people. Doctor Zhang went with his two assistants.
Currently, only Fu Xiuzhu, Liu Qingqing, and a servant who dispenses medicine remain in the clinic.
The person who came could not be ignored, so Fu Xiuzhu went to meet him. He immediately became serious after just one look and told his servant to quickly get the medicine.
The person was already lying on the medical table, surrounded by several imposing attendants.
Liu Qingqing looked over curiously and only saw the other person's slender waist and long legs.
"Miss Lin, could you please lend a hand?"
Fu Xiuzhu called her, and Liu Qingqing came back to her senses and stepped forward. Her first glance fell on the man's bloody forearm, where countless pebbles were embedded in the mangled flesh.
"I took a closer look and saw that the master bumped his head. Miss Lin, please clean his arm, otherwise the stone will grow into the flesh."
Liu Qingqing immediately objected, as she had already learned quite a bit by assisting Doctor Zhang and Fu Xiuzhu for the past six months.
She could tell at a glance what the injury was like. She would first clean the wound with salt water, then remove the sand and pebbles from the knife tip that had been scalded with hot water, and finally apply white jade ointment.
The salt water rinse was extremely painful, and Liu Qingqing was a little nervous, her palms were sweating, afraid of offending someone. But the man seemed completely unaware and did not move at all.
The dizziness is so severe, I hope it's not a real brain injury.
As she heated the knife and prepared to use its tip to remove the pebbles, the guards' gazes, heavy as if imaginary objects, pressed down on the back of her neck. Liu Qingqing gasped, then focused, her hands moving swiftly and steadily, carefully removing each pebble embedded in her flesh. She applied white jade ointment and covered it with gauze.
After she finished doing all that, those gazes finally left her, and she was covered in sweat.
What a powerful aura!
However, he did not speak rudely, which suggests that this official is good at disciplining his subordinates.
Fu Xiuzhu was bending over to investigate, blocking most of the view. Liu Qingqing could only see the man's sharply defined jawline and fair skin.
Just as he was about to get up, he noticed a dark stain on the lapel of the official's robe. He touched it with his fingertip and found it was indeed wet.
Liu Qingqing's face immediately tightened. Her arm injury was generally not a big deal, but her chest and abdomen were very vulnerable.
She instinctively reached to untie the drawstring on her clothes to check for any other injuries, but Fu Xiuzhu noticed her presence and blocked her hand.
Liu Qingqing was taken aback, and then saw Fu Xiuzhu skillfully pull open the man's collar.
She glanced at it and couldn't help but be surprised.
This person is so thin; you can see their bony ribs at a glance. A knife wound runs diagonally from their chest down to their abdomen, and the gauze on it is soaked with blood.
"This is an old wound of yours, sir. I see that this young lady has treated it carefully. Please re-bandage it."
Fu Xiuzhu glanced at her and said, "This is Miss Lin."
After saying that, Fu Xiuzhu took another step closer to her and whispered in her ear, "I'm going to prepare the medicine. I'll be right back."
The lead guard's gaze swept between the two men, and after a moment, he understood.
It seems these two haven't yet made their relationship public. He said the girl was a young lady, and the man was unhappy about it.
Unaware of what the others were thinking, Liu Qingqing was lifting the blood-stained red gauze that was sticking to her skin.
Her skin was beautifully textured, with blue veins flowing gently through her pale skin, giving it a mysterious yet powerful feel. She carefully examined the wound from beginning to end, her gaze tracing every inch of the cut, but suddenly stopped when she reached the end.
A long, horizontal scar runs across his waist and abdomen...
She couldn't help but reach out and touch him lightly, and dormant memories suddenly surged and leaped to the surface like a sleeping dragon. She clenched her hands, her gaze quickly sweeping over his body, but stopping below his collarbone, not daring to look any further upwards.
What a coincidence!
There are several medical clinics in the city, so why did we come here?
A variety of thoughts flashed through Liu Qingqing's mind in an instant.
As if she had swallowed countless cold melons, she felt cold instantly from the inside out, or as if she had swallowed a dirty rag that was stuck in her throat. Her fingers trembled uncontrollably. Knowing that someone was watching over her, she forced down the chill.
The guard noticed something was wrong and quickly asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Her skin felt like it was being pricked by needles, and Liu Qingqing quickly lowered her eyes, hiding the fear in them with her eyelashes. "It's nothing."
The guard, suspicious and wary, was about to step towards her. Liu Qingqing lowered her head, "My lord's wound is a bit deep; it seems the medicine wasn't applied properly before."
The guard was distracted by what he heard. He glanced at her again before looking at the long, slanted scar on the adult's chest and abdomen. The flesh at the edges was white and the cut was filled with blood clots.
It was indeed not taken good care of.
He was so frightened that he didn't dare to look at the guards for long, and the guards' suspicions gradually dissipated.
"Then please take good care of it, Miss. The master has been busy lately and hasn't had time to attend to it."
The exposed flesh was in terrible condition, and removing it now would only arouse suspicion. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and use the knife that had just been boiled to remove the rotten flesh, quickly sprinkle on the wound medicine before the blood flowed out, and then apply a layer of white jade ointment.
We also need to bandage him up.
She stretched out the strip of cloth and spread her arms to wrap it around his body.
She opened her arms to his side, as if to embrace him. The scent of moon scales on his body was faint, suppressed by the heavy aura of blood. His steady breath brushed against her neck, causing her to involuntarily turn her head slightly.
Seeing this, the guards rushed forward to assist, helping to lift him down as the strip of cloth passed through his body.
Even so, Liu Qingqing's forehead was covered in sweat after she finished doing all this.
Just then, Fu Xiuzhu returned with the medicine, so she made an excuse to go back to the backyard.
He could only wonder, is he so busy since being promoted to Vice Minister of War? Could it be that he doesn't even have time to eat?
He looks even more haggard than when he was rescued right after his marriage.
Liu Qingqing only sighed inwardly for a moment, without any other feelings.
They're already divorced, so even if I feel sorry for her, it's not her place to feel sorry for her.
She only wanted to heal her injuries as quickly as possible and send the Buddha statue away.
She glanced at it and turned to get the medicine, but then heard Fu Xiuzhu tell her to get some more of the finest wound medicine, Baiyu Ointment.
The best white jade ointment has a miraculous effect on stubborn, hard-to-heal old wounds. Xie Lang only had minor abrasions on his hands and elbows, so why would he need white jade ointment?
White jade ointment is expensive!
He choked back a breath, took the medicine, and went back to the front.
Fu Xiuzhu was bending over, her head bowed, seemingly treating an injury. Were there any other external injuries? She had already taken care of them.
As I walked over and handed the porcelain vase to Fu Xiuzhu, my gaze swept over...
"ah!!"
Startled, Liu Qingqing cried out and quickly covered her mouth.
His eyes were wide open but he didn't blink. There were many bloody marks on Xie Lang's left arm... especially on his wrist. Look at the brown marks that had been repeatedly healed and torn apart. They must have been deeply ingrained in the bone.
Who would dare to treat Xie Lang, who is high above and holds great power, like this?
Fu Xiuzhu glanced at her, wondering why she had suddenly lost her composure; she was usually very bold. Since she seemed frightened, Fu Xiuzhu told her to go back and rest.
As Liu Qingqing stepped out of the clinic, she glanced back at him while leaning against a pillar. He was surrounded by people, and she could only vaguely see the mud-stained hem of his clothes. Liu Qingqing only glanced at him before turning her gaze away and walking out, thus not noticing Xie Lang's suddenly convulsing and curling fingers.
Back in the backyard room, Liu Qingqing's legs went weak as soon as she closed the door. She staggered to the chair, leaning on the table, and plopped down.
Her attempt to remain calm backfired; her throat immediately swelled up as if she had swallowed a pebble.
Rather than how he got injured, Liu Qingqing's first thought was why, by sheer coincidence, someone else brought him to this clinic.
Could this be a test from him?
Xie Lang's thoughts run too deep. If he doesn't want the other party to know what he's planning, others will be caught in a fog of uncertainty.
She swallowed hard, and in her panic, her legs went weak. She paced back and forth in the room.
She was thinking, maybe she should go to the countryside to hide away?
Just then, someone knocked on the door, and Liu Qingqing immediately froze on the spot.
"It's me."
Lin Mei's low but calm voice came from outside the door. Liu Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to open the door for her.
Sure enough, after Lin Mei pushed her into the room, she turned around and closed the door like a thief.
The first question was, "What would you like, Miss?"
Faintly urgent sounds and the thumping of military officers pacing back and forth came from the front yard.
Liu Qingqing made a tough decision, "How about we go into hiding for a while?"
As dusk settled, a simple horse-drawn carriage slowly made its way out of Yingcheng.
-
In the dim light of night in the secluded courtyard, Xie Lang slowly opened his eyes, but remained motionless for a long time.
He had a rare deep sleep, the one he had slept the longest since Liu Qingqing disappeared, and the excruciating pain in his head, which felt like it was being cleaved by a giant axe, had subsided considerably.
He woke up but didn't rush to get up; it seemed he had dreamt of her.
She's been gone for so long, and he hasn't dreamed of her even once.
The dream was so vivid; he could even smell her faint fragrance and hear her softly call out. He was enveloped by the unique scent of flowers mixed with a hint of medicine emanating from her.
While at the Marquis's residence, he never delved into the nature of her fragrance. Only after she left, during those sleepless nights, did he finally understand the secret of that faint scent as he inhaled it into every inch of his flesh.
There were no clear images in the dream, but I vaguely remembered that she seemed to be lingering beside him, her cool fingertips touching him, and she seemed to have turned into a spring breeze and gently embraced him.
Xie Lang raised his hand and covered his eyes with his arm.
She has such a cruel heart.
What a cruel heart.
At first, he didn't believe she was dead. But when he learned that his grandmother and Xie Wanyan had both given him the token, he sent spies throughout the Marquis's estate, waiting for her to seek help so he could capture her. He was certain he could catch her!
But a month, two months... now half a year has passed, and there is still no sign of her.
Even his mother and Xie Wanyan advised him to give up, and even Wei Mingzhao brought wine to drink with him. They all told him that the dead cannot be brought back to life.
He refused to hold a funeral.
Since her body was never found, he refused to acknowledge her death.
That's it?
Why stop?
But he still hadn't figured out why she wanted to leave.
Even if she dies and goes to the underworld, he will still go and capture her soul to ask her why she left!
They were husband and wife, the first wife. Did she not know what the first wife meant?
The first wife should be buried with her!
Suddenly, someone walked up to the door and lingered there, presumably on important business.
Xie Lang composed himself and stood up, suppressing the deep sorrow that always welled up within him when he was alone.
The pale white silk undergarment he was wearing must have been changed for him by Xie Wu.
He went to open the door, and sure enough, it was Xie Wu outside. He turned around to get his night clothes.
He had other plans for coming to Yingcheng. On the surface, he was seriously injured and unconscious today, which would be a good cover for his actions in secret.
He stood in front of the wardrobe listening to Xie Wu's report while changing his clothes.
He used to be waited on by servants, but after she left, he did everything he could by himself.
Even when cleaning the main house of Jialan Garden, there were only a few servants and the work was done hastily, because he was afraid that they would mess things up and she would be unhappy when she came back.
He untied the belt, his robes were wide open, and Xie Lang glanced down at them but froze.
Xie Wu was still reporting from the side, "I have made arrangements with the prefect..."
Xie Lang's fingers trembled uncontrollably. He slowly raised his hand to stop Xie Wu from speaking and asked hoarsely, "Who... wrapped it?"
Xie Wu was suddenly startled. Since the lady left, the master had been silent, not even when he went to see the regent. What was wrong with him today?
He rushed over and saw that the long knife wound that ran across the adult's chest and abdomen had been treated and re-wrapped with clean strips of cloth. He couldn't see anything wrong and looked blank.
Then I saw the adult press hard on the wound with his fingertips. Because he pressed too hard, bright red blood seeped out again, leaving a red mark that looked like a red plum blossom in the cold winter from a distance.
"Bring the person who carries the bag here."
Xie Wu didn't know what it was, but he was loyal and obedient, and fearing that his master might do something else, he hurriedly said he would go and find it.
She strode out, but as she turned out of the corridor, she glanced back at the adult who was standing there in a daze.
There's a vague feeling... that the dammed lake, which has been holding back a flood, is finally about to collapse under its own weight...
The adult's expression was a mixture of bewilderment and madness, like the cold, sticky liquid in a swamp.
He was so frightened that he dared not look anymore.
He was assigned to other tasks and didn't go out with the adults to perform tricks and deceive people, so he had to find the guards who were with the adults at that time.
On second thought, he realized that the man wasn't really putting on an act; the injuries on his body were real. He didn't know why the man was being so cruel to him.
They were ruthless to begin with.
But ever since his wife left, he sometimes didn't dare to get close to the adults.
The master... seemed to have gone mad.
Take today's performance as an example. Falling off a horse is just for show. How can it be done for real?
Xie Wu quickly found the three guards from earlier that day, and the group hurriedly returned.
When he returned, the adult was still standing there, motionless. Xie Wu's heart skipped a beat. He saw the adult gently fiddling with the knots of the white bindings on his body with his fingers. His cold and infatuated expression made Xie Wu's scalp tingle.
He dreamt of begging his wife to come back soon! He'd even be willing to become a ghost!
He felt that the adults seemed to be on the verge of collapse.
When the adults looked over, Xie Wu, being very perceptive, spoke first.
"Tell me in detail what happened today. Who treated your injuries, sir?"
The group exchanged glances, and the leading guard recounted the events of the day.
"Does Your Excellency feel that something is amiss? I did sense something unusual today."
They randomly chose the clinic. After the adult fell off his horse and fainted, in order to make it seem real, they directly asked the people gathered nearby which clinic was trustworthy, and the people gave them directions.
"But the woman who applied the medicine for you today..."
woman?
Xie Lang slowly pondered these two words in his heart, and finally moved, lifting his eyelids to look over steadily.
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
Suddenly, the feeling of being spied on returned, and that gaze seemed like a hook, subtly piercing into her flesh and veins.
(Drip - Dampness Alert)
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