87 Chapter Eighty-Seven
◎"Did you always look at me like this before?"◎
Chapter 87
Xie Lang turned to look at the tightly closed door of the bedchamber, and his heart sank.
"Isn't the princess in a coma?"
Xie Wu leaned closer and said, "Lord Wei sent a letter saying that after the Princess Consort woke up and learned that the Lady was still alive, she rushed over. She said she was determined to see the Lady."
"grown ups……"
Xie Wu hesitated.
Logically, he had no right to comment on this matter, but the mistakes the master had made in the past were too tragic, and he didn't want the master to suffer again, so he could only bite the bullet and offer his advice, "Should we discuss this with the madam?"
"say what",
Xie Lang glared at her, "We're not related, what's there to say?"
Xie Wu was astonished, his eyes widening like a cat's.
"I will not inform Madam for now. I am going out for a while, Xie Liu!"
Xie Lang raised his voice slightly, and Xie Liu appeared before the two of them like a ghost, "What are your orders, sir?"
Xie Lang: "You take the guards and protect the lady. Xie Wu, go find a nice house. I'll go to the city gate to welcome the princess. If the lady wakes up, immediately send someone to find me."
The two accepted the order.
Xie Wu followed Xie Lang out of the villa. As they parted at the gate, Xie Lang instructed him, "Be sure to hurry, we'll move out tonight."
Xie Wu was taken aback again, then nodded repeatedly under the adult's deep gaze, "Sir, I understand!"
Xie Lang was in a bad mood on the way to the city.
There were still traces of blood on the street near the city gate, left over from the past two days.
We left the city gate and crossed the city bridge.
Sure enough, from a high vantage point, one could see a magnificent carriage gradually approaching in the distance. One could vaguely see that the silk draped around the carriage and the rare treasures inlaid on its body shone with seven colors under the sunlight, displaying extreme extravagance.
He had heard that the princess had a rare carriage frame, but he had never seen her use it.
This time, I came all the way from the capital, but I drove this car...
Xie Lang's heart tightened involuntarily.
This time, it seems unlikely that things will end well.
He couldn't help but sigh. Qingqing had suddenly forgotten some things due to the shock, and he hadn't had a chance to ask her what she thought about it. Since he didn't know what she thought, he couldn't accept this mother on her behalf.
Now, the two of them seem to have reconciled, but in reality, they are like precious jewels, easily damaged by hard objects.
How could he dare to take such a risk?
As the carriage approached, Xie Lang blocked the only road.
The guards driving the carriage for the princess were the regent's personal soldiers, and naturally recognized Xie Lang. They turned around as if to whisper a few words. The wooden window on the carriage then opened from the inside, revealing a face that looked pitiful.
When Ying Yi saw Xie Lang standing there with his beard and tail intact, he felt much relieved.
God knows how happy she was when she woke up to find her daughter alive, but then she heard that her daughter had fallen off the city wall and into the rushing river, her fate unknown!
She fainted again at that moment, but after waking up, she insisted on coming to Yingcheng herself, even at the cost of her life, despite Li Jin's obstruction.
She wanted to see her daughter with her own eyes.
Since the last time, Yingyi knew that her daughter held a very important place in Xie Lang's heart.
If his daughter were in danger, Xie Lang would not be so indifferent.
"princess",
The carriage stopped in front of him, and Xie Lang took his hand and bowed in greeting.
Ying Yi quickly waved his hand, "Lord Xie, please come forward and speak."
Xie Lang then obeyed the order and went to the carriage window.
"How are you, Qingqing?" Yingyi asked impatiently.
Xie Lang bowed again: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My wife is doing well."
Having navigated the treacherous waters of power and extravagance for many years, Ying Yi had gained considerable experience and immediately sensed something amiss upon hearing these words.
She suppressed her anxious expression and began to look Xie Lang up and down.
Xie Lang appeared respectful with his eyes lowered, but he was acting strictly in a businesslike manner and showed no affection for his mother-in-law.
Ying Yi's face turned cold: "What does Lord Xie mean by this?"
"Your Highness, my wife is still in good health, but she has forgotten some things due to the shock. The doctor told her to rest and not to worry."
Upon hearing this, Ying Yi flinched, quickly grabbing the window frame to steady herself. "What does this mean? Do you mean I want to see her?"
Xie Lang gently shook his head: "My wife is not in a position to receive guests."
He lifted his eyelids to glance at her, "Especially distinguished guests."
She gritted her teeth and whispered, "You know perfectly well who I am!"
Xie Lang shook his head: "The princess is the princess. As for anything else, what the princess says to me doesn't count."
Ying Yi was stunned.
So who gets to decide?
It was naturally Liu Qingqing.
"I apologize that I cannot accompany you, as I need to return to be with my wife. She is timid and afraid of the dark."
What an impervious attitude!
Ying Yi felt resentful, but knew she was in the wrong and couldn't do anything to Xie Lang.
But Xie Lang, who had already turned and taken a few steps, turned back.
"Are you going to lecture me again?" Ying Yi snorted coldly.
"How dare I, Xie?"
Xie Lang bowed, his handsome brows furrowing as if he hesitated, but he still opened his mouth and said, "My wife seems gentle, but she is actually very stubborn, quite bold, and holds grudges."
He pulled up his sleeve to show the princess the layers of wounds on his wrist: "That's how it is. She was angry with me before, and I didn't even have a chance to soften my heart."
Despite this, Xie Lang's expression softened. "What does Your Highness think of her temperament?"
Ying Yi was stunned.
Xie Lang, however, said, "I think it's very good."
After saying this, he bowed to the princess again: "I have had the other courtyard arranged properly. My wife and I were afraid of disturbing the princess, so we have moved to another place. Please rest well, princess."
Ying Yi: "..."
She was still in a daze when the person walked away.
He was unexpectedly reprimanded by a junior.
She was flustered and at a loss, but her anxious and uneasy mind managed to calm down for once.
"princess?"
The escort driver inquired.
Ying Yi composed herself and wearily rubbed her temples. "As Lord Xie said, let's go to the other courtyard to rest first."
This reminded Xie Lang that no matter how eager she was to see her daughter, she should first check on her daughter's health.
-
When Liu Qingqing woke up, it was already dark. She stretched on the bed.
I slept so well and felt really refreshed.
Looking outside and listening carefully, she realized that she was alone in the room, with no other sounds coming from inside.
Where did Xie Lang go?
etc?
She stared wide-eyed at the simple little house; it certainly wasn't a magnificent villa or palace.
This bed and this table look somewhat familiar.
She got up and saw the clean dress at the foot of the bed. After changing into it, she walked towards the door.
Pushing open the door, one sees a small, square courtyard, much smaller than Jialan Garden, and not even as big as Xie Lang's study courtyard.
etc.
Jialan Garden?
Where is Jialan Garden?
A sudden headache struck her head; she tapped her head and shook it.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw Xie Lang appear out of nowhere, standing in front of her and smiling at her.
Touching her warm cheek, his tense body finally relaxed a little. "Why are you like a sleepy kitten?"
Liu Qingqing glanced at him and suddenly asked, "Where is Jialan Garden?"
As soon as he finished speaking, his expression froze.
"What's wrong?" she asked hastily. "Is there something wrong with this place?"
He stared intently at her, wondering if there was anything wrong with Jialan Garden in her heart.
But it was the purest place in his heart.
Swallowing the bitterness in his throat, he gently shook his head at her, "This is our home."
Home?
Liu Qingqing swallowed the word in a daze.
She had never had a home before, and was rather curious.
"I'm sorry, I forgot."
As soon as she finished speaking, he pulled her tightly into his arms.
The atmosphere was stagnant, just like when she was in the Liu residence, unable to breathe.
For some reason, she felt that he was damp all over, as if he was about to cry.
She then considerately changed the subject, asking, "Where is this? When did we arrive?"
Xie Lang buried his face in the crook of her neck and answered in a muffled voice, "It's your clinic. Since the Princess Consort has come to Yingcheng, it's inconvenient for us to stay in another courtyard. Seeing that you were sleeping soundly, I didn't wake you."
"Then how did I get here?"
"I carried it over."
Liu Qingqing blushed, feeling a tingling sensation in her heart, as if a little monkey was scratching at her. His voice sent waves of tingling through her body.
Afraid that he would find out, she quickly said, "I'm hungry, is there anything to eat?"
Of course there are.
Xie Lang raised his hand, and servants filed in, placing various dishes on the round table in the bedroom.
He even buried his face in her neck without looking up!
Liu Qingqing had never seen such a scene before, and couldn't help but scold him lightly, "Why are you so clingy now that you've grown up? People have seen this!"
She heard his soft laughter near her neck, but he tightened his arms and held her even closer.
Liu Qingqing's face turned as red as a hibiscus flower with anger. With her arms held captive by him, she had no choice but to bite his shoulder.
Xie Lang's body jolted violently.
Liu Qingqing immediately stopped moving.
She's eaten pork, but hasn't she ever seen a pig run?
If this continued, her legs would turn to jelly and she wouldn't be able to stand up.
Upon hearing the servants announce that the dishes were laid out, she quickly pushed him away, saying, "Let go of me!"
She looked up and saw a woman behind her smiling and nodding at her; the feeling was quite familiar.
She paused for a moment, then pushed him again, "Who is that?"
Xie Lang reluctantly got up, glancing back at her, "It's Lin Mei, your confidante."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing grinned at the woman.
Lin Mei was stunned, her eyes instantly reddened, and she quickly turned away as if wiping her eyes.
While she was still thinking, Xie Lang had already led her to the table.
"It's not because I'm hungry."
He was dressed in white today and sat quietly at the table.
It's as if this scene exists somewhere.
But in my vague memory, it seemed to be a woman?
She looked up at Xie Lang, who was serving her food. He noticed her gaze and asked inquiringly. Liu Qingqing shook her head.
Liu Qingqing enjoyed the meal and was completely satisfied.
Xie Lang seemed preoccupied; he didn't even hear her softly call his name.
"Qingqing"
Xie Lang took her hand. "I need your help with something."
Liu Qingqing's eyes flashed with curiosity. "What is it?"
Xie Lang: "Xie Wanyan has a close friend whose mother passed away when she was young. However, she recently discovered that her mother is not dead, but rather has some unforeseen circumstances preventing her from acknowledging her. Now, after experiencing many things, she wants to reconnect with her. She is currently unsure of what to do and wants to ask others for their opinions. As a woman herself, what would you do in her situation?"
This strange story startled Liu Qingqing.
"Like a storybook," she murmured softly.
After saying that, she noticed that Xie Lang was still looking at her. She pondered for a moment and then seriously considered it.
He hesitated, glancing at Xie Lang.
Xie Lang then encouraged her in a low voice, "What do you want to ask? Just ask."
His deep, magnetic voice was strangely gentle, warming one's heart. Liu Qingqing couldn't help but glance at him again before getting down to business, "How did she fare after her mother passed away when she was young?"
Perhaps she was not doing well, so she couldn't help but care about others.
Xie Lang choked slightly, lowered his eyes to hide the complex emotions and regret in them, and gently shook his head, "I think it's not good."
"Ah...this is bad..."
Although it was expected, it was still unpleasant. There's an old saying that having a stepmother means having a stepfather. She thought she was unlucky, but hoped that others would be better off, because that feeling was truly awful.
Thinking back to the past made her feel uneasy, and she calmed down after a while.
Xie Lang couldn't bear it and didn't want to continue. He squeezed her fingers and looked at her with concern, but Liu Qingqing shook her head and asked again, "Why couldn't you recognize each other before? Why can you suddenly do it now? Has the unspeakable secret suddenly disappeared?"
Xie Lang: "..."
But that question stumped him.
Her clear, curious gaze exposed even the most narrow-minded schemes in one's heart.
Has the unspeakable secret suddenly disappeared?
Liu Qingqing, who has lost her memory and is now unrestrained, is quite sharp.
Seeing Xie Lang's indescribable expression, Liu Qingqing understood what was going on.
Living under the roof of the Liu family, she had to be humble and subservient, and was used to reading people's expressions, so she had to understand more about human relationships and social customs.
"Perhaps there was something unspeakable about it, yet they were able to recognize each other again before it was resolved. And this unspeakable secret doesn't seem to be so difficult to overcome... They probably just didn't want to recognize each other before."
Liu Qingqing felt a lump in her throat, feeling sorry for the girl, but a surge of determination rose within her. "If that's the case, then so be it. Is that girl's mother so high and mighty? As if we're just pitiful stray dogs on the street, shamelessly fawning over anyone who beckons?"
She thought of herself, "The suffering I endured wasn't in vain; it can't be wiped clean."
Xie Lang looked at her with pity, his eyes filled with a sorrow and affection she couldn't understand. When she looked at him, he quickly looked away.
He didn't even dare to look into her clear eyes!
There was a time when he was like that too, not a good person.
What do you think, my husband?
Upon hearing the word "husband," Xie Lang's body trembled, and he felt a lump in his throat. Seeing her looking at him suspiciously, he awkwardly turned his face away, saying, "Whatever you say."
Liu Qingqing asked in surprise, "Why are you listening to me? Aren't we talking about other people's business?"
Xie Lang fell silent, then gave a hoarse "hmm".
She was so clear and bright, like shimmering sunlight, that she made him feel so ashamed of himself.
Since their marriage, when has he ever asked her what she truly thinks? He always assumes she has something in mind.
When the Regent's wife was to meet her, he, like everyone else, naturally assumed that she would be happy to know that her mother now held such a noble status.
But... that wasn't the case.
"Husband, why are we moving away in such a hurry?"
Liu Qingqing's question interrupted Xie Lang's thoughts. Xie Lang smiled at her, "We were just staying here temporarily before. Now that the Princess Consort has arrived, we should return this place to our master."
Xie Lang stared intently at her: "Would you like to see the Princess?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing frowned repeatedly, subconsciously raised her hand to cover her chest, and shook her head.
For some reason, when Xie Lang mentioned the princess, I felt a sharp, aching pain in my heart, as if an eel had crawled through it.
She shook her head blankly and then asked, "Could it be that I was acquainted with the princess in the past?"
Seeing that she didn't seem to be faking it, Xie Lang couldn't quite describe how he felt. He simply said, "We've met a few times since we got married."
That's the truth.
After the meal, Xie Lang took her for a walk in the courtyard to help her digest.
Liu Qingqing happened to notice that Xie Lang's wrist seemed to be injured. Before going to bed, she wanted to apply medicine to Xie Lang, but Xie Lang said that he needed to go out for a while.
So what?
Go to sleep first.
Xie Lang, however, did not rush to leave. He sat on the edge of the bed and patted her back in a distant manner, as if he would not leave until he had coaxed her to sleep.
Liu Qingqing had no choice but to close her eyes.
Xie Lang has become so clingy since he grew up, she thought to herself.
Sleeping too much during the day.
I finally fell asleep, but my mind was in a daze, as if I were having a dream.
That dream was heavy, like the huge stone tied around the waist of a woman who was drowned in a pond in ancient times.
In the middle of the night, Liu Qingqing woke up thirsty, but when she turned her head, she was startled and shrank back.
Xie Lang was looking at her sideways. His alluring eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, were as deep and dark as a pool. His gaze was wet and clingy, as if he wanted to devour her.
Suddenly, Liu Qingqing blinked, as if she had remembered something "new".
"Did you always look at me like this before?"
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
Looking at the still-bright afternoon sun, Liu Qingqing said, "Today is the fifteenth, let's have mutton noodles."
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