Chapter 10: The Regent's Palace Comes to an End
Extra 10
There has to be a conclusion.
If it were an ordinary person, it wouldn't matter, but she is a princess, and although the regent has not yet ruled the world, it is almost the same.
Now that Xie Lang and Liu Qingqing are husband and wife, she can't indulge her own temper and put Xie Lang in an awkward situation.
To avoid attracting attention, Xie Lang thought long and hard before deciding to go to the Prince's mansion via a secret passage.
Upon entering the secret passage, both of them recalled what had happened before.
Now, when Liu Qingqing thinks back on it, she feels nothing, only that the person was very strange back then, never opening his mouth.
Who would tie up, lock up, and blindfold the other person before revealing their secret?
His behavior is too strange!
The two were able to talk about the past calmly, but Xie Lang still felt wronged when she heard her talk about it, and asked her suspiciously, "Why did you think I was so bad back then?"
Looking back now, although he was stubborn and not good with words, he treated her well. I don't know how she could think so badly of me.
I felt a dull, uneasy feeling in my heart, and I regretted my past actions.
His handsome face was unpredictable, which amused Liu Qingqing, who kept shaking his arm.
Xie Lang also composed himself and said instead, "Next time I'll be straightforward. If I had known, I would have held your hand and introduced you to this secret passage leading to the Regent's Palace."
Her dejected tone, as if she'd given up entirely, made her laugh.
Liu Qingqing thought for a moment, "If you had said that back then, I might have thought you were going to kill me to cover it up."
Xie Lang: ...
He glanced at her sadly and muttered, "You're just prejudiced against me."
Liu Qingqing was taken aback. Prejudice?
It seems that it really is true.
Ever since she overheard his words in the study, she felt he was a cold-hearted person no matter what, and even his gentle behavior seemed like a scheme to her.
The past has left its mark on both of them.
But it's even better now!
If they hadn't gotten over the past, how could they have overcome their respective hurdles, learned to cherish each other, and lived a good life together?
Walking the same path again, my state of mind was different.
This time, Liu Qingqing became curious, looking around and asking Xie Lang how long the torch would burn before going out, and whether it was cold in winter and hot in summer. He also asked if it was usually stuffy.
Xie Lang patiently answered her questions one by one, looking at her with a smile in his eyes.
He was overjoyed whenever the timid snail reached out its probing tentacles to him.
Liu Qingqing listened, nodding occasionally.
He held one of her hands, while the other hand occasionally touched the stone wall and tapped it with his fingers.
Xie Lang suddenly remembered: "Where did my mother sign the divorce papers?"
Although Xie Liu was busy at that time and did not stay in the mansion every day, he was not a lazy person. If there were any clues, how could he not have noticed them?
This was the first time Xie Lang had mentioned a divorce agreement. In the past, whenever he heard about other people getting divorced, his gaze would suddenly turn gloomy.
Liu Qingqing looked at him with surprise, thought for a moment and said, "Aunt Jia took me to a secret place."
Xie Lang raised an eyebrow, and an idea immediately formed in his mind: "My mother must also have a secret passage."
Liu Qingqing remained silent.
Speaking of secret passages, she felt that Aunt Jia's was nothing compared to that; it was so short and shallow, more like a deep mountain cave.
Yes, it is right there in the rocky forest.
Xie Lang recalled her earlier actions thoughtfully, "It should be right next to my secret passage, right?"
Liu Qingqing was shocked, her face clearly showing her disbelief.
Xie Lang smiled, feeling a tickle in his heart as he looked at her suddenly blushing face, and lightly touched it with his knuckles.
Seeing his expression and actions, Liu Qingqing suddenly became alert, grabbed his hand, and whispered a rebuke, "Don't do anything reckless!"
Xie Lang smiled faintly, "How could I act recklessly? Madam, please don't wrong an innocent person."
Upon hearing these utterly shameless words, Liu Qingqing's face twisted in pain.
How can I act recklessly?
He's now just a bunch of reckless idiots!
She used to be such a dignified and aloof person; they wouldn't even let her into the study at the beginning of their marriage.
What about now?
For several days, he dragged her into his study during the day and made her do all sorts of silly things!
Later, she didn't even dare to go near his study! It was as if the study was some kind of ferocious mountain beast that could devour people.
Xie Lang pretended not to understand.
Liu Qingqing was so angry that she glared at her, "Anyway, it's not allowed in this secret passage!"
Xie Lang asked, "Why not? This secret passage is very soundproof; no one outside can hear it."
Suddenly he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Qingqing, don't you like listening to me...? You won't let me make a sound in the room, but I'll let you hear me properly in the secret passage, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing's fair face turned pale and then red.
In a panic, she quickly covered his mouth, not wanting him to utter such lewd words again.
His eyes flickered, and he was actually tempted by what he said.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that Xie Lang had corrupted her.
But then she thought of Xie Lang reading her storybook every night, and felt a pang of sadness, wondering who had led whom astray.
The couple joked and teased each other, and soon they reached the other end of the secret passage.
The door is locked tightly today, with several locks.
Liu Qingqing watched as Xie Lang opened the door.
As they exited the corridor that had once been her nightmare, Xie Lang was about to open the door when he suddenly took her hand and whispered to her how to open it.
With a crisp click, the door opened.
The lush and magnificent gardens of the Regent's Palace then come into view.
Ying Yi was waiting there early, eagerly anticipating her daughter's arrival.
Today, Li Jin has relinquished his status as regent and is simply staying by Ying Yi's side as her husband.
Seeing the two of them come out, Ying Yi quickly went to greet them. Her red lips trembled slightly. She wanted to ask many questions, but for a moment she could only say, "Are you hungry? The manor has prepared delicious food and wine, just waiting for you to come."
Only then did he glance at Xie Lang.
Ying Yi's feelings towards Xie Lang were undeniably complex.
She knew in her heart that her daughter's strong backing was entirely due to Xie Lang's support.
She sometimes wondered if her daughter would be able to get closer to Xie Lang if she didn't marry him.
But what's the point of all this?
It's all just wishful thinking.
Liu Qingqing wasn't hungry, but being face-to-face with someone was incredibly awkward, and she had nothing to say.
So the four of them went to the lakeside pavilion.
A gentle breeze is blowing, it's very pleasant.
Ying Yi sent people to bring up fine wine and delicacies.
The four of them ate with their own thoughts on the matter, and Li Jin and Xie Lang would occasionally have a drink or two.
But Xie Lang couldn't hold his liquor, and Liu Qingqing was always worried, glancing at him a few times to see his expression. Xie Lang knew this, so he squeezed her hand under the table, and drank a little less.
She thought she was being discreet, but she couldn't escape Li Jin's sharp eyes.
Li Jin smiled and raised his cup to Xie Lang again, as if with great emotion, "Xie Lang and I are both afraid of our wives."
Liu Qingqing froze, her face suddenly turning bright red, while Xie Lang smiled and agreed.
With Li Jin's words, the atmosphere in the waterside pavilion improved somewhat.
Li Jin and Xie Lang exchanged a glance, and then, under the pretext of discussing political affairs, they walked towards the lake.
This waterside pavilion was left to the mother and daughter.
Although the two had walked a short distance away, close enough that they could not hear each other talking, they could rush over immediately should anything happen.
Both of them secretly observed the movements in the waterside pavilion, and absentmindedly talked about state affairs.
So much time has passed, and no matter how turbulent my emotions were back then, I've calmed down by now.
If Liu Qingqing couldn't have a proper conversation with Ying Yi before, she wouldn't be now.
Little did she know that seeing her like this only made Ying Yi feel even more distressed.
Her daughter has completely distanced herself from her, and there is no possibility of reconciliation.
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Ying Yi swallowed hard, her throat tightening, and finally spoke, "Did I come to find you this time because I was annoyed?"
Liu Qingqing lowered her eyes. "Your Highness is joking."
The words "Princess" were like a knife to Ying Yi's heart, and her lips trembled.
She suddenly started talking.
“When I married Liu Xu, I was not very old. It was an arranged marriage by my parents. After the marriage, we had a few good years. Although he was not very diligent, he was good at taking care of the family. Since I was already married, I thought it was good to live a good life.”
"Later, I fell ill and was bedridden. My half-sister came to visit me and, seeing my condition, said she would stay and take care of me. We invited many doctors to come and see me, but I got worse day by day."
Ying Yi is a proud person, and this past is a sore that she can't get rid of.
"Every time I think about how those two humiliated me, I feel so much hatred..."
Ying Yi gritted her teeth and finally revealed a side of herself other than that of a gentle and loving mother.
Liu Qingqing finally became curious and looked up.
Recalling the past, Ying Yi's face was filled with indifference and a faint hatred.
"Three years ago, after I remembered you, I went to inquire about how you were doing. I arranged for people to be in the Liu residence, but I didn't know how to face you."
Ying Yi looked at Liu Qingqing, and she felt regret.
She regretted not going to see her child immediately, and even more so, she regretted marrying Liu Xu.
"I really didn't want to face it back then..."
She said sadly.
With her eyes downcast, she murmured, "I know you resent me, and I know I'm not a good mother. But the thought of the Liu family, of Liu Xu, makes me want to vomit. I really don't want to go..."
A few days ago, Granny Li vaguely told her about what happened back then.
The licentious adulterer at the bedside...
Only then did she realize how audacious Liu Xu had been back then, and how heartless and cold-blooded Xiao Ying Shi was.
If we disregard her status as his biological daughter, she could actually understand Ying Yi.
If things were going well at the Liu residence, she could understand Ying Yi.
“I know you don’t want to acknowledge me, so today I will do as you wish.”
Ying Yi's eyes reddened. "But a woman cannot rely on a man. Even if you are disgusted with me, if you have some contact with me, even if Xie Lang is possessed and commits evil deeds, you will still have some consideration for him."
She choked up, "Even if it's just to use me."
Liu Qingqing looked at her.
Compared to Ying Yi's emotional outburst, she was remarkably calm. She knew Ying Yi was right.
She thought for a moment, "You don't want to have any connection with the past, and neither do I. In that case, let's just get along as we are in the future."
The Liu family mansion was their shared nightmare.
Since it's a nightmare, there's no need to delve into who suffered more.
Having come this far without looking back, there's no need to regret the past anymore.
She grew up amidst the mudslides and torrents.
"My good life now is inseparable from my past."
After thinking for a moment, Liu Qingqing comforted Ying Yi, "You don't need to blame yourself too much."
Ying Yi was stunned upon hearing this. Even though she had expected this, she still couldn't bear it when she heard it. It felt like her heart was being twisted and torn apart. She covered her face in a sorry state and cried out.
Liu Qingqing spoke so lightly, but how could she not understand what she meant?
From this day forward, she no longer has this daughter...
But starting today?
Yingyi asked herself.
Is it only from today that we no longer have this daughter?
Liu Qingqing had long since lost track of Ying Yi's regrets.
She and Xie Lang bid farewell to the Regent and his wife and returned to their residence via a secret passage.
She couldn't help but feel a little lost, but he shattered that feeling in the secret passage.
On the soft couch where I was blindfolded last time, the lamplight flickered.
It's like the stars and lights of the past and the future.
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Author's Note: Next Chapter Preview:
Starting tomorrow, I'll be posting about my sister and brother-in-law!
With a wave of his hand, Wei Mingzhao knocked the porcelain bowl away, and it immediately shattered into pieces on the ground. A shard of porcelain flew up and grazed Xie Wanyan's cheek, instantly cutting a gash from which blood flowed.
Xie Wanyan stared blankly at Wei Mingzhao.
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