Chapter 12
The gentle candlelight licked his handsome and alluring features, and Liu Qingqing couldn't help but stare.
Chapter Twelve
Zhao Pansheng suddenly looked up at Liu Qingqing, her eyes instantly filling with tears.
Liu Qingqing paused slightly: "If you don't want to answer, then pretend I didn't ask."
Zhao Pansheng bit his lip until it bled, then knelt on the ground with a thud. “Madam, I didn’t lie to you, but I didn’t tell you the whole story. I was fleeing with my family. You don’t know how difficult the journey was. Back in the Central Plains, they’ve already started exchanging children to eat. My… my parents were discussing exchanging children with a family next door while my younger sister and I were asleep, saying they wanted my younger sister to go back and be a child bride.”
"After they fell asleep, I tried to sneak away with my younger sister, but I was discovered and knocked unconscious. When I woke up, my little sister was nowhere to be found!"
"Madam! If you would do me such a great favor and take me, I will not ask for any monthly allowance. I only ask that you allow me to secretly search for my sister!"
The courtyard was quiet; no one made a sound. Granny Li had quietly turned away to wipe the corner of her eye with a handkerchief.
After a long pause, Liu Qingqing asked in a hoarse voice, "Is this all you're allowed to do to find your sister? Nothing else?"
Zhao Pansheng, with a look of desperation, gritted his teeth and said, "I still want revenge."
Liu Qingqing: "How can I take revenge? What if I refuse?"
Zhao Pansheng stubbornly retorted, "Murder is illegal, so I'll report it to the authorities! Even tigers don't eat their cubs, I'm going to report that couple to the authorities and have them arrested! They clearly had enough grain in their bundle to get to the capital, but just for a bite of meat, they're going to switch their own flesh and blood with someone else to eat! They don't deserve to be parents, they don't deserve to be human!"
After saying this, Zhao Pansheng threw himself to the ground and finally burst into tears.
After a long silence, Liu Qingqing swallowed the bitterness in her throat and gestured for Qingju to help her up. Qingju didn't move for a while. Turning her head, she saw Qingju sobbing, her face a mess of tears.
It was Li Mama who could hold her breath; she caught her breath and quickly went down the steps to help the person up.
Granny Li gripped Zhao Pansheng's arm tightly, and after a moment she could only sigh, "Good girl."
Just then, there was a sudden thud.
The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of thin women kneeling on the ground, silently kowtowing.
The woman's forehead hit the ground with a thud, but she seemed oblivious to the pain.
As she moved, the skin beneath her collar was revealed. Although her face was tanned, her skin was very fair. The next thing you would notice was the purplish-blue marks on her neck.
Liu Qingqing looked closely and saw that it resembled a fingerprint. She immediately gripped the armrest, her face tightening.
A quick glance around revealed faint bluish-purple bruises peeking out from under the woman's sleeves.
Liu Qingqing and Granny Li exchanged a glance, then concealed their expressions before Granny Li asked.
What's wrong with you?
Upon hearing this, the woman remained lying on the ground without raising her head, and whispered, "I don't ask for anything else, I only ask to work for you, madam, and for you to give me something to eat."
He seems to have a stubborn personality.
Granny Li: "What kind of work can you do? Stand up and speak."
The woman straightened her knees, still bowing her head: "I can do all kinds of chores, like washing clothes and cooking. My father was a scholar, and I can read. I learn quickly; I'll learn anything you ask me to."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing pondered for a moment. In this era of dynastic change, there are not many literate people.
What a tragic end for the daughter of a scholar! Judging from the marks on her body, she must have never met a good man.
The remaining three men were immediately flustered upon seeing the lady's state, looking left and right in disarray.
Their experiences weren't as tragic as the previous two, but they too had been sold by their families—families that preyed on people—and they could never go back. The Marquis's mansion was the best place to go; they hadn't accepted it today, so what would happen next…?
A wave of sorrow washed over them, and the remaining three knelt down in unison.
Liu Qingqing couldn't help but sigh.
She initially thought she had it tough, but who has it tough?
Suddenly losing interest, he raised his hand to Granny Li, turned around and went into the house.
As she stepped across the threshold, she glanced back at the woman kneeling on the ground. The woman had just raised her head, and Liu Qingqing saw her bright eyes and resolute expression. For some reason, she thought of her mother, whom she barely remembered.
Her heart stirred, and she said in a hoarse voice, "Stay."
After saying that, he went inside.
After Qingju closed the door, Granny Li looked around.
They called several women up and questioned them one by one.
Miss was too soft-hearted just now. If she's still usable, it wouldn't be bad for her to do some chores like sweeping the yard.
After returning to her room, Liu Qingqing became depressed.
She suddenly remembered the letter she had picked up in Xie Lang's study, which said that he hadn't originally wanted the marriage.
She sympathized with these wandering servants today, for she herself was one of them.
What should she do if Xie Lang and she become estranged in the future?
Now it is Xie Lang who has suppressed the Liu family and Xiao Yingshi. If it weren't for Xie Lang, her good father and Xiao Yingshi alone would have skinned her alive.
They had neither money nor power.
She should find a way out for herself.
She cannot place her hopes on a man.
Her mother is a tragic example.
Then she thought of Xie Lang.
He was slightly different from what she had imagined, but for now, she would consider him a gentleman.
If he could continue to respect her like this, even if it was true that he didn't want to marry her, she wouldn't delve into it further.
If he truly doesn't want to get married, she can grant his wish and leave secretly once she has established herself.
Night was falling.
When Xie Lang returned to the courtyard, he saw that the main house was not lit and the courtyard was very quiet.
When Li Mama saw that he seemed surprised, she quickly came to greet him.
Seeing Xie Lang's questioning look, she quickly explained in a low voice, "Miss... Madam seems to be in a bad mood today."
Xie Lang frowned: "Why are you in a bad mood?"
Granny Li had no choice but to tell them about recruiting servants during the day.
"Madam is kind-hearted, I'm afraid she's not feeling well. It's already this late, and she hasn't even had her dinner yet."
Xie Lang: "I'll go in and take a look. I'll prepare dinner first."
Having said that, he suddenly stopped and called Xie Wu over: "Go and fetch the brocade box that the Regent Prince bestowed upon me today."
Suddenly a gust of wind blew, causing the lanterns in the courtyard to sway gently.
Xie Lang paused and stared at the lantern for a moment.
Xie Wu moved very quickly, and soon returned with the brocade box, which he respectfully handed to Xie Lang.
Xie Lang glanced back at him, then turned and walked towards the main room.
He slowly walked up the steps, stood in front of the door, and suddenly tapped on the mahogany door frame with his finger.
Knock knock knock.
No one answered for a long time.
Xie Lang snapped his fingers, knocked twice, waited a moment, and then pushed the door open to enter.
A faint fragrance filled the room, but Xie Lang looked around and saw no smoke from the incense burner. The thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately went into the inner room. The pale moonlight gradually faded, but Xie Lang was good at seeing in the dark and immediately spotted the raised brocade quilt and Liu Qingqing's half-exposed face.
He stood before the bed, and before he could move, he saw Liu Qingqing open her eyes and meet his gaze in the darkness.
She seemed unaware of where she was, then suddenly woke up and tried to get out of bed, but Xie Lang gently pressed her shoulder down and slipped a box into her hand.
"etc."
After saying this, Xie Lang turned around, leaving Liu Qingqing completely bewildered.
However, a moment later, the candlelight was lit.
Xie Lang was facing her sideways, bending down to put away the tinderbox. The gentle candlelight licked his handsome and alluring features, and Liu Qingqing couldn't help but stare. As Xie Lang turned around, their eyes met, and for a moment neither of them looked away.
Suddenly, the burning candle wick crackled, and Liu Qingqing immediately snapped back to reality and lowered her eyes. Only then did she realize the box in her arms.
Seeing this, Xie Lang moved over and stopped in front of her, saying gently, "Today the Regent gave me a box of pastries. I don't like sweets, so I thought I'd bring them back for you to try while they're still fresh."
After speaking, Xie Lang turned around and called someone to bring hot milk, which he placed on a low table beside the bed.
Liu Qingqing's gaze followed his retreating figure, and she suddenly remembered what Granny Li had said this morning.
"Last night, knowing that the young lady was afraid of the cold, the young master specially sent someone to find silver wire charcoal to light her fire. It's almost the beginning of June, and the young master is so strong, how could he be afraid of the cold? I saw that when the young master left, his forehead was covered in sweat and his face was flushed."
“Miss, I’m not exaggerating, and I’m not saying that the young master has you in his heart. At least the young master is a good person. You should live well with the young master. The young master is not only the heir apparent, but also a favorite of the regent. He is one of the most important people in the court. Why should you wrong yourself?”
Seeing that she was eating in small bites, Xie Lang didn't say much, only saying that he was going to wash up before going to the washroom.
The brocade curtain fell, and the sound of water echoed.
Liu Qingqing lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.
Xie Lang was indeed a military general; he moved extremely quickly and returned in no time, leaving behind a slight dampness.
Liu Qingqing glanced at him furtively, but his gaze caught hers, causing her blood to rush to her face. She coughed repeatedly, unable to catch her breath, and quickly covered her mouth. A short while later, a bowl of warm milk was placed in her hands.
He didn't let go, holding the bowl for her. Liu Qingqing blushed and looked at him, her clear eyes blinking. Xie Lang gently moved the porcelain bowl forward a little. Liu Qingqing lowered her eyes and could only hold the bowl in her mouth, slowly drinking the milk with honey added. Her fair ears quietly turned red.
Tea-flavored pastries with a subtle black tea aroma.
She savored the milk in her mouth, and suddenly, an indescribable taste enveloped her.
She stopped moving, frozen there with a blank expression.
Xie Lang: "What's wrong?"
Liu Qingqing tilted her head in confusion: "I don't know how to say it, but it seems like I've eaten a pastry with this flavor before."
Xie Lang's eyes softened: "How could that be? This was made by the Princess herself. Qingqing, you must have tasted similar pastries before, right?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing lowered her head to examine the delicate pastries in her hand, gently savoring his words in her mind.
That makes sense. How could the princess's homemade pastries have ended up outside? Perhaps they were pastries with similar techniques and tastes.
The warm milk mixed with the aroma of pastries dispelled the gloom in Liu Qingqing's heart. Seeing this, Xie Lang asked gently, "Is Madam in a bad mood today?"
Liu Qingqing put down the porcelain bowl and then told him about what had happened that day.
The night was slightly cool, and Xie Lang gestured for her to lie back down.
Lost in her own thoughts, Liu Qingqing didn't notice him. She was only thinking about how she had suffered in the Liu family mansion and felt resentful, but at least she was well-fed and clothed. What about them?
"I just felt it was difficult, and I didn't know how I could help them."
In this world, everyone is on edge. Some people have become devils in human skin.
After leaving the Liu residence and the suffocating atmosphere of the young Ying family, she seemed to glimpse something else entirely.
The real and cruel things in the wider world.
Upon hearing Liu Qingqing's words, Xie Lang stared at her intently, seemingly surprised.
After a moment, he asked, "What does Madam wish to do?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing was stunned and murmured, "What do I want? What do I want..."
These words were like fresh quagmire, and Liu Qingqing sank right in.
She didn't know what to do, nor did she know what she wanted to do.
I felt a heavy weight in my chest, making it hard to breathe.
When Xie Lang had settled down beside her and neatly covered her chest with his brocade quilt, Liu Qingqing suddenly realized what was happening, and her fair face instantly lit up like a lamp.
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
They haven't even consummated their marriage, yet they've become like an old married couple.
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