Chapter 13
◎We haven't even consummated our marriage yet, lest she become a divorced woman. ◎
Chapter Thirteen
Before anyone knew it, Xie Lang had blown out the candle.
As if knowing that she was troubled, Xie Lang reached out and gently took her hand. "Let's settle things first, and think about it again tomorrow."
He paused slightly, then pleaded in a low voice, "I'm tired today. If I've disturbed you, please wake me up."
When he took her hand, Liu Qingqing felt as if she had suddenly entered a furnace, and her back began to sweat.
Although each person has their own blanket, well...
Like frozen willow branches, they dared not move.
Sure enough, after a moment, she heard Xie Lang's steady breathing, but Liu Qingqing dared not pull her hand back, for fear of waking him.
In a daze, they became more and more like an ordinary couple each day.
Liu Qingqing's thoughts were like a tangled ball of yarn stirred up by a cat, lying stiffly until she fell asleep, her small hand still held in Xie Lang's warm hand.
They haven't even consummated their marriage, yet they've become like an old married couple.
Judging from his appearance, he seems genuinely interested in living a life with her.
Two conflicting thoughts swirled together, leaving me with an indescribable feeling.
As Liu Qingqing drifted off to sleep, the man slowly opened his eyes in the darkness. He stared at the ceiling for a long time, seemingly lost in thought, before turning his head to glance at the sleeping woman beside him before lying back down and closing his eyes again.
The next morning, Xie Lang went to court early.
Xie Lang left under the stars and moon without waking Liu Qingqing. Liu Qingqing, however, was fast asleep, completely unaware of the world around her.
The young emperor was still small, and several forces were eyeing him covetously. If it weren't for the regent leading the charge from behind, he would probably have been torn to shreds long ago.
Xie Lang, as the regent's confidant, could not afford to be idle.
Having fallen into a trap a few days ago, Xie Lang is now traveling in a carriage instead of riding a horse, and is resting with his eyes closed against the carriage.
Halfway there, Xie Lang lifted the curtain and summoned Xie Wu, whispering something in his ear.
Xie Wu looked utterly astonished, his eyes wide and mouth agape, as if he had almost lost his mind.
Xie Lang glanced at him, and Xie Wu finally snapped out of his daze, stammering as he repeated Xie Lang's command in a low voice, "You want me to investigate the Regent's Consort?"
"When should the investigation begin?"
Xie Lang narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this, and after pondering for a moment, said in a low voice, "Start investigating from the beginning."
Xie Wu felt a chill run down his spine and stared intently into his master's fierce, tiger-like eyes, his heart pounding.
Given the Regent's fierce and domineering nature, if those investigating him were discovered, wouldn't it be like pulling the tiger's tail?
"Sir, you..."
Xie Lang could tell at a glance that Xie Wu was up to no good, so he waved his hand repeatedly to urge him to leave, ignoring his nonsense.
After Xie Wu left, he thought of his new wife at home.
Initially, he didn't have a deep impression of Liu Qingqing. In his memory, she was just a well-behaved little girl who didn't like to talk. When her mother was alive, she often asked him to take good care of her. They met more often when they were young, but after he joined the army with his father, he rarely returned to the capital, let alone saw her.
On two separate occasions, he was sent by his mother to deliver some items to the Liu family. The Liu family members warmly welcomed him, but she stood behind them with a detached expression, far away in the shadows of the bushes. Upon closer inspection, her face was not clearly visible, like a thin willow branch, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
He felt a pang of unease, frowned, and called out to her. At that moment, he saw her eyes light up instantly.
For some reason, those eyes reminded him of the raging fireballs during a siege on the battlefield.
It seems she shouldn't have grown up in this gloomy courtyard.
He didn't believe his family's claim that his mother had died, so he and his elder sister secretly investigated and found clues.
But he couldn't find his mother, and his parents were all gone. How could he get married?
When it came time to fulfill the marriage agreement, he hesitated for a moment, unable to explain his true feelings as he married her. Perhaps he had some intention of keeping her as a wife, but nothing more.
She found the letter, but her expression remained unchanged, and she didn't mention it to him at all.
Returning to the Liu residence was one thing, falling into Xiao Ying's trap was another; she said nothing. And then there was yesterday's experience of the hardships of being a servant.
His new wife doesn't seem to be a pampered, ignorant young woman; she's quite interesting.
When Liu Qingqing woke up, it was already broad daylight.
As she regained consciousness, she hurriedly got up and turned her head, only to find that the space beside her was empty. She paused for a moment, then reached out and touched the empty space, only to find that it was completely cold. Looking at the bright window paper, she realized that Xie Lang had probably gone to court.
She leaned back for a while to recover, then reached out and hooked the thin rope on the bed, making the bells jingle.
Suddenly, she heard a commotion outside, with people and horses tumbling about. Liu Qingqing frowned. A moment later, Granny Li came to knock on the door. After Liu Qingqing answered, Granny Li opened the door with a happy expression. Zhao Pansheng quickly entered, carrying a copper basin, and knelt before her. Qingju followed closely behind, also carrying a basin.
Liu Qingqing asked in surprise, "What is this?"
What a spectacle! I've never seen anything like it before.
Looking up at Granny Li with a puzzled expression, Granny Li beamed with joy and told Zhao Pansheng and Qingju to leave the inner room.
Seeing the young lady looking over, he covered his mouth with his handkerchief, kept peeking into the quilt, took a step forward and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
"My dear lady, you've finally grown up."
He then grasped her shoulders, squatted down to examine her closely, and asked with concern, "Miss, is there anything that's bothering you?"
Liu Qingqing was bewildered: "...?"
Granny Li was overjoyed: "You rang the bell, didn't you? Why didn't you call for water last night? You must be feeling unwell this morning."
Even the slowest-witted among them realized what was happening, blushing, "No..."
Before he could finish speaking, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the door.
"Granny, someone from the old lady's courtyard is coming. They're on their way and will be here soon."
She swallowed back the words that were about to come out of Liu Qingqing's mouth. Liu Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief for no reason. When she heard that someone from the old lady's courtyard had come, her heart tightened. She quickly signaled the nanny to help her get dressed.
Since their marriage, the old lady had never been so anxious to find her.
Sure enough, after she had quickly dressed, the old lady's people arrived at the courtyard gate. The person who came was the old lady's nanny.
What brings you today?
Liu Qingqing quickly washed up, and fortunately, it was the season when her skin was in full bloom. Even without makeup, she looked like a flower bud after the rain, fresh and tender.
On the way there, the master and servant exchanged a glance, then silently followed behind, hurrying towards the old lady's Shian Garden.
Both of them felt a tightness in their chests. The old lady was the proper head of the inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion. She had gone through thick and thin with the old Marquis to protect the family business, and she was no ordinary person.
I've heard that back then, my father-in-law was frail, and my mother-in-law's health was damaged, making it impossible for her to have any more children. The Xie family was surrounded by wolves, and it seemed to be on the verge of collapse, just waiting for the old Marquis to die on the battlefield so they could tear the Xie family to pieces. I've even heard that the water vat in front of the main house was secretly ordered.
They said that once the person died, no one should try to take the jar from him.
So, before the old Marquis went to war, the old lady made a painful decision and arranged for him to take a concubine. The couple had a good relationship, and the old Marquis was unwilling, but these relatives dared to think of taking advantage of the fact that the family line had ended precisely because they knew how good their relationship was.
The old lady was fierce; she was willing to stab herself in the chest to protect herself and her two children. For the old Marquis, as long as his wife and children were alive, his home was alive. Those eager to return home are the ones who unleash their strongest vitality on the battlefield.
The old lady had to talk to him late at night, which led to the birth of Xie Pan, a son born out of wedlock.
At first, others didn't believe it when they saw how ruthless the old lady was to herself. But after the baby boy was born ten months later, everyone knew she was serious and dared not covet the Xie family's fortune anymore. Those people from back then have now mostly disappeared, and it's unknown how many of them were orchestrated by the old lady.
Liu Qingqing had never witnessed these past events, but hearing about them made her skin tighten.
She was also afraid that if the old lady found out that she and Xie Lang had not consummated their marriage, she would consider arranging for Xie Lang to take a concubine.
As they approached Shi'an Garden, they heard the mournful cry of a young woman, as melodious as a bird's song, quite lovely and pitiful. Liu Qingqing's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately recalled the frivolous, sweet fragrance emanating from Xie Lang in the study that day. Images of singing and dancing floated into her mind, and she couldn't help but clench her handkerchief tightly, taking a deep breath as she stepped into the courtyard.
She hasn't even consummated the marriage yet, lest she become a divorced woman.
Shi'an Garden is simple yet grand, unlike the main courtyard of a noble family; its layout resembles that of a rural home. Fruit trees and grapevines line the stone path, their lush vines blocking most of the scorching sun. In a corner of the courtyard stands a water vat, its lotus flowers swaying gently in the breeze.
The woman in the main room was kneeling on a prayer mat with her back to Liu Qingqing, still weeping with her head down. The old lady sat on the couch and watched coldly. Only when she heard Liu Qingqing coming over did she raise her eyes, a smile appearing on her face. She raised her hand to beckon the woman over.
The woman on the prayer mat stopped crying abruptly.
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
"My mother is not dead...she is not dead..."
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