14 Chapter 14
◎“My mother is not dead…she is not dead…”◎
Chapter Fourteen
Liu Qingqing tightened her grip on her hand hidden in her sleeve, her nails digging into her flesh, before walking to the old lady's side. The old lady took Liu Qingqing's wrist and pulled her closer, then gave her a warm smile before turning cold towards the woman on the prayer mat.
"Your sister-in-law is here, and you still have the nerve to cry!"
The old lady scolded in a low voice, "You were the one who insisted on marrying him in the first place. Now that you've had a fight, you've run back home alone, leaving the two children behind. What kind of mother are you?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingqing was astonished. She turned her head slightly and glanced at the woman kneeling on the prayer mat, only to discover that she was Xie Lang's own sister, Xie Wanyan!
She had only met Xie Wanyan once recently, at their wedding. When Xie Lang was toasting outside, Xie Wanyan came over to keep her company and secretly slipped her a few pastries.
She was at a loss for what to do. Not helping her was wrong, but if she went to help the old lady, she would still be holding her hand! Liu Qingqing was like an ant on a hot pan.
The old lady noticed her granddaughter-in-law's unease and said in a low, indifferent tone, "Look how anxious you are for your sister-in-law. I'll let you off this time. Get up."
Xie Wanyan took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of her eye.
The old lady turned her face away, disdainfully saying, "The two children are still young. You should go back to your own residence."
Xie Wanyan carefully observed her grandmother's expression: "The gift I prepared for you is in the carriage. I'll have someone bring it to you."
Hearing this, the old lady didn't send them away again, but she didn't give them a friendly look. Liu Qingqing looked on with unease, while Xie Wanyan waved to her head maid as usual. The head maid, upon receiving the order, quickly retreated from the main room and hurried towards the carriage.
Liu Qingqing dared not utter a sound, and Xie Wanyan, having just been scolded, also dared not show her face. However, when the old lady was not paying attention, she winked kindly at Liu Qingqing. Those eyes, just like Xie Lang's, were still red.
It makes your heart soften when you see it.
An eerie silence fell, broken only by the soft rustling of the grape leaves in the breeze.
Fortunately, she soon heard the maid returning. A series of chaotic footsteps followed. Just as Liu Qingqing realized that something was wrong with the sound, she saw two little buns rush into the main room like firecrackers, throwing themselves into the old lady's arms and calling out "Grandma, Grandma!"
"This, this..."
So this is the gift her granddaughter brought her.
The old lady stared in astonishment, her eyes wide. Before she could react, she had already pulled the two babies into her arms, completely ignoring Xie Wanyan who had annoyed her.
Liu Qingqing was surprised by this turn of events and stared wide-eyed at her aunt. Their eyes met, and Xie Wanyan smiled shyly at her.
Why are you even chasing people away?
The once quiet and desolate Marquis's mansion suddenly became lively. The old lady sent someone to inform the three men in the household to return home early after finishing their official duties.
The two little ones were at an age where they didn't know any better, making a ruckus and running around everywhere, almost lifting the roof off Shi'an Garden. The old lady couldn't pay any attention to Xie Wanyan at all.
Xie Wanyan and Liu Qingqing sat on the veranda by the fish pond, enjoying the breeze and escaping the heat.
The breeze on a summer afternoon is warm and gentle, quite pleasant.
Xie Wanyan stretched and turned to call to her maid, "Bring over some melons and fruits, and some refreshing honey water."
Liu Qingqing sat awkwardly to one side, her back straight like a pine tree.
"puff."
Xie Wanyan looked at her and covered her mouth to laugh, tilting her head and teasing, "Why is my sister-in-law sitting so upright? I'm not going to eat you."
They were agile and light, showing no trace of the pitiful appearance they had in front of the old lady. They were like cotton that had been sewn into a cloth bag and compressed, finally seeing the light of day and becoming fluffy and soft.
Liu Qingqing forced a stiff smile at her.
Xie Wanyan rested her chin on her hand and looked her over for a long time before sighing, "Xie Lang is quite lucky to have married you."
Liu Qingqing was speechless, choked up again.
For over a decade, she was confined to the Liu family mansion, and under the deliberate suppression of Madam Ying, she had almost no friends her own age. Her half-sister, Liu Qingying, often bothered her, but it was unpleasant.
Aside from their brief encounter in the new house last time, this was the first time the two had been alone together. At this moment, Liu Qingqing felt like a kitten placed in an unfamiliar cage—strong and composed, but completely lost and disoriented.
Seeing this, Xie Wanyan summoned the servants who were waiting in the distance and said, "Bring some more osmanthus wine."
After saying that, he winked at Liu Qingqing, "Let's have a drink together."
Xie Wanyan didn't force her to speak, but instead first poured out her grievances in a low voice.
He returned this time because of a marital discord with Wei Mingzhao, "that man is always unable to speak human language."
Wei Mingzhao was appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a third-rank official in the imperial court, at a young age. He was rumored to be tyrannical and ruthless, and if someone was targeted by him, they would be severely injured even if they didn't die.
Hearing that there were hidden secrets behind Xie Wanyan's marriage to Wei Mingzhao, it caused quite a stir. Liu Qingqing overheard Xiao Yingshi gleefully mention it, implying that even if the daughter of the Marquis was wanted, that devil would still have to compromise.
Liu Qingqing carefully observed her aunt's half-angry, half-reproachful expression, lost in thought. Xie Wanyan noticed that she hadn't responded or looked over for a while, so Liu Qingqing quickly lowered her eyes. Xie Wanyan smiled and pretended not to notice, then filled her cup again. "Try it. My mother brews wine every year. This is the one I brewed by myself this year. I feel that it tastes different from the one my mother brews, but I don't know what the difference is."
In the end, the faint smile on his lips had taken on a bitter taste.
Xie Wanyan handed the porcelain cup to Liu Qingqing. Seeing that she had drunk from it, she looked away, seemingly still caught up in her earlier melancholy. She drank cup after cup, and by the time Liu Qingqing noticed that her cheeks were flushed and realized something was wrong, Xie Wanyan had already passed out, lying on the stone table and muttering to herself.
Liu Qingqing hurriedly went to help, and only when she got closer could she hear what Xie Wanyan was saying. Her heart skipped a beat, and she stared wide-eyed in disbelief, bringing her ear even closer.
"My mother is not dead...she is not dead..."
Liu Qingqing froze, unsure of what to do upon hearing this secret, whether true or false.
Fortunately, the old nanny who had accompanied Xie Wanyan back to the mansion arrived at that moment. After bowing respectfully to Liu Qingqing, she helped Xie Wanyan back.
The courtyard where Xie Wanyan lived before she got married is still there, and it is cleaned every day. Now that she has returned, she can move in smoothly without much trouble.
As they walked away, Xie Wanyan suddenly seemed to wake up and turned to look at Liu Qingqing.
The wind rustled, the water rippled, and amidst the swaying willow branches, Liu Qingqing could only remember her fiery red eyes.
Liu Qingqing didn't know how she got back to her room, but when Li Mama brought her back to her senses, she still couldn't forget Xie Wanyan's desperate yet hopeful eyes.
"Has the master returned to the manor?" Liu Qingqing asked.
Granny Li: "I just returned to the manor. It seems there was something urgent. I went to the study first and sent someone to tell you that the master will come to pick up the young lady for a family banquet later."
After hearing this, Liu Qingqing nodded slightly and sat there lost in thought.
She even suddenly hoped that her mother might not have died.
After thinking it over, he shook his head with a wry smile and raised his hand to wipe away the wetness from the corner of his eyes.
Just then, Xie Lang finished two matters in his study and wrote a memorial. Xie Wu came over and whispered something to him, then nodded and got up to walk towards the tunnel.
The tunnel, which should have been pitch black, was lit by candlelight on both sides, making it almost as bright as day.
Xie Wanyan was sitting on a low couch in the small hall in the middle of the alley, holding her forehead.
Xie Lang sat down beside her, observing her sister's complexion. He could tell at a glance that she was drunk again. In the past, whenever her mother brewed wine and she secretly drank some, she would end up looking drowsy like this.
Xie Lang dusted off the dust on his robe.
"Why did you call me here?"
Xie Wanyan then lowered her hand: "It seems my sister-in-law is unaware of this."
Xie Lang stopped what he was doing, turned his head and frowned, saying with displeasure, "What did you say to her? We agreed to wait for me to do my thing."
Xie Wanyan scoffed coldly upon hearing this: "Wait for you? Who knows when we'll get any results?"
His cold gaze was like a sword's edge, completely devoid of the charming liveliness he displayed in front of Liu Qingqing.
After exchanging only a few words, the siblings were on the verge of conflict, each turning their heads away from the other.
Xie Wanyan: "I won't be staying home for more than a few days this time, so please let me know as soon as possible."
After saying that, he got up and left.
After watching her walk away, Xie Lang pressed his temples.
However, he soon got up and went from the study to Jialan Garden.
As he stepped through the hanging flower gate, he composed himself, a slight smile appearing on his face.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Liu Qingqing standing by the small pond feeding the fish.
A gentle breeze rustled her clothes, and sunlight bathed her, making her milky-white skin almost translucent. With a flick of her wrist, she sent fish food into the pond, where it was snatched up by the fish. The fish leaped out of the water and crashed onto the bank, the ripples wetting her clothes. Liu Qingqing knelt down, scooped up the fish with both hands, examined them carefully, and, finding them unharmed, returned them to the water.
The fish entered the water, its tail swaying gently as it swam forward, then it turned back and swam to the bottom, swaying its tail back and forth.
Upon seeing this, Liu Qingqing's eyes curved into a gentle smile, resembling a fairy descended to earth, or Guanyin rescuing people from distress.
Xie Lang suddenly wanted to raise his hand and press it against his chest.
Just then, as if sensing his presence, Liu Qingqing turned around and looked in his direction.
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
In an instant, Xie Lang seemed to be frozen in place.
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