Chapter 61
"The lady is no longer alive."
Chapter Sixty-One
Blood flowed freely, running down her fair skin, soaking her clothes and leaving shocking marks.
She only allowed herself a moment to immerse herself in immense grief, wondering when Xie Lang would return, and she couldn't let him notice anything amiss.
After an unknown amount of time, the stone gate made a piercing sound as it crushed the ground. It was Xie Lang. Liu Qingqing couldn't help but shiver.
They... seemed heartless, emotionless, and without any weaknesses. They were like wolves and tigers in the human world, completely different from her.
Do they look at her desperately seeking love as if it were a joke about an ant?
She thought numbly.
She had already learned her lesson and, fearing Xie Lang would notice something amiss, only allowed herself to cry for a short while. She also tied on a black veil and lay down on the soft couch to rest with her eyes closed.
When Xie Lang arrived, this was the scene he witnessed. His gaze swept over the still-unfastened black veil, a slight look of surprise flashing in his eyes. A soreness welled up in his chest, but he couldn't quite pinpoint the cause of his feeling.
The secret she wanted to know was presented to her, so why didn't she read it?
He walked to the soft couch, stood there gazing at her for a long time, and suddenly decided to lift his long robe and sit down beside her.
His gaze never left her. Xie Lang leaned slowly against the stone wall, turning his head to look at her. His eyes were filled with a tender affection that even he himself was unaware of.
She lay quietly beside him, which was reassuring.
The quiet tunnel seemed to belong only to them. Xie Lang had a headache just thinking about those fools outside, but sitting there all day made his fatigue lessen.
After a while, seeing that she still showed no signs of waking up, he bent down and held her in his arms. But he paused slightly when he felt her body stiffen.
"Why didn't you say anything while you were awake? Are you throwing a tantrum at me?"
Xie Lang seemed to have returned to his good-natured self from the beginning of their marriage. He wasn't annoyed and patiently explained, "Being temperamental is one thing, but life can't just end like that. Didn't we promise to spend our lives together when we got married?"
The gentle, deep voice echoed in the corridor, which used to stir her emotions, but now only filled her with terror.
What was once sweet as honey has turned into poison. Besides, Liu Qingqing doesn't believe him anyway; it's probably just some nonsense he's spouting to scare her.
She pretended to be asleep, but Xie Lang didn't expose her, as if he had truly returned to being her gentle husband.
Xie Lang then carried her directly back to the main room, attracting attention from passersby along the way.
Just as they were about to reach the hanging flower gate, they were stopped by their second uncle, Xie Pan.
Xie Pan glanced at the woman in his arms, and seeing that it was Liu Shi, he quickly looked away. When he saw that Xie Lang had no intention of putting her down, his brow twitched, and he had no choice but to pretend not to know and get down to business, "That young man is here again, kneeling at the gate of the mansion. Go and take a look."
A distant murmur seemed to drift from outside the manor walls. Xie Pan looked in the direction of the sound and then whispered, "My elder brother hasn't been home lately, so this matter needs to be resolved. After all, they are of the Marquis's bloodline. Whether they deny it or not, there needs to be a proper procedure..."
"Otherwise, if your mother knew, she would also be heartbroken."
Xie Pan seemed to be giving a hint.
Xie Lang replied calmly, "I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Second Uncle."
He tightened his grip on the person in his arms, saying, "I will take the lady back to her room and then deal with this matter."
Xie Pan nodded and was about to leave, but after taking two steps, he turned back. After hesitating for a long time, he said in a low voice, "When living together, be considerate of women and don't hurt their feelings. People's hearts are easy to lose but hard to gain."
After saying this, Xie Pan turned around, but was stopped by Xie Lang.
"Did my second uncle say these words to me, or...?"
Xie Pan's eyes flickered upon hearing this. He gave him a deep look, then turned and left.
Seeing Xie Pan walk away, Xie Lang also turned his gaze away, stepped through the hanging flower gate, and escorted Liu Qingqing back to the main room.
After placing the person on the bed, Xie Lang instructed, "I'm going out for a bit."
After waiting a while and seeing that she didn't move, Xie Lang knew she didn't want to talk to him. He didn't force her, turned around and left the main room. As he was about to exit through the hanging flower gate, he glanced back at the tightly closed door. He wasn't in a hurry; he was giving her time to think things through.
"Protect the lady well." He looked at the guards.
The guards standing on either side of the hanging flower gate hurriedly accepted the order and said yes.
Xie Lang was gone for a long time after leaving, and the mansion returned to quiet after a brief period of noise.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was looking, Granny Li slipped into the main room. This was the first time the two had met since the young lady was captured and brought back to the Marquis's mansion.
Previously, Granny Li was stunned when she saw the young master bring the young lady back in front of his cousin!
Didn't we agree to a divorce? What's going on?
After returning to the mansion, the young master protected the young lady so closely that she couldn't get close at all.
Having finally entered the main room, they rushed to the bedside to check on the young lady's condition. They found her lying quietly on the bed, staring blankly at the bed curtains, looking as if she had lost all hope.
Granny Li was heartbroken!
Thinking it was a dispute over divorce, she quickly comforted her young mistress, "Miss, let's talk it over with the master properly. Don't hold it in your heart and be angry. If that doesn't work, we can go and beg the old lady. If you want to leave, you can always do it."
Seeing the young lady like this was like having her heart ripped out with a knife! She couldn't care less about any talk of a long and happy marriage!
The young lady blinked, but ignored her.
Li Mama felt a pang of heartache, but with a quick thought, she secretly told her what she had found out.
"I asked the old folks in the Marquis's mansion, and they said the commotion outside was because the Marquis's children had come looking for him."
Liu Qingqing: "!"
Liu Qingqing indeed came to her senses, her eyes filled with astonishment.
The Marquis and Aunt Jia are a famous couple in the capital! The Marquis dotes on Aunt Jia and wishes he could be with her every day, so how could he have a child with someone else!
To pique the young lady's interest and cheer her up, Granny Li feigned mystery, saying, "And that child looks quite big, he's grown very fast, and his nose and eyes are exactly like the Marquis's. He says his mother is seriously ill and he begs the Marquis to take a look."
The young man was impatient and couldn't hold his breath. Seeing that no one was coming out of the mansion, he kept kowtowing at the door, his forehead covered in blood.
Hearing this, Liu Qingqing's heart sank. No wonder Aunt Jia didn't acknowledge the Marquis in her second uncle's courtyard. She even lied to her second uncle, claiming she had lost her memory...
What are Aunt Jia's plans?
Thinking of this, Liu Qingqing felt exhausted. She was now in a precarious situation and could no longer care about others.
There's also a sense of melancholy, like the fox mourning the death of its kin. The Marquis was willing to die for Aunt Jia back then, but in the end, this is all he got?
Her relationship with Xie Lang was so fragile that it could be blown away by the wind, and it couldn't even catch up with her parents' generation, so it was only natural that she was abandoned.
"Granny, I'm tired. Let me sleep for a while."
Liu Qingqing, with little interest, turned her back to the outside and curled up into a ball.
She gently closed her eyes, feeling so tired... If only she could sleep forever...
He fell asleep and never woke up...
The thought flashed through her mind, and Liu Qingqing suddenly opened her eyes, the light finally returning to her once-dormant gaze.
Liu Qingqing felt a pang of anxiety when she thought of the fake death pill she had taken, and decided to lie low for a few days before making any further plans.
Later that day, Xie Lang returned to the main room with the chill of the outside air. Seeing her asleep, he went to the washroom to clean himself of the cold dust before returning to the bed. He stretched out his long arm and pulled her back into his embrace.
The empty embrace was finally filled, and Xie Lang sighed with satisfaction.
Then he thought of Xie Conglin, who was his father's illegitimate child born outside the marriage.
Xie Conglin, Xie Conglin.
I heard that the child's mother's surname is Lin.
Xie Lang couldn't help but scoff; the name was rather sentimental.
Xie Lang felt the warmth emanating from Liu Qingqing while inwardly looking down on her.
Therefore, he didn't understand why Liu Qingqing was always so fixated on love and romance. What was so good about love and romance? His father loved his mother so much that he was willing to risk his life for her, but in the end, he still betrayed her, causing her to flee the Marquis's mansion and end up with her "corpse lying in the wilderness," "living in anonymity," and the family no longer felt like a home.
His wife is better.
He knew she had feelings for him when she threatened to divorce him because he treated her coldly.
Although interests and power are more solid than fleeting love, she still has him in her heart, and there is nothing more wonderful than that.
Xie Lang wasn't unaware of her stiff body, but he didn't mind. He buried his face in the soft crook of her neck, pulling her even closer, as if he wanted to meld her into his own body.
He remembered the cat he had raised when he was a child. The cat was very mischievous. It jumped out of the yard, got injured, and dragged its last breath back to find him. In the end, it died in his arms.
Liu Qingqing reminded him of that cat. He allowed her to play occasionally, and even scratch him with her claws, but she couldn't jump over his courtyard wall. What if she got hurt?
Her cold expression made her even more alluring and vibrant than before.
It allowed him to glimpse her true soul.
He prefers to confront his true emotions rather than feigning them.
Xie Lang hugged her even tighter, his cheek pressed against her thin shoulder bone, his long arms wrapped around her like vines. After several sleepless nights, he was finally able to fall asleep today.
When she woke up the next day, Xie Lang was not there.
Liu Qingqing felt extremely sore all over, as if she had been tied up with ropes all night.
After she came to her senses, she stared blankly for a long time without any expression. Finally, she made up her mind and clenched her fist, slamming it onto the bed. The stinging pain from her wound made her even more awake!
She called Zhao Pansheng to her side; she didn't trust anyone else.
Granny Li is old, and she doesn't want her to get involved in this mess. Qingju is honest and simple; if she knows the truth, she might not be able to hide it from Xie Lang, and it wouldn't be good to put her in danger again. Lin Mei is taciturn; if she suddenly takes charge of this matter, it will arouse suspicion.
After much deliberation, Zhao Pansheng seemed the most suitable. She was bold, had her own ideas, and knew when to advance and retreat. She figured she could handle the situation well, so she decided to take the gamble.
Liu Qingqing thought bitterly, "Didn't Xie Lang say that the Xie family doesn't have divorces, only widowhoods?"
Then she'll let him get his wish and become a widow!
Just thinking about that scene fills me with excitement and exhilaration!
She smiled wistfully as she thought about it, but then suddenly felt a chill on her face. She raised her hand to touch it and found it wet with tears. Liu Qingqing lowered her gaze, staring blankly at the wetness in her palm.
She looked up and saw Zhao Pansheng already standing at the door, looking at her with concern.
Liu Qingqing casually wiped away her tears, called her over, and whispered a few words in her ear. Even the bold Zhao Pansheng was so shocked that she covered her mouth, her wide eyes looking like they were about to pop out of their sockets!
"Miss! Why did you have to do this!"
Zhao Pansheng knelt on the ground, crawling anxiously to his mistress's side. Forgetting the proper distinction between mistress and servant, he grasped her hand tightly. "That medicine is not safe to take carelessly. What if something happens..."
Zhao Pansheng panicked at the thought of that possibility, "What should we do if something happens, Miss!"
Liu Qingqing was already heartbroken. She knew she was on the verge of madness and wanted nothing more than to leave the Marquis's mansion, the capital, and these heartless people.
"Let's take a gamble then."
Her voice carried a weariness born of countless trials. She looked down at Zhao Pansheng and said, "If I really die, it's my fate."
"Miss!!!"
Zhao Pansheng couldn't stand to hear this! She was so anxious that she looked like an angry rabbit about to pounce and bite someone, her almond-shaped eyes red and swollen.
Just as she was struggling with this dilemma, she heard her mistress whisper, "If you don't dare, I'll think of another way."
What can Miss do? Besides those few, who else can Miss trust?
Looking up, I saw the young lady staring blankly ahead, her expression numb as if her soul had already decayed and was dying.
Seeing her young mistress's state, Zhao Pansheng's head was buzzing. She felt she shouldn't help her mistress do such a rebellious thing. But she was also afraid—afraid that if she didn't help, her mistress would act recklessly, and what if she, having no one to rely on, really got herself into trouble!
After much deliberation, a fierce determination arose within me!
Zhao Pansheng gritted his teeth: "I'll help Miss!"
Upon hearing this, the young lady's eyes, which had been dim for several days, finally brightened.
"Okay, okay."
She looked at the young lady with a beaming smile and said, "If you help me, it won't be difficult to accomplish this."
Zhao Pansheng's heart was breaking.
What exactly happened? Zhao Pansheng dared not ask.
How could her sweet, innocent, and naive young lady have been ruined like this!
Liu Qingqing was unaware of Zhao Pansheng's inner turmoil; in her excitement, she was only thinking about faking her death. She recounted her previous plans to Zhao Pansheng.
"This medicine will last for seven days. After that, when all other medicines fail, I will be buried. Before the coffin is closed and I am laid to rest for seven days..."
"Wait... and then tell the nanny. You must not tell her in advance, or you will give yourself away."
The two spoke in very low voices, so low that they could not be heard unless one was right next to them.
Liu Qingqing was also wary of Xie Wu and Xie Liu. She thought that given Xie Lang's style of doing things, Xie Liu shouldn't even be considered one of his hidden protectors; there should be someone more secretive.
Zhao Pansheng clenched his fists, listening intently. Afraid of missing anything, he secretly pinched his thigh with one hand.
In no time, she had explained everything she could think of.
Zhao Pansheng remained in the same position, looking up at her with complete trust and concern on his face. "Miss, is this really a safe matter?"
If there is any loophole, it is the Regent's Palace.
The medicine was obtained from the Ying family, so her kind mother must have known about it.
But she was betting that Xie Lang wouldn't investigate further, and that the noble princess wouldn't interfere.
If you wanted to take care of her, you wouldn't have to wait so many years, would you?
Thinking of this, Liu Qingqing nodded emphatically, "It's a safe bet."
If she dies, it will be a good thing for both the princess and Xie Lang.
It's certainly safe.
How could it be unsafe?
Even though I'm hoping things will work out, the thought of actually having my wish fulfilled still makes my heart ache a little.
She raised her hand to cover it, and chuckled helplessly.
Seeing Zhao Pansheng staring blankly at her, Liu Qingqing smiled and patted Zhao Pansheng's hair, even saying playfully, "Go and get ready, we should get going now."
Zhao Pansheng nodded, and Liu Qingqing patted her on the shoulder.
Zhao Pansheng got up and walked slowly to the door. After hesitating a few times, he turned back. Knowing it was improper, he still mustered up his courage and stood in front of the young lady. He opened his arms and hugged the young lady into his arms. Then, imitating the way his grandmother used to coax her in his memory, he slowly patted the young lady's thin back.
She didn't know why she did it, but the young lady looked like she was about to cry.
After only a few breaths, Zhao Pansheng said she would go and make preparations and then left. After leaving, Zhao Pansheng went into the bushes in the corner of Jialan Garden without looking back. She squatted down in front of the corner, covered her face and cried bitterly.
Even after crying, Zhao Pansheng was still in a bad mood. She hugged her knees and stared blankly at the corner of the wall for a long time. When she finally managed to compose herself and tried to stand up, she swayed and lost her balance. Her legs had gone numb from squatting for so long, and she was about to fall into the bushes when a strong arm reached out from behind and stopped her.
Zhao Pansheng turned around suspiciously and saw Xie Wu standing behind her, his handsome face dark red. He blinked rapidly when he saw her turn around.
Seeing that Zhao Pansheng's expression was not gloomy, Xie Wu carefully supported her waist to help her stand up before letting go. He stood there properly, showing no trace of the imposing manner of Young Master Xie.
He recently realized the truth, but he was implicated by the adults and ended up being cheated out of his body. He died unjustly!
Before, Miss Zhao treated him like a spring breeze, her eyes sparkling with stars. Now, she looks at him... like he's a scoundrel.
"Miss Zhao..."
Zhao Pansheng wanted to turn around and leave, but her legs were numb and she couldn't move. She looked at Xie Wu's eager eyes and suddenly smiled, calling out softly, "Brother Xie."
Xie Wu was immediately stunned, and stammered an "Ah," but couldn't hide the joy in his eyes and brows.
Zhao Pansheng's face showed worry again: "Brother Xie, although we shouldn't interfere in our master's affairs, my young lady has been really worried and sad lately, and I feel bad for her too. Please forgive my tone when I spoke to you earlier."
Xie Wu hurriedly waved his hand and said, "No, no."
Zhao Pansheng then asked, "Sir, you and Miss clearly had a very good relationship, so why did you suddenly become cold towards each other before?"
Seeing Xie Wu's struggling expression, Zhao Pansheng didn't give him time to think it over and pressed on, "Has something happened? If there's a misunderstanding, we can help our master share the burden."
Xie Wu struggled several times, glancing at Zhao Pansheng again and again, "It's not that I'm hiding it from Miss Zhao, it's just that I don't know the reason either."
Xie Wu wasn't lying; he genuinely didn't know how the adults had suddenly changed overnight.
But he had a guess, and after looking around to make sure no one was watching, he voiced his suspicion, "It seems that you truly care about your wife..."
Oh.
Zhao Pansheng stared at him meaningfully, but inwardly he sneered.
"Like master, like servant"—what kind of bullshit reason is this! Truly, a dog's mouth can't utter human words.
At this point, his legs were no longer numb. Zhao Pansheng turned cold and gave Xie Wufu a salute, saying in a rather sarcastic tone, "Then thank you for your guidance, Master Xie."
After saying that, he ignored Xie Wu and turned to leave.
Xie Wu: "..."
Wait, no... why don't you even call me "Sweet Brother Xie" anymore?
"Hi!"
Seeing that the person had quickly walked away and disappeared, Xie Wu angrily scratched his forehead.
What kind of mess is this?!
He was telling the truth, so why didn't Miss Zhao believe him?
Zhao Pansheng was reliable, so on an ordinary afternoon, Liu Qingqing rested in her room and never woke up again.
It was Granny Li who first noticed something was wrong. Lately, the young lady had been in low spirits. Although she couldn't go out, she always stayed in her room reading medical books she had found somewhere. But this afternoon, she slept soundly and couldn't wake up.
As evening approached and the sun set, the fragrant aroma of mutton soup wafted out of the small kitchen.
Seeing that the young lady was still not awake, Granny Li went to wake her.
You can't just not eat.
Even when the young lady is reluctant to get out of bed, she'll usually make a sound, whimpering and whining. Why is she so quiet this time?
No matter how much Granny Li tried to move the young lady, she remained fast asleep. Something was wrong!
"Miss! Miss!" she cried out, her voice trembling.
She called out twice but received no response. Suppressing her panic, she shouted loudly for Zhao Pansheng and Qingju to go find the royal physician.
"Go quickly! Go quickly!"
The imperial physician arrived at Jialan Garden quickly. Granny Li stood guard nearby, her eyes fixed on the patient. "Doctor, what's wrong with our young lady? Why has she suddenly stopped sleeping?"
Not only is he not waking up, he's not even moving!
Granny Li was extremely flustered, and in the next instant she saw the royal physician actually reach out to check the young lady's breath!
Granny Li nearly caught her breath. Just as the physician withdrew his hand and was about to shake his head, she immediately grabbed his wrist and reached out to feel it herself. The next instant, her hand began to tremble.
"If the lady does not wake up within seven days, perhaps... she will not make it."
Forgetting all respect, upon hearing this, Granny Li fiercely grabbed the physician's robe, her eyes wide with rage, "What did you say! Say it again!"
That posture clearly indicated that if he spoke, he would draw his knife and kill someone!
Remembering the master's instructions, the physician forced himself to lie, "Madam's breathing is weakening and may stop at any time. You should be prepared."
Prepare?
What preparations?
Li Mama felt like her sky had fallen; her legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground. After a moment of stunned silence, she crawled back to the bedside, reaching out to grasp her young mistress's icy hand. She lost her balance, and her mistress's hand slipped and hit the edge of the bed. The young mistress seemed oblivious to the pain.
Granny Li was stunned, and tears streamed down her face. She bit her lip, afraid to make a sound, but then she couldn't hold back any longer, pounding her chest and sobbing uncontrollably.
The mournful cry plunged Jialan Garden into an eerie silence.
Qingju silently wept, biting the back of her hand. Her silent crying was all the more heartbreaking.
Everyone was at a loss, but Qingju was the first to come to her senses. She ran to the hanging flower gate of Jialan Garden and eagerly awaited the return of the adults.
No matter what, she always felt that the adults were all-powerful and would be able to save the young lady!
Yes, they can be saved.
She was extremely anxious and paced back and forth.
When Xie Lang returned to the manor, Jialan Garden was both chaotic and quiet. He entered the main room and saw his wife's people gathered there. The usually timid little maid followed closely behind him.
Several old women, including Granny Li, surrounded the bedside, preventing the physician from leaving. When the physician saw the master return, he hurriedly got up.
Others might not know what was going on, but he and the adults did; he wished he didn't know.
The physician rushed to Xie Lang and whispered, "Madam has fallen seriously ill and suddenly fallen into a deep sleep. If she doesn't wake up in seven days, even a celestial being couldn't save her..."
Xie Lang walked towards the bed, paused upon hearing this, and lifted his eyelids to look at the physician, "How is the madam?"
The physician winked at Xie Lang, who understood but didn't take it seriously, as she had already switched the pills herself.
She must have taken a tonic pill laced with a sleeping potion; she should wake up in a couple of days.
Although he was somewhat confident, when he walked to the bedside and saw her lying there thin and pale, he felt as if a small snake was slithering through his heart.
Her servants were weeping and wailing, which was both unbearable and strangely disturbing.
"Go down, I'll stay with her." But his voice was hoarse.
At that moment, he was thinking that if she was angry, he might as well join in the commotion and vent his anger. Therefore, a smile still lingered on his lips, and he found his wife even more amusing.
He sat beside her for a while, then reached out and stroked her hair. Xie Lang felt a strange emotion stirring within her lately.
He ran his fingertips through her hair and checked her breath.
He had been relaxed just moments before, but when he detected her weak breathing, his face darkened.
His emotions have been fluctuating a lot lately, which is unlike him at all, and his mood suddenly turned gloomy.
He sat there with an air of authority, occasionally glancing at her sideways.
Suddenly, she strolled over to the makeup box, opened the drawer, and there lay the brocade box inside, still intact.
He picked it up and opened it, but his expression changed drastically when he saw what was inside!
Lie down properly with the three pills.
He turned sharply to look at the woman sleeping on the bed.
What did she eat?
"Go and fetch the imperial physician!"
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
"My lord! The lady has disappeared!"
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