62 Chapter Sixty-Two
"My lord! The lady has disappeared!"
Chapter Sixty-Two
The imperial physician arrived quickly and hurried into the main room to take Liu Qingqing's pulse. Under the terrifying gaze of Lord Xie, which seemed to stare at a dead object, a cold sweat broke out on his back. Everyone said that Lord Xie was self-disciplined and upright, a rare gentleman in the capital, so how could he look like such a demon!
After confirming Madam Xie's pulse, the imperial physician's right arm trembled violently, and he closed his eyes tightly.
They were all nobles and royalty whom you couldn't afford to offend...
He rose and approached Lord Xie, carefully choosing his words, "Your Madam... Your Madam..."
Xie Lang understood everything. He turned to look at the quietly cowering physician, who was clearly trembling with fear.
"What...did you just say?" he asked in a hoarse voice, emanating a cold and intimidating aura.
An unprecedented rage erupted from the depths of his heart, and the brocade box in his hand instantly turned to dust, piercing his palm.
"If it wasn't the prepared pills, then what did the lady take?"
The physician knelt down with a thud.
He guessed it, but he dared not say it.
In the room, where you could hear a pin drop, a sneer suddenly rang out. Xie Lang waved for the physician to leave.
The main door closed, and Xie Lang walked to the bedside. Looking at her pale, lifeless face, he swept his gaze across her white lips and laughed in anger.
She actually dared to take that fake death drug!
She had already devised a plan to lure him away from his predicament!
Xie Lang seemed to have never understood her. What was she doing?
Since that's the case, he will grant her wish!
Late at night, Xie Lang opened his hidden storeroom and picked up a thin, dark chain hidden deep inside. The faint clanging sound was chilling, and even the servants in the courtyard dared not peek inside.
After Xie Lang returned to the room, he slowly tied it to her slender ankle, holding the other end tightly in his hand.
She doesn't want to leave?
Then we won't let her leave!
From that day on, Xie Lang slept with his wife every day.
He hadn't taken it seriously for the past two days. After all, she was still under his nose, so what kind of trouble could she cause? She was just a little temperamental. He knew she cared about him, and that once he woke up, he would humble himself and be gentle with her. She was so good-natured that she would definitely make up with him.
Even though he still didn't know why she was making such a fuss.
By the third or fourth day, her breathing was almost inaudible, and he stayed up all night. When he discovered her breathing, his heart skipped a beat. Holding her hand tightly wasn't enough; he turned and pulled her into his arms.
She was completely unaware, like soft flesh without bones, allowing him to manipulate her as if she were a dead object.
Xie Lang held her tightly, his nose gently brushing against her small ear. Her ear was slightly cool, lifeless, which was unpleasant. A hint of helplessness appeared in Xie Lang's cold gaze.
Xie Lang conceded, "Liu Qingqing, wake up. Once you wake up, I'll do whatever you want."
Why is it so temperamental? I thought it was a kitten, but it turned out to be a fierce, domineering, and extremely temperamental wild cat.
By the fifth day, she still showed no signs of waking up.
Xie Lang's usually calm and composed heart was now gripped by restlessness. He hadn't slept well for several days, his usually serene eyes were bloodshot, and his face, which was usually smiling, was now somber, as if he had become a different person. No one dared to approach the main room.
When someone from the Regent's Palace came looking for him, he turned them away without hesitation, saying that his wife had caught a cold and needed his care.
The feeling of something slipping through his fingers grew stronger. Xie Lang paced back and forth in the room, his face grim. He felt something strange inside his chest clamoring to burst forth.
Even though she was right beside him, why did he feel like she was so far away?
"Liu Qingqing, do you not know what the term 'first wife' means?"
In the pitch-black, lonely night, his hoarse, incomprehensible voice rang out, but no one answered him.
They wanted to push him onto someone else, hand him a divorce agreement, and then openly and legitimately leave him with another man.
He wasn't angry yet! He didn't even hold it against her much!
She's upside down and getting angry!
Not enough, she even wanted to end her life just to leave him?
A chilling, mocking laugh rang out, and the chain he held in his hand was also locked onto his wrist.
By the seventh day, her face had turned ashen, her chest was no longer rising and falling, and she was no longer breathing.
Xie Lang stood by the bed, gazing at her for a long time. The blood in his veins seemed to surge backward, causing him a headache.
He had previously thought she was just having a tiff with him, but now he was shocked to find that she actually intended to leave!
Why? Why!
For the first time, he lowered his proud head. He remembered her asking him, with barely concealed bitterness, whether he loved her.
Although he still didn't understand the value of this meager affection, Xie Lang bent down and wiped her face clean with a warm handkerchief, as he had done every day recently. Though he disdained it, if she wanted it, he wasn't incapable of doing so after she woke up…
He was like a noble god who didn't understand love, but was finally moved by the devout believer and was willing to reach out to her.
Zhao Pansheng peeked through the window and saw the adult wiping the young lady's body again, which made his hair stand on end.
After the young lady "fainted" after taking the medicine, the adults took care of her themselves without asking anyone else. They cleaned her body every day and treated the wound on her wrist that had appeared out of nowhere.
He sleeps with the young lady every day.
The adult's calm expression, however, was terrifying.
The adults forbade them from stepping into the main room again, but they could always hear the sound of metal breaking coming from inside.
Seeing that things were gradually going against expectations, Zhao Pansheng became extremely anxious.
She didn't know why the adults weren't preparing for the funeral. How could she take the opportunity to move the young lady out if they weren't holding a funeral?
These past few days have passed, and even the heartbroken Granny Li, with swollen eyes, has come to accept the fact that her young mistress has suddenly passed away.
She mustered her courage and asked if she needed to prepare for her funeral.
"Don't tell me he's not dead yet."
Xie Lang lifted his eyelids and coldly glanced at her, "Even if someone dies... my Xie family will keep the body in state for over a month."
The person was completely rotten after a month or so!
The entire Jialan Garden was shocked. Had the master gone mad?
When the guards surrounded Jialan Garden, they suddenly realized that the adults had kept the news tightly under wraps within the garden.
Even those at Shian Garden were unaware of what had happened here.
She should be waking up soon. Xie Lang stayed by her side and had no desire to go out. Suddenly, he found the outside world quite boring.
However, the regent's deputy general came to invite him personally, saying that the prince was holding a banquet at the palace to discuss the matter of the northern Rong and Qiang invading the border. As the regent's right-hand man, Xie Lang had no choice but to go.
"I'll be right back."
He sat on the bed, stroking her thick hair, and whispered to her, not knowing if she could hear him.
Xie Lang had an excruciating headache, as if it were about to explode. How could he have been so irritable before?
Just as Xie Lang was about to step out of the main room, he turned back to look at the obedient girl on the bed.
It felt as if another voice was clamoring and clamoring in my mind—I wanted to swallow her whole and carry her with me every day.
"Feed your young lady some chicken soup in a little while," he instructed.
After saying this, he had no choice but to leave when the deputy general urged him again.
The main door slowly closed.
After finally losing track of his footsteps, the woman on the bed opened her eyes.
Although I can't move these past few days, I've had a vague sense of what's happening around me.
She discovered that Xie Lang seemed to have feelings for her.
He seemed unaware that she was in his heart.
But it was too late.
It's good that he didn't understand.
She hadn't moved for seven days and was still weak. Her cousin had said that she would need to rest for a while after waking up with this medicine, so she wasn't in a hurry.
Listening to the commotion outside, she soon heard Zhao Pansheng arguing with someone and finally understood what was going on. Zhao Pansheng's unusual behavior had been noticed. Guards were following her closely, almost never leaving her side. The same was true for Granny Li and Qingju.
They were protecting her so much, as if they were afraid she would be taken away from them. Liu Qingqing scoffed.
I wonder what kind of show he put on; perhaps it was for the Regent's Palace.
Suddenly, the door to the main room was pushed open, and Lin Mei came in carrying chicken soup.
Seeing that the young lady was sitting with her eyes open and her elbows propped up on the bed as if she was about to get up, Lin Mei was surprised for only a moment before she calmly closed the door, blocking the cold wind and prying eyes from the outside.
Walking to the bedside, she silently brought the soup bowl to the young lady's lips without any intention of speaking. Liu Qingqing was taken aback for a moment, then drank the soup from her hand.
The warm chicken soup made me feel alive again.
Lin Mei then magically produced a white steamed bun from nowhere and stuffed it into her hand.
"eat."
Fearing that outsiders would notice something amiss, Lin Mei mouthed a signal.
Liu Qingqing took the steamed bun, and as she lowered her eyes, her gaze swept over the chains on her ankles. She gestured for Lin Mei to come closer, and Lin Mei listened carefully.
Lin Mei took the empty soup bowl out and found a maid. After the maid entered, she knocked her unconscious with a karate chop, carried her to the bed, and took off her outer robe to hand to her mistress...
Unexpectedly, the small act of kindness in the past paved the way for their escape.
Late at night, under a heavy rain, Lin Mei walked along the wall with her head down as always, followed by an inconspicuous little maid.
The servants of Jialan Garden all knew that there was a quiet and even somewhat cowardly maidservant by the lady's side. She was usually silent and not the lady's most capable servant.
In terms of handling affairs, she was not as good as Zhao Pansheng, who came to work in the mansion with her later. In terms of affection, she was not as good as Qingju, who came with the lady when she got married. Not to mention Li Mama, who was the lady's confidante. She always kept her head down and was taciturn, so no one took her too seriously.
Liu Qingqing tried for a long time but couldn't remove the iron chain, so she hid it inside her pants and then through her sleeve, holding it in her hand. She was careful all the way, afraid of making a sound and attracting attention.
In this emergency, she didn't have time to figure out why Xie Lang had chained her up. Fortunately, the chains weren't heavy, which was a narrow escape from death, and it was also a sign of God's mercy on her.
Lin Mei led her ahead, winding her way out of the mansion.
Stepping out of the Marquis's mansion again, Liu Qingqing had no time to look up at the sky and sigh, afraid of being discovered, and just kept on her way.
They had to get out of the city before curfew.
Her legs couldn't stop, and her mind was racing with ideas. As she approached the city gate, she noticed the number of guards had more than doubled, and given the rain, fewer people were going in or out of the city. Liu Qingqing's heart skipped a beat; she knew something was wrong. Two women going out alone at this moment would be too conspicuous.
Just as the city gate guards turned their heads, their searching gazes about to fall on her, Lin Mei grabbed her wrist and dragged her into a side alley. They wandered through it like a maze, twisting and turning.
Finally, they pushed open a dilapidated courtyard gate. The weeds in the yard were taller than a person, the door of the house was broken and crooked, and the roof beams were covered with cobwebs. Lin Mei led her around to the easternmost room of the back building, moved aside a loose wooden cabinet to reveal a small but wide enough hole for one person to pass through.
"Miss, once we go outside, we'll be outside the city."
However, they definitely couldn't go out like this; their faces were already soaked from the rain. Lin Mei grabbed some dust from the ground and wiped it on her face, then turned and wiped Liu Qingqing's face as well. With their thick raincoats and hats covering them, they shouldn't attract attention if they avoided people.
Lin Mei found two tattered and leaky bamboo baskets from somewhere, and then plucked some wild grass from the yard and put it into the baskets.
Seeing Liu Qingqing's astonishment, Lin Mei lowered her eyes and avoided his gaze before explaining, "I grew up here. When I was little, I always avoided people and went to the mountains to cut wild vegetables. Later, after I got married, I had to hide from that person to live."
That's how they developed these survival skills, so they always knew where to escape safely in the city.
They had no choice but to leave before it got completely dark.
Lin Mei crawled through the hole first, and only after seeing that there was nothing unusual in the bushes outside did she let the young lady come out. She then picked up two sticks and handed them to the young lady.
"It saves energy when you're tired, and you can also cut through wild grass and scare away snakes and insects while walking in the mountains."
Liu Qingqing thanked her, and Lin Mei's drooping eyelashes trembled twice.
The cold rain pelted them, making them shiver. Fearing pursuers, the two dared not walk on the road, and instead trudged along the foot of the mountain, using the dense forest to conceal their tracks.
Suddenly, several fast horses galloped past. Lin Mei pulled her down to squat, and Liu Qingqing's heart pounded. Once the horses were out of sight, the two got up and continued walking.
Fortunately, Lin Mei led the way; otherwise, she would have been captured and taken back.
Lin Mei was a woman of few words, and she didn't ask any questions even at this moment. Liu Qingqing followed behind, but felt at ease.
I wonder how Granny Li and Zhao Pansheng are doing. She left them money and a letter. I can't take them with me this time, otherwise Xie Lang will definitely catch me and take me back.
The thought of returning to the Marquis's mansion, and recalling the underground passage connecting it to the Regent's mansion, sent chills down her spine.
They held high positions of power and were deep-seated thoughts, each with their own concerns. She, however, was not like that. She simply wanted to close the door and live a quiet life.
The family was completely open and of one mind, warm and generous. She was now terrified of these cunning and shrewd influential people.
Once they were far enough away from the city gate, there were two forks in the road ahead: one leading to Jinshan Temple, and the other to the manor. Lin Mei stopped, turned around, and quietly waited for her master to make a choice.
Liu Qingqing pointed to Jinshan Temple, and Lin Mei nodded and turned to walk in that direction.
Not to mention, Lin Mei's personality showed its advantage at this moment. What was clearly a hurried escape was like a normal trip to a temple to burn incense in her eyes, and Liu Qingqing was not so uneasy as well.
Jinshan Temple sits atop the highest mountain on the outskirts of Beijing, surrounded by dense forests. The leaves, battered by the autumn rain, cast shadowy shapes that resembled ghostly figures, and Liu Qingqing dared not look at them for long.
She chose this because she and Xie Wanyan had once troubled her to oversee the porridge distribution, and they had some connection. Furthermore, Xie Lang was unaware of this at the time. She settled in and rested briefly at the temple before setting off; by the time Xie Lang's meticulous search uncovered her, she would likely have already fled far away.
Although Xie Lang was unaware that the Regent's son, her half-brother, Mu Ziying...
Oh no, he should be called Li Ying now.
Li Ying knew about the porridge distribution. Liu Qingying had come along and angrily pulled out the hairpin from her head, demanding he exchange it for money.
Liu Qingqing could only gamble that they hadn't communicated yet; judging from their previous behavior, they must each have their own plans.
This was a risky move, but Liu Qingqing had no other choice.
Just as she expected, when she finally arrived at the temple gate, the young novice monk saw her and quickly welcomed her inside.
It is said that the abbot is currently in seclusion and unable to come for a meeting.
Liu Qingqing didn't care about these things, only saying that she was resting and waiting for the rain to stop. She then asked if there were any clean clothes.
Although they were wearing raincoats, they were already soaked through by the rain.
The young monk arranged for them to stay in a secluded room. In this urgent situation, the young monk brought in dry lay robes and a charcoal brazier before leaving.
Lin Mei then got up to help Liu Qingqing take off her outer clothes so she could dry them.
"At this point, I'll do it myself. You should also dry your clothes in the dryer."
Lin Mei stubbornly refused, standing there silently, as if Liu Qingqing did not agree that she could stand there forever.
She has a very stubborn personality.
Liu Qingqing had no choice but to go along with her, "You should change your clothes too, don't just dry my clothes, dry your own too."
This time, Lin Mei listened to him.
The young lady didn't speak; she saw the chain but pretended not to know it.
While Lin Mei was busy, Liu Qingqing was able to calm down and think about where to go next.
With rampant unrest across the land, she couldn't very well escape one danger only to fall into another. After much deliberation, she suddenly felt that Yingcheng was a good option!
Yingcheng was originally called Wuzhou. It was the first border city captured by Regent Li Jin, and was later renamed Yingcheng. It is now the fiefdom of his son, Li Ying. It is said that because the Regent paid great attention to it, the local officials governed it very well, and the people are prosperous and peaceful.
The decree that did not restrict women from engaging in commerce originated from Yingcheng.
Thinking about where to go, Liu Qingqing's gloomy mood finally brightened a little. When her gaze fell on Lin Mei, she hesitated for a moment.
"Please allow me to accompany you, Master."
Lin Mei knelt down with a thud, then lowered her head and awaited her master's judgment.
After thinking for a moment, Liu Qingqing agreed, "Alright, I'm sorry to have troubled you and me."
Lin Mei shook her head, rarely speaking more than a few words: "I don't feel bitter being by my master's side."
With the matter settled, by dawn, the clothes were mostly dry, and the rain that had fallen all night finally stopped.
Liu Qingqing then decided to set off quickly and switch to waterway when they reached the next city.
After thanking the young novice, Liu Qingqing and the other person left.
Yesterday, the once quiet valley was suddenly flooded with rushing water.
The two dared not take the main road, but carefully trudged through the dense, deserted forest, carving out a wild path. A night of rain had turned the soil into mud, making each step difficult. On one side were undulating mountains, and on the other, a rushing stream; they proceeded with extreme caution.
Suddenly, Liu Qingqing stepped into the wet, muddy yellow mud. Her shoes got stuck, and she fell down the steep slope as soon as she tried to lift her foot.
"Miss!!!"
On the rain-shrouded hill, Lin Mei shouted sharply.
During the banquet, Xie Lang's eyelids suddenly twitched.
His heart clenched, and he put down his wine glass, clutching his chest.
It was a very strange feeling; I had never experienced it before.
"What's wrong, Lord Xie?"
"Perhaps you're feeling the effects of the alcohol? Go and rest."
Upon hearing this, the officials surrounding Xie Lang quickly looked at his expression and, seeing that he indeed seemed unwell, hurriedly made way for him.
The regent, seated at the head of the table, glanced over there and secretly looked at the queen who was talking to the ladies of marriageable age in her household. He tapped his fingers twice, picked up his wine cup, and took a sip.
On one side is his queen, and on the other is his trusted minister. It seems like he can't help either side.
The regent felt a headache coming on, so he simply tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp.
Never mind, he won't know anything when he's drunk.
Xie Lang was an honored guest at the Regent's Palace. When something unusual happened to him, the servants of the palace, who were very perceptive, led Lord Xie to a side courtyard where distinguished guests were to rest.
As the surroundings quieted down and the smell of alcohol dissipated, Xie Lang sat upright for a while before getting up again.
For some reason, I felt extremely anxious and couldn't even sit still.
Xie Wu stood to the side, seeing the adults like this for the first time.
Once they were alone, he leaned closer and whispered, "Sir, is something the matter?"
Xie Lang glanced at him upon hearing this, but shook his head.
Xie Wu was stunned. What was going on?
He had to rest for a while before heading back, as the Regent was still at the banquet and he couldn't stay away for too long.
Seeing that the master was unharmed, and with other matters on his mind, Xie Wu quietly left the Prince's mansion and blew a bird whistle in the back alley. The bird whistled long and melodiously, then returned with a flurry of frantic chirping. Xie Wu's expression immediately changed.
Sure enough, not long after he returned, he was once again surrounded by officials of all ranks.
The Regent is stern and doesn't like people getting close to him, but Xie Lang is the Regent's favorite! Who knows, he might become Prime Minister and join the cabinet someday! If we can get close to Lord Xie and obtain some information, that would be extremely beneficial!
Although Xie Lang was absent-minded, he didn't show it on his face and forced himself to suppress his irritability while socializing with everyone.
Just then, Xie Wu suddenly appeared, abandoning his usual composure but not caring. He squeezed through the crowd and whispered in Xie Lang's ear, "My lord! Madam is missing!"
Xie Lang's pupils suddenly contracted, and the porcelain cup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
As everyone in the hall looked over in surprise at this turn of events, they saw Xie Lang, disregarding the presence of the Regent and numerous officials, disappear from their sight like a bolt of lightning using his lightness skill.
Officials: ...
What could have caused the upright and self-disciplined Lord Xie to lose his composure like this?
Xie Lang stepped out of the Prince's mansion and immediately dismounted. The horse galloped away, raindrops lashing his handsome face, which couldn't hide his coldness. They soon arrived at the Marquis's mansion. Before the horse had even stopped, he dismounted and strode inside.
The Garden of Orchids was deathly silent, save for the pattering, urgent sound of rain.
When Xie Lang reached the hanging flower gate of Jialan Garden, he slowed down.
Walking through the courtyard in the rain, the heavy footsteps stirred up splashes of water, and the guards and servants all lowered their eyes and hid.
The main door of the house, which had been tightly closed, was now wide open, and Li Mama and the others were standing by the bed, looking completely bewildered.
There was a faint outline of a sleeping figure on the bed, but Xie Lang knew at a glance that it was not his wife.
Is there anything else you don't understand?
His icy gaze fixed on Li Mama, who was kneeling beside the bed, and he asked, word by word, "Where is your young lady?"
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview:
He had felt her intense love and dependence deeply; her unwavering gaze suffocated him…
Now that she's left so easily and gracefully, why does he still feel like he can't breathe?
Why?
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