16 Chapter Sixteen
◎I just want to eat him up! ◎
Chapter Sixteen
Perhaps it was the yellow wine from his dinner that made Xie Dang immediately get up and open the window. The cool night breeze brushed against his cheeks and swirled around. He looked up at the moon hanging high in the sky, but then closed his eyes again, afraid that the dampness would condense and fall.
He knocked on the window panel, and the guard appeared like a ghost, landing lightly in front of him.
"Any news recently?"
The matter from long ago was brought to his wife's attention, leading to an argument. In a fit of anger, she went back to her parents' home. Later, with Xie Lang's wedding approaching, his wife wrote a letter informing him that she would return home to arrange the wedding for her son. As for their own affairs, she said they would discuss them after their son's marriage.
Xie Dang didn't know when his wife would return, so he sent someone to fetch her. But in the end, they only found his wife's tattered cloak on the mountain outside the city. The snow on the ground was all stained red with blood. The coroner said that with so much blood, a person could not possibly survive.
He sent Xie Pan to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to ask for help, but both of them said that the person was probably gone.
I want to see him alive, or I want to see his body if he's dead.
He didn't believe his wife was dead.
But after his brother-in-law arrived upon hearing the news, he first handed him a letter and then, while the man was injured and unconscious, decisively arranged the funeral.
When he woke up, everyone knew that Lady Hou had died.
But he didn't believe his wife had gone; he always felt something was amiss and had been secretly searching for her for over a year.
At first, they thought it was the brother-in-law who secretly hid his wife, but they secretly arranged for someone to follow them, and they didn't see the other side give anything away.
He thought his wife might have been kidnapped by bandits. Even if she was kidnapped, he would find her! No matter what, she was his wife.
As for the things that angered her in the past, she would even make him kneel down and beg for forgiveness, or let her stab him to vent her anger.
As long as she's still alive.
But in this vast sea of people, where can I find her?
Thinking of his wife, her once bright smile, and the resolute look in her eyes when they parted ways, Xie Dang clutched his chest, which was suddenly aching, and tears welled up in his narrow eyes.
"Jia'er, where are you?"
The gentle breeze by the window carried his soft murmur, which faded away with a soft rustle.
Meanwhile, Liu Qingqing and Xie Lang also bid farewell to Xie Wanyan and were walking back.
Liu Qingqing was lost in thought, fiddling with the dough figurine in her hand. Her second uncle had brought it for them during dinner, saying that he knew the two babies were coming back and bought it for her and Xie Wanyan as well.
She was given a jade rabbit.
The old lady scolded him, but the second uncle only said, "They're all just children."
Liu Qingqing suddenly realized that this was how other people raised their children, cherishing them even after they got married.
Although it was just a clay figurine, her heart was filled with warmth.
When she was young, no one bought her dough figurines to comfort her after her mother left, let alone when she grew up. The days after she married into the Xie family had a great impact on her.
She wished her child could grow up like this.
Then I thought, if my mother were still alive, it would be good for her to see that she is doing well now.
The bright moonlight spilled the Milky Way across the vast land.
Somehow, the two ended up in the garden, where the mansion's small lake was not far away.
A gentle breeze stirred up the effects of the alcohol in Liu Qingqing's body, making her dizzy. She turned her head slightly and saw him standing beside her, subtly shielding her from the wind. She had many things she wanted to say to Xie Lang.
After scanning the surroundings and finding no one, on a whim, Liu Qingqing suddenly reached out and grabbed Xie Lang's hand.
They exchanged brief conversations a few times, but due to time constraints or other reasons, they didn't have a chance to truly connect.
The moonlight was bright and clear, the evening breeze was just right, and a few cups of yellow wine added to the conversation that they wouldn't normally dare to have.
She wanted to be brave and truly integrate into this family.
Today was just an ordinary dinner for everyone in the Xie family, but for her it was like a mesmerizing dream that she didn't want to wake up from.
Her slender fingers gripped Xie Lang's sleeve tightly, and before she could speak, his warm hand gently grasped her fingertips.
Liu Qingqing froze, her cherry lips still closed, and looked up blankly, meeting Xie Lang's deep eyes.
The next instant, his large hand opened and moved slightly upward, completely enveloping her small hand.
They looked at each other, saying nothing, yet it seemed as if they had said everything.
"Is it cold?" Xie Lang asked.
Liu Qingqing shook her head. She felt like an iron kettle in a teahouse on the city wall, almost red-hot and smoking, so how could it be cold?
"Are you full?" Xie Lang continued to ask.
I'm full.
Liu Qingqing blushed and dared not look at her, so she could only answer with two words.
She was more than full; during dinner, her eyes would linger on any dish that was far away for a moment before Xie Lang would pick it up for her.
This prompted the old lady and Xie Wanyan to tease her with their eyes, while her father-in-law and second uncle also gave Xie Lang a few more teasing glances, making her blush.
Perhaps it was the beautiful night, or perhaps the gentle breeze.
“I left some of my dowry with the Liu family. It’s not anything valuable, but it was left to me by my mother, and I want to get it back.”
Liu Qingqing suddenly whispered.
He probably didn't expect her to bring this up. When Liu Qingqing saw the surprise in his eyes, she couldn't describe the feeling in her heart. She felt that her throat and lips were so dry that they felt like they were about to crack. She quickly looked away and dared not look at him anymore.
What can I do to help you?
Liu Qingqing suddenly looked up at him and saw his handsome face and sincere gaze.
He laughed, then gently shook his head, "Not for now, I need to stand up for myself first."
"If we really can't handle it"
The words were still hanging in the air when Liu Qingqing suddenly remembered what Xie Wanyan had just whispered in her ear. Her face flushed, she asked, "Could you help me again, my husband?"
Xie Lang seemed somewhat surprised again, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow before smiling and replying with an "okay."
As early summer draws to a close, the gentle evening breeze intoxicates and delights.
Seeing her tipsy state, Xie Lang had no choice but to let go of her hand and instead put his arm around her shoulder, leading her towards his own courtyard.
With this action, Liu Qingqing was practically held in his arms, inevitably leaning against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, and smelling the faint scent of moon fin on his body, feeling her whole body burning up.
At least for now, they finally seem somewhat like a married couple.
Fearing he would make a fool of himself, Liu Qingqing forced himself to stay focused on serious matters.
Liu Xu, being a fourth-rank official, still valued his reputation and didn't withhold all of her dowry. However, he didn't care about Xiao Ying's petty tantrums; as long as things were out in the open, that was enough. He didn't believe Liu Qingqing, with her timid nature, could cause any trouble. Besides, most of her dowry had already been given away; what else could she possibly complain about?
Just as Liu Xu had expected, Liu Qingqing did not react after noticing something amiss before her marriage.
After she and Granny Li went through the list, she discovered that some important but inconspicuous items had been hidden by Madam Ying. However, both she and Granny Li felt that these were the most important things their mother had left behind.
Granny Li said that her mother had instructed her before she passed away to make sure that the young lady received these things.
Granny Li pressed her for an answer, but by then the person was terminally ill and it was already a great effort for her to say even one sentence.
What exactly are those things?
The two gradually walked away.
Looking from afar, Granny Li suddenly turned away and wiped away tears of joy from the corners of her eyes.
She was startled to realize that perhaps she had been short-sighted in the past, and that the books her mistress had read were not useless!
She had burned a few books earlier, but seeing her mistress secretly wiping away tears, she couldn't bear to burn them all and let her hide them. Now it seems she can return them to her mistress!
She'll go back and find it for the young lady right away!
The two returned to the courtyard, just as Xie Wu came to see Xie Lang urgently. Xie Lang had no choice but to take Liu Qingqing into the room and then go to the study.
It was the regent who sent a secret letter; it wasn't anything urgent.
When Xie Lang pushed open the study door to go back to his room, he saw Xie Wu's eyes wide open like copper bells.
Xie Lang glanced at him silently and strode away.
Xie Wu snapped out of his daze and quickly chased after him, "Are you going to see Madam tonight, sir? I've prepared some water for you in the study."
Upon hearing this, Xie Lang suddenly stopped. Xie Wu, preoccupied with his own thoughts, couldn't stop for a moment. Seeing that the master hadn't left, he quickly took a few steps back to the master's side and respectfully awaited being reprimanded.
It resembles a wolfhound that isn't very bright.
Xie Lang looked up and sighed helplessly, then said, "That's my main room; I should go back to sleep there."
He then strode away, leaving Xie Wu standing there with his mouth agape.
Which esteemed person told him that he would still live in the study after getting married, and asked him to move all his usual belongings to the study?
What is this now?
Xie Wu realized what was happening too late and clapped his hands together with a cry of "Ouch!"
So tomorrow, will he have to put all the things that the adults moved over back?
Half of my mind is on this.
However, he thought to himself that he should be even more respectful to his wife in the future.
When Xie Lang returned to the room, Liu Qingqing had finished styling her hair and was lying peacefully in her quilt, her back to the bed as if she were sleeping soundly.
Xie Lang rested for a moment before heading to the clean room.
Only when the sound of water came from inside did Liu Qingqing, who was hiding under the covers, dare to move. She quietly cupped her burning cheeks and squeezed her legs together even tighter.
For some reason, ever since Xie Lang left, she felt like she was on fire.
It's like there are millions of ants crawling inside.
Listening to Xie Lang's commotion, all he could think about was wanting to devour him!
[Author's Note]
Next chapter preview: "Xie Lang, I feel terrible."
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