An hour later, outside Lingyang City, at the mass grave.
The night was as dark as ink, the stars were sparse, and an indescribable sense of desolation and bleakness permeated the surroundings.
Qin Wen suddenly opened her eyes, as if she had just been pulled back to shore from a drowning abyss, still panting. A figure stood not far away. She tried to move, but found that all the bones in her body felt like they were falling apart. She tried to shout, but found her throat was sore and hoarse that she couldn't utter a sound.
Qin Wen's thoughts quickly returned to her senses. She recalled the moment she saw Dongling at Liu Shang's residence, and the despair she felt.
It was Dongling who accused her of plotting against the Empress and the imperial heir. Now that Dongling has arrived, nothing good is sure to come of it.
As expected, Dongling, dressed in plain clothes, slowly said to the astonished Liu family, "I heard that Qin Wen has done something immoral. Considering that she was once my mistress's sister, I have come to collect her remains. I hope the Liu family can give me some face."
The mistress Dongling mentioned was the "deceased" Empress Qin Sheng, and it was said that her current lover was Li An, the powerful eunuch by the emperor's side.
This is someone you absolutely must not offend.
The Liu family members exchanged glances, ultimately weighing the pros and cons before agreeing. Dongling's eyes darkened slightly as she walked towards Qin Wen.
Qin Wen shook her head in terror. In that instant, looking into Dong Ling's icy eyes, she was truly frightened.
"Second Miss, this is all your own fault. Don't blame the Liu family." Dongling suddenly lifted Qin Wen's chin and said viciously, "A vicious person like you is wasting every moment of your life!"
Upon seeing this, the Liu family members all lowered their heads.
Taking advantage of the Liu family's momentary lapse in attention, Dongling quickly stuffed the pill into Qin Wen's mouth. The pill dissolved instantly upon entering her mouth, and Qin Wen's consciousness began to blur, her breathing weakened until it stopped completely. Everyone present thought she had truly passed away.
"Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I would also like to trouble you to send two servants with a carriage to dump this woman in the mass grave outside the city." Dongling turned around and bowed deeply to Liu Shang's mother. "This woman has committed grave sins. Burning her alive will put an end to everything and give Lord Liu some closure."
Liu Shang's mother originally wanted Qin Wen to pay with her life, and now that she could vent her anger without lifting a finger, she naturally agreed.
The Liu family sent out a carriage and two servants to take Dongling and the badly injured Qinwen to the mass grave, and then hurriedly drove the carriage away.
But they didn't go far until they saw flames rising from the mass grave, then they "driving" their carriage back to the mansion to report the news.
"Awake?" Dongling walked over without anyone noticing.
Qin Wen's thoughts were immediately pulled back to reality.
"Thank you—" Qin Wen managed to squeeze out the two words through gritted teeth.
Dongling glanced at her disdainfully, clapped her hands, and immediately two men jumped down from the tree. The two men, one on each side, lifted Qin Wen up and followed Dongling into a simple and elegant carriage.
The carriage rumbled along the cobblestone road, each slight bump causing Qin Wen unbearable pain.
Dongling coldly watched her unbearable pain, snorted through her nose, and sneered, "If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place!"
Qin Wen sobbed until Dong Ling said irritably, "It's so noisy!" Only then did she stop groaning and begin to weep.
The carriage finally stopped in front of a quiet courtyard. Dongling jumped off first and gestured for the two men to help Qin Wen into the house. Qin Wen was placed on a soft bed. Despite the unbearable pain in her body, she still tried her best to see her surroundings.
"This is Eunuch Li's villa. You're safe for now," Dongling said calmly, her tone tinged with disdain.
Qin Wen was startled. She knew Li An was a favorite of the emperor, wielding immense power, and the fact that Dong Ling had brought her here indicated that her relationship with Li An was extraordinary. She was unaware of the connection between Dong Ling and Li An.
"Why did you save me?" Qin Wen asked, gesturing with her hands with difficulty.
Dongling sneered, a hint of contempt flashing in her eyes: "You think I did this to save you? I just didn't want the Liu family to end your life so easily. The debts you owe will naturally be repaid slowly."
Qin Wen's heart sank. She knew Dong Ling wouldn't let her go easily, but at least she was still alive, and in the eyes of outsiders, she was already dead. As long as she recovered from her injuries and escaped, she would be a completely new person.
"Take good care of your injuries and don't even think about escaping. You can't beat any of the guards outside this courtyard." After saying that, Dongling turned and left.
In the days that followed, Qin Wen recuperated at Li An's villa. Although Dongling was indifferent, she still arranged for the best doctors to treat her. Qin Wen's health gradually improved, and she was able to walk around the courtyard simply. Perhaps to prevent her from having any bad intentions, Dongling had maids who knew martial arts guarding her.
Dongling visited her several times, and each time she was very well-behaved and seemed to have become much more obedient.
Before she knew it, Qin Wen's body had fully recovered, except for some scars that wouldn't go away. But she was already content to be alive.
To Dongling and Qinwen's surprise, two months later, Qinwen experienced morning sickness. Dongling secretly consulted a doctor, who revealed that she was already two months pregnant.
Dongling saw the doctor off, her mind heavy with worry. She looked coldly at Qin Wen and asked, "Before you and Liu Shang, were there any other men?"
"Yes," Qin Wen said in a barely audible voice. "But that man, although he looks strong, is impotent. Every time he comes, he tortures me to the point of near death..."
"So, the child belongs to Lord Liu?" Dongling asked, pinching her brow.
“Or…maybe?” Qin Wen stammered. “That night he took a lot of aphrodisiacs, and we…did it all night.”
Dongling raised her hand, and Qin Wen quickly covered her head, her body trembling slightly.
"You're often beaten?" Dongling felt a sudden pang of pity when she saw Qin Wen's instinctive reaction. Perhaps it was because of the child in Qin Wen's womb, or perhaps for some other reason; she herself didn't know why she suddenly felt soft-hearted. "Do you plan to keep this child?" she asked again after a moment of silence.
"Is it possible?" Qin Wen's eyes were filled with longing and anticipation. She gently stroked her belly, a happy smile spreading across her face. "Will I ever have the chance to be a mother again in my life?"
“If you want to keep the child, it’s not impossible, but you can’t raise him yourself. You’re already ‘dead,’ and if the child stays with you, he’ll forever be a person without a registered residence. And I…” Dongling hesitated for a moment, then continued, “I’m destined to be childless in this life. If you’re willing, you can entrust the child to me to raise. Think it over carefully, and if you’ve made up your mind, let Qingcao tell me.” After saying that, she pointed to the maid waiting outside the house.
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