Chapter 73 If I leave, will you be especially happy?
Zhao Yu did not hide anything and briefly recounted the death of Xiao Qingyan in his previous life.
The two were talking outside the Xu family's courtyard.
Xu Chumian's expression changed drastically, and her eyes immediately reddened. She had thought that Xiao Qingyan had died on the battlefield, but she never expected that he had committed suicide by jumping into the river.
Zhao Yu turned his eyes away, not looking at Xu Chumian's sad face.
Tsk.
Feeling upset.
Xu Chumian was filled with worries, calculating the time; soon news of Prince Ding's rebellion would reach the capital.
She frowned; Qingyan shouldn't have ended up like that.
"I'm going to find him."
With that, Xu Chumian turned to leave.
Zhao Yu gripped her wrist, a cold smile on his face. "Chu Mian, what good will it do you to go see him? Will he listen to you?"
Xu Chumian's eyes were red with tears. "I have to give it a try."
Zhao Yu closed his eyes briefly, but did not stop him.
The two were friends for many years. Zhao Yu knew Xiao Qingyan's personality well. He was free-spirited and valued loyalty. No matter how much he hated the Prince of Ding's rebellion, he would choose to stand with his father and brother.
Xu Chumian's mind was in turmoil, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Xiao Qingyan is the son of Prince Ding. His departure from the capital and return to the north will most likely lead him to repeat the mistakes of his predecessor.
However, if he stayed in the capital, Xiao Qingyan would be considered an accomplice of Prince Ding.
He can't escape.
If he were to change his name and leave the capital, Qingyan would not be able to abandon his responsibilities.
Zhao Yu is gone.
Xu Chumian returned to the courtyard, feeling utterly dejected and chilled to the bone.
It was shortly after lunchtime. Xiao Tao went to watch over Mu Mu's afternoon nap, while Qiu Yu did needlework under the eaves. The courtyard was very quiet.
Just then, a sound came from the gate.
Xu Chumian immediately turned her head.
It was Xiao Qingyan who arrived, dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard.
She's lost even more weight than she did a few days ago.
He had a smile on his face and was carrying pastries that Xu Chumian and Mu Mu liked.
Xu Chumian's eyes welled up with tears the moment she saw him. "Qingyan."
Xiao Qingyan had just seen Zhao Yu leave from behind the wall.
The two were speaking softly, and I couldn't hear what they were saying.
Xiao Qingyan showed no sign of distress, but when he got closer and saw Xu Chumian's slightly red and swollen eyes, he frowned. "Why are your eyes red? Have you been crying?"
Xu Chumian shook her head and smiled lightly, "It's just that some sand got into my eyes just now, but it's fine now."
Xiao Qingyan paused, his hand stroking the woman's long hair, and a dark glint flashed in his eyes.
Before him, Xu Chumian had only met Zhao Yu.
Qiu Yu glanced at the two of them, then quickly took her needle and thread and went inside.
Xiao Qingyan embraced Xu Chumian and talked to her about the recent cases in the capital.
This case is not difficult.
However, recently many of Prince Ding's former subordinates in the capital have been arrested for all sorts of strange reasons.
These people had fought against Prince Ding before; some were wounded, and some were kept in the capital because the emperor had become suspicious of them.
These uncles and elders all watched Xiao Qingyan grow up.
Xiao Qingyan could not stand idly by, so he has been running around trying to find a way to help in the past few days.
Xu Chumian tugged at Xiao Qingyan's sleeve.
The man smiled back: "Chu Mian, what's wrong?"
Xu Chumian's lips moved slightly, but the words she wanted to say remained stuck in her throat.
She pinched her palm and joked, "Qingyan, how about we take Mumu to see her maternal grandmother more often in the future?"
Xiao Qingyan's smile faltered.
after……
Is there a future?
Xu Chumian lowered her eyes, not wanting him to notice her unusual behavior.
When she didn't hear Xiao Qingyan's voice for a long time, Xu Chumian's last thought snapped.
Xiao Qingyan closed his eyes tightly.
She stared at Xiao Qingyan's chest, feigning anger, and probed, "Why aren't you saying anything? Well, Xiao Qingyan, you're starting to brush me off now. Have you fallen for another girl lately?"
Xiao Qingyan twitched the corners of his mouth, a hint of confusion in his eyes, and held Xu Chumian tightly in his arms.
"I don't like any other girls, I only like you."
Xu Chumian looked up, trying to find other emotions on Xiao Qingyan's face, but apart from a forced smile and apology in his eyes, there was nothing else.
Qingyan still made a decision.
In the past, Xiao Qingyan would have picked her up and told her that he would marry her in the future and bring her and Mu Mu to live in the Xiao Mansion, thinking about their future together.
But now, Xiao Qingyan had nothing more to say.
He has made his decision.
Xu Chumian's eyes stung with tears.
Life is unpredictable. Xu Chumian doesn't want anything else now; she just wants Xiao Qingyan to avoid the ending of his previous life and wants him to live.
Just as Xiao Qingyan was about to say something to make her laugh, he saw Chu Mian's tears fall in strings.
Xiao Qingyan was at a loss and couldn't find a handkerchief, so he could only wipe away her tears with his thumb.
"Chu Mian, it's my fault, please don't cry."
Xu Chumian couldn't help but glare at him.
"I didn't say it was because of you."
Xiao Qingyan's eyes were fixed on her. "Then what's wrong with you?"
Xu Chumian made up an excuse, "The small test is the day after tomorrow. I'm worried about not doing well and I'm feeling a little down. It has nothing to do with you."
Xiao Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me."
Xu Chumian hugged Xiao Qingyan's waist back, her voice murmuring as if she were talking to herself.
"Qingyan, you are very good, very good."
But how can she change Xiao Qingyan's fate?
How to stop Prince Ding from rebelling?
That's too far-fetched.
...
Xu Chumian looked at him, "Qingyan, will you stay in the capital in the future? Stay in the capital and don't go to the north, okay?"
Xiao Qingyan looked at her without saying a word.
Xu Chumian forced a smile, "If you don't want to stay in the capital, we can go somewhere else under assumed names."
Xiao Qingyan suspected that Zhao Yu had said something to Xu Chumian, and he said softly, "Chumian, why are you suddenly talking about these things?"
Xu Chumian shook her head, leaned against his chest, and made up a reason.
"We're tired of the sights in Beijing. We want to go somewhere else and live a peaceful life."
Xiao Qingyan's eyes were filled with sorrow, but he had no way to answer Xu Chumian.
Xiao Qingyan felt that God was too cruel.
In his heart, he said sorry to Xu Chuming.
...
After Xiao Qingyan left the Xu family's courtyard, a figure appeared not far ahead.
The two were of similar build, but Xiao Qingyan's brows held a coldness that was no longer the gentle breeze and bright moon of before.
Zhao Yu's expression was indifferent and aloof, making him seem unapproachable. "Let's talk."
Soon, only the sound of snow remained in the alley; it was deserted.
In the alley next to Dr. Chen's courtyard, a shadowy figure was observing the direction of the Xu family's courtyard.
It ran away again very quickly.
-
A vacant area beside the moat.
The cold wind was biting, and the reeds along the riverbank were blown about. The icy wind and snow lashed against them, but the two people on the bank remained silent as if nothing had happened. In just over two months, their state of mind had been completely turned upside down.
Xiao Qingyan, who once regarded his brother as a close friend, secretly harbored feelings for the woman he loved. His once proud family background became a shackle that bound Xiao Qingyan.
Xiao Qingyan remained expressionless: "What do you want with me? To mock me?"
Zhao Yu gazed at the river surface that was about to freeze over, his thoughts drifting back to his past life.
After the remains of the Duke of Zhao were sent back to the capital, the entire Duke's mansion was draped in mourning, and weeping filled the air. Madam Zhang aged overnight, and hatred and anger filled Zhao Yu's heart. He considered various ways to vent his anger. In the period before he was appointed to go north to fight, news of Xiao Qingyan's drowning reached the capital.
The body was pulled ashore and left unattended.
It was on such a winter day that Zhao Yu left the capital.
Buried in the loess soil.
Zhao Yu considered this as fulfilling the bond he had shared with Xiao Qingyan over the past ten years.
Today, we are born with opposing stances.
Zhao Yu was an outsider and could not interfere with Xiao Qingyan's decision.
As Xu Chumian said, should they leave the capital and live in anonymity?
Xu Chumian herself knew it was impossible.
Xiao Qingyan was well aware of the burden and responsibility on his shoulders.
He could not abandon the Prince Ding's residence.
Zhao Yu knew Xiao Qingyan's temperament well; even if he changed the cause of Xiao Qingyan's elder brother's death, he could not stop Prince Ding's rebellion.
Xiao Qingyan forced his voice out from his throat.
Seeing that Zhao Yu remained silent, Xiao Qingyan was furious and thrust his sword at Zhao Yu.
This time, Zhao Yu didn't dodge.
He drew his sword and charged forward.
The two then began to fight on the riverbank.
The heaviness weighing on my heart has not lessened in the slightest.
Even if I were to speak, what could I possibly say?
Xiao Qingyan stopped first, chuckled softly, and said with slightly moist eyes, "Zhao He'an, if I leave, are you especially happy?"
Zhao Yu glanced sideways and said calmly, "I met her first."
The surroundings suddenly fell silent. Before leaving, Zhao Yu uttered a single sentence.
"His Majesty is about to make his move."
That's all I have to say.
Xiao Qingyan closed his eyes.
As Zhao Yu strode away, Xiao Qingyan's voice rang out.
But the person she likes is me!
I just like it.
It's only been two months.
Soon, I forgot about it.
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