Xie Rongyue lay on the couch, her slender fingers touching her belly. Tears welled up in her eyes, wetting the jade pillow. Unable to sleep, she put on her shoes and got out of bed.
The sun shines brightly outside the window, cicadas chirp all around, the bamboo forest is lush, and a clear spring is built under the wooden house, with white mist rising from it.
She climbed out the window and walked around, discovering that it was a very deserted and secluded place, rarely visited by people.
The water in the hot spring must be underground spring water, steaming hot. The platform beside the pool is inlaid with hundreds of pearls and various utensils are placed on it.
Xie Rongyue reached out and touched the pool water, glanced around, then took off her outer robe and went into the water wearing only a light gauze dress.
Once you enter the water, you hit the bottom, where many raised features depicting animals in intercourse are carved into the white jade to prevent slipping.
She couldn't see what was below, so she leaned against the edge of the pool. The water was warm and smooth against her skin.
Her slender hand covered her stomach, and her eyes welled up with tears again.
After an unknown amount of time, the sky gradually darkened, the shadows of the bamboo grove swayed, and a cold wind blew in.
Xie Rongyue heard the maid's call from the window and turned around, snapping out of her daze.
"Dinner has been served, and it's time for the young lady to take her medicine."
She blinked dazedly, then realized what was happening and came out of the water.
A maidservant came in through an inconspicuous little door, changed her clothes, and wrung out her wet hair.
After finishing all this, the group went back into the house through the small door.
This is Qingfeng Garden, where all the servants are dedicated to Wang Hezhan. It's a quiet and secluded place, rarely disturbed by anyone.
Xie Rongyue finished her meal quietly, played with the birds in the garden for a while, and then, after taking a bath and washing herself, went to bed to rest.
Wang Hezhan did not return all night. When she woke up, she touched the side of her body and found it empty and cold; no one had slept there.
Hearing the commotion, the maids outside lowered their heads and came in to serve, their voices so soft it was as if no one was there.
Xie Rongyue didn't ask any questions. After taking her medicine in the afternoon, she lay on the armchair in the courtyard, basking in the sun.
A maidservant walked by carrying a tray under the eaves, talking about the ancestral hall elders and such, her tone full of gossip.
Her expression shifted, and she quietly straightened up, hiding behind the tree to eavesdrop.
"Yes, it was very noisy in the ancestral hall last night. Brother Li was on duty there last night and said that the old master whipped the third master."
"No, he's talking nonsense. The old master dotes on our grandpa the most, how could he possibly hit him?"
"I heard that the Xie family's daughter was pregnant, and the old lady gave her some medicine. When the old master heard about it, he was furious, scolded her, and even put the first wife in confinement."
"Hey, do you think that young lady will be in charge of Qingfeng Garden from now on—"
Before she could finish speaking, two gossipy maids spotted her, immediately shut their mouths, and knelt down in fright.
Xie Rongyue paused slightly, then picked up a teacup from the side to block her view.
The sky was clear and bright, there was no wind, and all was quiet.
She stayed in the courtyard for a long time. A maid brought her a sketchbook to look at. When she got tired of looking at it, she lay down on a chair and fell asleep.
In the evening, Xie Rongyue came out of the inner room to wash up and heard someone push the door open and enter. She paused, turned around, and was slightly stunned when she saw who it was.
The candles on the candlesticks with the double cranes and floral patterns illuminated the room.
Wang Hezhan, wearing a cloak, had dark circles under his eyes and looked slightly tired. Upon seeing her, he walked over and asked her something.
Are you feeling better?
"Hmm, much better."
No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly picked her up, placed her on the table behind him, and leaned down to kiss her.
Xie Rongyue paused slightly, wanting to push him away, but his warm breath instantly enveloped her. Her soft body was held in his arms, kissed and caressed. The force was so strong that she couldn't bear it and let out a soft moan.
Wang Hezhan hooked her tongue and kissed and sucked it wantonly, while his hand reached inside her clothes to caress and knead her.
The wisps of breath intertwined, producing a sound of exquisite tenderness.
Their breaths mingled and intertwined, their noses touching, when he suddenly spoke.
"Do you want to kill them with your own hands?"
The room was silent when he suddenly uttered this sentence, which felt chilly.
Xie Rongyue was shocked, and a chill ran down her spine.
Who did they kill?
Those are all his relatives.
"What's the meaning?"
Wang Hezhan smiled as he looked at her timid appearance.
Xie Rongyue was even more frightened when she saw his smile. A chill suddenly seeped into her bones, colder than the wind outside.
"So cowardly, yet you dared to seduce me in the first place?"
She was deceived by the rumors; everything in the storybooks was false, and what the ladies at the banquet said was also false.
“Today, all the aunts in the main hall have legitimate sons, and my cousins have also married and had children, whether they are born or not. They all have one child, so why not let them go to the underworld to keep our children company?”
"---"
Xie Rongyue was shocked by his words. The thought that she was originally going to buy the abortion soup herself made her feel even colder.
What are you afraid of?
He suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand, gently stroking and kneading it, his eyes looking down at her with a hint of deep meaning.
Xie Rongyue steadied herself, lowered her eyes, and said, "Children are innocent—"
Aren't our children innocent?
A terrifying ferocity suddenly flashed in his eyes, and he gripped her hand tightly, making it red.
She bit her lower lip in pain and glared at him.
Wang Hezhan realized his roughness and toned it down a bit, hugging her with both arms and burying his head in the crook of her neck.
"Kill them, kill them all."
His voice was very low, but the two were so close that Xie Rongyue still heard it, and a chill ran down her spine.
The room was quiet. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist, and spoke.
"Those are all your family members. That child even calls you uncle. How could a child understand the grudges between adults?"
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot.
Xie Rongyue immediately shut up when he stared at her, her beautiful eyes meeting his gaze in silence.
Wang Hezhan lowered his head and bit her lip, making her hiss in pain, and her eyes welled up with tears.
"I don't think you want our child at all."
"---"
Xie Rongyue was afraid that he would notice something, so she buried her head in his shoulder and stopped talking, sobbing softly.
Wang Hezhan, mindful of her health, suppressed his temper, lifted her head, stroked the hair at the back of her head, and leaned down to kiss her.
"We want one more."
His words struck her heart like a gentle breeze.
She looked at him and said, "Didn't you give me cold medicine before, saying you didn't want children?"
"---"
"I want it now."
Their eyes met, and his eyes were filled with a light she couldn't understand.
Xie Rongyue avoided his gaze and didn't respond.
Wang Hezhan scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, saying, "Wait until you've recovered."
"I'll move to the villa tomorrow."
"No need, I'll stay here from now on, I can only stay here."
Living anonymously and without status in Qingfeng Garden, Xie Rongyue was annoyed and didn't want to talk to him anymore. She threw off the covers and shrank into the corner.
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