The moonlight hung low, and the pond was piled high with yellow flowers. The shimmering lake surface reflected a delicate light, scattering a vast expanse of golden buds.
After Xie Rongyue was brought back, she sat on the small couch in the room. The moonlight shone in through the window and fell on her shoulders. She looked as thin and weak as a kitten, with all her sharp claws retracted, revealing her helpless fragility.
The room was empty and quiet, with the dim candlelight illuminating her delicate profile. The past, sealed deep in her memory, slowly surfaced, like vines winding their way up from the ground, tightening and binding her, causing her confused mind to wander aimlessly.
The initial shock slowly faded, and hesitation gradually crept into her heart. The horrific and intertwined years of three years ago surged in wave after wave, colliding fiercely in her mind, making her feel somewhat suffocated and uncomfortable.
She knew that scions of noble families were born at the top of the pyramid. She didn't crave his power or status; the best outcome would be for him to live in the capital, Yandu, while she would settle in the southwest. But fate had brought them together again. Would someone with his temperament let her go? He was already married; what should she do?
Yangxia is located in the southwest. It had just rained, and the climate was damp and cold. A biting wind blew in, slowly cooling her mind.
She picked up the teacup on the tatami table and took a big gulp. It was icy cold and bitter. She coughed a few times and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
"Rongyue."
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from outside the door.
Xie Rongyue snapped out of her daze, quickly dampened a handkerchief to wipe her red and swollen eyes, put on a light pink robe, and respectfully went to open the door.
"Mother."
The second wife glanced at her, then slowly walked in and sat down in the main hall.
Xie Rongyue felt a slight sense of unease, lowered her eyes, and remained silent.
"Was the young master from Yandu that your brother mentioned the one who injured people on the long street today?"
Her palms tightened, and her eyelids trembled slightly. "Yes."
The second madam's face darkened slightly, and she slammed down her teacup. "Back when you were in Yandu, the main family managed your marriage, and we couldn't interfere. But now that you're back, I'm reminding you not to provoke those powerful families."
"You've lived in Yandu for so many years, you know what kind of life your aunt lived after marrying into the Cui family. Your mother is doing this for your own good. Instead of marrying into a powerful family, it's better to marry into a lower-ranking aristocratic family as a legitimate wife. With the reputation of the Xie family of Chenjun backing you up, you won't suffer for the rest of your life."
Xie Rongyue felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Her aunt had thought the same way back then, but unfortunately, she caught the eye of that old man at the Xie family's flower banquet and, in order to break off the engagement, she had gotten involved with him.
Seeing that she didn't speak, the second wife asked again, "What exactly is going on between you and him?"
"He---" Xie Rongyue didn't know how to start, so she rolled her eyes and made up a story, "We met once in the plum grove. He saw that I was beautiful and started pestering me."
"Is that so?" The second madam breathed a sigh of relief and said slowly, "Once the novelty wears off, she won't bother you anymore. During this period, she should stay in the manor and not run around."
"yes."
The windows and doors were wide open, dusk was falling, and the cool moonlight poured down on the ground, casting a pale silvery-gray glow.
Xie Rongyue watched the departing figure, breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed her throbbing forehead, and, too lazy to think about it anymore, closed the door and went back to her room to sleep.
She tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, until dawn when she finally drifted off to sleep.
In the secluded courtyard.
The room was silent. The guard who came to report glanced at the man sitting at the desk, so quiet that he didn't even dare to breathe.
Wang Hezhan looked tired, casually flipping through the files in his hand, and asked, "That's it?"
"yes."
Miss Xie usually keeps to herself and only found this much information.
“Go tell the Governor of Liangzhou that I have something to attend to and will go in a few days.” He paused, glanced at the Gu bell in his hand, and said indifferently, “Also, write a letter to the Prefect of Changzhou, telling him to keep an eye on his son.”
"yes."
A richly dressed young nobleman sitting nearby, seeing his appearance, sat in a round-backed chair and teased him with a smile.
"That's the Xie family's illegitimate daughter that Cui Si mentioned. She is indeed beautiful; she looked so delicate and fresh under the moonlight yesterday—"
Before he could finish speaking, he was silenced by a glare from the side.
"Alright, alright, I won't talk about your favorite."
Wang Hezhan leaned back slightly, not looking angry, his expression relaxed and nonchalant, but a hint of gloom was faintly visible between his brows.
Seeing this, he changed the subject, saying, "There's nothing fun to do in Yangxia. Let's hurry up and finish what His Majesty ordered and return to Jiankang."
"Go and take care of it. I'll be staying here for a while."
The man beside him was a noble young master from the Hongnong Yang clan. He had come to the southwest this time for the matter of the southern border. Hearing him say this, he looked somewhat depressed.
“Those old men are all local bullies, each one more troublesome than the last. It will definitely take some effort to uproot them.”
Wang Hezhan said calmly, "The governor of Liangzhou has an illegitimate son who lives in Qinghua Lane."
"---"
"How mean you are."
His expression remained unchanged. He casually glanced over and continued, "Spread the word that the spy we caught has confessed."
"---"
The man clicked his tongue. "No wonder Cui Si always asks you to do things for him. He's really cunning, even more treacherous than your uncle."
That's really reliable.
Wang Hezhan ignored his words, playing with the Gu bell in his hand. Seeing him get up and leave, he called out to the outside.
"Come in."
An Yi bowed and walked in, "Master."
"Is the Xie family patriarch about to turn sixty?"
He paused for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Wang Hezhan seemed to remember something and instructed, "Have someone prepare a congratulatory gift."
An paused slightly, his expression hesitant, before he said tentatively, "They didn't send us an invitation."
"---"
"I won't go and make connections, but I'll go and tell the governor."
Startled by the sudden shout, An Yi shuddered and quickly went to carry out the task.
The room fell silent. The sun shone brightly outside the window, casting its light into the room and onto the man, making him appear as if bathed in golden light.
Wang Hezhan held the Gu Bell in his hand, closed his eyes, and wondered what had gotten into him that made him keep this little thing with him for so many years.
Having not slept all night, he felt somewhat dazed, and as soon as he closed his eyes, a heavy wave of exhaustion washed over him.
But he couldn't sleep. His mind was filled with that familiar figure, and a deep, agonizing longing surged up, tormenting him until his heart ached.
Annoyed, he kicked the table, got up, grabbed his cloak, and walked out.
The guards at the door were slightly surprised to see him come out.
Wang Hezhan had just stepped off the stone steps when he paused and turned back. "Go to Xianyang City and tell Liulang to come to Yangxia."
Xianyang City is the largest city in the southwest region, close to the eastern border. It is prosperous and stronger than the fourteen cities of Liangzhou.
Backed by the Langya Wang clan, Wang Yizhi was practically the local emperor of the southwest, opening up all military and official avenues for the Langya Wang clan in the southwest.
"yes."
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