Chapter 92 Just as I stepped off the carriage, a figure...
As soon as I stepped off the carriage, a figure rushed over:
“Father, there was a sudden noise in the city. I heard from the servants that it came from the prefect’s residence. Are you alright?”
I sent someone to the clinic to pick up Qiong'er, but they didn't find her..."
Halfway through her sentence, Xie Rongjing saw the figure following Xie Zhuo, and her heart, which had been pounding, returned to normal.
"I'm fine, you can go in first."
Xie Rongjing's gaze shifted from the short figure behind him to Xie Zhuo in front of him.
His light blue brocade robe with dark patterns was only dusty at the corner, and his hair ornament was neat with a few stray hairs sticking out. He certainly didn't look like anything had happened.
Xie Rongjing put aside her concern for Xie Zhuo and looked down at the head that was hanging down behind her, taking a slight step.
But a voice rang in my ears:
"How's the matter I assigned you going?"
He turned his head to the side, but Xie Zhuo had already moved towards the gate, so he had no choice but to follow and report.
Xie Baoqiong lagged behind, slowly inching through the gate, watching helplessly as Xie Zhuo led Xie Rongjing forward quickly.
He didn't rush forward, but stayed far behind like a little tail.
Back in the courtyard where they lived, Xie Zhuo walked straight to the study, and Xie Baoqiong did not follow.
He glanced at his room, unwilling and reluctant to go back, so he hesitated and remained where he was.
As the sun set and darkness fell, he remained in the shadows of the courtyard.
The little one stood dejectedly in the corner, his face smudged with dirt, his clothes crumpled and disheveled, his drooping almond-shaped eyes looking at him pitifully.
He glanced at Xie Zhuo's back, his lips pressed together, and put down the leg that was about to cross the threshold, turning back.
"Qiong'er," Xie Rongjing called softly, afraid of disturbing this lost soul.
Xie Baoqiong suddenly tilted her head back, her drooping eyes making her look even more pitiful.
Xie Rongjing, as always, was affectionate: "Where did you run off to? You've made such a mess."
Many unexpected events occurred today, and the lanterns in the courtyard had not yet been lit, so the light was dim. Xie Rongjing simply assumed that the marks on Xie Baoqiong's face were dirt that had been rubbed off somewhere.
He took out a handkerchief and began wiping the wound while muttering to himself:
"I already told you to stay put these days, but you ran off somewhere again when no one was watching you. Now look what's happened, I'm angry. You'd better apologize to me properly later..."
Xie Baoqiong avoided the handkerchief that was about to touch her cheek, her eyelashes trembling.
The sour taste of the orange segments he ate a while ago still lingers in his body.
"He doesn't want me anymore." He uttered the bitter taste.
Xie Rongjing's outstretched hand froze, his fingers tightening slightly as he held the handkerchief. He then readily accepted the handkerchief and gently coaxed her:
"How could your father not want you?"
He reached out his hand again, which had been holding the handkerchief, and stroked Xie Baoqiong's face. He wondered what had happened. Xie Zhuo wasn't the type to say such harsh words, but he still patiently coaxed her, "If I really didn't want you anymore, why would I bring you back?"
However, his fingertips felt a rough texture, unlike the softness of skin. He was startled and quickly moved closer to examine Xie Baoqiong's face. He saw that what he thought was dirt had developed stone-like patterns on Xie Baoqiong's cheeks.
His fingers, which were resting on Xie Baoqiong's cheek, suddenly stopped moving.
Seeing the surprise in Xie Rongjing's eyes so close to his, Xie Baoqiong's hidden comfort vanished instantly, replaced by a bittersweet feeling of loss. Just as he was about to pull Xie Rongjing's hand away, he heard a voice filled with heartache:
"What happened? Does it hurt?"
Xie Baoqiong's hand, which was resting on Xie Rongjing's, froze. She then gripped Xie Rongjing's hand tightly, pressed it against her face, buried her head in his chest, and silently shook her head.
"Brother, please don't abandon me."
The head in her arms rested quietly against her chest, unlike before when it arched back and forth, making one's heart soften at the sight, not to mention the muffled sound.
Xie Rongjing placed his other free hand on Xie Baoqiong's back, gently comforting her:
"Okay, your brother will always want you. Even if Dad doesn't want you, your brother will still want you. I'll want you no matter what."
Xie Baoqiong lowered her face, appearing calm and showing no sign of grievance, but the greed in her chest began to stir again.
But he neither suppressed this desire nor was willing to do so, and instead moved even closer.
The petrified, now cold skin could feel the warmth of Xie Rongjing's palm, and it grew even more enamored with it.
Xie Rongjing himself said that he wanted him no matter what.
"Jing'er".
A shout interrupted the brothers' intimacy.
Xie Zhuo stood by the door, looking over coldly.
Hearing the sound, Xie Baoqiong gripped her hand even tighter, unwilling to let go.
Feeling the force, Xie Rongjing simply picked him up:
"Dad, let me take my brother to change his clothes first."
Xie Rongjing turned his back and walked towards Xie Baoqiong's room.
Turning around, Xie Baoqiong met Xie Zhuo's fading cold gaze. Frustrated, she shrank back and leaned against Xie Rongjing's shoulder.
Seeing this, Xie Rongjing sighed inwardly and reached out to touch the head on his shoulder.
Back inside, Xie Rongjing changed Xie Baoqiong into clean clothes and carefully wiped the petrified parts of her face with a wrung-out towel.
Xie Baoqiong didn't react to Xie Rongjing's series of actions, and sat quietly on the soft couch with her head down.
Just as Xie Rongjing was about to leave, she suddenly tugged at his sleeve: "Brother, don't you want to go?"
Xie Rongjing was equally reluctant to part with his listless and pitiful younger brother, but he still cruelly pried his brother's hands apart:
"I have something to tell Dad, so I'll come see you later. I'll go to the kitchen to see if there are any snacks you like and bring them to you. I won't tell Dad."
After he finished speaking, he saw Xie Baoqiong look at him deeply, her drooping eyes filled with endless reluctance, but this was quickly hidden by her lowered eyelids:
"Didn't my brother say that being cute works? My brother is lying."
Xie Rongjing's heart skipped a beat. He had been prying Xie Baoqiong's hand away, but instead grasped the small, partially petrified hand and said, "I'll only be out for a little while."
He restrained his increasingly biased mind, worried that the more he said, the more reluctant he would be to leave, so he could only swallow the rest of his words and get up to leave, his steps somewhat awkward.
The sound of the door closing softly echoed.
The heat source that had enveloped her hand disappeared, and Xie Baoqiong looked up at the doorway. The last piece of Xie Rongjing's clothing had also vanished from the room.
He leaned back, hooking his fingers through the blanket to cover himself, leaving only his head sticking out as he stared intently at the doorway.
...
The faint light filtered through the mica sheet in the window, and even as day broke, the door remained unopened.
Xie Baoqiong pulled her head back under the covers.
Xiaochun is right, humans are indeed all liars.
—
Last night, in the study.
Xie Zhuo, who was watching Xie Rongjing and Xie Baoqiong leave affectionately, was not greeted by Xie Rongjing who had returned, but by Chishong who had come back from the prefect's mansion.
Chishong seemed to know what had happened, and he chose a seat and began to observe Xie Zhuo's expression.
But Xie Zhuo remained calm and composed, sitting behind his desk and flipping through the memorials brought to him by his servants.
A flicker of boredom crossed Akamatsu's eyes, but his mouth said otherwise:
"Have you lost all hope in life?"
Xie Zhuo lifted his eyelids, glanced at the document from the folded paper, and avoided answering:
"You're the one who made me fall into a coma at the prefectural governor's mansion."
His tone was not questioning but affirmative.
"What? You want to thank me for saving your life?"
Chisong's fingertips brushed against his fingertips, accepting the fact with a nonchalant air.
"I just didn't expect you to wake up at such a convenient time. It's a pity I wasn't there."
Xie Zhuo narrowed his eyes, no longer looking at the document: "You knew all along?"
“Lin Zhechun also knows.” Chishong was ruthless when it came to people he disliked.
Xie Zhuo suddenly fell silent.
Chishong, however, added fuel to the fire: "Do you still want that little brat? If not, how about giving him to me for a treat? It'll settle your score for being cheated."
"He is also a citizen of Dasheng," Xie Zhuo warned coldly.
"You're still reluctant to part with that little brat." Chishong's pupils contracted slightly as he became interested in the amusement he had just discovered.
As time passed, the candle gradually shortened, and the flame on the wick, having absorbed enough oil, suddenly rose higher, causing Xie Zhuo's shadow behind him to sway for a moment.
He stood up, picked up the scissors from the table, and trimmed the lamp wick. The shadow behind him returned to its calm state.
"Lord Akamatsu has time to concern himself with my affairs, but he should think about how to deal with the spiritual energy in the city that has not yet been restored."
“I already have a plan for this matter.” Just as Akamatsu was about to continue the previous topic, he heard a knocking sound coming from the door.
"Father, I'm coming in."
The red pine tree on the seat suddenly disappeared from its spot, and the next moment, Xie Rongjing pushed open the door and entered.
Xie Zhuo sat back down at the table: "How is the list of those who lost their homes in the city being compiled?"
Xie Rongjing moved to the table: "I've already sorted some out and put it on the table. Didn't Father see it?"
"I haven't seen it yet." Xie Zhuo followed Xie Rongjing's words and pulled out a book from the stack of folders on the table.
...
After discussing matters within Luozhou City, the two turned their attention to Xie Baoqiong.
"What happened to the marks on Qiong'er's body?"
A fleeting look of confusion and melancholy crossed Xie Zhuo's eyes, which were concealed by calmness:
“Jing’er, he’s not, he’s… a demon.”
Unless he himself is a stone demon, unless the royal family of Dasheng is a stone demon, how could his child be a stone?
A look of astonishment crossed Xie Rongjing's face, and his voice trembled: "Father, what does this mean?"
"He is a demon, a stone demon."
Xie Zhuo's voice was filled with weariness. Xie Rongjing did not ask any further questions. No wonder Qiong'er said that her father did not want him anymore. No wonder Qiong'er asked him not to leave. No wonder Qiong'er looked at him with that kind of gaze.
After the initial shock, Xie Rongjing found himself strangely calm, as if he had expected this fact all along. This also explained why Xie Baoqiong was always covered in dust – after all, stones are meant to be found in the mountains and fields.
He heard himself whisper, "I understand."
He then bid farewell to Xie Zhuo, left the study, and headed towards the kitchen.
He remembered that Qiong'er loved to eat ice cream, but recently the weather had been getting colder and he was afraid it would upset her stomach, so he hadn't let her eat it. But since she was a demon, she probably wouldn't have this problem.
Not long after Xie Rongjing left, Chishong reappeared, resting his chin on his hand and commenting, "You Xie family members are all quite boring."
"I'm sorry to disappoint Lord Chishong," Xie Zhu retorted coldly.
After Chishong disappeared, Xie Zhuo leaned back in his chair, staring at the unfolded documents on the table for a while, his dark eyes churning with emotions.
He extinguished the candle on the table, got up, and pushed open the door to go out.
They happened to run into Xie Rongjing, who was returning with a food box.
He stepped forward, blocking Xie Rongjing's clearly defined path, and said coldly, "Jing'er, his background is still unknown, and his purpose is also unknown. I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone with him in a room..."
Xie Zhuo's gaze shifted downwards, landing on the square food box: "Go back to your room."
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Author's Note: This Xie Zhuo has "done countless bad things" (pointing fingers).
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