Chapter 54 Going Home: "I Don't Want You Anymore"
The moon is bright and the stars are few; a light frost covers the sky.
Since Xiao Heng returned to the front study, Qian Qiuchan had been waiting outside the door in the shadow of the Podocarpus macrophyllus tree, her fingers tightly twisting a plain white handkerchief, her eyes burning as she stared intently at the dim, swaying window.
The moonlight trailed on the ground, and the focused silhouette of the man was clearly reflected on the paper as thin as a cicada's wing, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and upright lines.
Thin wisps of smoke drifted from the incense burner, like haunting spirits, slowly moving and entwining on the window paper.
Qian Qiuchan stood frozen behind the tree, the autumn chill seeping into her bones through the thin fabric of her dress. The sharp pain in her knees from kneeling in the ancestral hall during the day felt like needles pricking her. She thought of Qin Shi's haughty face and cursed inwardly:
"You old vile woman! You old hag! Didn't you accuse me of using crooked methods? Just you wait and see! Not only will I continue using these crooked methods, I'll also use them on your precious son! Didn't you mock me for being unable to have children? Today I'll take Xiao Heng down, ruin his body, and have a bunch of little brats so he can ride roughshod over your Xiao family! I'll make sure none of you can do anything about it!"
Thinking of Xiao Heng's robust physique, Qian Qiuchan felt as if sparks were burning beneath her skin, a secret heat rising within her. She held her breath, anxiously hoping that the specially made incense would take effect soon, so that she could rush in and make this good thing, which was four years overdue, happen as soon as Xiao Heng collapsed.
Qian Qiuchan tightened her grip on the handkerchief, her teeth clenched, a slight tremor running through her as she stared intently at that tall, imposing silhouette.
She had been waiting for this day for four years, and she absolutely could not afford to make a mistake again.
Absolutely not.
Qian Qiuchan even began to fantasize about the glamorous life she would lead after succeeding.
Tonight, she must use every trick in the book to make Xiao Heng experience the ultimate pleasure, so that he will never leave her, and will obey her every word and follow her lead.
With Xiao Heng as her backer, she would be the rightful mistress of the Marquis's mansion. Not to mention Qin Shi, even the old lady would have to look at her with new respect.
If she has two or three more children and raises them to be successful, the fate of her Qian family will be completely rewritten. From then on, she will be the one looking down on others, and no one will be able to belittle her anymore.
Even Cui Ying would probably have to go out of his way to get close to her and call her "sister-in-law" in a very polite way.
When her children grow up and become the heads of the Marquis's mansion, she will be the only matriarch, ten times more glamorous than the current Wang Shi... no, a hundred times more!
Qian Qiuchan's mind wandered, and she even imagined the scene of all the powerful and noble people in the capital kneeling at her feet to pay their respects. Overjoyed, she laughed out loud and raised her hand, saying, "Get up, all of you."
The maid Nanzhi, who was standing beside her, looked at her with a look of horror, as if she had seen a ghost. She mustered her courage and said, "Madam, please keep your voice down. It will be bad if we are discovered."
Qian Qiuchan laughed and said, "So what if he's discovered? Xiao Heng can't even protect himself, how could he have the mind to pay attention to my movements?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a soft sound of the door opening. Xiao Heng strode out of the study with steady steps and a calm demeanor. Under the moonlight, his features were clear and bright, showing no sign of anything amiss.
Qian Qiuchan's eyes widened in an instant, her eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets. She stared at Xiao Heng in disbelief as he walked through the courtyard as usual and disappeared calmly at the side gate.
He was not affected by the spices at all!
Qian Qiuchan's grip on the tree bark tightened, her fingernails digging deep into the bark, with a hint of blood seeping out.
She was trembling all over when she suddenly slapped Nanzhi across the face, screaming at the top of her lungs, "What happened! How could he just leave like nothing happened! Did you really replace the spices?!"
Nanzhi knelt on the ground with a thud, trembling all over, and could barely speak: "Grandma, I really did everything! I... I don't know how this happened!"
Qian Qiuchan slapped her again, not caring how many people the sound would attract, and twisted Nan Zhi's flesh with all her might: "You lawless little slut! You're lying to me! I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Nanzhi cried out in pain, "Third Madam, spare me! This servant will never dare to do it again!"
Such a commotion soon attracted the attention of the night patrol servants who kept peeking out.
Fearing the matter would escalate to the inner quarters, Qian Qiuchan glared fiercely at Nan Zhi, threatening her to shut her mouth. She then looked up and glared resentfully in the direction Xiao Heng had left before turning and storming back to Lingxiao Pavilion.
As night deepened and the moon began to set in the west, its clear light was mostly obscured by thick clouds, leaving only a deep, inky blackness between heaven and earth.
As Xiao Heng mounted his horse, his fingertips were already burning with an unusual heat. The night wind blew across his tightly pursed lips, and the cool breeze that should have been refreshing instead fueled the fire, causing the heat to explode from his dantian.
"Sir, you don't look well. Would you like to take a break?"
The servant, holding the reins, felt a tightness in his chest when he saw the man's knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white and his Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.
Xiao Heng couldn't figure out where the heat came from, but he didn't take it to heart. He suppressed the burning sensation in his chest and said, "It's nothing."
But as soon as he finished speaking, the evil fire, like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, surged through his blood vessels and into his limbs and bones.
Fine beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, dampening his temples, and a crimson hue clouded his usually clear eyes.
The dizziness he had been forcibly suppressing in the study returned. He closed his eyes briefly, his long eyelashes casting heavy shadows beneath them. When he opened them again, he saw a bottomless, icy pool beneath his eyes. He urged in a hoarse voice, "Give me the whip."
The servant respectfully handed over the riding whip, still watching his expression.
Xiao Heng remained calm and composed, gave a low shout of "Giddy up!", and rode off alone.
The long street was quiet, utterly silent.
Xiao Heng gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles almost digging into the horse's mane.
The heat was so intense it made his bones ache, but he managed to hold it back with sheer willpower, even deliberately keeping his breathing steady.
Now he understood that he had fallen into Qian Qiuchan's trap without even realizing it. He knew that this was the time to test his composure and clear his mind. If he let the slightest thought slip, it would be irreversible.
Xiao Heng clenched his teeth, suppressing the impulse, until the lights of Cangjingzhai lit up at the alley entrance, at which point he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The sound of horses' hooves echoed outside the gate, and Xiao Heng dismounted.
His body was writhing with evil fire, and he staggered half a step when he landed, but fortunately a hand reached out and caught him in time.
"Go and prepare a few buckets of cold water for me," Xiao Heng said in an unusually hoarse voice. "Hurry up."
"yes."
Her voice was soft and delicate, with a hint of timidity.
Xiao Heng raised his eyes.
Under the flickering lamplight, the quiet woman's long eyelashes covered her eyes, her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, and her whole body was shrouded in a soft glow, unlike a person from the mortal world.
"Why is it you?" Xiao Heng frowned, and his throat tightened when he caught a faint fragrance from her. "Where's Qingshan?"
Jingnu said softly, "Master, Qingshan ate something bad last night and is feeling a little unwell. So I volunteered to take his place for half the night."
Xiao Heng couldn't help but look at Jing Nu's lowered eyelashes.
The slender curve casts a faint shadow under the lamplight, like the gentle fluttering of butterfly wings.
His Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his gaze uncontrollably slid over her smooth forehead, the tip of her upturned nose, and finally landed on her slightly pursed lips—the color of her lips was very pale, like a flower bud just blooming on a branch in early spring.
He raised his hand, his fingertips trembling under the effects of the medicine, but he still forcefully pushed away her support.
Jingnu staggered back half a step, her eyes filled with astonishment, but noticing his disordered steps, she hesitated and wanted to help him.
"Stay away from me."
Xiao Heng closed his eyes tightly, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was icy coldness. He took a step forward and strode across the threshold.
Jingnu followed instinctively.
Xiao Heng suddenly turned to look at her, his eyes bloodshot, his voice cold and unyielding: "I told you, stay away from me."
...
The sun is high in the sky, and tender green crabapples stand gracefully on the branches.
As the morning light streamed through the window, Cui Ying was sitting in front of the mirror, letting her maid draw her eyebrows and do her makeup. She had already changed her clothes and put on her shoes in advance.
When Xiao Qiyu returned from his boxing practice and stepped into Qiyun Pavilion, his forehead was still covered in sweat. Seeing her about to leave, he raised an eyebrow and asked casually, "Going to see Xiao Shu again?"
Cui Ying didn't even look at him, and said lazily, "I don't have time, I'm going back to my parents' house today."
Xiao Qiyu, who was about to pour water, paused upon hearing this, as if he hadn't heard clearly: "What?"
“Going back to your parents’ home, huh?” Cui Ying finally looked up at him, her almond-shaped eyes blinking, filled with obvious dissatisfaction. She deliberately emphasized her tone and snorted, “You always make me angry, I don’t want you anymore.”
Xiao Qiyu's eyes trembled slightly, and the veins on his hands seemed to twitch slightly, making his whole demeanor suddenly darken.
He turned around, his tone icy: "Whatever."
Cui Ying didn't listen to him at all. After fixing her makeup, she neatly packed a small package containing her precious storybooks. She carried it herself, made a face at Xiao Qiyu before leaving, and strode away.
Qiyun Pavilion suddenly became empty.
Xiao Qiyu washed away the sweat from his body, looked at the empty house, and stood there silently for a moment before suddenly saying with a sigh of relief, "It's good that they left, so they won't keep chattering away all day long."
He lay down on the long-unused bed and enjoyed the long-lost peace.
Suddenly, a familiar fragrance wafted into my nose.
That was the rose hair oil that Cui Ying often used, mixed with the unique soft fragrance of her hair, lightly lingering in the bedding, as if she hadn't left yet, sitting on the edge of the bed flipping through a storybook, occasionally looking up at him with a pout and a glare.
He stiffened, then subconsciously moved to the side where she usually slept, burying his nose in the pillowcase, making the fragrance even clearer.
It was an extremely ordinary taste, one that he would normally find cloying, but now it felt like a fine needle, gently pricking his heart.
The bed was still the same bed, and the room was completely silent, but without the crackling sound of her cracking melon seeds or the rustling of turning pages, even the air felt empty.
Xiao Qiyu raised his hand to press his brow, but his throat inexplicably tightened. The words "It's good that you left" from earlier now felt like grit stuck in his throat, neither going up nor down, making him feel uncomfortable.
Sunlight streamed in through the window screen and fell on the low stool at the foot of the bed.
That was the place where Cui Ying always used to put out his storybooks, but it was empty at the moment.
Xiao Qiyu stared at that spot for a long time, then suddenly threw off the covers and sat up, his face extremely grim.
...
The wheels of the car rumbled as it drove across the cobblestone street.
Inside the carriage, Cui Ying leaned against the soft cushions, cracking a plate of melon seeds with a loud cracking sound. The crumbs fell onto her delicate skirt, but she didn't care, only gazing at the street scene outside the window.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the streets are filled with the fragrance of osmanthus, the ripe fruits smell sweet and juicy, and vendors' shouts can be heard everywhere.
Cui Ying observed the stall and saw the small cantaloupe that her mother loved to eat. Just as she was about to call for the carriage to stop, the sound of horses' hooves approached, and Xiao Qiyu's expressionless face suddenly appeared outside the window.
Cui Ying looked at him with a ghostly expression: "Why are you here?"
Xiao Qiyu stared straight at her, his dark robes fluttering in the morning breeze, his eyes still tinged with a faint redness, his brows furrowed, and his voice tinged with urgency: "Explain yourself clearly, how have I made you angry?"
"I haven't even been going back to Qiyun Pavilion much lately, and I haven't seen you much either. Did I make you angry?"
He paused, his tone much more restrained: "Or are you still holding a grudge about what happened that night?"
Xiao Qiyu reined in his horse and rode alongside the carriage. His voice was firm but tinged with awkwardness: "I admit that I couldn't control myself and it was wrong of me to kiss you, but I was also under the influence of drugs at the time, and I tried my best to restrain myself."
"Ah!" Cui Ying's cheeks flushed red instantly, and she screamed as she grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and threw them at him. "Shut up! Do you think you're in your own home?!"
The melon seeds scattered like flowers from a fairy, but Xiao Qiyu caught them all without spilling a single one.
He frowned, his breathing quickening: "I won't stop until you explain yourself clearly."
Cui Ying, unable to resist his pestering, glared at him with flushed cheeks and said irritably, "I'm not angry with you. I was just teasing you. I went back to my parents' home because I have important matters to discuss with my father. Is that alright now?"
Ever since she finished settling the accounts of the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution), she hasn't been able to sleep well. More than nine thousand taels of silver a year! Of course, she had to find a way to solve the problem.
Xiao Qiyu first looked into her eyes, as if trying to gauge the credibility of her words, and then stared at her reddened ears for a long time.
A gentle breeze ruffled the soft wisps of hair on his forehead. He suddenly lowered his voice and asked softly, "Then... will you come back?"
Cui Ying rolled her eyes at him: "Are you going to stay for the New Year instead of going back?"
"You can stay for a few days," Xiao Qiyu said in a low voice, his eyes darting around as he looked at the fruits and vegetables on the street. He then casually tossed his purse to his attendant, telling him to buy some fruit.
He had just noticed that Cui Ying kept staring at the melon stall.
Through the car window, Cui Ying snorted: "We'll see. If things fall apart with my father, I'll have to run back to the Marquis's mansion immediately, or I'll be waiting to get a beating."
Xiao Qiyu gave an "Oh" in a nonchalant tone, but suddenly dismounted with the agility of a gust of wind and jumped onto the carriage road: "I'll go with you."
As he spoke, he lifted the curtain and sat down without any hesitation, squeezing next to Cui Ying.
Cui Ying didn't push him away immediately. Her long, curled eyelashes fluttered twice as she leaned closer and teased, "Didn't you tell me before that men should ride horses and carriages are for women? What are you doing now?"
"Is that so?" Xiao Qiyu replied confidently. "I don't remember when I said that."
He opened his hand, and the melon seeds in his palm were already warmed by the boy's body heat, giving off a slightly damp feeling.
"Eat your sunflower seeds."
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Author's Note: I'm still running a fever today. Please check if there are any logical inconsistencies so I can revise it [crying emoji]. Also, the third brother and Jingnu aren't characters I just wrote to pad the plot; they're important plot points for the main characters.
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