Chapter 112 Husband and Wife: "Why do you always think about divorcing me?"...
The next morning, Cui Ying woke up, bid farewell to his parents and grandmother, and returned to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence by carriage.
Even from a distance, before the carriage even approached the side gate, Cui Ying heard a commotion and wailing from inside the carriage.
"Your Marquis's family is inhuman! You left my poor nephew outside to fend for himself! What kind of heartless family is this! He has the blood of your Xiao family flowing in his veins too!"
Outside the gate of the Marquis's mansion, a middle-aged man in tattered clothes and disheveled hair sat slumped on the stone steps in front of the mansion, pounding his chest and crying out, his face covered with snot and tears.
"You all live in luxury, dressed in fine silks and eating delicacies, while my poor nephew doesn't even have a thick cotton coat in the dead of winter, his hands and feet are covered in sores from the cold! In the summer, he only wears that coarse cloth shirt, which has been washed until it's faded and shiny!"
As the crowd grew larger, the man cried and wailed while secretly glancing at the side gate of the Marquis's mansion to see if anyone would come out.
“You eat and drink well, spending at least several dozen taels of silver on a single meal! And my poor nephew? He often eats dry, hard cornbread, and rarely even gets a sip of hot soup! He’s so hungry he’s dizzy, yet he still has to go to the academy to study. Paper, pens, and books—all of those cost money! He’s a helpless child; where does he get the money? He can’t even afford the proper writing materials the academy teacher requires!”
He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, pounding his chest and crying out hoarsely at the vermilion gates of the Marquis's mansion: "My poor sister! Open your eyes and look! Look at what they've done to your and Fifth Master's flesh and blood! A single hair from the Marquis's mansion is thicker than the waist of a poor man like us, yet they can't even spare a full meal or a warm coat for this child! Doesn't your Xiao family fear divine retribution for treating your own flesh and blood like this?!"
Inside the carriage, Cui Ying looked out and saw the man throwing a tantrum, his brows furrowed tightly.
Cui Jin stared in disbelief, then exclaimed curiously, "Could this be... that uncle?"
Cui Ying didn't answer, the words Yun Cheng had said to her at the very beginning echoing in her mind—
"...I grew up with my uncle since I was little. My uncle was poor, and he had already given everything he could to send me to the capital to study..."
Given the circumstances and his previous words, it all seemed like a doting elder who had been forced into a corner and had nowhere else to turn, leading to such a crazy and out-of-control behavior.
But Cui Ying still noticed something unusual.
Although the man looked disheveled, he had a ruddy complexion, bloodshot eyes, and bluish-purple lips, giving him the appearance of someone who had been a heavy drinker for years.
Alcohol and gambling are often linked; people who can drink to this extent are most likely to have a large amount of debt behind them.
Just then, several servants came out and tried to drag the man away, but the man seemed to have no choice but to lie prostrate on the ground and shout loudly, "Ouch! Someone's being beaten! The Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion is going to kill someone! This is outrageous!"
The servants were clearly not having any of it. They rolled up their sleeves, grabbed the man, and dragged him into a side alley across the street. Immediately, the sounds of punching and kicking, along with pig-like screams, came from inside.
Cui Ying lowered the curtain and instructed Cui Jin, "Go tell them that it's okay to take action, but just scare them and that's enough. Don't let anyone die. Otherwise, if so many people see it, it will definitely become a topic of gossip in the future."
Cui Jin understood immediately and replied, "Don't worry, Miss, I understand."
He then dismounted from the carriage and relayed the order.
The sounds of fighting and cursing in the alley subsided considerably, and the servants clearly did not resort to violence again.
The crowd gradually dispersed, and the area in front of the Marquis's mansion returned to silence as the carriage slowly entered through the side gate.
As soon as Cui Ying got off the carriage, she went to find Xiao Qiyu. She didn't even need to ask; she knew with her toes that he must be practicing his boxing ahead. So she went there uninvited and waited for him in his study.
Xiao Qiyu's study was excessively tidy, and infuriatingly boring. Cui Ying picked up a few books at random but couldn't understand them. Getting impatient, she simply got up and went out to see when he would finish.
However, before her hand could even touch the door, it opened by itself, and a wave of scorching heat rushed out.
The dazzling spring morning light lingered on the boy's sweaty body, turning his clean, white undershirt almost transparent. It clung tightly to his skin, revealing the contours of his undulating muscles. Sweat rolled down his abdominal muscles, disappearing into the creases of his V-line below his narrow waist.
Cui Ying was stunned.
I even felt a bit thirsty.
"So you know you're back?"
Xiao Qiyu's breathing was still somewhat unsteady, his pupils were dark, and the corners of his eyes were red. He looked at Cui Ying and said abruptly.
Cui Ying snapped out of her daze and realized the lewd thoughts that had been flashing through her mind. She subconsciously took two steps back, trying to clear her head.
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Qiyu raised an eyebrow and took a step closer without making a sound: "As if you're a mouse seeing a cat?"
Yesterday's "settling accounts" was just a prank to scare her. Not even half a month has passed, and no matter how beastly he is, he wouldn't touch her again.
Cui Ying calmed down, looked up to meet his gaze, and said in a serious tone, "What cat and mouse nonsense? I'm asking you, did you hear any noise at the door?"
Xiao Qiyu's eyes flickered slightly, and he realized that her solemn expression was not because she was afraid of him, but because of something else.
His mood inexplicably improved a little. He gave a calm "hmm," walked to the screen, picked up a cloth to wipe his sweat, and said, "I heard you. What's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Cui Ying asked anxiously, seeing his calm demeanor. "Aren't you annoyed?"
"What's bothering you?" Xiao Qiyu was still wiping away sweat, his body burning hot, but his words suddenly turned icy cold. "It's just a few barks from a clown. What's there to pay attention to?"
Cui Ying took two deep breaths and recited her father's exact words from yesterday, along with all the worries in her heart.
Xiao Qiyu gradually stopped wiping and turned to watch her speak. As he watched, his gaze involuntarily settled on her rosy, full lips. He swallowed hard, deliberately looked away, and said indifferently, "Why are you worrying about these things?"
Cui Ying blurted out, "We are husband and wife, your affairs are my affairs. If I don't care, who will?"
Xiao Qiyu's eyes flickered, and his usually dull black pupils inexplicably shone, as if the ice and snow were just beginning to melt. Even the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
Cui Ying then added, "At least until the divorce is finalized, I cannot stand idly by."
Xiao Qiyu's face fell down again.
He turned his head sharply, his gaze heavy, as if covered with frost, staring intently at Cui Ying, like an enraged wolfhound intimidating its opponent.
Cui Ying's heart skipped a beat under his gaze. She blinked, feeling utterly bewildered: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
It's still that strange look in his eyes.
Xiao Qiyu casually tossed the cloth onto the screen and approached her step by step. His voice was calm as usual, yet it carried an oppressive force like the calm before a storm.
"Cui Ying, why do you always think about divorcing me?"
Cui Ying was taken aback by his question and subconsciously replied, "Isn't this what we agreed on?"
"What did we agree on?" Xiao Qiyu scoffed, still staring intently at her face. "Can't we go back on our word? Didn't we agree that whoever crossed the line would be a dog? What are we now?"
He took a large step closer, his tall figure completely enveloping Cui Ying's body. Their breaths mingled, and his tone carried a fierce edge: "You adulterous couple?"
"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Cui Ying spat repeatedly, her face turning red with anger. "You're the one who's a dog and a bitch!"
Xiao Qiyu stared at her face, which was filled with shame and indignation. His chest heaved violently, as if he had a lot to say.
But in the end, he simply turned around abruptly, still covered in sweat, and walked behind the screen without saying a word, leaving behind only a cold and hard back view.
The sound of bathing water came from behind the screen, the clear, crisp sound gradually calming Cui Ying's restless heart.
Cui Ying stared blankly at the screen; if anyone were present, no one could possibly know what she was thinking.
After an unknown amount of time, the sound of water behind the screen stopped.
A moment later, Xiao Qiyu emerged from behind the screen.
He changed into his usual smoky black casual clothes. His long hair was not completely dry, still damp, and was casually draped behind him. A few strands of hair clung to his cheeks, making his skin appear even whiter, like fine jade. His narrow phoenix eyes had also lost their redness, regaining their usual deep and cold appearance.
It's like he's become a completely different person.
Seeing Xiao Qiyu like this, Cui Ying was startled again, her heart pounding wildly.
As if possessed, Cui Ying blurted out, "Xiao Qiyu, why don't you want to divorce me?"
She always felt as if some kind of veil was covering her heart, not heavy, but hazy, making it impossible for her to see her own heart or the person in front of her.
The atmosphere was silent as their eyes met.
"Young master—"
Suddenly, Jin Feng's cautious voice came from outside the door: "The old lady sent someone to tell you that after you finish your work, you should go to the Bodhi Hall immediately."
Xiao Qiyu pondered for a moment, then said, "I understand."
He withdrew his gaze from Cui Ying's face, casually picked up a hairband to tie his hair tightly, and then tidied his robes meticulously. After giving Cui Ying a deep look, he turned and walked towards the door.
Cui Ying stood alone in the room, feeling the lingering presence of Xiao Qiyu, unable to describe the complex emotions she felt.
Anyway, it tastes sour and doesn't feel very good.
...
Qiyun Pavilion.
Night had fallen, and all was quiet.
Cui Ying slept soundly, her breathing even and deep, her long, curled eyelashes fluttering beneath her eyes, and her lips slightly parted.
As she slept, her brows furrowed.
A hot, sticky sensation spread through my palm, as if I were holding a piece of scalding, melting honey. A strong, fishy smell lingered around my nose, squeezing out the sweet fragrance of the pear.
Cui Ying tried to shake off his hand, but she couldn't break free no matter what she did, and she couldn't bear it even in her dreams.
She groggily opened her eyes and looked in the direction of her hand—
The tent was dimly lit, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight.
Xiao Qiyu sat before her, his clothes disheveled, his face flushed, his hair damp, and his clear, cold phoenix eyes shimmering with tears…
Seeing the sleeping girl open her eyes, he breathed heavily and swallowed hard.
"Would you believe me if I said you caught it yourself while you were asleep?"
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Author's note: I'm addicted to buffets.
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