22 ? Enter V Super All-in-One (to copywriting)

22 V Super All-in-One (to copywriting)

◎Divorce letter.◎

The ministers were silent; no one dared to look up. The flash of the sword reflected on the emperor's face, which had turned suddenly pale. He took two steps back in disbelief, trembling, and said, "You...you, you are defying the majesty of the monarch and plotting rebellion! You are plotting rebellion!"

But all the guards just looked at the emperor who was pushed to the throne as a puppet with a cold look, waiting for the order from the man on the high platform. Xie Huaijin looked at Ci Ying in his arms, waved his hand gently, and asked the guards to put down their weapons first.

The emperor looked at everything dejectedly, the sword in his hand fell to the ground, and he staggered back to the dragon throne. The hall was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.

Xie Huaijin had no intention of arguing with the emperor about his insolence today. He'd known he was a fool before he'd been promoted to the throne, but Xie Huaijin hadn't anticipated his foolishness to this extent.

It was the emperor who launched the attack, but the instigator was Yuwen Shu, the King of Mobei, who was far away in Mobei. It was unknown what Yuwen Shu said in front of the emperor that made the emperor launch an attack on the Xie family with his own courage.

Not far away, seeing the situation was hopeless, An, who had filed a complaint with the emperor, knelt before Xie Huaijin, his body shaking like a sieve. "Thank you, sir, for your mercy. I was... was forced. If you are willing to spare my life, I can..."

Mo Yu knocked the man unconscious with a sword, and two guards stepped forward and took him away.

Only after Xie Huaijin and his group left did all the officials in the hall breathe a sigh of relief. The people belonging to the King of Mobei exchanged expressions and hurriedly left the corner of the hall.

Amidst the uproar, Lin Huaian stepped forward and helped the emperor to his feet, saying unscrupulously, "Your Majesty, the Xie family is loyal. Don't let the villain deceive your mind and become a hilt for others in vain."

This sentence sets the tone for today's events. It is both a reminder and a warning.

If you swallow today's matter, you will still be the puppet. If you can't swallow this matter, for the Xie family, it will just be a change of emperor. Yuwen Zhao's pale face still had lingering anger. He suddenly waved away Lin Huaian's hand. Lin Huaian scoffed, his eyes flashing with coldness, and sighed: "You don't know what's good for you."

If Shu He hadn't been in a good mood today, there would have been bloodshed in the hall.

The Gu Lan Qin with broken strings stood in the center of the platform. Lin Huaian looked at the people below the platform, and the coldness in his eyes gradually solidified.

He took one last look at the emperor, who was still angry. Lin Huaian could only utter the word "stupid" when he tried to turn his tongue over and over.

Just like the Emperor Yuwen who was driven away, he couldn't distinguish between master and servant, friend and foe, and couldn't tell the priority. After gaining power, he wanted to get rid of the donkey. I just don't know how much magic potion the Xie family had to take to make them think that the Xie family was the donkey.

On this side, Xie Huaijin and Ci Ying had already boarded the carriage heading back home.

Ci Ying was wrapped in a cloak and did not take it off when she got on the carriage. Xie Huaijin thought she would ask something, or look at him with greedy eyes like many people did, but the first thing she did when she got on the carriage was to spread out his hand to check if he was injured.

Ci Ying lowered her head, and her warm fingers gently rubbed across Xie Huaijin's palm.

The girl took out a pink and white handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped the red marks on the young man's fingertips. After she was done, she silently hugged the young man, just like she did in the hall.

When the carriage started moving, neither of them spoke. Ci Ying quietly buried herself in Xie Huaijin's arms, unable to calm the shock in her heart for a long time.

She said, "Xie Huaijin."

The young man softly said "hmm" in response. But Ci Ying seemed not to hear and called Xie Huaijin's name again. Xie Huaijin also softly responded. This went on and on until Xie Huaijin heard the girl say softly, "That's amazing."

Xie Huaijin, so awesome.

The same evaluation as that day at Anhuai Water Pavilion.

But something seemed different. The girl buried herself in his arms, her voice was very soft, and she seemed exceptionally quiet.

After returning to the mansion, Xie Huaijin did not get off the carriage with Ciying. After explaining something to Ciying, he asked Mo Yu to send Ciying back to the yard and told Ciying to rest early.

Mo Yu escorted Ci Ying to the door. Xiao Wan nodded to Mo Yu, then followed Ci Ying in and closed the door. Ling Shuang and Ling Yue retreated, leaving Xiao Wan alone in the room.

The candle flame was lit by the small bowl, reflecting the quiet profile of the girl by the window.

Xiao Wan asked softly, "Young Madam, is it because of Miss Ru Zhen?"

Ci Ying shook her head, all of them, but not all.

The girl pushed open the window and propped up her head to look at the sky. There was actually a crescent moon in the December night sky, but it was very faint and only an outline was left visible because of the clouds.

Ci Ying said softly, "Xiao Wan, look, there's the moon."

Xiaowan stuck her head out and looked at the moon in the sky with Ciying. After just one glance, she shrank back and stuffed a warm hot water bottle into Ciying's arms and closed the window a little: "It's cold, Madam, please be careful."

In a trance, Xiaowan seemed to hear Ciying say something about far or near, but when she turned around and listened carefully, she found that Ciying didn't say anything at all.

Even with the window half closed, one could still see the shallow crescent moon. As the clouds grew darker, the moon's shadow became shallower, Ci Ying murmured in her heart.

It's too far.

Xie Huaijin, it’s too far.

Like this moon that was about to disappear at any moment, even when they were in the hall, she was in his arms and could smell his breath. But it seemed that in the next moment, the next instant, the next split second, he would disappear at any moment, just like the moon in the clouds.

Ci Ying stretched out her hand to catch the moon, but how could she catch it? Soon the clouds did not even leave her a trace.

As snow fell in Chang'an, Ci Ying's first New Year after marrying into the Xie family arrived.

Lin Shu stayed there for half a month and then went back on her own. On the way back, she was obviously in a bad mood. When she was bumped into by a maid who was in a hurry, she couldn't help but get angry and raised her hand to push the maid against the pillar.

The maid burst into tears. Ci Ying stood behind the door, watching Lin Shu's initial anger turn into surprise. "I didn't push her that hard, did I? Don't cry, Ayun, help her up."

The maid just cried on the ground: "Slave, slave didn't mean to offend the young lady, it's just that slave..." The maid cried intermittently, which made Lin Shu upset. She raised her hand and said: "I don't blame you, get up, if others see you, they will think I am bullying you again, Ayun."

Ci Ying was speechless and continued to watch quietly.

The maid's crying continued: "Young lady, you didn't bully me. It's me. My mother is sick and I'm worried. I didn't mean to offend you."

Lin Shu was so annoyed that she raised her hand: "I already told you I don't blame you anymore, get up."

The maidservant was about to leave crying, but was pulled back by Lin Shu. She untied the purse hanging on Ayun's waist, took out a few taels of silver and handed it to her: "Don't cry, it's New Year's Day, take it to your mother for treatment and have a reunion year. This Xie family is really something, don't you know how to give you more money..."

The maid was about to say something, but Lin Shu impatiently shook her hand and said, "I don't want to hear it. Go away! It's bad luck to cry on New Year's Day."

The maid could only keep saying "Thank you, Miss".

After Lin Shu left, Ci Ying and Xiao Wan came out from the door. Xiao Wan muttered, "Miss Cousin has such a kind side. How could she be so rude and arrogant to the young lady?"

Ci Ying looked at the direction where the maid went away and said softly, "People are complicated."

Perhaps because of this incident, Ci Ying later felt sad when she heard that the Lin family had forced Lin Shu to marry General Wei. At that time, she didn't know the relationship between General Wei and his wife, and she just thought that the Lin family had repeated what happened to his wife.

The eldest daughter, who was raised so unrestrained and always acting like a spoiled child, became a tool for the family to climb up through marriage. This made Ci Ying feel that pampering was the most illusory thing in the world, and she understood more and more that the gap between her and Xie Huaijin would be difficult to bridge no matter how far she went in her life.

As the year draws to a close, the wealthy families exchange gifts and return them, and some of the items that require special attention are marked. When Ci Ying was finishing up the day sorting things in the warehouse, Xie Huaijin just happened to come back.

He sat beside her, watching her handle household affairs, occasionally giving her a reminder or two, and sometimes talking about something else.

Ci Ying looked at Xie Huaijin. They hadn't seen each other for several days, and Xiaowan had been whispering in her ear recently. Maybe she was influenced by Xiaowan, or maybe she herself was always confused, so she sometimes wondered whether she and Xie Huaijin were really a couple.

They met once a month, and Xie Huaijin never stayed overnight, and they wouldn't even do anything intimate with each other.

Once she tried to stand on tiptoe to kiss him, but saw the young man subconsciously turned his head, and then he whispered "sorry" to her. At that time, Ci Ying shook her head and said "It's okay".

It's okay.

What else?

Ci Ying's thoughts were in disarray, and her writing was filled with errors. A gentle voice from a young man reached her ears: "Su Xueruo doesn't like orchids. Let's change to white peonies."

Ci Ying exclaimed "Ah", then used a brush to cross out the word "Orchid" on the booklet and changed it to "White Peony". Perhaps because too much ink was used, the ink became thick and formed a dark dot on the booklet.

This was the first time Ci Ying heard Su Xueruo's name.

At that time, she didn't know who Su Xueruo was, nor did she know her relationship with Xie Huaijin, but maybe people have intuition. That day, she looked at this page of the booklet several times, and was disturbed by the ink. She wanted to tear it up and copy it again, but as soon as she put her hand on it, Xie Huaijin stopped her.

The young man smiled gently at her. "Once everything is arranged, someone will transcribe it. It's just a dot of ink, no need to bother."

Ci Ying wanted to say "It's okay", but she didn't say it in the end. She just rewrote the name of Su Xueruo from the Su family. The moment the ink spread between her lips and teeth, a bitter and dark taste came from her mouth.

In a trance, Ci Ying's body was turned over. The young man gently wiped her lips with a handkerchief and looked at her with a smile: "How did you swallow the ink like a child? I'll take care of the rest."

Ci Ying did not refuse. She was indeed too tired these days. Maybe it was because it was the first New Year and the old lady wanted to show her power. The tasks on hand were multiplied. Ci Ying only slept for three hours yesterday.

They did not change seats. Ci Ying handed the brush and book to Xie Huaijin, and sat quietly to grind ink for him, looking down at the completely different handwriting on the book written by the young man.

Unlike his usual neat and elegant style, the young man's writing was somewhat casual, but his brush strokes were still beautiful and his words flowed like clouds and smoke.

Ci Ying was a little sleepy. As she got closer, she could smell the faint and clean cedar scent on Xie Huaijin. Ci Ying lowered her eyes unconsciously and finally fell asleep on the table.

When Xie Huaijin finished, he saw Ciying's peaceful sleeping face. He put down his brush, went out and called the servant. Xiaowan followed him, took the booklet and handed it to the steward, and watched Xie Huaijin carry Ciying back to the room.

Xiaowan was pleased with the intimacy between the two. She walked towards the manager's office in small steps, flipping through the booklet and checking it. When she saw one of the pages, she was stunned.

When Ciying woke up again, she saw Xiaowan standing by the bed in a daze.

Ci Ying called Xiao Wan softly, but Xiao Wan didn't move. Ci Ying was sleeping lazily and hadn't woken up completely. She had no memory of how she got back, so she called Xiao Wan again.

Xiaowan turned around in surprise and grabbed Ciying's wrist.

There was a good charcoal fire burning in the room, but Xiaowan's hands were terribly cold. Ciying huddled under the quilt, covering Xiaowan's hands with it to keep them warm. She asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Xiaowan's worries were written all over her face, and Ciying couldn't ignore them even if she wanted to.

Xiaowan raised her eyes, and there were tears in them.

Ci Ying realized that things might be more serious than she thought.

Xiao Wan grabbed Ci Ying's hand and cried, "Young Madam, have you already known about Miss Su's situation?"

Ci Ying was stunned for a moment and asked, "What?"

Xiaowan cried and said, "I saw the ink spot on the book. How could it fall right next to Miss Su? Miss... Even if the young master and Miss Su were once in love, you are now the young lady of the Xie family. Don't let outsiders confuse your mind. The most important thing is to hold on to the young master."

......

Ci Ying took a long time to react and asked softly, "Are you in love?"

Xiaowan choked up and nodded, "The story of the young master and Miss Su San was known to everyone in the capital. Their deeds have been circulated for years. If Miss Su San had not requested to go to the Buddhist temple to observe three years of mourning for her mother's death, with the friendship between the young master and Miss Su San, the marriage would have been arranged on the day Miss Su San came of age."

The candlelight in the room flickered. After a long moment, Ci Ying whispered, "I don't know."

If she knew...

If Ci Ying knew, she would follow her original plan and ask to leave the house on the day of the lady's burial to guard the mausoleum for the lady and the young lady.

Xiaowan wanted to say something but was stopped by Ciying.

The candlelight was blown out by the wind outside at some point. In the dim light, Ci Ying slowly let go of Xiao Wan's hand, pulled the quilt over her head, and said softly, "You go out first. I want to rest."

Xiaowan looked at Ciying distressedly. After a while, Ciying sighed and said, "Xiaowan, go out first."

Xiaowan then left.

After the door was closed, Ci Ying pulled down the quilt, feeling a tightness in her chest. She stood up and leaned against the bed rails, looking out the window. However, Xiao Wan had closed the window when she left, so Ci Ying could only see a sliver of light through the crack.

It seems to be snowing outside.

Ci Ying lowered her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. She thought of every time Xie Huaijin held her in his arms over the past six months, and felt infinite guilt in her heart.

She didn't know. If she knew that Xie Huaijin had a lover, she wouldn't do this.

Even though she had liked him for many years, even though the three words "Xie Huaijin" had always been a name that kept lingering in her heart, she would not be so selfish as to use the mistress's power to stay with Xie Huaijin, occupy the position of the young lady of the Xie family, and ruin the marriage between Xie Huaijin and his lover.

Ci Ying's body trembled, and she moved her fingers after a long time. She vaguely remembered that she had actually heard one or two of these things, but before she could hear clearly, the young lady pulled her away and said with a smile that those people were chatterboxes, talking nonsense all day long. Ci Ying didn't hear clearly at all, and the memory faded away.

Thinking about it now, she seemed to have heard the name "Su Xueruo" when she was very young.

It was a long night, with light snow outside the window. Inside the window, Ci Ying hugged her knees, leaned against the bed railing, and looked at the ray of light leaking from the gap in the window frame.

She didn't know what to do.

At least at this moment, Ci Ying didn't know. She thought back to the mornings and evenings of the past six months, every time she met Xie Huaijin, the hand-holdings, the hugs, even the gazes they'd exchanged.

Thinking of the young man's gentle eyes and meticulous care, all of this was like a net that entangled Ciying's heart. Even after listening to Xiaowan's words, she still found it difficult to extricate herself.

People are not plants or trees, and her love is not an ink dot on a book that can be easily erased. Even during those years when the two of them were out of reach, Ci Ying still carefully kept it in her heart and loved it silently for so many years, not to mention that she is his wife now.

Xiaowan's words echoed in Ciying's ears again. Ciying stared blankly as the sky gradually brightened.

......

The next day, Xiaowan carefully looked after Ciying. It was impossible to tell what Ciying was thinking from her expression. She looked the same as before, but something was different.

Xiaowan wanted to ask something cautiously, but was pulled out by Lingyue. Lingshuang was inside reporting on the situation in the shop outside and asking Ciying to make a decision.

The door was closed in front of Xiaowan. After leaving the study, Lingyue loosened Xiaowan's clothes and looked indifferent. Xiaowan was a little angry, but Ciying did not stop Lingyue's behavior, so Xiaowan didn't say anything.

Seeing Xiaowan frequently looking into the house, Lingyue gave Xiaowan a cold look. The snow had already covered the yard in white. Lingyue said in a calm voice, "Xiaowan, as a servant, you must remember your duty."

Xiaowan raised his neck: "What do you mean?"

Ling Yue said coldly, "I'm telling you not to make decisions for the master. The master is lenient with you, but you keep gossiping in front of the master all day long. If something goes wrong one day, who will be able to protect you?"

Xiaowan subconsciously thought it was something that happened yesterday, and her voice became a little higher: "How could I be talking nonsense? It's obviously true."

Ling Yue's voice grew even colder. "Ru Zhen came to you and told you that she wanted to go to the grave in the Prince's mansion. Did she come to you and tell you in person? Ru Zhen and you don't know each other at all. Why did you make up stories about her in front of the master? How long have you known Ru Zhen? Have you ever met her? How long has the master known Ru Zhen? Do you think it's your place as a servant to interfere in the affairs between the master and Ru Zhen?"

Xiaowan felt guilty for a moment, but she still said in a firm voice, "The flower viewing banquet incident was such a big deal, and everyone knows that Ruzhen betrayed Ciying. I know you have a good relationship with Ruzhen, but you can't ignore the facts."

This time, Ling Shuang happened to come out from inside. Upon hearing this, she spoke to Xiao Wan for the first time. She had always been a gentle person, so her tone was not too harsh at this time. However, her words contained a subtle warning: "Xiao Wan, you must not address the master by her name directly. If you do it again, I will suggest to the master that you go to Wang Ma Ma to learn etiquette for half a year."

Xiaowan could argue with Lingyue, but he didn't dare to argue with Lingshuang, so he just lowered his head and responded.

Lingshuang pulled Lingyue, who was still indignant, and said softly, "Let's go."

Xiaowan then pushed the door open and entered the study. Ciying naturally heard the noise outside and said softly, "Xiaowan, Lingyue and Lingshuang have a good relationship with Ruzhen. Don't mind it."

Xiaowan was already feeling wronged, and now Ciying's words made her cry out in grievance: "I'm not wrong, Ruzhen betrayed you. Why would they protect someone who betrayed you?"

Ci Ying put down her pen, gently beckoned the small bowl towards her, and said truthfully, "Ru Zhen did something wrong, so naturally everyone is angry, but we've been friends for over a decade. Seeing her treated so badly, regardless of whether it was a path she chose, we're all angry but also feel regret and heartache. After all, she was once the sister we all protected."

"Xiaowan, you are not wrong, but Lingyue and Lingshuang are not wrong either." Ciying's voice was gentle, which made Xiaowan's eyes tear up again.

Seeing Xiaowan calm down, Ciying said nothing more. There were some things Xiaowan still needed to think through on her own. She flipped open the account book, but her mind wasn't on it. Lingshuang had just told her about Anhuai. She had asked Lingshuang to buy more land and houses, deducting some of the money from the account, and she would donate some to her wife and daughter when she went to the Buddhist temple next year.

Thinking of Ru Zhen again, Ci Ying whispered, "Xiao Wan, go ask Zhu Er if the young master is in the mansion today."

Xiaowan's eyes suddenly lit up, thinking that his wife had finally figured it out, and hurried out to ask.

Ciying wanted to ask about Ruzhen.

But when Ci Ying saw Xiao Wan coming back looking discouraged, she knew that Xie Huai Jin was probably not at home today. Sure enough, Xiao Wan came back to the room and said, "Zhu Er said that the young master had gone out and might be back in the evening. He said that if you have anything to say, you can talk to him directly."

There was probably no point in telling Zhu Er about Ru Zhen's matter, so Ci Ying wanted to find another time to deal with the affairs in the mansion. Before she knew it, it was already evening, but she had basically finished dealing with it, so she should have some free time today.

Ci Ying propped up her head with a pen in a daze. When she heard footsteps, she thought it was Xiao Wan and said softly, "I'll go back later. There's no rush."

There was no echo from the small bowl. Instead, a slender and gentle hand took the brush from her forehead. Holding her face with his hand, the young man's gentle voice reached Ci Ying's ears: "Are you bored?"

Ci Ying was startled, and when she looked up she saw Xie Huaijin.

Although she was the one who took the initiative to meet him during the day, when she really saw Xie Huaijin, she couldn't help but think of Xiaowan's words yesterday. Ciying had never met Miss Su San, but anyone who could be as famous as Xie Huaijin in Chang'an must be extremely talented.

Seeing that she was in a daze, Xie Huaijin put down the brush and sat down beside her.

Ci Ying looked in the direction Xie Huaijin was going. She saw a trace of fatigue between the young man's brows. Her heart softened for a moment, and she whispered, "In three days, we'll be celebrating the New Year. Will you be home then?"

"Is this what you're asking today?" The young man did not answer directly.

Ci Ying shook her head and said honestly, "I saw Ru Zhen at the banquet that day. She was... with Yu Wenfu. I'm worried that she's been deceived, so I want you to help send someone to investigate."

"Are you the servant who stole the pearl hairpin given to you by your second sister and only sold it for a hundred taels?" Xie Huaijin closed his eyes, his voice still gentle.

Ci Ying walked behind Xie Huaijin, gently pressed his forehead, and said softly, "You know." Xie Huaijin raised his eyes for a moment, but after a brief encounter with Ci Ying's eyes, he closed them again, a smile on his lips: "Yeah, I know."

Ci Ying looked at Xie Huaijin tenderly, leaned over and gently pressed her lips on the young man's forehead.

Xie Huaijin opened his eyes again. It wasn't that he hadn't noticed, nor was it that he couldn't avoid it. But Ci Ying's movements were slow, as if she was testing him, yet also afraid of something. The hand pressing on his forehead trembled uncontrollably. Xie Huaijin was about to avoid her, but with a sigh, he took Ci Ying's hand and held her in his arms.

What does a kiss feel like?

Ci Ying felt a little bitter because she ate her own tears.

The young man's slender jade-like hand brushed across her cheek, wiping away the tears mixed on her lips. He lifted Ci Ying's head and kissed her gently. His lips lightly moistened the girl's lips, and their warm breath gradually intertwined. It was a very long kiss. The young man was as gentle as ever, and it was more of a comforting kiss than an intimate one.

Ciying cried even harder, she didn't know why she was crying.

Perhaps it was because, in this kiss, Ci Ying truly felt for the first time that Xie Huaijin really didn't like her at all. No one would kiss someone they liked like this.

She hugged Xie Huaijin's neck, not wanting him to notice that something was wrong with her. Tears flowed down the young man's neck, and the warm fragrance entered Ci Ying's nostrils. In an instant, Ci Ying felt the stiffness of Xie Huaijin's body.

So Ciying let go of her hand and ran back to her room as if she was escaping.

In the evening, Xie Huaijin asked Zhu Er to bring news about Ru Zhen. The handwriting was written in tiny, fine characters on a bamboo scroll. Ci Ying could only recognize that it was not Xie Huaijin's handwriting.

Ciying read it carefully, and after Zhu Er left, her hand suddenly loosened, letting the scroll drop to the ground. Indeed, as Xiaowan had suspected, Ru Zhen had entered the Crown Prince's mansion of her own free will. Ciying gazed long and hard at the distant candlelight. A breeze filtering through the window lattice blew the red flame on the candle, making it grow and shrink, and her heart swelled with it.

She lowered her eyes and suffered the first serious illness since she was born.

In troubled times, human lives are worthless. When Ciying was a child and followed the embroidery girl scholar in Dingyang, she did not dare to get sick. She had six older brothers and sisters, and the one with whom she had the best relationship was her sixth brother, who was only a few months older than her. When she was four years old and her sixth brother was less than five years old, her sixth brother fell ill and died.

The embroiderer buried the child crying. Ci Ying sat in front of the small mound of earth, staring blankly at the wooden board without even any words engraved on it. She didn't understand why her sixth brother, who had been catching crickets to amuse her just two days ago, died today.

The book says that when a person is sick, they need to take medicine, but when Sixth Brother fell ill, the embroidery girl simply buried him. At that time, Ciying looked at the embroidery girl in front of the mound, not daring to ask if she would also be buried directly if she fell ill.

She didn't dare ask, she didn't dare to be sick.

Later, when they arrived at the Xie residence, the young lady herself was a sickly person, so Ci Ying was even more afraid to get sick. The young lady was so kind, if she got sick and passed on her illness to the young lady, how could the young lady's body withstand the torment? Ci Ying gritted her teeth, wishing she could not get sick even when she was sick.

She has held on until now.

In the last two days of the New Year, I fell completely ill.

During this time, Xiaowan mostly cared for her, along with a female doctor named Caiyu. Lingyue and Lingshuang were busy with matters outside, and would send someone back to see her every once in a while. One time, Lingyue wanted to simply put off all her work for the year and come back to take care of her, but Ciying chuckled and said that the Xie Mansion didn't need a maid to look after her.

Lingyue wiped her tears and was about to say something, but Lingshuang held her sister and told Xiaowan in a gentle voice that she was in trouble. Lingyue also changed her attitude and cried and said to Xiaowan that she would take good care of the master and would never say anything bad about her again. Xiaowan was so moved that she burst into tears, and Ciying saw her coughing and laughing.

Xie Huaijin also came many times. The number of times he came to see her this month was more than the number of times they met in the past six months.

Sometimes he would come and leave, and sometimes he would stay with her for a long time, sometimes during the day, sometimes at night.

Sometimes he would read poems to her, sometimes some rare and strange stories. The young man's voice was gentle, and even the cold and harsh words sounded affectionate to Ciying's ears. She felt that this was not right, so she simply took the book from the young man and read it herself.

No one mentioned the kiss.

Everyone knows it.

Ci Ying was looking at the book, but her mind was not on the book at all. She just wanted to cover Xie Huaijin's eyes.

Every time she saw him, vines grew wildly in her heart, and those vines entangled her heart, bit by bit. Ci Ying occasionally felt that she could live her life with her eyes closed, but every time at this time she would think of the young lady. The young lady was less free than anyone else, and the young lady was freer than anyone else. Staying in the hospital bed, Ci Ying understood why the young lady had raised a "Ci Ying" back then.

Of course, this only applies to the "Ci Ying" of that year. If the current Ci Ying were to go back to the time when she and the young lady first met, the young lady would probably just push her wheelchair and pass by her with a faint smile.

As she thought about it, Ci Ying felt that something was wrong. After thinking about it, she understood that who could go back to the past? How could she go back to the past with her current memories? Therefore, the past cannot be changed. The lady had already made her choice in the past, and Xie Suwei would choose Ci Ying.

She was thinking so much...

So many random thoughts.

She just wanted to be a lady.

Xie Huaijin looked at Ci Ying who was in a daze on the hospital bed, and did not disturb her. He blew out the light gently, and sure enough, after a while the girl fell asleep.

In the dim light, the young man quietly looked at the girl on the hospital bed, reached out to tuck in the quilt for her, closed the door and left.

Ci Ying was ill until March of the following year.

During the Shangsi Festival, Ciying went out for the rare occasion, and Xie Huaijin naturally accompanied her.

Ci Ying rarely visited the market, and had never seen such a bustling scene before. It even helped to relieve her months of illness. Along the way, people were seen applying dew to willow branches, purifying themselves from disasters. Ci Ying's eager gaze caught Xie Huaijin's attention. He took her hand and asked gently, "Want to try?"

Ci Ying nodded, took the willow branch from Zhu Er's hand, and nodded at Xie Huaijin's head like the person next to her.

She laughed softly, and Xie Huaijin also took the willow branch and tapped her head lightly, then put the willow branch into Zhu Er's hand. Zhu Er nodded at the candle, and Zhu Yi silently handed the clean handkerchief to Xie Huaijin.

Ci Ying spread out her hands out of habit, and when Xie Huaijin wiped the water off her hands, she suddenly realized that she had gotten used to it without realizing it.

It wasn't even a few times.

After washing their hands, Xie Huaijin took Ci Ying's hand. It was probably the first time for the young man to be in such a noisy crowd. His usually calm face showed a hint of unnaturalness. Ci Ying looked at him and laughed for some reason.

She took a string of candied haws from the shelf nearby and looked at Xie Huaijin with wide eyes.

Xie Huaijin paid the bill naturally, but the eldest son of the Xie family had no idea how much the candied haws cost, so he handed over a piece of silver, which made the old man selling the candied haws embarrassed and said, "Sir, I can't make the change, so I'll give it to you guys instead."

Xie Huaijin rarely encountered such a situation, and said awkwardly: "No need to change, just take it."

Ci Ying laughed muffledly and was pulled away from the crowd by Xie Huaijin. Even though Xie Huaijin protected her all the way, there were still too many people, and the girl's face was covered with hair. Looking at Ci Ying's happy smile, the young man also chuckled, raised his hand and gently gathered the hair on Ci Ying's forehead, his eyes gentle.

Ci Ying's eyes couldn't hold back any more, and the wind blew them to the point of tears. How could such a good person not like her?

If he had been a little worse, she wouldn't have liked him. She wouldn't have to leave with a mixture of guilt and confusion after suffering a serious illness and not even recovering.

Naturally she had to blame him, she really couldn't blame herself.

If you want to blame someone, blame her for having eyes that can see Xie Huaijin's face; if you want to blame someone, blame her for having ears that can hear Xie Huaijin's voice; if you want to blame someone, blame her for having a heart that beats for Xie Huaijin with the "bang", "bang", "bang" sound.

If you want to blame Xie Huaijin, blame him for having a good face, a good voice, and being alive.

Ci Ying felt extremely vicious. She threw herself into Xie Huaijin's arms, letting her tears flow. The young man thought she was tired, so he gently stroked her head and asked her, "Are we going back now?"

The moon had already climbed up into the sky, and Ci Ying thought it was time to go back.

But she lowered her eyes: "I still want to eat a candy man."

Shouldn't eat.

The sugar figurine in Ciying's hand was still warm when a gentle and graceful female voice suddenly rang in her ears: "Shuhe."

Ci Ying turned around, the moonlight was cool, she saw a person not far away wearing a moon-white brocade skirt, the light was cool, the moon was filled with snow, the figure was as delicate as ice and jade.

Human intuition is so terrible. Even though Ci Ying had never seen the Miss Su San mentioned by Xiao Wan, a voice sounded in her heart the moment she saw her, thinking that she must be Su Xueruo.

Ci Ying sighed, not even feeling jealous.

She stood beside Xie Huaijin and saw him approaching, as if bathed in moonlight. She thought, only someone like him could be as famous as Xie Huaijin in Chang'an.

Xie Huaijin said gently, "This is Miss Su San."

Ci Ying said softly, "Hello, Miss Su San."

Su Xuerou walked over to Ciying and said gently, "You must be Ciying, right? I've heard about you from my family. Just call me Xuerou. Or, since I'm a little older than you, you can call me sister if you don't mind."

Su Xueruo didn't care that Ci Ying couldn't be called out. She just turned around and talked to Xie Huaijin about the Buddhist temple: "Abbot Yuhua asked me to say hello to you." Her words were full of intimacy.

Ci Ying couldn't bear to listen any longer, so she turned around and said, "I'm going to buy another candied haws."

Xie Huaijin looked at the candied haws in his hand that Ciying had only taken a bite of, took Ciying's hand, and said softly, "Say goodbye to Miss Su San. I'll go with you."

"No need." Ci Ying lowered her head, not knowing what she was thinking.

Xie Huaijin didn't let go, but held Ciying's hand gently but forcefully, coaxing her softly, "Ciying."

Su Xueruo's expression changed slightly. Ci Ying said "goodbye" reluctantly. Xie Huaijin touched Ci Ying's head and said calmly, "Then we'll go first."

Behind the two people, Su Xueruo's face turned completely cold.

When they walked out of the crowd again, Ci Ying also had a candied haws in her hand. The old man selling candied haws recognized them and refused to take any more money. He handed the largest candied haws on the shelf to Ci Ying with a smile.

After returning home with two candied haws and a candy figurine, Ci Ying got out of the car and was about to leave when Xie Huaijin stopped her. This might have been a rare instance of Ci Ying throwing a tantrum, or perhaps it wasn't really a tantrum, but rather a moment when Ci Ying didn't know what to do.

Looking at Ci Ying who was looking down, Xie Huaijin's voice softened: "Why are you unhappy?"

Ciying shook her head and said, "I don't."

"Really?" Xie Huaijin asked.

Ciying said, "Really not."

Ci Ying didn’t know what she looked like, and she never thought that one day she would have grievances written clearly on her face.

Xie Huaijin's eyes softened for a moment, and he took the candied haws and sugar figurine from Ci Ying's hand: "I'll take you home."

Ci Ying did not refuse. She kept her head down all the way. When they reached the yard, Xie Huaijin placed the candied haws and sugar figures on the table. Ci Ying took off her cloak, opened the window, and started coughing as soon as she faced the wind.

The young man stepped forward and reached out to close the window.

He started to leave, but when Ci Ying raised her gaze, he turned back. Thinking about what happened today, he said the person's name: "Is it because of Su Xuerou?"

Ci Ying's fingers became stiff, and she neither nodded nor shook her head.

Xie Huaijin sat in front of Ci Ying, his eyes gentle but without any warmth.

It seemed as if everything before was an illusion. The appearance of Xie Huaijin that Ci Ying saw at this moment was the true appearance of the young man - a gentle but cold gentleman.

Ci Ying felt a little flustered for no reason and was about to shake her head when she heard the first question in her life.

The young man raised his eyes and stared at her, then spoke calmly, "So, you'd rather believe the rumors and what others say than ask me even once?"

Ci Ying still wanted to shake her head, but she did just that.

She clasped her hands, not knowing how to answer. She looked into Xie Huaijin's eyes and felt that he was bullying her, and her eyes were filled with tears unconsciously.

She's not the one who likes someone else, why is she acting as if she's wrong?

Ci Ying wiped her tears and walked into the inner room. After a long moment, she heard the sound of a door closing. Her eyes trembled for a few seconds, and then she burst into tears under the covers. From childhood to adulthood, she had rarely cried. Even when she was wronged, she would suppress her grievances under the covers.

She choked and after a long time, a sigh came from behind her.

She heard someone calling her name.

"Ci Ying."

She was hugged from behind, and the young man's voice regained its former gentleness: "If you have any doubts about anything, you can tell me, whether it is right or wrong, a rumor or something else. You are my wife, you have the right to do so."

Ci Ying remained silent.

Xie Huaijin didn't say anything else, nor did he make any other movements. He just hugged Ci Ying from behind.

After a long time, Ci Ying turned around and slowly hugged Xie Huaijin.

She wanted to apologize, but she didn't say anything.

She seemed to be wrong, but she also felt that it was not her fault. But like many times, in front of Xie Huaijin's hug, in front of Xie Huaijin, she chose to let it go.

She once thought that life could go on like this forever.

By June, Ci Ying and Xie Huaijin had been married for a year.

The worry in Xiaowan's eyes grew heavier and heavier. Ciying always found it funny when she saw it. Lingyue and Lingshuang had become closer to Xiaowan since her serious illness. Seeing Xiaowan like this, Lingyue stuck out her tongue and said, "Little housekeeper!"

Xiaowan blushed, Lingshuang smiled gently and poured a cup of tea for Ciying.

"The prince's mansion will hold a flower-viewing banquet in two days. The invitation has been delivered to the mansion, and the housekeeper has brought the invitation over." As she spoke, Lingyue took out the invitation from her sleeve.

"It's said to be a flower-viewing banquet, but the rumor outside is that it's for choosing a wife for the prince. I don't know why they invited our master." Xiaowan muttered.

Ci Ying opened the invitation and stroked the words on it with her fingers.

This letter was written by Ru Zhen herself.

Lingshuang didn't say anything, and the usually simple Lingyue also hesitated to speak. They already knew that Ruzhen had voluntarily entered the Prince's Mansion, so their expressions were particularly complicated when they looked at the invitation.

Xiaowan looked at Ciying's expression and couldn't seem to be mean for a moment, so she simply turned her eyes away and pretended to be silent.

No one spoke for a while, and finally the usually calm Lingshuang broke the silence: "Master, do you want to go? If you don't want to go, just let the housekeeper refuse."

Ling Yue lowered her voice, "I'd say don't go. Why go? To see her show off? I heard she's been very favored recently and has given her mother a lot of silver, money, and jewelry."

As Lingyue was talking, she was about to cry. Xiaowan opened her mouth, but finally looked at Ciying.

"Let's see in two days. If we have time, we can go together." Ci Ying said softly.

Xiaowan shook her head. This meant she was going. She looked at Lingyue, who had just said she wouldn't go. When she heard Ciying say she was going, she immediately wiped away her tears. Xiaowan shook her head again. None of them were as honest as her.

She didn't want to go. After all, she had taken someone else's position and said so many bad things about him. Even if what she said was all true, it wasn't very good... But if the master went, Xiaowan would have to go with him.

After getting familiar with Lingyue and Lingshuang, Xiaowan also learned to call Ciying "Master" like them. It sounded closer to Ciying than a title like "Young Madam". Thinking about it, Xiaowan felt happy.

The weather was not good on the day of the flower viewing banquet and it actually rained.

Logically, the host should have canceled the flower viewing banquet and found a better day, but Yuwen Fu not only did not cancel it, he also specially sent someone to Xie's house to pick up Ciying.

Ci Ying had told Xie Huaijin in advance that on the day of her departure, Zhu Yi and Zhu Er both disguised themselves as guards and followed behind her. Ling Yue lowered her voice in the carriage and said, "They look exactly the same. I can't tell them apart."

Xiaowan immediately retorted: "It's easy to tell them apart. The one who's a little cold is Zhu Yi, and the one who likes to laugh is Zhu Er."

Xiaowan answered so quickly that Ciying and Lingshuang couldn't help but look at her, but Xiaowan was completely unaware and was still sharing with Lingyue how to identify the twins. Ciying and Lingshuang looked at each other, smiled lightly and said nothing.

Lingyue felt a headache after hearing what Xiaowan said, and she couldn't help but cover Xiaowan's mouth: "Okay, I won't tell you anymore, don't say anything."

Ciying and Lingshuang both covered their mouths and laughed. Xiaowan came to Ciying to complain in a low voice. Ciying responded with a few perfunctory "uh uh ah" sounds, and then Xiaowan went back to play with Lingyue.

When getting off the carriage, Xiaowan wanted to hold an umbrella for Ciying, but Ciying gently shook her head and refused.

Ci Ying held an umbrella and walked deeper into the Prince's Mansion, with Zhu Yi and Zhu Er following behind her. Xiao Wan was about to go forward, but Ling Yue stopped her. Ling Shuang didn't say anything, so Ling Yue whispered, "You're stupid! The master wants to go find Ru Zhen, so it's not appropriate for us to go."

"What's inappropriate about it? I think it's quite suitable." Xiaowancu said.

Seeing that her words were not working, Ling Yue simply fell silent and nudged her sister. Ling Shuang had no choice but to pull Xiao Wan over and start talking. She picked out some stories about Ci Ying and Ru Zhen's childhood, and finally said softly, "Although we can't go back to the past, but the master doesn't care about Ru Zhen at all. Xiao Wan, you're not embarrassing Ru Zhen, you're embarrassing the master."

Xiaowan lowered her eyes, completely silent. She patted her lips, regretting all the bad things she had said before. She had even cursed Ru Zhen in her heart, almost stabbing a villain. She had thought Ru Zhen was a complete villain who had betrayed her master's trust, but she had never imagined that this villain had also been a hero in his childhood.

Holding an umbrella, Ci Ying went to the address written on Ru Zhen's invitation. This was a little trick they used to play in the young ladies' quarters. They would take the third character in the first line, the fifth character in the second line, the seventh character in the third line, and repeat in that order. Finally, in the invitation, Ru Zhen wrote to her: "Sister, come to the East Gate to meet me. Come to see me, come to see me!"

Ci Ying spotted Ru Zhen from a distance. She signaled Zhu Yi and Zhu Er to stop with her eyes and slowly walked forward. A young girl in a crimson skirt sat on a swing, her hair held in place by a single wooden hairpin. Her hair was so thick that the owner hadn't fixed it properly, leaving it dangling in a mass of black hair.

She wore a sapphire green bracelet on her wrist. When she got closer, she saw that it was covered with scars. Ci Ying looked at Ru Zhen with complicated eyes and whispered, "Why did you call me here?"

Ru Zhen looked up and smiled at her, as if nothing had happened.

Ci Ying lowered her eyes: "If you don't tell me, I'll leave."

Ru Zhen reached out to hold her hand. Ci Ying tried to break free, but she saw Ru Zhen's pleading eyes. Ci Ying pretended to struggle twice, but Ru Zhen still held her hand.

"Do you want me to take you away?" Ci Ying took the initiative to say this.

Ru Zhen was obviously stunned for a moment, then shook her head lightly.

Ci Ying's face immediately turned cold. She stood up to leave but was hugged by Ru Zhen. Ci Ying said coldly: "What on earth do you want to do?"

In the distance, Zhu Yi and Zhu Er stood in the corner. Zhu Er stroked his chin and watched from afar, chuckling softly, "It's much more interesting than what the people on the stage are performing."

Zhu Yiyi struck with his sword: "Show some respect."

Zhu Erbai was bored: "It's boring. Young Master has been leaving us next to Ciying all day. It's really boring."

Zhu Yi's expression instantly turned cold, and Zhu Er immediately raised his hands in surrender.

Beside the swing, Ci Ying looked at Ru Zhen with complicated eyes.

Ru Zhen buried herself in her arms, her tears soaking her wrists. Her slender fingers wrote on her palms one stroke at a time: "Be careful, Master, Madam Ran."

Ci Ying wanted to speak but was pushed away by Ru Zhen. A young man was walking slowly towards them from a distance. He was Yu Wenfu, the protagonist of this flower viewing banquet.

Thinking of the scene at the last palace banquet, Ci Ying really hated seeing this person. She stepped forward and held Ru Zhen's hand tightly, and refused to let go no matter how Ru Zhen glared at her.

She didn't know what Ru Zhen was talking about, but she didn't want to go back with her just because she was lost in this world of luxury. Even if Ru Zhen was really blinded by the splendor of the prince's mansion, even if she put aside everything in the Xie Mansion, she was still rich enough for Ru Zhen to live a luxurious life for the rest of her life. Why not rely on her instead of relying on a bad man?

Yuwen Fu walked up, his peach blossom eyes filled with surprise, and he said with a smile, "Isn't this the famous Madam Xie of Chang'an? Why are you flirting with a slave girl like me? It would be bad if someone saw us. They might think that the slave girl of my prince's mansion is close to Madam Xie of your family."

He is asking a question in a sarcastic tone even though he already knows the answer.

Ci Ying, however, was not angry. She simply said seriously, "Yes, we are very close. It's just a slave girl. Can you please give her up? For all the money you have spent on this slave girl over the past year, Ci Ying is willing to repay you tenfold."

Yuwen Fu was stunned. Ci Ying's eyes were so sincere that Yuwen Fu suppressed his anger again and again. Finally, he looked at Ru Zhen with complicated eyes.

Ru Zhen's eyes were red, but she was determined not to cry. Yu Wenfu lowered his eyes and pinched Ru Zhen's face, lifting it up: "Oh, she said she would pay back tenfold. Zhen Zhen, do you think that's appropriate?"

It seemed that just because Ru Zhen said "appropriate", he let Ru Zhen go.

Ci Ying also looked at Ru Zhen.

Ru Zhen tightly pinched her palms, and facing Ci Ying's expectant gaze, she hugged Yu Wenfu's hand, flattering him: "Of course I want to stay with the prince, she..." Ru Zhen pursed her lips and said harshly: "She just envies me..."

"Ruzhen!" Ci Ying looked at Ruzhen with burning eyes before she could finish her words.

Ru Zhen didn't dare to look Ci Ying in the eye. She bit her lip tightly and said, "She just envies me. She envies me for having such a good husband."

Ci Ying's face turned cold and she said angrily: "Ruzhen, if I care about you again, I will..." Ci Ying did not finish the rest of the sentence, because halfway through, the person in front of her started to flirt with each other as if no one was around. Ci Ying's eyes and heart ached, and she walked away angrily.

As soon as Ciying left, Yuwen Fu pinched Ruzhen's chin and asked, "You really don't want to go back with her?"

Ru Zhen smiled tremblingly: "Of course I want to stay with you."

Yuwen Fu looked at Ru Zhen carefully for a long time, but could not see any falsehood in her. He continued to test her, "She is now Madam Xie. If we really compare power and wealth, she can give you much more than I can."

Ru Zhen readily embraced Yu Wenfu and whispered, "I want to stay by your side."

Yu Wenfu's eyes moved, and a look of doubt flashed across his peach blossom eyes, but his hands naturally hugged Ru Zhen in his arms.

Ci Ying left the banquet angrily. The people in the car knew it was over as soon as they saw it. They were chattering when they came, but were silent when they left.

Ci Ying was somewhat frustrated. When she got off the carriage, she started coughing again in the wind.

Xiaowan hurried forward and began to feel dissatisfied with Ru Zhen again. Even though Lingshuang and Lingyue said a lot of good things about Ru Zhen today, it was true that Ru Zhen had betrayed and hurt her master time and time again.

Seeing the master sad, Xiaowan feels sad too.

Lingyue and Lingshuang also felt guilty. Ciying's meeting with Ruzhen today somewhat reflected their willingness.

Ci Ying's bad mood continued until Xie Huaijin came to her room. At that time, she used tea to draw a turtle on the table, and then wrote Ru Zhen's name in it with a washed wolf hair brush.

As she wrote, Ci Ying thought of Ru Zhen's words: "Be careful, young master."

The young master could only be Xie Huaijin. Why should she be wary of him? In other words, is there anything in her that Xie Huaijin needs to pursue? Who is the Madam Ran mentioned later? There doesn't seem to be a surname like Ran in the Hundred Family Surnames. What is the relationship between Xie Huaijin and this Madam Ran...

Why did Xie Huaijin have a relationship with a married woman?

Ci Ying sat up straight and saw the young man pushing open the door with an oil-paper umbrella. Xiaowan stepped forward to take the umbrella. Xie Huaijin blew off the rain on his body at the door before coming in.

"In two days I will need to leave Chang'an for a while."

Since he didn't say where he was going, naturally she couldn't go with him. However, Ci Ying was already satisfied. Compared to the beginning when they could only see each other once a month, it was already good enough that Xie Huaijin would tell her when he was going on a long trip.

Half a month after Xie Huaijin left Chang'an, Lin Shu came crying in a carriage to the Xie Mansion. When Xiaowan came to report, Ciying was still looking at the account book. Hearing this, she asked, "Where did you go?"

"I went to look for the old lady." Xiaowan hesitated as she spoke, not knowing whether she should speak or not. But perhaps remembering what she saw at the corner last time, she whispered, "The Lin family wanted to marry her off to General Wei, who was nearly forty years old. She refused and made a scene for several days. She escaped from the Lin family and came to our house to seek refuge."

Ci Ying paused holding the pen and whispered, "Where did you hear that?"

Ling Yue didn't know why her expression was particularly cold: "It's all spread out there. This Lin family is really shameless and wants to eat everything in the world."

Xiaowan nodded quickly.

Lingshuang was too late to stop him and whispered, "Lingyue's words were a bit harsh, Master, please don't take it to heart."

Ci Ying shook her head, frowned, and asked, "General Wei's situation is different from that of the past. The Lin family wants to marry, is General Wei willing to marry? Last year, the emperor offered the princess a marriage, but General Wei refused."

Lingyue held her hand, and Lingshuang's expression turned cold: "If it's the Second Young Lady, then it's possible."

Ci Ying put down her pen and wondered, "Why did General Wei fall in love with Lin Shu at first sight?"

Before Ling Shuang could speak, Lin Shu's voice suddenly came from the door: "Ciying, Ciying, cousin's wife."

Xiaowan and Lingyue locked eyes. Ciying rubbed her head. She'd already called out "cousin-in-law," and it seemed she'd reached a dead end. She gestured for Lingshuang to go to the door and usher the other person in. Lingshuang sighed and whispered, "Master, you have a kind heart."

Lingyue said nothing, Xiaowan whispered, "The master would not get involved in such matters. At that time, she was arrogant and slammed the master against the pillar. Did she ever think about today?" Even as she said this, Xiaowan still looked out secretly.

Ci Ying said softly, "Ling Shuang, please bring her in first."

As soon as she came in, Lin Shu knelt down and cried out, "Cousin, cousin, I was wrong before, please... please..."

Ci Ying had never seen Lin Shu in such a miserable state. When she raised her eyes, she was surprised to find...

Lin Shu's face is surprisingly 70% similar to the lady's.

In the past, Lin Shu always dressed in vibrant colors, wearing pale yellow and tender green, and her makeup was always heavy. But now she wore plain clothes, her face also plain with only a light layer of powder, and her features, which resembled the lady, were revealed.

She was kneeling, and it was difficult for Lingyue and Lingshuang to support her, so Xiaowan retreated behind them.

Ci Ying stepped forward and helped the man up: "Didn't you go to look for the old lady?"

Lin Shu cried and said, "The old lady said that she is no longer in charge of the family, so she asked me to ask you."

Ci Ying was silent. The old lady was unwilling to find an excuse. She didn't want to offend the Lin family or Lin Shu, so she kicked the ball to her.

Ci Ying looked at Lin Shu, who was crying. "I'm sorry. I was too spoiled in the past. My grandparents always told me that I would be the future mistress of the Xie family, so I was so hostile to you. I'm sorry. I really know I was wrong. Ci Ying, please."

Perhaps it was because she noticed the hesitation in the girl's eyes that Lin Shu began to realize that Ciying might be her only way out. Her grandparents, who had loved her since childhood, turned cold when they heard that she didn't want to marry General Wei. Her father remained silent, and her mother hugged her and cried, "My child, there's nothing we can do. The Lin family has cherished you for so many years, and now the Lin family needs you. A general's wife sounds nice, doesn't it?"

Lin Shu couldn't stop crying when she thought of all this. She trembled and said, "I don't want to marry General Wei. I don't want to. I've only just reached the age of marriage. Please, Ciying..."

Ci Ying frowned: "Are you just going to live in the mansion? But marriage is a big deal, Lin Shu, can you live in the Xie Mansion for the rest of your life?"

The Lin family made this matter known to everyone, but no one knew why.

What Ci Ying was afraid of was that even if Lin Shu could escape for a while, now that her reputation was ruined, how would she get married in the future?

Lin Shu clenched her fists: "They just want to use this method to make me compromise. If I don't marry them, they would rather ruin my reputation."

Ci Ying looked at the face that was 70% similar to his wife's, and now it looked even more ruthless. Ling Yue and Ling Shuang couldn't bear to look at it anymore and turned away. Xiao Wan looked at Ci Ying with a frown on her brow, knowing nothing.

"Cousin, cousin." Lin Shu called out to Ciying anxiously. Ciying didn't speak for a long time. Lin Shu was afraid that Ciying would not care about her anymore. "I have nowhere else to go. The news has spread all over Chang'an. If the Xie Mansion doesn't take me in, Ciying, I can only die."

Ci Ying hesitated for a moment and asked, "There are many courtyards in the Xie Mansion. I can leave one for you. It doesn't matter if you live there for the rest of your life."

Lin Shu's face showed joy.

But Ci Ying's next words made her feel like she was falling into an ice cellar: "But Lin Shu, after all, you are a member of the Lin family. If the Lin family came to ask for you, could the Xie family force you to stay? Or, in other words, could I force you? The old lady's attitude shows that she will not intervene in this matter. Xie Huaijin is not in Chang'an now. I... Lin Shu, I can't keep a young lady from the Lin family."

Lin Shu fell down and sat on the ground, puzzled and asked: "Why did they come to ask for it when I was in Xie's house? They won't break off relations with the Xie family."

Ci Ying squatted down, not caring too much about etiquette, and sat next to Lin Shu, explaining the whole matter to her in detail: "Just because I can let you stay at the Xie Mansion temporarily doesn't mean I can represent the Xie Mansion, so there is no such thing as a falling out. And in the final analysis, the Lin Mansion is right in this matter. When you lived at the Xie Mansion before, the two elders of the Lin family hoped that you would become a young lady, so they were happy to see it happen. Now that Xie Huaijin is married, Lin Shu, will the Lin family let you be a concubine?"

Lin Shu shook her head and said blankly, "They won't... They can marry me to General Wei, who is a generation older than me and can be my father, but they won't let me be a concubine and insult the family."

Lin Shu looked at Ci Ying with tears in her eyes. Her face was so similar to that of the Madam. Ci Ying's eyes softened a little. "I have a solution that's not a solution. If you're willing, you might be able to escape for a while. But your ruined reputation can't be restored. If you want to get married in the future, it will probably be even more difficult."

Lin Shu shook her head: "I don't want to get married again."

Ci Ying made a prompt decision and said softly, "Stay a nun for three years with your hair untied. Wait until the storm has passed and see the Lin family's attitude before deciding whether to return home. You should have a dowry prepared by the Lin family, and my wife has also prepared a portion for you. If you don't spend it recklessly, it will be enough to provide you with a comfortable life."

This is why Ciying finally decided to help Lin Shu. While managing the bank, Lingyue and Lingshuang sorted out all the account books and presented them to Ciying. Among them, Ciying saw the dowry that the lady had prepared for Lin Shu. Perhaps the lady had long anticipated that one day the Lin family would sell Lin Shu as they had sold her.

Lin Shu turned around to prepare, fearing she would be too late, but she still turned around and knelt three times in front of Ci Ying: "Thank you, Ci Ying, I'm sorry for what happened before, I'm really sorry."

Ci Ying said softly, "You should thank Madam."

Lin Shu cried and said, "I'm sorry. After I become a nun, I will chant sutras and pray for my aunt every day. I was wrong before..." After that, Lin Shu hurried away with her servants. Ci Ying glanced at Ling Shuang, and Ling Shuang followed to avoid making any mistakes.

The door closed, and Xiaowan sighed: "The Lin family is really not human."

Lingyue remained silent, the anger on her face only growing stronger. Ciying looked over and noticed something was wrong with Lingyue. After a moment's thought, she finally asked, "Lingyue, what's wrong?"

Ling Yue came back to her senses a little, and her usually explosive temper calmed down at this moment: "No, Miss."

Seeing Lingyue was reluctant, Ciying didn't force her. She flipped through the account book to the page that listed the dowry her wife had left for Lin Shu and handed it to Lingyue. "Go to the bank and get it. Exchange all the other items for banknotes. Deposit them in Lin Shu's name and then give the token to her."

Lingyue took the account book downstairs, and only Xiaowan and Ciying were left in the room.

Ci Ying started to deal with other things. She was still angry when she thought of Ru Zhen, but as she got more angry, her complexion became much better than before.

When Xie Huaijin returned, it was July, the hottest month in Chang'an.

When Xie Huaijin left, he didn't let Ciying see him off. When he came back, she only found out when she went to Ciying's room. Ciying occasionally wondered if other couples were the same.

She used to go up and give Xie Huaijin a hug, but gradually she stopped doing that.

Because once again she accidentally discovered that Xie Huaijin hated these physical touches. Even if his expression was normal, people would naturally notice each other's living habits after being together for a long time.

But soon, her hand was held by Xie Huaijin.

The young man took the initiative to hold her in his arms and whispered, "Ciying, I'm back."

Ci Ying began to hesitate again. She tentatively hugged Xie Huaijin back and whispered, "I miss you so much."

The young man's body stiffened for a moment, and then a gentle low laugh spread into the girl's ears. Ci Ying raised her eyes and saw Xie Huaijin's beautiful phoenix eyes. She looked at him, and because they were very close, she could see her reflection in his eyes.

This was a very intimate distance. Ci Ying thought about it and put her head on the young man's shoulder.

"I miss you too." Xie Huaijin responded to Ci Ying's longing.

Ci Ying sometimes thought that this was really good, she could live like this with Xie Huaijin for the rest of her life, just like this...

But changes always come so suddenly.

One day in mid-July, Ci Ying brought an ice bowl from the small kitchen to Xie Huaijin. She hadn't thought about it at first, but the bowl kept nagging in her ear, so she thought it wouldn't hurt to send it a few times.

Xiaowan stayed outside the door and made a cheering gesture to Ciying, which made Ciying laugh. The smile on her face continued until Ciying walked into the study.

The two guards guarding the study door saluted Ci Ying. As Ci Ying entered the study, she could see a slender figure behind the screen from a distance. In the mansion, Xie Huaijin hadn't left the house for a day, so he simply wore plain clothes.

Seeing Ci Ying coming, the maids parted the beaded curtain and saluted. Ci Ying gestured for them to leave first. The maids naturally retreated to the outer room. Xie Huaijin put down the book in his hand and asked softly, "Why are you here?"

Ci Ying put down the ice bowl in her hand and said softly, "It's hot, so I made an ice bowl in the small kitchen."

Xie Huaijin stood up and came over. He originally didn't want to eat these, but looking at Ciying's slightly flushed face, he said gently, "Let's share some."

Ci Ying sat down, took out the ice bowl from inside, placed the carved lychee flesh on the milk chilled in well water, and when she opened it, a faint fragrance wafted out.

Ci Ying used a spoon to scoop up some milk foam, then raised a spoonful and brought it to Xie Huaijin's lips. The young man took a sip, and his light red lips were stained white by the milk. Then he swallowed with his slender neck, his Adam's apple moving, and his eyes were light. Then Ci Ying used up the lychee flesh on the spoon.

"I'll do it myself." Xie Huaijin looked at Ci Ying's increasingly red face and took the dishes from Ci Ying's hands.

Ci Ying also tasted it, but she had already used it in her own room, so she couldn't be greedy with the ice bowl. She took two sips and stopped. While Xie Huaijin was using it, Ci Ying found an ancient book from the bookshelf nearby and began to read while half-lying on the soft couch.

She hadn't been back to Lishan Academy for a long time and didn't know how the academy was doing. Xie Ran went to the west alone half a year ago. When Ci Ying saw him off, Xie Ran had many new scars on his arms. She was overwhelmed with things at that time and was unable to help Xie Ran. She forced some silver on him and just said, "See you later."

Xie Ran's younger brother should still be in the academy, and in two years he'd be taking the imperial examinations. Ci Ying flipped through the pages of her book, feeling strangely hot. Her clothes, though thin and light, clung to her snow-white skin. She straightened up uncomfortably.

She stood up to leave, but was gently held back by Xie Huaijin.

The reason why it was so gentle was because Ci Ying really had no strength. Xie Huaijin just held her hand and she couldn't move. She wiped the sweat from her neck with her sleeve, supported Xie Huaijin and whispered, "I feel a little uncomfortable."

She felt a little sleepy but not really. When she blinked, she saw Xie Jinhuai's hand. The cold, white skin was dotted with crisscrossing blue veins. Ci Ying touched it carefully and found that Xie Huaijin's hand was terribly hot.

Ci Ying hurriedly moved away, but was grabbed by the young man.

Xie Huaijin lowered his voice and called softly, "Ciying."

Ci Ying looked up blankly, feeling a little annoyed, but not knowing what to do. Incense was still burning in Xia Ri's study. Ci Ying hadn't felt anything just now, but now she found it difficult to breathe.

A low sigh came from a place very close to Ci Ying. Ci Ying looked up in confusion and saw Xie Huaijin looking at her motionlessly.

Or rather, gaze.

Ci Ying hated this look. Between covering Xie Huaijin's eyes and closing her own, Ci Ying chose to turn around. It was okay if she didn't see it. But her body was forcibly pulled back, causing her shoulder to ache. She looked at Xie Huaijin with some confusion, but Xie Huaijin didn't look at her.

His eyelashes almost fell on her neck, but in the end, his warm breath fell and moved away. Ci Ying didn't know why she felt even more uncomfortable. She waved Xie Huaijin's hand away in annoyance, but she couldn't. Xie Huaijin kept holding her slender white wrist.

Ci Ying whispered, "I'm so hot and covered in sweat. Xie Huaijin, please let me go." As Ci Ying was about to lift up her thin dress, Xie Huaijin reached out to stop her.

Ci Ying looked at Xie Huaijin hesitantly. Xie Huaijin's hands were much warmer than hers, and the impression they left on her skin felt like a warm stove on a winter's day. But...it was summer now, and Ci Ying was speechless. She gently embraced him, thinking, "So what, summer?"

But when she went forward to meet him, Xie Huaijin pushed her away.

Ci Ying was really angry now. She tried to shake off Xie Huaijin's wrist but couldn't. Ci Ying sat down dejectedly and said aggrievedly, "What do you want?"

The young man didn't answer her question, but simply looked at her with a complex expression, which then gradually faded. Ci Ying watched the veins bulge on his neck, their reflection against his cold, pale skin, causing her to swallow. She had no idea why, but a strange feeling welled up in her body. She subconsciously tried to move closer to Xie Huaijin, but was pushed away.

Ciying was really angry.

She opened her eyes wide and finally shook off Xie Huaijin's hand with some effort. When she put her hand on the door to open it, she was pulled back by Xie Huaijin.

The thin dress was lifted up at some point, revealing a large area of snow-white skin. Ci Ying felt more comfortable but also more uncomfortable. She looked up at Xie Huaijin. Although she was clearly moved, the young man's eyes were as calm as usual.

The young man scattered the things on the table with a wave of his sleeve, and Ci Ying was pressed on the table. The cold table top brought her back to her senses briefly, but she soon became addicted to the gentle breath on her neck.

Things rolled down from the desk one after another, and the dense kisses on the neck spread to the lips little by little. The young man had a pair of light red and thin lips, which were stained with the fragrance of lychee milk and mixed with the faint scent of cedar on his body. In this hot summer day, they burned into a red glow on Ciying's body.

A light kiss lingered on Ci Ying's lips. When she looked up, she could only see the shaking beams. She subconsciously called out "Xie Huaijin" softly, and the last thing on the table - the teapot - finally fell to the ground.

"Bang--"

In an instant, everything was silent.

Ci Ying's eyes came out of the blur, and she vaguely realized something. She wanted to grab the sleeve of the person on her, but her hand was too slow. Her hand paused for a moment without grabbing anything, and then drooped down. The girl was lying on the desk with half of her body naked, with a mess on the ground below her and a bent beam above her head.

The young man's eyes were clear. He took off his clothes and covered Ci Ying with them, saying "sorry" in a gentle voice.

Ci Ying grabbed the corner of Xie Huaijin's clothes as she had done many times. She looked at Xie Huaijin with a look that she herself didn't understand. She had to define it and even felt that it could be considered "begging."

Her sweetheart always meets her expectations.

When people's expectations are met, they will become greedy. If they are satisfied again and again, they will become insatiable. One day, greed will be engraved in their bones, and their souls will be filled with demands. Their expectations will fall from the sky where the moon is and be shattered.

The young man did not pause, but only whispered "I'm sorry" again.

The hem of her snow-white robe slipped from Ci Ying's hand. The young man opened the door and ordered the maidservant to find a doctor. In a trance, Ci Ying closed her eyes, tears or something else sliding down her cheeks.

Like the sobering teapot, it was smashed to pieces.

The plain outer robe was filled with Xie Huaijin's faint cedar scent. Ci Ying curled up her body, letting the plain robe wrap around her, including the uneasiness and embarrassment that had finally come to an end, and perhaps something else.

What?

When Xiaowan opened the door, she was met with a heartbreaking scene. Ciying was placed on a high platform, looking up tenderly in the direction she had come from. The small amount of naked body revealed under her plain dress was covered with red marks, and the thin gauze was bunched up at the edge of the dress. Xiaowan went up to her, crying, and said, "I'm sorry."

Ci Ying didn't want to argue with her. She used Xiao Wan's strength to stand up. She knelt on the ground as soon as she landed. Xiao Wan helped her up again. When she was about to go out, Ci Ying shook her head and said softly, "I can't go out."

Xie Huaijin would not let her go out like this.

Ci Ying, dressed in plain clothes, lay on a soft couch beside her. She looked at Xiao Wan, who was crying with a look of self-blame on her face, and said softly, "Be good, go out first."

Xiaowan knelt on the ground and refused to move. Ciying couldn't stand it any longer and whispered, "I'm in such a mess right now, can you please just stop looking at me?"

Xiaowan cried and called for her master, but Ciying had already closed her eyes. Xiaowan went out and closed the door. She looked at the outer door of the study and found that it had been closed from the outside as the young lady said.

Xiaowan sat down on the ground dejectedly and slapped himself in the face.

Why did she cause her master to suffer because of her possessed mind?

Ci Ying was the only one left in the inner room. She ignored the discomfort she felt and stared blankly at the bookshelf not far away. Tears welled up in her eyes, and in a trance, she saw the young lady. She reached out to hug her, but only grabbed air.

Her memories were placed upside down on the bookshelf. The lady put a book on her head. When she dozed off, the book fell down. The lady chuckled and said, "Stupid."

Ci Ying felt that she might not be smart after all.

She actually thought that someone like Xie Huaijin would stay for her.

She actually thought there would be another young lady in the world.

Don't care about her identity, treat her sincerely, protect her, and lead her step by step into a world she has never seen.

She knew very well that he was out of reach, like the moon in the mirror and the flower in the water, but she still allowed her heart to develop to an irreversible point. Now it is too late to turn back.

Ci Ying lowered her eyes, tears streaming down her face.

She allowed herself to be abandoned once again.

This quarter of an hour was probably the longest in Ciying's life. When the doctor arrived, Ciying had already passed out. She hurriedly helped her up and fed her medicine. Xiaowan was stirring with tea in her hand. Lingyue and Lingshuang came over at the sound, not knowing what was going on. But seeing Ciying, her clothes a mess on the soft couch, and Xiaowan crying, their hearts skipped a beat.

Lingyue went up first: "Xiaowan, what's wrong with the master?"

Lingshuang took Ciying from the doctor's hand and said softly, "Sorry for the trouble."

The female doctor shook her head and bent over to check Ciying's pulse. After a moment, she said softly, "It's okay. It's not a poison. Your master has a special body. She was damaged in the womb and can't tolerate this. Don't use it again in the future."

Xiaowan fell to the ground, and after the doctor left, she slapped herself again.

Lingyue hurriedly grabbed Xiaowan's hand and said angrily, "What are you doing?"

Lingshuang closed her eyes, held Ciying's hand, and didn't look at Xiaowan again.

Xiaowan just cried and said nothing. Lingyue wanted to ask but was stopped by Lingshuang. Lingyue was puzzled but listened to her sister. Xiaowan knelt beside the bed and looked at Ciying worriedly.

It was already night when Ciying woke up. When she looked up, she saw Xiaowan kneeling beside the bed. Lingshuang and Lingyue noticed that Ciying was awake and hurriedly asked about her condition.

Ci Ying only felt that her body was sticky and wet. Although she was later changed into clean underwear, she still felt a strange touch. She climbed up with the help of Ling Shuang and looked at Xiao Wan who had been silent.

"Stop kneeling and get up." Ci Ying said softly.

She just woke up, her voice was very hoarse, and she took a sip of the water Lingyue brought her.

Xiaowan refused to get up. Ciying leaned on Lingshuang, not showing any anger: "I don't have the energy to coax you now. Xiaowan, you get up first."

Xiaowan still refused to get up: "Master, I was wrong, I deserve to die..."

Ci Ying was exhausted, Ling Yue couldn't bear to see this, so she picked up Xiao Wan and said, "Just get up when the master wants you to. Why are you dawdling? If you made any mistakes, wait until the master is well again."

Ci Ying wanted to laugh, but couldn't.

She looked at the few people and said softly, "Go back first."

Ciying was helped back to the yard. Lingshuang wanted to help her into the house, but Ciying shook her head and said softly, "I want to see the moon."

So Ci Ying sat at the stone table while the others cleaned the yard. Ling Shuang walked over to Ci Ying and whispered, "Master, don't worry. Today's events won't get out."

Ling Shuang had always been the smartest of the group. Ci Ying knew full well that Ling Shuang had already figured out the whole story. She shook her head, as demure as a pear blossom on a winter branch: "That's not what I'm worried about."

She looked at the small bowl beside her and said softly, "You and Lingyue, don't blame her. She is doing this for my own good."

Ling Shuang disagreed and rarely refuted Ci Ying: "Master, you can't indulge the people below you again and again. Ru Zhen did it, Xiao Wan did it. One day, they will cause a big trouble and cause a huge disaster."

Ci Ying lowered her head: "I know."

How could she not know?

She was pushed to this day by one favor and one disaster after another. Ci Ying was really tired. The tiredness came from her soul, slowly absorbing her ability to perceive all love and hate.

Ling Shuang was also distressed. It was hard to describe what she had seen today. Her voice lowered: "Master, don't be sad."

Ci Ying lowered her eyes, took one last look at the moon in the sky, then stood up and walked into the house. Xiao Wan wanted to follow her in, but Ling Shuang stopped her and said coldly, "Starting tomorrow, you will go to Wang Ma to learn the rules."

Lingyue didn't know what was going on, but suddenly she heard someone speaking for Xiaowan subconsciously: "Sister, she's also worried about the master."

Before she could finish her words, Ling Shuang said in a cold voice, "She put an aphrodisiac in the ice bowl that the master gave to the young master. Little bowl, did you know that the master's body couldn't tolerate it? If you hadn't used a small dosage, she would have almost died from you?"

Lingyue frowned and looked at Xiaowan, who knelt down crying. Lingyue wanted to say something but swallowed it back. Finally, she couldn't help but ask Lingshuang: "Sister, Xiaowan..."

Ling Yue couldn't get the answer, but Ling Shuang pointed it out directly: "The master is not going to make a fuss about it, it's because the master is kind. The young master will definitely make a fuss about it. Xiao Wan, if you still have any intentions, don't drag the master into it." In the end, perhaps remembering Ci Ying's words, Ling Shuang couldn't help but soften her heart and reminded Xiao Wan: "Admitting your mistakes is your only way to survive, understand?"

Xiaowan hadn't responded yet, but Lingyue had already frowned. Her sister never said useless words. She looked at Xiaowan anxiously and said, "Yes."

Xiaowan knelt down and kowtowed while crying: "Don't worry, sisters, I will not bring trouble to the master. I only hope that you will take good care of the master in the future. Xiaowan would like to thank you very much."

Lingyue said in a complicated tone: "This is our duty."

The next day.

After a good night's sleep, Ci Ying finally regained some strength. She pushed open the door and found Ling Shuang embroidering in the courtyard. Ling Yue and Xiao Wan were nowhere to be found. The sun shone warmly on Ci Ying. She tilted her head and lay on the table, asking softly, "Where are Ling Yue and Xiao Wan?"

Lingshuang checked the time and said, "Lingyue took Xiaowan to look for Nanny Wang."

Ci Ying was speechless, and said softly, "You really should learn more about the rules and avoid getting into trouble. I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about the two of them. If the trouble gets bigger, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect them."

Lingshuang wanted to pat Ciying's head, but it was obviously against the rules. She handed the half-embroidered flower to Ciying and said, "Master, do you want to try it?"

Ci Ying was really good at it. She took it and carefully embroidered along the base that Ling Shuang had made. Just then, Ling Yue came running over from not far away, crying, "Master, something bad has happened. The young master wants to beat Xiao Wan to death with a stick."

A silver needle suddenly pierced the fingertip, and bright red blood dripped onto the blooming peony, like a butterfly weeping blood. Ciying dropped the handkerchief and ran towards the execution hall. Lingshuang glanced at Lingyue coldly. Lingyue cried and said, "But Xiaowan is going to die. If I don't tell the master today, the master will be so sad and angry when he finds out in the future..."

After exchanging just this one sentence, the two of them caught up with Ci Ying.

In a trance, Ci Ying felt that everything was very familiar. Her tears had blurred her vision. The place where the young lady and the lady pushed her step by step turned out to be the starting point in the end.

She held onto the door frame of the torture hall, looked at the young man sitting on the high seat, and said with red eyes, "Xie Huaijin, don't." She had just recovered some strength and could not withstand such torture. If Lingshuang and Lingyue had not supported her, she would have fallen to the ground.

The young man was wearing a snow-white coat, looking light and cool.

Seeing her coming, he said softly: "You are not well yet, you should recuperate in your room."

His face was cold, and his eyes were emotionless. Ci Ying stepped forward amidst the crowd's greetings. When she reached Xie Huaijin, she whispered, "I'll send Xiao Wan to learn the rules. Half a year, a year, whatever. Please don't..." Ci Ying struggled to utter those words, "Please don't beat my maid to death."

Xie Huaijin said nothing, but stood up and supported Ci Ying, but Ci Ying subconsciously took a step back.

The young man's hand froze in mid-air. He looked at Ci Ying coldly, "Are you angry with me over a maid?"

Ci Ying pinched her right wrist with her left hand and whispered, "I dare not."

She glanced over him, trying to find the small bowl, but Xie Huaijin grabbed her wrist. Ci Ying was back to the situation she was in yesterday. She struggled but couldn't get free. She could only repeat, "Give me back the small bowl."

Seeing her avoidance, the young man's eyes grew colder and colder, and he said coldly, "Ciying, let me ask you again, are you angry with me because of a maid who drugged and nearly killed you?"

Ci Ying's eyes were brimming with tears. What should she say? She didn't know what to say, so she knelt down as Xie Huaijin held her wrist. Ling Shuang and Ling Yue, who were not far away, opened their eyes wide. Xie Huaijin was also stunned, and then he was furious like never before. Ci Ying just repeated, "Please, sir, return my maid to me."

Ci Ying knelt on the ground, feeling nothing. Perhaps she had felt that way before, but that moment had suddenly vanished. The moment Xie Huaijin questioned her, Ci Ying felt only powerlessness. She finally realized clearly that the current Jiang Ci Ying, the young mistress of the Xie family, and the former maidservant, were no different in front of Xie Huaijin.

Her lover is so powerful that he covers the whole sky and the sun.

He is not her moon. No matter how high the ladder she climbs, she still cannot reach him.

But in his eyes, she would always be the former maid Ci Ying. As a maid, Ci Ying knelt before him and begged him to let Ru Zhen go. As a young lady, Ci Ying also knelt before him and begged him to let Xiao Wan go.

There is no difference.

"Jiang Ciying." Xie Huaijin reminded her coldly, using her full name.

Ci Ying didn't need to be reminded, because Jiang was not her last name at all. It was just a ladder for her to stay by his side. She didn't want the crescent moon anymore. The ladder was the most useless thing. No matter how high she climbed on the ladder, she still needed to look up at the crescent moon.

Ci Ying fell to the ground, and the servants around her did not dare to stand and all knelt down.

After a long moment, Xie Huaijin chuckled softly and helped Ciying up from the ground. He was as gentle as usual, yet with a force that wouldn't let Ciying refuse. Ciying began to feel a little strange about him, and for a moment even the face of Xie Huaijin in her memory seemed strange. She whispered, "Can you give me back the bowl?"

The young man said calmly, "Ciying, have you forgotten that Xiaowan's slave contract is not in your hands?"

Ci Ying stiffened, as if something had broken through her. She looked at Xie Huaijin with red eyes: "She is a maid in my courtyard."

Xie Huaijin said coldly, "She is a maid bought and sold by the Xie Mansion."

"I am the young lady of the Xie family." Ci Ying said through gritting her teeth.

Xie Huaijin finally raised his eyes and said softly, "But you just knelt down to me."

Ci Ying felt that Xie Huaijin was going too far. She pushed Xie Huaijin's hand away and was about to walk inside. Everything bloody and mangled came into Ci Ying's sight, and finally Xiaowan's eyes opened wide.

Ci Ying's eyes were about to burst into tears. She was about to run in, but Xie Huaijin stopped her: "You are not well yet, don't get involved in filth."

Ci Ying wanted to push Xie Huaijin away, but she couldn't. She was held tightly in the young man's arms and burst into tears. She hit Xie Huaijin with both hands and her voice collapsed: "I hate you, Xie Huaijin, I hate you..."

Xie Huaijin was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. He held Ciying's trembling wrist, gently brushed the hair away from her face, and asked gently, "Ciying, are you saying that you hate me because of a slave?"

Ci Ying couldn't struggle. For the first time in days, she felt her strength was too weak. Her throat hadn't healed to begin with, and after a few rasping fits, she was practically speechless. She stared at the torture chamber, where blood and energy were swirling, and vomited on Xie Huaijin. She hadn't eaten anything since getting up, and all she vomited up was water.

Ci Ying hunched over with her head resting on Xie Huaijin's chest. She seemed to hear someone's heartbeat, one after another like dead leaves in autumn, drifting and drifting on the deserted riverbank.

Ci Ying retched, the stench of blood constantly filling her nostrils. She almost fainted, but she managed to speak in a hoarse voice, "Yes, I hate you..."

Xie Huaijin, I'm starting to hate you.

Lingshuang and Lingyue helped Ciying back. The young man in a snow-white coat looked at his wife's back from a distance and said coldly, "Pack it up."

Mo Yu, who had not been seen for a long time, came back and handed the file of what he had found out to Xie Huaijin, who was in a cold state.

After Lingshuang and Lingyue helped Ciying back to the courtyard, they knelt down, while the female doctor took Ciying's pulse. Ciying lowered her eyes, not even having the strength to say "Wake up!" After a long time, she finally raised her eyelids and asked Lingshuang softly, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

Ling Shuang leaned forward and said, "I don't want my master to be implicated."

Ci Ying was dazed, as if everyone was doing it for her own good.

Xiaowan put medicine into the ice bowl for her own good.

Lingshuang didn't tell her about Xiaowan's torture for her own good.

Everything was done for her. The saddest thing was that everything was really done for her.

But why...for her own good, I never listen to her ideas?

They all said it was for her own good, but why did no one ever ask her what she thought?

Does she want to get married? Does she want to become the young lady of the Xie family? Does she need a bowl of ice with aphrodisiac? Does she want Xiaowan to bear all the blame alone?

Ci Ying spat out a mouthful of blood on the floor, then fainted amid the shouts of Lingyue and Lingshuang.

Ciying didn't know how she spent the next six months, in a daze, until the anniversary of the young lady's death. That was the only time she left the courtyard that month. When she paid tribute to the young lady, she also lit incense for the lady and Aunt Ruzhen. She knelt in front of the young lady's grave, and as she knelt, she ended up embracing the grave.

"Miss, I didn't save Ruzhen."

"Miss, I didn't save Xiaowan either."

"Am I useless? I can't save anyone. I have so many things, but why can't I save even one person? The money you and Madam left me was enough for me to save the entire Dingyang, but why can't I save Xiu Nu, Ru Zhen, or Xiao Wan?"

Ci Ying hugged the tombstone, tears streaming down it. She said in a low voice, "I miss you so much. I don't want everything now. I only want you."

She wanted to go back to the past, when Ci Ying was just a little maid in the Xie family. She had the best lady in the world named Xie Suwei. Ci Ying would climb trees, pick fruits, and do homework for Xie Suwei. Xie Suwei would never tire of giving Ci Ying care, hugs, and love.

Ci Ying is the cradle where Xie Suwei nourishes her freedom, and Xie Suwei is the source of all the love and warmth that Ci Ying feels.

If possible, Ci Ying would like to divide her lifespan in half with the young lady, so that no one would have more, and no one would have less. Ci Ying cried until she had no more tears, and she spoke until she ran out of words.

Her face was pale and she looked emaciated. If she hadn't abused her body, Xie Suwei would have scolded her. That day in the study, Ci Ying Chinese Medicine would have cut her arm with a piece of broken porcelain. It wasn't that she was seeking death, she just didn't want to be controlled by desire. Those things about love and affection might be cleansed by washing them with blood.

But in the end, what was used was a small bowl of blood.

On the way back, Ciying's carriage was stopped. Su Xueruo smiled gently and said, "Can I talk to you?"

Su Xuerou didn't give Ciying a chance to refuse. She stepped on a stool and got into Ciying's carriage, sitting opposite Ciying. Su Xuerou looked Ciying up and down and said gently, "I'm sorry."

Ci Ying lowered her eyes. She had no feelings for Su Xueruo and only said softly, "We may not have anything to talk about."

Su Xuetou said softly: "I heard about the Xie family. I'm sorry."

Ci Ying's fingers trembled, and she suddenly raised her eyes to look at Su Xueruo. She took back what she had said before, and she had to admit that she disliked Su Xueruo. This dislike came from perception, and Ci Ying would not have any good feelings towards someone who was always calculating against her.

Having just met the young lady, Ciying didn’t want to ruin her good mood.

She looked at Lingyue, who lifted the carriage curtain and said, "My master asks Miss Su to get out of the car."

Su Xuerou's smile froze for a moment: "Ciying, we can make a deal. I may have what you want."

Ci Ying was stunned for a moment and shook her head: "But I don't have what I want anymore."

......

Half an hour later, Lingyue lifted the curtain of the carriage. Before Ciying got out of the car, she could see the mourning cloth hanging in the mansion from afar. The long white cloth was rolled into a ball and hung on the corridor, exactly the same as when the lady died that year.

Ci Ying got out of the car and asked softly, "Who died?"

The servant beside him replied, "Young Madam, it's the master of the house."

Ci Ying was stunned for a moment, then looked up and saw a young man in mourning clothes not far away. They had not seen each other for half a year since the confrontation in the execution hall that day.

Lingshuang brought her mourning clothes, and she changed into them in the guest room nearby, then slowly walked over to Xie Huaijin's side. She looked up at the front with him, watching the servants coming and going, setting up everything needed for the mourning hall.

Thinking of many things, Ci Ying finally said softly, "My condolences."

In the mourning hall was the young lady's father, beside her was the young lady's brother. As the young lady of the Xie family, she should have said this. After not seeing each other for half a year, the young man's eyes were still cold. For a moment, Ci Ying felt that Xie Huaijin was angry with her, but the thought quickly dissipated.

She stood up and prepared to leave, but Xie Huaijin grabbed her wrist.

As they stared at each other, Ci Ying caught sight of the young man's downcast eyes. She was startled, then he embraced her. To what extent could love and hate be reduced in half a year? Ci Ying's subconscious reaction to push him away gave her the answer. Hate might simply last longer than love. Over the past six months, love had dissipated, but hate lingered.

Servants were surrounding them, as were some guests who had arrived earlier. Ci Ying didn't want to cause a scene in such a place, so she said softly, "Let go."

"Ciying." Xie Huaijin whispered, "I don't have a father anymore."

Ci Ying was startled and tried harder to break free: "My parents died when I was six. Let me go. Don't tell me you forgot what you did half a year ago. Let me go."

Xie Huaijin's eyes gradually dropped, and he said softly, "Ciying, you're being unfair."

The young man was dressed in mourning clothes, his whole person was as cold as jade. "Those two maids treated you like this, but you can still forgive them. I only punished the criminal slave according to family rules, but you have been angry with me for half a year."

Ci Ying was stunned and her body finally stopped.

She looked into Xie Huaijin's eyes seriously and said softly, "You know very well that I'm not here just for Xiaowan." Even so, Ci Ying's heart was still stirred, and she felt endless hardship.

Xie Huaijin's eyes gradually became gentle, and he said softly, "I understand."

Ci Ying took a breath. She didn't know what Xie Huaijin understood, but she knew very well that she didn't want to stay here anymore. She stood up and left, and this time Xie Huaijin didn't stop her.

Behind her, Xie Huaijin looked at the mourning hall indifferently and whispered to the dark: "Go and find out why the power under Xie Qingzheng's control disappeared for no reason."

Someone in the dark was taking orders, and although it was broad daylight, he was like a shadow.

There are two shadows like this beside Ciying, Zhu Yi and Zhu Er.

Every time Ci Ying saw Zhu Er, her eyes would become a little hazy. Although Xiao Wan never mentioned it... she must have liked Zhu Er. For someone like Xiao Wan, it was so obvious that she liked someone that even Ling Yue noticed it later.

only......

Ci Ying recalled the time when Xiao Wan first met Zhu Yi and Zhu Er, and secretly said to her, "They look so alike."

Her eyes kept swirling between the two people, and after two months, they finally settled on one. Xiaowan never told anyone that they looked alike again. Every time Lingyue mentioned it, Xiaowan would blush and say, "It's easy to tell them apart."

Ci Ying looked at the two of them and thought that she could now distinguish between the two.

A few days later, hearing the clamor of gongs and drums outside, Ci Ying remembered that it was Chinese New Year again. It seemed as if she hadn't had a good New Year since marrying into the Xie family. The first year she fell seriously ill, and the second year the head of the family passed away.

Ciying has been dressing plainly for the past six months, and now she simply wears white every day. Lingshuang occasionally wants to persuade her, but is stopped by Lingyue.

Lingyue is a person who has a clear distinction between love and hate. She initially disliked Xiaowan and was dissatisfied with everything about her. Later, she became close to Xiaowan and was willing to risk her life to save her. Xie Huaijin had Xiaowan beaten to death, and even though Xiaowan was wrong, Lingyue still hated him.

When the weather turned warmer, Ci Ying met an unexpected person in the mansion, Yuwen Fu.

Ci Ying subconsciously looked behind Yu Wenfu, but did not see Ru Zhen.

Yuwen Fu caught her gaze and smiled with his peach blossom eyes: "Are you looking for that slave girl?"

Ci Ying's eyelids jumped when she heard this: "...What do you mean?"

"It's nothing. That slave girl offended the nobleman two days ago and is now serving her sentence in prison. Let me calculate..." Yu Wenfu counted on his fingers, enjoying Ci Ying's worry and anger, and said softly, "I estimate she still has seven, eight, or nine years."

Ci Ying turned around and asked someone to find out about Ru Zhen, her heart beating heavier and heavier.

After a moment's thought, she clenched her fists and ran out of the yard to find Zhu Er, asking where Xie Huaijin was. Ling Yue frowned, and Ling Shuang sighed. They could all see how much the master didn't want to find the young master, but the master was afraid.

The master understood from Xiaowan’s incident that sometimes his life depended on every minute and every second.

Ci Ying didn't dare to gamble anymore.

Zhu Er raised his eyebrows, looked at Zhu Yi beside him, and said with a smile: "I don't know. The young master asked us to protect the lady a long time ago. The lady should ask Mo Yu about the young master's whereabouts."

Ci Ying looked at Zhu Yi, who glanced at Zhu Er and said in a cold but respectful voice, "Madam, come with me."

The other side.

After Yuwen Fu finished discussing business with Xie Huaijin, he teased Ci Ying, "Your wife is quite amusing. Her worry is written all over her face when she talks about that slave girl. I've helped you, Xie Huaijin, but I still need to learn from those people and call you Shuhe." Yuwen Fu's expression became more serious, his peach blossom eyes curved, "I want the three thousand soldiers and horses that my stepfather, Careless, left behind. How's that? A good deal, right?"

Xie Huaijin tapped the table lightly with his fingers, spread out the scroll in his hand, and said gently, "Okay, the troops are in the south of the desert. Send your people to meet them. I also have a piece of information for you."

The young man lowered his eyes and smiled gently, "You'd better be respectful to my wife and stop wasting time on that slave girl. As you said, Ciying cares for her and cherishes her. If this person really makes a mistake in your hands, I'm afraid you'll regret it."

Yuwen Fu waved his hand: "It's really boring to vent your wife's anger. I'm leaving now."

Xie Huaijin just smiled and said nothing.

After a long time, he closed the book, and on it was a letter of confession.

After the door was closed from the outside by the servants, Xie Huaijin got up and changed into a clean snow-white coat. He poured a cup of tea in front of the table, and a faint smoke burned in the incense burner.

When Ci Ying was brought into the study by Zhu Yi, this was the scene she saw. Ci Ying lowered her eyes and said softly, "Young Master."

Xie Huaijin did not respond.

Ci Ying remembered Yu Wenfu's words, gritted her teeth, took a step forward, and whispered: "...Xie Huaijin."

The young man in the snow-white coat raised his eyes but ignored her.

Ci Ying began to feel that she had indeed been a bit stubborn before. If... if things hadn't been so embarrassing back then, Xie Huaijin wouldn't be in this situation now.

She was thinking of Ru Zhen and was about to take another step forward when she saw the young man stand up and hand her the cup of warm tea.

Ci Ying was startled, and suddenly she saw Xie Huaijin from long ago. The warm tea burned her fingertips. She whispered, "I..."

Before she could say anything, Xie Huaijin looked at her dry tea and said gently, "Drink the tea first."

Ciying took a sip, not knowing what it meant, and then she heard Xie Huaijin whisper to her, "Ciying, Xiaowan is not dead."

Ci Ying's eyes widened and she asked hurriedly, "But I clearly saw..."

"You can escape the death penalty, but you can't escape the punishment of life. You were sick in your mother's womb, and your body couldn't withstand the medicine. She almost killed you. Even if it was unintentional as you said, she must be punished."

Ci Ying was so surprised that she didn't resist when Xie Huaijin took her to sit down.

"Where is that small bowl now?" Ci Ying held the teacup. Even though her reason told her that Xie Huaijin would not lie to her, she was still a little uncertain.

"It's a farm in the countryside south of Chang'an. She's learning the rules there. It's the Nanny Wang you found for her."

Ci Ying stood there in shock, and whispered, "Then why didn't you tell me?"

Xie Huaijin looked at Ci Ying and said calmly, "Did you listen to me completely at that time? You told me that the maid was more important than me, and you said you hated me."

The young man's snow-white robe brushed gently against Ciying's fingertips, and with some helplessness and self-mockery, he said, "Ciying, am I only your husband when you need me?"

Ci Ying was startled, then looked up and met the young man's beautiful eyes.

She wanted to deny it, feeling something was wrong, but she was also dizzy with the aroma from the study. Suddenly, she remembered that she came here for Ru Zhen. She thought about what Xie Huaijin had just said and whispered, "Husband."

......

Xie Huaijin smiled softly and said softly, "Ciying."

Ci Ying lowered her eyes, feeling somewhat unreasonable. She whispered, "Just this once, for the last time. Yuwen Fu said Ru Zhen offended a noble and was imprisoned. Can you help me get Ru Zhen out?"

Xie Huaijin didn't say anything.

Ci Ying was a little uneasy. Suddenly finding out that Xiao Wan was still alive, she didn't know what she had been doing for the past six months. She didn't dare look at Xie Huaijin, as that would bring back memories of their confrontation in the torture hall.

Xie Huaijin certainly has problems, but it seems that the bigger problem lies with her now. Most importantly, she is the one who needs help now.

Ci Ying glanced at Xie Huaijin. The young man was no longer as cold and indifferent as he had been in the past six months. Instead, he had a smile on his lips. Ci Ying thought about what she had just said, and finally said a little stiffly, "Is there anyone in this world more important than my husband?"

Xie Huaijin tapped the table lightly with his fingers. "After you finish this cup of tea, let Mo Yu go with you. Can I have dinner with my wife today?"

Ci Ying nodded, agreed naturally, turned around and wanted to leave.

When Xie Huaijin held her hand, she subconsciously wanted to shake it off but forced herself to hold it back. She whispered, "Is there anything else?"

The young man stood up, hugged the girl who had lost a lot of weight, and said softly, "I'm sorry."

Until this moment, Ci Ying's heart was moved. She lowered her eyes and said, "Can you help me get Ru Zhen back from Yu Wenfu?"

Xie Huaijin gently reminded Ci Ying: "Madam Xie, Ru Zhen's slave contract is in your hands."

Ci Ying was startled. The gentle, cool scent of cedar filled her nostrils. Her eyes reddened, and she imitated Xie Huaijin in saying "I'm sorry." In the final analysis, they were both at fault. "I'm going to pick up Ruzhen. I want to eat mushrooms tonight, and Ruzhen likes fish."

After saying that, Ciying left.

Xie Huaijin looked at Ci Ying's back, and the smile in his eyes faded. He ordered Zhu Yi, who had been guarding the door, "Go and bring the maid back from the farm."

Zhu Yi leaned forward, turned around, and left like a shadow.

Ci Ying saw Ru Zhen, who was dying in the prison. She hugged her in her arms with heartache. Just then, she ran into Yu Wenfu, who was also there to pick her up. Ci Ying stopped Ru Zhen behind her and glared at her, "I have already paid the ransom to the government. Even if Ru Zhen wants to go back with you this time, I will not allow her to humiliate herself like this again."

Yuwen Fu looked at Ruzhen behind Ciying, his peach blossom eyes smiling but without any warmth: "What does Zhenzhen think?"

Ru Zhen was scared after being beaten, and when she heard Yuwen Fu's voice, she huddled tightly in Ci Ying's arms, which made Ci Ying even more angry.

Seeing Ru Zhen's strange behavior, Yuwen Fu's expression stiffened a little, and he explained: "It has nothing to do with this prince, I didn't..." He didn't know who he was explaining to, or maybe no one wanted to listen to his explanation.

After Ciying led his men out, Yuwen Fu swung his whip at the warden, leaving a bloody mark on the official's body. His peach blossom eyes shone with unprecedented anger: "Did I let you touch her? How dare you?"

The warden knelt on the ground, trembling. "We didn't touch her. We just used a little...a little torture. The maid who sent this slave girl here refused to do anything we wanted. She would rather die than surrender, so we..."

Another whip, Yuwen Fu became furious and kicked the official over: "Go and accept your punishment. Tomorrow, if any of you has a good hand or foot, no one will be alive."

In the carriage, Ru Zhen was still shivering.

Ci Ying caressed Ru Zhen's scarred face with heartache, took a handkerchief, dipped it in water and wiped it gently. At this moment, all the grudges were gone. Lingshuang and Lingyue also surrounded Ru Zhen. Everything familiar made Ru Zhen cry.

Ci Ying held Ru Zhen in her arms and coaxed her softly, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it's okay, let's go home."

Ru Zhen suddenly sat up, held Ci Ying's hand and wanted to say something, but she looked around and didn't dare to say it out loud. She could only write on Ci Ying's hand with her fingers. But she was already trembling, and the carriage shook again. She fell into Ci Ying's arms like a frightened bird.

Ci Ying looked at Ru Zhen's tearful eyes and said softly, "Don't worry, it's okay, Ru Zhen, no one will bully you anymore."

Ru Zhen took Ci Ying's hand again. Although it was still trembling, the handwriting was still recognizable.

Young master.

Wei Ran.

lady.

Ci Ying suddenly remembered that Ru Zhen had written on her palm in the same way at the Prince's Mansion that day, but... it wasn't Ran, it was Wei Ran, Wei Ran... General Wei, what was his relationship with Xie Huaijin and Madam.

Lingshuang and Lingyue's faces suddenly changed. Ruzhen nodded at them, Lingyue clenched her fists, and Lingshuang remained silent. Lingyue looked at Lingshuang, waiting for her to make a decision, whether to tell the master or not. When she first learned about Xiaowan, Lingyue was unable to make a judgment.

To be fair, the young master is good to his master.

But... maybe Ciying treated them too well. Lingshuang looked at Ciying with a confused face and Ruzhen with pleading eyes. If it were in the past, Lingshuang might have pulled Lingyue to keep the matter secret, but after experiencing Xiaowan and witnessing Ciying's collapse during that time, Lingshuang felt that she should tell Ciying and let Ciying make her own decision.

Lingshuang took Ciying's hand and wrote on the palm of her hand stroke by stroke.

"General Wei Ranwei was Madam's former lover."

Lingshuang paused several times in the middle, but she finished writing before the carriage stopped.

Ci Ying was stunned for a moment, inexplicably remembering the hug just now. She sighed softly, almost...almost her heart was moved again. She smiled at Ru Zhen and whispered, "Don't worry about me."

Ru Zhen didn't understand why Ci Ying was so indifferent, but Ling Shuang and Ling Yue understood how Ci Ying had managed to survive the past six months.

The young master is indeed very good at coaxing people and has a firm grasp on people's hearts. Today he saved Ru Zhen for Ci Ying, and Xiao Wan is not dead. Perhaps in another two years, Ci Ying will let it go because of her soft-hearted nature.

But now...

Lingshuang and Lingyue listened to Ciying's instructions: "First, take Ruzhen back to the courtyard, and then find her slave contract. We will tell him that we want to take Ruzhen as our sister, and we will go to the government to cancel her slavery tomorrow."

Lingshuang and Lingyue nodded and took the unconscious Ruzhen in.

Ci Ying and Xie Huaijin had a tasteless dinner. The young man was still gentle and polite, and Ci Ying looked at him with the same gentle eyes.

Ci Ying thought that the boy she loved was the most gentle liar in the world.

There are clues hidden deep within the grass, and perhaps from the moment he saved her, everything now was part of Xie Huaijin's calculations. Ci Ying began to speculate about the gentle young man in front of her with the greatest malice.

So she was not surprised when she accidentally overheard the conversation between Xie Huaijin and Yuwen Fu in the study compartment half a month later.

Yuwen Fu was very angry about Ru Zhen's situation, and her peach blossom eyes were full of coldness: "Xie Huaijin, Lin Lan has been dead for nearly three years. You have taken over all the forces that should be taken over, and all the people on Wei Ran's side are under your command. When will you cancel this ridiculous marriage with that slave girl?"

Xie Huaijin was still dressed in his snow-white clothes, but he looked extremely indifferent. The young man glanced at Yuwen Fu calmly and said in a gentle voice, "No hurry."

Ci Ying heard Yu Wenfu stamping his feet in frustration: "You wouldn't really fall in love with that slave girl, would you?" Ci Ying looked further away, where the snow-white clothes could be seen through the gaps. She was curious about how Xie Huaijin would answer.

He used to defend her in front of others, but now Yuwen Fu called her a "slave girl" and Xie Huaijin said nothing. Ci Ying stared at Xie Huaijin's direction. After a while, the young man's cold voice came to her ears: "It's just a matter of marriage. It's the parents' order and the matchmaker's words."

Ci Ying smiled gently. The wind from the window blew through the books, as if blowing through the days and nights when Ci Ying was young and her heart was tormented by her lover, and kissed away the tears on the girl's face.

After both of them left, Ci Ying looked at Zhu Er and said, "Thank you."

She returned to her room and wrote a divorce letter.

Ciying is about to leave.

【Author’s words】

After V, stable updates, 6000+ per day, it's worth it to get in, comment and get a small red envelope hehe~

I specially wrote a super auspicious number to congratulate Xie Huaijin on his grand funeral~ (Actually, I'm a little sorry for the hiatus before becoming a V, but after becoming a V, I don't have to worry about the word count anymore, so I'm going to give you a big one all at once, hehe, I hope everyone is satisfied)

Thanks for your support~

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