Chapter 089 Chapter 89
It was only when Xu Duanyi went out that he noticed the difference outside.
The originally overgrown and messy yard has now been cleaned up a lot and is no longer as unpleasant as it was yesterday.
The pile of weeds that had been picked up was now piled at the kitchen door.
"Zhao Zhao, what are you looking at?" Xiao Yuanxing saw her staring at the garden in front after she came out. He thought there was something different there, so he looked over there, but all he saw was a bunch of weeds. He didn't understand what was so good about it.
But he couldn't care less about these things at the moment.
The most important thing now is to take Zhaozhao away from here and find someone to look after her.
Therefore, without waiting for Xu Duanyi to answer, Xiao Yuanxing said to others: "Okay, Zhaozhao, it's time for us to go."
Although there are people outside now.
But judging from what the previous person said, the person who came should be Xie Qingya's subordinate.
I think Xie Qingya will take care of these things himself, so he doesn't need to worry about it.
As Xiao Yuanxing spoke, he handed a black cloak in his hand to Xu Duanyi and said, "Put this on. We will leave here first. When we get outside the city, there will be a carriage to pick us up."
But Xu Duanyi did not reach out to take it.
She withdrew her gaze from the pile of weeds and looked towards the gate.
However, they couldn't see the gate from where they were standing, as it was blocked by a few trees. Xu Duanyi just glanced over there and then looked away.
She looked at her cousin in front of her.
Although she and her cousin had not had many opportunities to interact in recent years, he, like the deceased prince, took good care of her.
He and his sister-in-law were very kind to her, just like his father and aunt.
Xu Duanyi had actually guessed in advance that her aunt would send someone to pick her up, but she never expected that the person would be her cousin.
Xu Duanyi was touched and naturally grateful.
But she couldn't accept this cloak.
She had made her choice yesterday and there was no way she was leaving at this moment.
Seeing that she was slow to answer, Xiao Yuanxing was already frowning. He was about to ask her what was wrong when he heard her say, "Cousin, I'm not planning to leave."
Xiao Yuanxing's reaction.
Because of her refusal, I was a step slower.
After a while, he frowned and looked at the person and said, "What did you say?" Before Xu Duanyi could answer, Xiao Yuanxing changed his expression and said to her in a deep voice, "Zhao Zhao, don't mess around."
"When has my cousin ever seen me acting crazy?" Xu Duanyi asked him with a smile.
When Xiao Yuanxing heard her say this, he suddenly fell silent.
Yes.
Zhao Zhao is not a gem.
Ever since Zhao Zhao came to the capital from Liaoning, she has always been well-behaved and steady compared to her peers. Let alone making trouble, he has hardly ever seen her do anything out of the ordinary.
She is the most law-abiding person.
A family like theirs naturally hopes that the younger generation will be more obedient and sensible, and not be like Yuanfu and Baozhu.
But sometimes, he and Atang both hoped that Zhaozhao could be as noisy as Baozhu.
Don't be so obedient all day long.
Well-behaved children are always the ones who suffer the most.
She married Xie Qingya because of this reason.
But now it seems——
This marriage didn't seem to be what he had initially thought.
Xiao Yuanxing looked at the smiling person in front of him and fell silent for a moment.
He met her eyes.
For a long time, Xiao Yuanxing did not speak.
After a while, he slowly retracted his outstretched hand, looked at her and asked in a deep voice: "Are you doing this because of Xie Qingya?"
After hearing this, Xu Duanyi was silent for a moment.
The smile on her face faded slightly, and Xu Duanyi looked at Xiao Yuanxing. She didn't reply immediately, but in the end, she nodded in acknowledgement.
She didn't want to deceive her cousin.
"yes."
She looked at Xiao Yuanxing and admitted it.
Xiao Yuanxing frowned: "Zhao Zhao..."
"Cousin." This was the first time Xu Duanyi interrupted him and the first time she looked pleading. "Just let me stay here. No one knows what the situation is between him and me right now."
"If I really had anything, it would leave and it would only affect more people."
"If others find out, you take me away from here. Whether it's you, my aunt, or the Xiao family, they will all be implicated because of me."
"Even my father will be implicated by me."
At this point, Xu Duanyi looked at Xiao Yuanxing with a look of disapproval on his face again, and even took two steps back as if to avoid him, fearing that he might have something wrong and pass it on to him: "Cousin, you shouldn't have come here this time. You have a sister-in-law and Xiao Xi and Xiao Le. You shouldn't have taken this risk because of me, you..."
"But you're my sister!"
Xiao Yuanxing interrupted her in a deep voice.
It was the first time he spoke to Xu Duanyi in such a serious tone.
When Xiao Yuanxing came, he never thought that this would be the result.
He only thought about how to carefully avoid the eyes and ears of others and take Zhaozhao away from Yutian safely. He never thought that Zhaozhao would refuse to leave.
Seeing that Zhao Zhao was interrupted by him, he looked at him for a moment, and after a brief look of surprise, he dared not say anything else.
Xiao Yuanxing looked at her and suddenly sighed.
After all, I just can't bear it.
I don't want to treat her like I did to Baozhu and Yuanfu.
Xiao Yuanxing tried to calm his anxiety and said to others as calmly as possible: "Since you know the danger, have you thought about the consequences?"
That’s all.
Seeing the person's hesitation, he dared not answer.
What is there for Xiao Yuanxing not to understand now?
Anger rose in his heart again, this time it was much stronger than before. He frowned and for the first time lost his temper as he yelled, "It seems like you've already thought about the bad consequences!"
"Even if I thought about it, I wouldn't change, and I wouldn't leave."
"Zhao Zhao, you are playing with your own life! When did you become like this?"
Xiao Yuanxing had been speaking in a low voice while talking to Xu Duanyi.
But this will obviously not be suppressed.
It can be seen that he was so angry at this moment that he didn't care at all.
He really couldn't care less.
How could Xiao Yuanxing have imagined that she would totally disregard her own life for a man!
Has she ever thought about how anxious and worried they would be if they knew something happened to her?
Xiao Yuanxing was so angry that he stared at Xu Duanyi with glaring eyes, his chest heaving with anger.
His face turned red with anger.
You can see how angry he is.
"Master, what's that sound?" Lingji, who was originally talking to Xie Qingya outside the door, also heard the sound coming from inside.
Far away.
This book is compiled exclusively for you by the LK team, although it may not sound very clear.
But Lingji could still tell that it was a man's voice.
This is strange. The master is here, why is there a man inside? He didn't understand for a moment and thought there was danger inside. His face changed immediately, and he clenched the long knife in his hand, wanting to go in and find out what was going on.
But before he could make any move, Xie Qingya, who knew him well, spoke in a deep voice: "What's your business? Have you forgotten what I told you? Stand outside and don't move!"
Xie Qingya sounded annoyed, and it was unclear whether he was annoyed with Lingji or himself.
But his face was looking somewhere in the yard.
From his perspective, he could see Xu Duanyi's figure, and also see that she was lowering her head.
Although I didn't hear clearly what Xiao Yuanxing was saying just now.
But seeing Xu Duanyi's expression, Xie Qingya could guess that he must have been scolded.
At that moment, Xie Qingya's face changed and he prepared to get up and leave.
And he did.
But before he could take a few steps.
Xu Duanyi seemed to have heard, or perhaps noticed, and looked in his direction, then shook her head at him.
Xie Qingya looked at her.
Seeing the pleading look in her eyes, he had no choice but to frown and stop.
"Master? Who's here?" Lingji's voice kept coming from behind.
Now I know how to keep my voice down.
Xie Qingya ignored him and just pursed his lips and looked ahead.
Over there, Xiao Yuanxing also obviously noticed him.
Xie Qingya saw that he was also looking in his direction.
When their eyes met, Xiao Yuanxing suddenly frowned and walked towards him.
But I didn't take many steps.
He was stopped by Xu Duanyi at a distance.
"Cousin, this has nothing to do with him. I did it on my own will." Xu Duanyi hugged Xiao Yuanxing and spoke to him in a hoarse voice.
Xiao Yuanxing became even more angry after hearing her words.
He frowned, not looking at Xie Qingya anymore, but looking at Xu Duanyi in front of him, and asked word by word: "Are you willing?"
"For the sake of a man, you don't care about anything, right? Have you ever thought about your aunt and Marquis Wu'an? How sad they would be if they knew something happened to you!" It was the first time he spoke to her so harshly.
Seeing her lower her head in embarrassment and guilt, her eyes gradually turned red.
Xiao Yuanxing was filled with anger, and although it had not completely subsided, looking at her like this, he still couldn't bear it and gradually calmed down his anger.
Xiao Yuanxing suppressed his temper and did not move forward.
She just looked gloomily in the direction of Xie Qingya, and then she couldn't suppress her regret, and said in a deep and painful voice: "If I had known that you would be deceived by this idiot, I would never let you marry him no matter what I said."
Xiao Yuanxing naturally believed that Zhao Zhao had been bewitched after marrying Xie Qingya.
After all, Xie Qingya is a very nice guy.
Zhao Zhao is a girl after all.
This book is compiled exclusively for you by the LK team. It is not uncommon to be tempted.
That's why he feels so regretful.
I feel that it is because of them that Zhao Zhao has become like this.
If Baozhu hadn't fallen in love with someone else and wanted to break off the engagement, why would Zhaozhao marry Xie Qingya for her? And how could it have turned out like this?
The more he thought about it, the more he regretted it.
I just felt that I was really sorry to my aunt and Zhao Zhao.
"no."
Suddenly, a hoarse female voice came to my ear.
蕭元星循聲看去，面有不解，蹙眉問道：“什麽不是？”
徐端宜放下手，然後一點點擡起頭，在蕭元星的注視下，徐端宜望着他，艱澀着嗓音同他說道：“即便我沒有嫁給謝清崖，只要他沒娶寶珠，沒娶任何人，我都會這麽做。”
“……你說什麽？”
蕭元星這下是真的愣住了。
他近乎呆滞地看着徐端宜，好一會才回過神。
他蹙着眉問她：“昭昭，你……”
徐端宜雙手緊緊攥着自己的衣袖，像是以此來給自己偌大的勇氣，支撐自己可以把後面的話說完：“……表哥，我喜歡他，很久很久以前，我就已經喜歡他了。”
蕭元星看着她，徹底沉默了。
這番話的信息量實在太大了，他從來不知道這些事。
腦中倒是忽然想起，許多年前，文昭還在的時候，他們兄弟把酒閑談的時候，曾聽他說過一句。
最初是他提起的。
那會姑姑剛為他與昭昭賜婚。
雖然兩人年歲相差實在太多，但他心裏也跟姑姑一樣，希望昭昭能一直被他們庇護着，便囑咐文昭，要好好對昭昭。
文昭當時很無奈，像是覺得這事，實在是有些太荒謬了。
“母後糊塗，怎麽表哥也與母後一樣？”
“想要對昭昭好，這世間有許多方法，何必非要我們湊在一起？”
“我拿昭昭當妹妹看待，昭昭對我也是一樣的。”
“母後這次，是真的弄岔了。”
當時他問過文昭是如何打算的。
畢竟昭昭也是他看着長大的表妹，自然不希望日後她在男女之事上受委屈。
文昭當時卻只是與他神秘一笑，說他自有主張。
他心裏想着，以文昭的性子，肯定不會委屈了昭昭，見他當時不肯說，只說這事他會處理，肯定不會讓昭昭受了委屈。
他也就沒把這事放在心上。
只後來，世事更疊，他也早就忘了這事。
又見昭昭一直沒有心儀之人，也只當昭昭并沒有喜歡的人。
直到如今聽着昭昭這番話，蕭元星才發現自己實在錯得離譜，昭昭哪裏是沒有喜歡的人？她是把所有的事，都壓在了心底！
本書由LK團隊為您獨家整理 “……你當初為何不說？”
蕭元星沙啞着嗓音，問她。
但接觸到昭昭望向他的眼神，蕭元星便又再次沉默了下來。
他又不是不知道昭昭的性子。
當初她還小，何況又是姑姑賜婚，她哪裏敢說？
原本文昭要是在的話，保不準還會為她做主，只可惜……只能說一句世事如此，陰差陽錯了。
蕭元星看着她，再次沉默了下來。
他一時不知道說什麽。
大腦似乎被許多東西，和複雜的情緒擠壓着。
不知過去多久，他方才再次啞着聲音，問她：“他呢？他對你是什麽想法？”
徐端宜本以為會被表哥訓斥。
她一直都在不安之中。
捏着袖子的手，也一直沒有松開過。
未想到，等了這麽久，等來的，卻是這麽一句話。
徐端宜一時就跟沒反應過來似的，呆看着蕭元星，過了一會，她才回過神來回道：“他……”
出口時，才發現自己的聲音已經啞了。
大概是太過緊張導致的。
又過了一會，徐端宜才找回自己的聲音，繼續啞聲與人說道：“他跟我一樣，當初……他也想娶我的。”
蕭元星沉默看着她，對這番話一臉不置可否的樣子。
大約這世上，所有的兄長都是一樣的。
即便徐端宜擺出證據，證明謝清崖有多喜歡她，對她有多好，他也不會對謝清崖有什麽好臉色。
更何況如今還是生死大事。
他怎麽可能放任昭昭在這胡鬧下去？
蕭元星這一刻，心中已閃過好幾個念頭。
可就在他準備實施的時候，徐端宜卻像是已經看透了他要做什麽，先與他說道：“表哥。”
蕭元星看着她，淡淡嗯了一聲，心裏已經準備好動手了。
可就在他準備朝人走過去的時候，耳邊便再次傳來昭昭的聲音：“昨日謝清崖也想過把我打暈，讓人把我送出玉田。”
一句話，讓蕭元星停下了腳步。
不知是沒想到昭昭會看出來他的打算，還是吃驚于她的那番話，蕭元星一時沒說話，只是沉默地看着她。
“表哥知道，我當時是怎麽與他說的嗎？”徐端宜看着他問。
蕭元星依舊無言。
他沒必要猜，如今的結果，就已經是最好的回答了。
但他還是低估了昭昭的執拗。
他從未想過，他一向乖巧聽話的表妹，骨子裏竟有着這樣的固執。
“我跟他說，他就算把我送走，但凡我還有一口氣在，我都一定會回來。”
蕭元星登時變了臉色，怒氣交加，沖人吼道：“徐端宜，你知不知道你在說什麽！”
兄妹倆在說什麽，位于大門處的謝清崖和令吉都聽不到，但這一聲怒斥，兩人卻聽得分明。
就連停栖在樹枝上的鳥兒，都被蕭元星這一聲喊得吓破膽，哆嗦着振翅着飛走了。
謝清崖不知那邊是何情況。
但也能看出蕭元星的沖天怒火。
他未去理會身後令吉的詢問，再度往前走去。
卻再一次被徐端宜給眼神制止了。
徐端宜沒讓謝清崖過來。
謝清崖這會過來，只會火上澆油，讓事态變得更加嚴重。
她不想謝清崖跟表哥起争執，他們一個是她自小尊敬的兄長，一個是她愛了許多年的人。
“表哥。”
徐端宜再次看向蕭元星。
她眼中和語氣都有愧疚：“我知道，我讓你難受了，我也知道，我這個選擇，會讓你們都難過。”
蕭元星沉着臉，胸口還在不住起伏。
顯然是真的被她剛才那番話，氣到了極致。
以至于此刻聽她這樣說，只想冷斥：“你什麽都知道，可你還是選擇讓我們難過，他就這麽好，這麽重要，值得你為了他把我們全都抛下！”
徐端宜被這番話訓得，一時就連臉上也浮現了難以掩蓋的愧疚之色。
眼圈較起先前也變得更紅了。
她不敢為自己辯解，她也實在辯解不出。
她只是低着頭，哽咽道：“如果沒有這件事，我不會做這樣的選擇，我原本這一輩子，都沒打算讓他知曉，我喜歡他。可如果他這次真的要死了，我想陪他一起。”
“你什麽意思？”
蕭元星還處于憤怒之中，一時未曾聽明白她的話。
但他畢竟不是平常人。
他是下一任蕭家的當家人，便是現在，他都已經是蕭家的話事人了。
從小，他跟故去的文昭太子一樣，受到的都是一樣的教育。
他豈會不知道朝中的風波，姑姑的擔憂？也因此，他很快就明白過來，昭昭的這番話，是什麽意思了。
生。
無法同存。
所以死是她唯一能自主選擇，不會覺得愧對任何人的東西了。
怒氣忽如潮水般退散。
蕭元星看着徐端宜，一時神色再次驟變，但他語氣讷讷，是真的不知道說什麽了。
他幾次張口，卻都說不出話。
不知過去多久，他才往謝清崖的方向看了一眼。
眼見謝清崖此刻也神色凝重地望着這邊，眉宇之間，是藏不住的擔憂，蕭元星沉默地看了他許久，方才收回視線，啞聲問徐端宜：“他知道嗎？”
徐端宜知道他問的是什麽。
但這次，她卻遲疑了許久，才搖了搖頭，輕聲回道：“我不知道。”
“我們從未聊過這些。”
話出口，徐端宜心中仍不放心，怕自己這番話給謝清崖帶來麻煩，她再度看着蕭元星哀求道：“表哥……”
蕭元星豈會不知道，她在哀求什麽？
他望着她沉默片刻。
最終還是撇開臉，同她說道：“……今日之事，我不會跟姑姑說。”
徐端宜一聽這話，明顯松了口氣，臉上也重新展露了笑顏：“多謝表哥！”
蕭元星對這聲道謝，卻無言以對。
倘若可以，就算被昭昭日後記恨，他也會不顧一切把人帶走。
但只怕他就算這樣做，也困不住她。
除非他真把人鎖起來。
但他能鎖她一日，還能一直鎖着她不成？
看昭昭的意思，謝清崖要是真的出事，她也不會獨自茍活下去。
棘手的事，蕭元星不知碰到過多少，但唯有這次，讓他實在束手無策，不知道該怎麽辦才好。
徐端宜知曉他還在擔心，反而主動安慰起人：“表哥不必為我擔心。”
“玉田不比別處，這裏預防控制得很好，我還讓碧溪把孫太醫也給請過來了，相信有他們在，我們都會沒事的。”
蕭元星目光複雜地看着她，并未因為她的話而松氣。
“那你可想過以後？”他問徐端宜。
徐端宜被他這話問得，臉上笑意忽然微斂。
蕭元星知道，昭昭已經猜到他要說的是什麽了，他神色複雜看着她繼續說道：“你明知道姑姑對謝清崖有所忌憚，要是謝清崖真的有問題，到時候你又打算怎麽辦？”
他沒有說，你到時候要選擇誰，這樣的話。
He knew that if he said that, Zhao Zhao would definitely be in greater pain.
But he didn't say it.
That doesn’t mean Xu Duanyi couldn’t think of it.
Her expression changed immediately after Xiao Yuanxing finished speaking.
When Xiao Yuanxing saw the color drain from her face, he couldn't help but regret his previous question.
Why make Zhao Zhao sad at this time? Things are already difficult enough for her.
Xiao Yuanxing sighed, and before anyone could reply, he took the initiative to say, "Forget it, this is the worst possible outcome."
"It's meaningless to say this now."
"You should take good care of yourself here for the time being. I will ask someone to write to your aunt and tell her about it. You don't have to worry about it for now."
"As for what happens next..."
He first glanced at Xu Duanyi, who was standing in front of him with a pale face, eyes downcast and no words, and then looked towards Xie Qingya who was not far away.
After a long while, he continued, "Let's talk about it later."
This is all Xiao Yuanxing has to say.
Since he couldn't bring Zhao Zhao back, he had no intention of staying here any longer.
Although this place is far from the city center, there is no guarantee that no one will come here, and he also has to consider the Xiao family and his aunt.
"I'm leaving first. You... take good care of yourself."
After hearing this, Xu Duanyi collected his thoughts for the moment.
Although she still looked a little unhappy, she had thought about these situations.
She really didn't know what to do.
She couldn't think so much now.
Take one step at a time and see what happens. This is the only solution she can think of now.
She nodded to Xiao Yuanxing.
When he was about to leave, she suddenly called him, "Cousin."
Xiao Yuanxing turned around to look at her, waiting for her to continue.
Xu Duanyi looked at him and said, "I can't abandon Xie Qingya, but I won't let my aunt down either... You don't have to worry that I will turn against my aunt because of Xie Qingya."
"I would never do that."
When Xiao Yuanxing heard this, his expression became more complicated, and he did not feel relieved at all.
Instead, it became even heavier.
Of course he believed her.
But it was precisely because of this belief that he felt even more worried about her.
Caught in a dilemma.
It is always more painful than having it both ways.
If she can't choose just one, then she will always be in pain.
Xiao Yuanxing couldn't say anything.
Deep down, he naturally hoped that Zhao Zhao could abandon Xie Qingya and let go of this relationship.
It goes without saying that Zhao Zhao would not agree.
Just talking about this matter, is it really correct?
Thinking about these years, Zhao Zhao never dared to take a wrong step. The only time he indulged himself was even towards death.
How could Xiao Yuanxing bear it?
He raised his hand, and finally patted her head helplessly and gently.
"...Don't think too much. There is always a way to solve the problem." He couldn't say much now.
Firstly, they didn't know what Xie Qingya's situation was.
Maybe they just worry too much.
Secondly, he really couldn't promise Zhao Zhao anything at this moment.
My aunt's control over power stems from the betrayal of the previous emperor and the death of Wen Zhao.
Only when she holds power can she feel completely at ease.
How could I allow someone else to sleep soundly beside my bed? My aunt was afraid. She was afraid that she would be treated like a fish on the chopping board again and be slaughtered at will.
I am also afraid that the Xiao family will face the same situation again.
This is why she refuses to give up power.
But it is impossible for my aunt to hold on to power forever...
Your Majesty is getting bigger and bigger.
In this world, everyone’s surname must be Liu, not Xiao.
Xiao Yuanxing himself actually didn't know what to do, and naturally he couldn't say anything to Xu Duanyi.
So he just said this and withdrew his hand.
"Let's go. Take care of yourself." After Xiao Yuanxing said this, he turned around without waiting for Xu Duanyi to speak.
But he did not leave directly, but walked towards Xie Qingya.
Xu Duanyi's face changed slightly when she saw this scene, and her heart also tensed up. She subconsciously wanted to follow, but in the end she stopped where she was and did not go.
My cousin is not Xiao Yuanfu.
He knows his limits.
Xie Qingya also saw Xiao Yuanxing walking towards him.
Compared to Xu Duanyi's worries, he was very calm and was even prepared to be beaten up without fighting back.
He also has a younger sister.
Putting himself in Xiao Yuanxing's shoes, he certainly knew the hatred that Xiao Yuanxing felt towards him.
But the fist he was waiting for did not fall.
Only Xiao Yuanxing's words, which he suppressed deliberately, reached his ears: "If one day, you dare to let Zhao Zhao down, I will never let you go!"
After Xiao Yuanxing said this, he glared at him fiercely again.
In the end, I just left here in anger.