154 Chapter 154
◎In just half a year, she fell in love with another man.◎
In the silent hall, this childish call brought Xu Qinghe back to his senses.
She lowered her eyes and subconsciously clutched the clothes behind Xie Qi.
If he knew that Ping An was their child, he would not let go easily.
She felt a little panicked, but also had a hint of anticipation.
While Xie Qi was stunned, Ping An ran in and patted his legs with his little hands.
While beating him, he cursed him: "Bad man! Bad man!"
His distraction gave Xu Qinghe the opportunity to finally break free from Xie Qi's arms.
Xie Qi squatted down in front of the little girl and asked, "When you saw me before, didn't you say I was a good person? Why are you calling me a bad person today?"
Ping An angrily said, "Because you bullied my mother! You are not allowed to bully my mother!"
The soft, pink little fists even started to hit his face, but he dodged them easily.
If any other child came out, Xie Qi would think that this was a trick played by Xu Qinghe to avoid him.
But he had seen the child in front of him before, and he had sighed in his heart more than once that this child looked so much like Xu Qinghe.
But what if it looks like that?
There are so many people in this world who look alike.
She just found a child who looked like herself to deceive him.
Xie Qi remained calm and composed: "Who is your mother? Who were you calling mother just now?"
"—Of course it's me."
While he was talking to Ping'an just now, the struggle between his conscience and his desires in Xu Qinghe's heart had already come to an end.
She gave birth to and raised her daughter to her current age alone, so why should Xie Qi know about it?
She bent down and picked up her daughter, so that Ping An was completely out of his sight.
She looked at him and said, "As you can see, Ping An is my daughter."
Xie Qi shook his head, his eyes even filled with the joy of exposing her.
"How did you get a daughter? We clearly never had a relationship before..."
"We? Why us?"
The question blocked the words that Xie Qi was about to say.
The curve of his lips froze immediately, but the smile in his eyes still remained faintly because of his beautiful peach blossom eyes.
Xu Qinghe pinched her knuckles and said in a cold voice, "Have you forgotten? You told me in person in the restaurant that day that you only wished me a happy and carefree life in the future and that I could find another good partner."
"This is naturally the child I had with someone else."
She emphasized the word "good marriage" with particular emphasis.
The smile in Xie Qi's eyes suddenly disappeared completely.
It's like a beautiful jade that has lost its original luster, or a sharp sword that has lost its sharpness.
He opened his mouth several times before he uttered, "You mean... you... got married?"
She actually got married?
She actually married someone else? !
Xu Qinghe raised his chin slightly and said "of course".
Xie Qi felt dizzy and took two steps back before he could steady himself.
Since this reunion, he had never seen anyone else around her, so he naturally thought that she was still alone. At that time, he felt extremely fortunate.
Who would have known today that she had already been married!
He looked at the girl and asked, "When did you...get married? Who is the other party?"
If she couldn't give a specific time and person, it meant that her words were said intentionally to deceive him.
Xu Qinghe hugged Ping An tightly and looked back warily: "None of this has anything to do with you."
"How can it be unrelated?"
Xie Qi stepped forward, getting closer and closer, and the look of surprise on his face turned into a weird smile.
The smile was somewhat gloomy, and it gave the usually jade-like face a fierce look, making the person look like a ghost.
"No matter when you got married or who you were married to, now that I'm back, none of that counts."
He quickly reacted: "I was able to snatch you back from Wei Ming back then, and I can do the same now."
It would be best if she told a lie, even if it was true...
He is not afraid even of the truth.
He was a Shura who had committed countless murders on the battlefield. If that person knew what was good for him and got out of the way, he would at most send him to the ends of the earth far away from the southern border.
If that person doesn't know what's best for him...
Naturally, he didn't mind if the spear in his hand caused another life to be taken.
"Qinghe, no one else is worthy of you. I have a way to make you come back to me, to come back to me openly and honestly."
Xu Qinghe's hands were covered in sticky sweat.
His eyes were so sharp, as if he could see through her innermost thoughts at a glance.
But for the future, for safety and for herself, she cannot retreat.
Xie Qi was able to deceive her and push her away once, but there was no guarantee that he wouldn't do it a second or third time in the future.
That time, it was because he was going deep into the Nanyi Kingdom. What about the future? Maybe he had to attack another country, or go on another mission. If he pushed her away again and again, the only ones who would be hurt would be her and Ping An.
She calmed herself down and sneered, "Don't be naive, Xie Qi. I chose to marry you because I had no interest in Wei Ming. But now it's different. I've met someone who truly respects me, who considers my thoughts and opinions, and who gives me choices. He may not have your looks, but he has a heart that is honest with me."
Xu Qinghe took two steps forward and took the initiative.
"Now, my husband and I are deeply in love. I've done everything with him that I did with you before. You say others are unworthy of me, but I only feel that you are unworthy of me. It was you who deceived me so many times, and it was you who once trampled on my sincerity. Why do you insist on me coming back to you now?"
"If you dare to use your so-called methods to hurt the one I love, my husband, I will never let you go."
——Now, my husband and I are very loving. I have done everything with him that I did with you before.
——You say that others are not worthy of me, but I just feel that you are the only one who is not worthy of me.
——If you dare to use your so-called means to hurt the person I love, hurt my husband, I will never let you go.
The word "husband" was once so familiar, but now it sounds so harsh.
How could she call someone husband?!
How could she seriously marry someone else?!
How could she do this?!
…
But why can't she do this?
Under her repeated questioning, Xie Qi suddenly lost his temper.
It was he who pushed her away in the first place, and it was he who told her to find another good partner.
He had brought all this upon himself.
Seeing him like this, Xu Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave with Ping An in his arms.
"Qinghe."
Behind her, the man who had just managed to calm himself down by leaning against a small table called her to stop.
"Are you serious? Do you like that person?"
Xu Qinghe closed her eyes and thought of the young general in white robe who once squatted in front of the palace gate, and the prince in red robe who once held her in his hands.
"Yes, I like him very much."
"So, if you do anything harmful to him in the future, I will not forgive you."
**
Before coming to Lanzhou, Xu Qinghe had already forged his identity very well.
She was a local who had left Lanzhou because of the war and returned with her daughter many years later. When someone asked her where her husband was, she said that they had a disagreement and later separated, leaving her to raise her daughter alone.
Therefore, as long as Xie Qi made a little inquiry in the city, he would know that half of what she said today was false.
But Xu Qinghe knew that Xie Qi would soon leave Lanzhou and did not have enough time to inquire about the news in detail in the city. Moreover, he did not want to hear such news over and over again.
His only source of information now is the Qin governor.
As the governor of Lanzhou and the person who introduced the two of them to each other, Xie Qi would be the first to look for him.
Therefore, after leaving the hall, she immediately ordered someone to deliver an urgent letter to Governor Qin, and also ordered someone to stop Xie Qi on the road to ensure that her letter arrived at the Governor's Mansion earlier than Xie Qi.
So when Xie Qi arrived at the governor's mansion, it was already dusk and the night was quiet.
The governor of Qin was diligent in his work and was still working in his study. When he saw the marquis coming, he asked someone to make some hot tea.
"The Marquis is now well. If you need anything important, just tell someone to let me go find him. Why come here yourself?"
Xie Qi's eyes dimmed.
Even outsiders knew that he was still seriously injured and treated him as a patient, but only that girl insisted on hurting his feelings with every word and would not stop until she saw his miserable appearance.
But she has always been such a vengeful person.
"I came here today to ask Governor Qin a private question."
The governor of Qin said with a smile, "What is it? My Lord, please feel free to tell me. Since this is a private matter, I will definitely keep my mouth shut."
Xie Qi lowered his eyes and looked at the tea leaves curling in the cup.
After a long while, he finally spoke: "Boss Xu, she... is married?"
"Don't you think the Marquis doesn't know about this?"
Governor Qin was still smiling. "Boss Xu and his family of three returned to Lanzhou three years ago. Her husband isn't from here and doesn't like to socialize. Aside from the day at Wenlu, he's rarely seen. But they love each other dearly. One takes care of the outside affairs, the other the inside, and they live a very happy life."
Xie Qi's hands trembled slightly, and hot tea spilled all over his sleeves.
But he didn't seem to feel the heat at all, and didn't even wipe it off. He just asked, "So, she really got married?"
Governor Qin said: "Your Majesty, you are joking. How can the marriage be false? The affairs of Boss Xu and his family of three are known to everyone. If you don't believe it, just ask the people in the city."
Only after the tea in the cup had cooled down did Xie Qi say "OK" and get up to leave.
"My Lord, be careful."
Seeing his body swaying, Governor Qin quickly reached out to support him.
When the blackness in front of his eyes finally passed, Xie Qi's vision had returned to normal. He pushed away Qin Shishi's hand and walked away.
He didn't plan to ask anyone else.
For something like this, hearing it once or twice is enough. Why bother asking it a thousand times like a self-torture?
Xie Qi closed his eyes and heard some sounds in his ears.
——Ah! Isn't this Ping An? If he falls down, it will be a disaster. Quickly find someone to look for Boss Xu first!
——This is Boss Xu’s daughter, we have to rescue her.
——Boss Xu has a lot of family matters to do, and he has a lovely daughter, so he is always busier than others on weekdays.
…
It turned out that everything had a traceable path, but he had never paid attention to it.
Xie Qi really wanted to ask again, did she abandon the comfortable princess mansion and come to this not-so-rich Lanzhou for the man she loved and was willing to bear children for?
He wanted to know what kind of man could make her give up everything and give up him.
But of course, these are things that cannot be asked.
Back in his room, he stayed awake all night.
Sometimes they appeared before my eyes as they were eleven years ago, sometimes as they were five years ago, and after a while, they were the scene of today again.
He thought of the little girl called Ping'an. No wonder he felt that she looked like Xu Qinghe when she was young when they first met. It turned out that she was her daughter.
That was her daughter with another man.
During the five years of separation, she not only got married again, but also had a daughter with another man.
But there was nothing between them.
He replayed today's scenes in his mind, feeling heartbroken while trying to find any flaws in them.
In fact, children aged four or five are basically the same, with not much difference.
Xie Qi began to review in his mind every time they were intimate. Although he was very sure that he had done it outside, he still couldn't help but hold on to the last glimmer of hope.
What if?
What if he had been careless some time, or had forgotten an experience?
What if this child is actually his?
There is always a chance of something happening.
He didn't believe that Xu Qinghe would really fall in love with someone else, marry someone else, or be willing to have children with someone else.
He doesn't believe it!
He should ask the child's age today!
What if that was her and her daughter?
However, he naturally could not ask Xu Qinghe, so in the middle of the night, he came to the Qin Governor's Court.
The governor Qin had already fallen asleep, and the room was dark.
So he had to go back and spend the second half of the night in great agony. When it was light outside, he immediately walked out of the room.
The governor of Qin was shocked.
"Why is the Marquis so haggard, and yet he hasn't slept all night?"
None of this matters, so Xie Qi naturally won't answer.
"How old is that little girl named Ping'an now?"
Governor Qin was stunned for a moment. "Three and a half years old. Little Ping'an's birthday is August 15th. After this year, he will be four years old. What happened?"
What happened? Naturally, the last bit of hope in his heart was shattered.
Xie Qi didn't know how he got back to the room.
The last time he and Xu Qinghe were intimate was on the first day of the winter solstice holiday in the 31st year of Yongshun, which was in the middle and late part of that winter month.
That was the most harmonious time they had ever had.
Ever since she discovered his identity, although she never pointed it out, the girl would always say some heartbreaking words at critical moments in bed, making him feel uncomfortable and guilty.
But that last time, she didn't know what she remembered, and she was willing to release the little princess from the southern border who had been buried in her heart. She opened herself up with love and almost let him do whatever he wanted.
The next morning, the girl refused to admit her mistake. Not only did she not admit that she had forgiven him, she also sent him back to the front yard to sleep.
Since then, nothing has happened between them.
Later, she discovered the truth about Wei Yiqun's collaboration with the enemy and fell seriously ill. After she recovered, because he imprisoned her in his mansion, she showed weakness at first, and finally left him on the Lantern Festival after the New Year.
After that, they no longer had the warmth they had in the past, and all that was left was endless bitterness.
It turned out that time of lovemaking was the last vestige of warmth in their relationship.
Now, five years and one month have passed since we parted on the Lantern Festival.
The child is only three and a half years old now, so he is definitely not his or her child.
Instead, the child was conceived by the man next to her half a year after the girl separated from him.
In just half a year, she fell in love with another man and gave birth to a child with him.
Xie Qi asked He Yu to buy some wine.
"Strong liquor, the more the better."
The drunker he got, the more sober he felt.
Scenes from the past appeared before my eyes, all with the girl’s bright and white-toothed smile.
——What I promised you is to be together forever and grow old together. So I won't leave you, and you should stop having these random thoughts, okay?
——We are husband and wife.
——You shouldn't take all those things on yourself. You should tell me and we should bear them together.
——Yes...I like you, I like you the most, I only like you, is that enough?
She had given him many chances.
——As long as you are willing to speak up, I am willing to stay and let bygones be bygones.
—Xie Qi, let me put this before you. I've already given you this opportunity today. If you don't confess everything immediately, and then ask for my forgiveness later, I won't even look at you again.
——I, Xu Qinghe, always keep my word.
——Xie Qi, will you marry me?
But he never caught it.
As a general of the Southern Territory, I naturally hope to have as many people as possible who will dedicate their all to the Southern Territory. But as your husband, your beloved, Qinghe, I only hope that you are well and can live a happy and carefree life. I just want you to be well.
——Even if I hate you?
——Even if you will hate me.
——Even if I fall in love with someone else in the future and become compatible with him/her?
——Even if... you will fall in love with someone else in the future and become compatible with him/her.
——Even if I can live happily with another man, have children, and make a promise to be together forever in the next life?
"Qinghe, there are thousands of good men in this world. You will definitely find someone better than me, someone who can love you more wholeheartedly. Even if you are in harmony with another man and have children with him, I will only sincerely wish you all the best."
—From now on, I only wish you eternal happiness and freedom from worries…find someone else…
——Find another good match.
…
She really did what he said, but why did he greedily want more?
It's not enough for her to be happy and worry-free. What he really wants is to tie her to his side and leave her with no choice but him!
But now it's too late.
It turns out that he is the only one trapped in the past, and all of this is his own fault.
"It was my fault."
"I am self-righteous, I am stubborn, and I am being clever and doing this for your own good."
"I was the one who insisted on pushing you away, giving others an opportunity to take advantage of me."
There were empty wine jars scattered on the table. He picked one up in his arms and couldn't help muttering to himself.
"I lost you."
"Qinghe."
Thinking back to the passionate nights they had spent together, the girl was coaxed by him and kept calling him "husband".
He opened his mouth, wanting to respond to her after five years.
"lady……"
But from now on, she can only be someone else's wife.
I have nothing to do with Xie Qi anymore.
【Author’s words】
I barely updated it according to the time of the first leave note [burst into tears]
Nine o'clock one, one minute late [burst into tears]
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