Desiring to leave (Part 2)
During the night raid, Prince Yan Ji of Jin suddenly felt a chill on his neck. When he opened his eyes, a white light flashed before him, tearing open a bright red wound.
"...!"
"How is it useless?"
Inside the side room, adorned with precious floral decorations, everyone silently watched as a pool of blood in a treasure box on the table slowly writhed as if it were alive.
Xie Lingxi waited for a while, but seeing no movement from the body, she looked at the doctor, then at Liu Xu's eyes, and frowned: "Should we cut open the flesh?"
The worms may not be present simply because there are no wounds on the skin; it's better to endure this cut than to suffer countless other pains.
After thinking for a moment, she picked up the knife and gestured, "How deep and how long should I cut?"
"This shouldn't be happening..."
Little did Yan Yun know that the blood not only failed to attract the Gu worms, but instead "eagerly" tried to burrow into the flesh. Seeing that the woman was determined to cut, she suddenly grabbed Xie Lingxi's hand, "No!"
She accidentally knocked the dagger to the ground, leaving a bloody scratch on Xie Lingxi's arm.
Blood suddenly gushed out of the box! It seemed to be heading towards the wound!
Fortunately, Xie Lingxi reacted quickly, blocking the water with her sleeve, but this splashed the brocade of waves within her sleeve.
Everyone was shocked: "What's going on?!"
Last night, the princess sent someone to Prince Jin's residence to draw a few drops of his blood in an attempt to remove the evil curse. However, the current situation was completely unexpected by Xie Lingxi.
She lowered her sleeves, her face cold and stern: "The direction is wrong."
This outer garment is no longer wearable, so Xie Lingxi took it off, saying, "What a waste of a fine garment."
Yan Yun felt a little embarrassed. It was originally her suggestion, but it almost harmed Xie Lingxi. She lowered her eyes and looked at her, "I'm sorry... I didn't expect things to turn out this way."
“Your Highness is already very kind to help me, what is there to apologize for?” She paused, “If the clothes are torn, just ask Ah Xu to buy another one.”
The dim sunlight shone on Xie Lingxi's listless face, making her look extremely haggard. "Moreover, this time it wasn't all for nothing. At least I can confirm that this Gu was indeed created by Yan Ji."
She feigned entanglement with Yan Ji, unaware that he harbored such despicable intentions, demanding her submission and even resorting to sinister and malevolent means like Gu worms...
Now that I think about it, could it be just like Merlin back then?
Just then, Liu Xu's gaze drifted over, and the two looked at each other. Xie Lingxi pursed her lips and said, "I swear, I really only hugged him that one time."
And as luck would have it, her husband saw it and threw a huge tantrum.
The real husband, having already made a scene, tried to comfort her, saying, "Yes, I understand."
“The rising and setting of the sun and moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, are all the two extremes of things,” Liu Xu said, stroking Xie Lingxi’s palm as he turned to Yan Yun. “Your Highness, is there an explanation that contradicts what is recorded in the book?”
On the other side, Xie Lingxi said softly, "Don't touch me—it hurts."
It shouldn't hurt.
We prepared some medications to help alleviate the symptoms and drank several bowls of pain-relieving soup. Although it couldn't cure the problem completely, it was quite effective. We slept together at night, feeling peaceful and content.
Liu Xu: "Where does it hurt?"
"Why doesn't my wife say, 'Even if it hurts, I want to stay with my husband'?"
"Are you sick?" Xie Lingxi glared at him. "If you don't read the classics, where did you go to pick up these pretentious stories?"
Such teasing and pranking skills couldn't be innate; Liu Chengzhi must have learned them from his surroundings, perhaps from some shady place, and then used them specifically on her!
Just now, after Yan Yun heard Liu Xu's words, she went to look for other books to corroborate the story. This young man then became unrestrained: "Storybooks? We have some. Would Lingxi like to read them?"
Xie Lingxi repeatedly held his hand, gently scratching his palm, making Liu Xu's face and heart itch. "You bought it? How much silver did it cost? Didn't you say you were going to make clothes for me?"
"It shouldn't be to the point of... bankrupting everyone."
Liu Xucai couldn't bear to let Xie Lingxi eat with him.
Hearing this, she chuckled softly, "How could that be?"
"If I become destitute, will Lingxi abandon me and remarry?"
"Why remarry?"
Behind the screen, a person walked gracefully in, her hair ornaments jingling and sparkling, revealing the exquisite and beautiful floral crown.
Yan Ying had obviously rushed over from outside. As soon as she stepped through the door, she heard this sentence. She gracefully sat down on the stool and chair. "Has Third Mistress finally come to her senses and decided not to follow this philandering scholar anymore?"
"Heartbreaker?"
Before Liu Xu could even pay his respects to the princess, upon hearing this, he grabbed Xie Lingxi's hand, pinning her fingers down, and demanded, "What do you mean by 'fickle'?"
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!"
Although I know it's a joke, if you say it too much, it can easily become real. Besides, if it goes too far, it will not only hurt feelings but also embarrass people.
Exhausted, she said, "Alright, you two, please stop making fun of me, okay?"
Liu Xu did as instructed, gently rubbing the back of his wife's neck.
Is it sour?
Xie Lingxi: "A little."
The force was just right, like a mountain spring cascading down, pounding on the skin and bones, carrying a touch of warmth. She slightly closed her eyes, her eyelashes sweeping across them, "As Your Highness can see, this method doesn't seem to work."
The discarded gauze dress was carelessly tossed on the ground, covered in bloodstains.
Yan Ying crossed her arms and nodded: "I can see that Prince Jin is indeed very cunning. Even though he has lost power, I still dare not relax."
"What? Worried he'll ruin your grand plan?"
“Ha…” Yan Ying chuckled softly. She looked at Xie Lingxi meaningfully, who propped his neck up and calmly fiddled with his pen and inkstone. “I wouldn’t call it ‘worrying,’ but the world is unstable these days, and I have to find a way out for myself.”
"What do you say? Yan Ji is our common enemy. Why not join forces with me and strive for a bright future?"
That's what I meant.
Xie Lingxi lifted her eyelids to look at her, "Your Highness's words sound like you're deliberately keeping me hanging on to achieve your goal, as if you're intentionally not removing this love potion from me."
"..."
The two were separated by only an arm's length, yet it felt like an insurmountable chasm.
Xie Lingxi scrutinized her, and before she could react, he quickly changed the subject: "Your Highness, could you point out the 'bright future' you spoke of to this uncouth person?"
The struggle for imperial power has already divided the court into several factions, with open and covert battles raging and causing a great uproar, but few people are willing to stand up for the princess and her wife.
The princess said, "High official positions, titles, wealth and honor are not what Third Sister desires—I'm afraid I cannot promise what Third Sister asks for."
Isn't this statement contradictory?
The princess's scheme with the Prince of Pingnan may not be as simple as she claims. Now that she's getting close to Xie Lingxi, who knows what she's plotting?
But there seemed to be a natural alliance between her and the princess... She really couldn't explain where this trust came from or what caused it.
Finally, as if exchanging a cryptic reply, Xie Lingxi responded, "Okay."
...
The Xie family, having suffered the previous calamity, now only had some dilapidated buildings and old wells remaining. Now, however, it was a place of vibrant life, with beautiful women everywhere. When the two entered, they saw Xie Lingjun weeding.
"Lingxi, Chengzhi?"
As dusk fell and all things rested, Xie Lingjun wiped the wet mud off his clothes, straightened up, and asked, "Why are you here?"
Recently, news of the death of the third son of Prime Minister Cui has reached everyone's ears, causing a great uproar in the previous court. Undercurrents are surging in all directions, and the Ministry of Revenue is extremely busy due to Prime Minister Cui's new policies.
Chengzhi suffered a work injury and should have been resting at home. Lingxi's new illness has not yet healed... So why did he run out here?
Xie Lingjun had only heard a few bits and pieces about what had happened just a few days ago.
Upon seeing Liu Chengzhi in his wheelchair, he was first taken aback, then looked around and asked in a low voice, "What exactly happened?"
Liu Xu said helplessly, "It can't be explained in just a few words."
He then looked up at Xie Lingxi.
The woman pushed the wheelchair toward Guanzhi Garden. Xie Lingjun understood, put down his hoe, and took the wheelchair. "Are you feeling any better?"
"Yes, don't worry."
She walked slowly, and Xie Lingjun followed her pace.
As night deepened, a string of lotus-shaped gauze lanterns hung in the corridor, creating an eerie silence. Only the sick woman spoke in a clear, melancholy voice: "These past few days have been truly chaotic and bewildering. After much thought, I've decided to tell my brother about this matter."
"What are your guesses about Cui Sanlang's death, brother?"
Speaking of Cui Jue, he is a perfect example of someone who is outspoken, unruly, and arrogant, and is truly hateful.
Now that he's dead, Xie Lingjun only thinks he deserved his fate, showing no compassion or pity whatsoever.
But who would dare kill a member of the elite elite?
Thinking it over, he pushed open the door and steadily carried the wheelchair and the person inside.
Candles were already lit inside the house.
Xie Lingxi's eyes were bright and clear. She saw a white jade chessboard on a square table, with sparse leaves and withered flowers, and a person sitting quietly. She stared intently and asked, "Second Brother Cui?"
Cui Zhi was also taken aback, "Third Sister is back?"
"Um."
"And my brother-in-law," Xie Lingjun put away the chessboard and replaced it with pastries, "Do you want to know how your dead brother died?"
On the day Cui Jue died, neither Cui Zhi nor Cui Yi were in the mansion. After this incident, Madam He immediately cried and made a scene in front of Cui Wenying, claiming that the brother and sister harbored resentment over what happened that day and instigated others to kill Cui Jue.
Cui Wenying didn't say anything, but she sent someone to deliver a message to the Xie family, telling the brother and sister not to go home unless necessary.
"So it seems that Lord Cui still has a heart of care for the Second Young Master."
"A sense of care?" Cui Zhi's words were unwavering. "It's hard to say."
"That He family caused chaos and upheaval in the house, and even almost overturned the ancestral tablets. My father was so worried that he heard he wanted to send her to a house in Chang'an County."
The Cui family is of noble birth; how could they tolerate a shrew running wild?
Hearing his words, Xie Lingxi pondered, "Everyone says that Uncle Cui loved his youngest son as much as his own life, but now that the man is dead, why is there no reaction from him?"
"Love? I doubt it."
Cui Zhiwei rolled his eyes slightly. "What could he love? He doesn't love anything."
After saying this, everyone quietly sat down in the room. Xie Lingjun poured everyone a cup of hot tea and asked, "So, how exactly did he die?"
When she heard anecdotes about tea, or even secrets of a prominent family, her brother's eyes lit up instantly!
Xie Lingxi had grown tired of hearing about it these past few days, and was also preoccupied with the conspiracy hidden beneath the surface of the lake. Her eyes twitched, and she immediately set out the cups and saucers. "These past few days, my stomach has been full of tea. I really can't drink any more."
After saying this, she recounted everything that happened at the Qilou that day, and also mentioned that Liu Xu had discovered the person behind the scenes, but she barely omitted the princess's actions.
"This—Pingnan Prince Yan Li?"
As fellow generals, Xie Lingjun, being a few years older than her, had some impression of the Prince of Pingnan. He tapped the table with his fingertip, saying, "Back when my mother was still in the north of the mountains, the Prince of Pingnan had not yet been granted a royal title; he was just a minor garrison commander."
He continued, "Later, he served as the commander-in-chief of the army to attack the southern border. He was then enfeoffed as the Prince of Pingnan for his military achievements and stationed at Canglan Pass. He never returned to Chang'an."
He did indeed live in the north of the mountain!
Xie Lingxi shook her head: "I really don't know anything about this."
"Things from over a decade ago—you probably weren't even born yet, how would you know?"
Xie Lingjun glanced at his exceptionally intelligent younger sister, who was frowning and seemingly lost in thought. Then, she asked, "When he was in the north of the mountain, did he have any female confidantes?"
"I don't know about that."
They are still just young children; even a child prodigy couldn't remember so many details.
The conversation on one side stopped, and on the other side, Cui Zhi listened for a long time before finally speaking: "What does the Prince of Pingnan want my father to do after killing Cui Jue?"
Without any enmity or grudge, how could someone dare to kill a young master from a prestigious family if there were no vested interests involved?
Although he was taciturn and unwilling to get involved in such messy matters, he wasn't mentally impaired; he wasn't an empty shell.
Xie Lingxi corrected him, saying, "This person wasn't killed by the Prince of Pingnan, Brother Cui, don't be confused."
This was a strange statement. Seeing that Cui Erlang was frozen in place, Liu Xu slowly explained, "The Dali Temple has not yet found out the results. Who the murderer is and who the Prince of Pingnan wants to make an enemy of Prime Minister Cui are still under discussion."
Therefore, this case cannot and should not be touched.
After talking for a while, Liu Xu finally said something.
Xie Lingjun, with his keen observation, noticed this and glanced at Xie Lingxi. Seeing her cold expression, he began to suspect that there might be a conflict between them.
In the past, even without physical contact, the two would have shown a sense of intimacy. How could they be so distant today?
He was the older brother, and he and Lingxi had always been open and honest with each other since childhood, so he asked, "Is Cheng feeling unwell tonight?"
Liu Xu was taken aback. "...That's not true."
"Then why aren't you saying anything?"
"this……"
Liu Xu was speechless, his face flushed slightly, like a steamed crab shell. Xie Lingxi rubbed her forehead, "Brother, it's best not to pry into matters between husband and wife."
Because Liu Xu often spoke recklessly, she ordered the young man to speak less and be careful in his words and actions when others were around, so as not to embarrass her.
Liu Xu agreed to her request and indeed kept silent that night.
Xie Lingjun: "...Alright then."
"Now, back to this confidante, it's not difficult to find out the truth. Just send someone to investigate the events of more than ten years ago."
“That makes sense,” Xie Lingxi said, shaking the tea that had long since gone cold. “Before that, I would like to see something.”
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