On this day, when spring was in full bloom, Qi Yunzhou finally married his beloved, the brave and resolute orphan girl from the Xue family.
Meanwhile, Xin Jiuwei, whom he had always disliked for being too weak, was lying in bed vomiting blood.
Xin Jiuwei thought, no wonder Qi Huaiyu made her move to this remote little courtyard.
She was poisoned to the point of being half-dead, and anyone who saw her would feel it was bad luck.
Upon hearing her cough, the maid outside immediately pushed open the door, grabbed her hair, and forced a bowl of foul-smelling, bitter soup containing medicinal dregs into her mouth.
"The new wife said that no one can die on such a joyous occasion. Even if you have to die, you have to get through today!"
Xin Jiuwei nearly suffocated, coughing up blood and tears all over her face, looking utterly disheveled.
"Since you're afraid I'll die... then give me back the antidote."
In the past, fearing the dangers of officialdom, she obtained elixirs from a divine physician and gave them all to Qi Huaiyu, hoping to save his life in times of danger. Among them was an elixir that could cure all poisons.
The maid scoffed, "How could you possibly consume such a miraculous medicine? The new mistress is frail, and the master has already given her elixirs to help her recover."
Xin Jiuwei was taken aback, then chuckled softly.
As he laughed, tears streamed into his mouth, mingling with the vomited blood to create a nauseating taste.
The medicine she used to save her life, Qi Huaiyu gave it to Xue Yingxue to help her recover?!
Xue Yingxue, who always prided herself on being the daughter of a military family and looked down on Xin Jiuwei's spoiled young lady manners, wasn't she?
Yes... it's always been like this.
Xin Jiuwei gave the best things in the world to Qi Huaiyu, but Qi Huaiyu always said that Xue Yingxue was pitiful for losing her father, and then he would give the best things to Xue Yingxue in return.
At that time, Xin Jiuwei was a young lady from a prominent family in Yingzhou. Everything Qi Huaiyu possessed was thanks to her, so she never paid attention to Xue Yingxue and only thought that Qi Huaiyu was kind-hearted.
Later, Qi Huaiyu rose to prominence, while Xin Jiuwei lost everything and ended up in the same situation as Xue Yingxue.
She was extremely cautious, afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing and causing trouble for Qi Huaiyu in this cutthroat capital.
However, Qi Huaiyu thought she was too hesitant and indecisive, unlike Xue Yingxue who was strong and capable.
The maid smashed the bowl and left, leaving Xin Jiuwei with a numb, aching heart.
She waited until the night outside the window was completely dark, and gradually despaired.
"Squeak—"
The rickety wooden door was finally pushed open, and someone stood in the doorway against the moonlight, refusing to step inside.
The poison was taking effect, and Xin Jiuwei could no longer see clearly.
But she knew that Qi Huaiyu would definitely be wearing a bright red wedding dress, just like when they got married.
Xin Jiuwei struggled to sit up. "It's so kind of you to come see me on our wedding night."
Qi Huaiyu's voice was cold, "I'll keep an eye on you, make sure you don't die before dawn."
Xin Jiuwei coughed up blood repeatedly, "I never wanted to separate you and Xue Yingxue, why... why must I die?"
"Ah Xue cannot be a concubine," Qi Huaiyu said calmly. "In this life, I will only marry her."
Xin Jiuwei was stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter.
Her laughter was hoarse, strained, and awkward.
"Qi Huaiyu, don't you find this ridiculous? You only want to marry Xue Yingxue? Weren't you the one who married into the Xin family in the first place?"
Qi Huaiyu's expression changed slightly, and he said coldly, "If your father hadn't used his power to force me, do you think I would have married you?"
Xin Jiuwei stared intently at Qi Huaiyu in the darkness.
"If you want to marry her, you can divorce me, I'll even accept a divorce decree! But you, but you..."
"Ha...that's right. You are now the beloved Lord Qi, a loyal subject before the new emperor. How could you do something like abandoning your wife and remarrying?"
Therefore, she had to die so that Xue Yingxue could become Qi Huaiyu's rightful wife.
"Qi Huaiyu." Xin Jiuwei's ears were ringing, and she could hardly hear herself speak. "My father values you so much and supports you with all his might... Without the Xin family, you would have been a wet nurse's son your whole life! Lord Qi is a learned man, yet he has become an ingrate!"
Back then, Xin Jiuwei had a father who was the head of a prominent family and a huge fortune left by her wealthy maternal grandfather. She was originally the most noble girl in Yingzhou.
Until she fell in love with Qi Huaiyu.
No matter how many times her older brother and sister scolded her for siding with outsiders, she still eagerly offered him the best things.
Yang's father freed Qi Huaiyu and his mother from slavery.
Send him to study under a master, introduce him to the sons of families with whom the family has a long history of friendship, and provide him with the best food, clothing, and daily necessities.
Her brother was not good at studying, so she begged her father to give Qi Huaiyu a chance;
My older sister wants to arrange a marriage, but she says the other party had a falling out with Qi Huaiyu, so the marriage is not advisable.
After his elder brother caused a scene, he lost his father's trust and from then on only knew how to indulge in debauchery, becoming a notorious good-for-nothing in Yingzhou. That year, he got into a fight with someone and was beaten to death.
After her elder sister broke off her engagement, every time she became engaged, the man either fell off his horse or contracted a serious illness. Her sister became known as a jinx to husbands. In a fit of anger, she went up the mountain to become a nun, but her carriage plunged off a cliff, and she was never found.
Their father passed away after handing the Xin family and Xin Jiuwei over to Qi Huaiyu.
She went from being the apple of her family's eye to a helpless orphan.
Thinking of her family, Xin Jiuwei felt a sharp pain in her heart.
She gave everything the Xin family had to help Qi Huaiyu rise to prominence. At that time, it was clearly agreed that she would help him succeed, and he would protect her and ensure her safety...
But now Qi Huaiyu rushed in and forcefully grabbed her chin.
"Xin Jiuwei, I hate your ungrateful face the most."
"Your Xin family is a mere third-rate clan. Your father spent his entire life striving to become the Prefect of Yingzhou. What can you possibly offer me?"
"My admission to the tutelage of a great Confucian scholar was due to my own diligent study over the years; my entry into officialdom through family connections was thanks to my teacher's appreciation and trust; and my current position and power are also due to my merit in supporting the emperor's rise to power. You?"
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