Chapter 49: Is she going to die soon? I wish her a long life...
"Young Miss, why are you so disheveled? The pearl ornaments on your bun are askew. I should have straightened them for you this morning."
Ju Yue watched Xie Shangqing rummaging through the room. The wooden stick she had just placed on the chair was even stained with blood. Ju Yue was shocked and asked in a low voice, "Miss, this stick... is..."
"Ju Yue!" Xie Shangqing suddenly turned around. "Hurry up and change my clothes and comb my hair again! Otherwise, some muddy pigs and mangy dogs will come to visit!"
Although Ju Yue didn't know who the mud pig and mangy dog her young lady was talking about, since her young lady was so anxious, she had no choice but to keep her mouth shut, change her young lady's clothes, and put her hair in a bun again.
Just as the last gold-inlaid leaf hairpin was pinned into Xie Shangqing's bun, a sudden noise arose from outside.
She hurriedly opened a box of lipstick and applied a little red on her lips with her fingers. Then she took perfume from the cupboard and rubbed it on her body. Xie Shangqing turned sideways and glanced at herself in the mirror. After making sure that no one else could find any flaws, she pushed the door open and walked out.
She passed through a door with hanging flowers and a curved corridor and came to the front yard.
The main door of Xie's house was wide open, and two or three servants were holding baskets filled with eggs and rotten leaves. Xie Shangqing was confused. Suddenly, he saw his father Xie and his mother Lin standing on the doorstep, also holding bamboo baskets in their hands. Xie Shangqing frowned and trotted forward.
At that moment, her good father took out an egg from the basket and threw it. Xie Shangqing hit the place where he threw it - the egg hit the forehead of the man in the silver round-necked robe outside the door. The shell cracked and the egg liquid flowed from the man's forehead.
Wow!
The man wore a tall hat, and his silver-white clothes contrasted with his dark skin, making him look quite rustic. What's more, the hat was tilted, and his robe was stained with dirt. His cheeks were bruised, and there was egg liquid and blood clots on his forehead. His pair of sinister triangular eyes fell on Xie Shangqing. Who else could this person be but Zhu Qi?
She covered her lips and exclaimed, "Oh! Master Zhu! How did you end up like this?" Xie Shangqing shouted at his parents, "Mom and Dad, what happened? Why are you offering Master Zhu eggs and rotten vegetable leaves? My great-grandfather taught us that everyone who comes is a guest."
Lin pointed at Zhu Qi and said angrily, "He's a guest? Ask him! What's he doing here?"
She spat, "It was him who broke off the engagement because of your reputation! It was him who looked down on you! What? Now you're thinking of going back? Marrying my daughter? Don't even think about it! That bastard has no good intentions!"
Xie Shangqing lifted the hem of her skirt and approached, her every move displaying the air of a noble person. She took her parents' arms and called tenderly, "Alright, Mother and Father, this is ultimately my own business. I'm the one who's going to get married, right?"
She shook her father's hand, "Xie Xiucai, would you please step aside for a moment with your mother and the servants? I would like to have a personal talk with Master Zhu. Is that okay?"
The couple exchanged a glance. How could they not know their daughter's temperament? Her gentleness and understanding were superficial, but once Xie Shangqing made up his mind, even if they, as parents, tried their best to obstruct him, it would be difficult to change him in the slightest.
Seeing Zhu Qi's extremely embarrassed state, the anger of the two men subsided a lot, so her father just patted his daughter's shoulder silently, and returned to the house with his wife and servants.
Xie Shangqing saw that everyone had disappeared from his sight, and then he took small steps to approach Zhu Qi.
Zhu Qi stared at the afterimage of the couple as they parted, his eyes gleaming with murder. If he hadn't come without his entourage, he would have chopped off the arms of those who threw rotten leaves and eggs at him. However, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
Zhu Qi looked up and down at Xie Shangqing. Just now, he was beaten with a stick by a woman wearing a veil in the old alley. Not only did the woman easily knock down three pirates, she even escaped unscathed. It was said that the Xie family's daughter had some martial arts skills... However, she didn't show any of them on the merchant ship that day.
He pulled out a peach-colored hibiscus handkerchief from his sleeve and waved it in front of Xie Shangqing's eyes. "Is this Madam Xie's personal belonging?"
Xie Shangqing leaned in closer to take a look. She covered her nose but still sneezed. "The scent of flowers? Master Zhu, I've been allergic to the scent of flowers since I was born. How could I have such a scent? I don't recognize this handkerchief."
Zhu Qi remained silent. This thing fell from the body of the woman named Mi Li.
Seeing that he remained silent, Xie Shangqing raised her sleeve and brushed Zhu Qi's face. This was considered quite dissolute for a young woman waiting to be married, but she smiled calmly and asked, "What do you think? I don't smell like that, do I?"
Zhu Qi thought to himself that it was indeed not naixiang, but fennel.
"By the way." Xie Shangqing maintained a gentle smile on his face. "Has the government sent officials to question Master Zhu?"
Zhu Qi clenched his fists, but heard the woman say worriedly, "On the night Chu Lang and I got into trouble, I vaguely saw those pirates trapping Master Zhu! Master Zhu Qi, are you okay? Did they threaten or blackmail you? I wonder how the government office is investigating..."
"Chu Lang died for me in Cangze Lake, so why did the pirates want to take our lives?" Xie Shangqing sobbed, "Since it's a murder case, the government will definitely investigate it to the end. However, if we can't capture the pirates and close the case in time, I think this case will only cause great harm to your wharf."
Zhu Qi stared at the woman before him, paying attention to her every word and movement. "Don't worry, Madam Xie." He changed the subject, "Madam Xie and Master Chu are truly deeply in love. So, are you two familiar with each other's family backgrounds? Does Master Chu have any relatives? For example... a cousin?"
"Although this case wasn't caused by me, you two hid on a merchant ship, and the sailor, A Zhang, who was covering for you, disappeared without a trace that night. I thought, if Mr. Chu still has relatives in the world, I would be willing to pay for their compensation out of my own pocket. After all, Mr. Chu was wrecked on my ship, and I, Zhu, cannot rest in peace."
Xie Shangqing's smile deepened. Duan Meiyin washed herself clean. It seemed that Zhu Qi didn't know the relationship between the two. The government office could not reveal the family background of the deceased to Zhu Qi, who was about to become a suspect.
"Mr. Zhu, Chu Lang mentioned to me that he was an abandoned child who grew up eating at other people's homes and had no relatives." She praised him, "Mr. Zhu is truly a kind man."
"It should be so. People are also made of flesh and blood." Zhu Qi nodded. "Mr. Chu's life story is so pitiful that it makes Madam Xie's love for him even more profound."
Xie Shangqing could hear the teasing in his words, but she didn't take it seriously. Suddenly, she moved closer to him and asked shyly, "My parents just told me that Master Zhu wants to marry me?"
"In fact, I've been thinking deeply these days. A woman's choice of husband shouldn't be a joke. As for the elopement, if Chu Lang hadn't insisted on it, I..." She raised her tearful eyes, making people feel pity. "No one in Huaicheng is willing to marry the daughter of the Xie family. If Master Zhu really has this intention, Shang Qing will definitely learn how to be a good mistress this time."
Zhu Qi smiled and hid the sharp knife. If he could confine her to his side, he could also keep an eye on her from time to time.
…
Duan Meiyin was lying on the chaise longue, reading a medical book. Suddenly, she heard the servants outside the courtyard greeting her in unison. She quickly stood up and threw the book under the couch.
When Zhu Qi opened the door, she saw Duan Meiyin sitting on a square stool, looking through the household account books. Seeing him return home, she hurried to greet him, "Husband, you are finally back. I have been so busy these days that I have hardly seen you. I miss you very much."
She saw a large, dark blue bump on Zhu Qi's forehead, and his clothes were stained with blood and mud. Duan Meiyin asked with concern, "What happened to my husband?"
He didn't rush to answer, but sat down with the help of Duan Meiyin. As he moved, he pulled at the wound he had received from the beating by the Mi Li woman. Zhu Qi gasped in pain, "Didn't that unlucky thing happen a while ago? Naturally, there are all sorts of things waiting for me to deal with at the dock. As for the injury... I accidentally fell and rolled in the mud."
"Did anyone come to the government office today? Did they check the storehouse?"
Duan Meiyin suppressed her laughter and made tea for him. "Ayin must complete the tasks assigned by my husband. When the officials came, I also served them with fragrant tea and fine wine. When they saw that there was nothing wrong with the storehouse, they did not stay any longer."
Zhu Qi was still worried. Although he had moved the "stolen goods" from the warehouse overnight, his heart was still beating wildly. "The officials didn't ask any questions, did they?"
"I didn't ask much." Duan Meiyin handed the account book at the bottom to Zhu Qi. "My husband, I don't understand why the income in February of last year was so huge? There is no detailed record in the book, just saying that a big business deal was negotiated..."
Zhu Qi rolled his eyes and said impatiently, "You wanted to learn how to manage the accounts like the mistress, and I've given it to you. So, why are you still bothering with these old accounts?" He paused. "After today, you don't have to look at them anymore. After all, you're such a crude woman, and the mistress will take care of it from now on. Just focus on taking care of your baby."
Bitterness was evident in her eyes. "My husband, do you mean that Ayun is still just a concubine? Ayun treats you like a…"
"Stop, stop, stop!" Although Zhu Qi liked the delicate and tearful look of his concubine, it was only limited to the bed. If she cried every day, how could he not be tired of her?
Considering that she was pregnant, he was too lazy to argue with Duan Meiyin, but he didn't want to say anything else. Zhu Qi kicked open the door and left.
Duan Meiyin rolled her eyes in the direction he left. She straightened her skirt and walked to the door of her house, where she happened to see a cart carrying goods returning.
It rained last night and the floor tiles were not dry yet. There was a lot of wet mud on the wheels, so they must have come from outside the city.
Duan Meiyin pointed at the mud splashed by the horses' hooves and said disdainfully, "Look! You didn't even wash yourself outside before you came here! You've got all this mud all over our door! What kind of soil is this? Why is it so black? It stinks! Where did you come from?"
Who among the servants who were pulling the goods didn't know that Madam Duan had recently gained the young master's favor? Even the household account books were sent to Madam Duan's room by servants. If this concubine was pregnant with a child, it wouldn't be impossible for her to be promoted to the mistress. Seeing the anger in her words, the servants apologized profusely.
A boy at the end of the group stepped forward and explained, "Madam, this soil is called Heiluo soil. Xigao and Huailing outside the city are made of this soil. The mountain road is muddy, probably because of the mud on the way. I'm going now..."
"Shut up!"
The dark-skinned, burly man in the lead suddenly shouted, "What are you talking about, you hairless bastard? Hurry up and get some water to clean the wheels!"
Then, the burly man bowed and said to Duan Meiyin, "Madam, please don't take his words seriously. How old is he? What can he understand? As for where we are going..." His expression was a little stiff. "We are all doing things for you, Master. If you want to know, you can ask Master Zhu. We servants can't say much."
Duan Meiyin stared at the burly man for a long moment, then said with a smile, "Since this is my husband's most important matter, I won't interfere any further. However... everyone needs to clean this place. I hate filth the most in my life."
…
In a simple and elegant room, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window lattice, becoming soft. The mottled spring sunshine fell on the face of Xie Ju, who was over a hundred years old. His skin, covered with age spots and wrinkles, seemed to be about to welcome a new life. Xie Ju squeezed his eyes unconsciously. His loose eyelids almost made it difficult for him to see, even though one of his eyes had been blind for a long time.
Xie Shangqing, who was lying on the side of Xie Ju's couch, noticed this and wanted to close the curtains. She was about to stand up when Xie Ju on the couch said, "...Little boy, don't close it."
The voice was so weak that it seemed to be blown away by the wind.
For several months, Xie Ju's mind was mostly in a confused state. In serious cases, she could not even recognize her parents. Only after a few times could she communicate normally as she does now.
The doctor asserted that the great-grandfather's time was approaching, so the family prepared a coffin and a burial plot. Everyone in the Xie family mourned and guarded Xie Ju, hoping that Xie Ju, who had protected the Xie family all his life, could die without worries. However, Xie Shangqing knew very well that the great-grandfather had a wish buried in his heart for many years, a wish that would never come true - to see that person again.
But that man committed suicide out of fear of punishment a hundred years ago.
Xie Shangqing held Xie Ju's soft, wrinkled hand, and she cried with each word, "Great-grandfather, I can't bear to leave you."
As she was about to finish her words, the person on the couch suddenly closed his eyes. She was shocked and frightened, and hurriedly reached out to feel Xie Ju's breath. She didn't breathe a sigh of relief until she felt a faint breeze on her knuckles.
She wiped away her tears, walked out of the room reluctantly, and headed for the Zhu family with a short scroll in her arms.
When Xie Shangqing arrived at Zhu's house, she did not rush to knock on the door. She looked up and saw that this house was not comparable to any ordinary house. The steep buildings and carved walls were like iron walls that could not be easily attacked. It was worthy of being the private residence of the city lord's son a hundred years ago.
She clearly didn't knock on the doorbell, but the door suddenly opened wide, and Xie Shangqing unexpectedly met someone's eyes.
It was Song Xieqing, who was rumored to have flattered a tyrant emperor, killed good generals, abandoned the people, handed over a letter of surrender to the enemy, murdered his brother, and slaughtered his own people. She looked exactly like Song Lang, whom her great-grandfather Xie Ju admired all his life.
Xie Shangqing forced a smile, "I have something urgent to discuss with Madam Zhu. Could you please let me in?"
Song Xieqing pointed to a house in front of the peony stand. Xie Shangqing understood and raised her leg to cross the high threshold. However, after taking two steps, she couldn't help but turn her eyes to look at this person.
She calmly caught Song Xieqing's sidelong glance, and then heard him say, "Be careful what you say and do."
After saying this, he turned into the porch, his silhouette like a tall and graceful pine tree.
When Xie Shangqing arrived in front of the house, she knocked lightly on the door and waited for a "come in" from the inner room before pushing the door open.
The woman no longer lay in bed, but leaned on the rocking chair by the window. The spring sunshine just happened to fall on her cheek, making her look peaceful and gentle.
Zhu Hao was surprised to see that it was Xie Shangqing. Miao Li, standing beside her, had inexplicably knocked over her medicine bowl. Zhu Hao's face was filled with worry. She wondered why Miao Li had been so distracted lately. She consoled him, "Miao Li, go back to your room and rest. It won't be too late to clean up after you've recuperated. Or you can call him over."
Miaoli did not insist, but just glanced at Xie Shangqing silently before leaving.
"Thank you, Miss. I should have made it clear a few days ago. If it's for..."
Before Zhu Hao could finish his words, Xie Shangqing rolled out a scroll from his sleeve at the moment he closed the door. The scroll was stretched out on the ground. The paint on the scroll was peeling a little and the paper was discolored. The picture on it was a young man in brocade clothes and jade belt.
Xie Shangqing first exclaimed, "Ah!" and then carefully put the scroll away. "Did I frighten Madam Zhu? I was careless... This painting belonged to my great-grandfather. It's said to be a work by the famous scholar Ping Yishui. The person in the painting is none other than the guardian deity of this city."
"My great-grandfather revered the Immortal Lord the most. In his early years, when he was still able to come down from the earth, he would come to Zheerzhai to offer sacrifices every day. Today, he specifically asked me to take this century-old work and have it repaired..." She looked up, clutching the scroll tightly in her hand. "Madam Zhu, do you also think that the Immortal Lord is a close likeness to your husband?"
Xie Shangqing smiled and said, "What a coincidence."
If you say that the image is exactly like the real thing, it is actually not the case. Although the person painted on the scroll is identical to Song Xieqing in appearance, he was a teenager at that time and was not as calm as Song Xieqing who is now a young man. Moreover, the person in the painting has a youthful and arrogant smile on his eyebrows and lips. In contrast, Song Xieqing nowadays is cold and aloof, and seems to keep people at a distance.
"Since it's about restoring a painting, why did Miss Xie come to me? Could it be that I can do it?" Zhu Hao's expression was calm. He simply asked, "May I ask what was the name of Miss Xie's great-grandfather?"
Xie Shangqing said thoughtfully, "Xie Ju was born in Luoyuan forty-five years ago."
During the long silence, the only sound that could be heard was the rustling of flowers and trees in the outer courtyard swaying in the wind.
"Miss Xie's great-grandfather lived as long as Song Qiao." Zhu Hao paused his gaze on the scroll in Xie Shangqing's hand. "Miss Xie, may I have the honor of meeting you..."
"If Madam Zhu and her husband wish to visit my humble abode, my great-grandfather, the Xie family, and I will certainly welcome them respectfully."
"Miss Xie seems to be here for me, but in fact, she's targeting my husband." She asked calmly, "Miss Xie, did you come all the way here today just for this?"
Xie Shangqing took two steps forward. She squatted down beside Zhu Hao and looked down at her. The young lady's face was ashen and her lips were unpainted, which made her look even more pitiful. Xie Shangqing's voice unconsciously softened. "Not only for this reason, I also want to remind Madam Zhu to pay more attention to the little girl with you."
That day, she ran into Zhu Qi and Miao Li in the old alley. Although she didn't know what the two of them talked about, since Zhu Qi was looking for someone close to her, it must be something bad. Moreover, she was wearing a veil, so Miao Li must not have been sure that it was her. She probably knocked over the medicine bowl because she was guilty and timid.
When Xie Shangqing thought about that day, she felt relaxed both physically and mentally. She should have swung the stick a few more times!
…
Xie Shangqing did not plan to stay long. Her great-grandfather was nearing his death and might pass away at any time. If she had no important matters, she would just stay by Xie Ju's bedside and show her final filial duty.
She walked to the door, and as soon as it opened, Xie Shangqing's brows twisted uncontrollably.
Xie Shangqing stared at the newcomer, dumbfounded. "No, what are you doing at Zhu's house?" She glanced at Shi Chunsheng's slightly raised sleeves. "You're not looking for a face-to-face confrontation, are you? Are you crazy?! How can there be such a thing as a soul returning to the living world? I was just making it up! So you borrowed Song Lang's handwriting from me a few days ago just for this?"
Although she talked about ghosts and monsters in front of Shi Chunsheng, she herself did not believe in them. She just thought it was boring and made up a trick to tease Shi Chunsheng.
The reason why Xie Shangqing came to the Zhu family was just to ask Zhu Hao to ask her husband to meet Xie Ju, so as to fulfill her great-grandfather's last wish. Even if Zhu Hao's husband was only her husband, if he looked exactly like Song Lang, at least Xie Ju would have less regrets in his heart, right?
Who would have thought that Shi Chunsheng, this hot guy...
"Thank you, Miss. I will definitely return your great-grandfather's collection of handwritten letters intact."
After saying this, Shi Chunsheng entered the house. Xie Shangqing sighed but ignored him. She stopped a car on the street and disappeared into the bustling city.
Shi Chunsheng was standing in a spacious courtyard. The branches of the ancient pomegranate trees were covered with flowers, and the wet mud bricks were trampled with withered flowers. He did not see Song Xieqing and did not intend to disturb Zhu Hao.
He sat down in front of the stone round table, took out the pen, ink, paper and inkstone from his sleeve, then scooped up some water from the shallow pool nearby. When Shi Chunsheng had ground the ink, he suddenly heard the rustling sound of branches and leaves above.
Shi Chunsheng looked up.
Under the shade of the pomegranate tree branches, there was a person leaning against it, looking down at him.
Shi Chunsheng bowed from a distance and said, "This morning, I was passing by Fu Yucai. Miss Fang asked me to bring a bill to Pian Pian to write on. Thinking of Pian Pian who was bedridden, Mr. Song is Pian Pian's husband, so the title of the book is the same."
Song Xieqing jumped down from the pomegranate tree. His posture was graceful and his movements were smooth. Shi Chunsheng only felt a breeze on his face, and Song Xieqing's toes had already touched the brick surface.
He raised his hand towards Shi Chunsheng.
Shi Chunsheng handed the bill to Song Xieqing, then walked to the side of the table and got him a goat's hair brush soaked in ink.
Song Xieqing smiled as he held his brush. He naturally knew why this person had come. He placed his brush against his chin and said without hesitation, "If you insist on finding out, then... I'll grant you your wish."
How long had it been since he'd properly picked up a pen? Song Xieqing couldn't remember, was it fifty years, or a hundred? It had been so long, he couldn't guarantee the handwriting would remain the same, but since the person before him was so determined to verify it, it wasn't impossible for him to imitate it.
Song Xieqing held the goat's hair brush and rubbed it over the brush. After a while, he returned the written bill and the goat's hair brush that was still dripping with ink to Shi Chunsheng.
Shi Chunsheng looked at the three words on the paper. The strokes were free and easy, with powerful force at the beginning and elegant force at the end. However, each word was upright and full of strength.
He couldn't explain the feeling. He didn't even need to compare it with the handwriting Xie Shangqing had lent him. He only needed to see the handwriting of the person in front of him and the handwriting of the person in front of him to confirm that these two people were definitely...
Apart from Song Lang, who was the top scorer in the imperial examination at the age of seventeen, was appreciated by Emperor Ying and promoted to the Prince's Tutor, and was the imperial teacher of a country at the age of twenty, it is difficult to find a second person in the world who can write this handwriting. Moreover, this handwriting is exactly the same as the handwriting in Xie Ju's collection. If he copied it, it must be the work of a child. But why did he copy Song Lang's handwriting for no reason?
If we must correct something, it is not surprising that the beginning and ending of the strokes are a little rough. After all, that person was born into a pile of gold, and what he used in his previous life must have been of the highest quality, holding the best goat's hair brush and dipping it in the best Hui ink.
The ink dripping from the tip of the pen turned the corners of his silver robe into a chaotic haze.
Shi Chunsheng said with difficulty: "You, really killed him?"
He did not mention any names, nor did he say much else. Song Xieqing had killed many people, and at this moment, just from Shi Chunsheng's few words, it was clear who he was referring to.
"Yes." Song Xieqing answered straightforwardly.
"…Why?"
"Since Min Yu has done it, I must give him an explanation." Song Xieqing teased, "He and you are separated by generations, yet you are still thinking about the friendship between your ancestors."
"Mr. Song, I'm so embarrassed." Shi Chunsheng gripped the soft tip of the pen, black ink dripping down his palm. "If a man can kill his own brother for no reason, how can he treat his wife any better?"
"If everything that happened today, including the handwriting, is just a joke from Young Master Song, then that's all that matters. If it's all true, I will spare no effort to teach Pianpian to recognize you... and free her from the cage you've created."
"You don't have much time left." Song Xieqing glanced at the house where Zhu Hao lived. "If you are determined to express your feelings to her, I hope you can do it as soon as possible."
"I know Pian Pian's body very well, but I'm not like you, who rashly predicts her life is in danger."
"Shi Chunsheng, who told you that she wouldn't live long? I wish her a long life." Song Xieqing scoffed, a flicker in his eyes visible. "You misunderstood. The short time I was referring to is definitely not her fate, but your few remaining opportunities."
…
Today's bright sun allows the stars in the sky to break through the clouds, and the courtyard is filled with a strange fragrance. The rosy clouds sown by the hostess of this house in the new year have finally budded.
Song Xieqing leaned against the eaves of the house where Zhu Hao lived.
Suddenly, a leaf shining with golden light fell from the sky. He raised his hand involuntarily, and the leaf fell into his palm.
Song Xieqing suddenly felt a familiar breath approaching. He hid the golden leaf in the palm of his hand, and it disappeared.
When Chi Xing appeared, violent dry coughing sounds were heard frequently in the room.
Immediately, Song Xieqingxin made a hand gesture and a light spot like a firefly flew into the room. In just a moment, the coughing stopped suddenly.
Chi Xing leaned over the railing and teased, "You really love your wife like your life. I never knew Xie Qingjun could be so caring before, especially to a girl. This is the first time he's been so kind to her."
"But..." he said with a hint of meaning, "These trivial matters are fine. Just don't do those foolish things you see in the flower market stories where half-crazed people try to change their lovers' fates. I wish you and my lady the best of love and affection for the rest of your life."
Song Xieqing looked at the rising star in the sky and said lazily, "The implication is that defying fate and changing destiny is not without a guarantee of success."
Chi Xing's eyes showed a deep inquiry, "Even if it succeeds, the body cannot be intact."
"Song Xieqing, don't be stupid."
Song Xieqing didn't answer and just smiled.
-----------------------
Author's note: Chapter 46 regarding Xie Ju's age and some details in the first half have been changed.
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