Chapter 115: Precognitive Dream (Qin Lie)
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The water clock dripped in the dead of night, accompanied by a soft rustling sound.
Xie Yu suddenly asked, "Do you like him?"
The sound stopped, and as Lingyi stood there, bewildered, she asked, "What?"
"Do you really like Qin Lie? Like you used to like me?"
Xie Yu said slowly and clearly, "I still remember how you always couldn't help but steal glances at me back then. When I saw you, you would immediately look away, thinking you were pretending to be perfect, but your cheeks were already flushed. You would pretend to casually inquire about my preferences, and carefully prepare many seals and stationery, sending them to the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, and even the palace servants, just so that one of them would reach my hands. The palace servants all knew that the Seventeenth Princess was kind-hearted, not talkative but always smiling, but only I knew that when you were with me, you would always say 'Brother Xie Yu, Brother Xie Yu' non-stop, and you only smiled the most beautifully when you were with me, your eyes seemed to hold stars that you could reach out and pluck out."
Long-buried memories are suddenly stirred up, and those bittersweet girlish feelings, though entrusted to the wrong person, are still beautiful in themselves.
Lingyi said, "You know everything, yet you still married Sixteenth Sister. Since you married her, why didn't you treat her well? Knowing that she was devoted to you, why did you watch her die of depression?"
Xie Yu choked slightly, a metallic taste rising in his throat. He forced it down before speaking again: "The deceased are gone, and reminiscing is useless. Lingyi, the most important thing now is you. I have already arranged an escape route. You will leave with me."
Seeing the way Lingyi looked at him, as if he were a madman, Xie Yu chuckled: "I know you're doing well now, but it won't last. Qin Lie is violent and vindictive, loving someone to the point of wanting them to live and hating them to the point of wanting them to die. He's never been a moderate or peaceful person. One day he'll find out that you're not sincere and that you're only staying by his side for the sake of the child and stability. How could you possibly be content with that? Rather than waiting until the day you can't hide it anymore and everything is destroyed, it's better to make plans now. You're coming with me, Tong'er, and your child. I'll find a way to take them with me."
Xie Yu said, "I know you hate me. Don't worry, I won't be with you. All I want to do is give you your freedom, which is also your sister's wish. Qin Lie is not the right person for you, and I'm sure you know that. His current affection for you is only because of his memories from your past life. But is he the kind of person who can endure for long? If he gives without receiving anything in return, the more he suppresses himself, the more intense the explosion will be. I'm afraid even he himself won't be able to control it. Why are you here waiting for a result that is destined to be mutually destructive?"
Before Lingyi could speak, the door was kicked open, and Qin Lie, covered in dust, looked over coldly and said sarcastically, "Everyone says that Prime Minister Xie is a master strategist. With such leisure time, why not calculate whether your life is in danger this time? As for our marital affairs, we don't need Prime Minister Xie to worry about them."
As he walked in, a few figures moved outside the window, and the house was now completely surrounded.
Xie Yu seemed not to hear, sitting there leisurely.
Lingyi took a few steps forward and came to Qin Lie's side. He was cold and aloof and did not look at her.
She bit her lip and gently tugged at his sleeve. "...If you can't spare his life, then give him a quick death."
Qin Lie still didn't look at her, and walked straight ahead, brushing past her.
Before Lingyi could say anything more, Qin Xiaoshan spoke first: "Crown Princess, please wait in the carriage outside."
Qin Lie's guards stood behind him. Ling Yi looked back at Qin Lie's cold back, sighed softly, and then stepped outside.
She didn't know how long she had been waiting when she heard footsteps. She quickly lifted the carriage curtain and saw Xie Yu being led to another carriage.
Then, Qin Lie stepped out, mounted his horse, flicked the reins, turned the horse around, and headed towards the East Palace.
The carriage started moving, and all was silent except for the clatter of the horses' hooves.
He must have been furious, otherwise, after not seeing her for so long, he would have already squeezed onto the carriage, shamelessly wanting to get intimate with her.
Lingyi knew it was her fault, so when she returned to the East Palace and Qin Lie was walking towards the study without looking back, she ran over to him and grabbed him, admitting her mistake: "I shouldn't have gone to see him in private. I was just afraid that he would take Tong'er away, and I thought he wouldn't hurt me, so I acted rashly. I won't do it again."
Qin Lie looked down at her holding his hand. This was the first time she had taken the initiative in front of others, but unfortunately, she didn't give him the answer he wanted to hear.
Upon receiving news that Xie Yu had arrived in the capital, he hurried over on horseback and followed him all the way.
I happened to overhear that question at the door: "Do you really like Qin Lie?"
Although he was fairly certain of the princess's feelings, he couldn't help but stop moving at that moment, and didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
For the first time in his life, he eavesdropped like a thief, only to hear Xie Yu recounting the princess's past affections for him, which nearly made his chest burst with anger.
She never gave him the answer he wanted to hear.
Even when Xie Yu said that she only stayed by his side for the sake of the child and for peace of mind, she did not deny it.
If that were all, he could still convince himself that, given the current situation, the princess's mind was probably not on these things at all.
But after she left, Xie Yu's words made it even harder for him to let go.
Xie Yu also knew about his past life, and clearly knew much more about it than he had dreamed. After discovering this, Xie Yu's smile was filled with mockery and pity.
"You only kept her around because of the child, Qin Lie. Do you know what kind of fate befell you in your past life?"
He didn't know, nor did he want to know, that fate was determined by himself, and what did his past life have to do with him today?
Xie Yu saw his disdain. "Fate is determined by heaven. Do you think you can turn the tide if you start over? Many things are beyond human control. It's like robbing Peter to pay Paul; the more you try to make up for it, the more you lose."
Qin Lie sneered: "Do you think I'm as useless and incompetent as you?"
Xie Yu was no longer polite, her words piercing to the heart, "She has never loved you, not in the past life, and not in this one. You don't need to think I'm sowing discord; just ask yourself honestly, who is more important to her—you or the child? Who is more important to her—you or the Fifteenth Princess? Even a palace maid like Liu Cui is more important than you. Qin Lie, you are no different from Song Pingkou in the past life; you are merely a place for her to settle down and find stability. If it weren't for the child, do you think she would have left? Just like she abandoned you time and time again in the past life?"
Now, the princess is right in front of him, holding his hand, looking at him with the same tenderness as always.
So he felt that there was a reason why she liked him, but wasn't she the same way she treated Song Pingkou back then?
The furtive glances, blushing, careful presentations, and exceptionally handsome smiles that Xie Yu described were nowhere to be seen on him.
He was always the one clinging to her, and he would only blush when teasing her. His expression was more of annoyance than a smile, and he would even beg for her clothes.
Anger welled up in her chest, and her heart was filled with bitterness. Qin Lie stared at her and asked, "Were you even for a moment just now tempted to leave with him?"
Lingyi asked in surprise, "Why should I go with him?"
That day, Fifteenth Sister said that now was the best time for them, and after thinking about it carefully, she realized that it was true.
With her child by her side, relatives nearby, her sister-in-law Zhen, her friend, and even the Empress Dowager showing her affection, she was surrounded by love.
There was no need for her to be cautious or try to please him; Qin Lie never restricted her, allowing her to do whatever she wanted.
In the past, even the most beautiful hopes in the deep palace were nothing more than this.
She's not suicidal, so why would she leave?
Qin Lie understood what she meant, but he wanted more than that, and asked again, "If it weren't for Huan'er and Jue'er, would you want to leave?"
Lingyi was even more puzzled and looked at him blankly. Seeing his really ugly expression, she suspected that he was jealous of Xie Yu again. She quickly explained, "Sixteenth Sister died early. I hate Xie Yu to the bone. If it weren't for Tong'er, I would never have met with him in private."
Qin Lie had long since dismissed Xie Yu; he wanted to ask something else, but in her presence, he felt a pang of fear. His questions, delivered in roundabout ways, became increasingly absurd and childish: "If one day, Princess Fifteen and I were both poisoned, and there was only one antidote, who would you give it to?"
He originally wanted to ask Huan'er and Jue'er, but he knew perfectly well that she would never choose him, so he changed it to the Fifteenth Princess.
After all, she was his own child. He could tolerate her bias, but he would never allow it to happen to anyone else!
The question was absurd, but his gaze was extremely serious. Lingyi thought for a moment and finally said, "Here you go."
Before he could even feel happy, he saw the expression on her face and couldn't help but narrow his eyes and ask, "Why?"
Lingyi's eyes darted away slightly as he lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.
She could only speak softly: "Because you are Huan'er and Jue'er's father, only if you live can they live a better life."
The historical records contain countless examples of crown princes, but only two or three out of ten were able to successfully ascend the throne, and almost none of the children of those who failed to do so met a good end.
So, it's all for the children, and it's all for the children!
If the child's father were someone else, she would treat him the same way she treated herself.
No further proof is needed; in her past life, wasn't she more devoted to Song Pingkou than to him?
Xie Yu is right. All she needs is a safe place to settle down, whether it's with the Qin or Song families, or somewhere else.
For her, it was all the same.
At this moment, Qin Lie truly wished he were a fool, not so perceptive, so he wouldn't have asked that unnecessary question.
He resented that she, who was usually so hypocritical, answered so honestly at this moment, refusing to tell a single lie.
Suddenly, his temples throbbed, and veins popped out on his forehead.
He couldn't look at her anymore, fearing that if he looked at her again, he would blurt out something inappropriate.
With a cold expression, he released her hand and left the place as quickly as if he were being chased.
.
When the Crown Prince returned victorious, he stayed in the study for almost half a month, which naturally aroused speculation among those with ulterior motives.
Lingyi remained calm and composed, but unexpectedly, even Zhao Mama, who had retired from the palace, and Zhenzhu, who had already married, couldn't help but come over to inquire about her. Only then did she realize that the discord between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess had already become a hot topic outside.
The matter of the Crown Prince seemed to have become known to the whole world overnight, and there must be a mastermind behind it.
Soon, Lingyi found out who the person with ulterior motives was.
First, Yinrong stammered as she spoke to her about Cheng's aunt and how similar she was to her deceased mother.
Not long after, Lingyi met Cheng Jiazhenniang, who was serving the Empress, at a palace banquet.
Some people even whispered in her ear that a selection of consorts would be held in a few months, supposedly not only to enrich the emperor's harem but also to select a crown princess.
Sitting next to Lingyi, Madam Zhen noticed her changed expression and quickly comforted her, "The selection of concubines is only in the general outline and not yet finalized. I see that your third brother still has deep feelings for you, but..." She paused and said, "After all, your third brother is the Crown Prince, and he faces many temptations. Even if you are thinking of the child, you shouldn't hold a grudge against him anymore."
She was Qin Lie's second sister-in-law, but she told Lingyi that it wasn't for the man, but for the child.
She was even more afraid that if someone were to compete with her child for the throne, she might use the former Wu Gen on Qin Xu's other women and children.
The troubles and anxieties she had avoided are now falling on Lingyi's shoulders, and she can't help but feel sorry for her.
Lingyi had regained her composure. "Second sister-in-law, don't worry about me. I grew up in the palace. I understand the harem and, more importantly, I understand men. To an emperor, women aren't even a temptation; they're just ordinary objects, like tea and food. Even if I don't hold a grudge against him, remain gentle and considerate, and always be stunningly beautiful, even if I use all sorts of tricks to win his favor, how could he not change his heart? It's only a matter of time. If the Crown Prince truly treats Cheng's sister-in-law differently because of his deceased wife, it just shows that he is a man of deep affection and won't treat me too badly in the future. I should be grateful."
She smiled calmly and continued, "As for Huan'er and Jue'er, they have the Crown Prince's old affection, you and your second brother watching over them, and the Empress Dowager's favor. As long as they don't make any mistakes, they should be able to live out their lives peacefully."
Zhen never expected her to say such a thing. It sounded like a word of relief, but upon closer inspection, it was extremely negative. It made Zhen feel very depressed. Unfortunately, the Fifteenth Princess had gone to another place to practice medicine, so she could only tell Qin Xu. After listening, Qin Xu smiled with interest and said, "I never thought she had such a personality. No wonder my third brother was defeated by her."
Madam Zhen couldn't stand these words. "A man like Lingyi is a blessing to anyone who marries her! It's clear that he's neglecting Lingyi now, and there are all sorts of rumors going around, yet he's not in the capital. Who knows if it's intentional? How come in your mouth it's as if he's suffered some great injustice?"
Knowing that the two women were close, Qin Xu quickly begged for forgiveness: "Alright, alright, it was my fault. It's all my third brother's fault. When he comes back, I will definitely act as his elder brother and give him a good scolding."
Only then was Madam Zhen somewhat satisfied.
But a few days later, when it was time for Lingyi to bring her children to the palace, she only sent her two children and then claimed to be ill.
Upon hearing this, Lady Zhen was in a great hurry to go to the East Palace to visit them, but Qin Xu stopped her, saying, "Why are you in such a rush? Third Brother rushed back after hearing the news, and he is probably already back in the East Palace. If you go there rashly, you will only disturb the couple."
When the couple were talking, Qin Lie had just stepped into the East Palace, looking travel-worn and gloomy.
Since that day, he has never set foot in the inner palace again. At first, it was naturally because he was angry and wished he would never see her again in this lifetime. In addition, he had been away for more than a year, and as soon as he returned, he was immediately overwhelmed with official duties. He was so busy that he didn't have time to rest, and he would fall asleep as soon as he hit the bed, as if he had really forgotten about her.
But as soon as he had a moment of respite, he would think of her again.
It was clearly her fault from beginning to end, and after a few days, he decided not to argue with her for the sake of the child.
But why isn't she coming over to comfort him?
She was so good at feigning affection, she completely fooled him, making him believe that they were in love.
When it came to the crucial moment, she became dull-witted and couldn't even deliver a message or send a gift.
It's all her fault for having no one around her who's any good. If that old Zhao nanny were here, she probably would have already persuaded her to come over and befriend her.
He also blamed Qin Xiaohe, who had only been by his side for half a year, for being too inexperienced and far less thoughtful than Qin Xiaoshan, who had already become the Vice Minister of Revenue. Qin Xiaohe only knew how to make a fool of himself around him every day, and he didn't even know what the princess was thinking, let alone give any advice to the palace servants around her.
Several more days passed in this strange and bizarre atmosphere.
The subtlety of relationships between men and women lies here: if a conflict arises at the beginning, it's best to talk it out immediately.
The longer it drags on, the more the person who speaks first appears to have suffered a complete defeat and is extremely embarrassed.
Furthermore, the longer the time goes on, the more one will try to guess the other party's thoughts, and after all the guessing, there is usually only one conclusion.
Qin Lie's heart was almost frozen solid, having already come to this conclusion because the princess disliked his sullen manner.
Just then, his subordinates discovered the whereabouts of Xie Tong, the daughter of the Sixteenth Princess.
This is perfect. There's no need to lose face. Once he brings Xie Tong back, he'll have no problem getting her to come looking for him.
Therefore, he went out with a beaming smile. Just as he found Xie Tong, he received a letter from Qin Xiaohe that the princess was bedridden, so he immediately hurried back on horseback.
Lingyi had only caught a chill, so she drank some herbal medicine to induce sweating, and when she woke up, she saw Qin Lie sitting by her bedside, his golden sword and broadsword in hand.
Seeing that she was awake, Qin Lie helped her sit up against the pillows and asked with concern, "How are you feeling? Are you feeling better?"
Lingyi lowered her eyes, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am much better now."
Such a formal address and polite thanks caused Qin Lie's lips to darken, and the atmosphere in the room immediately plummeted to freezing point.
However, he quickly regained his gentle demeanor, took the porcelain bowl from the palace maid, and held the spoon to her lips, saying, "You sweated a lot while you were asleep. Here, drink some water."
Lingyi stepped back, still keeping her eyes down, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, I am much better now and have palace servants to take care of me. You need not lower yourself to do so."
Qin Lie's eyes turned cold. He suddenly stood up and raised his hand to smash the bowl on the ground. However, Princess Yu Guangzhong had loose black hair, a thin face, and looked frail. He was afraid that the sound of the bowl would frighten her and delay her treatment, so he lowered his hand.
Thinking this, he slowly sat down again, his gaze falling on the palace servants who were standing like quails, and he said in a deep voice, "How are you all serving her? How could you let the Crown Princess catch a cold on such a mild day?!"
The palace servants fell silent in fear. Qin Lie said impatiently, "Get out of here and go find Qin Xiaohe to receive your punishment!"
Upon hearing this, Lingyi quickly replied, "It was because I was feeling cool at night that I opened the window and let the wind blow on me; it has nothing to do with them."
She finally looked at herself properly, but only to plead for someone else.
Qin Lie said coldly, "You don't need to make excuses for them. They should also be held accountable for concealing your whereabouts."
If it weren't for their cooperation in protecting her, how could she have secretly met with Xie Yu?
Lingyi frowned slightly. "I am the master, and they are the servants. They do whatever I command. If Your Highness is angry, just take it out on me. Why make an example of them and implicate the innocent?"
Qin Lie said, "Even servants have the responsibility to advise their masters. Since they are useless, there will naturally be more capable ones to replace them."
Ling Yi coldly replied, "My servants are naturally only useful if they obey me. Do you expect me to replace all the people around me like before before you'll be satisfied?"
[Author's Note]
The extra chapters are almost finished, just the last two or three chapters. They might be a bit longer than usual, so please don't buy if you mind.
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