Chapter 68
The last night. After tonight, dust to dust, ashes to ashes. From now on, the sea is wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky is high enough for birds to fly.
Years of torment, fear, and humiliation can finally come to an end.
The plan is good, but will everything really go as planned?
Liu Ru was filled with anxiety. Although the frost covered the ground in the courtyard, she was not sleepy at all.
A single green lamp burned quietly, and as expected, a large silhouette of a man appeared on the window paper.
He finally came.
"Open the door!" The deep voice resonated in Liu Ru's heart.
She closed her eyes briefly, took a few deep breaths, and then got up and went out.
Why is it so slow?
A chorus of rebukes came from the front.
"I……"
Liu Ru habitually lowered her head, her eyes looking at her toes.
This is a physiological reaction caused by years of fear, which has penetrated deep into the bones.
The man snorted coldly, impatiently interrupting her, "I heard you're leaving? Where are you going? Did I give you permission?"
Liu Ru's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly looked up with wide eyes, "Ziwei has granted me permission to return to Jiangnan."
"Ah, Ziwei."
The man raised his eyelids, his tone deep, sharp, and sarcastic, "He's just a dog I picked up. What is he? When did he become the boss?"
The sound suddenly rose in pitch, startling the candlelight, which swayed from side to side, flickering on and off.
The man's gaze was sinister as he scrutinized the woman, from her face to her neck, before suddenly saying, "You've grown up, and your wings have hardened."
As he spoke, he took a step closer.
Liu Ru panicked and couldn't help but back away step by step.
He said, "What are you afraid of? It's not here." He turned around and said, "Come on."
"No, I'm not going."
Years of hatred finally forced her to coldly refuse, "This time, I will not let you torture me again. From childhood to adulthood, you have controlled me, humiliated me, and made me live like a dog..."
Liu Ru raised her chin and roared hoarsely, "I've had enough of this life. I will never be your plaything again."
Her eyes were bloodshot and her attitude was resolute, which surprised the man slightly.
However, he didn't care. Women are weak, and her resistance is mostly futile; it's just a matter of a whipping.
The man sneered, then untied his belt from his waist and fiddled with it in his hand. "It's been a few days. I think you've forgotten the taste of a whip."
As soon as the words fell, the exquisite sash instantly transformed into a whip, which lashed the woman in mid-air, leaving a burning mark of humiliation.
Liu Ru couldn't help but shrink back and tremble, her watery eyes becoming misty.
It is very difficult for a woman to successfully resist a large, adult man.
Like a tamed cat, a smile spread across the man's face. He was smug and cursed, "You filthy bitch, don't you know who you are? How dare you act so high and mighty in front of me. If I hadn't taken you in and given you food when you first came here, you'd probably be selling yourself in some brothel by now."
The sash fluttered in the air again, and another whip struck him.
She impatiently cried out, "Stop, stop hitting me, I'll go with you."
Shrinking back, Liu Ru stood up, lowered her eyes meekly, and called out softly, "Father."
Men love it when she calls them that.
Every time she called him that, he would be gentler and suffer less physical pain.
After blowing out the candles in the room, Liu Ru followed the man to another, more secluded room.
Several days later, the ground was covered in dust, and many spider webs had climbed onto the bed.
Strange, it's the dead of winter, why are there still annoying spiders?
Liu Ru then said, "It's too dirty, let me wipe it off."
"No need, we don't need a bed."
He ordered her to kneel down.
The man eagerly undressed, signaling to her that she could begin.
This time, he thought the cat was still the same cat, but little did he know that cats and tigers are family. Submissiveness is not a cat's nature. When things get unbearable, it will only go all out and fight back.
She took a dagger and cut it off when he was at his most comfortable.
The movements were clean and swift, as smooth as cutting tofu.
Blood stained her clothes. Liu Ru laughed maniacally as she stood up, threw the man's penis on the ground, and trampled on it.
"Pah, you disgusting old bastard. Back then, I was a child with no one to rely on, so I traveled thousands of miles to the capital to seek refuge with my aunt. Yes, you took me in, but you've also insulted me for so many years."
"You not only forced me, but also verbally controlled me, threatening me not to tell my aunt and Ziwei, otherwise they would abandon me. I was so stupid to actually believe your lies."
She lowered her eyes, coldly watching the man curled up on the ground, screaming in pain until he fainted. Her expression became increasingly smug. "Hmph, if I had known you were so fragile, I should have ended you sooner... You bitch, you stupid pig, so you're nothing special after all."
The sound of clenched teeth echoed heavily in the dimly lit room.
Liu Ru knelt on the ground and couldn't help but burst into tears.
On the ground, blood had flowed along the cracks in the floor and reached outside the door, staining a pair of dewy black boots. Xu Xuan calmly took two steps back, avoiding the glaring red stain.
...
Much later, he finally came in, and through the dim candlelight, their eyes met.
Liu Ru blinked and said softly, "You listened outside the door for so long, you knew everything!"
It is a statement of affirmation.
Xu Xuan lowered her eyes and remained silent.
She then asked, "If I treat your father like this, will you hate me?"
Still silent.
Liu Ru withdrew her gaze from him and stopped asking questions. She simply smiled and said, "Killing a court official is a serious crime. You can take me to the government office."
She straightened her clothes, her expression as relaxed as if she had been reborn.
Xu Xuan stared at her for a long while before seemingly waking up. He moved his feet slightly, squatted down, and checked the man's breath. "Still alive, not dead."
His tone was flat, devoid of emotion, as if he were merely stating an objective fact.
Liu Ru looked at him and couldn't help but feel startled.
At this moment, he also looked up at Liu Ru, frowned and said, "Pack your things and go back to your room. I'll take care of things here."
What do you want to do?
Their hearts were pounding like drums, both of them.
Xu Xuan turned to look at the candlestick and said coldly, "Set it on fire."
Fire is the purest substance in the world, capable of destroying all evil.
Liu Ru asked, "Are you going to burn him to death?"
"No, murder is a crime, even if he deserves to die. You've suffered so much, you shouldn't bear the guilt of murder as well."
The voice was unusually firm.
Liu Ru looked at him, and suddenly tears streamed down her face. No, she couldn't cry, she couldn't shed another tear for a beast. She covered her mouth, silently stepped back, and gave Xu Xuan the time and space.
On the night of Laba Festival, in addition to singing, dancing and banquets, the palace would also set off fireworks to celebrate with the people.
At 9 PM, as magnificent fireworks lit up the sky above the capital, Xu Xuan threw a tinderbox into the bed curtains.
The fire quickly ignited, flames leaping and engulfing the room, crackling and popping as thick smoke rose straight up to the roof beams and ridge.
Light and heat intertwined in their eyes!
The streets are deserted; Beijing is truly beautiful and bustling tonight!
*
Commander Xiao Yang of the Military Command had been busy all night setting off fireworks last night, but unexpectedly, several houses in the capital caught fire. Other houses were fine, but the Xu family was in trouble.
As a descendant of a once-illustrious prime minister, Xiao Yang held Xu's father in high esteem.
He asked Xu Xuan, "How is your father's injury?"
"The fire broke the beam, which unfortunately hit my father's leg bone. I'm afraid he will never be able to walk again."
Xu Xuan's voice was low and somber, and Xiao Yang felt deeply saddened upon hearing it.
He patted Xu Xuan on the shoulder and comforted him, "Your father was such a good person. Who would have thought that such a tragedy would happen to him? But thankfully he's still alive."
Xu Xuan laughed out loud, "Yes, it's really a stroke of luck amidst misfortune."
The two chatted for a while, discussing things like dealing with the aftermath of the house dispute.
Just then, Shen Yao came over following the sound.
Looking at the traces of the fire all around her, she was very surprised and couldn't help but ask, "What happened? How did it become like this?"
Xu Xuan glanced at her. "It's obvious the house is on fire."
"……Well."
Shen Yao pouted, about to ask if anyone was injured, when Xiao Yang exclaimed "Huh?"
"Aren't you that woman from Dashilan?"
He touched his chin, looked curiously at her stomach, and asked, "Didn't you say you were more than two months pregnant? Why don't you look like there's any change?"
“…Oh, this.” Shen Yao was stunned and embarrassed, not knowing how to answer. She couldn’t help but look at Xu Xuan.
At this moment, Xiao Yang also realized what was happening, slapped his forehead, and exclaimed in sudden realization, "No wonder you seemed so familiar to me! It turns out that back then you—no, you two…"
He pointed at Shen Yao with his finger, saying incredulously, "You two are actually husband and wife?"
As if witnessing something extraordinary, Xiao Yang clicked his tongue in amazement.
Meanwhile, Xu Xuan focused his attention on Shen Yao's pregnancy. For some reason, ever since he heard what Xiao Yang said, he couldn't help but look down and fix his gaze on her lower abdomen.
Her skin was very flat, clearly indicating she wasn't pregnant; it was just an excuse.
Xu Xuan's eyes flickered slightly.
A gust of wind swept through the courtyard, kicking up half a foot of burning ash.
The servants came one after another with buckets and brooms to clean up the ashes.
Supported by Liu Ru, Xu's mother also came out, her face pale.
She said, "Xu Xuan, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and come and tidy up, or where will my daughter and I sleep?"
The sound was extremely sharp and piercing.
It didn't sound like a mother giving instructions to her son; it sounded more like a cold, ruthless command.
Xu Xuan replied, "Okay, I'll be right there."
He bowed to Xiao Yang in apology, "There are many matters to attend to at home, so I will not keep Commander Xiao here any longer."
Xiao Yang nodded hurriedly and said, "Of course, you go ahead and get busy, I'll go back to the yamen to take my shift."
The two walked in opposite directions, while Shen Yao remained standing there, stunned.
Everyone was busy with their own things, and it seemed that only she had a lot of free time.
Thinking this, Shen Yao ran to find Xu Xuan and saw him moving a broken piece of wood. Although he was tall, strong and powerful, the other end of the wood was stuck in a crack and he couldn't move it no matter what he did.
Shen Yao then rushed forward to help.
With a "crack," the sound of wood breaking rang out, and Xu Xuan looked helplessly at Shen Yao.
...Uh, it seems I've actually made things worse.
She gave an awkward laugh.
Xu Xuan shook her head and asked her directly, "What's this about Commander Xiao's pregnancy?"
Knowing he would ask, Shen Yao coughed before saying, "It was all an excuse to avoid punishment. I had already received fifty lashes, and my body had just recovered. If I were to be punished again, I definitely wouldn't have been able to endure it—"
"So I was also injured before I was tortured, was that also because of you?"
He straightened up, his body trembling slightly with excitement.
Shen Yao was stunned.
I've seen Xu Xuan get angry before, but today seems different. Even though it's all in the past, he brought it up again and got angry.
Moreover, some disasters are undeserved.
For a moment, Shen Yao didn't know what to say, or apologize?
Just as I was hesitating, footsteps sounded behind me, and a servant came running over, waving and shouting, "Young master, good news! Master has woken up!"
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