Chapter 76 Unbearable for a moment, a beautiful and enchanting scene.
The carriage passed through the bustling streets, and dazzling fireworks exploded in the sky, casting colorful light and shadows. Lu Xiuyi pulled the silent man into his arms.
The gray car curtain reflected in Meng Yu's eyes, and she asked in a muffled voice, "Lu Xiuyi, is my heart too hard?"
Lu Xiuyi sighed softly: "For me, of course. But for them, you're still too soft-hearted. If it were me, do you think they would still be standing there and talking?"
His voice rose slightly at the end, and even without looking up, Meng Yu could imagine the disdain in his eyes for Meng Yanqing and the others.
After a moment of disorientation, the carriage gradually slowed down until it came to a complete stop.
Hua Yi lifted the curtain and helped her down.
After returning to Longxiang Pavilion, Meng Yu gave Hua Yi a wink, and she immediately understood and quietly withdrew.
After spending half a day commotion at the Meng family's house, Lu Xiuyi was somewhat tired. However, as soon as he entered the room and saw the gauze curtains hanging to the ground and the shadows shifting, he thought of the intimate moments of lovemaking and suddenly became quite interested.
He quickly took off his outer garment, coughed lightly to suppress the heat rising in his heart, and casually urged her, "It's getting late, hurry up and change your clothes, wash up, and let's rest early."
Meng Yu frowned slightly, but quickly regained her composure and smiled calmly, "No rush, I have a surprise for you."
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi's eyes lit up like they were overflowing with stars, and before he could even speak, a smile appeared on his lips: "Oh? What surprise?"
"Before revealing the mystery, you have to promise me one thing." Meng Yu slightly bent her knuckles, propped herself up on the table, and slowly sat down, her crescent-shaped eyes filled with smiles.
Lu Xiuyi raised an eyebrow and took two steps closer to her: "Go ahead and say it."
"You have to promise me first."
"You go first."
"Promise me first." Yuan Mengyu slowly poured himself a cup of tea and took a small sip.
Her unhurried manner was driving Lu Xiuyi to the brink of exhaustion. He twitched his brow, then turned slightly to the side, quickly snatched the teacup from her hand, drank the tea in one gulp, turned the cup upside down back onto the plate, and then scooped her up onto his lap, taking her place in her original seat.
His series of movements were fluid and effortless, catching Meng Yu off guard. Before she could react, he had already pulled her into his arms.
Lu Xiuyi pressed his forehead against Meng Yu's, rubbed his nose against hers, his Adam's apple bobbed twice, and teased, "I promise you, you can have whatever position you want, no matter how difficult."
"..."
Meng Yu tried her best to suppress the look of disgust that made her want to jump out.
After a few moments, she quickly left his embrace, sat down on another chair, and said seriously, "Be serious, I'm serious. If you promise me, I'll reveal the answer."
Lu Xiuyi said helplessly, "Alright, alright, I promise you."
Meng Yu's gaze swept across his face inch by inch. Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, she raised her hand and patted him a few times. Hua Yi, who was waiting outside the room, immediately responded and entered.
Hua Yi placed the round soup bowl in front of Lu Xiuyi, opened it, and inside were colorful and plump glutinous rice balls crowded together in the blue and white lotus soup bowl, like family members huddled in a warm quilt, avoiding the harsh winter.
Meeting Lu Xiuyi's surprised yet delighted gaze, Meng Yu picked up a spoon and handed it to him, smiling as she said, "In my hometown, there's a custom of eating tangyuan (sweet rice balls) on New Year's Eve. My mother used to make a bowl of tangyuan for me, symbolizing a happy reunion and that we would never be separated in the coming year."
Meng Yu raised her eyebrows: "Now, I'll make you a bowl too."
Lu Xiuyi's raven-feather-like eyes were filled with starlight as he followed her words, saying, "Does it also symbolize that we will be reunited next year and never be separated?"
Meng Yu paused, suppressing the snow-like glint in her eyes: "Yes, never to be apart."
***
The following day was the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Meng Yu accompanied Lu Xiuyi to the palace to offer New Year's greetings to Emperor Jinghuai. They also had lunch in the palace. However, she was not good at handling such occasions, so she let Huaiyin pull her out of the banquet to stroll around the palace.
Remembering the imperial decree for the marriage alliance issued before the New Year, Meng Yu looked at her with some worry.
"Why are you looking at me like that, young lady?" Huaiyin sat on the swing set, biting into a persimmon. Feeling the gaze beside her, she turned her gaze back.
Seeing Meng Yu hesitate for a long time, she finally couldn't help but speak up: "Ning Sui and I can help you leave the capital. Once you leave, they will choose another person to marry."
“As you said, if I leave, someone else will. To save face for the court, my father will definitely choose one from among the noble women. They all have parents who love them, but their hearts may not be as open as mine. Luo Lin is a wild and untamed place. If one only knows how to lament the passing of spring and autumn, how can one live long?” Huai Yin paused, took a deep breath, and forced a smile, “In that case, I might as well go.”
Meng Yu frowned: "But..."
"No buts," Huaiyin gripped her hand and forced a smile. "Have you forgotten, girl? You said that although cockroaches are dirty, you admire their indomitable spirit. Even if they are fish in a pot, they will fight with all their might to survive. Besides, Huaiyin has been by your side for so long. It's just a marriage alliance. What's the big deal?"
She smiled with relief, and Meng Yu felt a warm current well up in her eyes. She could no longer hold back and lowered her head to shed tears.
"Has the date been set?"
“It’s settled. The second prince of Luolin Kingdom will come to greet you personally on the eighth day of next month,” Huaiyin took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears and comforted her gently. “Alright, girl, don’t cry. There’s a good side to everything. Maybe the second prince of Luolin Kingdom is exactly my type.”
As she spoke, she widened her eyes and made a face, which made Meng Yu turn from sadness to joy. She raised her hand and tapped her forehead: "He is a prince, raised in luxury since childhood. I imagine his figure and demeanor are not bad. Maybe you are the one who is lucky."
Huaiyin covered her forehead and snorted, "What are you saying, young lady? I'm not bad looking either, maybe he's the one who's better off."
After joking around for a while, the two finally managed to dispel some of the gloom hanging over them. Seeing that it was getting late, they got up and prepared to return to Chengming Hall.
Halfway there, I suddenly heard a "bang" from ahead.
Meng Yu frowned and exchanged glances with Huai Yin. The two rounded the corner and saw a middle-aged man in a scarlet official robe, soaked to the bone, with a young servant kneeling at his feet, trembling.
"What's wrong with you? Can't you be more careful when you walk? You've soaked my master's robes, and he still has to..." A servant-like man behind the middle-aged man scolded him with furrowed brows.
The middle-aged man raised his hand to stop him, and was about to bend down to help the young servant up, but suddenly frowned and touched his own shoulder and neck.
Seeing this, the attendants behind him hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, but he waved his hand and reached out to help the young servant up again, raising his lips to say, "You look young, are you new to the palace?"
The middle-aged man's voice was gentle, and his face was kind. Even though his robes were soaked, there was not a trace of anger on his face.
The young servant's panic subsided somewhat, and he said tremblingly, "Your Excellency, I entered the palace two months ago."
Meng Yu recognized the middle-aged man from afar.
Peng Zhao nodded: "Be careful when you walk next time. I suppose this basin of water was also ordered by your master. Go now! If you are late, you may be punished."
The young servant replied repeatedly, "Yes, yes, thank you, sir."
After seeing the young servant pick up the basin of water and leave, the attendant pointed to a place and followed him to change his clothes.
“This man, Peng Zhao, is said to be an upright and honest official,” Huaiyin said, tilting her head.
“I recognize him.”
"Oh? How does the young lady recognize him?"
Meng Yu recounted to Huai Yin the whole story of their first encounter with Peng Zhao.
Huaiyin couldn't help but sigh: "Six years ago, there was a flood in Xiyue. Peng Zhao, as the governor, was ordered to bring relief funds to Xiyue. Unexpectedly, he encountered bandits on his first day in Xiyue. He refused to hand over the relief funds and was taken to the bandits' den and hung up for three days and exposed to the sun for three days. When the soldiers found him, he was barely alive. I heard that the injury to his shoulder and neck was caused by this."
When Meng Yu recalled his gesture of supporting her shoulder, the last trace of doubt buried in her heart vanished without a trace.
Her gaze was distant, reflecting the sky above the eaves: "Good officials like this are rare these days."
"yes!"
Huaiyin followed her gaze and saw that the once clear blue sky had been covered by a gray curtain, casting shadows that made her feel even colder.
Granny Wang followed behind, urging hurriedly, "The wind is picking up, and there's probably going to be another snowfall. Princess and Madam, you should go back quickly!"
The two hurriedly set off.
***
After the first month of the lunar calendar, the second prince of Luolin Kingdom arrived ahead of schedule. Meng Yu was fortunate enough to go to the welcoming banquet with Lu Xiuyi. The second prince had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and had the appearance of a man from the Central Plains.
Huaiyin fell in love with him at first sight, and she wasn't so sad on her wedding day. Instead, Mengyu and Ning Sui cried their eyes out.
Meng Yu placed a pair of filigree inlaid flower and bird hairpins that she had made herself into Huaiyin's hair, and said with tears in her eyes, "Huaiyin, the journey ahead is long, take care on your journey."
Ning Sui patted Huai Yin's shoulder, her eyes glistening with tears: "You must take good care of those white doves. If they dare to bully you, just have them send a message back, and I will immediately lead my troops to raze Luo Lin to the ground."
Ning Sui had a beautiful and gentle face, but she spoke the harshest and most ruthless words. Huai Yin chuckled upon hearing this, but a sour feeling welled up in her eyes. She quickly suppressed it, saying, "With you all here, how dare they bully me? Besides, Granny Wang is very capable, so you can rest assured."
Meng Yu and Ning Sui exchanged a smile, suppressing the sadness welling up in their hearts, and watched her board the carriage and gradually disappear into the distance.
When leaving the palace, Ning Sui had important business to attend to, so she left first. Meng Yu was feeling a bit depressed and didn't want to ride in a sedan chair, so she and Hua Yi walked out of the palace gate.
After this period of time, Lu Xiuyi's trust in her has been largely restored, and when they go out, apart from the coachman, only two or three guards accompany them.
It was still early, and four or five palace servants were sweeping the snow along the palace road. Suddenly, a sedan chair came from afar around the corner. The sedan chair was old and worn, with two patches below the curtain, and only one attendant was with it.
Not knowing who was inside, Meng Yu had no choice but to step aside. However, the sedan chair suddenly stopped as it passed by her.
A corner of the curtain was lifted by slender fingertips, and a voice that was both unfamiliar and somewhat familiar rang out: "Third Miss Meng, it's been a long time."
Beside the tattered curtain, the man's gentle smile came into view. Meng Yu was slightly surprised, but quickly realized what he meant. However, the smile did not reach her eyes: "I am now a wife. I am not worthy of being called a young lady. Please call me Madam Huaiyuan."
The man's smile immediately froze.
Meng Yu still felt it wasn't enough, so she added fuel to the fire: "Or you could call me 'sister-in-law,' which I would also accept."
A chill slowly spread around Lu Jiayan, but after a moment, he suddenly laughed: "I have long heard about Third Miss's feelings for General Lu, why are you so stubborn?"
Heard it?
No one except the Meng family knew that Lu Xiuyi had forced her to marry in his place. Meng Yanqing dared not utter such a shameful thing, nor did Yuan Shi.
Meng Yu raised an eyebrow, not wanting to get entangled with him any longer, so she gave Hua Yi a wink, and Hua Yi immediately ordered the sedan chair following behind to move forward.
Meng Yu smiled slightly at him and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
With that, she boarded the sedan chair.
After the Jiangyang Marquis's mansion was raided, Lu Huaiyuan was imprisoned on the top of Yunfeng Mountain, while Lu Jiayan was spared. After moving out of the mansion, he lived with Tao in Linghua Lane.
Last year, he participated in the imperial examination and was promoted by the emperor to "Inspector". He often went on tours to inspect local government affairs. Now he is in charge of the military and government affairs of Yunzhou. He is also valued by Prince Rui. Moreover, he is known to the people as an honest and upright person with a simple lifestyle. He is very popular in Yunzhou and is enjoying great success.
Despite his repeated attempts to befriend her, Meng Yu always felt that there was a bad intention behind his smiling face, and she didn't want to have any more contact with people surnamed Lu.
When Lu Xiuyi heard what Lu Jiayan had said, his face almost stiffened with a forced smile.
"I reckon I'll definitely have to take you to the palace next time there's a banquet," Lu Xiuyi said, handing the soup bowl to Meng Yu.
He had a good appetite today and drank two bowls of soup in a row, which even Chu Ze found unusual.
Meng Yu rolled her eyes at him: "You know perfectly well that I don't like attending palace banquets, so why are you taking me there?"
She would never have wanted to attend the welcoming banquet for the second prince of Luolin Kingdom if Huaiyin hadn't been there.
Lu Xiuyi raised his eyebrows proudly: "Is there even a question? I will never miss any opportunity to disgust Lu Jiayan."
As he spoke, his face suddenly darkened: "You are my wife. He dared to covet you. I'm already being very kind by not cutting him out."
Meng Yu placed the bowl full of soup in front of him. Seeing that his hair was tied up with a jade crown and that the darkness in his eyes was gone from when she first returned, she couldn't help but reach out and rub his head, laughing, "Alright, alright, I promise you, I will accompany you to every palace banquet from now on."
Her palms were soft and warm, seeping through his hair and into his very being. Lu Xiuyi felt a warmth in his heart, and his fierce expression gradually faded.
A ray of light shone in, making her smile even brighter. Lu Xiuyi was rarely treated with such gentleness by her, and for a moment he didn't know how to react. He just quickly scooped up a spoonful of soup, put it in his mouth, lowered his head, and replied, "Okay, I know."
Seeing through his thoughts, Meng Yu withdrew her hand at the opportune moment.
***
After Huaiyin's marriage to Meng Yu, the only person in the capital who could exchange a few words with Meng Yu was Ning Sui. However, due to the busy military affairs, she was often unable to find time.
With nothing to do, Meng Yu could only stay at home, either cooking delicious food with Zhi Mian or reading the old books that Steward Cao had found for her.
In early spring, the weather gradually warms up, the snow in the yard melts, green buds sprout one after another, and thrushes that have migrated back rest on the branches. Everywhere is a scene of spring warmth and beauty.
Meng Yu leaned against the chaise lounge by the window, flipping through an old book.
Just then, a whisper reached my ears from under the eaves: "Hey, have you heard? Madam Kang went to the east street corner at dawn today and just happened to run into the executioner being carried out by County Magistrate Zhao."
Another maid asked in surprise, "Execution so early in the morning? Whose execution?"
"I heard he's a governor, his name is... I forget what it is."
The maid was even more astonished: "This is strange. It's still dark at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM). If the execution is to be carried out at the east street corner, the person must be a heinous criminal. Why would they do it so secretly?"
"Who knows what's going on up there? Never mind, let's not talk about it anymore. My back is aching from squatting. I should hurry up and finish wiping and go back to rest."
The maid's voice gradually faded away, but Meng Yu stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning, completely unaware that the book she had been holding had fallen from her hands.
Peng... Peng Zhao is gone? ??
***
For four or five days in a row, Lu Xiuyi returned home very late, but tonight, he came back as soon as she had rested.
A chill crept into the bedding, but Lu Xiuyi seemed to be in a very good mood.
Meng Yu's heart sank. After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Why are you back so early today? And you seem especially happy."
"I'm happy that everything is done, so I wanted to come back early to be with my wife."
All the lights in the room were off. Even though Meng Yu couldn't see Lu Xiuyi's face, she could clearly imagine how happy he was from his slightly raised tone.
“Kill Peng Zhao, kill this person who's blocking your way, and you'll naturally be happy.” Meng Yu suddenly changed the subject and spoke coldly.
The hand around her waist paused, and the person behind her seemed to freeze for a moment: "Who told you that?"
Does it matter who told you it?
Lu Xiuyi sighed, realizing what she was thinking, and said, "It's not what you think."
"What is it then?" Meng Yu pried his hands away and sat up from the couch. "You say you're working hard, but what are you working hard for? Getting rid of an honest official, getting rid of someone who will block your ascension to the throne in the future, isn't that your work?"
"Yu'er, what are you thinking about?" The headache that hadn't flared up for a long time came back, and the pain gripped his brain, but Lu Xiuyi still managed to keep his composure.
“Lu Xiuyi, I don’t care who sits in that position, but I don’t want it to be you.”
Without thinking, Meng Yu regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth, but she still suppressed the doubts that welled up in her heart and sighed: "Lu Xiuyi, it's too difficult to climb to that position. I don't want you to go down that path."
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi sat up in disbelief: "You think that's how I am? You think I'm the kind of person who would stop at nothing to ascend to the throne?"
"Isn't that right? Wasn't Peng Zhao killed after you remonstrated with him?"
That day, Chu Ze passed by with a memorial in his hand. The top one had the words "Peng Zhao" written on it. Meng Yu would never believe that Peng Zhao's death had nothing to do with him.
Her words were like knives, each one cutting deep into his heart.
Lu Xiuyi endured the increasingly intense pain, his voice trembling slightly: "Yu'er, I'm not as despicable as you think, and what I did wasn't as vile and shameless as you claim. I killed only the beasts that deserved to die, I beat only the scum that deserved to be beaten, and I cursed only the scum that deserved to be cursed."
"You've only met Peng Zhao once, and you already think he's a good person. What about me? I've done so much for you, how come you can't see even a little bit of it? Meng Yu, you used to be such a good actor, how come you never thought that all your honesty, selflessness, and even so-called integrity and incorruptibility could be faked? You're clearly, clearly so kind and tolerant to everyone, why do you have to be prejudiced against me?"
Lu Xiuyi's words left Meng Yu speechless. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. Recalling everything that had happened since she met Peng Zhao, she vaguely felt that his words and actions were indeed a bit deliberate.
Before she could figure it out, Lu Xiuyi said wearily, "It's getting late, you should go to sleep! I have something to do, I'm going to the study first."
As he spoke, he lifted the curtain, got off the bed, and put on his outer robe. Even though he was so angry, he still turned back and closed the door when he went out, keeping the cold wind out.
The quilt beside her grew cold, and the pale yellow light of the moon shone in through the window. Meng Yu leaned against the headboard, a wave of guilt washing over her.
Unable to sleep, she got up, put on a thin outer garment, opened the door, and went to the small courtyard where Chuze lived, waking him up from his drowsy sleep.
"What brings you here so late, Madam?"
Seeing Meng Yu standing at the door in thin clothes, Chu Ze, who was still a little sleepy, was instantly startled awake. He quickly looked around, folded his arms, and took two steps back in panic: "Madam, you wouldn't be... No, no, no, I, I want to live a few more years."
Meng Yu rolled her eyes at him: "Like master, like subordinate. Don't be full of nonsense. I'll ask you something, and you just need to answer yes or no."
"What is it? Please ask."
Chu Ze breathed a sigh of relief; at least she wasn't interested in him.
***
The sky was as dark as ink, and the orange lights flickered precariously under the eaves. Looking into the distance, the entire corridor seemed to be covered with a layer of faint starlight. The General's Mansion did not have the habit of keeping the lights on all night. Even in the corridor, there were only three or four lights at most.
But now, not a single light in this corridor is off.
After she "died" in the fire, Lu Xiuyi worried that the road was too dark and she wouldn't be able to find her way home, so every day at dusk, regardless of whether it was still light or not, these lamps would be lit.
This habit lasted for two years, and even now, it has never been broken for a single day.
She never asked about any of the details.
She never truly saw the sincerity in Lu Xiuyi's feelings for her.
Meng Yu climbed the wall and walked step by step toward the study, but before she had finished walking down the long corridor, she saw the man running toward her in the distance with a hurried expression. He looked at her and took off his cloak with a stern face.
In no time, he was in front of her, his face grim as he draped the cloak he was carrying over her shoulders. He was clearly angry, but he couldn't bring himself to speak harshly: "It's late at night, didn't I tell you to go to sleep? Even though it's spring, it's still quite chilly at night. You dared to come out wearing only an outer garment? Aren't you angry enough with me? Can't we talk about this tomorrow? If you get sick, I..."
The last syllable was swallowed up by his mouth, and Lu Xiuyi's eyes widened in surprise, his Adam's apple bobbing twice.
Stopping his complaints, Meng Yu gently stopped her tiptoeing. Seeing his face as red as a ripe cherry, she couldn't help but smile: "No, tonight's matter must be resolved tonight."
Lu Xiuyi was a little breathless from her kiss. After a moment, he came to his senses and didn't understand what she meant. He lowered his eyes and stammered, "What matter has to be resolved tonight?"
Meng Yu reached out and lifted his chin. Seeing his eyes reflecting her own face, she lowered her hand and said with a serious expression, "I'm sorry. I was blinded and scolded you without understanding the facts. It was my fault. Can you forgive me?"
"It's not impossible to forgive you."
Her eyes were bright, like they were filled with stars. Lu Xiuyi stared at them for a long time before looking away and turning his head away, as if all his grievances had been released.
Meng Yu tilted her head: "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
As if thinking of something, Lu Xiuyi's ears turned as red as if they were dripping blood. He lowered his voice and said, "We've been married for so long, and you've never called me 'husband' even once."
Meng Yu immediately understood, but still pretended not to understand, and teased him with a smile: "Your voice is too soft, I can't hear you."
Seeing her teasing, Lu Xiuyi was a little annoyed. He bent down slightly and picked her up by the waist, walking aggressively towards Longxiang Pavilion: "It's okay, if you can't hear me, you can't hear me. We'll go back to the room and talk slowly."
Meng Yu's legs went weak, and she quickly grabbed his collar, begging for mercy: "Husband, please, I, I heard everything."
Upon hearing the word "husband," Lu Xiuyi seemed to be struck by lightning and immediately stopped in his tracks.
Meng Yu thought her way of addressing him had worked and was about to call out a few more times when Lu Xiuyi lowered his head, raised an eyebrow, and leisurely smiled: "Yu'er, you might as well save your energy for calling out on the bed. I might be able to do it more gently then."
"..."
As he spoke, Lu Xiuyi carried her back to Longxiang Pavilion.
Hua Yi also woke up and was waiting anxiously at the door. The maid on night watch also hung her head and looked apprehensive.
Seeing this, Meng Yu tugged at his sleeve: "I'm going out to find Chu Ze and get some answers. It has nothing to do with them."
“I know,” Lu Xiuyi’s expression softened slightly as he turned to them and said, “I’ll let it go tonight because of Madam’s pleading for you. But if this happens again, I will not let it go so easily.”
Hua Yi and her maid responded repeatedly, then hurriedly closed the door and left.
Hearing the door close, Lu Xiuyi hurriedly placed her on the couch. Just as he was about to bend down, Meng Yu stepped aside, saying, "I... I'm feeling a little unwell, could I..."
His words were swallowed up.
After a long while, Lu Xiuyi stood up slightly, his eyes reflecting her flushed face. He gently touched her cheek and said in a low voice, "No, this is punishment. Who told you not to believe me?"
Knowing that she could not resist, Meng Yu had no choice but to lower her guard.
For a time, the clouds and rain were enchanting.
The gauze curtains hung to the ground, the lamplight shimmered, shadows flickered, and a faint fragrance filled the entire room.
After an unknown amount of time, the two finished bathing and lay back on the couch. Lu Xiuyi no longer harbored any resentment and simply clung tightly to her, closing his eyes contentedly to rest.
Meng Yu was about to say something more, but he quickly stopped her: "It's late, go to sleep!"
Upon hearing this, she had no choice but to pull her sleeves tighter and close her eyes to rest.
Only when she heard the soft, even breathing of the person beside her did she open her sleeve, take out the thing hidden in the seam, quickly put it in her mouth, chew it slowly, and then fall asleep peacefully.
***
I slept without any dreams.
When she opened her eyes again, a suffocating atmosphere hit her. Not knowing what had happened, Meng Yu hadn't even had time to get up when she curiously turned her head to look. She saw seven or eight maids kneeling on the ground, heads bowed and trembling.
To the right of the couch, a person sat upright in a round-backed chair with a sullen face, exuding a chilling aura that kept others at bay. He was toying with a bottle in his hand, the cork of which was bright red and eye-catching.
Meng Yu's heart sank, and she immediately tucked her sleeves in.
The remaining two pieces of sweet flag were indeed gone.
Are you looking for this?
As she was turning her head to search, a cold question suddenly came from the other side. Meng Yu froze for a moment, then slowly sat up and looked over.
Lu Xiuyi held the two pieces of calamus in his hand, his snow-white gaze seeming to want to tear her heart and bones out.
She didn't speak, so Lu Xiuyi stood up, suppressing his overwhelming anger, and lifted the curtain, scoffing lightly: "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you so humiliated by my touch that you can't even utter a word? Or do you feel that one piece isn't enough, and you need to eat several more to feel at ease?"
Meng Yu finally couldn't hold back anymore after being choked by him: "Do you have to speak so sarcastically? I can explain this."
"An explanation? With the evidence in hand, what explanation do you have?"
The anger that Lu Xiuyi had suppressed all night burst forth like a raging flood the moment he heard her words.
He lunged forward in a flash, his pale fingertips gripping her neck tightly, his eyes bloodshot: "Meng Yu, do you despise me that much? You'd rather hurt yourself than bear my child."
Meng Yu was speechless.
Seeing her remain silent, Lu Xiuyi's anger flared even more fiercely: "All the tenderness you showed me before was just your pretense. It turns out you've never changed. It turns out it was all just wishful thinking on my part. Meng Yu, you really know how to act."
The more he spoke, the angrier he became, and the stronger his grip became. Only when he saw her pale face and struggling to breathe did he suddenly come to his senses and abruptly release her.
“I can’t bear to hurt you,” he said self-deprecatingly, taking a step back before turning away with a cold expression. “But someone has to take the blame for your mistakes. Guards, drag these maids out. They failed to take good care of the lady. Give them thirty lashes.”
The cavalry immediately poured in from outside.
None of the kneeling crowd dared to beg for mercy; they all remained silent and bowed their heads.
"stop."
On the contrary, Meng Yu's face immediately darkened upon hearing this, and she shouted through gritted teeth, "Lu Xiuyi, if you have the guts, come at me. What kind of guts are you to drag them into this?"
"I'm just incompetent, that's why you've deceived me time and time again," Lu Xiuyi suddenly turned around upon hearing this, his face as dark as ink, and shouted angrily in a raised voice, "I'm just incompetent, that's why you've repeatedly stolen my heart and blinded me. I shouldn't have trusted you, I should have chained you up and imprisoned you..."
His words, though lingering in his throat, were like a key that, by sheer accident, unlocked a new world.
"No, Lu Xiuyi, you can't do this to me."
His sudden silence filled Meng Yu with a sense of despair. She trembled as she got off the bed, barefoot, and tried to run outside, but before she could take a step, the person behind her grabbed her and threw her back onto the bed.
"Someone, prepare a gold chain for the lady."
Ignoring her shock, Lu Xiuyi coldly gave the order, and the cavalry responded and immediately went out.
Through that face, Meng Yu seemed to see a future filled with darkness. Her face turned as white as paper, and she immediately pulled out the hairpin from her hair and held it to her throat: "Lu Xiuyi, you dare to lock me up and see what happens."
Lu Xiuyi had anticipated her move, but he smiled calmly and said, "It's alright. If you die, I'll make the Meng family and everyone here pay for it."
The words "You won't" were on the tip of Meng Yu's tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to say them. The expression on the other person's face was no longer gentle; all that remained was ruthlessness and coldness.
She couldn't control him.
The thought suddenly entered her mind, and Meng Yu smiled bitterly. Suddenly, her fingertips lost their strength, and the hairpin fell to the ground without making a sound.
"You can lock me up however you want, just don't let them get hurt, okay?" She slowly raised her eyes as if resigned to her fate, her voice softening, her eyes, which had been filled with stars, now glistened with tears.
Lu Xiuyi's heart trembled at the sight, as if afraid that he would soften his heart. He quickly turned around and coldly ordered, "Madam is magnanimous and pleaded for you. I will spare you today. But if you fail to take good care of me in the future, I will not be lenient."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and responded repeatedly, their weak legs regaining some strength.
In the afternoon, Lu Xiuyi brought over a gold chain.
The chains were smooth and snapped shut, locking her feet in place. Lu Xiuyi had originally intended to lock all the doors, but after thinking about it, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
There were important matters to attend to at Xiying today. She put the only key into her bosom, kissed her cheek, and said gently, "Be good. Their lives are in your hands. Don't try anything funny."
Meng Yu looked around the changed room and sneered, "You've gone so far as to change everything in the room to protect yourself from me, what kind of trouble could I possibly cause?"
The small bottle containing the sweet flag was originally placed in the celadon vase with intertwined floral patterns in the corner. After Lu Xiuyi discovered it, she emptied all the vases in the room. Now, the room is completely empty, making it virtually impossible for her to hide anything.
She spoke coldly, but Lu Xiuyi nodded in satisfaction: "I'll be back later. Also, don't even think about asking Ning Sui for help. She's been very busy lately."
He smiled meaningfully as he spoke the last few words.
Meng Yu looked puzzled, but didn't want to ask him any further questions. She was currently trapped in the mansion and couldn't send any messages out. She could only wait for Ning Sui to come to her door, but Ning Sui had been very busy lately and hadn't even sent a single message.
***
A spring breeze swept through the mountains and forests, rustling the leaves.
Several cheers came from afar. Lu Xiuyi, riding on his steed, glanced at the person beside him and chuckled, "Lord Jiang looks so refined, but I didn't expect him to be such a skilled hunter."
Jiang Xuanli put away his crossbow, ignoring his taunts, and retorted sarcastically, "General Lu, a mere warrior, can win a beautiful woman through underhanded means. What's wrong with me winning His Majesty's favor openly and honestly?"
Lu Xiuyi's face darkened at his retort, but then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he chuckled and said, "Lord Jiang, if you're going to insult someone, why drag yourself into it? If my methods are underhanded, I'm afraid in your wife's eyes, Lord Jiang is not even as good as mud in a stinking ditch. Besides, no matter how shady I may be, I am still much more upright than that hypocrite Lord Jiang."
Jiang Xuanli gave him a cold glare.
"Your Majesty, please be careful."
Just as they were facing off, several shouts came from the distant mountains and forests. Lu Xiuyi's expression tightened, and he immediately spurred his horse and galloped toward the source of the sound, with Jiang Xuanli following closely behind.
When the two arrived, the strong smell of blood filled their nostrils first. A deer lay in a pool of blood with its eyes open. Not far away, Emperor Jinghuai sat on the ground, still in shock.
Before Lu Xiuyi could react, Jiang Xuanli had already jumped down from the saddle and rushed to Emperor Jinghuai, crouching down to ask, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Emperor Jinghuai glanced at him with a look of alarm, then shook his head blankly.
"Your Majesty, be careful!" Jiang Xuanli glanced past Emperor Jinghuai and looked behind him. He suddenly shouted and hurriedly stood up to block Emperor Jinghuai.
"hiss."
Jiang Xuanli winced in pain as a venomous snake suddenly appeared and bit his ankle. The next instant, a gust of wind swept past his ankle.
Lu Xiuyi immediately jumped off his horse and helped Emperor Jinghuai up.
The guard rushed over, picked up the venomous snake that had been pinned to the tree trunk by the arrow, examined it, and reported in a stern voice, "Your Majesty, it is a rattlesnake, and it is poisonous."
Emperor Jinghuai's face was as white as paper. He glanced at Jiang Xuanli and saw that his lips were pale and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He hurriedly ordered, "Quickly, carry Minister Jiang back and summon the imperial physician."
Upon hearing the commotion, the imperial physician was already waiting in front of the tent. As soon as he saw everyone return, he hurriedly carried his medicine box to greet them. Fortunately, Jiang Xuanli's poisoning was not severe, and the physician was able to expel all the toxins from his body after administering a few acupuncture treatments.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
A loud shout rang out from outside the tent. Jiang Xuanli, who was lying on the couch, was about to get up to pay his respects when Emperor Jinghuai, who had just entered, quickly stepped forward and pressed him down: "Minister Jiang, lie down quickly. You are injured, so you can skip the formalities."
Jiang Xuanli lowered his brows and bowed his head slightly: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Emperor Jinghuai sat down in the armchair beside him and said with a smile, "Minister Jiang risked his life to save me this time, and his contribution is truly invaluable. Just tell me what reward you want, and I will do my best to fulfill it."
"Your Majesty's health is of great importance to the people of the world. This is what I should do. There is no need for reward. Ouch..." As he was speaking, Jiang Xuanli couldn't help but let out a soft cry of pain.
Emperor Jinghuai frowned: "What? Is there still poison left in the wound? Guards, summon the Emperor immediately..."
“Your Majesty, please don’t worry,” Jiang Xuanli quickly stopped him. “The imperial physician has already removed all the snake venom from my ankle. It’s just that the skin on my ankle is thin, so it hurts a little. Your Majesty need not worry.”
Emperor Jinghuai nodded: "That's good. However, I have always been fair in my rewards and punishments. This time, my dear minister risked his life to save me. If I don't reward you, what will the other ministers think of me? Please don't refuse."
Lu Xiuyi, who had been silent all along, finally raised his lips and said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Lord Jiang has rendered meritorious service, so why bother to refuse?"
Jiang Xuanli lifted his eyelids, gave Lu Xiuyi a cold look, and said, "To be honest, Your Majesty, I do have a wish, but whether this wish can be fulfilled depends on whether General Lu agrees."
Emperor Jinghuai turned back to look at Lu Xiuyi meaningfully before saying, "Oh? What is it that requires Ziye's consent? Tell me, with me here, he would never dare to be presumptuous."
Lu Xiuyi raised an eyebrow, unconcerned.
“I have a wife who, due to her ignorance, angered General Lu. General Lu ordered her to be sent to an estate, where she suffered for two years. A few days ago, I secretly visited her and saw that she looked haggard and was frail. I felt truly sorry for her. Therefore, I would like to implore General Lu to spare her life, considering that my wife has already suffered for two years.”
Jiang Xuanli leaned against the soft pillows, his head hanging low, making it impossible to see his face.
Emperor Jinghuai did not speak immediately. He paused for a moment before looking at Lu Xiuyi and smiling faintly: "No matter what Madam Jiang did in the past, she has been punished after all. Moreover, Ziye has always been kind. How could he refuse such a trivial matter?"
“Jingzhi originally meant brotherly affection, but Madam Jiang is probably not worthy to use this meaning,” Lu Xiuyi suppressed his rising anger and said calmly, “but Lord Jiang has rendered meritorious service in saving the emperor today, and His Majesty has spoken. If I do not agree, it would make me seem narrow-minded.”
“Ziye always speaks like this, Minister Jiang, please don’t take it to heart. You and Ziye are both rare pillars of the court,” Emperor Jinghuai stood up, patted his shoulder, and sighed, “Your love for your wife is commendable, but you must not go too far in anything.”
After saying this, Emperor Jinghuai turned and left.
Jiang Xuanli bowed his head and replied, "Respectfully seeing Your Majesty off."
The footsteps outside the curtain gradually faded into the distance.
Lu Xiuyi lowered his eyebrows slightly: "What happened today was your doing."
The words were spoken without a sound, without question, merely a statement.
Jiang Xuanli smiled and sat up straight, his previous obsequious demeanor completely gone: "This humble official does not understand, General Lu, what do you mean by this?"
"Lord Jiang is exceptionally intelligent; how could he not understand what I mean?"
Jiang Xuanli chuckled: "General Lu flatters me. It is quite common for poisonous snakes to appear in the mountains and forests."
Lu Xiuyi smiled coolly: "The appearance of venomous snakes is indeed common, but the deer's frenzy is truly unexpected."
“That’s just how animals are. I’m sure General Lu understands this better than I do.” Jiang Xuanli tilted his head back and sneered.
Seeing his demeanor, Lu Xiuyi figured that no matter how much he asked, he wouldn't admit it. Not wanting to say more, he turned around, but when he reached the curtain, he suddenly stopped, turned his head and said, "I advise you, if an official is too calculating, it will only cost you your life."
After saying this, without waiting for Jiang Xuanli to speak, he immediately lifted the curtain and left.
Dappled sunlight streamed in through the swaying curtains, stopping just short of the bed. Jiang Xuanli watched expressionlessly, his eyes dimming slightly.
***
When they returned to the manor, it was nearly night. Steward Cao and the guards came to report on Meng Yu's condition. Since she put on the gold chains, she had become more well-behaved.
After taking a bath, Lu Xiuyi pushed open the door, lifted the curtain, and got onto the bed. The person who was lying down suddenly turned to the side, and the chains on his feet made a crisp sound, gently shattering the quiet night.
He was met with indifference, and his anger, which had subsided, surged up again.
It was clearly because she had gone too far that he treated her this way, yet now he acted as if he had committed a terrible mistake. Lu Xiuyi's face immediately darkened, and he no longer showed her any pity. He immediately grabbed her shoulders and turned her over.
"After a whole day of fussing, you still have the energy to make a scene. Open your eyes and look at me."
Meng Yu had her eyes closed when she suddenly felt a weight on her body. Then a cold shout came into her ear, but she didn't want to see Lu Xiuyi's face, nor did she want to anger him. So she pushed him away and murmured, "Go to sleep! I'm sleepy."
The more unwilling she was to open her eyes, the angrier Lu Xiuyi became.
In the darkness, Meng Yu felt a sudden surge of suffocation. Before she could react, a cold, masculine scent, mixed with a wet sensation, filled her throat.
Meng Yu was so startled that she suddenly opened her eyes.
The moonlight, as fine as salt, streamed in, and Lu Xiuyi's face suddenly loomed large before her eyes. Startled, she tried to push him away, but he raised her hands above her head and pressed them down firmly.
He pulled away from her lips with lingering affection, just as her anger subsided, when he suddenly heard her cold, emotionless voice again: "Is that enough? If it is, go to sleep."
Upon hearing these words, anger, like wild grass that could not be extinguished, slowly regenerated in Lu Xiuyi's chest, and his face turned as black as ink.
“Not enough, far from enough,” he ripped off her belt and suddenly raised his voice, “Meng Yu, why? Why should my heart be trampled under your feet? Why can you be so indifferent after I’ve given you everything? Even if you crave this wealth and glory, you should be grateful. Why do you trample on me like this?”
"Gratitude? Trampling?" Ignoring the coolness covering her entire body, Meng Yu smiled coldly. The resentment, grievances, anger, and despair that had been suppressed in her heart for so long suddenly rolled over her like a huge snowball.
She shoved him away abruptly, stood up and rebuked him sharply, "Lu Xiuyi, what do you want me to be grateful for? Grateful for threatening me? Grateful for imprisoning me here like a plaything? Grateful for forcing me to submit to you? Or grateful for disregarding my wishes and forcibly taking me back to the capital? Lu Xiuyi, I can't accept your feelings. Let me go, and let yourself go too."
Moonlight pierced through the curtains and fell on her face.
In the end, her anger and disgust transformed into an unconcealable, endless weariness on her face.
As he watched, Lu Xiuyi suddenly lost interest. Her heart was as hard as stone, and since that was the case, he didn't want to argue any further.
"If you want me to let you go, you'd have to die. You can forget about it for the rest of your life." He leaned forward, pulled her to his chest, and laughed coldly.
His clothes were completely removed.
Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over. Meng Yu closed her eyes, looking utterly exhausted: "I will hate you, I will hate you for the rest of my life."
Lu Xiuyi touched her forehead with hers, suppressing his grief, and said in a cool voice with tears in his eyes, "It's okay. If I'm sad, I definitely won't let you be happy either. Yu'er, let's live like this for the rest of our lives, it's fine."
The clouds and rain were in merriment, filling the room with enchanting beauty.
After an unknown amount of time, the man on top of her finally stopped. Ignoring the marks all over her body, he picked up his clothes, lifted the tent curtain, and walked away.
Bang!
The door was slammed shut.
Two lines of clear tears slid down Meng Yu's cheeks, disappearing silently into the night.
She felt a lot of pain, her body ached, and her heart ached.
She regretted it deeply, regretting why she had agreed to leave Xuzhou with Aunt Shen. If she hadn't left Xuzhou, would she have avoided all of this?
***
Meng Yu didn't know when she fell asleep; when she woke up, it was already broad daylight.
Hua Yi had prepared breakfast, which was as plentiful as ever, and consisted of all her favorite dishes. In the past, she would have praised it highly and had a great appetite.
But today, she simply couldn't swallow a single bite.
Hua Yi frowned, deeply worried: "Madam, please eat a little something. How can your body withstand it if you don't eat?"
Meng Yu got up, took a notebook from the bookshelf, and as she walked, the gold chains clattered together, making a jarring "clanging" sound.
She lost her appetite even more, so she leaned against the chaise lounge and said in a low voice, "I can't eat anymore, take it all away."
Hua Yi was at her wit's end, so she sent someone to tell Zhi Mian, hoping she could come and persuade her. Upon hearing this, Zhi Mian was naturally very worried and hurriedly put down her work to come over.
"Why are you being willful again, young lady? People need to eat, you'll get hungry if you don't eat. That's what you, Yan'er, and Sister Huaiyin used to say back in Qingli Courtyard," Zhi Mian complained as she limped in.
Seeing this, Meng Yu quickly got off the bed and helped her sit down beside him: "Although your legs are better, they are not as good as before. It's chilly in the spring morning. What are you doing out here at this time?"
Zhi Mian feigned a stern face: "If I don't come, do you want to go hungry all day? Have you forgotten what you said before?"
Mentioning the past only made Meng Yu's heart sink even deeper.
When she first arrived in the capital, Aunt Shen, Huaiyin, Zhimian, and Yan'er were all by her side. Now, of these four, Aunt Shen has passed away, Yan'er went to Luolin Kingdom with Huaiyin who was sent for a political marriage, and only Zhimian remains by her side.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Meng Yu said after a moment of silence, putting down her book and handing her a cup of warm tea. “I haven’t forgotten what I told you. I just… I really can’t eat.”
As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer.
Zhi Mian looked at the person in front of her, whose eyes and eyebrows were turned down, and where was the slightest bit of the smile she used to have?
She sighed, "As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn. This is what you said, Miss. Even if you can't eat anymore, for your aunt, for Sister Huaiyin, and even more for yourself, you should eat at least a few bites. Although we are trapped here now, it's not like there's no way out at all."
Realizing the meaning behind her words, Meng Yu was startled and quickly turned her head to look at Hua Yi outside the door. She lowered her voice and said with a look of sorrow, "Zhi Mian, don't do anything foolish for me. Don't you know what kind of person Lu Xiuyi is? We can't fight against him."
She did manage to escape.
From that passenger ship to Shangjing, and from Shangjing to Hejiuyun Township, every time, he suppressed everyone, forcing her to submit and bow her head.
She is not a heartless person; she cannot abandon everyone.
Zhi Mian smiled and took her hand: "Don't worry, Miss, I know what I'm doing."
***
Lu Xiuyi returned at noon. As soon as he entered the door, he heard Steward Cao report that Meng Yu had not eaten breakfast today. He immediately sent someone to invite a doctor over.
No sooner had they entered Longxiang Pavilion than Huayi came out hurriedly and said, "General, the lady has just gone to sleep."
"It's only noon, and she's already asleep?" Lu Xiuyi frowned. "Has she had lunch yet?"
Hua Yi lowered her head and said in a trembling voice, "No, I've tried to persuade you several times, but you always say you have no appetite."
Lu Xiuyi's expression grew increasingly grim.
He stepped past Huayi, pushed open the door, and lifted the curtain. Knowing she was still awake, he waved his sleeve and said, "I know you're not asleep. Get up. I've called the doctor back."
Meng Yu turned to the side and tucked the quilt in tightly: "I just have a poor appetite, I'm not so delicate that I need to see a doctor."
Seeing that she still had her eyes closed, Lu Xiuyi immediately became angry. He bent down and pulled her up, sneering, "You think I'm worried about your appetite? I'm only concerned about your stomach. You ate so much sweet flag earlier. If you really harm your health, wouldn't the General's Mansion be left without an heir?"
The veins on his hand gripping her arm bulged, causing Meng Yu to wince in pain, but she quickly recovered and couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly, "General, you want a child to inherit the family business? That's easy. General, you hold a high position and come from a distinguished family. You've already said that there are plenty of men in the world who want to have your child. Why insist on hanging yourself on this one tree? Could it be that..."
"Hmm..."
The words were swallowed up. Meng Yu watched as Lu Xiuyi's face magnified in her eyes. She was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red from the sudden feeling of suffocation. She immediately raised her hand as if to hit him, but he held it down firmly.
She didn't know how long Lu Xiuyi had been grinding her lips repeatedly, but by the time he left, her lips were already slightly swollen.
He flicked the gauze curtain down, and Lu Xiuyi reached out and touched her waist, pulling it hard. His face was gloomy and ruthless: "Since you don't want to see a doctor, then we'll do it."
A cool sensation spread throughout her body, and the soreness in her legs also surged into her heart. Meng Yu was startled and coldly rebuked, "Lu Xiuyi, are you a dog? You're in heat all the time."
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi paused for a moment, then immediately quickened his pace, giving a bitter smile: "In my current state, how am I any different from a dog or a demon?"
Suddenly, a weight settled on me, and the smell of cedarwood assaulted my nostrils: "Whether you become a demon or a human is your own choice."
He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "No, you forced me to."
The door was wide open, and a damp sensation slid down her neck and shoulders. Sunlight streamed in, yet she always felt the room was dark.
"Lu Xiuyi, don't do this," Meng Yu said, her eyes closed and her voice choked with emotion. "I'll see, I'll see, okay?"
Hearing the sound, the person leaning over her stopped, sat up slightly, gently wiped away the tears on her face, and sighed, "If I had been obedient earlier, I wouldn't be in this situation."
His tone made it seem as if the fault lay entirely with her. Meng Yu had no desire to argue further. She got up, tidied herself up, and let the doctor come in to take her pulse and treat her.
Through the gauze curtain, the doctor examined the lady for half a day before putting away the cushion: "Aside from a little cold toxin in her body, the lady is otherwise fine. I will prescribe some mild tonics for her to take for half a month, and she will be fine."
After a pause, the doctor frowned, stroked his gray beard, and asked again, "Does the lady often feel depressed?"
Lu Xiuyi glanced at Meng Yu and nodded.
"That's right. If I may add one more thing, Madam is feeling depressed. If she doesn't adjust her mood properly, I'm afraid no amount of medicine will help. Now that it's springtime, if the general has some free time, he could take Madam for walks in the countryside more often. This would help relieve her mood and be beneficial to her health." The doctor sincerely suggested.
Lu Xiuyi replied calmly, "I understand. Men, escort the doctor out properly."
Steward Cao hurriedly responded, saw the doctor to the door, took out a silver ingot, and said with a forced smile, "You must keep your mouth shut about what happened today, and do not spread it around, otherwise it will not be as simple as receiving a silver ingot."
The doctor was from Hejingtang, and he often frequented the mansions of high-ranking officials and nobles. He knew how to handle such matters, so he quickly accepted the silver, bowed his head, and repeatedly replied, "Yes, yes, of course, of course."
***
The distant hills grew larger and larger in our eyes, and a cloud of dust rushed in, choking the people in the car.
The coachman spurred his horse on, dust billowing onto his face. He squinted and raised his voice, "Lord Jiang, you come here three or four times a month, aren't you tired?"
"Brother Yang, do you also feel tired when you go to see your wife?" Jiang Xuanli lowered the curtain, and as he turned his body to the side, his injured ankle bumped against the foot next to him, and a sharp pain spread throughout his body, making him wince in pain.
Thinking of his wife at home, the driver's fatigue lessened by half, and he laughed heartily, "Of course I don't feel tired when I'm home to see the person I love most?"
As they were talking, the carriage turned a corner and stopped in front of a manor.
Jiang Xuanli paid the driver: "Brother Yang, you can go now!"
The driver took the silver and asked in surprise, "Don't we have to wait for you to come out today?"
Jiang Xuanli shook his head and smiled: "No need, someone will come over later."
The coachman scratched his head, then didn't ask any more questions, whipped his horse, and rode away.
After being bitten last night, he rested for a night and, not having time to wait for the carriage from the manor, hired the coachman who often brought him here to take him for a ride.
Dust still swirled in front of the manor. He bent down, patted the dust off his clothes, smoothed his hair, and then stepped onto the stone steps.
"Hurry up and wash. You've been doing this for over two years, and you're still dawdling. Do you think you're still a pampered young lady who never lifts a finger?"
"Oh dear! Why are you arguing with her? She deserves to be taught a lesson. Just yesterday she broke one of my bowls. If I don't give her a good thrashing, she won't know what's what."
As soon as he entered, a loud, harsh voice came crashing down on him. Before Jiang Xuanli could stop the woman, he rushed forward and blocked the whip that was supposed to land somewhere else.
Hearing the sound, the person who was bending over and washing clothes instinctively closed her eyes and raised her arm to cover her head. But after waiting for a long time, the whip did not fall. Feeling strange, she opened her eyes a crack and saw a shadow looming over her through her slightly open fingers.
Her heart trembled as she slowly lowered her hand.
A face with creases drawn between the brows came into view.
This face is both familiar and unfamiliar, and it also conveys a sense of restraint.
"Yin'er, are you alright?" Jiang Xuanli saw tears welling up in her eyes and quickly reached out to help her up.
Meng Yin seemed to be startled, suddenly stood up, shook off his hand, took a step back, and bang!
She knocked the laundry tub over, and the icy water splashed onto her ankles and seeped into her shoes.
"Yin'er, don't be afraid, I'm here, I've come to take you home." The skin of the person in front of him was no longer as smooth and beautiful as it used to be. He was only in his early twenties, but there were already several fine lines around his eyes and brows. Jiang Xuanli looked at him and felt as if his heart was being ripped out piece by piece by a knife. He hurriedly stepped forward.
"Don't come any closer."
Meng Yin stared at him in disbelief, backing away step by step until she leaned against the wall.
She shook her head, her voice trembling with tears, and shouted, "What are you doing here? What are you doing here to pick me up? You keep saying you love me, but I've been here for two years, two whole years! You haven't even come to see me once. Do you know what kind of life I've been living? Do you know how much I've suffered? Do you know how many chilblains I've gotten from soaking my hands in cold water in the dead of winter? Why are you only coming to pick me up now? Liars, you're all liars! Get out! Get out of here!"
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