Chapter 20: The male protagonist is breaking down.
After reading the letter, Xie Linyuan felt a surge of blood in his throat. A moment later, drops of bright red blood spilled from his lips and landed on the letter.
Startled, Qingshan was about to step forward when Xie Linyuan raised his hand to stop him.
He raised his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his lips with the back of his hand, then bent over and rested one hand on the edge of the table.
Xie Linyuan's face was extremely pale at this moment, but his lips were stained red with blood, making his overly beautiful face even more terrifyingly gorgeous.
He stared at the letter, at the words on it, his back seeming to hunch over more and more, and in his peach blossom eyes, besides astonishing anger, there was also a surge of disbelief.
Her long, drooping eyelashes never blinked.
Su Muying, how dare you...
“Go back, back to Anzhou…”
"Su Muying, okay, okay!!!"
Qingshan was dumbfounded. He had never seen such a scene before, nor had he ever seen his master like this. What was written in the letter? Why did his master vomit blood while reading it?
A moment later, Xie Linyuan swallowed back the blood that surged up in his throat. He folded the blood-stained letter, gripped the key tightly, and casually gave instructions:
"Send the message to the border immediately; there can be no delay."
Seeing that his master didn't seem to be alright, Qingshan asked, "Master, should we call a doctor over?"
"Go to the border immediately," Xie Linyuan said, and walked towards the door.
Qingshan dared not say anything more. Looking at his master's unsteady gait, he deeply regretted giving away the letter.
He scratched his head, unable to understand why his master had changed like this because of this Miss Su.
Qingshan couldn't understand it, but he knew that sending a message to the border was of great importance. His master had killed the son of the Marquis of Changping, so the Marquis of Changping would not be able to ally with his master. If something happened in the capital, the border would be the only chance.
As soon as Qingshan Fang thought about the situation, he broke out in a cold sweat. He dared not delay any longer and immediately went to the stable, picked a horse and went out through the back door.
——
As Xie Linyuan left the study and was about to head towards the Jingsi Residence where Su Muying was imprisoned, his mother arrived.
When Marquis Changping came to visit, Xie's mother finally learned what Xie Linyuan had done at the Princess's banquet.
When she heard that, her vision went black, and she almost fainted.
That was the eldest princess's banquet, and it was the son of the Marquis of Changping...
He actually killed the son of the Marquis of Changping at a banquet for that woman, cleaving him in two.
Extremely arrogant...
Extremely arrogant...
When Xie's mother saw Xie Linyuan about to walk in that direction again, she became even angrier and shouted, "Stop right there!"
Xie Linyuan seemed to wake from a dream and stood there.
Holding the key in one hand and the letter in the other, his tall, black hair was blown about by the wind. A red ribbon in his hair brightened the gloomy sky and made his skin appear even whiter, giving him a chilling aura.
Madam Xie was so angry that she could barely walk. She was helped over by Granny Zhou. She didn't care about anything else and scolded, "How dare you kill the son of the Marquis of Changping in public... Now that the Marquis of Changping has come knocking on our door, you still want to go to that Su Muying?!"
"Lin Yuan, what's wrong with you? You've never even glanced at a woman before, so why did you do this for Su Muying today? She's the only son of the Marquis of Changping, and his family's power is no less than yours! How dare you kill his son?" Mother Xie frowned, heartbroken and utterly bewildered.
In such a short time, how could her youngest son have become so infatuated with that woman?
"What happened to you?" Looking at Xie Linyuan covered in blood, Xie's mother couldn't help but recall the tragic state of her eldest son Xie Lin'an before his death, and she felt even more heartbroken, so she beat her chest and stamped her feet.
"Lin'an is dead, gone. Now you're going to disregard your own life and the entire Xie family for that woman?!"
"If only Lin'an were here, he wouldn't have acted this way, and he wouldn't have put the entire Xie family in such a predicament. If only Lin'an were still here..."
It's unclear what word he heard, but Xie Linyuan's eyes turned icy, and his lips moved slightly as he said a few words to his mother: "I am not your brother, Mother."
"I am Xie Linyuan."
He was reminding her.
When Xie Linyuan, her own son, looked at her with such cold eyes, Xie's mother felt dizzy and almost fell backward. She said incredulously, "You used to be so close to Lin'an, what do you mean by saying this now?"
Xie Linyuan didn't want to say anything more and was about to leave when his mother, thinking he was going to see that woman again, shouted, "Where do you think you're going? Go wash up, change your clothes, and go apologize!"
"Apologize?" Xie Linyuan raised an eyebrow, showing no remorse whatsoever, and even the killing intent in his eyes seemed undiminished. He chuckled coldly, "That person deserves to die."
"You will also die."
“I will handle this matter myself, Mother.”
After saying that, Xie Linyuan walked away.
He did not go to Jing Si Ju.
Although Xie's mother was so angry that she was dizzy, she was finally relieved to see that Xie Linyuan did not go to Jingsi Residence or look for that woman.
She recalled Su Muying sighing deeply, "I knew something bad would happen. Lin'an died because of that woman, and now even Lin Yuan has done such a ridiculous thing for her. That woman is a demon who specifically harms the two brothers. We shouldn't have kept her in the first place."
Su Muying had always treated Granny Zhou with courtesy and respect, and had often taken care of her. Granny Zhou felt sorry for Su Muying, thinking that such a good girl was being imprisoned and tormented like this, and she couldn't bear it.
She helped Xie's mother walk towards Chunhui Hall, and, judging by the situation, comforted her from the side: "What Madam says is true. If that's the case, in my opinion, it would be better to expel this Miss Su from the mansion. That way, it will be quieter."
“I know my second son’s temperament well. He’s completely different from Lin’an. He was capable of killing the son of the Marquis of Changping for that woman. Now that things have come to this, do you think he would still let that woman go?”
Mother Xie sighed, "He acts recklessly, and his years of battlefield bloodshed have left him with a heavy aura of violence. Even I, his mother, can't control him... If Lin'an were still alive, he would have settled down and married that woman peacefully, and things wouldn't be like this now..."
As Xie's mother spoke, she suddenly realized something, and a wave of fear washed over her. Her foot, which was about to step over the threshold, froze in mid-air.
Could it be...?
Mother Xie's eyes widened, and she seemed to have aged considerably in an instant, her usual nobility and grace completely gone.
Well, she had always felt that her youngest son was cold and gloomy, favoring his eldest son and showing him little affection... Her husband believed that her youngest son was suited to martial arts and joining the army to fight on the battlefield, so he treated him extremely strictly from a young age, often whipping and punishing him. The Quiet Contemplation Residence was where he often faced the wall in repentance...
Now, he has actually locked that woman up there.
Now it's like this...
"Enough, enough, it's all karma and karmic entanglement..." Mother Xie said. "My promise to her still stands. If she can get pregnant and give birth to a son or daughter for the Xie family, I can use that to talk to my son, and she will have a chance to leave..."
"If there is no way to help, then even I, as a mother, am powerless to do anything about it."
"My son, I can't take care of him anymore, even as his mother..."
——
After washing away the blood from his body and changing his clothes, Xie Linyuan went to the main hall, where Marquis Changping, Shi Xianzong, had been waiting for a long time.
He did bring a group of soldiers with him when he came to demand an explanation, but out of caution, Shi Xianzong did not bring the soldiers into Xie's residence.
Even though Xie Linyuan killed his son, he still had to be wary of him.
He also has his entire clan and the army in the southwest behind him.
The person in front of me is a fearsome figure, both on the battlefield and in the officialdom.
"My lord, what a rare guest you are." Xie Linyuan entered the hall, gestured to dismiss the servants around him, and greeted them as if nothing had happened.
"General Xie brazenly killed my son at the banquet. Shouldn't you give me an explanation?" Filled with the pain of killing his son, Marquis Shi Xianzong of Changping cut to the chase.
"An explanation? Then this general will give you an explanation today."
Xie Linyuan stopped smiling and sat down with an air of authority. Although he was sitting down, when he looked up, he suddenly gave people an inescapable sense of oppression.
The bloodlust, ferocity, savagery, and brutality brought about by the carnage on the battlefield are indeed terrifying.
Marquis Changping had to admit that he was getting old.
There aren't many more battles to fight.
"Your son, Shi Maocai, the heir of the Marquis of Changping, publicly forced my sister-in-law to drink at the banquet, using extremely insulting words. He also did this to my Xie family and to Xie Linyuan..." Xie Linyuan did not stand up. He looked at the Marquis of Changping, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a cold glint flashed in them.
"That's quite disrespectful."
Marquis Shi Xianzong of Changping choked up.
He knew his son's character all too well; he frequented brothels and was known for his fondness for women. It was common for him to force drinks and harass women at banquets, but in the past, he had managed to smooth things over thanks to the power and influence of the Shi family.
This happens every time; his son just never learns a lesson.
This time, the Marquis of Changping never expected that the scoundrel would actually provoke Xie Linyuan, the god of death.
They're so blind!
Xie Linyuan chuckled and continued, "The woman your son was plying with alcohol is my sister-in-law, my elder brother's widow. My brother met with misfortune a few days ago, and before he passed away, he instructed me to take good care of my sister-in-law..."
"Your son, Shi Maocai, bullied my sister-in-law in public at the banquet. He bullied her, a weak woman, forced her to drink, harassed and insulted her, and even tried to hit her..." Xie Linyuan said this with a seemingly light and dismissive tone, but upon closer listening, one could sense the ruthlessness and murderous intent hidden within, as could be seen in his dark pupils.
Marquis Changping was also a soldier on the battlefield, so he naturally noticed it.
"If I don't stand up for my sister-in-law, how can I face my deceased brother?" Xie Linyuan said, which was perfectly reasonable.
He and his elder brother shared a deep brotherly bond. On his deathbed, his brother entrusted him with a final request. To protect his sister-in-law and fulfill his brother's dying wish, it seemed reasonable for him to kill someone.
After all, it wasn't Xie Linyuan who started the trouble first.
Upon hearing Xie Linyuan's words, Marquis Changping was speechless for a moment, but ultimately, he was still grieving the loss of his son and was determined to get an explanation today!
Marquis Changping glared angrily, his fists clenched and his face turning ashen: "General Xie's actions are far too cruel. My son's offense was due to my improper discipline. General Xie can teach him a lesson, and I will come to apologize. Why take his life?"
“My sister-in-law is frail and can’t take a shock. When your son attacked her, I was anxious and confused, and I didn’t know my own strength.”
"I hope Your Excellency can understand."
Xie Linyuan spoke casually, but suddenly raised his eyes, a ruthless glint flashing in them.
As if killing his son wasn't enough, the murderous intent in his eyes was as if he wanted to slaughter his entire clan.
Killing only his son was already a sign of his mercy.
Marquis Changping seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move.
He killed his son, casually saying it was out of momentary urgency and a lack of consideration, and even the Marquis of Changping could not refute it.
His foolish son offended him, and if Xie Linyuan were to find an opportunity, he might really slaughter his entire clan.
However, with the current situation in the world uncertain, he has to be wary of the troops under his command.
The Emperor's intentions are unpredictable. He was unsure of the Emperor's attitude towards Xie Linyuan, but the border was in turmoil, and Xie Linyuan had been leading the troops to defend it. At this time, the Emperor would not easily take action against Xie Linyuan.
This matter...
As Marquis Changping pondered, Xie Linyuan's lips curled into a slight smile.
He sighed deeply, stood up at the opportune moment, walked to the Marquis of Changping, and patted him on the shoulder: "This matter is truly strange. Even though I am a man who wields a sword, have you ever thought about who the real person behind your son's death is?"
"Who is the one who set up this scheme behind the scenes, inciting us to fight so that they can reap the benefits?"
As soon as Xie Linyuan finished speaking, Marquis Changping suddenly raised his eyes.
Xie Linyuan continued, "At the Princess's banquet, the Crown Prince was not originally present, and I did not see him at the banquet. However, he suddenly appeared at the Princess's banquet and tried to get my sister-in-law to drink. I happened to see this, and out of concern for my sister-in-law, I drew my sword."
"All of this is too suspicious. It is obvious that someone deliberately set up a trap to lure the prince to the banquet, to force my sister-in-law to drink, and to make me see this scene."
"My lord is also a man of war, and with so many lives on the battlefield, one can easily lose control. Besides, my sister-in-law is my brother's widow. To be so humiliated in public like this, it's understandable that I drew my sword in a fit of rage, but..."
Xie Linyuan rationalized his act of killing someone with his sword and then shifted the blame to others.
"The one who orchestrated this is the real killer of the heir." The sky was overcast, and Xie Linyuan stood in the shadows of the hall, seemingly enveloped in darkness. He smiled and said, seemingly offering kind advice, "My lord, don't let yourself be blinded by greed and fall into a trap, or you'll become someone else's prey."
Xie Linyuan's words were not false; even if it was a way of shifting blame, what he said was indeed the truth.
It was precisely because it was a fact that Marquis Changping pondered this matter in silence.
His good-for-nothing son was indulging in debauchery and was completely ignorant. Indeed, he had stayed at a brothel the night before and had not returned home. If no one had gone to the brothel to inform him and lead him to the banquet at the Princess's residence, why would he have gone?
He went to the banquet. If no one had deliberately set a trap for him, why would he have flirted with Xie Linyuan's sister-in-law at the banquet, and why would Xie Linyuan have seen it on the spot and drawn his sword in anger?
Xie Linyuan's few words hit the nail on the head.
Marquis Changping remained silent for a long time.
Xie Linyuan thought, it's time.
"It won't be hard to find out who set this up by going to the brothel. But I'm sure you, Lord Marquis, already know who it is, so I won't say more."
A gust of cold wind blew through the hall, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat stagnant. Xie Linyuan's words at this moment were even more somber than the cold wind.
The chill, coupled with the oppressive atmosphere, sent shivers down one's spine.
"Your Excellency must understand the current state of affairs in the world."
“I have no intention of being an enemy of the Marquis, nor will I be manipulated by others, but I, Xie Linyuan, cannot disobey my brother’s dying wish.”
“My sister-in-law is someone I, Xie Linyuan, will protect for the rest of my life. Anyone who hurts or bullies her is hurting or bullying me. My sword will not stand in for it.”
"I have already spoken to the Marquis about this matter and this situation, and given him an explanation. If the Marquis still wishes to pursue this matter, then he will understand which is more important: the death of a son or the death of the entire Shi clan..."
Xie Linyuan's words carried a chilling wind. Marquis Changping suddenly raised his eyes, but in an instant, he lowered his head again.
He's getting old after all.
"That's enough. Now that things have come to this, it's my son's fault for being so foolish and being used. I hope General Xie will not involve the Shi family."
"Goodbye."
After saying this, Marquis Shi Xianzong of Changping turned his head, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and left.
Marquis Changping has left.
Xie Linyuan, however, stood in the shadows, remaining motionless for a long time.
Although Marquis Changping was stunned at this moment, because of the matter of killing his son, Marquis Changping could not become his ally. Moreover, if he found an opportunity in the future, he could become a knife to stab Xie Linyuan at any time.
He must not give him a chance to retaliate.
Wu Zizhuo, the Emperor...
Xie Linyuan had no choice, nor did he want to.
There was nothing he could do; he really had no choice.
Only by ascending to a high position can one ensure that those who dare to covet what is in his hands will meet a gruesome end.
No one is allowed to touch Xie Linyuan's things.
With a deafening roar, just as darkness was about to fall, a clap of thunder suddenly rang out, and lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the dimly lit hall.
Xie Linyuan suddenly realized that she must be hungry.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Female Lead: No, I'm not hungry, don't come any closer!
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