Chapter 27 "You can treat me like my brother..."
child……
Su Muying raised her hand and gently, even cautiously, placed it on her still flat stomach.
She touched her belly and couldn't help but wonder... was her child really growing inside?
Child... child.
Su Muying closed her eyes, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
She thought, this is not Xie Linyuan's child, but Xie Lin'an's child.
Xie Lin'an is the child's father.
But in any case, she finally got out of that room.
It emerged from the darkness.
She no longer needed to stare wide-eyed in terror at the darkness, no longer needed to repeatedly look at her parents and Xie Lin'an's dead state...
She's pregnant, so Xie Linyuan probably won't keep her locked in that room anymore. Xie's mother is concerned that she's carrying the Xie family's child, so if she acts weak, Xie's mother will try to stop it for the sake of the child.
Fortunately, she saw a glimmer of hope for leaving.
She won't leave this child to Xie Linyuan.
When Xie Linyuan took the prescription, his hands, still stained with blood, were trembling.
He lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes blinking slowly and blankly. The emptiness in his dark eyes turned into a daze, into confusion. He tilted his head, and when he could finally see the words on the prescription clearly, all of this was replaced by ecstasy.
"child……"
"My child with Ying'er, is it..."
She was pregnant with his child, and the child carried both his and her blood...
She's his now, and she'll always be his.
This realization, gained because of the child, filled Xie Linyuan's peach blossom eyes with a strange excitement.
He strode behind the screen, but the girl on the bed was still unconscious.
His face was pale, and his skin had turned a translucent, snow-white color, as if it might disappear at any moment.
The flower he broke off truly withered.
It withered in the spring.
Is she going to die?
The problem, which had been obscured by his twisted and filthy desires, the problem he had never thought of and dared not think of, suddenly appeared in his mind. Xie Linyuan had a splitting headache, as if his brain had been completely split open.
He froze on the spot, looked down, and saw that his palm was covered in her blood.
Large swaths of bright red flashed and intertwined before his eyes, reflecting in them and turning his eyes blood red as well.
As Xie Linyuan watched, a smile suddenly appeared on his pale face.
What did he do?
What exactly is he doing?
Hahahaha—
He's a madman.
madman.
brute.
——
Mother Xie also learned of this matter. On the one hand, she was delighted that the Xie family had a bloodline, but on the other hand, she was really worried about Xie Linyuan's crazy behavior. She wondered what crazy things he would do because of that woman.
Given the current situation, it's uncertain whether the child can stay.
After Xie's mother saw Lin Xiuyuan off, she was worried about how to end the situation when someone from the palace arrived.
He was Li Gonggong, a popular eunuch serving the emperor.
Mother Xie's heart sank. She suddenly remembered what Xie Linyuan had said that day. If it weren't for Granny Zhou supporting her, she would have almost fainted.
She hurried to greet him, and at the same time ordered someone to inform Xie Linyuan to change his clothes and come out.
"This servant greets Madam." Eunuch Li's powdered face was full of smiles as he bowed respectfully to Madam Xie, saying, "By the way, General Xie has been on leave. I wonder if he is at home?"
Madam Xie returned the greeting and stayed properly, asking, "In the manor, has Your Majesty come here...?"
Eunuch Li smiled, his face wrinkled with laughter: "I've already told Madam that the Xie family is in for a treat. Just wait for your reward."
Upon hearing what Eunuch Li said, Mother Xie vaguely sensed something.
Emperor Liang Ming was fond of beautiful women, and his infatuation with them was known throughout the land. Many daughters of officials and noble families were selected to enter the palace as concubines.
What one would suffer in the palace was common knowledge.
She was once grateful that she had given birth to two sons, which would have saved her from being harmed in the palace.
But today, with Eunuch Li here… Mother Xie suddenly thought of Su Muying…
She is so beautiful; if word of her beauty were to reach the emperor's ears, she might be chosen to enter the palace as a concubine...
Just as she was pondering this, Xie Linyuan arrived.
"Why has Eunuch Li come here today?"
The sound grew louder as it approached, and before it had even faded, Xie Linyuan was already in the front hall. He whispered a few words to his mother, who, though her face was full of worry, gave him a few more instructions and then left.
He changed his clothes, no longer wearing the dark and gloomy black outfit he usually wore, but a cloud-patterned brocade robe with a white jade belt. The murderous aura and ferocity he had on the battlefield were concealed, and he looked like a piece of gold and jade, with a noble and elegant style. However, his cold and imposing aura was not diminished at all, but rather became more prominent.
Before the man even arrived, Eunuch Li broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing Xie Linyuan's voice.
Just thinking about Xie Linyuan splitting someone in two at the banquet makes my legs go weak and I want to kneel down.
I wonder what will happen to this evil spirit.
His job is really not easy.
When Xie Linyuan arrived, Eunuch Li immediately put on a fawning smile and hurriedly said, "General Xie has been on leave for a long time. It's really difficult to see General Xie."
Xie Linyuan smiled, but his eyes held something as sharp as ice: "Eunuch Li has come to my Xie residence specifically to speak frankly."
Eunuch Li chuckled awkwardly, raised the whisk in his hand, and made a respectful gesture: "It's not that I have something to say, it's His Majesty who has something to say."
"Oh." Xie Linyuan sat with an air of authority, propping his head up with one hand. He curled his lips into a half-smile, and his overly handsome face took on a sharp edge.
"What does Your Majesty have to say?" The tone was drawn out, carrying a hint of nonchalance.
They showed absolutely no respect for the emperor.
Seeing this arrogant attitude, Eunuch Li couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, wondering if this fiend would also cleave him in two.
Eunuch Li wiped away his cold sweat. He had no choice but to relay the Emperor's words. He could only say, "Relay the Emperor's decree to summon Su Muying, the widowed sister-in-law of the Xie family, to the palace. The matters concerning her being made a concubine and receiving rewards will be announced by the Imperial Observatory on an auspicious day."
After Eunuch Li finished reciting the emperor's decree, Xie Linyuan showed no intention of kneeling to receive it.
Still maintaining his arrogant demeanor, he completely wiped the smile off his face and simply said:
“My sister-in-law is pregnant. She is a member of the Xie family and also a member of my family, Xie Linyuan.”
"Please trouble Eunuch Li to inform them that my sister-in-law is now my wife, Xie Linyuan's wife, and has my child. She cannot enter the palace."
He refused outright with just a few words.
After all, it was an imperial edict, and upon hearing this, Eunuch Li wanted to offer a few more words of advice so he could report back. However, when he inadvertently caught sight of the long sword Xie Linyuan carried, he recalled the incident at the banquet where Xie Linyuan had killed someone in public...
It cleaved the person in two.
He went to the palace to report to the emperor, saying that Xie Linyuan's disobedience to the imperial decree would at most result in no reward and being scolded by everyone, but if he displeased this fierce god, he would draw his sword...
Thinking of this, Eunuch Li swallowed the words that were about to come out, repeatedly took his leave, and hurried back to the palace to report.
——
Inside the imperial study, Eunuch Li knelt before the emperor, weeping and wailing, describing Xie Linyuan as a fierce and arrogant man, saying he had no respect for the emperor and that he had used his sister-in-law's pregnancy to refuse the matter.
Upon hearing the word "pregnancy," Wu Zizhuo's expression darkened, but in an instant, as if he had thought of something, his fox-like eyes narrowed slightly, and he smiled.
After Eunuch Li finished his tearful plea, Wu Zizhuo stepped forward and bowed to the emperor.
“Your Majesty, all land under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people of this world are Your Majesty’s subjects. The relationship between the ruler and his subjects, father and son, is an unshakeable principle. Now, General Xie has openly refused the imperial decree, I’m afraid…” Wu Zizhuo sighed, and did not finish his sentence.
But what he said next was perfectly clear to everyone present, including the emperor.
Princess Anle was also present, and she couldn't help but embellish Wu Zizhuo's words.
The emperor sat high on his throne, his eyes devoid of their usual lewd gleam, now solemn as he pondered the matter.
Just as Wu Zizhuo thought, the emperor was merely using this matter to test Xie Linyuan and the Xie family.
There are not many capable generals in the Great Liang Dynasty, and Xie Linyuan is the one with the most military achievements and the most victories.
The border is not yet pacified. With him leading the army to guard the border, the imperial family in the capital can rest easy. Meanwhile, a rebellion has broken out in the Jiangnan region. He intends to train other generals, but the generals sent by the court to quell the rebellion are truly incompetent. They were not only captured alive, but their entire army was also wiped out...
The rebels must be eradicated; if they are allowed to gain momentum...
And the best candidate to quell the rebellion is undoubtedly Xie Linyuan.
If Xie Linyuan hands over the woman after this test, he can keep him for a while longer until the border issues and rebellion are completely resolved before dealing with the Xie family.
However, Xie Linyuan refused the imperial decree, daring to openly defy imperial power for the sake of a woman; his intentions are despicable.
The border is currently stable, and there have been no reports of invasion. If we take this opportunity to settle scores with the Xie family and replace their generals...
The Imperial Study was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; everyone was waiting for the Emperor's decree.
The emperor's massive body occupied the entire dragon throne. He pounded the table heavily, and just as he had made up his mind and was about to speak, an urgent report came from outside the hall.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The border tribes, in alliance with other small states, have launched a massive invasion! We are in grave danger! We request the dispatch of a general! We request the dispatch of a general!"
Upon hearing this, the emperor suddenly stood up.
——
Late at night, an imperial edict was delivered to the Xie residence.
After receiving the decree, Xie Linyuan went to the West Courtyard.
Their former marital home, a brief... marital home that didn't really feel like a marital home.
Su Muying rested her head on her hands and slept peacefully.
Xie Linyuan tiptoed in.
He bent down, his pale hand reaching out to touch Su Muying's belly with trembling hands, then quickly withdrew his hand as if afraid of breaking it.
Su Muying frowned in her sleep.
Xie Linyuan stood before the bed like a lost soul, staring at Su Muying for a long while, his peach blossom eyes reddening, his expression still dazed.
Then, staring at the girl's serene and beautiful profile, he couldn't help but reach out his hand again.
He touched her lips very lightly, then her nose, and placed his finger on her philtrum.
Finally, the tension on his face eased, and he let out a soft breath.
His hands were so cold, and he was covered in the chill of the snow, that Su Muying woke up immediately.
She thought she was having a nightmare and sat up abruptly in bed.
The room was lit by many lights, illuminating the entire room as if it were daytime.
Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, her mouth was slightly open, and her small face still showed signs of sleepiness.
When she looked at the person in front of her in the bright light, her eyes, which had been half-closed, suddenly widened.
Is this... Lin'an?
Seeing the girl's obviously stunned expression, Xie Linyuan smiled and opened his arms as if to show her something.
He asked her, "Do you like me dressed like this?"
Oh, it's not Xie Lin'an.
It is Xie Linyuan.
Su Muying remembered that she was still under the influence of the poison, so she didn't say anything, but just looked at him.
I looked at him through the bright lights.
The girl's eyes burned like flames, and Xie Linyuan dared not look directly at her.
He suddenly stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
Su Muying tilted her head back and was taken aback.
He held her in his arms, but not too tightly, just loosely, as if he were handling a fragile piece of porcelain, someone who could die or disappear at any moment.
And that is indeed the case.
"sorry."
"I know you... have recovered."
"sorry……"
"I won't treat you like that again, Ying'er, just don't go, don't leave me..."
You can think of me as my brother.
Her neck was soaked with tears again, sticky and damp.
He cried again.
Why is he crying again?
She's the one who should be crying.
Su Muying wanted to laugh, but she didn't want to provoke him at this critical moment, so she just gave a soft, seemingly obedient "hmm".
Xie Lin'an?
She thought, Xie Lin'an would never do these things to me; you will never be Xie Lin'an.
You are just Xie Linyuan.
Su Muying made the distinction very clearly.
She only wants to go back to Anzhou, and she must go back to Anzhou.
-----------------------
Author's note: Some readers said that the male protagonist I wrote was too crazy and I didn't warn them of any potential issues, and they left many comments in the comment section.
I don't usually label the male lead's character, and I didn't label it in my previous book either. But to avoid a similar situation, I added it to the synopsis. So if any readers feel that they can't accept the character or other aspects, they can stop reading now.
I know that many people may be under a lot of pressure in real life, but I still hope we can be understanding of each other. If you don't like reading it, just drop it. It's no big deal.
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