Chapter 5 The Prey
After Xie's mother finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.
Su Muying clearly hadn't expected that Xie's mother would present her with these conditions.
Isn't this... exactly what she wanted?
She paused for a moment, wondering if she had misheard.
The air inside was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and the spring sunlight shone through the gauze window, making the wisps of smoke appear like a light veil. Su Muying stood there, her figure slender and graceful, dressed in white and shrouded in smoke, her beauty extremely striking, truly otherworldly.
This is the epitome of beauty.
Even though Xie's mother disliked her a thousand times and looked down on her ten thousand times, she had to admit that her appearance and figure were indeed those of a rare beauty.
Then she couldn't let her stay any longer.
Lin'an has already died for her. She only has one son, Lin Yuan. If he is also harmed by her, then the Xie family will truly be ruined.
It wasn't that she was being overly worried; even her eldest son, who was so steady and self-disciplined, had been swayed by her. Her second son, however, was naturally arrogant and unruly, disregarding rules and etiquette, and might very well repeat her mistakes.
Seeing her like this, Xie's mother was even more worried and wished she could drive her out of the mansion immediately.
But Xie Lin'an's last words were there: respect for the dead is paramount, and she couldn't let him not find peace even in the afterlife.
Su Muying remained silent for a while, her brows furrowed as if she were pondering the matter.
Seeing her like this, Xie's mother guessed that she was reluctant to give up the wealth and glory of the Xie family, and her contempt deepened.
But what Xie's mother didn't know was that this wasn't a condition for Su Muying; she was more than happy to accept it.
In this way, she can leave.
After spending this time at the Xie residence, the war in Anzhou should subside. My cousin said that the war in Anzhou was spreading, and the imperial court would likely send a general to suppress it.
After the war ends, she will be able to return to her hometown.
If she could leave behind a bloodline for the Xie family, it would be... her way of repaying Lin'an.
Lin'an is gone, so there's really no need for her to stay here.
From beginning to end, all she wanted was to live.
She has to survive.
Upon hearing this, Su Muying did not immediately answer Xie's mother.
She was always quiet and gentle in public, and at this moment she suppressed the joy welling up in her heart without showing it on her face.
"Unwilling?" Xie's mother glanced at her sideways. She wasn't stingy by nature; as long as she...
"It's not that I'm unwilling." Su Muying seemed to have thought it over carefully before saying this. She didn't show much joy on her face, but simply performed the kneeling ceremony with proper etiquette.
"I am also heartbroken about the matter of the eldest son. He treated Ying'er very well, and I have always remembered his kindness to me. I will also remember the great kindness and virtue of the lady today. After giving birth to an heir for the Xie family, I will leave and never appear in front of the Xie family again."
Her mother was somewhat surprised by her words. She straightened her posture and asked, "Are you willing to give up all this wealth and luxury?"
For her, the glory and wealth of the Xie family were probably something she could never reach in her lifetime.
Wasn't she here with that marriage contract for this wealth and glory?
"Lin'an has treated me so well, how could I possibly covet wealth and glory? Having a safe haven is enough for Ying'er." She straightened up, her black hair falling like clouds, which made her thin back appear even more slender and upright.
Su Muying was telling the truth. As an orphan in this chaotic world, all she could ask for was a place of refuge.
She has to survive.
As for money, she can embroider, write, and paint, so she can save it slowly and doesn't have to rely on handouts.
Moreover, she did not crave pleasure.
That's not what she wanted.
"Okay." Su Muying agreed, saving herself the trouble of explaining. She figured that as an orphan with no one to rely on, she wouldn't dare to play any tricks.
However, Xie's mother added, "Also, don't let Lin Yuan know about this, lest it cause trouble."
She had caused the death of one of her sons, and she should not have been allowed to live. However, due to Lin'an's dying wish, this was already a great act of mercy. She absolutely could not allow her to bring further harm to Lin Yuan.
It's best if Lin Yuan doesn't know about this.
Su Muying naturally agreed.
Whether Xie Linyuan knew about this matter or not was irrelevant.
The fact that Xie's mother said those words to her today suggests that Xie Linyuan had not told her about what happened yesterday.
This was truly unexpected for her.
Is it because he hasn't had a chance to say it yet, or does he intend to use this matter to threaten and control her in the future?
Su Muying had no choice but to think this way.
She would never be foolish enough to think that Xie Linyuan felt pity for her.
The way he looked at her yesterday, his humiliating actions, the words he said...
He said, "Just accept it obediently..."
Suffering...
How he would torture her...
As she walked out of Chunhui Hall, the warm spring sun was shining on her, but the thought of Xie Linyuan made her feel a chill run through her body and her legs tremble.
But indeed... if she wants to live, she can only endure it until the day she can leave.
After marrying him, she must give birth to the child as soon as possible and leave this place.
However, Xie Linyuan despises her so much that he will definitely not touch her.
Yesterday, she went all out and did that kind of thing, but he didn't touch her; his coldness sent shivers down one's spine.
What should she do...?
What should she do?
As Su Muying pondered these matters and absentmindedly walked out of Chunhui Hall, she caught a glimpse of a corner of a white banner hanging in the corridor.
Lin'an...
Lin'an...
The grief she had been deliberately avoiding for days suddenly struck, and the woman's eyes immediately filled with tears, like a misty spring rain.
She clutched the purse in her sleeve, murmuring the name Lin'an.
She had to burn the purse she promised to embroider for him.
Tomorrow, Lin'an will be buried.
Su Muying walked towards the mourning hall.
She seemed a little distracted.
If she were more lucid at that moment, if she knew who would be there, she certainly wouldn't have gone to the funeral hall.
——
The body will be laid to rest for seven days, and the burial will take place tomorrow.
Most of the mourners had arrived a few days ago, but the Xie family has been preparing for the burial these past two days, so very few people have come to pay their respects.
The commander of the Imperial Guards, Wu Zizhuo, claimed to be there to offer condolences on behalf of the Emperor, but the implications were self-evident.
Xie Linyuan strode to the mourning hall. Wu Zizhuo had just offered incense and paid his respects when Xie Linyuan arrived.
Dressed in plain clothes and carrying a sword, even in the mourning hall, he exuded a murderous aura. People who have come from the battlefield are always like this, ultimately different from those who have been dealing with people in the imperial city.
In this chaotic world where morality has collapsed, such people are the most dangerous.
Because such people are so arrogant, bloodthirsty, have no weaknesses, and cannot be restrained by anything.
Wu Zizhuo narrowed his eyes slightly. When Xie Linyuan came in front of him, he immediately smiled, his brows furrowed, as if he were truly grieving.
"Brother Lin Yuan, please accept my condolences." They had served in the same military camp, but he stayed in the Imperial Guard in the capital, while Xie Lin Yuan went to the frontier with the army and became the Grand General he is today.
Wu Zizhuo became the commander of the Imperial Guard.
He served the emperor, became his henchman, and lived a carefree life in the capital, no longer bothered by the sandstorms of the border.
Xie Linyuan returned the greeting and thanked him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he was taller than Xie Linyuan, and when he looked down at people, he had a very condescending air about him and a sense of oppression.
There wasn't even a hint of a smile in Wu Zizhuo's eyes.
My back was covered in cold sweat.
Even in his brother's mourning hall, he could sense the man's murderous intent.
So arrogant, they didn't even take him seriously.
Wu Zizhuo's handsome face couldn't show any displeasure, so he shrugged and could only continue with the polite conversation:
"I am here today to convey His Majesty's condolences."
"Lord Xie possesses extraordinary talent, and His Majesty cherishes and values talent, hence his special dispatch to offer condolences. I hope Brother Linyuan will take heed of your grief and not grieve too much, for the border still depends on you..."
Wu Zizhuo suddenly stopped speaking.
Before Wu Zizhuo finished speaking, the faint fragrance from last night wafted over and enveloped Xie Linyuan.
He subtly lowered his eyebrows.
Xie Linyuan and Wu Zizhuo were standing on one side of the mourning hall, so Su Muying did not see them when she came from outside.
If she saw Xie Linyuan, she would never go over to provoke this evil god.
Yesterday's events still haunted her like a nightmare.
She knew she had to rely on Xie Linyuan to get through this period and give birth to a child, but she was also genuinely afraid of him.
but……
The two men noticed her the moment she stepped into the mourning hall.
Her figure was as light as a swaying willow branch, her long black hair flowed like silk, and the silk ribbon around her waist swayed gently, revealing her delicate curves that could be encircled by a single hand.
A petite figure and an exquisite face.
The woman's sudden entrance inevitably drew everyone's attention.
Her clothes were extremely plain, but her appearance was extremely beautiful.
Su Muying's appearance was so stunning that her plain clothes did not conceal her beauty; on the contrary, they accentuated it even more.
Even as she entered, petals from the peach trees outside drifted over and landed on her waist. She was more beautiful than the flowers, making her stunning beauty even more alluring and impossible to ignore.
Her beauty was breathtaking, and the beauty mark under her eye exuded an indescribable charm.
Although she had a graceful and shapely figure, she was also frail and delicate, giving off an impression of vulnerability and pitifulness.
It is both pitiful and coveted.
Their gaze enveloped her as if it were a tangible force, threatening to devour her.
Su Muying trembled, finally noticing Xie Linyuan.
She looked up abruptly, her eyes still misty with tears, like a rabbit that had wandered into the territory of a wild beast.
What she didn't know was that she had become prey for wild beasts to fight over.
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