The empty city was destroyed (3)
Qi Shuojun couldn't remember when he started paying attention to Chi He; perhaps it was at the Gathering of Heroes, or maybe even earlier. But none of that mattered. What he wanted most now was to secure a place in her heart.
As the only son of the wealthy Qi family, he was pampered from a young age, ruling the household and getting whatever he wanted with ease. But as he gained more experience, he gradually realized that not everything he wanted could be obtained through gold and silver, especially people.
Qi Shuojun discovered that the people he admired all liked to forgo a comfortable life and instead roam the world. It was common for friendships to come together and then part ways; he accepted it.
But he always wanted someone to keep him in their heart, preferably someone who would stay by his side every day and not go anywhere else.
He knew his thoughts were greedy, but he was the young master of the Qi family, so what was wrong with being a little greedy? If there really was such a person, he would never mistreat him and would definitely cherish him.
The good news is that he did meet one, but the bad news is that this person's heart belongs not to him, but to her mistress.
He saw everything that Chi He cared about Qin Zhiqing. Her kindness to Qin Zhiqing was never the servility of a servant to her master, but rather the kind of selfless devotion that she would gladly offer her whole heart to Qin Zhiqing if she asked.
That's absolutely stupid, that's what Qi Shuojun initially thought.
But gradually, he also wanted to experience what it felt like to be remembered by her and to be treated as a priority in everything.
But in the end, he wasn't the person she always longed for.
Chi He could go through fire and water for Qin Zhiqing without hesitation, but she was always hesitant about things with him and would avoid them if she could.
Qi Shuojun was unwilling to give up. Qin Zhiqing was already dead. How could she miss such a good opportunity?
However, he also knew that it would be difficult to get Chi He to stay by his side willingly. He couldn't rush it; he could only guide her patiently and subtly change her.
“She wanted to leave, so I let her go,” Qi Shuojun said to Ye Yingying.
Ye Yingying was slightly taken aback, blinked, thinking she had misheard: "You followed her example, but what about the secret she was hiding?"
"Think for yourself. We've given you so many hints, can't you guess it?"
"What did you suggest?!" Ye Yingying glared at him. "And what about your marriage if she runs away? Won't people laugh at us?"
"Don't worry about that. Just say that the Azure Golden Hou went berserk and hurt people, and she died on the mountain to protect me."
Good heavens, a joyous occasion turned into a tragedy! How could you even think of that? Ye Yingying looked at Qi Shuojun with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot, wondering what was going on in his head.
"What good will it do you to say that? If word gets out, won't people say you're a jinx to wives?"
"That's perfect. It saves me from being bothered by a bunch of beauties all day long. I can finally relax and enjoy my freedom." Qi Shuojun put on an indifferent look and leisurely waved his folding fan.
Ye Yingying rolled her eyes. If he had no objections, what else could she say?
“By the way, about Gu Wusi…” Qi Shuojun suddenly said, “She drugged the Azure Golden Hou, causing the Qi family to lose a guardian beast. I’ll remember this grudge.”
"What are you going to do?" Ye Yingying asked.
“I have already sent people to issue a reward, and it’s only a matter of time before she is caught.” Qi Shuojun’s eyes turned cold. “I know that you have some connection with her, Miss Ye. If you can capture her, I will naturally treat you well. But if you protect her, don’t blame me for not showing any mercy.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Yingying frowned: "How could I possibly protect her? I hate her more than anything."
"That would be best." Qi Shuojun quickly regained her smiling expression.
As she spoke, Qi Shuojun took out a small box and handed it to Ye Yingying: "Take this, it's the pill I promised you earlier."
Ye Yingying took the box and immediately opened it. Inside was a lustrous, round golden pill. She could tell at a glance that this pill was one of those rare and precious items.
"Then thank you very much, Young Master Qi!"
Ye Yingying happily put away the pills and praised Qi Shuojun again. Putting everything else aside, this young master was really generous with his gifts, and she wouldn't mind doing things for him again in the future.
As the two were chatting, a servant suddenly came in and reported that Madam Qin had come to visit.
Qi Shuojun nodded, instructing the servant to treat her well, and that she would arrive shortly. Ye Yingying, standing nearby, asked疑惑地问道, "What is she doing here?"
"Perhaps they're asking about 'Qin Zhiqing'." Qi Shuojun's smile faded, and she said seriously, "Alright, if there's nothing else, let's not go any further."
"Wait," Ye Yingying stopped her, "I'll go with you."
What are you going to do?
“She saw through my disguise earlier, and I always felt that she knew something else,” Ye Yingying pondered.
Qi Shuojun chuckled: "You're quite persistent."
He did not refuse and took Ye Yingying with him to see Madam Qin. When they met again, the woman, who looked worried, was still haggard.
Upon seeing Qi Shuojun arrive, Qin's mother immediately stood up and, before he could even bow, asked, "Is she really dead?"
Qi Shuojun bowed respectfully, feigning grief, saying, "It's my fault; I couldn't save her."
Qin's mother frowned, glanced at Ye Yingying behind him, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Do you know or not?"
Why do you say that, Mother-in-law?
Qi Shuojun's heart tightened. He looked up at Qin's mother and heard her say with certainty, "She took the wooden hairpin I prepared for her. The hairpin was in her room last night, but it's gone this morning."
It was just a wooden hairpin, not worth much money. Excluding the possibility of petty theft, only she herself would care. Qi Shuojun was a little surprised, not expecting Chi He to come back again specifically to retrieve a hairpin.
Qin's mother noticed the stunned look on his face and quickly pressed him for an answer: "Has she made up her mind? To leave this place forever, to leave Jinzhou? Did you help her make that decision?"
“No, it wasn’t me,” Qi Shuojun shook her head. “It was her own decision.”
He looked at Qin's mother, suddenly realized something, and asked, "Madam, you also know...?"
Did he know she was Chi He? This guess was quite shocking to Qi Shuojun, but seeing that Qin's mother did not deny it, he immediately knew the answer.
Only Ye Yingying remained bewildered, utterly perplexed by the two men's cryptic statements: "Know what?"
"You didn't tell her?" Qin's mother looked at Qi Shuojun in surprise. She had thought that Ye Yingying knew about Chi He's secret, which was why she told the news without any scruples.
But Ye Yingying's question clearly indicated that she was unaware of Chi He's identity, and Qin's mother panicked for a moment: "Then she..."
"It's alright, Miss Ye won't gossip." Qi Shuojun gestured to Qin's mother not to panic, then glanced at Ye Yingying and said, "After all, she doesn't know why you're panicking."
"Hmph, you think you're so smart." Ye Yingying glared at him with dissatisfaction, crossed her arms, and said dismissively.
Mother Qin breathed a sigh of relief. She lowered her eyes and patted her chest, saying, "Now that she has figured it out, I can rest assured."
After saying that, she bowed slightly to Qi Shuojun and pleaded, "That child is simple-minded, but she is too dull, which is why she has become like this. If she has offended you in any way, I apologize and hope that you can forgive her rudeness."
After saying this, she made a gesture to curtsy, and Qi Shuojun was flattered and quickly stepped forward to help her up: "Madam, please get up. Since I chose to help her cover it up, how could I blame her?"
Qin's mother was taken aback, realizing that what he said made sense. She realized that she had taken it too seriously and had acted presumptuously. She straightened up, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
She smoothed the stray hairs that had fallen across her forehead and said, "I was being narrow-minded. Young Master Qi is of noble character and integrity; it is his good fortune to have met you."
With her inner turmoil resolved, Qin's mother had no intention of staying any longer. She bowed and took her leave, adding at the end, "Please do not mention my visit to my husband today."
Qi Shuojun agreed and sent someone to escort Qin's mother away. Afterward, he was silent for a while, then suddenly asked Ye Yingying, "Why do you think 'Qin Zhiqing' left?"
"Because she doesn't want to marry you?" Ye Yingying answered without hesitation.
Qi Shuojun chuckled: "That's part of the reason, but it's not the main one."
"Why is that?" Ye Yingying asked, puzzled. Qin Zhiqing left without saying goodbye, without even telling her family. What could be the reason?
"For her own sake," Qi Shuojun said in a deep voice, "she needs to find out who she is before she can live."
Ye Yingying was slightly taken aback, but she quickly understood the deeper meaning behind Qi Shuojun's words—she was not Qin Zhiqing, but the maid Chi He.
When did you find out?
"secret."
"Tch." Ye Yingying curled her lip. "Fine, I won't say."
However, this truth was enough for Ye Yingying to savor; the trip had truly been worthwhile. Ye Yingying stroked her chin and suddenly teased Qi Shuojun, "Young Master Qi, who were you calling 'wife' all along?"
Qi Shuojun raised an eyebrow: "What's it to you?"
"I'm just curious, now that they've run away, aren't you heartbroken?" Ye Yingying asked in a flirtatious tone, with a sly smile.
How could Qi Shuojun let her tease her like that? She shrugged and retorted stubbornly, "What's there to be sad about? It's her who's losing out by not becoming Mrs. Qi, not me."
"Oh, you're pretty arrogant."
"No, not at all." Qi Shuojun waved her hand. "Some things can't be rushed; we have to take it slowly."
"That makes sense." Ye Yingying vaguely sensed his intentions and agreed, "Then I'll wait for your good news."
Qi Shuojun didn't reply, seemingly deep in thought. His eyes darted around before he suddenly asked, "How long did it take you to catch up with Senior Yun?"
"Huh?!" Ye Yingying was caught off guard. "Why should I tell you?"
"Ten years?"
"No comment." Ye Yingying frowned in refusal, then asked again, unwilling to give up, "Who told you that? And why do you immediately assume I pursued him? Isn't it possible he pursued me?"
"Why is there a reason?" Qi Shuojun said unsurprised. "Senior Yun is such a cold person, he's obviously not the type to take the initiative."
That makes so much sense… Ye Yingying was speechless for a moment, feeling that if they continued talking, Qi Shuojun would know everything.
After thinking for a moment, Ye Yingying decided to slip away quickly: "I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm in a hurry to go back."
"What's the rush?"
"I've seen Yunyan Hill."
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