Chapter 56 "As long as I can get even a little bit of information about her, I'll do anything..."
The best way to get Pei Xuanlin to leave is to send him back to the capital.
Song Zhaoye couldn't do this; Xue Xianzhu had to take matters into his own hands.
The night was as dark as ink. In the courtyard, only a few lonely lanterns under the eaves swayed in the cold night wind, casting dim yellow halos of light.
The door to Pei Xuanlin's temporary study creaked open from the outside.
A slender figure slipped in silently.
The person who arrived was not Song Zhaoye, whom Pei Xuanlin had anticipated, but a woman.
She wore an elegant moon-white dress, her jet-black hair loosely tied up with a simple silver hairpin, a few strands falling down her neck, making her skin look as white as snow.
Xue Xianzhu walked to the center of the study, curtsied deeply, and bowed gracefully.
"Your Majesty, I, Xue, inquire after His Highness the Crown Prince's well-being." Her voice was gentle, with just the right amount of timidity.
Pei Xuanlin was looking at the defense map of the capital when he heard the sound. He looked up, a clear look of surprise flashing in his eyes, and his brows furrowed unconsciously.
"Madam Xue? It's you? I just sent someone to invite Lord Song to come and discuss matters."
Upon hearing this, Xue Xianzhu raised her face.
Her features were exquisitely beautiful, and Pei Xuanlin felt a sense of familiarity towards her.
Xue Xianzhu curtsied slightly again, her tone respectful: "Your Highness, my husband suddenly developed a high fever this evening and is currently unconscious. He is unable to rise to answer Your Highness's summons. I am terrified that I might delay Your Highness's important business, so I have taken the liberty of coming here to apologize. I hope Your Highness will forgive my husband's rudeness."
As she spoke, she raised her eyes to look at Pei Xuanlin, observing his reaction.
Upon hearing that Song Zhaoye was seriously ill, Pei Xuanlin's furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and his tone softened a bit.
"Did the illness come on so suddenly? Have you summoned a physician? Should I send the imperial physician who accompanied me to take a look?"
Although he was preoccupied with his own affairs, he was staying at Song Zhaoye's residence, so the necessary care and attention were essential.
Xue Xianzhu quickly shook her head: "I dare not trouble Your Highness. I have already consulted a doctor in the city. He said that I have caught a cold and need to rest for a few days. Your Highness is very kind, and my husband and I are grateful. We would never dare to cause any more trouble."
Her words were soft and precise, perfectly portraying the image of a wife who was worried about her husband and dutifully fulfilled her duties.
Seeing her insistence, Pei Xuanlin did not press her further.
He remained silent for a moment, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table, revealing his inner anxiety.
It was late at night, and he had urgently summoned Song Zhaoye with important business, but instead, it was his wife who arrived…
Pei Xuanlin looked up at the woman in front of him. She stood quietly with her head down, appearing completely submissive and posing no threat.
I feel like I recognize her... Have I seen her before?
Xue Xianzhu knew that he must have something important to do by staying up so late at night to call on his soul, so she respectfully said, "If Your Highness has any urgent matters, as the mistress of the Song family, I can also share your burden."
After struggling for a moment, perhaps because he had no one else to turn to, or perhaps because Xue Xianzhu's deceptively weak appearance lowered his guard, Pei Xuanlin sighed, lowered his voice, and made a barely perceptible request.
"Since Madam Song is like this... I do have something that troubles me, and I wonder if I may ask you about it?"
Xue Xianzhu raised her eyes at the right moment, her eyes clear and full of purity and obedience: "Your Highness, please speak. I will do my best to help."
Pei Xuanlin took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the dark night sky outside the window, his tone filled with deep worry.
"I am worried about my Crown Princess... She recently returned to her parents' home and is now in the Prime Minister's residence in the capital. The border is far from the capital, and things have been unsettled lately, making communication difficult... I have not received any definite news from the Prime Minister's residence for many days, and I am truly concerned."
"This..." Xue Xianzhu looked troubled.
He paused, then looked at Xue Xianzhu, his eyes filled with undisguised urgency. "I only want to confirm whether she is safe. Madam Xue has been staying here for a long time. Is there any reliable way to send a letter to the Prime Minister's residence in the capital?"
Xue Xianzhu might not be able to contact other people, but how could she not deliver a letter to her own parents? Previously, Cui Yuerong was worried that her daughter would not be able to deliver the letter, so she specially sent four or five people from the Prime Minister's residence to live in the Song residence. The soldiers guarding the city always turned a blind eye to the people from the Prime Minister's residence.
but……
If it were so easy to contact top officials in the capital, and they still claimed to be ordinary merchants, they'd be fooling a fool.
We absolutely cannot let Pei Xuanlin suspect their identities in the slightest.
Just as her thoughts were churning, and she was about to utter the most feeble and helpless excuse in the weakest tone, Pei Xuanlin spoke again.
His voice carried a rare, almost humble plea, and his eyes, which always held an air of authority and depth, now clearly revealed his vulnerability.
“I know this is difficult... but I really can’t get any news about her. I love her very much. As long as she is safe, as long as I can get any news about her, I am willing to pay any price. I know that the Song family has a big business and may have connections in the capital.”
He also knew there were connections.
Xue Xianzhu lowered her eyes in thought, concealing the intense struggle within them.
Perhaps Ling Zhenli also misses Pei Xuanlin. After all, Ling Zhenli is her younger sister now. As the older sister, can't she even do this little thing for her younger sister?
Xue Xianzhu relented: "His Highness's deep affection for the Crown Princess is truly touching."
After speaking, Xue Xianzhu nodded slightly and said in a steady tone: "Three days later, a caravan from the Song family will be escorting a batch of specialty medicinal herbs and furs to the capital. The caravan is led by my husband's trusted old steward, who is extremely reliable. After the caravan enters the capital, it will, as usual, deliver goods to and bribe some high-ranking mansions, including the Prime Minister's residence."
Pei Xuanlin's eyes lit up with surprise.
"If Your Highness trusts me, you may give me the letter. I will mix it into the gift list sent to the Prime Minister's residence and have a reliable person in the residence present it to the Crown Princess. Although I cannot say that it will be foolproof, it is the safest and most reliable method at present to avoid being noticed."
Her words were gentle, like a lamp suddenly lit in the dark night, dispelling the gloom and anxiety that had been building up in Pei Xuanlin's heart for many days.
"I am deeply grateful and will not thank you enough. If you ever need my help in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."
Xue Xianzhu smiled but did not answer, thinking to himself that if the truth came out one day, it would be worth it to ask for a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Back in the house, Xue Xianzhu picked up her pen and wrote a letter, earnestly hoping that her father could stand on Pei Xuanlin's side and let Pei Xuanlin leave Jiangnan as soon as possible.
*
The Prime Minister's Residence in the Capital
The madness and confusion in the carriage, the burning heat of skin touching, the collision that almost knocked the soul out of the body—all froze as soon as they stepped into the Prime Minister's residence. The fire went out, and they began to feel panic and fear.
Ling Zhenli felt a chill and subconsciously pulled her crumpled outer garment tighter around her. Her head was bowed low, and she didn't even dare to look at Xue Haoting walking beside her, let alone think about everything that was about to happen.
If Xue Wenmian finds out that she's with Xue Haoting again... he'll definitely punish her. That's how it was before. Xue Haoting is his own son, and she's not his own daughter, so naturally she has to bear the punishment.
Xue Haoting pursed his lips tightly. Seeing Ling Zhenli's fear and unease, he subconsciously shielded her behind him.
"What are you afraid of?" he asked softly.
Ling Zhenli felt unusually cold tonight and couldn't stop shivering.
"nothing."
...
The hall was brightly lit, almost blindingly so.
Xue Wenmian sat upright in the central armchair, not resting, still wearing his daytime clothes, and a cup of tea beside him had long since lost its heat.
Cui Yuerong is gone; it seems she couldn't stay awake any longer and went to rest. Cui Haoxu has also returned to the Cui family home.
Xue Wenmian did not look up at the two people who entered one after the other. His gaze was fixed on the book in his hand, but the pages remained untouched for a long time.
The air seemed to freeze; neither Xue Haoting nor Ling Zhenli dared to speak.
Ling Zhenli held her breath, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, almost bursting out. She forced herself to walk into the hall, curtsied, and called out in a voice barely audible, "Father."
Xue Haoting also bowed, his voice low and deep: "Father."
Xue Wenmian did not look up, but gently placed the book on the coffee table beside him.
The slightest sound made Ling Zhenli's body tremble almost imperceptibly. She didn't want to be grounded anymore, nor did she want to be scolded.
Xue Wenmian slowly raised his eyes, his gaze first falling on Ling Zhenli. His gaze was not sharp, but rather calm.
I saw her slightly swollen lips, her disheveled sideburns, and her clothes, which, despite her efforts to tidy them up, still showed signs of disarray.
Ling Zhenli felt a chill run down her spine wherever that gaze fell. She instinctively lowered her head even further and twisted her fingers tightly around her sleeve.
Xue Wenmian's gaze did not linger for long before turning to Xue Haoting. His eyes paused for a moment at Xue Haoting's slightly open collar, where there was a faint red mark, clearly left by a woman's unintentional scratch during a passionate moment.
The matter has come to this point, and the answer is self-evident.
Xue Wenmian's gaze suddenly darkened.
"It's good that you guys knew to come back."
Xue Wenmian finally spoke, his voice flat and devoid of any emotion, yet it was more chilling than any harsh rebuke.
“...Yes.” Ling Zhenli’s voice trembled almost imperceptibly.
"Where have you gone at this hour?"
Xue Wenmian's tone remained calm, as if he were chatting casually, but the content made Ling Zhenli so nervous that her blood almost froze.
She opened her mouth, wanting to come up with an excuse, but under Xue Wenmian's all-seeing gaze, she couldn't utter a single word.
Xue Haoting didn't want to put Ling Zhenli in a difficult position, so he stepped forward and stood in front of Ling Zhenli, saying in a deep voice, "Father, it's my fault. I was the one who seduced Ali first."
"Oh?" Xue Wenmian's voice rose slightly at the end, carrying a cold weight. "You're telling me all this, so what? Am I supposed to praise you for being so capable? Am I supposed to be proud of you and think my son is really successful?"
Every word was like a heavy hammer blow, striking the nerves of the two people.
Ling Zhenli's face instantly drained of color, turning as pale as paper. She could even feel Xue Haoting's body stiffen.
Xue Wenmian slowly stood up, and the oppressive aura he had always possessed was now released without reservation. The air in the entire hall seemed to have been sucked out, making it suffocating.
He approached step by step, his gaze like a cold probe, scanning back and forth between them.
Finally, he stopped in front of Ling Zhenli.
“Ah Li, how many times have I told you to stay away from your brother? You just don’t take my words seriously at all.”
Ling Zhenli trembled and shrank back, stammering, "I'm sorry, Father... I shouldn't have..."
"Father!" Xue Haoting said urgently, his tone pleading, "It's all my fault! I was a fool! I was bewitched! It has nothing to do with my sister! If you want to punish someone, punish me!"
"How dare you say that!" Xue Wenmian's eyes blazed with barely suppressed rage as he pointed at Xue Haoting. "How could your family produce such a shameless and immoral wretch like you! The Emperor has just ascended the throne, and you two are a prime minister's son and a former crown princess who is now a high-ranking lady-in-waiting! What are you two thinking about all day long!"
Ling Zhenli was so frightened that she could not support herself. Her legs went weak and she almost collapsed to the ground. Tears of shame and grievance fell down her face.
Xue Haoting kept his back straight, protecting Ling Zhenli behind him, his lips moving but unable to utter a sound of defense.
He made a mistake, and no matter how he tries to justify it, he still made a mistake.
Xue Wenmian's gaze slowly shifted from Xue Haoting's face to the trembling Ling Zhenli behind him, and his anger was gradually replaced by a deeper and more complex emotion.
He had raised Ling Zhenli as his own daughter, and now that his two children had done such a thing, he was heartbroken and disappointed.
Xue Wenmian closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with a terrifying coldness and determination, as if he were preparing to eliminate one of the two of them.
"Father..." Ling Zhenli was so frightened by the sight that she burst into tears, trying to gain forgiveness by admitting her mistakes, "Please, Father, this is not my brother's fault...it's my fault...I shouldn't have...I shouldn't have stayed out so late...I..."
She couldn't articulate the real reason, and could only repeat pale self-blame.
"Shut up!" Xue Wenmian shouted suddenly. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an absolute authority that instantly silenced all of Ling Zhenli's cries and words.
Xue Wenmian looked at her with an unprecedented coldness and indifference in his eyes, and Ling Zhenli's heart sank to the bottom, chilled to the bone.
Tears of despair flowed again.
The hall fell into a deathly silence, with only Ling Zhenli's suppressed sobs remaining.
Xue Wenmian turned his back, no longer looking at them, and gazed at the deep night outside the hall. His back exuded an indescribable weariness and desolation. After a long while, he slowly spoke, as if talking to himself.
"Xue Haoting, Xue Yingyue, you two are siblings, do you know that? What you've done is incest, do you know that? Heavens above... Your second uncle's cousin is engaging in homosexuality in the military camp, and you two are disregarding human ethics at home. It's as if heaven is going to destroy the Xue family..."
Thinking about this, Xue Wenmian reflected on himself.
Back then, he was crazy in love and insisted on marrying the infamous Cui Yuerong, even giving up his title for it. His good younger brother, Xue Wenjie, was even more audacious. After Crown Prince Zhang Hui died, he took over and married the abandoned concubine of Crown Prince Zhang Hui, without inheriting the title.
Could it be that our ancestors were angered by this and are now taking it out on their children?
Xue Wenmian glanced at Xue Haoting, then at Ling Zhenli.
It seems to be a problem with the old graves.
Xue Wenmian sighed and admitted defeat, saying, "Alright, it's getting late. You two should go back to your rooms and rest. I'll go to the palace to ask for leave for you. Tomorrow is the ancestral worship ceremony."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
