Chapter 45. This butterfly is like her—free and passionate. ...
The moon, like a silver platter, shone down on their shoulders, finally dispelling the dark clouds in Qian Yingyi's heart. Because Qin Lizheng's gaze was blocked from her face, making it hard for her to breathe, Qian Yingyi suddenly pushed him away.
His face was streaked with slightly dry tears, making him look a little disheveled. Qian Yingyi stared at him for a while, then burst out laughing, her eyes crinkling.
Qian Yingyi's toes peeked out from under her skirt and kicked his straight calf hard. Her harsh words were laced with a heavy nasal tone, "I'll give you one more chance. If you dare to fool me again, you'll be sorry."
The commander had been wearing a cold expression these past few days, and the Imperial Guards often privately pondered how not to provoke him. Now that he had been able to resolve his misunderstanding with Miss Qian, several of the younger Imperial Guards were also happy, and couldn't help but let out a couple of laughs, even though they had their backs turned.
Qian Yingyi's heart skipped a beat. In the blink of an eye, her face gradually flushed red. Just a moment ago she was yelling at Qin Lizheng fiercely, but now she wished she could hide inside his body.
Chu Zhiyan turned to look at her, arms behind her back, and laughed. “How could the Commander dare to do that? He will still do whatever Miss Qian says from now on. I will be Miss Qian’s eyes and ears. If the Commander dares to play tricks on you again, I will be the first to tell you.”
"Hmph, that's more like it," Qian Yingyi seemed to come alive again. Her tearful eyes dried, and they blinked with a shimmering light. She clung to Qin Lizheng's arm, peeking out half her face to look at the eerie prison. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly became anxious. "You've detained the Wen family, haven't you? What about Lanlan..."
"Don't worry," Qin Lizheng patted her back. "Miss Wen is at home right now. I know you're worried about her. I didn't do anything to her. As for the details... let's talk about it somewhere else. Are you hungry?"
Just as he asked the question, Qian Yingyi's stomach rumbled twice. She glared at him again, rubbing her lips together as she cursed, "It's all your fault, you bastard! I finally managed to gain a couple of ounces of weight, and I've almost lost it all these past few days!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she gathered her slightly disheveled hair, tilted her face close to Qin Lizheng's eyes, and asked, "Am I still beautiful?"
Qin Lizheng couldn't help but chuckle, pinching her cheek as he replied, "Get her back, get her back, she'll be beautiful."
After giving instructions to his men, Qin Lizheng immediately took Qian Yingyi's hand and led her towards the carriage, saying they were going to buy some food by the Huai River. Qian Yingyi glanced back at Chu Zhiyan, her curiosity piqued, and suddenly asked, "Is his music hall your contact point? Can I eat there?"
Chu Zhiyan followed behind with a smile, "Oh, it just so happens that the food at my place is quite good. If Miss Qian doesn't mind the music hall, I would certainly welcome her."
Qian Yingyi nodded slightly and waved to Xiao Daimao from afar, "You go back first! My sudden appearance must have worried my sisters. Go back and tell them!"
He then smiled and said to Chu Zhiyan, "No problem, no problem, I want to go."
Now that his identity had been revealed, Qin Lizheng had nothing left to hide. He openly led Qian Yingyi to the Huai River and guided her into the secret room in the music hall where they often held meetings.
Qian Yingyi sat upright by the window, her curious eyes peering around until Chu Zhiyan brought in a food box. Only then did she look away and smile.
It seems that Qin Lizheng had given detailed instructions, and a plate of pan-fried fresh fish, a plate of fresh shrimp, two butterfly rolls, and a bowl of brocade cake soup were all arranged according to Qian Yingyi's preferences.
Qian Yingyi was truly hungry, so she stopped being polite and devoured a butterfly roll in one go. Only then did she pick up her chopsticks, look up, and ask about the important matter, "Wen Zhuonan committed such a heinous act, and it's causing quite a stir outside. What are you going to do about it?"
Qin Lizheng peeled the shrimp for her and answered truthfully.
Qian Yingyi was shocked and immediately stood up. "The whole family is being exiled?! What about Lanlan?"
She put down her chopsticks, thought for a moment, and then said, "You asked me earlier about my views on corrupt officials. I'll tell you frankly, Lanlan's mother was the only daughter of a wealthy merchant in Yangzhou. Her dowry was substantial. After her mother passed away, her father soon brought in a second wife. That Mrs. Wen was very happy to see Lanlan living under her wing, and she wouldn't let a single copper coin slip through her fingers for Lanlan. Since Lanlan's mother passed away, she hasn't used any of the family's money, relying solely on what her mother left her. So..."
She glanced at Qin Lizheng, her brows furrowing slightly. "So, is it possible that Lanlan won't have to suffer along with him?"
“I know corrupt officials deserve to die,” she said, “but, Lanlan… could you please consider this?”
Chu Zhiyan didn't reply immediately, but after a moment said, "We can naturally find out what the situation is with Miss Wen. However, on the surface, she is still Wen Jianzhou's daughter and is integrated into the entire Wen family. We can only obey the Emperor's orders."
Qian Yingyi blinked, keenly gleaning a glimmer of hope from Chu Zhiyan's words. She suddenly turned to look at Qin Lizheng, her eyes shining with expectation, "You've already come up with a plan, haven't you?"
"Eat first," Qin Lizheng said, tapping the bowl in front of her lightly with his chopsticks, gesturing for her to sit down. "Eat all the shrimp."
After Qian Yingyi had stuffed some more food into her mouth, he poured her some hot tea and said, "On the surface, Miss Wen will definitely have to travel with Wen Jianzhou. If she wants to avoid it, there is only one way."
Qin Lizheng looked at Qian Yingyi, "Let the world know that Miss Wen died in the imperial prison."
Qian Yingyi's hand trembled as she swallowed the last piece of shrimp. Seeing that she was sitting by the window, she reached out and pushed the window open to let the night breeze blow on her. After a moment, she closed it tightly, realizing, "I understand. Lanlan can change her identity and live a good life."
Qin Lizheng's eyes were filled with tenderness as he reached over the table and grasped her hand tightly. "Don't worry, the world has its own judgment of good and evil. Even if the Emperor only punished him lightly this time, Wen Jianzhou will not escape death in the future. He has embezzled a lot, and more than 100,000 taels of embezzled silver were found in his house."
“Miss Wen has not done anything evil, nor has she trampled on the people to make a living; her crime does not warrant death.”
"But she is a member of the Wen family after all. If we can forgive her, we should also punish her. If we really want to be meticulous, the entire Wen family mansion, including the room she lives in, can be considered as embezzlement. She worked as a young lady for more than ten years before changing her name and identity. She can only rely on herself for everything. This can also be considered as punishment."
"In short, you don't need to worry too much. Leaving the Wen family might be a good thing for Miss Wen."
Upon learning that Wen Ninglan had escaped this ordeal, Qian Yingyi finally felt relieved. Since the conversation had turned to corrupt officials, she put down her chopsticks, took the handkerchief Qin Lizheng offered, and carefully wiped her mouth, asking, "So, just how many corrupt officials are there in Jinling these days?"
She propped her head up with her hand, gazing intently at Qin Lizheng. "Let me guess, the Wen family, the Yan family, the Lin family... the Wang family?"
Qin Lizheng raised an eyebrow slightly.
Chu Zhiyan was surprised, "You guessed it so quickly?"
“She’s very clever,” Qin Lizheng said with a smile in his eyes, answering Chu Zhiyan’s question before asking Qian Yingyi, “How did you know that?”
Qian Yingyi's bright eyes darted around, a hint of smugness flashing in them. "Do I even need to guess? You said everyone wants to get close to me, and I figured it out a few days ago. They don't really want to get close to me; their real goal is my brother-in-law's power in the Ministry of Revenue in the capital."
"When it comes to embezzlement, doesn't someone above have to protect you? The person who hangs around me the most is Yan Ruheng, and besides him, it's Wu Niansheng."
“That idiot Wu Niansheng only knows how to have fun, and he even puts on a very respectable act in front of me. If Wu Niansheng were to approach me, he would probably give himself away after only a few words. Back in Jiangning, Yan Ruheng asked me some strange questions. At the time, I didn’t think anything of it, but now that I think about it, I understand everything.”
"Once you guess the Yan family, the rest will be easier to guess. The Yan and Lin families are related by marriage, so they will inevitably embezzle from supplies, which will naturally involve the delivery station. Isn't Mrs. Yan's brother surnamed Wang, and isn't he in charge of the delivery station?"
Qian Yingyi smiled and took a sip of tea, wetting her two tender lips. She then said, "I can guess that there might be the Fan family inside. It must be that I am not easy to approach them, so the Yan family has temporarily given up on this idea and turned their attention to the Fan family. I saw Fan Baozhu and Yan Ruheng standing together that day."
As soon as she finished speaking, she glared at Qin Lizheng several times and scoffed, "I told you not to underestimate me. I don't know what you have to hide."
Qin Lizheng was speechless, and that guilty feeling from before resurfaced. Fortunately, Qian Yingyi didn't hold it against him. She simply rested her soft cheeks on her hands, a chuckle escaping her throat, "Oh dear, I didn't expect I'd still be so popular!"
Chu Zhiyan smiled, "Miss Qian is truly kind and intelligent."
After discussing business and filling their empty stomachs, and seeing that it was getting late, Qin Lizheng simply stood up and said, "Come on, I'll take you home."
Qian Yingyi pursed her lips, twirling two strands of hair between her fingers, and stared at him hesitantly, "I'm finally not sad anymore, I'll play by the river for a while before going back."
Chu Zhiyan waved his hands repeatedly to shoo people away, laughing with shrugs, "Commander... no, Xiao Qin, take Miss to play."
What could Qin Lizheng do? With Qian Yingyi, his only option was to compromise. Therefore, he could only lead her around to the places they usually went.
As they walked along the riverbank, a slightly cool night breeze blew by. Qian Yingyi finally remembered she wanted to go home. She turned around and opened her arms to him, her voice softening, "I'm tired. Can you carry me home?"
How could he refuse? After being separated for more than ten days, Qin Lizheng wished he could keep Qian Yingyi by his side every moment when he saw her again. So he spread his arms, holding her waist with one hand and reaching for her legs with the other.
Qian Yingyi was startled and instinctively shook her embroidered shoes. "I asked you to carry me, not to hug me!"
Qin Lizheng laughed, his chest bobbing slightly. He walked across the river and into a secluded path, taking a detour. "Carrying you on my back always feels like something's missing. Only when I hold you do I feel real. Didn't you tell me to tell everyone? Why are you shy now?"
He transformed back into the outspoken "guard" he once was, his words penetrating Qian Yingyi's heart, inexplicably stirring a flutter within her, a deep sense of reassurance beneath, as if her previous sorrow had been nothing but a dream.
She simply raised her arm to hug him, buried her face in his chest, and chuckled softly, "If you think about it carefully, I'm still at a disadvantage. After tonight, I'm sure there will be a lot of people outside saying, 'Hey, did you see that? Miss Qian and that commander really have something going on!'"
She muttered in the same tone, as playful as a mischievous kitten. Qin Lizheng's heart gradually sank again. He held her tighter and lifted her up a little. "Let them say what they want. You are related to me. You can never escape this relationship. You've lost a lot of weight. What else do you want to eat? Make a list for me later, and I'll have someone send it to you every day."
Qian Yingyi raised her eyebrows in surprise and exaggeratedly raised her voice, "Wow, being in command again is quite different. You speak and act like a completely different person. I'm honored to be associated with you."
"..." Qin Lizheng stopped in his tracks, supporting her knee with one hand while using the other to gently scratch the soft flesh of her waist. "Hmm?"
Qian Yingyi giggled from the tickling, "Okay, stop it, stop it, I'm waiting to go back and pick up my things."
Qin Lizheng withdrew his hand, then wrapped his arm around her waist again, and asked softly, "What are you picking up?"
"Why do you think I suddenly came looking for you?" Qian Yingyi's eyes welled up with tears again as she spoke. "I think you're a fool. Why would you give me silver jewelry out of the blue? And then, to hide your identity, you wanted to give me gold, so you asked a craftsman to make silver-plated gold. If I hadn't discovered it tonight, why do you think I would have come?"
After a moment, she put her arms around his shoulders and neck, lifted herself up a little, tilted her head and gently kissed his lips, whispering, "I'm a soft-hearted person, but I'm also very thoughtful."
“Even when you were just my bodyguard, I could feel your love. These things can’t be faked, so I hope you can love me openly, just like I openly ran to you tonight.”
Qin Lizheng's vision gradually blurred. It was as if she had guarded this small piece of space in front of him, filling his entire heart. The silent and quiet space became noisy and bright, making him unconsciously hold her tighter. He heard her whisper in front of him, "When two people love each other, they should let go of all the complicated things. It's so simple, pure, and straightforward."
After a long pause, he nodded emphatically and hugged her even tighter. "Okay, you have to promise me one thing: you won't cry anymore, okay?"
Qian Yingyi's tears, which had been dried by the wind, resurfaced when he mentioned it, and a tear fell onto her clothes.
She swung her legs around, "Oh dear, you can't say that, or I'll start crying again. I've never cried so many times in my life! It all comes down to you doing something bad."
Qin Lizheng could only repeatedly whisper his mistakes in her ear before he could finally cheer her up.
The two took a quieter path and walked along it. Qin Lizheng suddenly said, "We will execute Wen Jianzhou tomorrow. After he is executed, he will be on his way. Similarly, Miss Wen's fake death will also be arranged for tomorrow. At sunset, I will send someone to take her to the dock. Think carefully about whether you have anything to say goodbye to her. I will come to pick you up then."
"Once she leaves, you may never see her again."
Qian Yingyi unconsciously gripped Qin Lizheng's clothes tightly with both hands, remaining silent for a moment.
Qin Lizheng thought she had fallen into sadness again and was about to peek at her when he suddenly heard her rambling, "What are you talking about? Actually, if I were to think about it carefully now, I can't think of anything. It's just that we're about to part, and I feel a little lost..."
"Lanlan may seem timid, but she's actually quite resilient. I know she'd be better off without the Wen family, but I'm at a loss for words to say goodbye to her suddenly. Where will your people take her? Have you made any arrangements?"
She muttered to herself for a while, asking mostly about Wen Ninglan's arrangements after changing her name. Qin Lizheng supported her as they walked steadily forward, his voice low and reassuring, "She'll probably be sent to the border. I'll tell her that once time has passed and the Emperor has forgotten about the case in Jinling, she can try to slowly make her way back. There's bound to be a place where she can settle down, no matter which direction you're in."
Qian Yingyi finally felt relieved and started thinking about going home to pack some things for Wen Ninglan.
Whether it was Qian Yingyi's imagination or not, she felt that Qin Lizheng's pace was getting slower and slower, so much so that when everything was quiet all around, she could only see the corner gate of her house in the distance.
Half a day later, Qin Lizheng walked to the side gate, put her down, and stroked her hair. "Go to sleep early."
Qian Yingyi blinked slightly, a hint of malice hidden in her eyes, leaning against the wall outside the side gate. "Where do you live now?"
"The prison is not far from Zhengyang Gate."
Qian Yingyi raised her eyebrows slightly, said nothing more, lowered her eyes, patted the hem of her skirt, twirled her skirt, and raised her arm to knock on the door.
Before he could react, his reflection on the door suddenly grew taller and larger. Before he could even tap the door with his finger, his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
In the blink of an eye, she had moved to the same spot, pinned against the wall, both her wrists held tightly, and heavy, rapid breathing coming from her lips.
Qin Lizheng leaned down to kiss her, and that intense longing resurfaced. The force of his kiss was so strong that Qian Yingyi suspected that if it weren't for the wall behind her, she would have been bent over by his kiss.
The nights in mid-August were a bit chilly, but the area in front of her was burning hot, making it difficult for her to breathe. All around was quiet, and she could faintly hear the whispers of the servants coming from the crack in the door behind her.
Qian Yingyi closed her eyes with a slight tremor, tilted her face up, and tried her best to respond to his longing, even feeding her own portion into his mouth.
The next moment, his warm fingers pushed her tightly clenched hand away and intertwined their fingers, their grip tightening.
She was in some pain, but that didn't stop her from finding his love between their tightly pressed finger bones. So she gripped his hand tightly in return, their intertwined palms hiding their hearts that they never wanted to be apart again.
Like the first kiss, let each kiss be unforgettable, let each kiss reveal your true feelings to your beloved, and let your lips intertwine with the simplest and most passionate love in the world.
Gradually, Qin Lizheng released her lips, but his hand did not loosen. He gently brushed his nose against hers and suddenly whispered out of the blue, "It's not you who's climbing the social ladder, it's me."
He pecked at her forehead repeatedly, saying, "To have your overly passionate love is the luckiest thing in my life."
Qian Yingyi's face was suspended in front of him. She raised her chin slightly, trying to see herself reflected in his pupils by the moonlight. After a moment, she smiled softly and shook his hand, "I know, you don't want me to go in, do you?"
Qin Lizheng buried his head in her neck and responded softly.
The two waited quietly for a while. When Qian Yingyi looked up, she suddenly saw a small worm with a thread hanging from it swaying and falling in mid-air. She was shocked and quickly pushed him away and jumped to the side.
Qin Lizheng was stunned by her push, "What's wrong?"
The commotion attracted the servant to open the door and reveal half of his face. Upon seeing that it was Qian Yingyi, he hurriedly called out to her repeatedly, "Miss."
Qian Yingyi glanced at the little insect, which was still hanging there. Seeing that the servant had discovered Qin Lizheng, her heart pounded with excitement. She shrugged and chuckled awkwardly, then waved to Qin Lizheng, "I... I'll go in first. We'll talk about it tomorrow, tomorrow."
She lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped over the threshold. The servant glanced at her twice, as if he had seen Qin Lizheng, and then slammed the door shut.
Qin Lizheng stood there, stunned, staring at the door, as if he knew Qian Yingyi was still behind it. Only when a dozen or so leaves piled up on his shoulders did he turn and leave with a joy that could only be described as a loss that had been regained.
Qian Yingyi, on the other hand, quietly hid behind the door without making a sound. The servant tilted his head to look at her, and she raised her hand to stop the others from speaking.
She was so happy, she wanted to jump for joy! But she was still a little petty and didn't want him to find out.
As the footsteps faded into the distance, Qian Yingyi's smile deepened, and her bright eyes curved into ever wider crescents...
Suddenly, she lifted her skirt and rushed into the house, passing through the flowers and trees, filled with joy, crossing every place she had walked with Qin Lizheng. With each step her shoes took on a paving stone, her heart pounded.
How can I describe it? She loved Qin Lizheng, setting aside worldly conventions and moral principles, loving him without any ulterior motives. Once this was settled, even when she was running, she would see a petal and think it was a colorful butterfly.
This butterfly is like her: free and passionate.
Qian Yingyi's little heart was filled with joy for herself, for loving Qin Lizheng, and for Qin Lizheng loving her.
This joy led her to rush into Ren Yuqing's courtyard, where she saw Qian Linye applying medicated oil under the eaves. She grabbed his arm and spun him around twice.
She then rushed into the main room, hugged Qian Yuxing and bounced back and forth, her eyes filled with boundless joy, "Sister... Sister... I'm so happy."
"Why are you making such a fuss?" Qian Yuxing was startled and quickly put a finger to her lips. "Shh, Tuanjie is sleeping."
Qian Yingyi quieted down slightly, tilted her head to look at Tuanjie'er, whose little face was rosy from sleeping in the small wooden bed. Her gaze swept over the wooden bed, and her mind uncontrollably recalled the past.
It turns out that so much time has passed.
It turns out, she didn't suddenly fall in love with Qin Lizheng.
They met in her home, from the chilly early spring to early autumn. Though their love wasn't the dramatic, decades-long romance of others, it was precisely this small, intimate affection that captivated her heart, filling Qian Yingyi with a longing—
The time they've spent together is so short, just like her heart, which started small but gradually grew bigger, accommodating family, friends, and now him.
Such time will continue to grow longer in the future, and their clasped hands will remain forever intertwined.
Thinking of this, Qian Yingyi chuckled to herself, fiddled with the colorful ball hanging on Tuan Jie'er's face with her fingertips, and then rushed out again.
She seemed tireless, running all the way back to Yunteng Pavilion. Seeing that the jewelry had been put back in its place, she hurriedly called Xia Ling over and pointed at each piece with her finger, saying, "This one, this one, and this one, send them all to be repaired. Send them first thing tomorrow morning!"
Xia Ling had already heard the whole story from the little hawksbill turtle, and she was happy to hear it. She immediately smiled and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
It was getting late, and after Xia Ling urged her two or three times, Qian Yingyi washed up and went into the tent.
But she was so happy that she would sometimes get up from her pillow and touch her face, and sometimes she would lie back down and stroke the pillow, pressing her palm down to make a dent, as if a spring of water would gush out from the dent and Qin Lizheng's figure would grow out from it.
Qian Yingyi had always had a knack for caring for others, but she didn't quite understand what it felt like to love someone. Her words of affection on the Qixi Festival were heartfelt words she couldn't suppress, but once the peak of her emotions subsided, she still knew that Qin Lizheng loved her.
When she realized she had been deceived, a wave of bitterness and pain washed over her. Her heart was filled with a jumble of emotions, and she felt conflicted. On one hand, she wanted to grit her teeth and break free, but on the other hand, she was trapped and unable to extricate herself.
Now that she has resolved her inner conflict, Qian Yingyi finally understands this feeling. She turned over in bed, staring at the small nest in front of her, as if she could really see a spring of water there.
And how could her little heart express itself? — It was probably like those bubbles that only she could see, bubbling upwards. Popping one made her heart pound, and popping another made her laughter fill with joy.
The next day, the sun shone brightly, not too hot, a rare and pleasant day. The bustling city was filled with the sounds of people applauding the Wen family's decision. Some sighed, saying it wouldn't implicate their wives and children, but their words were quickly cut short by a retort:
"Officials should be even more self-disciplined, and the children of officials should be even more vigilant. Standing above the people to imprison young children and enjoying the taxes paid by the people, yet colluding with bandits—how is the Wen family wronged? The Emperor himself has determined the crime; how could they be wrong?"
These words reached the Imperial Guard's prison and were delivered by Chu Zhiyan to Wen Jianzhou before his execution.
Chu Zhiyan's eyes were cold. He put his hands behind his back and said indifferently, "Lord Wen, you also rose from the common people. If you had just been doing your job as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and hadn't indulged your wife and children, would things have come to this?"
Wen Jianzhou had shackles on his wrists, his expression filled with sorrow and regret. He opened his mouth as if to defend himself, but didn't know where to begin.
Knowing there was no turning back, he suddenly remembered the kindness of Wen Ninglan's mother. If it weren't for her, he might not have had the wealth and privilege he had enjoyed for the past ten or twenty years.
He glanced at Mrs. Wen and Wen Xinyan, who were staring at him with eyes full of hatred, and then at Wen Ninglan, who was also wearing shackles but had a very calm expression.
Wen Jianzhou caught a glimpse of his deceased wife in her eyes. A trace of his dormant conscience resurfaced within him. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice hoarse and strained, "...Could you please release my youngest daughter?"
Wen Ninglan already knew about Qin Lizheng's arrangements last night. She kept her eyes down the whole time, but when she heard this, her pupils trembled slightly, and a surge of anger rose in her heart for no reason.
When she looked up again, her eyes were filled with cold tears. "Wen Jianzhou, I don't need your pleading. If you dare to do it, why don't you dare to admit it? I just feel sorry for my mother. She was married off to such an irresponsible and unmanly man like you!"
Wen Ninglan took two steps forward, breaking free from the Imperial Guards' obstruction, and shouted, "Since my mother passed away, have you ever cared about me? You let your second wife and those twins bully me, have you ever questioned them even once? If you hadn't ended up like this, would you even remember me?"
Her eyes turned cold and sharp without her realizing it. "In reality, you're just a selfish and petty person. Stop pretending at this last moment. I really feel sorry for my mother for falling in love with someone like you!"
“You haven’t cared about me for almost ten years. Now that you’ve committed a crime, the Emperor wants you exiled. Why should I… why should I follow you…” She gradually turned her gaze to Madam Wen and Wen Xinyan, forcing a mocking smile. Her tone suddenly became very soft. “They’ve been living a life of luxury with you, more comfortable than anyone else. They should be the ones to suffer this punishment.”
"Someone like you is easily blinded by sweet talk and flattery. Don't say anything about pleading for me anymore; it disgusts me."
A dark pill had been hidden between her fingertips, and before Wen Jianzhou could react, she tilted her head back and swallowed it.
The medicine was potent, and the next moment, Wen Ninglan began to tremble, collapsed to the ground, and a trickle of bright red blood slowly oozed from her lips, reaching Wen Jianzhou's eyes.
Wen Jianzhou's eyes widened in shock. He opened his mouth, then instinctively uttered a voice, his tone a mixture of sorrow and regret, "Lanlan..."
Chu Zhiyan watched coldly for a while, then let out a sigh. "Miss Wen died a quick death. Since she's dead, there's no need to rush off with a cold corpse. Men, take Miss Wen's body away."
The Imperial Guards acted swiftly. Once only bloodstains remained on the ground, Chu Zhiyan leaned down and sat on a chair, saying calmly, "The time has come. Execute him, Lord Wen. When you get out, you'll have to hold on for a bit longer. After you pass Zhengyang Gate, there will be plenty of people waiting to see what's going on."
Screams erupted in the prison immediately. Mrs. Wen and Wen Xinyan pleaded for mercy. Wen Jianzhou initially cried out in pain, but gradually he could no longer muster the strength to shout.
Chu Zhiyan calmly watched him undergo the punishment, then stood up and stared at him with downcast eyes, saying in a low voice, "Go on your way, Lord Wen. Your examination paper back then was praised by the late emperor himself. If you had been upright and honest, you might have been able to enter the cabinet. But things have come to this, so there is no use in saying these things now. I will still address you as Lord Wen in the end. Please."
Wen Jianzhou was in so much pain that his bones were trembling. He tilted his head and glanced one last time at the bloodstain that had been crushed into the dust on the ground. His lips parted slightly, but he didn't say anything more. He let the Imperial Guards lift him up, his face blank.
As for Mrs. Wen and Wen Xinyan, they had already fainted again due to excessive emotional distress.
As dusk settled, the fiery red sunset reflected on the ferry crossing, illuminating the river surface with dazzling brilliance.
Having already changed her clothes, Wen Ninglan, wearing a veiled hat, stood alone at the ferry, her gaze sweeping over the busy boatmen and several boats that were about to dock.
As she watched, her face, which was slightly pale from swallowing the fake medicine, showed a hint of emotion. It was unclear whether it was because Wen Jianzhou was dead or because she would be wandering the world alone from now on.
After standing still for a moment, she faintly heard the sound of a carriage axle behind her. Wen Ninglan turned around and watched as two figures alighted from the carriage, each carrying a bundle and running towards her. Her moved expression suddenly disappeared, and she immediately broke into a relieved smile, running a few steps forward as well.
Qian Yingyi and Yan Qiuyan rushed to her side, panting, and before they could even speak, they pulled her into a tight embrace.
One cried out, "Lanlan...Lanlan...I can't bear to part with you."
One of them sobbed, "Lanlan, I've thought it over and over. We'll definitely need money along the way. You'll be all alone from now on, so you must take good care of yourself. If possible, send me letters from time to time. When I return to the capital, if you can come, come find me, okay?"
Wen Ninglan laughed until tears streamed down her face, hugging the two of them tightly. Her voice, though choked with emotion, remained as gentle as ever, "You should call me Ningfeng now."
"Wen Ninglan is dead."
With a relieved smile, she wiped the tears from their cheeks with the fingers of both hands. "Don't cry, don't cry. Do you want me to cry all the way?"
At this moment, Qin Lizheng rushed over and handed over a brocade box. "Ning Feng, there is half of Wen Jianzhou's family property in here. This half belongs to your mother. There is also a divorce agreement. Wen Jianzhou pressed his fingerprint on it without knowing it. From now on, live well with your mother's share. You will meet again someday."
Ning Feng was taken aback, nodded with tears in her eyes, and bowed respectfully to Qin Lizheng to express her gratitude.
The river rippled gently as the boat carrying Ning Feng docked. She took a deep breath, hugged Qian Yingyi and Yan Qiuyan again, and said with a determined tone, "We will meet again. Now I am Ning Feng, and I am no longer oppressed or restrained. The sky is high and the sea is wide, and I will see it all. Okay, don't cry, okay?"
He immediately closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, turned around and boarded the boat. From a distance of about half a boat length away, he waved to the two of them and said, "Let's go back!"
Only when the ship gradually condensed into a tiny black dot did Qian Yingyi withdraw her gaze. Reluctantly turning around, she nudged Yan Qiuyan, who was still sobbing, with her elbow. "Yanyan, don't cry. Lan...Afeng has gone to see the outside world. We should be happy for her."
Yan Qiuyan sobbed softly, nodded her chin slightly, forced a smile, glanced at Qian Yingyi and Qin Lizheng, and said, "It's a good thing you called me, otherwise, I would still be kept in the dark. If I didn't know and thought she was dead, I don't know how much I would cry."
Qian Yingyi smiled and took her arm, leading her towards the carriage. "Let's not talk about this. As long as we know she'll be alright in the future, that's enough. I'll take you back."
So the unassuming carriage made a detour to the ferry, and after about half an hour, it took Yan Qiuyan a long time to get home.
Watching her enter the Yan residence, Qian Yingyi lowered the indigo curtain and let out a deep breath. Qin Lizheng climbed into the carriage and sat down. Knowing that she was also putting on a brave face, he took out a handkerchief to wipe the moisture from the corners of her eyes.
Qian Yingyi remained silent for a while, then looked up at him and asked softly, "What you gave her, was it done behind everyone's back?"
The night was pitch black, with only a few dim lights from the lanterns in front of the Yan residence shining through the carriage curtain onto her face. Qin Lizheng stared at that light without saying a word.
He remained silent, which only fueled Qian Yingyi's growing certainty. She opened her mouth slightly and asked again, "If the Emperor finds out, will he blame you?"
"Say something!"
Qin Lizheng smiled and shook his head, saying only, "Isn't it because of you that I have become more humane? Actually, it should be said that because of you, I have learned how to love others. This love is not limited to you. I think that when I first joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I would never have imagined that one day I would help someone who is actually completely unrelated to me because I love you."
Qin Lizheng leaned closer to Qian Yingyi, took her fingers and kneaded them, "Are you worried about me? Don't worry, if I dare to do it, I will never let anyone find a trace."
Qian Yingyi's heart softened instantly upon hearing this. She snorted softly, tilted her head, and leaned against his shoulder, stubbornly insisting, "Who said I was worried about you?"
"Isn't it you?" Qin Lizheng smiled and kissed her palm.
Qian Yingyi scratched her slightly itchy palms, the faint light illuminating her smiling face. "You're right, we've both learned how to love, so..."
A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes as she tilted her head closer to him and winked cleverly. "Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. When you come to my house, in front of Grandpa, my brother, and my sister, you must be just as affectionate as you are now."
Qin Lizheng was stunned for a long time, "...Go to your house for Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Qian Yingyi nodded with a smile, "That's right. Now the whole of Jinling knows that you have a close relationship with my family, and even more so with me, Miss. It's not easy to explain. We would never do such a thing as leaving you all alone in Jinling for the Mid-Autumn Festival without anyone to keep you company. Remember to invite Chu Zhiyan along."
Seeing that he didn't speak, she clung to his arm again, urging him, "Are you coming or not?"
Qin Lizheng suddenly felt a little uneasy. The Qian family's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was clearly not yet here, but it gave him a strange feeling—he was even more nervous than when he killed someone for the first time.
"Speak!" Qian Yingyi urged again.
Qin Lizheng's eyes flickered slightly, he pursed his lips, and hugged her tightly. "I'll go."
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Author's note: Ningfeng is free now!
Yingyi and Qin Lizheng have made up! [shy]
Tomorrow, Grandpa will be sitting at home with a big knife, waiting (not really).
On a side note, although the main story is still far from ending, would you like to read some side stories? I didn't initially plan to write any side stories, but I came up with one while taking a shower. It's a childhood sweetheart + mortal enemy setup. If you have any requests for side stories, please let me know!
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