Chapter 61 What's your name? Mu Hanshi stood in front of her, and...
*
When Xie slowly regained consciousness, she felt her body was extremely heavy.
Her head was still heavy, and even the movement of lifting her eyelids seemed somewhat labored. When she finally managed to open them, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were clearly visible, with deep furrows.
As her vision gradually cleared, she saw Shen Qinglu sitting by the bed and was stunned. "Ali..."
Shen Qinglu helped her up, then placed a pillow under her waist, and took the water that Li Mama handed her, feeding it to her. "The doctor said that Grandmother is suffering from excessive worry and has too much internal heat, so she should take good care of herself."
Remembering what had happened before, she looked around anxiously, "Where...where did they go?"
"Madam, the eldest young lady and Miss Tang'er have already left." Granny Li quickly replied, "Madam is not in the mansion. The eldest young lady is kind-hearted and did not want to move you, so she asked you to stay and recuperate."
Upon hearing that Yu Qingxue and Yu Liuzhu had already left, her eyes gradually changed, revealing sadness and sorrow.
After a long pause, he sighed, "This is all my own doing."
Yu Qingxue was her daughter. She compromised and participated in what happened back then because of her love for her daughter. If it is true that she was the one who caused this tragedy, then it is also true.
Although they were connected by blood, for Shen Qinglu, their kinship was too shallow. Such shallow and tainted kinship was not worth salvaging or cherishing.
"Grandmother, do you still remember what Sister Tang'er said before?"
"she……"
"She said it was all a conspiracy by Grandmother, that Grandmother deliberately made up those words to sow discord between my mother and father. She refuses to give up her identity as the eldest daughter of the Yu family, and she will surely bring it up again in the future. Grandmother, I only have one question for you: is what she said true or false?"
Xie's lips moved, the words "truth" and "falsehood" occupying two opposing ends in her heart, rising and falling. Whether it was true or false depended entirely on her words; a single sentence could reveal the truth, or it could reverse the truth from falsehood.
Shen Qinglu looked at her, her dark eyes fixed and unmoving, like still water, yet reflecting the light of a mirror, revealing her struggle and entanglement.
She suddenly gripped Shen Qinglu's hand tightly. "Ali, Grandma's heart is in turmoil. Grandma doesn't know what the best course of action is. Tell Grandma, what should Grandma do?"
The room must have been poorly ventilated, filled with the smells of medicine and calming incense, making it difficult to breathe comfortably.
Just like the entire Jade Mansion.
Some things, when kept hidden for too long, seem unbelievable even when revealed. Conversely, when someone with ulterior motives uses them, they can sound quite true.
Shen Qinglu lowered her brows and slowly withdrew her hand. "Grandmother shouldn't ask me. If you're going to ask, you should ask the child you switched sixteen years ago."
“Ah Li…”
"Does Grandmother think that because I am kind-hearted, she can keep bullying me?" Her face was bitter, as if she were crying and laughing at the same time. "I was so stupid. How could I have thought that Grandmother would feel guilty towards me and that even if she didn't try her best to make up for it, she would never hurt me again?"
“Ali, Grandma wanted to do something for this family, she never intended to hurt you.”
"If you waver even slightly and try to please Sister Tang'er, you are hurting me. She has occupied my identity for sixteen years, and she is not satisfied. Are you not satisfied either?"
You hurt me then for your daughter, and now you want to hurt me for your son. Do you really think I won't hate you?
Xie was immediately overwhelmed with guilt and speechless. Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her chest, looking extremely grief-stricken.
She didn't look up, nor did she dare to look, so she naturally didn't know that at this moment, Shen Qinglu's dark and deep eyes held no sadness whatsoever, only indifference.
“You know better than anyone what kind of people your daughter and her daughter are these days. If you still have the energy to worry about them, you should think about how to protect your own life.”
That icy tone sent chills down one's spine.
Madam Xie was shocked, her heart pounding in her chest. When she looked down instinctively, she saw that Shen Qinglu's beautiful face was not filled with resentment or hatred, but with tears streaming down her face.
“Grandmother, no matter what you have done, you are still my grandmother. I don’t want to see anything happen to you. When I heard that Grandmother had fainted, I was terrified. I was afraid that they would harm Grandmother in order to stay with us.”
"Ah Li..." Xie's heart was in turmoil, rising and falling, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Shen Qinglu turned her back, refusing to look at her. "Sister Tang'er is too young to have come up with such an idea. Someone must have taught her to force Grandmother to go back on her word. No one will believe you then, and my mother and father will be forever shrouded in suspicion, making it impossible for us to live in peace. One moment of confusion is favoritism, but what about two? That's madness!"
The words "madness" struck Xie's already volatile heart even more, leaving her feeling lost and helpless, as if being torn apart by countless hands, making it hard to breathe.
Her face was pale, her lips were trembling, she wanted to say something, but couldn't say anything.
Shen Qinglu didn't turn around, but slowly stood up, her slightly slumped shoulders revealing deep disappointment and sadness. "Now that things have come to this, they don't care about your life or death, they only want to achieve their own goals. Before they left, Qiu Lu went with them. People's hearts are unpredictable, we must be careful. Fortunately, Qiu Lu's contract is still in your hands. Think carefully about what to do."
After saying that, he looked at Granny Li with a sad and helpless gaze, sighed softly, and then walked out with slightly heavy steps.
Granny Li hesitated for a moment, then chased after them.
Shen Qinglu listened to the commotion behind her, but continued walking without turning her head until she was called back.
“Young lady, the old lady understands everything. She will definitely not make the same mistake again.”
“A friend in need is a friend indeed. I can see that you are truly loyal and devoted to my grandmother. It is my grandmother’s blessing to have such a caring person as you.” Shen Qinglu said, then sighed again. “I think you know about what happened back then, and you know whether it was true or false.”
Granny Li looked ashamed and lowered her head.
She was the most trusted person by the Xie family, so how could she not know what happened back then? In fact, she was the one who took the firstborn child with her in exchange for the secondborn child.
"This servant deserves to die..."
“You are acting under orders, so the blame will not fall on you. If Grandmother goes with them, she will surely not have a good end. I will persuade my mother to find a quiet place for Grandmother so that she can enjoy her old age undisturbed. I hope that you will take care of her then.”
Upon hearing this, Granny Li was overjoyed and made a move to kneel down to express her gratitude.
Shen Qinglu gently helped her up, "Grandmother needs someone by her side, you should go back quickly."
She wiped away her tears and went back into the house with a face full of gratitude.
Upon entering the room, she saw that Madam Xie had already gotten out of bed, so she hurried over to help her. "Madam, what do you need? This servant will do it."
Xie was breathing heavily. "Bring me that thing."
Granny Li knew what she was talking about, and quickly retrieved the items. She reached under her pillow, pulled out a key, and opened the box.
The silver in the box had vanished, and one of the indentures was missing—it belonged to Qiu Lu.
"Madam, this...this thing hasn't been touched since it was moved here. Who did it?" Granny Li exclaimed, though she already knew the answer in her heart.
"It's Qiu Lu, no...it's her...them!"
*
The pond water seemed still and undisturbed, and the greenery along the banks was even more vibrant than a few days ago. Everywhere you looked, there was the vitality of everything about to revive, and even the air you breathed was filled with the scent of life.
The misplaced life has been restored, and now the positions of those separated by water have been reversed.
Shen Qinglu stood by the waterside pavilion, gazing at a spot in the pond where someone had once died.
Xia Chan came in from outside and whispered, "Miss, they went to Da Xuan Kong Temple."
The temple has accommodations for pilgrims who can stay for a while.
Shen Qinglu was not surprised; in fact, it was within her expectations.
Xia Chan was puzzled. "I thought they would go and seek refuge with that Miss Fang."
“Yu Liu Zhu will not.”
"Did you foresee this, Miss?" Xia Chan thought about it and realized it made sense. The more she spent with Shen Qinglu these past few days, the more she felt that her young mistress was no ordinary person. "But, Miss, wouldn't keeping the old lady here cause some unforeseen complications?"
The saying "the longer the night lasts, the more things can go wrong" refers to the fear that something might happen to Xie, whether it was caused by someone or by Xie sacrificing himself for his children.
If the concern was about human intervention, Shen Qinglu already had a plan. She had not only given advice to Granny Li, but also left Renchun and Hanxiao there. However, another possibility...
“Most people are afraid of death. If she were truly willing to risk her life for her children, she should have ended her own life long ago after revealing the truth, instead of waiting until now.”
If Xie had atoned with his death at that time, it would have been a complete resolution for both Yu Qingxue and Yu Zhiheng.
But who isn't afraid of death, and who doesn't want to live?
Like her.
It was getting late, and dusk was approaching.
In the dim light, the unfinished courtyard appeared exceptionally desolate. The new plaque had not yet been hung, and the gate was empty and barren. The pit remained, but no new trees had taken root.
The entire Jade Mansion was unusually quiet.
She sent a message to the general's residence, saying that she would stay there that day. At the same time, Yu Jingliang also sent a letter home, saying that he would be home later.
As they approached the main courtyard, they unexpectedly ran into Yu Jingxian.
Upon seeing her, the man who looked remarkably like Yu Zhiheng displayed an extremely unnatural expression, as if he were wary of something or afraid of something.
"Big brother," she said, feigning ignorance. "Did you come back alone? Where is Father?"
Yu Jingxian shook his head. "I couldn't catch up with my father. I don't know where he went."
Did they fail to catch up, or did they simply not chase after them?
Shen Qinglu didn't press the issue, her face showing worry.
His subtle gaze didn't seem like an assessment, but rather a probing. Especially when his gaze went down and he saw no shadow on the ground, his face instantly turned pale.
It's already dusk, so where did that shadow come from?
"I'm going back to my room. I need to study. Don't let anyone disturb me."
He was being chased by a ghost; he was walking so fast and hastily that his legs were involuntarily fighting each other, and he almost tripped over himself.
Upon seeing this, Shen Qinglu's cold eyes were filled with sarcasm.
*
This night was quieter than usual.
It wasn't too late, yet there was no sound of people.
The lanterns under the eaves were still lit, their elaborate carvings and silk paintings showcasing the owner's status and wealth.
In the entire main courtyard, only the right wing room had lights on.
Someone lurked in the shadows, and after the lights went out, they waited for another half an hour before quietly approaching. Perhaps because they were not used to walking at night, their steps seemed unsteady and unsteady.
The door to the side room was tightly shut, and in the moonlight and lantern light, the carved peace patterns on it were visible. The moment the man's hand touched the door, he vaguely heard a sound from inside and was so frightened that he dared not move.
"Girl, why are you up?"
This is the sound of cicadas in summer.
"I can't sleep. I don't know what's wrong with me. I just dreamt that Sister Tang'er turned into an evil ghost."
The word "evil spirit" sent a chill down the spine of the person outside the door.
He stared in horror, his face filled with fear; it was Yu Jingxian.
“Miss Tang’er must hate you to the extreme. Could this dream be some kind of omen? I’m worried that she will try to take revenge on you.”
"There's no use worrying. She's already made her move on me, and she'll only get worse in the future."
In the unlit room, Shen Qinglu sat at the table in the outer room, while Xia Chan stood behind her.
Even in the dim light, her beauty could not be concealed, and she carried a hint of eeriness.
"Back then, Yu Qingxue must have given me some kind of medicine. For the past sixteen years, I seem to have been sleeping more than I've been awake, and I can only live as a fool."
"The girl is very lucky. It must have been that her body recovered and her missing soul returned to its place, which is why she regained consciousness."
"I think so too, but ultimately, they are different from ordinary people. If someone with ulterior motives uses this to make a fuss, they will definitely bring up some supernatural tales. It's fine if others believe it, but if even close relatives believe such nonsense, once it gets out, it will probably become a laughing stock in the capital."
Their conversation was exceptionally clear in the night, reaching Yu Jingxian's ears word for word.
Yu Jingxian had no idea that they had done it on purpose, deliberately saying it to him. He thought he had been unintentionally reminded and was filled with remorse.
He was a scholar who was destined to take the imperial examinations and become an official. If word got out that he suspected his sister was possessed by a ghost and was talking about exorcising ghosts, not to mention the ridicule from his classmates, he would be utterly ashamed.
The talismans in his hands felt like they were burning his hands; he wished he could throw them all away.
He heard Shen Qinglu yawn from inside the room and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After waiting for a while longer, when there was no more sound or movement from inside, he finally leaned against the door and stood up, his legs feeling weak.
He walked quickly but was extremely unsteady, unaware that he had even dropped a talisman.
As the night deepened, the moon shone even brighter.
After an unknown amount of time, the tightly closed door was gently opened.
A splash of red emerged from inside the door, looked around, and then picked up the talisman paper from the ground.
They really came to deal with her.
Shen Qinglu thought to herself as she looked at the words on the talisman in the moonlight.
"This is a talisman for warding off evil spirits and ensuring peace in the home."
The sound, like falling snowflakes, seemed to descend from the sky and landed behind her.
She sighed inwardly, thinking that the talisman would also be useful to her, and could just drive away the lingering evil spirit.
Hearing the commotion, Xia Chan hurriedly went out, but before she could even step over the threshold, she heard her young mistress's voice, "It's nothing, I'm just talking to Lord Mu, you don't need to come out."
If something really happens, it's no use even if people come out.
She carefully put the talisman away and turned to face the person who had come.
Under the moonlight, the man who appeared aloof and otherworldly in public seemed like a completely different person, as if he had emerged from a damp and gloomy place, exuding a visible evil.
“Yu Liuzhu has left, and we will temporarily stay at Da Xuan Kong Temple.”
"I know the kind of medicine you just mentioned."
Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly suppressed it.
In other words, this person has always been here!
"That medicine must be very rare."
“Palace secret medicines are rare, of course. What’s even rarer is someone like you who can remain conscious after being drugged into a stupor.”
Is this a sign of doubt about her?
Her shadow was on the ground, much more hazy than during the day, appearing as a blurry mess, especially since the two shadows overlapped, making it look like a monster.
“I don’t know why I was able to wake up. It’s like I’m trapped inside my own body, and I can only come out for some fresh air occasionally. Before Prince Mu went to the border, I happened to come out for some fresh air and ran into him. We even talked for a while.”
With her eyes slightly lowered, she naturally didn't see the complex emotions in Mu Hanshi's eyes.
The situation was unusually complex, with a sudden surge of events, as if two opposing forces were locked in a battle: one wanted to tear off the mask of the person before it at all costs, while the other was trying to stop it.
Eventually, that complexity faded and eventually vanished.
"With your past experiences, it's no wonder you're not afraid of me."
It turns out this person also knew he was terrifying.
“Yu Liuzhu is no longer here, so you no longer need to worry about me targeting her. Please leave.”
"I'm not here to see her."
If they're not here to see Yu Liuzhu, are they here to see her?
Just as Shen Qinglu was thinking this, she heard Mu Hanshi say, "Someone is coming."
A short while later, she saw Yu Jingliang carrying snacks.
Yu Jingliang was clearly surprised to find her standing alone in the courtyard in the middle of the night, and hurriedly asked, "Ali, what are you doing outside? Can't you sleep?"
She hummed in agreement. "With such a big thing happening at home, I'm worried about Mom."
“Mother and Commander Mu are together, nothing will happen. I was just worried you were in a bad mood, so I specially bought you some pastries from Tongfulai.” Yu Jingliang waved the pastries in his hand, then suddenly thought of something, “Didn’t you want me to take you to the Void Tower to admire the moon and stars? You can’t sleep anyway, so why not do it tonight?”
It was quiet all around, but she knew that someone was still there.
Tonight is really not a good time.
So he pretended to be sleepy, yawned, and said, "Second Brother, I'm sleepy, let's do it another day."
Seeing her like this, Yu Jingliang naturally wouldn't force her. "Alright then, I'll take you another day."
She yawned again. "Second brother, you should go and rest too."
After Yu Jingliang left, she asked the air, "Are you still there?"
A moment later, Mu Hanshi stood in front of her, his calm and deep eyes seeming to pierce through her.
She felt a chill run down her spine, wondering what had gotten into this person again. Just as she was thinking of ways to get rid of him, she heard him say, "I happen to be free tonight. I'll take you to that Void Tower."
"..."
Neuropathy!
"I don't……"
Before she could even utter a word of refusal, her arm was grabbed.
As she soared into the air, her heart flew away with her. When she stood on the top of the tower, still shaken, she suddenly heard a soft, snow-like voice in her ear.
"You're not cured, you're just possessed by a ghost."
"!"
People are most likely to lose their composure when their mind is unsettled.
Even if it was only for a moment, the shock on her face was clearly visible.
A sudden undercurrent surged in Mu Hanshi's calm eyes, and his voice, low and menacing like a ghost's wail, asked, "What's your name?"
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