The room was a mess. Gu Qing carefully stepped around the wine jars and the clutter on the floor. When she saw Xiao Ye, unshaven and lying unconscious on the bed, her eyes reddened.
She didn’t disdain Xiao Ye’s disheveled state. She had someone bring hot water, wrung out a towel herself, and walked toward the bed.
Yunfu wanted to stay, but Xueya grabbed her arm. “Miss, let’s wait outside.”
Seeing Xueya’s smiling face, Yunfu’s expression turned cold. How could she not know what this maid was scheming? But since she was the one who had invited Gu Qing here, she could only grit her teeth and endure the situation.
She could only hope that the heir would truly recover.
Seeing the usually dignified heir lying in bed like this, Yunfu’s eyes reddened, and she couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment toward Lanyin. If it weren’t for the mistress’s tantrums, how could the heir have ended up like this? Swallowing her words, she wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye and turned to leave.
Xueya quickly followed, considerately closing the door behind them.
Gu Qing was unaware of what the two maids were up to. Her heart and eyes were entirely focused on Xiao Ye. The man she had met in her youth, the one she had loved for seven years—she had never seen him in such a state before. Her heart ached terribly.
She carefully wiped his face.
When the warm towel touched his face, Xiao Ye woke up. Perhaps because of what had happened with Lady Xu the previous day, Xiao Ye didn’t immediately grab her wrist this time. He opened his eyes, but he was still groggy from sleep and the alcohol, his mind not fully clear. So, when he saw the eyes that somewhat resembled Lanyin’s and caught the scent of cold incense on her, he thought it really was Lanyin who had returned.
Xiao Ye had been born into privilege, the heir of a noble family. Even when his father had fallen into despair, he had never been as miserable as he had been these past two days. The decline of the Bo family’s fortunes was something he could work to restore, but Lanyin’s coldness and distance left him both angry and heartbroken. Now, seeing the woman so close to him, his lips pressed into a thin line. He had so much he wanted to say, but in the end, he couldn’t utter a word. He simply gripped her wrist tightly, not letting go even when he saw her frown.
“Ah Ye, you’re hurting me.”
The burning heat in his heart suddenly receded like a tide. Xiao Ye stared blankly at the woman before him. Lanyin would never call him that. The only one who would…
“Qing’er?”
He called out hoarsely.
After she nodded in grievance, Xiao Ye immediately let go of her hand. He sat up and looked down at his clothes—still the same ones from last night. Only then did he unconsciously sigh in relief. Glancing at Gu Qing again, now that his mind was clear, he felt he had truly lost his senses just now. Even though Qing’er and Lanyin had somewhat similar features, they were still different. Qing’er’s eyes were like the waters of Jiangnan—endlessly soft and tender, as if the slightest weight in her voice would make her eyes brim with tears. But Lanyin… Lanyin had never cried before. She dressed in elaborate, luxurious attire every day, her gaze noble and aloof, just like a revered Bodhisattva in a temple—one could only worship from afar, never daring to approach.
“Why are you here?” he asked, his peripheral vision sweeping toward the tightly shut door, his long brows knitting together.
Gu Qing had noticed his movement. Her eyes reddened involuntarily. Ah Ye had never treated her like this before—he had changed… But she still suppressed the sorrow in her heart and, rubbing her wrist, softly said, “I heard that you drank a lot last night. I was afraid you would feel unwell.”
Xiao Ye looked at the unconcealed concern on her face and suddenly recalled the days when she had taken care of him in the past. His heart softened, and his tone unconsciously grew gentler. “I’m fine, don’t worry.”
After all, there were still boundaries between men and women.
Just as he was about to tell her to leave, a commotion suddenly came from outside.
Xiao Siyu had arrived.
“Miss?” Yunfu hadn’t expected Xiao Siyu to come. Her face turned pale instantly, afraid that she would see the scene inside. She quickly stepped forward with a forced smile. “What brings you here?”
Hearing this, Xiao Siyu frowned. “Why wouldn’t I come?”
After a restless, sleepless night, her temper was flaring. She glanced at the tightly closed door and let out a cold laugh. “My brother truly has some nerve—his own wife has left, and yet he can still sleep soundly.”
As she spoke, she stepped forward to knock on the door, but Yunfu blocked her. “Miss, the heir is still asleep. Why don’t you rest in the flower hall for a while?”
That reaction.
Xiao Siyu immediately sensed something was wrong.
“Who else is inside?” she suddenly asked in a deep voice.
Yunfu’s face turned deathly pale, unable to answer. Seeing her like this, Xiao Siyu’s heart sank. If it were Xu Chengbi inside, Yunfu wouldn’t have acted this way—unless…
Realizing the possibility, she suddenly strode forward. Yunfu tried to stop her, but she was directly slapped across the face.
Xiao Siyu had trained in martial arts with Xiao Ye from a young age—archery, combat, she could do it all. A full-force slap from her was not something Yunfu could endure. Yunfu was sent sprawling to the ground. Xiao Siyu reached the door, about to kick it open when it was pushed open from inside.
Xiao Ye stood in the doorway, blocking her path, his voice carrying a trace of helplessness. “What’s all this ruckus so early in the morning?”
Xiao Siyu looked at him without speaking and simply pushed past him, trying to look inside.
Xiao Ye knew his sister’s temper well. If he blocked her, she would only make an even bigger scene. He had no choice but to step aside and explain, “Qing’er came to bring me sobering soup.”
Xiao Siyu first glanced at the canopy bed. Though it was somewhat messy, it didn’t look like two people had slept in it. She let out a small sigh of relief. Just as she was about to glare fiercely at Gu Qing, she heard Xiao Ye’s words and her expression darkened instantly.
“Qing’er?” She stared at Xiao Ye and questioned, “Brother, do you even realize that you are a married man? With your status, is it appropriate for you to address a married woman like that?”
Xiao Ye had been confronted with such accusations multiple times over the past two days. Now, even his usually obedient younger sister was lecturing him, and his expression darkened in displeasure. His voice grew cold, tinged with irritation. “Since when did it become your place to meddle in my affairs?”
“As if I want to meddle in your affairs!” Xiao Siyu was so furious that her eyes turned red. It was unclear whether it was from indignation or grief, but in the end, she gritted her teeth and asked, “I’ll only ask you one thing—what do you plan to do now?”
Xiao Ye pursed his thin lips slightly and remained silent.
He was still holding onto his anger, and besides, after saying such harsh words in the manor yesterday, how could he possibly lower his head now?
“Good, good, good!”
Xiao Siyu was so enraged by his attitude that she shouted three consecutive “good”s before yelling at him, “I will never interfere in your affairs again! You can just stay with your precious Qing’er and live your happy life!” But she still couldn’t swallow her anger. After speaking, she gave Xiao Ye a hard shove and was about to storm out when she looked around at the familiar surroundings and suddenly remembered the years she had spent growing up under her brother’s protection.
In the end, Xiao Siyu stopped in her tracks. With red-rimmed eyes, she turned back around and asked him, placing herself in his shoes, “Brother, if one day, Tu Yici brings a woman into our home and asks me to take care of her, do you think I should be angry with him?”
“He wouldn’t dare!”
Xiao Ye snapped back without even thinking. But the moment he said it, he fell into silence.
A faint warmth spread through Xiao Siyu’s heart as she looked at him and continued, “Brother, if you want Sister-in-law to come back, then send that woman inside away immediately and never concern yourself with her again. Otherwise, no one will be able to help you.”
Xiao Ye remained silent.
How could he not understand the truth in Siyu’s words? But…
Behind him, Qing’er’s trembling, fearful sobs reached his ears as she called out his name. The image of the day he had found her resurfaced in his mind—how she had cowered on the bed, trembling in fear. He couldn’t bring himself to abandon her. He simply couldn’t leave her behind—not yet.
“…I can’t send her away right now.”
When Xiao Siyu saw his silence, her heart turned completely cold. And upon hearing these words, she lost even the desire to continue speaking. Her expression frosted over as she turned to leave. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Yunfu kneeling on the ground, her face red and swollen, and let out a scoff.
“Since Brother has made his choice, I won’t say anything more. After all, as a married daughter, I have no authority over you. But as your sister, I will still offer you one piece of advice—look carefully at the people serving you. Don’t let every filthy little scheme into the manor.”
“Our Earl’s household has only just begun to rebuild its reputation. Don’t let these lowly creatures ruin it!”
With that, she didn’t even spare another glance and swept away in fury.
Yunfu had been trembling in fear ever since Xiao Siyu spoke. The moment Xiao Siyu stepped out of the courtyard, Yunfu collapsed to her knees and crawled toward Xiao Ye, pleading desperately for forgiveness. But Xiao Ye, looking down at the maid who had served him for years, felt nothing. Even without Siyu’s words, he had already intended to investigate once Qing’er left.
Now, he only cast a cold glance at Yunfu, who was bowing and begging for mercy, and ordered emotionlessly, “Take her away and hand her over to Steward Xu.”
Yunfu looked up in disbelief, her once smooth and fair forehead now covered in dirt, blood streaming down her delicate face. It wasn’t until she was being dragged away by several older servants that she finally reacted. As she was nearly out of the courtyard, she twisted her head back and wailed, like a blood-soaked nightingale, “Heir!”
But the man never even spared her a glance.
Yunfu’s fate sent a wave of fear through everyone in Xiao Ye’s courtyard. The remaining servants knelt silently, not daring to utter a single word. Xiao Ye ignored them. When he turned back inside, he saw Gu Qing, her face equally as pale as she looked at him. His expression wavered for a moment, but he had no energy left to comfort her. He could only soften his voice as much as possible and coax her, “Qing’er, go back first.”
After Gu Qing was led away by Xueya, Xiao Ye’s face darkened completely. He turned his gaze toward the divorce document on the table, his expression inscrutable.
A moment later.
He called for Zhou An and instructed, “Send someone to Hangzhou to investigate the situation. Has Qing’er severed ties with the Fang family? If not, go and help her.” Originally, he had planned to wait for a letter from the Marquess’s wife, his mother-in-law, but in just two days, the situation at home had deteriorated to this point. If Qing’er stayed any longer, it seemed that reconciliation with Lanyin would become impossible.
Although he was furious with Lanyin’s actions, he had no intention of divorcing her.
He could only hope that Qing’er’s matter would be resolved soon so that he could bring Lanyin back home.
—
Tu Yici sent his personal guards to escort Xiao Siyu to Lanyin’s estate in the eastern suburbs, while he himself went to the Ministry of Judicial Review to report for duty. However, he made a special detour to the Dali Temple on the way. He was a frequent visitor to the Dali Temple and didn’t need anyone to guide him as he made his way to Qi Yubai’s office. When he arrived, he noticed Tianqing was also there.
“Well, Tianqing is here too.”
He greeted him and then deliberately added, “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen that kid Zhusheng in a while. Where is he?”
Tianqing, a man of few words, simply acknowledged him with a “Lord Tu” and said nothing more. Tu Yici found it rather dull, which was why he preferred Zhusheng. He could always coax some information out of him. For instance, it was from Zhusheng that he had learned about Qi Yubai’s feelings for someone. Unfortunately, after being beaten once, the boy now treated Tu Yici as if he had killed his parents, and even his favorite candies couldn’t win him over.
It was truly disheartening.
“You may leave now.”
At Qi Yubai’s command, Tianqing immediately bowed to both of them and withdrew.
After Tianqing left, Tu Yici glanced at Qi Yubai, who was ignoring him, but he didn’t find it boring. He sat down in a nearby chair, poured himself a cup of tea, and then said, “Let me tell you something interesting.”
Qi Yubai didn’t look up, continuing to review the official documents in his hands.
“My brother-in-law was caught in the act by my wife today… in the bedroom.” Tu Yici’s peach-blossom eyes fixed intently on Qi Yubai, deliberately drawing out his words. When he noticed Qi Yubai’s hand pause, his eyebrows lifted, and he leaned closer. “Want to know what exactly happened?”
Qi Yubai glanced at him. “No.”
Seeing Tu Yici’s raised eyebrows and the obvious disbelief on his face, Qi Yubai didn’t elaborate. He simply continued reviewing the documents, adding indifferently, “Xiao Mingchuan wouldn’t do something like that at this time.”
Tu Yici clicked his tongue. “You know him well.”
He didn’t press further.
As he stood up to leave, he smoothed his official robe and looked at Qi Yubai, who sat as calmly as a seasoned monk. The man in the crimson official robe was serene, as if nothing in the world could stir his emotions. If Tu Yici hadn’t known about his secret feelings, no one would have guessed that such a man as Qi Yubai could be deeply in love with another man’s wife.
“Let me remind you, Xiao Mingchuan has sent someone to Hangzhou. It seems he still wants to make things work with my sister-in-law.”
He deliberately emphasized “sister-in-law.”
Seeing Qi Yubai’s dark phoenix eyes turn toward him, Tu Yici laughed heartily. “I say, Senior Brother, why are you glaring at me? I’ve already started calling her ‘sister-in-law’ ahead of time. Don’t let me down now.”
With that, he swaggered out, full of confidence.
Qi Yubai watched his retreating figure, shook his head, and returned to reviewing the official documents.
Meanwhile, as Tu Yici, worried about being disappointed, rode his carriage away from the Dali Temple toward the Ministry of Judicial Review, he spotted Tianqing speaking with someone on the road. He asked Yanming, who was outside, “Who is that?”
Yanming glanced over. “Looks like a property agent from the city.” He sounded curious. “Is Lord Qi planning to buy a new residence?”
Tu Yici, however, immediately guessed Qi Yubai’s intentions.
His long fingers lightly tapped the small table, and amidst the crisp sound, he chuckled and shook his head. “Qi Yubai, oh Qi Yubai, I really underestimated you.”