Lanyin left Ting Yun behind and took Sh Yu and Song Yue down the mountain. Meanwhile, on the other side, Xiao Ye hurriedly brought Gu Qing into the estate.
Since Xiao Ye had left home upon receiving the news, Steward Xu had been restless, repeatedly regretting his actions. In truth, it would have been better for everyone if Madam Fang had simply left. Why had he gone out of his way to intervene? But if something had happened to Madam Fang, not only would the young master blame himself, but he, too, would be filled with remorse.
He resented her presence for causing harm to the young master and his wife, but he never wished for anything bad to happen to her.
Pacing in the courtyard, he both hoped that the young master would find Madam Fang and that he wouldn’t… Suddenly, he heard hurried footsteps. Turning around, Steward Xu saw Xiao Ye, his face stern, carrying Gu Qing in his arms.
At first, Steward Xu was stunned by Xiao Ye’s actions.
Just as he was about to frown, he noticed the unconscious Gu Qing in Xiao Ye’s arms. Forgetting his urge to admonish, he quickly approached and asked, “What happened?”
Xiao Ye did not answer his question, only issuing a terse command, “Go call Doctor Du.” Then, he strode forward with Gu Qing in his arms.
Steward Xu dared not delay and immediately sent someone to fetch Doctor Du.
…
Half an hour later.
After Doctor Du finished taking Gu Qing’s pulse and examining her injuries, he stood up. Xueya stepped forward to close the bed curtains, and only then did Xiao Ye emerge from behind the Shu embroidery screen depicting a lakeside landscape. He glanced at Gu Qing, who was still unconscious behind the gauzy curtains, and asked Doctor Du with unconcealed concern, “Doctor Du, how is she?”
Since the patient had not yet awakened, Doctor Du lowered his voice and replied, “Young Master, this lady fell from a horse and was kicked by its hooves. Although there is no serious danger, she will need to rest and recuperate for some time.”
“However—”
Just as Xiao Ye began to relax, he heard this word, and his heart, which had just settled, once again tightened. “However, what?”
“I noticed that this lady is burdened with excessive worry, showing signs of a weak constitution. If not properly cared for, I fear…”
Xiao Ye’s expression changed. “You fear what?”
Doctor Du sighed. “I fear she may have a tendency toward an early demise.”
Xiao Ye’s body swayed, and he staggered slightly. He barely managed to steady himself by grasping the screen behind him. In the room, Xueya’s soft sobs could be heard. After a long silence, Xiao Ye finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “How can this illness be treated?”
Doctor Du shook his head. “A weak constitution is different from other illnesses. There is no cure, only ways to alleviate her worries. She must no longer live in fear or anxiety. If her mood improves, her health will follow.”
“…I understand.”
Xiao Ye furrowed his brows, thanked the doctor, and had someone escort him out. After Doctor Du left, he glanced at Gu Qing behind the curtains and then at Xueya, who stood to the side, quietly sobbing. In a stern voice, he said, “Come with me.” He stood in the outer room, hearing her footsteps behind him, and without turning his head, he asked, “Why is she so burdened with worry?”
“Does the young master truly not know?” Xueya, resentful of Xiao Ye’s actions the previous day, spoke without her usual deference. Her voice was filled with anger as she addressed him. “Since coming to Hangzhou with you, my mistress has not had a single day of peace.”
“Those in the Gu household, aside from Madam, have never treated her with sincerity. They act one way to her face and another behind her back.”
“Elder Brother Fang treats her well, but she does not love him. The more he shows her kindness, the more guilt she feels. And then there was the incident with Second Young Master…”
“Now you want to drive her away. How could she not be consumed with worry?!”
“I…” Xiao Ye wanted to explain that he did not intend to drive her away, but he could not bring himself to say it. He did indeed want to bring Lanyin back, and the prerequisite for bringing Lanyin back was that Qing’er had to leave.
It was just that, originally, he had thought that if Qing’er wanted to return to Hangzhou, he would personally escort her back. If she did not want to stay in Hangzhou, he could also send her to Yanmen Pass to her father-in-law. If she wanted to stay in Bianjing, that would be fine as well—he could personally arrange an estate for her, buy servants and attendants to ensure her safety.
But clearly, Qing’er did not want any of this.
“Shizi…”
Xueya still wanted to speak.
But a light coughing sound came from behind.
Gu Qing had woken up.
“Master!” Without caring to say anything more to Xiao Ye, Xueya immediately turned around and rushed back into the room.
Xiao Ye followed inside as well.
Gu Qing had been comforting Xueya, but the moment she suddenly met Xiao Ye’s gaze, her affectionate eyes turned red. She turned her head away. “Since you want me to leave, why did you bring me back?”
She spoke with extreme grievance.
Xiao Ye stood by the bed, lowering his gaze as he looked at her. After a moment of silence, he finally closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and said in a hoarse voice, “Stay home and rest well. From now on… I will not drive you away again.”
“I still have to go to the yamen. Stay home and rest first. When I finish work tonight, I will come back to see you.”
After speaking, Xiao Ye gave Xueya a few more instructions before leaving.
After he left—
Xueya, sweeping away her previous gloom, held Gu Qing’s hand excitedly and said, “Master, we don’t have to leave anymore!”
But Gu Qing, watching Xiao Ye’s departing figure, did not share Xueya’s joy. She remained silent, sorrowful, her eyes still red… She knew very well that even if she stayed, some things had already changed.
But other than staying, what else could she do?
In this world, the only person she could trust and rely on was him.
…
“Oh? Weak constitution?” Lady Xu, having heard the news from Lianxin, was flipping through an account book as she raised her willow-shaped brows, the corners of her lips curling into a half-smile. “I suddenly think that Xiao Mingchuan is rather pitiful.”
As she turned the pages of the account book, she leisurely mocked, “To have entangled himself with such a dodder flower that he can neither shake off nor drive away—truly pitiful.”
“Are you not afraid?” Lianxin frowned.
“Afraid?”
Lady Xu chuckled. “If it were before today, I might have been afraid. But now, I just think that the one in Xiangliu Courtyard is truly not very clever. If she had left boldly today, perhaps Xiao Mingchuan would still think of her with longing. But instead, she chose to stay, calculating that Xiao Mingchuan could not possibly ignore her, binding him with gratitude and pity so that he cannot abandon her.”
“But she doesn’t know,” Lady Xu gazed at the beautiful scenery outside the window, her voice chillingly indifferent, “what men in this world hate most is exactly this. Tell me, once Xiao Mingchuan grows tired of her, what will our dear Madam Fang be left with?”
—
Lanyin rode in a carriage to Tianshui Alley.
Although the Tianshui Alley in the Eastern Temple Gate Street could not compare to Zhuque Street, most of the residents here were either court officials or reputable scholars, making the environment refined. Moreover, since this area connected to several government offices, those unruly types dared not come and go as they pleased.
Dan Xi had already been waiting outside.
From a distance, he saw the carriage stop and immediately hurried over. Though he was short in stature, he was quick-witted, and the dimple on his right cheek made him particularly endearing. Seeing Lanyin being helped down from the carriage by Shi Yu using the mounting stool, he quickly stepped forward to bow and said, “Knowing you were coming, I’ve already bought tea and pastries from Huixiang Tower. Please, come inside and take a look.”
Lanyin nodded and was about to enter when her peripheral vision caught sight of the prominently hung plaque on the neighboring estate—
“Qi Residence.”
The plaque, made of ebony with yellow lacquer, bore two characters exuding an air of solemnity and antiquity. For no apparent reason, Lanyin was reminded of the faint ink stains on the paper in the Tingyu Pavilion.