"I know you have that ability, and I didn't want to mess with your affairs. If I showed up, it would inevitably affect your plan to attack Danfeng, which is why I stayed in Wuching Valley. I originally thought you would return to Wuching Valley after destroying Danfeng and Wanhe Kingdom, but I never expected you not to go back, so I came?"
There was a hint of unspeakable pain in Wuqing's voice, and her actions seemed to have hurt him. Qingyao trembled and smiled gently at him.
"You're overthinking it. The soldiers are recuperating, and there will be another plan soon, which is why I haven't returned to Wuching Valley. If I had known you were alive, I would have returned long ago."
"Mm."
A warm, flowing atmosphere filled the bamboo house. The two spoke naturally, and everything seemed to return to the past, to the happiest times in Wuching Valley…
Wuqing stayed. Since the bamboo house was small, Qingyao also ordered the soldiers to build another bamboo house next to it.
Bingxiao watched everything unfold, her heart filled with anxiety. She sighed all day, her expression extremely distressed. Why hadn't her master arrived yet? This Wuqing was lingering here and refusing to leave. If her master didn't appear soon, she feared the marshal would be snatched away by someone else.
Three days later, Yin Xuan finally arrived.
Qingyao was stunned. What was going on? Wuqing had appeared, and Yin Xuan had also appeared. These two men really knew how to pick their timing. What about the palace?
The thought of him sneaking out of the palace again made Qingyao's expression a little displeased. "Why did you sneak out of the palace again?"
"I came to see you and Little Yu'er," Yin Xuan said quietly, his expression natural. He didn't mention Wuqing or the letter from Bingxiao. He just pointed to the other bamboo house by the original one and raised his eyebrows curiously, "Why are there two bamboo houses?"
Qingyao's heart trembled. She felt like she'd been caught red-handed by her husband. This was terrible. It wasn't anything. Wuqing had come to visit her, and the bamboo house she was staying in only had an inner and outer room. She couldn't possibly live with him, so she had to have the soldiers build another one. She just hadn't expected him to rush over.
Just as she didn't know what to say, the door of the adjacent bamboo house creaked open, and Qingfeng pushed Wuqing out.
The two men officially met. Qingyao looked at one, then the other, not knowing what to say. The scene of a modern husband meeting his mistress flashed through her mind. Would it be intense and explosive, or would they attack each other? But in the end, nothing happened. This was due to the good upbringing of the two men, and besides, she and Wuqing were nothing, just as she and Emperor Xian were nothing.
"You're here?"
Wuqing spoke faintly. Yin Xuan nodded and raised his eyebrows curiously, "You're still alive?"
This was a natural, instinctive reaction from most people towards someone who had been dead for a long time. However, the words sounded strange, and a fleeting pain flashed across Wuqing's beautiful face. He slowly said, "You wish I were dead."
As soon as he said this, Yin Xuan was at a disadvantage. Qingyao glared at him displeasedly. How could he say such a thing? It was a joyous occasion that Wuqing was alive.
Yin Xuan didn't move. He looked earnestly at Wuqing, as if the purity of the past was gone and something else had been added. Although it was strange, he couldn't quite articulate it. Qingyao quickly walked over and said softly, "Wuqing, you're overthinking it. We're all very happy that you're alive. Let's go to the lake. Didn't you say you would play the zither for me?"
His zither music was as clear and elegant as a cup of fine tea, calming a restless heart.
Hearing her say this, Wuqing smiled happily, raised his eyebrows, his face radiant, and slowly said, "Okay, let's go."
"Mm." Qingyao nodded and gently pushed Wuqing's wheelchair towards the nearby lake dike. She hadn't intended to look back, but she couldn't resist glancing at Yin Xuan. She saw that Yin Xuan's dark pupils were filled with a sorrow as thick as rain. Had she hurt him? Thinking of what he had done for her, her heart ached with a piercing pain. She was truly in a dilemma now; no matter what she did, it felt thankless and exhausting…
Yin Xuan watched the two of them leave. His subordinate beside him called out, "Master."
Just then, Little Yu'er heard the commotion outside and rushed out. "You're here."
"Mm," Seeing his daughter, Yin Xuan's mood inexplicably improved. He picked up Little Yu'er in his arms. He still had his daughter. What was he afraid of that man for? If he could truly give Qingyao happiness, he could let go. However, he always felt something was strange about Wuqing. Although this man had given Qingyao many things, he had also caused her a lot of pain. How could a person who had clearly died come back to life? He had seriously taken his pulse that time; the person was clearly dead, so how could he have revived?
Mochou and Bingxiao walked out. They didn't see the marshal but heard faint zither music nearby, so they knew the marshal had gone to listen to Young Master Wuqing play. They couldn't help but sigh in their hearts. What was all this about?
Actually, the one who truly felt hurt should be their master. She didn't want to hurt either of them, but when these two men met, it was already a form of hurt.
"How did he come back to life?"
Yin Xuan looked up at Bingxiao. Bingxiao respectfully replied, "Reporting to Master, according to Young Master Wuqing's subordinate, Qingfeng, it seems that the Young Master took a feigned death medicine, so he was only feigning death at the time, not truly dead."
"Feigned death medicine?"
Yin Xuan raised his eyebrows. He had traveled the world since he was eighteen and had apprenticed under Elder Chi Xia, but he had never heard of feigned death medicine. When a person died, they died; where was there a state of feigned death? However, the world was vast and full of wonders, so he couldn't be sure it didn't exist.
"Yes, Master."
Yin Xuan said nothing more and played with Little Yu'er for a while until Qingyao returned.
"You shouldn't have said that earlier."
Qingyao said faintly. She didn't blame Yin Xuan. For someone who had died and come back to life, it was a natural, instinctive reaction. However, she didn't know how to talk to him now. The natural harmony they had shared before was violently disrupted. A cold current flowed between them. Although Yin Xuan appeared indifferent, he still felt pain in his heart.
"I didn't mean to say it like that."
"I know," Qingyao nodded, looking up at him. Although her appearance had been altered, he could still tell that he had lost weight, and his jawline was becoming even sharper. He had ridden day and night to get here. He probably never imagined the current situation, but what should she do? If it were a military campaign, she would have no hesitation. She wasn't skilled in matters of the heart, but seeing his dejection, she couldn't help but feel bad and said heavily.
"I'm sorry, I?"
"Don't say sorry. It's not your fault. It's just that some things were unexpected. Now that he's no longer in any danger, if he truly loves you that much, I'll be relieved, and I won't have to leave the palace anymore."
He stood up and paced to the door. His voice was indifferent, but it was spoken with all his might. He had already prepared to let go long ago, if that was truly her happiness.