“Because it’s you I love,” she said, each word distinct.
She had hoped to see a flicker of panic in his eyes, just a trace, but to her disappointment, she saw none.
“I don’t love you,” he rejected her directly.
Her heart shattered. Though she knew the answer, she had still thrown herself into proving it, time and again.
“Is it because of Miss Xue?” she asked, looking up.
“Even without her, it would be the same.”
“Cousin, do you know how much you hurt me by saying that?”
“But I know that if I didn’t say it, you wouldn’t give up.”
“Cousin, why? I’ve liked you ever since I first saw you at the age of eight, for a whole eight years. Why have you never liked me in all these years?”
“Cousin, if I don’t like you, I don’t like you. I don’t want to deceive you.”
She took a few steps back, shaking her head. “Why can’t you even lie to me?”
“I’m sorry, I cannot give anyone false hope. I finally found her, and I won’t let anyone become an excuse for her to leave me.”
He looked at Zhao Xiuzhu, who had collapsed onto the ground. He walked over and said, “I know you don’t like the Crown Prince, and you won’t marry him. You can rest assured.”
She looked up. “Then, will you marry me?”
He lowered his head and looked at her. She saw the indifference in his gaze. “Xiuzhu, my heart can no longer hold anyone else.”
“Cousin, my demands are not many. I can give the position of the main wife to her and be a concubine, is that alright?” she pleaded, looking at him.
“Xiuzhu, I’m sorry, I cannot. I don’t want her to suffer any grievances. She will be my wife, my only wife, then and forever.”
She shook her head. “It’s impossible, in the future, you…”
But her words didn’t finish. She saw his eyes, like dark pools, looking at her, and for a moment, she forgot what she was going to say.
“Cousin, some things, once known, should be buried with you.”
His voice was cold, and the air around them seemed to freeze.
Zhao Xiuzhu shivered uncontrollably, but she continued, “Cousin, I want to exchange this secret for a place by your side.”
She looked up. Though her palms were already sweating, she had to gamble, to bet whether he valued his future position more or Miss Xue.
After a long pause, she saw him smile, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. His gaze was filled with a chilling coldness that seemed to spread unrestrainedly, filling her with an unprecedented chill and a deep fear.
“Cousin, do you think I would be afraid of this secret? I don’t know how you found out, but if you intend to use it as a bargaining chip, your calculations are wrong. What if the whole world knew?” he looked at her with disdain.
She trembled and shook her head. “Impossible, how could you not be afraid? That…”
“Zhao Xiuzhu, think carefully before you speak. This secret concerns the life and death of the Zhao family. Are you sure you want to speak it?” he said, each word as cold as ice.
“I…”
“Zhao Xiuzhu, this is my last visit, out of respect for your uncle, Junxuan, and Zhao Han. If there is a next time, I don’t mind ensuring you can never speak again.”
She trembled all over and looked up at his cold face. “Cousin, are you going to kill me?”
“Why would I kill you? You are not worthy.” With that, she saw him stride out of the study.
She clutched the ground tightly, tears streaming down her face. Xue Xingyue, I will make your life worse than death, I absolutely will.
Song Xiuyuan walked out of the study to find Zhao Shiming waiting. He stepped forward and said, “Uncle.”
“Xiuyuan, give Xiuzhu some time, she…”
“Uncle, no more!” he glanced at Zhao Shiming and left.
Zhao Shiming sighed and walked towards the study.
“Master, are we just letting this go?” Bai Yu suddenly appeared before Song Xiuyuan in the carriage.
“It doesn’t matter. Let her make a fuss if she wants to,” Song Xiuyuan said indifferently, raising his hand.
“Master, Zhao Xuan and Zhao Han have returned from Qi,” Bai Yu reported.
Song Xiuyuan, who had been closing his eyes, suddenly opened them and looked at Bai Yu. “Is there any news?”
Bai Yu nodded. “It is said that the Emperor of Qi has been searching for a woman recently, reportedly his imperial concubine.”
Song Xiuyuan narrowed his eyes at this, his gaze as cold as ice. “Keep an eye on it.”
Bai Yu nodded, seeming to hesitate.
Seeing this, Song Xiuyuan asked, “Is there anything else?”
Bai Yu replied, “Master, about Yu Yun.”
“What about her?”
“Yu Yun has disappeared,” Bai Yu replied.
Song Xiuyuan frowned. “How could she disappear?”
“It is all my subordinates’ fault.” Bai Yu lowered his head, regretting it deeply.
“Send people to search.” Yu Yun knew things about Xue Xingyue. Her disappearance is not a good sign.
“Yes, Master.” Bai Yu departed.
He looked out the side of the carriage, a smile playing on his lips. “I wonder if my wife misses me. I’ve only been out for two hours and I already miss her.”
In her own courtyard, Xue Xingyue sneezed several times. She couldn’t help but curse, someone must be talking about her.
Suddenly, she heard a sound from behind and turned around. Qin Erniang was walking towards her.
Ever since the incident that morning, Qin Erniang had been melancholic.
Perhaps Qin Erniang would never believe that her elder brother could do such a thing, but it had indeed happened.
“Qin Erniang, sit down.” She felt it was her duty to counsel Qin Erniang.
Qin Erniang sat down.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked.
Qin Erniang nodded. “Thank you for your concern, Miss. Qin Erniang is much better.”
“Qin Erniang, what are your plans for the future?”
She saw Qin Erniang’s body stiffen, her head lowered as if she were holding back something.
“Qin Erniang, you need to think for yourself. Men are unreliable. Setting aside whether he was tempted, he did betray you. However, if you are prepared to accept it, then I have nothing more to say. But if…”
“Miss, I will not accept it,” Qin Erniang said, looking up, her face filled with tears.
“Good. If you won’t accept it, then forget him. Even if he begs you in the future, do not be soft-hearted.”
“I will. I, Qin Erniang, am not so indecisive,” Qin Erniang said, wiping away her tears.
“Yes, there are plenty of good men out there.”
“But I still wish he would have no descendants,” Qin Erniang gritted her teeth.
Not far away, Feng Qing felt a sudden chill in his lower body. He thought it would be best not to provoke anyone casually in the future, lest his lineage be cut off.