Chapter 9

Yi Ling had only lived for a short twenty years, but she had already experienced great hardships and even faced death once.

Yet, through all the dangers, she had endured by clinging to her hope for the future.

But in this moment, facing Xie Hengzhi’s gaze, only one thought filled her mind.

“Better to live badly than die well.”

In the stillness of the night, the room was as silent as death itself.

Yi Ling’s face had turned a deep red and purple, but somehow she still stood firmly. She casually tossed the robe in her hand aside, then slowly turned, tucking her hands in as she gracefully walked toward the bed, trying to avoid Xie Hengzhi’s gaze.

After a long while, she managed to squeeze out three words.

“Are you back?”

Fortunately, Xie Hengzhi didn’t seem to want to linger on the earlier scene. He turned and sat on the window side of the couch, casually picking up a book and replying with a faint “Mm.”

The conversation, so plain and indifferent, seemed like that of an old married couple who had been living apart for more than ten years.

Yi Ling turned her back to him and sat down with calm movements.

The moment her lower body touched the bed, her hands and feet instantly became weak, and all the energy she had been suppressing surged up to her head, making her heart feel as if it were about to burst from her chest.

How could…

It be so…

…suffocating!!!

This feeling was far worse than the physical pain she had endured earlier. If she had known, she would have preferred to die over there instead!

Yi Ling gasped, her face expressionless. If she hadn’t been too weak to lift her arms, she would have pinched herself to prevent fainting from her own anger.

After a long while, Yi Ling finally recovered.

She closed her eyes to calm her breath, steeled herself mentally, then turned to look at Xie Hengzhi.

“Actually, I just…”

“You don’t need to explain.”

Xie Hengzhi, lounging on the Luohan couch, leaned against a soft pillow, one arm draped over a bent knee, his gaze fixed on the book in his hand.

He heard her voice but didn’t even glance at her.

“I don’t want to hear it either.”

“?”

Fine.

Yi Ling turned her face away, focusing on the embroidery on the quilt to settle her emotions.

After a moment.

No, she had to clarify things, or else Xie Hengzhi might think she admired him.

The more she thought about it, the more she couldn’t hold it in. She tugged at her skirt and tried to stand up.

Her competitive spirit, however, deflated the moment she saw the expression on Xie Hengzhi’s face.

He usually wore a smile, an otherworldly charm in his demeanor, like a banished immortal, with his eyes always exuding a touch of nonchalance and flirtation.

Even the night she tried to assassinate him, she had never seen him get angry.

But everyone knew his reputation, so when he smiled, it only made people uneasy.

Now, in the warm confines of his own bedroom, facing his newlywed wife, Xie Hengzhi’s expression was complicated.

There was no coldness or anger in his look, just a furrowed brow as he stared at her and coolly said three words.

“Go, sleep, now.”

Yi Ling shrank her neck.

“…Alright.”

–
The night wind howled outside but didn’t reach the intricately carved Lin Fengyuan.

Yi Ling couldn’t understand how she could lie in the same bed as Xie Hengzhi and still fall asleep peacefully.

Perhaps it was because the room was far warmer than the shabby side courtyard, or maybe Xie Hengzhi’s presence helped alleviate her chronic pain.

In any case, holding onto the belief of “enduring for a lifetime of peace,” Yi Ling managed to sleep soundly the whole night.

When she opened her eyes the next morning, the autumn sun had already softened and warmed the quilt.

The room carried a faint medicinal scent, and she took a few deep breaths. As she sat up, she felt utterly refreshed.

It felt as though a weary servant had finally been allowed to rest properly.

Yi Ling tilted her head back and closed her eyes. The bright autumn sunlight filtered through the diamond-patterned window, casting fragmented beams of light on her face.

Living… feels so good.

She greedily savored every sensation in her body, feeling at ease and truly alive, as if she had just returned to life.

When she opened her eyes again, she noticed Xie Hengzhi was already dressed.

Compared to the unbearable pain of illness, what were these trivial matters?

As long as she was alive, she still had the chance for revenge.

Her current state of waiting was just her absorbing Xie Hengzhi’s luck.

With that thought, Yi Ling’s gaze towards Xie Hengzhi softened considerably.

However, when speaking, she couldn’t help but add a touch of sarcasm.

“Master, up so early. Are you going to work for the people again?”

Xie Hengzhi, washing his hands, ignored her completely, not even sparing her a glance.

After drying his hands he sat down to eat breakfast.

Yi Ling snorted lightly and got out of bed, heading to the side to wash up.

A moment later, the butler, Uncle Fu, appeared outside the door.

Since there was now a lady of the house, he didn’t enter but stood with his head lowered, asking, “Master, today is Country Lord of Qingyang’s fifth seventh. Should you… make an appearance?”

Hearing Uncle Fu’s words, Yi Ling froze for a moment.

It wasn’t until she heard the term “fifth seventh,” a funeral reference, that she realized she was the Country Lord of Qingyang.

“I won’t be going.”

Xie Hengzhi leisurely sipped his porridge, then seemed to recall something.

He turned and saw Yi Ling standing by the window, staring blankly.

“If you’re bored,” Xie Hengzhi said casually, “you could go for me.”

Meeting his calm gaze, Yi Ling snapped out of her thoughts, sitting down at the dressing table, picking up an eyebrow pencil to delicately touch up her eyebrows.

“Master, you can’t even go for an incense offering?”

Xie Hengzhi put down his spoon and picked up a pair of white jade chopsticks to eat some vegetables.

After chewing and swallowing, he replied, “Today, I’m going to travel to Lanjiang river with King Yan.”

Travel to Lanjiang river.

Yi Ling looked at Xie Hengzhi in the mirror, asking flatly, “Then the daughter of Yi Shangshu, who died in the battle you gained merit in, doesn’t deserve for you to personally offer incense?”

A crisp sound of something falling on the table.

Yi Ling turned around to see Xie Hengzhi had already set down his chopsticks.

“A battle may cost the lives of thousands. Should I go and offer incense for every single one?”

The room was warm and serene, with only the occasional sound of the maids tidying up.

Xie Hengzhi spoke with no emotion, his tone as casual as discussing the weather.

Yi Ling stared at him in the mirror, gritting her teeth with anger, but could only retort, “Aren’t you afraid ghosts will knock on your door in the middle of the night?”

Xie Hengzhi took the handkerchief the maid handed him and wiped his mouth, his expression unchanged.

“Seems like the only one who knocks on my door at night is you.”

“…”

–
Half an hour later, two carriages drove out of the Xie residence, heading in opposite directions.

Yi Ling climbed into the carriage with a dark expression, not saying a word.

Mallow noticed her bad mood and pondered for a while before suddenly pointing out the window at a tree.

“Madam, look at that paulownia tree. It’s really beautiful! It’s just like the scenery in Jiangzhou.”

Yi Ling ignored her.

Mallow thought for a moment, then pulled out some preserved fruit and offered it to Yi Ling.

“Madam, you haven’t eaten anything this morning; you must be hungry, right?”

Yi Ling finally moved, but only lazily glanced at her.

Mallow was at a loss and pouted, saying, “Madam, you haven’t said a word since we left, and you haven’t smiled once. Is something bothering you?”

“…Mallow.”

Yi Ling looked helplessly at this servant with a mind that was too simple, wondering how such a big talent like the Shang family could have such a big fool by her side.

“I went to pay respects to the recently deceased daughter of another family.”

“…Oh.”

The autumn wind howled, and the dry leaves scattered in the air.

The coachman stopped outside the alley where Yi’s residence was hesitating.

“Madam, there are too many carriages in this alley; we might not be able to get through. Should we wait a moment?”

Yi Ling lifted the curtain to look inside.

Because her “honor” was so high, even at five or seven in the morning, the outside of Yi’s residence was still bustling with carriages and covered pavilions, stretching all the way to the mouth of the alley.

“Then let’s wait for a while.”

As soon as she spoke, Yi Ling heard a commotion from the far end of the alley, the sound of people and horses in chaos.

Before she could react, a woman dressed in red appeared, riding a fine blood-sweat horse, cracking a whip and galloping towards them, followed by two young eunuchs on horseback chasing after her.

The speed was so fast that others couldn’t even see who it was.

“What’s going on?”

The only people in the carriage were Yi Ling, Mallow, and the coachman, none of whom could answer her question.

In the midst of speaking, the woman in red stopped in front of Yi Ling’s carriage.

At the moment of eye contact, Yi Ling finally recognized the person.

Wasn’t this… Princess Yu’an?!

What is she trying to do?

However, it seemed that Princess Yu’an didn’t recognize Yi Ling; she only stopped because her path was blocked.

At that moment of Yi Ling’s shock, the princess had already furrowed her brows and cracked her whip, driving the coachman who blocked her path aside, causing the horses to rear and neigh in panic.

Then she continued her reckless ride, dust rising in the air.

But because of that brief stop, Princess Yu’an was eventually caught up by the two Eunuchs.

They reined in their horses, blocking her path, and both dismounted, kneeling on the ground.

“Princess! Princess! Please reconsider!”

It seemed that something major was happening.

Yi Ling, Mallow, and the coachman all stretched their necks, eager to find out what was going on with this noble lady.

Before they could figure it out, a palace maid, who hadn’t been able to ride a horse, finally caught up.

But instead of trying to stop Princess Yu’an, she seemed to see Yi Ling and rushed towards the carriage as if she had found a savior.

“Thank you, Madam! Thank you, Madam! Please persuade the princess!”

Yi Ling was stunned again, staring at this unfamiliar palace maid, her face full of confusion.

“Who are you?”

“I’m a maidservant of Princess Yu’an!”

Yi Ling: “What happened? Why do you want me to persuade her?”

The palace maid, frantic, answered with trembling words, “Do you still remember the princess’s fiancé, the eldest son of the Wang family? He disappeared a month ago, vanishing without a trace. Even the Wang family couldn’t find him. The princess has been unable to eat or sleep, consumed by worry, and even unable to get out of bed.”

Yi Ling: “Get to the point.”

Hearing this, the palace maid immediately sped up her speech.

“The princess just found out that the day before the eldest son of the Wang family disappeared, he had a conflict with Lord Xie, so she’s going to the Xie residence to confront Lord Xie!!!”

Another unjust soul dead under Xie Hengzhi’s hands?

Yi Ling was shocked, but when she looked back, she saw Princess Yu’an had already whipped the eunuchs, blood splattering, making them roll on the ground.

“Get out of the way!”

The princess was furious, and Mallow and the others were left dumbfounded, the surroundings completely silent.

Seeing Princess Yu’an charge towards the Xie residence again, the palace maid kneeled in desperation.

“Madam! This will lead to a disaster! Please help!”

“Such a thing? Then I certainly won’t stand by and watch!”

Upon hearing Yi Ling’s words, the palace maid felt greatly relieved.

However, in the next moment, Yi Ling turned to the back of Princess Yu’an’s retreating figure and shouted, “Xie Hengzhi isn’t at the Xie residence today! He’s at Lanjiang river!!!”

As she spoke, Yi Ling, afraid Princess Yu’an wouldn’t know where this only river in the entire capital was, added, “It’s the Lanjiang river near the western suburbs, under Lushan! Don’t go the wrong way!!!”