Chapter 33  

“Ah Qiao, how did you find out?”

Jiang Huai’s voice lingered in Xu Lianqiao’s ears, and no matter how tightly she closed her eyes, she couldn’t escape it.

How she figured it out was probably from last night when Jiang Huai touched her earlobe.

This was something Jiang Huai always did, and Xu Lianqiao knew it.

She remembered that on New Year’s Day last year, when Jiang Huai was drunk, she went to take care of him at the request of Mrs. Jiang. He had touched her ear then.

“Ah Qiao, look at me.”

Jiang Huai’s tone was almost pleading.

Xu Lianqiao hoped this was just a nightmare, but the pain from her jaw reminded her that it wasn’t. Jiang Huai was really back.

“Then where did he go?”

An overwhelming panic filled Xu Lianqiao’s heart, and she was too afraid to think about it.

She didn’t know anything—how he arrived or how he left.

And… she didn’t even know if he was her big brother.

“He’s just a lonely ghost. Naturally, he went where he should have gone.” Jiang Huai said, gritting his teeth.

Suddenly, a sense of powerlessness and helplessness overwhelmed Xu Lianqiao from all sides.

Unable to hold it in any longer, tears flowed from her eyes.

This scene reminded Jiang Huai of the night he left, when Ah Qiao had cried like this.

“Ah Qiao, don’t cry.”

He reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. He wanted to hold her in his arms like this.

Could he bear to see her cry like this?

“Jiang Huai…”

Xu Lianqiao sobbed, “You don’t like me, so why can’t you let me go and let yourself go too?”

She pushed against him, but Jiang Huai still held her tightly in his arms.

“Ah Qiao, who said I don’t like you?”

He knew he’d liked her for a long time, maybe from the very first moment he saw her.

Ignoring her struggles, Jiang Huai embraced her tightly, stroked her disheveled hair, and whispered in her ear, “Ah Qiao, I like you.”

Xu Lianqiao felt a chill at his words.

What he liked was keeping concubines for himself and allowing his mother, sister, concubines, and even servants to humiliate her.

He would strangle her neck at every opportunity…

She couldn’t accept his affection like this.

“Ah Qiao, you also like me, right?”

Jiang Huai said to himself.

Ah Qiao must like him, otherwise she wouldn’t have taken care of him when he was drunk, put clothes on him when he fell asleep in the study, or turned off the lights for him.

Remembering this, Jiang Huai’s gaze softened a little.

He caressed her hot cheek, held the back of her neck with one hand, and wrapped the other around her waist.

Xu Lianqiao struggled, but her strength was insufficient to break free from Jiang Huai. All she could do was turn her head as much as she could.

But Jiang Huai wouldn’t let her have her way.

As his face drew closer, Xu Lianqiao lifted herself on tiptoe and bit Jiang Huai’s shoulder.

“Hiss…”

The unexpected pain made Jiang Huai hiss, but he didn’t let go.

In fact, it made him feel a little pleased.

Lost in his own world, Xu Lianqiao heard him mutter:

“Ah Qiao, don’t be so stubborn, we’ll be happy in the future.”

“Forget that person. I’ll treat you well in the future.”

“We’ll have a baby, a boy or a girl.”

Xu Lianqiao finally lost all strength, as if she had given up entirely.

She gasped for breath.

She was so tired.

Tears had already stained her face, and she thought to herself that she must look ridiculous now.

Did she like Jiang Huai?

Perhaps it was more accurate to say that she had fought for their relationship.

Of course, she knew that Jiang Huai didn’t like her, and even hated her, but she fought for herself to make life in the Jiang Mansion easier.

“No, I’ve never liked you.”

Even if no one loved her, it didn’t mean she would just fall for a man who treated her so badly.

Jiang Huai heard her words and chuckled. “But what should I do? There’s no divorce letter or divorce decree. You will be my wife, Jiang Huai Wife, for the rest of your life. You’ll only be with me for the rest of your life. We’ll live together and die together.”

Xu Lianqiao’s skin crawls when he mentioned it.

She couldn’t help but fall into deep despair.

Yes, without the divorce letter and Li Shu, she couldn’t escape.

Why hadn’t she closed the door earlier? Why hadn’t she reacted a day sooner?

Weak and regretful, Xu Lianqiao could hardly breathe.

As if sensing her discomfort, Jiang Huai finally let go of her.

Once Xu Lianqiao was freed from his hold, she instinctively tried to escape, but her legs gave way and she fell backward, hitting the ground hard.

Her body ached everywhere.

Jiang Huai reached out to help her, but as soon as his hand touched her, Xu Lianqiao felt a chill run through her.

She was afraid…

“Ah Qiao, trust me, I’ll never hurt you again, nor will I let others hurt you again,” Jiang Huai knelt down and said, his voice full of helplessness.

Xu Lianqiao lowered her head and didn’t answer. She was the only one who believed him. He had just hurt her.

A man’s promises were the least valuable.

Just like when he clearly said he would come back…

_

The Young Madam is unwell. You must not let her see the news these days.

After Jiang Huai left, Xu Lianqiao managed to calm herself a bit.

She wiped away her tears and stood up slowly. It wasn’t surprising that Jiang Huai’s mother looked down on her. She often felt like she wasn’t a true lady.

For example, right now…

which lady would sit on the ground and cry like this?

Xu Lianqiao never understood why Jiang Huai suddenly said he liked her.

Was he sick? Or had something happened to trigger this?

“Madam, be careful.”

When Xu Lianqiao stood up and nearly fell, she was supported by one of the nuns from the Jiang Mansion.

“Jiang Huai asked you to come.”

“The prince also cares for the Young Madam,” she said with assurance.

Xu Lianqiao glanced outside. The courtyard door was closed, and several more people emerged from the yard.

She realized that Jiang Huai was going to confine her again.

There were no more tricks left.

_

When Jiang Huai left Cuihu Courtyard and rushed to the study, he met the maid who served Lu Siqing.

“I’ve met the Crown Prince.”

As he was about to leave, the maid knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, my lady wishes to see you.”

When my lady was giving birth, the Crown Prince stayed by her side all night, claiming he wanted to ensure her safety. How could he now be so indifferent? After the young master was born safely, the prince never visited Mingxi Courtyard again.

The lady, who had been joyful at first, grew depressed, staring at the door all day, hoping the prince would appear.

“You are loyal to her,” Jiang Huai said with sarcasm.

But the maid kneeling before him didn’t pick up on the sarcasm: “My lady is very good to me. This is my duty.”

If he could, Jiang Huai would have gone back in time and scolded his past self. He never realized how skilled Lu Siqing was at winning people over.

Despite his bitterness, Jiang Huai went to see Lu Siqing. He wanted to settle some things with her.

“Your Majesty, you are here.”

As soon as Jiang Huai entered, he saw Lu Siqing lying on the bed, looking delicate, as if she might break at any moment. She tried to salute him.

“No need.”

He wasn’t interested in these formalities with her.

He sat down directly across from her and observed.

Lu Siqing was the complete opposite of Ah Qiao in his memory. She was composed, elegant, and at ease in her actions.

Compared to Ah Qiao, Lu Siqing seemed like the type of lady from a prominent family.

He had once thought he liked this kind of woman.

“Has the Crown Prince seen our child?”

Lu Siqing looked at him with hope and joy.

If it had been before, he would have softened.

But when she mentioned “our child,” those words cut into Jiang Huai’s heart.

He looked at her without emotion and revealed his plans: “I intend to adopt this child to my eldest brother.”

As soon as he finished, Lu Siqing’s eyes widened in shock, and she stared at him in disbelief.

“Why…why, Your Majesty, did Qing’er do something wrong?”

“What do you think?”

Lu Siqing had just given birth, and her reactions were slow. She thought it through in her mind repeatedly.

“Prince…”

Lu Siqing struggled to stand, and then knelt down. The child was her last bargaining chip, and she couldn’t afford to lose it.

“Your Majesty, I am also a victim in this matter involving Musk, and I didn’t mean to testify against my sister.”

She thought maybe this situation was beyond her control.

Jiang Huai wasn’t interested in debating it with her. To him, there was no point in discussing the past.

“It’s better to adopt the child to my eldest brother. The child will have a legitimate title, rather than being seen as a common-born for the rest of his life.”

Jiang Huai spoke coldly, his eyes showing no warmth.

Lu Siqing felt a chill running through her.

No… no…

She couldn’t lose the child.

Just as she was about to speak up, Jiang Huai looked at her with a slight smile.

“Why do you, as a mother, care more about your own well-being than your child’s future?”

“No…” Lu Siqing wanted to explain herself, but she realized any explanation would be futile given Jiang Huai’s icy demeanor.

“But the child was born after eight months of pregnancy. I worked so hard to give birth to him. Even though I know this is for his good, he’s only one day old. How could I, as a mother, give him up? He has only fed from me once.”

“I know you’re concerned about the child’s future, but the adoption doesn’t have to be rushed. Could I care for him until then?”

Lu Siqing broke down in tears, and Jiang Huai couldn’t help but think of his own mother.

If he could, why would he act with such cruelty?