Chapter 43

Zhang Qingniang collapsed onto the wooden bench, rain mist blowing in with the wind, making her eyes wet.

Xun Yunhe came to sit opposite her. With each step closer, her features became clearer. From afar, she looked much the same as she did in the past, but up close, there were some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Xun Yunhe’s emotions suddenly calmed as he quietly looked at her.

Madam Zhang felt somewhat uncomfortable, lowered her head, and took a few deep breaths before raising her eyes to meet his. She suppressed the tears in her eyes and slowly forced a smile.

The once loving and trusting couple had now become the most awkward strangers.

Zhang Qingniang’s heart couldn’t help but feel sorrow. It was just fate playing tricks.

Xun Yunhe’s tone became gentle, “How have you been these past ten years?”

His eyes lowered slightly, with restraint, and his voice was husky and thick.

Zhang Qingniang avoided his gaze and nodded slowly, “Hmm, it’s not bad…”

“Is he good to you?” he asked again.

Zhang Qingniang gave a dry laugh and nodded again, “Good,” her tone intermittent, “very good…”

Xun Yunhe suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh, his eyes cold and clear as they fixed on her, “Better than me?”

Upon hearing these words, Zhang Qingniang’s throat visibly choked.

Some things, if not deliberately thought about, seem to be forgotten cleanly. But now, in a moment of trance, they were clearly brought back.

At that time, Xun Yu was simply as good as it could get. As long as he was at home, he hardly let her do anything. The villagers were all well taken care of by him. When he left, there was always someone helping her with farm work. She lived almost carefree with Nannan.

She was easily satisfied, just hoping that her husband could accompany her every day and not aspire to lofty ambitions. Xun Yu didn’t listen; he had great aspirations and ambitions to serve the world.

He took such good care of her, weaving a beautiful dream for her. When the news spread that he had abandoned his wife and daughter for a higher branch, she couldn’t accept it. She had never traveled far but packed her bags and went to the county alone to find him. In the pouring rain, she slipped down the hillside into the mud. As soldiers passed by the hillside, she vaguely heard someone say that Xun Yu had provoked the daughter of the county magistrate. Now, they wanted to burn her and her daughter and take Xun Yu to the capital for a good life.

Her hatred was overwhelming and all-encompassing. For a moment, she hated herself for insisting on marrying him, leading to this outcome. Thinking of the danger that still loomed over her daughter, she struggled in the mire but sank deeper. Soldiers occasionally passed by overhead, but she didn’t dare make a sound. The water rose higher, mudslides came down, and she was about to be buried in the mud. A scholar in white, holding a book above his head, ran along the ridge towards the hillside. She immediately cried out for help.

Xu Ke exerted tremendous effort to rescue her. She was covered in mud and leaned against his back. His not-so-strong back carried her step by step out of danger.

Yes, Xun Yu was better than Xu Ke in every way—appearance, character, and ability—but Xu Ke appeared before her in her most desperate moment. He stayed by her side through storms and gave her a stable life, so she chose him.

“I once told you I just wanted a stable life. You didn’t listen. You insisted on fighting for more. And what did you get?” Zhang Qingniang accused, feeling wronged.

The pain in Xun Yunhe’s eyes surfaced, and his voice was filled with guilt. “Qingniang, come back to me. I’ll make it up to Xu Ke…”

Before he could finish, Zhang Qingniang angrily interrupted, her eyes suddenly sharp like a fierce little beast. “Are you crazy? You only care about your own feelings. Have you thought about me? Have you thought about Xu Ke? Have you thought about the children?”

“Why do you think that just because you want me to go back, I can return to the past?”

The pain she felt as she slowly erased his affection from her heart, he would never understand. On what basis could he demand such a thing?

Madam Zhang forced herself to swallow her tears. Usually a gentle woman, she was resolute at this moment. “There is no going back. I’ve spent more than a decade with him as his wife. We have two children together.”

Xun Yunhe looked at his once-beloved wife; each word she spoke about another man caused his anger to rise. He spoke with venom, “If Xu Ke wants to rise in power and wealth, I will give it to him!”

“What about the two children? You could abandon a four-year-old back then. Now, those two kids have grown up. What can’t you let go of now?”

Zhang Qingniang was stunned as if doused in cold water, and suddenly understood. She took a deep breath and sneered, “So, you are here to seek justice for Nannan, is that it?”

Xun Yunhe kept a stern face and said nothing.

Madam Zhang laughed in anger, looking at the pouring rain, and cried out, “That’s right, I owe Nannan. In my life, I’ve been good to everyone except this daughter, but I had no choice. Do you think I haven’t thought it through?”

“Instead of letting Nannan live under someone’s roof, facing people’s disdain, and becoming weak in character, it was better for her to stay with her father. My father may not be meticulous in his care, but he would never show her a bad face or make her suffer. Look at how well she has grown now. If she were with me, she might have faced many hardships.”

Xun Yunhe closed his eyes deeply.

For a moment, he wanted to question, did she really have to marry?

Couldn’t she just live a good life with Nannan, so that the three of them could reunite, and Nannan wouldn’t suffer so much? In the end, he didn’t ask. He wasn’t worthy; he didn’t have the right. All the mistakes originated from him. Rather than hating Qingniang, he hated himself.

“I want to give Nannan a home and repay her what I owe her.”

“Impossible!”

“Don’t force me.” Xun Yunhe looked at her coldly.

Zhang Qingniang almost cried in anger, “Are you doing this for her or to make up for yourself? What did Xu Ke do wrong for you to force his family apart? Back then, he at least bought clothes for Nannan with his money. Where were you? I’m telling you, Nannan respects her Uncle Xu very much. She’s always been grateful for the place he provided and always advised me to live well with him. Do you want to hurt Nannan?”

All the accusations and arguments couldn’t stand against this final sentence.

Xun Yunxi and Xun Nannan would always be the untouchable bottom line in his heart.

The light in Xun Yunhe’s eyes dimmed, and his persistence collapsed.

Zhang Qingniang looked at him and suddenly smiled.

It was like this back then, and it’s still the same now.

Zhang Qingniang sniffed, wiped away her tears, and looked at him calmly. “Xun Yu, take good care of Nannan. We don’t need to see each other again.”

She turned and covered her face as she stepped out of the Drunken Rain Pavilion, leaving him alone to face the misty rain.

*

Unconsciously, night had fallen. Xu Yunqi woke up groggily. She glanced sideways and saw Pei Muheng lying next to her. Strangely, one of her legs was draped over his abdomen, her delicate foot held by him. The heat was belatedly transmitted, causing Xu Yunqi to feel a rush of embarrassment. She quickly withdrew her foot, which made Pei Muheng instinctively wrap his arms around her, opening his eyes abruptly.

Their eyes met.

Xu Yunqi’s cheeks still had a drunken blush, her hair cascading over her body, leaving only her bright black eyes like shining grapes. Xu Yunqi shook her foot again, and Pei Muheng, though momentarily stiff, finally released her.

Xu Yunqi immediately pulled back, putting some distance between them, her face full of apology. “Sorry, I drank, so I got a bit confused.”

Pei Muheng looked at her without speaking.

It wasn’t just confusion; she seemed like a different person, her leg audaciously placed on him, entirely unruly. However, that appearance—lazy and proud—was strangely adorable.

Pei Muheng didn’t hold it against her and didn’t expose her pretense. He turned and picked up a water jug from the table beside the couch, pouring a cup of cold tea for her. The couple quenched their thirst in silence, then looked at each other again.

The room was dim and not well-lit. The corridor had a lantern hanging, its light flickering with the wind, allowing them to see the light and desire in each other’s eyes.

Pei Muheng pressed down, and Xu Yunqi fell onto the pillow.

Dark eyes approached, the corner of the lips touched her neck, and Xu Yunqi’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she closed her eyes.

A broad palm covered her neck, gently tucking her stray hair behind her, fingertips slipping into her overlapping collar, peeling it back little by little, moistening each inch as it roamed his exclusive territory. Her snow-white skin was soon tinged with a layer of pink, her eyelashes trembling, stretching, gradually becoming dazed.

His arms were wrapped tightly as if trying to crush her shoulder blades. His rough fingertips rubbed back and forth, his intense breath overwhelming her, leaving her no chance to catch her breath.

Without any warning, Xu Yunqi instinctively bit her lip, her body floating weightlessly as if losing balance. She raised her jade-like arm, unable to resist seeking support, but a long, slender arm reached over, easily holding her hand in the palm, rendering her immobile.

He just liked seeing her helpless and clinging to him. At that moment, the desire for control within him was fully unleashed. Beads of sweat slid down her flattened butterfly bones, merging into his palm along the soft skin.

The cicadas chirped intermittently, near and far, and the storm gradually dissipated.

Her damp clothes clung to her, enveloping her with moisture. She tried to push him away, feeling very uncomfortable, but he refused to withdraw. He leisurely gazed into her beautiful eyes, where remnants of passion still lingered.

Xu Yunqi let him stare at her, her gaze lowered without knowing where to fall, and she softly said, “Third Master, don’t be so harsh in the future.”

She didn’t like being controlled.

Pei Muheng, with deep eyes, asked, “Shall we switch roles next time?”

Xu Yunqi looked up at him, seemingly not believing he would say such a thing. Her face flushed, and she gave him a fierce glare.

When had he ever seen such a vivid expression on her face? Looking charming with her red cheeks like ripe fruit and beads of sweat on her thin cheeks resembling burst juice. Pei Muheng took a deep breath, afraid to torment her further, and withdrew in time, flipping over to lie down.

Xu Yunqi didn’t stay for a moment, hurriedly wrapped herself in clothes, stumbling past him, and left the bed.