Chapter 15

Yi Ling had never cried so heartbreakingly in both of her lives. She almost couldn’t catch her breath, feeling as though she was about to faint, when she finally noticed that Xie Hengzhi was staring at her with wide-open eyes.

Not dead?

The sobbing abruptly stopped, and the room fell into a silence that was almost suffocating.

Yi Ling still couldn’t quite believe it. She looked into Xie Hengzhi’s eyes and, trembling, reached out a hand to feel for his breath.

Xie Hengzhi raised his hand, coldly swatting away her fingers that were laced with doubt.

He really wasn’t dead.

That was truly a relief.

Yi Ling wiped her tears while, from the bottom of her heart, a smile broke out on her face.

Seeing her like this, Xie Hengzhi coldly asked, “Are you so happy that I didn’t die?”

Yi Ling, still lost in the joy of her false alarm, paid no attention to Xie Hengzhi’s sarcastic tone.

She nodded vigorously, her tone extremely sincere: “Of course I’m happy! If you died, I wouldn’t make it through tomorrow either.”

Xie Hengzhi remained silent for a long time before speaking: “Shang Yiling, stop with this act.”

But Yi Ling paid him no mind, smiling at him with a face full of reassurance.

Xie Hengzhi got up from the bed and walked to the window, letting the cold wind blow at him for a while.

Normally, he would just let her cause a ruckus, but now, given her mental state, it seemed to be getting more serious.

After a moment of impatience, he turned back, only to see Yi Ling still gazing at him with a burning look.

Xie Hengzhi closed his eyes and said in a heavy tone, “No matter how big the Xie Mansion is, it’s still just the four corners of the world.”

Yi Ling: “?”

She didn’t quite understand but didn’t mind.

As long as he was alive, that’s all that mattered.

“There are many scholars and literati in the capital, not to mention the distinguished Hanlin scholars. You don’t need to stay at home every day; it’s a waste of your vast knowledge.”

This time, Yi Ling understood.

Xie Hengzhi felt that she was too idle, so he suggested she go out for a walk, not linger around him.

“Mm-hmm!” Yi Ling nodded, saying, “As long as you’re alive, I’m fine with whatever!”

Xie Hengzhi: “…Go outside.”

---

She promised Xie Hengzhi to go out more, but in reality, Yi Ling hadn’t dared to leave the Xie Mansion for days.

Since Mama Cao had investigated what Xuantiansan really was, Yi Ling realized she had been deceived by Princess Yu’an.

It was a very clumsy attempt to use someone else’s hand to kill, and it was only because Yi Ling was too curious about the so-called “miracle medicine” that she fell into the trap.

Fortunately, it was more of a scare than anything dangerous.

Although she didn’t know why the Sifang Medicine Center sold her fake medicine, she didn’t dare to investigate it further, only secretly thankful that Xie Hengzhi hadn’t been poisoned by her.

As for Princess Yu’an, Yi Ling avoided her as much as possible.

When the palace sent for her, Yi Ling once again refused, citing illness as the reason.

This time, she was firm and refused to go, realizing that Princess Yu’an couldn’t do much to her.

Later, the princess sent a few people, but they returned without success.

Yi Ling safely hid in the Xie Mansion until the beginning of winter.

This day was special; it was the 80th birthday of Madam Zhou, the wife of the Grand Minister Zhou, a respected figure in the capital. As a person of high standing, she invited all the prominent nobles of the capital, and naturally, Xie Hengzhi was among them.

As the wife of Xie, Yi Ling should have attended, but she also refused due to her health.

She lazily leaned against the bed, reading by the warmth of the fire, enjoying her leisure.

It would have been even better if she were the only one in the room.

Xie Hengzhi, on the other hand, was calmly adjusting his attire. Since it wasn’t for court, he wore his dark, everyday robes.

Though they were everyday robes, they were decorated with golden threads and peacock and qilin designs, looking quite impressive.

Clearly, he didn’t want anyone to miss the fact that he was important.

Yi Ling shot him a disdainful glance and walked out with her book in hand.

Xie Hengzhi had already planned to leave but was inexplicably “stabbed” by her gaze.

Looking at her back, full of disdain, he didn’t move and just found it a bit amusing.

Just as Yi Ling was about to step out the door, he suddenly asked, “You really won’t come with me?”

Yi Ling didn’t turn around. “Not going.”

“Are you avoiding Princess Yu’an?”

Yi Ling paused for a moment but didn’t say anything or deny it.

The room, warmed by the charcoal stove, had a slight breeze that brushed her face, making it itch pleasantly.

Xie Hengzhi looked away, crossed his arms, and rubbed his forehead.

“Princess Yu’an has already been released from house arrest. If you don’t come with me, when she comes to our house later, I won’t be able to help you.”

“…”
That seemed to make sense.

Without another word, Yi Ling threw her book back on the bed and immediately called Mallow in to help her get ready.

Watching her busy figure, Xie Hengzhi walked to the side and picked up the book she had thrown down.

He glanced at it briefly and then looked back at Yi Ling’s figure, studying her closely.

Before, she had read the Four Books and Five Classics, but after falling into the water, she was reading “The Four Great Suspense Cases of Huzhou” and “The Secret Letters of the Dali Temple.”

Now, it had turned into “The Beautiful Widow of the City” and “The Overbearing Prince and the Cute Nun”?

It seemed like the water from the lake had really gotten into her head.

---

The Zhou family was a scholarly family with a strict and virtuous reputation. Their estate was located away from the bustling city, by the quiet Yun (Cloud) Lake.

Even though there were many distinguished guests today, it wasn’t noisy at all. The only sound was the gentle plucking of bamboo instruments.

Yi Ling, however, disliked such occasions the most.

For more than twenty years, noblewomen in the capital had followed the trends of the Wei and Jin dynasty, appreciating elegant conversation and excelling in the arts, often forming friendships through literary gatherings.

Yi Ling, with her lack of talents, had never been able to fit into their circle and never bothered to join in the fuss.

Moreover, she was only attending today to avoid Princess Yu’an, so she planned to keep a low profile and hoped no one would notice her.

When they arrived at the Zhou Mansion, she told Xie Hengzhi, “Once we enter, you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll find a place to stay. If there’s nothing important, we should leave after the birthday celebration. Don’t stand out too much.”

With that, she hurried out of the carriage.

Xie Hengzhi stayed seated, glancing at her dress.

At first glance, she was wearing a plain moon-white robe, but it had patterns of gold filigree and a mouse-and-melon design. The golden powder shimmered with every slight movement, making it hard not to draw attention.

Who exactly was standing out here?

Ever since she fell into the water, his wife had changed in more ways than just her taste in books.

Once inside the Zhou Mansion, everything went according to Yi Ling’s plan.

She followed Xie Hengzhi in and out, greeting the elderly matriarch, speaking with Minister Zhou, and exchanging pleasantries with the other guests. She barely said anything, only nodding occasionally to acknowledge others.

After all, as Xie Hengzhi’s wife, even if her eyes were on top of her head, no one dared to say anything.

Of course, Yi Ling’s aloofness wasn’t just because of Princess Yu’an.

As everyone knew, the Shang family was filled with talented women, and the Zhou family was a scholarly household. If she said the wrong thing, wouldn’t it immediately give her away?

So, less than half an hour later, Yi Ling finished the formalities, parted ways with Xie Hengzhi, and went to the back garden, where the ladies gathered to relax.

In the cold winter, the ladies in the back garden wore various furs and velvet coats, chatting and laughing, creating a lively and beautiful scene.

Yi Ling found a gooseneck chair to sit in, holding the hand warmer that the Zhou family had specially prepared for her, sipping hot tea, and watching the young ladies gather to compete in beauty and charm. Her mood was still fairly good.

Soon, she spotted some old acquaintances who were holding children. Yi Ling leaned forward to look at them, feeling a mix of nostalgia and emotion.

The friends who once accompanied her in spring outings were now mothers, while Yi Ling, who had been the first to get engaged, had somehow turned into a completely different person.

She wondered how they had been all these years…

Just as she was feeling sentimental, Yi Ling suddenly overheard her old friends talking about her.

“Did you see? That Mrs. Xie is really beautiful, even outshining the young lady who is like a treasure by Mrs. Zhou’s side.”

“She’s beautiful, yes, but she’s also too proud. Many people have tried to talk to her, but she just ignores them.”

“After all, she’s Mrs. Xie; she has every right to be proud. Didn’t you notice? When Lord Xie arrived, everyone else lowered their voices.”

“Tsk, but what’s there to be proud of? She has no title or official position in her family, and she only married Lord Xie after relentlessly pursuing him.”

“Be careful! What if Lord Xie hears you? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Someone sneered, “What if he hears? Didn’t you notice that Lord Xie is indifferent to her too? He probably doesn’t think much of this kind of woman.”

“That’s unlikely, right? Mrs. Xie is so beautiful and talented, which man wouldn’t like her?”

“That’s hard to say. Didn’t the rumors say Lord Xie only has feelings for that woman?”

“Which woman?”

“Oh, you mean Yi Ling, who died in Qingyang not long ago? Lord Xie personally brought back her belongings.”

“Ah, her! Now that you mention it, that makes sense…”

“It’s a shame that Mrs. Zhou didn’t invite Minister Yi to avoid any suspicion. Looks like they’ve made an enemy of someone for nothing.”

Upon hearing this, Yi Ling couldn’t sit still any longer.

She could let the rest slide, but since her death at Xie Hengzhi’s hands, the thing she hated most was those who spread rumors.

If it weren’t for those rumors, Peng San wouldn’t have used her to threaten Xie Hengzhi!

Yet her former friends were chattering away, and the more Yi Ling thought about it, the angrier she became. She suddenly spoke up: “Do you ladies usually gossip about others behind their backs like this?”

The group of old friends were naturally startled. When they turned around and saw her, their faces turned pale with fear.

They never expected Mrs. Xie to be sitting alone in a gooseneck chair in the corridor, overhearing them gossiping about her husband liking another woman.

Anyone else would probably want to kill them!

In an instant, the women, who had been chatting so animatedly a moment ago, fell silent. They looked up at Yi Ling, beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads, as if they were about to kneel before her.

At that moment, an older lady stepped forward.

She was holding a three-year-old boy in her hand, wearing a smile. She tried to ease the situation by making light of it.

“Mrs. Xie, don’t listen to them; they’re just spreading rumors that ignorant people in the town are gossiping about.”

“How could Lord Xie possibly like someone like that, who can’t play the guqin, chess, or painting and finds embroidery and tea ceremonies tiresome?”

Yi Ling: “…”

This made her even angrier.

But could she really shut their mouths?

With a cold snort, Yi Ling decided not to argue with them.

Just as she was about to turn away, she caught sight of the true culprit.

Xie Hengzhi rarely wore dark clothes. Despite his pale complexion and finely sculpted features, his imposing presence could not be hidden.

In the cold winter, he stood like a sharp sword in the snow, impossible to ignore.

The nobles around him nodded and flattered him.

Yi Ling’s anger immediately shifted,

She was here enduring insults, and Xie Hengzhi was over there smiling happily?

–
Xie Hengzhi had originally been admiring the scenery at the Huxin (Lake) pavilion with the group. After Zhou Daixian (scholar Zhou) arrived and started discussing poetry and literature, he habitually walked and talked.

Before they knew it, the group had wandered into the back garden, where the ladies were resting.

The customs in Daliang were relatively open, so mixed-gender outings weren’t considered inappropriate. Therefore, Xie Hengzhi didn’t feel the need to remind anyone.

There was a flower wall separating the groups so they wouldn’t cross paths. They simply walked along the path and chatted, each with their own business.

However, as they were walking, they suddenly heard the voices of several women arguing.

As the host, Zhou Daixian felt the need to inquire.

“What’s happening here?”

A maid, embarrassed, replied, “It’s… it’s Princess Wanning and the Fifth Miss from the Rong’en Marquis’s household. They got into a fight…”

Upon hearing it was a dispute between young ladies, Zhou Daixian’s brow furrowed: “What are they arguing about?”

The maid explained, “It seems that the Fifth Miss is wearing a unique purple jade bracelet, the only one in the capital. The princess also has one, and they both claim that the other’s is a fake, and theirs is the real one.”

Everyone: “…”

Zhou Daixian hadn’t expected two girls of such noble status to quarrel over something so trivial.

He felt both embarrassed and troubled.

Men like him most feared getting involved in these petty affairs between women.

It was impossible to reason with them, and whichever side he supported would cause trouble.

So Zhou Daixian quickly waved his hand: “Why are we here in the back garden? It’s not proper, not proper. Let’s return to the Huxin (Lake) pavilion.”

Throughout this, Xie Hengzhi remained silent, merely glancing over and noticing Yi Ling in the distance.

Yi Ling also sensed Xie Hengzhi’s gaze. She turned her head, and the two of them gazed at each other from afar.

She sat there quietly, as serene as a winter plum blossom, and even gave him a slight nod, looking as though she wasn’t involved in any of the commotion.

Xie Hengzhi felt relieved.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard Yi Ling speak.

“Both the Princess (Country Lord) and fifth lady are distinguished people; no one should have to endure such humiliation.”

Yi Ling took two steps forward, gazing at the two noble young ladies with concern. Her demeanor was elegant and composed, and she pointed towards Xie Hengzhi, saying, “My husband has said that he’ll take care of this matter!”

Xie Hengzhi: “…”