Chapter 4

Yi Yun’s kick just now wasn’t light; even from a distance, the groans of the doorman could be heard, full of discomfort.

Unfortunately, no one was paying attention to him now. The lady of the house, Yi Ling, stood there in a daze, unsure of how to explain the nonsense she had just blurted out. Meanwhile, Yi Yun unconsciously took a step back with his left leg, adopting a defensive posture. His gaze toward Yi Ling shifted from shock to confusion, then slowly turned to vigilance.

“What do you mean by this?”

Yi Yun’s eyes scanned Yi Ling up and down, trying to discern her intentions from her face.

But unfortunately, all Yi Ling’s face showed was helplessness and awkwardness.

“I never said I wanted to kill anyone.” Yi Yun took another step back, speaking cautiously. “Lady Xie, please don’t make false accusations.”

“…”
Yi Ling suddenly felt a headache coming on, as though she might faint again at any moment.

She pressed her hand to her forehead, wishing that Yi Yun, this fool, would quickly leave this troublesome place. Otherwise, when Xie Hengzhi returns, things would not end so easily.

“Just go back,” Yi Ling said. “I’ll pretend nothing happened today.”

At this point, Yi Yun was genuinely scared, though it was not of the doorman but of this strange woman. After eyeing Yi Ling once more, he finally realized something, a chill creeping up his spine. He quickly turned and tried to run away.

As soon as she crossed the threshold, Yi Yun stopped.

Yi Ling, confused, leaned out to look, only to see a familiar carriage parked in front of the Xie family gate.

The reason it was familiar was because Yi Ling had ridden in that carriage many times before she passed away.
Mrs. Yi, who was in the carriage, didn’t even wait for the servant to prepare the steps; she almost jumped out of the carriage.

“Yun’er! Yun’er! Are you out of your mind?” She hurriedly ran over in a few steps, grabbing Yi Yun’s arms tightly. While hitting him, she scolded, “What are you trying to do? If you touch a single hair on that person, none of us will survive!”

Yi Yun, still dazed, remained indifferent to his mother’s crying and hitting, instead nervously turning his head to glance behind him.

Mrs. Yi followed his gaze and saw Yi Ling standing nearby. Her face immediately turned pale, and the sound of her crying was choked in her throat.

In an instant, the disoriented woman disappeared, replaced by a composed and dignified noblewoman.

Mrs. Yi quickly straightened her clothes, wiped away the tears from her eyes, and cautiously stepped over the threshold to bow to Yi Ling.

With her head lowered and her gaze restrained, she appeared humble, fearful, and subservient.

But after a long moment, Yi Ling didn’t respond. She didn’t even open her mouth.

Mrs. Yi, anxious and flustered, thought that Mrs. Xie was either angry or indifferent. But when she raised her eyes and looked at Yi Ling’s expression, she saw a look of sadness mixed with confusion. What was going on?

“Mrs. Xie?” Mrs. Yi asked cautiously, “My son is young and ignorant. If he has offended you, I hope you can forgive his impetuousness…”

Yi Ling, steadied by the familiar voice, looked at her biological mother, whom she hadn’t seen for half a year. She smiled sadly and shook her head. “It’s nothing. Take him back.”

Mrs. Yi, hearing this didn’t feel relieved. Instead, she looked at Yi Yun with the same doubt and wariness.

From what she knew about her son, he had just rushed out of the house in a fury, claiming he was going to give his sister an explanation. Since he had met the people from the Xie family, there was no way he hadn’t caused trouble.

Yet, Mrs. Xie didn’t seem to care at all, which was rather strange.

But no matter what, it was urgent to take her son away.

If they bumped into Xie Hengzhi on the way back, who knew what kind of trouble this reckless boy might stir up.

So Mrs. Yi didn’t dare ask any more questions. She bowed again to Yi Ling and said a few polite words before leading Yi Yun away.

Yi Ling silently watched the mother and son leave the Xie family.

When the two of them got into the carriage, Yi Ling suddenly had a thought and called out to Mrs. Yi.

The woman, now with more white hair, leaned out of the carriage and nervously asked, “Is there something Mrs. Xie needs?”

Yi Ling opened her mouth and hesitated for a long time before speaking, “I heard your daughter…”

Mrs. Yi sighed, looking down.

When she looked up again, she smiled and said, “Yes, my poor daughter passed away recently in the chaos of the war in Qingyang. Thanks to Lord Xie, he brought her belongings back from far away so that we could set up a tomb for her. When Lord Xie has time, the Yi family will certainly come to express our thanks.”

Even Yi Yun could guess that his sister’s death had something to do with Xie Hengzhi. How could Mrs. Yi not know?

But Yi Ling couldn’t see any anger on her mother’s face, only endless flattery.

“I never expected that Mrs. Yi is so wise and virtuous. No wonder you raised a daughter like Miss Yi, one who is willing to sacrifice herself for the country.”

Though the words were clearly praise, Mrs. Yi couldn’t help but feel that the tone of the woman before her carried mockery and sarcasm.

She was filled with doubt, took a deep breath, and still smiled as she said, “Mrs. Xie overpraises. My daughter was a subject of the Great Liang Dynasty, so it was natural for her to sacrifice herself for the country.”

A heavy sigh was released from her chest.

At that moment, Yi Ling felt no anger towards her biological mother anymore.

“Then… Please accept my condolences.”

In the dim light, Yi Ling’s eyes darkened.

She flicked her sleeve and turned to walk inside, her voice low. “There’s no need for thanks. Take good care of your daughter’s memorial.”

—
Not two steps into her walk, Yi Ling suddenly felt dizzy, the world spinning around her.

That familiar sensation hit again. She staggered a few steps, calling out, “Mallow! Mallow!”

Mallow, who had been waiting nearby, immediately ran over to support Yi Ling. “Madam, what’s wrong?”

“Quick! Call for the doctor!”

“Help! Help!”

Amid Mallow’s panicked cries, Yi Ling fainted just as she had expected.

Before losing consciousness, her head hung low as she gazed hopelessly at the thickening night sky.

With this broken body, forget about seeking revenge—surviving even half a month seemed uncertain!

After a flurry of confusion, the servants of the Xie family settled Yi Ling back into the Linfeng Yuan.

The doctor, who hadn’t even settled down, quickly returned, repeating his previous diagnosis.
Weak. Needs rest.

Yi Ling, half-conscious, heard the doctor’s words and wanted to ask what kind of rest would help. Who could endure fainting every few days?

Unfortunately, she seemed to have slipped into the same deep sleep as before, unable to open her eyes no matter how she struggled.

Would she have to lie down for another month?

Even if she survived, it would not be long before she lost her sanity.

Yi Ling waited hopelessly for a long time.

Just when she thought she might never wake up, Xie Hengzhi returned.

It was already late, and the servants quietly helped him change and wash up, the only sound being the water swirling in the basin.

Whether they deliberately lowered their voices or just weren’t loud by nature, the room was eerily quiet, so quiet that Xie Hengzhi’s every breath seemed to echo in Yi Ling’s ears.

Not long after, Xie Hengzhi had changed into his sleeping clothes and walked towards the bed.
His footsteps were light, but with each step closer, a heavy, oppressive aura followed.

Yi Ling could clearly feel him approaching and immediately curled up in the corner of the bed.

Wait? She could move again?

She was stunned for a moment, then immediately propped herself up on her arms and sat up.

“You’re awake?”

Hearing the movement, Xie Hengzhi spoke while pulling back the curtain. “The doctor said you’re just physically weak; more rest will do.”

Without the blurry curtain, his figure became clear and crisp.

With a jade-like face, sparkling starry eyes, and lips that always seemed to curl into a shallow smile, though the smile never reached his eyes.

Yi Ling continued to curl into the corner, her fingers tightly clutching the blanket, her eyes warily fixed on the man in front of her.

Xie Hengzhi didn’t seem to care at all about Yi Ling’s expression.

He seemed tired, a faint weariness on his face, and casually sat down at the edge of the bed.

The air and warmth belonging to Xie Hengzhi spread from the blanket towards Yi Ling.

Unyielding to the rebel.

Suicide.

Thinking about Yi Yun’s words, Yi Ling turned her head to look at Xie Hengzhi, as if hearing a thousand voices in her ears urging her to take her revenge.

In this room, if she wanted Xie Hengzhi’s life, it was within reach.

For instance, that vase—if shattered, she could slit Xie Hengzhi’s throat.

There were also the red-hot fire tongs nearby. Even if it couldn’t be fatal, it would make him wish for death.

On the desk, there was also an ink stone made of solid stone—if smashed onto his head, wouldn’t it crush his skull and scatter his brains?

…
Yi Ling’s mind wandered, and she was almost stunned by the bloody scene, feeling her scalp tingle, yet a strange comfort spread through her body as if she had already killed Xie Hengzhi.

But when she looked down, he was already lying down calmly and elegantly, completely unaware that his wife was thinking of how to take his life.

“I brought back some little things from Yongliang for you. You can take a look later and see if you like them.”

“…”
Yi Ling never imagined that Xie Hengzhi would be such a considerate person.

She laughed coldly, gritting her teeth and asking, “You went to quell the rebellion in Yongliang, and yet you were still thinking of bringing gifts back?”

Xie Hengzhi’s expression changed and changed, and his tone was equally casual: “This trip was easy, not so busy.”

Indeed…

Master Xie led 30,000 elite soldiers to wipe out the rebels effortlessly. What was there to be busy with?

“I heard—” Yi Ling tried to steady her emotions, staring at Xie Hengzhi and asking, “The rebels took hostages in Qingyang. What happened to her?”

Xie Hengzhi raised his eyes when he heard this.

“Which hostage?”

The candlelight flickered, and the hanging curtain blocked the wind outside.

Yi Ling stared at Xie Hengzhi for a long time, her expression changing repeatedly, while the man across from her remained calm.

“Oh, her.”

His voice was indifferent as he continued, “She’s dead.”

Dead.
Dead.

A light “dead” made Yi Ling break into a cold sweat, and a chilling sensation swept through her entire body.

“How did she die?”

But Xie Hengzhi didn’t answer immediately.

He turned over, facing away from Yi Ling, and closed his eyes calmly.

“Suicide.”

His voice was faint, and he didn’t even furrow his brows as he peacefully fell asleep, his breathing long and steady.

As for Yi Ling, all the anger inside her couldn’t be contained any longer.

What a cruel and hypocritical man!

She should kill him right now!

Forget about whether he could protect himself or the trouble it might cause; she had to kill him now!

Yi Ling raised her hand, pulling at her hair, only to find there were no accessories in it, so she shakily crawled off the bed.

As she did, she brushed against Xie Hengzhi’s arm, but he showed no reaction, sleeping deeply.

The room was dim, and it was hard to make out anything. Yi Ling fumbled her way to the mirror table, her fingers tracing the surface for a while before finding a wooden hairpin.

This was one of the little things Xie Hengzhi had brought back from Qingyang, still placed there without having been put away in the jewelry box.

Yi Ling held the hairpin against her chest, exhaling repeatedly, then dragged her feet toward the bed.

The pale moonlight shone on Xie Hengzhi’s face, making him look particularly gaunt.

Yi Ling reached out to feel his breath, light and shallow, surely the time when he was most unguarded.

But even then, Yi Ling hesitated, her right hand holding the hairpin raised again and again, but she still didn’t dare to thrust it down.

Until the quiet night was broken by a dripping sound, the crisp noise rippling in Yi Ling’s heart.

She could wait no longer.

She gritted her teeth, raised the hairpin high—

Her hand was about to thrust it down when suddenly, Xie Hengzhi’s eyes snapped open.

In the deep silence, the room was still.

The moment Xie Hengzhi raised his eyes, it was like a sharp knife tearing the curtain apart. His ink-black eyes were a fear Yi Ling had never known.

But he didn’t speak. He looked at the wooden hairpin held above his head, then slowly lowered his gaze, his deep eyes gently resting on Yi Ling’s face.

But it was too late.

The sudden panic only caused Yi Ling to miss her aim, and the wooden hairpin still left a blood mark on Xie Hengzhi’s neck.