Chapter 112: Each Has Their Own Strengths
The Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion’s carriage arrived at noon.
At that time, Xue Sui had just returned from being invited by Xue Yuechen to dine at Ting He Garden…
Xue Yueying was frail and was carefully helped onto the carriage by two maids.
Gu Ruoyi was the first to spot her and ran towards her from afar, her apricot-colored skirt sweeping over the moss, looking very friendly.
“Sister Xue, Sister Xue…”
A chorus of calls and joy.
Xue Sui walked around the vermilion-painted corridor pillars and towards her.
A woman in plain clothes, with gentle eyes and a sweet smile.
Gu Jie stumbled involuntarily. Though there was no threshold or stone underfoot, he almost tripped over his own feet and fell before the stone steps, his jade crown askew, looking very disheveled.
“Brother, be careful.” Gu Ruoyi offered him a slight support.
“It’s nothing, I’m fine.” Gu Jie awkwardly got up, steadied his trembling fingertips, bowed slightly to Xue Sui, his voice hoarse.
“Thank you, Sixth Miss Xue, for taking care of my sister.”
It was clear that Gu Jie was the most affected by Xue Yueying’s situation.
In just one night, the upright young gentleman had turned into a dejected fool.
Xue Sui did not respond to Gu Jie, a corner of her lips curling up as she smiled at Gu Ruoyi.
“Third Miss Gu, the journey back will be bumpy, please be careful.”
Hearing her converse intimately with Gu Ruoyi, Gu Jie’s Adam’s apple bobbed as if he had swallowed charcoal, his heart filled with bitterness.
He remembered Xue Yueying’s frenzied screams when he saw her earlier.
She had said that Sixth Miss Xue was a malevolent ghost from hell, a Rakshasa come for revenge.
But now, the woman before him had a calm expression, clearly like a clear breeze and bright moon, or blooming flowers in spring, which only made his own disheveled appearance seem utterly ruined.
Gu Jie had been in love with Xue Yueying for many years…
Ever since Xue Yueying spoke up for him in front of Princess Ping Le and often gave him small favors in private, he had thought that Fourth Miss Xue was beautiful and kind-hearted.
But at that time, his mother looked down on Fourth Miss Xue, saying she was frivolous and unstable, not a suitable match. Gu Jie had not listened to his mother at all back then; he was in his rebellious teens. The more his mother spoke ill of Xue Yueying, the more he became infatuated, thinking Xue Yueying was as beautiful as a celestial maiden, like a fairy…
He was determined to marry her.
However, Xue Yueying refused to agree.
She only said that they would be better as confidants than as husband and wife for a long-lasting relationship.
He accepted it and silently cared for her…
He had never imagined that one day, the celestial maiden would throw him an olive branch—
She was finally willing to join hands with him and jointly resist the obstruction from their parents.
Unfortunately, their feelings were still not accepted by their parents.
Gu Jie was originally a filial son. He argued fiercely with his parents for Xue Yueying and doted on her immensely. Originally, he would not have dared or been able to overstep the boundaries between men and women, but Xue Yueying said that to be with him, she was willing to take a risk and “marry him while pregnant,” which finally earned his mother’s approval.
At that time, Gu Jie was deeply moved, thinking that she had sacrificed her purity and reputation for him, ruining her future. He could not let her down and was willing to do anything for Xue Yueying, even if he had embezzled silver money from the Gold Department and was thrown into prison, he never said a bad word about her…
Because of this, he hated Sixth Miss Xue, who had interfered.
He never expected that all those sweet and intimate moments were just his own fantasy.
From beginning to end, he was merely Xue Yueying’s puppet, used when needed and discarded when not.
Pity his parents, who were exhausted and had squandered their family fortune for their unfilial son…
Seeing Sixth Miss Xue again at this moment was like a resounding slap in the face.
Gu Jie’s face burned like fire, his steps and voice sounding weak and powerless.
Xue Sui, however, acted as if she hadn’t seen him, smiling slightly at Gu Ruoyi.
“It’s getting late, Third Miss Gu, you should set off soon.”
“Sister Xue.” Gu Ruoyi’s eyes suddenly reddened, her throat choked.
She understood the broken light in her brother’s eyes—it was the pain of ten years of delusion turning to dust, and also immense guilt towards Sixth Miss Xue.
Gu Ruoyi wanted to express her brother’s apologies.
“Mother used to say you were good, but I didn’t know where your goodness lay. Now I finally understand, but it’s too late…”
“Silly girl.” Xue Sui chuckled and interrupted her, saying lightly, “Go back and send my regards to Aunt Chun. With this turn of events, the Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion might have more to deal with. Tell Aunt Chun to take care of herself and not overwork.”
Gu Ruoyi nodded heavily.
Xue Sui did not look at Gu Jie and turned to leave.
Gu Jie watched Xue Sui’s retreating back, his throat aching.
He once thought Xue Yueying was the bright moon in the night sky, showering its radiance.
Now he realized the moonlight only illuminated his own one-sided wish.
And the woman before him, he had ultimately missed—
Xue Yueying insisted that the jade pendant and the secret letter were a plot by Sixth Miss Xue and the Crown Prince, claiming Sixth Miss Xue had instructed a maid to frame her. She cried to him, vowing that the child in her womb was Gu’s and refusing to admit to an affair with Prince Wei years ago…
Li Huan would continue to investigate the matter of the jade pendant.
However, regarding the fetus, he had doubts about how many months it was and whether it was Gu’s child, but he dared not gamble on that slim chance…
“Sixth Miss Xue!”
Gu Jie suddenly called out to her.
“Please listen to me for a moment.”
Xue Sui stopped and slowly turned her head.
“Young Master Gu, you should call me Madam Ping’an.”
“Madam Ping’an.”
By this point, Gu Jie’s voice was already choked with emotion.
“I was foolish before, blinded, and I failed to appreciate your true feelings. Gu Jie has wronged you. I regret it deeply now and only beg for your forgiveness. Also, please accept my wife’s apology. She has committed many wrongdoings and has now paid the price. I implore you, Madam, to be magnanimous and let her off this time.”
Xue Sui was taken aback and her lips curved upwards.
Her smile was bright and dazzling, like a blooming flower.
But the more beautiful she smiled, the more embarrassing it was for Gu Jie.
“Young Master Gu, I never had any genuine feelings for you. Please respect yourself!”
She turned and left, the smile gone from her face.
Who would have thought that the child in her womb would become Xue Yueying’s lifeline?
She didn’t care how Gu Jie and the Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion would deal with Xue Yueying.
It was just that she hadn’t seen Qiao’er among the maids accompanying the Marquis’s Mansion, and she couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
She hadn’t been able to take Qiao’er with her last night, but she had sent Jinshu to inquire.
Xue Yueying had been acting like a madwoman, making wild accusations, and her words were completely baseless. Li Huan had his suspicions, but with his “benevolent” nature, he had only questioned a few maids and had not beaten them.
Qiao’er had already prepared her responses and could withstand the interrogation, so she likely wouldn’t lose her life…
But Xue Yueying had already left the separate villa.
Where was Qiao’er?
…
As the moonlight was swallowed by dark clouds, Xue Sui stepped onto the jade steps with a wind lantern in hand.
“You two guard outside and don’t let anyone in.”
Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi responded in low voices.
Only then did Xue Sui slowly push the door open and enter.
It was quiet all around, so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Under the light of the wind lantern, the pottery jars on the display shelf were arranged like a formation, and the scent of medicine mixed with a hint of blood assaulted her senses.
The smell of blood…
Whose?
Xue Sui’s expression sharpened. Just as her hand touched a pottery jar on the display shelf, she heard the door behind her creak softly.
“Madam, coming here in the middle of the night, is it to destroy evidence, or… do you have other intentions?”
Xue Sui turned around and raised the wind lantern to shine on him.
Li Huan, in his light robe and leather belt, leaned against the doorframe, idly playing with the “Xizi Jade Pendant” in his hand, his smile gentle and harmless.
The light from the wind lantern cast his shadow long, and also revealed a hint of coldness hidden beneath his smile.
Seeing her remain silent for a long time, Li Huan walked to the desk, poured a cup of cool tea, and sat down to sip it leisurely.
“Are you thinking about how to lie?”
He raised his teacup and looked up, his eyes filled with a meaningful smile.
“Hmm? Ping’an?”
His voice was gentle and affectionate, deep and mellow.
It was as if he wanted to savor the name, very different from the teasing and playful tone Li Zhao usually used when calling her, but equally captivating in its own way.
Xue Sui’s heart sank with a thud, her cheeks felt stiff, and there was a choking sensation in her throat.
It was an uncomfortable feeling.
It was a defense mechanism born of instinct.
Xue Sui glanced at Li Huan’s gentle but emotionless face and slowly straightened her body.
“Your Highness still believes those rumors and is suspicious of me?”
Li Huan said, “What others say is not necessarily true. But your eyes—”
He suddenly raised his hand and beckoned Xue Sui.
“Come closer.”
When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a road.
Xue Sui steadied her nerves and slowly walked towards him.
“Sit down,” Li Huan said again.
When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten.
Xue Sui suppressed the unease in her heart and slowly sat down in front of him, facing him.
Li Huan’s gaze was sharp, but his smile was incredibly gentle. She didn’t know how he managed it, but he leaned closer with a smile, pinched her chin and lifted it, the scent of medicine and ambergris mingling on him, creating a heavy pressure.
“When Madam looks at me, you are much colder than when you look at the Crown Prince.”
Xue Sui neither retreated nor avoided, her eyes reflecting the light of the wind lantern, and she calmly replied, “Only with a cold eye can one observe the situation; a hot heart easily burns oneself— Your Highness, tell me, with Sixth Miss Xue caught in the vortex, what else can she do but observe with a cold eye?”
Li Huan suddenly let go and chuckled lightly, his fingertips brushing past the jade hairpin in her hair before slowly retracting. He poured her tea.
“Well said, ‘observe the situation with a cold eye’! You can fool this Prince, but if you fool yourself, that would be troublesome…”
Heavy rain pounded on the window lattice.
A clap of thunder fell outside the eaves.
It was as if it were about to split open his unfinished words.
Li Huan slowly pushed the teacup towards her.
“Tell this Prince the truth, why did you come here? Who instructed you?”
Xue Sui’s expression remained unchanged, and she frowned slightly. “I have doubts about what happened last night and am very confused. I want to get to the bottom of it.”
Li Huan looked at her deeply.
“What is unclear? Tell me about it.”
Xue Sui said, “I don’t understand why Fourth Sister would do such a shameful thing, and why she hates me so much? And why she insists I framed her? I believe I have no deep hatred for Fourth Sister, nor any lingering entanglement with Fifth Son Gu. Why does she hate me so much?”
Li Huan’s eyes sparkled with brilliance. “Then have you found the answer?”
Xue Sui shook her head. “Didn’t Your Highness say you would give me the answer?”
Li Huan hesitated for a moment, pinched his forehead, his wide sleeves falling onto the desk, gently stirring, like his mellow voice, which seemed to carry some weariness.
“The human heart is unfathomable. How can grievances and enmities be explained in a few words?”
Xue Sui remained silent for a long time.
Li Huan said, “It’s too damp here to stay for long. We’ll talk more when we get back.”
With that, he stood up, flicked his sleeves, his demeanor graceful and gentlemanly.
“Let’s go, this Prince will escort you back.”
Xue Sui stood quietly, her gaze lowered, and spoke softly.
“There’s no need to trouble Your Highness. Having a maid with me is enough.”
Li Huan smiled. “Tonight, this Prince will be staying at Willow Smoke Retreat.”
Li Zhao: I’ll say it today, goodnight, everyone go home and sleep, don’t sleep around!
Li Huan: ）
