Yin Xuan’s heart felt heavy. In this state, she could easily be hurt. If only he could protect her for a lifetime.
“Deal.”
Qingyao smiled, extended her hand, and shook Yin Xuan’s. Both of them chuckled together.
The room was filled with a rare warmth, and she felt a rare sense of relaxation. She had suffered a lot recently because of Wu Qing’s affairs, both mentally and physically.
Yin Xuan had seen it all. He shouldn't have kept her back then, believing Wu Qing would bring her happiness. He had even warned him, saying that even if he treated Yao’er wholeheartedly, he must ensure nothing around her could harm her.
Because living alone in the world wasn’t truly independent; there were always unstable factors.
And he had failed in that aspect back then. Because of surrounding events, she was harmed, becoming irretrievable, losing so many precious things.
Countless nights, he thought of his mistakes, his heart aching, asking himself over and over. She was clearly a kind person. From the first time she accepted his betrothal gift and immediately produced ten thousand taels of silver banknotes to improve the lives of the disaster victims, he had been captivated. It was rare for a woman to treat wealth as dirt and only wish for others to live a little happier.
He had been drawn to her then, but he didn't realize it. That was why he personally welcomed her to the Qianqing Gate on their wedding day, his Empress.
After she left, he had pondered: if it weren't her, but someone else, would he still have personally welcomed her to the Qianqing Gate?
The answer was no. It turned out everything was different because it was her. xxs one
But he had missed so many things. Whether she could return to his side now was no longer important. What mattered was that she herself was happy.
However, he saw that she wasn't living well with Wu Qing. Her small, round face was so thin that her chin became sharper, her eyes exceptionally large and bright.
Although half of her face was now covered with red blotches, to him, it did not diminish her beauty. Because in his mind, he had long imprinted the image of her, arrogant and calmly dealing with him when they first met.
“Good, as long as Yao’er is happy.”
He said, and a touch of emotion stirred in Qingyao’s heart. This was the happiest sentence she had heard recently.
“Alright, let’s proceed according to the plan.”
Qingyao stood up. This was Yin Xuan’s resting place. She turned to walk out. At the door, she paused as if remembering something. “Help me find Wu Qing’s whereabouts.”
She knew he must have come too and would certainly not fail to come here.
And once she got the antidote, she naturally had to give it to him. As long as he was well, that would suffice. She had already thought about it; she couldn’t stay in Wu Qing Valley or by his side anymore.
Because she would become the target of that man, and neither he nor she would have peace.
“Good, once the antidote is obtained, I will send someone to deliver you.”
Inside the room, Yin Xuan’s voice echoed. His narrow phoenix eyes furrowed, his heart aching for her. All of this was his doing. If it weren't for his one wrong decision back then, she wouldn't have eloped from the palace. She would surely have stayed in the palace with Xiao Yu’er, and their family would be living happily together now.
But he had ruined everything, causing her so much suffering, and then giving Wu Qing an opportunity.
In reality, he could have given her everything she possessed.
What use was it to think about these things now? Yin Xuan slightly closed his eyes, deciding to think about the future. Making her happy was the most important thing.
Qingyao was unaware of Yin Xuan’s inner turmoil. She opened the door and walked out. In the corridor, several people stood on either side of the door. She didn’t recognize any of them. As soon as they saw her, they bowed respectfully, unsure how to address her. They did not seem surprised by the red blotches on her face.
Xiao Yu’er’s room was not far from Yin Xuan’s. Mo Chou was waiting by the door. Upon seeing her mistress approach, she went to meet her and helped her into the room.
Xiao Yu’er leaped down from the chair, gazing at Qingyao’s half-marked face. Her large eyes flickered, and then she put her hands on her hips and began to curse angrily.
“That detestable dog thief deserves to go to hell. I really don’t understand why Wu Qing didn’t kill him. He couldn’t bear to strike down such a father. If he had killed him, how could Mother have been poisoned?”
Her little mouth chattered on. Mo Chou immediately reached out and tugged at her. Her mistress’s expression was getting worse, and young miss was just going on and on.
As soon as Xiao Yu’er received Mo Chou’s hint, she immediately covered her mouth with her hand, shook her head carefully, indicating that she had forgotten again.
Qingyao didn’t want to think too much. She had been confined to the woodshed for several days, not eating or sleeping well. She was very tired and wanted to rest, wanting to clear her mind of everything. The more she thought, the more confused and heartbroken she became, feeling heartache for Wu Qing, for herself, and for Yin Xuan having to personally come to Danfeng to rescue her. Fortunately, he was in disguise, otherwise, Danfeng might have found an excuse to pick a quarrel.
“I’m tired and want to sleep for a while.”
“Okay, Mother, you sleep for a bit.”
Xiao Yu’er immediately nodded obediently, saying no more unkind words. Her personality was always forthright, so she forgot to consider her mother’s feelings.
In essence, Wu Qing had indeed been very good to them. He not only taught Mother martial arts but also gifted her the precious Phoenix Tail Zither, took in the three of them, and saved Mother. Let alone Mother’s grateful nature, even an ordinary person would find it hard to harm Wu Qing.
But they encountered such a father.
These tangled thoughts were quite similar to the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship in modern society.
Xiao Yu’er and Mo Chou retreated from the room. Mo Chou guarded the door, while Xiao Yu’er sat listlessly on the corridor railing. Seeing her mother like this, she couldn’t be happy no matter what.
At the other end of the long corridor, a waiter led someone up. Mo Chou recognized the person as Mo You. She hadn't expected Mo You to find them. This was wonderful; she had been worried about him.
“Mo Chou, it really is you! I glanced at the inn across the way yesterday and thought I saw your shadow, thinking I was mistaken. I didn’t expect it to be you.”
“Yes, we are fine. Mistress has been rescued,” Mo Chou said in a low voice, pointing towards the room. Mo You immediately asked in a hushed tone.
“How is it? Is everything alright? Did anything happen?”
“No,” Mo Chou shook her head, a look of distress on her face. Mo You stared at her strangely, then looked at Xiao Yu’er. Since their mistress had been rescued, why did these two look so dejected, as if they had suffered some great torment?
Xiao Yu’er jumped down from the railing, her face filled with sorrow. “Mother was poisoned by that bad man. A poison that causes ugliness. She has a large red blotch on her face and has become ugly. It's truly frustrating. That damned fellow, I really want to skin him alive and fry him piece by piece in hot oil.”
Xiao Yu’er spoke fiercely, her dark eyes gleaming.