Chapter 160: Prepare the Horses, Return to the Capital Overnight

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Prepare the Horses, Return to the Capital Overnight

’Only two Hundred Diseases Pills were left, but she wouldn’t feel too bad about giving one to the Emperor.’

’However, if the Emperor’s life was prolonged as a result, it would affect the timing of Xie Jinbai’s ascension, which wouldn’t be good.’

’And especially...’

Chen Minrou squeezed her friend’s hand, her voice filled with worry. "What if saving me brings disaster upon you?"

"It’s all just my speculation for now. It’s too early to worry," Zhao Shijie said, putting an arm around his wife’s shoulders to comfort her gently. "You’ve only just recovered. Don’t overthink things."

"That’s right," Cui Lingyao added. "Just focus on getting better. Don’t think about anything else. I went to a lot of trouble to pull you back from death’s door, so don’t you dare let my efforts be in vain."

Chen Minrou’s voice caught. "Then, Yaoyao, you have to stay with me."

"Of course," Cui Lingyao nodded. "I’ll stay with you until you’ve completely recovered."

"..." Mr. Zhao stood to the side, wanting to speak but hesitating.

’He wanted to stop her but didn’t dare to speak up.’

’He had a feeling that as long as Cui Lingyao was around, she’d have no trouble stirring up discord between him and his wife.’

Chen Minrou had just woken up but was in high spirits, chatting away with her friend.

Neither woman had the time to notice the ugly expression on the man’s face beside them.

They hadn’t been chatting long before the members of the Zhao family and the Chen Family, who had been waiting outside, grew impatient and came in to see her.

Among them were Chen Minrou’s two younger half-sisters.

Two young ladies, both around sixteen, their skin so supple and fresh it seemed to glow.

Cui Lingyao shot Zhao Shijie a smirk, a look that made his scalp tingle with dread.

Before he could stop her, he heard her say in a low voice, "Minmin, did you hear that? Your dear husband was just telling you to hurry and wake up so he could find himself a new wife."

’She just can’t stand to see us happy together!’

Zhao Shijie shot her a glare, his teeth clenched, and whispered into his wife’s ear, "That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I just wanted you to wake up."

Chen Minrou’s expression remained unchanged, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

She simply pulled her younger sister over to talk.

Seeing her older sister awake, Chen Peirou was so overcome with joy that she burst into tears. The two sisters embraced, crying together.

With so many people suddenly crowding the room, Cui Lingyao slipped out.

The room was now full of women, so Zhao Shijie followed her out as well.

He stopped Cui Lingyao in the courtyard. His coolly handsome face was filled with solemnity as he gave her a deep bow. "Thank you for saving Minmin’s life. I will never forget this. If there is ever anything you need in the future, you have only to ask."

"Spare me. The bond between Minmin and me doesn’t require you to thank me on her behalf."

Cui Lingyao clearly despised him. "Go take your concubines and marry your new wife. Minmin has been given a new lease on life. If she truly wants a divorce, don’t stand in her way. That will be all the thanks I need."

’Divorce again!’

Zhao Shijie’s face twisted for a moment. "They say it’s better to tear down ten temples than to destroy one marriage," he said through clenched teeth. "Why are you so eager for Minmin and me to get a divorce?"

The oppressive aura around him was terrifying. Several yards away, Li Yong’s brow furrowed. He started to walk over, but just as he was about to speak, Cui Lingyao raised a hand to stop him.

She looked at the man before her and said, "Because Minmin is unhappy in the Zhao Family. Your ’careless words’ made her so depressed she almost died. Is that reason enough for you?"

Zhao Shijie froze, his expression turning blank.

"You knew perfectly well that her first pregnancy damaged her health, making it difficult for her to conceive again. To continue your Zhao family’s lineage, she forced down endless bowls of bitter medicine, and all the pressure of producing an heir fell on her. Yet when she heard the news of my death—at her most broken and helpless moment—you threatened to take a concubine to bear you a son and forbade her from going to the Capital City. You treated her coldly for a year, then made her risk her life to endure another difficult birth."

Cui Lingyao’s tone was ice-cold. "Zhao Shijie, I want you to look into your heart and ask yourself if anything you’ve done lives up to the promise you made to cherish her for a lifetime."

...

「Late autumn in Pingzhou City.」

More than ten days had passed since Xie Jinbai woke up.

The city had not been peaceful during the days he spent recovering from his injuries.

Ever since word got out that a few Qiang people held evidence of the Marquis Guangping Mansion colluding with foreign enemies, a steady stream of unfamiliar faces had been arriving in the city.

Some tried to use poison, others snooped around for information, and some even attempted to storm the prison.

Xie Jinbai remained unperturbed, like a fisherman waiting patiently for one fish after another to take the bait.

His body was still too weak for the rigors of travel, so he was in no hurry to return to the Capital City. He had all the time in the world to play this game with them.

Ultimately, as long as the Emperor didn’t suddenly pass away, the Capital City wouldn’t fall into chaos. There was no situation he couldn’t control.

By the time he emerged from the Imperial Court, it was dusk. An autumn wind swept up the withered yellow leaves from the ground.

Xie Jinbai took the handkerchief his lieutenant offered, gently wiping the fresh blood from his fingers. His gaze was lowered, his expression completely unreadable.

In a mere ten days, he had lost a great deal of weight. Though his posture remained ramrod straight, his shoulders had grown thin and bony, and he was shrouded in an aura of deathly stillness.

The blood-red handkerchief was tossed carelessly to the ground. Xie Jinbai stood under the eaves, his eyes lifted toward the moon hanging high in the sky.

It was a full moon.

The last time the moon was full, he had been at Jiayun Pass, gazing at it while thinking of her. Even though he felt he was going mad from missing her, he could bear it. Because then, he knew his beloved was right here in Pingzhou.

But now, there was nothing.

He had lost everything.

Xie Jinbai stared up at the sky for a moment before suddenly turning his head to ask, "What’s the date today?"

The lieutenant started, then hurried to answer. "Your Highness, today is the sixteenth of the tenth month. It is the Start of Winter."

’The Start of Winter.’

’In just over two months, it would be New Year’s Eve.’

’No wonder it’s so cold.’

Xie Jinbai closed his eyes. The murderous intent raging within him was impossible to quell. He turned, about to re-enter the Imperial Court.

"Your Highness!"

Just then, Liu Rong rushed over, holding a letter. "An urgent report from the Capital City!"

’Li Yong was holding down the fort in the Capital City. For him to send an urgent report, it had to be something he considered a matter of extreme urgency.’

’In the months since he’d left the Capital City, this was only the second urgent report he’d received. The first had been when Liu Yue colluded with the Empress in an act of treason.’

Xie Jinbai stopped in his tracks and turned to take the letters from Liu Rong.

There were two of them.

The envelope on top bore no writing, but Xie Jinbai knew the wax seal intimately.

It was Cui Lingyao’s personal seal.

’Li Yong wouldn’t dare play this kind of joke on him, not even if he had ten thousand times the courage.’

Xie Jinbai’s face went slack, then his jaw slowly tightened.

His fingers trembled. Moving as if his joints were frozen, he broke the wax seal, bit by bit, and opened the envelope.

Inside was a single, thin sheet of paper.

On it were only eight words: "I have come home. I await your return."

It was her familiar, elegant script, yet the strokes were firm and powerful. ℯℯ𝑙.

When they were newly married, he had taught her calligraphy himself, guiding her hand with his own.

He had always been so patient with her, to a degree that astounded even himself.

The world fell completely silent.

Xie Jinbai stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the letter in his hand, on those eight words, his face completely devoid of expression.

The silence was terrifying.

Seeing his reaction, his lieutenants, Liu Rong included, all assumed that some monumental disaster had struck the Capital City. They were sick with anxiety, yet none of them dared to be the first to speak.

Not until a gust of autumn wind swept past, making the letter in his hand RUSTLE loudly.

Only then did the man, who had been standing frozen for so long, sway on his feet.

He blinked, then wiped a hand across his face. "To the capital! Prepare a horse for me! We ride for the Capital City tonight!"