Chapter 21
After a moment of adjustment, only the pale white moonlight could be seen filtering through the window lattice.
Yuli was already lying on her side in the bed. Xie Yao lowered the bed curtains and also lay down.
Yuli lay ramrod straight. Beside her, Xie Yao was the same, lying still for a long time after getting into bed.
Yuli was stiff at first, but he didn’t move for a long time, and she gradually relaxed. It seemed he was not a man of excessive desires.
With another person in the bed, Yuli was still not used to it and couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.
She wanted to turn over but was afraid of disturbing Xie Yao’s sleep. She endured it for a long time, then moved her arm.
“Can’t sleep?” Xie Yao suddenly said.
“…Mm.”
“Me neither.”
Yuli fell silent.
“Talk to me,” Xie Yao said.
Yuli was still wide awake. She turned over to face Xie Yao. He was lying on his back, his eyes closed. In the hazy moonlight, only a vague outline could be seen. His profile was as perfect as a painting, and he looked very gentle.
They maintained a small distance, with only a faint body heat passing through the thin quilt.
On a whim, Yuli moved a little closer to him, placed a hand on his arm, curled up, and rested her forehead against his shoulder.
It was like how Xuemi would curl up on her for warmth. It made her feel secure.
Xie Yao opened his eyes for a moment. Yuli didn’t see it and began to speak. “Actually, what I said just now was a lie. My parents only cared about my brother and didn’t treat me as their own child. I resent them very much.”
Xie Yao hummed in agreement, indicating that he was listening.
Yuli: “You don’t know, before I married you, my father even wanted to marry me off to a dying man to ward off ill fortune. If that person hadn’t died before I could marry him, I probably wouldn’t have met you.”
“You would have,” Xie Yao said.
Yuli thought he was just responding casually and smiled.
Xie Yao was telling the truth. He had sent people to take care of that man.
Yuli was silent for a moment. She thought of her parents in her past life.
In her past life, she had always resented them for putting pressure on her. It was only after she died that she realized they just wanted her to live an easy and happy life, to walk the best path in their perception. But her ability was not up to par, and she refused to admit it. She insisted on going out to make a name for herself, to prove that she had the ability to carve out her own path. She suffered hardships outside but was too stubborn to tell them.
Looking back, since she had left home, her parents had never mentioned the civil service exam again. Every phone call was filled with concern for her. Occasionally, when they mentioned her coming home, they were met with her refusal or silence, and they didn’t dare to bring it up again.
She had not cherished her parents’ goodness in her past life. Before she could repay them, she had died in a distant land. They must have been a hundred times more heartbroken than her.
Tears streamed down Yuli’s face silently. She couldn’t help but lean closer to Xie Yao.
Xie Yao’s breathing grew slightly heavier. He turned his head and noticed her disordered breathing. He turned on his side, raised his hand to touch her face, and felt a slight wetness.
“What’s wrong?” Xie Yao propped himself up and held her shoulder.
His sudden, strong reaction startled Yuli.
She couldn’t cry anymore. She wiped her tears and quickly said, “I was thinking of the hard days before I met you. It’s all in the past. I’m fine.”
Xie Yao seemed not to believe her. He held her shoulder and looked at her silently in the dim moonlight for a long time before turning back to lie down.
Yuli adjusted her mood and continued chatting in a light tone.
She talked about her past life, in a way he could understand. “…The place I used to live in was only one zhang square. I went out early and came back late every day, so busy that I didn’t have time to eat properly. It was very boring…
“At that time, I dreamed of having my own house, preferably a courtyard full of flowers and trees, with a cat to keep me company. I would tend to the flowers and plants every day, and make delicious food…”
Yuli’s voice grew lower, and she gradually became sleepy. She fell asleep before she could finish.
Xie Yao listened until she had said the last word, then opened his eyes in the darkness and lay awake for a long time.
The next day, when Yuli woke up, the sky was already bright, and Xie Yao was gone.
Last night, she had fallen asleep while talking to Xie Yao. They had slept on their own sides of the bed, with little physical contact. He had only kissed her forehead when he left at dawn.
It seemed that Xie Yao’s desires in that area were not strong. She didn’t need to do anything in that regard to please him.
Now they were a real husband and wife. Although their feelings were not deep, they could be respectful to each other. There would be no sudden turn to angst. She could live her own life well.
The summer heat had completely receded. After Yuli had breakfast, Xuemi came out from the base of the wall, stretched its front paws, and walked towards her with small steps.
Yuli played with her for a while, and then it went into its own small room.
Yuli looked at the empty courtyard. There was no place for Xuemi to play, so it could only stay indoors.
Yuli went to see what she could add for it. After a few steps, Jingyu came over with a smile.
After Jingyu curtsied and greeted her, she said, “The Young Master said the Mistress wants to plant flowers and trees in the residence. He has invited several craftsmen who specialize in garden construction. They are already in the hall. If the Mistress has any ideas, this servant can convey them one by one, and have them draw up plans for the Mistress to review first.”
As Yuli listened, a look of surprise and joy gradually filled her face.
Yuli wanted too many things. She paused and asked, “Can the entire residence be renovated?”
Jingyu smiled. “It’s all up to the Mistress’s orders.”
Yuli stood up in excitement. “I’ll go and talk to them in person.”
Jingyu smiled and followed. It turned out that this residence had once been filled with countless landscapes, but they had all been flattened by the master’s order, which was a great pity. Now that it was to be rebuilt, it should be a good change.
Yuli walked to the main hall and saw that the craftsmen Jingyu had mentioned were dressed in elegant scholar’s robes with long, graying beards. Although they were surprised at her arrival, they were calm, respectful, and polite.
Yuli felt that they were not ordinary builders, but she didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask. She went straight to the point.
They had the blueprints of the entire residence, with the buildings and open spaces drawn on them, and the land data was also marked.
Yuli had long wanted to plant flowers in the residence and said directly, “Plant a row of camellias here, fill the lake with lotus flowers, and here and here, plant a few hibiscus trees.”
After Yuli had roughly stated her ideas, the master builder glanced at her expression and said, “Everything the Mistress wants can be realized. However, would the Mistress be willing to listen to this old man’s advice?”
Yuli found his choice of words strange, respectful yet with a hint of apprehension. She quickly lowered her stance and said, “Please speak, old sir.”
Seeing this, the master builder was relieved and explained the principles of garden construction he had in mind. “The Mistress loves plants and flowers, so you must love natural scenery. This old man suggests using the spatial concept of stacking mountains and arranging water, and seeing the large in the small, incorporating the plants the Mistress prefers into the scenery, and using the buildings in the residence as a foundation to create a natural landscape garden that can be both visited and lived in, according to the local conditions. How about it?”
The moment Yuli heard this, she knew that this was no ordinary craftsman, but an expert with deep attainments.
“Alright,” Yuli said with a smile. She said frankly, “Actually, I don’t know anything about this. Please take more care, sir.”
The master builder stroked his beard and agreed. Seeing that Yuli was humble and enthusiastic, he had the two apprentices who had come with him spread out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the spot and began to draw the design.
Yuli waited by the side, proposing what she wanted. The master builder was not surprised, listened to her needs, and made many modifications.
Yuli watched as the entire residence was transformed on the blueprint. She could almost see the lush grass and trees in the courtyard, and the changing scenery with every step.
At the end, Yuli asked about the budget and the construction time. The master builder gave an approximate figure. Yuli was a little surprised but pretended to be calm on the surface.
“As for the construction time, it depends on how many craftsmen can enter the residence at the same time. It’s all up to the Mistress’s wishes.”
Yuli said, “I like peace and quiet, so it will probably have to be a bit slower. Let’s not worry about the rest for now and start with Mingyue Residence.”
The master builder nodded. “Building a forest is like raising a person; it cannot be rushed. In that case, this old man will take his leave first and bring the craftsmen tomorrow. I’m afraid we’ll have to shovel away all those stone slabs first.”
When the master builder left, it was already dusk. Yuli was filled with excitement. She returned to Mingyue Residence, looked at the courtyard again and again, and imagined what it would look like with flowers and trees planted and rockeries arranged.
When it was time for dinner, she remembered that Xie Yao had not returned.
The sky was getting dark. He probably wouldn’t be back today.
Yuli’s mood lightened. She called Xiyun to have dinner with her. After the meal, she walked around the residence, thinking that she shouldn’t spend too much money, so she would just pick some of the most important places to create landscapes first. The rest would be left blank, or she would plant some flowers and trees according to her own preferences, without the complicated rockeries and stone carvings.
After a detailed walk, Yuli was tired. She took a bath and fell into a deep sleep after getting into bed.
*
But for Xie Yao, tonight was a sleepless night.
The vast Duke Qing’s Residence was sparsely lit, like a giant beast hibernating in the dark night, its belly imprisoning demons and monsters. Even if it couldn’t move, it could devour and corrode anyone who stepped inside.
The residence was heavily guarded by shadow guards. The closer one got to Xilan Courtyard, the more shadow guards there were.
As Xie Yao walked past, more and more of them appeared and bowed. After stepping into the main room of Xilan Courtyard, all of them, except for Song He, withdrew and disappeared.
There were two people in the room. One was a middle-aged man who had fainted on the ground, his hair disheveled, his face covered in stubble, and two streams of blood running down his fair face, from his temples, across his nose bridge, and dripping onto the floor.
The other was a woman in a green dress, sitting on the ground in a strange posture, holding a sharp piece of porcelain against the man’s neck vein.
The woman’s face was beautiful. Although her lips were pale, her chignon and dress were impeccable. Looking at the approaching Xie Yao, she pulled a bright smile.
“Fourth Brother, you’re finally willing to see me,” Xie Chunlan said with a smile.
Xie Yao glanced at her legs. It seemed she could no longer walk, yet she could still have such a mental state.
Seeing the surprise in his eyes, Xie Chunlan casually threw away the sharp weapon in her hand, straightened her back, and put on a gentle and noble posture.
“What hatred between family members can’t be let go? Fourth Brother, actually, when you first entered the residence, I knew you were destined for greatness, that you would surely reach the supreme position. They all looked down on you because you were the son of a mistress. It was I who always took care of you and protected you.”
Xie Chunlan spoke unhurriedly, as if recounting a warm past, her eyes smiling.
Xie Yao’s eyes were cold, without any warmth, but she was not discouraged.
“You must still remember, when you were injured on an expedition, it was I who, regardless of your hiding, applied medicine for you. I have always treated you as a real brother.
“Poisoning you was really out of desperation. Now, Fourth Brother has enslaved all the aunts, uncles, sisters, and cousins, leaving only me in the residence. You must not be able to bear to see me humiliated.
“Second Uncle told me everything tonight. Fourth Brother had a very bad life with that mistress. Your own mother didn’t love you either. When Second Uncle killed her, he also wanted to kill you. See, they don’t love you, they are not good to you. Only I, your seventh sister, have been good to you.”
Xie Chunlan’s expression became a little fervent. “So, for the sake of me having been good to you, let me live, okay?”
“Fourth Brother,” she called softly.
Xie Yao’s eyelids twitched, and he looked at Xie Chunlan.
Xie Yao moved his eyes. Song He understood and secretly gestured. A shadow guard suddenly appeared, pressed Xie Chunlan down, and dragged the middle-aged man on the ground away.
“Cut off one of her hands,” Xie Yao said.
Xie Chunlan’s face changed instantly, a mixture of shock and anger. She pleaded, “Fourth Brother, I was wrong. I have repented. Please let me go. Your sister will be your horse and ox—”
The blade fell, blood splattered, and the voice stopped abruptly.
Then, a shrill scream that echoed throughout the Duke’s Residence erupted.
Xie Chunlan was on the verge of fainting. Her weak eyes gradually focused, looking at the tender white hand that was still twitching in the distance. Because her legs were crippled, she could only use her hands to help her walk, and they had grown thick, dark yellow calluses.
Xie Chunlan’s eyes gradually filled with venom and madness.
She propped up her upper body. Half of her face was stained with blood, while the other half was as pale as paper.
Xie Chunlan began to laugh softly, and her laughter grew louder and louder.
Xie Yao looked at her. “This is the look that suits you.”
Xie Chunlan suddenly stopped laughing and wanted to spit at Xie Yao. Because of her weakness from blood loss, the saliva didn’t go far and trickled down from the corner of her mouth.
“Bastard,” Xie Chunlan squeezed out two words from between her teeth.
“I should have poisoned you directly. Poisoned you!”
Xie Yao was unmoved and stood up to leave.
“You are not worthy, you are not worthy of the surname Xie! Bastard, beast, I curse you, no one will ever be truly loyal to you, no one will ever truly love you—”
Hearing this, Song He kicked her in the chest. Xie Chunlan crashed to the ground, spitting blood.
A nasty gurgling sound came from her throat. She was choking, on the verge of suffocation, but still squeezed out those few words from her throat, “You are not worthy of being loved.”
Xie Yao had already walked a few steps, seemingly completely unmoved by her words.
After he had left this place, he mounted his horse, turned its head, and was about to go in the direction of the Xie Residence when Song He hurried after him.
“Master, it is already the hour of Zi. The Mistress is already asleep.”
Xie Yao stopped his horse, looked in that direction, his horse’s hooves trampling restlessly. His breathing was also not calm.
In the end, he still returned to the Imperial Palace.
He knew what Yuli had done today. The official from the Ministry of Works he had sent was very satisfied with her. But, she had not mentioned him a single time all day.
The next day, the shadow guards reported on the daily routine at the Xie Residence. The craftsmen had entered the residence, pried up the stone slabs in Mingyue Residence, and leveled the ground. Yuli was helping on the side, making sour plum juice for the craftsmen to drink, and even loosening the soil herself.
She was living a full and happy life, still not mentioning him a single time.
Xie Yao had someone send a message back early, telling her that he would be back tonight.