Chapter 44

Several days had passed since the eldest son of the Su family’s wedding banquet, and everyone mentioned that day with mixed feelings.

At first, it was lively, of course.

Some came to see if the chief of the Eastern Bureau was present or not, to curry favor, while others, including relatives and friends, genuinely came to offer congratulations.

But in the end, neither Qin Yan nor Su Qi were there. Only a rooster was present, and even the bridal chamber couldn’t be set up. How could they celebrate? Eventually, their enthusiasm waned, and they left with a lack of interest.

The joyous occasion started with excitement but ended in disappointment, leaving a taste of anticlimax. Rumors spread that Su Qi had already returned to the Su family early in the morning on that day, making the event a topic of discussion in every corner of Jiangling City.

Chun Mei combed Su Mi’s hair with a comb while Su Mi stared blankly at the pile of persimmon cakes on the dowry box.

“Miss, Young Master always brings food for you, but he hasn’t come to see you.”

“Hmm.” Su Mi pondered and asked, “Has he returned to the county?”

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Ubwd Ylk dseele yde alrzkle, “R blyae vbyv bl zlqv yqvla wdvukdt vbl asrl kd vbl cakeyz nbyxcla okvbswv pyukdt y osae vs vbl cakel. Jlqsal zlyhkdt, bl sdzu bye psxlsdl plde vblpl rlapkxxsd nyjlp.”

“Ubwd Ylk, R vbkdj R’zz ts pll Hbsw Uykolk vseyu.” Gqvla yzz, pbl bye xyaakle kdvs vbl qyxkzu yde oyp dso bla pkpvla-kd-zyo. Fbl oswzed’v byhl xydu nbydnlp vs xllv bla sdnl pbl oldv vs vbl nyrkvyz. Fw Ck bye valyvle bla olzz, ps pbl pbswze xllv vbl rlapsd kd bkp nswavuyae vseyu.

“Ykpp, pbyzz R ynnsxrydu usw?”

Fw Yk tldvzu ryvvle Ubwd Ylk’p byde yde pxkzle, “Ls dlle. El ytalle vbyv vseyu usw oswze ts cynj yde hkpkv uswa ryaldvp. “Kwpv vyjl y oyzj yaswde vbl bswpl, yde R osd’v tlv zspv.”

“Mbydj usw, Ykpp.”

Rd qynv, kv bye clld qswa sa qkhl eyup yzalyeu, yde Fw Yk eked’v jdso obld Ckd Zyd oswze nsxl. Rq bl olal vs nsxl vsxsaaso yde Ubwd Ylk byed’v lhld tsdl bsxl sdnl, pbl oswze byhl vs ts cynj vs vbl nyrkvyz okvb bkx ytykd. Mbyv oswze cl ps wdnsxqsavyczl. Mbyv’p obu Fw Yk taydvle Ubwd Ylk y eyu sqq ulpvlaeyu.

“Ubwd Ylk, kp Hbsw Uykolk vlxrsayakzu pvyukdt kd Fw Ck’p nswavuyae?”

“Zlp, cwv Zswdt Yypvla kp sqvld dsv vblal, ps kv’p dsv nsdhldkldv. R blyae vbyv Gwdv Hbys byp saelale y hynydv assx kd vbl kddla nswavuyae, yde pbl okzz xshl vblal kd y nswrzl sq eyup.”

After finishing the lunch, Su Mi took the opportunity to aid digestion and walked to Su Qi’s courtyard. From afar, she could hear the laughter of Aunt Zhao and Su Zhen.

She really didn’t want to encounter them again and planned to come later. But as she passed through the garden pathway, she suddenly saw Li Xiuyuan on the opposite side.

Su Mi was taken aback. Why was he here? She remembered that Su Xian hadn’t come. However, it wasn’t just Su Mi who was surprised; Li Xiuyuan was also astonished.

He had only heard from Su Mingde that the chief would come to take Su Mi back to the capital, so he had decided to stay for a few more days to try his luck. Unexpectedly, he bumped into Su Mi today at the mansion.

Su Mi noticed that Li Xiuyuan seemed lost in thought and didn’t pay attention to her. Due to their previous encounter, she quickly changed her path, not wanting to meet him. But to her surprise, Li Xiuyuan snapped out of it and blocked her way.

“Mi’er,” he called out.

Su Mi didn’t respond and took a step back, keeping her gaze fixed on him.

She glanced around, and although there were no maids or servants passing by, it was still broad daylight. If things got out of hand, she could shout, and someone would surely hear. With this in mind, she took another step back, creating some distance between them.

Li Xiuyuan looked at Su Mi, and the cautiousness and wariness in her eyes made him feel uncomfortable.

“Mi’er, are you still angry about last time? I was momentarily confused. But now I really dare not.” Li Xiuyuan added, “So please don’t mention what happened before to the chief.”

“Hmm, I won’t say anything.”

Su Mi quickly agreed. Li Xiuyuan didn’t know that Qin Yan was right next door on that day, and now there were only the two of them here. If she remained stiff in this situation, it might anger him and complicate things.

“I have already promised you, so you can go now,” Su Mi said quickly, keeping a careful eye on the distance between herself and Li Xiuyuan.

With Su Mi’s affirmative response, Li Xiuyuan felt relieved. He looked around and saw no one nearby, then turned his gaze back to Su Mi.

She was probably wearing an old jacket from home, looking lively and girlish with her hair tied up like a young girl. No, she looked even more youthful and tender than before.

In the past, he spread rumors about her and that bookworm from the Yu family in order to marry her. But in the end, it was all for nothing. He couldn’t touch her now, but couldn’t they still have a conversation? Why did Mi’er treat him like a ferocious beast, making him feel cold-hearted?

He took a step closer and asked softly, “Mi’er, why do you keep stepping back?”

“Why don’t you ask how your sister is doing lately?”

Su Mi initially thought that he was about to leave, but to her surprise, Li Xiuyuan approached her, and his gestures seemed to be reaching out to her.

Due to the lingering shadow of the previous incident, Su Mi couldn’t even hear his words clearly and became frightened. Disregarding her ladylike demeanor, she kept retreating, eventually rushing towards the entrance of the central courtyard. She remembered that there were Chunlan and other maids there, and as long as she reached them, there would be more people around.

Su Mi felt panicked and anxious, with her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. She also had to glance back to see if Li Xiuyuan was catching up, leaving her with no choice but to run in a general direction.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain on her forehead as she collided with someone’s chest.

Startled, Su Mi looked up and found herself in the arms of Qin Yan, with his beautifully carved, handsome face.

His tall figure was draped in a black Hangzhou silk cloak, emitting a warmth that carried the familiar scent of sandalwood, making her reluctant to push him away.

In the next moment, a force pulled at her waist, and she was swiftly pulled into Qin Yan’s embrace.

“Lord…” Su Mi was both surprised and delighted, unable to help but whisper.

Despite Qin Yan’s cold expression a moment ago, being nestled in his arms instinctively made Su Mi feel at ease. Her fear of Li Xiuyuan instantly dissipated, and she relaxed. Her legs grew weak, and his hand on her waist securely held her, keeping her close to his chest.

Feeling the momentary weakness in the woman in his arms, Qin Yan recalled her panicked state as she hurried towards the entrance. His gaze turned colder as he looked at Li Xiuyuan, a hint of a chilling smile appearing on his face.

“What were you planning to do to my wife?”

“Ch… chief.” Li Xiuyuan knelt down, stuttering and unsure how to explain himself.

When he saw Qin Yan entering the courtyard earlier, the imposing aura already indicated his identity. He had been searching for an opportunity to meet Qin Yan for a few days, but he never expected to choose the worst possible timing.

Even if he genuinely told Qin Yan that he only wanted to talk to Su Mi, Qin Yan wouldn’t believe it, considering Su Mi’s fleeing behavior.

“Chief, I was just joking with your wife. I would never disrespect…” Li Xiuyuan’s words were cut short, and he suddenly stopped.

No, just now… Wasn’t that the voice of the distinguished guest from the restaurant that day? Could it be that the one who drove him away was the chief?

Since Su Mingde had entered the courtyard alongside Qin Yan, he had been by his side. Seeing Li Xiuyuan suddenly freeze, thinking he was frightened, Su Mingde quickly interjected, “Indeed, chief, I believe this is a misunderstanding. Xiuyuan is Mi’er’s brother-in-law and would never do anything inappropriate.”

Qin Yan’s arrival today was too sudden. He and Mrs. Yu happened to see it and hurriedly went forward to greet him.

They had just brought Qin Yan to find Su Mi, but they happened to enter the central courtyard and saw Su Mi frantically running towards them at the entrance, with Li Xiuyuan running behind her. Their actions were too obvious.

They could only hope that the chief would consider Li Xiuyuan’s relationship with Su Mi’s brother-in-law.

However, to their surprise, upon hearing Su Mingde’s words, a heavy shade suddenly emerged in Qin Yan’s eyes.

“So, you’re Li Xiuyuan.”

The oppressive aura surrounding Qin Yan and his clear recognition struck fear into Li Xiuyuan. He no longer cared about the situation and immediately knelt on the ground.

“Chief, please spare me! I won’t dare anymore. I didn’t do anything that time; I didn’t do anything.”

Li Xiuyuan’s sudden and intense reaction confused Su Mingde. He frowned and turned to Yu Qingniang, whispering, “What happened before? How does the chief recognize Xiuyuan?”

Since entering the courtyard, Yu Qingniang has had a sense that something is not right. Qin Yan may have been an eunuch, but he still possessed a man’s mentality. Su Mi’s attempt to flee was obviously due to fear of being violated. This situation was already terrible, but now it seemed like the chief even knew about the drugging incident.

When Su Mingde asked her, Yu Qingniang didn’t know where to begin.

She looked at Su Mi, who was being held in Qin Yan’s arms, and wondered if Su Mi had told the chief about it.

If that were the case…

She glanced at the sporadic bloodstains on the trailing edge of Qin Yan’s cloak, and her heart trembled involuntarily. Based on the rumors about the chief, today…

The surroundings fell silent for a moment, with only Li Xiuyuan continuously begging for mercy while kneeling on the ground. Qin Yan looked at him with a fierce expression.

It wasn’t that he had forgotten how Su Mi had met him initially; from the beginning, he had only married her out of amusement.

As for what happened to her before she met him, he thought he had never cared.

But suddenly, he realized that he did care.

Because he had never felt such a strong desire to see someone dead as he did now.

Qin Yan, with his peerlessly handsome face, now appeared icy and cold. He gently pressed Su Mi’s head against his chest, using the trailing edge of his cloak to cover her ears, and then glanced at Ling An by his side, parting his thin lips slightly.

Ling An lowered his gaze, and in the next moment, Li Xiuyuan’s screams echoed throughout the Su residence. It was visibly clear that Li Xiuyuan’s hand had been forcefully broken into two pieces!

The speed of the action was so fast that Su Mingde and Yu Qingniang, standing behind Qin Yan, didn’t even have time to call out before they saw Li Xiuyuan fainting in pain and being lifted by one of Qin Yan’s attendants.

Su Mi was pressed against Qin Yan’s chest, unable to see anything, but Yu Qingniang saw clearly. The piece of exposed white bone on Li Xiuyuan’s right wrist made her feel dizzy. With Chunlan’s support, she managed not to collapse.

Su Mingde was equally frightened. He trembled as he approached and said, “Ch… Chief, what suddenly… What’s going on?”

Qin Yan cast a cold glance at Su Mingde, and there was a chilling smile on his lips. “Let him live a little longer. What’s wrong with that?”

Su Mingde swallowed nervously at his words. Living a little longer still meant death. The chief was torturing Li Xiuyuan to death, wasn’t he? Nothing had really happened, so how…

Qin Yan’s voice was filled with hostility, a tone that Su Mi had never heard before. Even without looking, she could guess what had probably happened to Li Xiuyuan. Suddenly, she felt a strong gaze, and when Su Mi turned her head, she met Yu Qingniang’s eyes.

Inside those eyes was a silent plea. Yu Qingniang was begging her to speak up and spare Li Xiuyuan.

Su Xian was still pregnant, and if Li Xiuyuan died, Su Xian’s future would be bleak. They were both her daughters. How could she bear to let either of them go? Although Li Xiuyuan was extremely despicable, people always had a glimmer of hope. Su Mi hadn’t been injured back then, so Li Xiuyuan didn’t seem so deserving of death.

Su Mi buried her head in Qin Yan’s chest.

She knew her mother was thinking about Su Xian, but Su Mi was thinking about her mother. Mrs.Yu had suffered due to her lack of a son, and Auntie Zhao had suppressed them. Their daily lives were not easy, and if Li Xiuyuan died, her mother’s life would become even more difficult.

She could feel Qin Yan’s anger coming from her waist.

He even has to place a cook in his own separate garden, not allowing others to use it without permission, let alone her.

But even though she knew it would provoke his anger, she still had to do it.

Su Mi gently pushed Qin Yan away and raised her head, calling out, “Lord…”

Qin Yan looked down at Su Mi, and there was a fleeting hint of tenderness in his expression. “Hmm?”

Su Mi looked at Qin Yan, hesitated for a moment, and softly said, “… Can you spare him from death?”

Qin Yan’s spine stiffened at her words. The trace of gentleness in his eyes turned into an icy glacier, then suddenly cracked, scattering like ice blades shooting towards Su Mi.

After a few breaths, Qin Yan coldly looked at Su Mi, no longer with the same smile as before.

“You’re pleading for him.”

His tone seemed devoid of any emotion, but Su Mi knew that he was angry—angrier than he had ever been toward her.

He had every right to be angry. It was all for her, yet she didn’t appreciate it. How could someone as proud as him not be angry?

However, she was different from Qin Yan. He could act without any reservations, but she couldn’t.

“Yes.”

After a long silence, Qin Yan seemed to let out a laugh. He released the hand that had been holding Su Mi’s waist, and his large black cloak slipped off her without any hesitation.

Without even sparing a glance at Su Mi, Qin Yan turned around and walked straight out of the courtyard. Ling An dropped the unconscious body of Li Xiuyuan and followed Qin Yan closely, leaving the central courtyard.

The warmth of Qin Yan’s hand still lingered around her waist. Su Mi looked at his dark figure, feeling a bitter taste in her throat. She knew he was truly angry.