It was already past noon when they arrived at Merlin.
Xuan Yu brought Chuqing to a villa in the western suburbs of Meilin. This villa was an extremely elegant wooden bungalow. On the horizontal plaque on the door was his signature, with the words "Plum Garden" written in large Chinese characters.
In addition to a large area of plum trees surrounding the house, there were also cherry branches and peach trees, which alternated to embellish the entire plum forest. The fog in the forest added a hazy beauty.
"Wow! She's so beautiful!" Chu Qing smiled.
Xuan Yu smiled contentedly. He had ordered people to build this Plum Garden many years ago so that it would be convenient for him to come here to pay his respects to his dead mother. He would often loiter here for a few days before returning to the city.
Several maids and servants in the house recognized the sound of the horse hooves and came out to welcome them.
" Lord Baylor, good luck!" The servants called out respectfully while looking at Chu Qing in surprise.
Every time Lord Bei Le came back, he would always be alone. This time, he actually brought a girl as beautiful as a flower and jade. Presumably, this girl must have an extremely important position in his heart!
Chuqing was a little embarrassed and slightly surprised. "They…when did they come?”she asked timidly.
Xuan Yu put one hand around her slender waist and smiled gently,""They were originally the ones who took care of this house and lived near Merlin.”
After saying that, he handed the horse to a servant and then waved at the others." Go do what you need to do! Miss Guan and I are going to take a walk in the plum forest.”
They walked around the house and passed the stable to the backyard.
Suddenly, her eyes glittered. Chuqing asked in surprise,""A lake?"
Xuan Yu shook her head and took her hand to touch the crystal clear water." It's a hot spring!”
Chuqing's eyes widened in admiration. No wonder the forest was shrouded in clouds. It was neither clouds nor fog, but the heat of the earth. She had never seen a hot spring before, and now she could touch it with her own hands. It really made her excited and curious.
"I'll bring you here often in the future. I heard that soaking in the hot spring is good for your health!”He smiled faintly.
Chu Qing suddenly understood his intentions, and her heart immediately filled with a sour yet sweet feeling. His intentions moved her, and he made her feel how much he doted on her, but…other than sincere feelings, she had no way to repay his deep love. She had once sworn that she would never be a concubine in her life! This was something that could never be changed.
"Thank you for your kindness, but Lian Xin still said the same thing. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you!”
Xuan Yu covered her mouth and stared at her with her bright black eyes."Don't call me Lord Bei. In the plum forest, I am Xuan Yu, and you are Guan Chuqing. I am not Lord Bei, and you are not Liu Lianxin in 'Spring in the Dream of the Red Chamber'.”
Chu Qing was stunned by his sincere words. Her heart trembled, but she couldn't and didn't dare to dream about it! The past was still vivid in her mind. How could she let it go?
"You…Why are you doing this? I'm just an insignificant brothel girl. How can I be favored by you?”She avoided his gaze and whispered softly.
"I'll redeem you!" "From now on, you are no longer Liu Lianxin, but Guan Chuqing!" he declared firmly. The Guan Chuqing that belongs to me alone!”
Chuqing was stunned. She looked up at his arrogant eyebrows." And then? After you redeem me, what will you do with me?”
Hearing this, Xuan Yu's entire body stiffened. This problem was still the gap between them that could not be crossed. He could not help but close his eyes in pain.
The deep melancholy between his brows made her heart ache. She almost wanted to give up her persistence and just want to lean on him, but…she couldn't!
She sighed helplessly and said faintly,""It's not that I'm heartless to you, but…I once swore before my mother's grave that I would never be a concubine. I'd rather marry a peasant than become a concubine in a noble's house.”
Xuan Yu slowly opened her eyes and asked silently.
Chu Qing hesitated for a while before finally saying,""My mother was the same as me. She was once a famous courtesan in a brothel. She only sold her skills and not her body. Originally, she only hoped to meet a close friend and be an ordinary couple, but…helplessly, things did not go as she wished…"
She choked and paused for a moment, her eyes drifting into the distance as if she was sinking into the mud of memories." A powerful man in the capital took a fancy to her and tried his best to please and protect her. My mother fell deeply in love and followed him without caring about anything. Who knew…" Her delicate body trembled slightly and she almost could not continue.
Xuan Yu held her in her arms and stroked her back with her big hand to calm her sadness.
" That man already had a wife. My mother was willing to be a concubine for love, but my father's wife made things difficult for my mother…After my mother gave birth to me, her health deteriorated day by day. In the end, she died in depression. Before she died, my father didn't even have the courage to see her one last time…"
At this point, her tears had already flowed down her cheeks. Her sorrowful sobs gripped Xuan Yu's heart tightly, and he hugged her tightly in pain. "Stop talking!" His forehead was pressed against hers, and his voice was filled with anger and pain. He had never known that she had experienced such a painful time.
"Not long after mother died, I was expelled from the residence by aunt.”Chuqing was still sobbing, as if she had forgotten the existence of Xuan Yu.
Then, she suddenly raised her head and stared at him with tears in her eyes." So, do you understand? I can't be with you. I don't want to be anyone's concubine. Let me go!" She began to struggle violently as if she was risking her life.
" Shh..." Xuan Yu hugged her tightly, letting her sob in his arms. Her warm palm kept rubbing her thin and fragile body until she gradually calmed down and leaned weakly into his arms.
"I won't let you become my concubine. For the rest of my life, you will be my only wife.”His lips were pressed against her ear, murmuring an affectionate oath.
Chu Qing was shocked. She pushed him away slightly and stared at him with her bright eyes." No, you don't know what you're talking about? How could a noble Lord Bei marry a woman from a brothel?”
Xuan Yu turned around and cupped her face." Look at me, I'm serious. Even if I can't officially marry you, I will never marry another woman. In my heart, I have already decided that you are my only wife in this life."”
The firm and powerful oath was deeply embedded in Chuqing's heart, causing her soul to tremble.
She stared at him with trembling eyes and finally understood that her heart had completely fallen. In this life, he would be her lifelong love, her unregretful love? She could only grasp the present and did not want to think about anything else. As long as there was such a period, what regrets did she have in life?
Her soft arms slid to his neck and hugged him tightly. She couldn't help but mutter his name."Xuan Yu!" Her voice was so soft that it sounded like she was sighing, and it melded into the fluttering catkins and the white plum forest…As soon as she returned to Prince Liqin's residence, Xuan Yu immediately turned to her own Ma! Prince Liqin mentioned the matter of breaking off the engagement.
" What do you mean you want to break off the engagement?" King Liqin roared in anger. He slammed his palm on the table, causing the teacups and utensils on the table to make a loud noise.
Xuan Yu looked at her father fearlessly." Ma, I've already made my decision. I will naturally bear the consequences of this matter. Please forgive me."”
"What do you mean by that?" King Liqin gritted his teeth in anger. "Are you planning to act willfully and cancel this marriage?”
Xuan Yu bowed slightly and answered firmly,""Forgive this child for being unfilial, but this child has decided to cancel this marriage. I have already made up my mind, but I have to report this to you first.”
"Good, what a determined heart." King Liqin pointed his trembling index finger at him." Do you still have me in your eyes? What was so bad about Gege Baoyue that she had to be rejected? How am I supposed to face Prince Yi with such humiliation?”
Xuan Yu's expression was still cold and firm." I said that I would be responsible for the consequences. I will go to the Yi Prince residence to report the truth and try to get their understanding to minimize the damage.”
"You've thought of everything! If you don't give me a clear explanation today, I will never allow you to do such a ridiculous thing that will damage the reputation and harmony of the two families!”
Xuan Yu looked up at her father and said frankly,""Your son already has someone in his heart. Other than her, your son is not willing to marry another wife.”
"Who is she?" King Liqin asked.
Xuan Yu immediately fell silent. Now was not the time to let Ma know. The most important thing now was to settle his and Baoyue Gege's wedding in two months.
Seeing that he was silent, King Liqin lost his patience and cursed,""You unfilial son, do you think I wouldn't know if you didn't tell me? The whole of Beijing has already spread the news that you are infatuated with the courtesan of Spring in the Red Chamber, Liu Lianxin. You even spent a large sum of money to keep her!”
" I know what I'm doing." Xuan Yu didn't argue, but simply brushed it off.
"What do you have left?"If you like her, you can take her as your concubine, but you want to cancel the engagement for her? This is ridiculous!"”
"Since Ama already knows, then I don't need to hide it anymore. In this life, she is the only wife I have in my heart and will never change!”Xuan Yu said in a clear voice, as if she had broken an axe and sunk a boat. "This child will go to the Yi Prince residence to explain the whole story and not make things difficult for Ma.”After saying that, he immediately turned around and walked out of the hall.
"Xuan Yu, you unfilial son, stop right there! King Liqin shouted at the door.
Xuan Yu stopped in her tracks.”
"If you dare to step out of the Imperial Residence, I will pretend that I never had a son like you!”In order to make his son change his mind, King Liqin unconsciously said some harsh words.
Xuan Yu was startled, then closed his eyes in pain. After a while, he opened his eyes and continued to step forward.
King Liqin watched in shock as Xuan Yu turned around decisively. His body trembled as his thoughts churned.
"Do you really want to break our father-son relationship for a brothel girl?”
The old voice was heavy and sorrowful, causing Xuan Yu to stop in her tracks.
"Ma, you ignored the Empress Dowager's opposition and insisted on marrying the Han woman. Can't you understand my true feelings? After saying this, Xuan Yu turned around and left without looking back.
King Liqin stood at the door in a daze. After a long time, he could only sigh in the direction where Xuan Yu had left…The news of the annulment of the engagement between Prince Li of the First Rank and Prince Yi of the First Rank spread throughout the entire city of Beijing.
Rumors were spreading. Everyone said that the Palace Lord Xuan Yu had abandoned Princess Baoyue of the Yi Prince residence for the sake of Lady Liu Lian Xin of the Spring of the Red Chamber.
In an instant, the fang-seeking guests who had rushed into Spring of the Red Chamber, wanting to see Liu Lian Xin's heavenly beauty, almost squeezed through the hall.
Unfortunately, Liu Hongmian had already received Xuan Yu's orders to not allow Chuqing to receive any guests who had come because of her reputation.
However, the rumors were spreading like wildfire, and this relationship that did not match the background became a topic of gossip among the people of Beijing. Naturally, the news of Xuan Yu being infatuated with the women in the brothel also spread to Prince Yi's residence.
The one who had the most intense reaction was actually the Rui Tang Baylor of the Yi Prince residence. Compared to the Yi Prince, the Fujin, and the person involved, Bao Yue Gege, his anger was even greater.
Rui Tang had been infatuated with Liu Lian Xin for a long time, far before Xuan Yu. In order to see the beauty of his beloved woman every day, he did not hesitate to give up all his gold and waited bitterly for the spring in the red chamber, completely disregarding his identity and dignity as the Baylor of the Yi Prince residence. Because of this, Prince Yi was greatly angered. After he did not listen to his advice, he ordered him to be grounded and not to take half a step out of Prince Yi's residence.
This house arrest lasted for more than half a month. However, because of the rumors in the capital that Xuan Yu Baylor was infatuated with Liu Lian Xin, he did everything to redeem her freedom and canceled the engagement with Princess Baoyue of the Yi Prince residence, there was a huge change.
On this day, Chuqing was embroidering in her room. The brocade embroidered handkerchief made in Jiangnan was her favorite. In order to repay Xuan Yu's deep affection, she decided to embroider a painting and a few poems on the embroidered handkerchief as a token of her love for Xuan Yu.
A plum tree had been embroidered on the handkerchief, and a pair of swallows perched on the plum tree, staring at each other and chirping. A few lines of words were embroidered beside it!
- --I wish you a thousand years;
- -
Three wishes are like swallows on the beam, often meeting each other year after year.
Poetry and painting reflected each other. She chose the plum tree because she knew Xuan Yu and loved the plum forest. It had extraordinary significance.
After finishing the final touches, she had just put down her handkerchief when she saw Xiao Qing rush into the room like a gust of wind.
"Miss, bad news, bad news!”she shouted out of breath.
Chu Qing quickly went forward and asked with a frown,""What happened? Look at how nervous you are!”
Qing Zhu quickly swallowed and gestured,"Rui Tang Baylor is making a scene in the front hall, clamoring to see you. Aunt Hong is already unable to hold on any longer and wanted me to come in and inform you to find a place to hide.”
It was him! Chu Qing muttered to herself. She had almost forgotten about his existence, Rui Tang Bei Le! Her half-brother had met him by chance and found out that he was Ma's only son and also the heir to Prince Yi's residence. She deliberately acted as if she was at a distance. Not only did she not reject his obvious love, but she also seduced him.
There was no other reason why she would do this. Although she looked weak and delicate, she also had a proud and untamed heart! She couldn't forget her mother's suffering, and she couldn't forget Ama's cowardice and incompetence, as well as her aunt's cruelty and ruthlessness.
If she could let her brother, Rui Tang Bei Le, repeat the mistakes of Ama, it would be the best revenge for Ama and his aunt. The only difference was that the one who bewitched their precious son was not anyone else but Chuqing, who had been neglected back then! His biological daughter.
Such a scandal would definitely make her and her aunt lose face and suffer!
Originally, she thought that this was a great opportunity for revenge given to her by God, and this revenge operation was also quite smooth. Who knew that Ama actually put Rui Tang under house arrest, and she also happened to meet Xuan Yu during this period of time, and quickly fell in love.
Sighing softly, she ordered,""Let him in. I have something to say to him.”Now that she had no intention of taking revenge, she would let the past grievances go with the wind. As long as she could abide by her mother's last wish, that would be enough.
Qing Zhu widened its eyes and said disapprovingly,"Miss…you want to see him? This wasn't good! That Rui Tang Baylor is like a madman. Even Aunt Hong can't deal with him. I'm afraid of him!”
"Don't worry about that." Chu Qing interrupted her and nodded calmly. "I can handle it. Let him in!”
Qing Zhu hesitated for a long time before responding and heading to the hall to bring her people.
After a while, Little Qing led Rui Tang into the Maple Moon Little Flame Hall.
Chu Qing stopped playing with the embroidered handkerchief and raised her head to look at him. This glance made her slightly surprised. After not seeing him for nearly a month, the man she should have called Big Brother had suddenly become much thinner and haggard. His deep-set eyes and frenzied and painful expression made her unable to help but feel pity for him.
If she still had a trace of resentment and revenge, it was all gone at this moment! After all, he was innocent. Chuqing could not help but regret her actions earlier.
" You…have lost weight," she said, unable to bear it.
It was originally just a caring sentence that had nothing to do with love, but to him, it was like a life-saving medicine and a heavenly voice.
Rui Tang couldn't hide her ecstasy as she ran forward and held Chuqing's little hand. "I knew that you treated me sincerely. Those rumors are not true at all. They are all groundless rumors!”
Chu Qing was stunned and quickly pulled her hand back." You…misunderstood me.”After glancing at him, she continued,"I treat you like a friend and a big brother. It's normal for me to care about you.”
"Friends? Big brother?" Rui Tang's expression suddenly darkened." You mean…you never had feelings for me, you never loved me?”
Looking at his tightly knitted brows due to the pain, Chu Qing really could not bear it, but she could not lie to him anymore, she could not let them make the same mistake again."I'm sorry, I've never loved you." She hardened her heart and told the truth.
When Rui Tang heard this, he staggered and then reached out to grab her shoulders and shook her violently." No! You lied to me, you lied to me on purpose!”His mind was in a mess and he had lost control of his emotions.
Chu Qing was shaken until she was dizzy, unable to break free from his grip.
Xiao Qing, who was standing at the side, rushed forward and pulled Rui Tang away as she shouted,"Miss didn't lie to you! She and Xuanyu Baylor are in love with each other and have already been privately engaged to each other. Let go of Miss!”
This sentence was a sharp blow to the head and suddenly woke Rui Tang up. He released his hand as if he was scalded by fire and retreated a few steps in embarrassment. His dark eyes stared fiercely at Chuqing.
"So the rumors are true! Then, he suddenly burst into laughter and sneered,""Do you really think you can become Xuan Yu's wife and sit on the Fujin's seat? To tell you the truth, that Xuan Yu has long been engaged to my sister, Gege Baoyue. At most, you can only be a concubine!”
Chuqing's face turned pale. No, Xuan Yu had promised her that she would never marry anyone else in this life.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Qing retorted angrily on behalf of her master."Everyone in Beijing knows that the Xuanyu Baylor has already called off the engagement for our Miss. He is serious about Miss!"”
Rui Tang sneered."I'm afraid it won't be so easy for him to cancel the engagement. He paused for a moment and approached Chuqing again."How can the Yi Prince residence allow him to humiliate us like this? Moreover, this matter had already reached the ears of the Emperor. This concerned the reputation of the Imperial Family, so how could the Emperor allow him to act recklessly?”
These words shocked Chu Qing and Xiao Qing. Chu Qing sat on the green wooden chair beside the desk with a pale face.
Little Qing hurriedly consoled her."Miss, don't listen to his nonsense. The Xuanyu Palace Lord has already redeemed your life. There's no reason for him to lie to you."”
Rui Tangxuan snorted again." I'm afraid he can't help himself!”
Chu Qing subconsciously grabbed the embroidered handkerchief that had just been completed on the table and calmed down. She knew that Xuan Yu would never lie to her, but they were powerless to resist the Emperor's order. How could she let him suffer the Emperor's punishment because of her?
"You've said what you need to say. Please go back!”She calmly ordered him to leave.
Rui Tang's body stiffened. He was angry and regretful that he had been blinded by jealousy and hurt his beloved.
"Lian Xin, don't chase me away. I can give you everything that Xuan Yu can't. I don't have an engagement and I'm deeply in love with you.”
"Stop talking!" Chuqing interrupted him coldly." I don't love you at all. Even if there was no Xuan Yu, I would never marry you. We are destined to be apart."”
"Why?" he asked painfully.
Chuqing was silent for a moment." You don't want to know the reason." Her voice sounded heavy and painful.
"No, I can't! I must know, or I will never give up!”Rui Tang stubbornly wanted to know the answer.
Chu Qing slowly raised her eyes that were as deep as the night sky and stared at him. At this point, she could only tell him the truth to make him give up. So she said clearly and clearly,"My real name is Borzite. Chuqing! Your half-sister."
Rui Tang's eyes widened, and he staggered back a few steps. His face was filled with shock and disbelief." No…Impossible, how could this be…" He muttered to himself, unable to accept the reality in front of him.
Chuqing smiled sadly." Do you still remember the year I was ten years old? After Mother passed away, Aunty and Ama were about to send me away when I suddenly disappeared?”She glanced at the pale Rui Tang." It snowed heavily that day. I carried Mother's urn and sneaked out of the Prince's mansion. I almost froze to death on the street. Fortunately, Aunt Hong saved me, and I became Liu Lianxin today."”
Rui Tang looked at her with heartache and panic. He knew that she was telling the truth, but he just couldn't accept the fact that they were siblings. He already loved her so much that he couldn't extricate himself! Why was the heavens playing such a big joke on him?
"If that's the case, why didn't you tell me the truth earlier when you let me fall in love with you? he asked, his voice hoarse with pain.
" Because…" She hesitated for a moment, then steeled herself and answered,""I hate Ma and auntie for being so heartless to us, so I want to use your infatuation with me to bring shame to the Yi Prince residence. From the beginning to the end, I never liked you!”
"You mean you're using me?”Rui Tang's expression suddenly changed as he asked with a cold face.
Chu Qing didn't say anything and only nodded slowly.
The room fell into a deathly silence.
Rui Tang's gloomy and terrifying gaze slowly moved down from her beautiful face and glanced at the embroidered handkerchief she was holding tightly in her hand. Suddenly, he snatched the embroidered handkerchief. After seeing the inscription and pattern on the embroidered handkerchief, he let out a burst of mournful laughter.
"What a wish, like swallows on the beam, to meet each other often! This embroidered handkerchief should be given to Xuan Yu, right?”
"Give it back to me!" Chuqing shouted anxiously, wanting to take back her embroidered handkerchief, but she could not do so.
"Return it to you?" Rui Tang's face instantly turned ferocious as he looked at her cruelly." So that I can teach you and Xuanyu to live happily ever after?" Humph! Don't even think about it. Even if you're my sister, I won't let him have you!”
After saying those harsh words, he held his embroidered handkerchief and laughed wildly. He strode out of Maple Moon Flame, and his malicious and angry laughter grabbed Chuqing's heart tightly like a ghost. A chill instantly attacked her delicate body.
Suddenly, an ominous feeling rose in her heart. However, she never expected that this incident would become the beginning of her future pain!#
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]