In the plum forest, other than the now bare plum trees, there were also some strange flowers and plants, so the forest was still lush with trees.
Falling petals flew everywhere, and pink petals covered the ground. They were like pink snow fluttering in the air. Chu Qing looked up and reached out to catch a pink petal. Ah! So it was cherry blossoms!
Such a beautiful flower bloomed and fell, as light as a snow petal, but its temperament was as fierce as a yellow flower. It only wanted a moment of brilliance, but it was not afraid that the flower would wither and become the soil of spring!
She sighed softly and stood still for a long while before continuing to walk forward.
In the plum forest shrouded by the golden sun, the light spirits fell to the ground through the gaps of the leaves, making the forest look like a dream. Coupled with the beautiful music of the babbling stream in the distance and the beautiful flowers fluttering in the wind on the low slope, this plum forest was like a paradise!
After strolling leisurely for a long time, the heat of the sun gradually increased, and her snow-white skin began to sweat. In the blink of an eye, it was already noon.
Unknowingly, she and Xiao Hong had arrived at her mother's place! In front of Guan Yubing's grave.
Staring blankly at the tombstone, Chuqing was speechless for the first time. Should she tell her mother that she had met the love of her life? However, would this love last long? Her love for Xuan Yu would never change, but what about his love for her? Until now, he had never said that he loved her!
Even if he doted on her and spoiled her, if he lacked love, what good would it do for her no matter how much he doted on her? He always said that he wanted her and would never let her go, but was this love? Or did he only treat her as his possession and insist on having the right to monopolize her?
Sigh! Affection became pain, infatuation became pain. Thinking back, mother must have fallen in love with father without any regrets, just like her current state of mind.
However, since ancient times, there was nothing but hatred in love. Mother would eventually die with hatred. What about her? Would she follow in her mother's footsteps?
The word 'love' hurt her deeply. She originally wanted to stay away from the love of the secular world and build a hut here to accompany her mother's grave for the rest of her life. She wanted to be a person who forsakes love. However, fate arranged for her to meet Xuan Yu here. Ripples rippled in the lake of her heart that had been calm for a long time, causing her to fall into love.
Perhaps it was predestined, or perhaps her mother didn't want to see her alone for the rest of her life. If Xuan Yu was really the devil in her life, how could she escape from the love net he had cast? Forget it! She was determined to follow him for the rest of her life. Other than him, she knew that she would never be moved by any other man.
While he was deep in thought, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from behind him.
Chu Qing looked back and saw that it was the housekeeper of the Plum Gardens, Uncle Fu.
"Miss, Rui Tang Bei Le and a lady are waiting for you in the plum garden. They say they have something important to look for you!”Barkley said to her breathlessly.
"Rui Tang?" Chu Qing frowned slightly. How did he find this place? He had not looked for her since their last unpleasant meeting. Could it be that he still didn't believe her words, so he specially came to find her today? But who was that girl?
"Let's go back!" She didn't have time to think about it anymore. Anyway, she would know when she met him.
Returning to the plum garden, Chu Qing saw two people anxiously standing in the hall. Other than Rui Tang, the other person was actually Little Green.
She ran forward in surprise and joy." Xiao Qing, why are you here?”
Qing Zhu turned around when it heard that. "Miss!" She cried and laughed as she hugged Chuqing. In this one and a half month, she missed Miss very much! If it wasn't for the fact that the Black Jade Palace Lord had insisted on not letting her come, she would never have wanted to leave the young miss.
The two of them hugged each other excitedly for a moment before separating. Xiao Qing carefully sized up Chu Qing from head to toe.
"Miss, you seem to have slimmed down a little. Did the Black Jade Palace Lord do anything to you? Xiao Qing asked with concern.
Chuqing pursed her lips and smiled."Why do you ask that? You know, he has always treated me very well. I just have a bad appetite. It's nothing.”
" But…" Qing Zhu wanted to say something but stopped. She looked at her and then at Rui Tang Bei Le, her face was filled with reluctance and embarrassment.
"But what? If you have something to say, just say it. Our relationship is like that of biological sisters. There's nothing that can't be said.”Chu Qing laughed.
" I... I..." She stammered for a long time, but she still could not come up with a reason. "Aiya, I don't know how to say it! I'll let Rui Tang Baylor tell you!”
Chu Qing frowned slightly and cast her gaze on Rui Tang. "May I know why Rui Tang Baylor has come to find me today?”She thought that Qing Zhu was embarrassed because she was worried about Rui Tang.
Rui Tang looked at Chu Qing for a long time. He still couldn't accept the fact that she was his sister. He hadn't seen her for many days, but his longing for her didn't decrease at all. Instead, it increased his guilt and pity.
"Don't be so distant to me, Qinger! We are, after all!" He forced a smile and wanted to reveal their relationship, but Chu Qing suddenly interrupted him.
"Don't say it out loud!" Her expression was solemn and indifferent." I've never thought of acknowledging my ancestors and clan, and I don't want to have a relationship with Prince Yi's residence. I'll just forget about this title!”
Rui Tang closed his eyes in pain. After a moment of silence, he opened his eyes and said,"I know you hate Ma, Mother, and even me and Baoyue, but I came today because I have to tell you something!”
Chu Qing could not bear to reject him." Please say it!”
Rui Tang looked around and saw Xiao Hong and Uncle Fu beside her." Let's borrow a place to talk. I don't want any outsiders to be present."”
In fact, the reason why he and Xiao Qing were able to find Chuqing's whereabouts was all thanks to Dexi. He could not rest assured that Chuqing would follow Xuan Yu, but Dexi refused to tell him where Xuan Yu's villa was. He had no choice but to tell everything that had happened, and that was how he got Dexi's help.
Today, they had found out that Xuan Yu had just entered the palace to discuss state affairs with the Emperor, so they had taken this opportunity to rush to Plum Garden to tell Chuqing the truth and take her away from here.
"Let's talk in the back garden!" Chu Qing nodded knowingly and dismissed Xiao Hong and Uncle Fu. She led the way in front and led Xiao Qing and Rui Tang to the back garden.
In the back garden, a beautiful figure was sitting on a wooden chair in a pavilion full of flowers.
" Can you tell me now?" Chu Qing's bright eyes stared straight at Rui Tang.
"Yes, Ruitang Baylor, hurry up and say it! I don't want Miss to continue being kept in the dark. Little Qing urged anxiously.
Chu Qing looked at Xiao Qing in surprise, not understanding why she would say such a thing. The whole thing was faintly strange, but she still patiently waited for Rui Tang to explain.
Rui Tang took a deep breath. It was better to end this quickly." You know about Xuanyu and Baoyue's engagement, right? This engagement was made by their parents when they were young.”
Chuqing smiled calmly." I knew about this long ago. I also knew that he canceled the marriage for me.”
"Did he promise you anything?”Rui Tang asked seriously.
"This isn't something you should be asking!" she replied coldly.
"No, I can't! This matter is very important. You must answer me.”Rui Tang asked anxiously, frowning as if the situation was very serious.
Chu Qing glanced at Xiao Qing, only to see her nodding her head vigorously, her eyes filled with anxiety and concern.
After pondering for a while, she said leisurely,"Xuan Yu, he…he wants me to wait here. He said that once the rumors die down, he will marry me. He also said that even if he can't marry me, he will never do so.”
"You believe him?" Rui Tang asked with a dark face.
"I believe you!" Chuqing subconsciously defended Xuan Yu." Actually, it doesn't matter if he marries me or not. As long as he treats me sincerely, I'm willing to follow him for the rest of my life."”
"Miss, why are you so silly!" Qing Zhu could not help but ask. "You've been deceived!"
"You…I don't understand what you mean.”Chuqing stared blankly at Little Qing. Little Qing was not unaware of how well Xuan Yu treated her, and she had even witnessed it with her own eyes. Why did she change her attitude of respect and admiration towards Xuan Yu today?
"Miss, everyone in Beijing knows that Xuanyu Baylor has canceled the engagement and has decided to hold a wedding with Baoyue on the 15th of next month.”Qing Zhu shouted anxiously.
Like a bolt from the blue sky, this news hit Chuqing's head, causing her entire body to tremble, and even breathing became difficult.
"No…no, he can't lie to me like this!”She muttered to herself absentmindedly, but her heart felt as if it had been stabbed by a knife. It was still bleeding, and she did not know how to react to the pain.
What hurt her was not that he wanted to marry another woman, but that he deliberately lied to her. She trusted him and loved him with all her heart.”Chuqing stubbornly whispered. Her beautiful face was as pale as paper, and her eyes were unusually bright and scorching.
Rui Tang grabbed her hand reluctantly and said in pain,""It's true. The entire Yi Prince residence is busy with their marriage and Xuan Yu's betrothal gift has already been sent to the residence.”
"Miss, what's even more hateful is that Xuanyu Baylor actually told Prince Yi that he would only take you as a concubine and would not let Gege Baoyue suffer.”Qing Zhu said indignantly. She had really misjudged the Xuanyu Baylor. She had thought that he was sincere to the young miss, but in the end, he was just like ordinary people, deterred by the young miss's background.
Chu Qing's face turned even paler because of Xiao Qing's words. Her bloodless lips trembled slightly. "No…Impossible! He clearly knew that I swore in front of Mother's grave that I would never be a concubine in this life. How could he do this?”
Looking at her painful expression, Rui Tang felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife. Everything was his fault. Prince Yi's residence and he owed Chuqing too much that they could never repay in their lifetime! But he could at least bring her out of this place and escape from the sea of suffering.
"Now that things have come to this, you can't stay here anymore.”Rui Tang said calmly. "Otherwise, you will suffer even more. Today, Qing and I plan to take you away from here while Xuan Yu is not around.”
Chu Qing's body stiffened and she remained seated." No! I can't leave yet. I want him to tell me personally why he lied to me!”
"Miss, don't be silly. When the Xuanyu Baylor comes back, can you still leave?" Little Qing shouted in a low voice anxiously.
"Qinger, come with us! It's fine if you don't acknowledge me as your brother, but please give me a chance to make up for it. Other than the Yi Prince residence, I have other courtyards that can let you live comfortably and live without worry for the rest of your life.”Rui Tang's hoarse voice was filled with strong emotions as he tried to persuade her.
Chu Qing shook her head as if she did not hear anything. She looked at the garden full of spring in panic. Her bright autumn pupils had long lost their light, and the blood had long faded from her cheeks.
She stood up shakily, swaying like a willow in the wind. She muttered to herself," No, he wouldn't. He wouldn't do this to me. I don't believe it…" Could it be that his gentleness, pity, and love for her were all fake? All she wanted was for him to treat her sincerely!
Seeing her despondent and sorrowful look, Xiao Qing could not help but cry. "Miss, why are you doing this? That Xuanyu Baylor has already decided to imprison you here for a long time. If you don't leave, are you going to let him continue to ruin your heart and your feelings?”
In order to wake her up, Rui Tang had no choice but to continue cruelly,""Bao Yue is stubborn and willful. She couldn't stop Xuan Yu from taking concubines, but she also said that she wouldn't live under the same roof with you. Xuan Yu agreed. In fact, he really didn't intend to let you enter Prince Liqin's residence!”
"Don't say anymore!" Chu Qing staggered back a step, her hoarse voice cutting off Rui Tang's words.
Qing Zhu rushed forward to support her." Miss, are you alright?”
Chu Qing steadied herself. Her face was pale and cold." Don't waste your breath. I'm only staying to ask him personally. If everything is as you say, I won't need you to take me away. I'll leave myself."”
"I'm afraid you won't be able to leave even if you want to!”Rui Tang said anxiously. It was already past midnight, and soon Xuan Yu would return to the Plum Garden. They didn't have much time left.
Chu Qing just smiled." When I really want to leave, no one can stop me. Thank you for your kindness. You guys can go!”
The air suddenly froze, and Rui Tang felt pain even when breathing. Did she hate him that much? Therefore, she was not willing to accept his kindness at all. However, he could not let go and let her become Xuan Yu's exclusive property, withering and withering day by day.
Based on his understanding of Xuan Yu, even if Chuqing knew the truth, he would not let her go. He had once said that things that belonged to him could never escape from his hands! He would do anything to keep her, even imprison her.
"No matter what, I must take you away from here today!”For her own good, he decided to take her away by force.
"Oh, really? I want to see how you're going to take her away!”A magnetic voice suddenly sounded.
Chuqing looked back in shock. Xuan Yu had already come forward like a ghost and held her slender waist, standing upright beside her.
When Rui Tang and Xiao Qing saw Xuan Yu, their faces turned pale. They never thought that he would come back so quickly.
"You…let our young miss go!" Even though Qing Zhu was afraid, she still dared to shout first.
Xuan Yu snorted lightly." I have already redeemed her, so she is mine. So what if I say I won't let her go?”
"Xuan Yu, don't go too far!" Rui Tang shouted angrily. "No matter what, Qinger is still a member of my Yi Prince residence. I won't let you continue to bully her!”
Not only was Xuan Yu not angry, he even laughed out loud. After the laughter stopped, he replied with a mocking tone,""I treat her very well. I let her eat well, use well, and have someone to serve her.”
" You…" Rui Tang narrowed her eyes and glared at him." You ignored her wishes and forcefully detained her. Isn't this bullying?”
"Hah!" Xuan Yu sneered disapprovingly." Since she has already sold herself to me, I can decide whether she stays or goes. How can it be considered as forcibly imprisoning her? Besides, how can you be sure that she doesn't want to stay here?”
His words made Rui Tang speechless, but Rui Tang still didn't give up. He glared at Xuan Yu fiercely." I must take her away today!"”
Xuan Yu's face suddenly turned cold, and a fierce light flashed across her long and narrow eyes." In that case, don't blame me for being rude, but I'm afraid you're not my match!"”The meaning behind his words was very clear, he did not hesitate to use force to stop Rui Tang.
Just as the two of them were staring at each other angrily, in a tense state where they were about to explode, Chuqing, who had been nestled in Xuan Yu's arms, suddenly spoke! "Stop arguing. I will decide whether I stay or leave.”
She glanced at Rui Tang, lowered her eyes, and said in a low and hoarse voice,""You can go! I can't go with you. Take Little Green and leave this place!”
Rui Tang looked at her in shock. He couldn't believe that she was still willing to stay here. Could it be that she really loved Xuan Yu so much that she couldn't extricate herself?
Before he could recover from his shock, Xuan Yu shouted,""Uncle Fu, send the guest out!"
Housekeeper Uncle Fu rushed out hurriedly and bowed to Rui Tang and Little Qing." Rui Tang and this lady, please!"”
Rui Tang was stunned for a long time before he sighed slightly. He lifted the hem of his long coat and stepped out of Plum Garden.
Qing Zhu still looked at Chu Qing reluctantly. In the end, she choked and said,""Miss, take care. Xiao Qing will come to see you again.”
After saying that, she turned around and left, quickly catching up to Rui Tang.
The sun was setting in the west, and the entire plum garden was bathed in the red glow of dusk.
In the bedroom, Chu Qing looked helplessly at the stalwart, fierce, and cold man in front of her. There were many things she wanted to ask him, but she couldn't say a single word.
"What did Rui Tang say to you?" Xuan Yu broke the silence and asked coldly.
Chu Qing glanced at him under her thick eyelashes and replied faintly,""He…he said that you are going to be with Baoyue!"My sister is getting married." She suddenly raised her head and looked straight at him with her clear eyes." Is this true?" she asked in a trembling voice.
Xuan Yu raised her eyebrows and smiled."Since you already know, I won't hide it from you. The 15th of next month will be my big day with your sister, Gege Baoyue."”
Chu Qing sat down on the bed and asked in grief,""Why…Why did you lie to me?”
I didn't lie to you."Xuan Yu narrowed her eyes coldly and said unmoved,""What difference does it make if I get married or not? Didn't you say that even if I marry someone else, you would still be willing to follow me?"”
Chuqing nodded sadly." That's right, but that's because I thought you loved me!”She shouted at the top of her lungs.
Xuan Yu revealed a devilish smile." Don't I love you? I thought that I had proven myself in the past month.”
His ambiguous words were like a sharp blade that stabbed Chu Qing's heart.
"No, you don't love me. If you really loved me, you wouldn't have deliberately hidden it from me and even threatened to marry me as a concubine!" She shouted hoarsely, trying her best to hold back her tears.
"Don't pretend to be innocent and pitiful."Xuan Yu was obviously angry too." All of this can only be said to be your own doing.”
Chu Qing stared at him with her teary eyes." You…What do you mean?"”
Xuan Yu snorted and looked at him with disdain. "You keep saying that you love me, but in fact, you're just using me as a chess piece to take revenge on the Yi Prince residence!”
" I don't understand what you're talking about." Chuqing looked at him blankly, her face full of confusion.
Xuan Yu suddenly approached her and growled angrily,""Stop putting on an act. Didn't you get close to me for revenge? You wanted to seek justice for your mother, so you deliberately approached me to make me lose my mind because of you, and then cancel the engagement with Prince Yi's residence, causing the people of Prince Yi's residence to be humiliated. This was your intention, wasn't it?”
Chuqing was so shocked that she couldn't speak. She could only hold back her tears and shake her head innocently. How could he make up her sins like this? She had never thought of this before!
Xuan Yu suddenly smiled coldly."You were indeed about to succeed, but Rui Tang Bei Le showed me your purpose."Because of you, I fell out with Prince Yi, fell out with my Amma, and even made the emperor unhappy. In the end, I was just a chess piece being used. I didn't kill you, so you're already lucky.”
His cold and cruel words made Chu Qing's heart clench. She could no longer hold back her tears, and they flowed down her cheeks like broken pearls.
"I've never had such thoughts. You can't accuse me. When I met you, I didn't know that you were Gege Baoyue's fiancé!”
Looking at her crying so badly and Li Hua's tearful look, Xuan Yu couldn't bear to see her like this. He lifted her tear-stained face and gently wiped away her tears.
"Don't cry. I can forget about all of this. As long as you stay by my side obediently, I will let bygones be bygones.”
Chuqing was stunned. She slowly raised her head and looked at him with a blank expression."In the end, you still don't believe me. If that's the case, why do you want me to stay by your side?”
Xuan Yu curled her lips and smiled wickedly."You are a rare beauty in the world. How can I let you go so easily? Although I can let you go of your deliberate deception and exploitation, you must use your life as compensation and atonement."”
So this was the truth of the matter. He kept her only because of her beauty and that groundless crime, not because he loved her!
Chuqing smiled sadly. Her tearful eyes were as fragile as a cherry blossom falling in the wind. She had thought that she had found the true love of her life and could escape from the sadness of fate, but…it turned out that this was just a fleeting dream, and the love she had embraced was only a desolate one…She was still haggard with Rong Guang, unbearable to look at. How many tears could there be no limit to hatred? She leaned against the railing." A light sigh fell like a drizzle, and the first day of sunshine was a soft moan. His heart was filled with sorrow, a bone-chilling pain.
Xuan Yu looked at her coldly from the beginning to the end, taking in all her expressions. He pretended not to care about her heartbreak, and his solemn appearance made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
After a period of stiff and suffocating silence, Chu Qing endured the pain of tears and walked towards the door as if no one was there.
"Where are you going?" Xuan Yu asked coldly.
Chu Qing stopped in her tracks but did not turn back." There's no need for me to be attached to this place. What's the point of staying here? As long as I can leave this place, even if I have to fly alone, I'm willing to do so without regret or fear.”
Every word she said was like ice, burning like fire, cutting like a knife, making Xuan Yu's heart ache violently, carrying with it the anger and fear of the heavens.
" Don't even think about leaving this place!" His face was cold, and his expression was so cold that it was scary. He spat out these words in anger.
Not only did Chu Qing not say anything, but she smiled coldly. She slowly turned her head and looked at him with a sad gaze."Why? My heart is already dead. Even if I force myself to stay, it's just a shell. What's the fun in it for you?”
Looking at her sad and beautiful face, Xuan Yu's chest suddenly felt stifled, and a wave of emotions surged in his heart, as if it wanted to swallow him up.
"It's my business whether I have fun or not. In short, you're not allowed to take a step out of the room!" His voice was gentle but dangerous, and it was faintly authoritative. He would never allow himself to succumb to her sorrowful and pitiful worry. He had always been the only one who ruled over everything, and no woman had ever dared to challenge his authority.
Chu Qing frowned slightly and sighed softly."You still don't understand. Since I've decided to leave, no one can stop me, not even you!”
After saying that, she turned around and continued walking forward.
" Is that so?" Xuan Yu's dark eyes darkened, and she instantly blocked her way." I told you that you have to stay by my side for the rest of your life. You haven't forgotten, have you?"" He narrowed his eyes at her, his gaze cold and filled with a terrifying solemnity.
Chuqing looked up in panic." You've already gotten what you want. Why are you making things difficult for me?”As soon as she finished speaking, she nimbly avoided him and took another step forward.
Xuan Yu's eyes flashed coldly and she grabbed her arm." Don't provoke me!"”
"Let me go!" Chu Qing's face was pale. She took a few steps back in panic as if she had encountered a ghost." I beg you, don't pester me anymore!”
"Pester you?" Xuan Yu sneered."Do you still remember what you said? You once swore to me that in this lifetime, your body and heart will always be mine, until death!”
Chuqing suddenly trembled. The vow she had made with her heart full of love to never break it had actually become a fatal point that imprisoned her.
She closed her eyes sadly. After a long while, she slowly opened her watery eyes and looked straight into Xuan Yu's eyes."Back then, I made the oath because I loved you. But now, I no longer love you. What's the point of keeping that oath?”
This sentence was like a sharp thorn, stabbing Xuan Yu's heart and igniting his anger." What did you say? Say it again!" He spoke word by word through gritted teeth. His low and gentle voice contained hints of danger.
Chu Qing hardened her heart and mustered up her courage. She met his angry gaze that was filled with possessiveness and wildness, and her lips curled into a cold smile. "I said, I don't love you anymore. Wouldn't it be disappointing to keep a woman who doesn't love you by my side…"
"Enough!" He suddenly grabbed her shoulders and shouted angrily, interrupting her. "Whether you love me or not, I will never let you go in this lifetime!”
"You..." Chuqing exclaimed. Dashui stared at Xuan Yu in shock."What are you doing?"”
"You…" Chuqing's tightly pursed lips trembled."Forcing someone is not the behavior of a gentleman!”
Xuan Yu laughed loudly." I never wanted to be a gentleman when it comes to you.”His strong arms wrapped around her body, and the smile on his handsome face turned evil. "Don't even think that I'll let you go. You're destined to be entangled with me for the rest of your life.”#
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。