Chapter 78 -
Chapter 78: Chapter
Wenzhe’s grip on his sword hilt tightened so hard his knuckles turned white. He looked from his stern father to his disapproving mother, then to his siblings and cousins, who were all nodding in agreement with Su Yueqing.
He was the Young Master of the Xi estate, a feared commander, yet he felt entirely cornered in his own courtyard.. all because his wife’s chaotic, unfiltered thoughts were secretly broadcasting a highly logical conspiracy theory to the entire family.
"I am not letting my emotions blind me," Wenzhe said, his voice tight as he forced himself to remain calm. "I am simply stating a fact. A life was saved today. Regardless of how she escaped, Li Mei shed blood to protect the Young Madame of this house. If we interrogate a dying savior before the poison is even drawn from her veins, what will the public think of the Xi family’s honor?"
Su Yueqing let out a soft, delicate yawn, covering her mouth with a silk-gloved hand.
[Oh, here he goes again with ’honor’ and ’reputation’,] her inner voice sighed, practically rolling its eyes inside Wenzhe’s mind. [He’s just looking for an excuse to keep his little white lotus close so he can play the doting savior. If he wants to nurse her back to health, he should just say so. Why bring the family’s honor into his love life? It’s exhausting.]
Wenzhe’s left eye twitched. I am not trying to play the doting savior! he wanted to roar back at her mental voice, but he had to keep his mouth shut to avoid looking completely insane in front of his relatives.
Before the argument could escalate any further, the family physician hurried back out of the medical pavilion, wiping sweat and blood from his hands. He bowed deeply to Lord Xi and Wenzhe.
"Young Master, Lord Xi," the physician announced anxiously. "The maid, Li Mei, has been stabilized. The arrow was indeed laced with a numbing poison, but we have administered the antidote. However..." He hesitated, glancing nervously at Su Yueqing. "She is currently weak and crying out for the Young Master in her delirium."
A collective, silent groan seemed to pass through the Xi family members.
Xi Yunhao crossed his arms, muttering under his breath, "Delirium? Or perfect timing?"
Su Yueqing, however, saw this as her perfect golden opportunity to get both of them out of her hair. She lightly tapped her boots against the stirrups, preparing to dismount with the help of her guard.
"Well, there you have it," Su Yueqing said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy as she looked down at Wenzhe. "Your beloved savior is calling for you. Since you are so deeply concerned about her ’honor’ and her health, you should go play the dutiful nurse. I, on the other hand, have had a very long day, and my horse needs to be brushed."
[Yes! Go! Run to her! stay in the medical pavilion for three days and three nights for all I care!] her inner thoughts cheered happily.
[Just leave me and my beautiful unicorn alone so I can check my system dashboard in peace!]
Wenzhe stared at her, his face dark with a mix of fury, hurt, and utter exasperation. He realized then that no matter what he did, Su Yueqing was entirely, completely detached from him.
Without saying another word, he turned on his heel and stroped toward the medical pavilion, his blood-stained robes swirling behind him.
The rest of the Xi family watched his retreating back with a collective sigh.
Old Madame Xi shook her head, leaning heavily on her walking cane as she let out a long, weary breath. "I am far too old for this dramatic nonsense," she muttered, her shoulders slumping.
Beside her, the Duke gently took her elbow. "Mother, come. Let me escort you back to your courtyard to rest." With a respectful nod to the others, he guided the family matriarch away from the noisy field.
The Duchess watched them go, then turned her sharp, commanding gaze up toward the white horse. Her expression softened slightly as she looked at her daughter-in-law. "Yueqing, get down from that horse before you hurt yourself," she urged gently.
Turning to the estate’s head maids, the Duchess raised her voice in a tone that brooked no argument. "Make sure the Young Madame is escorted to her chambers and well taken care of. Prepare a hot bath and some calming tea. And remember," she added, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the surrounding servants, "not a single word about tonight’s events is to leave this estate. If I hear even a whisper of this ambush in the city, the offender will not survive the night."
With those final, strict instructions, the Duchess turned and quickly followed her husband and mother-in-law back toward the main manor.
Wenzhe’s younger brothers, Yunchen and Yunhao, exchanged frustrated glances but knew better than to linger. They turned and left to double the patrol guards around the estate. Behind them, Aunt Ronghua and her husband, Gu Zhen, walked away in a heated, hushed argument that could be heard across the grass.
"I told you we shouldn’t have let Wenzhe keep that girl in the first place!" Aunt Ronghua hissed, waving her hands in the air. "She is nothing but trouble! Now we have assassins on our border and a maid playing hero!"
"Will you lower your voice?" Gu Zhen muttered back, rubbing his temples in irritation. "We don’t even know if the assassins were after the yueqing or Wenzhe. Stop jumping to conclusions before the guards have even interrogated the prisoners!"
"Oh, please! A locked woodshed doesn’t just open itself! She is suspicious, and you are just as blind as Wenzhe!" her voice faded as they disappeared down the stone path.
Meanwhile, a steady guard stepped forward and carefully assisted Su Yueqing, helping her slide gently down from the tall white horse. Once her boots touched the grass, she patted the stallion’s neck one last time, smoothing down its silver mane with a satisfied nod.
Xi Lanyin and her sisters were about to follow the rest of the family back to the manor, but Lanyin suddenly stopped in her tracks.
A quiet, unexpected thought from Su Yueqing suddenly drifted into her mind and it was entirely different from the sarcastic, horse-obsessed rants from earlier.
[...I hope that idiot actually lets the physician look at his arm first before he goes playing doctor with his white lotus,] Su Yueqing’s inner voice muttered, sounding surprisingly quiet and a little worried. [He was bleeding pretty badly from that arrow slice, and who knows what kind of nasty poison was on those tips. If he gets himself infected just to look cool and dramatic, I’m going to have to deal with a grumpy, bedridden husband. What a dummy.]
Lanyin blinked, pausing as she looked back at her sister-in-law, who was currently smoothing out her wrinkled silk skirt with a perfectly cold, indifferent expression on her face.
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of Lanyin’s lips. So, she thought to herself, the cold, acting villainess sister in law of hers actually has a heart after all.