bayedsolid Chapter 258 Family
Chapter 258 Family
At night, all was quiet.
Chu Qingyin leaned against the window, feeling uneasy for some reason, as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, as if something bad was about to happen.
Could something have happened in the palace?
Or has something happened to my brother?
A variety of thoughts swirled in her mind, disturbing her sleep.
She didn't know how long she had been sitting by the window. Just as she was about to close the window and rest, she saw Lu Zhiheng, dressed in black, carrying someone on his back, walking quickly through the pitch-black night.
Chu Qingyin was startled when she saw this.
When Lu Zhiheng approached and saw that the disheveled and bruised woman in his arms was none other than the unconscious Xianglan, Chu Qingyin was even more shocked.
"What...what's going on?"
She asked in a trembling voice, her eyes filled with heartache and shock.
Lu Zhiheng quickly entered the room, carefully placed Xianglan on the bed, and then said, "It was Pei Yuanling who did it."
He turned to look at Chu Qingyin, "He's probably already suspicious and wants to use Xianglan to lure you out."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin was shocked and annoyed: "He is so vicious that he doesn't even spare one of my maids!"
Seeing Xianglan covered in wounds, she felt as if countless steel needles were piercing her heart, causing her excruciating pain.
Seeing Chu Qingyin's remorseful expression, Lu Zhiheng sighed inwardly and softened his tone: "Knowing the deep bond between you two, I specially rescued her. Now that you two are reunited, you can rest assured."
Chu Qingyin was certainly aware of the risks involved.
She looked up at Lu Zhiheng, her beautiful eyes filled with gratitude: "If it weren't for you this time, Xianglan would probably..."
She choked up and couldn't continue. She thought she had made all the arrangements, but she never expected Pei Yuanling to be so heartless and cruel.
Lu Zhiheng waved his hand: "Don't worry, Xianglan only suffered some minor injuries and is fine. She'll be alright after a few days of rest."
Hearing this, Chu Qingyin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Lu Zhiheng quickly arranged for a doctor to treat Xianglan and had Xueqing help Xianglan wash up and change her clothes.
Outside, Chu Qingyin stood in front of Lu Zhiheng, her eyes red-rimmed. "Thank you so much this time."
She smiled bitterly, "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have left Xianglan in the palace in the first place. If I hadn't been so inconsiderate, she wouldn't have suffered all this."
"You're welcome."
Lu Zhiheng said, "Seeing you like this, I know that bringing her back was the right thing to do."
If Xianglan were to die from being exposed to the scorching sun on the city wall, she would probably never be able to let it go for the rest of her life.
"Lord Lu, I owe you so much..."
Chu Qingyin bit her lip, her heart filled with complex emotions: "I'm afraid I can never repay such a great kindness in this lifetime."
“It’s not difficult,” Lu Zhiheng said.
Chu Qingyin was slightly taken aback, and raised her eyes: "...?"
Lu Zhiheng said to her, "Let's change how we address each other first. You are no longer Consort Liang, and I am no longer Lord Lu."
Chu Qingyin was still a little confused.
Lu Zhiheng stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said, "From now on, I will call you Qingyin, how about that?"
For some reason, even though they weren't very close, Chu Qingyin's heart skipped a beat.
Even her breathing seemed to become more rapid.
She instinctively tried to back away, hastily replying, "Okay...okay..."
It was a rare sight for Lu Zhiheng to see her so shy and girlish, and a warmth welled up in his heart.
"Qingyin," he called out in a hoarse voice.
"……Um."
Chu Qingyin felt a little awkward, but it seemed... not entirely unacceptable?
Seeing that she agreed, Lu Zhiheng added, "I've changed how I address you. From now on, please don't call me Lord Lu or Chief Minister Lu anymore."
In this idyllic village, there are no concubines or officials.
Only Chu Qingyin and Lu Zhiheng.
Chu Qingyin understood his meaning, thought for a moment, and said, "Lu Zhiheng."
Lu Zhiheng said, "Calling someone by their given name is too formal."
Chu Qingyin: "Do you have a courtesy name?"
Lu Zhiheng was silent for a moment, then said, "No."
A boy's courtesy name is given by his father or teacher.
His father died young, and his teacher, Old Master Lu, didn't live much longer either.
Seemingly noticing Lu Zhiheng's melancholy, Chu Qingyin asked, "How do your family members address you?"
family……
This word was both familiar and unfamiliar to Lu Zhiheng.
He has not had family for a long time.
"Aheng".
A soft, gentle female voice suddenly rang out, like a spring breeze in March, abruptly brushing against Lu Zhiheng's heartstrings.
He gazed intently at the woman before him, whose face was bare, and saw her blink her clear, bright eyes and ask him, "How about I call you that from now on?"
Lu Zhiheng remained silent for a long time before suppressing the surging emotions in his heart and nodding, "Okay."
The moonlight was clear and bright. The two looked at each other, and there seemed to be some kind of warmth floating in the air.
Just then, Shen Ran came out of the house with the doctor.
He looked at Chu Qingyin, his feelings still somewhat complicated.
Unexpectedly, the person in front of me was actually the deceased Consort Chu. This matter was too bizarre to believe.
Thinking of how much effort his master had put into rescuing a mere maid, Shen Ran couldn't help but say, "Miss Chu, we went to great lengths to save your maid. The guards under the city walls were layered upon layered; if we weren't careful, we would have been discovered, and we almost got caught by the Imperial Guards..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lu Zhiheng shot him a sharp glare.
Shen Ran immediately shut his mouth, inwardly lamenting that he had said too much.
Chu Qingyin felt even more guilty after hearing Shen Ran's words.
"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have taken such a risk."
"This is not your fault, it's Pei Yuanling's fault. He's so heartless."
Seeing Chu Qingyin so heartbroken, Lu Zhiheng stepped forward and said gently, "Qingyin, don't blame yourself like this anymore. You are a lucky girl, and your safe return is the best outcome."
Chu Qingyin raised her head: "Aheng, thank you..."
After thinking for a moment, she gently tugged at Lu Zhiheng's sleeve.
Lu Zhiheng was stunned.
Shen Ran, who was standing to the side, seemed to realize something and wisely led his group away.
Although Lu Zhiheng didn't understand why, he still followed Chu Qingyin to the side room.
The door closed, the candle was lit, and the flickering light cast shadows on the wall.
Chu Qingyin stood in front of Lu Zhiheng without hesitation, raising her hands to begin unbuttoning her clothes.
Her movements trembled slightly, but her eyes revealed a resolute determination.
Lu Zhiheng's heart suddenly raced. He stared straight at Chu Qingyin, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily, and his breathing became rapid, as if he were in a dream.
Just as Chu Qingyin was about to finish undressing, Lu Zhiheng suddenly came to his senses.
He reached out and grabbed the blanket beside him, wrapping Chu Qingyin tightly around it: "What are you doing!"
“Aheng, I know you’re not what you seem to be, that you’re only after your own interests. If that were the case, you wouldn’t have needed to save Xianglan.”
Chu Qingyin spoke, her head lowered.
Human hearts are warm at heart; how could she not feel Lu Zhiheng's concern for her?
Having gone through so much, she simply didn't dare to easily entrust her heart to another man.
Hearing her say that, Lu Zhiheng's breathing stopped slightly, as if a thorn was stuck in his throat, making him extremely uncomfortable.
"Qingyin, I don't expect you to accept me anytime soon." Lu Zhiheng's voice was hoarse. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but he lowered his raised hand.
"Time will tell, and one day you will believe me."
Chu Qingyin remained silent. She sat on the edge of the bed, watching the other person's departing figure, and let out a long sigh.