Chapter 53 - Heartache
Xi Jing was in turmoil.
First, there was Dou Qingyue's confession of love on the Gui Ming Bridge. Then, in a heart-stopping moment, Song Zizhen jumped off to save her. Rumor has it that when they were rescued, their clothes were disheveled, their bodies pressed close together. In just half a day, countless exaggerated stories had spread throughout the town.
There were tales of Miss Dou's tragic love for her cousin, and of Song Zizhen's silent protection, waiting for the one in his heart to turn around. There were even more dramatic stories of a love triangle full of passion, love, and hate.
Leaving aside the others, when Dou Qingyue awoke and realized that it wasn't Pei Xuan who had saved her but the young heir of the Song family, whom her parents approved of, her plans were shattered. She spat out a mouthful of blood, showing signs of departing this world.
"Qingyue! Qingyue! Please don't be so despairing!"
Lady Dou, usually a resilient woman, couldn't help but have tears in her eyes. Seeing her daughter's life hanging by a thread, she deeply regretted not being able to fulfill her daughter's wishes and drag Pei Xuan to her bridal chamber.
Her heart filled with chaos, and General Dou's eyes turned red as well.
"Qingyue, there are plenty of fish in the sea, why must you..."
Dou Qingyue lay on the bed, closing her eyes, a tear trickling down from the corner.
She was already known in Xi Jing as someone frail in health. This time, she had risked her reputation and life, trying to force Pei Xuan to marry her. However, Song Zizhen had unexpectedly intervened.
Her plans had failed, and the realization that she couldn't be Pei Xuan's wife made life seem hopeless.
The Dou couple felt helpless, stepping outside with long sighs and murmurs.
Physical ailments might have been carried from the womb, but the waters of Gui Ming Lake were chilling. Having narrowly escaped death this time, it wasn't necessarily fated.
Life and death of the heart both rested on that one person.
According to the customs of Da Zhao, after such an incident, the young man from the Song family would inevitably have to marry Qingyue. Their intimate embrace had been witnessed by countless eyes. Her reputation was ruined, and it would be challenging to resolve the situation without a marriage.
However...
General Dou didn't want to push his daughter to death. Up to this point, he hadn't mentioned that the Song family had already sent over marriage proposals and gifts.
"My husband, what... what should we do now?"
The general looked up: "Doctor, please speak your mind. My daughter, she..."
The old doctor, understanding the unspoken sentiment, replied melancholically, "Whether she lives or dies depends on whether her desires are fulfilled."
If the one who had jumped into the lake to save her had been Pei Xuan, even if she could be his wife for just one day, even death would leave Dou Qingyue without regrets.
But the savior turned out to be an unrelated man. Dou Qingyue had lost on all fronts: ruined her health, damaged her reputation, and now, she's tied to a stranger.
She'd rather die.
General Dou's thoughts weren't far from this conclusion. After seeing off the old doctor, he stood under the eaves deep in thought. After a while, he ordered, "Go to the villa and invite Xuan over."
The servant obeyed.
Lady Dou hesitated, "My husband, are you going to..."
"We only have this one daughter. How can I not fulfill what she desires?"
While the outside world was buzzing with gossip, at Su Shui Villa, after finishing his third cup of tea, Pei Xuan finally recovered from the shock of being caught off guard.
Cui Ti had heard about Dou Qingyue's desperate jump from the servants and was currently irritated. "You always try to do good, now do you realize the seriousness of it all?"
"I realize it, I realize it." Pei Xuan wiped his sweat, "One can't judge a book by its cover. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd find it hard to believe..."
She, disguised as a delicate scholar, had learned the strategies to govern a country, serving as a noble scholar. How would she have had the chance to witness the cunning and malice of her own cousin? It was thanks to Song Zizhen's deep affection, risking his life to save someone from the water. If he had hesitated and allowed this naive girl to jump, they'd surely end up as two women serving one 'husband'!
Cui Ti felt like teaching her a lesson, "Now do you understand?"
Pei Xuan, who had been sitting still, suddenly stood up, "This is not good; I need to hide."
Watching her dart her eyes around for a hiding place, Cui Ti couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation, "What are you hiding from? I'm not going to hit you."
"Lady, please spare me! My uncle won't. He has always been extremely indulgent to his niece. Although I never wished any harm upon her, after what she said today, I feel cornered. I---"
"Master!"
The steward from the villa stood outside, reporting, "The General invites you to his mansion!"
"..."
Did she really predict it?
Cui Ti's fingers twirled a handkerchief as she and Pei Xuan exchanged a startled gaze.
"Master, you should go and see; there are so many people outside!"
General Dou's invitation to his nephew seemed more like a summon, with twenty or thirty battle-hardened warriors escorting. Whether she wanted to go or not, she had to.
"How could uncle do this? We're family; isn't this straining our relationship? Master, should we inform the lady?"
The 'lady' he referred to was Dou Zixing's elder sister, Pei Xuan's mother.
Such a formal summon among close relatives was unheard of. But the urgency reflected the severity of the niece's condition.
It was true; someone usually frail and sickly daring to jump into a lake was akin to courting death.
With Dou's family blocking the entrance, Pei Xuan's initial panic subsided. Since escape was impossible, she had to face it. Straightening her clothes, she said, "No need to alarm mother. I'll be back soon. Uncle has always been kind to me; he must be genuinely worried this time."
"Xing Guang?"
Pei Xuan held her wife's hand, "If I'm not back in an hour, send someone to the mansion to fetch me with mother's help."
"I'll come with you!"
Cui Ti clung to her, not letting her go. Pei Xuan sighed, "I'm just going to see. Even if uncle is domineering, he wouldn't detain me. Besides, I'm the only child of my mother. If anything happens to the niece, he'd consider my mother's feelings. Going alone, I can ensure my safety, but I worry if you come."
In her past memories, it was clear her cousin had harmed Cui Ti. Instead of avoiding, why offer herself?
She dared to face them out of respect for her relationship with her uncle and aunt. Taking Cui Ti might pose risks.
"Be obedient, wait for me here."
Tears welled up in Cui Ti's eyes as she silently watched her.
Pei Xuan dared not look longer, "Bai Tang! Take care of the young lady!"
"Yes!"
Bai Tang patted her modest chest, showing her determination.
The envoy from the Dou family was already standing in the courtyard. Upon seeing Pei Xuan, they all bowed respectfully, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
The leader spoke humbly, "The general had no other choice. I beg M'lord to not take it to heart."
"It's alright. Why would a nephew bear a grudge against his uncle?"
She dusted off her sleeves and took the lead.
The distance from the courtyard to the main gate of Su Shui Villa was not far, but Cui Ti's heart was in her throat the whole time.
Dou Qingyue's actions were always unexpected. She could even disregard her own life, and Cui Ti was worried about what might happen to Pei Xuan this time.
Anxiety was gnawing at her.
But before she could even see him cross the gate, a cold gust of wind blew past, clouding her vision.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw Pei Xuan stumble forward, hitting his head hard and blood gushing out.
The scene unfolded so quickly that everyone stood still, seemingly in shock.
"Xing Guang!"
The scream was heart-wrenching.
Blood dripped from his forehead, with a metallic sweetness. As Pei Xuan's consciousness faded, he wanted to comfort his wife, but suddenly felt an intangible mark break open between his brows.
Memories of his past life flooded in.
It was a snow-white rabbit, quickly running through his memories.
The white rabbit crouched on the ground, and in a blink, transformed into a human form, with moist and slightly reddened eyes. Its picturesque body and delicate ankles swept over the low branches. She looked over, her eyes innocent.
"It's strange, who's looking at me?"
She shook her head, apparently unaware of the embarrassment of being naked, and casually walked around the meadow.
The gentle breeze tousled her soft and long hair. Her earlobes looked delicate, and her smile was as pure as the celestial river.
This was a rabbit spirit that had just managed to attain a human form.
Over the ages, the young girl grew up, gained experience, and understood modesty. She loved to wear snow-white garments that ended just above her ankles. The combination of black, white, and red on her looked especially enchanting.
Spirits and creatures in the mountains would fight at the drop of a hat. Once, a wolf demon ambushed her...
"Xing Guang? Xing Guang!!"
The scene outside the entrance of the villa was chaotic. Servants and guards from the Dou family called out anxiously for "M'lord", and Song Zizhen, arriving on horseback, was met with this tumult.
He had come to implore Pei Xuan to help save Miss Dou, who was on the brink of death. But who could have expected this...
He dismounted in a panic, "Quickly, fetch a doctor!"
Far away in the heavenly realm, celestial beings were casually chatting under the Marriage Tree.
"Immortal Qingyao is about to lose her physical form and return here. Wenqu has broken the seal and remembered his past life. Ah, how interesting," said the old Matchmaker, who always loved a good spectacle.
The Red Phoenix remarked, "The timing of the seal breaking was just right. Otherwise, with Pei Xuan gone, the rabbit spirit would have been heartbroken."
"It's not much better now."
"But speaking of Immortal Qingyao, her reckless entry into the reincarnation cycle disrupted Wenqu's fate. If she returns, a century-long punishment is inevitable."
"She'll be in good company with the dispersed Immortal Hehuan and the superior Immortal Qin."
Earlier, Ning Hehuan and Qin Jing had a magical duel. One had violated celestial rules by opening the spiritual vision for the reincarnated rabbit spirit, and the other abused magic to harm others. After a fight in the cold lands of the mortal realm, they were confined to the Water Reflection Cave in the heavens to reflect on their misdeeds.
Wenqu endured so much in the mortal world, and those involved in his ordeal weren't few. Including Immortal Qingyao, that's three.
"Every cloud has a silver lining... Every cloud..."
But this silver lining had been a long time coming.
The Dou residence.
The messenger guard hurriedly dismounted, striding forth, "General Dou, something's gone wrong!"
General Dou was waiting in the courtyard for his nephew to arrive. Instead of Pei Xuan, he was met with the words "something's gone wrong."
His mood turned gloomy, his irritation evident on his face. The guard quickly reported, "We went to invite M'lord to the mansion, but before he could even leave the villa, he tripped and hit his head. He's now unconscious!"
"What?!"
General Dou was overwhelmed with guilt. He paced anxiously before finally deciding, "Do not inform the young miss about this. Let's keep it from her for now. Come with me, let's see Xuan."
"Yes!"
However, despite their efforts to keep it secret, Dou Qingyue eventually found out.
Upon learning about Pei Xuan's injury, she coughed up blood.
Coughing blood at such a young age is never a good omen.
Lady Dou was torn between concern for her nephew and worry for her daughter, "Yue, let's not add to the chaos."
"No, no..." she replied weakly, "Mother, I have to see him. Otherwise, I won't rest even in death..."
"Yue!"
"Mother, I beg you."
How could a mother resist such a plea?
The Dou family took a carriage to the Su Shui Villa.
Lady Pei was anxious and agitated. When she saw them, her anger erupted, directed at her younger brother, "Why have you come? Wasn't upsetting me once enough? Do you want to upset me a second time? Xuan is your nephew! How can you be so cold-hearted? Now that he's injured, you come here parading your whole family in front of me? Get out, leave!"
Her fury was palpable, making General Dou lose face.
"Sister..."
He knelt and without further words, kowtowed three times, "It's my fault that Xuan is in this state. I admit my mistakes. We're here not only because my wife and I are concerned but also because Yue insisted on seeing her cousin..."
When Dou Qingyue was mentioned, Lady Pei's face turned shades of green and white. She felt for her niece's apparent frailty, but the fact that Pei Xuan was injured after a routine departure was undoubtedly due to her troublesome niece!
Without her relentless love, would her daughter face such a disaster?
"Sister..."
"Aunt..."
Dou Qingyue knelt before her.
The sight of this frail girl, looking pitiful, made Lady Dou relent, "Do not disturb Xuan. As for everything else, do as you please!"
She didn't have the energy for disputes. If any judgments were to be made, they would wait until Pei Xuan woke up.
Tears streaming down her face, Dou Qingyue watched Lady Pei leave, "Thank you, Aunt."
In the main residence, Pei Xuan was placed in the largest room.
The Dou couple, overwhelmed with guilt, didn't have the face to enter. They only allowed their maidservants to help their daughter into the room.
Inside, a pleasant fragrance filled the room, creating a calming atmosphere. As Dou Qingyue entered, she immediately saw her pale 'cousin' on the bed. Her heart ached, and she moved closer, intending to touch Pei Xuan's face.
"Stay away! Don't touch him!"
She was shoved, nearly spraining her waist.
Looking sideways, she saw Cui Ti leaning on a bamboo stick, his eyes fiercely fixed on a wooden stool a few steps away. His expression seemed to suggest that he would pounce and bite if she made another move.
He had the ferocity of someone ready to rip apart anyone who even thought of harming Pei Xuan.