After Encountering My Deceased Wife, I Became the Male Lead's Love Rival - Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Disbelief

Only after teasing the other person until her face was flushed with red clouds would Fang Ziyue finally cease her mischief.

In the words of the little maid by Ling Qiu’s side: “Eldest Miss, you just keep indulging that little Commandery Princess. You’re spoiling her to be more and more domineering. In the end, won’t you be the one to suffer for it?”

In the beginning, the little Commandery Princess didn’t dare tease Ling Qiu like this. It was Ling Qiu’s excessive indulgence that had bolstered her courage to such a degree.

The woman sitting upright by the window heard this and said in a low voice, “It is fine. Her nature is not bad; she is simply a bit playful.”

The little Commandery Princess had never done anything truly out of line. Every time, she knew to stop exactly at the limit of Ling Qiu’s endurance. Although the teasing left Ling Qiu shy and burning with a heat she could barely withstand, she was secretly content with it.

This remote courtyard was overgrown with withered grass, yet a single branch of fiery red plum blossoms reached over the wall—burning, dazzling, and so red that one could not bear to look away.

“Enough. You still haven’t said why you came so early today?”

Allowing the other to use a silk handkerchief to wipe the fine sweat from her face, Ling Qiu tilted her head slightly to make it easier for her.

If she hadn’t mentioned it, it would have been fine, but as soon as the topic was raised, the high curve of Fang Ziyue’s lips instantly dropped.

She grumbled with dissatisfaction, “It’s because of that person in the palace wanting a concubine selection. I don’t know who was so talkative as to mention my name. To avoid entering the palace, I have no choice but to follow my father to war.”

Ling Qiu, her head still tilted, froze for a moment. She turned her face back and paused for a long time before asking, “When do you leave?”

“The seventh of next month.”

The seventh?

Ling Qiu’s fingers tightened inside her sleeves. Counting the days, it was less than ten days away. Why… so sudden?

Though her heart was troubled, her face did not show it. She fumbled to grasp Fang Ziyue’s hand. Unlike the soft, delicate hands of typical noble girls, these hands were calloused. Though rough, they were long and powerful.

Holding her hand, Ling Qiu couldn’t help but lower her head. Her veiled eyes seemed to be staring at their interlaced fingers, and her soft voice dropped a few notches: “Since you are going to the battlefield, you must not be reckless. In all matters where you are uncertain, consult with the Marquis.”

“The border city is freezing. Take more thick clothing with you. Though one might disregard everything once the fighting starts, do not be lazy during lulls; make sure to boil hot water for drinking.”

Ling Qiu reached one hand under the table, pulled out her medicine box, and skillfully searched through it to find several pouches of herbs.

“Here are some wound medicines; take them with you. If you are injured, remember to let the military doctor see you—do not find it troublesome. Even small wounds and aches, if left untreated, can claim a life.”

Ling Qiu chattered on, as if she were trying to say a whole year’s worth of words at once. Her gentle voice was like a trickling stream washing over Fang Ziyue’s heart, making her eyes sting with heat.

Fang Ziyue gripped the medicine pouches tightly and couldn’t help but pull the slender woman into her arms. Embracing her thin waist, she buried her head in Ling Qiu’s neck and acted spoiled: “What should I do, Sister Ling? I don’t want to go, and I don’t want to leave you.”

A girl who could already shoulder great responsibilities was still able to hug her and act like a child without reservation. How could this not cause ripples in the pool of Ling Qiu’s heart?

But it wasn’t time yet. Ling Qiu reached out to pat the other’s back, saying softly, “Now, now. How old are you? Why are you still so coddled?”

To her surprise, Fang Ziyue hugged her tighter and said righteously, “Swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield. If I want to be coddled then, it will be difficult.”

These words left Ling Qiu speechless. On second thought, she really had spoiled this little Commandery Princess rotten.

At this thought, Ling Qiu pinched Fang Ziyue’s ear and pulled her up. She didn’t use any force, but Fang Ziyue was willing to play along. She cried out in pain and pleaded incessantly.

“My good Sister Ling, let go, quickly let go. My ear is going to fall off!”

“Oh? I didn’t use any strength. Are you trying to frame me again?”

Determined not to indulge her further, Ling Qiu gave a light huff and withdrew her hand, turning back to feel her herbs.

Every time Ling Qiu acted like this, it meant she didn’t want to pay attention to Fang Ziyue anymore. Despite her gentle appearance, her character wasn’t soft at all. She was a woman of her word; once she decided on something, no matter what others said, she wouldn’t be swayed.

Seeing this, Fang Ziyue could only wrap her arms around Ling Qiu’s waist and plead, “Sister Ling, on the day I depart for the campaign, can you come to see me off?”

In the past, when she saw soldiers with wives departing for war, she would see their families in the crowd, looking at them with lingering affection. Fang Ziyue also wanted to see Ling Qiu’s figure in the crowd, even if the other was blind and couldn’t see her. As long as she was there, Fang Ziyue felt she would have infinite strength to fight.

Unfortunately, Ling Qiu refused without hesitation.

“It is not that I am unwilling to go.” Ultimately unable to bear making Fang Ziyue sad, Ling Qiu set down her herbs and sighed, “You should know the situation between the Marquis Manor and the Prime Minister’s Manor.”

Ling Qiu’s father, the current Right Prime Minister, was busy forming cliques and winnowing favor with powerful officials. His heart was set on toppling the military generals led by the Suian Marquis.

What the Right Prime Minister wanted was not to consolidate power for the current Emperor or stabilize the throne. He had coveted that dragon chair for a long time; his every thought was of draping the imperial yellow robes over himself.

Because the factions behind the Right Prime Minister were substantial, the Emperor couldn’t touch him for the time being. He could only authorize the Suian Marquis to act as a check against him. Under these circumstances, it was truly inappropriate for Ling Qiu and Fang Ziyue to have any public connection. Even if they did, it could not be known by others.

Otherwise, Fang Ziyue wouldn’t have to climb the wall like a thief every time she came to find Ling Qiu.

“That’s why I said you should just come to my house. We could fake your death and change your identity, couldn’t we?” Fang Ziyue muttered dissatisfiedly.

She had mentioned this to her father a long time ago. Although her father agreed, Ling Qiu did not.

“You always say the timing isn’t right. It was like this three years ago, five years ago, and it’s still like this now?”

Unwillingness flashed in Fang Ziyue’s eyes. Her hand gripping Ling Qiu’s slender wrist tightened unconsciously. “Then at least give me a time frame, or tell me exactly what kind of ‘timing’ you care so much about?”

She had been waiting since she was nine. She had waited eight years; was she expected to wait another eight?

Setting everything else aside, looking at the Right Prime Minister’s “I want to rebel immediately” appearance, they didn’t have eight years to wait. The Suian Marquis certainly wouldn’t let the Right Prime Minister succeed in his usurpation, but if the usurpation failed, it would lead to the execution of the entire clan. At that time, Ling Qiu wouldn’t be able to escape.

Ideally, Ling Qiu had no affection for the Right Prime Minister. He had even had a hand in the death of Ling Qiu’s biological mother. Wouldn’t it be perfect to find a way to spirit her away now?

“Lingyun, do not be angry.” Whenever Fang Ziyue truly grew incensed, Ling Qiu would always seize her weakness.

The courtesy name Ling Qiu gave her was Fang Ziyue’s weakness. Hearing that name from Ling Qiu’s lips always made Fang Ziyue feel much better.

“Lingyun, do you know that five years ago, more than a dozen servants in the Right Prime Minister’s Manor died of a mysterious illness?”

Among them were servants and guards. Most of these people came from the courtyard of the Right Prime Minister’s deceased first wife. At that time, concubines used this to slander and suppress Ling Qiu, the legitimate daughter, saying her mother’s departed soul was causing trouble and disrupting the peace of the manor.

Because of this, the Right Prime Minister hated his eldest daughter even more and sent her directly to this remote courtyard. This became the proof of Ling Qiu’s lack of favor. Later, those concubines became even more arrogant, and gradually, even the servants of the remote courtyard fled to serve in other courtyards. Only one little maid remained—a beggar girl Ling Qiu had rescued from the street, who followed her with unwavering loyalty.

“I know. That matter was the talk of the capital. But I don’t believe in ghosts or spirits; that sounded more like the work of humans.”

In fact, there was one thing Fang Ziyue didn’t say: if there really were ghosts, Ling Qiu’s late mother should have protected her. She wouldn’t have let things happen like when they first met—a thirteen-year-old blind girl, thin as a rail, being humiliated by a concubine’s ten-year-old daughter without even the power to strike back.

Hearing this, the smile on Ling Qiu’s lips deepened slightly. It was precisely because of this kind and sincere nature of Fang Ziyue that Ling Qiu repeatedly allowed her to overstep boundaries. This little Commandery Princess was an upright person and someone worthy of trust.

“That matter was my doing.”

The frail blind girl, who would cough twice if blown by a cold wind from the window, had a face so weak and calm, it was as if she didn’t realize she had just said something incredibly shocking.

Fang Ziyue’s eyes widened suddenly. She opened her mouth, but for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

Sensing Fang Ziyue’s hesitation and disbelief, Ling Qiu placed her hand on the arm that was embracing her, using a bit of strength to pull her hand down.

Fang Ziyue then snapped out of it. She simply wrapped her other arm around as well and asked decisively, “They didn’t die, did they?”

She didn’t believe Ling Qiu would suddenly kill those people. Ling Qiu’s mother died at the hands of the Right Prime Minister and the current Second Madam. Two servants were involved, but they were secretly silenced by the cautious and wary Second Madam. As for the rest of the innocent people, if they didn’t provoke Ling Qiu, she wouldn’t act.

Ling Qiu felt happy in her heart, but she couldn’t help sighing. She lowered her head, her expression unreadable. “You cannot believe everything I say. I… perhaps I am not as fragile and kind as you imagine.”

“Yes, yes, you are right.” Fang Ziyue nodded perfunctorily.

Whenever it came to this, Fang Ziyue would just gloss over it like a rogue. Whether Ling Qiu herself was truly kind and gentle was irrelevant to the fact that she was the kindest and gentlest person in Fang Ziyue’s eyes. There was no conflict. She loved the house and its crows; as long as it was Ling Qiu, she loved it.

Ling Qiu never knew how to deal with this way of playing dumb. She could only let the other continue to treat her as if she were made of fragile porcelain that couldn’t lift a weight or carry a load.

But those people indeed hadn’t died. Ling Qiu steadied her mind and continued, “When my mother married into the Ling family, she brought many servants with her.”

At that time, the Right Prime Minister was just a tiny, insignificant official. Madam Ling had married down. But the Right Prime Minister clearly didn’t care for old ties, being so cruel to his first wife—how much more so to those servants? So, Ling Qiu found ways to send them out of the manor one after another. In such a large manor, it was normal for one or two servants to die of illness or be kicked out every few years.

Currently, there are five people left whom she hasn’t been able to arrange for. Ling Qiu is only waiting to send them all out, and then she will naturally leave.

Fang Ziyue had nothing to say to that. Although she felt stifled in her heart, she couldn’t stop Ling Qiu. In the end, it took quite a bit of coaxing from Ling Qiu before she reluctantly left.

When she was leaving, the little maid with the limp came to see her off. She hesitated for a long time before saying, “Commandery Princess, actually, my young mistress is not as weak as you think.” Otherwise, the Second Madam and those wolf-like concubines would have swallowed Ling Qiu alive long ago.

Fang Ziyue heard this and snorted with disapproval. “Not weak? Then how could she be bullied by that spicy daughter the Second Madam gave birth to?”

When she and Ling Qiu first met, Ling Qiu was being cursed at and even beaten by that little brat covered in gold and jade. If she was like that, how was she not weak? If she were truly so powerful, how could she have let someone blind her eyes?

Seeing this, the little maid ultimately didn’t say the rest of her words. She watched Fang Ziyue’s figure as she hopped over the wall and thought to herself: Wasn’t that just the Eldest Miss putting on an act for you?

But the little Commandery Princess simply would not believe it.

The maid went back to tell Ling Qiu with a pouting face. Before she could speak, Ling Qiu said, “What? She still doesn’t believe it?”

“She doesn’t!” The maid’s voice was muffled. Who knew this little Commandery Princess was such a block of wood? Why couldn’t the truth reach her ears?

Ling Qiu let out a low laugh. “Forget it, let her be.”

However, she only hoped that on the day she finally tore away her mask of gentleness and kindness, the little Commandery Princess wouldn’t be scared away.

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