Chapter 10

In fact, my departure is for the best for everyone. Surely, you understand this, my lady. If she does not leave, Xu Lei will not let go; should they continue to be entangled like this? If she were to kill her, Helian Jingfeng has only this one younger sister. Once he receives the news, within three days, he will undoubtedly lead his troops to invade the south. Since Helian Jingfeng conquered the west and Jiangnan, he has maintained a siege against the south. Given the current strength of the south, if war breaks out, they will certainly not gain any advantage.

She interrupted Xiaoxiang's words and said lightly, "Alright. I understand. Is the old lady in today?" Old Lady Duan usually kept to herself, only staying in her own building, and would never come to the main house unless there was something important. Xiaoxiang replied, "Neither of the two ladies went out today." She nodded.

After a while, Chu Bizhu coldly said, "Alright, I agree to send you back to the northern region. But there is one condition: you must make Xu Lei give up on you. In this lifetime, you must never meet him again." She stood there quietly, as if time had frozen, and after a while, she finally replied, "Alright. I will make him give up on me."

Jingqi smiled wryly and said, "Madam, if I were afraid that you would imprison me or kill me, I certainly would not have come to inform you of this matter in person. I only wish to leave here—leave him behind." Chu Bizhu remained silent, and after a while, she calmed down, gestured for her attendants to withdraw.

Through the car window, I saw Brother Dong getting out of a vehicle. After not seeing him for many days, he appeared even thinner, grasping the hand of Deputy Li and asking, "Where is Jingqi? What has Duan Xulei done to her?" Despite the distance, she could clearly hear his voice, filled with anger and urgency

He also sat down, still feeling uneasy, and said: "Let Xiaoxiang make a call and have Dr. Xu come over for a check-up." She shook her head and replied: "No need, I will be fine after a short rest."

Chu Bizhu remained silent, only staring at her. She slowly spoke, word by word: "My surname is Helian, and my true name is Helian Jingqi. The Helian Jingfeng from the northern region is my elder brother."

With no other choice, Chu Bizhu felt increasingly disheartened as she thought of her son's recent behavior. How could this boy not know that she was from the Helian family? On that day, she had inquired about his family background, and he had confidently replied that his elder brother ran a silk shop. He even deceived her. Coldly, she said, "No need to say more. Come here, lock her up for me. Also, immediately summon Xu Ren and Xu Lei back to me." Several attendants had already pushed the door open and entered.

Chu Bizhu said coldly: "You know the grievances between our Duan family and your Helian family." She knew, but she would rather know nothing at all. Still, she nodded and said: "Yes."

Upon descending the stairs, Xiaoxiang had already prepared breakfast. Seeing her come down, she asked, "Miss, are you feeling better? The Third Young Master instructed me this morning before he left, saying that if you still feel unwell, I must ensure that Doctor Xu comes over. The Third Young Master also mentioned that you should rest well today, and he will return early. He also said—"

She said softly, "You go and inform the commander's wife that I am a bit tired today and would like to rest. I will not participate in the card games this afternoon and evening." Xiao Xiang replied, "Yes," and then went out to deliver the message. When she reached the door, she turned back and said, "Miss, the old lady has sent some bird's nest soup over with Zhao Ma. I will bring it to you later. Please eat something before you sleep." She shook her head and said, "No need!"

She watched as the ship sounded its horn, the piercing sound seeming as if it would damage one's ears. Slowly, the anchor was raised, the bow of the ship departed from the dock, gradually drifting away—waves rolling, and finally, only a vague black dot remained between heaven and earth

He watched her lie down, covered her with a blanket, and seeing her still with her eyes open, he smiled and said, "Didn’t you say you wanted to rest? Why are your eyes so wide open?" Noticing that she remained motionless, looking at him, he mischievously smiled and threatened her, "If you don’t sleep, be careful that I won’t let you sleep." Only then did he see her slowly close her eyes. She had been with him for several years, and although there had been a few years apart, her skin was still very tender; a little tease would make her blush. It was as if they were not even married.

He once even hated himself. If only he had let her go back then. She could have happily married, had children, and lived a life as joyful as an ordinary person. If she had never met him in this lifetime, she would surely have lived a happy and prosperous life. But that was merely a fleeting thought of his— in fact, when he heard that she was engaged to Dong Muxun, he was immediately consumed by rage, unable to bear watching her throw herself into someone else's arms. Are all men like this, unwilling to let go of what they desire? But that was merely a fleeting thought of his— in fact, when he heard that she was engaged to Dong Muxun, he was immediately consumed by rage, unable to bear watching her throw herself into someone else's arms. Are all men like this, unwilling to let go of what they desire?

He reached out his hand to her forehead, felt it for a moment, and then said: "It seems there is no temperature? What happened? Did you catch a chill at the dock?" He had long advised her not to go to the dock, but she insisted on going. She turned away from him, ignoring him, and simply sat on the bed

Chu Buzhu sat down and politely said, "Miss Jingqi is thoughtful to come all the way to see this old woman." According to Ranqing, Miss Jingqi has been very well-mannered and courteous during her two weeks in the residence. When playing cards, she has an exceptionally good temper, never showing any embarrassment regardless of how much she loses, and winning seems to be of little importance to her. From Ranqing's tone, it also seems quite good. Coupled with the way Xulei treasures her, she smiled faintly.

She slowly turned her head, closed her eyes, and instructed, "Drive on." It turned out that he still cared about her. She had softened her attitude these days, accommodating him in everything. He truly let Brother Dong go. But why did her heart feel so bitter and sour, even more so than not knowing this? After so many years, after so many people, after so many events, in the end, she and he still reached the end.

Jingqi looked out the window, tightly clutching the handkerchief, and after a while, slowly said: "The old lady surely does not know my surname. If she were to know my surname, she would either kill me or would be eager to send me far away."

Chu Bizhu's face suddenly turned icy, his eyes fixed on her without a blink, almost bursting with fire, yet he coldly said: "Say it again for me."

Moreover, based on Xu Lei's behavior in recent days, who in the residence does not know that he treats her as if she were a precious gem? It seems that his feelings run deep, making it difficult for him to extricate himself. If she were to be killed, Xu Lei would certainly not let it go easily! I have always cherished this youngest child, but unexpectedly, unexpectedly he has fallen in love with the daughter of an enemy—since Xu Lei was born, I have placed high hopes on him, hiring tutors in Chinese studies, Western studies, and martial arts from a young age. His daily schedule has been arranged according to the standards of Western European noble children. At the age of 16, he joined the military governor's guard, serving as a trainee officer to ensure he remembers the basic knowledge of military life. By the age of 18, he had become the commander of the second regiment of the guard. Later, in order to train him, the old man sent him to the northern region, where he could learn about the north while also seizing the opportunity to gather intelligence. Who would have thought that he would fall in love with the daughter of Helian Xiao from the north—later, in order to train him, the old man sent him to the northern region, where he could learn about the north while also seizing the opportunity to gather intelligence. Who would have thought that he would fall in love with the daughter of Helian Xiao from the north

Deputy Officer Li politely released his hand but did not respond, signaling his subordinates to escort him onto the ship. Dong Muxun struggled vigorously, but he was still forcibly dragged onto the ship by several soldiers

He closed the door behind him, unaware of the tears slowly sliding down her cheeks. He finally understood why his sister-in-law had chosen to neglect his brother back then, ultimately leaving him. The pain of losing a father, even if it was not his brother who took action, still resonated deeply. The principle remains that even if I do not kill the uncle, the uncle still dies because of me. Even if her father did not die because of her, the hatred their family harbored towards the Helian family was undeniable. It turned out that everything was merely a cruel joke played by fate. From the moment they first met, it was already destined to be this way. They were not meant to cross paths.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. She had finally returned to him. He felt a sense of tranquility and peace in his heart. He could hardly remember how he had spent the past few years away from her. Every day in the army, he numbed himself with various tasks. In just a few short years, the southern army had undergone a complete transformation, no longer resembling its former self. Yet, whenever the night grew deep and quiet, he would feel an inexplicable heartache, for her and for the child they had lost. In just a few short years, the southern army had undergone a complete transformation, no longer resembling its former self. Yet, whenever the night grew deep and quiet, he would feel an inexplicable heartache, for her and for the child they had lost

Standing by the window, he gazed at the flowers and plants in the garden, which were in full bloom. It was already spring, the weather was gradually warming up, and the flowers were competing for beauty. He did not know how long he had been watching when he pushed the door open and said, "Why aren't you lying down to rest? Aren't you feeling unwell?" He had just hung up the phone; Xiao Xiang answered it and said that Miss Jingqi was unwell and had gone to lie down as soon as she returned, not even having lunch. He hurriedly dealt with the matters at hand and prepared to return home early. He did not know how long he had been watching when he pushed the door open and said, "Why aren't you lying down to rest? Aren't you feeling unwell?" He had just hung up the phone; Xiao Xiang answered it and said that Miss Jingqi was unwell and had gone to lie down as soon as she returned, not even having lunch. He hurriedly dealt with the matters at hand and prepared to return home early.

When she woke up, he was already gone. Yet, there were still traces of his presence between the blankets, and as she touched the pillow he had slept on, it carried his scent, a refreshing and crisp musk fragrance. She slowly embraced it tightly, as if she were holding him, knowing that it was time to say goodbye

Jingqi slowly sat down, contemplating how to begin. After a long while, she said, "Madam, please allow me to leave Qingde." Chu Bizhu furrowed her brows and asked, "Why? Miss Jingqi is in such a hurry to leave us in Qingde?" Her sharp eyes were fixed intently on her.

Jingqi looked up to meet her gaze: "You did not hear incorrectly; everything I just said is true. I spoke to the old lady about this matter today, hoping that she would send me out of Qingde."

"Then do you still dare to come to the south, to Qingde, to our residence!" Jingqi shook her head and said softly, "This is not my intention. I never thought of coming to your south, to your Qingde, to your residence. I am here out of necessity"

In fact, the old lady is completely different from the mother in her memory. The mother was always gentle and weak, standing submissively behind the father, like a shadow. In contrast, the old lady Duan carries herself with great authority in every gesture, embodying the demeanor of a matriarch. If it were not for this situation, she would probably like her

Upon returning to the residence, the maid Xiaoxiang, who was assigned to attend to her, had already come forward to help her take off her coat. With a cheerful smile, she said: "The Double Treasure Sister from the Commander's wife has visited several times, saying that the Commander's wife is looking for you, Miss. She also mentioned that you should go to the side hall as soon as you return."