And she said: If that's true, that would be wonderful.
Bai Can chose the woman he loved, his child, and abandoned her.
She didn't even have the capacity to blame him.
Unable to suppress the heavy questions and bitterness in his heart, Qiao Fenglang grasped her hand and earnestly asked, "Xiao'er, what is your relationship with that person? In these three years..."
“Brother Fenglang.” Yin Wuxiao finally called out to him, but only to stop him from asking any further questions. “I will explain all of this to you later, but right now there is something important for you to do.”
Meeting Qiao Fenglang's questioning gaze, she suddenly gave a bitter smile.
Three hall masters under Qiao Gang led more than 700 gang members and rushed to Baiwen Valley overnight. Qiao Fenglang and Yin Wuxiao followed with a few people at a normal pace.
A cool evening breeze swept in, chilling him to the bone, and Yin Wuxiao shivered.
"Xiao'er, at this speed, we should arrive by tomorrow afternoon. You don't need to worry too much." Qiao Fenglang and she each rode a horse side by side. He sat upright on his horse, leisurely fanning himself, looking completely relaxed.
Yin Wuxiao smiled and said, "Brother Fenglang, I'm not worried at all." What's the use of worrying?
Upon hearing this, Qiao Fenglang slowly closed his fan and suddenly snorted, "If it weren't for you, I would never have sent anyone to rescue that brat Baili Qingyi."
“Even if you don’t save him, you have to consider the survival of the Qiao Clan and the safety of the martial arts world. You know the gravity of this matter perfectly well, and it’s not necessarily for my sake,” Yin Wuxiao said calmly.
Qiao Fenglang's face twitched slightly. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Xiao'er, although you used to be sharp-tongued, you were still naively endearing. After three years apart, why have you become so cold and unapproachable?"
Seeing Yin Wuxiao lower her head and remain silent, he continued, "For the past three years, I have ordered people to search for you everywhere, never daring to give up even a sliver of hope. My heart has been filled with thoughts of you. But what about you, Xiao'er? Have you ever thought of me even once or twice?" His voice was steady, yet it unconsciously carried a hint of sorrow. Given his usual arrogant nature, he would never have uttered such words.
Yin Wuxiao's heart softened: "Brother Fenglang, we grew up together since we were little. Apart from Aunt Nan and Aunt Yun, you are the one who loves me the most. This affection is in my heart even if I don't say it. No one can replace it."
“But that Baili Qingyi…” Qiao Fenglang gritted his teeth again.
"He saved me and cured me of the poison. Otherwise, the Xiao'er you see today would not be like this. Brother Fenglang, are you unwilling to repay this kindness for me?"
Qiao Fenglang stared at her in astonishment.
"Xiao'er, you've always been strong-willed and never ask me to do anything for you, but were you begging me just now?"
Yin Wuxiao glanced at him indifferently.
"I suppose so," she heard herself reply.
A fierce neighing erupted, and Qiao Fenglang abruptly pulled the spirited horse to a stop.
"Xiao'er," he gazed intently at her, his hands gripping her shoulders, "once this matter is resolved, we'll get married, shall we?"
Yin Wuxiao was startled. Her watery eyes met his, then looked away, a faint sorrow spreading across her brow.
Qiao Fenglang was both anxious and captivated. When her cousin was quietly contemplating, she was like a solitary orchid in a secluded valley, sweet and enduring; when she spoke eloquently, she was like the queen of peonies, proud and dazzling. Her beauty could not be fully captured by a mere pretty face.
"Okay." The two words were uttered lightly and crisply.
"What?" Qiao Fenglang blinked, still lost in his own thoughts about her brow.
"I say, let's do as Brother Fenglang says." She turned her head and looked into the distance.
"Xiao'er!" Qiao Fenglang gripped the reins tightly, overjoyed.
But Yin Wuxiao's calm demeanor quickly extinguished his passion. He suddenly grabbed one of her slender hands: "Tell me, what exactly happened to you in these three years?" She had changed too much, too much.
Three years ago, she laughed like jade falling from the sky, gracefully saying, "Brother Fenglang, I won't marry you, okay? Even if I don't marry you, you'll still be my Brother Fenglang!"
Yin Wuxiao suddenly laughed: "Brother Fenglang, you keep asking me what has happened in the past three years, but why don't you ask what exactly happened that night three years ago?"
Qiao Fenglang was stunned.
“I know that Brother Fenglang is doing this for my own good and doesn’t want to reopen my wounds. I know that.”
Qiao Fenglang's lips moved, but he ultimately remained silent.
A moment of silence followed.
"But, Brother Fenglang, do you really not want to know what happened that night three years ago?"
A beautiful smile graced her red lips, tinged with a hint of sorrow and a touch of calculation.
"If you want to say it, then say it." Qiao Fenglang lowered his eyes, making it impossible to see what he was thinking.
Chapter Fourteen: Laughing at the Past, Drunk and Lying in the Mortal World (Part Two)
Yin Wuxiao himself didn't understand how all of that happened on that bloody night three years ago.
All I remember is the sweet scent of ink suddenly spilling onto the rice paper.
"Miss, let's not think about what happened during the day anymore. Losing the poetry contest isn't a big deal." The maid Jiu'er handed over a bowl of lotus seed and white fungus soup.
"Lost?" A strange smile appeared on Yin Wuxiao's lips. "Who said I lost? Even if I did lose, it wasn't because of poetry."
"I think that man in blue is nothing special. Our young lady doesn't care about marrying that young man in blue. She already has her cousin in her heart."
"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm telling you, give up on that idea. I will not marry Brother Fenglang. I've already made that very clear to Aunt Yun and Brother Fenglang."
“But… it’s really rare to find a man as handsome, skilled in martial arts, and of equal social standing as your cousin. Why are you being so picky, Miss?” The maid Shi’er frowned gently.
Yin Wuxiao smiled. These two girls were both poor girls who had been taken into her household two years ago. After following her for two years, they had both become quite clever and quick-witted. However, Jiu'er was innocent, while Shi'er was gentle; Jiu'er was straightforward, while Shi'er was reserved. The two were already no different from her own family.
"It has nothing to do with being picky, but I'm too demanding. I always want to find someone who is completely perfect for me. Although Brother Fenglang is a good person, he is not the right one for me."
Shi'er curled her lips: "Why does Miss use such a way of dismissing fools? What do you mean by unsuitable? To put it bluntly, Miss's standards are too high. Young Master Biao is not as good as you."
Yin Wuxiao was amused by her: "You're right. Brother Fenglang is indeed inferior to me in some aspects. However, my conditions are not the same as those of the world. With Brother Fenglang's character, he should be able to find a woman who is ten or a hundred times better than me."
"Then tell me, what exactly are your conditions? How is it that Young Master Biao is inferior to you?" Jiu'er pouted, refusing to give up.
"As for me... I only seek someone who can understand my heart, but who will always put me first," Yin Wuxiao replied after serious consideration. However, she was still a girl in her early teens, and even though she was bold and forthright, her face couldn't help but flush.
“Miss, this first one is really difficult. Everyone knows that you are extremely intelligent. It’s hard to guess what you’re thinking.” Jiu’er shook her head.
“This second point is even more difficult. Since ancient times, men have always prioritized their careers and their families and countries. There’s a saying that brothers are like limbs and wives are like clothes. To expect a husband to prioritize you is really against common sense,” Shi’er chimed in.
“What you say makes perfect sense. But he has his family and country’s cause, and I have mine. Family and country’s cause is important, but husband and wife are soulmates who will spend their lives together, and these material things are more important. I don’t want him to give up his promising future, but when he has to make a choice, he must put me first. I will treat him this way, and he should treat me the same way.”
The two maids were stunned by her words.
“Brother Fenglang treats me well, but if a real disaster were to strike, I’m afraid I would be the first person he abandons.” Yin Wuxiao couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
"Besides, love and affection are just feelings. Although I don't understand them now, I know that I don't have those feelings with Brother Fenglang. Since I, Yin Wuxiao, have lived in this world, I must taste the true flavor of love."
“Miss, you…” Shi’er murmured, but couldn’t find a way to get to the point.
“…That’s far too shocking,” Jiu’er continued.
Yin Wuxiao waved his hand: "Alright, is this the first time you've met me?"
“Miss is right.” Shi’er suddenly smiled sweetly and nudged Jiu’er. “Aunt Nan called you several times just now, why aren’t you going?”
"Oh?" Jiu'er blinked and smiled, "Then Jiu'er will go first." Niao Niao retreated to the door.
Yin Wuxiao blinked and said, "Jiu'er is becoming more and more beautiful. I bet you she has feelings for my Fenglang brother, do you believe me?"
Shi'er sighed softly: "Miss is exceptionally gifted and insightful. Is there anything that Miss cannot see through or obtain?"
“Shi’er, there seems to be resentment in your words.” Yin Wuxiao’s brows furrowed slightly, and his phoenix eyes narrowed.
Shi'er gave a soft "Ai," her voice slightly unfocused: "Miss likes the young man in blue, doesn't she?"
"What?" Yin Wuxiao was genuinely stunned.
“Shi’er saw it.”
"...What did you see?"
"I saw the Xuan paper on your table, which you had half-covered with your sleeve."
"Well..." Yin Wuxiao looked embarrassed.
"That must be the perfect second half of the poem in green, right? Miss has given the answer, but she remains silent about it."
"That... Shi'er, it's not what you think." The origins of this matter are too complicated; where should she begin?
“Shi’er didn’t speculate. Miss has always been strong-willed, but today in Yun Pavilion she would rather admit defeat than reveal the truth. There must be something strange about this.” Shi’er lowered her head.
Yin Wuxiao could only chuckle. Of course, there was something strange about it, something very strange.
"Besides..." Shi'er looked up at her, her eyes full of unspoken words.
"Besides what?"
"Moreover, the way Miss looked at the Xuan paper, sometimes angry and sometimes happy, sometimes annoyed and sometimes laughing, was something I had never seen before."
"..." For the first time, Yin Wuxiao was speechless.
Does she have one? Probably not.
“Miss always fights for what she wants, and refuses to compromise on what she doesn’t want. But has she ever considered what those around her think?” Shi’er said slowly.
"What do you think?" Yin Wuxiao was taken aback.
"For example, the young master, for example... for example, Shi'er."
"Shi'er, something's on your mind." Yin Wuxiao finally confirmed her thoughts and frowned slightly.
"Shi'er... Shi'er wants to ask, is Miss planning to disappoint Young Master's feelings?" Shi'er raised her face, her beautiful face as calm as still water.
“My relationship with Brother Fenglang has always been that of brother and sister, and besides…”
Yin Wuxiao's music suddenly stopped.
“Miss, you always keep your word, and this time, Shi’er trusts you too.”
The familiar face was suddenly so close, yet the words uttered were chillingly cold.
Yin Wuxiao looked down in astonishment and saw a dagger inserted into his chest and abdomen, the blade inserted vertically and the hilt held in Shi'er's hand.
Bright red blood flowed out in gurgling streams.
“Shi’er…” Yin Wuxiao opened her lips tremblingly, but her words were already broken and fragmented. The clever Shi’er, the reserved Shi’er, the tender Shi’er, the considerate Shi’er, separated before her eyes, and finally came together into a face that was chilling to the bone.
"Why?" That was all she could ask.
“Miss…” Shi’er loosened her grip on the dagger, took two steps back, and suddenly burst into tears.
“Miss only knows that Jiu’er is in love with Young Master, but do you know that Shi’er is also… But Shi’er is self-aware. Shi’er believes that Miss and Young Master are a match made in heaven. As long as you can grow old together and fly wing to wing, Shi’er would be willing to die. But what about you, Miss? You always get whatever you want, yet you don’t know how to cherish it. You even discard Young Master’s deep affection for you like trash. Seeing you like this day and night, how can Shi’er not hate you, how can you not hate me?”
Yin Wuxiao clutched the dagger still embedded in her abdomen, gritting her teeth and forcing a bitter smile: "So... that's how you see me. Poor me... I'm such a failure as a person." Waves of pain swept through her body from the wound, cold sweat dripping down her forehead. She tried to lean back gently, and sure enough, she leaned against the desk.