"What?"
Xie Mingyue’s mouth fell open. Although she had no memory of what had transpired while she was poisoned, she had poisoned herself?
She was the jewel of the Xie Family, raised in silk and luxury since she was a child, priding herself on her dignity. Even if she had fallen on hard times, she would never stoop to such a base act!
She hastily threw on a robe and walked up to Qi Jinshan. "Who conducted the interrogation?"
That maid, Fener, must have been acting under orders!
"The Marchioness conducted the interrogation herself." Seeing her movements, Qi Jinshan’s pupils contracted slightly, but he remained calm. "Fener confessed that you ordered her to put Throat-Breaking Powder into your tea bowl just to frame Xie Wanqing. Now, the Marchioness believes you poisoned yourself to vie for favor and are intolerant of your sister-in-law."
Hearing her own sister’s name, Xie Mingyue froze.
Sister-in-law?
The Marquis of Shunqing had two sons: his eldest son by a concubine, Qi Jinshan, and his second son by his wife, Qi Xiuyu.
She had married Qi Jinshan, and Xie Wanqing was her sister-in-law.
So, her own sister had married her former fiancé?
She lowered her eyes and curled her fingers. "It wasn't me."
Just now, she had swept a glance across the room. They had been married for ten years, yet her bedroom looked exactly like the maiden chamber of an unmarried girl; there was not a single trace of Qi Jinshan to be found.
It was easy to guess that their marriage was not a happy one and that Qi Jinshan did not stay the night.
Qi Jinshan did not speak. Xie Mingyue took a step closer to him and looked up. "You don't believe me?"
Though she was composed, she was, after all, a girl of sixteen; there was still a spark of spirit in her heart.
Blocked by her before the folding screen, Qi Jinshan’s gaze stalled. A thick, dangerous atmosphere swirled between them.
Wutong, standing to the side, was filled with joy. In the past, the Eldest Young Master had often offered her a way out, but the Madam had always refused to take it. Wutong had been worried they would quarrel, but she had never expected Xie Mingyue to proactively defend herself this time!
Seeing his silence, Xie Mingyue frowned slightly and said aggrievedly, "Qi Jinshan, they are framing me."
Qi Jinshan watched her quietly. When he saw the lipstick smudged on her lips, his eyes darkened. Just a moment ago, when she had submissively let him kiss her, she had been as docile as a different person.
In the past, whenever she was wronged, he would demand justice for her without her even asking, but all he got in return was her growing coldness and alienation.
"My affairs have nothing to do with the Eldest Young Master, so please, do not interfere."
He still remembered her resistance and disgust... she blamed him for touching her, blamed him for taking advantage of her downfall to claim her—this moon—for his own.
Why was she defending herself now? It was not like her usual self.
After a long while, Qi Jinshan found the answer.
He spoke coldly, "Are you doing this because of Qi Xiuyu?"
Hearing that name, Xie Mingyue’s heart leapt, and ripples stirred in her eyes. After all, only half a day ago, she had thought she would marry Qi Xiuyu, only for her husband to suddenly become his older brother, who then pinned her to the daybed for an intimate encounter.
To say there were no waves in her heart would be a lie.
Seeing her reaction, the coldness in Qi Jinshan’s eyes deepened. "Because Qi Xiuyu is returning to the capital to take up his post, you’ve resorted to such ruthless measures?"
Since their marriage, Xie Mingyue had done many heart-wrenching things to distance herself from him. He feared this was just another attempt to provoke him and draw a clear line between them.
How many times had this been? A flash of weariness crossed Qi Jinshan’s eyes. "Xie Mingyue, there is no need for this."
She wanted distance; he would grant her wish. Why stir up more trouble?
"Qi Jinshan!" Stung by his indiscriminate rebuke, Xie Mingyue’s eyes reddened. "In the past, you wouldn't even dare to speak a word when you saw me, and now you dare to maliciously speculate about me!"
The moment those words were out, Qi Jinshan paused. The maids and servants waiting inside and outside the room all widened their eyes. For how many years had it been? The Madam’s attitude toward the Eldest Young Master had finally changed!
Although they were arguing again, the air was finally free of that suffocating, heavy gloom!
"As your wife, I have been wronged; why won't you believe me?"
Seeing his strange expression, Xie Mingyue lowered her head, feeling slightly nervous. Deep in Qi Jinshan's eyes, a flicker of light seemed to pass. He had actually heard the word "wife" come from her lips.
"I wouldn't dare speak a word?" He withdrew his commanding presence and toyed with the white jade lion-head thumb ring on his hand. "When have I ever done such a thing?"
Xie Mingyue said unabashedly, "When I was sixteen, I went to the mountain temple to pray. You were there, too, under the trees, but you just hid behind them. You didn't even say a word to me. If that isn't not daring to speak, what is?"
To think... she still remembered something from ten years ago.
Qi Jinshan glanced at her with an unreadable expression and stopped responding, though his hand stilled its movement on the ring.
Xie Mingyue refused to let him brush it off. "I said, I did not poison myself. That Fener must have been bribed to frame me. Your mother’s investigation is flawed; I want to conduct a new one."
"Madam Luo is not my mother. If you want to investigate, then do it again." Qi Jinshan’s expression improved slightly, but as his gaze landed on the pitch-black bowl of medicine, it darkened again. "Why haven't you finished your medicine?"
"Madam, the imperial physician said earlier that you were suffering from severe anxiety and stagnant liver qi; this medicine is meant to soothe your spirits."
Seeing the confused look on Xie Mingyue’s face as she stared at the bowl, Wutong knew she had forgotten again and hurriedly reminded her. Over the years, the Madam had been depressed day in and day out, and her memory had grown increasingly poor. Wutong was used to reminding her at all times.
Qi Jinshan stared intently at Xie Mingyue. Severe anxiety—ha! He had no idea she was so worried about someone that she had fallen ill to such a degree!
"I don't want to drink it." Xie Mingyue refused flatly. It was too bitter; she had never tasted anything bitter in her life.
Qi Jinshan slowly approached her.
"Xie Mingyue, what are you thinking of now?" His voice was cold, and compared to his previously softened expression, it was as if he were a different person. "Even if you die, you will still be my late wife. Do not harbor any extraneous delusions."
There it was again. Xie Mingyue gritted her teeth in suppressed anger, cursing him internally. Why was Qi Jinshan always such a stiff, cold man when he spoke to her? Full of barbs and suspicious of her loyalty—no wonder their marriage was a disaster. She was a proud person herself; how could she have a good temper when she was constantly interrogated like this?
Xie Mingyue couldn't help but retort acidly, "It’s been ten years, what kind of delusions could I possibly have?"
She turned her head away, took the bowl in a fit of pique, and downed the medicine in one go. The bitterness made her brow knit tightly, and she didn't want to speak.
Watching her turn away, Qi Jinshan’s eyes dimmed. This was the cold, distant way she usually treated him; everything before must have been a facade. All of it was for the man about to return to the capital.
His expression sank inch by inch. Years ago, she would still argue with him, but as she grew more silent and sickly, even the arguments had almost vanished. Marrying him had never been her wish to begin with. A broken mirror is hard to mend, and theirs had never been whole to begin with.
Yet he could not let go, so they could only suffer together, enduring this red thread that should never have connected them as it slowly frayed to nothing.
Not knowing what he was thinking, a flash of murderous intent crossed Qi Jinshan’s brow, as if he were about to kill someone. "If you want to clear your name regarding the poisoning, I will investigate for you. If you don't care, then let it be."
He didn't care what she did anymore; after today, he would wash his hands of it.
Just as he felt completely disheartened and turned to leave, his sleeve was suddenly tugged.
Behind him, Xie Mingyue turned back immediately and said, "Of course I care. Let’s go now. I’ll go with you."
She was getting used to being with the ten-years-older Qi Jinshan. After all, once the gloom between his brows vanished, he was quite a man of great integrity and spirit. Just standing there, he gave off a sense of stability, like a mountain.
She had just arrived and knew nothing of the household's situation; any investigation would be difficult. If he was willing to back her up, she was more than happy to accept.
She would see who was pulling the strings behind her back. And who had caused her to become the way she was now.