At this moment, at the post station just outside the city, Qi Fengzhang had found his way to the room where the Zhao Family members were staying.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âMy dear niece? Qi Yue, are you there?â
Shen Yu responded immediately.
Although Qi Yue did not particularly like her second uncle.
But Shen Yu considered herself part of Qi Yueâs in-laws and didnât think it right to treat Qi Fengzhang too poorly, especially when Qi Yue was not around. She greeted him with a smile.
âOh, itâs Second Uncle from the Qi Family, what brings you here?â Shen Yu maintained a polite but distant attitude. âYueyue is not at the post station.â
âOh, sheâs not here?â
Qi Fengzhang feigned a look of disappointment.
In fact, he had seen Qi Yue leave and she hadnât returned for quite some time, which was why he had come.
âIs the son-in-law here?â
With a sly look, he peered into the room and just happened to see Zhao Xiyanâs straight profile. He immediately dashed inside, as if his feet had been greased.
Upon entering, he saw that Zhao Xiyan was indeed sitting at a low table, flipping through a few pieces of paper.
He hurried over and glanced at the papers only to find that they were pieces of scrap torn from some book, and his face fell immediately with disappointment.
Zhao Xiyan had already seen his shifty behavior, but at this moment, his perpetually unchanging handsome face did not show any sign of displeasure.
âSecond Uncle, what brings you here? Iâm afraid I cannot get up to greet you properly because of my leg injury.â
Qi Fengzhang waved his hand hastily.
âOh, no need. I just came to see⦠to see you.â
Zhao Xiyan had already figured out that Qi Fengzhang had come with a purpose, and so he chose not to engage in further conversation, continuing to look down at the crappy pieces of paper.
Qi Fengzhang was thus left hanging to one side.
However, he quickly grew impatient and once again tried to stir up conversation by steering the topic towards Qi Yue.
âSon-in-law, thereâs something Iâm not sure whether I should say or not.â
He intended to capture Zhao Xiyanâs attention with these words, but to his surprise, the latter responded directly.
âIf Second Uncle thinks itâs inappropriate, then perhaps itâs best not to say it.â
Zhao Xiyan remained calm and detached, much to Qi Fengzhangâs irritation.
Pah, wait until you and Qi Yue are divorced, then weâll see if you can still be so arrogant.
How many times has this ladylike behavior of yours been dragged out and humiliated?
Thatâs what he thought inwardly, but outwardly he maintained a façade of a concerned elder.
âSon-in-law, I came here today specifically to talk to you about some matters concerning Qi Yue.â
Seeing that Zhao Xiyan finally looked up with a puzzled expression, Qi Fengzhang smiled with satisfaction.
He quickly spilled the beans, pouring out all the pre-arranged words meticulously crafted over time.
Finally, Zhao Xiyanâs face gradually turned ugly, and Qi Fengzhang stood up, satisfied, and left.
Before leaving, he dropped another line.
âIf you donât believe me, you might as well ask Qi Yue yourself, see if she doesnât desire a more free life?â
Zhao Xiyan watched Qi Fengzhang leaving, his slender fingers gripping the scraps of paper tightly.
Shen Yu and Zhao Shuanghua, who had been listening to the conversation from behind a partition, hurried in and asked in unison.
âBig brother, do you really believe that Sister-in-law is that kind of person she described?â
Zhao Xiyan didnât make a sound.
Shen Yu became somewhat anxious.
She immediately sat down beside Zhao Xiyan and grasped the hand that was kneading the paper scraps.
âMy son, you must not believe such peopleâs words. Qi Fengzhang is clearly trying to drive a wedge between you and Qi Yue.â
âThink about it, if Qi Yue had ill intentions, would she have protected us like this all the way here?â
Zhao Shuangyue also appeared to be very anxious, persuading him.
âExactly, big brother, I donât think Sister-in-law is that kind of person, to think of killing you just to avoid exile and become a widowâitâs just too absurd.â
âDidnât you hear it? Qi Fengzhang said that once we reach the Place of Exile, Qi Yue will bring up the matter of divorce and leave our family.â
Zhao Xiyan suddenly looked up, his beautiful face covered with a chill, but his voice was indifferent as if he was talking about someone elseâs affairs.
Zhao Shuanghua and the others still shook their heads repeatedly.
âI trust my sister-in-law; sheâs definitely not that kind of person. She loves us, she loves our family, and she wouldnât leave us,â they said.
Shen Yu also said, âMother also trusts Qi Yue.â
âGood,â Zhao Xiyan suddenly smiled, âIf anyone speaks ill in the future, I hope you all will be as firm as you are now.â
Upon hearing this, Shen Yu was somewhat surprised.
âDo you really always believe that Yueyue wouldnât leave our family?â
Zhao Xiyan didnât deny it nor confirm, his expression always indifferent, slowly smoothing out the crumpled piece of paper.
âNo matter what she wants to do, or has to do, Iâve always known that she saved me.â
Though he spoke, it was as if he hadnât said anything at all. Shen Yu grew worried. If they got to the Place of Exile and Qi Yue really asked for a separation, what then?
After all, with a separation, she would attain her freedom, no longer being considered a criminal servant.
Who wouldnât want such a good fortune?
At the same time, Qi Yue was already on her way back.
After walking for a while, the crack on the wheelchair was constantly wavering before her eyes, triggering her obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Seeing no one around, she simply entered her space, found the necessary materials, and began fixing the wheelchair.
A focused Qi Yue was a good craftsman. With a coat of piano lacquer, she quickly transformed the wheelchair.
Glossy jet black all over, there were arrows set in the handle of the wheelchair, and she specifically added the latest insect repellent.
They were about to enter Longnan Ridge, and on the way, there were plenty of snakes, bugs, rats, and antsâa little prevention never hurt anyone.
Unbeknownst to her, her stay in the space had just managed to perfectly avoid an encounter with the pursuing Zhang Fang.
Afterward, she happily took the wheelchair back to the posthouse, relying on her strong body, she directly brought the wheelchair to Zhao Xiyan without letting it touch even a speck of dust.
âXiyan, come and give it a try. If anything is amiss, I can still make adjustments,â Qi Yue said.
Though she said so, Qi Yue had full confidence in this wheelchair.
Indeed, once Zhao Xiyan had tried sitting in it, he refused to go back to sitting on the couch.
Seeing there was still time, Qi Yue simply found two suitable pieces of wood and, with instructions, had Zhao Yonglian make another pair of crutches.
After some practice, Zhao Xiyan no longer let Zhao Yonglian assist him even with relieving himself.
âYueyue, thank you,â said Zhao Xiyan.
This was the first time Zhao Xiyan had thanked her so earnestly.
Qi Yue thought to herself that she had done so much along the way, and yet he hadnât seemed as serious as he did at this moment.
Perhaps it was because these two items allowed his long-shattered dignity to come back.
Indeed, the tone of Zhao Xiyanâs voice turned a bit heavier.
âEven if these legs truly never healâ¦â
He did not finish his sentence, but Qi Yue clearly felt a deep sorrow.
She couldnât help but blurt out.
âDonât worry, I promised you I would heal your legs, and I certainly wonât break my word,â said Qi Yue.
No sooner had she finished speaking than Zhao Xiyanâs dark eyes locked onto her, as if questioning the truth of her words.
âWhen do we start then? Yueyue, I can hardly wait to stand up,â he said.
The urgency and pressure in his voice made Qi Yue feel as if he had long wanted to ask this question.
Qi Yue was a bit surprised but still thought it over carefully before answering him.
âWe need to at least get to Longnan Ridge first. We have to build a house, prepare food for winter, and once weâre settled, we can start,â she replied.
âGood, then Iâm counting on you, Yueyue,â said Zhao Xiyan, smiling at her again.
This face was already unspeakably handsome, and his smile carried a breathtaking power.
Qi Yue steadied her mind and suddenly thought that Zhao Xiyan seemed particularly inclined to smile today. Was it because of the wheelchair?
Seeing the Zhao Familyâs unsettled emotions, Qi Yue chose not to ask anything at the moment but instead took the opportunity to deliver some items to the children and to find Cong Zhonglan.