Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 40

"Okay, okay," Xie Wanqing, unwilling to argue with him further on this matter, nodded indifferently upon hearing: "You’re clean, you’re the cleanest. Remember to return the marriage contract."

How much she wished to sever all ties with him!

Lu Ziyuan clenched his jaw, a smile tugging at his lips: "It’s okay, we have a long future ahead. There will be a day when you believe."

The tone was very unsettling.

Xie Wanqing couldn’t be bothered to engage in a war of words with him, glanced at him, then shifted her gaze, stepping towards the door.

As she walked past him, Lu Ziyuan stretched out his arm to block her, pursed his lips, staring into her eyes: "...You truly have no ties with Pei Yuqing, right?"

"I’m not implying anything, just worried you’ll do something wrong to spite me."

He couldn’t forget that day, the sight of her gazing tenderly at that older man.

She even praised how handsome that older man was.

Whenever he thought of it, it felt like a thorn in his throat, extremely frustrating.

Xie Wanqing found his actions laughable, didn’t even want to say another word to him.

They were about to break off the engagement.

Did he really not understand what breaking an engagement meant!

If not to avoid any disputes and prevent any complications with the process, she really wanted to mock him.

The young woman in front of him didn’t reply, her expression very calm, as if she hadn’t listened to him at all. Lu Ziyuan’s gaze suddenly became sharp, he leaned in close to meet her eyes: "Don’t walk too close with other men just to annoy me."

"Matters between you and me should be resolved by ourselves. Don’t involve other men."

"Understand?"

"You want to break off the engagement, I will comply, I definitely won’t cling to you again," his voice gradually softened, his gaze became more gentle, "but Wanwan, once is enough, from now on don’t use other men to provoke me."

He was leaning in close, his deep voice right by her ear. Xie Wanqing turned her head to avoid him, clenched her hand in her sleeve, took a deep breath against his compelling gaze, and said, "Are you done?"

"Once you’re done, step aside."

Even though she tried to suppress her impatience, Lu Ziyuan, who had been leading troops in battles since the age of sixteen, was incredibly perceptive. His gaze darkened immediately.

After a few breaths of silence, he stepped aside.

Xie Wanqing walked toward the door, Lu Ziyuan followed closely behind.

When they walked out of the reception room door, it was already sunset outside, the sky filled with red clouds.

Lu Ziyuan stood in place, quietly watching her slender figure.

She walked farther and farther, never once turning back.

The heart that was once somewhat determined sank little by little.

He suddenly shouted: "Wanwan!"

Xie Wanqing’s footsteps faltered.

Lu Ziyuan quickly caught up, looking down at her calm and indifferent expression, said: "Look up at me."

Xie Wanqing was slightly stunned, raised her eyes to glare at him, her face full of puzzlement.

Being glared at by her, Lu Ziyuan laughed, the tense string in his heart slowly relaxing, "Alright, you can go, I’ll send the marriage contract over tomorrow."

Xie Wanqing: "..."

How did she end up feeling like she didn’t even recognize this person?

Did he really take the wrong medicine?

......

Too lazy to walk, Xie Wanqing simply sat in the sedan chair and returned to her Jianxia Courtyard.

Upon entering, she saw her brother bending down to tend to a few delicate flowers in the courtyard.

She was slightly stunned, quietly walked to his side, softly said, "Brother, why are you here?"

Xie YanYu glanced at her, his hands not stopping, said: "From your tone, it seems you’re unwilling for me to come?"

"Of course not," Xie Wanqing tilted her head and smiled at him, "A few days ago, I heard the third cousin say there’s a type of spiky flower from the Western Regions that’s very beautiful, can you get me some to grow?"

Her brother worked in the Inspectorate, his rank not considered high, but it was a real position of power. He was surely aware of things brought by Western traders to the Capital City.

Sure enough, Xie YanYu, while washing his hands, asked: "What’s the name of that flower?"

Xie Wanqing said: "Mandala Blue, also known as Western Rose."

"Are you sure you can keep it alive?" Xie YanYu pointed to the few orchids he himself just pruned, his tone indifferent: "If I hadn’t come, they’d be dead."

"That’s right," Xie Wanqing showed a big, justified smile: "I have you, brother. You’ll cultivate them for me, right?"

Xie YanYu: "..."

He glanced at his sister, then changed the topic: "Met with Lu Ziyuan?"

Xie Wanqing nodded and said: "Yes, he agreed to return the marriage contract tomorrow."

"Alright, let him return the betrothal gifts tomorrow as well." Xie YanYu patted her little head, didn’t ask for details, just said softly: "It’s over now, you don’t need to worry anymore."

Xie Wanqing’s anxiety over the past days had been seen by her family.

Hearing this, she felt touched, and while patting away her brother’s hand, she obediently nodded.

......

As she thought about severing ties with the Lu Family and Lu Ziyuan tomorrow, the events in her dreams would no longer occur, Xie Wanqing’s heart was mixed with emotions that night.

Excitement, melancholy, relief, a whirlwind of feelings swept over her, keeping her tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Still restless by the third watch of the night, she suddenly remembered the pill Pei Yuqing gave her during the day.

The embroidered box was on the dressing table, she didn’t call Erqing, instead, got out of bed herself, not even putting on a coat, she walked over and took one to swallow.

The pill went down smoothly, a faint fragrance mixed with the bitterness of herbs, the taste surprisingly wasn’t bad.

She recalled the scent on that person, seemingly carrying a light herbal scent as well, unknowingly, she entered into a dream.

With matters on her mind, her sleep was unrestful.

Luckily, waking up the next day, she heard the news that the Lu Family returned the marriage contract.

The betrothal gifts were also returned intact.

As for the annual gifts exchanged on holidays between the two families over the years, they’re already hard to account for.

And the things she gave Lu Ziyuan, and those Lu Ziyuan gave her, there were quite a few, but neither brought them up, so they dropped the matter.

Perhaps it was the worry over the issue finally settling, the weight in her heart completely lifted.

That afternoon, Xie Wanqing developed a fever.

This time, she wasn’t feigning illness, she was truly sick.

Ill to the point of feeling dizzy and faint.

In her delirium, sometimes she saw Lu Ziyuan’s icy face, sometimes Erqing’s tragic execution scene stripped of clothes and beaten to death.

Watching the young girl in coma still shedding tears, Mrs. Zheng softly wiped her tears with a handkerchief, choking back tears: "This child keeps everything buried inside. She seems fine, but who knew she’d be this heartbroken inside."

The family could see how much their girl liked the Lu family boy over the years.

This time, though she was resolute in cutting ties, her heart was undoubtedly reluctant.

A bond so deep between mother and daughter, Mrs. Zheng also started to tear up.

Xie YanYu tried to comfort: "Mother, you should rest awhile, I’ll watch over Wanwan."

Nanny Zhang also advised: "Madam must take care of your own health, otherwise the young lady will be full of guilt when she wakes up."