Chapter 104: Warmth

Chapter 104: Warmth

Fortunately, Marquis Xuanping reacted swiftly to catch him before he could hit the cold ground and suffer a bloody injury. Despite his plump figure, the Marquis had more than enough strength to support him.

He slumped against Marquis Xuanping, his face unnaturally pale. His cheeks trembled, and his eyelids fluttered violently, leaving it uncertain whether he was truly fainting or just pretending.

"Useless," Shangxing sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. It was no wonder that a noble like him could be so easily disrupted by an old woman if he couldn't even stand up for himself. "I see that you're not worthy of occupying the position of a marquis."

Those words were like a bolt of lightning, and Marquis Changqi dared not continue feigning unconsciousness.

"Your Majesty, this subject…" He tried to weep, but his appearance was anything but pitiful.

"Don't howl. If you keep crying, you'll lose everything," Shangxing warned, his stern expression revealing his authority despite his feminine attire. As an emperor for several years and once the crown prince of Tai Ling Palace, his presence carried weight when he was serious.

Marquis Changqi immediately shut his mouth, recognizing the situation. The tremors in his chubby cheeks continued, unsure if they were from fear or shock. Fear and uncertainty filled his eyes, but he dared not utter another word.

In private, he had mocked the emperor as a puppet in Gongye Chu's hands, but those were merely drunken boasts shared with friends after a satisfying meal. He knew that even a puppet emperor was still the Son of Heaven, and revoking his title would only take a simple command. Unlike Marquis Xuanping, he did not hold a position in the court, and the Grand Admiral held no regard for him.

His eyes filled with pleading as they darted around, seeking help from Marquis Xuanping. This brother-in-law was the future father-in-law of the Grand Admiral, and his own niece, the emperor's adoptive mother, was a member of their family. Surely, these two wouldn't turn a blind eye to his plight.

Marquis Xuanping was at a loss for words to describe the situation. If Lord Shen had just shown a bit more backbone and caution in his actions, he wouldn't have ended up so humiliated before the Emperor.

Shangxing rubbed his temples and asked Ye Ling, "Master Diviner, what should we do with these items?"

He was referring to the contents of the chest. In the eyes of the mystics, the Poison King's substances were rare treasures that one could only stumble upon by chance, let alone having multiple kinds. He expected Ye Ling to tame and utilize these substances for herself.

"Destroy them."

"Destroy them?" He was startled. "These are all valuable items."

"No, this isn't something one should keep. It can only bring harm to others." Ye Ling gazed at Xiang Shi, her eyes appearing to look at her yet seemingly piercing through her, as if seeing someone else beyond her.

He was about to play the xun, but someone caught his arm, preventing him from doing so.

Glancing over, the young lad disguised as a servant girl wore a sorrowful expression. "Master Diviner, if these creatures are trained well, they can be useful too. Perhaps we should keep them. That Snake King is no less than a hundred years old; you've said that all things possess a spirit. To slay such a creature would be to invite misfortune upon ourselves. I don't wish to..."

Ye Ling reached out to stroke his head, her dark eyes filled with affectionate concern. "Don't worry about me. Everything in this world has its cause and effect. This matter originated from someone within my sect, so it is only right that I see it through to the end."

"Master Diviner..."

Ye Ling gently pushed him away and, with measured breaths, began to play the xun.

A haunting melody filled the air once more, this time distinct from the previous one. As the box was set ablaze, it released an eerie scent, a peculiar mixture of savory meatiness and a pungent fishy aroma.

The fire was peculiar, blazing fiercely and magnificently, yet it did not spread.

Xiang Si cried out, "No... you can't do this... These are all the fruits of your master's labor... The result of many years of nurturing..."

Amidst the flickering flames, her face appeared even more horrifying. Now, she bore no resemblance to Madam Lin at all. Her gaunt, sharp features and towering cheekbones made her resemble nothing less than a crazed, deranged old woman.

Marquis Changqi was startled once more, no longer caring about the possibility of losing his title. He had no idea what was inside the box, but the smell of burnt flesh and the cloying scent of powder on him combined into an unpleasant odor that made him retch.

Marquis Xuanping wore a visibly disgusted expression, keeping his distance from Marquis Changqi.

Madam Lin urged Madam Gu, "Quickly, go see if His Lordship has upset his stomach."

Madam Gu was helpless, "I think I should support Mother instead. His Lordship should be fine; it's probably just from staying up late last night with those women Xiang gave him."

Madame Lin's face fell, aware that her daughter-in-law was mocking her. Having survived this calamity, she knew that she would no longer be able to control her as a mother-in-law, leaving her with mixed emotions.

Over there, Xiang Shi was still screaming wildly. If not for being bound, she might have rushed into the flames to snatch back her belongings. She alternated between crying and laughing, her face in the flickering light even more terrifying.

"Xiang Shi," Pei Yuanxi suddenly shouted, "What about your daughter?"

"Daughter?" She cackled, her malicious gaze piercing Madame Lin like daggers. "Madame, you tell me where my child has gone? You, you wicked woman! That was the Marquis's flesh and blood, and you forced me to drink a contraceptive broth, selling me off to a filthy place. Pitiful me, losing my child and still recovering when those people... I hate you so much!"

Madame Lin's emaciated face finally revealed the authority of an elderly marquise. "You don't deserve to bear children for the late Marquis. I blame myself for sparing your life out of mercy back then, allowing you to wreak havoc for years."

"Hah... Madam is putting on airs again, perhaps forgetting the days I trapped you in a box, unable to do anything without my permission. I also regret showing mercy, making you witness my glorious return. I should've killed you outright; it would've been better than you regaining your vigor now."

Madame Lin's facade of authority crumbled. After being treated so cruelly by Xiang Shi these past days, she could neither live nor die with any dignity left as the elderly marquise. Her current state was laid bare before her daughter-in-law, making it impossible for her to assert her authority in the future.

And that granddaughter must despise her now, as the chaos originated from her mishandling of the concubine. Amidst her guilt, her feelings were even more convoluted.

Pei Yuanxi looked past the flames at the frenzied Xiang Shi. Who could have imagined that such a woman, along with her nonexistent daughter, could bring unrest to both families?

The pungent, smoky odor grew stronger, and Marquis Changqi, nauseous from vomiting, weakly slumped to the ground. The fire burned steadily, producing a strange hissing sound in the light.

With her limbs bound, Xiang Shi laughed maniacally towards the blazing fire, repeatedly crying out for her child in a hoarse voice.

"Where should we put her?" Pei Yuanxi asked Gongye Chu.

Before Gongye Chu could reply, they witnessed Xiang Shi, who was supposed to be restrained, suddenly push Liu Ze aside and stand up. No one knew how she managed it, but she dove headfirst into the flames.

The fire was peculiar; it engulfed her in an instant. She fell atop the boxes, seemingly raising her head from within the inferno to stare at Madam Lin with an eerie grin.

Madam Lin was so terrified that she stood stiff, leaning against Madam Gu.

Pei Yuanxi's eyes were covered by a man's hand, his cool voice whispering in her ear, "Don't look."

His palm was dry and warm, contrasting with his cold demeanor. No matter how much blood this hand might have once been stained with, in her previous life, it had given her all its tenderness.

All around them, people and objects seemed to fade into nonexistence. In this world, there were only the two of them.

Scenes from their past together flashed through her mind, the beautiful moments she had deliberately created becoming even more vivid in this instant.

She found it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion, truth and fantasy. Suddenly, it didn't seem to matter anymore. Reality and fantasy no longer felt distant, for they had always been who they were, regardless of whether it was in her previous life or this one.

The fire raged on, and the sound of the xun grew more ethereal and distant.

As everything turned to ashes, a mix of relief and sorrow could be seen on everyone's faces. They were all fixated on the pile of ashes, none paying attention to Ye Ling.

Ye Ling swayed slightly, and Shangxing promptly caught him.

The young boy's face was filled with concern as he meticulously noticed the few strands of silver hair that had sprouted at Ye Ling's temples. No words were necessary; he conveyed his reassurance with a single, calming glance.

"Why is it considered an act against fate?" the boy asked, seemingly out of the blue.

Ye Ling replied in a serene voice, "Altering someone's destiny or deciding their life span."

Tears welled up in the boy's eyes. "Does altering someone's fate cause blindness? Does interfering with others' lives lead to your death?"

Ye Ling's voice remained tranquil. "I am but an ordinary human, vulnerable to physical harm and incapable of achieving immortality."

"If...," the boy choked, "you stop doing it, you won't go blind. If anyone asks for your help, don't agree, even if that person is me... I don't want you to die."

His words were muddled, but he knew that Master Diviner would understand his intentions.

Ye Ling's surgically altered face remained expressionless, yet the depths of his dark eyes stirred with emotion. His slender fingers gently caressed the youth's head, and within the ripples of his gaze lay an abundance of affection.

"Sometimes, it is fate to act even when one knows it to be unwise. If it is worth it, what does it matter if one risks life and fortune? Your unwavering purity and filial piety are a blessing to the world. Should that day come, I would embrace it with pleasure."

"Master Diviner..." Shangxing wept uncontrollably. He seemed to have guessed something – perhaps the Master Diviner had already... "I'm not going back. I'll stay here... I can go my whole life without bathing, as long as we're all well..."

Ye Ling gazed at the horizon, her gaze becoming even more profound and transcendent.

The large hand covering Pei Yuanxi's eyes had been removed, and Shangxing had already wiped away his tears. Ye Ling no longer needed his support; instead, he crouched down to examine the ashes.

Marquis Changqi eventually regained his composure, the itching sensation subsiding, but he was now enveloped in an icy chill. The harrowing sight of a living person being reduced to ashes right before his eyes left him desperate to distance himself from this courtyard.

Neither Madam Gu nor Madam Lin fared any better; neither of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had pleasant expressions on their faces.

Amidst the serene silence of the courtyard, Marquis Changqi suddenly yelled at Madam Gu, "Hurry, go… quickly sell off all those people for me, not a single one is to be spared!"

By "those people," he was naturally referring to the women Xiang Shi had previously bestowed upon him. None of those women were servants from the Marquis residence; they were all acquired by Xiang Shi from outside sources.

Previously, he had been captivated by her allure, her gentle demeanor, and the unique charm that set her apart from all other concubines. Now, when he recalls those ecstatic moments of passion, he feels a chill run down his spine.

Heaven alone knew the backgrounds of those women.

Gu sneered inwardly. Now they're afraid? Where were they when it mattered?

Xiang was right in one respect: desire is a blade hanging over one's head. If a man falls victim to a woman's allure, he has only himself to blame.

Lin intended to make her daughter-in-law obey her son, but in the end, she said nothing. After this incident, she, as a mother-in-law, would likely hold no more sway.

With this matter settled, she wouldn't dare remain in this courtyard.

Marquis Changqi, upon seeing Madam Gu disregarding his words, wore a mix of shock and fury on his plump, fair face. He was startled by the fact that he had impulsively blurted out such remarks, forgetting that the Emperor and the Grand Commander were still present. His anger stemmed from Madam Gu's immobility after hearing him, indicating her blatant disregard for her husband's authority.

Shangxing let out a cold laugh. "Madam Shen has miraculously survived her ordeal, yet you're still preoccupied with your trivial matters. Someone as heedless and unfilial as you truly doesn't deserve to hold the title of an aristocrat. It would be more fitting for you to live as an ordinary citizen, content with managing your ancestral estate and living a life of comfort as a wealthy landowner."

Marquis Changqi was utterly shocked, "Your Majesty..."

Lady Lin and Lady Gu were equally alarmed, both hurriedly kneeling in panic.

"Marquis Pei, I implore you to intercede on my behalf; we are, after all, related by marriage..." Marquis Changqi pleaded with Marquis Xuanping, who remained silent. Turning to Pei Yuanxi, he continued, "Niece, you cannot abandon your own uncle. If the Marquisate falls, you too will lose face, won't you?"

"Uncle, a king's word is not to be trifled with," Pei Yuanxi said.

A ruler's word is law, and it shattered all of Marquis Changqi's hopes. Just as Lady Lin managed to escape the jaws of the marquis's residence, his noble title was stripped away. Her heart was filled with a myriad of sorrows, but she had no one to confide in.

"Yuanxi, your grandmother failed your mother, and I failed you. But your uncle and cousin are innocent; they know nothing of these matters. If the Shen family loses its title, what future would your cousin have?"

A glimmer of hope kindled in Lady Gu's eyes; she knew her niece was a woman who repaid kindness with gratitude and vengeance with enmity.

Pei Yuanxi gently shook her head. "Grandmother, a king's word is not to be taken lightly."

It was those four words again.

Gu Shi's gaze dimmed. She knew that with the emperor having spoken, even if Yuanxi was determined to speak up for the Shen family, she wouldn't dare contradict His Majesty's golden words.

All blame lay on Lord Hou's erratic behavior today and his past lack of ambition.

Lost in thought, she suddenly saw things more clearly. Perhaps it was for the best that he didn't have a title; with Lord Hou's temperament, the Shen family would eventually lose their noble rank anyway. It was just unfortunate for her Yin Ge'er...

Shen Changyin had arrived at some point and joined his mother in supporting their grandmother.

"Yin Ge'er..." Lin showed a look of guilt in her eyes.

"It's alright, Grandmother. Sometimes, destruction leads to creation. We'll follow the imperial order," he reassured her, his voice firm.

Hearing this, Lin wept sorrowfully. The pungent smell of burnt flesh still lingered in the air, but the culprit had already merged with the ashes of the reptiles and insects. With Xiang's demise, it seemed that everything had come to an end. However, the impact she had brought upon both the Marquis of Xuanping's and Marquis of Changqi's households would never fade away.

"I've heard that Young Master Shen is quite renowned for his talent. I look forward to seeing him in the court one day," Shangxing said, pointing the way forward for the Shen family.

As the group from the Marquis of Changqi's residence knelt to bid them farewell, everyone appeared as they did when they arrived. Gongye Chu and Ye Ling were still disguised as maidservants, while Shangxing remained a favored servant by Pei Yuanxi's side.

Pei Yuanxi glanced at Shangxing's figure, pausing several times before speaking.

Gongye Chu and Ye Ling seemed normal, but what about Liu Ze and Chong'er?

"Who dressed you up like this?" she asked.

A sly glint shone in Shangxing's eyes, filled with satisfaction. "Isn't it impressive? Uncle Liu Ze arranged this for me. Father and Master Diviner handled the rest on their own."

Now it all made sense.

Liu Ze had always been a significant presence in his upbringing, their relationship akin to that of an uncle and nephew, with great affection between them.

Pei Yuanxi glanced at Liu Ze, surprised to find that such a resolute man had a liking for these things. Liu Ze felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze, inwardly wondering what kind of look Pei Yuanxi was giving him—it was as if he were some villain.

Each person present held their own thoughts, exchanging subtle expressions.

Following behind Gongye Chu, Marquis Xuanping overheard him mention a few auspicious days in January. Confused, he wondered why the Grand Commander would suddenly bring up such a matter.

Gongye Chu paused, his disguised face unreadable. His cold, clear eyes turned towards Pei Yuanxi, who wore a peach-red cloak. He noticed the young lady smiling softly after whispering something to her maid beside her.

Her smile was like a blooming flower, enchanting and captivating.

Marquis Xuanping immediately grasped the meaning behind Gongye Chu's words, leaving him with a mix of emotions.