Chapter 57: Temporary Farewell

Chapter 57: A Temporary Parting

Xin He resisted with all her might, yet her body succumbed to Wei Mingjin’s control.

They had been together for three years; Wei Mingjin knew precisely how to bring Xin He pleasure, even with his eyes closed.

This was Wei Mingjin’s unilateral pursuit of Xin He’s gratification.

Yet, Xin He, the object of this pleasure, felt as though Wei Mingjin had brutally torn her in two.

Her body involuntarily surrendered to Wei Mingjin’s masterful touch, but her heart swelled with profound hatred for him.

The news of her "death" had already reached the capital—why was Wei Mingjin still relentlessly pursuing her? Why couldn't he just let her go!

Xin He slumped to the ground, her body still trembling slightly after the climax, but her gaze at Wei Mingjin was filled with deep animosity.

Wei Mingjin stood before her, calmly wiping his fingers with a handkerchief.

When he saw the hatred in Xin He’s eyes, he paused, then frowned. "He Niang, you weren’t like this before me. How have you become a different person in just three short months?"

"It’s not that I’ve become a different person; it’s that I’ve been feigning compliance with you all along," Xin He said coldly.

Now that their pretense was completely shattered, Xin He had nothing left to lose.

But to her surprise, Wei Mingjin wasn't angry. Instead, he glanced outside with an understanding expression.

"It seems that doctor out there has corrupted you. Chi Yan…"

Xin He’s heart sank. She immediately lunged forward, grabbing Wei Mingjin’s sleeve, and sharply declared, "Don't you dare touch him!"

Bai Xu had already suffered humiliation because of her today; she couldn’t let Wei Mingjin harm him further.

"Are you giving me orders?" Wei Mingjin looked down at Xin He.

Xin He knew Wei Mingjin all too well.

With just one look from him, Xin He knew what Wei Mingjin wanted.

He wanted her to yield.

If she were alone and unburdened, she could confront Wei Mingjin without hesitation. But now that Bai Xu was entangled, she couldn’t abandon his life.

Seeing impatience flicker in Wei Mingjin’s brow, Xin He gritted her teeth, lowered herself, and adopted her former gentle demeanor. "My lord, this concubine was wrong, this concubine knows her mistake. He saved this concubine’s life; without him, this concubine would have died long ago. This concubine begs you, please let him go."

As she spoke, clear tears streamed down Xin He’s cheeks.

Wei Mingjin bent down, gripped Xin He’s chin, and fixed his gaze on her face, displeased. "He Niang, for whom do your tears fall?"

"They fall for myself."

Why had Heaven never been kind to her!

After Master Wei passed away, she had planned to take the severance silver and flee far away, but the sudden child disrupted her plans.

Three months ago, she painstakingly escaped from Wei Mingjin, even sacrificing the bracelet her mother left her to create the illusion of her death. Yet, she still couldn’t deceive Wei Mingjin.

She was just one step away from the life she desired—why did Heaven allow Wei Mingjin to find her!

Wei Mingjin stared at Xin He.

Xin He had yielded to him as he wished. But for some reason, seeing Xin He’s tears filled Wei Mingjin with an inexplicable irritation.

Especially when those tears landed on Wei Mingjin’s fingertips, he felt as if he had been burned. He abruptly withdrew his hand, coldly stating, "Stop your tears. Change out of these cheap clothes; they are hideous." With that, Wei Mingjin opened the door and left with a cold expression.

The room was adorned with red hangings and double-happiness symbols. Xin He slumped to the ground, burying her head in her knees, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

After a while, a knock sounded from outside.

Immediately after, Chi Yan’s voice echoed from beyond the door: "Concubine Xin, the master is waiting for you."

The implied warning in his words was unmistakable.

Not wanting to implicate Bai Xu, Xin He wiped her tears, stood up, and went to the wardrobe to find a dress.

Unexpectedly, she saw the dagger.

That day, after crossing the river and reaching the shore, she discovered her money pouch was gone, leaving her with only this dagger.

At the sight of the dagger, a chill flashed in Xin He’s eyes.

With Chi Yan still urging her from outside, Xin He quickly changed her clothes, tucked the dagger into her bosom, and then opened the door.

The guests who had come for the wedding had all dispersed. The tables in the courtyard were still laden with leftovers, and the once-prominently displayed red double-happiness characters now lay on the ground, trampled and covered in footprints.

"The master is waiting for you in the main hall," Chi Yan reported softly.

Xin He walked like a zombie, seeing Wei Mingjin seated in the high chair meant for their wedding ceremony, while Bai Xu, still in his wedding attire, stood forlornly to the side.

A sudden pang struck Xin He’s heart, and then she heard Wei Mingjin speak.

"Doctor Bai, I heard from He Niang that you saved her life. This is my token of gratitude." As soon as Wei Mingjin finished speaking, a servant beside him presented a box.

The box opened, revealing gleaming silver ingots.

The ingots were so dazzling they made Bai Xu’s eyes ache.

He had never seen so many silver ingots in his life. With these, he could open the clinic he had always dreamed of, buy many medicines he couldn’t afford due to poverty, and in the future, he could treat more patients.

But Bai Xu shook his head, his voice strained. "No, I cannot accept this."

"What? Does Doctor Bai find it too little?" Wei Mingjin scoffed, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Indeed, He Niang is my beloved concubine. This amount of silver is certainly not enough to repay Doctor Bai for saving her life."

With that, Wei Mingjin unfastened a jade pendant from his waist and tossed it onto the silver ingots.

"This jade pendant is carved from fine mutton-fat jade by a renowned craftsman. While not priceless, it is easily worth over a thousand taels."

Though Wei Mingjin spoke with a smile, the disdain in his tone was undisguised.

Since stepping into this small courtyard, he had found it dilapidated.

The tables and chairs in the yard were all peeling and worn, and the guests who had come for the wedding were all country folk, dressed in ragged clothes with weathered faces. Despite it being a day of great joy, there were no red brocade carpets or festive music—everything exuded poverty.

And Bai Xu himself was ordinary in appearance, stature, and demeanor.

Wei Mingjin couldn’t understand why Xin He would be interested in him. Could it be that he was using his good deed to demand repayment?

While Wei Mingjin was appraising Bai Xu, Bai Xu was also observing Wei Mingjin.

Since Wei Mingjin’s arrival at his home, though his words were courteous, his every gesture carried an air of superiority.

Especially the way he looked at him, as if gazing at an insignificant ant.

Bai Xu didn't care how Wei Mingjin viewed him, but he couldn't allow Wei Mingjin to insult A-He with money.

The usually gentle man, who never argued with anyone, now clenched his sleeves and mustered the courage to refute Wei Mingjin’s words: "I saved A-He out of a physician’s compassion, not for wealth. Moreover, Young Master Wei, a human life cannot be measured by money."

Earlier, Xin He had told him that she was sold by her uncle and aunt to a rich merchant as a concubine. At that time, Bai Xu’s heart ached for Xin He’s plight.

Now, although Wei Mingjin kept calling Xin He his beloved concubine, he turned around and used money to insult her. He was not only insulting him but also Xin He.

Hearing this, a flicker of disdain crossed Wei Mingjin’s eyes.

This man was so poor that he wore old boots on his wedding day, yet he dared to act noble like others. How utterly ridiculous.

But since he wanted to put on airs, Wei Mingjin would indulge him.

Wei Mingjin rose gracefully: "I take your point, Doctor Bai."

After speaking, Wei Mingjin turned and instructed: "Someone, quickly put away these vulgar items so as not to offend Doctor Bai’s eyes. Also, send someone to the town to have a plaque made for Doctor Bai inscribed with 'Physician’s Compassion.' Remember to deliver it with much fanfare to commend Doctor Bai's noble virtue."

Just as his subordinate was about to respond, a clear female voice suddenly interjected: "Wait."

Wei Mingjin and Bai Xu turned simultaneously to see Xin He, dressed in plain cloth, entering from outside.

"My lord, it is Doctor Bai’s prerogative to refuse the reward due to his noble character, but if I fail to repay Doctor Bai’s life-saving grace, I will never find peace."

At this point, Xin He turned to face Bai Xu.

She dared not meet his eyes, focusing instead on the mud-stained hem of his robe, and said tearfully: "Doctor Bai, you saved my life. I can only repay you with these worldly possessions. I beg you to accept them."

Xin He used the word "beg."

She understood that Bai Xu refused the silver because he felt Wei Mingjin’s actions were meant to humiliate her.

She was grateful that even now, Bai Xu was still willing to protect her.

But one must face reality.

Bai Xu’s family was destitute, and to prepare for the wedding, he had borrowed quite a sum of money.

Now the wedding hadn't taken place, but the money had already been spent. Xin He didn't want Bai Xu to end up with nothing and burdened by debt.

With Xin He speaking so plainly, how could Bai Xu not understand her meaning!

Xin He was telling him that pride doesn’t put food on the table—she hoped he would accept the money.

Bai Xu had a thousand things he wanted to say to Xin He.

He wanted to tell Xin He not to blame herself for what had happened today, that he didn't hold it against her.

But with Wei Mingjin standing between them, he feared that speaking these words would only bring trouble to Xin He.

So he choked back everything he wished to say and nodded, eyes brimming: "Alright, I'll accept it."

Wei Mingjin watched this scene coldly, feeling as though he were splitting up two lovebirds.

His eyes immediately turned icy, and he grabbed Xin He’s wrist: "He Niang, it's time for us to go."

With that, Wei Mingjin strode out, dragging a stumbling Xin He behind him.

Bai Xu stood rooted to the spot, watching the scene with anguish. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no sound escaped.

Soon, the whinnying of horses was heard from outside the courtyard, followed by the fading sound of hoofbeats.

Although the villagers had been driven away by Wei Mingjin’s attendants, they had been secretly watching what was going on at Bai Xu’s place. Now that Wei Mingjin and his party had left, the neighbors, concerned about Bai Xu, came to check on him.

The gate to Bai Xu’s courtyard was wide open. As the neighbors entered, they called out: "Bai Xu? Xu-ge? Are you alright?"

Hearing the voices, Bai Xu inside the house quickly wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve and walked out to the corridor.

Seeing Bai Xu standing before them in one piece, the neighbors all let out a sigh of relief.

Bai Xu stood under the eaves and addressed them: "Today, I have caused you all, uncles and aunts, distress. I apologize to you here."

As he spoke, Bai Xu stood under the eaves and bowed deeply to the crowd.

Someone quickly said: "Ah, no, no, you mustn't."

"Exactly, Xu-ge, what happened today wasn't your fault. It's all because of that A-He—if she hadn't deceived you with smooth talk, how could you have been tricked by her!"

"Exactly. From the beginning, I felt that woman had ill intentions…"

Bai Xu didn't want to hear them speak ill of Xin He and immediately interrupted them.

"Uncles and aunts, I'm tired today. If there's nothing else, please return."

Bai Xu was still wearing his wedding attire, but the man who had been all smiles earlier now looked ashen-faced.

Everyone understood that this sudden turn of events had deeply affected Bai Xu, so they didn't linger longer. After offering some words of comfort, they gradually left.

Once the gate was closed, only Bai Xu remained in the entire house.

The sun set in the west, and soon darkness enveloped everything.

Like a lost soul, Bai Xu held an oil lamp and walked from the kitchen to the bridal chamber, adorned with the double-happiness symbol and lit by dragon and phoenix wedding candles.

This was where Xin He had once lived, and it was supposed to be their bridal chamber.

But now, the happiness symbol remained, while his bride had been taken away.

The wife he had wanted to marry properly was someone else's concubine!

At this moment, the emotions Bai Xu had suppressed all day instantly crumbled. He collapsed to the ground and sobbed his heart out.

Since childhood, he had been kind-hearted. After becoming a physician, he always remembered the principle of "physician’s compassion." He charged very low fees for consultations, and for those truly impoverished, he didn't even charge a penny.

Why did Heaven treat him this way!

He lost his father in childhood and his mother in adolescence. Now, just as he was about to marry the woman he loved, it all came to naught.

After crying bitterly and venting his emotions, Bai Xu felt around in the dark for the box of silver ingots Wei Mingjin had left behind.

Wei Mingjin repeatedly called Xin He his beloved concubine, but from his words and actions today, it was clear he didn't respect A-He at all. One could only imagine what kind of life A-He had endured before.

How could he just stand by and watch her be forcibly taken back now!

No! He couldn't let him take A-He away just like that!

Once this thought took hold, Bai Xu could no longer remain idle.

In the vast night, Bai Xu, clutching the box of silver, stumbled out the door.

He was going to find Young Master Wei; he would use this box of silver to buy Xin He’s freedom.