Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Xiao Lin waited outside Kunning Palace for over an hour, but the Empress refused to see him. Finally, he simply barged in.

The Empress sighed, dismissing her attendants. "If you're here to look for your wife, you've come to the wrong place."

Xiao Lin directly produced the letter of separation: "Your Majesty, did you give this letter of separation to Ye Shuang?"

The Empress sat behind a beaded curtain, her eyes barely lifting as her gaze swept over Xiao Lin, who knelt below. "What? Have you come to call me to account?"

"Xiao Lin wouldn’t dare!" Xiao Lin kept his head bowed, kneeling ramrod straight. "It’s just that this letter of separation bears the imperial seal of Kunning Palace, which is why I’ve presumptuously come to seek Your Majesty’s guidance. Disturbing Your Majesty is my fault. I only wish to know if Your Majesty might reconsider the decree."

"This was her wish—how could it be up to me to decide whether it counts or not? Moreover, the Emperor has also agreed. After hearing that she had suffered a fright, the Emperor promised to grant her one request. The matter of separation is set in stone."

Xiao Lin immediately rose: "Then I will go see the Emperor."

"Xiao Lin," the Empress called out, her tone uncharacteristically stern, "if I were you, I wouldn’t go to the Emperor. This is your family matter. If you can’t even handle your own family affairs, how can the Emperor entrust you with greater responsibilities in the future?"

Xiao Lin was momentarily at a loss for words.

"One cannot have everything. Since you’ve made your choice, you must bear the consequences. There’s one more thing I need to tell you. Do you know where I saw her last night? On the road outside the palace, she had collapsed on the ground, the front of her garment soaked in blood. She didn’t even think to press a handkerchief to the wound—such was her despair! I examined the injury; fortunately, it was only skin-deep. But if that rebel had been even slightly careless, you wouldn’t be kneeling before me now—you’d be kneeling before her spirit tablet. Any decision she makes is justified. Do not force the matter. That is all I have to say, Marquis of Yongding. Go back and reflect carefully."

With that, the Empress turned and left, leaving Xiao Lin slumped despondently on the ground.

Xiao Yin had been waiting outside Kunning Palace. Seeing Xiao Lin emerge, he hurried over: "Marquis, how did it go?"

Xiao Lin walked forward without a word: "Return to the estate."

By the time they returned to the marquis’s estate, it was already late. The courtyard was lit with lanterns, yet it felt empty and desolate. In preparation for the Lunar New Year, the estate had been modestly decorated, but it was only now that he noticed.

Seeing Xiao Lin standing motionless, Xiao Yin asked: "What’s wrong, Marquis?"

"Nothing. It’s just that this estate feels so vast. I never realized how big and empty it was before. Xiao Yin, do you think I’ve truly made a mistake?"

Xiao Han appeared out of nowhere, cheerfully trying to console Xiao Lin: "The lady must be angry for the moment—it’s not that she doesn’t want you, Marquis."

Xiao Yin quickly nudged him with his elbow.

Xiao Han looked bewildered and asked Xiao Yin: "What’s wrong?"

"..." Xiao Yin closed his eyes briefly.

"Xiao Han, it seems you haven’t been attending morning drills for quite some time."

Xiao Han beamed: "That’s right! Didn’t you say we could take time off for the New Year, Marquis?"

"Starting tomorrow, you will resume morning drills. You will rise at Yin hour [3–5 a.m.]." With that, Xiao Lin strode away.

Xiao Yin glanced at Xiao Han, shook his head, and left as well.

"Wait! Marquis? Why resume drills? And only me?" Xiao Han was on the verge of tears, calling out after them, "And besides, didn’t we used to rise at Mao hour [5–7 a.m.]?"

Xiao Lin: "One more word, and you’ll rise at Chou hour [1–3 a.m.]."

Xiao Han immediately fell silent, trailing behind with a pained expression.

Xiao Lin went directly to the west wing, entering the room in a daze and sitting down, his gaze fixed on the courtyard gate.

"Marquis, would you like some dinner? You haven’t eaten all day."

Xiao Lin sighed and waved a hand: "Serve it."

Xiao Yin acknowledged the order and left. Shortly after, the curtain was lifted again, and Xiao Yin leaned in: "Marquis, Nanny Liu wishes to see you."

"Let her in."

"Greetings, Marquis. There is something I believe I should give to you." Nanny Liu entered carrying a garment and placed it on the table.

"This cloak took the lady three months to embroider. It was originally prepared for your winter wear. She finished it just before the palace banquet but never had the chance to give it to you. She didn’t take it with her when she left. After some thought, I felt it should be given to you."

Xiao Lin frowned in pain, running his hand over the navy blue cloak, his expression full of longing: "Nanny Liu, did the lady say anything when she left?"

Nanny Liu kept her eyes downcast: "The lady said nothing."

Xiao Lin: "Truly?"

Nanny Liu looked up at Xiao Lin, her tone respectful but firm: "Some words are better said by the lady herself when you find her. But since she said nothing when she left, perhaps she felt there was nothing left to say."

Xiao Lin lowered his head helplessly, knowing that any further words would be useless now.

Just then, dinner was brought in, and Xiao Yin asked where he would like to dine.

Xiao Lin sighed: "Right here."

Xiao Yin asked tentatively: "What about this cloak?"

Xiao Lin: "Put it away for now."

Xiao Yin acknowledged and moved to take the cloak away.

"Wait!" Suddenly, a glint of color at the collar caught Xiao Lin’s eye. He lifted it and froze.

There, embroidered on the inside of the collar, was a small ginkgo leaf.

Xiao Yin remarked curiously: "I’ve never seen anyone embroider something like this on clothing!"

Before he could finish, Xiao Lin had already stood up.

Xiao Yin, puzzled, asked: "Marquis? Are we going out again?"

"Gather all the guards and our comrades from the camp. Search through the night!"

Xiao Yin: "Marquis, what is this about?"

"I thought there was still time, but now I understand—she intends to leave for good. Mobilize the Tiger Guard for me. Seal all city gates of Lin’an. No one is to pass!"

Xiao Yin: "Sealing the city gates… I’m afraid that might not be appropriate! The Emperor will blame you if he finds out!"

Xiao Lin’s tone brooked no argument: "I will take responsibility if anything happens. No one is to be let out tonight, understood?"

Xiao Han also tried to persuade him: "Marquis, you’ve endured for so long, holding back multiple times. Such a large operation now—wouldn’t that undo all your previous efforts? Please reconsider!"

"Enough. Just go. Only now do I understand what truly matters."

Xiao Yin and Xiao Han knew they couldn’t dissuade him and could only accept their orders and depart.

From the moment he saw that ginkgo leaf embroidery, Xiao Lin understood—this time was different from all the others.

For some reason, he had a premonition that if he couldn't find her tonight, he didn't know when he would see her again. It wasn't until this moment that he realized how important Ye Shuang had always been in his heart—no, she was the most important. Those positions of power and status, the political games, he didn't care that much about them; even if he lost them, it wouldn't matter, but he couldn't lose Ye Shuang.

The night sky was pitch black, without a single star in sight.

Xiao Lin walked into the courtyard, dejected, and suddenly realized with clarity that no one would ever treat him as well as she did.

-

In the backyard of the Liu residence.

Two elegantly dressed women sat facing each other on a daybed.

Princess Jing, dressed in a crimson winter gown, smiled charmingly: "I heard you were frightened at the palace banquet, so I came specially to check on you. Are you feeling better now?"

Liu Yiyi, wearing a gold-embroidered jacket with plum and magpie motifs paired with a blue gauze pleated skirt with gold trim and draped in a silver squirrel fur cloak, held a hand warmer and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing lightly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. After resting for two days, I’ve improved, but the Marchioness was injured much more severely than I was. I wonder how she’s doing now."

Princess Jing looked surprised: "You haven’t heard? Ye Shuang is gone."

"Gone? Where did she go?" Liu Yiyi asked, puzzled.

Princess Jing leaned forward: "You really don’t know? It’s the talk of Lin'an! Xiao Lin was searching the city frantically all day, and now, late at night, he’s enforcing a curfew and locking down the city gates. Who knows how long this will go on!"

Liu Yiyi clearly didn’t hear the latter part; she only heard that Ye Shuang was really gone and could barely contain her smile, eager to go to the Marquis’s residence to witness the drama.

Princess Jing pressed her forehead: "It’s late, and I’m tired from talking. I won’t keep you from resting any longer. I’ll head back now. Let’s get together at my residence another time when you’re free."

After seeing Princess Jing off, Liu Yiyi’s emotions were too stirred to calm down. She called her personal maid, Lü Wu, and instructed her to send a message to the Marquis’s residence, saying that she was suffering from anxiety and shock, which had triggered a chronic condition, and her condition had worsened. She demanded that Xiao Lin come see her immediately.

The maid left to deliver the message.

Liu Yiyi was agitated, unable to sit still. She wasn’t entirely confident, but this was the most critical moment, and she had to act. If she could seize the opportunity now and secure the marriage arrangement, even if Ye Shuang returned later, she could find a way to keep her from returning to Xiao Lin’s side.

She had envisioned several scenarios in her mind, but her thoughts were too chaotic to form a clear plan. After waiting for an hour, Lü Wu returned, and Liu Yiyi immediately pressed for news.

Lü Wu replied softly: "Miss, I delivered the message, but the Marquis’s guards said that the Marquis is currently occupied with urgent matters and cannot come."

Liu Yiyi didn’t believe it: "Did you make it clear? Did you emphasize how serious my condition is?"

"I did, but the Marquis still flatly refused. He also said, he said…"

"Said what?" Liu Yiyi’s eyes lit up.

Lü Wu stammered: "The Marquis said that if you’re sick, you should call a doctor. It’s useless to look for him. He also said that in the future, you shouldn’t bother him with such matters."

"What?" Liu Yiyi slumped back in defeat.

-

At the same time, Xiao Lin was leading a search throughout the city.

Xiao Han: "We’ve searched the entire city and can’t find the Marchioness anywhere."

Xiao Lin: "Impossible. She couldn’t have left the city that quickly. She must have taken a carriage. Check every single carriage."

Xiao Yin arrived shortly after: "We’ve checked all the carriages. After the city gates were sealed, not a single carriage left the city. It’s already past the New Year, so no one is heading out of the city—everyone is returning. Besides, most stables are shuttered for the night. But there’s one thing: a horse is missing from the western suburban stable. It seems someone took it."

Xiao Han immediately said: "Marquis, could it be the Marchioness? We’ve searched for so long without any leads. She must have left on horseback long ago."

Xiao Lin was stunned. He didn’t even know she could ride a horse. How long had it been since he’d truly paid attention to her? He always thought he cared, but he was forced by circumstances, one thing or another. Now, thinking back, perhaps he didn’t care nearly as much as he believed—he didn’t understand her at all.

Xiao Yin tentatively asked: "Marquis, are we still searching? If she left the city on horseback… that won’t be easy to find."

Xiao Lin’s heart had already grown cold, but he insisted: "No matter where she’s gone, I must find her and bring her back."

An hour earlier.

Outside the city gate, a figure clad in black, wearing a bamboo hat and holding a long sword, stood under the night sky beside a red horse, looking back at the curfew in the city. Without hesitation, she tugged down her hat to cover half her face, mounted the horse, and rode away.

Behind her, the city gate slammed shut with a resounding boom.