Chapter 55 Truth Death.

Chapter 55: Truth: Death.

In an instant, Yue Rongrong tried to pull her hand away, but Qu Lieshan’s grip tightened.

"Brother Qu!" Yue Rongrong cried out anxiously, noticing Shen Jichen’s increasingly grim expression, but Qu Lieshan remained unmoved.

He stared fixedly at Shen Jichen: "Shen Jichen, Rong Rong has decided to leave with me. Your continued entanglement is futile."

Shen Jichen’s gaze shifted to Yue Rongrong, his pupils briefly contracting as a flash of incredulous pain flickered in his eyes. He suppressed his voice, his cold face hardening, clenching his teeth in strained restraint: "You’re going with him?"

Yue Rongrong’s heart clenched violently. Tears welled in her eyes, a mist reflecting her hesitation and struggle: "I..."

"Rong Rong!" Qu Lieshan’s urgent, low cry sounded in her ear.

Before her, Shen Jichen rose and walked toward her, one step at a time. It felt as if two wild beasts were tearing at her body, nearly ripping her to bloody pieces.

Suddenly, she caught sight of a sharp blade protruding from Qu Lieshan’s sleeve. Terrified, she cried out: "Don’t come any closer!"

Shen Jichen halted, his gaze fixed intently on Yue Rongrong.

As if she had made up her mind, Yue Rongrong shouted: "Let us go." Once the words were out, she felt a calm she’d never known. She looked at him: "Three years ago, we were already over. Shen Jichen, let me go."

Shen Jichen’s eyelid twitched slightly. A sword pierced his heart, a rush of heat surging to his head. His eyes grew bloodshot, gradually filling with fury. He roared: "Impossible!"

Everyone trembled at his shout, but the elite soldiers became even more stern.

Just as Yue Rongrong was paralyzed with fear, she heard him command sharply: "Bring her up!"

Confused, Yue Rongrong looked over and was startled: "Sister Peilan!"

Wen Song was escorting Ge Peilan forward. Yue Rongrong glared furiously at Shen Jichen: "Shen Jichen! Do not harm her!"

A flash of pain crossed Shen Jichen’s eyes before he let out a mocking laugh.

Qu Lieshan cursed angrily: "Despicable! Are you going to pull the same trick again?"

But Ge Peilan cried out: "Rong Rong, the Marquis hasn’t harmed me! Rong Rong, you weren’t aware of the truth about what happened before! Qu Lieshan has been deceiving you all along! Don’t believe him!"

Yue Rongrong was stunned. She looked at Ge Peilan, then at Qu Lieshan, flustered: "What are you talking about?"

Ge Peilan said: "Back then, when you were kidnapped and Qu Lieshan was demanded to ransom you with the escort silver, it was all orchestrated by him! His goal was to ruin our engagement, make himself liable to the escort agency, and make you feel guilty! So he could keep you by his side forever!"

Yue Rongrong’s face turned instantly pale. Her legs weakened, and she stumbled backward. Qu Lieshan quickly reached out to support her, but she snatched her hand back, looking at him with fear and shock.

Qu Lieshan’s brow furrowed deeply: "You believe her? Can’t you see she’s been bought off by Shen Jichen? This is all Shen Jichen’s scheme! He wants to sow discord between us! He wants to take you back! That’s why he’s framing me!"

"Bullshit!" Wen Song burst out angrily. "I never thought you could be so shameless! You even feigned lasting injuries to deceive my lady! Wasn’t it just to gain her sympathy and soften her heart!"

"Shut up!" Qu Lieshan shot a venomous glare at Wen Song, then turned to Ge Peilan: "Peilan, I know you hate me for breaking off our engagement back then. Now your husband is seriously ill, and you need Shen Jichen to secure an imperial physician for you. You have no choice. But, Rong Rong treats you like a sister! How could you deceive her like this!"

Ge Peilan stared in disbelief at Qu Lieshan distorting the truth, pointing at him furiously: "You’re the one who has been deceiving her all along! You’re also the one who kidnapped me! Rong Rong, don’t believe him!"

Qu Lieshan stopped arguing with them. He grasped Yue Rongrong’s icy hand urgently: "Rong Rong, everyone in the world wants to harm and deceive you, but I never would!"

Yue Rongrong looked at him, feeling as if her head was splitting in two.

Shen Jichen’s voice was icy: "Unrepentant even unto death." He called out, "Wen Song."

Wen Song immediately stepped forward and handed a dossier to Shen Jichen. His eyes filled with righteous anger as he addressed Qu Lieshan: "Qu Lieshan, you never thought my Marquis would investigate what happened in Gusu, did you? Everything—the lady signing an indenture with the government to pay off your debts, only to be sold into Sinan House and registered as a low social status—was all your doing! Those three men who broke into the lady’s room are dead, leaving no evidence behind, but who’s to say it wasn’t your handiwork!"

Shen Jichen frowned as he looked at Yue Rongrong, saying solemnly: "This is the evidence and testimony sent from Gusu."

Yue Rongrong’s mind was reeling, her thoughts in disarray. She stared blankly at the document in his hand.

Beside her, Qu Lieshan burst into laughter, his chest shaking with each laugh. Yue Rongrong looked at him, her eyes now empty of all hope.

When Qu Lieshan finally stopped laughing, he glared sharply at Shen Jichen: "Shen Jichen! How sinister you are! Everyone knows you, Marquis Shen, the heir of the Shen family, wield immense power! You can cover the sky with one hand! What your mother did, pinning it on me—couldn’t you easily do that? What evidence? What testimony? Why go to such lengths? If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext!"

Wen Song was so furious he nearly spat blood! He roared: "Stop trying to obscure the truth! Whether it’s true or false, come with us to the Ministry of Justice! Let the three courts—Dali Temple, the Censorate, and the Imperial Court—conduct a joint trial! The truth will come out!"

Qu Lieshan’s gaze turned fierce: "That’s your goal! First, frame me! Then arrange witnesses! All to firmly pin trumped-up charges on me! So you have an excuse to kill me openly, right? Rong Rong! You heard it all!" He suddenly turned to Yue Rongrong and said sharply, "See clearly Shen Jichen’s malicious face!"

Yue Rongrong’s eyes shimmered with tears as she looked at Qu Lieshan, then slowly turned to Shen Jichen.

Shen Jichen’s pupils constricted abruptly. After a long moment, he spoke with difficulty: "You don’t believe me?"

Qu Lieshan didn’t give Yue Rongrong a chance to respond. He shouted: "Rong Rong, don’t be afraid! Even if I die today, I will protect you and get you out of here!"

As he spoke, a soft sword suddenly dropped from his sleeve, its blade sharp and deadly.

Shen Jichen let out a disdainful cold laugh, his terrifying gaze looking down on them with contempt: "I’m afraid dying is easier than leaving."

As soon as he finished speaking, the elite soldiers surrounding them all stepped forward, their cold blades poised to strike.

Yue Rongrong looked at Shen Jichen standing before them—his face cold and stern, his eyes filled with unwavering determination, the undisguised killing intent startling to behold.

She turned to look at Qu Lieshan, her eyes blazing with fury—a kind of deep-seated hatred, directed at Shen Jichen.

"Rong Rong! Come over here quickly!" Ge Peilan was still shouting anxiously from the side.

Wen Song also called out: "Miss! Don’t believe him!"

Shen Jichen stared intently at her, complex emotions in his eyes. He said in a deep voice: "Do not harm Miss Yue."

"Yes!" the elite soldiers shouted in unison.

Qu Lieshan tightly gripped Yue Rongrong’s hand, swearing he wouldn’t let go even if it meant death.

Yue Rongrong lowered her head for a moment, then looked up with resolve. She looked at Shen Jichen, her voice trembling with a hint of plea: "Shen Jichen, let us go."

Shen Jichen’s heart slammed violently. Qu Lieshan also looked at Yue Rongrong in surprise, gradually showing delight.

"What did you say?" Shen Jichen looked at her in disbelief, as if using all his strength to utter the words, his voice low and hoarse.

Yue Rongrong was on the verge of collapse, tears streaming down her face: "I beg you, let us go!"

Shen Jichen’s eyes reddened at the corners as he stared fixedly at her: "You know he’s deceiving you! That he plotted against you! Yet you still believe him! You won’t even look at this evidence! But back then, when you thought I deceived you, you left so decisively! Yue Rongrong!" He shouted coldly, but it was as if his throat had been choked off. A suffocating feeling cut his voice short. He turned away in pain, gasping for breath, his entire body trembling slightly with anger and agony.

Yue Rongrong couldn’t bear it any longer and burst into tears, only saying: "Let us go, Shen Jichen..."

Shen Jichen suddenly turned back, his eyes wide open, a layer of mist covering them. He spoke word by word: "Don’t even think about it." Slowly, he took out a red stiff paper from his waist accessory—the reassembled traces were messy, the paper crumpled, but it stung Yue Rongrong’s eyes.

She stared blankly at that paper, her heart skipping a beat. It was the marriage certificate she had torn up back then! How could it be...

"This is the marriage certificate you thought was fake! Rong Rong, it’s real! Back then, I just didn’t want my mother to target you! So I deliberately lied to her, never expecting you to overhear it."

Afterward, she hadn’t even been willing to hear his explanation, determined to leave him. He was angry with her, but also afraid his mother would investigate further, so he had to let the mistake stand for the time being and set aside the matter of the marriage certificate.

Qu Lieshan’s face stiffened momentarily. Seeing Yue Rongrong’s stunned expression, he spoke with urgent fury, "Shen Jichen! Are you still trying to deceive her now—"

"Shut up!" Shen Jichen snarled, finally losing patience! He glared icily at Qu Lieshan, "Who is deceiving her? You and I both know perfectly well!"

A sudden silence fell, and everyone turned their gaze to Yue Rongrong.

Qu Lieshan let out a bitter chuckle and whispered in Yue Rongrong’s ear, "Go on, don’t worry about me. Whatever happens to me today has nothing to do with you. I would rather die than go back with Shen Jichen."

After speaking, he pushed Yue Rongrong forward a step. But Yue Rongrong suddenly pulled a golden hairpin from her bun and pressed it against her jade-white neck, defiantly declared, "Let us go!"

Everyone was aghast!

Ge Peilan cried out, "Rong Rong!"

Wen Song also shouted, "Miss!"

Shen Jichen’s cold, stern expression cracked for an instant, a flicker of panic flashing in his eyes.

Three years ago it was like this, and three years later it was the same—no matter what Qu Lieshan did, she was willing to risk her life for him!

What did he count for? What did Shen Jichen count for!

Shen Jichen felt as if all the blood in his body were flowing backward. He shouted, "Stand down!"

Tears streamed down Yue Rongrong’s face. She had hurt him. Yet she still grabbed Qu Lieshan’s wrist and stepped back.

No one dared to approach. Shen Jichen watched helplessly as she left, taking Qu Lieshan with her, watching as Qu Lieshan helped her onto a horse, and the two galloped away.

Yue Rongrong looked back from the horse, her disheveled hair making it impossible to see her expression clearly.

Shen Jichen staggered, and Wen Song hurriedly supported him: "My Lord!"

"Chase them. Wait for the right moment to act," Shen Jichen ground out between clenched teeth.

**

Qu Lieshan held Yue Rongrong tightly as they galloped on horseback. He was incredulous, wildly triumphant! He had finally obtained what he had longed for!

What satisfaction! Seeing Shen Jichen crushed with despair brought him immense satisfaction!

But suddenly, he saw Yue Rongrong tumble from the horse! Startled, he immediately leaped and scooped her up by the waist, and the two tumbled off the horse together.

"Rong Rong, are you alright?" Qu Lieshan asked nervously as he helped her up, checking her over. He reached for her hand to examine it, but Yue Rongrong pulled her hand back. He paused, looked up, and met Yue Rongrong’s calm gaze. His heart jolted, and he called out uneasily, "Rong Rong......"

Yue Rongrong lowered her eyes, keeping her voice carefully gentle: "They probably won’t chase us anymore. You should go quickly."

Qu Lieshan frowned deeply: "You’re not coming with me?"

Yue Rongrong nodded: "Yes, I’m not going."

"Are you going back to Shen Jichen?" Qu Lieshan’s tone suddenly shifted, almost accusing.

"Yes."

"Why! He’s done so many wicked things! Even framed me—"

"Because I love him," Yue Rongrong looked at him, firm and calm.

This blunt confession struck Qu Lieshan with devastation and bitterness. An even fiercer hatred surged within him. He was utterly enraged: "You say you love him! How can you love him! I won’t allow you to love him!"

Yue Rongrong said nothing, only watched him quietly.

Suddenly anxious, he urgently grasped her arm: "No, you don’t love him anymore. You’re just angry with me, right? You think what Shen Jichen said is true, so you’re deliberately provoking me, right? Rong Rong, it’s Shen Jichen who framed—"

"I’m not angry," she said. "Even if I believed the evidence Shen Jichen presented, even if I believed what Sister Peilan said, I’m not angry with you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have rescued you. Truly, I’m not angry with you."

But these words only made it harder for Qu Lieshan to accept. He questioned her fiercely: "Why aren’t you angry with me! You should be angry! You should hate me! Shen Jichen only deceived you about the marriage documents, and you hated him so much! Why don’t you hate me!"

Yue Rongrong said, "Because I love him, that’s why I hate him."

The calmer she was, the more unhinged Qu Lieshan became, so much so that he didn’t notice Yue Rongrong’s tightly clenched, trembling hands. She understood him and was using the most extreme method to push him, to force him to lose control.

After so many years of friendship, she wanted to personally sever ties with him.

Bitter and resentful, his insides churning and burning, he shouted, losing control, "What does Shen Jichen matter! We grew up together! It was me who always protected and cared for you! He’s the one who stole you away!"

"So I’m going to take you back! He was the one who betrayed you first!"

Yue Rongrong suppressed her wildly beating heart, her voice trembling: "So what Sister Peilan said was true? You planned the kidnapping, schemed against me, made me sign a deed of indenture with the authorities?"

"Yes!" Qu Lieshan had already lost his reason. "I bribed the officials with escort silver, had them change your deed of indenture to one for the Sinan Quarter! Once you became of low status, you could never return to Shen Jichen’s side. They are high-ranking nobles! Only I would never look down on you, Rong Rong. No matter what your status, I wouldn’t care!"

Even though she already knew the truth, hearing these words with her own ears drained all color from Yue Rongrong’s face. Overwhelmed, she retreated step by step, looking at him as if he were the most terrifying beast in the world. This undoubtedly pierced Qu Lieshan. He anxiously stepped forward to grab her, but Yue Rongrong tried to run and suddenly fell to the ground.

"Rong Rong, are you afraid of me?" Qu Lieshan asked, pale with disbelief. Suddenly he roared, "This is all because you pushed me to this!" He crouched down to eye level with her. "Back then, it was you who wanted to leave Shen Jichen! It was you who risked your life to protect me! But why, when I take you away, do you still think of him! You call me Brother Qu, Brother Qu! I don’t want to be some damned 'Brother Qu'! And you even tried to matchmake me with Ge Peilan! I knew that once I married Ge Peilan, you would leave me! You worked so hard to set me up with Ge Peilan just to rid yourself of this burden! So, I won’t marry anyone!"

Yue Rongrong could no longer maintain her earlier forced calm. Her lips trembled, and tears fell like pouring sand. She was heartbroken and devastated. She never thought the one who would betray her, hurt her, and scheme against her would be her dearest sworn brother!

"Brother Qu, we grew up together......"

"Yes! We grew up together. Why did you choose him over me?"

Yue Rongrong didn’t want to argue with him on this issue. She tried to stand up, but he pressed down on her ankle. She could only ask him again: "What about the three men?"

At this point, Qu Lieshan had already laid everything out, with nothing left to hide. He sat down beside her and laughed: "You went to the Sinan Quarter, but there were endless streams of young noblemen coming and going! Their gazes on you were barely concealed. I realized that the longer you stayed there, sooner or later there would be a second Shen Jichen. I couldn’t let that happen. So I found those three local thugs... killed them, and reported it to the authorities in advance. As long as I went to prison for killing for you, you would owe me for life......"

Yue Rongrong’s stunningly beautiful face was stricken with fear and anger at his extreme thoughts. She glared at him furiously: "Murder is a capital offense!"

Qu Lieshan smiled indifferently: "I had already made arrangements with the officials I bribed before. They were going to release me, and then I would take you far away. Who knew the Emperor’s order for an imperial pardon due to the royal wedding would come, and I would be escorted to the capital."

Yue Rongrong didn’t understand: "But you could still have escaped."

Qu Lieshan said: "Yes, I could have. But I suddenly realized that if I escaped, there was a risk you would leave me. So I preferred to stay imprisoned. As long as I was locked up, you would never leave me."

If it weren’t for Shen Jichen interfering! Things wouldn’t have come to this! Thinking of this, his eyes filled with rage.

Yue Rongrong then remembered how whenever she mentioned that good behavior might lead to a reduced sentence or release, his expression had always been distant and uninterested. Now she understood—he never intended to get out then.

This was utterly incomprehensible. Yue Rongrong couldn’t comprehend it. Recalling the suffering and hardship she endured following his prison cart to the capital, it all seemed so ironic now. Overwhelmed, she bowed her head, tears falling to the ground.

After a long time, she wiped away her tears and looked at him coldly: "You should go quickly! He will be here soon."

Mentioning "him" made Qu Lieshan frantic: "He won’t come!"

"He will come!"

The two stared at each other in a standoff.

Not a trace of warmth remained in her eyes. She looked at him as if he were a stranger. He seized her wrist: "If we go, we go together!"

"I won’t go with you!" Yue Rongrong struggled to break free, saying tearfully but angrily, "How could you possibly ask me to go with you after all this? Saving you was my last act of benevolence! Our bond in the past ends today!"

Qu Lieshan panicked: "No, Rong Rong, you can’t do this to me. You have feelings for me, don’t you? You’re just angry that I deceived you. Otherwise, why would you have risked your life to save me back then?"

Yue Rongrong said firmly: "This has nothing to do with love! It was about morals and responsibility. Back then, you offended Shen Jichen for my sake, and he wanted to kill you. How could I stand by and do nothing? As for everything that happened afterward, you know it well—otherwise, you wouldn’t have used such outrageous and underhanded methods to bind me to you!"

This undoubtedly pierced through his last shred of fantasy and self-deception. Indeed, if he hadn’t known she didn’t love him, he would never have resorted to such dishonorable methods.

Qu Lieshan abruptly lifted her up, wrapping his arms around her waist to carry her onto the horse. "Whether you love me or not, I will take you away! To a place where only the two of us exist! As long as you’re by my side, that’s enough!"

"Let me go! Let me go! I won’t go with you, not even if I die!" She pounded on him, kicking wildly, even biting him hard on the waist. Qu Lieshan cried out in pain, grabbed her angrily, and placed her on the horse’s back.

Suddenly, he looked up at her and laughed. "You’re still as stubborn as ever."

Yue Rongrong didn’t want to hear another word, struggling to get off the horse, but he held her firmly. In a flash, a "whoosh" sound was heard. Qu Lieshan grew alert, turning his head just as an arrow swiftly scraped his arm, leaving a gash. Blood splattered as he cried out in pain and loosened his grip. Yue Rongrong, still struggling, fell hard to the ground, grimacing in pain. She looked up and saw Shen Jichen on horseback, his bow just lowered, revealing his coldly handsome face, radiating authority. Twelve elite troops stood behind him, ready for action.

Wen Song looked nervously at Shen Jichen—his injuries hadn’t yet healed.

Qu Lieshan turned around furiously, meeting Shen Jichen’s icy gaze. Enraged, he pulled Yue Rongrong up and gripped her waist. Shen Jichen’s eyes darkened, and he shouted, "Let her go!"

"Let her go?" Qu Lieshan sneered, pressing a soft sword against Yue Rongrong’s neck. Shen Jichen’s blood froze, his face turning pale. Qu Lieshan, triumphant, roared, "Get down!"

Shen Jichen, suppressing his rage, stared intently at him and dismounted. Wen Song followed suit, stepping forward with him.

Qu Lieshan’s eyes blazed with madness. "Shen Jichen, do you know how much I hate you! If it weren’t for you, Rong Rong wouldn’t have left me! You want to save Rong Rong now, is that it? Fine! I’ll give you a chance! Right now, immediately, pierce your heart with your sword!"

Shen Jichen’s face darkened.

Yue Rongrong’s heart leaped to her throat, blood rushing to her head. She screamed desperately, "Don’t!"

Wen Song, seeing Shen Jichen’s grave expression, said fearfully, "Qu Lieshan, you have nowhere left to run! Drop your weapon and surrender! Perhaps you can keep your life!"

"My life? Do I care about my life?" Qu Lieshan scoffed. "I want him dead! I want him never to be with Rong Rong again!"

Wen Song coldly retorted, "Do you think you’ll succeed?"

Qu Lieshan laughed coldly. "I know your skills are unfathomable, and I know you outnumber me. But do you think your speed is faster than my sword?" He barely moved his hand, and a faint red line appeared on Yue Rongrong’s fair neck.

"Stop!" Shen Jichen felt a panic he’d never known, and immediately drew the sword from Wen Song’s waist.

"Marquis!" Wen Song barely had time to react as the elite troops behind them rushed forward in alarm.

Qu Lieshan’s heart raced wildly. Like a bloodthirsty beast scenting fresh blood, his eyes turned crimson. He whispered in Yue Rongrong’s ear, "As long as he’s dead, no one will ever take you from me again."

Yue Rongrong said coldly, "Who says no one will?" She suddenly threw herself against the soft sword.

Qu Lieshan, horrified, immediately shifted the sword away, but the blade still grazed Yue Rongrong’s neck. Shen Jichen’s eyes tore wide in agony, shouting in torment, "Rong Rong!" His sword shot forth, piercing Qu Lieshan’s chest. Qu Lieshan stiffened, staring blankly at the sword, blood gushing from his mouth.

Shen Jichen rushed forward, catching the faltering Yue Rongrong as her skirts billowed down. He pressed tightly against the wound on her neck. Her face was unnaturally flushed, like a peony blooming in the snow. She looked at him and smiled faintly, her voice soft and barely audible: "I won the bet—he couldn’t bear to kill me... And I won another bet—I knew you would come..."

"Don’t speak!" Shen Jichen tried to lift her, only then feeling the pain in his chest wound—a tearing agony, as if his entire sternum were shattering. Blood stained his clothes, but he ignored it, clenching his jaw to carry Yue Rongrong.

Wen Song urgently said, "Marquis, let me do it! Your injuries..."

"Back off!" Shen Jichen roared.

Yue Rongrong whispered weakly, "You’re so fierce..."

Shen Jichen seemed to curse under his breath.

Wen Song persisted: "The lady is injured! We can’t delay treatment!" His words hit home with Shen Jichen. Knowing his own body couldn’t carry her back, Shen Jichen looked down and saw Yue Rongrong had fainted. He immediately handed her to Wen Song.

"Summon the imperial physician!" he ordered.

Wen Song quickly carried Yue Rongrong away.

Qu Lieshan, lying on the ground barely clinging to life, watched Yue Rongrong leave, his eyes filled with obsession. He reached out as if to grab her: "Rong Rong..."

Two elite soldiers came forward to support Shen Jichen and asked, "Marquis, how should we deal with him?"

Shen Jichen’s eyes were icy: "Bury the body."

＊＊

Yue Rongrong opened her eyes. The morning light streamed into her vision. An elegant room was lit with a line of incense burning, said to have healing properties—she’d been told it was extremely expensive, a gift from Xue Yubai. She touched the bandage around her neck. Director Gao had said the cut wasn’t deep, but she had been unconscious at the time. Huiyin had told her this.

The door opened, and Huiyin Guyu walked in. Seeing her awake, she hurried over: "Miss, I’ve made bird’s nest porridge. It’s very fragrant—Mr. Jimo had two bowls. You should have some too."

They were now staying in Mr. Jimo’s garden, as Huiyin had mentioned. Shen Jichen had sent her here. After fainting that day, she had slept for two days and had spent the last three days awake with only Huiyin Guyu for company.

Huiyin Guyu was now entirely her person. Huiyin said that because of earlier events, they were suspected of concealing information, which angered the Marquis. He had dismissed them from the Marquis’s estate, leaving them with nowhere to go but to care for her.

They made it sound tragic, but from their expressions, she couldn’t detect any sadness or distress.

This was truly an unwarranted disaster, as Huiyin Guyu knew nothing at all. But she had no chance to plead for them because she couldn’t see Shen Jichen.

Mr. Jimo would come to talk to her about painting when she rested in the courtyard outside her room. Xue Yubai would also visit. Each time, she would look behind Xue Yubai, finding no one there, and the hope in her eyes would gradually fade.

Shen Jichen hadn’t come. She hadn’t seen him since waking up. She had asked Huiyin, but Huiyin stammered evasively without giving a clear answer. From Huiyin’s attitude, she guessed he might be angry with her.

He had every right to be angry. She had deceived him, distrusted him, and hurt him. If it were her, she would be furious, never wanting to see him again. She lay in the rocking chair, covering her face with a round silk fan, feeling rather melancholy.

Author’s note: Actually, I hinted at Qu Lieshan’s unstable behavior during Rong Rong’s first visit to the prison, suggesting he didn’t want to leave.