After a maid came to report that Xie Jingyu had taken the medicine, Yun Chu finally rose and left the residence.

The carriage departed from the Xie residence and slowly traveled to the most bustling main street in the capital, stopping at the entrance of a cockfighting arena.

People were coming and going everywhere. Yu Ke cleared the path ahead while Qiutong and Tingshuang protected Yun Chu on either side as they walked inside.

After Yu Ke had found out that Marquis Xuanwu visited this cockfighting arena from time to time, Yun Chu had someone reserve a private seat on the second floor. Ascending the stairs, there were fewer people upstairs and it was also quieter. She sat in her seat, ordered a pot of tea, and casually watched the scene below.

The cockfighting arena released two roosters, which quickly began fighting. The onlooking crowd could place bets—if their luck was good, they could win quite a bit of silver.

Yun Chu casually took out a money pouch and tossed it onto the tray the attendant brought over.

After about two rounds of fighting like this, Yun Chu, who understood nothing about this, had actually made a small profit.

Before long, she saw Qin Mingheng walk in through the entrance on the first floor.

She sat steadily without moving and continued watching the cockfight.

Sure enough, after just a short while, a voice sounded behind her. “Is that Madam Xie?”

Yun Chu turned her head, stood up, and lowered her head in courtesy. “I’ve met Marquis Xuanwu.”

“We’re outside—let’s not bother with these empty courtesies.” Qin Mingheng used his fan to gesture for her to rise. “I didn’t expect to encounter Madam Xie at a cockfighting arena. Which rooster does Madam Xie think will win?”

Yun Chu’s expression was cool. “If Marquis Xuanwu doesn’t have a seat, why not sit together?”

This place was full of people everywhere. There were fewer people on the second floor, but that was only relative to the first floor. Many private tables were occupied by at least three or four people, both men and women.

In such a setting, emphasizing the proper separation of men and women would be a joke.

Qin Mingheng was somewhat surprised that Yun Chu would invite him to sit together, but he quickly understood—this woman must have been waiting here for him.

Last time he had told her that if she wanted to know the truth, she should go to the marquis residence to find him.

She didn’t dare go to the Xuanwu Marquis residence alone, so she chose such a place with people coming and going. Was she afraid he would do something he shouldn’t?

“Heh.”

Qin Mingheng laughed and sat down at the table.

He raised his hand and took the cup of tea in front of Yun Chu into his own hand, greedily inhaling the tea’s fragrance. “The tea Madam Xie drinks is indeed fragrant.”

He was about to take a sip.

Qiutong, standing to the side, turned cold. The hilt of her sword pressed down on Qin Mingheng’s wrist. She seized the teacup and poured the tea directly onto the ground.

“How could this subject’s wife give something that has touched her lips to the Marquis?” Yun Chu poured him a cup of tea and placed it before him. “Marquis, please drink.”

Qin Mingheng’s expression improved somewhat.

“Speaking of which, I must thank the Marquis for the gift of medicine five years ago.” Yun Chu continued, “Because of the Marquis’s medicine, this subject’s wife’s mother-in-law’s health greatly improved. Our Xie family will never forget such a kindness.”

Thinking of this matter, Qin Mingheng’s expression turned unpleasant again.

That divine medicine had been bestowed by the imperial family when his ancestor had protected the emperor, passed down as a family heirloom into his hands.

To fulfill his obsession, he had given that medicine to Xie Jingyu. The medicine had been given away, but he hadn’t obtained what he should have received…

“Heh, you’re even thanking me on behalf of the Xie family?” Qin Mingheng’s expression was icy. “You foolish woman, why don’t you think about why I would give such rare divine medicine to the Xie family?”

“So—” Yun Chu looked at him steadily. “On the wedding night, it was you, wasn’t it?”

After Xie Shiwei had injured the Xuanwu heir, Xie Jingyu’s solution had been to bring her to the marquis residence and offer her to Marquis Xuanwu to avoid disaster.

Therefore, she had reason to suspect that in order to treat Yuan Shi’s illness, Xie Jingyu would definitely do something like trading her for divine medicine.

Yuan Shi’s was a life, while she was merely a wedding night… In Xie Jingyu’s heart, his mother’s life was naturally far more important than her chastity.

This could also explain why Xie Jingyu had not set foot in her room for so many years—because she had lost her chastity, he felt she was unworthy.

It could also explain why Xie Jingyu could throw away newborn children who had not yet stopped breathing—because those two children were not of the Xie family bloodline at all.

Yes, even a vicious tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. No matter how beastly Xie Jingyu was, he wouldn’t throw away his own bloodline—unless they weren’t his children.

Yun Chu saw Qin Mingheng’s expression change. She knew she had guessed correctly.

There was no joy at guessing correctly, only a heart full of chilling cold.

Her previous life’s self had truly been too, too foolish, not knowing these things even until death.

She picked up her tea and drank it all in one gulp, then continued, “How did you know the skeletal remains I buried were not my children?”

“Because I personally saw Xie Jingyu throw the children away.” Qin Mingheng lowered his eyes. “The children were still alive in his hands when he threw them into the heavy snow.”

Yun Chu’s heart constricted. “Where exactly did he throw them?”

“Who still remembers clearly?” Qin Mingheng opened his paper fan. “Anyway, it was outside the city—probably the south or north side. It’s been too long; I really can’t remember clearly.”

“Why didn’t you come tell me sooner!” Yun Chu’s voice broke. “Do you know or not—those two children were also your flesh and blood!”

The person who had shared her wedding night was Qin Mingheng, so Qin Mingheng was the biological father of the two children.

He had actually watched with his own eyes as Xie Jingyu threw away the two children. Why, why…

“How was I supposed to tell you?” Qin Mingheng’s emotions also became somewhat agitated. “I possessed you through improper means. What face did I have to face you? I was afraid you would look at me with exactly these eyes you have now, full of disgust… As for you saying those two children are my flesh and blood—on what grounds? Xie Jingyu, who sleeps beside your pillow every day, wasn’t willing to accept the children. On what grounds do you demand that I, an outsider, do so!”

Yun Chu closed her eyes.

She had no way to tell Qin Mingheng that she and Xie Jingyu had never shared a bed.

Although she had never considered herself pure and unblemished, she also hadn’t thought she could be defiled to this extent.

But she knew this was not her fault.

“Yun Chu, do you know that a very, very long time ago, before I had taken a wife, I sought to marry you from the Yun family?” Qin Mingheng’s hands braced against the table, his voice low. “But your mother was unwilling to marry you to me. Right then the emperor bestowed a marriage, and I could only turn around and marry the Luo family daughter. I had also sincerely wished you would find a husband better than me, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine your mother would marry you to Xie Jingyu! I merely tempted him with one pill, and he agreed. It was he who personally fed you the drug and sent you to the Xuanwu Marquis residence. You lay on my bed in your wedding dress…”

“Stop talking!”

Yun Chu suddenly stood up, even knocking over her chair.

People nearby who were watching the cockfight couldn’t help but look over, their gazes carrying some suspicion.

Yun Chu paid no attention to these gazes and stepped away to leave.

She had already obtained the answer she wanted. There was no need to stay longer.

“Wait!” Qin Mingheng chased after her, following from the second floor to the first floor. “Yun Chu, you and I have had intimate relations—that means we have the reality of husband and wife. No matter how unwilling you are to acknowledge this fact, it happened. I’m willing to take responsibility for that night. Though I’m contemptible, I’m at least more straightforward than Xie Jingyu. If you marry me, I…”

Before he could finish speaking, a sweet and gentle voice suddenly came. “Marquis, Madam Xie, what are you two chatting about?”

Yun Chu looked over. It was someone from the Xuanwu Marquis residence—Luo Shi.

At the sight of his wife, Qin Mingheng’s gaze immediately shifted away from Yun Chu. He stepped back several paces, looked at his wife, and said, “How did you come here?”

“This child was clamoring to come see the cockfight, so I brought him to take a look.” Luo Shi was holding the hand of the child beside her. “Your father is here, so you can watch together with him. I’m really not interested in these things.”

Qin Mingheng took his son’s hand and walked away.

Luo Shi looked at Yun Chu and was about to speak.

But she saw Yun Chu curtsy slightly. “My apologies, Madam Marquis. This subject’s wife is feeling unwell and must take my leave first.”