When Gu Qingzhi left, she was resolute. Before her death, she had sprayed all her belongings with corrosive chemicals. Before Xiao Changqin could sort through her belongings, everything had deteriorated into a pile of rotting matter.

She truly wanted to disappear completely from his life, as if she had never existed. It was both a severance of feelings and a hope that he could truly let go, so neither would remain attached to the other.

Therefore, when Ye Wantang appeared before Xiao Changqin with this seal, he treasured it like a precious jewel. He carefully took it, gently caressing it while examining it for so long that he forgot everyone else’s presence.

It wasn’t until Xiao Changying gave a light cough that he came back to his senses: “What does his Fourth Sister-in-law want?”

Ye Wantang’s gaze lingered reluctantly on the seal in Xiao Changqin’s hand. It was tiny, thumb-sized, and square, engraved with a gardenia flower.

She and Gu Qingzhi had been close friends before marriage and became even closer as sisters-in-law afterward. Their relationship was deep enough that Gu Qingzhi wouldn’t have entrusted her final major life event to anyone else – it showed profound trust.

“I bring this item without any intention to threaten,” Ye Wantang explained somewhat palely.

Gu Qingzhi had taken her own life, and naturally, the child in her womb wasn’t harmed by the Fan family. She had used two living souls to complete her counterattack against the emperor and final repayment to the Gu family. Ye Wantang had been involved in this matter.

Bringing this item now undoubtedly told Xiao Changqin that she knew everything, carrying an implicit threat.

“Fourth Sister-in-law needs no explanation. I understand.” Like her name, Gu Qingzhi had been as strong and upright as a gardenia flower, pure and noble.

That she had approved of Ye Wantang and entrusted her with such an important matter at death showed her trust in Ye Wantang’s character. Otherwise, clearing the Gu family’s name would have been futile.

She had left, taking everything that belonged to her, not leaving him a single memento, let alone a debt of gratitude for him to repay.

Ye Wantang wasn’t leveraging a favor – she knew of his yearning for anything related to Gu Qingzhi and had brought this deliberately because she needed something from him.

After all, she had failed their friendship. She knew Gu Qingzhi wouldn’t have wanted her belongings to fall into Xiao Changqin’s hands. Her decisiveness was something Ye Wantang had envied and could never match in her lifetime.

Taking a gentle deep breath, Ye Wantang said: “Help my husband and I leave the capital safely.”

Understanding flashed in Xiao Changqin’s eyes: “When?”

“In ten days,” Ye Wantang replied.

“Alright,” Xiao Changqin agreed immediately.

Ye Wantang didn’t linger. Having achieved her purpose, she left cautiously. She had come in disguise to evade the secret guards around the Ye residence.

“Brother…” Xiao Changying hesitated after Ye Wantang left.

He had shot Xiao Changta into the river. Whenever he thought about how Xiao Changta had plotted to harm Shen Xihe, he wanted to lead troops to surround the Ye residence and drag Xiao Changta out to be torn to pieces.

But seeing his brother’s expression as he gazed at the seal made it impossible to speak. A year ago, he hadn’t understood matters of the heart and couldn’t comprehend his brother’s actions. Now that he could empathize, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Xiao Changqin gripped the seal tightly, his fist clenched but hollow in the middle, afraid that any sudden force might destroy the tiny seal.

With deep dark pupils, Xiao Changqin said: “I called you here to ease Fourth Brother’s mind.”

“Hm?” Xiao Changying didn’t understand.

Xiao Changqin’s lips curved slightly: “Everyone knows Princess Zhaoning saved your life, and you were the one who shot him into the river. If it were merely coincidence, he wouldn’t believe it. He knows how close we brothers are, yet still had Fourth Sister-in-law come to ask – he’s trying to confuse the Crown Prince and Princess Zhaoning.”

Xiao Changta had willingly sacrificed a pawn to send him a message because seeking him out was the safest strategy.

He and Xiao Changying were known for their brotherly bond. Xiao Changying had personally shot Xiao Changta into the river. No one would suspect that knowing his brother wanted Xiao Changta dead, he would secretly help Xiao Changta.

“He’s been scheming since childhood.” Among all the brothers, Xiao Changying hated Xiao Changta the most.

Even before Shen Xihe, Xiao Changying had despised Xiao Changta’s pretentious nature – the more he desired something, the more he pretended to be indifferent and unconcerned, while self-righteously advising others to stay calm and value relationships.

Because of Shen Xihe, he despised Xiao Changta even more.

Xiao Changqin gave his brother a gentle smile. Sometimes he regretted protecting him too well, fostering his straightforward personality that couldn’t tolerate any deception.

Yet sometimes seeing him so direct, wearing his emotions openly, free, and upright, made him feel gratified.

“That’s why when I guessed Fourth Sister-in-law’s intention, I called you here. This way, Fourth Brother will know you also agreed and lower his guard,” Xiao Changqin’s eyes held a dark gleam.

“What good is his lowered guard?” Xiao Changying frowned slightly. “Surely you won’t have me make Brother break his word?”

They couldn’t go back on their promise.

“Break my word?” Xiao Changqin gave a meaningful laugh. “He only asked me to escort him safely out of the capital. If he’s ambushed and killed after leaving the capital, that wouldn’t mean I failed to keep my promise.”

Xiao Changying’s eyes lit up as he understood. Since Xiao Changta was letting Brother’s people escort him from the capital, Brother would know his route. He could ambush him outside the capital…

Xiao Changying didn’t find this strategy despicable at all – this was simply a military strategy.

Seeing Xiao Changying’s happiness, Xiao Changqin also smiled.

Looking down at the seal spinning between his fingers, he murmured: “Everything you said has come true.”

Long ago, he had deeply envied Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law’s seemingly trusting love. That day when he returned home and saw Fourth Brother personally coming to pick up Ye Wantang, he couldn’t help asking her: “When will they become so inseparable and trusting?”

Gu Qingzhi had laughed then, an icy laugh, saying: “It’s all just appearance, like how before a storm hits, the sea looks vast and blue, beautiful and enchanting, but it’s merely brewing a hurricane that will destroy everything.”

She said: They will end up like us, none will meet a good end.

He hadn’t believed it then, thinking Gu Qingzhi was just cynical about everyone’s relationships because she was unwilling to give him the response and hope he wanted.

Back then, he believed that having great ambitions was what made a true man. What woman wouldn’t want her father, brothers, and husband to be outstanding and accomplish great deeds?

Wasn’t a man without ambition living in vain? What woman would want to marry someone without aspirations?

She hadn’t argued with him. She was always like that – she would stop engaging partway through their conversations. In their years of marriage, they had never had a single argument because she would always fall silent before any dispute could escalate.

In this silence that drove him mad, he gradually lost his composure and calm, becoming unrecognizable.