HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 68: The One Who Knows Her Best

Chapter 68: The One Who Knows Her Best

Shen Xihe was stunned by what she heard.

The affairs of the Xie Ducal Manor had caused an enormous stir, and Xie Yunhuai’s severing of his hair and familial ties had shocked the capital. She knew that Xie Yunhuai had directly accused the Duke of plotting against his first wife at the Duke’s second marriage banquet, but she hadn’t known the method of the plot had been like this.

The Duke of Xie – a man universally praised throughout the capital for his virtue, a person who had etched the principles of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness into everyone’s impression of him.

Back when Xie Yunhuai severed ties and accused him of plotting against his wife, no one believed him. Everyone said Xie Yunhuai couldn’t handle the grief of losing his mother and failed to understand his father’s suffering of losing a wife in middle age, especially given the Xie Manor’s limited family members.

Moreover, cutting off his hair and severing family ties was itself against filial piety. It was said that at the celebratory banquet, the Duke was overwhelmed with grief, and even blamed himself for failing in his duties as a father and not considering Xie Yunhuai’s feelings about losing his mother at such a young age. He had even expressed wanting to call off the marriage then and there.

“How could it have come to this…” Shen Xihe felt heartache for the refined gentleman before her.

“He had someone he loved in his youth, but she was already betrothed to another. It was only under such circumstances that he married my mother.” Xie Yunhuai felt an inexplicable urge to confide in Shen Xihe.

These painful memories that had been buried deep in his heart seemed to find an outlet at this moment.

“Everyone said he cherished his first wife dearly, claiming he didn’t even keep concubines, let alone bedchamber attendants. My mother probably believed this too.”

Xie Yunhuai gave a bitter smile. “His second wife was the woman he loved in his youth. I don’t know when he learned she had been widowed for many years, nor do I know when they rekindled their relationship. He wouldn’t let her be a concubine but wanted to be with her, so my mother had to make way.”

Even so, the widely respected Duke of Xie couldn’t bear the reputation of a wife-killer. So he spent three years achieving his goal. From when his mother first fell ill, for exactly three years, he meticulously planned, making his wife drink the wrong medicine daily, watching her wither away bit by bit, all while pretending to care deeply and asking after her health each day.

The current dynasty had a law: Taking a concubine or female guest as the wife was punishable by one and a half years imprisonment.

A concubine could not be elevated to the position of principal wife. Once a concubine, even if the principal wife died, one could only marry again through proper channels, not elevate a concubine to principal wife status.

Hearing this, Shen Xihe thought of Xiao Changyu and Bian Xianyi. Xiao Changyu must have been unwilling to make Bian Xianyi a concubine, which was why he planned to marry her, let her gradually die from illness, and then take Bian Xianyi as his next proper wife.

“Doctor Qi…” Shen Xihe felt apologetic for bringing up painful memories without knowing the full story.

But Xie Yunhuai shook his head with a slight smile, indicating he was fine. “He had always been kind to others, and his scheme was intricate. Even if I had dragged those doctors to court, they wouldn’t dare implicate him. They could only admit to their medical incompetence, which isn’t illegal. Since they hadn’t committed fraud or deliberately poisoned anyone, even under pressure from the Duke’s manor, they would at most receive a beating.”

This was precisely why he couldn’t stay at the Xie Manor for another moment – he feared that one day he might lose control and kill his father.

Xie Ji didn’t deserve the honor of having his life taken in exchange!

“I am someone who cut off his hair and severed ties with his father, universally condemned as unfilial and dishonorable. If Lady Gu were to marry me, she would face criticism for life.” One’s body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents; filial piety is the foundation of all virtues.

Xie Yunhuai’s actions back then had indeed drawn public condemnation, and with such precedent, he had destroyed any chance of an official career.

Xie Yunhuai’s hands, with their prominent joints covered in scars of varying depths, slowly organized his medical equipment. “Moreover, if I had left the Duke’s manor and immediately married Lady Gu, Minister Gu would have faced a dilemma. If he urged me to return to the manor, he would hurt me; if he didn’t, people would likely spread rumors that he had instigated my severance of family ties, especially given that the Gu family had no direct male heir.”

Every word Xie Yunhuai spoke came from the depths of his heart, and he spoke truly.

Between him and Gu Qingzhi, neither had failed the other. They were simply fated to meet but not to be together.

“Why wouldn’t you break off the engagement with her in person?” Even if he couldn’t explain the full situation, wouldn’t it have been better to speak with her directly?

“Your Highness, my reputation was in tatters back then. If I broke off the engagement, others would say I knew my place or didn’t dare offend the Minister’s daughter. For Lady Gu, this wouldn’t have damaged her reputation. But if I had personally broken off the engagement with her, it would have been different.”

Shen Xihe quietly looked at Xie Yunhuai, finally understanding his reasoning.

Indeed, marriage was arranged by parents. His seeking Minister Gu to break off the engagement was straightforward. If he had insisted on meeting Gu Qingzhi one last time, rumors would have spread in the capital about them having been in love or worse.

At that time, the Gu family was already under intense scrutiny, with countless eyes watching their every move, ready to make a scandal out of the slightest thing.

He simply didn’t want to tarnish her reputation.

“What if she had been willing to live in seclusion with you…”

“She wouldn’t have.” Before Shen Xihe could finish, Xie Yunhuai cut her off decisively. “Your Highness, she is Lady Gu, the model of propriety among capital ladies, the foremost among noble daughters.”

A young woman who had cultivation, responsibility, and gratitude etched into her very bones would never abandon the mission she should shoulder as the Gu family’s daughter for the sake of personal feelings.

Xie Yunhuai stood up and shouldered his medicine box. “If she had wanted to, she had thousands of ways to avoid marrying into the royal family, but she chose to proceed without hesitation because she is Lady Gu.”

With these words, Xie Yunhuai bowed to Shen Xihe and took his leave.

He paused at the doorway, his body still, slowly turning his head to show half his profile to Shen Xihe: “Your Highness, the same applies to you.”

Shen Xihe stared blankly as Xie Yunhuai walked away step by step until he disappeared.

She gazed absently out the window, where at some point a fine drizzle had begun to fall diagonally. She unconsciously walked to the window, watching the misty rain, and couldn’t help but laugh softly: “I never expected that the one who would understand me best would be you.”

Just as Gu Qingzhi had thousands of ways to avoid marrying into the royal family, so did Shen Xihe.

However, they both chose to stake everything on this one move, because responsibility made it impossible for them to refuse.

Even though the Gu family ultimately fell to ruin, Gu Qingzhi had no regrets or shame in her heart – she had done her best.

Xie Yunhuai told her all this to let her know she still had a choice. He didn’t want her to fall into the vortex of royal power, because once you step in, it’s either life or death. Even if you emerge as the final victor, you’ll be exhausted, surrounded by devastation.

But what of it?

She could indeed choose to be her father and brother’s precious daughter for life, pretending to be naive and ignorant, enjoying the peace and comfort they fought so hard to create for her. But if Shen Yueshan and the others were to fall from grace, how could she fare any better?

She would probably be too ashamed to even be buried with them in death.

They were family, meant to support each other and work together – that’s what being family meant.

Power was an invisible hand that controlled everyone’s hearts, forcing each person into the game whether they wished it or not.

The Shen family had no way to retreat, and as a member of the Shen family, she had no choice but to do her part!

“The misty rain falls, the autumn wind rises. Some appreciate the rainy scene, some hope for the rain to end quickly, and some…” Shen Xihe’s pale hand reached out the window, feeling the coolness of the autumn rain, “wait for the rain to stop.”

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