Jun Xiqing took the letter and left to look for Lu Yeming. Standing outside a parterre, Jun Xiqing stopped walking when she saw Lu Yeming.
Among the beautiful flowers, Lu Yeming stood there, exuding a cool, charismatic aura that attracted the attention of many.
And he wasn’t alone, Dongfang Ruoli stood in front of him.
Dongfang Ruoli looked at him with clear infatuation, her face blushing crimson. Lu Yeming’s deep-set eyes landed on her face and he lifted his hand.
Jun Xiqing saw him touching Dongfang Ruoli’s face. As he did so, Dongfang Ruoli lowered her eyes, behaving coyly as Lu Yeming touched her face.
Without saying a word, Jun Xiqing just looked at them, then she turned around to leave.
…
After Jun Xiqing left, Dongfang Ruoli looked at the man before her eyes proudly, speaking up, “West Duke…”
Lu Yeming’s fingers brushed across her face, suddenly pausing and he lifted his eyes. With a monotonous voice, he said, “Do you know that you’re really annoying?”
What? Dongfang Ruoli was stunned.
Retracing his hand, his gaze was cold and distant. “You’re not worthy of this appearance you have.”
Then he turned around and left.
All the color drained from Dongfang Ruoli’s face. She knew that her only edge was having this exact appearance that resembled Tang Mo’er, and she was confident in making Lu Yeming obsessed over her since Tang Mo’er had already gone.
But just now… he just said that she wasn’t worthy of having this appearance!
…
West Palace.
In the room.
Lu Yeming took off his white shirt, his upper half bare. He had a muscular chest, trim waist and defined muscles that were impeccable. Behind him, Jun Xiqing was helping him apply some medication.
The scabs had already fallen, but the resulting scar was long and deep, it was from saving her at the rocky cliff. Though his wounds had already healed, the scars remained.
As Jun Xiqing stretched her arm out, she ran her fingertips over the scar. “Does it still hurt?”
Lu Yeming looked through windows, the city was lit up with neon lights, the beautiful night scene in his pupils and accentuated his dignified aura.
Over the past few days, she had been by his side. Her fingers ran over his scar just like a feather, expressing her concern for him.
Pulling on his white shirt, Lu Yeming did not tuck it in his pants. He buttoned it up, leaving a few on top undone, revealing his collarbones. Then he spun around, looking at Jun Xiqing. “What’s the matter?”
Shining eyes met with his. He seemed to have finally gotten out of his rut, getting a grip over himself, but at the same time, he seemed like he hadn’t put things down yet.
Somehow, his gaze had become even colder, not letting anyone approach him.
Jun Xiqing knew what he was asking about, it was definitely about that letter. She hadn’t planned to hide it either since Fan Men would report to him.
She nodded. “I’m returning to Country Z.”
She then looked at him as she asked, “Will you let me go?”
All this time he had been holding her back, not letting go of her.
There was no reaction.
A few moments later, the corners of his lips kicked up. “Aren’t you intelligent? You can guess.”
“…”
She shouldn’t forget that she used those words on him in the small village at that time too.
A smile graced her red lips.
“You will.”
Lu Yeming just looked at her for a few moments before he finally spoke, “I’m going to return the Wuling Iron Steed Troop to you, you’re in charge of turning it into the Wuling Iron Steed Troop. You must win this battle. Leave early tomorrow, I have something on tomorrow morning, so I won’t be able to send you off.”
Jun Xiqing’s lashes fluttered, she lowered her eyes quietly. “Oh.”
She just replied to him just like that.
And now, Lu Yeming’s gaze was no longer on her. “You may leave.”
Jun Xiqing turned to leave. She walked away slowly, taking small steps but it progressively became big strides. She wanted to leave the place as soon as possible.
But when she was at the door, her skirt was stuck between the door. There couldn’t possibly be anyone who was more unlucky than her now.
Stretching her arm out, Jun Xiqing tried to pull the fabric out but it was still not budging. She couldn’t help but be frustrated at the situation, she tried to just tear the fabric apart.
Even these stupid clothes were against her!
It was really too much!
A large hand suddenly appeared and his deep enigmatic voice rang in her ears. “Let me do it.”
Lu Yeming had appeared, standing beside her. It didn’t help that he came. Once he appeared beside her, Jun Xiqing’s eyes reddened and tears welled up inside. She quickly turned her face away.
“Done.”
Jun Xiqing left without looking at him.
After taking only two steps, tears cascaded down her face. She lifted her head, trying to control the tears but even her body wasn’t listening to her.
She hated herself.
She hated her weak self.
She shouldn’t have just responded with an ‘oh’ earlier on, she should have lifted her hand to give him a slap.
He was too much!
But suddenly, two arms appeared from behind, wrapping around her waist, and Lu Yeming hugged her from behind.
She stood there frozen, just like that.
Lu Yeming hugged her, bending over to kiss her hair, whispering into her ears, “I’m sorry.”
Jun Xiqing wiped her traitorous tears away. “God knows how much I yearn to break free from you and return to Country Z. This is not the first time I’ve thought about leaving you, it’s been in my mind countless times, but the right way to leave would be me leaving by myself and with my own efforts, not you letting me go.
“I know that you love Sister Mo’er. When Sister Mo’er was still alive, she took up all the space in your heart. I know you loved her so much and after she has left, she has become the greatest pain in your heart. She’s the only irreplaceable presence in your life, but Lu Yeming, what am I?
“When Sister Mo’er was alive, you wanted to lead your best life, you wanted to get married and have children. The first time you saw me in the Capital, you decided I fulfilled your criteria and so you used underhanded methods to keep me by your side.
“You schemed everything, taking away my chastity, you raped me! But you chose to not continue being a despicable rapist, but instead, jumped off the cliff to save me. You’re gentle, loving yet also devious. You switch between those characters so easily, you have no morals.
“Now that Sister Mo’er is gone, I know that you will let me go. That’s because you won’t be leading a proper life now. You won’t even bother, you won’t even pretend at all. Now you’ve lost all interest in me, you’re going to just brush me off as if I’m a pathetic dog.
“I admit that I’m feeling angry, humiliated and sad. But I don’t know, I just don’t know at all. What exactly did I do to provoke you!”
Hearing her try to suppress and hold down the sob that was threatening to escape, Lu Yeming furrowed his brows and exerted more strength, hugging her tightly. His voice was completely hoarse.
“I’m sorry, Qingqing.”
