Chapter 15: Go Say Goodbye to Your Father
“That’s not possible… there’s no way you could know… unless Yao Moxin came back to life, there’s no way anyone would know about that! You’re lying to me! You’re definitely lying!” Yao Suluan’s face turned deathly pale and she abruptly pushed Yao Mowan away. She staggered, then fell on the ground.
“Of course I’m lying to you. How could Wan er know what happened between you and Eldest Sister? With how scared you look, people would think that you’ve seen a ghost!” Yao Mowan lifted her face as she looked down at Yao Suluan with a smile.
“Yao Mowan! This consort won’t let you off!” When Yao Suluan saw that Yao Mowan was standing in front of her in a dignified manner while she was in such a disgraceful state, she wanted to explode. It was unavoidable that she could lose to the the far-sighted and shrewd Yao Moxin, but there was no reason for her to lose to an imbecile!
“The moment Dou Xianglan poisoned my mother to death, Mowan had already decided to never let you guys off! Yao Suluan, this consort will be waiting for you!” Yao Mowan’s eyes emitted chilling light. Her gaze seemed like that of a beast eyeing its prey and caused Yao Suluan’s heart to chill. As Yao Mowan walked away, she noticed that there was a figure in the shadows, but she didn’t mind it.
The vast blue dome of the sky was lit with tiny little stars. From time to time, clouds drifted past and covered the crescent moon, causing the ground below to become hazy and still. The old temple at the east of the Imperial City was bright with candles that illuminated two tear stained faces.
“Jian Chen, why didn’t you tell me the truth? Did you know how scared and heartbroken I was to see you collapse? I really wanted to just throw myself over and follow you! If it weren’t for Yue Chan, I…” Xie Siyin couldn’t find the words to describe that heart wrenching sorrow. Tears just continued to stream down her cheeks as she pounded on Jian Chen’s chest with her delicate fists. This was Xie Siyin’s first reaction after she woke up.
“I know, I know about it all! Siyin, I’m sorry. It was all Jian Chen’s fault. Jian Chen swears that from now on, we’ll never be apart again!” Jian Chen stroked Xie Siyin’s snow-white shoulders gently and allowed her to hit him. He felt no pain, only happiness.
He had never felt as light as he did now. Just as Jing Xin had promised, they could now finally leave and go far away without fear. From now on, Jian Chen and Xie Siyin no longer existed. For the rest of their lives, they would just be a nameless couple that were truly in love.
“If you continue hitting him like that, his injury will probably rupture!” A clear voice suddenly appeared. Yao Mowan appeared inside the temple as if she had dropped from the sky. Her face remained covered by a black veil like before.
“Jian Chen! I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose. Are you alright?” After Yao Mowan gave this reminder, Xie Siyin finally looked and saw that there was blood seeping out and dying the bandages on Jian Chen’s chest.
“I’m fine. As long as you’re by my side, Jian Chen will be fine no matter what!” As Jian Chen spoke, he pulled Xie Siyin into his arms and stroked her gently as if she was the most precious treasure in the world.
“For better or for worse, shouldn’t you guys give me a glance? After all, I do count as the benefactor that saved your lives!” Yao Mowan couldn’t deny that she felt a little envious as she watched how Jian Chen and Xie Siyin were glued together.
“Jian Chen kowtows in thanks, Benefactor!” Perhaps because he finally realized that they were acting a little inappropriate, Jian Chen reluctantly released Xie Siyin and knelt down on one knee. Xie Siyin didn’t bow, but her eyes were filled with gratitude.
“No matter who you are or what you were after, Jian Chen and I would’ve died in Ye Hongyi’s schemes had it not been for your involvement. As of now, my faked death has caused a falling out between Father and Ye Hongyi, so I’ve already done as I agreed to do. You have not failed your part of the deal either. Although in truth, we are only conducting an exchange and I don’t owe you anything, Siyin still feels grateful. Many thanks!” After Xie Siyin said that, she moved to kowtow, but Yao Mowan stopped her and helped her back up.
“As you’ve said, Jing Xin has already obtained what she wanted. You don’t owe Jing Xin anything, so Jing Xin really can’t take this bow. However, there’s someone that can take it. You understand.” Yao Mowan looked towards Xie Siyin meaningfully, her gaze gentle.
When she got back to Guan Osprey Palace, it was already midnight. She exhaled deeply. Whenever she recalled how Ye Hongyi had bellowed futilely like a silly clown in Ordinance Palace, she would feel her accumulated hatred ease just a little bit. However, this was only the beginning. In the future, she’d make Ye Hongyi slowly sink even deeper into the quagmire until he’s completely submerged in the blood and suffocates to death!
Even after midnight, the main room of the Benevolent Prince’s Residence remained brightly lit. On the couch, Xie Zhong, who had always been strong and robust, seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.
“Daughter… where are you… Father has let you down!” Xie Zhong murmured, half asleep, as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“Father, this daughter is right by your side. It was this daughter that was unfilial for making Father worry!” Jing Xin was right. Even if she wanted to leave the Imperial City and go to somewhere far away with Jian Chen, she still had to say goodbye to her father first.
“Daughter? My daughter! My Siyin… you’re not dead? Or is it that this old man is already dead? No matter what, it’s fine. As long as I can see you, it’s fine!” When Xie Zhong opened his eyes, he discovered with shock that Xie Siyin was standing in front of him with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Father, Siyin hasn’t died. Siyin is still well and alive…” Xie Siyin held back her sobs and spoke.
“You didn’t die? That’s great! Father knew that you wouldn’t be able to bear leaving Father behind!” Xie Zhong, who had always been very stern and austere in front of his daughter, suddenly got up and pulled her into his arms while crying tears of joy.
The two hugged for almost an hour before Xie Zhong finally released her reluctantly.
“Daughter, what exactly is going on? Father clearly saw you…” Xie Zhong held Xie Siyin out at arm’s length to inspect her.
“Father, there’s something that this daughter has been keeping from you for a long time, but must tell you now. Seven years ago, this daughter only agreed to enter the palace because Ye Hongyi agreed to help this daughter stay together with Jian Chen for this lifetime. What he wanted was Father’s support, but later…” Xie Siyin told Xie Zhong about the entire sequence of events. On the bed, as Xie Zhong listened silently, his expression kept changing. When Xie Siyin got to the end, his aged face was filled with regret.
“Father, this daughter knows that she had been too bold, too willful, but there won’t ever be a man that treats this daughter better than Jian Chen. Ye Hongyi is narrow-minded and heartlessly cunning. Even if it weren’t for Jian Chen, he still wouldn’t ever let this daughter give birth to a child. He’s utilizing Father’s influence over the older generation of princes, but at the same time, he fears Father’s influence. He’s complete vermin!” Xie Siyin then knelt down on the floor in front of Xie Zhong.
“Father… this daughter has been unfilial and has let you down!” said Xie Siyin, her voice choking with sobs.
“Yinyin, this isn’t your fault. Father shouldn’t have forced you to enter the palace which caused you to endure so much suffering. But Yinyin, back then, Father really just wanted you to be happy. Father never thought that Ye Hongyi would actually turn out to be such a malicious person!” Xie Zhong unsteadily got off the bed to help Xie Siyin up from the ground. His hand trembled as he gently wiped away the tears on Xie Siyin’s face.
“This daughter knows. Father loves this daughter and didn’t want this daughter to suffer any hardships, that’s why Father wanted this daughter to enter the palace. However, the happiness that this daughter wants isn’t in the Imperial Palace…” Xie Siyin helped Xie Zhong back onto the bed as she said this earnestly.
“Yinyin, don’t worry, Father will never let Ye Hongyi off for what he did to you!” Whenever Xie Zhong recalled that scene in Ordinance Palace, his heart would fill with fury.
“But he’s the Emperor! And this daughter is perfectly well right now. Father shouldn’t get involved in such dangerous matters for this daughter’s sake,” Xie Siyin tried to dissuade him.
“Now that I know you’re fine, Father no longer needs to rush with this revenge. Don’t worry, Father will wait carefully for an opportunity to strike him down! There’s no need for you to worry about these things, where’s Jian Chen?” Xie Zhong restrained the coldness in his eyes. As he shifted his gaze to his daughter, his eyes filled with gentle affection.
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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira
