Chapter 394
"What? Ling'er is missing? When did this happen?" Cao Yang asked three questions in a row out of astonishment, and Chu Ruoyan also looked at him nervously.
These were not peaceful times; her cousin's sudden disappearance was incredibly dangerous!
Xie Zhizhou shook his head in panic. "I don't know. Perhaps before I left the capital, or perhaps even earlier... It's my fault, it's all my fault!" As he spoke, he suddenly fell to his knees and slapped himself hard in the face twice. "Previously, the late Emperor wanted to use Ling'er as bait to lure and capture Her Majesty the Empress. I didn't want her to risk her life on the front lines, so I deliberately said some harsh words and had my grandmother kick her out of the Xie family... At the time, my men saw her settle into the residence in the western city with their own eyes. But when I came back this time, she was already gone. I searched the entire western city, but I still couldn't find her..."
Cao Yang's expression was complicated. Chu Jing said coldly, "Since you were wholeheartedly doing it for her own good, why didn't you give her a heads-up beforehand?"
Xie Zhizhou shook his head in agony. "I couldn't say it! If the late Emperor knew I was putting on an act, the entire Nanping Count Estate would be in jeopardy! Besides..." He paused and let out a tragic voice, "Going to the battlefield meant a narrow escape from death. If I didn't return, it would be better for her to think of me as a heartless man and hate me than to suffer and grieve for me..."
Every word and sentence clearly showed how desperately he loved her.
Seeing the bloodshot veins in his eyes, Chu Ruoyan knew he had been spinning like a top since entering the capital two days ago. He probably only managed to free himself today to look for her, but unfortunately...
She glanced sideways at her aunt, who closed her eyes and said stiffly, "Ling'er hasn't come back!"
Cao Yang sighed. "Ling'er has an extremely fierce and stubborn temper. Especially since you hid this from her and kept her in the dark, she most likely got her heart broken and hid herself away. Son-in-law, you should keep looking."
Xie Zhizhou left dejectedly, a grown man actually stumbling on flat ground.
Chu Ruoyan couldn't bear it and shook her head. Only after entering the estate did she ask, "Aunt, my cousin is back, isn't she?"
Chu Jing asked in surprise, "Your Majesty could tell?"
Chu Ruoyan nodded. "If my cousin hadn't come back, given yours and Uncle's temperaments, you would definitely be burning with anxiety upon learning of her disappearance. How would you have the time to question my cousin-in-law?"
Chu Jing snorted coldly. "Even you could tell. And this Xie Zhizhou is still known as a brilliant scholar? Did reading rot his brain?"
Cao Yang held her hand. "Alright, Madam. Our son-in-law was just blinded by his anxiety. Don't be too harsh on him..."
"Am I being harsh on him? My heart aches for our daughter! Don't you know that Ling'er..." Chu Jing's voice choked with emotion and her eyes reddened. Chu Ruoyan's heart went cold as she heard her say, "Ruoyan... Her Majesty the Empress, I won't hide it from you anymore. Since the day that man named Xie left, Ling'er was kicked out all alone while pregnant, and was even humiliated by his cousin from the Liu family. In a moment of despair, she took an abortion potion!!"
"What?!"
Chu Ruoyan gasped. "But Old Divine Doctor Qin said that my cousin suffers from a cold womb and blood deficiency, making it extremely difficult for her to conceive! Wouldn't this abortion harm her body even more?"
"Exactly! Thank goodness her maid Chan is a clever one. Seeing that things were wrong, she ran back and told me. The Master and I hurried over. At the time..." Chu Jing's voice choked and she couldn't continue. Cao Yang wrapped his arm around her shoulders and softly comforted her for a good while before speaking heavily to Chu Ruoyan.
"At the time, Madam and I rushed over with the estate doctor. That scene... let alone her, even I still have lingering fears. The whole room smelled of blood, and Ling'er was covered in blood beneath her. She was clutching the quilt, her face deathly pale, struggling and twisting like a fish on a chopping block. Her strength must have been almost exhausted. It was only when she saw her mother that she let out a painful wail, saying, 'It hurts so much, Mother'..."
After Cao Yang finished speaking, Chu Jing was already crying uncontrollably.
Chu Ruoyan's eyes also grew wet.
Being pregnant herself, she could understand her cousin's state of mind at the time. It probably wasn't just physical pain, but mostly psychological...
She wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief before asking, "Then how is my cousin doing now? Is there any serious harm to her body?"
Chu Jing shook her head, and Cao Yang said, "Fortunately, the estate doctor arrived in time, so there is no major harm. It's just..."
He hesitated on whether to say it. Old Madam Cao snorted coldly, "What's there to hide? It's just that Ling'er damaged her body, and she will never be able to conceive again!"
Like a sudden clap of thunder, Chu Ruoyan immediately covered her mouth. "Then my cousin..."
"Don't worry, that's one good thing about Ling'er. She doesn't easily seek death. However, she couldn't get over this hurdle in her heart. She rested in the estate for over ten days, and after getting somewhat better, she went to the Huguo Temple, saying she wanted to chant scriptures and pray for the unborn child."
After Old Madam Cao finished speaking, she poked Cao Yang with her walking stick. "Eldest son, I told you long ago that the Xie family is a den of wolves and tigers! Putting aside what that Xie boy is like, just his troublemaking grandmother alone can stir up trouble out of nothing! Now look, my words have come true, haven't they? It's a pity Ling'er wouldn't listen to advice back then, and you, as her father, didn't have a clear head either!"
Cao Yang lowered his head. "Mother is right to lecture me..."
Chu Jing shook her head and said, "Mother, don't blame the Master. It's my fault. I always felt that in this life, finding a kindred spirit is not easy, so I... It's me who harmed Ling'er!"
Old Madam Cao quickly said, "What does it have to do with you? That Xie boy's character, talent, and looks are all impeccable. If it were me, I would definitely be willing to marry my daughter to him too!"
Cao Yang's mouth twitched, secretly thinking that his mother had said something completely different just a moment ago.
Seeing this, Chu Ruoyan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She turned her head and ordered, "Guard Meng, go investigate what's going on with that cousin from the Liu family."
Her cousin wasn't someone who easily grew suspicious. There must be other issues involved.
It wasn't long before Meng Yang returned and recounted how Liu Hui was sent into Xie Zhizhou's room by Old Madam Xie, how she had an illicit affair with Scholar Wang, and how she even tried to pin the pregnancy on Xie Zhizhou.
He mumbled, "Furthermore, on the night Liu Hui was sent into the room, Lady Xue saw it too... It was deliberately arranged by Old Madam Xie."
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
By the time Chu Ruoyan returned, night had fallen, yet Yan Zheng was still reviewing official documents, even moving the memorials from the Imperial Study into the bedchamber.
Seeing her return, he finally set down his brush and walked up to greet her. "Ayan, how was it? Did everything go smoothly at your uncle's house?"
Chu Ruoyan didn't want to distract him, but Yan Zheng said, "You don't seem in high spirits. Did something happen? The Cao family, or the Xie family?" As he spoke, he frowned. "I haven't heard of anything happening in the Cao family recently, but Xie Zhizhou has submitted two consecutive requests for leave. Did something happen to your cousin?"
She couldn't help but smile bitterly. "Are you a mind reader? How did you guess it right away?"
She then recounted the matters regarding Xie Zhizhou and Xue Ling. Yan Zheng let out a cold laugh. "Isn't he asking for it? Husband and wife are one entity; how could he hide such a major matter! Besides, women are naturally more prone to overthinking during pregnancy. If it were me, I would absolutely never do such a thing!"
Chu Ruoyan was amused by him. "Yes, yes, yes, you even told me about wanting to become the Emperor. Who could possibly compare to my dear husband!"
It had been a long time since she called him husband. Hearing it now, the man's gaze grew scorching hot. He pulled her into his arms and ravaged her lips for a good while before asking, "Ayan, how do you wish to handle this matter?"