Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Would Definitely Regret It

“Yes…” Qi Shu Xian finally snapped back and hurried toward Ping Lan Residence.

Along the way, Qi Shu Xian heard servants whispering.

One girl said, “Did you hear? The Heir Apparent’s wife actually asked for an Imperial Edict to separate…”

Another corrected her quickly, “What Heir Apparent’s wife? You should call her Princess now!”

“Right, right. Princess,” the first girl said, still stunned. “I just didn’t expect Princess, who used to adore the Heir Apparent so much, would actually separate from him.”

A third girl added eagerly, “My sister serves in Princess’s courtyard. During the two years the Heir Apparent was away, Princess hid in the study all the time to paint his portraits. They said the study was filled with portraits of the Heir Apparent.”

Another girl chimed in, “And that osmanthus tree. Princess planted it with her own hands when the Heir Apparent went to the Frontier Passes. Every night, Princess stood by that tree and prayed for the Heir Apparent’s safety.”

A girl sighed. “Leaving everything else aside, just look at how Princess served Madam. Who could be more devoted than Princess?”

The girls huddled together, talking with more and more excitement. They did not even realize someone stood behind them.

Qi Shu Xian stood there, stunned as he listened.

Yes. How could Sheng Zhi Wan, who had adored him like that, truly separate from him? Sheng Zhi Wan had to be trying to scare him…

A maid finally noticed his robe hem and went pale. She dropped to her knees and stammered, “Heir Apparent!”

The others also trembled and knelt.

Qi Shu Xian only glanced at them and kept striding toward Ping Lan Residence.

With more hands, the packing went fast. Ping Lan Residence was soon cleared out.

An Zhi reported, “Princess, this servant checked again and again. Aside from the canopy bed you slept on and some tables, chairs, and cabinets we couldn’t move right away, we will come back tomorrow to carry those. Everything else has been packed. Princess, is there anything missing?”

Sheng Zhi Wan stood under the eaves as snowflakes drifted down from the sky.

Someone said in surprise, “It’s snowing?”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes fell on the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. Sheng Zhi Wan said evenly, “Dig it up too. And move Laifu’s grave out.”

Laifu would not want to stay here either.

“Yes,” the nannies answered.

They quickly took hoes and dug the osmanthus tree out by its roots.

When Qi Shu Xian arrived, Qi Shu Xian saw the tree being pulled free from the earth. Qi Shu Xian’s eyes tightened. Qi Shu Xian forgot his status and rushed forward, catching the trunk.

Qi Shu Xian pleaded, voice rough, “Zhi Wan, I already know everything. I was the one who wronged you. Don’t separate. From now on, I will treat you well, alright?”

Qi Shu Xian kept talking, desperate. “You want to go see Plum Grove. We can go today. It’s snowing, just right for admiring snow in Plum Grove.”

Qi Shu Xian swallowed and added, “You want a red fox. I will hunt one for you myself…”

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Qi Shu Xian as if it were the most ridiculous thing in the world. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Young Master Qi, did you forget that today was the day you lost your son?”

Qi Shu Xian went rigid.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not look at him again. In the snow that grew heavier and heavier, the long convoy moved farther and farther from Duke Manor…

In Wei Yang Courtyard, Meng Yang’s eyes were filled with hatred.

Meng Yang could not accept it. Yesterday, the Imperial Physician had said her condition was stable. Why, after only one day, had her child with the Heir Apparent become a stillborn?

Meng Yang had always been healthy. If Sheng Zhi Wan had not pushed her into the pond… how could the child have been harmed?

And that time Meng Yang had fallen outside Sheng Zhi Wan’s courtyard…

Or maybe, if Sheng Zhi Wan had not dragged things out so cruelly last night…

The more Meng Yang thought, the tighter her fingers clenched the quilt.

Sheng Zhi Wan.

It was all Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not want Meng Yang to give birth to Duke Manor’s first grandchild, so Sheng Zhi Wan schemed and made trouble at every turn.

Qing Liu had said it was a boy. It should have been the Heir Apparent’s eldest son.

So Meng Yang would never let Sheng Zhi Wan go.

The Heir Apparent had said he would seek justice for their child, but how could a little justice be enough? Meng Yang wanted Sheng Zhi Wan to die.

In history, Sheng Zhi Wan was supposed to die early. So why was Sheng Zhi Wan still alive now, living so well?

Qing Liu lowered her voice. “Concubine, the Heir Apparent has come.”

Qi Shu Xian walked in, looking utterly lost.

Meng Yang’s eyes flickered, and tears immediately rolled down. Meng Yang grabbed Qi Shu Xian’s arm and cried, “Heir Apparent… the child. This concubine’s child is gone…”

Qi Shu Xian let Meng Yang shake him, but Qi Shu Xian stayed silent.

Meng Yang still did not know Sheng Zhi Wan had already petitioned for separation. Meng Yang had thought Qi Shu Xian came to give her and the child an explanation, yet Qi Shu Xian said nothing at all. Worse, Qi Shu Xian looked dazed and empty.

Meng Yang finally could not hold back. Meng Yang asked weakly, “Heir Apparent… where is Princess? Didn’t you say you would make Princess give this concubine an answer?”

Meng Yang’s pale face filled with hurt as Meng Yang said, “This concubine knows this concubine’s status is low, but this concubine is also a mother. My child is gone. Can’t this concubine even hear an apology?”

Facing Meng Yang’s questioning, Qi Shu Xian suddenly remembered the disdain in Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes earlier. A bitter taste rose in Qi Shu Xian’s throat.

Qi Shu Xian finally spoke. “She… left.”

Meng Yang froze. Left? What did that mean?

Qi Shu Xian looked at Meng Yang with an emotion he could not name. “Yesterday, weren’t you afraid she would use that promise to make me cast you out? You don’t need to worry. She asked for something else.”

Meng Yang did not understand at all. “Heir Apparent, what are you talking about?”

Qi Shu Xian gave a humorless smile. “Sheng Zhi Wan asked for a Separation Edict. Now she is no longer Duke Manor’s Heir Apparent’s wife.”

Meng Yang stared, shocked. “What?”

Qi Shu Xian’s face stayed blank. “She took everything from Ping Lan Residence. She even dug up the osmanthus tree she planted when I went to the Frontier Passes. She also burned many portraits she painted herself…”

Only then did Meng Yang notice the black ash smeared over one of Qi Shu Xian’s hands.

Meng Yang believed it even less than Qi Shu Xian did. “How could that be…”

In history, Princess Qing Ning had loved Right Chancellor Qi deeply. Right Chancellor Qi had refused to marry again for the rest of his life only after Princess Qing Ning died.

But now everything had changed.

Meng Yang suddenly grew excited. Maybe she was Qi Shu Xian’s true destined woman. After Meng Yang appeared, the fate that left him grieving for life could finally be changed. Without Sheng Zhi Wan, Meng Yang was confident she could become his new wife.

Meng Yang reached out and hugged Qi Shu Xian. Meng Yang said softly, “It was this concubine’s fault. This concubine shouldn’t have forced you to go demand an answer from Princess.”

Meng Yang looked up with complete dependence. “This concubine has only Heir Apparent now. This concubine only hoped Heir Apparent would be well.”

Meng Yang kept praising him, voice gentle. “Heir Apparent was the finest man in the world. Princess will definitely regret leaving Heir Apparent.”

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes trembled. Qi Shu Xian asked quietly, “Do you truly think that?”

“Yes,” Meng Yang said firmly. “Heir Apparent defended the country, unbending and brave. To this concubine, Heir Apparent is the most outstanding man. This concubine doesn’t know about others, but this concubine also heard that other noble ladies in the capital praised you the same way.”

Meng Yang insisted, “Princess Qing Ning separated from you today. In the future, Princess Qing Ning will definitely regret it!”

Qi Shu Xian stared into emptiness. “Is that so…”

Would Sheng Zhi Wan regret it?

Qi Shu Xian believed she would.

Even if Sheng Zhi Wan was a Princess, Sheng Zhi Wan was still a woman who had been married and separated. The only ones who would want her would be spineless men, or men with hidden motives. How could people like that compare to him?

Thinking of that, Qi Shu Xian hardened his resolve. When Sheng Zhi Wan finally regretted it and admitted she had been too spoiled, when Sheng Zhi Wan stopped being jealous and refusing to tolerate others, then perhaps he could forgive her again.