8mi Chapter 5 With me here, the Xu family will not fall.
Chapter 5 With me here, the Xu family will not fall.
The sky is bright.
Ye Qingqiu suddenly opened her eyes.
The moment she regained consciousness, she sensed that something was wrong.
Her body was tightly encircled from behind, and a heavy arm lay across her waist like an iron lock, firmly imprisoning her in a warm embrace.
The man's steady breathing brushed against the back of her neck, carrying a hint of warmth, one breath at a time.
Her back was pressed against his chest, and she could clearly feel the strong beating of his heart.
Ye Qingqiu froze.
Memories from last night flooded back like a tide—those three sixth-rank assassins, the back view of someone casually slaying an enemy, and the words, "If you move again, I'll strip you naked and hang you on the gate tower of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."
She gritted her teeth, trying to keep her breathing steady.
But the body is honest.
She could feel her ears burning.
It's not shyness.
It's anger.
It is humiliation.
A dignified disciple of the Sword Sect, an orphan of the previous dynasty, was actually hugged by a man like a pillow all night long.
Ye Qingqiu took a deep breath, trying to break free from that arm without making a sound.
She shifted her body slightly.
The arm remained completely still.
She twisted again.
"Behave yourself."
The man's slightly hoarse voice, as if he had just woken up, came from behind.
The arm tightened suddenly, gripping her waist like an iron hoop, pulling her back half an inch until her back was pressed completely against his chest.
Ye Qingqiu's breath hitched.
She could feel the man's chin resting on the top of her head, his warm breath brushing against her hair.
"you……"
"Shut up," Xu Ming said, his voice grumpy from being woken up. "If you move again, I'll throw you out to feed the dogs."
Ye Qingqiu's fingernails dug into her palm.
She bit her lip tightly, not daring to say another word.
It's not that I'm afraid of him.
I'm afraid he might actually do what he said.
That madman is capable of anything.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the breathing behind me became clearer.
Xu Ming released her and sat up on his own.
"Get up when you're awake and go pay your respects to your sister-in-law."
His voice returned to its usual cool and aloof tone, as if he weren't the one who had held her and slept with her all night.
Ye Qingqiu gritted her teeth, sat up in bed, turned her back to him, and remained silent.
Her fingers were trembling.
It's not because I'm afraid.
It's because of anger.
A prisoner on the steps, meat on the chopping block.
These words swirled in her mind, each one like a knife cutting into her last remaining dignity.
She had to endure it.
Endure until the day your cultivation is restored.
By then...
Xu Ming put on his coat and fastened his belt with fluid movements.
He walked to the copper basin, washed his face with the cold water, and then dried it with a handkerchief.
Throughout the entire process, he did not look at Ye Qingqiu even once.
It was as if she didn't exist.
Ye Qingqiu sat on the edge of the bed, watching his back, and a feeling she couldn't quite explain welled up inside her.
What is this man thinking?
"Hurry up and leave, don't make me angry."
Xu Ming walked to the door and said something without turning his head.
His voice was flat, yet it carried an irresistible commanding tone.
Ye Qingqiu took a deep breath and stood up.
The two walked out of the room one after the other.
Xu Tie stood guard in the courtyard like a door god, his hands supporting his long sword, his back ramrod straight.
He stood there all night.
Upon seeing Xu Ming emerge, Xu Tie immediately bowed respectfully, his voice booming, "Young Master!"
Xu Ming nodded, walked over, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Xu Tie's body jolted, almost thinking he had misheard.
Young master... is he praising me?
That spoiled young master who only knows how to order people around and beat his servants at the drop of a hat actually said he had worked hard?
He subconsciously straightened his back, a surge of warmth welled up in his heart, and his nose even felt a little sore.
"It's no trouble at all! Sharing the young master's burdens is my duty!"
Xu Ming didn't say anything more and led Ye Qingqiu towards the main hall.
Xu Tie stood there, watching his young master's figure disappear behind the moon gate, his eyes slightly reddening.
Old Duke, have you seen this?
The young master... is different now.
In the main hall, the eldest sister-in-law Shen Zhirou and the steward Xu Fu were already there.
Both of them had faint dark circles under their eyes, clearly indicating that neither of them had slept well last night.
Shen Zhirou sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a plain-colored dress, her hair neatly styled. She held a cup of hot tea in her hand, but did not drink it, instead staring blankly at the foam floating in the cup.
Xu Fu stood to one side, holding an account book in his hands, but his eyes kept glancing towards the door.
"Tomorrow."
Seeing Xu Ming walk in, Shen Zhirou put down her teacup and stood up.
Her gaze fell on Ye Qingqiu behind Xu Ming, her expression somewhat complicated.
Is this girl the death row inmate sent by the emperor to the imperial prison?
He does appear aloof and arrogant, not like a bad person.
Shen Zhirou sighed inwardly, but her expression remained gentle.
"Sister-in-law, please have a seat."
Ye Qingqiu was taken aback.
Sister-in-law?
These two words were like a thorn, making her feel uncomfortable all over.
But she didn't say anything, only nodded slightly as a response, and then sat down next to Xu Ming, keeping her head down the whole time.
Xu Ming sat down with an air of authority, picked up the hot tea that had been prepared on the table, and took a sip.
The servants quickly brought out breakfast.
A few side dishes, a bowl of white porridge, and a steamer of steamed buns.
It's very simple, even shabby.
The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion had been in decline for a long time, and this kind of breakfast was already considered the standard for "entertaining guests".
The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat somber.
The sound of chopsticks hitting the rim of the bowl, the sound of chewing, the sound of teacups being placed on the table... every sound was amplified infinitely, filling the silent gaps.
Shen Zhirou hesitated several times before speaking.
She glanced at Xu Ming, then at Ye Qingqiu, and finally spoke.
"Tomorrow."
Xu Ming picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with his chopsticks and responded with a faint "Mm".
"About last night..."
"It's over."
Xu Ming interrupted her, his tone as indifferent as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.
Shen Zhirou sighed.
She knew her brother-in-law didn't want to say much, but she had to.
"Your older brother is gone, and this family... will depend on you from now on. Forget about the past, and don't let things be like they used to be."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly.
Despite the apparent prosperity of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, it was actually beset by internal and external troubles. Her husband had died in battle, and her brother-in-law was a notorious playboy. As a woman, she could barely hold on.
Xu Ming's performance last night gave her hope.
But it's just a hope.
She feared that this hope was just a dream, and when she woke up, Xu Ming would still be that spoiled young master who indulged in cockfighting and dog racing.
"I know."
Xu Ming put down his chopsticks and looked at her intently.
His eyes were bright, as bright as the most dazzling star in the night sky.
"Don't worry, sister-in-law, with me here, the Xu family won't fall."
His words were simple, yet they exuded a powerful confidence.
Shen Zhirou looked at his calm and resolute profile and was slightly taken aback.
A look of satisfaction appeared in Xu Fu's eyes.
After dinner, Xu Ming took Ye Qingqiu back to her room.
The door was closed.
Ye Qingqiu, who had been as quiet as a puppet just moments before, immediately retreated to the corner furthest away from him, her face full of vigilance.
Her back was pressed against the wall, her hands clenched into fists, like a wild beast cornered.
"What exactly do you want?"
Her voice was hoarse, filled with suppressed anger.
Xu Ming walked to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and sipped it slowly.
Instead of answering, he asked a completely unrelated question: "Your dantian is destroyed and your meridians are severed. Do you want to recover?"
Ye Qingqiu was startled.
She stared intently at him, her pupils contracting sharply, and the color draining from her face in an instant.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Her voice was trembling.
Her dantian was destroyed, and she lost all her martial arts skills—this was the greatest pain of her life.
"I'm not talking nonsense."
Xu Ming put down his teacup, stood up, and walked towards her.
Ye Qingqiu subconsciously took a step back.
My back pressed against the cold wall.
There was no way to retreat.
"If you want to recover, listen to me."
Xu Ming stopped in front of her, looking down at her.
His voice was soft, yet it possessed a captivating, bewitching power.
"you……"
Ye Qingqiu was about to rebuke him for talking nonsense.
Xu Ming, however, spread his hands.
A pure white pill, emitting a faint fragrance, lay quietly in his palm.
The pill was only the size of a thumb, round and smooth, with a faint sheen flowing across its surface.
The fragrance was so refreshing that Ye Qingqiu felt his long-dormant inner energy tremble slightly after just one sniff.
"This is……"
Her voice choked in her throat.
"The Marrow Cleansing Pill," Xu Ming said, "can reshape the meridians and repair the dantian."
Ye Qingqiu's eyes widened.
Of course she knew what the Marrow Cleansing Pill was.
That was a legendary elixir; there might not be more than three in the entire Liang Dynasty.
One Marrow Cleansing Pill is enough to allow a cripple to embark on the path of martial arts again.
Valuable.
It has a price but no market.
How could this man have something like this?
"You..." Ye Qingqiu's voice trembled violently, "You're going to give it to me?"
"What else?" Xu Ming looked at her. "Should I eat it like candy?"
Ye Qingqiu stared intently at the Marrow Cleansing Pill, her eyes brimming with desire.
But she didn't reach out.
"What are the conditions?"
Her voice regained its composure.
There is no free lunch in the world.
The person who was willing to give her the Marrow Cleansing Pill must have something to gain.
"Conditions?" Xu Ming thought for a moment, "Be a good concubine."
Ye Qingqiu was stunned.
"this one?"
"That's it."
Xu Ming stuffed the Marrow Cleansing Pill into her hand, turned around and walked back to the table to continue drinking tea.
Ye Qingqiu held the pill, her fingers trembling.
The warm touch came from my palm, like holding a ball of fire.
She looked down at the snow-white pill, then looked up at the man who was drinking tea by himself.
Ye Qingqiu closed her eyes.
Take a deep breath.
Then, put the Marrow Cleansing Pill into your mouth.
The elixir melts instantly upon entering the mouth.
A warm force spread from my throat to my limbs and bones, like a warm river flowing slowly through my long-dry meridians.
She could feel the broken meridians gradually reconnecting.
Ye Qingqiu opened her eyes, looked at Xu Ming, and her expression was complicated.
Thanks.
she says.
Xu Ming put down his teacup, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"You're welcome."
Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.