If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Xi Lingxian fell into a deep and long dream, intermittent and never-ending.

She saw her last two arguments with Wang Jue in her previous life.

There was no grand reason. At that time, Madam Wang was urging her to have a child. As a daughter-in-law who had been married for three years, she had no children to rely on, so it would be a lie to say that she wasn't anxious.

Not to mention how many women were eyeing Wang Jue covetously. Not to mention his concubines and mistresses, even his nameless and unranked maids were coveted by many.

The Xie sisters, Xie Wanyi and Xie Wanru, made sarcastic remarks about her, saying she was neither virtuous nor kind. The maids who had been bribed by the two sisters also secretly mocked her as a hen that couldn't lay eggs.

If this were an ordinary girl, she would have to endure this kind of life, swallowing her anger and crying her eyes out. Unfortunately, she wasn't one of them.

She first gave each of the maids who gossiped behind her back a beating, and then she found the gold and jade items on these maids, uncovering the truth that Xie Wanru had instigated them.

Chickens and dogs were running rampant in the backyard, but she wasn't afraid.

She didn't care that family scandals shouldn't be aired in public.

She had never suffered any grievances in her own home, so there was no reason for her to have to put up with these despicable people in the Wang family.

Looking back now, she wouldn't have made such a mess if she had been rational. At that time, the drug that Yu had Zhou Mama give her to confuse her mind was already taking effect.

Whether Xie Wanyi and her ilk knew about it or not, they always seized on her irritability and temper, and they also knew how much Wang Jue cared about the family's dignity and reputation. The more she made a scene, the more strained her relationship with Wang Jue would become.

This is true.

The repeated disturbances in the backyard finally exhausted Wang Jue's patience, who was already overwhelmed by court affairs.

Being a wife seems to make you feel inferior from the start.

At that time in the Prince's mansion, she was always in the wrong no matter who she confronted.

Madam Wang is the mother-in-law and an elder, and filial piety is of paramount importance to her. Going against Madam Wang would only bring her trouble.

Wang Shuhui and Wang Shuyuan are the younger sisters. As their sister-in-law, I should be magnanimous and not hold a grudge against them.

As for Xie Wanyi and Xie Wanru, they are guests. For the young mistress to be so petty with the guests would make people doubt Wang's way of treating guests.

She lived a truly pathetic life back then!

Xi Lingxian was awakened by this feeling of humiliation. The moment she opened her eyes, the tearing pain in her arm brought her back to her senses.

"Fanfan? Fanfan, you're awake?"

That familiar loud voice—it's definitely the older brother's.

I wonder if Miss Xu Zhaolan will still be able to maintain her affection for her brother after seeing his uncouth and rough side.

Her throat was so dry and uncomfortable that she struggled slightly before realizing that someone was holding her arm.

She turned her head and first saw Wang Jue, who was sitting on the edge of the bed with his chin propped up. He seemed to have just been woken up by Xi Rui's loud voice, and his eyes were still a little sleepy.

Seeing that she was awake, he leaned closer, his voice hoarse, "You're awake. Is anything bothering you?"

Xi Lingxian struggled to free her hand from his grip, "Without you holding it, I'll definitely feel more comfortable all over."

"..."

Wang Jue silently loosened his grip, revealing that the area where he had held her was now a large red patch.

The touch of fingertips reveals skin as smooth as jade, a symphony nurtured only in the finest environments.

Xi Lingxian deserves a good life. The declining Pei family and the good-for-nothing son-in-law are not good enough for her.

Xi Rui looked at the two of them and felt that something was amiss.

"Qingyu, my sister has woken up. You should go back and get some rest, right? You still have an injury on your shoulder."

Xi Lingxian rubbed her temples and slowly sat up. "You two have been guarding this place the whole time? No one's going to interrogate the assassin?"

"Yes, my father is personally interrogating me."

Xi Rui poured her a cup of warm tea and handed it to her. He then called a maid and said, "Go and inform Father that the young lady has woken up and there is no need to worry."

The maidservant exclaimed "Oh!" and ran away.

Wang Jue sipped his tea slowly, his eyes flashing between light and shadow; after a while, he put down his teacup.

"You'an, I plan to set off for Jiangzhou tomorrow."

Xi Rui was taken aback. "So suddenly? The New Year isn't even over yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

"The assassins this time are either from Jiankang or Jiangzhou."

"With my father in charge in Jiankang, there won't be any major trouble, so it can only be Jiangzhou."

Xi Rui wasn't stupid; he could understand after a little thought.

"It seems someone doesn't want you to arrive in Jiangzhou smoothly."

"That's true. As a strategic point between Jing and Yang provinces, Jiangzhou can be considered a mainstay. There are countless families in the court who covet the position of governor of Jiangzhou."

In her previous life, Xi Lingxian didn't understand what "key points" meant. In this life, she has read more books and has the experience from her previous life, so she understands a little bit more.

Jiangzhou was guarded by a large number of elite naval troops protecting the Yangtze River defense line, and also possessed two major granaries.

It is no exaggeration to say that Jiangzhou is the economic lifeline of the imperial court. It can be said that whoever controls Jiangzhou has absolute power in the imperial court.

The Langya Wang clan seized the initiative by relying on its family power, but that did not mean that other aristocratic families would listen to it and remain indifferent.

After all, the journey from Jiankang to Jiangzhou is long and arduous, and the world is in chaos right now. Who can say for sure what might happen if we encounter bandits or suffer from minor illnesses?

Xi Rui gritted his teeth, "The Later Zhao has never been honest and is always ready to make trouble. Jingkou cannot be left without people; a battle could happen at any time."

"Therefore, Jiangzhou cannot afford any mishaps."

Once Jiangzhou falls into other hands, both families will face attacks from both sides.

Xi Lingxian looked at Xi Rui, then at Wang Jue.

"Wait, shouldn't we remove the Gu worms first?"

Xi Rui slapped his forehead. "Yeah, didn't you say before that you have a mother Gu inside you? Are you two really sure you can manage to go too far away?"

Wang Jue seemed to be thinking: "According to Mr. Zhou, the body inhabited by the offspring Gu cannot leave the mother Gu."

Xi Lingxian blinked. "What do you mean? I can't leave you?"

Wang Jue stared at her intently and nodded.

Xi Lingxian was getting a little frustrated. "Then, then you have to remove the curse before you leave, otherwise what am I supposed to do?"

"You can come with me."

Xi Rui was furious. "Do you even know what you're saying? I'm still here."

Xi Lingxian: "Don't talk about those unrealistic things. Tomorrow, Madam Lu and Doctor Wen will come to visit. Let's hear their methods for removing the curse before we discuss it further."

Wang Jue's expression was grave. "But the situation in Jiangzhou is such that every moment of delay will bring more unforeseen changes."

Xi Lingxian was momentarily unsure whether he was real or not.

"Big brother...?"

Xi Rui was also a little unsure.

"Isn't there a need to be in such a hurry?"

Wang Jue frowned, and after a long while, said, "Even if Madam Lu and her group can work with Mr. Zhou to devise a way to remove the curse, do you realize that removing the curse isn't something that can be done overnight?"

"As far as I know, the simplest way to remove the curse is for the employer to die... The next best methods, expelling and driving away the curse, are not easy either. Even the most skilled doctor would need at least ten days to half a month."

"You've also led troops before, so you should know what can happen to both sides in a standoff at this time."

Xi Rui understood, but...

"I understand all these principles, but Fanfan has no relation to you, how can she go with you?"

"Jiangzhou is so far away, how could my father possibly agree? That's just wishful thinking; even Fanfan herself wouldn't agree, don't you think?"

Wang Jue: "I know this is a bit strange, but never mind, just like you said, let's have the doctors from both sides discuss it tomorrow before making a decision."

That's all we can do for now.

Xi Rui suddenly realized that everything in the world is predetermined by Heaven.

If Wang Jue had realized his feelings for his sister earlier, the two families would be united in marriage now, and there would be no need to worry about these trivial matters.

It's all fate.

The relationship between Qingyu and his sister is destined to be full of twists and turns.