Chapter 163: Past and Present Lives
Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Past and Present Lives
"Liang Ji, let’s head back quickly."
Seeing the crowd growing increasingly agitated, Bai Lu, who was shielding Liang Wan, turned her head to look at her. The current situation was indeed not one where they should linger. Liang Wan nodded and hurried toward the gap in the human wall pushed open by the guards.
As if noticing her intention, someone in the crowd shouted. The mob surged toward the gap, determined to block her path. The scene descended into chaos. The female family members of the officials had never witnessed such terrifying public resentment. Panicked and terrified, they didn’t even have time to gather their belongings. Shielding their heads, they scrambled toward their horse and ox-drawn carriages, terrified that if they were even a second too late, they would be dragged away by the frenzied mob to vent their anger.
Liang Wan found herself trapped, unable to advance or retreat. Looking at the crowd acting like crazed beasts, it seemed they wanted to swallow her alive.
"Who is causing trouble?!"
A thunderous roar erupted from behind the crowd. Immediately after, accompanied by the uniform clatter of iron armor and weapons, a large number of soldiers completely surrounded the area. Wang Tingyue took the lead, pushing through the mob and striding over.
Seeing themselves encircled by cold, gleaming blades, the seething crowd’s momentum weakened time and again until their fury gradually died down.
"My lord," a young officer stepped forward, cupping his fist to ask for instructions. "We’ve caught a few ringleaders. How should they be handled?"
"Execution by a thousand cuts."
The approaching footsteps were unhurried. The voice was cold and clear, every word piercing deeper than the ice and snow in the dead of winter.
Wang Tingyue immediately looked at Liang Wan. Earlier, he had ordered immediate beheadings, but that was merely a threat to intimidate the crowd. These people were neither committing heinous crimes nor were they vicious villains; they were just unarmed, innocent refugees. How could such a cruel punishment be carried out? Their crimes certainly did not warrant this!
Meeting his gaze, Liang Wan understood he wanted her to persuade Lu Xiu. She lowered her head, breaking eye contact, and pursed her lips without saying a single word.
Wang Tingyue furrowed his brow, his heart heavy.
Lu Xiu slowly walked forward. Raising his eyes, a faint smile seemed to linger on his lips. "What? Did none of you understand what I said earlier?"
Wang Tingyue and his men bowed. "We would not dare."
Lu Xiu remained noncommittal.
Glancing at Liang Wan, who kept her head down in silence, Wang Tingyue had no choice but to wave his hand, ordering his men to take the instigators away. Agonizing wails broke the dead silence of the scene.
"Why are you killing me?! What did I say wrong? What crime did I commit?! Let me go—"
"She is a demoness! You’re killing us instead of killing her? We are good citizens!"
The struggling people screamed at the top of their lungs; those who remained silent glared with suppressed rage, not daring to speak out. Liang Wan quietly watched the shouting men, her face devoid of any expression.
Lu Xiu’s eyelashes drooped slightly as he let out a low chuckle. It was as breathtaking and dazzling as a pearl suddenly radiating brilliant light. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, his voice was lazy. "Why? Do you possess the talent to mend the heavens and save the world, or the virtue to aid humanity and provide relief? You are completely destitute and ignorant. Aside from wasting grain, what use is there in you being alive?
"And now you dare to commit treason and cause chaos! Why shouldn’t I kill you!"
He cast a glance at Wang Tingyue, his tone extremely indifferent. "If anyone else causes trouble, execute them as well."
After saying that, he didn’t spare another look at the crowd, acting completely aloof and cold-blooded.
"Yes," Wang Tingyue replied in a deep voice.
Lu Xiu turned his face, speaking only to Liang Wan. "Let’s head back."
Liang Wan nodded and followed him away, deliberately ignoring the gaze that seemed intent on seeing right through her.
Inside the carriage, Liang Wan sat by the window, gazing into the distance. She knew in her heart that the issue with the rumors had not been resolved and remained a hidden danger.
"Sit closer."
She raised her eyes to see a hand extended toward her. Liang Wan took it and sat beside him.
Lu Xiu tidied the hair at her temples. "Why didn’t you try to persuade me?"
Liang Wan was secretly astonished. Wang Tingyue had only glanced at her a few times, yet Lu Xiu actually noticed.
She spoke frankly. "You are not a man swayed by emotions, Husband. If a few of them didn’t die today, I’m afraid that in a few days, it would be everyone who dies. Taking in the refugees and providing disaster relief was only implemented because Chancellor Cao protested to the death. If the Emperor knew that the refugees had contracted a plague and were even rioting, he would inevitably order them all to be buried alive to ensure the safety of the Imperial Palace.
"Otherwise, why would he suddenly send you here on an inspection tour?"
Lu Xiu smiled.
Liang Wan paused for a moment but continued honestly. "Judging by your intentions, Husband, they are not only useless in your eyes but also a burden. If he chose to bury them alive, you certainly wouldn’t stop him."
Lu Xiu reached out and pulled her into his embrace. Liang Wan leaned against him, her fingertips twirling his sleeve. "Deep down in your bones, Husband, you are no different."
Lu Xiu lifted her face. "He Yi?"
Liang Wan met his dark eyes and said, "If I said I met you in a past life, would you believe it, Husband?"
His long, narrow eyes half-closed as he stared intently at her.
That night at Tongle Hall, he had seen the hatred filling her heart and eyes very clearly. He had once thought she killed Zhang Shi because she had lost her innocence, but she was clearly a virgin. Yet, her fear and resistance toward intimacy were not faked either; she was plagued by nightmares every night, sleep-talking and weeping softly—that was also true.
Her hatred for Cui Hao and Wang Su was understandable, but why did she hate that man? She had even tried everything possible to kill him. Her gaze when looking at that man in the corridor had been filled with even deeper resentment.
Furthermore, her ability to foretell the future...
Seeing his silence, Liang Wan chuckled. "I was just joking."
Lu Xiu suddenly curled his lips into a smile. "Perhaps, my dear, you truly are a monster."
Liang Wan nodded, shaking with laughter. "Then you must be careful, Husband. What you desired, I have already given. As for what I desire..."
Lu Xiu sighed and hugged her tighter. "It doesn’t matter."
Liang Wan pressed her cheek against his chest, still smiling.
Since that day, there truly was no longer any need to go distribute porridge.
Lu Xiu reported the matter of the epidemic truthfully, which indeed alarmed the Emperor. For many consecutive days in the imperial court, various factions held onto their own opinions, dragging out endless debates. No one could convince anyone else. The Emperor grew increasingly annoyed, his murderous intent deepening.
After several days of observation, considering that the number of infected individuals was relatively low and the epidemic was not yet out of control, and seeing that the newly planned refugee settlements were on a scale akin to a permanent population with an orderly division of labor and management, he agreed to continue monitoring the situation for a while longer.
With patients appearing outside the city, to prevent the epidemic from spreading inside, the Emperor ordered strict inspections of anyone entering or leaving the city gates. Once a suspected patient was discovered, they were forcibly dragged to the treatment points outside the city. Whether they were commoners or imperial relatives and nobles, there were no exceptions.
For a time, every household in Jinye City kept their doors tightly shut. Unless absolutely necessary, no one dared to go in and out casually, terrified of being forcibly dragged away. The once bustling and prosperous capital city suddenly became desolate and deserted.
Aside from pharmacies, medical clinics, and grain stores, the other shops saw almost no customers. As a result, Song Tan was practically making a fortune, raking in money by the bucketload.
Reading Song Tan’s letter, Liang Wan noticed the irrepressible joy between the lines. To be safe, all of their communication was now done through letters.
Lu Xiu had just finished washing up when he saw Liang Wan sitting on the couch, holding a letter and laughing as she read it.
"Is it Song Tan again?"
Liang Wan smiled, putting the letter away to the side. "He is quite enthusiastic about doing business right now."
Lu Xiu remained silent, simply sitting on the couch and waiting for her.
Liang Wan withdrew her smile. His solemn posture was very strange. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Lu Xiu nodded gently and reached out to pull her to his side. He had said he had something to tell her, yet he didn’t open his mouth. He merely looked at her.
Liang Wan grew nervous under his gaze. "What is it exactly?"
Lu Xiu embraced her, resting his chin on her shoulder, his voice soft. "Wanwan, when I return, will you give me a child?"