WBSGVS Chapter 25 V1

Jiang Tingxue didn’t leave right away. She came here alone, and when she left, she was still by herself. Although Prince Yu resented her for causing trouble to his family, for the sake of her mother, he chose to spare her.

But the more he treated her this way, the more she felt like everything she had done since arriving in the capital was nothing more than a farce.

No wonder Miss Yu didn’t get along with Ji Qingli. Even when she heard that Jiang wanted to be a concubine to Zheng Yihan, she still looked down on her.

Their bond was something she couldn’t break in a short time. It seemed like she had driven Ji Qingli away, but in reality, Zheng Yihan had only temporarily set her aside for the sake of convenience.

She had never been allowed into that study, but Jiang Tingxue thought that since she had already been legitimized and had the Prince as her backing, sneaking in wouldn’t be a big deal even if she got caught—so she went in.

But when she came out, she didn’t say anything.

Inside the study, she had casually opened a painting scroll, only to find Ji Qingli’s portrait. She randomly picked up a letter, and the envelope was addressed: “To my dearest A’li.”

The first time she saw it, Jiang Tingxue was devastated, but she knew this was something she had forced. Ji Qingli was strong-willed and would rather divorce than let Zheng Yihan take a concubine. They had parted ways, and it was Ji Qingli who had left, not because she had driven her away.

But it didn’t matter. She believed she could still make Zheng Yihan fall in love with her.

However, when she returned for the second, third time, her heart grew more desolate. The letters and paintings had not been sent, and with each visit, their numbers increased. There was almost a letter written every day.

Eventually, she couldn’t bear to look anymore, and she secretly convinced herself it was fine. After all, she was the one by his side and one day, she would completely push Ji Qingli out of his world.

But now, Jiang Tingxue realized she would never see that day.

She could accept that Zheng Yihan loved Ji Qingli more, but what she couldn’t accept was that he had only used her—all just to destroy Prince Yu.

When she reached the busy street, she noticed a few people following at a distance, seemingly sent by Zheng Yihan to protect her. Jiang Tingxue stood still for a long time until something seemed to click. She straightened her clothes and hair, making herself appear tidy, before lifting a faint smile and heading toward the Ji residence.

“Do you have a calling card, miss?” the gatekeeper asked, blocking her path.

Jiang Tingxue shook her head and replied, “I’m Jiang Tingxue. I wish to see your young lady, Ji Qingli. Could you kindly inform her? I believe she will come out to see me.”

Jiang Tingxue?

At the mention of her name, how could anyone in the Ji family not know? The gatekeeper’s eyes were filled with visible disdain and distance, but being part of such a prestigious family, even the gatekeeper wouldn’t abuse his power. He reluctantly nodded, “Please wait a moment, Lady Zheng.”

The forced smile Jiang Tingxue had been maintaining instantly cracked upon hearing herself addressed as “Lady Zheng.” Her face paled, and she lowered her head.

The more she realized how ridiculous all her actions were, the more sensitive she became. She felt as if even the gatekeeper was mocking her for stealing Ji Qingli’s position, while everyone knew Zheng Yihan’s heart still belonged to her.

As she waited for the reply, Jiang Tingxue could already feel the sharp gazes from the gatekeeper and the passersby piercing her.

Finally, the messenger returned, and she eagerly looked toward him, only to hear him say, “Lady Zheng, my young lady says she does not wish to see you.”

Jiang Tingxue was stunned, her embarrassment and anger momentarily forgotten. She had never imagined Ji Qingli would refuse to meet her so bluntly.

Her face flushed bright red, and she wanted to leave immediately. But her lingering affection for Zheng Yihan, and the regret gnawing at her heart, kept her rooted to the spot. She gritted her teeth and handed over some silver, saying, “Please, could you try again? I’ve decided to leave the capital, and this will likely be the last time we meet. There are things I wish to say to Miss Ji.”

The gatekeeper waved his hand, refusing the silver. Hearing how serious she sounded, he relented, “I’ll deliver the message once more, Lady Zheng.”

Jiang Tingxue was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.

After a long wait, the messenger returned. Before she could express her relief, the gatekeeper apologized, “Lady Zheng, my young lady says there is no longer any connection between you and our family. She said that even if Zheng Yihan were to die, he needn’t come looking for her, and as for you, being his concubine, even if you are legitimized, it has nothing to do with her. There’s no need to seek her out.”

Jiang Tingxue: “…”

She stood there, dumbfounded, her face burning hot once again.

She had never imagined that even after saying she was leaving, Ji Qingli would still be so resolute, refusing to meet her at all!

Even as she offered Zheng Yihan back, there was no reaction from her. It was clear Ji Qingli truly no longer cared about him.

Jiang Tingxue bitterly smiled. After all the scheming she had done to steal the man she loved, even after he had harmed her father, she couldn’t completely let go of her feelings for him. She had hoped that before she left, everything could return to how it should be—she would return to her small village, and Ji Qingli would return to being Lady Zheng. Surely, that would make him happy.

This time, Jiang Tingxue didn’t ask the gatekeeper to pass on another message. She turned silently and walked toward the city gate.

Her figure was lonely.

Prince Yu’s entire family was now under heavy guard, accused of treason, and the other princes had been similarly restrained. It was said that evidence of Prince Yu’s rebellion had been found.

With this news, families who had associated with Prince Yu in the capital were thrown into a panic. Even some timid princes were scrambling to return their fiefs as a sign of loyalty.

No one had expected that the most cunning of all, Prince Yu, would be the first to fall. Emperor Jiang’s methods were truly formidable.

Qingli had only provided a single piece of information and then reaped the rewards while eating, drinking, and relaxing. Watching as the third prince lost credit for the discovery brought her great satisfaction.

The eighth prince, who benefited from this, was very grateful to the Ji family, though since it was a mere transaction, neither side made it public.

With Prince Yu’s downfall, the capital became much quieter for a time.

Qingli was more than happy to take this opportunity to enjoy herself.

Although ancient times weren’t as developed, the variety of street food was certainly unique, and wandering around sampling different snacks was quite enjoyable.

But…

Qingli looked at the person before her and silently cursed her luck!

She had only just arrived at her first destination, Wangyue Pavilion, to enjoy some pastries, but before she could even enter, she ran into Zheng Yihan. What rotten luck!

She quietly turned to avoid him.

To Qingli, the matter with Zheng Yihan was long over. He had once sworn an oath to the original Qingli, but when he insisted on taking a concubine, she had sent him a “sonless curse” pill and watched him take it voluntarily, sealing their fate. That had ended all love and hatred between them.

As for her grudge with the Zheng family, that was halfway settled. Now, no one in the Zheng family held a position higher than the sixth rank. Zheng’s father, though still young at just over forty, could already see a bleak future ahead.

The rest was best left to her parents to handle.

When Ji Heng returned, someone would need to vent his frustrations.

With Prince Yu’s defeat, once the eighth prince’s investigation was complete, he would face either lifelong imprisonment or death. There was no way he would ever hold power again.

As for the third prince, his plans had failed, and with Ji Heng still alive, he would never become emperor!

In Qingli’s mind, the coming days were simply a time to sit back in the capital, watch the drama unfold, find a handsome man she liked, get married, have a child, and wait for Zheng Yihan to realize he could never have children. By then, she would be holding her baby, watching him choke on his frustration.

None of this included being pestered by Zheng Yihan.

She knew that Prince Yu had been imprisoned and that Jiang Tingxue had secretly left the capital days ago, but she didn’t care to know the details. She certainly didn’t expect Zheng Yihan to still be hanging on.

He looked much thinner, his complexion paler. Despite his elegant attire, his weakness showed through, and his clothes were much looser. When he spoke, his attempt at acting casual only made him seem more awkward: “A’li, are you heading to Wangyue Pavilion? What a coincidence, I was planning to go too.”

Qingli rubbed her arms as goosebumps appeared. “No thanks. Seeing you has ruined my appetite.”

Zheng Yihan’s expression stiffened, but in the next moment, he casually said, “How about we go to a teahouse for a drink instead?”

“We’re already divorced!” Qingli frowned. “Do I need to show you the divorce papers?”

Zheng Yihan’s smile faltered, and a hint of bitterness crept into his voice. “A’Li, do we have to be like this?”

Qingli gave him a knowing look, then turned and started walking in a different direction.

Unwilling to give up, Zheng Yihan chased after her. If he couldn’t reconcile with A’Li, the Third Prince might resort to other means for the sake of the Ji family.

Qingli’s expression grew even sterner. Suddenly, she stopped and turned to look at the man, narrowing her eyes. “You’re not an official anymore, right?”

“Huh?” Zheng Yihan was taken aback by the question, awkwardly avoiding the answer.

Qingli smiled. “Good. Beating up a court official would cause trouble, but hitting you is no problem.”

Zheng Yihan: “???”

Before he could process what she meant, a fist came flying at him. Though her fist looked small and delicate, the pain that followed made him cry out as he stumbled backward, nearly landing in the middle of the street.

Qingli shook out her fist, which stung a little, but seeing Zheng Yihan clutching his face in pain made her laugh. She raised an eyebrow and said with a fierce undertone, “Listen up. If you dare follow me again, I’ll hit you every time I see you!”

The surrounding onlookers shook their heads, murmuring to each other, “That girl sure is fierce!”

“Young scholar, you’d better not marry such a tough girl, or you’ll never be able to go anywhere.”

Zheng Yihan rubbed the spot where he’d been hit, staring at the bold girl who had just threatened him so openly. His expression became dazed. Despite the bystanders’ words, he shook his head instinctively. “No, she wouldn’t.”

A’Li was fierce, yes, but in the past, when street thugs had bullied people, she had fought them off. But her fierceness had never been directed at him.

His A’Li would never hit him!

Though his body ached from the punch, what hurt more was the emptiness inside. His throat tightened, and he fought back tears.