Things started from the day Xue Mu bumped into Liu Qinghuan bathing.
He grab her hand, eyes full of raging emotions.
” Are you still denying you’re not Liu Qinghuan? ”
Liu Qinghuan freeze, the readied scream that she prepared to dish out is then forcefully shove down her throat.
” I don’t understand what the Marquise is saying. ”
” You don’t? ”
Xue Mu laughs coldly as he raises her right hand in front of her.
” These tooth marks are bitten by me personally when I was 9. ”
She follows his line of sight and on her right arm, there is indeed a neat row of light tooth marks on it.
That day, Liu Qinghuan, with a face full of tears, complained to Xue Mu.
” Ah Mu, 2nd-2nd sister bullied me again…. “
He wiped her tears as he gently consoled her.
” How did she bully you? “
” She bit my hand, and said that a ghost who specially steals children will be coming for me tonight. She even said that it will want to take me as it’s bride. “
Even as she was crying her eyes out, Liu Qinghuan didn’t forgot to lift up her sleeves to show him the marks.
” I don’t wanna be his brideeeeee~~~!!! “
Looking at the tooth marks on her arm, Xue Mu frowned. Liu Qingli sure went full strength on these. The skin is broken and blood was trickling out. No wonder little dumpling here is crying so hard.
” Qing Qing is a good girl, don’t cry. “
He said, heart aching as he gently wipe her tears away. But the gentler Xue Mu was, the harder Liu Qinghuan cried. At last, Xue Mu harden his heart and bit down strongly on her white and plumb arm.
And little dumpling exploded.
” WAHHHHHH!!!! MUM!!!!! AH MU BIT ME!!! I-I DON’t WANNA SEE HIM AGAIN!!!!! “
Seeing Liu Qinghuan was about to ran off to her mother, Xue Mu hurriedly got hold of her.
” I’ve bitten Qing Qing, so Qing Qing is now my bride. When the ghost saw the marks, it won’t take you away. “
Tearfully, she looked at him, uncertain.
” Is-is that true? “
” I won’t lie to Qing Qing. “
Just a smile from Xue Mu got Liu Qinghuan giggling and she forgot all about wanting to complained to her mother.
After so long, the tooth marks Liu Qingli bitten had faded away but, for some reason, the ones left by Xue Mu still left a light indentation on Liu Qinghuan’s arm.
” Liu Qinghuan is Du Juan, Du Juan is Liu Qinghuan. Letting everyone think you’re the fake is the best way to conceal yourself. ”
Xue Mu’s voice pull Liu Qinghuan’s consciousness back and she stare at the person opposite of her, staying silent for quite a while. She previously had the feeling Xue Mu knew who she was, which was why she tried to run but now, what must come, must come.
After staying silent for a moment longer, she finally admit it.
” Have you heard of the ‘The Chain’? It’s treating real as fake and vice versa and lastly, leaving a loophole for you to realize. ‘
That loophole is Hong-er.
Xue Mu browns squeeze together tightly as his hand loosen his grip on her arm, suddenly feeling like all energy is draining out of him.
” Why? ”
Why must she pretend to be Du Juan? Why did she not admit to him that she is Liu Qinghuan?
He knew of her identity from the beginning, but since she refused to admit it, he hasn’t go about poking a hole through it. It is just that recently, he cannot suppress his feelings any longer.
Not answering his question, Liu Qinghuan ask hers instead.
” When did you know who I am? ”
” 2 years ago. It was when I sneaked into the minister mansion and saw it accidentally. ”
” Sneaked into the mansion? ”
Xue Mu smiles.
” Yes. I thought you knew. Because every time I’m there, I saw you with Tang Zhibo. ”
” ………… ”
Tang Zhibo is obviously a conversation burner, as once his name is out, both of them fall silent.
Xue Mu sigh, deciding to skip over Tang Zhibo.
” Is Du Juan a team of 2? ”
Du Juan has been famous within Chang-An city for quite a long time but this connection he found between Liu Qinghuan and Du Juan only surface 2 years ago.
She goes silent, but finally nods.
” The real Du Juan is my teacher. ”
” Teacher? ”
” Un. It was a coincidence I met her and got her help. ”
” Help? ”
Xue Mu slightly straighten his body, feeling like he finally get to the core of the problem.
” Help you with what? ”
” Revenge. ”
His pupil narrow as he stare at her solemnly, the atmosphere in the room sinking.
Liu Qinghuan lowers her eyes, her voice low.
” I am actually not born of Master Liu and Madam Liu. ”
Xue Mu’s heart clench. He want to say something but realize that he can’t even open his mouth.
” My dad is Liu Zhenqing. ”
Liu Zhenqing, the imperial censor officer whose family was massacred.
” How can it be? ”
Xue Mu look disbelievingly at her. When that massacre happened, he was only 3 and most of it was heard from people around him. But never would he dream that Liu Qinghuan is actually Officer Liu’s daughter!
Liu Qinghuan glances at him, asking softly.
” Did you know, Officer Liu and his wife’s family name is actually Su? ”
Xue Mu pauses for a while. Yes, he remembered. That time, there were 3 famed talented ladies in Chang-An. One of them is his mother, Madam Ning. The other two, were the Su family two daughters.
” 17 years ago, when Prince Yong send men to massacre the Liu family, Minister Liu, who got the news, rushed over and only found one alive. And she was a newborn baby, hidden inside a chest of drawers, not crying nor making any noise. If not for the fact that she was breathing, he would had thought she was a stillborn. He sneaked the girl back to his mansion and at that time, Madam Liu just gave birth so they pretended that she gave birth to twins. One named Liu Qingli, another Liu Qinghuan. ”
Xue Mu silently listen to her. If that time at the Lotus Pavilion, he treated her background story as a story, then this time, there is not way he could treat it as another story.
Because his heart hurts.
” How did you come to realize it? ”
” It was on that day you asked me out to the market. I woke up early, deciding to wait at the backdoor for you. When I passed by my parents room, I paid attention to it and… who knows I would hear them talking about it. ”
At that time, the news about Xue Cheng’s death had been confirmed and Minister Liu was afraid that Prince Yong would use this chance to do something, which is why he was discussing with his wife. Who knew Liu Qinghuan would overheard their conversation?
Xue Mu eyes gleam, as if a blade of sunlight slicing through the dark skies, his heart lighten up.
” So… that’s why you got close to Tang Zhibo? ”
” Yes. ”
She nod. That year, she was only 10 and that huge secret she heard had send her into a state of confusion. And yet, in just 3 days later, Prince Yong, along with Tang Zhibo, appeared in front of the Liu Mansion doorstep. It was like fate was pulling strings to guide her onto the road of revenge.
Xue Mu take a deep deep breath, trying to ease his aching heart and confused brain.
” Do you know how dangerous this plan of yours is? ”
What person is Prince Yong? The former Emperor had been fighting with him for so many years and without a result so who was she, a 10 year old kid, trying to exact revenge on him alone?! He’s afraid that without even reaching the Prince’s door, she had already been eaten clean!
Liu Qinghuan lowers her head as Xue Mu grip his hand by his side tightly. After being able to suppress his anger and the fear that comes with it, he calmly ask.
” Why did you not tell me about this? ”
Not matter what she wants, he could have helped her.
The hand she place on her knees tighten. Although she was only 10 at that time, she knew there can be no heading back for revenge and she didn’t want to drag Xue Mu and the Liu Mansion into the mess.
Seeing that she is staying silent, Xue Mu tries another question.
” What are you planning when you marry in as Du Juan? ”
” Tang Zhibo have been wanting to kill you for these few years and while I didn’t get anything useful from him, he wanted to used me to kill you. Our relationship have been rigid for these few years, so I thought you didn’t want to marry me but who knows, you came asking for marriage. Although Tang Zhibo looks to be very tight with me, he only treated me as his chess. So when he knew about you asking for my hand, he wanted to use this chance to finish you off. With no way out, I could only think about this swapping of identity plan. Firstly, Du Juan accounts to no one and secondly… there would be a reason for me to leave the Hou Mansion. ”
” Why would you need to leave? ”
” You know, that I don’t want to drag you into this mess. ”
” You thought so, but do you truly think I can just watch you go to your death?
At the word ‘death’, it is like his heart is pricked by something sharp, throbbing in pain.
Liu Qinghuan stiffen, and lower her head, not looking at Xue Mu. Her heart too, throbbing in pain. After a while, she finally get her breath back.
” Tang Zhibo recently send me a letter, saying that he wanted to collaborate. ”
” Letter? By that girl in purple? ”
Liu Qinghuan can’t help but laugh.
” So you indeed know about it. ”
” Hmpt. Such petty tricks under my eye. Only that idiot Tang Zhibo would think I wouldn’t notice. ”
After finishing looking down on Tang Zhibo, does Xue Mu continue.
” How does he want to to go about doing that? ”
” I gave Aersi a map previously, so he would be trying to determine if that’s real or not. ”
” He contacted Tang Zhibo a few days earlier. ”
” Tang Zhibo wanted the map, and in exchange, he would get me out. ”
” He’s dreaming. ”
Liu Qinghuan coughs.
” I need to go. ”
Xue Mu’s face darken.
” You can try. ”
She bit her lips, looking at him.
” I know that Duke Ling Nan is in town. ”
She used a fake map to finally lure the wily old fox out so she is not going to miss out on this chance.
” I need to get that map in his hands. ”
Xue Mu jaw is clenched tightly. He knows this is the best chance and she is the best choice but…
” No, it’s too dangerous. ”
He cannot send her to such a dangerous place.
” Or do you have a better plan? ”
He goes silent.
” Before I see Duke Ling Nan cease breathing, I’ll be fine. ”
Xue Mu frowns. The two then remain in this position for a while, before Xue Mu’s eyes gleam suddenly.
” Someone is coming. ”
He walk forward and grab her arm as the scream Liu Qinghuan swallowed comes back in full force.
” AHHHHH!!!!!!!! ”
A furry of footsteps and the door is slam open.
Ci Tao and Qing Zhi stand frozen at the door.
Things started from the day Xue Mu bumped into Liu Qinghuan bathing.
He grab her hand, eyes full of raging emotions.
” Are you still denying you’re not Liu Qinghuan? ”
Liu Qinghuan freeze, the readied scream that she prepared to dish out is then forcefully shove down her throat.
” I don’t understand what the Marquise is saying. ”
” You don’t? ”
Xue Mu laughs coldly as he raises her right hand in front of her.
” These tooth marks are bitten by me personally when I was 9. ”
She follows his line of sight and on her right arm, there is indeed a neat row of light tooth marks on it.
That day, Liu Qinghuan, with a face full of tears, complained to Xue Mu.
” Ah Mu, 2nd-2nd sister bullied me again…. “
He wiped her tears as he gently consoled her.
” How did she bully you? “
” She bit my hand, and said that a ghost who specially steals children will be coming for me tonight. She even said that it will want to take me as it’s bride. “
Even as she was crying her eyes out, Liu Qinghuan didn’t forgot to lift up her sleeves to show him the marks.
” I don’t wanna be his brideeeeee~~~!!! “
Looking at the tooth marks on her arm, Xue Mu frowned. Liu Qingli sure went full strength on these. The skin is broken and blood was trickling out. No wonder little dumpling here is crying so hard.
” Qing Qing is a good girl, don’t cry. “
He said, heart aching as he gently wipe her tears away. But the gentler Xue Mu was, the harder Liu Qinghuan cried. At last, Xue Mu harden his heart and bit down strongly on her white and plumb arm.
And little dumpling exploded.
” WAHHHHHH!!!! MUM!!!!! AH MU BIT ME!!! I-I DON’t WANNA SEE HIM AGAIN!!!!! “
Seeing Liu Qinghuan was about to ran off to her mother, Xue Mu hurriedly got hold of her.
” I’ve bitten Qing Qing, so Qing Qing is now my bride. When the ghost saw the marks, it won’t take you away. “
Tearfully, she looked at him, uncertain.
” Is-is that true? “
” I won’t lie to Qing Qing. “
Just a smile from Xue Mu got Liu Qinghuan giggling and she forgot all about wanting to complained to her mother.
After so long, the tooth marks Liu Qingli bitten had faded away but, for some reason, the ones left by Xue Mu still left a light indentation on Liu Qinghuan’s arm.
” Liu Qinghuan is Du Juan, Du Juan is Liu Qinghuan. Letting everyone think you’re the fake is the best way to conceal yourself. ”
Xue Mu’s voice pull Liu Qinghuan’s consciousness back and she stare at the person opposite of her, staying silent for quite a while. She previously had the feeling Xue Mu knew who she was, which was why she tried to run but now, what must come, must come.
After staying silent for a moment longer, she finally admit it.
” Have you heard of the ‘The Chain’? It’s treating real as fake and vice versa and lastly, leaving a loophole for you to realize. ‘
That loophole is Hong-er.
Xue Mu browns squeeze together tightly as his hand loosen his grip on her arm, suddenly feeling like all energy is draining out of him.
” Why? ”
Why must she pretend to be Du Juan? Why did she not admit to him that she is Liu Qinghuan?
He knew of her identity from the beginning, but since she refused to admit it, he hasn’t go about poking a hole through it. It is just that recently, he cannot suppress his feelings any longer.
Not answering his question, Liu Qinghuan ask hers instead.
” When did you know who I am? ”
” 2 years ago. It was when I sneaked into the minister mansion and saw it accidentally. ”
” Sneaked into the mansion? ”
Xue Mu smiles.
” Yes. I thought you knew. Because every time I’m there, I saw you with Tang Zhibo. ”
” ………… ”
Tang Zhibo is obviously a conversation burner, as once his name is out, both of them fall silent.
Xue Mu sigh, deciding to skip over Tang Zhibo.
” Is Du Juan a team of 2? ”
Du Juan has been famous within Chang-An city for quite a long time but this connection he found between Liu Qinghuan and Du Juan only surface 2 years ago.
She goes silent, but finally nods.
” The real Du Juan is my teacher. ”
” Teacher? ”
” Un. It was a coincidence I met her and got her help. ”
” Help? ”
Xue Mu slightly straighten his body, feeling like he finally get to the core of the problem.
” Help you with what? ”
” Revenge. ”
His pupil narrow as he stare at her solemnly, the atmosphere in the room sinking.
Liu Qinghuan lowers her eyes, her voice low.
” I am actually not born of Master Liu and Madam Liu. ”
Xue Mu’s heart clench. He want to say something but realize that he can’t even open his mouth.
” My dad is Liu Zhenqing. ”
Liu Zhenqing, the imperial censor officer whose family was massacred.
” How can it be? ”
Xue Mu look disbelievingly at her. When that massacre happened, he was only 3 and most of it was heard from people around him. But never would he dream that Liu Qinghuan is actually Officer Liu’s daughter!
Liu Qinghuan glances at him, asking softly.
” Did you know, Officer Liu and his wife’s family name is actually Su? ”
Xue Mu pauses for a while. Yes, he remembered. That time, there were 3 famed talented ladies in Chang-An. One of them is his mother, Madam Ning. The other two, were the Su family two daughters.
” 17 years ago, when Prince Yong send men to massacre the Liu family, Minister Liu, who got the news, rushed over and only found one alive. And she was a newborn baby, hidden inside a chest of drawers, not crying nor making any noise. If not for the fact that she was breathing, he would had thought she was a stillborn. He sneaked the girl back to his mansion and at that time, Madam Liu just gave birth so they pretended that she gave birth to twins. One named Liu Qingli, another Liu Qinghuan. ”
Xue Mu silently listen to her. If that time at the Lotus Pavilion, he treated her background story as a story, then this time, there is not way he could treat it as another story.
Because his heart hurts.
” How did you come to realize it? ”
” It was on that day you asked me out to the market. I woke up early, deciding to wait at the backdoor for you. When I passed by my parents room, I paid attention to it and… who knows I would hear them talking about it. ”
At that time, the news about Xue Cheng’s death had been confirmed and Minister Liu was afraid that Prince Yong would use this chance to do something, which is why he was discussing with his wife. Who knew Liu Qinghuan would overheard their conversation?
Xue Mu eyes gleam, as if a blade of sunlight slicing through the dark skies, his heart lighten up.
” So… that’s why you got close to Tang Zhibo? ”
” Yes. ”
She nod. That year, she was only 10 and that huge secret she heard had send her into a state of confusion. And yet, in just 3 days later, Prince Yong, along with Tang Zhibo, appeared in front of the Liu Mansion doorstep. It was like fate was pulling strings to guide her onto the road of revenge.
Xue Mu take a deep deep breath, trying to ease his aching heart and confused brain.
” Do you know how dangerous this plan of yours is? ”
What person is Prince Yong? The former Emperor had been fighting with him for so many years and without a result so who was she, a 10 year old kid, trying to exact revenge on him alone?! He’s afraid that without even reaching the Prince’s door, she had already been eaten clean!
Liu Qinghuan lowers her head as Xue Mu grip his hand by his side tightly. After being able to suppress his anger and the fear that comes with it, he calmly ask.
” Why did you not tell me about this? ”
Not matter what she wants, he could have helped her.
The hand she place on her knees tighten. Although she was only 10 at that time, she knew there can be no heading back for revenge and she didn’t want to drag Xue Mu and the Liu Mansion into the mess.
Seeing that she is staying silent, Xue Mu tries another question.
” What are you planning when you marry in as Du Juan? ”
” Tang Zhibo have been wanting to kill you for these few years and while I didn’t get anything useful from him, he wanted to used me to kill you. Our relationship have been rigid for these few years, so I thought you didn’t want to marry me but who knows, you came asking for marriage. Although Tang Zhibo looks to be very tight with me, he only treated me as his chess. So when he knew about you asking for my hand, he wanted to use this chance to finish you off. With no way out, I could only think about this swapping of identity plan. Firstly, Du Juan accounts to no one and secondly… there would be a reason for me to leave the Hou Mansion. ”
” Why would you need to leave? ”
” You know, that I don’t want to drag you into this mess. ”
” You thought so, but do you truly think I can just watch you go to your death?
At the word ‘death’, it is like his heart is pricked by something sharp, throbbing in pain.
Liu Qinghuan stiffen, and lower her head, not looking at Xue Mu. Her heart too, throbbing in pain. After a while, she finally get her breath back.
” Tang Zhibo recently send me a letter, saying that he wanted to collaborate. ”
” Letter? By that girl in purple? ”
Liu Qinghuan can’t help but laugh.
” So you indeed know about it. ”
” Hmpt. Such petty tricks under my eye. Only that idiot Tang Zhibo would think I wouldn’t notice. ”
After finishing looking down on Tang Zhibo, does Xue Mu continue.
” How does he want to to go about doing that? ”
” I gave Aersi a map previously, so he would be trying to determine if that’s real or not. ”
” He contacted Tang Zhibo a few days earlier. ”
” Tang Zhibo wanted the map, and in exchange, he would get me out. ”
” He’s dreaming. ”
Liu Qinghuan coughs.
” I need to go. ”
Xue Mu’s face darken.
” You can try. ”
She bit her lips, looking at him.
” I know that Duke Ling Nan is in town. ”
She used a fake map to finally lure the wily old fox out so she is not going to miss out on this chance.
” I need to get that map in his hands. ”
Xue Mu jaw is clenched tightly. He knows this is the best chance and she is the best choice but…
” No, it’s too dangerous. ”
He cannot send her to such a dangerous place.
” Or do you have a better plan? ”
He goes silent.
” Before I see Duke Ling Nan cease breathing, I’ll be fine. ”
Xue Mu frowns. The two then remain in this position for a while, before Xue Mu’s eyes gleam suddenly.
” Someone is coming. ”
He walk forward and grab her arm as the scream Liu Qinghuan swallowed comes back in full force.
” AHHHHH!!!!!!!! ”
A furry of footsteps and the door is slam open.
Ci Tao and Qing Zhi stand frozen at the door.
