Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Family

Xu Haoran stilled. A thousand possibilities flashed through his mind.

"Explain."

Li Yingshan shook her head, unwilling.

"Explain."

She continued to sob, unable to stop now that she started. "I. Can't."

He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes. Holding it out to her, she took it and blew her nose while trying to stop crying. When her eyes had finally run out of tears, she looked down at her hands in her lap.

"You're going to hate me. I just know it. So why should I say anything? Instead, I'll pack my things and go with Qiu Ling before you command me out of here."

She stood, but he caught her wrist. "What makes you think I'll send you away?"

"What man could accept such a betrayal? Even if you're really magnanimous, Hero Xu, I doubt even you can stand my sin."

"Li Yingshan, what did you do?" Xu Haoran asked pointedly.

Turning her head, she gazed into his eyes. "I never planned on telling you this. And I asked Miao Chuntao and Qiu Ling not to breathe a word of this to anyone, especially you."

"What do you believe is so bad that I'd kick you out?"

Sadness and pain filled her reddened eyes. "That day Zhang Fangong saw the Seventh Prince leave Ten Thousand Ways Restaurant..."

"And? What about it?"

She wrung her hands nervously. "I -I met him there. T- to prove my loyalty to him, I- I- I-" Li Yingshan sniffled and blinked rapidly, trying to hold back her tears. "I laid with him."

Xu Haoran's expression changed in an instant. Worry and concern turned into an unreadable anger. He swiftly stood and stalked towards the door without a word. They slammed shut with a resounding snap!

Li Yingshan sobbed once more. She took one of her needles and pressed it to her Gate of Vitality point to punish herself. Her complexion paled as her face twisted, and she suddenly spat a mouthful of blood. Waves of pain coursed through her body as she convulsed.

I knew it. I knew he'd never be able to forgive it. Without Moonlight Pagoda, I have nothing else to live for. At least, when I die, Qiu Ling will be free. She can marry Zhang Fangong and be happy. Miao Chuntao will be good for Moonlight Pagoda, so who really needs me?

"I should've just let myself whither away and die in the Li family manor back then," she murmured sadly. "Then none of this shitshow would've happened."

She pressed the needle into her arm further, causing another surge of pain. A cry escaped her lips, and she pitched forward off the bed. Landing hard on the ground, Li Yingshan curled up into a little ball. Determination lit in her eyes as she sunk the needle into her Gate of Vitality point. Her eyelids fluttered, and she fell into the black oblivion of unconsciousness.

∇

Xu Haoran stormed back to his residence where Zhang Fangong was sitting, comforting Qiu Ling. He approached them and looked at her.

"Tell me, what gave Li Yingshan the audacity to sleep with the Seventh Prince?"

Qiu Ling's head whipped around. "She told you?!"

He nodded. Qiu Ling could see the fury and pain in his eyes. She knew instantly what Li Yingshan had done. Jumping to her feet, she started off towards Cherry Blossom Hall, but was stopped by Xu Haoran.

"She confides in you more than anyone else. Tell me!"

Zhang Fangong watched, confused. Qiu Ling bowed her head.

"I don't think my Lady told you everything."

"There's more?! Don't tell me she's pregnant! I will not raise that man's son!"

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She shook her head. "No, Young Master. From your reaction, I assume she didn't tell you why she laid with the Seventh Prince."

Zhang Fangong's eyes widened. "What?"

"She said, it was to prove her loyalty," Xu Haoran responded.

Qiu Ling sighed. "Perhaps my Lady doesn't wish to tell you, but I believe I must. Otherwise, you will misunderstand and hate her. Young Master, please don't blame her. She had no choice."

"What do you mean?"

"The Seventh Prince threatened her. He threatened to take away that which she holds most dear. As you might guess, he threatened her with my life. If she didn't lay with him, he'd send people to kill me. For a long time, she saw me as her only family. So my Lady chose to betray you to save my life. I'm not worth her sacrifice; I'm just a lowly maid. But she made her choice, albeit it was forced upon her. Please don't blame her, Young Master. She did it to save a life."

Zhang Fangong sighed. Xu Haoran's eyes widened.

"Qiu Ling, are you sure?"

She nodded. "Miao Chuntao can confirm as well."

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Then it appears I owe her an apology."

He started off towards Cherry Blossom Hall with Qiu Ling and Zhang Fangong in tow. When the approached, the two stayed behind to give the married couple some privacy. Xu Haoran stood in front of the doors and knocked.

No answer.

He knocked again and called out, "Li Yingshan, it's me! Qiu Ling told me the truth. I know why you did what you did."

Silence.

An eerie feeling washed over him. He opened the doors and looked around. When he didn't see her initially, he thought, She must've run off. But... wouldn't she take her maid with her? She wouldn't abandon Qiu Ling here.

He approached the bed and then saw her. His eyes widened, and he dashed to her side. Dropping to his knees with a hard thud, he drew her limp form into his lap.

"Li Yingshan."

She felt cold. Panic filled him. His head shot up.

"ZHANG FANGONG, GO GET A PHYSCIAN!"

At his words, two figures moved separately. Zhang Fangong raced to the front of the manor while Qiu Ling bounded inside. When she saw Li Yingshan's state, she cried out.

"My Lady!"

She dropped to her knees on her other side. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at Xu Haoran.

"What happened to her?" she whimpered.

He shook his head and took her pulse. "Her heartbeat is too slow. I thought she was cured from Fury Black Poison."

"She was!"

But then, Qiu Ling caught on the culprit. She grabbed Li Yingshan right hand. Her medium length fingernails pinched the thin needle and drew it out of Li Yingshan's Gate of Vitality point. Xu Haoran watched in horror. Qiu Ling threw the needle aside.

"Who could've done this? Her martial arts are so strong!" he gasped.

Qiu Ling shook her head. "You don't understand her well enough then. As an Elite of the Jianghu, how couldn't she know that tampering with one's Gate of Vitality point would cause serious injury or even death? My Lady must've done it herself."

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