Dan Yan, a scion of the prestigious Hedong Commandery clan from Lingnan, grew up alongside Wei Qingge. Their paths diverged as one went south and the other north, leading to a gradual estrangement.
Upon hearing of Wei Qingge's impending marriage, Dan Yan accompanied his aunt, Wei Qingge's mother, to Shangjing.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Wei Qingge returned home, she clamored to break off the engagement.
Wei's mother, doting on her daughter since childhood, inquired about the reasons when she insisted on the annulment.
Sensing an opportunity, Wei Qingge proceeded to thoroughly disparage Li Qiongyu. Her mother, growing increasingly indignant at the account, was about to acquiesce when the returned General Wei sternly rebuked her.
An imperial decree for marriage was not to be trifled with.
Wei's mother understood the gravity of the situation. However, harboring affection for her nephew, she suggested consulting with the Marquis Xuanping's estate to explore the possibility of a broken engagement.
Li Qiongyu's expression turned frigid upon receiving the news from his father while he was in the palace.
He sneered, flicking a chess piece off the sand table. He then leaned back into the chair behind him, a hint of terror in his gaze.
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Chizhan glanced at him. Seeing his silence, he paid him no mind, his brow furrowed as he studied the game.
"She's been in your residence for a month now."
Liu Rongruo grunted in affirmation.
"A spy intercepted correspondence between her and Xie Beihan, but nothing conclusive could be discerned. Take a look."
As Xiao Chizhan spoke, he handed Liu Rongruo an envelope with no contents.
Li Qiongyu, unconcerned with their conversation, rose and walked out.
He rode out of the palace and, before reaching Jingyu, spotted Wei Qingge on the long street.
She was laughing merrily as she walked towards a jade shop with a man clad in a blue robe.
He raised an eyebrow slightly and leisurely rode his horse past the shop entrance.
He had paid a considerable sum to heal her injuries, only for her to use her newfound strength to break off their engagement and flirt with other men?
Li Qiongyu watched the two figures inside with a cold sneer. With a sharp "Giddy up," he rode away.
Upon returning to Jingyu, he ordered his men to investigate all information pertaining to Dan Yan.
He did, however, uncover something rather interesting.
"Young Master, should we inform the Prime Minister?"
Li Qiongyu, legs slung over the desk, lounged lazily in his chair.
"He's a cunning fox; does he need me to remind him?"
Jing Yu was speechless.
"He's a good dog."
Wei Qingge persistently demanded the annulment. However, fate intervened when her devout grandmother, who practiced Buddhism, returned from Mount Wuxing and intended to burn incense and pay respects at Puji Temple on the outskirts of the capital. Wei Qingge accompanied her, spending several days in the mountains.
One day, as she emerged from the Buddhist hall, she saw Dan Yan waiting outside.
"Cousin."
Wei Qingge immediately ran towards him with a smile.
Dan Yan held a robe in his hand. Seeing her approach, he handed her the garment.
"The mountain air is cold; wear more."
"It's alright, I'm hardy."
Wei Qingge said, yet still accepted the robe and wrapped it around herself.
"Let's go. Grandmother is chanting scriptures with the master. We should hurry and eat; I'm starving."
Dan Yan chuckled softly. "Alright."
Li Qiongyu was, of course, aware of their activities in the mountains.
Every day, hidden guards would send back reports detailing what they ate and what they did, with no detail spared.
"So, the two families intend to form a marriage alliance?"
Jing Yu clearly detected the coldness in his young master's eyes and bowed. "It was the Old Madam who mentioned it, but Miss Wei is already engaged; she only brought it up in passing."
"Heh, she's eager to break off our engagement and find someone else."
Li Qiongyu looked at the mastiff outside the door and called out.
"Qingqing, come in."
Jing Yu watched as the all-white mastiff stomped in aggressively, retreating a few steps.
This was an ancient breed from the Western Regions, obtained by his young master during an errand there. It was incredibly precious, said to be extinct, with no others of its kind.
Its temperament was ferocious, obeying only his young master.
Li Qiongyu gazed at the mastiff obediently lying at his feet, leaning forward slightly and curling his lips. He reached out and stroked it.
"Qingqing, you're not being good."
"Awooo~"
-----
At the temple.
Wei Qingge emerged from the Dharma hall, rubbing her stiff neck and complaining.
"When can we leave? It's so boring."
"Is Miss tired? Your maid will go fetch some divine water from the back mountain; it's said to be very efficacious."
Wei Qingge disliked such rituals and waved her hand.
"You go ahead. I'll go back and rest for a while. We still have lectures in the afternoon, which is tedious."
"Yes."
Wei Qingge ambled back to her lodging. As soon as she entered the small courtyard, she saw Jing Yu.
She curled her lips. "Why are you here?"
"My young master sent his subordinate to deliver a gift to Miss."
The guard behind him presented a rosewood brocade box inlaid with gold.
Wei Qingge waved her hand dismissively. "Who wants his gifts? Go back and tell him that if he doesn't agree to break the engagement, he can expect to be cuckolded."
With that, she turned to leave.
Jing Yu respectfully blocked her path. "Why doesn't Miss open it and take a look?"
Wei Qingge found their behavior strange. A faint, fishy odor in the air ignited an undeniable unease within her.
She involuntarily glanced at the ornate brocade box, her palms growing cold with sweat.
Seeing this, the guard respectfully handed it over.
Suspiciously, she reached out and took it, slowly opening the brocade box.
"Ah—"
A severed finger!
Wei Qingge's face instantly turned ashen. She shrieked, dropped the box, and stumbled backward in terror, collapsing onto the ground.
The bloody severed finger rolled around on the floor.
Her eyes widened as she stared at the finger, then looked up at the impassive Jing Yu in disbelief, her voice trembling.
"You—you all—"
Are you insane? Crazy!
What lunatics.
Jing Yu bowed respectfully. "Miss, please examine it closely."
Wei Qingge stared with wide, terrified eyes, stiffly twisting her head to look at the severed finger.
"The precious ring!"
She gasped. This was the ring she had personally chosen for her cousin at the jade shop that day.
Wei Qingge looked at Jing Yu and the others not far away in disbelief.
"This severed finger—it's—it's Dan Yan's—"
Jing Yu said nothing, but his expression clearly confirmed her suspicion.
Wei Qingge felt her mind about to explode. Indescribable shock, anger, and fear coiled within her heart, causing her pupils to tremble.
She clutched her skirt and stumbled forward, picking up the severed finger from the ground.
It was her cousin's; it truly was her cousin's.
It was the ring she had picked out with her own hands.
"Are you crazy? What are you doing? What is this all about—"
Wei Qingge, furious and horrified, stood up holding the severed finger.
"What is Li Qiongyu doing? Why is he going crazy and chopping off my cousin's finger?!"
Jing Yu bowed. "He touched someone he shouldn't have. This is his consequence."
Hearing his indifferent voice, Wei Qingge's spine lurched violently. Her entire body trembled uncontrollably as she erupted in a rage.
"Why is he going mad? That's my cousin."
Though her anger was palpable, her voice came out as a hoarse rasp, sounding utterly powerless.
Jing Yu lowered his gaze and reminded her, "Miss, your marriage with the Young Master is settled. If you continue to cause trouble and pine for those you shouldn't, next time, it won't be a simple severed finger."