Hearing this name again, Liu Donghuai felt no ripple in his heart.
"What does Master Su wish to say?"
Su Liren's face was filled with shame. He was not without a sense of honor, and that fleeting absurd thought was driven back to reality by the clear, cold voice.
Not only had his daughter betrayed her husband, but she had also involved his deceased mother.
Being an official was already an act of grace, how could she dare to covet anything else?
He was truly confused by that wicked daughter.
But since he had come, thinking of that wicked daughter's tragic state, he still shamelessly opened his mouth.
"Ever since she returned, she has repeatedly tried to kill herself. Now that she has heard of your return, she refuses to eat or drink. She's on the verge... This humble subject truly does not wish for a white-haired parent to send off a black-haired child. I am shedding all pretense of dignity to beg you, could you deign to visit my home?"
He pleaded so humbly. Liu Donghuai did not want to laugh; he felt it was tragic, but he couldn't help but let out a light chuckle.
That chuckle was full of mockery.
Back then, he felt sorrow for himself; now, he felt sorrow for this old man.
"She will not die. Master Su, please return!"
How could a person who abandoned all sense of propriety and shame for a bite of food possess such integrity?
"To indulge a child is to kill a child."
Liu Donghuai gave him one last piece of advice.
Su Liren no longer had the face to stay.
In the end, he was completely ruined by his only daughter. Whether she lived or died, he would no longer concern himself with it.
As Liu Donghuai had said, how could Su Yurou possibly want to die!
After her father stopped caring about her, she actually started eating. Her mother thought she had come to her senses and even bought her new clothes. Muttering tearfully, she told her many things, but when she wasn't watched for a moment, she disappeared.
Su Yurou came to the county office and squatted in the corner outside the gate for a long time, finally waiting for Liu Donghuai to leave.
He wore a well-fitting light blue gown with embroidered edges, a black silk sash, and stood tall. He was more handsome and imposing than before, speaking with his attendants with composure.
"Brother Donghuai..." Su Yurou's eyes flashed with infatuation.
While in prison, she had regretted countless times and dreamed countless times of returning to the past, to the days when he held her in the palm of his hand.
She truly knew she was wrong.
She was willing to eat coarse food with him, willing to suffer with him. She could endure any hardship now and would never complain again.
Seeing him about to board the carriage, Su Yurou rushed forward.
"Donghuai brother."
Ziguan, who was skilled in martial arts, reacted extremely quickly and immediately blocked Liu Donghuai. "What are you doing? Step back!"
Su Yurou instinctively covered her head and hunched her shoulders. This was a habit developed in prison. Now, she had lost all her confidence and felt uncomfortable even standing in the sun.
The person closest to her in the past stood before her, and only then did she realize how distant he was.
She was like a mouse living in darkness, timid and shrinking, running out with the sole thought of seeing him, but now she was flustered and at a loss.
A strong sense of discomfort surged in Liu Donghuai's heart. Not wanting to say more, he turned to leave.
Su Yurou, however, anxiously shouted, "Husband, don't go!"
She knelt with a plop and crawled to grab Liu Donghuai's hem.
Ziguan was startled by this shout. By the time he reacted, it was too late.
"Let go!" Liu Donghuai's face turned ugly. He tugged but couldn't break free; she held on tightly.
At this moment, a knife suddenly swung, and the hem was directly cut off. Su Yurou, clutching the torn fabric, fell to the ground. By the time she tried to grab again, Ziguan had already kicked her away.
Liu Donghuai looked at the person who had arrived.
Lingxi returned the knife to the constable behind her and looked down at Su Yurou on the ground.
"What kind of madwoman are you, shouting 'husband' at people! Do you want to go to jail?"
Jail.
Su Yurou shivered violently again and looked up at Lingxi.
She looked familiar, as if she had seen her before, but she couldn't remember who it was. Her mind had become dull from being bullied in prison these past few years.
She must be trying to snatch her husband from her.
"He is my husband, my husband. You can't fight me for him. No one can fight me for him."
Lingxi: "...It seems she's gone mad. Chen Chuan, throw her in jail!"
"I don't want to go to jail! Husband, husband, save me! Yurou was wrong, please forgive me. I'll live well with you from now on, husband..."
Liu Donghuai, with a stern face, was about to speak, but Lingxi spoke first.
"Liu Donghuai, you go in. I'll handle this."
Lingxi's tone was almost a command, and she looked at him seriously.
People around had already started paying attention. Liu Donghuai knew she was helping him out of a difficult situation. In fact, he wasn't afraid of people knowing about this matter, but it seemed she wanted to protect his reputation.
At this moment, she was like she had appeared suddenly at the execution ground back then, radiating light.
Liu Donghuai gave Lingxi a deep look and turned to enter the yamen.
"Husband, husband..." Su Yurou stretched out her hand and shouted.
"Su Yurou." Lingxi squatted down, her expression filled with disgust. "Have you forgotten what you did back then? Where do you get the nerve to call him husband? Haven't you caused him enough suffering? He was almost beheaded!"
"You, you..." Su Yurou looked at her fearfully.
Her thoughts returned to the execution ground that year, at the execution platform, Princess Lingxi had run up to stop the execution.
Princess Lingxi!
She was Princess Lingxi!
He and Princess Lingxi were together!
"So you're not crazy? Then you were faking it just now! Who instructed you to slander an imperial official?"
"No, no, I won't dare again." Su Yurou hugged her head, trembling like a sieve from fear. "I don't want to go to jail again, no, no..."
"Please show mercy, Madam!"
An old woman ran over and hugged Su Yurou. "My daughter is out of her mind and talking nonsense. Please show mercy, Madam. I will take her away now, I will take her away now."
"Don't go to jail, don't go to jail..." Su Yurou, terrified like a mouse, could only repeat this phrase.
Lingxi stood up, her eyes devoid of pity.
She had witnessed firsthand how disgusting this woman was.
"If you dare to cause trouble here again, I will not be lenient!"
"I won't dare, I won't dare again." The old woman, tears streaming down her face, dragged Su Yurou away.
Inside the county office, Liu Donghuai had changed his clothes and sat at his desk, his gaze calm, lost in thought.
Lingxi entered and said loudly, "Liu Donghuai, why were you so merciful to that woman just now? You should have kicked her away and thrown her in jail! Let people see that although you are young, you are not to be trifled with."
"Yes, thank you, Princess, for helping me out."
This was clearly a vibrant young woman, so why was she so lifelessly wounded? How deep must her affection for that person be?
"No need for thanks. Just don't send me back to the capital."
"Actually..." Liu Donghuai stood up. "I was originally going to kick her away. You insisted on interfering and even cut my clothes with a knife. I only had two decent outfits, and now I only have one..."