Chapter 64: Rather Than Being Humiliated, It's Better to Take Control (2)
The Next Morning.
Gu Qingzhou had not returned to the Ye residence all night. It wasn't until dawn that he sobered up and made his way back.
Reeking of alcohol, he trudged through the estate, ignoring the disdainful gazes of the servants.
He didn't blame them—his actions last night had been disgraceful.
Drinking all night, sleeping on the riverside—no one would think highly of such a man.
Upon returning, his first thought was to explain things to Ye Xueyi.
However, when he arrived at her courtyard, he was told that she had left early in the morning.
For a moment, he felt a mix of relief, anxiety, and guilt.
Where had she gone so early? Was she happy? Was she angry?
If she was happy, what should he feel about it?
If she was angry, was it because of him?
He sat dumbly in the pavilion, allowing the cold wind to brush against him as he dwelled on these thoughts, hesitant to face the truth.
---
Meanwhile, in another room.
"Goddess, please stop making things difficult for me."
A mature woman's face was etched with distress.
To be put in such a predicament so early in the morning—she would rather have avoided this entirely.
"There's nothing difficult about this. If there's something, say it. If not, just don't lie to me."
"Elder Five, I need you to answer me honestly. Is there another secret mission the sect is keeping from me?"
Ye Xueyi's voice was sharp and pressing.
"Goddess, don't dig into unnecessary matters. Fulfilling your role is the greatest contribution to the sect."
Elder Five refused to answer directly, sidestepping the question.
She couldn't outright deny it—sooner or later, the truth would come out.
If Ye Xueyi discovered she had been lied to, there would be consequences.
"Forget it. I'm leaving."
Ye Xueyi frowned. She had already gotten her answer.
If there were truly nothing, Elder Five would have told her outright.
The refusal to answer meant there was indeed a mission, and it was being deliberately hidden from her.
It was likely an order from her master, so she could only drop the subject.
But for the first time, she felt a sense of dissatisfaction with her master.
What was he thinking? Why couldn't he tell her everything?
The noble young man had not only thoughtfully covered her with a blanket the previous night but had also left her with an answer.
An answer that had made her heart tremble.
The Heavenly Dao Sect sought to incite rebellion and overthrow the new regime. Their true purpose in coming to the capital—was to assassinate the Empress!
This completely contradicted what she had believed about the sect merely wanting to negotiate with White Jade Pavilion for mutual survival.
They had promised to assess the political landscape before engaging in peaceful discussions to improve the nation.
But now, Su Qing's words rang in her ears once again, along with the way he had looked at her like she was a fool.
Ye Xueyi was intelligent—she had only trusted her master so completely because she had never questioned him before.
She wasn't an obstinate relic of the past, blindly clinging to a single path.
Now that she had sensed something was wrong, she knew one thing for certain: she couldn't rely on just one perspective.
If Elder Five refused to tell her the truth, there was only one person left to turn to.
Su Qing.
He knew more. She could use his information to verify the truth for herself.
To uncover the real truth!
---
Upon returning to the Ye residence, she barely had time to reach her room before she ran into a familiar figure.
Ye Xueyi frowned.
Gu Qingzhou had been sitting in the cold wind. When he saw his wife, he instinctively stood up to greet her.
It was a reflex, completely disregarding his current state.
His entire body reeked of alcohol, his face was haggard, and he looked no different from a drunken vagrant.
After taking just a few steps, he stopped abruptly, staring blankly at Ye Xueyi.
Even through his dazed mind, he could tell something about her was different.
To be precise, she looked more radiant than ever, even more breathtaking than before.
Her features hadn't changed, but her aura had become more vibrant, more dazzling.
Her blue hair and crimson eyes exuded a brilliance that had never been there before.
For so long, he had never seen her wear such an expression.
For a moment, he was stunned.
But he quickly regained his senses, feeling an overwhelming sense of defeat.
After all this time, he had never once made her smile.
Yet, after spending a single night with another man, she looked as though she had been nourished by the very essence of life.
How pathetic he was.
"Xueyi…"
Gu Qingzhou finally spoke, forcing a greeting through his dry throat.
"Mm."
Ye Xueyi barely acknowledged him, brushing past without another word.
Compared to her usual demeanor, she was even colder.
The faint smile on Gu Qingzhou's lips vanished, replaced by quiet despair.
She must be angry with me. This is all my fault.
But why was she angry?
Perhaps she was disappointed by his actions last night.
Or maybe she was disgusted by his drinking, repelled by his weakness.
He sighed inwardly. He had to change. He couldn't let this happen again.
But in truth, Ye Xueyi wasn't angry, nor was she disappointed.
She simply had far more important matters to deal with, and Gu Qingzhou wasn't one of them.