Outside the window, a vast expanse of snow white paints the world, Wei Qinglan lies on the heated kang, yet feels a chill in her heart, a sort of self-deception bitterness.
The door creaks open, a man in a silver mink coat walks in, turning his hands to play with the nearly extinguished furnace.
"What on earth do the people in this house eat? They can't even keep your furnace burning!" The man's voice carries authority without anger.
Wei Qinglan gazes at this man whom she has loved for over a decade, a bitter smile tugs at her lips.
"The divorce letter has already been signed. How can these people continue to care for a worthless mistress like me?" Wei Qinglan mocks, a hint of ridicule at the corner of her mouth as she looks at the man standing in front of her.
Who would have thought the two of them would end up here?
The man's eyebrows twitched slightly, "Qinglan, it's not what you think! The crime of the Wei family is a serious one that implicates our entire clan! If I hadn't signed this divorce letter in advance, the entire Prince Qi's mansion, as well as our children, would be involved! The Emperor, who you watched grow up, you know what he's thinking!"
Wei Qinglan took a long breath and called out calmly, "Qi Changfeng." She was too tired to listen anymore.
Qi Changfeng turned to his wife, it's been many years since he last heard Wei Qinglan call him by his name.
Since childhood, she used to call him 'Brother Feng'. Even Qi Changfeng didn't anticipate that hearing his name from Wei Qinglan would make him feel an inner chill.
"Qi Changfeng, we've known each other since we were three years old, and it's been thirty years now. Only today did I realize that you're such a decisive man."
Wei Qinglan's eyes, sharp as knives, etched onto Qi Changfeng's face, making him involuntarily lower his own eyes, laden with thick lashes.
"Qinglan... I..." Qi Changfeng was at a loss.
"Who taught you this? Come out! If you dare to do it, you must dare to face it!" Wei Qinglan no longer wanted to waste her breath on Qi Changfeng. If after thirty years, she still didn't understand a person, then she'd be rather useless.
"Sister, as expected, you're smart!" A woman pushed the door and walked in.
"Xiao Ya." Qi Changfeng immediately stood up. "What are you doing here?" Qi Changfeng shook his head, signifying for Xiao Ya to quickly leave.
"Let her stay and make everything clear!" Wei Qinglan shouted, her still intimidating demeanor made Qi Changfeng tremble.
Xiao Ya coldly snorted, "Brother Changfeng, look, this is the Sister Qinglan you've been defending! If it weren't for your biased protection all these years, would Sister Qinglan become more and more unbridled in Prince Qi's Mansion? Think again, the old mistress that sister has driven out, ended up dying in the temple! How about now? Are you still going to tolerate this?"
Qi Changfeng's brows furrowed, standing there, in a difficult position to take any side.
Wei Qinglan laughed, but it was a laugh so sour it made hearts ache. The old mistress she chased away? It was Qi Changfeng's mother who contracted a strange disease. If it weren't for her sending the mother to recuperate in the temple, she wouldn't have survived to enjoy her last peaceful three years!
Wei Qinglan wanted to bellow out loud, but seeing Qi Changfeng's hesitance and struggle, her heart dropped.
How did she come to love such a man?
"Sister Qinglan, you were born into the Wei family, renowned for their skills in medicine, identified as having dual spiritual powers since birth, everyone held you in high regard. But, what of it? As of now, you’ve lost!"
Xiao Ya's lips curled up, standing triumphantly in front of Wei Qinglan.
"You probably cannot even protect the Wei household as of now!"
What does it mean to not protect? Wei Qinglan’s phoenix eyes immediately glared at Xiao Ya!
There is something hateable in everyone! Now, she is the hateable one!
Xiao Ya's accomplishments today, all came from her assistance, or else how could Xiao Ya have become the leading senior sister of Tian Zhu Gate?
Wei Qinglan's lips quirked up, she was laughing, laughing at her own foolishness, her own infatuation!
If she had another life, she would never be so merciful!
At this moment, the sound of a gong piercing the silence could be heard.
Xiao Ya's lips curved in a smirk, "Sister, do you know what time it is now? It's noon!"
Weiqing Lan felt a shiver down her spine at Xiao Ya’s smile. What did she mean? What was significant about noon today?
Xiao Ya chuckled slightly, "Oh, Sister, you haven't heard? At the third quarter of noon today, every member of the Wei family will die outside the 'Noon Gate' through decapitation."
"What!" Weiqing Lan's whole body quivered, "Qi Changfeng, tell me if this is true or not!"
Qi Changfeng turned away, not daring to meet Weiqing Lan's gaze.
Xiao Ya laughed coldly, "Sister, you should feel lucky. At least, you, as a member of the Wei family, are still alive."
Weiqing Lan was trembling, completely ignoring Xiao Ya and instead saying to Qi Changfeng, "Qi Changfeng! When I was ten, you had a high fever and nearly died. I knelt before my grandfather and begged for our Wei family's spiritual medicine to save you. At fifteen, your father was only the commander of the army who was poisoned, and it was me who begged my master for the life-preserving elixir for you. At twenty, when over a hundred people at the border camp were infected with a deadly fever and nobody dared to approach them, it was me who rode with you on a single horse to the bordercamp, risking our lives to save all the generals. It was these actions that led the Qi family to their present glory!"
The more she spoke, the more agitated Weiqing Lan became.
"So you, Qi Changfeng, think you can cut off everything between us just by severing our marital ties? Can you forget all the things I've done for the Qi family? Can you forget all the things the Wei family has sacrificed for your Qi family?"
Weiqing Lan sat up with effort, vowing that as long as she had a breath left in her, she would not allow the Wei family to perish before her eyes.
Qi Changfeng was trembling, his hands tightly clenched into fists. He knew well the kindness that Wei Qinglan had shown him. But it wasn't that he wanted to abandon her, rather, if he didn't, the Wei family's issues would affect the Qi family. The whole Qi family would be endangered!
"That's enough! So all you have to say is how great you are, Weiqing Lan. Haven't you already received enough? The late Emperor personally awarded you the title of number one female doctor in the entire kingdom and then you married into the Qi family, becoming a princess! The Qi family went from being the head of the army to becoming the prince's mansion, all of which are dignities bestowed upon you."
Xiao Ya noticed Qi Changfeng's hesitation. She hastily spoke up, nearly yelling.
"Weiqing Lan, this time, brother Changfeng cast you off solely because the Wei family's ambitions have grown too large! Because of your favor, you dared to meddle in the decision about the Crown Prince. Since you chose to help the 15th prince, wouldn't the reigning emperor try to eliminate the troublesome Wei family?"
Help the 15th prince? Weiqing Lan frowned deeply, this accusation was purely fabricated.
Suddenly, Weiqing Lan remembered. Was Xiao Ya implying that the help she gave to the 15th prince was when she treated him for his illness? Yet, that was when Xiao Ya sought her help!
As Weiqing Lan turned her gaze toward Xiao Ya, she indeed saw a sly smile playing on Xiao Ya's lips.