"Xin Qing, I'm here to take you there." Rong Siman stood at the doorway. Not once did her smile waver, as if her mortification from a few days ago had never happened.
"Where's Ying Qingcang?" Xin Qing asked cautiously.
"He's having a discussion with Ah Hao about the veneration ceremony. Ah Hao asked me to come to get you." If she had said that it was Ying Qingcang who had asked, Xin Qing would not have believed her. But since she had mentioned Ying Hao, Xin Qing had no choice but to take her words into consideration.
"The ceremony will be held underground. It's directly under the castle. Come, let's get going!" Rong Siman said. Before Xin Qing had the chance to think it over, Rong Siman turned around and left. Xin Qing was left with no choice but to follow.
The two women walked in tandem and arrived at an underground site beneath the castle. Rong Siman stopped beside a huge redwood door. Xin Qing was just about to go through the door when she heard Ying Qingcang's voice.
"You mean, the only reason I fell in love with Xin Qing is because of the ancestral behest? Because we both have totems in our bodies?"
Xin Qing frowned. She was prepared to push open the door and enter. Rong Siman held her back, whispering, "Wouldn't you like to know Ying Qingcang's true feelings?"
"Aunt, whatever his feelings are, they most definitely won't be for you. I suggest you go remove your makeup, wash up and then head to bed." Xin Qing was getting tired of this woman, which was why she had thrown out those words without any consideration of propriety. Xin Qing pushed the door open and walked in. When Ying Qingcang saw Xin Qing entering, a tiny smile formed on top of his darkened and gloomy expression. Then he noticed Rong Siman standing behind Xin Qing. All of a sudden, Xin Qing felt a chill in the surrounding air. Ying Qingcang walked up to Xin Qing in a few strides, but his hand was reaching behind Xin Qing.
"Ah...Ah Cang, you...you...what are you planning to do..." Rong Siman's entire body was pinned against the wall as Ying Qingcang strangled her. "Let...let..." She could not even get the words out. Ying Qingcang stared at her coldly. "Since you don't value your life, go ahead and die," Ying Qingcang said.
Xin Qing was panicking. Ying Qingcang was really planning to strangle this woman to death.
"Ying Qingcang. You can't commit murder. Let her go." Xin Qing hugged his arm, though Ying Qingcang did not even spare her a glance. Ying Qingcang's hand kept tightening. Rong Siman's eyes looked as though they were about to pop right out their sockets. Finally, Ying Hao spoke.
"Ah Cang, let her go."
Ying Qingcang's turned his head abruptly and stared at his father. He saw the helplessness and misery in his father's eyes. Frowning, Ying Qingcang released his hand. Rong Siman's body fell to the ground as she gasped for air.
Rong Siman released a series of coughs and raised her head, her face tear-stained. She did not dare to look at Ying Qingcang. Instead, she was looking at Ying Hao as she sobbed.
Ying Qingcang bent forward slightly. "Don't try to test my patience again, and don't ever impose your disgusting intentions on Xin Qing. If this happens again, not even he could save you."
"Get out," Ying Hao said in a harsh tone. Xin Qing noticed annoyance and impatience in his eyes.
Trembling and holding on to the wall for support, Rong Siman left them. Xin Qing watched her leaving form. "After this, she'll give up for sure..." Xin Qing thought.
"Come, Xin Qing. Light the incense." Ying Hao waved Xin Qing over.
Xin Qing burned incense for the ancestors. Then, she noticed a golden scroll placed at the center.
"Is that the behest?" she asked.
Ying Hao nodded. "When you're officially married into the family, you can read its contents."
"That's enough. Let's go back to bed." Ying Qingcang was still sour-faced as he pulled Xin Qing to leave. Xin Qing looked at Ying Hao, who smiled at her. "Go! Remember, no matter what happens, you will become the daughter-in-law of Ying family."
In their room, Ying Qingcang carried Xin Qing to bed. Xin Qing wanted him to wait, but before she could voice out her request, Ying Qingcang had crushed his lips onto hers. Ying Qingcang pressed her against the bed. Soon, her skirt was torn into pieces. A sharp pain coursed through Xin Qing's body as she once again felt a familiar sensation, one that she had not felt for a long time. It was the sensation akin to having her skin torn and cleaved. All of a sudden, she felt an overwhelming rage which gave her enough strength to shove Ying Qingcang away. She grabbed her jacket and rushed out the door.
"Xin Qing!" Ying Qingcang had tried to grab her, but he fingers barely skimmed the hem of her shirt.
Xin Qing ran for dear life until she reached the castle's front entrance. Outside, the night enveloped the plains. Wiping her tears, Xin Qing sprinted towards the stables. She did not know how to operate a right-hand drive, so her only means of escape would be a horse.
Ying Qingcang hurried after her. When he got to the stables, he saw Xin Qing struggling to mount a horse. When Xin Qing turned and saw him, she immediately took the reins and lashed the whip.
"No, Xin Qing! You don't know how to ride!" Ying Qingcang tried to stop her. There was a whipping sound followed by the horse's neigh. Xin Qing fled from the stables with the horse.
"No!" Ying Qingcang's grief-stricken voice sounded behind her, though Xin Qing could hear none of it. They were only in love with each other because of the totems in their bodies. She thought she could take Ying Qingcang's words in stride, but it appeared that she had overestimated Ying Qingcang. That man had indeed been affected. He was doubting his own feelings. The wind whipped at her face, causing her cheeks to hurt. Tears streaked along the inky night like quartz.
A man like that... she could totally do away with.
The galloping horse released a sudden roar as it reared. The horse stood on its hind legs with its two front hoofs raised high. Xin Qing was propelled into the air by inertia. The instant she hit the ground, what she saw was Ying Qingcang's panicking face.
"Serves you right. I'll let you worry yourself to death," Xin Qing thought. Xin Qing wanted to mock Ying Qingcang, but she felt a tremble in her body. Everything went black and she knew nothing else.
"Qingqing, Qingqing, open your eyes and look at me... Doctor, why isn't she waking up?"
"Xin Qing! I haven't seen you for a few days and now you become like this!"
"That son of mine has always been clueless about how women think. When you wake up, I'll beat him up for you."
Voices buzzed in Xin Qing's head. Xin Qing thought she saw a lot of people in white clothes. She saw Monica too, and Ying Hao. There was also a bearded man. After that, she felt pain in her head and passed out.
Xin Qing felt as if she was having a long dream. In the dream, her father was kind to her and she became a brilliant designer who had won a lot of awards. Every day, her mom would be at home preparing meals and waiting for her return. Their family of three would sit around the table and enjoy a meal filled with laughter. Then she saw a man. The man was holding a ring. He was proposing to her. But no matter how hard she looked, she could not make out the man's face.
The man turned around and left. She hurried after him, screaming for him to stay, but no sound came out. The man went further and further away before he became a vanishing black dot. Xin Qing turned around to go home, but only to see flames coming out of her parents' bodies. The flames engulfed everything, leaving nothing behind but ashes.
"No... mom, don't go! Don't leave me on my own. Don't abandon me..."
"Qingqing! Qingqing!"
"Who's calling me... who?"
It felt as if it had taken every bit of strength in her body when Xin Qing opened her eyes. When she did, her eyes fell upon a face with an unkempt beard.
Holding Xin Qing's hand, Ying Qingcang bellowed, "Doctor! Doctor!"
"Qingqing, don't go back to sleep. I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Punish me any way you like, just please, don't go back to sleep," Ying Qingcang cooed while stroking her face.
Xin Qing opened her mouth but her throat was so tight that she could barely make a sound.
"You've been unconscious for too long. Don't talk. Let the doctor examine you."
The doctor examined Xin Qing swiftly before telling Ying Qingcang that the patient was fine, that she should be watching her nutrition and resting well for some time. After the doctor left, Ying Qingcang fed Xin Qing water with a straw. He also helped her sit up against the headboard.
"You've been out for a whole week..." All of a sudden, Ying Qingcang sounded as if he was choking up. Xin Qing tried to lift her arm, but she felt too weak. Ying Qingcang hurried out his next words. "I've notified the family. They'll bring food here soon. You'll feel stronger after you eat something."
Xin Qing blinked and tried to form words. "I... don't...don't...feel like... talking to... you..."
"Okay, okay. Just ignore me and don't talk. Talk only after you've eaten something!" Ying Qingcang sniffed and reached for the sippy cup to feed her more water. This time, Xin Qing took a huge gulp. Looking at Ying Qingcang, she said, "You look terrible."
"He's been here watching you the whole time you were out. He didn't sleep and shave. Of course he'd look terrible!" Monica walked in with two massive lunch boxes. Then she shot Ying Qingcang a glare. "She's awake now. So you can go home and sleep."
Without saying a word, Ying Qingcang took the lunch boxes from Monica and set them on the table. He picked up a bowl of porridge. "Have some porridge first. Otherwise, your stomach won't be able to take it if you suddenly eat solid food," he spoke gently to Xin Qing.
"I'll eat it myself." Xin Qing turned her head away.
Ying Qingcang's hands halted in their movements. He stared at Monica wordlessly.
"Me! I'll feed you!" Monica resigned to her fate and took over the bowl. "Come, Xin Qing, open your mouth!"
Xin Qing felt too weak to move her arms, so she allowed Monica to feed her the porridge, mouthful by mouthful until the bowl was empty. Afterward, she finished another bowl slowly, this time on her own. After the meal, she could feel her body again. Before, when she had just woken up, she could barely feel her own existence.
When Xin Qing was done, Monica began cleaning up, nagging at Xin Qing as she did. "Seriously, I don't get why you're out riding in the middle of the night. You could barely ride during the day, for heaven's sake. Where did you even find the guts to do that, huh? Why didn't you just call me, I could've taken you away..."
Monica swallowed the remaining words under the cold, watchful eyes of Ying Qingcang. Taking the hint, Monica waved at Xin Qing. "I'm heading off first. I'll come see you again tonight!"
Xin Qing nodded and watched Monica leave. After that, she lay down with her back facing Ying Qingcang.
"Qingqing..." Ying Qingcang nudged her gently.
Xin Qing did not move a muscle.
"Please don't ignore me. I know I've hurt you." The pleading was clear in Ying Qingcang's tone when he spoke, as if he was saying a prayer. "You don't know how hard it's been for me these few days when you were out. I kept asking myself what I'd do if you never wake up again. I just can't imagine that kind of life."
Xin Qing sniffed and bit down on the covers, trying to stifle the sounds of her sobs. "What right do you have to decide what's important and what's not? You always do whatever you please. Every time, you take your emotions out on my body." Xin Qing thought.
"I did it because I was scared." Ying Qingcang low voice sounded. "I was afraid that you would start doubting our relationship after you heard those words. At that time, I just wanted to possess you. I was afraid that you'd leave me."
"Sounds more like you're doubting your own feelings." Finally, Xin Qing had said something.
Seeing that Xin Qing had finally ended her silent treatment, Ying Qingcang felt a surge of emotion. Then, the meaning behind her words hit him. "No. That's not it. I'm sure of my own feelings. Please, don't doubt me." Ying Qingcang said hurriedly.
"Then what right do you have to doubt me?"