Chieftain Mo Lin racked his brains for another few days and finally decided to incorporate acupuncture into Xin Qing's treatment. After putting Xin Qing through two acupuncture therapy sessions, he noticed the medicine that he had previously prescribed beginning to take effect. That was when he realized that the prescription must work in tandem with acupuncture to have the most potent effect on Xin Qing!
Ying Qingcang's mind was at ease after obtaining the chieftain's reassurances. Based on the chieftain's estimation, it would take roughly a month for the treatment plan to complete. After discussing with Boss Wan, Ying Qingcang decided to send a few men back home. Young Master Shen and the others were still awaiting news from them. That, and the fact that they had both been away from their respective stations for so long, was starting to weigh on their minds. They had no idea if things were functioning normally back in the outside world.
Meanwhile, in England, Young Master Shen was still engaged in a stand-off with Ying Hao.
"Uncle Ying, it's already been a week, yet you're still refusing to let Ah Sha leave?"
"It's completely natural for a girl to be staying with her grandfather. What reason do you have to take Ah Sha away?" Ying Hao gave Young Master Shen a look of disapproval. "Hurry up and get out of here, you brat. Tell Ah Cang to come see me when he's back."
Young Master Shen laughed bitterly. "You think I don't want to leave?" he thought. But if he so much as put one foot forward to leave, Xunxun would probably end up blowing the entire castle to Kingdom come.
Young Master Shen beseeched Ying Hao to reconsider. "Look, sir. It's better for you to let me bring the child back while Ah Cang is still away. Otherwise, you won't even have the chance to be his father anymore when the time comes!"
Ying Hao sneered. "You think his word alone is enough to decide whether or not I'm his father? He is my son as long as there's a single drop of the Ying family's blood flowing inside his veins. Look, don't say anything else. You either stay here obediently, or you leave." After that, Ying Hao grabbed his walking stick and went upstairs.
Rong Siman approached Young Master Shen slowly when she saw Ying Hao's departure. Laughing, she said, "Ah Cang will never disown his father because of a woman. Don't say I didn't warn you, but that Ah Sha isn't related to the Ying family by blood. If you dare sneak the child away, the old man will resort to murder."
Young Master Shen took a step back and frowned. "Now you listen to me well," Youn Master Shen said. "Ah Cang has placed Ah Sha in my care, so if anything happens to her, I will kill the person responsible. For your own sake, I hope you behave yourself."
After that, Young Master Shen stepped around Rong Siman and headed to the guest bedroom where Xunxun and Ah Sha stayed. All this while, Ah Sha had been assuming that she was on some kind of vacation trip. On the day Young Master Shen and Xunxun arrived in England, the little girl had been in the middle of riding her pony; yes, Ying Hao had even arranged for someone to transfer Ah Sha's pony to England. When Ah Sha saw them both, she had happily told them that her grandpa had invited her here for a vacation, that she would be staying here for quite some time. Ah Sha thought that everyone had come here because they wanted to keep her company.
Xunxun had wanted to take her away back then. But Ying Hao had managed to convince Ah Sha to stay right in front of their eyes. In the end, it was Ah Sha herself who had refused to leave. When Xunxun suggested to take her away by force, Ying Hao had threatened Xunxun by saying that Ah Sha would be put to death right then and there if he tried. Ah Sha was not related to the Ying family by blood, after all.
Fortunately, other than prohibiting Ah Sha from leaving his home, Ying Hao had been treating Ah Sha kindly.
"I'm so sorry, Ah Sha. I'll never make you angry again. You can film any commercial you like," Xunxun said. He had been saying the same thing over and over again for the past few days. He felt extremely guilty about how things turned out. Had he not angered Ah Sha that day, Ah Sha would never have snuck off on her own. She would never have been kidnapped.
Ah Sha was holding a small lamb in her arms as she combed its fleece. When she heard Xunxun's apology, she squinted at him and patted his shoulder. "Brother Xunxun," Ah Sha said, "you don't have to keep apologizing. I've already forgiven you!"
"But I can't forgive myself..."
Deep down, Xunxun was distraught. How was he supposed to face Ying Qingcang? Ying Qingcang would never let him live this one down for the rest of his life, of that he was sure. Not to mention that Xunxun had indirectly caused Ah Sha's kidnapping. Heck, Ying Qingcang would probably kill him first before the teasing even began.
"Ah Sha!" Young Master Shen called out as he walked over with his phone in hand. "Your daddy wants to speak with you!"
Xunxun's eyes instantly went wide, like two spheres. Young Master Shen gave Xunxun a look and shook his head subtly.
Whatever it was that Ying Qingcang was telling Ah Sha over the phone, it had Ah Sha chuckling for a long time. Near the end of the call, Ah Sha had even planted a kiss on the phone's receiver before handing the phone to Xunxun. "Brother Xunxun, daddy wants to speak with you."
Xunxun ground his teeth together and took the phone from Ah Sha. Xunxun's expression turned even more serious as he listened to what Ying Qingcang had to say. Then, he nodded forcefully and hummed in agreement. After that, Young Master Shen reclaimed the phone and stepped aside to continue the conversation. Ah Che came in and picked up Ah Sha. "Little miss, shall we go feed your pony?"
Ah Sha did not resist Ah Che's attempt to pick her up. "Is Brother Xunxun coming too?" she asked.
"Ah Sha should go on ahead first. I'll catch up once I've used the bathroom!" said Xunxun. After Ah Sha left, Xunxun walked over and stood beside Young Master Shen. Young Master Shen hung up the phone and stared down at Xunxun. "Your father-in-law thinks it is necessary that we take Ah Sha away."
Xunxun nodded. "I'm thinking the same. That old man might not try to harm Ah Sha, but there're no guarantees that we're able to protect her from that Rong Siman woman."
"I'll make the arrangements. We need to make our move ASAP." Young Master Shen paused. "Oh, and we can ask Ying Qingcang's grandfather for help!"
Having found out that her condition was curable, Xin Qing had been sporting a smile on her face for the past few days. Still, she noticed that both Ying Qingcang and Boss Wan were acting rather strangely. They would send a few of their men away from the village for several days. Then once the men returned, they would huddle together and speak to each other in muted tones.
Today, as they strolled around the village after dinner, Xin Qing finally had enough. "Are you hiding something from me?" she asked straight-out.
Ying Qingcang placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her forward. "What? No," he said, glancing down at Xin Qing. "You haven't been experiencing any sickness lately, and your body had shown new reactions too. I learnt from the books that pregnant women are highly sensitive. The books also claimed that pregnant women are also more susceptible to anxiety. Well, I never did believe it before, but looking at you now, I think I do!"
"Sensitive? How am I sensitive?" Xin Qing glared up at him defiantly. Ying Qingcang bit down on her earlobe. "Not sensitive, huh? I wonder who's the one who had squirted all over my hand when I fingered her last night!"
"You..." Flustered and tongue-tied, Xin Qing pinched his waist. "Don't say it! Don't you dare say it!"
Ying Qingcang kissed her passionately. "That damned old man kept saying that we can't share a bed during your treatment. You know what, I bet he's bluffing. How nice to be you, though. I can still pleasure you with my mouth and hands," Ying Qingcang said. Then, he grabbed Xin Qing's hand and guided it to his crotch. "Your man, however, is about to die from blue balls."
Xin Qing yanked her hand back and stared at down at her feet. After a long while, she murmured, "Is it... Is it really that bad?"
"What do you think?" Ying Qingcang held her arm and they strolled on.
Xin Qing blushed. "Then... Then tonight I'll... you know... use my hand..."
The corners of Ying Qingcang's lips tugged upwards. "Really?" he asked, staring at her.
"Mm!" Xin Qing nodded relentlessly.
"Then let's head back right this instant!" After that, Ying Qingcang all but dragged Xin Qing back where they came from. Like an obedient wife, Xin Qing followed him back to the bamboo building. As he undressed her, Ying Qingcang saw the way she was sitting on the bed anxiously as if she were about to march into a war. He decided to tease her a little. "Why are you acting so nervous? It's not like we haven't done this before."
Xin Qing was recalling the way she had once gotten him off using her hand during the start of their relationship. Her head hung even lower at the thought. After that, she decided to just crawl under the covers. Ying Qingcang changed into his pyjamas and lay down beside her. He drew her into his arms. "Hey, it's okay! I was just messing with you!" he said, licking Xin Qing's lips. "Come on. Let's go to sleep!"
Xin Qing wanted to say something else, but then Ying Qingcang had already placed a hand over his eyes to cover them. She shifted slightly in the man's arms and gave herself over to Morpheus.
Once he felt the breaths of the person lying beside him turning steady and slow, Ying Qingcang's eyes suddenly shot open, and coldness flashed through them.
"Very well. So he's using Ah Sha to threaten me?" Ying Qingcang thought. "No. Correction, it isn't me he's looking to threaten. It's Xin Qing." If Ying Hao was still holding Ah Sha by the time they returned, there could be no doubt that Xin Qing yielded to Ying Hao's demands. After that, Xin Qing would take Ah Sha with her and leave him. "Oh, Ying Hao. Have you ever seen me as your son at all?" Ying Qingcang thought. "If you want to play it that way, fine then. I'll hold nothing back this time. Isn't the Ying family the thing you cared about the most? Then I'll destroy the Ying family and let you face your ancestors with nothing but disgrace!"
"Is this really what you want to be doing, Shen?" Ying Hao glared at Young Master Shen. He did not expect the old earl to suddenly come see him; more so was the fact that Young Master Shen had the balls to threaten him back by holding the old earl hostage.
Xunxun was carrying Ah Sha, who was fast asleep in his arms. Gently, Xunxun patted the tiny figure in his arms. "What's there to be afraid of?" Xunxun said to Ying Hao. "If you don't release us, the earl will die under your roof today. I'd love to see how you'd clean up that mess."
"Ying Hao, release them!" The old earl was so incensed at this point that even his beard was raising up. "Do you want me to die? Are you sure you want to face the wrath of our family?"
The old earl must live! Ying Hao knew that deep down. Ying Qingcang's grandfather should never, under any circumstances, die in this house.
"Get out of my sight! Leave, all of you!" Ying Hao yelled, swinging his walking stick in the air.
Young Master Shen dragged the old earl towards the exit while Ying Hao followed closely behind. "Release him!" Ying Hao yelled.
Still carrying Ah Sha, Xunxun climbed into the chopper. "We'll take the earl with us on the chopper," Xunxun said. "We'll release him once we've landed safely. You don't have to worry." Young Master Shen shoved the earl into the chopper before turning around to face Ying Hao.
"Don't worry, Uncle Ying. This is Ah Cang's grandfather. I'll take good care of him!" After that, everyone got settled into their seats. The two choppers took off simultaneously and soon disappeared from the horizon.
When Ah Sha woke up, she realized that she was already inside her own room.
Turning her head, she saw Xunxun asleep beside her. "Brother Xunxun?" she called.
Xunxun, who was a light sleeper, opened his eyes at the sound of Ah Sha's voice. "Ah Sha! You're awake! Are you hungry? Let's go downstairs and grab something to eat."
"How come we're back home?" Ah Sha rubbed her eyes. "Where's grandpa?"
Xunxun helped Ah Sha into her clothes. "Grandpa has some business to take care of, so he sent us home."
"But I don't even know anything..." Ah Sha grumbled as Xunxun grabbed her hand and led her down the staircase. "I'd be surprised if you know anything, since I gave you a dose of the plant-based sleeping potion that my mom had synthesized," Xunxun thought.
Back in England, Rong Siman watched as Ying Hao retreated to the underground cellar where the Ancestral Behest lay. A cold smile formed on her face. Rong Siman followed the castle's stone staircase and slowly made her way to the top of the castle. There, she could see the entire view of the castle's vicinity.
"All of this is supposed to be mine. Ying Hao! This is what the Ying family owes my mother, owes me! Since you're so useless, I have no choice but to do it myself..." Rong Siman suddenly raised her head and burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Don't you worry. I won't hurt Ah Cang. I love him so much that I feel like swallowing his flesh and blood into my stomach. That way, we'll be together forever."
All of a sudden, a savage look formed on her visage. "Xin Qing? That Xin Qing is nothing to me. Soon, I will make her and the child in her stomach disappear forever." Laughing once more, Rong Siman caressed her flat tummy. "Hehehe. I'm the only one who's allowed to bear Ah Cang's children!"