Chapter 2: The Last Person Who Eloped Lost Their Entire Family.

Page 1 of 3

Qin Hanxiao wanted only to stay alive. Nothing else mattered.

Pei Yuantang’s expression shifted slightly, and he told her to get up first.

But the moment Qin Hanxiao moved, the stick nearly came down on her, frightening her into tears that fell even more fiercely.

Seeing that she still dared to cry, Pei Yuanxing grew even angrier.

“Second Brother, you must not believe her. I saw with my own eyes that she willingly left with that other man.”

“No!”

Qin Hanxiao blurted out, “We were too far away at the time. Uncle must have seen wrongly. If my husband does not believe me, he can find Huo Heng and confront him face-to-face. Every word I have said is true. I have not uttered a single falsehood.”

Qin Hanxiao was gambling.

She believed that a man like Pei Yuantang would never make a disgraceful matter such as his wife eloping public, much less confront the other man in person.

Sure enough, she saw Pei Yuantang’s expression change several times before he cast a stern glance at Pei Yuanxing.

“Stop this nonsense.”

He pulled Qin Hanxiao to her feet and asked her, “Who is Huo Heng?”

Qin Hanxiao secretly cursed the wretched man.

Sniffling, she carefully considered how to explain things so that the Pei brothers would believe she and Huo Heng truly had nothing between them.

She would never be foolish enough to tell the Pei brothers that the woman whose body she now occupied had genuinely shared a past with Huo Heng. That would leave behind a dangerous weakness for others to exploit.

Besides, she suspected that no man could truly remain indifferent to such a matter. She did not want that wretched Huo Heng to ruin her reputation either.

“His family used to live next door to mine, and he studied alongside my brothers. After so many years, we naturally became familiar with each other. He heard some irresponsible nonsense from somewhere and mistakenly thought that life here was difficult for me, so he took it upon himself to bring me away. I explained everything to him, but he was too self-righteous to listen and insisted on taking me by force. Then Uncle arrived.”

Pei Yuanxing did not believe a single word she said. He believed only what he had seen with his own eyes.

He was just about to speak again when his second brother stopped him.

“Go decoct the medicine. I have something important to discuss with your second sister-in-law.”

Pei Yuanxing did not want to leave. What was there that he could not hear?

Moreover, he was afraid that his second brother would be deceived by this woman again.

Under his brother’s warning gaze, he could only leave in the end.

After he was gone, Qin Hanxiao secretly let out a breath of relief. At least she would not be beaten to death for the moment.

But before she could relax completely, her heart tightened again.

“There is no one else here now. You can tell me the truth.”

Pei Yuantang forcefully withdrew his hand and folded his long-fingered hands over his lower abdomen.

He raised his eyes to meet Qin Hanxiao’s gaze. He was neither angry nor resentful. His expression was calm, and his bearing refined.

Page 2 of 3

“Tell me the truth. If you truly wish to leave, I can give you a divorce agreement.”

In his condition, what right did he have to keep her?

They had not been married long, and she was still young. Letting her go was the most appropriate thing to do.

She had heard that he was a merchant, but Qin Hanxiao thought he seemed more like a scholar.

She did not know whether he meant it or was merely testing her.

But once she left the Pei household, she had nowhere to go. Neither the Qin family in the prefectural city nor the Qin family in Willow Village would let her off easily.

She might even die without ever knowing when or how.

Remaining with the Pei family was the best choice available to her, so she had to cling stubbornly to what she had just said.

“Everything I said is true, and it is what I truly feel. Even if my husband does not believe me and insists on sending me away, I will not leave.”

Pei Yuantang gazed deeply at her and sighed, lowering his eyes.

She claimed that her heart and eyes were filled with him, yet he did not believe her.

For the past two months, she had either sat around in a daze or secretly wiped away her tears. How could someone who truly loved another person love them like that?

“I meant it when I said I would let you go. If you do not leave now, you will never have another chance.”

Qin Hanxiao could not see his eyes, which left her even more uncertain, so she firmly declared that she would not leave.

After thinking for a moment, she added, “I know you do not believe me now, but every word I have said is true. I was foolish and immature before. Then something happened so suddenly that I could not adjust my thinking. If Uncle had not arrived in time today and brought me back, I do not know what sort of situation I would be in now. After this experience, I have truly come to understand that instead of clinging to a past I can never return to, it is better to let go and look ahead. During these past two months, my husband has been tolerant and indulgent toward me. In truth, I had already placed you in my heart long ago. I have made up my mind. From now on, we will live a good life together.”

After saying all this, she looked at Pei Yuantang. He was watching her as well, evidently weighing the truth of her words.

Just as her unease was reaching its peak, she heard him speak.

“If you do not leave now, you will never have another chance.”

Qin Hanxiao understood that perfectly well, but at present, all she wanted was to stay alive.

Before she could think further, Pei Yuantang continued, “Third Brother is blunt and has no sense of restraint when he speaks. I apologize to you on his behalf.”

“It is all right. I know he did not mean it.”

The moment Qin Hanxiao said this, Pei Yuantang raised his eyes to look at her again. His gaze was filled with profound sorrow.

He forced a bitter smile and said softly, “Third Brother was not always like this. Once, he saw with his own eyes that our eldest sister-in-law was meeting another man in secret. Later, she took all the money in the household and left. From that day onward, his temperament changed.”

Page 3 of 3

Qin Hanxiao searched her memories and finally managed to dig up something about this woman, though all she had ever heard were a few fragmentary remarks from the neighbors.

“I heard that your eldest sister-in-law died?”

Pei Yuantang nodded. “She died.”

Those two simple words were like a knife, driving viciously into Qin Hanxiao’s heart.

She stared at Pei Yuantang in shock, opening and closing her mouth without managing to utter a sound.

When Pei Yuantang spoke again, his words sent a chill down her spine.

“The man she committed adultery with, and their son, are both dead.”

As he said this, his eyes remained sorrowful, as though he were lost in remembrance. There was no hint of menace in him, yet Qin Hanxiao was still so terrified that sweat dampened her back.

Why was he telling her this?

He was doing it deliberately, to intimidate her!

He was telling her that Madam Lin was a warning from the past.

Qin Hanxiao clenched both hands, forcing herself to remain calm.

She did not dare ask how the three of them had died, or whether the brothers had killed them.

All she could say was, “I will not leave my husband.”

As she spoke, she looked straight at Pei Yuantang. No matter how frightened she was inside, she had to keep her expression composed.

She tried to discern something from his face, but found nothing.

Pei Yuantang looked at her as well. Slowly, the sorrow faded from his expression, and he once again became the refined, dignified, gentle man who seemed as warm as jade.

“Since we have spoken openly, go wash your face and have Ah Hui apply medicine to your wound.”

As he spoke, he raised a hand and pointed toward Qin Hanxiao’s swollen, reddened forehead.

“Be sure it does not leave a scar. A woman’s appearance is immensely important. How could it be harmed so carelessly? I will reprimand Third Brother and make him apologize to you.”

Qin Hanxiao repeatedly assured him that it was nothing before leaving the bedchamber.

The fact that Pei Yuanxing had not beaten her to death was already a blessing. This minor injury truly amounted to nothing.

It was only after stepping outside that Qin Hanxiao realized both her legs had gone weak.

The moment she emerged, Pei Yuanxing shot her a glare.

“Vixen.”

Then he stormed toward the kitchen, kicking the woodpile as he passed.

Qin Hanxiao, having narrowly escaped death, let out a long breath of relief.

She decided that being called a vixen could still be considered a compliment.