"Are you threatening me?" King Ye asked, his expression turning sour.
"No, Your Majesty. It's just that I willingly request to step down," Gong Xiaohua replied.
Gong Xiaohua's second request to step down struck Qin Chuyuan like a blow, engulfing him in disappointment and pain. He gazed at Gong Xiaohua, his eyes reddening. "What am I to you? Am I just someone you can easily discard?"
Gong Xiaohua looked at Qin Chuyuan with a calm expression. "I'm sorry. Perhaps our statuses were never compatible from the start. Now, let's just return everything to normal."
Qin Chuyuan felt a wave of fear as he observed Gong Xiaohua's expression. It was as if she might decisively leave him in the next moment. He couldn't bear to imagine what life would be like without her.
"No, it can't be like this. We got along well from the beginning. You even said that as long as I didn't give up, you wouldn't either. Does that promise still hold true?" He refused to believe that Gong Xiaohua felt nothing for him. Otherwise, back in Liang Country, she wouldn't have said such words. Suppressing his inner fear, he looked at Gong Xiaohua cautiously, hoping for a positive answer.
But unfortunately, Gong Xiaohua remained unfazed. Qin Chuyuan felt as if his heart turned to ashes as he mocked himself, "From beginning to end, I've been deluding myself. You're just indifferent, clueless about what love truly is."
With a despondent demeanor, he bowed to King Ye. "Your Majesty, I accept the marriage alliance," then walked out of the hall.
Gong Xiaohua still hadn't turned around, but if anyone had seen her tightly clenched hands, they would have noticed her immense effort to hold back.
After Qin Chuyuan left the hall, Gong Xiaohua finally took her leave.
"Go on. This time, the credit for the alliance, according to the Crown Prince, goes mostly to you. You don't need to attend court for a few days. Rest at home," King Ye instructed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she replied, then turned and left.
As King Ye watched the departing figure, he sighed to his close attendant, "Why are both of them so stubborn? Today, I've truly played the villain."
"It's the first time I've seen Mr. Qin lose control like that. General Gong, on the other hand, remained remarkably composed. She truly is tough, having experienced the battlefield. You, on the other hand, can't understand matters of the heart. Didn't you see her tightly clenched hands? She's holding back. Today, I've truly seen General Gong clearly. Despite her young age, she's as calm as anyone and quite ruthless to herself. We've treated the two of them unfairly this time. We'll have to make it up to them in the future," the attendant remarked.
After leaving the hall, Gong Xiaohua didn't spot Qin Chuyuan anywhere. Alone, she returned to the Qin residence and encountered Qin Chuqin at the door.
"Xiaohua, aren't you on duty today? Why are you back alone? Where's Chuyuan?" Qin Chuqin scanned around Gong Xiaohua, then asked curiously.
"His Majesty granted me a few days off. Chuyuan hasn't come back yet?"
"No."
"He's probably on duty then."
"I see. Well, it works out perfectly. I'm going out to buy some things. Would you like to come with me?"
"No, thank you, sister. I'm feeling a bit tired. I'll go inside first."
"Alright then. Take care."
“I feel like Xiaohua's complexion is a bit off,” Chu Chuqin asked the maid beside her.
“Perhaps she's just tired.”
“Maybe. Let's go.”
“Alright.”
After returning to the Qin residence, Gong Xiaohua went straight to the martial arts training room. Chunyun checked on her several times, seeing that Xiaohua remained in the training room, either practicing martial arts or teaching Su Hao. The two were so engrossed that Chunyun's attempts to advise were brushed off.
Today, after Su Hao finished his classes, he headed straight to the training room. Xiaohua spent the whole afternoon teaching him, and they only stopped when it started to get dark. They sat in the middle of the training room.
“Xiaohua, if you leave the Qin residence, would you like to come with me?”
“Go where? With Chuyuan gege?”
“No, just the two of us. We won't come back to Qin residence in the future.”
Su Hao was puzzled. Chuyuan gege always treated Xiaohua exceptionally well. How could he let her leave? But he didn't dwell on it.
“For my whole life, I'll follow my sister. Wherever she goes, I'll go too.”
“Your whole life? What if you grow up and want your own family?”
“Then I won't get married.”
“Then your parents will have to visit me in their dreams.”
“If I get married, I'll bring my family to live next to my sister's house. I'll be lazy and won't leave.”
“You're a handful.” Gong Xiaohua playfully ruffled Su Hao's hair.
“If you follow me, I might not be able to afford a great teacher for you. Life won't be as comfortable as in the Qin residence. And when you grow up, you won't have connections to help you. The path will be much more difficult.”
“Since the moment Mom left, I've considered my sister the only family in this world. Wherever she goes, I'll follow.”
In the evening, all the members of the Qin family's three households gathered for dinner at the Floating Cloud Pavilion. Everyone was present except Qin Chuyuan.
“Go and see where Young Master is. Why hasn't he returned yet?” Qin Third Madam said.
“Yes.”
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the person by Qin Chuyuan's side came to report.
“Madam, Young Master is meeting with friends outside. He said he won't be coming back tonight.”
“This child. He agreed this morning to have a family gathering tonight. Could something unexpected have happened?” Qin Third Madam suspected. Qin Chuyuan was usually reliable and wouldn't change plans unless something urgent came up.
“Are you sure they're friends?”
“Yes.”
“Tell the truth.” Qin Third Madam scolded sternly.
“Yes, Young Master is not in a good mood today and went to Wanhua Building for drinks.”
“What?” Qin Third Madam was surprised, almost dropping the teacup in her hand.
She and others in the courtyard immediately looked at Gong Xiaohua.
Qin Chuyuan usually returned early if he went out, and he would at least glance at Xiaohua before going elsewhere. But today, he not only didn't come back but also went to Wanhua Building for flower wine. This was a rare occurrence.
Could it be that the couple had quarreled? While arguing was normal, going for flower wine was quite unusual.
"Go and bring the young master back," Qin Chuqin stood up and reprimanded the servants beside her.
"No need to go," Gong Xiaohua intervened.
Qin Chuqin frowned. Seeing Xiaohua at the door today, she sensed something was amiss with her complexion. Could it be that these two were really having a conflict?
"Xiaohua, have you and A Yuan had a falling out? Couples often argue but reconcile. When he returns, sister will help you give him a good scolding."
"I had planned to tell everyone after this meal, but now it seems this meal cannot continue. I have already requested an audience with His Majesty to resign from the family. His Majesty has agreed. From now on, Xiaohua is no longer part of the Qin family. I will leave the mansion with Su Hao soon."
"What? Is this a joke? Weren't you both fine this morning?" Lady Qin Three exclaimed.
"Did something happen in Liang Country? Why mention resignation as soon as you return?" Qin Chuqin couldn't believe A Di would ask Xiaohua to leave without reason.
"Yes, Xiaohua, if you've been wronged, speak up, and Father will intervene for you."
"I haven't been wronged. Liang and Ye have formed an alliance. Liang proposed a condition for Qin Chuyuan to marry a princess from Liang. When I married into the Qin family, it was only by agreement with Qin Chuyuan. Now, I'm just returning to my original position."
Upon hearing this, everyone present, except Qin Chuqin, exchanged glances.
Setting aside national affairs, none of them had anticipated the agreement between Xiaohua and A Yuan in their marriage, and it was evident that A Yuan had a strong affection for Xiaohua.
For a moment, they didn't know how to respond.
"Father, Mother, Sister, Sister-in-law, thank you for your care all this time. Xiaohua bids farewell here."
Seeing them about to leave, Qin Chuqin hurriedly stopped them.
"Xiaohua, it's already dark. If you must leave, wait until tomorrow. Moreover, even if you want to leave, you should wait for A Yuan to return. Besides, we can think of a way to handle the marriage proposal from Liang Country. Perhaps there's a way to decline."
"No, Sister, the authority of the sovereign cannot be violated."
Qin Chuqin was speechless.
Gong Xiaohua bowed to everyone present, then led Su Hao out of the Qin mansion.
