After The Soft And Cute Beauty Marries The Wolf King - Chapter 49

Lang Xiaoxiao left suddenly, and when she returned, she didn’t inform anyone in advance.

 

The grasslands had passed through the coldest season, and after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the weather gradually warmed up, and the grasslands began to revive. With that, there were more things to do.

 

Lang Sa still spent most of his time with Xie Zhiqing, only dealing with the most urgent matters himself. Every time he went out, he would carefully tell Xie Zhiqing his whereabouts to avoid the little prince being unable to find him if needed.

 

However, that day, Lang Sa frequently glanced out the window in the afternoon, not sure what he was looking at. Later, he changed his clothes and told Xie Zhiqing, “I’m going out for a bit.”

 

Xie Zhiqing nodded and said, “Alright.”

 

He was quite carefree and didn’t wonder at all about what Lang Sa was going to do.

 

Not long after Lang Sa left, there was a knock on Xie Zhiqing’s door.

 

He went to open it—

 

“Xiaoxiao?!” Xie Zhiqing exclaimed in surprise, “You’re back!”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao had changed back into the clothes she used to wear, with her messy braids as usual. She carried a huge bundle on her back, roughly and carefully wrapped.

 

“Xiao Qing,” she smiled at Xie Zhiqing, pursing her lips, “I’m back, just to see you.”

 

“Come in and sit,” Xie Zhiqing quickly opened the door to let her in.

 

Lang Xiaoxiao dropped the large bundle she was carrying on the floor—

 

It was unclear what was inside, but it looked precious. After rolling on the ground for a bit, she hurriedly picked it up again, patted off the dust, and placed it carefully behind the door.

 

Whether it was because they hadn’t seen each other for a long time or for some other reason, Lang Xiaoxiao seemed quite nervous. She stood in the room for a long time, not knowing where to sit.

 

Xie Zhiqing smiled warmly, pointed to the chair beside him, and said, “Sit down.”

 

Only then did Lang Xiaoxiao sit down.

 

Lang Sa had never told him what exactly had happened that day, but one could guess that the two had a big fight. Xie Zhiqing had always worried that Lang Xiaoxiao would eventually go to Pianyang and suffer there. Now that she was back, looking quite dejected, Xie Zhiqing thought she had indeed hit a major setback.

 

He wanted to ask but didn’t know where to start, so he waited patiently for Lang Xiaoxiao to speak first.

 

After a while, Lang Xiaoxiao asked, “Xiao Qing, how have you been recently? Is it hard being pregnant?”

 

Xie Zhiqing touched his face and said, “I’m fine. Father sent an imperial physician to take care of me. Everything is good.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao scrutinized him carefully, seeing that he looked well, and then nodded in response.

 

She lowered her head, twisted her fingers, and asked again, “How about my brother? Is he doing well?”

 

“He’s fine too,” Xie Zhiqing smiled and said, “It’s just that he’s been busy lately. You know, it’s spring now, and there’s a lot to do. He went out this afternoon; otherwise, you would have seen him.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao’s body stiffened, her eyes darting around, avoiding the topic.

 

The conversation briefly halted.

 

For a moment, the only sound in the room was Fufu munching on vegetables.

 

Lang Xiaoxiao had indeed changed. The quiet atmosphere made her visibly uneasy. She shifted restlessly and eventually got up to watch Fufu eat.

 

The little rabbit, having not seen her for a long time, had probably forgotten her appearance and scent. It shivered in fear of the wolf and quietly moved to a corner.

 

Lang Xiaoxiao walked away disappointed.

 

After taking a few steps, she remembered something, turned to look at Fufu, and asked Xie Zhiqing, “Xiao Qing, does my brother have a small white rabbit toy made from Fufu’s fur?”

 

Xie Zhiqing said, “Yes. It’s roughly made; I’m not very skilled.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao’s expression grew even more dejected, lost in thought.

 

She returned to the chair, looking almost soulless, and finally started talking about her experiences during her absence.

 

“After leaving the grasslands, I didn’t go with… Xiao Qizhen, nor did I go to Pianyang,” Lang Xiaoxiao said, fiddling with her fingers, in a low voice. “I traveled to some distant countries, and only recently, on my way back to the grasslands, did I stop by Pianyang.”

 

Xie Zhiqing listened patiently, “I knew you didn’t go with him. So, why did you end up going there later?”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao said, “I had told Lang Sa that I would ask Xiao Qizhen about some things myself. I didn’t want to deal with him anymore, but I felt I needed to get some answers.”

 

“I wasn’t seeking any explanation or curious about what had happened to him. I just felt I needed to settle this matter myself. But when I finally met him, I… I found out some other things.”

 

Xie Zhiqing frowned slightly, “What things?”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao’s expression was complex, filled with sadness, anger, and many other indescribable emotions.

 

She said, “I found out the real cause of death of those three women.”

 

Xie Zhiqing’s eyes widened slowly.

 

What Xiao Qizhen had told Lang Sa was true, but behind those reasons, there was an even deeper one.

 

“He is a man both affectionate and heartless. When he married them, he genuinely liked them, but he quickly lost interest and wanted to get rid of them,” Lang Xiaoxiao said helplessly. “I learned that Pianyang is very conservative. Once a woman marries, she cannot return to her parents’ home, or she will be looked down upon. Those women preferred death over leaving, and eventually…”

 

Xie Zhiqing had suspected there was more to the story but hadn’t expected Xiao Qizhen to be so unreliable. He sighed, “Such a person is really…”

 

What had happened in those days couldn’t be summed up in a few words. For Lang Xiaoxiao, those experiences were a nightmare she didn’t want to recall. She briefly mentioned the key points, then continued, “I was prepared for it, but knowing the truth still hurt. I felt pain for those innocent women and regretted my own foolishness.”

 

She looked at Xie Zhiqing with a sad expression, “Xiao Qing, when Lang Sa told me these things, I already believed they were true. But, but—”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao’s eyes reddened, her voice hoarse, “I just couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t understand how someone could have such completely different sides. Can you understand this feeling? He was so kind to me, but why was he so cruel to others…”

 

She couldn’t continue.

 

After a long pause, Lang Xiaoxiao finally said, “His kindness to me was just a facade. I didn’t know him at all. Lang Sa was right. It took me a long time to understand that I wasn’t upset by Xiao Qizhen’s hypocrisy, but by my own stupidity, by the fact that these truths were told to me by others.”

 

Xie Zhiqing quietly listened without interrupting.

 

After Lang Xiaoxiao finished speaking, she sat in silence for a long time until the tears in her eyes had almost disappeared. Only then did Xie Zhiqing softly speak.

 

“Xiaoxiao, after all this time, your hair is a mess again,” Xie Zhiqing said gently, “Let me help you comb it.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao’s hair was thick and long, a hefty handful. As Xie Zhiqing combed her hair smoothly, he said softly, “It’s strange, really. I’m most familiar with the hairstyles of Central Plains women, but looking at you, I think your current look suits you better.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao laughed, “I’m just suited for messy hair!”

 

Xie Zhiqing chuckled but didn’t refute her.

 

Lang Xiaoxiao sat at the dressing table, looking at Xie Zhiqing through the copper mirror, and said softly, “Xiao Qing, you’re really good.”

 

Xie Zhiqing laughed, “What counts as good? Does helping you comb your hair make me good?”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao looked at him, puzzled.

 

Xie Zhiqing didn’t continue on this topic and said, “My brother came to visit a few days ago. My eldest brother, Xie Zhiming. He traveled a long way just to see me, stayed for one night, and then left again. He came and went in a hurry.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao exclaimed, “Ah, then he must really miss you to travel such a long way just to see you.”

 

She still remembered the second prince and little princess who had come over last time and sincerely sighed, “Xiao Qing, your brotherly bond is really good. I really liked the second prince and princess who visited last time.”

 

“I like them too,” Xie Zhiqing said, tying the last strand of hair and patting Lang Xiaoxiao on the shoulder, “All done.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao said, “Thank you, Xiao Qing!”

 

Xie Zhiqing waved his hand, signaling she didn’t need to thank him. After a moment, he said, “I love my father and brothers, my mother, and my sister very much. They are very important to me. But—”

 

He looked at Lang Xiaoxiao, his expression finally showing some emotion, “I also want to stay here, on the grasslands.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao didn’t understand what he was trying to say and could only make a puzzled sound, staring at him blankly.

 

“Lang Sa often worries about this; it’s his ‘concern’,” Xie Zhiqing continued, “He often does unexpected things. I later learned that he feels guilty about this and wants to make it up to me.”

 

He looked at Lang Xiaoxiao and said, “Xiaoxiao, I want to say that I finally know how to answer the question you asked me a long time ago. Do you still want to hear it?”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao suddenly understood. Her eyes reddened, and she said softly, “…I want to know.”

 

“You once asked me what love is. I didn’t know back then, but now I do,” Xie Zhiqing said warmly, “Love is when someone gives you the best they have and still worries that it’s not enough.”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao finally understood. The things Xiao Qizhen had given her, those interesting stories, rare trinkets, those vows and sweet words, were insignificant to the crown prince of Pianyang, things he could easily dispense with.

 

She looked down at her lap and sighed deeply.

 

Seeing that she had finally come to terms, Xie Zhiqing didn’t say more.

 

He pointed to the large bundle Lang Xiaoxiao had brought and asked, “What did you bring back?”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao snapped out of her thoughts, her expression becoming cheerful again.

 

She ran over to drag the bundle over and said, “Xiao Qing, I bought a piece of cloth!”

 

As she spoke, she tore open the wrapping, revealing what was inside.

 

Lang Xiaoxiao was careless and not very knowledgeable, but she seemed to cherish this cloth. She had wrapped it in a layer of coarse burlap on the outside and several layers of silk inside.

 

Xie Zhiqing clicked his tongue in amazement. Just the packaging alone was expensive; who knew if the cloth was worth the price.

 

However, this time, Lang Xiaoxiao seemed to have a knack for it.

 

She unfolded a corner of the cloth like she was presenting a treasure, showing it off to Xie Zhiqing.

 

“When I was passing through a country, I happened to encounter a wealthy family celebrating a new baby!” Lang Xiaoxiao gestured excitedly, “They bought all the beautiful fabrics from the shop, including this one! The shopkeeper said it took ten embroiderers a month to make this, and it’s perfect for a newborn baby!”

 

As she spoke, she became angry again, frowning, “But that wealthy family was so annoying! I talked to them for a long time, but they wouldn’t give me a piece! What nonsense, does a baby need that much fabric?”

 

“…” Xie Zhiqing asked awkwardly, “And then?”

 

Surely she didn’t get into a fight with them?!

 

Lang Xiaoxiao said, “Then? Then I just waited there! I waited for two months!”

 

She rambled on, “I suspected the shopkeeper was lying. Didn’t he say it took ten embroiderers a month? Why did it take two months for the fabric to arrive… otherwise, I would have come back earlier!”

 

Xie Zhiqing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

 

He walked over to Lang Xiaoxiao, took the fabric, and examined it carefully.

 

On the red fabric, three golden butterflies were embroidered, fluttering and spinning among golden petals of the same color.

 

The petals were full, the butterflies delicate, and with the quality of the fabric, it was indeed a fine piece.

 

“Is it beautiful?” Lang Xiaoxiao asked, “I can’t see colors, so I don’t know if the shopkeeper was lying. He said similar patterns sell well and are all used for babies.”

 

“It’s beautiful, the color and pattern are lovely,” Xie Zhiqing praised, “But…”

 

He looked troubled, “Gold is a color only the emperor and empress can use in Anyu; it seems to be taboo…”

 

Lang Xiaoxiao was shocked, “Ah?!”

 

Xie Zhiqing thought for a while and then smiled, “Never mind, we’re not in Anyu, so there aren’t so many rules. Besides… your brother is the Wolf King, and the Wolf King’s child… should be able to use it.”

 

For some reason, this made Lang Xiaoxiao’s eyes suddenly fill with tears.

 

After holding back her tears for a long time, she couldn’t contain them anymore. Lang Xiaoxiao cried, choking, “Xiao Qing’er, is he still mad at me?”