Chapter 67 Xin Qing Falling off a Horse (1/2)

”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!”