Chapter 10: Out of My Way, All of You

The man before her hesitated, faltering over his words, and Su Su seemed uncertain where to begin.
“My master ordered me not to speak,” he said with difficulty.
Understanding Shen Jin’s temperament, Lu Qingqing did not press him further.
The entire day passed without Shen Jin returning. As dusk deepened, Lu Qingqing asked several times when she might go back to the Marquis’ Manor—she missed Manman so dearly.
But the gatekeepers insisted they could not open the door without the general’s order.
Thus, Lu Qingqing spent the whole night in the rear courtyard. The moonlight was cold as water. She sorted through all that had happened in recent days, her resolve to avoid being entangled in the affairs of this household growing ever stronger.

A soft creak.
The door was pushed open. A man in his underclothes approached the bed, gazing at the motionless Lu Qingqing.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?”
Shen Jin’s voice was icy, sending a chill through her like the moonlit night itself.
Lu Qingqing raised her head, her breath catching. Her eyes reddened at the sight of Shen Jin—she had thought she would never see him again in this life, and yet here he was, within reach, so real and tangible.
She wanted to weep, but forced herself to hold back.
“I’m not used to this bed,” she replied.
“I think it’s more that you’re not used to sleeping without Xie Zhiyun beside you, isn’t it?” Shen Jin mocked. “Give it one more day. If you please me, I’ll send you back.”

Lu Qingqing’s hand trembled as she looked at Shen Jin, his familiar form drawing close.
His embrace was warm, filled with that familiar scent as he held her tightly. After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Qingqing reached out to remove his clothing.
But the man seized her wrist abruptly. “Tsk. So impatient, are you? Lu Qingqing, look at yourself!”
Her body had not yet recovered, and yet, in order to return, she was willing to curry his favor. Shen Jin gazed at this stranger before him, an inexplicable disgust rising in his heart.
Lu Qingqing bit her lower lip. “Isn’t this what you want, General? To humiliate me, to trample me—so long as it pleases you, anything is acceptable.”
“But I have no desire to touch you,” Shen Jin replied coldly. “You disgust me, Lu Qingqing.”
Something inside her seemed to shatter. With great effort, Lu Qingqing bore the pain in her heart as Shen Jin forcefully pushed her down.
He held her from behind, his weary body finally finding some relief.
They spent the night thus. For Shen Jin, it was the most peaceful sleep he’d had in years—no dreams of fighting, no corpses or bones, just a calm, undisturbed night.
The next morning, Lu Qingqing did not ask Shen Jin who had tampered with her clothing—she knew she had no right to inquire.
She had not expected, however, that the woman would come to confront her directly.
“Hogging my Ah Jin—Lu Qingqing, have you no shame?” Jiang Jiuyue’s face was contorted with anger. “You’re already someone else’s wife. How can you still do such things?”
“Miss Jiang, you should be asking Shen Jin about this,” Lu Qingqing refused to engage with her, maintaining a distance, well aware of Jiang Jiuyue’s scheming nature.
Those petty tricks, those false accusations—Shen Jin had always seen through them in the past. He simply chose to turn a blind eye in favor of Jiang Jiuyue.
“Were you forced?” Jiang Jiuyue’s eyes brightened. “I can help you escape.”

“My affairs are none of your concern, Miss Jiang,” Lu Qingqing’s tone was icy. She only had to endure one more day before she could leave.
There was no need to entangle herself with Jiang Jiuyue.
“You truly are adept at self-deception, Lady Xie. If you don’t wish to leave, then just say so. What’s the point of lying to me?” Jiang Jiuyue sneered. “You’re nothing but a plaything now. Once Ah Jin tires of you, he’ll cast you aside.”
Lu Qingqing did not respond. She showed not the slightest reaction; Jiang Jiuyue’s venomous words landed like blows on soft cotton, having no effect at all.
Frustrated, Jiang Jiuyue snapped, “We’ll see about that.”
Shortly after Jiang Jiuyue left, Su Su hurried in from the courtyard.
She handed a letter to Lu Qingqing.
“A letter from the Marquis’ Manor, Miss Lu… It seems to be about your daughter…”
Before Su Su could finish, Lu Qingqing tore open the letter. At the sight of the familiar handwriting, she burst into tears, heedless of everything else.
Manman had suffered a high fever through the night, and by morning it had not subsided—she had burned into unconsciousness. How could Lu Qingqing not care? No matter what, she had to leave.
But the guards at the door stopped her.
“Without the master’s orders, we cannot let you go.”
“Get out of my way!”