Chapter 198: The Feeling Of Being Lonely

Xie Rong’s brows furrowed slightly as he recalled that moment. Not long after, he shook his head.

"It’s nothing. It’s just that sometimes, curiosity isn’t..." He paused, searching for the right words before looking at her. "Not necessarily a good thing."

Wang Gege blinked at him, and a few seconds later, she nodded in understanding. "This Furen will listen to Husband..."

Xie Rong looked at her for a moment before his expression softened. "Good."

Wang Gege smiled sweetly. Then, after a brief silence, she asked, "But Husband..."

"Hmm?" Xie Rong tilted his head slightly. "What is it?"

"Does an investigation to find a killer really take this long in ancient times?" Wang Gege asked curiously. "I mean... I understand, since it is an ancient times..." She paused, trying to find the right words. "There were no modern tools to help with investigations, so shouldn’t it be even harder to find clues?"

Xie Rong understood at once that she was referring to the servant’s death.

He nodded slightly. "It depends on the case. If there are witnesses or obvious evidence, the investigation can be completed rather quickly. But if someone deliberately conceals their traces..." His gaze darkened slightly. "It can take much longer."

Wang Gege nodded thoughtfully. "So, there hasn’t been any progress?"

"There has."

Her eyes immediately lit up. "Really?"

Xie Rong’s lips curved faintly at her sudden interest. "This husband did not say there was no progress. I only said the investigation has not ended." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Then what did you find?" She blinked a few times, waiting expectantly.

Xie Rong fell silent.

The faint smile on his lips gradually disappeared, replaced by a complicated expression. He lowered his gaze for a moment, as though reluctant to speak.

"Hmm..." He sighed softly. "One of this husband’s guards was bribed that night..."

"Bribed?" Wang Gege’s eyes widened. "Who? I mean... who bribed your guard?"

Xie Rong did not answer immediately. His fingers tightened slightly around hers.

"This husband does not yet know who was behind it and this husband felt like the one behind it was really trying to fool this husband..."

Wang Gege blinked. "Really?"

"The guard only admitted that someone paid him to leave his post for a short while that night." His voice was quieter now. "The money was passed to him through another person, so we have not yet found out who gave the order."

Wang Gege’s expression slowly turned serious. "So... one of your own guards betrayed you?"

Xie Rong’s jaw tightened. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he let out a quiet breath. "This husband thought a year was enough to know everyone... it seems it was not."

The words were simple, but there was a trace of disappointment beneath them that made Wang Gege’s expression soften.

"It’s okay, Husband... we can never truly know everyone’s heart..." She scrunched her nose and smiled. "You already did your best..."

Linking her arm with his, she turned him around with her. "Let’s go..."

"Where?" Xie Rong asked.

"I’m bored... please, bring me somewhere...." She grinned awkwardly. "Or are you tired? If you are, never mind then..."

Xie Rong chuckled and gently freed her arm from his, then leaned down to match her height. "Where do you want to go this time?"

"I don’t know..." She pouted. "Husband... have you ever felt like you like sitting alone, but hate the feeling of being lonely?"

Xie Rong’s forehead creased in a frown. "Hmm?"

"It’s weird, right?" She laughed softly at herself, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I like it when it’s quiet. I like being alone with my thoughts. But sometimes, when it’s too quiet, I feel like something’s missing, even though I don’t know what."

Xie Rong studied her for a long moment, something unreadable passing behind his eyes. "This husband thinks... he understands what you mean."

"Really?" She looked up at him, surprised.

"Before you came," he said slowly, as if the words were being pulled up from somewhere he rarely visited, "this husband was used to silence. To empty rooms. I told myself it did not bother me." A faint, almost rueful curve touched his mouth. "Now the same silence feels different. Heavier."

Wang Gege’s breath caught a little. She hadn’t expected him to answer so honestly.

"So," he continued, tucking her hand more securely into the crook of his arm, "if my wife wishes to chase away this kind of loneliness, then this husband supposes there is only one place fitting enough."

"Where?" she asked again, this time with real curiosity.

He suddenly smiled and Wang Gege could feel the teasing vibe from it.

"Come, Furen..." He gently pulled her as he began walking toward their bed chamber.

"We are going back in? Seriously?" Wang Gege could feel the pout forming on her own face before she could stop it. "I thought you were going to bring me somewhere nice."

"This is somewhere nice," Xie Rong said, unbothered, still walking and pulling her gently along by the hand.

"Our own chamber is not ’somewhere nice,’ Husband, I see it every day—"

"Then perhaps," Xie Rong cut in smoothly, glancing sideways at her, "my wife has not been paying enough attention to it."

Wang Gege opened her mouth to argue, then paused, replaying his words and the tone beneath them. Her steps faltered slightly. "Xie Rong!"

"Husband," he corrected, not even bothering to look back this time, though the amusement in his voice was unmistakable now.

"You are being oddly suspicious now," she said, narrowing her eyes even as her cheeks warmed. "I said I am feeling lonely..."

"That is precisely why this husband intends to fill the loneliness."

"Husband, I’m still tired from last night!"

The words were barely out of her mouth before she yanked her hand free and bolted or tried to, her steps quick and clumsy across the courtyard stones, a laugh already bubbling up despite herself.

She didn’t get far.

An arm caught her around the waist, and the ground disappeared from under her feet as Xie Rong swept her up with insulting ease, settling her against his chest like she weighed nothing at all.

"No! Husband! Put me down—"

"This husband did offer patience yesterday," he said mildly, adjusting his hold as she squirmed. "My wife declined it. There is no third option now."

"That is not fair—"

"Life is rarely fair, Furen." He was already walking, unhurried, toward their chamber, entirely unbothered by the fists she halfheartedly pressed against his shoulder.

"I am not speaking to you for the rest of the day."

"This husband did not think Furen would have any energy left to talk, later." He glanced down at her, that same faint, knowing smile on his lips, and for a moment her protests died in her throat entirely.

He pushed the door open with his shoulder and carried her through without pause.

"Husband, at least let me walk—"

"Where is the fun in that?"

The door swung shut behind them, and the courtyard outside settled back into silence.