The Counterfeit Madam Hou Chapter 47

Xue Mu open up the painting that is in Liu Qinghuan's hand. It was indeed Ding Maoxue《Blue Lotus · Summer》. After studying it for a while, Xue Mu look at her.

” Where is it from? ”
” Magistrate Ma gave it to me as a meeting gift. ”

Liu Qinghuan said proudly. Xue Mu smile.

” To give such a precious painting as a meeting gift, Magistrate Ma must be very satisfied with you as his daughter-in-law. ”

………..

” Magistrate Ma said he brought this painting for only 10 cents under a bridge. More importantly, after studying this painting, I realized the treasure is hidden in this mountain. ”
” I'll get Peng Peng to bring some men over and search for it. You'll be following me back to Chang-An. ”
” No need. Actually I don't have… ”

Before finis.h.i.+ng her sentence, Liu Qinghuan start coughing again. This time, she forcefully swallow down the irony-sweet taste coming up from her throat, not wanting to cough blood in front of Xue Mu. But Xue Mu's face still goes dark instantly.

” Not up for discussion. ”

He carry Liu Qinghuan up in his arms and start walking out of the cave. Her lips twitches as she turns away.

” You don't have to waste your energy, I'll can't be healed ”

Xue Mu's feet pauses as he narrows his eyes at her.

” Liu Qinghuan, you better explain it clearly to me. ”

Liu Qinghuan's mouth set into a hard line and after a while, she finally have the resolve to speak.

” Because I'm not sick, but poisoned. ”

Turning back to look at Xue Mu, she continue.

” 3 years ago, Tang Zhibo had been secretly feeding me poison and I don't have much time left. ”

Xue Mu stare at her for a long time, before whispering.

” Qing Qing, you're lying again, right? ”

At this question, Liu Qinghuan's eyes grows redder and redder. She had lied to him on so many occasion but it have to be this moment when she is telling the truth.

Trying to not let herself cry, she sniff.

” The Duke is of a suspicious nature and although I was closed to Tang Zhibo, he never once truly believed in me. When the Emperor banished him to Ling Nan, he let Tang Zhibo stay behind in Chang-An, so he could control and poison me. This is a slow-acting poison, and every half a year, he would pa.s.s me an antidote. But this antidote won't heal me, it can only delays the time the poison would act up. ”

She pause.

” In another 10 days, it'll soon be half a year. “

Xue Mu's breathing hasten and he takes a deep breath.

” Since he's secretly poisoning you, how did you find out? ”
” Once, he had a slip of tongue and didn't hid it from me after that. Only to promise to  heal me after I found the treasure. ”

Only, she would never kill Xue Mu just for an antidote. Plus, the Duke is her swore enemy and she would rather perish together with him then to allow him to find the corrupted funds.

Ever since the moment she decided to use Du Juan's ident.i.ty, it meant she is prepared to die.

Xue Mu's hands tighten as his killing aura start leaking out. As if her heart is stabbed with that aura, Liu Qinghuan's tears could not be stopped anymore.

” Maybe it was because of my family history, my foster parents has always, among us 3 sisters, doted on me the most. And when I met you, you too, had always been protecting me. Until 10, I was that naive and willful 3rd daughter. That time I was too naive, and too ignorant. I thought I could revenge my parents by myself and ended up in this situation. I did this upon myself. ”

She lift up her hand and smile, looking at her wrist.

” This is the longevity string you gave me. It'll be nice if it really can extend my lifespan. ”

Xue Mu bit his lips and raise his head. He is afraid that if he look down, tears would just flow down with gravity. Looking at his teary eyes, Liu Qinghuan feel worst. In her entire life, the only one she owe something to, is Xue Mu.

” To tell the truth, I lied to you previously. The reason why I married using Du Juan's ident.i.ty was so that you wouldn't have the experience of losing a wife. I rather let you think that I ran away then to let you see me die… Only I didn't expect you would figure it out. ”

She look at Xue Mu with her teary eyes as she sob lightly.

” I could really run away from the marriage, but I still want to spend the rest of my days with you… Will you think I'm too selfish? ”

Xue Mu's breathing is ragged and he spend quite some time to calm himself down, before he could look at the one in his arms.

” Liu Qinghuan, it has been 14 years since I lay eyes on you when I'm 6. The first 7 years was the happiest time of my life. The next 7 years, you let me know what heart-wrenching pain felt like. But from today on, and all the 7 years after that, we'll be together, happy and sweet, okay? ”

The future Xue Mu describe is wonderful, but she can't do it and she don't want to lie to him anymore. She buried her head in his chest, sobbing and Xue Mu feels like all his energy has been suck away. Carrying her, he return back to the straw bed.

Leaving all her tears and snot on Xue Mu's s.h.i.+rt, she pick up the painting they forgotten.

” The bloomed lotuses in Hou Mansion is more beautiful than this painting. ”
” They'll bloom again next year, and will look better than this year. ”

He said, as if promising something.

But, she won't be able to see it. Her heart feels like someone is squeezing it as she whisper.

” Didn't you use to say ‘Flowers will bloom again, but a human won't be young again'? ”

She looks up at him.

” Ah Mu, can I call you Ah Mu like I did when I was young? ”

Xue Mu's eyes gleam, as if he's seeing a young girl appearing in front of him, crying to him. ” Ah Mu, 2nd sister is scaring me with ghost stories again! ” As if she's laughing at him. ” Ah Mu, today's deserts made by Mother is delicious! ” As if she is proudly saying to him. ” Ah Mu, I've hidden 2nd sister's homework and she's now being scolded by Mother! ”

Ah Mu, Ah Mu…

Xue Mu tightly clenched his fist. Some feelings have been ingrained into his very being, and the once heart-wrenching feeling he felt cannot be compared to this.

Looking at him, Liu Qinghuan feels like a hole have open up in her heart and all that she have hidden in it, she want to tell it all to him.

” Ah Mu, when you first went into war, I was so afraid. I was so afraid that you'll be like Uncle Xue, coming back in a coffin. The day when you came back, I was in the crowd, sneaking a look at you. You were glowing, so bright that I can't even open my eyes. And the last time, when I saw you and Yong Ning Princess together at the west market, I felt so angry. You promised to bring me to the market, but now you went with another girl. And another time… ”

Without finis.h.i.+ng, her mouth is suddenly covered up with Xue Mu's kiss. Xue Mu kissed her a few times, but none is as pa.s.sionate as this. That ferocious kiss is so strong that she can't handle it, as if she would drown in it.

Xue Mu can't control himself at all. He doesn't want to hear all that from her… as if she's saying her last words. This easy-going girl… how can she die?

Releasing her, he pant as he looks at her.

” Qing Qing, you won't die. Trust me. ”

He won't let her die.

Seeing him like this, Liu Qinghuan start crying again. Xue Mu kiss her teary eyes, speaking gently.

” You won't die, the one that should die is the Duke and Tang Zhibo. ”

Killing aura erupt from him as he stands up and left the cave.

When Liu Qinghuan is sobbing in the cave, everyone standing outside could hear it clearly. Peng Peng's face has been red the entire time. Their general sure is someone, doing that… directly in a cave.

He wonder if Wu La La is okay, seeing that she cried like that. Sigh, don't the general know that the first time will be painful? Why wasn't he gentler? Should he remind the general?

” Peng Peng. ”
” Marquise, do you need medicine? ”
” Release news that we found the rest of the treasure on this west mountain. ”

Peng Peng is stunned. Why is the direction of things going in a weird way?

” Don't understand? ”

Xue Mu eye's grow sharp and Peng Peng immediately salutes and yell his understanding. Gao Cheng, who have been standing next to them, have a change of expression when he heard ‘treasure'.

Glancing at him, Xue Mu walk over.

” You seem to be living on this mountain so you'll be familiar with the surrounding. ”
” What do you want? ”
” Guide us. ”
” Where do you want to go? ”
” Do you know where's the best place to hide a treasure on this mountain? ”
” Treasure? Oh great general, how old are you again? ”

A sharp shrill and suddenly, Gao Cheng find a sword by his neck. This person's movement is so fast that even his master might not be his match.

” 17 years ago, there's a case of Wen Wei corruption and not all of the money have been found. A lot have been aiming for this treasure, having evil designs on it. ”

Xue Mu said coldly, his sword still holding at Gao Cheng's neck. Gao Cheng frown. They, the Seven Star Sect, has always been about upholding justice and helping the needy. With such a case, he wouldn't leave it at this but…

” You know. ”

The certain tone force Gao Cheng's ” I don't know anything. ” back into his throat. After staying silent for a moment, he look up at Xue Mu.

” I do know of a place. But it'll be dangerous. ”

Xue Mu laughs.

” How dangerous? ”
” My master is there, guarding. ”
” You master? ”

Xue Mu lowers his sword.

” Who's your master? ”
” The mountain demon. ”

TN: Sorry for the long absent, guys. I have loads of (real life work) translations choke up and was busy trying to clear them. And… translating this after that is just too much for me… I still have a lot of work to do, but figured I shouldn't keep you guys waiting any longer. Will try to update next week as well.