"So, you still can't let go of that brat surnamed Ji in your heart?" Qi Lei said this extremely rudely. If they were in the capital, this remark would be enough to get his head chopped off and be charged with disrespecting the royal family. However, now they were on a river, and there were only the father - daughter pair on the deck, so he no longer bothered to hold back.
Hearing Qi Lei's words, Song Yihuan was taken aback. She subconsciously turned her face away and said, "I'm not. I just miss Xuan'er."
Qi Lei glanced at her slightly red ears. He already knew it well but didn't expose her.
"By the way, Uncle Qi, did he make things difficult for you these days?" Song Yihuan suddenly asked, as if thinking of something.
Qi Lei originally wanted to say that Ji Lingchuan had taken him back and planned to lock him up to force her to show up. Later, for some unknown reason, Ji Lingchuan had let him go. But he guessed it was also a strategy of Ji Lingchuan to lure Yihuan out. He smiled and said,
"Don't worry. He feels guilty. How dare he do anything to me? However, I underestimated him. He's smart and sharp. He quickly discovered the problem and counterattacked. If it weren't for you, Yihuan, who knows all the passages in the capital city so well and bought us some time, it would have been really difficult to escape."
Putting aside the huge gap in their social status, to some extent, they were indeed a rare couple.
But girls are shy. Even if she really has someone in her heart, she probably won't tell him, a rough - hewn man.
If Xiaowei were still alive, it would be better. She could at least talk to Yihuan about her feelings, so that Yihuan wouldn't have to keep those things to herself after what happened to her before.
"To be honest, Yihuan, you're old enough. It's time to consider getting married. When we find a beautiful and peaceful place to settle down and make a home, I'll make some arrangements and find a good family for you." Qi Lei said tentatively.
Song Yihuan refused without thinking: "Uncle Qi, I don't want to get married yet."
After a pause, she said, "In my situation, how can I be a suitable wife for someone?"
She still said she didn't think about that brat surnamed Ji! She even didn't want to get married!
This Ji Lingchuan is really a heart - breaker!
Qi Lei thought angrily, wishing he could tear Ji Lingchuan into pieces. He regretted that when he saw Ji Lingchuan on Laojun Mountain that day, he didn't give that brat a good beating!
"You've always been a decisive child. Since you've made up your mind, it's probably useless for others to say more. But Yihuan, listen to Uncle Qi's advice. Now that you've avenged your hatred and Xuan'er's heart disease is cured. He'll be a lively and healthy boy from now on. You should also think more about yourself."
"Life is short, like the morning dew." Qi Lei sighed softly. "Live a carefree life. Don't waste your time in this world."
Song Yihuan took Qi Lei's words to heart. Her eyes were slightly moist, and she replied, "I will. Thank you, Uncle Qi."
For some reason, maybe the boat was too shaky, Song Yihuan felt her stomach start to churn while sitting. She couldn't hold back the sourness and covered her mouth and nose, retching to the side.
Qi Lei immediately became nervous: "What's wrong, Yihuan?"
Song Yihuan waved her hand: "Maybe... maybe I've been on the boat for too long. I feel a bit uncomfortable. Ugh—"
She would have been better if she hadn't spoken. As soon as she opened her mouth, she vomited even more violently.
Qi Lei had to get up and go back into the boat to find someone. With the help of the boatman's wife, he sent Song Yihuan back to the cabin. People who have been on boats all year round know some basic medical knowledge. The boatman's wife immediately sat down, felt Song Yihuan's pulse by pinching her wrist.
"Sister Qin, what's wrong with my daughter?" Qi Lei asked nervously beside them.
The boatman's wife carefully examined the pulse and her expression changed. She said it was just seasickness, then gave Song Yihuan a small honeyed pill that boat people often use to stop vomiting, told her to take the pill and drink a little water, and then got up and walked out.
When she left, she secretly winked at Qi Lei. Qi Lei sensed something was wrong. He tucked the corner of the quilt for Song Yihuan and then got up and walked out.
Song Yihuan was very uncomfortable. She closed her eyes and leaned against the head of the bed, trying to calm down the uncomfortable feeling. She didn't notice the strange expressions of the two.
On the deck, Qi Lei asked nervously, "What's going on? Please tell me quickly! My daughter fell from a high place some time ago. Could it be that there's internal injury to her internal organs?"
"That's not it. Your daughter has a pregnancy pulse." The boatman's wife said hesitantly. "But I remember you said your daughter is still unmarried. An unmarried girl with a pregnancy pulse, Lao Qi, could it be that she's been bullied?"
The boatman's wife looked worried.
So she was diagnosed with a pregnancy pulse. Then he could rest assured. Yihuan had told him that she had taken the fake - pregnancy medicine given by the divine doctor. The medicine could cause fake - pregnancy symptoms and last for three months. Presumably, the effect of the medicine hadn't worn off yet.
Qi Lei let out a sigh of relief. He made up a story: "That's not the case. My daughter's husband died on the way to arrest a Northern Di spy some time ago. Otherwise, why would we leave the capital and make a living outside?"
After saying that, he snickered in his heart.
Who let that brat Ji Lingchuan bully his Yihuan before? He would just have to bear the name of a short - lived ghost. Declaring her as a widow to the outside world would also be beneficial to Yihuan's reputation and prevent her from being criticized.
The boatman's wife had known Qi Lei for a long time and trusted him very much. Hearing this, she sighed, "It turns out she's also a poor girl. Young as she is, she's already a widow. It's a pity, really a pity."
Qi Lei casually said a few words to dismiss the boatman's wife and then went back to his own cabin to rest.
There was a brick - red clay pot in his room. In front of the pot were fruits, melons, and incense candles. Qi Lei lit an incense stick and inserted it into the incense burner. He sat down beside it and let out an almost inaudible sigh.
Back then, when he learned that Rou Shi was taken by the Marquis of Ding'an and forced to stay in the marquis's mansion, he had thought about taking Rou Shi away to live far away.
However, for the sake of the child in her womb, Rou Shi didn't want the child to be called a bastard as soon as it was born, so she refused his kindness and continued to stay in the marquis's mansion as a concubine. Who could have thought that the situation of the mother - daughter pair in the marquis's mansion was even worse than that of ordinary people. In the end, it even led to her death in the marquis's mansion.
Compared with Song Yihuan, his hatred for the marquis's mansion was not much less. It was just that as a commoner, it was difficult to fight against the powerful and the noble.
Now he had exhausted everything and finally achieved his wish. He could finally take the love of his life far away from the capital and help Song Yihuan gain freedom. She would no longer be restricted by her status and the walls of the high - class mansions. But the person who used to be by his side was no longer there.
"Xiaowei, don't worry. Although I, Qi Lei, have no power or influence, I'll risk my old life to protect your two children well."
The only response to Qi Lei was the flickering candle flame, as if Rou Shi was gently replying to him.