Chapter 16

Chapter 16

I lowered my head, remaining silent for a long while.

Revenge?

You’ve known my background for a long time. You didn’t act on it before, and you certainly won’t in the future.

“Revenge against whom?”

I stared blankly at the candle on the table. “My grandmother? My father? My Di Mother? Or perhaps the man who seduced my mother into eloping, only to abandon her to a fate of eternal damnation?”

“Besides, if I were to go looking for trouble, people would only say that as soon as I climbed the social ladder, I started bullying my own family.”

I tried to look as affectionate as possible as I gazed at Yuan Heng. “Most importantly, I’m worried that dragging up these old family scandals would reflect poorly on you.”

Yuan Heng nodded understandingly. He stood up and smiled. “It’s late. Let’s get some rest.”

I quickly grabbed his hand and looked up at him, my eyes brimming with tears. “After my mother passed away, my Di Mother wouldn’t allow her to be buried in the Ye Family ancestral plots. My father just found a random spot to bury her. It wasn’t until after I got married that my father, for the sake of appearances, finally set up a memorial tablet for her at Ci’en Temple. My mother’s posthumous birthday is in a few days. I want to relocate her grave and hold a proper, grand memorial service!”

Yuan Heng gave a perfunctory smile. “It’s freezing cold right now, and you’re pregnant. Let’s talk about it later.”

I lowered my head, and tears immediately began to fall like rain.

“Ow-”

I clutched my cheek, feigning a look of agony.

As expected, Yuan Heng grew anxious. He took my chin in his hand to inspect it closely. “What’s wrong?”

I dodged him petulantly. “The tears got into the wound. It stings.”

Yuan Heng gave a gentle laugh. “Are you cross with me?”

I didn’t speak, only covering my face and weeping.

Yuan Heng coaxed, “Qing Qiu, don’t be childish. You have an injury on your face, and your pregnancy is unstable. I’m doing this for your own good!”

I looked at him pitifully.

The request to move a grave was far too tedious and troublesome; I knew he would never agree to it.

But I had to mention it, because my true goal was what came next:

“If you won’t let me move the grave, then on my mother’s posthumous birthday, surely I can at least go to Ci’en Temple to light a stick of incense and kowtow? Otherwise, I’m a failure as a daughter.”

“If you won’t even agree to this, then it means you don’t truly love me.”

“You’re always telling me to recover and take care of the baby, but how can I find any peace of mind like this?”

Yuan Heng pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly displeased.

He pondered for a moment before relenting. “You may go to offer incense. But you must take extra attendants with you to protect you at all times.”

I was overjoyed inwardly. I threw my arms around the man’s waist. “I knew you were the best to me!”

Yuan Heng ruffled my hair. “Alright, can we rest now?”

I gave a cheerful hum of agreement.

My path to escape had just taken another major step forward!