The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 282: Giving Up This Child

Chapter 282: Giving Up This Child

Elder Cao was left speechless, staring blankly at Nanli. Even after she had gotten off the carriage, he couldn’t utter a word.

Outside, Nanli handed the coachman a protective talisman, saying, "You are different from Elder Cao. Your energy is weak, making you susceptible to ghostly disturbances, which can harm your health. Keep this talisman close."

The coachman, terrified, stammered, "Thank you, Ninth Princess. I... I don’t have any money on me."

"No need," Nanli waved her hand.

Working people have it tough, especially having to work on the Ghost Festival. She herself had to deal with some more malicious spirits, likely keeping her busy until the early morning. Without saying goodbye to Elder Cao, she disappeared into the night.

Elder Cao peeked out again, feeling conflicted. The coachman, thinking Elder Cao was displeased, worried about the talisman, "Sir, this talisman..."

"Keep it," Elder Cao said quietly.

Reflecting on it, if his daughter had been slandered so viciously, he would have been furious enough to kill as well. The blade hadn’t pierced his own flesh, so he didn’t feel the pain. Moreover, Nanli had saved the nation and its people multiple times. Those who didn’t appreciate her and continued to speak maliciously deserved their fate.

He couldn’t control others, but he would certainly not tolerate his own students meddling in private affairs and spreading rumors.

At the An’yang Marquis Mansion, following Nanli’s earlier instructions, there was little movement in the house after nightfall due to the Ghost Festival.

In her room, Xiao Wanyi wore a thin nightgown, her belly slightly rounded. She was already drowsy, yawning, "Is the bed ready?"

A maid turned and said, "Young Mistress, it’s ready. Let me help you over."

Xiao Wanyi laughed, "I’m not so heavy that I can’t walk a few steps by myself."

Standing up, she walked to the bed. The maid hurried to support her, "The young master has repeatedly instructed me to take good care of you."

Thinking of her husband’s thoughtfulness, Xiao Wanyi’s eyes softened. She lay on the bed, gently stroking her belly, whispering, "Dear child, your father will be home for his rest day soon."

Despite the summer heat, the night was still a bit chilly. The maid covered Xiao Wanyi with a silk quilt and closed the window before retreating to keep watch outside.

Soon, Xiao Wanyi fell into a deep sleep, but her consciousness slipped into a strange dream. In a dim and narrow space, she felt panic and instinctively called out for Chu Ye. Her voice echoed, heightening her fear, and she began to breathe rapidly. Finally, she saw a figure ahead, but his face was obscured by the darkness.

"Who are you?" Xiao Wanyi’s voice trembled.

The figure stepped forward, revealing Chu Ye’s face.

"Husband?!" Xiao Wanyi was overjoyed and rushed towards him.

Chu Ye held her hands, calming her down with a serious expression. "Wanyi, we cannot keep this child. He is destined to bring calamity. If he is born, both the Chu family and your Xiao family will suffer."

Xiao Wanyi was stunned but quickly shook her head. "That’s impossible. Sixth Sister never said the child is destined to bring calamity."

Chu Ye opened his mouth to say more, but a force yanked him back.

"Wanyi!"

"Husband!"

Xiao Wanyi couldn’t hold onto his hand. Chu Ye was suspended in mid-air, and a sharp, cold sword chopped off his left hand with a swift stroke. The severed hand fell to the ground, fingers twitching slightly.

Accompanied by Chu Ye’s screams, Xiao Wanyi collapsed in terror, her pupils contracting and her body trembling violently.

"Husband..."

Blood gushed from Chu Ye’s wound as he struggled to speak, "If this child is born, we will all pay a price. This is only the beginning..."

"No!" Xiao Wanyi screamed. Her husband was a general who needed both hands to fight. How could he continue with one hand? If he lost his life, how could she survive?

Chu Ye continued to persuade her, "Wanyi, to make everything right, we must give up this child."

Tears streamed down Xiao Wanyi’s face as she shook her head, unwilling to give up her child. She covered her ears, refusing to listen.

"Listen to me. We can have other children," Chu Ye’s voice echoed around her, unstoppable even with her ears covered. "If you choose the child, I will have to die."

Xiao Wanyi’s mind went blank, his final words echoing endlessly in her head. As the cold sword swung down again, she cried out in desperation, "No! I will give up the child! I will give up this child!"

The cold sword stopped an inch from her belly.

Chu Ye said, "Then you must end his life with this sword."

In her state of manipulation, Xiao Wanyi’s eyes went blank as she reached out to grasp the cold sword. Without hesitation, she moved to plunge the sword into her belly.

But her hand suddenly halted, the sword just an inch from her belly. Chu Ye urged, "Wanyi, you cannot hesitate, or I will die."

With a frown, Xiao Wanyi used all her strength to move her arm, trying to drive the sword into her belly. Blood began to seep from her arm, staining her clothes.

Realizing someone was resisting outside the dream, Chu Ye continued his persuasion, "Hurry, do you want me to die in front of you?"

Gathering her strength, Xiao Wanyi’s wound deepened, the cold sword almost touching her clothes. But at that moment, a beam of golden light cut through the dark dreamscape, and a graceful figure appeared, flicking the cold sword away.

The sword buzzed and flew out, but the figure caught its hilt. Landing on the ground, she looked up, her eyes swirling with a storm. "Who dares impersonate my brother?"

Seeing Nanli disrupt his plan, "Chu Ye’s" face twisted in anger, "Speak with respect! Could any random cat or dog break through your talisman array and draw Xiao Wanyi into my dream?"

Narrowing her eyes at his self-importance, Nanli smirked, "Fan Guizong, is that you?"

Fan Guizong, seeing his identity revealed, dropped his pretense, revealing his true face. His left sleeve hung empty, his eyes filled with hatred. "Nanli, this is my dream. Hell has no doors, yet you walked right in!"

"So what if it’s your dream? You failed to frame Sun Yaozu for murder. Feeling angry? If you’re unhappy, fight me directly. I’ll show you who’s boss," Nanli retorted coldly.

Fan Guizong ground his teeth in rage. "Arrogant girl, how dare you speak such nonsense!"

Tonight, he vowed to reclaim his dignity!