Outside, a vast expanse of white snow lay blanketing everything. Wei Qingran lay on the kang (heated brick bed), but her heart felt cold, a chilling ache born of self-deception.

The door creaked open, and a man in an ermine coat walked in, stirring the almost dying fire.

"What are all of you doing in this house? Even the stove is almost extinguished!" The man spoke with a stern but not angry voice, radiating an air of authority.

Wei Qingran looked at this man, the man she had known for over ten years, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"The leave of absence has been signed, so how could these people possibly continue to care about me, a worthless mistress?" Wei Qingran sneered, her eyes playfully meeting the gaze of the man before her.

Unexpectedly, the two of them have actually made it to this point.

The man frowned slightly: "Qing'ran, it's not what you think! This time the Wei family's crime involves nine clans! If I hadn't signed this divorce letter beforehand, I'm afraid that Qi Wangfu and our children would have been implicated! You grew up watching the Emperor. His thoughts, you know!"

Wei Qinglan took a long, deep breath and calmly shouted, "Qi Changfeng." She didn't want to listen anymore; she was exhausted.

Qi Changfeng looked at his wife. For many years, he hadn't heard Wei Qinglan call him like that.

From a young age, Feng Ge had always been like that. Even Qi Changfeng himself hadn't expected that when he heard his own name from Wei Qinglan's mouth, it would send a shiver down his spine.

"Qi Changfeng, we've known each other since we were three years old. I've known you for thirty years, and today I just realized that you are such a decisive person?"

Wei Qinglan's eyes, like knives, pierced Qi Changfeng's face. Qi Changfeng couldn't help but lower his eyes with thick lashes.

"Qingran...I..." Qi Changfeng was at a loss for words.

"Who taught you this? Come out! If you dare to do it, you must dare to take responsibility!" Wei Qinglan no longer wanted to waste time talking with Qi Changfeng. If after thirty years, she still didn't understand a person, then she was too useless.

"Sister, you're so smart!" Xiao Zi pushed the door open and walked in.

"Xiao Ya." Qi Changfeng immediately stood up. "What are you doing here?" Qi Changfeng shook his head, motioning for Xiao Ya to leave.

"Let him stay and speak his mind clearly!" Wei Qingran shouted, her voice still commanding respect. Qi Changfeng's hand trembled slightly.

Xiao Ya coldly snorted: "Chang Feng ge, you see, this is the Qing Ran elder sister you have always defended! If it weren't for your years of favoritism, Qing Ran elder sister would not be getting more and more arrogant in Qi Wangfu? Think about it, the old madam who was driven out by her sister, eventually died in the temple! Now, do you still want to condone her?"

Qi Changfeng's brows were furrowed, standing there, torn between two choices.

Wei Qinglan smiled, but the sound of her laughter was heartbreaking. The old lady who had been driven out by herself? It was clearly Qi Changfeng's mother who fell ill with a strange disease. If she hadn't sent her mother to the temple to rest, she probably wouldn't have lived those last three peaceful years!

Wei Qinglan wanted to shout out, but seeing Qi Changfeng's hesitation and entanglement, Wei Qinglan's heart died.

How did such a man get here?

"Qingran, you were born into the renowned Wei family of hundred-year physicians. From birth, you possessed dual spiritual powers, and everyone held you in high regard. But so what? In the end, you lost!"

Xiao Ya Jiao raised her chin, standing before Wei Qing Lan with a triumphant air.

"Now, I'm afraid you can't even protect the Wei family!"

What can't be kept? Wei Qinglan's eyes instantly glared at Xiao Ya!

A person who is pitiful deserves to be pitied! Now I am that pitiful person myself!

Xiao Ya can have what she has today, all because she helped herself. Otherwise, with her abilities, could she ever be the Chief Senior Sister of Tianzhu Gate?

Wei Qinglan's corner of her mouth twitched, smiling, laughing at her own foolishness, her own infatuation!

If there were another life, I would never be so merciful!

And at this moment, I heard the sound of the watchmen striking their bells.

Xiao Ya Jiao raised her chin: "Sister, do you know that it is noon now!"

Seeing Xiao Ya Jiao's smile, Wei Qing Lan felt a chill. What did it mean? What significance did noon today hold?

Xiao Ya smiled faintly: "Oh, sister, you still don't know. At this very moment, every single member of the Wei family will die outside the midday gate! And they will be beheaded and displayed as a warning!"

"What!" Wei Qinglan's whole body trembled, "Qi Changfeng, tell me, is it true or false?"

Qi Changfeng turned, but he didn't dare to meet Wei Qinglan's gaze.

Xiao Ya sneered: "Sister, you should be grateful that so far, as a member of the Wei family, you haven't died!"

Wei Qingran trembled, ignoring Xiao Ya and addressing Qi Changfeng instead: “Qi Changfeng! When I was ten years old, you had a high fever and almost died. It was me who knelt before my grandfather and begged him for our Wei family's elixir to save you! When I was fifteen, your father was only a general, suffering from poison wounds, it was me who pleaded with my master for the sweet water that saved you! At twenty, over a hundred soldiers at the border had heat poison and no one dared to approach. It was me who rode with you on one horse to the border, risking my life to save all the generals. Only then did your Qi family have today's glory!”

The more he spoke, the more excited Wei Qinglan became.

"You're quite the bold one, Qi Changfeng! Do you think that by severing our marital ties, you can sever everything? Can you erase all I did for your family? Can you erase what the Wei family has contributed to this household?"

Wei Qinglan propped up Zi and sat up. As long as there was one last breath, she would never stand by and watch the Wei family die.

Qi Changfeng's hands were clenched tightly, his whole body trembling. He knew that Wei Qinglan's kindness to him was immeasurable, but... but he didn't want to divorce Wei Qinglan. It wasn't that simple. If he didn't divorce her, the Wei family's affairs would implicate the Qi family. The entire Qi family, from top to bottom, wouldn't be able to escape!

"Enough! All this talk is just about how great you are, isn't it? Wei Qingran, don't you have enough already? The late emperor bestowed upon you the title of the number one physician in the land, and you married into the Qi family to become the princess! The Qi family went from a general's house to a prince's mansion, your treatment is top-notch."

Xiao Ya saw Qi Changfeng hesitating again and shouted loudly.

"Wei Qinglan, this time, Changfeng disposes of you completely because your Wei family is too ambitious! Relying on favor, you dare to interfere in the important matter of establishing a successor! Since you choose to help the fifteenth prince, how can the current emperor ascend the throne without eliminating your treacherous Wei family?"

Help the Fifteenth Master? Wei Qingran frowned, it's just a false accusation.

Suddenly, Wei Qinglan's eyes lit up. Helping the Fifteenth Master? Could she be referring to when she had gone to see the Fifteenth Master once because of Xiao Ya's request? But that time, it was Xiao Ya who had asked her for help!

Wei Qinglan looked at Xiao Ya, and sure enough, Xiao Ya had a sly smile on her lips.

(Editor in charge:novels of ken follett)