Not Her

When Duke Li Shenyang walked back to his room, he was bewildered to discover his wife wasn't wallowing by the window. Instead, she was being properly dressed by the servants.

When Duchess Wang Qixing saw him enter the room, her curious eyes lit up. She was already in her late thirties, but each time she glanced at him, he seemed to fall deeply in love with her all over again. She seemed so excited that he was at a loss for words. "Is it true?" she asked.

Duke Li Shenyang repeatedly blinked to ensure he was not dreaming. His wife's eyes were shining and she appeared a bit more lively than usual. "Is what true?" he inquired.

"You picked up a girl from the forest and she resembles Minghua!"

Duke Li Shenyang was surprised that word had traveled so fast. Irritation coursed through him. He didn't want her to find out through the gossiping lips of the servants. He wanted to tell her himself.

Duke Li Shenyang reluctantly nodded his head. It only took this simple movement for her to immediately run out of the door. Completely abandoning the rules of proper etiquette, Duchess Wang Qixing ran down the halls with the shawl of her hanfu flying in the air.

He was stunned for the briefest second before he immediately chased after his stubborn wife.

"Sweetheart, you shouldn't run! What if you hurt yourself?!" he worriedly shouted after her.

Duke Li Shenyang couldn't help but wonder: Was she always this fast? Where did she get the stamina to run for so long? He quickened his pace, but it was to no avail. She was already a couple of steps ahead of him and had reached the room of the unconscious girl.

Duchess Wang Qixing's unexpected appearances surprised the guards outside of the room. She slammed the doors open and in the process of doing so, startled the servants tending to the girl.

Her frantic eyes searched the room until she finally saw what she was looking for.

Duchess Wang Qixing approached the girl with wobbly legs. A quiet gasp left her lips when she saw the bandages on her forehead, arms, and no doubt, the rest of her body. Horrendous shades of purple, green, and blue bruises covered her body.

She pressed her shaky hands to her agape lips and stared at the girl. Indeed, this girl resembled Li Minghua. But Duchess Wang Qixing's motherly intuition told her this girl wasn't Li Minghua.

Duke Li Shenyang finally reached the door. He entered the room without warning and disapprovingly shook his head. "Sweetheart, how can you run off without me?"

She ignored his question and deadpanned, "This isn't my Minghua." Her pitiful voice cracked with heartbreak.

Duke Li Shenyang placed a gentle hand on her sagged shoulders that were weighed down with disappointment.

He opened his mouth but she interrupted him, "This isn't my Minghua." She glanced up at him.

Duke Li Shenyang had a grim expression on his face as he brushed a few strands of fallen hair away from her face.

"I know she isn't," he gently whispered to her. He was stunned to finally hear the name of their daughter from his wife's lips. He forced himself to mask his astonishment.

"For a second, I thought my Minghua had come back to me," she sniffled before glancing at the girl.

His cold and sharp eyes surveyed the servants. In a heavy voice, he demanded, "Leave us."

Everyone immediately left the room with a deep bow while closing the doors behind them.

Sensing her breakdown before it came wrapped his arms around her and tugged her into an endearing hug. Soon, the room was filled with the broken sobs of a distraught mother.

Duke Li Shenyang's face softened as he hugged her tighter. He felt his heart being ripped apart by her disappointed and heart-wrenching sobs.

Her small frame shook in his comforting arms.

With soothing whispers, occasional pats, he slowly comforted his wife. He did not know how much time had passed, but he continued to patiently wait for her tears to subdue.

After a while, she finally hiccuped out, "I-I want her to s-stay in this m-manor."

Duke Li Shenyang felt his eyebrows pull together in confusion. "We can't just say that as if we're adopting a pet off the streets.

Her voice was firm as she repeated, "I want the girl to stay."

Duke Li Shenyang's body tensed.

He was a very doting husband and was the kind to give his wife everything in the world.

Unlike the other men of nobility who only married for political and financial gain, he had married Duchess Wang Qixing for love. It just so happens the Goddess of Luck was on his side that she was an outstanding noble lady accepted by his parents.

He had never denied his wife' wishes, even if there were times that it was outrageous. But for the first time, he felt the word 'no,' at the tip of his tongue. He pushed the word down his throat and opted to say something else.

"We don't know if she has family out there—"

"Then we'll wait for her to wake up. If she has a family out there, I demand an explanation as to why she's beaten and left to die in the forest." Duchess Wang Qixing's determined voice surprised her husband. She was always a soft and gentle woman who rarely raised her voice.

Duke Li Shenyang internally sighed. He knew this request of hers would be difficult to reject. She was too determined.

Carefully, he patted her shoulders. "It's unknown when she will regain consciousness. Until she does, I'll have the servants ask around to see if any family is missing a daughter—"

"No!" Duchess Wang Qixing suddenly shouted. Her shrilling voice alarmed the worried Duke who was unused to her loud voice.

"Sweetheart—"

"You're planning on sending her away," Duchess Wang Qixing said. Her docile eyes turned incredibly dark and angry.

She roughly pushed him away, surprising him yet again. He stumbled a step back as his eyebrows shot up at her erratic behavior.

Before he could say anything, she wrapped her thin arms around her body and glanced sideways—refusing to look at him.

"You shouldn't be illogical. You're never like this," Duke Li Shenyang said with a disapproving voice before adding on, "Imagine how the girl's family would feel to know their daughter has suddenly disappeared?" He immediately regretted his words the minute they left his mouth.

Duchess Wang Qixing's head whipped towards him. She glowered at him with frightening rage. When she opened her mouth to say something, Duke Li Shenyang had already beaten her to the punch. "I've already informed the servants to ask the families of Hechen if they're missing a daughter. As we speak, they're already combing the city."

Disappointment filled the Duchess's face.

Duke Li Shenyang frowned and said, "I will compromise with you, my beloved wife. Don't look so crestfallen."

The Duke took a step towards her, but she walked backward. He paused before slowly saying, "I was originally planning on having the search go on for three days. But I will call it off by the end of tomorrow. If no one comes forward to claim the girl, then we will speak to the girl and come to a conclusion."

Duchess Wang Qixing's expression slowly morphed from irritation to consideration. After a few seconds of thoughtful thinking, she finally spoke up, "Do you promise to end the search by the end of tomorrow?"

"I shouldn't have pampered you," he muttered to himself, though he knew it was not the truth. With a reluctant nod, he said, "I promise."

Duke Li Shenyang held out a hand for his wife to take. She tenderly wrapped her hand into his and followed him out of the door. "Where are we going?" she asked.

"It's already the afternoon and we've yet to have breakfast or lunch. Our sons have finished their lessons and will be waiting for us at the table," he answered while releasing her hand and wrapping his arm around her body.

As they walked down the long corridor of the East Wing, Duke Li Shenyang missed the fierce determination tucked in Duchess Wang Qixing's eyes.