You got beaten up?

spring breeze?

Duan Qingshan and Zhao Yong exchanged a glance and hurriedly let go of Li Xiuman's arm.

As Li Xiuman watched Zhang Chunfeng approach, an evil thought suddenly arose in his mind. He deliberately let his legs go weak and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Sister-in-law!" Zhang Chunfeng took three steps in one, rushed over quickly, and helped Li Xiuman up from the ground.

Li Xiuman refused to get up, instead sitting on the ground, lying limply on Zhang Chunfeng, showing Zhang Chunfeng the face that Zhao Yong had slapped.

As expected, Zhang Chunfeng saw the clear fingerprints and glared angrily at the two people standing there.

When Duan Qingshan saw Zhang Chunfeng staring so intently at Li Xiuman's face, he knew perfectly well that the position of the principal wife would be hard to win, at least for the past few years, Zhang Chunfeng only had eyes for Li Xiuman.

“Spring Breeze, I came to see you, but I happened to find His Highness the Crown Prince bullying my sister-in-law, so I’m here to take her away.”

With a simple sentence, Duan Qingshan shifted all the blame onto Zhao Yong.

Zhao Yong was a paper tiger. If he really had the guts, he wouldn't have sneaked over while Zhang Chunfeng was in court. He was thinking of taking advantage of Zhang Chunfeng's absence to bully him. By the time Zhang Chunfeng returned and found out, Zhao Yong was already in the Eastern Palace.

He didn't believe that Zhang Chunfeng would dare to storm the Eastern Palace for Li Xiuman. At most, Zhang Chunfeng could only report him to the Empress, but the Empress was his own mother, and the punishment he would receive would be nothing more than confinement to the palace to reflect on his mistakes.

Besides, Zhang Chunfeng also holds the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. Even if he is confined to his quarters, Zhang Chunfeng still has to go to the Eastern Palace to see her.

No matter how much they planned, they never expected Duan Qingshan to appear halfway through, and they certainly didn't expect Zhang Chunfeng to return so quickly.

When Zhao Yong met Zhang Chunfeng's angry eyes, he panicked.

"It was he who pushed me, the Crown Prince!" Zhao Yong hurriedly defended himself.

"Oh? He actually had the audacity to push His Highness the Crown Prince? How come I didn't know my sister-in-law was so bold?"

Lee Soo-man deliberately continued to lean against Zhang Chunfeng, tugging at his torn clothes. He wasn't wearing a padded outer garment, and after sitting in the hall for a while, he suddenly sneezed.

Zhang Chunfeng hugged her even tighter. "Qiuxin, go get your clothes."

"May I ask, Your Highness, what about my sister-in-law's clothes? In broad daylight, how could her clothes be gone?"

Zhao Yong coughed twice, "I, I..."

Zhao Yong quickly gave a wink to the little eunuch who ran to his side. The little eunuch hurriedly said, "Reporting to Lord Zhang, His Highness just received a new piece of cloth and thought that since his sister-in-law has just arrived in the capital, he should make her a dress. I'm afraid his sister-in-law has misunderstood. There must be some hidden reason."

Lee Soo-man was stunned. He had been thinking that he had finally been able to hold his head high after being humiliated for so long, but the little eunuch's words turned it into him being ungrateful and offending His Highness the Crown Prince.

He suddenly remembered that when Zhao Yong killed Zhang Chuntian, he left behind a gold ingot, and some people praised Zhao Yong for his kindness.

In this world, it's true that with money and power, black can become white!

Lee Soo-man shook his head anxiously, "Chun-pung, I didn't, it was His Highness who wanted to see me... to see my... body."

Zhang Chunfeng frowned, seemingly not understanding why Zhao Yong, a man, wanted to look at his sister-in-law's body.

The young eunuch quickly added, "Sir, there must be some misunderstanding. Your Highness is a man, and so is your sister-in-law. Why would you want to see your sister-in-law's body? Perhaps your sister-in-law is new to the capital and hasn't heard Your Highness's words clearly. Actually, Your Highness wanted to make clothes for your sister-in-law."

Lee Soo-man was stunned again, never expecting that what was originally the most humiliating reason had now become the most impossible thing.

Zhang Chunfeng sneered, "Shut up, who are you trying to fool? Why me?"

"If you bought the fabric, where is it? If you need to take measurements, what are my sister-in-law's measurements? If it's a misunderstanding, why is it being misinterpreted on Qiu Xin's face?"

Zhang Chunfeng asked Qiu Xin, "Who slapped you in the face? Slap them back now."

Qiu Xin covered her face and walked towards the young eunuch.

The little eunuch knew that no amount of lies could cover up what had happened today, mainly because Zhang Chunfeng didn't want the matter to pass. If someone doesn't want the matter to pass, you can't get over it no matter what you say.

"Ouch." The little eunuch slapped himself. "I didn't want there to be any discord between you and His Highness. It's all my fault."

Zhang Chunfeng was still not satisfied and continued to look at Zhao Yong.

Zhao Yong was still afraid of Zhang Chunfeng, and said blankly, "Chunfeng, I recently acquired a treasure from Yunnan and Guizhou. I've come to deliver it to you."

Zhang Chunfeng sneered, "I only went to court to pay my respects to the Empress, and His Highness the Crown Prince and General Duan both crowded into my residence. My humble abode is truly honored."

Seeing that things were not going well, Duan Qingshan quickly said, "I just wanted to say hello to my sister-in-law. There is nothing between us, so I'll head back now."

He said this, but he was asking Lee Soo-man.

Lee Soo-man nodded, meaning that Duan Qingshan had indeed not made things difficult for him. What Duan Qingshan wanted was for Zhang Chunfeng to know that he did not have it. He then bid farewell to the two men and left as fast as he could.

"You surnamed Duan!" Zhao Yong shouted angrily.

Zhang Chunfeng helped Li Xiuman to a chair and asked Qiu Xin to bring him some cooling ointment. He then spread it between his fingers and gently applied it to Li Xiuman's cheek.

Her eyes were so gentle, so focused. Zhao Yong only glanced at her, and an aura of jealousy emanated from him.

"Spring Breeze, you've never treated me like this." Zhao Yong's tone was tinged with grievance.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is unharmed."

Zhao Yong stood there, staring at Li Xiuman's swollen face. He suddenly thought that he should have known better than to hit him. This despicable bastard only knew how to play the victim. If he had been injured, Chunfeng might have felt sorry for him.

“Spring Breeze, I’ve come to see you about something,” Zhao Yong said again.

"Your Highness, just give me your instructions. As the Crown Prince, you can discuss anything with me."

Zhao Yong wasn't stupid; he keenly sensed the distance in Zhang Chunfeng's words.

"Spring Breeze, I really have something to discuss with you."

Zhang Chunfeng ignored her and, after applying the medicine to Li Xiuman, even pouted and blew on Li Xiuman's cheek. Then, she naturally picked up a comb and started combing Li Xiuman's hair. Zhang Chunfeng didn't know how to style hair, so after combing it, she asked Qiu Xin to help her tidy it up. Her fingers then touched Li Xiuman's shoulders and chest, trying to straighten Li Xiuman's clothes, which had been torn and messed up.

Every movement, every glance, from hair to shoulders, the countless touches of fingertips—all revealed a practiced ease. Zhao Yong was almost certain that the two of them had definitely done *that*!

Zhao Yong clenched his fists, his mind filled with images of Li Xiuman and Zhang Chunfeng's intimacy in bed. Had Chunfeng kissed him? Hugged him? Whispered "Qingqing" in his ear? The surging thoughts in his mind crashed into Zhao Yong's eyes, and he suddenly felt like crying.

“Chunfeng! What do I lack compared to him? Do you know that if you were with me, the world would be yours!” Zhao Yong grabbed Zhang Chunfeng’s sleeve.

"Between the world and spring breeze, which would you choose?" Zhao Yong continued to ask.

Lee Soo-man's heart skipped a beat. The world? As an ordinary citizen, he had never even considered this word, yet this person before him could offer Zhang Chunfeng the entire world? Lee Soo-man's heart clenched for a moment; anyone would have made this choice without hesitation.

"Heh." Zhang Chunfeng sneered, her laughter so grating that Li Xiuman and Zhao Yong both turned to look at her in surprise.

"I have taught you for two years and shown you so many classic texts, yet you remain so foolish! The Empress is not even forty years old yet, and you dare to plot for the throne! The Third Prince may be younger than you, but he is far more intelligent. Besides, apart from the Third Prince, in this past year, Princess Mingzhu, Princess Zhuyu, Princess Yusui, and so on, which one of them is not ambitious? The Empress has already warned you to give up this idea. If you were to join me, the world would belong to the Zhang family! How could the Empress possibly agree to that?"

"I will resign from my position as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince tomorrow. If you want to die, then die on your own. Just don't drag me down with you."

After Zhang Chunfeng finished speaking, he waved his hand and said, "Someone, escort His Highness the Crown Prince back to the palace."

Zhao Yong didn't want to leave yet, so the guards on either side hurriedly stepped forward, and the little eunuch also tugged at Zhao Yong's sleeve.

"Your Highness, let's go back first."

The young eunuch grabbed Zhao Yong's arm tightly and dragged him out the door. Zhao Yong was foolish, but the young eunuch was not. His master had dared to mention the throne so brazenly; he really didn't have long to live. If that was the case, he might as well surrender to Zhang Chunfeng as soon as possible and live a few more years.

Therefore, the young eunuch took Zhao Yong away and ordered someone to send over the gifts that Zhao Yong had prepared.

After everyone left, Zhang Chunfeng put his arm around Li Xiuman's waist and said, "It's my fault for not protecting you when you first arrived in Kyoto, causing you to suffer this bullying."

Li Xiu's mind was still a mess, so she gently shook her head.

At this moment, Xiao Sui ran into the house. Zhang Chunfeng's house was indeed big. Xiao Sui saw the rockery and pond in the backyard and climbed the rockery with her maid. She was completely unaware of what was happening in the front yard.

"Dad, there are mountains behind us, and we can go boating." After Zhang Chunfeng came along, Xiao Sui ate big meals of fish and meat every day. His originally thin figure has now returned to the appearance of a three-year-old child. Although his face still looks dark and not very good-looking, his eyes are bright and his mind is much better than before.

Lee Soo-man smiled, took the young man's hand, and was about to speak.

Qiu Xin brought in a monkey. "My lord, it's a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince."

The three people in the room went to look at the monkey. It had golden fur all over its body and a tail that curled up like a hook. As soon as Lee Soo-man saw the monkey, he immediately remembered how Zhang Chuntian looked when he died. Xiao Sui, who had been crying at the time, also seemed to have a bad impression. As if children had an innate instinct, when Xiao Sui saw the monkey, she buried her head in Lee Soo-man's arms.

"Ahhh! No monkey, no!" Xiao Sui shouted, her mouth agape as if she was about to cry.

After being taught by Zhang Chunfeng for so long, Xiao Sui rarely cried anymore. When Zhang Chunfeng looked at Li Xiuman again, she found her sister-in-law's face was deathly pale. She hurriedly grabbed Li Xiuman's hand, only to find that Li Xiuman's palm was ice cold.

"Quickly throw this thing away!" Zhang Chunfeng realized something was wrong, grabbed Li Xiuman with one hand, and patted Xiao Sui's head with the other.

Qiu Xin hurriedly took the monkey away, but after a few steps she said again, "My lord, this was a gift from the Crown Prince after all. Throwing it away directly might be..."

"Send it to the Third Prince."

Qiu Xin received the order and hurried off to carry it out.

“Spring Breeze, Spring Breeze, your brother… Spring…” Lee Soo-man trembled and choked up, as if he no longer had the courage to recount the memories in his mind.

“I am here, do not be afraid, speak slowly.” Zhang Chunfeng touched Li Xiuman’s face, his thumb stroking Li Xiuman’s face again and again.

Perhaps feeling the warmth of Zhang Chunfeng's fingertips, Li Xiuman regained his senses slightly.

He recounted the entire story of what happened to Zhang Chuntian.

Words are like a knife, piercing Zhang Chunfeng so much that he had to close his eyes.

She had vaguely guessed earlier that Zhang Chuntian's death might be related to her, but she never imagined that she was far away in the capital and her brother was in Jiangnan, so how could this matter have anything to do with her?

Zhang Chunfeng truly couldn't believe that such a coincidence could happen in the world!

It was Zhao Yong! Zhao Yong was jealous that Duan Qingshan had given her a tiger skin from Lingnan, so he followed suit and gave her a gift as well. In order to give her a monkey, he trampled Zhang Chuntian to death in the street!

Zhao Yong trampled Zhang Chuntian to death, but it was as a gift to her. Zhang Chuntian could have survived, but she shielded Li Xiuman from a horse's hooves. Zhang Chunfeng frowned deeply. She walked into the hall and looked up at the deep sky.

This is what it means when fate plays tricks on people and destiny is unfair.

No wonder Lee Soo-man wanted to break up with her back then, no wonder he hesitated to reveal why Jang Chun-tian died. I didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me.

My poor brother lost his mind at the age of ten, lived aimlessly until he was twenty-seven before marrying, only to have his wife taken away by me, and finally lost his life at the age of thirty because of me.

Zhang Chunfeng felt a pang of regret; she truly regretted how she had treated Li Xiuman in front of her brother's memorial tablet.

“Spring Breeze, we are all guilty, we…” Lee Soo-man said through teary eyes.

Zhang Chunfeng shook his head.

"The sea of ​​suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore. Since turning back is the shore, why not cross it further?"

Zhang Chunfeng tightened his grip on Li Xiuman's hand. "Sister-in-law, I will go to pray for my brother again tomorrow. I have wronged him in this life, and that is enough. But if you want me to let you go?"

Zhang Chunfeng pressed Li Xiuman's lips against his and kissed him, "Never."

Three years, three years alone in Kyoto, she had long understood that life without Lee Soo-man was unbearable. She felt like a walking corpse every day, and only the scent of Lee Soo-man's hair made her feel alive.

Call her lawless or selfish if you will. A dead person is dead; she is still alive, so she should live her life to the fullest.

Lee Soo-man didn't answer. He still had many things on his mind.

When Xiao Jiu returned in the evening, Li Xiuman actually smiled.

As soon as Xiao Jiu saw Lee Soo-man, she rushed into his arms and started crying.

Lee Soo-man asked helplessly, "You're finally reunited, so why are you crying so much?"

"I miss my brother," Xiao Jiu replied, wiping away her tears. Upon hearing that Zhang Chuntian had also passed away, Xiao Jiu cried again.

After crying, Lee Soo-man asked again, "How are you here? Is everything alright at school?"

Xiao Jiu, who had just stopped crying, burst into tears again after being asked this question. The loud crying startled Xiao Sui, who looked at her crybaby aunt with curiosity.

"It's too hard! I don't know anything! People laugh at me for being dark-skinned, and the teacher assigns so much homework every day. If I don't finish it, he hits my palms. I'm just not cut out for studying, but my sister insists I study." As Xiao Jiu spoke, she secretly looked around to see if Chunfeng was there.

Zhang Chunfeng was a natural prodigy and had no idea how difficult it was for someone like Xiao Jiu, who wasn't very bright, to study.

Xiao Jiu had mentioned it a few times before, and Zhang Chunfeng asked in surprise, "If you don't know it, can't you just read it a few more times?"

From then on, Xiao Jiu never spoke to Zhang Chunfeng again. If she didn't know, she simply didn't know; no matter how many times she read it, she still wouldn't understand! Every day, she would stay up until midnight just doing her homework. Over the past few years, Xiao Jiu spent her days either doing homework or in school, experiencing almost no joy whatsoever.

After listening to Xiao Jiu's complaints, Li Xiuman sighed, "But you're only thirteen years old. What can you do if you don't go to school? Xiao Jiu, people always have to study. How about this, from now on I'll do my homework with you, and we'll play together after class."

Xiao Jiu pouted, still unwilling, but hugged Li Xiuman even tighter, "Brother is so much better. Sister is always too busy, and no one keeps me company! The people here are always distant with me, calling me 'Miss' all the time, which makes me feel uncomfortable! I am no Miss. If it weren't for Sister, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to be a maid in this mansion."

Lee Soo-man comforted them for a while before they parted ways.

Xiao Jiu teased Xiao Sui, "Call me Auntie." She laughed.

Xiao Sui pouted, "I don't know you, I won't call you."

"Hey, you seem smarter than me."

"Of course, my mother taught me personally, so naturally I'm smart!" Xiao Sui said cleverly.

Xiao Jiu giggled at these words, and Lee Soo-man laughed too.

The room was warm and cozy. Lee Soo-man sat there, looking at the people around him, and suddenly felt half of the gloom in his heart lifted.

In the evening, Zhang Chunfeng still did not sleep in a separate room from him.