"Paper?"
Mu Yunlan was not very surprised by Zhan Xinjia's arrival, or rather, she had been waiting for her ever since she left the banquet.
At that time, Mu Yunlan was sobering up by the pond in the back garden of the side hall.
The place is secluded and shady, with the pavilion blocking most of the sunlight. A gentle breeze caresses the clear pond, causing ripples to spread across its surface. Several lotus flowers are in full bloom in the pond, and just looking at them makes one feel that most of the summer heat has dissipated, leaving one feeling refreshed and cool.
Mu Yunlan sat leaning against the railing, a breeze ruffling a few stray strands of hair that had fallen out from under her hair bun.
She looked over, her face still pale and sickly, even the rouge couldn't hide her frail appearance.
The woman smiled faintly, her lips pursed.
"Paper, come to my side."
Zhan Xinjia, whose face was pale, paused for a moment, but then walked over as if to be agreeable.
"Master."
"Um?"
Mu Yunlan's gaze softened as she looked at the little girl, her eyes filled with warmth, and she even spoke very softly.
"Alright, I can tell you've got something on your mind from that worried look on your face. Is there anything you're hesitating to tell your master? Silly child, just ask whatever you want to ask."
Hearing Mu Yunlan's words, Zhan Xinjia's tense emotions relaxed slightly, but his expression remained stiff. The thought of what he was about to say made his expression even more unnatural.
"Master, have you seen Lord Shen before?... I'm not referring to today, but before."
In fact, this was something Zhan Xinjia wanted to know the day she returned to the capital, but she hadn't found a suitable opportunity. Moreover, she was hesitant at the time and hadn't decided whether to speak up.
From the moment she first learned of Lanjiang's existence until now, some glaring clues have been laid bare before her, yet she has repeatedly forced herself to ignore them due to her personal feelings.
Now, she can no longer turn a blind eye.
Prophecy, weren't the things Master told her before also a kind of prophecy?
If there really is someone in the world who knows everything, is it really that hard to guess who that person would be?
Perhaps, the so-called "Goddess" has always been by her side.
Mu Yunlan was clearly surprised that Zhan Xinjia would ask so directly, which made her a little uncomfortable, but she still maintained a gentle and serene demeanor that made people feel no sense of suspicion, and her smile deepened.
"Why would you suddenly ask that? After all, we're both in the capital. It's impossible that we've never met before."
I remember… it must have been a few years ago, when Lord Shen had just arrived in the capital to pay homage to the Emperor. My carriage happened to be traveling along the palace road, in the light drizzle, and I caught a glimpse of him.
"Just this once, Master? Have you... been to Yaozhou City before?"
Zhan Xinjia looked into the woman's eyes and continued to press for answers.
She really didn't want to think in that direction, but she always suspected that the person that Lord Shen saw in the prison on the night Prefect Wang died might have been her master. She even knew something from her master, which is why things became so strange afterward.
Mu Yunlan did not answer the question directly, but instead looked up at the blue lotus on the water, letting out a barely audible sigh.
"Zhi'er, I told you long ago that getting too close to him will only bring you misfortune."
"But Master, why? What could be so unfortunate?"
Fate, fate, is fate really accurate? Just like you said before that Ah Yue and I were destined to be incompatible, but Ah Yue is an important family member of mine, and I could never break ties with her.
And you said that Yue and I would do anything to fight for someone who is set up as the 'male lead', but such an absurd thing is completely impossible to happen at the moment!
Doesn't all of this prove that fate can be avoided and changed by human effort?
The letter was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Stealing Fu Shou'an? In her opinion, she'd rather fight with a dog for poop; at least she could have some fun that way.
As the little girl pressed her with such questions, Mu Yunlan's smile froze, her expression grew cold, and finally only a look of pity remained on her face, a pity that was even somewhat condescending.
Often she was like a spectator, indifferently observing everything that happened, without sadness or joy, unmoved.
She could never bear to see the children she had watched grow up.
"No matter what the process is like, everything will eventually lead to the ending that was written long ago. Even if you are unwilling and struggling now, the ending that has already been written cannot be changed, Paper, do you understand?"
So what is the ending?
As she asked this question, Zhan Xinjia was suddenly overcome with a strong sense of unease and fear.
She both longed for the answer and feared it.
She wanted to know the truth, but was also afraid of hearing an answer she couldn't accept.
Sensing Zhan Xinjia's fear, Mu Yunlan lovingly stroked the girl's hair to comfort her. The woman seemed to regain her usual gentleness and smiled again.
"I've said it before. They belong to the good guys, while we are the villains by nature, their opposites."
Their existence in the stories is to expel or kill us. Paper, if you can't see the situation clearly and can't accept reality, then death is the only way out for you in the future.
Isn't it tragic to be killed by the one you love?
So why not get out sooner rather than later?
At this point, Mu Yunlan felt very fortunate that she had raised her child very well.
Without a doubt, Zhi'er is kind-hearted, responsible, confident, and courageous. The young girl shines brightly and warmly like the vibrant sunlight, illuminating everyone around her.
But at this moment she suddenly regretted that she had raised her child too well and protected him too well.
This actually makes children more vulnerable and more susceptible to injury.
The current plot has been completely altered by "that person," resulting in irreconcilable differences with the original storyline.
Even at the cost of his life, he would protect the female lead. Is this child really a decent but vicious female supporting character?
Mu Yunlan scoffed.
She tried her best to hide the mischievousness in her heart, to appear as natural and vulnerable as possible, ideally with a few tears in her eyes, so that her expression would be flawless, making her look like just a pitiful woman who was shocked, disappointed, and heartbroken after being suspected.
"Does Zhi'er want to know if I have any connection with Lan Jiang?"
There's no need to hide anything. You know that no matter what you say, your master won't have the heart to be angry with you.
But why would you doubt me?
Is it simply because I am a stranger in a strange land? Is there no other person in the world like me who cannot go home?
That's right, I've seen similar hidden weapons before, and some were even more powerful.
But, paper, anything is possible in a storybook, like the rebirth I told you about before.
Perhaps there really are people in this world who have lived two lives.
"Rebirth?"
Zhan Xinjia was stunned, and it took her a long time to remember that her master had told her a story about "rebirth" when she was bored before.
For example, a legitimate daughter was persecuted by her half-sister, deceived and betrayed by a man, and ultimately her family was destroyed and executed. Reborn, the legitimate daughter decides that this time she must marry a man of higher status and thoroughly humiliate and punish the scumbags.
I even chuckled to myself at the time, speechless.
She seriously considered what would happen if she were the one who was betrayed... Well, he betrayed me in my past life, so in this life, if there's even one survivor within a ten-mile radius of his family, I'd be lucky he hid them well!
But then again, could it be that everything really has nothing to do with Master?
Is the goddess someone else?
It cannot be ruled out that her master might deceive her, but at least for now, Zhan Xinjia is unwilling to doubt those close to her too much, as it would damage their relationship.
Moreover, his master was frail and sickly, and Prince Yan was disabled. The two of them spent almost the entire year lying in the palace recuperating. Zhan Xinjia found it hard to imagine what bad things this sickly couple could do.
They came with heavy hearts, and they left with heavy hearts.
Watching the little girl's departing figure, Mu Yunlan lowered her eyes. After a few moments, she suddenly couldn't help but chuckle softly, feeling extremely happy.
Yes, no one would have imagined that there really was someone in this world who had lived two lives.
She even had a premonition of who that person was.
Unfortunately, even though that person knew everything, they still couldn't accomplish anything after being reborn. Foolish and pathetic, they tried their best but only did something utterly absurd.
This person used to pose a huge threat to her, but now he will never have the chance again.
How could she not be happy about this?
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