Destiny
“I will not save people. You are the Imperial Advisor, you have great love, and you stopped Prince Xuanping from doing what you could to bring peace and stability to the world. I am not like that. I have no great love. The people of the world are none of my concern. I am only seeking revenge for my own selfish reasons.”
As soon as he put down his teacup, the porcelain rattled against the stone table. He said to the three of them, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you."
Cui Wan: "Oh, it's no big deal. I really didn't know that someone like my cousin would write for the princess. My eldest cousin is steady and upright; it's always my second cousin who acts recklessly."
On one side, the women chatted and laughed, while on the other side, they argued about the baby's age.
Yueling spoke slowly and deliberately, "Why not save them? When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken; where will the world be without you?"
"I simply won't save them. Do I have to save everyone in the world? What's the point of having officials in the court and local officials then? I hate most people in the world, so why should I save them? What's the use of saving them anyway? It's like I'm some kind of savior. Can I even save them?"
"Then why did you save Madam Xu?"
Sui Zhixu: "Did I say it was because of Sui Chengyu?"
"Is she her? No, Sui Chengyu wouldn't know you didn't save her, and there's no way she would bother you. You lack self-awareness, you're unkind to others, and harsh on yourself. Why do you deny yourself again and again?"
"I don't."
"You can't accept the kindness of the Sui family towards you, you can't accept giving a new piece of clothing to the Pei family's son, Jinzhu. And why is that?"
"Shut up! It's an accident, just an accident. It's just a child. I'm only repaying a favor to the Pei family." Sui Zhixu clenched her fists and shouted at Yueling in her heart, "I can't save her, I can't save her!"
With his palms facing up in front of him, Sui Zhixu stared blankly at his hands, wondering how much blood they had stained when he was an assassin.
So annoying, so incredibly annoying, stop talking, stop talking!
"What have you remembered? Sui Zhixu? Sui Zhixu!"
Yue Ling noticed that Sui Zhi Xu was not in a good state and called Sui Zhi Xu's name over and over again, but Sui Zhi Xu, with her willpower, directly severed the connection between them.
Age in months: "..."
Many times, she felt like she was part of the system that followed her, trapped in a place where she couldn't escape and the host couldn't see her. But she didn't believe that Prince Xuanping would be willing to sever his connection with the male protagonist system.
But Sui Zhixu, that disobedient and wretched disciple, dares to do this? Ahhhhh, you just wait! It's already March, and when she gets out in May, she'll make Sui Zhixu pay.
—
"Like my wife? Like my wife? What's wrong?"
As Xu opened her eyes, she met three pairs of concerned gazes. Her lips parted slightly, and her chest heaved.
The Ning, Pei, and Cui families are of great use to her, so she cannot lose her composure.
She shook her head, clenched her fists, and said calmly, "I'm fine, don't worry."
Ning Yan helped Sui Zhixu up: "Didn't you get enough rest?"
Sui Zhixu rubbed his temples. "Probably."
Cui Wan's playful face was filled with concern, "If it really doesn't work out, you can leave early. Everyone from the flower viewing banquet has gone to find partners. It's been a long time since the four of us have stayed in the pavilion to chat."
“You didn’t just not like any of them.” Pei Qinglian poured tea from the teapot and handed it to Sui Zhixu.
Hot steam sprayed onto my face, warmth transferred from my palms, and a cozy feeling spread through my limbs.
Pei Qinglian: "We both came here with you. If Ayan were to go on a blind date, my third brother would go crazy."
Ning Yan nudged Pei Qinglian with her elbow, "It's not as exaggerated as you say."
As Xu blew on his teacup, he remarked, "There are so many successful candidates in the imperial examinations, and each one catches your eye."
"No, they're all not good-looking. Why isn't there anyone as good-looking as Cong Xiang?"
Sui Zhixu: "Huh?"
"You like handsome men?" Sui Zhixu cleared his throat. Cong Lan still had a charming appearance, and one could imagine how dashing she must have been in her youth.
Cui Wan exclaimed in shock: "How beautiful!"
She looked left and right, Ning Yan covered her face, Pei Qinglian turned her head, and Sui Zhixu also had a strange expression.
Ning Yan broke the silence, "I've heard that the third-ranked scholar is handsome. I wonder if he's here today?"
"The long and the short ones are of the same type?"
"Um, probably."
Pei Qinglian: "Never heard of it."
“I don’t know, but I think…” Before Sui Zhixu could finish speaking, Cui Wan suddenly screamed.
The three of them: "..."
Following the direction Cui Wan pointed, there was a young man in white on the opposite bank of the lake. The lake wasn't very large, and the three of them could see his appearance: a sharp face, upturned eyes, and a captivating beauty mark below his eyes; he was indeed handsome.
Cui Wan lifted her skirt and ran around the lake to his side.
Pei Qinglian: "She blushed."
Ning Yan looked at her in disbelief, "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Pei Qinglian sneered twice, "The person is burning up. That young man is quite capable, he can make the person lose all sense of direction with just a few words."
Sui Zhixu was extremely puzzled, "Does he look like my father?"
How could they be alike? Although my father was handsome and charming, he was elegant and polite, and treated everyone except my mother with gentleness and aloofness.
"They look nothing alike, and why is he here all alone?"
"He wouldn't be trying to live off a woman, would he? Oh no, he's after Cui Wan." There were countless cases like this in the Dali Temple's files. Ning Yan's heart clenched. She was caught between two conflicting emotions and wished she could bring the lovestruck Cui Wan back right now and tell her the story of how he killed his wife and ate the childless woman for three days and three nights.
"I think she's doomed." Pei Qinglian gripped her teacup tightly, her veins bulging.
The three of them were of one mind; no matter how you looked at it, he was not a man you could entrust your life to.
"Go and call Lady Cui back," Ning Yan instructed her maid, who brought her back shortly afterward.
"Ayan, what are you doing?" Cui Wan pouted, her eyebrows drooping.
Pei Qinglian asked loudly, "Who is he?"
"Ah, yes." Cui Wan said shyly, tugging at the handkerchief in her hand. "This year's third-place scholar is Xi Yushao, and Xi Yushao is the young master."
Sui Zhixu stood up and said, "No, this person is definitely not a good person."
Her meticulously planned scheme to elevate Yu Shao to the top should not have been carried out in this way; she had no interest whatsoever in sacrificing another woman's life to achieve her own ambitions.
He then pointed out the name of Prince Xuanping, subtly mocking him as a scoundrel.
"Why? Did he do something wrong?"
Cui Wan admired Sui He the most and regarded him as her role model. Although she was displeased by what her daughter said, she still listened patiently.
Pei Qinglian stood in front of Cui Wan, her brows furrowed with irritation, and said sharply, "I also think it's inappropriate."
Suppressing her anger, Cui Wan took two steps back, looked into Pei Qinglian's emotionless eyes, and said bitterly, "Pei Qinglian, is it that you think everything I do is wrong? You have never approved of me since we were little. Yes, you are two years older than me, and you make all your own decisions and never listen to me. You want to make decisions for me too. Can't you care about my wishes?"
"Ah Wan." Ning Yan realized something was wrong and stepped forward to try and stop Cui Wan.
Unexpectedly, Cui Wan, in a fit of rage, shoved her away.
Ning Yan fell to the ground and cried out in surprise.
Pei Qinglian helped Ning Yan up, grabbed her hand, and saw blood beads oozing from the wound on her palm.
"Cui Wan! What's wrong with you? Who is Xi Yushao? Is he someone you'd abandon even your childhood friend, Ayan?"
Cui Wan froze, her face turning deathly pale in an instant. She stumbled forward, trying to reach out and touch Ning Yan, but Pei Qinglian turned around and blocked her with her back, staring coldly at her, "What else do you want to do?"
"I... I didn't want to." Cui Wan's words were broken and intermittent. Her steps became unsteady, and her legs gave way, causing her to fall to the ground.
“Ah Lian.” Ning Yan shook her head at Pei Qinglian.
Su Zhixu sighed silently, knowing that today was probably not a good day and that arguments were likely to break out.
She stepped forward and helped Cui Wan up. Her cyan-colored ruqun skirt fell over the young lady's bright yellow headdress, layer upon layer like falling petals.
"Be careful, don't fall again."
After Cui Wan steadied herself, her gaze swept back and forth among the group, taking in the faint concern in Xu Zhixu's eyes, Ning Yan's inner turmoil and pain, and Pei Qinglian's cold dissatisfaction.
My gaze finally fell on Ning Yan's scraped hand, where bright red blood was still seeping out.
Sui Zhixu took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom. "An injury is no small matter. Just in case, let's apply some medicine."
"Thank you." Pei Qinglian then took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around the wound.
Cui Wan kept watching as the blood-red veil covered several wounds, which were completely concealed.
She heard the sounds of women playing and laughing in the distance. Suddenly, she turned and ran away, running until she was out of sight of the three women.
Sui Zhixu: "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. After so many years, Wan finally found someone she loves, but you always disapprove of her. She acted impulsively in a moment of panic..."
“She’s not young anymore. You can’t always spoil her. This time she pushed you in a moment of panic and hurt you. What will she do next time?” Pei Qinglian pressed Ning Yan down on the stone bench and told Ning Yan’s maid to go find their carriage.
"You must not speak up for her."
Seeing Pei Qinglian's furrowed brows and gloomy expression, Ning Yan glanced at the path Cui Wan had taken and felt relieved that Cui Wan's maid was no ordinary person and possessed martial arts skills, which would ensure her safety.
"You."
Ning Yan didn't know what else to say, so she turned to look at Sui Zhixu beside her, her face full of apology, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, young master. It's not appropriate to gather today. I'll treat you to a meal at Yunlai Tower another day."
"It's alright, you don't have to keep calling me Young Master or Lady Sui, just call me by my name."
"Alright, then I'll be bold this time and call you Ah Xu, just like I do Ah Lian and Ah Wan."
Sui Zhixu nodded. The Ning, Pei, and Cui families would be natural allies on her path to revenge, and she couldn't give up this golden opportunity.
"cousin!"
The tender, gentle voice seemed to drip water; the voice arrived before the person was seen, and Sui Zhixu immediately recognized it as Sui Chengyu.
Sui Chengyu stood among the colorful ladies, tiptoeing and waving, "I'm here."
She lifted her skirt and flew to Sui Zhixu's side like a butterfly.
"My cousin said she was going to relax and didn't take me with her. I was afraid of upsetting her, so I stayed with Danhong. But I didn't expect that my cousin would stay with the other women and only leave Chengyu out."
Sui Zhixu walked down the steps and grasped Sui Chengyu's hand. Seeing that she was putting on an act again, he deliberately shook his head.
"I didn't, you've misunderstood me."
"I misunderstood you? Look at what you're doing, being all intimate with other women while leaving me and Danhong aside. Don't you like Chengyu anymore?" Chengyu's eyes welled up with tears, threatening to fall, making her look pitiful.
Sui Zhixu grabbed Sui Chengyu's face, "Don't talk nonsense, come home with me right now."
"Alright." Upon hearing Sui Zhixu's words, Sui Chengyu's anger inexplicably subsided, and she took Sui Zhixu's arm.
"In that case, I shall take my leave now. Farewell, both of you."
Ning Yan and Pei Qinglian nodded, "I'll definitely send an invitation to A Xu in a few days once my hand has healed."
Xu nodded slightly and took Sui Chengyu and Danhong away.
Dan Hong chattered excitedly in the carriage, "Young Master, do you know who this servant and Second Mistress saw?"
Since Xu remained silent, Danhong kept staring at her resentfully. Xu finally spoke up, "Who did you see?"
"Look, Prince Cheng met this year's top scholar. The scene was quite interesting. They are both students of adults, one a refined scoundrel, the other gentle and refined. The second-place scholar is not particularly good-looking, but he has a very good temper. His wife was so busy looking at the handsome young men that she accidentally pushed him into the lake, but he didn't even get angry."
"What a coincidence, I've met the third-ranked scholar."
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