Shu Yao shook her head, objecting to his statement.
"If that's the case, why does Your Excellency refuse to please me and make me happy? Why do you insist that I obey your wishes no matter what, swallowing all my bitterness? If you love me, you should let me live according to my own desires. You would let me go, give me freedom, and not confine me to this small place, Biyueju, wasting my life, or spending the rest of my life fighting and killing another woman. So it is enough to prove that Your Excellency does not love me very, very, very much!"
"No! No! Yao'er, you've got it wrong, it's not like that. I can't let you go, precisely because I love you. If you leave... my heart will be empty. How can a person without a heart live?" His words suddenly became slurred, and he could barely speak clearly. His head grew increasingly dizzy, and he felt as if everything in front of him was spinning... spinning...
"No way. Even if I leave, you still have dozens of beautiful concubines in your backyard and Luo Wenpei in your front yard. You can share your love for me with them. Wouldn't it be wonderful to enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives? But I only ask one thing: Huo Jingsha, don't mistreat Xiaobao. No matter how many children you have in the future, don't ignore him. Otherwise, I really will kill you."
He tried hard to hear her words, but after she said, "I really will kill you," every word she uttered became a buzzing sound that seemed to come from near and far.
It was as if countless tiny insects were flapping their wings around his head, their sounds sometimes real and sometimes ethereal, flying away and then flying back, making it impossible for him to grasp anything. He wanted to hold Shu Yao's hand, but he couldn't muster any strength at all.
"Never mind, never mind!" he comforted himself. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future. Perhaps when he woke up, he would definitely have a tender moment with her to prove how much he loved her. Huo Jingsha slowly closed her eyes, all consciousness fading away.
Seeing his relaxed sleeping face, Shu Yao burst into tears.
The most agonizing moment finally arrived, but she was no longer afraid. Since they could no longer be each other's only one, she could only sever their ties and go their separate ways. After all... she came alone, and she should leave alone now.
In the days to come, she will study hard, learn to forget, learn to face things alone, learn to completely forget a man who has no feelings for her, realize the dream she had when she was reborn, and live happily through this hard-won life.
She wiped away her tears fiercely, took one last look at him, then got out of bed and called Chunlu, who was on night duty outside.
Chunlu quickly helped her change into the clothes she had prepared beforehand. Then she covered her up completely with a thick white mink cloak.
"Madam, please wait for me at the side gate. I have already dismissed the old woman there." After saying that, she turned and ran back to her room.
Shu Yao nodded, took a letter from the dressing table drawer, and placed it on the tea table so that Huo Jingsha would see it first thing when she woke up tomorrow morning.
Then he resolutely left the house and walked towards the side gate.
She stood there waiting for spring to arrive, her eyes fixed on Xiao Bao's courtyard. The only thing she couldn't bear to part with was her son. Xiao Bao… I'm sorry, Mother had unavoidable difficulties that forced me to leave, but that doesn't mean we'll be separated forever. Don't worry, Mother will always think of you. When you grow up, we will be reunited.
Chunlu hurriedly ran off, handing her a bundle—something she had prepared for her long ago. The two held hands and gazed at each other for a moment; the little girl's eyes were filled with reluctance, while Shuyao's eyes held resolute determination.
"Madam, please take good care of yourself." Chunlu's eyes were filled with tears, wondering when they would be able to meet again after this separation.
Shu Yao nodded. "Take care, all of you. Chunlu, now that I've decided to leave, I have no regrets. My only concern is my son. You four must protect him for me. Don't let that woman harm him. Remember that? If you discover any wrongdoing on her part, tell the adults immediately. Never tolerate evil."
"Madam, I've remembered. Don't worry, we will protect the young master perfectly." Chunlu sobbed as she made her promise. Even though she was very reluctant, she still urged, "You should leave the manor soon. It will be troublesome if the night guards come here."
"Hmm," Shu Yao responded softly, slung the bundle over her shoulder, turned and stepped out of the side gate without looking back, disappearing into the vast darkness.
As she walked onto the deserted streets, snow began to fall heavily from the sky. Step by step, Shu Yao moved away from the mansion where she had lived for more than two years. Taking a deep breath of the biting cold wind, she felt a sense of rebirth.
I remember last winter's first snowfall, she suddenly had the urge to go outside and walk in the snow, and Huo Jingsha couldn't dissuade her, so she had to go with her.
Like children, the two of them affectionately left two rows of footprints. He touched her belly and said proudly, "That's great! Next year we'll have three rows of footprints."
She laughed, "My husband is dumbfounded. What kind of child can walk right after birth? It'll be at least two years from now."
He was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he had done, and laughed loudly, "Look, I was so happy that I forgot about this. Right, right, it won't be ready until the year after next."
“My husband…” she gazed at him, captivated by his handsome appearance. Tall and imposing, with a resolute face and bright, piercing eyes, he was the dream lover of countless women. Now, he was all hers, and she felt an indescribable joy. She couldn’t help but sigh, “Fifty years from now, I truly hope we can still leave two rows of footprints together.”
Huo Jingsha shook her head, took her hand, and continued walking forward. "At that time, there will be a row of footprints."
"Why?" she asked in surprise.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly stopped and pulled her into his arms, planting warm, wet kisses on her lips. He said tenderly and gently, "Because fifty years from now, I definitely won't want Yao'er to walk. I'll carry her on my back, and there will only be a row of footprints on the ground."
His words were so heartfelt that they moved her deeply, and she felt so glad she had chosen the right man. At that moment, she truly believed that he would love only her for the rest of his life and be devoted to only her.
Looking down at his lonely row of footprints, Shu Yao smiled sadly. He really was a prophet; in less than fifty years, they had turned into a row of footprints.
But it doesn't matter... There's a saying that goes, "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together." Since we're no longer on the same road, forcing ourselves to stay together will only push us further apart. It's fine as it is now; at least we can still leave each other with the most beautiful memories.
Looking back at the now blurred Huo Mansion, she couldn't help but chuckle. It was the same; they had all fallen into the same fate. Softly, she murmured, "On the eleventh day of the first month of the thirty-seventh year of Cheng'en, You Shuyao passed away."
Suddenly... the snow fell even heavier, the swirling snowflakes covering her long trail of footprints. The icy air made the night seem even more lonely and desolate, foreshadowing the tragic end of a once deeply loving couple...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
