He had long known that although the master had many beautiful concubines over the years, he only truly cared for the young mistress. Ever since he went to great lengths to search for her, even at the cost of his own life, and even spent most of his fortune to marry her, he had only thought that the master had truly fallen in love with this woman named You Shuyao.
After marrying his wife, the governor became a truly flesh-and-blood man. He laughed more, talked more, and was less enthusiastic about solving cases. Whenever he finished his duties, he would return home, always by his wife's side. Even his subordinates were surprised; they never imagined that the stern and ruthless Governor Huo could be so affectionate. It was as if this thousand-year-old iron tree had blossomed—its power was truly extraordinary. He devoted all his emotions to his wife, loving, cherishing her without any pretense.
On the day the young master was born, the adults were so nervous that they didn't eat or drink for four or five hours, staying outside the delivery room without leaving for a moment. Whenever the young mistress called, he wanted to rush in. He was so nervous that he almost smashed the stone table. Only after the young master was born did he collapse onto a stool as if he had collapsed. Then, without even waiting to change his clothes which were soaked with sweat, he rushed in to see the young mistress.
They had all witnessed the master's deep affection, so he always believed that the master could never betray the young mistress. Unfortunately... what shouldn't have happened still happened...
The night before deciding to bring Luo Wenpei back to the manor, the master stayed up all night. Standing alone in the cold courtyard of the palace, he asked him for the first time with fear and doubt, "Xu Chang, do you think the young mistress will forgive me? She should be able to feel my sincerity towards her, right?"
He said, "Yes, the young mistress's feelings for you are also very deep. Even if she is angry with you, she will not be angry for too long. As long as you treat her sincerely as before, the young mistress will definitely understand that Luo Wenpei is just a decoration. The person in the master's heart is always her."
But none of them expected that the young mistress would be so strong-willed, preferring to die rather than live in dishonor, and resolutely abandoning her husband and young son to leave home.
Their conversation with Qi inside the house that day was overheard by Aunt Pei, who was lying in ambush outside the window. The reason they were able to find the young mistress was because the man in black who was killed by Qi had trained a hunting dog that could find people by scent. He had gone before them, which led to the tragedy that followed.
"My lord, the deceased is gone. Please let her rest in peace... The Emperor has issued an edict allowing you to give the young mistress a grand funeral befitting a first-rank noblewoman, as compensation for the family turmoil caused by your handling of the Prince Jing matter, and also to make up for the debt you owe the young mistress." Yue Ping said with tears in his eyes, holding the imperial edict, noticing that his master's expression seemed to change upon hearing this.
"My dear husband, after death, people just want peace and quiet. If I die in the future, you don't need to go to such lengths to worship me. Besides, when a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. Performing more rituals may be meaningless. Who knows if the person being worshipped can still feel the sincerity of the living..."
A tear fell from Huo Jingsha's eye.
Xu Chang was startled upon seeing this, "My lord?"
What's wrong? Did I say something wrong again, touching a sore spot for my lord? Alas! Even when swords are inserted into his chest and flesh is cut to heal, he has never shed a tear, no matter how painful it is. But these past few days, for my lady, it seems as if he has shed all the tears he could in his entire life.
Huo Jingsha tightened her arms around the corpse, burying her grief-stricken face in the lifeless body. Hot tears streamed down her face, but they could not warm her long-suffering body. His Yao'er had finally left before him.
"My lord..." Xu Chang clenched his fist, tears welling up in his eyes. The lord truly loves the young mistress deeply!
It's such a pity... Fate is truly cruel. If it weren't for that vile woman Luo Wenpei, who first feigned madness to gain the master's sympathy and then took advantage of the master's guilt towards his younger brother, the master would never have brought her into the mansion. As a result, the young mistress died so young, and the master was devastated, unable to extricate himself from his grief. Alas...
"Xu Chang... Xu Chang?" Yue Ping suddenly called out softly from outside the door, his cautious manner as if he was afraid of disturbing Huo Jingsha, who was holding the corpse, and causing him to go mad.
Xu Chang smiled wryly. In fact, everyone was overthinking it, because the master had no energy to care about what was happening around him. He was probably only thinking about the sweet moments with his young mistress.
"What is it?" He wiped his face, turned around, and went outside to ask.
"An old Taoist priest has come to see the master outside the door," Yue Ping said hesitantly, craning his neck to look inside.
"Old Taoist? Did you give your name?" Could it be that you've heard of the lady's death and come to set up a Taoist ritual to pray for her soul? But if the adults hear this, will they throw you out?
"No, but he said... he had met you once before, and that you would definitely want to see him."
"Quite the boast! How dare you say such a thing!" Xu Chang was greatly surprised.
He said he had calculated that the adult was cursed, that he would bring misfortune to his father, mother, and siblings, and that even his wife would die a violent death.
"Huh?" Xu Chang exclaimed in surprise. Is it really that accurate? Just as he was about to ask for more details, a figure suddenly shot out from the crack in the door and grabbed Yue Ping by the throat.
"Speak! Where is that old Taoist priest? Bring him here, I want to see him immediately!" Huo Jingsha's bloodshot eyes flashed with a fierce light, frightening Yue Ping so much that he dared not move, his legs even going weak. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, why is it always him who gets hurt?
Seeing the official's excited expression, Xu Chang asked with some doubt, "Did you really have a meeting with that old Taoist priest?"
"That's right, and he also foresaw Shu Yao's situation beforehand. However, I didn't believe him at all at the time, so I didn't take his words seriously. Especially after I learned that Shu Yao and Qi Yong had faked their deaths to deceive me, I forgot about the old Taoist's words. Now it seems... it seems..."
"My lord, I'll go and invite the old Taoist priest in right away." Yue Ping didn't want his lord to continue to be sad, so he immediately turned around and ran to the front yard. But before he could even leave the yard, he saw a sprightly old man with white hair standing there, his Taoist robe swaying in the wind, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.
Yue Ping was puzzled. With so many Imperial Guards guarding the gates of the mansion, how did he get in?
"Not bad! You still remember this old man, which means you still have some humanity." The old man stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction when he saw Huo Jingsha, who looked dejected.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
