Xu Qingyan's eyes grew redder as he continued, "We were discovered fleeing the Zhou Palace with intelligence. They searched everywhere for us, setting up checkpoints at key locations. To prevent capture, Xin Niang and I put poison in one of our dentures, and Niu Niu also dipped one of her buttons in poison. We promised Niu Niu that if she were captured, she could put the button in her mouth. Death by poison would be preferable to death by torture. During one escape, I was carrying little Niu Niu on my back when an enemy attacked with a knife, wounding my shoulder and slicing through her face... Three months later, we were found by people from the Zhou Palace again. I hid Niu Niu in a dug hole, and I fled separately with Xin Niang, carrying a pillow disguised as a child. I escaped, but Xin Niang was captured alive by the Xixia people. She committed suicide by poisoning herself, but those bastards still cut off her head and hung it on the city gate..."
Xu Qingyan held his head in his hands and sobbed, choking with sobs, "Xin Niang once told me that she would rather die in Xixia. That way, she would be my woman for the rest of her life, and I couldn't get rid of her even if I wanted to... I didn't expect that she would really die there..."
The room was very quiet, with only the occasional whimpering that Xu Qingyan tried hard to suppress.
Xu Lanyin also shed tears, not knowing what to say. She felt that as a citizen of the Daming Dynasty, she should pay tribute to Zhou Xin and Xu Qingyan; they were well-deserved heroes. And little Niuniu, she was also a brave and good child.
If these crucial pieces of intelligence were not retrieved, and the Fujian people failed to defeat the Third Prince, the people of the Daimyo Dynasty would suffer in the future. How much blood and sweat would be extorted from the people to raise a million taels of gold, and how many Daimyo men would have to die to send troops...
The previous book wasn't completed, only reaching the point where the Third Prince ascended to the throne. Amidst that flourishing era, Miss Su danced with grace, singing and dancing. No reader could have imagined that the humble and benevolent Third Prince would make such traitorous promises to ascend to power, leaving the people in dire straits. What kind of future would Daimyo face...
The sins of the third prince were brought back by Xu Qingyan, and Zhou Xin died for it.
Xu Lanyin was unwilling to say that Xu Qingyan was fickle, nor could she say that Zhou Xin was a third party. This was her helplessness in the face of justice and human nature.
However, Xu Lanyin still wanted to persuade Xu Qingyan to let Qin go. After what he had gone through, how could he possibly forget Zhou Xin and those difficult years? It would be better to let go and part ways. Of course, Qin couldn't initiate the breakup; she would be scolded to death. It would be best if Xu Qingyan initiated the breakup, citing his inability to forget Zhou Xin.
However, she couldn't say this, nor could she make the decision for Qin. Even if she did, Xu Qingyan and Qin wouldn't listen to her. After all, this was a matter of their feelings, and it should be resolved between the two of them.
After a long moment, Xu Qingyan murmured again, "I went back to find little Niuniu and took her into hiding in the mountains. Every other month, I would put on makeup and go out to Zhongqing Prefecture for a day, looking for the secret guards sent by Grand Tutor Zhou to contact them, but I always returned empty-handed. It was Zhao Wu who came and made me smell a different atmosphere... I returned to Daming alive and delivered the intelligence. But my heart is restless. I don't know how to face Yanmei, nor do I know how to comfort Xin Niang's soul. I feel sorry for them. They were the two best women in the world, but I failed them both. I also feel sorry for my good children. I made you suffer..."
Xu Lanyin pulled Xu Qingyan's sleeve and said, "Dad, it's not easy for you. You and Aunt Zhou are well-deserved heroes."
She felt that even though she had nothing to do with Zhou Xin, Zhou Xin was worthy of her respectful address of "Auntie".
Xu Qingyan felt relieved when his daughter called Zhou Xin "Auntie Zhou." Wiping his tears, he raised his head and said, "I've brought Xin Niang's tablet back with me. I'll ask your mother for permission to give her a legitimate status. If your mother is willing to accept me back, I will definitely treat her well, and we can live a good life together."
Let’s talk about practical issues again.
Xu Qingyan's actions should be a gesture.
Xu Lanyin curled her lips and asked, "The Emperor, Prince Wu, and the Zhou family will definitely grant me the title of Aunt Zhou. Do I still need my mother to give it to me?"
Zhou Xin was from the Zhou family, the eldest daughter of the Zhou family master. Being the wife of Xu Qingming, a secret guard, was considered a low marriage, not to mention her death in such a manner. Both the Zhou family and the King of Wu would compensate her, and the emperor would also reward her.
Xu Qingyan looked at Xu Lanyin. This girl was much smarter and sharper than when she was little. Perhaps it was because he was not at home, she had to take on some responsibilities as the eldest child, and she had been deeply hurt by Gu Wangchen, which had developed this personality.
He said, "The King of Wu and Grand Tutor Zhou meant to give Xin Niang the status of a co-wife. The King of Wu also hinted that His Majesty would certainly grant Xin Niang a title. I dare not refuse His Majesty's grace, but I have not yet agreed to the status of a co-wife. I went to the Western Xia Kingdom as a spy and was with Xin Niang, but I did not tell Yan Mei, causing her to suffer for so many years. I cannot take a co-wife back without her knowledge." When he refused, the King of Wu, Grand Tutor Zhou, and the Duke of Huguo were all a little angry, but he still gritted his teeth and refused to agree.
I still want a concubine!
Yes, in Zhou Xin's situation, neither Grand Tutor Zhou nor the King of Wu, nor the Emperor himself, would be willing to make her a concubine.
Xu Lanyin smiled bitterly. Xu Qingyan had done enough to show his attitude. How could Qin Shi not agree? If she disagreed, her saliva could drown her.
Moreover, to be more precise, it was not a matter of whether Qin would allow Xu Qingyan to return to the family, but rather that the family, including several children, originally belonged to Xu Qingyan. If he returned, would Qin be willing to continue staying in that family?
Zhou Xin lived a glorious life and died a righteous death, worthy of respect from all the people of the Daming Dynasty, but how innocent was the Qin family?
Xu Lanyin admitted that her thoughts were somewhat selfish, but she had watched how Qin and her family had survived. If she hadn't traveled through time, Qin, the original owner, and Xu Lanting would all be dead, and Xu Lanzhou would have disappeared. That family would have been shattered, a far more tragic fate.
On the surface, it appeared that Gu Wangchen had deceived the young master into committing this evil, but the root cause lay with Xu Qingyan. If the head of the family hadn't vanished for no apparent reason to become a spy, the nine-year-old master wouldn't have been so deceived by Gu Wangchen, leading to the ruin of her family and the deaths of herself, her mother, and her younger brother. However, their family's tragedy was overlooked.
Now, Xu Qingyan, the embodiment of justice, is returning to his family and asking his wife to grant the woman who has shared his hardships the status of his co-wife.
Qin was a woman of ancient times, and with Zhou Xin dead, Xu Qingyan would return to his original family. Qin was 99% certain to accept him and everything he had. Status was illusory, given as it was, and everything seemed perfect. But what about the future?
After hearing about Xu Qingyan's difficult years, Xu Lanyin also hopes that he will have a happy second half of his life, but the prerequisite is that he and Qin do not hurt each other.
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