Chapter 91 Madness
When Xiao Enci came out of Lord Wei's house, she happened to meet little Wei Feng standing there.
She smiled, "Xiao Feng, have you come to see your grandfather?"
Wei Feng looked up, and the young man pursed his lips. "My elder brother has been unwilling to come out... I was a little worried and wanted to come and find my grandfather."
Xiao Enci paused for a moment upon hearing this. The woman leaned forward slightly, her smile tinged with seriousness.
"Xiao Feng, tell your sister-in-law, how old will you be after the New Year?"
Wei Feng lowered his eyes. "Fourteen years old."
"Xiao Feng is fourteen years old now. You're a big kid now. You need to learn to grow up."
Wei Feng kept his head down, making it impossible to discern his emotions. Suddenly, he said...
"Sister-in-law, is it very hard to be the city lord?"
Xiao Enci looked at him calmly, "Yes, but it's a responsibility, a very important responsibility."
"Then, can my brother shoulder this responsibility?"
The young boy asked with a puzzled look, seemingly with some of his own thoughts in mind.
Why do you ask that?
"I...I don't know."
She smiled, the woman stood up, and patted her younger brother's shoulder one last time, "Grandfather is waiting for you, Xiaofeng."
"Go."
...
City Lord's Mansion, Wei Xun's Study.
The land of Xiliang is full of sandstorms, and the temperature is also very unbearable. In just two or three days, Wei Nian's corpse began to smell bad, mixed with the scent of sandalwood that had been in the study for many years. The smell was strange and nauseating.
However, strangely, the only two living people in the study seemed to be completely oblivious to the smell.
Wei Xun quietly looked at Wei Nian on the bed. The young man's reddened eyes were filled with deep resentment and pain. Although there was one corpse and one person, they looked like two corpses.
The lights flickered quietly, and Xiao Enci gently raised her eyes from behind him, her expression calm.
"Husband, you should go out now."
"Who is the murderer?"
"It's almost time for you to go out."
"I'm asking you, who is the murderer?"
"My lord, many people outside are waiting for you to take charge. It's time for you to step out and take charge."
"Xiao Enci!"
The young man finally turned around because of her calm tone. His once handsome face was gone, and his eyes were bloodshot. In the sweltering heat and humidity, it seemed as if the sand and dust outside were seeping into their hearts.
Wei Xun looked intently at his wife.
"I'm asking you, who is the murderer?"
"It doesn't matter, my husband, it doesn't matter."
Xiao Enci looked up and finally met his gaze. The woman smiled gently, "Husband, Wei Nian's death is not important, and who the murderer is is even less important. Many people are waiting for you outside. Your succession ceremony is what matters. You should go out now."
She chuckled softly, negating everything about someone's life, just like back then, when Wei Xun said to her apologetically and helplessly—
Kindness, that's not important. Whether your husband truly loves you, whether you are a worthy person to love, all the value of your being a human being, is not important.
So what is truly important, you?
Xiao Enci smiled at him, her expression gentle and tender, "Husband, isn't it?"
"You,"
Wei Xun looked down at her, and the young man finally let out his first laugh in days—a mocking laugh, a sorrowful laugh. "It's you, isn't it?"
Seeing his crazed state, Xiao Enci sighed helplessly, "Husband, I told you, this is not important."
"Xiao Enci, you've gone mad."
"I should have seen it coming sooner; you're a madman."
"I shouldn't have saved you back then. I should have killed you—"
"Why, why? Back then, it was Anian who begged me to spare your life. Why did you have to harm him?"
Xiao Enci smiled, and following Wei Xun's questioning again and again, she seemed to return to that year, to that winter when she was seriously ill.
The woman dragged herself step by step into the study, wanting to smell the sandalwood scent one last time and to say a few more words to her husband.
She wanted to thank him, and to say, "My husband, I know your intentions, but I know my own body best, so there's no need for you to go to the trouble of saving me."
She just wanted to say that she had actually had enough of living.
She was a child who never received a single piece of candy for half her life.
Her mother returned to the south alone after giving birth to her, and her father didn't care about her. He even hated her because she resembled her mother. Every time he saw her, he would frown and scold her harshly, no matter what she did. He always did that.
Late at night, the girl would often hug herself and tell herself over and over again that she should wait, that as long as she was good enough, someone would come to love her, and that she just had to wait.
She was waiting, waiting for her mother to take her back to the South, waiting for her father to finally see her.
If she couldn't wait, she would go searching. A woman, her face veiled and fists clenched, followed the caravan to various places in search of her.
By the grace of heaven, she found that spark of love from Wei Xun.
She could easily see that Wei Xun was only satisfied with her as a wife, and didn't truly love her.
Even if it's all an act, even if he has someone else in his heart, she's willing to deceive herself. It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. She's the legal wife, the Mrs. Wei in everyone's eyes, and that's enough.
This means that Wei Xun definitely has feelings for her.
That's enough, she really felt that was enough.
She trudged through the ubiquitous sand and gravel in the wind, dragging her weakened body, wanting only to spend one last moment in his study, accompanied by the scent of sandalwood, and to thank him.
But then, she saw Wei Xun and her personal butler embracing each other—
That was a man.
He was a man not recognized by the world, and could never become the wife of the young master of Liujin.
She had never seen Wei Xun smile so gently before; his smile left her utterly bewildered.
She was thinking with a agonizing urge to kill herself—
So what does this mean? If Wei Xun loves men, then what does she mean?
A target, a wall, and a Mrs. Wei who lived for them.
Her appearance and status were the subject of gossip and disdain every day after she married into the Wei family, but she always thought, so what? Wei Xun regarded her as his only wife, and that was enough.
Wei Xun was not satisfied, so she went to learn how to be a good wife.
Her grandfather sighed, and she went to learn how to be a good matriarch of the Wei family.
Despite the snickers and mockery from outsiders, she remained steadfast in her position, maintaining her composure, and focused on her own tasks.
What the world says about me is not important. All I want is that little bit of love in your heart, for you to know that I am your only wife, the best, the most suitable, the most worthy, and the one who will walk with you.
A hundred years from now, I will be buried with you.
She thought this way, but in the end, the image of a man completely and utterly shattered her seemingly invincible heart.
“Enci, you have crossed the line.”
"Ah Xun, let her go, she's innocent too."
They casually decided her fate.
At that moment, the weakened Xiao Enci suddenly stiffened. The immense humiliation overwhelmed her, and she didn't know what to do. Was she afraid of death? Was she filled with hatred? Was she yearning for love? She didn't know.
All she knew was that, with her last breath, she asked Wei Xun, "Husband, did you ever love me—"
"That's not important."
His words were soft, tinged with helplessness, and he even looked at Wei Nian and sighed, as if she had disturbed their time together today.
I'm so sorry, my husband, I must also disturb your time together today.
She smiled as she thought this, standing before Wei Xun, watching his bloodshot eyes, disheveled appearance, and his agonizing, struggling voice as he questioned her—
"Xiao Enci, you're crazy!"
Wei Xun only realized at this moment that Xiao Enci had long since gone mad. The young man was almost frantically recalling the things she had done: reading the endless Chronicles of the Nine Provinces, writing letters after finishing it, and reading those letters. She ignored him even when he tried to speak to her, and her occasional laughter was extremely eerie.
She is a complete madwoman!
"Of course I'm crazy,"
Xiao Enci looked up and stared directly at him. The woman smiled deeply and said, "If I weren't a madwoman, I would have died long ago."
She died on that winter day when she was seriously ill, died in the moment he humiliated her at will, died in those lonely and painful days and nights—
"Wei Xun, do you think you're some kind of good person?"
“You and Wei Nian are truly in love, so you want to drag me into this Wei mansion.”
"You watched me being gossiped about and ridiculed, watched me learn etiquette day and night, watched me gradually transform into your perfect Mrs. Wei—"
"Then you laugh a few times, pat my head, and stand there waiting for me to be grateful to you with endless joy."
"Why? Why? Was I born to be your fig leaf?!"
"Wei Xun!"
She stepped forward, looking at him intently, her lips curving into a smile, but her eyes held an endless hatred and madness.
"Is Wei Nian's surname really Wei?"
"He became your elder brother the moment he arrived, and stood next to me so easily in front of everyone. Does he deserve it?!"
"Am I, Xiao Enci, someone who deserves to be treated this way?!"
She pressed on relentlessly, her former gentleness and consideration vanished, and her initial kindness and carefree attitude disappeared without a trace.
"Wei Xun! If you had told me back then, told me what you truly loved, I wouldn't be so obsessed today!"
"I was seriously ill that year, coughing so badly I could barely speak, yet you and he were so lovey-dovey in this study, it was utterly despicable!"
"Day and night, I hate it!"
"I hate your arrogance and shamelessness! I hate that my grandfather knew about your affairs but still wanted me to support the Wei family! I hate that I had to pretend to be friendly with you every day; it was utterly disgusting!"
"I hate you, Wei Xun! You have no idea how much I hate you!"
"I spared your life because of the kindness we shared back then, because my grandfather stopped me, and because Xiliang still needs you! As for Wei Nian—"
She finally paused, then gave a strange laugh. "He died because of you, Wei Xun."
Wei Xun stared at the madwoman before him. Countless moments before, when she uttered those insane words, he had wanted to kill her, but he had restrained himself. Then, Xiao Enci suddenly moved closer, her eyes filled with a smile he couldn't understand but which chilled him. She spoke softly, like a lover's murmur.
“My husband, I don’t know if you remember, I once said that the incense in your study smells very nice, but I don’t know why you always refuse to let me come to the study.”
Xiao Enci stepped back, one step at a time, her arms outstretched, a deep, affectionate smile on her face. Her dimples were adorable and gentle, and her eyes even glistened with tears.
“My dear husband, the incense in this study is specially blended by me, and the poison in it was specially brought in when I went to the south. It smells wonderful.”
"Oh, right, I also told you, this is called Shadow Fragrance, and the poison of Shadow Fragrance—"
"Day and night, like a shadow, the intoxicating fragrance seeps into your bones. It is in this very study of yours that Wei Nian finds himself in blissful bliss,"
"It's a dead end."
"Xiao Enci!"
Wei Xun finally couldn't hold back and made a move. The young man gripped her neck tightly, and a loud noise was heard. Xiao Enci struggled, half lying on the table. She was laughing and crying at the same time, her eyes staring at him with a crazy force.
Wei Nian's corpse still lay beside them, the stench of death mixed with sandalwood, an extremely eerie smell. Wei Xun and Xiao Enci, the couple, attacked each other with the greatest hatred of their lives!
"Why, why!"
The young man stared intently at the woman beneath him, his eyes bloodshot, as if he were the real madman.
"Don't forget! I was the one who saved you back then!"
"Xiao Enci!"
"Why! Why did you do this?!"
Xiao Enci's nails dug deep into Wei Xun's wrist, so hard that she screamed at him with all her might.
"What right do you have to ask me why!"
"You saved me, so you can trample on me and humiliate me like this?!"
"What makes you think you're so high and mighty! What makes you think I, Xiao Enci, covet this position of Lady!"
"If I had known then what a disgusting person you were, I would have been willing to die in that water!"
"Wei Nian deserves to die! You too! You! You are the one who deserves to die the most!"
Hahahahahahahaha!
She smiled deeply, then suddenly whispered in Wei Xun's ear, "Wei Xun, you are so dirty."
"Bang!"
Finally, Wei Xun was provoked to the deepest part of his heart. The tall young man was filled with murderous intent and hatred. He pressed down on Xiao Enci, one hand choking her neck, and the other hand frantically stroking her from top to bottom!
It was like a terrifying love affair, and also like a deep-seated mutual hatred—
"You're crazy!"
"Xiao Enci!"
"You don't deserve anyone's love in this lifetime! You deserve it!"
"You say you hate me, then come and kill me! Ah!"
"Xiao Enci! Why don't you kill me? Come and kill me!"
"Hahaha...because...the fragrance in my room...cough cough...is the antidote...hahaha,"
"Cough cough... You're ridiculous... Wei Xun..."
"Come on..."
"Hahaha... Just kill me then... Hahaha..."
At this moment, the ridiculous couple looked strangely alike. They stared at each other intently, their love turning into hatred on the brink of life and death. The hatred then turned into a cold, sharp blade that pierced each other. Their mad malice grew endlessly like vines, or like a cold, sticky venomous snake flicking its tongue!
They entwined themselves around each other frantically, as if trying to drag the other down to hell together—
Come on! Hate me! Die!
You say I don't deserve love, then I'll say your body and heart are tainted!
You've gone mad, so tonight I'll be even mader than you!
Utterly ridiculous!
Come on!
I'll kill you! I'll kill you!
I call you and me tonight!
May they live forever—never to be reborn!
...
"Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!"
A loud knocking sound rang out, startling a sandstorm in the dark night and burying all love, hate, and madness!
Finally, they heard Wei Feng's young, trembling yet trying-to-remain calm shout—
"The city lord has given an order!"
"Wei Xun deceived Xiao Enci into marriage first, and then Xiao Enci committed murder!"
"The causes and effects are intertwined, but the past is gone!"
"Wei Nian is dead. He was buried in Liujin Mausoleum as a son of the Wei family. Wei Xun will be the guardian of the mausoleum and will never be allowed to return to Jinsha City in this lifetime!"
"Since Xiao Enci has married into the Wei family, she will become a member of the Wei family. Wei Feng is young and has ascended to the position of city lord. He still needs the guidance of his elders. However, the crime of taking a life cannot be ignored. From now on, Xiao Enci shall never leave Jinsha City!"
"Father's words!"
"We, the people of Xiliang, dare to love and hate, but I never imagined you two would go to such madness—"
"My days are numbered, and I will soon enter the cycle of reincarnation. After much contemplation, I am filled with remorse. It is my fault for not teaching you well!"
"Today, as your grandfather, I hereby command you two to spare each other."
"From this day forward, for all eternity, we shall never meet again!"
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