loving mother
Together, we collected clues, exploring Sifang City's past. Her knowledge and insights always amazed me. Even amnesia couldn't dim her brilliance. And what I learned about her life before amnesia—her principle of not killing, her chivalrous ways—made me admire this soul even more. I often sent Yi Shan away to spend time alone with her. We admired the stars and the moon, recited poetry, and the atmosphere was as charming as the warm pools of the Tianshan Mountains. But every time the words reached my lips, I swallowed back the burning emotion.
It was strange. When I pursued Shangguan Yan, I was tormented by her indifference, yet I was able to express myself passionately and openly. That persistence, mingled with a sense of reluctance and a desire to conquer, was mingled with such intensity. But now, facing her, I'm hesitant, anxious about the outcome. In her presence, I'm always at a loss, like a young boy in love. I'm afraid she's only accepting me because she's lost her memory, her skills, and has nowhere else to turn. Even more, I'm afraid I've let down my master's efforts.
Shangguan Yan is like the bright moon in the sky to me, cold and aloof, inviting longing, yet I always feel a layer of insurmountable ice between me and her. Shangguan Ying, on the other hand, is the sun, blazing and dazzling, able to dispel all the gloom and coldness in my life, making me willingly squint my eyes, even if it burns me, just to embrace that light.
A few days later, the tranquility of the inn was once again shattered by an uninvited guest. Looking at the patient being carried in and the elderly man kneeling and begging—Shi Butian, the owner of Maple Forest Villa—I sneered inwardly. This gesture was more like coercion than seeking medical treatment. I wanted to refuse. There is so much suffering in the world, how could I possibly care for it all? Besides, I hate being coerced.
Yet, my gaze met Shi Butian's anxious, self-defeating expression for his son, and the thorn in my heart about "father" was deeply touched. I could never see past the concept of "family affection." As I struggled, Shangguan Ying beside me understood. She gently pulled Gao Yishan over and whispered instructions for herbs and needles. She understood me so well, knowing I'd struggled through this ordeal, and she had already paved the way for me. This tacit understanding and consideration made it impossible for me to remain cold and hard.
I rescued the young master, Shi Dongsheng. When he regained consciousness, his gaze restlessly fixed on Shangguan Ying, revealing a sickening frivolity. Shi Butian hurriedly dragged him away, but the seeds of resentment had already been sown in my heart.
The next day, Shangguan Ying hurried back, recounting seeing Shi Dongsheng acting suspiciously in the market, accompanied by two women disguised as men, and suspecting him of nefarious activities. Her instinct for discerning detail and tracking down a trail seemed ingrained in her. She described Shi Dongsheng's gait, the glances he exchanged with his entourage, with such precision and experience that she didn't resemble an ordinary woman, but rather... a seasoned detective. The conviction and sense of justice in her words left no room for hesitation.
We rushed to the scene and rescued the two people in time. They were the city lord's daughter Ouyang Yingying and her maid. Ouyang Yingying was drugged and unconscious. I defused her. Her maid kept thanking me, but I didn't stay for long.
Anger welled up in my chest. Shi Dongsheng, such a vile man, dared to set his dirty thoughts on someone I, Ouyang Mingri, was protecting, even harming the city lord's daughter—my own sister. I immediately went to Maple Forest Villa to cripple his martial arts and eliminate the root of his evil. However, as the look he once had on Shangguan Ying surfaced in my mind, an uncontrollable surge of fury washed over me—I would not allow any filthy gaze to taint her—the thought grew like poison ivy. But just as the golden thread was about to slip from my grasp, a deeper, more ancient thought struck me: 'Only I can bear witness to her beauty.' This thought was so strange, yet so familiar, as if it came from a forgotten nightmare. It carried a desperate possessiveness that went beyond even the protective principle of 'superior to Hua Tuo.' My hand didn't pause. The golden thread flashed, and he would never see the colors of the world again. I told myself it was for her own good. But a voice in his heart sneered: Ouyang Mingri, are you protecting her, or are you declaring to all coveters that she is your property, and even if you don’t own her yet, you will never allow others to touch her?
The golden thread flashed, and from then on, he could no longer see the colors of the world, especially... her face. Although Shi Butian was heartbroken, he knew he was in the wrong and could only endure it. Afterwards, Zi Ling sighed softly, "I thought... you would castrate him. We caught you today. Who knows how many decent women he has harmed with his despicable means, in the past and in the future!"
"I thought Zi Ling was gentle and affectionate, but she actually has such a fiery side. You're right, maybe that's the only way to put an end to it all!" I thought Zi Ling would find me too ruthless, but it turns out we're kindred spirits. Her dislike resonates deeply with me! That's all, he's already lost his sight, and this punishment is enough.
Ouyang Yingying came to express her gratitude, but the mention of her parents' love in her words pierced my heart like a needle. The perfection I longed for was commonplace to her. Jealousy and bitterness tore at my heart, but the image of the dying face in my dream flashed through my mind, and I finally suppressed all my negative emotions and treated her with a kind smile. From her words, I grasped the key—my biological mother, Madam Yuzhu, was at Shuiyue Temple.
With a complex feeling, almost homesick, I took Shangguan Ying and me to Shuiyue Temple. Meeting this woman, a woman I'd never met before, yet so closely connected to me by blood, the kindness and sorrow in her expression froze me. All my longing, resentment, and grievances, in that moment, transformed into overwhelming fear—I feared she would see disdain for my crippled son. Ultimately, I fled in disgrace, unable to recognize her.
That night, I drank to drown my sorrows. Shangguan Ying quietly approached me. Without further questioning, she said, with a hint of anger, "Tomorrow, drink to drown your sorrows, but it only makes them worse. A little wine is good for you, but too much is harmful. Why don't you take care of yourself?" Her concern was like a gentle breeze, blowing away some of the thick sorrow. I promised her, "As long as you're here with me, I'll drink less." These words came out of my mouth, expressing both dependence and sincerity.
Seeing my dilemma, she thoughtfully suggested going to Shuiyue Temple to worship Buddha, inviting me along. How could I refuse? She was even considerate enough to remind me to dress modestly, so I took the opportunity to order matching white robes for both of us. Seeing us standing together in similar attire, I felt a secret joy, like a silent declaration of joy.
At Shuiyue Temple, the misidentification gave me a sweet feeling, and I didn't deny it. But she was eager to clarify, even bluntly saying I "had someone else I loved." I was stunned at first, then it dawned on me—she still cared about Shangguan Yan. This jealousy didn't annoy me, but rather filled me with a secret joy, proving that she cared about me. But how could I explain this misunderstanding? Could Shangguan Yan be "her"? Without the truth revealed and my master's orders unbearable, I couldn't bring myself to speak.
Fortunately, spending time with my mother briefly dispelled these worries. Watching her chatting and laughing with her, the tranquility and warmth of that moment almost made me think we were just an ordinary couple, meeting their parents. This stolen warmth was an indulgence for me, and it only strengthened my resolve to unravel all the mysteries and truly possess her.
The tranquility of Shuiyue Temple was shattered by the arrival of my younger sister, Ouyang Yingying. Yingying's gaze passed over me and fell upon Ziling. Her expression shifted from confusion to shock, finally settling into an expression of incredible ecstasy. However, what I didn't expect was the sudden exclamation Yingying exclaimed upon seeing Shangguan Ying: "Sister Ling, why are you here?"
The next moment seemed to lift before my eyes a layer of fog I had longed to glimpse. Through Yingying's excited words, I learned a more complete and heartbreaking story about Shangguan Ying—before she lost her memory, she had rescued Yingying and protected my biological mother, Madam Yuzhu, on so many occasions!
An indescribable warmth and shock washed over me. She... Shangguan Ying, Shangguan Yun's second daughter, burdened with national hatred and family feuds, yet willing to lend a hand to protect the wife and daughter of her "father's murderer"? What a compassionate heart, what a kindness that transcends grudges! Yingying's words, like a bolt of lightning, struck directly into the strongest prison in the depths of my soul. It was a wall of fate, forged from the blood of the Ouyang and Shangguan families, a wall I had believed unbreakable. The fact that she had protected my mother and sister was more powerful than any martial arts manual or divine weapon. It wasn't just a crack in the outer wall, but rather a terrifying and ecstatic realization—that this wall had been built from the very beginning based on my misjudgment of her. I had always feared the barrier of hatred, but never imagined that her compassion had long surpassed hatred. The impossibility I clung to seemed so narrow and ridiculous in the face of her almost divine mercy. In an instant, the seemingly insurmountable wall within me, built from the blood feuds of previous generations, seemed to crack open a vast chasm. If she could do this, then perhaps we could truly break free from the shackles of fate? An unprecedented hope, like the breaking light of dawn, illuminated the emotional path I had once thought was destined to be bleak.
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