Chapter 81 Spring Beyond Calamity: She was his life's calamity...
He said, "You are free."
Ning Sui's words echoed in my ears, yet seemed as distant as the horizon.
Upon seeing the words on it, Meng Yu was momentarily stunned, then took the envelope.
Ning Sui thought she had accepted it, but the next second...
Hiss!!!
Meng Yu didn't even glance at it, tearing the envelope to shreds with a flick of her wrist: "He ended up in this predicament because he saved me. If I were to leave now, would I even be a human being?"
Under the scorching sunlight, scraps of paper fluttered in the air, her expression both firm and gentle.
Meng Yu looked at Ning Sui and was surprised to see that her face remained expressionless: "Aren't you surprised by what I did?"
Ning Sui shook her head: "I would be surprised if you really just left. Under these circumstances, the Meng Yu I know would never leave."
Those in the distance witnessed all of this, and their usual prejudice against Meng Yu vanished in an instant.
Meng Yu's smile faded, and she asked seriously, "Ning Sui, tell me the truth, is there any way to turn this matter around?"
Based on her understanding of Lu Xiuyi, she knew that unless his chances of survival were slim, he would never have written her a divorce agreement.
Ning Sui lowered her eyelashes, hiding the tears welling up in her eyes: "His reputation among the people was already bad, and now he is also accused of murder, and the person he killed was his own elder brother. Now Prince Rui has joined forces with ten thousand people to petition the Emperor, demanding that Lu Xiuyi be executed."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yu was momentarily stunned. When she regained her composure, she couldn't help but cling tightly to Ning Sui's hand, tears streaming down her face. "Your brother is a General of the Cavalry, and Qin Musui is a favorite of the Emperor. Can't you ask them to plead for him? Besides, what truly killed Lu Jiayan was that arrow. That arrow was meant for me; he blocked it for me. It wasn't Lu Xiuyi who killed him. Ning Sui, I beg you, ask your brother and Qin Musui to plead for him. Or, perhaps the Prince of Yu, or even Princess Minghua—he's the only bloodline she left behind. And His Majesty—isn't he the one who loves him the most?"
She became more and more agitated as she spoke, to the point that she could barely stand.
Ning Sui and Zhi Mian quickly helped her up and said gently, "Yu'er, please calm down. My brother and Qin Mu Sui have both pleaded for him, and even Prince Yu has petitioned the Emperor. The Emperor has not yet made a judgment, which means that their pleas were effective. Perhaps, perhaps things are not like mine, and there may still be room for maneuver."
Meng Yu collapsed into her arms, sobbing: "Ning Sui, I want him to live. I don't want him to die because of me. I don't want to owe him anything. I can't repay him. I really can't."
In that instant, shame overwhelmed her like a surging tide, burning her heart and lungs more intensely than the blazing sun overhead.
Meng Yu's eyes were red from crying.
Just then, Huayi rushed in from outside the courtyard: "Madam, Lord Meng has sent someone to invite you back to the manor. The carriage is already waiting outside."
Ning Sui knew they had ill intentions, and her eyes immediately turned red with anger: "What do they want from Yu'er at this time? Tell them to get lost."
Upon hearing this, Hua Yi hurriedly turned around to go back.
"stop!"
A soft shout came from behind, and Hua Yi suddenly stopped. When she turned around, she saw Meng Yu wiping away her tears and standing up: "Go tell them to wait a while. I'll change my clothes and then I'll come over."
"Yu'er, the Meng family didn't come earlier or later, but they chose to send you back when Lu Xiuyi is at his lowest point. What good are they up to? Don't go." Ning Sui was puzzled and hurriedly advised her.
Meng Yu gently patted her hand that was tightly gripping hers, and choked out, "That's why I have to go back. I can't let them disgrace him or tarnish his reputation. He protected me a lot in the past, and now I'm just returning the favor."
Since her marriage to Lu Xiuyi, Meng Yanqing had never sent a carriage to pick her up. Their current urgency shows how anxious they are.
Ning Sui felt a lump in her throat: "I'll go back with you."
"No, my wife and I will go back."
Before Meng Yu could refuse, a voice came from afar beside her.
It is Chuze.
***
As soon as you stepped off the carriage, Madam Deng came up to greet you: "Third Miss, the Old Madam, the Master, and the Madam are all waiting for you inside. The Master is very worried about the Third Son-in-Law's matter. Please come quickly."
Meng Yu glanced at her coldly: "Father is not gloating or acting strangely."
Mother Deng frowned: "What are you three girls saying? We're all family, in the same boat. How can you be so gloating?"
Meng Yu snorted coldly and said as she walked, "If Father were as thoughtful as Aunt Deng, things would be much simpler."
Deng's mother was momentarily embarrassed.
As they approached the backyard, seeing that Chuze was still following behind, Madam Deng quickly stopped him: "It is really inappropriate for a man with a sword like you to enter the back courtyard. Please wait here, sir."
Chu Ze stopped in his tracks: "The general ordered that while he is in prison, I must stay by your side at all times to prevent any ill-intentioned people from plotting against you and alarming you."
“This isn’t outside, there’s no way an assassin could break in,” Madam Deng said dismissively. “Sir, you can just wait here.”
Chu Ze glanced at her, pushed her aside, and walked inside. Deng's mother raised an eyebrow and shouted, "Hey! What are you doing? Didn't I tell you? Men are not allowed in the back courtyard."
Hearing this, Meng Yu, who was walking ahead, finally stopped and turned around, saying, "If Mother says this, does that mean Father isn't a man? Remember, Chu Ze is someone I brought with me. If you make him wait outside, you're refusing me entry."
Her sharp and stern words silenced Deng's mother.
The sky grew clearer, and the scorching sunlight bathed them in its warmth. The maids sweeping and cleaning stopped to wipe their sweat.
The hall was silent. Just when everyone was about to lose their patience, the person finally walked in gracefully, accompanied by a sword-wielding guard.
Just as Madam Yuan was about to reprimand her, Meng Yanqing raised his hand to stop her.
Meng Yu had Chu Ze wait at the door, and straightened her back as she and Hua Yi went in: "Yu'er greets Grandmother, Father, and Mother."
“We’re all family, Yu’er, there’s no need for you to be so polite,” Old Madam Meng gestured for her to sit down, then scrutinized her closely. Seeing that her expression was normal, she added, “We’ve all heard about the Third Son-in-Law’s matter, but we don’t know what Yu’er thinks about it?”
Meng Yu pretended not to understand: "I don't understand what Grandmother is saying."
“Although His Majesty has not yet issued an edict to deal with Lu Xiuyi, judging from the current situation, even if he is spared the death penalty, he will still be punished,” Meng Yanqing bluntly stated. “If you continue to follow him, you will inevitably be implicated.”
Meng Yu picked up the teacup, gently blew away the foam on top, took a small sip, and seeing that Meng Yanqing did not continue, she said, "It's fine if I am implicated, but I'm afraid you will also be dragged into it. Is that what Father means?"
"Why are you being so sarcastic?" Yuan said coldly. "Master was only thinking of you, which is why he hurriedly invited you back to persuade you. In the capital, under the emperor's nose, one must learn to assess the situation in order to live a long life. If one stubbornly refuses to listen to advice and remains obstinate, one will inevitably become an early ghost on the road to the underworld."
"If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute," Old Madam Meng rebuked sternly.
Upon hearing Meng Yu's words, Meng Yanqing's face immediately darkened: "Your mother's words may be harsh, but they do have some merit."
"Reason? What is reason?" Meng Yu slammed her teacup down on the table and raised her voice, "Back then, you coveted Lu Xiuyi's power and forced me to marry him. In these past few years, do you think I don't know how many benefits you've taken from him?"
She pointed to the Ru ware celadon fish and algae vase in the corner, "That vase was originally produced in the Yun Kingdom. It has been around for a thousand years and is hard to buy even if you have money. With your official rank, how could anyone give you such a good thing? Now that he has fallen on hard times, you want to kick him aside. That's the logic."
Meng Yanqing blushed and looked away as she retorted: "But it wasn't entirely our fault back then. I didn't want to agree to him at first. He invited me to his house and said that if I didn't accept his offer, I would have to drink the penalty wine. Our whole family is here. What could I do?"
Old Madam Meng stood up, walked over to her, and tried to pat her on the shoulder to calm her down: "Yu'er, when a knife was at your throat, what could we do even if we didn't want to? Anyway, you never wanted to stay by his side, so why not take this opportunity to divorce him? Wouldn't that be better?"
Meng Yu stood up, dodging Old Madam Meng's hand, and sneered: "Grandmother has always been good at scheming, and I can't compare to her. Back then, Grandmother only liked the Yuan family because they were wealthy merchants and could help them out. That's why she let Father marry Mother. After Mother was married into the family and the dowry was obtained, she stopped being nice to him."
The more she spoke, the darker Yuan's face became.
"Now that they've schemed against Mother, they're scheming against me. Lu Xiuyi is useless now, so they want me to kick him away to avoid implicating you. I don't want to stay by his side, but I will never take advantage of him. If you're afraid of being implicated, you can write a statement severing your father-daughter relationship and post it at Tongyun Gate. That way, even if Lu Xiuyi does something, I think His Majesty won't punish you."
Meng Yanqing sighed and slapped his thigh as he stood up: "What are you saying, child? Do you think the blood flowing in your veins can be severed by a piece of paper that says your reputation is worthless?"
“So this is what Father is worried about,” Meng Yu glanced at him coldly and sneered, “I can’t do anything about the blood, but I can go to the palace and ask the Emperor. If you’re worried, I can go to the palace and ask the Emperor after I leave here to sever our father-daughter relationship.”
Meng Yanqing was rendered speechless by her retort.
The fig leaf was ripped to shreds by Meng Yu. Old Madam Meng looked embarrassed and sat in the main seat, pretending not to see Yuan's anger, absentmindedly taking a sip of tea.
When the old story was brought up in person, Madam Yuan felt even more resentful, remembering the humiliation she had suffered in the Meng family over the years. She no longer cared how Lu Xiuyi's matter would affect the Meng family.
The hall fell into a stagnant silence. Chu Ze, who was outside the door, listened to Meng Yu's words and really wanted to applaud her.
"If Father has nothing else to say, I will take my leave now."
Meng Yu said coldly, ignoring Meng Yanqing's hesitation, and then turned and left without looking back.
She understands Meng Yanqing better than he understands himself.
With his pride and the future of the Meng family so concerned, how could he dare to agree to her request? Not to mention whether Lu Xiuyi's matter would implicate the Meng family, if the Emperor knew that he was so heartless as to sever ties with his own daughter in order to protect his official hat, Meng Zhangzhou's future would probably be ruined as well.
The scorching sun was shrouded by snowflake-like clouds, and a gentle breeze blew against my face, bringing a slight coolness that instantly dispelled the heat.
Just as Meng Yu stepped out of the gate, she ran into Meng Shuang, who had rushed back to see what was going on.
"Why did my third sister leave in such a hurry? Was she kicked out by Father?"
Seeing Meng Shuang step down from the carriage, protecting her slightly protruding belly, and stroll leisurely towards him, Meng Yu immediately recalled the scene he had witnessed that day.
Meng Yu chuckled softly and stepped forward, "Congratulations, Second Sister. How could you possibly have the mind to come back while you're pregnant?"
“Although I’m married, I’m still Father’s daughter. My heart is soft, but it’s not as hard as Third Sister’s. How can I stand idly by when things happen at home?” Meng Shuang raised an eyebrow and let go of the maid’s hand that was supporting her. “Oh? I forgot, the reason Father has so many worries is all because of Third Sister. Look at Third Sister’s dark circles, she must not have had a good night’s sleep for several days.”
Meng Yu didn't care about her sarcasm at all. She just lowered her eyelids and smiled faintly when she looked up again: "I would like to give you a piece of advice, Second Sister. It is not easy to get this body. Instead of having time to laugh at others, you should think about how to keep your position. After all, there are no secrets that can be kept forever. No matter how well the paper is wrapped, it will eventually be burned through by fire."
"What do you mean?"
Meng Shuang stopped laughing and her face turned cold.
"Second sister knows best what I mean."
Ignoring her piercing gaze, Meng Yu turned around, boarded the carriage, and drove away.
The carriage kicked up dust, which choked her. Meng Shuang, rubbing her belly, looked at the departing carriage, her previously calm expression instantly changing: "Yu Yan, what did she mean by that? Could it be that she knows something?"
Yu Yan didn't know what to say, so she thought for a moment and then said, "No matter what she knows, her biggest backer, Lu Xiuyi, is already at his last gasp. It's only a matter of time before he becomes a victim of the sword. This world will belong to His Highness Prince Rui. What are you worried about, Miss?"
Reminded by Yu Yan, Meng Shuang thought of Lu Xiuyi, who was still in prison, and suddenly laughed: "That's right. Even Lu Xiuyi has become His Highness's defeated opponent. What does she know and what can she do? I have a child in my womb. Do you think I'm afraid of her?"
With that, she turned and left.
***
The news that Meng Yu had spoken out against the Meng family on behalf of Lu Xiuyi quickly reached Lu Xiuyi's ears.
"Only today did I realize that Madam possesses such courage and fortitude; all my previous prejudices have vanished with this incident."
Chu Ze sighed.
A sharp gaze immediately shot over: "When did you develop a prejudice against her?"
"Well, that was a long time ago," Chu Ze stammered, realizing he had misspoke. Then, remembering something else, he quickly pulled out a handful of scraps of paper from his pocket and said in a fawning tone, "By the way, young master, these are the divorce papers that Madam tore up. I picked them up. Do you want them rewritten?"
Lu Xiuyi paused as he took the scrap of paper, giving him a deep, stern look: "Are you looking for death?"
Chu Ze lowered his head sheepishly.
In the dim light, the divorce papers were torn to shreds, making them difficult to put back together. Lu Xiuyi gently touched them, as if the warmth of her fingertips still lingered on them.
"Has the matter concerning the Prince of Yu been resolved?"
He couldn't wait to see her.
"It will be soon, probably in about two more days."
Lu Xiuyi carefully folded the scraps of paper and tucked them into his pocket: "Go back! Staying too long will arouse suspicion."
"yes."
Chu Ze responded and left.
Silver moonlight streamed in through the skylight. The young man sat on the straw mat, watching the flickering firelight, his heart filled with a sweet, honeyed feeling.
The next day.
A ray of golden light pierced through the thick clouds, spreading across the green ridges and blue tiles of the Longxiang Pavilion, while shouts drifted from the alleyway into the place filled with the fragrance of lotus blossoms.
Just as Meng Yu was about to hand the food box to Chu Ze, she suddenly heard that there was a sour plum drink for sale outside the mansion. She hurriedly said, "Wait a moment. It's hot now. Drinking a bowl of sour plum drink can cool you down. I'll have Hua Yi buy a bowl and you can take it to him."
Chu Ze hurriedly responded.
After waiting for a while, Hua Yi returned with the plum juice. Meng Yu then brought him some mugwort ointment and said in a low voice, "There are a lot of mosquitoes in the prison. Give this to him."
Seeing how much she cared about Lu Xiuyi, Chu Ze moved his lips, but swallowed back the words that were about to come out. Instead, he comforted her, saying, "Madam, don't worry. With you thinking of the young master, he will surely overcome this difficulty."
He used to be the one to protect her, but now she realizes how powerless she is. Apart from cooking him delicious food every day, she can't even bring herself to visit him.
Suddenly overwhelmed with emotions, Meng Yu couldn't help but ask again, tears welling up in her eyes, "I just want to go in and see him, why won't they let me in?"
Chu Ze said helplessly, "Madam, this is His Majesty's decree. I have no choice. The reason I was able to go in is simply because the guard in charge of guarding owes me a favor. But if I let you in, it would be too conspicuous."
Meng Yu seemed to have found a way out, and hurriedly swallowed her tears: "Then, then can I go over tonight? I just want to see him for a moment and say a word to him."
Chu Ze couldn't bear to see a woman with tears in her eyes. He paced back and forth for a moment, then said, "I'll give it a try."
When this matter reached Lu Xiuyi's ears, Chu Ze originally thought he would refuse outright, but to his surprise, he agreed without hesitation.
"But didn't you say before that you couldn't see the madam?" Chu Ze asked, looking confused.
Lu Xiuyi took a sip of plum juice, which was indeed refreshing: "What happened before is now. Only if she comes can she help Prince Rui."
Chu Ze thought for a moment, then immediately realized what was going on and hurriedly said, "Then I will inform Madam when I get back."
After taking a sip of sweet soup, Lu Xiuyi said slowly, "No, I'll talk to her tomorrow."
***
The next day.
Chu Ze relayed the news that he could visit Lu Xiuyi to Meng Yu. Meng Yu was overjoyed and immediately prepared fine wine and food with Hua Yi, and personally took them to the prison.
The moment I stepped through that iron gate, the sunlight was blocked behind me, and ahead was a corridor that seemed to have no end. High walls lined both sides of the corridor, leaving only enough space for one person to walk in the middle.
As Meng Yu carried the food box, the further she went in, the more damp and sticky the feeling became, as if a wave of moisture was hitting her face and instantly soaking her originally dry hair.
The lights overhead flickered as if they might go out at any moment. The jailer led the way, and after walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally turned left and descended five or six moss-covered steps. In the dim light, she finally saw the person she had been longing for day and night.
He was dressed in cheap prison clothes, but his expression remained calm. He sat upright at the dilapidated wooden table, holding a book, and reading by the light that seeped in through the skylight.
A sour feeling immediately filled my eyes.
Meng Yu quickly composed herself, took a deep breath, and walked over with the food box.
The sound of the jailer taking out his keys brought him back to his senses from the book, and he looked up.
Their eyes met, and Meng Yu walked in while forcing a smile: "I made your favorite braised mutton, fermented duck, cherry meat, and the peach cakes you've always wanted to eat, and I also brought a pot of peach blossom wine."
The square table wasn't large, and it was almost full after all the dishes were taken out.
Meng Yu sat down opposite him, took out two wine cups, poured one for him, poured one for herself, and then raised her cup, saying, "I'll drink first."
But just as she brought the cup to her lips, she heard Lu Xiuyi say without changing his expression, "Have you finished reading the divorce papers?"
Meng Yu paused, meeting his gaze: "I tore it up without looking at it."
His gaze was indifferent: "Haven't you always wanted to leave me? Now that I'm letting you go, why are you still staying?"
She couldn't tell what his emotions were.
Do you think you can't escape this fate?
Meng Yu glanced at the two silver cups in the corner and spoke frankly.
The cell remained silent for a long time.
Lu Xiuyi remained silent for a long time before finally lowering his head and sighing. When he looked up again, his eyes were no longer calm as before, but filled with grief: "Yu'er, I will let you go as you wished, and I will let myself go as well. Go! We have nothing to do with each other anymore. You can go find a place with beautiful scenery and live out the rest of your life in peace."
Tears that had been welling up in her eyes for so long finally spilled over. Meng Yu wiped them away, took a deep breath, and stubbornly said, "I won't leave. I'll go and beg the Emperor. I'll explain the situation to him. You didn't kill them; it was those men in black. Those men were sent by Prince Rui. I..."
Do you have any evidence?
Her words trailed off in mid-air as Lu Xiuyi interrupted her in a deep voice, "Do you think His Majesty will believe you, or his own son who holds witnesses and physical evidence?"
His words shattered all of Meng Yu's hopes.
"Yu'er, stop worrying about me. Now that things have come to this, I just want to ask you one question: Did you ever love me? Not even a little bit?"
Large tears slid down her face and into her heart.
Meng Yu's eyes blurred with tears, and she burst into sobs.
Seeing this, Lu Xiuyi sighed deeply. His tone was not filled with the anxiety of someone on the verge of death, but rather with a sense of relief after a long search. He said sincerely, "I know your answer, but Yu'er, are you really not leaving? Perhaps this is your only chance in this life."
Meng Yu assumed he was referring to Madam Lu's identity, so she shook her head and said, "I'm not leaving."
"Okay, you said it yourself."
The young man suddenly stood up and walked towards her, a smile on his lips.
Meng Yu was startled, and suddenly felt that something was wrong. Tears streamed down her face. She was about to ask a question when he raised his hand to stop her.
The almost suffocating kiss overwhelmed her like a surging tide.
***
When I came out of the cell, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and in less than half an hour, a torrential downpour began.
Seeing this, Hua Yi, who was waiting by the carriage, quickly opened her umbrella and went over: "Madam, the rain is too heavy, please get back into the carriage!"
Meng Yu ignored him, and walked forward in a daze, passing the iron gate, the carriage, the streets lined with teahouses and taverns, and the pointing pedestrians, step by step walking back to General Huaiyuan's mansion.
Under the eaves, the plaque inscribed with "General Huaiyuan's Mansion" is right above your head.
On the other side of the road, a sedan chair hurriedly approached in the pouring rain. The chair tilted precariously, and the person who came held a bright yellow brocade document. With a solemn expression, he pronounced the verdict: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: General Huaiyuan Lu Xiuyi has intentionally murdered Inspector Lu Jiayan. The evidence is now conclusive. His titles and official ranks are hereby stripped, all his property is confiscated and confiscated into the national treasury, and he shall be given poisoned wine at noon today. So be it!"
Meng Yu's legs went weak in an instant, and she collapsed to the ground uncontrollably.
As soon as he finished speaking, a large number of soldiers rushed into the mansion, startling everyone into scattering in all directions.
Zhi Mian ran out in a panic, only to find Meng Yu sitting on the ground, soaked to the bone, letting the rain drench him. No matter how Hua Yi tried to persuade him, he remained unmoved.
She rushed forward, tears welling in her eyes, and pleaded, "Girl, get up! If you keep getting soaked, your health will suffer."
"Have you seen off Aunt Zhuang and Diexue?"
Meng Yu asked, seemingly in a daze.
Zhi Mian burst into tears and nodded, saying, "Yes, I sent them onto the ship at dawn, and only came back after watching them sail away."
Hearing this, and seeing the soldiers coming and going to ransack the house, Meng Yu finally felt a little relieved.
To prevent Zhuang Mama from becoming extremely anxious upon learning of this, she strictly ordered everyone in the household not to tell Zhuang Mama about it, and had Zhi Mian send them onto the boat back to Tongzhou early this morning.
Just then, Ning Sui arrived in a carriage.
"Yu'er, everything is settled. Don't stay here. Come back with me." Ning Sui jumped off the carriage and came over to pull her.
"No, I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere." Rain poured down, and Meng Yu shook off her hand. Suddenly remembering something, her expression changed. She raised her head and grabbed Ning Sui's skirt, pleading, "Ning Sui, please, please ask your brother and Qin Musui to plead for him. He didn't kill him. Lu Jiayan died for me, it has nothing to do with him. I beg you, please?"
Ning Sui supported her arm, trying to pull her up: "Yu'er, it's too late. His Majesty has already sent people to deliver the poisoned wine. Moreover, my brother, Qin Musui, and even Prince Yu knelt in the main hall for three days to beg, but His Majesty remained unmoved. There is no way to change this matter."
Boom!
A white light streaked across the sky, and Ning Sui's words struck Meng Yu's heart like thunder, making her dizzy and unable to stand, and she fainted.
"Yu'er..."
Ning Sui hurriedly caught her, and together with Hua Yi, they helped her into the carriage and returned to the Ning family.
In no time, news of Lu Xiuyi's home being ransacked and him being given poisoned wine spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital. Everyone praised Emperor Jinghuai for his wisdom in dealing with a major black sheep in the capital.
***
Meng Mansion.
"Don't move, you're making me dizzy."
Old Mrs. Meng tapped the ground heavily a few times with her cane, and Meng Yanqing, who had been pacing back and forth in front of her for a long time, finally stopped.
Meng Yanqing plopped down, his old face scrunched up in deep wrinkles: "My son is worried, and he doesn't know if Lu Xiuyi's matter will endanger us."
“Your anxiety is useless,” sighed Madam Meng. “Now we can only wait for Zhou-ge’er to return from court and see what he has to say.”
Madam Meng paused, looking at the rising sunlight outside the door, her yellowish eyes revealing shrewdness, "But I suppose His Majesty hasn't investigated our family, otherwise there would have been an imperial edict after Lu Xiuyi was executed yesterday."
Meng Yanqing sighed, "That may be true, but who can fathom the Emperor's thoughts? If I don't know for a day, I dare not attend court."
Upon hearing this, Madam Meng frowned: "It's understandable that you didn't attend court today, as you were just too embarrassed to admit it. But as your father, do you expect your son to take on all the hardships for you?"
Meng Yanqing slapped his thigh and frowned, asking, "What is Mother talking about?"
"truth."
The two words from Old Madam Meng left Meng Yanqing speechless, and he lowered his head in embarrassment.
Just then, Madam Ruan came running in: "Reporting to the old lady and the master, Zhou-ge'er is back."
Meng Yanqing and Madam Meng looked at each other in surprise and stood up abruptly.
The two hurried to the door and saw Meng Zhangzhou, dressed in a dark green court robe, walking towards them from afar. When he got closer, Meng Yanqing carefully examined him and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was calm and composed and acted normally, with nothing amiss.
"Zhou'er, how are you?"
Meng Zhangzhou took off his gauze hat and placed it on the table. Seeing Meng Yanqing and Old Madam Meng gathered around, he feigned confusion and asked, "What's wrong? Didn't Father say he wasn't feeling well? How come he's here with Grandmother?"
Meng Yanqing turned her face away: "Stop playing games with me, you know what I'm asking."
“If our Meng family has acted uprightly and honestly, what do we have to fear from being implicated? Father, since you are unharmed, would you like to go and see my third sister?”
Meng Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief, but when the topic of visiting Meng Yu came up, his face immediately fell again: "Let's go in a couple of days! I'll go see her in a couple of days."
Meng Zhangzhou's face turned cold: "Since my third sister got married, Father has hardly visited her more than a few times. Now that she is in trouble, as her father, even if you can't help her, you should at least go and say a few words of concern. How can you sit at home and only care about your own safety?"
His few words made Meng Yanqing blush, but Meng Yanqing still shamelessly explained: "Zhou'er, it's not that your father doesn't want to go. If she were just sick, your father would of course come to visit her immediately. But now it involves the serious crime of confiscating property. Even Lu Xiuyi was given poisoned wine and committed suicide. What good would it do for your father to go and comfort her? The matter is already settled, and even a god couldn't change it."
“Zhou’er, your father is right,” Old Madam Meng quickly stepped forward to chime in, “Our family has nearly a hundred members. If the Emperor were to blame us, we would face the wrath of having our property confiscated. How could we…”
“Grandmother,” Meng Zhangzhou looked at the old lady in disbelief. Her usual kind image collapsed in his heart at this moment. “If Ning Sui hadn’t taken Third Sister away, she would be homeless on the streets right now. There are hundreds of people in the Ning family. Aren’t they afraid of being implicated? We are related to Third Sister by blood, yet we turn a blind eye to her and ignore her. What will outsiders think of us?”
Meng Yanqing sighed heavily: "In this situation, how can we care what outsiders think? It's good enough if we can keep our own lives."
Meng Zhangzhou stood up: "If you're not going, I'll go by myself."
“Your father is right, Zhou’er. No matter what, I’m begging you, please don’t rush over here. Let’s wait a couple of days and see what happens.”
Madam Meng didn't care how Meng Zhangzhou looked at her; she just grabbed his sleeve and was about to kneel down.
"grandmother."
Meng Zhangzhou raised his voice and quickly helped her up.
Madam Meng grabbed his hand tightly, her old face contorted in pain, and said in a hoarse voice, "If you insist on going, your father and I will kneel here forever."
Seeing this, Meng Zhangzhou let out a deep sigh and slumped back into his chair, feeling utterly powerless.
***
A sudden gust of wind arose, and raindrops carrying the fragrance of flowers were sent into the room, pelting the person by the window.
Zhi Mian had just brought over some calming tea when she saw this and quickly came over to close the window.
Meng Yu reached out to stop her.
"Girl, your fever has just subsided, but the doctor said you can't be exposed to drafts." Zhi Mian sighed.
Meng Yu could only let go of his hand, get up and sit back down by the bed, stroke the plain clothes next to him, and ask in a low voice, "Have his funeral arrangements been made?"
"General Ning and Miss Ning are helping with the arrangements; the funeral will be held tomorrow."
"Help me change my clothes."
Zhi Mian hesitated: "But young lady, your body..."
The wind made her tears sting, and her voice was hoarse: "No matter how painful it is, I still want to see him off."
Zhi Mian did not refuse again. After closing the door and helping her change her clothes, she asked the steward of the Ning family to prepare a carriage, and soon they arrived at the Ning family's estate on the outskirts of the city.
The Huaiyuan General's family property was all confiscated into the national treasury, and the emperor also forbade them to hold a funeral for Lu Xiuyi in the city. Ning Jianxing then had someone make some arrangements at the manor in the suburbs to set up a mourning hall for Lu Xiuyi.
Thunder roared and the rain poured down relentlessly.
The road to the outskirts of the city was extremely muddy, and the carriage bumped along for a long time before gradually coming to a stop.
White silk hung high in front of the manor, and the sounds of mournful weeping echoed from within. A coffin lay horizontally in the center of the main hall, and Chu Ze, draped in white hemp, wiped away tears and burned paper money in front of the coffin.
Apart from Ning Jianxing, Ning Sui, and Qin Musui, everyone present was a loyal servant of the General's Mansion.
Meng Yu reached out and took the paper money from Chu Ze's hand: "Let me do it!"
Chu Ze was immersed in grief and completely unaware of Meng Yu's arrival. When he suddenly saw her snatch the paper money, he was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly said, "Madam, if you are not feeling well, please go and rest!"
Meng Yu knelt down on the prayer mat and said softly, "I'm fine."
"Lord Jiang and Madam Jiang have arrived."
A loud shout suddenly rang out from outside the door.
Hearing the voice, Meng Yu looked up and saw Meng Yin and Jiang Xuanli. They were dressed in black, with bare faces and no hair ornaments.
Zhi Mian was about to stop her, but Meng Yu reached out to stop her: "They came to pay their respects sincerely."
After the two offered incense, Meng Yin half-squatted down and said in a low voice, "Third sister, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Please accept my condolences."
Meng Yu looked up with tears in her eyes: "Thank you for coming."
Meng Yin shook her head with tears in her eyes: "You are my third sister, my closest blood relative, how could I not come?"
Halfway through the burning of the paper money, a cold laugh suddenly rang out from outside the door: "I'm not late, am I?"
Meng Yu looked in the direction of the sound and saw Prince Rui, dressed in a silver-red robe, smiling broadly, appearing at the door as if he were riding high on a spring breeze.
Ning Jianxing personally stepped forward to stop him, coldly stating, "Your Highness Prince Rui, you are not welcome here. Please leave."
Prince Rui glanced at him: "General Lu and I, oh! No, I should say Young Master Lu, are quite close. Now that he's gone, isn't it normal for me to come and see him off?"
"My husband cannot accept the favor that Your Highness has shown. Is your so-called favor the one that you asked Wanminshu to force His Majesty to deal with him?" Before Ning Jianxing could speak, he heard Meng Yu's cold shout from behind him.
Seeing that Meng Yu's face was bloodless, her eyes were full of bruises, and her eyes were red and clear, he said solemnly, "Madam Lu, please be careful with your words. Lu Xiuyi cruelly murdered his brothers, and the evidence is conclusive. It was the people who couldn't stand it and were indignant, so they came to ask me to intervene. I am just seeking justice for the unjustly killed governor. How can you say that I am forcing him?"
Meng Yu stared intently at him, her lips pressed together in silence.
Having achieved his goal, Prince Rui feigned a magnanimous and magnanimous demeanor: "I am a kind-hearted prince, and considering that you have just experienced the pain of losing your husband, I will spare you this time, but..."
He paused, then turned to look at Chu Ze. "You still hold a military post. How dare you abandon your post without my permission?"
Chu Ze and Meng Yu exchanged bewildered glances, then stood up in surprise: "What do you mean by that?"
"What do you mean?" Prince Rui sneered, cupping his hands to the sky. "By imperial decree, from this day forward, the Western Camp will be under my command. All soldiers in the camp, including you, must obey my orders."
His words struck the ground, and for a moment, the entire hall fell silent.
Qin Musui, who had been silent all along, coughed lightly and stepped forward: "Lu Xiuyi was, after all, his former master. Now it is his last journey in this world. It is only right that he comes to see him off. If Your Highness continues to be so aggressive, people may think that Your Highness is a cruel and oppressive official who has no regard for benevolence, righteousness, or propriety when wielding power."
Prince Rui suddenly turned his head, his gaze as cold as frost and snow, and pursed his lips in silence for a moment: "Prince Qin has excellent eloquence, no wonder Father values you so much."
Qin Musui nodded slightly: "Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness."
Prince Rui was so angry that he felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow or spit it out. He could only glare at him fiercely before turning away.
After Prince Rui's interference, Meng Yu felt weak all over and instantly collapsed to his knees.
Meng Yin quickly stepped forward to support her. Seeing that her face was pale and she could barely stand, she said gently, "Third sister, go and rest for a while! We'll look after things here for you."
Meng Yu took her hand, pondered for a moment, and nodded.
Lu Xiuyi's funeral procession departed at dawn the following day. A light drizzle fell incessantly along the way, and the air was filled with the faint sounds of sobbing and weeping.
Xiying.
"Has he really been buried?"
The person on the stage immediately stood up.
“It is true, I saw it with my own eyes, there is absolutely no falsehood.”
Prince Rui breathed a sigh of relief, his heart immediately at ease. He would not have peace of mind until Lu Xiuyi was buried.
***
After a heavy rain, the sky became clearer and clearer.
As night deepened, the croaking of frogs filled the air, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and the night watchman, carrying a dim lantern, walked through the streets and alleys, sometimes beating a gong and drum, sometimes raising his voice: "The weather is dry, be careful with fire."
Meng Yu tossed and turned on the bed for a long time, unable to fall asleep, so he got up, put on his clothes, and lit a lamp.
Outside the window, a silver curtain covered the ground, and distant lights flickered in the night. A cool breeze swept over her, making Meng Yu even more awake.
Suddenly, the courtyard gate was kicked open, causing the lights under the eaves to sway violently.
The person who came looked hurried. As soon as he saw her, he rushed over and pulled her out: "Yu'er, hurry up. Prince Rui has rebelled. He led his troops to storm the palace. My brother has already gone to the Eastern Camp to gather soldiers to enter the palace to rescue the emperor. I will also be going to the palace to provide support later. It may not be safe for you to stay in the manor alone. I will take you and Zhi Mian to the manor in the suburbs first."
Meng Yu was about to reply to her.
"This is the Ning residence! Who ordered you to dare to trespass..." A panicked voice came from outside the door, but it was suddenly swallowed up.
A cold glint pierced the night, blood splattered on the steps, and dozens of black iron cavalry suddenly appeared in front, blocking the way.
Ning Sui's expression hardened. She drew the sword from her waist, took a few steps back, and shielded Meng Yu behind her.
Upon hearing the noise, Zhi Mian and Hua Yi hurriedly put on their clothes and came out. This terrifying scene suddenly came into view. The two of them were shocked and stood in front of Meng Yu, not knowing what had happened.
The leading man had eagle-like eyes. He slightly raised his hand, and the soldiers behind him immediately swarmed forward.
Meng Yu reacted quickly, grabbing an iron bar from the corner and tossing it to Zhi Mian and Hua Yi, pointing to the back door: "Try to protect yourselves."
Zhi Mian looked worried, hesitant to speak.
Knowing what she wanted to say, Meng Yu took her and Hua Yi's hands and said in a very fast and solemn voice, "If we scatter and escape, our chances of survival will be much greater."
Seeing a group of cavalry about to charge, the situation was dire. Zhi Mian gripped her iron rod tightly and nodded heavily: "Girl, be careful. We must survive."
Meng Yu smiled and said, "Mm."
The weapons gleamed with a cold, eerie light, and the piercing sound of their clash instantly broke the silence of the night. Meng Yu saw Ning Sui shift her feet, deftly dodging the incoming blade, then slightly bend down and simultaneously thrust her knife behind her, stabbing it into the soldier attacking from behind.
Seeing that only a few of the iron cavalrymen had scattered to chase after Zhimian and Huayi, Meng Yu breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time hurriedly raised his iron rod to block the sword blade that was slashing down.
But the man in front of her was too strong. He pressed down hard with a ferocious expression. Just when she was about to give up, Ning Sui caught a glimpse of him and immediately threw a knife, which struck the man right between the eyebrows.
Ning Sui slipped and moved with lightning speed, passing through the crowd to Meng Yu's side. Before the man could fall, she pulled the dagger out of his brow.
The cavalry swarmed forward again, surrounding the two of them.
The thick darkness of the night seemed like a taut string. Meng Yu held an iron rod, his gaze sharp, and he and Ning Sui stood back to back.
"They outnumber you. I'll cover you while you run."
Meng Yu tilted her head and whispered.
Ning Sui chuckled: "I expected you, a weak woman with no weapons, to cover my escape as General Yun Ning, personally appointed by the Emperor. But Yu'er, how can you do this to me?"
“This is not the time to talk about face,” Meng Yu said, staring intently at the person approaching step by step. “If it weren’t for me, with your lightness skill, you would have escaped long ago. Ning Sui, you have already helped me so much, so much that I can never repay you in this lifetime. Only…”
The words were lost in the void.
"Stop with these sentimental words," Ning Sui interrupted her. "If you're going to repay, repay in this life. What kind of hero talks about the next life?"
Hearing the sob in her voice, Meng Yu said helplessly, "You know I've never been a hero; I'm the weak woman you're talking about."
"Enough with the nonsense. If you dare to die, I'll make sure you're never buried."
Ning Sui gritted her teeth.
Meng Yu sighed, "You're just as domineering as Lu Xiuyi."
"Don't compare me to him, I'm not that early-dead ghost."
As they were talking, Ning Sui flashed away, calmly sliding half an inch, and then with a flick of her wrist, she killed the soldier who was rushing towards her with a single stroke.
Meng Yu raised his iron rod, bent down and deftly dodged the sword that was coming at him, and struck the soldier in the waist with the rod, causing him to fall to the ground in pain.
In that brief moment, a soldier not far away charged at her with a sword in both hands. Meng Yu quickly turned her head and raised her iron bar to block the attack.
But as soon as he turned around, his ankle snapped.
The intense pain came unexpectedly, and she couldn't hold on any longer, collapsing to her knees.
Upon seeing this, the soldiers behind him immediately rushed over.
"Yu'er..."
With Ning Sui's anxious shout, a fierce sword wind swept towards her neck, and Meng Yu abruptly turned her head.
The blade gleamed with a cold, eerie light, and stopped abruptly at her neck.
Clang!
The young soldier coughed up blood, and as he fell to the ground, his sword also fell to the ground. An arrow had pierced three inches into his chest, showing how much anger the archer was filled with.
Several exclamations rang out, and the sound of clashing blades gradually subsided.
Meng Yu turned her head.
The face I expected came into view.
The young man stood solemnly atop the green-tiled eaves, coldly shouting: "Prince Rui has committed treason, attempting to seize power and usurp the throne. He has been imprisoned and is awaiting punishment. Why don't you all surrender?"
Just then, dozens of soldiers in armor rushed in from outside the door. Qin Musui, who was walking in front, rushed over as soon as he saw Ning Sui. After checking her over, he asked with concern, "Sui Sui, are you alright?"
Ning Sui looked at Lu Xiuyi in disbelief, then at Meng Yu. Seeing that there was no surprise on her face, she immediately understood.
Lu Xiuyi faked his death...
The next day.
The news that Prince Rui had plotted a rebellion but was quelled by Lu Xiuyi, Ning Jianxing, and Prince Yu spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the city in less than half a day.
"You all know, but you're just keeping it from me, waiting to see me make a fool of myself, right? It's one thing for them to keep it from me, but even you, Yu'er, are doing this. No matter what, you can't explain this away."
Meng Yu arranged to meet Ning Sui at Xunmanlou and personally brought her fine tea to apologize. Ning Sui glared at her, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and snorted coldly.
In the distance, the mountain peaks rise and fall in layers, resembling a sleeping dragon under the clear blue sky.
Meng Yu put down her teacup, grabbed her arm, tilted her head and smiled: "Good sister, don't be angry. Do you know that acting is not your forte?"
Ning Sui's feigned anger immediately crumbled. She gritted her teeth in hatred and pinched Meng Yu's face hard: "Next time, you're not allowed to hide anything from me again."
Meng Yu winced in pain and begged for mercy, "Good sister, good sister, please forgive me this time, I promise it won't happen again."
"Alright!"
Ning Sui released her grip, turned around, picked up the tea, and seeing its clear color, drank it all in one gulp: "I'll let you off this time because you've come to apologize sincerely. But if there's a next time, it won't be as simple as just a cup of tea."
"Okay, okay."
Meng Yu returned the gesture by offering her another cup of tea.
After having dinner with Ning Sui, she went back to Dongying to handle some matters. After Meng Yu paid the bill, she and Hua Yi leisurely left Xunmanlou.
Unexpectedly, he almost bumped into someone as soon as he stepped out the door.
"How can you talk like that..."
Hua Yi helped Meng Yu up and was about to reprimand him, but when she saw the man, she was so shocked that she suddenly shut her mouth.
Meng Yu steadied herself and felt Hua Yi's hand stiffen. She looked up and followed her gaze, and was equally surprised: "Father?"
His eyes were vacant, and his veil was askew. He stumbled backward after being bumped by her, and the servant behind him rushed forward to help him up.
Without asking what had happened, Meng Yu helped Meng Yanqing into the carriage and sent him back to the Meng residence.
To everyone's surprise, as soon as they entered, the hall was filled with weeping.
Meng Yu and Hua Yi exchanged bewildered glances. Before they could even ask what had happened, a disheveled Yuan Shi rushed forward, grabbed Meng Yanqing's arm, and cried out in anguish, "Master, our Shuang'er is gone! You must do justice for her!"
Lost in thought, Meng Yanqing suddenly heard this, her steps faltered, and she stared at the corpse covered by a white cloth in the hall. In an instant, her face turned as white as paper.
His eyes instantly welled up with tears, and he collapsed to the ground.
After a long, long time, he finally asked in a hoarse voice, "What, what happened? I only went to court, how did I end up like this? Shuang'er, Shuang'er has always been healthy, how could she suddenly be gone?"
Mrs. Yuan was already sobbing uncontrollably, and Mrs. Deng helped her up.
Meng Zhangzhou was in tears, not even having had time to change out of his court robes: "My second sister was sent back by the Duke of Longguo's mansion after she hanged herself."
"What? Shuang'er hanged herself? The Duke of Longguo's mansion, relying on their high position and power, just treats human life so lightly?" Meng Yanqing's eyes were red, and he suddenly raised his voice and shouted angrily. He staggered and tried to stand up. "No, I, I have to go and demand an explanation. Our Shuang'er can't just die like this. She, she was pregnant. This is a double tragedy!"
As he spoke, Meng Yanqing tried to rush out.
Meng Zhangzhou immediately stopped him, frowning and saying in a low voice, "Father, you can't go. My second sister hanged herself after losing her child."
Snap!
The clear sound of a slap startled the weeping in the hall, silencing it for a moment.
A bright red fingerprint was instantly imprinted on Meng Zhangzhou's right cheek.
Meng Yanqing raised his voice and shouted angrily: "Since they forced Shuang'er to lose her child, it's one thing for them not to care about her, but to drive her to her death. How can I let this go? You are her own brother, how can you be so cowardly? You don't even dare to seek justice for your own sister who has died."
Meng Zhangzhou was stunned by the blow and couldn't react for a moment.
"Father," Meng Yu finally couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward to block Meng Zhangzhou, saying coldly, "Second sister has already left. If you still want to save face for her, then don't dig into the matter in public."
That slap used all of Meng Yanqing's strength. He looked at Meng Zhangzhou, whose eyes were filled with tears, and then at the extremely calm Meng Yu. His anger, which had almost driven him to his senses, was suddenly pulled back: "What do you mean?"
Meng Yu paused for a moment, then lowered her eyelashes: "If there's anything, we'll go back to the study. I'm sure my elder brother will explain it to you in detail."
“What else is there to say? What is there to say?” Madam Yuan suddenly rushed over, shoved Meng Yu aside, and then turned to grab Meng Yanqing’s clothes, crying and pleading like a madman, “Master, they, they all say that Shuang’er’s child is not Cheng Yao’s, but Prince Rui’s. I don’t believe it, Master. Our Shuang’er is so well-behaved, she would never do such a thing.”
As she spoke, she looked around and pointed at the crowd, saying, "It must be these wretched women! They can't stand Shuang'er marrying into a wealthy family, that's why they're slandering her! Master, Master, you must stand up for Shuang'er! She's so well-behaved, so beautiful, it can't be, it can't be, Master, I beg you..."
"What are you all standing there for? Madam is frightened and is talking nonsense. Hurry up and help her back and keep a close eye on her."
As everyone stared blankly at Madam Yuan, Old Madam Meng, leaning on her cane, strode over, her old face scrunched up, and hurriedly gave instructions.
The stunned maids then hurriedly dragged Madam Yuan back to her room with Mama Deng.
Meng Yanqing had already vaguely guessed the general outline of the matter, and seeing Yuan's crazy expression, he became even more certain of what she was saying.
In an instant, this matter struck him like a thunderbolt, as if all his strength had been drained away, leaving him feeling dizzy and disoriented.
The next moment, he lost consciousness.
Madam Meng was startled and hurriedly ordered people to carry Meng Yanqing back to his room. The whole mansion was in chaos, and no one cared about the corpse covered with a white sheet in the hall.
Meng Yu inquired with Meng Zhangzhou and learned that Meng Yanqing had been dismissed from his post at the morning court session.
“I urged my father to go see you, but he was afraid of getting into trouble himself and the family, so he even forced me not to go see you. We were heartless first, and now we deserve this fate.”
Meng Zhangzhou looked at the sorrowful atmosphere in the hall and sighed.
Meng Yu said calmly, "Husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they will fly away separately. It is human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm. In my situation that day, how many people would dare to approach me? I don't blame them. Besides, I know that my elder brother is not that kind of person. If they hadn't used some method, you would never have abandoned me."
Hearing that she showed no sign of blame, Meng Zhangzhou was slightly surprised: "I've always said that my second and fourth sisters are not as good as you, not only in terms of personality, but also in terms of magnanimity. Now I'm just worried that Father is always very concerned about his reputation. Today, he was reprimanded by the Emperor in court for being heartless and ungrateful. With the passing of my second sister, I'm afraid he won't be able to withstand this blow."
"Big brother, you don't need to worry too much about Father's situation. I know Father. If he can get back to work, he can still manage."
Meng Zhangzhou was astonished: "Reinstated?"
Meng Yu nodded: "With Lu Xiuyi handling this matter, I believe His Majesty will forgive Father this time, considering his merit in saving the Emperor."
"But Third Sister, are you really not bothered?" Meng Zhangzhou asked hesitantly.
Meng Yu shook his head and said, "What can I do if I mind or not? He is my father after all. I can't just stand by and watch him die!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Zhangzhou was at a loss for words. Sentimental words were never practical, so he could only advise his father to treat her better and better in the future.
Not long after, Meng Yin and Jiang Xuanli also rushed over.
The steward went to Lin'an Temple to invite Buddhist monks to chant sutras for the deceased. At this time, the whole mansion was also covered with white silk. Meng Yanqing and Madam Yuan were both unwell, and Old Madam Meng was getting old. Meng Yu had no choice but to send a message to Lu Xiuyi, saying that she would stay here tonight to help with Meng Shuang's funeral. However, upon hearing this, Lu Xiuyi hurriedly put down what he was doing and rode over.
"Weren't you supposed to be dealing with Prince Rui's traitors in the Western Camp? How come you have time to come over now?" Meng Yu was slightly surprised to see him arrive so suddenly.
On the day Prince Rui took over the Western Camp, he stripped nearly half of Lu Xiuyi's confidants of their military ranks and expelled them from the camp, replacing them with his own men.
Although Prince Rui has now been brought to justice, the members of his wicked faction are still not to be underestimated. Therefore, His Majesty has ordered Lu Xiuyi to take full charge of this matter.
“Chuze is keeping an eye on those matters, so it’s alright if I’m not around for a while,” Lu Xiuyi replied in a low voice. “She is, after all, your second sister. How could I not come?”
Meng Yu felt somewhat relieved.
After a moment of silence, she said, "There is something I would like to ask for your help in pleading with the Emperor."
Lu Xiuyi knew what she was talking about, so he said gently, "Yu'er, there's no need for such formality between us. He is your father and also my father-in-law. Even if you don't mention it, I will still help him."
The hall was filled with the chanting of Buddhist scriptures by monks, but Meng Yu seemed not to hear it; all he heard was Meng Yu's gentle words.
She didn't know how to reply, so she simply said softly, "Thank you."
On the day of Meng Shuang's funeral, Meng Yanqing struggled to his feet, his body frail and weak.
Golden sunlight bathed his full head of silver hair, making the wrinkles on his face particularly noticeable in the sunlight, and even his steps were not as agile as before.
Looking into the distance, Meng Yu noticed that he seemed to have aged ten years in just three days.
I heard that Yuan has gone mad.
To prevent her from airing the family scandal, Madam Meng confined her to the Pillow Flower Studio, forbidding her from stepping out without permission.
Meng Yuyuan had originally intended to ask her if she felt any remorse for scheming and plotting her entire life, even going so far as to poison her mother, only to end up like this. But now, there was no need to ask.
***
Golden light pierced through the clouds, and the thin mist gradually faded away, leaving only snow-like clouds in the vast sky, with birds occasionally flitting across the green shade.
Lu Jiayan's tomb is located in a place with mountains and water, where one can hear birds singing and smell the fragrance of flowers.
Lu Xiuyi watched as Meng Yu placed the periwinkle flowers she had picked that morning in front of Lu Jiayan's grave, her eyes gleaming behind her eyelashes.
After a moment of silence, he turned his head and finally asked the question that had been bothering him for days: "Why didn't you leave back then? If you had said you wanted to leave, I would never have stopped you in this lifetime."
Meng Yu looked past the tombstone and gazed into the distance: "The 'life' you speak of is only this month."
The words were spoken with a resounding thud, and Lu Xiuyi abruptly looked up: "You know?"
"That day, there was a pot and two cups; one was poisoned, and the other was not."
Meng Yu withdrew her gaze from the distance, her clear eyes falling on him: "The poison was prepared by you. Lu Xiuyi, Daqi has not yet recovered Canglin Jiuzhou, Ning Suiyi has not yet fulfilled her wish, even Ning Jianxing or Qin Musui cannot understand why women have such a hard time, and the Prince of Yu's governance will encounter many difficulties. They all need you."
Her words struck Lu Xiuyi's heart like a heavy hammer blow.
Don't you hate me?
Why should I hate you?
"I hate that I forced you into marriage, I hate that I ruined your life."
Meng Yu watched as the butterfly landed on the cluster of trumpet creeper flowers in the distance, and shook her head, saying, "I don't want to hate you, and I won't hate you. My time is precious, and I don't want to waste it on hating someone."
His gaze returned to the monument, shimmering and tender as he watched her gaze fall upon it again.
"If I could, I would rather have been the one to shield you from the arrow that day, the one to die for you."
Meng Yu turned and left, watching the cloud drifting into the distance gradually dissipate: "It's a pity that there's everything in this world, except for a medicine for regret."
If she had one, she would be the first to swallow it.
As Lu Xiuyi watched her retreating figure, his heart was filled with both joy and sorrow.
Everyone else needs him, but she alone doesn't.
But did she know...?
She was the spring blossoms in his life's ordeal.
The End.
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