Extra 5: Bravely walk out of that cloud
(one)
He was once a carefree young detective, warm, kind, and loyal. He had a father who loved and doted on him, and a close friend among his superiors and colleagues.
She was once a poor peasant girl. Her father was chronically ill, and she had to do hard labor to make a living. After her father passed away, she was left with no one to turn to, unable even to afford a decent coffin.
One day, he became the city lord, and she became a princess.
He originally thought he was just an ordinary citizen, and that as long as he opened a few more tofu shops with the tofu-making skills he learned from his father, he could live a peaceful life. But one day, he suddenly became the sought-after "young master" and a thorn in the eyes of Ouyang Feiying and Bantianyue.
He didn't know when this dramatic change had begun. Perhaps it had begun when he met the martially skilled Dragon Goddess, or when he accidentally stumbled into the Spring Breeze Palace while hunting down a flower thief. Or perhaps, he had always been sought and hunted, yet he simply didn't know it.
She originally just wanted to buy a decent coffin for her father, but she never expected that not only would she be adopted as a daughter by the kind-hearted Madam Yuzhu, but she would also meet her sweetheart.
Yuzhu's stepmother brought her to her "big brother" and said softly, "Xiaoxue, come meet your big brother."
She shyly glanced at "Big Brother." This man was so beautiful that it took her breath away. Her heart was pounding. She hurriedly bowed and said, "Little sister greets Big Brother."
A kind stepmother, a gentle elder brother, and the noble status of a princess. Such changes caught her off guard. She thought that hardship would finally bring happiness, but who knew that the story had just begun.
(two)
For him, being a city lord is an inescapable fate.
He hated power struggles and never imagined he'd ever be drawn into one. He didn't even want to think about the days of deception and strife. Whenever anyone asked him if he wanted to be city lord, he would firmly answer, "No!"
Unfortunately, that "no" would never be fulfilled. He was Huangfu Zhong's son, the one who escaped the heinous crimes committed by Ouyang Feiying and Bantianyue. His survival was the result of loyal officials who risked their lives to protect him. Some abandoned their wives and children for him, others saw their families destroyed. Yet, he had no desire for power and gain, only to be an ordinary person.
He said, "I know I'm not cut out for it, and I don't want to be a city lord at all."
However, the loyal and righteous people would not give up their intention to assist him just because he said so, and Ouyang Feiying would not let him go.
He shouted in his heart, I really don't want to be the city lord! I just want to be a simple little constable, I just want to live happily with Yingying for the rest of my life.
Reality is cruel.
Her adoptive father died, slain by the mystery of his origins. Yingying died, slain by Ouyang Feiying's cruelty and her own recklessness. Bing Xin's sister died, as did her brother-in-law Bai Tong.
He vowed to end this kind of life. He wanted to use practical actions to tell Ouyang Feiying that he would not covet your position as city lord, not in the past, not now, and not in the future.
He knew exactly what he wanted, but he had no choice. This honesty not only failed to bring peace to everyone, but instead led to an intensification of the killing.
"To cut the grass, you have to remove the roots." Ouyang Feiying said.
What I mean is that his death is far from enough.
Sima Changfeng and Shangguan Yan were forced to confront Ouyang Feiying head-on, with Ouyang Mingri caught in the middle, severely injured and on the verge of death.
Ouyang Feiying was furious and threw a palm strike with all his might. As a result, Shangguan Yan was also seriously injured and in danger of death.
Ouyang Feiying thought Mingri was dead, so he jumped off the city wall holding him. Fortunately, he was rescued by Gu Mutian and an old man from the frontier. Although Ouyang Feiying's life was saved, he became insane.
Just like that, his father-in-law Ouyang Feiying went mad, and the fate of his elder brother Ouyang Mingri and his good friend Shangguan Yan was uncertain. Now, only Sima Changfeng and two elders were left, and the position of city lord could no longer be shirked.
He had no interest in this prosperous scene, yet he was forced to shoulder the heavy responsibility that weighed on his shoulders. The position of city lord—how many dreamed of it, but how many truly understood the price it cost? He had rejected it countless times, only to find it finally returned. The price he had paid was too heavy, and if he continued to avoid it, he would be betraying everyone's good intentions.
If he had accepted the position readily, would he have been able to keep them safe? He often asked himself this question.
Fortunately, the lives of his elder brother Ouyang Mingri and his good friend Shangguan Yan were saved. He wanted to abdicate, but Ouyang Mingri refused.
"I will assist you well." Ouyang Mingri said.
He didn't insist. Perhaps all of this was his responsibility. This was his inescapable fate, for he was the unanimously adored "Young Master"—Huangfu Zhong's son, Huangfu Renhe.
This throne held the happiness of the people of Sifang City, and carried the hopes and lives of everyone in his heart. Now, he could only sit on it willingly, not only to hold it firmly, but also to do a good job and live up to all those who had pushed him to the throne.
He was no longer carefree, but rather shouldered a responsibility. He diligently studied how to be a good ruler. He governed diligently and loved his people. Though kind, he was never cowardly.
The imperial palace was once Yingying’s home.
Whenever he woke up in the middle of the night, he would always think of Yingying. Yingying's shadow was everywhere. Perhaps, this was good. Her presence was in his heart every moment. Even if he was separated from her forever, it would be good to be able to fulfill her filial duty to her family on her behalf.
He meticulously cared for Ouyang Feiying, personally taking care of his daily needs and taking him to the back garden to relax. Upon hearing the news that his mother-in-law, Madam Yuzhu, had returned to the palace, he ordered all the palace servants who had previously served Madam Yuzhu to be sent to the Bodhi Garden. On the day Madam Yuzhu and her companions arrived, he personally went to the palace gate to greet them.
"My son-in-law pays homage to my mother-in-law." He bowed deeply. The moment he stood up, he was stunned.
A young figure jumped down from the carriage, gave him a mischievous look, then took Madam Yuzhu's arm and said, "Come, be careful."
Yingying. It was Yingying.
He rubbed his eyes vigorously. Am I dreaming? My eyes must be blurry! Yingying, how could it be Yingying?! Is it really her? ? ?
"Renhe," Madam Yuzhu waved her hand in front of him a few times, and he finally came to his senses. "This is the daughter I adopted along the way. Her name is Qiao Lingxue," said Madam Yuzhu.
I see.
He was secretly disappointed. Then he thought to himself, "How could I, knowing Yingying was gone, still cling to such unrealistic fantasies?" Yingying was gone, and she would never come back. Now that she couldn't even dream, how could she appear before him alive?
"Stinky tofu!" Little Bean Sprout jumped down from the carriage with a thud, shaking his arm and saying, "Stinky tofu, Little Bean Sprout missed you so much! Stinky tofu, why are you so unhappy?"
He smiled and patted the little bean sprout's head: "Who said I'm not happy? I don't know how happy I am to see you, a stinky bean sprout!"
He looked at her deeply, then turned to Madam Yuzhu and said, "Mother-in-law, you have worked hard on the journey. Let's go and settle down first."
He turned around and walked ahead without saying a word, never daring to look at her again. He was trembling with every step he took.
(three)
For her, being a princess was something she had never even thought about.
Of course, this kind of loneliness was something she had never imagined.
She is gentle, kind, and charming. She asks for little, only for someone to truly rely on. However, her beloved elder brother already has a lover. The city lord is a good man, but he can't forget the late Princess Yingying. Sima Changfeng, meanwhile, already has a beautiful woman in his arms.
Seeing that all the good men around her had been taken first, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart - when it comes to love, you really have to strike first.
It’s a pity that she has never been a strong person.
She was just a shadow, the shadow of the city lord's old love, the beloved daughter of her adoptive parents, and the younger sister of her beloved. They treated her well, not because she was gentle, not because she was sensible, and certainly not because her name was Qiao Lingxue, but because, simply because, she was that person's shadow.
Ouyang Yingying. How she hated this name.
If she hadn't had the exact same face as Ouyang Yingying, perhaps she wouldn't have been adopted by Madam Yuzhu as her adopted daughter, nor would she have become a princess. Now, she no longer had to endure the hardships of the past; it seemed like a perfect gift, a pie in the sky. This huge pie should have made her happy, but instead, she felt herself sinking deeper into despair.
No matter how gentle, considerate, and understanding one is, one can only be someone else's shadow or substitute. When will this kind of family affection, this kind of love that has nowhere to go, end?
The city lord said that love is not about whether it is worth it or not, but whether you are willing to do it or not.
As expected, for the one he loves, he is willing to do anything. Even though Leng Yue killed righteous men in Jianghu and went even further to assassinate the city lord, after being arrested, the eldest brother still went to see her twice a day.
She cautiously advised: "Brother, don't be too sad, after all, she is..."
"I understand," the eldest brother interrupted her and said coldly, "Go to bed early."
She left in a huff and lay on the bed, thinking about what her stepmother had said to her.
"You are so gentle and sensible. It would be the best if you could marry Mingri."
It's a pity that no matter how bad Leng Yue is, she has become the apple of her eye. No matter what, it will never be her turn.
As for Yuzhu's stepmother, she simply loved her because she loved the whole house. Yingying was the house, and she was the crow in the crow.
Leng Yue's escape from prison was simply incomprehensible to her. How could Leng Yue have the heart to hurt her elder brother who loved her so deeply? But her elder brother didn't complain at all, just smiled and said, "It's okay."
He did it willingly.
An unprecedented sour feeling corroded her completely. It was useless, no matter how good she was to him! Because her elder brother would never like her. His heart and eyes were filled with only Leng Yue, no matter whether that woman was a fairy or a demon.
She threw herself into the arms of her stepmother Yuzhu and cried heartbrokenly.
She would rather have never entered the palace, never met her elder brother, and never recognized this fact.
Perhaps, she should not have entered the palace. If she had not experienced all this, at least she could still maintain a beautiful vision of love.
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