(7) (8) (9)
(seven)
"City Lord, the traitors from the Divine Moon Cult have stormed into the palace!"
Ling Xue... This was the first name that flashed through his mind.
He regained his composure and ordered, "Gongsun Heng, quickly inform the old City Lord Ouyang. Zheng Fang, go to Bodhi Garden and take Madam Yuzhu and the others away from the palace. Go now!"
"City Lord, leave City Lord Ouyang to me." Young Master Nong Yue arrived in time.
He nodded and tiptoed quickly towards Bodhi Garden.
"Shangguan Yan, Brother Sima, you are good at martial arts, go first and make sure to protect them well," he said.
Feng Yan used his Qing Gong to leave first. He quickened his pace again, repeating in his heart: Ling Xue... Ling Xue... Don't let anything happen to you...
However, she still got into trouble. To protect him.
"Sister Yan!" Little Douya cried and threw herself into Shangguan Yan's arms.
He broke into the room and asked breathlessly, "Lingxue, are you okay?"
Still terrified, she shook her head numbly. Coming to her senses, she spotted a figure on a nearby rooftop. Her mind was blank, completely oblivious to what had happened. She couldn't hear what anyone around her was saying, only staring intently at the figure in the corner.
Suddenly, the figure moved, and a sharp arrow flew over, aiming at him who was performing the Cloud Shift.
"Be careful!" She rushed forward. The arrow pierced her body.
He was using the Flowing Clouds technique, so the arrows couldn't hurt him. However, Ling Xue didn't know this. She simply rushed forward recklessly, just like Yingying at that time.
He hugged her and burst into tears instantly.
She didn't know why she rushed forward. She never considered whether she would die. She also never considered whether he would like her, whether he would return her love, or whether it was worth it for her to do all this.
She just hoped that nothing would happen to him.
(eight)
He knew her heart, but he couldn't face his feelings. He was afraid of a repetition of the past.
However, the most feared thing still happened. The only difference was that Yingying died and Lingxue survived.
Ling Xue's face was pale as she smiled and said:
"Sister Yingying can protect the city lord, and so can Lingxue."
"It's great that the mayor is crying for me."
His vision began to blur. Yingying's words kept echoing in his mind.
"I'm happy to die for you."
He came back to his senses and sighed heavily. Love that lasts until death sounds touching, but for the person involved, it is a heartbreaking pain.
The night at the Shenyue Sect headquarters was so cold that it was frightening.
Now, he dared not think about anything else except protecting her.
She saw him standing in the yard from a distance and brought him a cloak. He turned around, looking slightly surprised: "It's so cold, why are you out?"
She smiled and said, "City Lord, you're only concerned about others. You should take care of your own health as well."
He quickly took off his cloak and carefully put it on her: "I'm fine, you haven't recovered yet, come into the house quickly." After that, he helped her into the house.
"Does the wound still hurt?" he asked. She shook her head.
"Don't be so stupid again," he said.
She blurted out, "City Lord, Ling Xue is happy with it."
The words surprised even her. She had prayed earnestly before the Buddha, praying that she might one day experience the true joy of love. But she had never sought his love; she simply wanted to share his burdens. Was she in love with him? She couldn't explain it. But she wished him peace and happiness, and was willing to do anything for him.
He was not good at hiding his feelings, and sadness crept onto his face as soon as it emerged from his heart. She asked cautiously, "City Lord, what's wrong with you?"
He suddenly became excited: "No, I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me! I would rather die than see this happen again!"
She stared at him blankly, tears welling up in her eyes.
He panicked for a moment: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry Ling Xue, I don't mean to blame you, I just... just..."
He carefully comforted her: "I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I made you cry."
She snuggled in his arms, thinking, this kind of tenderness is probably given to another soul. However, at this moment, she felt that having a face like Ouyang Yingying was a very happy thing. She could clearly feel his love, it was warm. This love was very warm.
She wiped her tears and said with a smile, "Don't worry, City Lord. Lingxue is just very touched and is not angry with you. You care so much about me, and I understand. Even if I can only be Princess Yingying's shadow in this life, I think it's worth it."
"No, that's not the case!" he said. "You are you, and Yingying is Yingying. You are two completely different people. I don't care about you because you look like Yingying, but because..."
He stopped mid-sentence. He opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't continue.
"Go back and rest early," he said dejectedly. He ignored her and walked away with his head hung.
She stared at his back in a daze, feeling so distressed for the first time in her life.
(Nine)
There is a dark cloud in everyone's heart. When it blocks the sunshine in your heart and makes you feel dark and gloomy, you always think that it is a haze that can never be dispelled.
However, once you lift your feet and walk out of the cloud cover, the warm sunshine will shine on you again.
For Ling Xue, Ouyang Yingying is her dark cloud; the same is true for Chou Doufu.
When she no longer insists on emphasizing her own presence, when she begins to be herself wholeheartedly, when she can love herself and share her love with those around her, when she no longer minds being regarded as someone else's shadow, she is no longer a shadow.
She is Qiao Lingxue, the well-behaved and kind Qiao Lingxue, the gentle and sensible Qiao Lingxue, the Qiao Lingxue who can make herself happy, the Qiao Lingxue who looks very much like Ouyang Yingying but is completely different from Yingying.
Qiao Lingxue was seen.
He used to be a simple and happy person. Unfortunately, fate played a trick on him. Due to his unique background, those around him sacrificed themselves for him one after another. Gradually, he learned to be strong and patient, and he shouldered the heavy burden on his shoulders.
He learned to cherish the memory, and with each passing day, his longing for Yingying grew deeper. Yes, he was always living in that day, living in the grief of the past, living in the sorrow of not being able to protect the one he loved.
She has come out, but he hasn't.
They hid in the main temple of Shenyue Sect. To avoid exposing their whereabouts, they could only avoid exchanging information with Chunfengdeyi Palace.
Every day, he pondered many things: how to defeat Bantianyue, how to recruit new soldiers, how to care for the civil and military officials, and how to secretly weaken the power of the Shenyue Cult. He ordered the dark forces to infiltrate the palace, asking them to assist Young Master Nong Yue in his plans. He ordered his men to search for the whereabouts of the civil and military officials, even if Young Master Nong Yue refused to report them, as long as they were not trapped in the palace. Together with Zheng Fang and Gongsun Heng, he carefully surveyed the interior of the main temple, identifying every hidden room and trap.
He could live in adversity, he could plan ahead; he could diligently learn how to handle state affairs, he could diligently learn how to be a good king. But matters of the heart were a hurdle he could not overcome, no matter how hard he tried. Perhaps it was too early to consider these things right now. Their situation was like the moon in the sky, its bright light hidden by dark clouds, and it was unknown when the clouds would part and reveal the full moon.
"Renhe, what are you thinking about?" A kind voice interrupted his thoughts.
He turned around and asked politely, "Mother-in-law, why haven't you rested yet?"
"I can't sleep, so I came out for a walk. Seeing you sitting here alone in a daze, what are you thinking about?" asked Mrs. Yuzhu.
"I'm wondering how my father-in-law and the others are doing. I don't know when peace will return to Sifang City," he said.
Madam Yuzhu comforted him for a few moments, then suddenly said, "Renhe, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. Who knows what will happen in the future? That's why we should cherish the present and the people around us."
"mother in law……"
Madam Yuzhu continued, "Renhe, yesterday cannot be retained. Yingying is gone, but Lingxue is still here. To be frank, we are still alive today, but who knows what tomorrow will bring? We can't live in the past, nor can we live in the future. All we can do is to make the most of what we have and grasp the happiness we have. Cherish the people around you and don't let yourself regret it."
He once said to his eldest brother: "Brother, you must cherish the people around you and don't let yourself regret it later."
Now, his mother-in-law said to him, "Renhe, cherish the one in front of you and don't let yourself regret it later."
His eyes reddened once again.
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