Chapter 24 Forced Marriage (The Forced Takeover Begins) My cousin's wife has already given birth to my children...
Upon hearing that it was Lin Xian, Pei Xiaoyun's anger intensified, as if she wanted to crush the broken porcelain shards into dust.
He couldn't forget what happened between Mingying and Lin Xian three years ago. Perhaps their relationship had never ended since that time!
They had long ago conspired behind his back to fake their deaths and escape, working together to fool him. While he was missing her, she was deeply in love with Lin Xianlang and discussing marriage.
The anger in his chest surged back like a hurricane, threatening to devour someone.
For the first time in his life, he felt immense shame.
Four years. He sneered. He had treated her so well, providing for her every need and granting her every request, yet she had kept a heartless wretch by his side. If that was the case, what was the point of keeping her around? He might as well just kill her.
He also wanted to kill Lin Xian, so that she would witness it firsthand—this was the price for betraying and fooling him.
Just then, the prefect of Suzhou came to report the case. He was startled when he entered and saw the mess on the floor.
"You found out?" Pei Xiaoyun's eyes were filled with rage.
The Suzhou prefect's back was covered in cold sweat. "Your Excellency, we've found out. The Kongchan Sect member has fled to Hangzhou. I've already sent men to track him down."
A glint of darkness flashed in Pei Xiaoyun's eyes, and a cold smile curved his lips: "I will go personally."
He wanted to go there personally and settle all the old and new scores, leaving no one unpunished.
He sent word that he had returned to the capital.
That very night, an official boat secretly sailed down to Hangzhou.
—
The Lin Family Mansion in Hangzhou.
In the dead of night, a chilly wind blew, making the wooden window panels creak.
In her sleep, Mingying clutched the blanket tightly with both hands, her forehead covered with fine beads of sweat, and a stern face kept approaching her, like a mountain collapsing.
She woke up instantly, sat up panting, but knocked over the nutmeg water on the bedside table.
Hearing the sound of porcelain shards breaking inside the room, the man outside knocked on the door and asked, "Ah Ying, are you alright?"
As Mingying gradually calmed down, the face in her dream faded away. She wiped her face and realized it was just a dream.
Ever since she met Pei Xiaoyun in Suzhou, she has been having nightmares for several days, all of them about the times he bullied and forced her, as if she were being choked by two hands, unable to breathe.
She was still afraid he would recognize her.
Not only did she not die, but she also lied to him. Knowing his nature, he would not let her go.
"Ah Ying?" Lin Xian noticed that she had been restless these past few days and was worried that something had happened to her, so she stayed by her side almost all night.
Mingying's face gradually regained some color, and she said to the outside, "I'm fine, Ziming, come in."
Lin Xian carried the candlestick, opened the door and went in, and saw her leaning against the headboard with her hair dripping wet.
The room was brightly lit after the lamp wick was lit.
Seeing her like this, he felt a pang of sadness. He sat down by her bedside and held her cold hand, saying, "Aying, he has gone back to the capital. Don't be afraid."
Mingying pressed further, "Back in the capital?"
Lin Xian nodded.
Upon receiving another affirmative answer, Mingying breathed a heavy sigh of relief, venting all her anxiety and fear over the past few days, and tightly grasped the hand he extended.
He's back in Beijing, that's great!
She was just imagining things; at that glance, he didn't even recognize her.
She was still Shen Ying. She would marry Lin Xian, return to Baili Qing as her musician, and continue living her life.
Lin Xian held her hand tightly and comforted her a few more times: "It's all in the past, don't worry. If you marry me, I will never let you down."
Mingying gave a forced smile and nodded in response.
She trusted him, so there was no need for further words.
"Let me see the wound on your neck. Have you applied any medicine today?" She touched Lin Xian's collar and saw the wound, which was not shallow.
They hurriedly returned to Hangzhou under cover of night, where they encountered several ship pirates on the boat.
Lin Xian was injured while fighting with them to protect her. The knife grazed her neck, but fortunately it only cut the skin. However, the wound was not small and it might leave a scar if not treated in time.
Lin Xian said gently, "The medicine has been applied, there's no need to worry."
Hearing this, Mingying nodded in relief.
The wedding was held at the Lin family mansion in Hangzhou. Two days before the wedding, the mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful ribbons.
Mingying sat in the room, watching the servants decorate the mansion, and felt a surge of emotion.
She had seen such brightly colored wedding silks and festive lanterns before, but back then, she was just an admirer who couldn't even look up to them.
She never imagined that she could become the protagonist of a wedding banquet and become someone's lawfully wedded wife.
All of this happened too fast, as fast as a dream.
Mr. and Mrs. Lin were both businessmen, known for their generosity and easygoing nature, without any airs of wealth. They treated her kindly and warmly. Since their only son had been away from home for many years, they were naturally delighted that he was finally getting married and starting a family.
Mingying looked up and saw magpies carrying branches and making a lot of noise. Green leaves cast a shadow under the window. She began to sincerely believe that suffering would not always befall one person.
From now on, she will have a smooth and peaceful life.
Two days later, early in the morning, the matchmaker came to urge Mingying to get ready. Surrounded by a group of maids, she changed into a gorgeous fiery red wedding dress embroidered with gold thread.
The floor candle reflected the image of two mandarin ducks entwined, and seeing this, she couldn't help but smile.
Because she lived in Suzhou, she couldn't travel all the way from Hangzhou to fetch her husband, and she didn't want to make a fuss, so she gave up on getting married.
She was already very content to have a wedding banquet.
The sound of firecrackers at the mansion never stopped, from dawn until noon.
The Lin family's business was so successful that guests flocked to their door to offer their congratulations and celebrate their wedding.
Mingying was naturally beautiful, so she didn't need much makeup. With just a light touch of her eyebrows and a touch of vermilion lip rouge, her skin looked as smooth as jade, and she was stunningly beautiful.
After she put on a heavy pearl phoenix crown, her maid helped her to her feet. "Miss, please get up. It's time to go out and pay respects at the wedding."
Mingying picked up a round fan to cover her face and went out with the help of her maid.
For some reason, on my joyous day, I always felt a heavy weight in my heart.
The guests were all strangers, and some of them were drunk and causing a ruckus.
Mingying rarely saw such a scene, so she was inevitably a little shy. Lin Xian appeared just in time, scolded the drunkards, and took her hand, saying, "It's okay, you can stay with me."
Mingying was finally calm. She took his hand and led him step by step toward the main hall.
The deafening sound of gongs and drums marked the completion of the wedding ceremony. According to local custom, the bride had to first remove her fan and then join her husband in toasting the guests.
Lin Xian knew that she was not used to interacting with strangers, so she held her hand and comforted her: "Aying, just follow behind me. There is no need to toast. After we finish the first two tables of relatives, you can go back to your room to rest."
Mingying shook her head, saying that customs are not easy to change and it was not good to make things awkward on such a joyous day. Therefore, she insisted on toasting with him.
Faced with such a gentle, virtuous, and understanding wife, Lin Xian's smile deepened, and she held her hand tightly.
The newlyweds took the wine cups from the servants, poured in the clear wine, and first toasted the group of close relatives at the table.
The first man to stand up was Lin Xian's uncle. He had a kind and honest appearance and seemed genuinely happy. He raised his glass and laughed, "A toast to my nephew and his wife! May you have a long and happy marriage and many children..."
Before he could finish speaking, a sharp arrow whistled through the air and pierced the wine glass in his hand, landing firmly on the table.
Uncle Lin's legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground, causing the guests to scream in panic, completely at a loss.
Mingying's face turned ashen instantly, a paleness that even makeup couldn't conceal. The wine in her cup swayed and spilled onto her shoes. If Lin Xian hadn't supported her, she would have stumbled and lost her balance.
Lin Xian's face was also ashen as he shouted towards the center of the guests, "Today is my wedding day! Who is hiding in the shadows, playing tricks and disturbing my wedding banquet!"
A broad-shouldered, long-legged man in purple robes slowly walked in. Wherever he went, the surrounding air turned to frost. He was followed by several guards in black robes, clearly indicating that he was not a friendly visitor.
Many eyes turned to him. When Mingying saw that face, her heart leaped into her throat, her blood froze, and the wine cup in her hand finally slipped and fell to the ground.
Pei Xiaoyun's eyes were sharp and piercing as he stared intently at her, a cold and dangerous smile on his face, like a cat confidently showing off after catching a mouse.
The immense anger in his eyes could ignite all the unsightly red silks in the mansion, burning them to ashes.
He traveled for three days and arrived in Hangzhou, where he heard the news that the eldest son of the Lin family in Hangzhou was getting married.
At that moment, he even wanted to tear these people to pieces.
She hid from him, ran away to Hangzhou, and then rushed into a wedding, becoming someone else's wife behind his back. Did they really want a good relationship? Impossible!
Three years later, Mingying finally looked him in the eye. His dark eyes held a stormy undercurrent, constantly overlapping with the eyes in her nightmares, carrying a fierce force that seemed to want to tear her apart.
She opened her mouth in a panic, gasping for breath, fear dragging her down with each breath.
"It's you?" Lin Xian held Ming Ying tightly, unafraid of his approach.
Lin's father rushed over upon hearing the commotion. He looked at Pei Xiaoyun from afar and shouted, "Who are you! How dare you cause trouble! Guards!"
"Don't you remember me, Uncle and Aunt?" Pei Xiaoyun stood in the center of the courtyard, her imposing presence and lazy words concealing a knife. "I was passing through Hangzhou on business and heard that there was a happy occasion at your residence, so I came here to ask for a cup of wine and, by the way, to meet my cousin-in-law."
The words "cousin-in-law" pierced Mingying's ears, causing her to feel confused and her vision to go black.
Lin Xian steadily supported Ming Ying, then coldly looked at Pei Xiaoyun: "You came uninvited, what exactly do you intend to do?"
The courtyard was completely silent, not a sound could be heard. Two pairs of cold eyes stared at each other, the atmosphere tense and ready to fight.
Madam Lin recognized Pei Xiaoyun and stepped forward with a smile, trying to smooth things over: "So it's Erlang. I didn't recognize you at first. I was thinking of sending an invitation to the Duke's mansion, but I was afraid you wouldn't do me the honor. Since we've met by chance, please take a seat."
She was clearly unaware of her son and daughter-in-law's involvement with Pei Xiaoyun; she only knew that this powerful figure was not to be trifled with, and she wanted to let the matter drop and get rid of him as soon as possible.
Pei Xiaoyun remained silent, only lifting his robe to sit down, glancing at Mingying from time to time.
Her small face, no bigger than a palm, was filled with terror. Not only did her appearance remain unchanged, but it was also made even more radiant and beautiful by the wedding dress and makeup.
He suddenly grabbed her, like a predator eyeing its prey with nowhere to run, waiting for her to come over, to obediently come over...
Since Lin's mother had said so, the guests had no choice but to oblige, pretending nothing had happened, and continued to drink their wine with their heads down, as if the uninvited guest from before had never existed.
The noise and commotion, while seemingly peaceful, also served as a calming balm for Mingying's mind.
She picked up another wine glass and pondered carefully.
The Lin family were wealthy merchants in Hangzhou and were considered prominent. The guests who came today were also of high status, including many who had connections with the government and were there to witness her marriage to Lin Xian.
Now that she is a member of the Lin family and no longer alone, no matter how powerful Pei Xiaoyun is, he would not dare to do anything rash.
She held her wine glass and walked slowly to his side, when Lin Xian suddenly grabbed her arm.
She shook her head, indicating that she was alright.
She understood that Pei Xiaoyun was here for her today, and it was her turn to resolve the situation. She really didn't want to ruin this carefully planned wedding.
Pei Xiaoyun watched the two of them struggling against each other, the flames in his eyes burning with a desire to devour Mingying.
Mingying walked to his side, raised her wine glass, and, trying to appear calm, smiled gently, saying, "It's my first time meeting Erlang, so we're bound to be a little awkward. I should offer this toast."
This statement was made openly and explicitly for everyone to hear.
She distanced herself from him, so he wouldn't dare to do anything out of line in public.
Pei Xiaoyun watched her walk over, a smile of dubious meaning appearing on his face. Suddenly, he reached out and touched her snow-white cheek.
For example, an owner teasing a lost pet that has returned home.
"You..." Mingying was incredulous. She took a big step back, spilling wine all over her skirt. Her waist was suddenly wrapped tightly around his, and she fell into his arms, immediately enveloped by the man's hot and dangerous aura.
It's over, it's all over.
At that moment, she felt utterly hopeless.
Pei Xiaoyun's eyes gleamed with an eerie light, his gaze sharp as a knife, slicing inch by inch across her fair, snow-white skin. He slowly uttered, "Nice to meet you? My cousin-in-law has already given birth to my child, and you still say you don't know me?"
This astonishing move left the guests speechless, sparking a flurry of discussion and creating utter chaos.
Lin Xian clenched her fist, pulled out the arrow from the table and was about to stab Pei Xiaoyun, but the guard behind her grabbed her wrist and kicked her knees hard, causing her to kneel on one knee in a sorry state.
Immediately afterwards, a large number of soldiers with swords kicked open the gates of the mansion and rushed into the mansion, surrounding the group of people.
The crowd panicked and scattered, when a shout rang out: "Lin Zheng'en, the head of the Lin family, is colluding with the Kongchan Sect. He is hereby ordered to be arrested. Anyone who shouts again will be killed without mercy!"
In an instant, the courtyard fell silent.
"Outrageous!" Lin Xian tried to get up and fight back, but was struck in the back by the hilt of a knife behind him, choking on blood.
"Don't hurt him!"
When Mingying saw Lin Xian was injured, her eyes welled up with tears, and she shouted at Pei Xiaoyun, "This has nothing to do with him! If you have any problems, come at me!"
Pei Xiaoyun watched the two of them so affectionate and deeply in love, grinding her teeth in frustration, and couldn't help but sneer repeatedly, "Coming after you?"
It's as if he's a villain who cruelly tore apart a pair of star-crossed lovers.
The fire that had been burning within him for the past three years surged to its peak. He grabbed Mingying, pinned her to the table, and, with his out-of-control hand around her neck, whispered each word like a demon's: "Do you want to die?"
He really wanted to kill her. She had betrayed him, deceived him, and even dared to marry another man behind his back.
For three years, he was first consumed by longing, then by resentment. While he tossed and turned in bed, she was having an affair with another man.
But soon, he let her go.
Why kill her? Death would be the end of it all, and it would be too good for her.
He wanted her to pay for fooling him.
His wrist gradually loosened, but Mingying thought she was really going to die at his hands. Her survival instinct made her bite his tiger's mouth hard, leaving a string of bloody teeth marks on his skin.
Pei Xiaoyun seemed oblivious to the pain, but her anger was building up.
Should I fight him to the death for Lin Xian?
He would show her the consequences of repeatedly angering him, and let her know who could be by her side and who shouldn't be.
Dusk fell, and everything became dark.
The red silks in the courtyard fluttered in the wind, making his head throb.
Mingying beneath him was still struggling desperately. He was furious. He scooped her up and carried her into the house. He turned and glanced at Lin Xian, who was lying on the ground, barely alive. He ordered his men, "Disperse everyone else. Leave him here and tie him to that tree."
On the wedding night, a moment of bliss is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
What should have been a beautiful night for the newlyweds was shattered by the woman's cries.
Pei Xiaoyun threw Mingying onto the bed, the bright red wedding curtains particularly glaring.
He removed the obstructive phoenix crown from her head, stripped off her wedding dress, revealing a thin undergarment.
Mingying realized what he wanted to do and tried to crawl forward, but he grabbed her ankle and pulled her back. Struggling was useless, so she could only plead, "Why won't you let me go? It's over. Can't you just pretend I'm dead?"
He wanted to kill her back then, but she was lucky enough to escape death and survive. Why won't he let her go? Does he just want her dead?
"You think you're dead? But you're alive and well, aren't you?" Pei Xiaoyun's rough fingertips scraped against her tear-streaked face, as if he had rediscovered the joy he had when playing with docile cats and dogs back then. He uttered a cold, sarcastic remark, "Even if you die, you'll die by my hand."
"Then kill me. If you kill me, release them. They are innocent. I deceived you. It's my fault."
Mingying closed her eyes, waiting for the force to grip her neck.
Upon hearing her words, Pei Xiaoyun's pupils darkened into a stagnant pool.
He just couldn't bear to hear her plead for Lin Xian; every time she pleaded, he wanted to stab Lin Xian a few more holes.
"Want to die? Not so easy."
He caressed her lips fiercely, the crimson lipstick staining her fair face and his slender fingers.
He wouldn't kill her; he wanted her to be Mian'er again, to obediently serve him and please him, to atone for her sins.
"Since you're so eager to marry him, I can't very well ruin your wedding. On your wedding night..." he stroked her face gently, "how can you leave her alone in an empty room?"
Mingying flinched, gritting her teeth and glaring at him angrily: "Shameless."
She actually hoped he would kill her, give her a quick death, and stop humiliating her like this, so as not to involve others.
Pei Xiaoyun watched as her snow-white teeth opened and closed, uttering two barbed words, and felt a tingling pain, as if she had been bitten by a cat.
They've really gained skill and courage.
His eyes darkened, and he ripped off the fabric covering her chest.
Mingying felt a chill in her chest; the immense humiliation made her ears ring, and she clutched her chest tightly with both hands.
"Let me go!"
Pei Xiaoyun pulled a red silk ribbon from the curtain and, without saying a word, tied her hands behind her back to the carved wooden railing at the head of the bed.
Without the restraints, her snow-white breasts were on full display.
He looked closely and noticed that the words he had carved on her chest years ago were gone, replaced by a camellia bud.
Because of Lin Xian, he hated this kind of flower the most.
He whispered in her ear, his voice teasing and deep: "Did Lin Xian draw this for you?"
Unable to move, Mingying could only turn her face away from his affection and curse him, "Do you think everyone is as filthy as you?"
She hates the words on her chest and also hates wearing earrings.
There were never any earrings in her jewelry box, and the words on her chest were covered up by a camellia painted on them by a female tattoo artist.
Pei Xiaoyun nodded and said "good" several times.
He leaned in and bit her lip, the rusty, metallic blood spreading between their lips and teeth.
Her presence filled the emptiness he had felt day and night for the past three years. He felt a sense of fulfillment he had never experienced before, but at the same time, he felt an emptiness in his stomach and was overcome by desire.
He kissed her until she was almost breathless before releasing her. As he lowered his waist, he looked at her tightly furrowed brows and deliberately said, "Knowing you miss Lin Xian, I had him tied to the tree outside the window so you wouldn't worry and keep thinking about him."
Upon hearing this, Mingying trembled all over. She felt utterly ashamed and wanted to die.
"No, don't do this to me. It was my fault. Just kill me."
She was delusional; she got involved with him and now she can't get rid of him. She'll never be able to live a peaceful life.
It's such a pity she was just one step away!
Pei Xiaoyun ignored her pleas and cries. Every word she uttered was a drug that could provoke him to rage. He wanted to show her, and Lin Xian, what wishful thinking was!
Mingying could not bear the splitting pain. Like a weak beast being tortured to the point of death, she bit her lip but dared not make a sound.
She didn't want Ziming to hear such humiliating sounds.
"Has Lin Xian touched you?" Pei Xiaoyun thought of this and became even more ruthless in his plundering. If Lin Xian had touched even a single finger of hers, he would go out and kill him immediately.
His things should not be allowed to be touched by others.
Mingying sobbed and ignored his words.
"Speak." Pei Xiaoyun looked down into her eyes, his hand twisting the delicate flower. "Are you going to tell me, or should I go ask him?"
"No, no." Mingying was afraid he would do that, so she closed her eyes tightly and answered him tremblingly. Her body felt like it was being roasted on a fire, and the immense shame made her feel like she was suffocating.
This should have been her wedding night, so why did it turn out like this?
Her husband was humiliated, and she was forced into marriage in their marital home...
Pei Xiaoyun smiled with satisfaction, bit her earlobe hard, and said in a deep voice, "This is your punishment, but it's not enough."
The bed curtains creaked like waves in a storm, and the heavy breathing, sobbing, tossing and turning, all reached the ears of the person outside the window.
Lin Xian's eyes were bloodshot, his refined features were twisted with anger, his fists clenched as he trembled, and he lowered his head.
His wedding night was ruined. He was cowardly and incompetent, and his wife was humiliated in front of him.
He gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and something slowly dripped down.
A gentleman would not leave this grudge unavenged.
—
At dawn, the same magpie came carrying a twig.
In just one day, everything changed.
Mingying stared blankly at the magpie as it flew away, as if something no longer belonged to her and had vanished without a trace.
She had a high fever. When Pei Xiaoyun saw that her face was flushed and she was not responding to anything, as if she were in a daze, he felt a little panicked and sent someone to call He Lianqing.
He Lianqing was still half asleep. When he heard that it was to treat the concubine he had just found, he said from outside the door, "I am a doctor, not your servant."
Pei Xiaoyun replied calmly, "Go and see what illness she has, and also check on her health."
When He Lianqing entered the room and saw Mingying's face, he was initially shocked.
Mingying's usually calm and still eyes suddenly flickered when she saw him.
The two looked at each other and recognized each other as old acquaintances from many years ago. However, being intelligent people, they said nothing when Pei Xiaoyun was beside them.
"How is it going?" Pei Xiaoyun urged.
He Lianqing put away the pulse pillow, gave him a meaningful look, as if to say, "This is your doing."
However, considering Mingying's presence, he omitted that sentence and only said, "She has a severe cold and her mind is in turmoil. She should not be overworked. She was already weak, and she didn't recover well during her postpartum period, which left her with a chronic illness."
Mingying leaned against the headboard, blinked lightly, and remained silent.
Pei Xiaoyun stared at her for a long time, still feeling a surge of resentment in her chest, and said to her, "Serves you right."
Who told her to be so reckless as to insist on leaving the Duke's mansion and even fabricate a difficult childbirth to deceive him? She's lucky she didn't die on the way.
Upon hearing this, Mingying gave a bitter smile.
She deserved it, she deserved to die.
After He Lianqing left, a servant brought the medicine, but Mingying refused to drink it. Pei Xiaoyun waved the servant away, placed the medicine bowl heavily on the bedside table, and teased, "Shall I have Lin Xian come and see you?"
Mingying's expression finally changed drastically, her features filled with sorrow as she gazed at him with a melancholy look. He had deliberately made such a commotion last night so that Lin Xian would hear it and embarrass her.
How could she possibly face Lin Xian in this state?
Her parched lips moved slightly: "What did you do to him?"
"The Lin family is colluding with the Kongchan Sect; they are a rebel faction within the imperial court. What do you say?"
Pei Xiaoyun scoffed. She was like a dead fish when she was with him, but she would stir at the mere mention of Lin Xian.
“He is innocent.” Mingying suddenly became agitated. She knew Lin Xian’s character well and knew he couldn’t possibly be involved with the Kongchan Sect. “You’re being biased.”
"So what if it's out of favoritism?"
“I told you, this is your punishment.” Pei Xiaoyun’s face turned cold instantly, her eyes filled with chilling intent. “If you plead for him again, I will kill him.”
He handed her the bowl of medicine, his words leaving no room for argument: "Drink the medicine, I'll take you back to the capital someday."
These words seemed to touch Mingying's most vulnerable spot. Her eyes were resolute as she opened her mouth and refused, "I'm not going back."
She never wanted to go back there to live that kind of life of slavery and darkness.
Why? He's so successful now, with power, a wife, and everything else. Why won't he let her go?
Pei Xiaoyun strode away, leaving behind the words, "It's not up to you."
-----------------------
Author's Note: I recommend a friend's ongoing novel, "Jiang You Qiao Mu" (江有乔木), by Jiang Bu Shi Sheng (姜不是生).
Pseudo-incest/Soap opera/Love and hate
The following is the text:
When Jiang Qiao was young, she often heard her elder brother talk about the past: the majestic palace walls, the gorgeous clothes, the white jade halls and the pearls reflecting the night. As princes and princesses, they were originally showered with love.
Later, the Great Zhou Dynasty was destroyed, and they were reduced to commoners. They lived in a dilapidated temple, dressed in plain clothes, penniless, and begged everywhere.
Jiang Qiao didn't care; as long as she could be with her brother, she was happy.
She endured begging, arguing, and even being falsely accused of theft by a noblewoman in the capital, all for the sake of her brother's future.
She only wanted to be with her brother for the rest of her life.
Until that day, the prime minister's youngest daughter was betrothed to the crown prince.
She watched as her brother stayed in the study all night. When he came out, he only said one sentence: she would take his place in the marriage.
One person argued heatedly, while the other remained silent.
Jiang Qiao then realized that he was no different from those gold, silver, calligraphy and paintings; he was just a tool in his brother's hands to overthrow the country, nothing more.
*
Since he came of age, Jiang Bai has only ever thought about one important thing—to restore the Zhou dynasty.
Therefore, he can fawn over his enemies and exploit the innocent.
Anyway, he was a stray dog, so he had no conscience or morality to speak of.
But there was one person he couldn't ignore: his "sister" who had been with him for many years—Jiang Qiao.
For this reason, he planned for a long time, risking the loss of all his previous efforts, in order to put Jiang Qiao on the throne of the Crown Princess.
Only in this way can she save her life, whether she succeeds or fails.
But on that day, when he personally escorted her to her wedding, his outstretched hand fell empty as the girl in her scarlet dress walked away without looking back.
The pain was excruciating.
Jiang Bai knew he was wrong.
*
Years later, the emperor died, and dynasties rose and fell in the blink of an eye.
With powerful nations eyeing them covetously from the outside and court officials acting independently within the court, the crown prince, in poor health, was already unable to rise from his seat.
When Jiang Bai was first invited to the Eastern Palace, he was already the Prime Minister, a position above all others.
This day marked a full year since he last saw Jiang Qiao.
The elegant woman walked up to him step by step, looked up at him, her clear eyes and brows just as they had before.
He said, "Have you thought it through? Be my child's tutor. Three years later, when he becomes emperor, you will be enfeoffed as a prince."
"This is the last chance I'm giving you."
Last time, the two parted on bad terms after a long and intimate encounter, and it was with the same conversation.
Jiang Bai remained silent for a long time before finally uttering only two words: "I'm sorry."
For her sake back then.
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