Chapter 54 Wei Yin stood on the veranda outside the room…
Wei Yin stood on the veranda outside the room, while Wen Xuan stayed alone inside. Wei Yin glanced into the room from afar, while Wen Xuan remained seated, head bowed, holding the shuttlecock and staring at it intently.
When Wei Yin was a child, she saw her maternal grandmother, just like Wenxuan, always holding up a shuttlecock to look at it.
When she was old enough to remember things, her maternal grandmother was already an old woman. She didn't know what her maternal grandmother was like when she was young, and her maternal grandmother never mentioned anything about her past to anyone. Even her mother didn't know who her biological father was.
But Wei Yin had heard that after her maternal grandmother married her maternal grandfather, she learned to ride horses and shoot arrows. In her youth, she often went out with her maternal grandfather and was said to have visited many famous mountains and rivers.
My maternal grandmother and grandfather had several children in their lifetime.
But her favorite person was still her mother.
He taught his mother many things from a young age, unlike other parents who would confine her to do needlework at home. As a result, his mother was raised to be exceptionally bold and strong-willed, determined to be with his father at all costs.
Wei Yin didn't understand before, but now she does: her maternal grandmother was Jin Nian, who hadn't died back then.
After the entire Wen family died overnight, Jin Nian assumed that Wen Xuan was no longer alive.
Unexpectedly, Wenxuan turned into a ghost and stayed in the Wen family's old house.
Wenxuan also did not expect that Jin Nian was not dead.
"If I had known earlier," Old Master Pei said, his eyes brimming with tears, "my elder brother might have been able to meet his cousin Jin Nian one last time, but he only now learns that Jin Nian lived to a ripe old age."
silent.
The autumn wind rustled and blew the leaves down.
Some were rolled up on the eaves.
Wenxuan, who was in the room, seemed to slowly come to his senses and beckoned Wei Yin to come in alone.
Wei Yin noticed that he looked unwell, as if all his strength had been drained. Wenxuan did not stand up and remained leaning against the wall.
He looked up and examined Wei Yin's face closely, then said softly, "You and Jin Nian look very alike, but you are more beautiful."
Wei Yin remembered and said, "I remember my maternal grandmother telling me before that my mother looked more like her, while I inherited my mother's father's looks. She said my mother's father was the most handsome man she had ever seen."
Wenxuan was taken aback, his face showing a hint of embarrassment. He was an introverted person, only willing to be bold in front of Jin Nian. However, being praised for his appearance by such a grown "granddaughter" made him feel rather awkward.
The thought that he had shown her all those intimate moments he had shared with Jin Nian back then was truly unsettling.
He couldn't help but feel his face flush.
Wenxuan coughed, trying his best to salvage some dignity as a "maternal grandfather," and hurriedly said, "What about your mother? She...maybe I can see her?"
Wei Yin replied, "My mother has already passed away."
Wenxuan's breath caught in his throat, and tears streamed down his face: "This child, he died so young, and I have never even... held this child before."
Wei Yin remained silent.
Wenxuan asked about Jinnian's later life, and Wei Yin told him everything truthfully. When Wenxuan heard that Jinnian had married, done many things that she couldn't do in the Wen family before, and had many children and grandchildren and died peacefully in her old age, he remained silent for a very, very long time.
It was as if the whole world had fallen silent.
After a moment of silence, Wenxuan smiled and said, "Very good, very good. It is what I have always hoped for that she could live her life like this."
He turned his face away.
A tear slid down her eyelid.
But it would be even better if he could accompany Jin Nian through such a lifetime.
But that's wishful thinking.
This is already very good.
Wei Yin couldn't see him crying, but could see that his back looked somewhat lonely. Wen Xuan didn't say anything more, only that he was tired and had no strength, and asked Wei Yin to prepare a carriage to take him back to the Wen family.
Once Wei Yin learned that the young man was her mother's biological father and her own maternal grandfather, she was no longer afraid of what he might do and went to have a carriage prepared.
Wenxuan called her back, “Call that boy from the Lu family in. He and I fought and his primordial spirit was damaged. In the past hundred years, I have also learned some methods of healing ghosts. I will heal his injuries.”
Wei Yin immediately went outside to call Lu Hun. He sat alone under the corridor, silent and motionless, until Wei Yin called him, at which point he gently looked up at her.
Wei Yin was still a little angry that he had recklessly used his own primordial spirit to fight, so she simply relayed Wen Xuan's words and then ignored him, turning and leaving.
Lu Hun stared at her back for a while, then pursed his lips. As he pursed them, the wounds on his lips and body were aggravated. He had few senses and was usually not afraid of pain, but since his primordial spirit was injured, he felt pain.
He waited a while before going to see Wenxuan.
Wenxuan asked him to sit down on the couch, while he stood behind Lu Hun and used his internal energy to heal Lu Hun's injuries.
Lu Hun lowered his head and sat obediently.
Wenxuan then sized up the sixteen-year-old boy. He had a delicate face and high brow bones, and was a very upright and beautiful child. It was said that he had passed the imperial examination at the age of sixteen. It was rare to see someone achieve such academic success at such a young age. If he were still alive, he would surely have a bright future, and it was not impossible for him to become a Grand Secretary in the cabinet in the future.
But he committed suicide at the age of sixteen.
Lu Hun did not look up, but he could vaguely sense Wen Xuan scrutinizing him. He didn't care and remained silent with his eyes lowered.
Seeing Lu Hun remain silent, Wen Xuan suddenly spoke, "Child, do you like Yin'er?"
Lu Hun paused, but did not respond.
“Actually, if Yin’er is willing, it’s not bad. You are much better than her husband.” Wenxuan changed the subject and said, “But child, you are no longer human. Humans and ghosts are different, and the living and the dead are separated. It’s not appropriate for you to stay by her side anymore.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Hun remained silent without showing any significant emotional reaction.
“Listen to me, child.” Wenxuan sighed. “I can see that you won’t harm her, so I won’t force you. But you should understand that ghosts cannot be with humans; it goes against the natural order.”
Lu Hun finally reacted, his back trembled slightly, and after a moment of silence, he spoke in a low voice: "I know, senior. Once that matter is over, I will leave, leave completely."
Wenxuan frowned: "That matter?"
Lu Hun refused to speak again no matter what.
He closed his eyes.
His face was gloomy.
Seeing this, Wenxuan decided not to ask any further questions.
No one else knew about their conversation.
The carriage was ready. After treating Lu Hun's injuries, Wenxuan seemed even more weak and listless, barely able to walk. But Wei Yin sensed that it wasn't his physical condition, but rather the fact that knowing Jin Nian was alive, only to later discover she was dead, had taken away his mental strength.
Old Pei is quite old, and he still needs to use a cane.
Wei Yin had no choice but to step forward and support his still-young-looking "grandfather," and escort him back to the Wen family home.
She didn't dare to arrange for a groom.
Lu Hun drove the carriage.
Inside the carriage, Wenxuan asked some more questions about Jinnian and his mother. Wei Yin told him that Wenxuan would remain silent for a long time after hearing them, and when he heard about his mother's childhood, he would always smile slightly, but then there would still be a long period of silence.
The Wen family.
The entire house was shrouded in darkness.
That once dilapidated and oppressive mansion, built a hundred years ago, has become an old and empty house. After Wenxuan's generation died, the Wen family fulfilled Wenxuan's curse and slowly declined. From then on, the Wen family disappeared from the desolate state, leaving only this empty house to let people know that there was once such a large family with the surname Wen.
Wenxuan stopped needing anyone to help him and slowly walked down from the carriage himself, heading into the house.
Old Pei, leaning on his cane, stared intently at the house with a similarly deep expression.
Wenxuan arrived at his former new house.
The new house is now dilapidated; apart from a few empty rooms, there is nothing else left.
The silly girl, Lühe, who lived here back then.
She has long since disappeared from the world, and there is no longer any trace of her.
No one is reincarnated.
They all became the grass and trees in the world.
Wenxuan stood in the new house, gazing outwards as if he were looking at the entire mansion from this new house. Finally, he smiled and said to Old Master Pei, who was standing outside the door.
"Second brother, I'm going to join them."
Old Pei closed his eyes.
He lived to be this old, having lived through a century.
I've seen through many things.
So even though he saw the sadness and relief in Wenxuan's eyes, he didn't stop him. He just smiled and said, "Alright, brother, go ahead. You've had a hard life. After Wenlang passes away peacefully, he will come to keep you company."
"Alright, second brother."
Wenxuan laughed, reached out and touched the wall, and smiled as if he were talking to someone.
Contentment, and peace.
"Jin Nian, Wen Zhu, Wen Qin, Lü He, Fifth Brother, I'm here."
As soon as he finished speaking, his hand, which was stroking the wall, gradually turned into black mist and then dissipated.
Wei Yin exclaimed in surprise, "Grandfather!"
Old Pei blocked her way with his cane, his tone unusually calm, "You should be happy, grandniece, your brother is finally free from this burden for the rest of his life."
Wenxuan turned his head and looked at Wei Yin, a smile with tears in his eyes.
Even after completely disappearing from the world, this young man remained tall and slender, with exceptionally handsome features and slightly reddened eyes, blooming like peach blossoms in spring. Such a beautiful young man was magnificent even in this moment.
With his last glance, Wenxuan looked at Wenlang and Weiyin.
Until, even his face began to fade away.
Lu Hun stood aside, staring blankly at Wen Xuan as he slowly disappeared before his eyes. He looked down at his hands, his expression gloomy.
That year, he committed suicide at the Bodhisattva Temple.
At this moment, neither my state of mind nor Wenxuan's is any different.
After Wenxuan completely disappeared, Old Master Pei calmly turned around, leaning on his cane.
Wei Yin lingered at the door of the new house for a while. She turned her head and saw that Lu Hun hadn't left either. He stood weakly beside her. The wind was strong at the door, making his clothes flutter. She paused for a moment and called out to him, "Let's go. Your injuries haven't healed yet."
Upon hearing her voice, Lu Hun's earlier gloom dissipated somewhat, and he immediately followed cautiously.
-
Daylight broke.
He Wenqing stood in Pei Lao's study, rubbing his head after drinking too much and closing his eyes to calm down, completely unaware of what had happened in the bridal chamber.
He had just gone to call Wei Yin to get up and return to the manor, but the servants there said that Wei Yin had already gone back with the groom.
He changed his mind and went to take a look in Lu Hun's room.
Lu Hun was not there either.
Wei Yin brought her cousin back to the manor, leaving him, the drunken young man, here.
He Wenqing couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
He arrived at Elder Pei's place and asked Elder Pei to arrange a carriage for him to return home.
He waited a moment and finally heard footsteps outside the door. Old Master Pei walked in with his cane, but following behind him were Wei Yin and Lu Hun.
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