Chapter 66 It's her! Brother...
*
Night fell over the entire city of Donglin, and most of the city's residents had already gone to bed.
The chaos of that night was like a sudden gust of wind in the night; the wind came quickly and caught people off guard, but it dissipated as soon as it passed. Some people noticed it, but most people were completely unaware.
Inside the guest courtyard of Da Xuan Kong Temple, candlelight still shone, and the faint sound of voices could be heard.
"Tang'er, I'm so glad I listened to you. This move was risky, but it really worked. I didn't expect even the Heavenly Martial Guards to be mobilized." Yu Qingxue said in a low voice, her tone full of barely suppressed excitement.
She never expected that when she mustered her courage to request an audience with Princess Xin, and followed Yu Liuzhu's instructions to have the gatekeeper of the Prince Xin's residence announce her arrival, Princess Xin actually granted her an audience.
After hearing what she had said, Princess Xin took it very seriously and immediately took her to see Prince Xin.
"I still don't understand why you made me bring up the fact that Shen Linlang didn't marry a noble family's son but instead married my elder brother."
"You've seen Prince Xin before, but did you get a good look at him?"
She nodded, then shook her head, and subconsciously touched her face.
If she were younger, she would certainly dare to see people, and would be willing to see people, especially men of high status. But now her face is not yet healed, and she is afraid of being disliked and hated, so even with her face veiled, she doesn't dare to raise her head much.
After trimming the lamp wick, Yu Liuzhu played with the scissors in her hand. "Have you noticed that Prince Xin looks a little bit like my father?"
Yu Qingxue was taken aback.
Suddenly her voice rose, "You mean... Shen Linlang wanted to marry Prince Xin back then, but Prince Xin didn't like her, so she had no hope of becoming Prince Xin's consort. Therefore, in a fit of anger, she chose my eldest brother because my eldest brother looks a bit like Prince Xin?"
"That should be the case, anyway, I've heard someone say that."
Yu Liuzhu had been raised by Shen Linlang for many years and had accompanied her to many banquets in various mansions, so she had seen and heard a lot. On one occasion, she overheard the old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion chatting with others, and only then did she learn that Shen Linlang had once been one of the candidates for the position of Princess Xin.
Given the Shen family's status and Shen Linlang's background, she was certainly qualified to be a princess. As for why it didn't happen, that's naturally the subject of private discussions. The ladies of noble families, despite their dignified and elegant appearances, are often prone to spreading rumors and gossip.
When she first heard someone speaking ill of Shen Linlang, she was furious, but she didn't argue with anyone because she was around. Little did she know that her past tenderness and protection would now become a weapon in her hands.
"I've also heard that when the princes were choosing a consort, none of them took a liking to her, all finding her appearance too ordinary. It turns out it's true." Yu Qingxue became more and more excited as she spoke, and even laughed out loud. When Yu Liuzhu looked at her with a stupid gaze, she quickly covered her mouth.
Just then, there was a knock at the door, and she hurried to open it.
The person outside the door was Qin's mother. She almost fell when she entered. Before she could even stand up straight, she heard Yu Qingxue asking her questions repeatedly. She was still out of breath and breathlessly reported the information she had found out.
"...This servant dared not follow too closely, for fear of being discovered. I heard that the Madam, the eldest and second young masters, and that girl have all been imprisoned in the Divine Martial Camp. I can't find out anything else." Her body was still trembling, clearly due to extreme tension.
Even from a distance, she was terrified by such a sight; her soul almost flew away.
"Didn't they say it was the Heavenly Martial Guard that was dispatched? How come the Divine Martial Guard interfered?" Yu Qingxue said angrily. "Everyone knows that the Divine Martial Camp is the Shen family's territory. Even if they are thrown into prison, they won't suffer any punishment."
"Even if you don't suffer, it's still a prison cell, so what good can come of it?"
Yu Liuzhu's words made Yu Qingxue overjoyed. "That wretched child dared to ruin my plans. I'll see how long he can be so smug."
Just as they thought, even the Heavenly Prison was only cleaner and tidier, with places to sleep and sit, but it didn't really offer any real advantages.
Shen Qinglu thought so too, but when she saw the cell she was going to live in, she thought she had entered a young lady's boudoir. There was a carved bed with red gauze curtains, a wardrobe at the foot of the bed, a dressing table next to the head of the bed, a table, stools, a basin stand, and a small clay stove, all the necessary utensils were complete.
This is the third type of prison that Cheng Ying mentioned.
She understood instantly.
Indeed, the saying "money can make the devil turn the millstone" applies even in the underworld, let alone in prison.
"Lord Cheng, why am I living here?"
“Of course, it was the Shen family who paid for it.” Cheng Ying touched the table and rubbed it. “It’s just been cleaned and tidied up, so you can stay here without worry.”
"Then why doesn't my mother live in a place like this?"
“Your mother has been denounced, and many eyes are watching her. It’s not easy to show favoritism on the surface.”
That explanation makes sense.
Shen Qinglu didn't ask any more questions. When Cheng Ying locked the door and was about to leave, she called out to him, "Lord Cheng, could you please pass on a message to my second brother?"
Cheng Ying raised an eyebrow and nodded in agreement.
*
The cells in the Divine Martial Guard's prison were not only divided into "Heaven" and "Earth" sections, but also into male and female sections.
Shen Qinglu and her daughter Shen Linlang were imprisoned in the women's cell, while the brothers Yu Jingxian and Yu Jingliang were naturally in the men's cell. The smell in the men's cell was stronger; even the top-tier cell smelled more unpleasant than the women's cell.
Yu Jingxian clung to the iron bars of the cell, shouting desperately, "Let me out! Let me out! My surname is Yu, not Chen..."
The lingering, rotten smell of the cell, along with the lingering stench of human flesh and blood, made him unbearable and drove him mad, making him desperate to leave.
He was trembling all over at the thought of what had happened before.
He had never experienced anything like this before. He was dragged from his sleep, faced with the murderous Heavenly Martial Guards, and then shocked to learn that the Shen family was involved in the chaos caused by the Demon King.
The name "Chi Wang" is so offensive that no one dares to even hear it, let alone be associated with it.
“My parents are divorced. The Shen family is the Shen family, and the Yu family is the Yu family. I am a member of the Yu family, and the Shen family’s affairs have nothing to do with me…”
"Shut up!"
Yu Jingliang, unable to contain his anger and resentment, said with a sarcastic tone, "So now you know you're surnamed Yu? In the past, you always loved to flaunt that you were the eldest nephew of the General's Mansion. Have you forgotten how good your uncle was to you?"
Putting aside everything else, just consider that Yu Jingxian was able to become a disciple of Master Tang, how could it possibly be because of Yu Zhiheng's influence?
If it weren't for Shen Kunyao's favor, how could Yu Jingxian, with his unremarkable talent, have caught the eye of the former Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall, Master Tang?
Over the years, Yu Jingxian has always used his status as the nephew of the General's Mansion in his dealings with others. But now that the Shen family is in trouble, he remembers that his surname is Yu.
"I used to respect and defer to you, thinking that you were better at studying than me and that your parents valued you, so you would definitely be better than me in everything. I never expected you to be such a coward. You are truly despicable!"
Yu Jingliang's mockery made his face turn red and white in turns. He felt ashamed, but more so, he felt fear and panic about his current situation, as well as a desire to extricate himself from the situation.
“Erlang, times have changed. I’m not doing this for myself. If I can get out safely, I can meet you outside. You changed your surname to Chen, but I didn’t; I still have the surname Yu. I should be able to get out… If I can get out, I will definitely help you make connections. You’re from the Divine Martial Camp; they will definitely give you face. Please plead for me…”
"I think you've gone stupid from reading too much," Yu Jingliang scoffed, then fell silent.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes closed, thinking about what had happened that night. The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. When he heard familiar footsteps, he immediately got up and went over.
Through the cell bars, Cheng Ying looked him over with interest. "Commander Yu, how does it feel to experience our Divine Martial Camp's prison firsthand?"
"Lord Cheng, how is the situation? Is my uncle and the others alright?" He ignored the teasing and stared intently at Cheng Ying's expression, trying to glean some clues from the other's face.
Cheng Ying did not answer his question immediately, but instead opened the cell door and called Yu Jingxian out.
Yu Jingxian was overjoyed, "I can go out? That's great! I knew my surname was Yu, and I had nothing to do with the Shen family, so everything would be fine..."
“Young Master Yu is overthinking things.” Cheng Ying gestured to a jailer and said, “There are orders from above that you are to keep him in separate cells. Put him in the innermost cell.”
"My surname is Yu. I have nothing to do with the Shen family. Let me out..."
Cheng Ying ignored him and gave the jailer a meaningful look.
The jailer immediately took Yu Jingxian away.
It was much quieter now, and Cheng Ying didn't keep anyone in suspense, directly telling them what she knew.
Upon hearing this, Yu Jingliang breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "My uncle and the others are alright, things aren't too bad."
Then he asked, "How are my mother and Ali?"
"This is our Shenwu Camp's territory. No one will make things difficult for them. You can rest assured about that."
Thank you.
The two had a lot of disagreements in the past, and if it weren't for their last late-night talk, they might not be able to get along so peacefully now.
Upon hearing his thanks, Cheng Ying's delicate face showed some unease.
"Your sister asked me to pass on a message to you. She said that you should not mention her trip to the General's Mansion tonight to anyone."
"You all already know..." He started to say, but then he vaguely sensed that something was wrong.
The person was brought from the General's Mansion; with so many Divine Martial Guards, it's impossible to keep it a secret. Since it's so difficult to hide, why would Ali deliver such a message to him?
As he seemed to be deep in thought, Cheng Ying rolled her eyes at him and said, "You're so stupid!"
"Lord Cheng, why are you swearing at me for no reason?"
"I've noticed that all three of you siblings seem to have put all your scheming on your sister," Cheng Ying said irritably, her tone tinged with disdain.
Even though he was locked up inside, Yu Jingxian was still shouting. His voice sounded distant and his throat was much hoarse, but he still insisted that his surname was Yu, not Chen.
Yu Jingliang blushed, ashamed to have such a spineless brother, but still managed to defend Shen Qinglu. "My Ali is indeed intelligent, but she's naive and inexperienced; how could she possibly have any cunning?"
Cheng Ying was too lazy to argue with him. Following Shen Qinglu's instructions, she reminded him, "It's so late at night. She went to the General's Mansion, and you were wandering around outside. Something must have happened. Surely you can't both be unable to sleep?"
He suddenly realized what he had done and slapped his forehead.
"I see."
"Not too stupid." Cheng Ying said this sarcastically, then walked out with her hands behind her back.
As soon as he stepped out of the prison gate, he spotted the person in the shadows and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, casting a slanting shadow. Even in the darkest of places, some people still stand tall like cedar trees atop the mountains, inspiring only awe and reverence.
"As you instructed, they have been separated and imprisoned."
"Keep a close eye on the women's prison."
"yes."
After Cheng Ying took her leave, the man emerged from the shadows.
Standing out majestically beneath the moonlit sky, it resembles a divine being descended to earth, its brilliance comparable to the stars and moon, its splendor surpassing all worldly splendor, yet it stands alone like a solitary wisp of smoke in the eternal night.
Yang Zhen appeared out of nowhere and stood silently behind him.
"I once had a dream, a dream that was completely different from another world. I was filled with fear and confusion, but I found that someone was always following me. I could not see her face, I did not know her appearance, her age, or her personality."
She would help me in times of danger, lend a hand when I was in peril; without her, that dream would surely be a nightmare. The world is vast and full of wonders; I think that even though it's a dream, there might still be such a person.
There has to be an explanation for everything, even if it's made up.
Yang Zhen thought that his long-standing doubts had finally been resolved. "It turns out that the person the Lord has been looking for all these years is the person he met in his dream. No wonder there are no other clues besides that couplet."
Whether it was a dream or reality, Mu Hanshi knew better than anyone else.
Those real past experiences are so unforgettable that even if I were reborn, I would never forget them for a single day.
The night was silent, and he stood alone, facing the lamplight. He gazed at the moon with his hands behind his back, and in the moonlight, phantoms seemed to appear, scenes from his memories.
With his hands clasped behind his back, one hand unconsciously caressed the still-present bite mark on the other, gently and tenderly, as if treating a unique mark of life.
"If there really is such a person in this world, do you think I should acknowledge her as my family?"
Yang Zhen had followed him for ten years and had never seen him hesitate like this before. While feeling moved, she suddenly realized that he was only twenty-two years old this year, which was the age of a junior relative to her, who was nearly forty.
When elders teach younger generations, they often use their own experiences as examples, either to admonish or to impart their wisdom.
"When I was young, I had someone I liked. At that time, I couldn't be seen in the open and dared not get too close to her, thinking that one day I would be free and then I could see her again."
Whenever she was entrusted with something, she dared not give it to her personally, but would have it delivered through an intermediary, repeatedly instructing that person not to reveal who had given it to her. Later, she married that man.
Does she know that you love her, or that you love her as much as she loves you?
Yang Zhen shook his head. "I dare not ask. Now that I think about it, if I had asked, and she had no intention of reciprocating, then so be it. If she has intention, perhaps she will wait for me."
"What if she not only doesn't like you, but also dislikes you?"
The sound, like falling snowflakes, carried both restraint and helplessness.
Yang Zhen was surprised, and a guess formed in his mind.
In his view, his young master was no ordinary person. Putting aside his scheming, methods and abilities, his profound cunning was the greatest he had ever seen.
When they first met, he was the assassin.
He remembered that the twelve-year-old boy faced the knife with no fear whatsoever, remaining calm and composed like an old man who had experienced much in life.
Perhaps shocked by the boy's extraordinary abilities, or perhaps moved by compassion, he temporarily stopped, which resulted in his identity being revealed to the world, allowing him to walk freely in the world from then on.
"Is Your Excellency certain that this person is the one you are looking for?"
Mu Hanshi remained silent, his half-lowered eyes filled with a gloomy look.
Why hesitate?
All because of the anxiety in my heart, I was afraid that she was her, and I was also afraid that she wasn't.
If she is, given her dislike of my true self, what should I do? If she isn't, then what does all this longing and anticipation mean? Isn't it just a case of misattributing my feelings and falling in love with someone else, leaving no place for the person in my heart?
The answer swayed in my heart, like the moon's shadow in the wind.
*
The night watchman's drum sounded in the Shenwu Camp, striking four times in a row.
As the saying goes, "The first watch is for men, the second for fire, the third for ghosts, and the fourth for thieves," the fourth watch being the darkest and quietest time of the night. There was not a sound in the prison; everyone in the cells was asleep, even the night watchman was fast asleep against the wall.
The light, fleeting footsteps approached from afar, appearing inside the cozy, boudoir-like prison cell.
The bronze-plated dungeon lamps hung on the stone walls, burning day and night. Their eerie light illuminated the unique features of people, making this cold, damp place seem like a scene of spring blossoms and autumn moonlight.
Spring blossoms and autumn moons bring forth beauty, like the serene beauty of April in the human world, which appears on his face, instantly dispelling the frost and coldness accumulated over the years, and revealing a gentle and warm complexion.
Mu Hanshi approached step by step, like a devout pilgrim.
The red gauze curtains on the bed were layered and completely drawn down, obscuring everything inside and making it impossible to see with the naked eye. He was about to lift them when his gaze suddenly froze.
A thread had been pulled from the hem of the red canopy hanging down on one side; it was hard to notice unless you looked closely.
He guessed something, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration, ripples spreading across his mirror-like eyes, before he carefully lifted the other side.
This was the direction Shen Qinglu's head was facing; even in her sleep, her small, palm-sized face was still stunningly beautiful.
The silk threads drawn from the curtain extended all the way into the plain sleeves. He gently lifted his sleeves and, unsurprisingly, saw the sleeve dart on his slender wrist and the red silk wrapped around it.
A ghostly fire flickered in his eyes, as if it were about to burst forth. He reached out his jade-like hand, but withdrew it just before touching her jade-like cheek.
Just like the hesitation in his heart.
His heart was pounding, filled with a kind of trepidation he hadn't felt in years.
A greedy, crazed gaze was fixed on the person on the bed, as if scrutinizing them, or more like silently tracing their features. Every stroke was different, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the person imprinted deep in his heart.
Is it her?
He asked himself the question, but no one could answer him, and no one knew the fierce struggle he was waging against himself, as if he were fighting against the heavens.
After an unknown amount of time, he took out something and lit it.
A faint fragrance quickly spread, filling every corner of the cell. The sleeping person, perhaps having a sweet dream, had a radiant, blooming face.
He slowly approached, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice barely audible yet trembling, like a snowflake with nowhere to go, "A-Zhu."
Hearing his call, the person, still with eyes closed and lost in a sweet dream, murmured in response, "Brother..."
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