temple.
Zhong Qi'er sat on the bed with a blank stare. The abbot brought her a bowl of herbal soup. "Now that you've entered this temple, you should purify your mind and cultivate yourself to repent for the sins you committed before."
Is not death a form of repentance?
Zhong Qi'er murmured softly. She had been here for so long, and her father and elder brother had never come to see her. At first, she thought that her father and brother might want to avoid the limelight during this period.
But as disappointment accumulated day by day, she finally realized that her father and brothers, who had doted on her since birth, had truly given up on her.
If that's the case, what's the point of her living?
“Death? You are a criminal. Before the palace gives the order to die, even the King of Hell cannot take you away.” The abbot placed the medicine bowl on the table. “Remember to take this medicine when it cools down. There are no servants here. Once you feel better, you will have to fetch water and chop wood yourself.”
This is not a place for enjoyment.
"Don't they even have the right to die...?"
Despairing tears streamed down Zhong Qi'er's face. At this moment, she finally understood how wrong her previous actions had been. It turned out that she had been doing whatever she wanted all along, relying on her father and brothers' love.
Once her father and brothers abandon her, she will have nothing left.
On the other side, Kui Ruo was preparing to leave the mansion, as the road to the temple would pass through the Zhong mansion.
The carriage slowly came to a stop. Kui Ruo lifted the carriage window and looked at the Zhong residence with its gates tightly closed.
Just then, Zhong Min, who was away on business, returned and saw the familiar carriage. He paused for a moment before rushing over.
"Prime Minister Kui, is there something you need to discuss with Father?"
Kui Ruo shook her head. "I was just passing through. How has the Zhong family been lately?"
Hearing this, Zhong Min's eyes lit up. "Thank you for your concern, Wei. Recently, my father has been staying at home to recuperate after court sessions. As for me... I also stay at home after I finish dealing with some of the shops in the mansion."
"Don't worry, we won't cause you any trouble, Prime Minister Kui."
Upon hearing this, Wei Ruo revealed a half-smile, "You haven't been to the temple either?"
"Of course I've never been there."
Zhong Min answered without the slightest hesitation, "None of us in the Zhong family have ever been to a temple. We know in our hearts that it is already very difficult for you to protect the Zhong family, so naturally we will not cause you any trouble."
"But aren't you worried about Zhong Qi'er being alone there?"
Kui Ruo's words made Zhong Min's expression change. "Of course I'm worried. I hope Qi'er can think things through properly there and not cause any more trouble in the future."
"That's excellent."
After saying this, Wei Ruo ordered the coachman to drive on, without giving Zhong Min another glance.
After returning to her residence, Zhong Min naturally told Zhong Wu about the matter.
"Father, is Wei Ruo still testing us? Observing our attitude towards Qi'er?"
Zhong Wu nodded upon hearing this, "Fortunately, we really haven't been to a temple."
"But Father, what about Qi'er...?"
“Enough. Over the years, how much have we done for her, raising her to be lawless and even almost dragging the Zhong family down with us this time.” Zhong Wuyi’s face was tense. “If we continue to indulge her, I’m afraid the Zhong family will have to pay with their lives.”
Upon hearing this, Zhong Min regained all her rationality.
“Father is right. Qi’er has been too willful all these years.”
After saying that, the father and son began to talk about the Zhong family's business, with Zhong Qi'er seemingly just a brief interlude.
......
"Zhong Qi'er, someone is looking for you."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Qi'er didn't even have time to put on her shoes before running barefoot out of the house. The moment she saw Wei Ruo, Zhong Qi'er froze on the spot.
"Kui Xiang".
Zhong Qi'er spoke slowly, not as she usually addressed him as "Brother Wei Ruo," but as "Prime Minister Wei," a cold yet respectful term.
Kui Ruo nodded. "I heard you're determined to die?"
"What? Has Prime Minister Kui come to see if I'm dead or not?" Zhong Qi'er smiled bitterly. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, I don't have the right to die."
"Aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?" Kui Ruo glanced at Zhong Qi'er, who was only wearing a thin robe, and went into the house before Zhong Qi'er. Seeing this, Zhong Qi'er followed her into the house.
"Why did you come? You should be the one who hates me the most."
“Indeed.” Wei Ruo nodded and poured herself a cup of tea. “Your unbridled and inexplicable possessiveness towards me is extremely troubling to me.”
"Then why did you come today?" Zhong Qi'er was somewhat out of control. "If you hate me, then leave!"
"I'm just reminding you, Zhong Qi'er, you no longer have the right to be willful." Wei Ruo's words were direct and sharp. "The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted and has always protected you. But if you waste her kindness, then you will be ungrateful."
"I'm ungrateful? I've always been this kind of person, doesn't Prime Minister Kui know that best?"
Zhong Qi'er cried as she spoke, "You've come all this way to see me, why can't you even show me some concern? Why has everyone abandoned me?"
“Zhong Qi’er, you understand what it means that your father and brothers haven’t come to see you.” Wei Ruo stared intently into Zhong Qi’er’s eyes. “And I have been troubled by you all along. Why should I help you? So the only thing you can rely on is the Empress Dowager’s kindness.”
Do you understand?
"The only people who can pull you out of this quagmire are the Empress Dowager and yourself."
"Take care of yourself."
After saying that, Wei Ruo got up and left. The tea on the table was still steaming, but Wei Ruo didn't drink a drop.
Zhong Qi'er sat there blankly for a long time, then revealed a sneer. Kui Ruo... she was really straightforward and ruthless, but she was a hundred times better than her father and brothers who abandoned her.
Indeed, if Kui Ruo could offer her words of comfort, she wouldn't be Kui Ruo.
Thinking of this, Zhong Qi'er slowly got up, picked up the now-cold medicine and drank it all in one gulp. All she could hold onto now was the Empress Dowager's kindness.
......
Qingcheng, a suburb of Beijing.
A cawing sound rang out, sending chills down the spine in the somewhat eerie suburbs of Beijing.
Gu Qingfeng sat in the courtyard like a statue, day after day, looking up at the sky.
He neither spoke to the guards standing outside the courtyard nor wrote anything; he simply sat in his wheelchair and watched silently.
These birds had never been able to fly directly above the yard before, but this time, Gu Qingfeng saw a bird flapping its wings right above his head.
The bird suddenly swooped down, dropped something from its body, and then flew away quickly. The whole process was extremely smooth and did not attract anyone's attention.
Gu Qingfeng looked at the small bamboo tube on the ground, his eyes flickering slightly.
Slowly turning his wheelchair, Gu Qingfeng found a note inside the bamboo tube.
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