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Fang'er's eyes were glistening with tears. Yuan Ming wordlessly helped her up, followed the sound of the villain's triumphant laughter, and looked at Zhang He who was giggling.
"Yuan Ming." Zhang He spoke quickly, "I've figured it out these past few days. Instead of being tied up here like a dog, I might as well go to my next life with a quick death. You've completely controlled Mucheng now. Considering I've never had any grudge against you, please give me a quick death."
Yuan Ming didn't show much emotion. He glanced at Zhang He calmly and said, "Life has been sweet for so long. Now that you know you're going to suffer for the rest of your life, you're not afraid of death anymore. Master Zhang is truly a man who enjoys life."
Zhang He pulled the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile uglier than crying: "Let that useless idiot beside you suppress me, it's more painful than killing me."
Fang'er, who was suddenly mentioned, subconsciously looked at Yuan Ming with tearful eyes.
There was a hint of sadness on Yuan Ming's face, which was very different from her usual confident and playful appearance.
"Do you hate these people?" Yuan Ming asked softly, as if he was just asking listlessly, "What do you want to eat today?"
"These people are stupid and weak. They should be treated like livestock, for the amusement of the nobles. After all, giving them knives will only make the knives dusty. It's a simple truth, isn't it?"
Zhang He was desperate, looking at Yuan Ming with a look of mockery: "I'm in this situation today, not because of them, but because there are a bunch of self-righteous people in this world, who are so foolish and kind that they insist on saving these people, such as you."
Yuan Ming finally looked Zhang He in the eye, his tone cold: "What do you want to say?"
Zhang He laughed out loud. "I've seen a lot of people like you. Even when you're starving, you'll still share your food with others. You talk about morality and chivalry all the time, thinking you're the savior of the world. It's like you're saying, 'Look how great I am.' It's really disgusting."
Yuan Ming held his chin with one hand and said noncommittally, "It seems that Governor Zhang has been badly hurt by someone like this before."
Zhang He was stunned. In his distant childhood, the mother who promised to take him to the south to make a living drowned in an icy river while trying to save a young man she had never met, leaving her half-grown child behind to suffer alone in the world.
The young man who was rescued by his mother snatched the dry and hard bun, ate it greedily, then shook his hand and left without looking back.
Until one chance encounter, Zhang He met that man again, and he was beaten to death.
When he died, he was holding a dusty meat pie in his hand. He had stolen it from an official who, upon discovering his snack was missing and finding him responsible, had him beaten to death.
So, my mother, who depended on me for everything, abandoned me to save such a person?
My mother always says that we should help others more because it will accumulate merit for ourselves. Really...
Zhang He came back to his senses, glanced at Fang'er, and said to Yuan Ming slowly, "Mucheng is in danger. With your current status, you still took over such a city? Hiss, I have heard some of His Highness Yuan Ming's deeds, and it's not difficult to guess why you did this."
Zhang He smiled and said, "Are you angry after saving someone like Fang'er? You handed me over to her. Even if you didn't want to see her kill me, you at least hoped that she would stop being a coward in front of me. Maybe it was a feeling of relief."
Zhang He sighed and said, "There are many people like her in the world. Yuan Ming, is it really worth it for you to do this?"
Yuan Ming's gaze swept across Zhang He, his eyes dark and cold.
"You might as well ask the King of Hell what the difference is between the lives written in his book of life and death."
Yuan Ming pulled Fang'er away. This was the last time Zhang He saw the daylight in his life.
Fang'er looked at Yuan Ming timidly, and Yuan Ming looked back at her with a gentle smile.
Yuan Ming: "Some people in Mucheng have left after hearing that there might be a war. There are some shops left vacant. I'll have someone buy you a shop so you can have a place to settle down."
Without waiting for Fang'er to answer, Yuan Ming strode away.
This arrangement is perfunctory, but Yuan Ming has no other choice. Fang'er, please slowly explore the road ahead and move forward on your own.
Yuan Ming began to prepare for her appointment with Hua Yuan.
On the day of our meeting, the moonlight was pure white, spreading silver light all over the ground.
Hua Yuan poured Yuan Ming a glass of wine. Yuan Ming just stared at him quietly, the moonlight shimmering in her eyes, adding a hazy layer.
Hua Yuan smiled and said, "I wanted to talk to you for a while, but I'm busy here, so let's be brief."
"Your Highness Yuan Ming, I want to make a deal with you."
Yuan Ming raised his eyes, raised his glass, and drank the wine without hesitation.
Hua Yuan chuckled, "That's so straightforward. I admire you very much, Your Highness Yuan Ming."
Yuan Ming: "There are many people who admire me, many people who like me, and many people who hate me. Their appreciation, likes, and hates are all based on what they get from me."
Yuan Ming's eyes grew darker. "Your admiration is simply because you can gain benefits from me."
"Don't tell me some specious words. I never believe them."
Hua Yuan's mouth twitched slightly, and he finally revealed a helpless smile: "Some of your Highness's ideas are quite difficult to understand."
The moonlight slowly tilted downwards. Before parting, Hua Yuan said, "Your Highness Yuan Ming, I wish us a pleasant cooperation."
Yuan Ming returned to Zhang Mansion, which is now renamed Yuan Mansion.
Rulan was sitting in the yard, sorting herbs. When she heard the noise, she walked over to Yuan Ming and asked, "Why are you back so late?"
Yuan Ming's eyes were fixed on Ru Lan, and suddenly, she hugged Ru Lan fiercely. Ru Lan patted Yuan Ming's shoulders, at a loss.
"I'm going to do something. If you succeed, I'll take you to the Imperial City. If you fail, just leave me alone and live your life well."
Rulan's eyes widened, and she became anxious. Her voice trembled as she said, "What are you trying to do? Why are you saying these things out of the blue?"
Every night, Yuan Ming's eyes always seem to be filled with moonlight, sparkling, but in fact, those are tears.
Yuan Ming's eyes welled up as she said, "In a few days, I will lead my troops to attack the Imperial City. We may succeed or fail, I can't guarantee it."
Rulan was stunned. "Ah? Are you too impatient? Shouldn't you think long and hard about such a big thing? Wouldn't it be inappropriate to act so quickly?"
Yuan Ming shook his head. "Somehow, I feel like my life is almost over. The one who gave me life can't wait for me to complete my life. Maybe I've let Him down."
Rulan looked confused: "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing," Yuan Ming lowered his eyes. "I've thought about this. Right now, Qi State is at its weakest. Either Liang State will invade, or someone will rise up in rebellion. And I already have three cards in my hand, enough to give it a try."
Having said this, although Rulan was still worried, she said to Yuan Ming, "Fate must have brought us together. Otherwise, why would we meet among so many people in the world? Go and do what you want to do. I will light a prayer lamp for you and wish that your wish will come true."
The prayer lanterns slowly rose from the garden into the sky.
Yuan Ming led a group of people and rode fast horses to leave Mu City. The lamp was in the sky, silently watching Yuan Ming leave.
Zhong Yingqi also watched Yuan Ming leave.
He looked up at the night sky. Too many things happened tonight, and he didn't know where these things would lead his feelings for Yuan Ming.
Yuan Ming came to She You's residence.
She You was slightly surprised by Yuan Ming's arrival, but quickly regained his composure.
Yuan Ming once wondered why She You helped Zhong Yingqi in his previous life and what was his relationship with Zhong Yingqi. Later, she figured it out. No matter what the relationship was, he had weapons in his hands, and that was enough.
"General She, I have a request for you during this visit."
"Child, you don't look like you are here to beg for help." She You looked at Yuan Ming with old eyes. Strangely, Yuan Ming felt that he was looking at a spoiled child.
Somehow, a bold idea suddenly appeared in Yuan Ming's mind. Every word that She You had said to her came together to create an absurd possibility.
Yuan Ming rode his horse slowly to She You and called out softly in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Father?"
She You's old face was cracked by the impact of these two words.
This was by no means a shock or a feeling that Yuan Ming was being unreasonable, but rather a realization after the truth was revealed.
Yuan Ming didn't know how to describe her feelings at the moment, but reason told her that she didn't need to threaten the old man in front of her.
Yuan Ming responded quickly: "I broke into the imperial city, and I can release Yuan Zi." After all, her hatred would not disappear just because she killed Yuan Zi with her own hands. She had tried it in her previous life.
"But..." Yuan Ming said firmly, "Yuan Zi won't let me go. Her hatred for me has become an obsession. Qi State is already like this. No one knows whether they will have a good ending in the future, including me."
After a long time, Yuan Ming left here, taking what she wanted.
She You unfolded an envelope with Wen Cunxiao's name written on it.
The clarion call for rebellion had already been sounded, and just as Yuan Ming had predicted, the imperial city's forces were completely routed. The success of this move was largely due to Wen Cunxiao's betrayal.
Wen Cunxiao presented the envelope to Yuan Ming, which was the one written by She You.
The letter revealed the hidden connection between She You and Wen Cunxiao. It turned out that Wen Cunxiao had been lost among the common people as a child. If not for She You's rescue, he would now be a beggar with a broken arm. Wen Cunxiao cherished this favor, or to put it another way, it made no difference to him which Yuan sat on the throne, and he was happy to repay She You's kindness.
Yuan Ming casually threw the letter aside. She didn't care about it.
Amid the clinking of glasses and the sounds of dancing and music at the palace banquet, Zhong Yingqi's eyes never left Yuan Ming, who was dressed in imperial attire.
When the palace banquet was over, Yuan Ming waved away the palace servants and left alone.
Zhong Yingqi followed him. He didn't know what he could do, but he did it anyway.
Yuan Ming sat quietly on a stone pier by the garden lake, her eyes lifeless. Seeing Zhong Yingqi following her, she was not surprised and just said, "You're here too."
"I don't want to go see the former empress and Yuan Zi. They are too noisy." Yuan Ming said to himself.
Zhong Yingqi stood not far from her, and they looked at the calm lake together.
"My story seems to have ended perfunctorily, but it doesn't matter. I still have a lot to do. Hua Yuan's deal, Qi State's corruption, my heart disease, and you."
Zhong Yingqi paused, and Yuan Ming smiled and said, "My story is still very long. In this long story, people have hope."
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