Being backstabbed, given up, taken advantage of by family members...it hurts to lose flesh and blood.
Xu Zhihuai felt the overwhelming pain.
Although one of them has a humble background and the other has a noble status, they are also reduced to a desperate situation, and they can only survive by being ruthless.
"The eldest princess is deeply disappointed with the emperor, so she supports the prince wholeheartedly. She is determined to assist her brother to be a wise king, instead of being as stupid as the emperor..."
Before she finished speaking, Wei Li raised his hand and "shushed" her: "Please be careful with your words and actions, and don't pretend that I can't hear you, okay?"
Xu Zhihuai couldn't help but sigh: "No wonder... No wonder the Marquis is obedient and respectful to the eldest princess. It's really not easy for her. His Highness told me before that the child died of illness."
Wei Li frowned: "Lies can cover up one's ugliness."
"Pitiful."
Xu Zhihuai murmured unconsciously.
Wei Li looked at her coldly: "Are you so soft-hearted?"
Xu Zhihuai realized later: "I lost my composure for a moment and forgot that I was also a clay Buddha crossing the river. How could I sympathize with others?" She said with tears in her eyes: "Children are always innocent. He has not yet reached his age. Six years old... orphaned and widowed, left to be bullied."
When Wei Li heard this, his face became darker and his eyes became darker.
Orphans and widows... These four words suddenly pierced his heart, causing pain like needle pricks.
He had never been so sensitive, and his cold face suddenly became angry: "The only people who are bullied in this world are orphans and widowed mothers?"
Xu Zhihuai noticed his abnormality and shed tears in his eyes: "Don't you feel sorry for the eldest princess?"
"Is feeling distressed useful? Anger is useful."
Wei Li has always hated women's tears, which are useless and only increase sadness.
Xu Zhihuai observed his expression carefully, and suddenly thought that he was once an orphan...
"What the eldest princess wants to do is what I want to do. After returning to Beijing, everything will be different."
Wei Li said seriously: "You'd better cheer up."
Xu Zhihuai nodded slowly: "I understand."
In the following days, Fengdu City slowly regained its vitality. Shops and vendors on the street returned one after another, and people came and went in the busy market.
Everyone seems to have forgotten the embarrassment and suffering before, and also the bloody storms.
Wei Li ordered the Fourth Division of Huangji to secretly track down the whereabouts of Marquis Fengdu. He escaped through the mountain road. The journey was difficult and it was easy for him to reveal his mistakes.
Wei Li had a vague intuition that he had not left.
Mu Xiuwan was so ill that she became delirious and was imprisoned in Fengxian Palace for many days. She had no idea what was happening outside, nor did she know that she had been abandoned by her father.
When Xu Zhihuai asked about her current situation, Wei Li reminded him coldly: "It's better for you to mind your own business."
Xu Zhihuai said frankly: "Now I don't have to avoid suspicion with her. We are not in the capital anyway. As long as the Marquis keeps his mouth shut, no one will hold me accountable even if I treat her better."
"My dear, why don't you save your energy."
Wei Li had no interest in what she was talking about.
"Master Hou, you don't have to do anything too extreme."
"What a coincidence, I've always been so good at what I do."
Xu Zhihuai suddenly said: "Then let me go to Fengxian Palace."
Wei Li frowned: "You want to go up the mountain?"
"Can't I go? Both His Highness and the Marquis described Fengxian Palace as beautiful and ingenious. I can't help but feel curious."
That palace was built by my father with his own hands, which cost him all his hard work and even cost him his life. How could she not go and see it with her own eyes.
"You are too curious."
Wei Li's attitude was firm.
Xu Zhihuai was not to be outdone: "If Lord Marquis is worried, I can write a letter to the prince..."
As soon as these words came out, Wei Li immediately stepped forward and said, "Then you might as well write another letter and file a complaint against me!"
Xu Zhihuai stepped back: "Don't get me wrong, Lord Marquis. I went to see Wan'er to track down the whereabouts of Marquis Fengdu. If I find out the whereabouts of Marquis Fengdu earlier, it will be easier for Marquis to do business."
Wei Li curled her lips: "So you are doing it for me."
“Mutual benefits are always a good thing.”
Xu Zhihuai slowly stood up and kept the safest distance from him.
"You'd better not go up the mountain. Fengxian Palace is a bit evil. If you want Mu Xiuwan, I'll give it to you."
Xu Zhihuai didn't expect him to be so generous, so he couldn't help but smile and said, "Thank you, Lord Marquis."
Wei Li also laughed, with an evil smile: "The empress said that we are accomplices and should work together."
The discarded Mu Xiuwan was like a piece of fine porcelain covered with dust, the more beautiful she became, the more fragile she became.
She couldn't see any stranger's face, so she only covered her head and eyes with gauze, hiding in a dark corner all day long.
Seeing her haggard appearance huddled in the soft sedan chair, Xu Zhihuai couldn't bear it and called softly: "Wan'er, come here."
Mu Xiuwan followed the sound and looked at the row of people standing in front of her, trembling with fear.
Xu Zhihuai didn't expect her "illness" to be so serious. Suddenly, the maid next to her said cautiously: "My Lady, is this... is she possessed by an evil spirit? Why not ask a Taoist priest to exorcise the evil spirits?"
Xu Zhihuai seemed as if he hadn't heard anything and just asked Jinhua to go over and lift the curtain to take a look.
She knows Jinhua, so she may not be afraid.
Mu Xiuwan no longer recognized anyone. Her eyes were covered by large and small black shadows, and she could not see anything clearly. However, she is still docile and will not attack anyone except cowardly and hide.
Xu Zhihuai placed her in the west wing and visited her every day, talking to her and spending time with her.
The late summer evening is cool and refreshing, with a plate of fresh and crisp fruits and a pot of warm tea.
Xu Zhihuai saw Mu Xiuwan brought to a bamboo chair and asked her to sit down quietly.
Mu Xiuwan's eyes were dull, and she took a long time to look at everything, as if she wanted to identify whether it was real or a fantasy.
Xu Zhihuai took the initiative to stroke the back of her hand: "Wan'er, everything here is real. You are real, I am real, everything here is real."
Mu Xiuwan blinked her eyes, and then softly said "hmm" for a while.
As long as you respond, it's good. If you respond, you can still be saved.
Xu Zhihuai took his daughter from Jinhua's arms, and Mu Xiuwan followed her with her eyes. She looked at her again and again, and then said for a long time: "She is so young."
Xu Zhihuai smiled faintly: "She was born before full term, so she is small."
Mu Xiuwan stared at the child blankly for a while, then suddenly said, "My father doesn't want me anymore."
Xu Zhihuai was slightly surprised when he heard this.
"Who said that?"
Mu Xiuwan suddenly turned her head, stretched out a hand, pointed somewhere in the corner and said, "Those shadows told me."
Xu Zhihuai gently pressed her hand back and pulled her face: "Don't listen to the shadow, just listen to me."
Mu Xiuwan looked at Xu Zhihuai quietly, her eyes empty: "Those shadows won't let me go, right?"
"No, no one can hurt you, don't be afraid."
Xu Zhihuai comforted her and signaled Jinhua with his eyes to feed her tea.
Tea is a soothing tea, which can make her relax the most and make her forget her worries.
