Lanting

Kapitel 136

Kiyoshi Tsuki smiled bitterly, "At that time, because I was poisoned and was thinking of living one day at a time, I refused Madam Long's invitation."

"Was it your sister's knife that poisoned you?" Xu Lan confirmed.

Kiyomi Tsuki nodded weakly.

Lu Qingcheng suddenly pulled him into a tighter embrace. Qing Jianyue felt the tension in his body and knew he was in pain and sorrow for her. A mixture of joy and sadness welled up inside him, so he reached out and gently stroked her chest, as if to say, "I know, don't be sad, I'm fine, I'm alright now." Lu Qingcheng's tension quickly eased, but his arms tightened around her even more.

"What I don't understand is, since you were poisoned, why didn't you seek help from Lord Long, Madam Long, and Lord Kang, but instead went to Yunnan?" Xu Lan said, "With their abilities, they should be able to do it."

"The poison I was afflicted with was extremely peculiar. Even Lord Long, Madam Long, and Lord Kang were helpless. They consulted many renowned local doctors, but none of them could cure me," Qing Jianyue recalled. "Madam Long said that perhaps the great witch of the White-Clothed Holy Sect in Yunnan could cure me. I thought that if I could die in that beautiful place in Yunnan, my life would not have been in vain, so I went to Yunnan. Perhaps it was fate, but there I met Master Lu."

Qingjian Yue looked up at Lu Qingcheng, a smile suddenly blooming on her face. Strangely, the smile wasn't sorrowful, but compassionate; it was incredibly beautiful, like a spark in the night sky, dazzling and captivating. When the smile faded, it returned to a state of tranquility and peace, like the night itself. Lu Qingcheng's heart was deeply moved.

“I understand.” Xu Lan continued, “As far as I know, before you set off for Yunnan, Madam Long gave you a hairpin. Madam Long said that if you had any request, you could have it granted as long as you held that hairpin. If you wanted wealth and honor, the wealth of Lord Long and Madam Long could certainly fulfill it for you; if you wanted revenge for your family, the strength of Tianlong Fortress could certainly do it for you. However, you chose the weakest one, Lu Family Fortress. Why is that?”

The more Madam Lu listened, the more uneasy she felt. Finally, she glared at Xu Lan with a mixture of shock and anger. Xu Yun also seemed surprised. Meanwhile, Lu Qingcheng, Cai Bo'an, and the others also noticed something amiss, and they all looked at Xu Lan with some odd expressions.

“That hairpin is extremely precious to you. If you possessed it, you could have used it to ask Lord Long and his wife for help in achieving your wish when the time was right. However, you offered the hairpin to the Lord.” Xu Lan asked, “Why?”

All eyes in the painting hall once again focused on Kiyomi Tsuki.

"I once had a big, beautiful home with my father, my mother, my lovely sister, and my friends. My father, though a rough and violent man, was the most doting father. He often carried me on his strong shoulders, letting me proudly look down upon the earth and everyone around me. He often held me in his broad, warm embrace, giving me boundless warmth and love. I was the happiest child. But overnight, all my happiness and joy were taken away. There was crying everywhere; men were killed, even the old and..." Children weren't spared, women with even a little bit of beauty were raped, all possessions were looted, and houses were burned down. That was my home. My father lay on the ground, a gaping hole in his body, blood gushing out like water, no matter how hard I tried to stop it. My mother took my only sister away too, leaving me only with her last cry, "Moon." Kiyomi Tsuki wept bitterly. "What should I do? Should I live, or die? Can I still breathe? Can I still laugh? Can I still walk? Can I still eat?"

Lu Qingcheng was in tears.

“Nobody told me. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know. I lay in my father’s arms, just like I did every night. I really wanted to, I really wanted to follow my father…”

Madam Cai, Cai Zhonghe... all couldn't help but shed tears.

"Now, they're trying to do it again," Qing Jianyue said angrily. "The thought that they'll burn down these houses just like they burned down my home; the thought that they'll loot this place just like they robbed my house; the thought that they'll kill the people here just like they killed my family and friends—I can't bear it. I can't forgive them, I can't. If a hairpin can protect Lu Family Fortress and the people here from harm, why would I be stingy?"

Madam Cai, Cai Zhonghe, Cai Bo'an, Lei Yongxiang, Su Haibo... their faces shone with respect and gratitude.

“I promised Mr. Lu. I promised.” Qing Jianyue’s gaze slowly fell on Lu Qingcheng’s face. “I swore that I would protect you with my life. I swore that I must keep my promise.”

Where in the world could one find more beautiful, deeper, and more sincere words of love? Her emotions surged forth, and Lu Qingcheng felt as if a torrent was churning within her, surging and churning uncontrollably.

Chapter Fifty-One: Life is Like Vegetables

Qingfeng said, "Report it."

The servants hurriedly reported inside and lifted the heavy curtain. Qingfeng flicked his long robe, bowed slightly, and strode into the painted hall. When Madam Lu saw him, her expression changed slightly, and as he drew closer, she subconsciously shrank back.

Qingfeng stopped, bowed respectfully, and went straight to the point: "Madam, Qingjian Yue cannot be expelled." Before Madam Lu could respond, Qingfeng continued, "There are three reasons why Qingjian Yue cannot be expelled. First, Qingjian Yue has deep friendships with the Lord of Tianlong Fortress and his wife, the Lord of Fengyue Manor and his wife, and the Holy Father, the leader of the White-Clad Holy Sect. Second, the Heavenly Eagle Sect harbors wolfish ambitions. Although severely damaged by our fortress, they still covet our territory, waiting for an opportunity to retaliate. According to my investigation, the Heavenly Eagle Sect..." Li Ying used every trick in the book to win over Tianlong Fortress and Fengyue Manor, and their business dealings flourished. However, Tianlong Fortress and Fengyue Manor remained wary of their own fortress. Therefore, the most important third point is that Qing Jianyue is an indispensable bridge between this fortress and Tianlong Fortress, Fengyue Manor, and the White-Clad Holy Cult. Expelling Qing Jianyue could potentially deepen the hostility of Tianlong Fortress and Fengyue Manor towards this fortress, and could also facilitate an alliance between the Sky Eagle Cult and Tianlong Fortress and Fengyue Manor.

Cai Bo'an immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "What the Great Lord says is absolutely right. Please reconsider, Madam."

Cai Zhonghe also said, "Expelling Qing Jianyue is like destroying the gate guarding this fortress. Please, Madam, rescind your order."

Lei Yongxiang said in a loud voice, "This subordinate also agrees with the Great Lord's opinion."

“I also agree with the Great Lord, please reconsider, Madam,” Su Haibo said.

Li Anguo, Liu Xicheng, He Zhiqiang, Zhou Peng, Chief Steward Du, and others all echoed his sentiments.

Madam Lu was caught off guard; Qingfeng's entrance was like a bombshell, leaving her no chance to retaliate. Xu Yun, panicked, looked to her brother for help, but Xu Lan remained unmoved. Madam Lu glared at Qingfeng, who returned the glare fearlessly, her eyes icy and sharp.

Qingfeng pressed on, saying, "For the sake of this fortress, please, Madam, retract your order."

Madam Lu was both shocked and angry. Her full red lips trembled with excitement, but she couldn't utter a single word.

"lady……"

Just as Qingfeng was about to press the matter further, Madam Cai interrupted her.

"Qingfeng, don't push people too far."

Qingfeng looked at Madam Cai in surprise and said, "But Aunt..."

Madam Cai glared at her and said, "Why are you talking so much nonsense? Don't you even listen to me?"

How could Qingfeng dare to refuse? He bowed and said, "Nephew wouldn't dare."

Madam Cai then said, "Very well, I will give you a satisfactory answer. You may leave now. I am not feeling well and need to rest."

"In that case, please rest, Mother. I will take my leave now." Lu Qingcheng bowed and helped Qing Jianyue out of the painting hall, and the others followed suit.

As Madam Lu watched her son half-supporting, half-embracing Qing Jianyue as they walked further and further away, just like Lu Ji back then, never to return, the pain in her heart was as boundless and bottomless as that abyss.

Was I wrong?

“You are not wrong,” Mrs. Cai said.

"Why?" Madam Lu asked, her voice a mix of laughter and tears.

"Fengxian, one must look forward," Madam Cai said softly. "Forget it. Let go of the hatred and anger in your heart."

"How could I forget?" Madam Lu wept. "How could I forget the pain and humiliation he inflicted on me? How could I not hate him?"

Madam Cai said meaningfully, "Is the pain in your heart deeper than seeing the moon? Is the anger in your heart deeper than seeing the moon?"

Madam Lu's phoenix eyes widened in fury. "You?"

“Fengxian, I know you don’t like to hear this. Even if you don’t like to hear it, I have to say it.” Madam Cai said, “Qingcheng’s love for Jianyue is not a superficial love for his appearance. In terms of looks, Miss Xu is more than ten times more beautiful than Jianyue. So why doesn’t Qingcheng love Miss Xu? It’s because Jianyue’s soul shines brighter than anything else. Fengxian, put aside your prejudices and see clearly with your wise eyes.”

Madam Lu closed her eyes and said through gritted teeth, "I'm tired."

Madam Cai shook her head, turned around, and slowly walked out of the painting hall.