The girl in green stamped her foot, still unwilling, but dared not disobey, and quickly retreated. Thus, only Yin Sang remained in the entire flower hall.
The voice from inside the room spoke again: "I told you I didn't want to see you, yet you forced your way in. Do you truly not respect the Qian family?"
Yin Sang placed the whip in her hand on the table beside her and said respectfully, "I dare not, it was unavoidable, please forgive me, Madam."
"Forgive me?" Old Madam Qian sneered. "How dare I punish the leader of Golden Eyes?"
Yin Sang's expression changed instantly, and he said in a low voice, "This junior has not been Brother Golden Eye for a long time."
There was a moment of silence in the inner room, then he asked, "What brings you here?"
“Cuiyu was in critical condition. After Senior Ou treated her, the prescription required three things, one of which was a drop of the old lady’s blood.”
After hearing this, Madam Qian gave another cold laugh, "He's so kind, saving this one and that one, he really thinks he's Xue Sheng."
Yin Sang raised her eyebrows slightly at Old Madam Qian's cold-blooded reaction. A sense of foreboding grew stronger in her heart. She was Cuiyu's biological grandmother. Even if Cuiyu had ignored her advice and run away from home, bringing shame to the entire Qian family, what could be more important than blood relatives? Why could she still be so sarcastic and indifferent when she heard such tragic news about her granddaughter?
The scene of their first meeting, when Cuiyu said to him, couldn't help but come to mind. We were the same kind of people.
Indeed, they are the same—equally lonely, equally unloved, equally stubborn, and equally prickly…
"Cuiyu..." Yin Sang called out silently in his heart. When he raised his head again, his eyes were clear and bright. He said loudly, "Madam, please, for the sake of Cuiyu being a member of the Qian family, save her life. Everything that happened before was my fault. Cuiyu is innocent. Please save her life!" After saying this, he gently lifted the hem of his robe and slowly knelt down.
His kneeling caused gasps of surprise to erupt in the inner hall. Several women covered their mouths and looked at each other in disbelief... An old woman in brocade robes was also taken aback, never expecting him to do such a thing.
She stood up, slowly lifted the curtain with her dragon-headed cane, walked to Yin Sang, looked at him, and said nothing.
Yin Sang did not raise her head, but remained kneeling upright.
Old Madam Qian raised an eyebrow and said, "Yin Sang, how many times in your life have you knelt before someone?"
"first."
Don't you feel humiliated?
"What shame is there in seeking medicine for my wife?" Yin Sang smiled bitterly. "What in this world is more important than her life?"
Old Madam Qian stared at him. "Even if it means paying with your pride, or your life?"
Yin Sang finally raised her head, her eyes gleaming with a sharp light. What was there in them? Calculation? Gratitude? Hesitation? All of the above. But there was no pity.
The person who was dying was her own granddaughter, so why didn't she feel any pity at all?!
He said calmly, "Yes."
Suddenly, Madam Qian smiled. Her smile was complex, yet also filled with relief.
"Alright. I'm a businessman, and business is business. Although a drop of my blood may not seem like much, its value is different if it's used to save a life. If you want my blood, you'll need to exchange it for something of equal value."
Yin Sang remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "What do you want?"
Madam Qian said, word by word, "I want the Seven Treasures Ring of the Golden Eye of yesteryear."
Yin Sang's expression changed drastically. When she looked up again, in the brightly lit flower hall, Old Madam Qian's figure seemed to be trapped in the darkness, with only her eyes shining brightly.
Wow, what a remarkable Old Madam Qian! What a powerful figure in the wealthiest family! What a woman who has remained powerful and influential for decades in the business world!
If he had met such a person seven years ago, he would have been filled with fighting spirit and eager to fight her to the death. But seven years later, looking at her, he would only see a shadow of his past self, who is just as ruthless, shrewd and heartless.
Yin Sang slowly stood up and said, "What's so difficult about that?"
Old Madam Qian raised her eyebrows and said, "Have you thought this through? Do you know what the Seven Treasures Ring means to the entire Golden Eye and the underworld?"
Yin Sang said, "I know that to others it means the most mysterious and dangerous assassination organization in the martial arts world. Whoever possesses it is equivalent to possessing an underground kingdom and a force that can rival the imperial court. However, I also know that it means nothing to me."
Madam Qian was moved.
Yin Sang sighed softly and said firmly, "I am Mr. Mu, Mr. Mu from Meishan."
The seven-jeweled ring, dazzling under the light, when worn on the right thumb, exudes an air of power and prestige when raised.
The young farmer beside him stared at it and said, "This is the token to command the Golden Eye?"
"Yes." Madam Qian smiled slightly. "Although Liu Shumei is dead and Yin Sang has disappeared, Golden Eye is now a disorganized mess. But as long as this ring is produced, they will be able to regroup quickly. Those people are all desperate criminals and have excellent skills. If we can make good use of them, they will be the Qian family's most secret trump card for survival."
"Does the Qian family even need this? They already have the Crown Prince..."
Before the girl in green could finish speaking, Old Madam Qian interrupted her calmly: "Fourth son, you must remember, it's foolish to rely too much on others. Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows, let alone the Qian family."
Si'er immediately showed a look of understanding, but couldn't help saying, "That Yin... Yin Sang, he actually gave it to you so easily for Second Cousin. It seems he really cares for her!"
After hearing this, Madam Qian remained silent for a long time, a look of confusion appearing between her brows. Finally, she said:
"It's a real pity. If this man hadn't met Cuiyu in this life, he would have undoubtedly become a great hero, and it wouldn't have been impossible for him to overthrow the royal family and change the dynasty. And if Cuiyu hadn't met him in this life, she could have lived a peaceful and wealthy life without having to suffer so much... It's a pity that fate had to make these two meet, it's truly a tragedy."
Si'er asked cautiously, "Does Grandma still not forgive Second Cousin?"
Grandma Qian smiled. "What's there to forgive or not forgive? She didn't do anything wrong. It's just that she married that kind of person. I had no choice but to pretend to distance myself from her. I admit I'm biased towards my three granddaughters, favoring Bao'er the most, but that doesn't mean I don't like Mingzhu and Cuiyu. You'll understand when you reach my age; many things don't need to be said..."
Si'er smiled and said, "I know that Grandma is actually the most stubborn but soft-hearted. When my second cousin was living in seclusion in Meishan, it was Grandma who secretly sent people to buy her calligraphy, paintings and embroidery."
Madam Qian sighed softly, "That girl always thinks she's so great, but she never considers that these days, who would spend money on things that can't be eaten or used? There are very few people in this world who are truly cultured and refined."
Before Si'er could say anything more, Old Madam Qian waved her hand and said, "I'm sleepy. Call Furong in to serve you. You should go back and rest early too."
"Yes." Si'er bowed and withdrew.
Old Madam Qian, wearing a seven-jeweled ring, reached into the drawer next to her desk and took out several scrolls. Unfolding them, she found that all of them were signed "Madam Yu of Meishan".
Lady Yu... Lady Yu...
She silently repeated the name to herself a few times, a bitter smile appearing on her face. "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; that's so true. I knew from the beginning that you would suffer if you stayed with him, so I hardened my heart to stop you from sinking deeper. I never expected you to just leave... You've grown up, and I can't control you anymore. I hope that after this ordeal, things will truly be better... It's good that he was so devoted to you. Thank goodness..."
Three drops of blood fell into the celadon bowl, then the decocted medicine was poured in, and the red color instantly disappeared.
As Qian Bao'er was carrying the medicine bowl toward the bed, Yin Sang said, "Let me do it." Without waiting for her reply, he took the bowl from her hands.
Qian Bao'er rolled her eyes and decided to leave the room to the two star-crossed lovers who had suffered so much. Just as she stepped out the door, she saw Ou Fei standing under a tree. She cheerfully called out "Master!" and walked over, asking, "What are you looking at?"
Ou Fei handed her a letter. Qian Bao'er took it, glanced at it, and burst out laughing. After laughing, she saw her master looking at her with a wry smile, so she blinked and said, "Isn't this great?"
"You've been a wife for over six years, how come you still act like a child?"
"Master is indirectly scolding me for being silly, isn't he? But even though I'm being silly, you still go along with it, don't you?" Qian Bao'er stuck out her tongue. "I'm just angry. My second sister is all alone in Meishan, enduring loneliness, while he, on the other hand, has transformed into a well-liked young master, treated like a precious gem... He deserves to suffer a bit too. Besides, I'm doing this for their future."
"Yes, yes, you're the smartest." Ou Fei's tone was full of undisguised doting affection.
Qian Bao'er smiled slightly and said, "Back then, Imperial Uncle Yang was afraid that Consort Yin's favor would threaten the Empress's position, and given his long-standing feud with the Yin family, he fabricated a false accusation that the Yin family was rebelling. Unfortunately, the Emperor was muddle-headed and made a grave mistake, causing his beloved consort to commit suicide in despair. Imperial Uncle has been secretly hunting down the little prince who escaped back then all these years, without the Emperor's knowledge. Although Yin Sang's trip to the palace didn't involve recognizing his ancestors, the Emperor will definitely investigate the long-standing pursuit of him. It seems Imperial Uncle is going to be in trouble again, giving the Crown Prince's brother-in-law another handle against him. As for Grandma, I knew she wouldn't let such a good opportunity pass. She gained a trump card and completely dismantled Yin Sang's power. Now he's truly empty-handed and can't turn back. These three drops of blood are fake medicine, but they are the real life-saving pill."
Ou Fei glanced behind her, seemingly casually, and whispered, "I'm afraid things aren't over yet." With that, he turned and left.
When Qian Bao'er turned her head, she saw Gu Mingyan walking towards her.
"Good morning, Miss Gu. You're up so early."
Gu Mingyan walked straight up to her, her pale face devoid of a smile. "Has your sister woken up?"
"If my sister wakes up, do you have something to say to her?"
"It's not with her, it's with the young master."
"You should know now that he is not a young master."
"Don't you think that, no matter what, he owes me an explanation?"
Qian Bao'er smiled and said, "In this world, who owes whom, who has wronged whom? If you really want to keep track, how can you possibly keep track?"
"But I'm not willing to accept this!" Gu Mingyan pursed her lips, her voice dark and menacing. "I'm not willing to lose him like this. He said he wanted to marry me, he promised himself!"
Qian Bao'er shrugged, looking bored, and said, "That makes sense. Then go and argue with the young master, but don't resort to crying, making a scene, or threatening suicide. Usually, only stupid women do that."
Gu Mingyan glared at her resentfully a few times before walking towards Qian Cuiyu's room. Qian Bao'er, watching her retreating figure thoughtfully, felt a light tap on her shoulder, and someone chuckled, "What are you thinking about?"
Her eyes lit up, and when she turned her head and saw the handsome man beside her, she smiled sweetly, rushed over, and hooked her arms around his neck. "You've finally arrived!"
"I can tell from your eyes that you're up to something mischievous this time. Tell me, who are you plotting against this time?"
"Well, I knew nothing could be hidden from you. I think this Miss Gu is quite pitiful, and I wanted to help her..." Before she could finish speaking, the man pulled a fan from her sleeve and tapped her on the shoulder. "Mind your own business!"
"But--"
“No buts. There’s been some trouble at Suizi Gate in Shanxi. If you’re really bored, you could go and get involved in that business.” The man said, taking her hand. “Let’s go.”
Qian Bao'er's eyes widened. "What? She's leaving already? Second Sister..."
She was lightly tapped on the head with a fan again. "She has your second brother-in-law. You'll only cause trouble if you stay here. Go away."
Two figures flashed by, the wind rustled through the paulownia trees, scattering a leaf. But the two figures had vanished from the world.
He fed her a bowl of medicine. Qian Cuiyu still didn't wake up. Yin Sang held her hand, his gaze lingering on her face. Those memories that had once been lost but were later retrieved only became vivid and concrete when he saw this face again.
"How can a drunken reunion compare to the depth of a fleeting moment?" Yin Sang smiled gently. "I truly didn't expect that you would come to find me after the Red Chamber competition, and for such an open and aboveboard reason—to ask me to critique your new work. If the world knew that just because of one of my criticisms, another work by a Phoenix Terrace author was wasted, they would either curse me to death or be consumed by jealousy..."
Gu Mingyan, who was about to burst in from outside the door, suddenly stopped, bit her lower lip, and listened quietly.
"Then, somehow, the Flying Eagle Detective found out where I lived. Because I was thinking of you, I got caught by his Death Rope. When you were bandaging my wound, I saw your hands trembling, and I suddenly realized that we were from two different worlds. You are a rich young lady from a wealthy family, pampered since childhood, unaware of the storms of the outside world. I, on the other hand, am a wanderer, burdened with a deep-seated hatred. If you were with me, you would only get involved in more trouble. Call me selfish or cowardly, but the only thing I could do at the time was to run away."
Yin Sang sighed, her gaze sweeping over her eyebrows, eyes, and long hair, then down to her hands. "That day, I made you prove to me that you weren't a burden. You went into a music store and played the piano, one piece after another. I saw your fingers bleeding, and many people around stopped to listen, clapping and cheering. At that moment, all I could see were your bleeding fingers, and that blood seemed to flow into my heart. So I knew that I couldn't escape."
He reached out and gently stroked her face. "That day was the day I hated myself the most in my life. Did I ever tell you about it? We were both so careful not to mention what happened that night, but it's like a thorn in my heart, causing excruciating pain every time I think about it. It was God punishing me, punishing my cowardice and arrogance, so that the person I loved most suffered such pain! Cuiyu, I'm sorry... I've always wanted to tell you this. I'm sorry..."
Yin Sang's voice choked with emotion, while Gu Mingyan outside the door gripped the doorframe tightly, her heart filled with indescribable feelings.
"So I completely surrendered. I dared not fight against myself anymore, because if I continued, you might suffer even greater harm. What is the world? What are the hatred and grudges of the land compared to a soulmate who understands you, loves you, and cherishes you? Cuiyu, have I ever told you that meeting you was the only stroke of luck in my life, and the time I spent with you in Meishan was the happiest time of my life? There was no hatred, no turmoil, nothing at all, just the two of us." He took her hand and placed it to his lips, speaking with infinite sorrow.
"But fate had other plans. What was destined to happen still happened. To save me, you chose to make me forget you. Cuiyu, how could you be so heartless? How could you do this to me, and how could you do this to yourself? What if I never remember you? What if we never have the chance to meet again? Are you going to wait for me on Meishan Mountain forever? Cuiyu… Cuiyu…"
He called her name as if calling the most precious treasure in his life, carefully, full of emotion, yet with boundless sorrow. It was always like this for them: first she relentlessly pursued, he relentlessly fled, and they finally got together. Then disaster struck, causing them immense suffering, and they were separated forever. He forgot her, while she alone preserved the memories—how cruel.
God, how cruel!
"On Mount Mei, when I saw you again, you told me the name of that sword. Looking into your eyes, I felt a sense of déjà vu. Then I wrote that poem, and then I brought you to Emerald Manor. Cuiyu, how could you just stand there watching me without saying a word to me? How could you do that? I've let you down, even if it wasn't my choice, I've still let you down!" Yin Sang's voice suddenly became agitated as he tightly gripped her hand. "So, if you can't escape this time, I absolutely won't live. I'll go with you. To hell with comfort, happiness, and bliss! Without you, where is my happiness? You are my happiness!"
A sob could be heard outside the door. Yin Sang was startled, then slowly calmed down, turned around, and asked, "Is that Mingyan?"
Gu Mingyan walked in with tears streaming down her face.
Yin Sang sighed deeply, wiped her face, and said, "You heard everything outside."
"Um."
"I'm sorry..."