Une jeunesse errante

Chapitre 41

"Have you vented? Have you calmed down?" Kiyomi Tsuki asked.

Qingfeng sighed deeply, as if pouring out all the deep sorrow and pain she felt. "Qingjian Yue, I both love you and hate you. I really want to kill you."

Kiyoshi Tsuki trembled and said, "No, whether you love me or hate me, just don't kill me. If you kill me, there will be no one to talk to, no one for you to yell at, curse at, or hit. Look how good I am to you, you should express your gratitude, don't forget to treat me to a meal."

A sorrowful smile bloomed on Qingfeng's handsome face, so poignant and beautiful. "I truly envy your carefree laughter. I wonder what sorrow tastes like?"

"You're mistaken. 'Heaven will entrust great responsibilities to those who are destined for them, but it will first test their will, strain their muscles and bones, starve their bodies, and subject them to all sorts of trials.' Qing Jianyue gestured wildly. 'The precious sword at your waist is the best example. It endured countless hammer blows during its forging. Otherwise, how could it have become a priceless sword? If a person wants to acquire the perseverance and wisdom that ordinary people lack, and wants to achieve great success and wealth, they must endure countless hardships, and the price is often extremely high.'"

"Are you trying to lecture me?" Qingfeng sneered. "What right do you have to talk to me about those pointless principles?"

Kiyomi Tsuki blurted out in anger, "Have you ever tried to commit suicide out of despair?"

"Have you ever attempted suicide? You?" Qingfeng stared at him with disbelief in her eyes.

“I’m sure you didn’t, but I did. I’ve attempted suicide countless times. I tried hanging myself, but the tree branch was too thin, and just when I was half-dead, it snapped with a crack; I jumped into the river, struggled desperately in the water, choked until my face and neck were red, but I didn’t die because the water was too shallow; and I even threw myself into the snow in winter to freeze.”

"They didn't freeze to death?"

"It's all because the snow that winter was particularly heavy and sudden. In the blink of an eye, it turned into a thick blanket and buried me underneath. In the end, not only were the little ghosts who were receiving my spirit and the King of Hell who was waiting to deliver me from the dead annoyed, but even I was annoyed."

Why did you commit suicide?

"Because I'm hungry. Oh, just thinking about being hungry makes my stomach rumble. If we had caught that fat fish earlier, it would have been delicious grilled."

"Kiyomizuki, you didn't die. I'll kill you."

"No need, I don't want to die now."

Are you having fun playing me?

"I'm playing you? Do you think suicide is something to joke about? Do you think suicide is a fun thing to do? If I'm not careful, I'll be reincarnated as a man, then a woman, then a man again, and then a woman again, more than three times in total."

This time, Kiyomi Tsuki was furious.

"I'm so angry! How could you rich kids know what hunger feels like? Hunger, hunger that makes your breathing uneven, hunger that makes your whole body tremble, hunger that makes you want to put your fingers in your mouth and eat them like meat. Have you ever experienced that? You definitely haven't. I really don't understand you rich kids, are you just bored and have nothing better to do? All you do is hate and love all day long, aren't you tired of living? Liu Mei betrayed you and didn't want you, right? Fine, she betrayed you for good. If she hadn't betrayed you, you would have married her by now, married a scheming liar who doesn't love you, cheated you out of your money, cheated you out of your body, turned you into a used-up woman, and you'll never find a better woman to love you again. That would be a real loss."

Qingfeng glared at Qingjian Yue, displaying a fierce and intimidating demeanor, but couldn't utter a single word.

"As for why the lord of the fortress stole your woman, that was Heaven's command. Because Heaven wants to tell you, boy, you're wrong. That woman wasn't arranged for you. I created a perfect woman for you—gentle, kind, brave, intelligent, and most importantly, she has a heart that loves you, even willing to give her precious life for you. You choose: Liu Mei, or her?"

Qingfeng's anger and resentment had completely vanished, and he looked at Qingjian Yue in surprise.

"People who say things like 'I'll take revenge' are the most narrow-minded and selfish. You can't just look at things superficially. Take your cousin, for example. Why did he steal Liu Mei? Was it just to show he was more charming than you and to win a woman's heart? Was he that stupid? Of course not. He just wanted to tell you that Liu Mei didn't love you at all. Actually, you know that better than anyone else, but your vanity got the better of you, and you just wouldn't admit you were blind and loved the wrong person. Don't you understand this principle? Admit your mistake, and don't make the same mistake again. Then you're right, you're not wrong, and you're the smartest person in the world. You've become so smart, naturally thanks to your cousin. Now, do you still want revenge?"

Qingfeng's gaze turned serious and cold.

"Although Liu Jianhua's instigation and ulterior motives cannot be blamed for your father's murder, was your father without fault? His narrow-minded revenge, forcing the lord of the fortress to commit suicide by poison, is that something an uncle should do? Your father paid the price for what he did, and similarly, Liu Jianhua and Liu Mei will not escape divine punishment."

Qingfeng's gaze as she silently watched him was subtle, sometimes melancholy and dark, sometimes as firm as stone, and sometimes as fiery as fire, revealing the rapid changes in his heart.

"I said, 'Heaven will entrust great responsibilities to those who are capable,' and you think I have no right to lecture you? Fine, I'd like to ask you, how are you different three years ago compared to now? Three years ago, you were naive and innocent, young and naive, easily fooled like an idiot. Now, you know exactly what Liu Jianhua is up to the moment he raises his tail. Someone as mature, steady, wise, and strategic as you looks at you with awe. One glare from you and I tremble with fear. How formidable are you!"

I'm sorry to have made you bear my anger.

"Whether you live a miserable life or a happy one, it's still living. It all depends on your choices and your perspective. You see, God isn't so cruel after all, is he?"

"Is that why you are always so happy and joyful?"

"Yes, I chose to live well and live happily, so that my life wouldn't have been in vain." A dazzling light shone from Kiyotsuki's face, deeply moving Qingfeng.

"I understand," Qingfeng said after a long time.

"Whether you understand or not is none of my business. Anyway, I'm going back to sleep. If you really can't think straight, feel free to jump into your lotus pond. The moonlight is so beautiful tonight; even your death will be poignant. No need to see me off; I'm leaving."

Qing Jianyue huffed and puffed as he walked sideways like a giant crab. Lü Ying and Lü Liang watched him leave with their mouths agape.

"Jian Yue, you are indeed no ordinary person. I understand, I will remember your words."

Qingfeng smiled. That smile was devoid of coldness or sorrow; it was so warm, like a fleeting moment under the moonlight.

Chapter Twenty: A Cunning Plan

Back at the Shuxiang Courtyard, Zhang Zhichun had already rearranged the security measures, and the servants were moving in and out quietly and in an orderly manner. As soon as Qing Jianyue returned, Zhang Zhichun hurriedly pulled him into the bedroom.

"How is the lord's injury?"

"The lord of the fortress had a three-inch-long bloody gash on his left rib and a scrape on his chest. The most serious injury was on his right side of the abdomen, a close-range stab wound. It was fortunate that the sword did not penetrate."

"That must have been Cao Wei taking advantage of the fortress lord's trust to launch a surprise attack. He should be chopped to pieces."

Kiyoshi was deeply shocked. He never imagined that Lu Qingcheng, while suffering severe injuries, could calmly kill four assassins who were attacking him and hold on until reinforcements arrived without changing his expression. Such perseverance was beyond the reach of ordinary people.

The white gauze curtains fluttered gently as Lu Qingcheng lay on the carved bed. Her wounds had been cleaned and bandaged, and she had taken medicine. Apart from being too pale, she was in relatively good spirits.

"Where is Qingfeng?" This was what Lu Qingcheng was most concerned about.

"Young Master Qingfeng has kept the Peony Garden gates closed to mourn the deceased Madam Yan," Qing Jianyue replied cautiously. "Young Master Qingfeng was very worried when he heard that the Lord of the Fortress had been assassinated and injured. When I came here, Young Master Qingfeng said that he would come immediately after he had finished mourning the deceased Madam Yan."

A gentle smile, like a breeze, bloomed on Lu Qingcheng's deathly pale face as she murmured, "That's good. He's alright."

Kiyoshi's heart rippled like a stone thrown into a still lake. He never imagined he cared so much about Qingfeng.

A report came from outside: "Young Master Qingfeng has arrived."

Kiyomi Tsuki's heart pounded. She thought to herself, "They've arrived so quickly. Could they still be after revenge?"

After the carved door closed, Qingfeng gracefully entered, bypassing the large screen. Qingjianyue carefully observed Qingfeng's expression. Perhaps because she had been scolded, Qingfeng appeared very calm. The darkness in her eyes dissipated as if after a rainstorm, revealing a clear and bright light.