Une jeunesse errante

Chapitre 206

After thinking for a moment, Qing Jianyue asked, "May I ask, Lord Kang, Young Master Long, and Qingcheng, what do you intend to do?"

Kang Boying and Long Fengming looked at Lu Qingcheng and nodded slightly. Lu Qingcheng also nodded, and then looked at Qing Jianyue.

"Whatever you say, we'll do it."

Qing Jianyue's gaze shifted to Luo Lan and Lu Xuemei. The two women thought of the insults they had just hurled at Qing Jianyue and the possible retaliation she might suffer. Fear, like a black poisonous fog, slowly engulfed them, and they instantly felt a chill run through their bodies.

Kiyoshi Tsuki's lips curled into a contemptuous smile. "Even in defeat, one should lose with grace. A shrew's rant only makes one appear more vulgar and disgraceful."

The two women's faces, which had been snow-white just moments before, suddenly turned bright red.

Qingjian Yue's gaze swept over Luo Xiang and Lu Zhi, then lingered on Luo Buqun and Li Ying. Although Luo Buqun looked haggard, he kept his back straight, displaying the heroic spirit of someone ready to die for their cause. Li Ying's eyes were filled with gloom; he still couldn't accept the reality of defeat.

“Mr. Luo, you’ve finally met your match.” Kiyoshi said with a hint of sarcasm.

Luo Buqun sneered, "Don't be so smug even if you win. In this world, there are no eternal winners or eternal losers. Today's triumph is tomorrow's defeat."

Kiyomi Tsuki snorted, "So you understand this principle too, sir."

A look of shame crossed Luo Buqun's face. Qing Jianyue ignored him and walked towards Zhao Shuixin. Zhao Shuixin stood up shakily, trembling with fear. Luo Buqun couldn't bear it and said, "Qing Jianyue, this has nothing to do with your mother. Don't make things difficult for her. You're looking for me."

Luo Lan screamed angrily, "Father, even at this point, you still...?"

Luo Buqun angrily said, "Shut up."

Luo Lan gritted her teeth in hatred.

Qing Jianyue smiled, a smile more heartbreaking than tears, "Madam Luo, it seems you're not having an easy time either?"

Zhao Shuixin burst into tears, "Why do you all blame me? What did I do wrong? It was that beast, he forced me, he forced me. He's a beast, he raped me, forced me to marry him, and then you came into my life..."

Long Fengxiang couldn't help but bring his mouth close to Long Fengming's ear, "Who is that beast?"

Long Fengming glared at him unhappily, which frightened him so much that he hurriedly put a finger to his lips, indicating that he dared not say another word.

Qing Jianyue's face was as white as jade, and a bleak smile appeared on her lips. "I know that you never loved my late father. It was all one-sided on his part. He knew that you and Mr. Luo were in love, but he still separated you, forced you to marry him, raped you, and then gave birth to me. Is this all you wanted to tell me?"

Long Fengxiang's mouth dropped open.

"You know everything? You know everything. Since you know everything, why did you do it? Are you blaming me for marrying Buqun?" Zhao Shuixin swayed, as if she might collapse and faint at any moment. "Are you going to kill me? I've been hiding here, punishing myself for twenty years, isn't that enough? Why are you all forcing me? He's forcing me, Luo Buqun is forcing me. You're all forcing me."

Kiyomi Tsuki's smile grew even more desolate. "Since we met, you haven't asked me even once if I'm alright?"

Zhao Shuixin suddenly shut her mouth, a blush of guilt rising on her beautiful face.

"Thinking that you might come to see me, and fearing that the people outside would stop me, I asked them to open the gate. I watched the gate and waited all afternoon, until it got dark, but in the end, I still didn't see you." Qing Jianyue said slowly and heavily, the sadness and grief making it hard to breathe.

Ye Gang was shocked and instinctively looked at his master, only to see tears welling up in Long Fengming's eyes. Seeing this, Ye Gang's heart pounded with fear.

“I once said we would be strangers from now on. But I just couldn’t do it. I can’t forget my mother’s love; her warm, soft embrace; the way she sang to me as I fell asleep at night; her smile, more beautiful than anyone else’s. My father wanted me to kill my mother, but I couldn’t. No matter how much I resent or how much pain I feel, I can’t hate you.” Qing Jianyue said, tears welling in her eyes, “I just want to ask one question: Does my mother still love me?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shuixin burst into tears, her sobs heart-wrenching. After a few cries, she fainted. Qing Jianyue also felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his heart; his vision blurred, and his body went limp. Lu Qingcheng quickly carried him to the long couch, where someone, acting on Long Fengming's orders, brought hot tea. As for Zhao Shuixin, she was taken care of and escorted to the back hall. Qing Jianyue drank a few sips of hot tea, slowly regaining his senses, tears streaming down his face.

Lu Qingcheng gently wiped away his tears, "Don't be sad, you're not allowed to be sad anymore. You can do whatever you want today, as long as you're happy."

Kiyomi Tsuki said in a trembling voice, "She, she..."

Lu Qingcheng comforted her, "They've sent it to the back room. Don't worry, someone's looking after you."

Kiyomi Tsuki's lips trembled slightly.

Lu Qingcheng tightened her arms around his waist. "Don't say anything. I don't want to hear anything from outsiders."

Qing Jianyue shut her mouth, paused for a moment, and slowly regained her composure before asking, "Where is Luo Buqun?"

Two warriors from Tianlong Fortress dragged Luo Buqun closer and forced him to kneel. Luo Buqun forcefully shook them off, saying, "The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. Kill me if you want, no need for words."

Kiyomi Tsuki said, "There's no need to make things difficult for him."

The two warriors from Tianlong Fort released him and stepped aside.

Qing Jianyue said calmly, "Mr. Luo, I know that my late father wronged you. He knew that you and my mother were in love, but he still insisted on separating you."

These words shocked not only Luo Buqun, but also Lu Qingcheng, Long Fengming, Kang Boying, and Long Fengxiang, not to mention the others. Everyone in the room stared at Qing Jianyue with disbelief, listening to his calm voice as clear as spring water flowing across a green meadow.

"But no matter how much your father wronged you, he has already paid the price. Your father is dead, and whatever he owed you, he has repaid you, hasn't he?"

Luo Buqun looked at Qing Jianyue, and Qing Jianyue looked back at him, her eyes, washed by tears, now peaceful and pure like those of a baby. Luo Buqun, being looked at by such eyes, felt a sudden sense of shame.

"Luo Buqun, now I ask you, back then, for your own selfish reasons, you colluded with Li Tieying, Lu Baoquan, and Zhao Wuyang to kill my father, take my mother, and force me into a living hell. My sister has also disappeared without a trace. For power and personal desires, you set fire to Xingyue Manor, seized all its property and livestock, killed more than three hundred men, elderly people, and children of Xingyue Manor, and raped countless women. Luo Buqun, do you plead guilty?"

Countless eyes were fixed on Luo Buqun's face.

Luo Buqun's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Father," Luo Lan called out, her voice trembling.

“What you say is true, young master. I am guilty of heinous crimes and have nothing to say.” Luo Buqun prostrated himself on the ground, too ashamed to even lift his head.

Qing Jianyue gave Luo Lan a cold stare, causing Luo Lan to tremble with fear. Qing Jianyue said, "Li Tieying, Lu Baoquan, and Zhao Wuyang have already received their retribution. So, Mr. Luo, shouldn't you also receive your due punishment?"

"Whatever you decide, young master, I, Luo Buqun, will accept. I only beg you to spare my children." Luo Buqun kowtowed desperately, "They are innocent! I am the guilty one, they are innocent."

Kiyoshi's icy gaze swept over Li Ying, Luo Xiang, Lu Zhi, Luo Lan, Lu Xuemei, and Zhao Mei, and each of them wilted like a frostbitten eggplant.

"Now that Zhao Wuyang is dead, his crimes are wiped clean. His family can remain at the manor, and all expenses will continue as before. Luo Lan and Lu Xuemei may stay if they wish, or leave if they wish. As for Li Ying, Luo Xiang, and Lu Zhi, they were involved in many matters; how they are dealt with depends on the will of Master Kang, Young Master Long, and Qingcheng. I have no right to interfere." Qing Jianyue's cold voice was like the purest, cleanest ice and snow. "Mr. Luo, please commit suicide."

The room was filled with shock. No one could have imagined that after all the hardships and twists and turns, Kiyomi Tsuki would end up like this.