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Dear friends, there's another ending too! ﹋﹋﹋

178 Ending 2: The Happy Ending (Part 2)

In the first year of Yongchang, Emperor Yuan of Jin, Sima Rui, died. The people of the world wept bitterly, mourning for seven whole days. The entire nation wore white to observe mourning on behalf of the people, and the whole of Jin was in a state of sorrow and desolation. There were no banquets or music in any household.

In another place, however, the scene appears different. It seems that many things, what are seen and heard, are not quite the same as what is actually there.

For example, the person who should have been in the imperial mausoleum appeared in a place where he shouldn't have been for some reason.

Junjin Villa.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was somewhat awkward.

A stunningly beautiful woman sat there silently, her face ashen and her gaze icy.

Beside her sat a man with an innate air of authority and noble bearing. However, what made others somewhat uncomfortable was that the man wore a fawning smile and kept piling food onto the woman's plate. But this only earned him a cold snort from the woman, who remained completely indifferent.

Suddenly, a soft, melodious laugh came from the side. Everyone looked at the little figure who dared to laugh when her master was angry, and tried to signal her to be careful with their eyes, but the little figure was completely oblivious and didn't care at all.

Looking at her angry mother, Yi Jun laughed and said, "Mom, it's just that someone who should have died is here. What's the big deal? Anyway, Junjin Manor has more money than it can spend. Supporting one more person won't bankrupt us."

Everyone gasped when they heard what she said; this young lady really knew how to bring up the most sensitive topics.

It's understandable that the mistress would be angry. After the news of that inexplicable death arrived, she almost fainted on the spot and even seemed to have secretly cried. But then, a little while later, that person who should have died suddenly reappeared before everyone. How could she not be angry?!

Suddenly, the woman smiled strangely. Her beauty was so stunning that everyone present stared in disbelief. Even after all these years, they still couldn't help but be amazed whenever they saw her exquisite face.

Such a beautiful person, I never tire of looking at her.

Only Yi Jun knew that the happier her mother seemed to be, the angrier she was. No wonder, considering her uncle had kept such a huge secret from her. It seemed he had been secretly planning this for years, which was why he could so easily hand over the throne to that fake brother and stay in Jun Jin's palace.

It seems Uncle and Daddy really do love Mom to death. Sigh, she's just a child; she doesn't understand the meaning of love between men and women in this world. It's not as satisfying as her doing business abroad, gradually devouring the economic lifelines of various countries, controlling their survival from the bottom up. Junjin already has enough money; she doesn't like it. What she likes is seeing the fear and dread in the eyes of those who looked down on her as a little kid trying to lead the country, begging for mercy after their defeat—that feeling is truly exhilarating. Thinking of this, little Yijun curled into a strange and wicked smile.

Not missing a single expression on her face, I sighed inwardly, "Look at her, she's raised another genius more terrifying than a ghost." Thinking of what people called Yi Jun, I couldn't help but smile with satisfaction: "The Doll Demon." That title really suits her. Those who suffered terribly at her hands will probably never forget that child with the innocent, doll-like face, whose methods were more ruthless than any adult's.

My daughter, An Jin's daughter, will certainly not be bad. Moreover, I admire Yi Jun for always being herself and never changing for anything. Although sometimes I feel sorry for her being so precocious at such a young age, missing out on a carefree and innocent childhood, seeing how much she already enjoys it, I imagine this little devil would object if I tried to stop her.

A cautious voice suddenly came from beside her: "Xiao Jin, you're not angry, are you?"

Although he selfishly did all this, before leaving, he bestowed upon Yi Jun the title of Princess Changyi of Jin. Furthermore, considering Yi Jun's temperament, he specifically declared in the imperial edict that she was the only princess of Jin who could choose her own life—she could enter the palace or live outside—and granted her a fiefdom spanning several hundred li, giving her greater power. Moreover, everything after his death would be left to her. He did so much; Xiao Jin shouldn't be angry, right?

However, he really couldn't figure out that person's personality...

Then I remembered the main point of today's event, so I turned around and gave him a bright and charming smile that was both dazzling and alluring. He was instantly captivated by my smile.

I laughed heartily, then said to him in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Since Sima Rui no longer exists in this world, from now on, Junjin Manor will only have a servant named Huoshui temporarily staying there. You have no objections, do you?"

"He made me give up so much, almost risking my life. I, An Jin, may not be a legendary figure, but I'm doing alright. For this man, I did everything I could, almost selling my life... What is this kind of person if not a source of trouble?!" I thought bitterly.

"A femme fatale?!" Isn't that a term used to describe women throughout history who were so beautiful they could topple kingdoms?

Xiao Qi, Lian, and Ge Kong, who had been burying their heads in their food because they couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere, suddenly burst out with a "pfft" sound, as all the rice grains in their stuffed mouths were rudely sprayed out.

Seeing this, Yijun gave these uncles, who lacked self-control, a disdainful look, and then said in a coquettish voice, "Ugh, can't a person eat in peace?"

Sima Rui stood there, stunned, staring at the still smiling beauty, knowing he had thoroughly angered her this time. He needed to think of a way to appease her. Suddenly, his face flushed inexplicably. It seemed that only in one place could she be as gentle and submissive as a tender little woman, obediently following his lead…

Thinking of the wicked idea that had suddenly sprouted in his mind, he, who was already used to lust, couldn't help but feel a little ashamed and lowered his head. But—as long as she wasn't angry with him, he was willing to try any method. Thinking of this, he lowered his head and smiled wickedly.

Unaware of what was happening, someone tapped his inexplicably lowered head and complained, "What are you doing, you troublemaker? You're not a monkey's butt, why are you showing it to us..."

Suddenly in a good mood, someone looked at the person who was standing there dumbfounded, then quickly got up and fled the scene. Picking up chopsticks, they said in a friendly tone, "Eat, eat. Today's meal was personally cooked by Khoss Yunying..."

People lamented: "What a fickle woman."

That night, sounds that would shame even the moon and the sun were heard coming from someone's room. Springtime filled the air, the room brimming with sensuality.

*********************************************************************************************************

Four years later.

Same place. Same scene. But there's one more pair of chopsticks, and one more person.

Looking at the person who suddenly appeared here, shamelessly sticking around as if he was going to stay here forever, Yi Jun frowned slightly.

The same play was performed four years ago, so why has it changed from the father to the son now?

The man, already furious and seething with anger, looked at the father and son who were smiling obsequiously and strangely, and was utterly speechless.

Four years ago, the father faked his death and left the palace, leaving the mess to his son. He spent four years planning everything, but his son just packed up and left, giving up the throne to someone else, and like a good-for-nothing child, he also went to live with Junjin.

I coldly stared at the boy who was enjoying his meal and said indifferently, "Hey, you freeloader, Junjin Manor isn't some refugee camp. If you have nowhere to go, go find Xiao Qi. He'll definitely find you a good charity to live in. It's also part of Junjin's property, so you don't need to worry about anything..."

The boy, who had been happily eating with his head down, looked up at him in disbelief and pleaded, "Mom, how could you be so heartless..." Sima Shao glanced around at everyone, hoping someone would stand up and say a few good words for him. But he was disappointed; everyone present picked up their bowls at the same time, in perfect unison, and began to shovel their food away with great effort.

"Xiao Jin..." The man beside him couldn't bear to see his son, who had lost his status and had nothing, treated like this, and couldn't help but call out softly.

The man glanced impatiently at the father and son, then finally gritted his teeth and said, "Get out!!"

I could tolerate my father doing this, but I never expected that the son would do the same thing as his father. I can't take it anymore!

Having grown up considerably and matured considerably, Yi Jun calmly ate her meal, then casually remarked, "Since we already have one troublemaker, why not start today by having the old one as troublemaker number one and the young one as troublemaker number two..." Then she muttered to herself, "Two idle people, Jun Jin can still afford to support them."

With another "plop," the group silently lifted their bowls and left the table. It was simply impossible to stay in such a scene.

"It's their own fault for lacking willpower," Xiao Qi, Lian, and Ge Kong lamented inwardly. After leaving the hall, the three looked at the bright moonlight in the sky, took a deep, comfortable breath, and then smiled at each other.

Being by her side, no matter what, no matter where they are, is their happiness. This is their unwavering sentiment for the rest of their lives.

Near the mountain stream stands a small wooden cabin, painted red. A stream flows gently nearby, lush green grass grows, birds sing, and wildflowers bloom in abundance, with a whole garden of wild roses to be planted. A long wooden bridge leads to the other side of the river. Sitting on the bridge, one can watch the sunrise and sunset by day and admire the countless stars at night.

At that moment, under the moonlight, two people sat leaning against each other at the bridgehead. The man gently brushed aside the woman's hair, which was slightly disheveled by the breeze, and then softly asked, "Xiao Jin, are you happy?"

The woman nodded silently, then suddenly took the man's hand and said gently, "Holding your hand, we will grow old together."

To be together for all eternity. For all eternity, this was their promise.

If this is happiness, then so be it.

Volume 4 Side Story: Xiao Quanzi

Extra Chapter: Little Quanzi

My childhood memories

Author: Luo Weiliuyi

My name is Li Quan.

I was born into a poor family. My father was a poor scholar who repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. He dreamed every day of passing the high school entrance exams, but he had to struggle against the harsh reality after waking up. Years of hard study and reading countless works by sages and saints did not bring us a happy life. We continued to struggle to survive at the bottom of society, and my father's temper became increasingly volatile.

Life seemed to be playing a cruel joke, bringing us wave after wave of blows. The year I was born, my father went mad amidst the endless gap between dreams and reality. He was drunk every day, constantly cursing and beating my mother and us. At that time, my mother held me, who had just been born, in one arm and protected my older sister with the other, her back to my father, using her back to shield us from the howling vines and to create a not-so-bright sky for us.

My only solace then was my mother's calloused yet warm hands gently holding my sister's and my hands as she took us to the countryside to fly kites in the warm May sunshine. The kites my mother made were so beautiful; they could fly so high, so very high. Every time, I worried that they would fly away and never come back, taking away my only toy from my childhood. I would beg my mother to let the kite come down, to come down, not to fly so high, so far! My mother would always smile, not answering, but slowly reeling in the line.

My mother worked several jobs to supplement the family income, but she also had to pay two-thirds of the cost of my father's liquor. We often didn't know where our next meal would come from, and we struggled to get by... No matter how hard my mother worked, how much my sister helped, or how well-behaved and sensible I was, life still got worse day by day...

Spring has arrived. One day, I returned from picking wild vegetables, excitedly waving my muddy little hands and shouting into the house, "Mom, sister, look how many wild vegetables I dug up today... there's monkey tail, there's..." I entered our dilapidated little mud house and was stunned by the table full of dishes in front of me. Wow, what a sumptuous feast! It smelled so good; I could even smell the lard. What a wonderful day it is! The New Year is long over. Could it be... that Dad passed the imperial examination?

"Quan'er's back! Come in and eat!" Mother came out of the house, smiling at me. My greedy mouth didn't notice the lump in her throat. I happily ate the rare white steamed buns, along with tofu with scallions, stir-fried carrots with lard, and stir-fried bok choy with lard. Mother kept piling food onto my plate, saying, "Eat more, eat more." I chuckled and said, "Mom, you eat too."

"Mother... Mother isn't hungry... Quan'er, please eat more..."

"Mother, where is my sister? Why hasn't she come out?"

"She... your sister went to return the laundry that Mom had just washed..."

"Oh, is that so... Mother, why are you crying? Mother, don't cry, did Quan'er make you angry? Quan'er will be good from now on, Mother, don't cry..."

"Quan'er is a good boy, Mommy don't cry, let's eat vegetables, come on, eat vegetables, eat more..."

"Mother, where is Father? Has he gone to beg for wine again?"

Just then, my father came in from outside, carrying a pot of wine. I glanced at it and saw a sister who had asked me to recognize her as her "son," so it must be the Daughter's Red wine.

How come Daddy has money to buy this wine today? I remember this wine so well! Last year, when I was three and a half, my sister secretly took me to the winery and used the money she secretly saved from doing show work to buy this wine with the character "儿" (er, meaning daughter) in it. Tsk tsk, this wine is so expensive! My sister told me that this wine is called "Daughter's Red," and it's buried in the ground by families who have daughters when their daughters are born. It's only taken out to drink when the daughter gets married. The bright red wedding dress paired with the fragrant wine is truly a happy moment! I used to laugh at my sister, saying she was desperate to get married! My sister held the little wine jar, her face slightly flushed, her eyelashes fluttering, her eyes shining, and she said longingly, "I really hope I can have such a day!"

"Hehe, I'm so embarrassed, I'm so embarrassed!" I said, tracing my face with my fingers.

"Hehe! Okay! It's my fault for being shy! It's getting late, we should go home! Today is Father's birthday! Hehe!"

"Sister, why are you so good to Father! He always beats us. Look at the wounds on Mother's body, I..." I didn't know how to continue. Thinking of the scabbed wounds on Mother's arms, I...

"Alas, he is still our father. He studied hard for ten years and it wasn't easy for him!"

"Hmph, he's had it tough! But do you think it's easy for us and Mother?!"

"Quan'er!" came my sister's firm voice from above. "When I marry, I must marry a learned man! My husband must be a…!" My sister stopped, blushing. I covered my mouth and chuckled secretly! Hehe, what is my sister thinking…? Hehehe~

"Okay, okay." My sister awkwardly turned her face away, took my hand, and walked towards home...

Father came in, carrying a bottle of wine and smiling. His radiant face showed he was in a good mood, and I secretly breathed a sigh of relief—looks like I won't get a beating today!

Unexpectedly, the first thing my father said when he came in was, "Oh my, kid, you're enjoying your meal. It's been a long time since you've had such a good meal..." I scoffed inwardly. So he knew we didn't usually eat well!

"Your sister, that wretched girl, actually did something good." Uh... what does this meal have to do with my sister? I looked up at my father, puzzled. He was chuckling to himself, stroking his precious wine bottle. I turned away disdainfully to my mother, wanting an answer from her! My mother covered her mouth, her expression pained, her eyes watery and unreadable.

"Mother..." I said in a spoiled tone, "What's wrong? What did my sister make so that we can have food to eat?"

Mother finally broke down in tears, hugging me and saying, "It's all my fault, I'm so useless, I couldn't protect you..." "Mother?" I cried out anxiously, "What happened? Where's my sister? Shouldn't she be back by now? It's almost dark, why isn't she back yet? Mother..." I pushed her, asking anxiously, but she couldn't speak...

"Hmph, return the clothes, is this what you told Quan'er!" Father's disgusting voice came. "Quan'er." This was the first time he had called me that. He used to call me brat. My mother gave me the name Li Quan, saying that she hoped I would be happy and prosperous in the future.

"Quan'er, your father has decided to arrange a private school for you. You'll start school in a few days..." A private school! How expensive! Where will he get the money? I scoffed dismissively, not taking it to heart, but I remembered my sister's joke about marrying a learned man. "Quan'er, study hard and become the top scholar in the imperial examination!"

"Sister..." When I couldn't get an answer from my mother, I turned to look at my father.

"Hey, you silly boy, still thinking about her? That girl's not coming back. She told me to sell her to the cloth shop, Jinzhuang, on the east side of the city. They offered a high price... They said the girl was quite pretty. Humph, with her character, spending all that money on a cheap girl, I really feel sorry for Jinzhuang..." My mind went blank. I couldn't hear what my father was saying anymore. I was only thinking, sell her, sell her! This devil sold his daughter, who had secretly saved up money to buy him Daughter's Red wine, and still complained that his sister wasn't worth the money. Was he worth it? Was he worth it?

It felt like I was back that afternoon, my sister's big, bright eyes sparkling with light, so full of life, so radiant—even the brightest star in the sky couldn't compare! Her smile was so radiant; her face, dull from years of malnutrition, glowed with a captivating light! My sister went home full of hope, but what awaited her? A brutal beating from her father, who accused her of secretly saving money and plotting some shameful thing behind the scenes! Humph, shameful things, huh? What he does is shameful enough to be seen in public—drinking, drunken rampages, beating his wife and abusing his children, and his repeated failures in the imperial examinations! Humph, if it were me, I'd be too ashamed to live!

"You brat, you should thank your sister. Your meal today is still..." I suddenly remembered, "Ugh..." I tried to vomit up the food I ate today, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't vomit. My face was contorted in pain, and I thought of my sister, tears streaming down my face!

"You brat, don't spit it out, this is all money..." Money? I stopped gagging with a bitter smile. With all my might, I overturned the table, dishes and bowls clattering to the floor. The crisp sound drowned out my mother's sobs, but the resentment in my heart didn't lessen. I ran towards my father, who, caught off guard, bumped into me. I snatched the wine jar and smashed it to the ground. I thought, "Drink! Serves you right for drinking! You bastard!" Then I ran out the door without looking back!

From behind came his father's cursing voice, "You brat, don't come back if you dare!" What kind of father would say that to his son?! Not going back?! You think you can just wait? I'll definitely come back, and I'll make sure you never have a moment's peace... never a moment's peace...

I ran to Jinzhuang like a madman, banging on their door and shouting, "Sister, sister, it's Quan'er! Sister, come home with Quan'er! Sister, come... come home with Quan'er! Sister..."

After a while, a servant-like man came out from inside, holding a broom. He looked at me and said, "What's wrong? It's getting dark, why aren't you home yet? Go home! Your sister isn't here. Everyone here came voluntarily!" I grabbed his sleeve, refusing to let go, pleading with him. No, I can't leave. My sister is inside! Sister, sister, Quan'er is coming!!!

Just then, a girl dressed in white approached. The servant, seeing her, showed a hint of joy and bowed respectfully, saying, "Miss..." Miss? The young lady of Jinzhuang?! Perhaps... I lifted my tear-streaked face and looked at the girl. She was a girl about the same age as my sister. Good heavens, I was stunned. Was she really human? How could such a person exist? I'm illiterate and don't know how to describe her; I only felt she was incredibly beautiful, like a fairy descended from heaven. Was she a jade maiden beside Guanyin? Thinking this, I knelt down with a thud. "Sister, you are a goddess! Please save my sister! Save my sister!" I kowtowed several times. Perhaps it was my foolishness, but she actually chuckled. I felt terrible. Was she laughing at me? I thought to myself, my sister would never treat me like this; she would only hold me with heartache. In an instant, my heart was filled with hatred. I thought of the people who used to insult us, the people who kicked us out of the shop, just because we were poor, just because we had a good-for-nothing father, just because... Sister, sister, the whole world is laughing at us. Sister, I will definitely take you back, let's take revenge on Father together, let's take revenge on this dark world together!

The laughter subsided, and a pair of soft hands helped me up. I was stunned. Weren't they mocking me? I struggled to open my misty eyes and saw this woman looking at me with smiling eyes. I blushed, blushing at what I had just thought! No, not everyone is like that... "Don't kneel so easily. A man's knees are worth gold! What, is your sister inside?" A pleasant voice rang out, and I nodded blankly.