Shen Mubai felt a bitterness in his heart. He frowned slightly, making it hard to see his expression clearly, "Mother, please stop talking, I am aware of it."
Mrs. Shen sighed softly, "Mother understands your feelings and knows you don’t like to hear it, but I still must say it."
Shen Mubai: "..."
"The Bai Family of that year, a prominent family in the Capital City, how glorious they were! At their peak, even the current General’s residence couldn’t compare. But everything changed after that girl’s birth."
"First, the second young master of the Bai Family was attacked by sand thieves while procuring goods in Tongzhou. The entire caravan was robbed, and the second young master t a tragic end, dying in the wilderness with no remains."
"Later, the talented third young master of the Bai Family got caught in an examination fraud scandal, exiled three thousand miles, sent to the pestilent lands of Baiyue, whereabouts unknown till now."
"Then, the eldest young master of the Bai Family was implicated in an official salt smuggling case, and even Mr. Bai ended up in prison. By autumn of the following year, the entire Bai Family was executed."
"Bai Ruoxi only escaped trouble because she was already married, and with Mr. Lin pleading for imperial rcy. But she didn’t last long and passed away in lancholy when that girl was three, her soul ascending to the Heaven of Resentnt."
"That girl is a disaster star from heaven, an ominous person. Anyone close to her will encounter misfortune."
"Mubai, the Bai Family once saved your life. I am grateful for her kindness and have never stopped you two."
"But now, eting Qing’er might be fate, a divine rcy unwilling to take you away from , so from now on, do not see her again..."
"Mother!"
Shen Mubai’s eyes turned red, interrupting her in a deep voice, his fists clenched tightly, trembling slightly.
"Wanyue is not!"
"She is not the disaster star you all say!"
"How old was she when those things happened? She was just an infant then, how could those events be related to her?"
"What disaster star or ominous person? It’s utterly absurd and ridiculous! It’s rely the malice forced upon her by others! Do you truly believe it too?"
"Are you really like those people, harboring such heavy malice against an innocent and kind girl?"
Mrs. Shen was montarily speechless at his retort, and after a long pause, she sighed deeply.
"Mubai, it’s not that Mother is prejudiced or malicious toward her, but so things can’t be ignored."
"Do you rember, in the seventh year of Mingde, when your elder and second brothers were about to go to war, she ca to see them off, and that was the last ti they..."
As Mrs. Shen spoke of this, tears stread down her face, but she held back, not crying aloud.
Recalling the past brotherly bond, charging into battle together, laughing amidst enemy slayings, Shen Mubai’s heart ached as if cut by a knife.
He looked at Mrs. Shen, speaking in a hoarse voice, "Mother, the death of my brothers is a wound in everyone’s hearts, but it’s not Wanyue’s fault."
Mrs. Shen took a deep breath, her expression sorrowful, "Then what about in the ninth year of Mingde?"
"That autumn hunt, you nearly lost your life saving her from a tiger. Although you survived, those scars from the tiger’s bites surely remain, right?"
Those scars indeed remained, and Shen Mubai gently closed his eyes, "Mother, the tiger’s attack was an accident, none of this is her fault."
"The world’s many mouths, the prejudice and malice of the populace, what fault is there in Wanyue?"
Mrs. Shen watched him, unable to help but sigh deeply, "I know you’ve been stubborn since childhood, and I know how much she ans to you, but you have Qing’er now, and such thoughts should be put to rest."
Shen Mubai smiled bitterly, "I know. All I wish for now is her safety and happiness, nothing more."
"Since you understand, I hope you’ll stay away from her in the future. I’ve endured the pain of losing a son once, and I cannot bear a second ti."
"Your father and I are in our fifties now, with only you, our son, left. If anything were to happen to you, your father and I couldn’t live on."
Shen Mubai said nothing, feeling as if a giant stone pressed upon his heart, leaving him exhausted and suffocated.
Mrs. Shen looked at him, her gaze complicated, knowing he might not want to hear it, but she spoke anyway.
"After the festival, when spring has sprung, your marriage with Qing’er should be arranged. My greatest wish now is for you to settle down early and extend the Shen Family."
"I’ve consulted, and March 12th is an auspicious day, matching both your birth charts. So, let’s set the wedding for March 12th, shall we?"
"Mother..."
Shen Mubai rubbed his temples, feeling as if his head might explode.
"Let’s discuss this later!"
Mrs. Shen frowned, "You always say that! Every ti I ask, it’s the sa answer! Just how long do you intend to drag this out?"
Shen Mubai: "..."
Seeing the tension rising, Yu Qingyan quickly stepped forward, gracefully bowing:
"Mother, Mu Bai’s old and new injuries haven’t healed yet, so recovering is the priority now. As for the marriage, let’s discuss it when he’s better. What do you think, Mother?"
Her voice was soft and gentle, breeze-like, making it hard to refuse.
In Mrs. Shen’s eyes, if not for Yu Qingyan, her last remaining son would also be gone, so she was extrely grateful to Yu Qingyan and secretly vowed to treat her well.
Once she’s married, she won’t be mistreated and will not suffer any grievances.
...
That evening, as dusk fell, a slender figure moved like a cat, stealthily slipping into the Eastern Palace.
In the dark, deep underground palace, the red Luminous Pearl emitted an eerie glow, while white candles flickered, arranged in an obscure, enigmatic pattern.
It appeared like so ancient Sanskrit incantation or very much like a prival totem.
"Ming River greets the master."
A slender figure knelt on one knee, a woman in black attire, wearing a black veil hat.
"Speak."
The person with their back to her was tall, one hand behind his back, focused intently on the Star Disc in front of him, eyebrows furrowed, deep in thought.
The woman knelt on the ground, not daring to look up, concisely reported:
"Today, soone attempted to kill Lin Wanyue. There were three waves of assassins. Two batches were third-rate assassins, not worth ntioning, but the last group was unusual."
The man’s gaze shifted slightly, but he did not turn around, "What is their origin?"
"It’s currently unknown. However, judging by their martial arts style, it seems to be from Nanyue’s side."
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