Feng Shijin stopped his curses, his eyes, so similar to Lingyao's, gradually widened.
"What did you say?"
"What did I say? Doesn't Your Majesty know? General Shenwu rescued Lingyao from human traffickers. Do you think human traffickers would have treated her well, like a princess?"
"You've only been here for a month, and you've become like this. After a few months, if she stood before you, would you even recognize her?"
"You say that Lingyao, who was as soft as dough since childhood, when scared by fierce dogs, did she also have nightmares every night, did she lose a lot of hair, did she eat rotten food every day, was she dragged around like an animal, bought and sold at will, and humiliated at will?"
Feng Shihao's face began to contort, and with great effort, he controlled his features from trembling.
Feng Shijin, however, seemed stunned, digging his hands into the ground, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"Impossible, this is impossible... She is a goddess... she has destiny with her... no one would dare treat her like that."
Then, he seemed to suddenly understand, glaring fiercely at Feng Shihao and roaring, "You're lying, you're slandering the goddess's reputation. I know, you want to usurp the throne, you want to pull Lingyao down from her pedestal, you want to monopolize the royal power!"
"Hahahaha!" Feng Shihao burst into laughter, his laughter laced with sorrow.
"Feng Shijin, you actually understand everything, but you dare not admit it. You only think of her glorious past, and refuse to believe that even a noble phoenix can fall into the mud. Do you think piling beautiful things onto her can hide her ugly scars?"
"She has no ugly scars, she is perfect, you are not allowed to speak of her like that!"
Feng Shijin roared until his throat was about to tear, unsure if he was speaking to himself or to someone else, but his pained expression revealed everything.
He knew, he knew that General Shenwu had bought her from human traffickers.
But he never dared to ask, never dared to touch upon it, pretending not to know the unspeakable things she had endured, thinking that way, his imperial sister would still be the beloved little princess, well protected.
He refused to admit that they had failed to protect her. That painful year, the year he and Wen Tang lost her, he had subconsciously blocked it out.
He thought that when she returned, she would be the same as before, enjoying the best, being the noblest goddess, and that all the past should not be recalled.
Therefore, he also refused to acknowledge Xiao Shan, because his existence was a constant reminder that his imperial sister had been saved by a lowly commoner, and how useless they had been.
"Poor imperial sister, to stabilize the regime for someone like you. General Shenwu risked his life to expel the Tartars and guard the mountains and rivers. Feng Shijin, what did you do to make Lingyao abandon you and leave? Do you really not know?"
Feng Shijin clenched his fists tightly, his voice hoarse, "She didn't abandon me, she didn't abandon me! I am her closest brother, you bastard, don't try to sow discord between us!"
"Yes, you are her closest brother, so what you did must have broken her heart even more! Feng Shijin, have you also longed for someone to save you these past few days, even fantasizing that someone could save you from hell, and you would grant them official titles and bestow upon them glory like a brother for a lifetime?
Have you ever thought about what your imperial sister was thinking at the time? Did she also wish for someone to appear like a god and save her from her suffering? For that, she would regard him as a deity and dedicate her everything to him?
This person appeared, it wasn't you, nor was it me, but Xiao Shan! Was it just saving her? It was giving her a rebirth! Moreover, her later life could be lived for Xiao Shan!
You have no right to say no. Since you didn't appear then, you have no right to interfere with her life under the guise of brotherly affection!
Therefore, you must have done something irreversible. That abandoned altar, and the words the Great Shaman spoke before his death, that Jing country would have no more goddesses, what did it mean, you know better than anyone!"
Jing country has no more goddesses!
Nirvana, rebirth, time reversal!
The bond with the royal family is broken!
Chaotic voices rushed into his mind. Feng Shijin clutched his head. Those thoughts he had deliberately hidden, suppressed, could no longer be dodged!
"Stop talking! Stop talking! I didn't, I didn't! I didn't do anything... I..."
Feng Shihao looked at Feng Shijin, who was weeping and devastated, without any joy of revenge. Instead, his heart felt heavier and more stifled.
General Shenwu had returned to the village, but there was no woman by his side.
So, where did Lingyao go?
Did the so-called nirvana fail?
"Keep an eye on him, just make sure he doesn't die!" Feng Shihao instructed the guards.
Then, remembering something, he turned back, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, the empress you chose poisoned two concubines and has been banished to the cold palace by me. You won't mind, will you?"
Feng Shijin was still lost in his own thoughts, muttering repeatedly, showing no reaction.
Feng Shihao let out a cold sneer.
It's only been a month, and there's still a long way to go! He wouldn't let him out until he was completely broken!
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a year had gone by.
The snow sealed the mountains, and Qingyun Mountain was a world of silver, with crystal-clear icicles hanging from the branches. It was a pure and dreamy world, forming a boundary with the cooking smoke at the foot of the mountain.
Xiao Shan opened the door and sat by the stove, brewing tea, his eyes fixed on a certain spot on the mountain.
He was not afraid of the cold, but this home was always prepared for the arrival of its mistress.
There were two other people in the house: General Yuan Bufeng, who had returned from the army for the New Year, and Yutou, who had been promoted to a squad leader in the reconnaissance battalion.
Yutou was wearing a military uniform, with a majestic tiger head embroidered on his chest, the standard uniform of the Tiger Wing Army. He had also brought a follower back with him this time.
Xiao Shan understood the desire of a young man to return home and show off. His deliberately mature and steady gait when facing the villagers was too obvious.
This made Yuan Bufeng speechless, wishing he could immediately send him back to the border town.
Xiao Shan, however, felt it was fine. Young people should have some vitality and silliness, unlike him...
Besides, he was just showing off, with no other bad intentions. Upon his return, he knew to burn incense at the old village chief's grave and pay respects to the clan elders.
Even the family that had only given him a bite of steamed bun in the past received gifts.
Gratitude and repayment, truly commendable.
"You little brat, hurry up and go show off. If you don't go now, you'll miss your chance. We leave after the sixth day!"
Yuan Bufeng sent away Yutou, who was fidgeting as if he had thorns on his backside, and turned to continue chatting with Xiao Shan.
"Brother, why are you always looking at that mountain? Honestly, do you want to go to the border town for a change of scenery this time?"
As for what his brother had said earlier, that his sister-in-law was recuperating outside and would return after her recovery, only that foolish boy Yutou believed it. He wasn't a child.
Why wouldn't his brother be with her if she was recuperating? Could he be at ease?
Perhaps she was truly gone, and his brother refused to face reality.
"Your brothers all miss you! Old Wu couldn't come back this time and was very upset, cursing you for days."
"Also, remember that Xiangxiang Wine House not far from the barracks? The owner's daughter asks about you every day. Maybe she's really taken a liking to you."