"Since marrying into your family, what kind of life have I lived? Do you think that madwoman treated me any better? Besides finding fault with me and scolding me, what else did she do? I am also a daughter cherished by my parents, why should I endure her humiliation!"
"Even our child, only a month into pregnancy, was killed by her!"
"It was her... " Under her mental derangement, it wasn't intentional... Liu Donghuai stopped speaking. He admitted that he had failed her in this matter.
"She blamed me for losing the money on the road. After coming to the capital, she made me beg at the city gates every day. Do you know how humiliated I was? I am also a lady, I have dignity, why would she debase me like this? I hate her! I hate her to death! She deserved to die, deserved to die!"
Su Yurou's face was contorted with ferocity, utterly unfamiliar. Liu Donghuai suddenly couldn't recall what she looked like when they first met.
What is dignity? Is it lost by openly asking for a bite to eat, or preserved by doing something scandalous in secret?
He knew his mother and she weren't on good terms, and her life after marrying him wasn't as good as before. So, he tried his best to treat her well and to mediate their relationship.
However, apart from his mother's illness causing her to fall and lose the child, the rest were just trivial matters. Could these truly make her hate so much?
He could forgive her infidelity, but he could not forgive her for killing his mother!
Ultimately, it was all just finding excuses for her own actions.
Such a woman only cared about herself. Previously, he only thought that his family was poor and had failed her, making her always think of going to her parents' home for food. He never retorted when his teacher reprimanded him, feeling ashamed and working hard to save money, wanting to give her a better life.
In reality, it wasn't that. As his mother said, she was someone who only enjoyed without working. If life was smooth, it was fine, but once trouble arose, she completely abandoned her human bottom line.
For a bite to eat, she was willing to become someone else's plaything.
Heh, the daughter of a scholarly family. How ironic.
No wonder she ruined her reputation to marry him back then. It wasn't that he was so important to her, but that her reputation meant too little to her!
"Be careful not to startle His Majesty. Hurry and drag this madwoman away!" Cao Li berated those beside him.
Su Yurou's crime was not punishable by death, but it was no different from death. What good end could a woman have after entering prison?
Mingde Emperor observed Liu Donghuai's expression and could see his sorrow, but he had no intention of kicking him while he was down or condemning him to death.
He couldn't help but nod in approval.
As his imperial sister had said, his character was pure and good.
"Liu Donghuai—I wish I had never met you!" Su Yurou screamed as she was dragged away.
The case was clear, and the subsequent proceedings involved sentencing.
Those implicated in the Dali Temple, including the Deputy Minister, were all sentenced to death. The Minister of Dali Temple was also demoted. The neighbors and scholars who provided false testimony were sent to prison.
Liu Donghuai was released unconditionally. He kowtowed to thank the Emperor for his grace and stepped out of the Ministry of Justice, feeling somewhat lost.
Suddenly, he didn't know where to go.
His past ideals and ambitions no longer seemed so compelling.
"Get in the carriage!"
A shout, and a carriage appeared before him.
The driver was the guard beside Princess Lingxi.
This life could be said to have been saved by Princess Lingxi. Liu Donghuai was naturally filled with gratitude. What merit did he, a fallen scholar, possess?
"Liu Donghuai, follow this guard into the palace!"
Tu Lang beckoned Liu Donghuai into the carriage. They first took him to an inn to wash up and eat something. After he felt better, they drove the carriage into the palace.
Even at this point, Liu Donghuai was still filled with doubts. How could he, a commoner, receive the protection of a princess, face the Emperor, and enter the imperial palace?
What kind of unbelievable luck was this?
It wasn't until he was brought to the Phoenix Palace that he realized the person he was meeting was not Princess Lingxi, but the divine maiden of Jing Kingdom, Princess Lingyao.
The Phoenix Palace was heavily guarded, with layers of checkpoints. The carved railings and painted beams stood majestically. He only glanced at it once before daring not to look up again.
Tulu led him to the front of the hall. "Go in!"
Liu Donghuai entered the courtyard gate with reverence. Because he was looking down, he almost bumped into someone. He looked up and saw a beautiful woman in magnificent attire looking at him coldly.
"Greetings, Divine Maiden Your Highness." He quickly knelt and bowed.
Qinghe moved aside, a faint smile appearing in her eyes. "Go in, Divine Maiden Your Highness is waiting for you inside."
Huh? Mistaken the person?
Liu Donghuai quickly got up. The woman had already left. A palace maid approached. "Young Master Liu, please follow this servant."
Liu Donghuai's face flushed, and he quickly followed.
"Your subject Liu Donghuai pays his respects to Divine Maiden Your Highness."
This time, it was correct!
Liu Donghuai only dared to glance at the hem of the woman's skirt, bowing respectfully.
"Liu Donghuai, it's been a long time!"
The crisp voice was like heavenly music. Those who had heard this voice would likely not forget it easily. Liu Donghuai instinctively looked up.
"Miss Xiao! You're alive?" he exclaimed involuntarily.
"Bold! How dare you curse the Divine Maiden!" Yu Liu reprimanded loudly.
Before Liu Donghuai could react, Lingyao waved her hand, signaling for them to withdraw. "I want to chat with my friend."
Hearing the address "Miss Xiao" again, Lingyao felt a sense of closeness.
After Yu Liu and Yu Shan retreated, Lingyao beckoned to the stunned Liu Donghuai. She was sitting at a table eating a bowl of chicken and fish soup. "I'm not dead. My imperial brother found me and brought me back to the capital."
"Would you like some? You look thinner. The imperial examinations are approaching, you need to take care of your body, otherwise, you won't be able to endure."
"..." Liu Donghuai suddenly lost the ability to speak.
Princess Lingyao, the divine maiden rumored throughout the land, a divine maiden who shared the same reverence as the Emperor. He had heard of her when returning books at the bookstore, but she seemed so distant, not someone a small figure like him could interact with.
But this divine maiden was Miss Xiao?
In Donglin County, when he heard about her accident, he actually didn't believe it. He even returned to Bozi Village under the guise of paying respects to the village chief, only to see a scorched ruin. Brother Xiao had also disappeared.
He sat in the forest where he used to study for an entire afternoon, feeling empty.
Now, Miss Xiao sat here alive and well, and was the noble and unattainable Divine Maiden Your Highness.
Who could tell him if this was real or a dream?
Alas, entering the capital once, losing his mother, and losing his wife, it was indeed a devastating blow. The person had become foolish.
"Liu Donghuai, things will pass. Cheer up. You have seen darkness, so you must be a light to cleave through this darkness. Don't be defeated by the temporary cruelty!"
"Why are you still kneeling? Get up quickly!"
"My belly is already this big, do you still need me to help you?" Lingyao stood up and made a gesture as if to walk towards him.
Liu Donghuai flinched back several steps in fright, then as if awakened by a cold wind, he stood up on his own.
"Miss Xiao, no, I mean, Divine Maiden Your Highness, you, you are truly... the Divine Maiden?"
"Yes! Haven't you heard? Princess Lingyao was harmed by villains during her journey for a political marriage, but was fortunately saved by General Shenwu and has been living in seclusion in a mountain village. Isn't that what they're all saying on the streets?"
He had heard it, but he hadn't had time to listen carefully. He was busy copying books...
So, Brother Xiao was General Shenwu?