WMSG Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Why are there Miao people everywhere?

Before Ye Yueshen could completely turn his head, Xuédōng cried out, “Heavens! Why did these scourges come to this peaceful place?”

Liu Qingying stood there wearing a dark gray cloth garment, his hair tied back tightly with only a strip of cloth. He carried a bundle of firewood on his back.

Meeting here was clearly unexpected for both of them. Ye Yueshen couldn’t quite define his attitude toward him. When Liu Qingying first tricked him into Gong Shengyin’s hands, he was so resentful he wanted to smash the wall, regretting his overflow of sympathy. Why was he so desperate for friends? He had clearly seen Liu Qingying’s rejection of him before.

But regret was useless. At that time, Ye Yueshen was left with only despair. He didn’t know if he would ever be released, and even believed he would encounter something bad. Compared to Gong Xunwu, Gong Shengyin was unbearable in his heart.

At that time, Ye Yueshen couldn’t afford to hate Liu Qingying too much.

After escaping the tiger’s den, recalling the details about Liu Qingying again, the hate and resentment became unclear, leaving only sighs.

“I…” Liu Qingying took a step back, his hands clutching the bag binding the firewood, looking anxiously at Xuédōng, then at Ye Yueshen, as if seeking help, yet also shrinking back.

Ye Yueshen didn’t speak, just watched him indifferently, waiting to see what he wanted to say.

“Zherong…” Liu Qingying’s tone weakened.

Xuédōng snorted coldly and stepped forward angrily. This was a Buddhist temple. Ye Yueshen stopped Xuédōng: “We can’t cause trouble.”

Xuédōng was stopped, but couldn’t help but angrily scold: “Who allowed you to call our young master by his childhood name?”

“Zherong…” Liu Qingying’s eyes turned red. Seeing that Ye Yueshen still had no intention of speaking up for him, he lowered his head and called out in a very aggrieved voice: “Young Master Yue.”

Ye Yueshen took a deep breath and ordered: “Xuédōng, go outside and keep watch. Don’t let anyone in.”

“But…” Xuédōng hesitated, leaving the dagger he carried with Ye Yueshen for self-defense before going out.

Liu Qingying untied the straps on his shoulders. Because the firewood was too heavy, he almost fell when he untied them. Without thinking, Ye Yueshen went over to help him steady himself.

The bundle of firewood landed steadily. Liu Qingying turned to look at Ye Yueshen. Ye Yueshen was still Ye Yueshen, the third young master born to the Marquis and Junzhu. But Liu Qingying knew Ye Yueshen had suffered a lot.

He guiltily avoided his gaze: “My father and brothers all… Young Master Yue reminded me back then. I was the one who didn’t know what was good for me, focusing all my attention on the Fifth Prince. I didn’t take your advice seriously… There’s really nothing to say about these things. That day, I used this to provoke Young Master Yue’s compassion and deceived Young Master Yue. Young Master Yue already comforted me.”

Ye Yueshen blinked, not saying anything.

Liu Qingying sighed: “I don’t want to think about the past. I’m of lowly status, and I suffered because of my wishful thinking. There’s nothing to complain about…”

Ye Yueshen couldn’t help but say: “I don’t agree with that. What’s so great about Gong Shengyin that it counts as wishful thinking? You just misjudged people, at most you were just stupid.”

“You’re still the same as before.” A little bitter smile appeared on Liu Qingying’s face: “Zherong.”

Hearing this name again, they both felt a little dazed. Ye Yueshen took a step back to distance himself from him, wanting for a moment to stop him from calling out so intimately. But if he didn’t allow someone who considered himself of low status to call him by his childhood name, and instead had him address him as “Young Master,” it would be a bit beyond Ye Yueshen’s acceptance. He didn’t think he’d been poisoned to that extent.

“You’re always so sincere.” Liu Qingying looked at him: “In the Fifth Prince’s eyes, I’m the milkmaid’s son. In your eyes, I’m Liu Qingying. It’s a pity I was so obsessed before that I only admit it now.”

Ye Yueshen felt a little unbearable: “Is that what you wanted to tell me?”

Liu Qingying didn’t retreat because of his deliberately impatient demeanor. Instead, he relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief: “My father and brothers received a large reward. Now they’re buying houses and saving face, but they’re all injured or crippled. It wasn’t worth it.”

He caressed the dry skin on his hands. Ye Yueshen followed his movements and glanced at it. Judging from his sun- and wind-beaten appearance, he had been in the temple for some time.

“Zherong, the only person I’m really sorry to is you.” Liu Qingying’s eyes turned red, and his eyes were wet.

Ye Yueshen looked at him, not knowing if this was his final outcome, or if it was a transition before his grand reunion with the protagonist Gong Shengyin.

But looking at his desolate appearance, and remembering that he was the original protagonist in the book, even if he was just a decorative character, Ye Yueshen couldn’t help but feel melancholy.

If it followed the ending of the original book, he would at least get what he sought, and his wish would be fulfilled.

But in the current situation, Ye Yueshen had been petty and habitually depressed lately. He couldn’t help but attribute the reason to his own intervention.

Ye Yueshen said stubbornly: “It’s good that you know.”

“I thought you were going to take revenge on me.” Liu Qingying smiled, tears running down his cheeks at the same time: “But look, you didn’t even say a harsh word to me. Please don’t be like this. You’ll suffer. They’ll all bully you.”

Ye Yueshen frowned, his eyes also reddening: “What are you? Why are you saying these things to me?”

“Don’t cry.” Liu Qingying offered his dust-covered handkerchief. Ye Yueshen turned his head away and didn’t take it, still stubbornly saying: “Who’s crying? Don’t be so presumptuous.”

“I actually felt ashamed of myself for helping the Fifth Prince deceive you.” Liu Qingying put away the handkerchief: “But I still did it… I wanted to do one last thing for him, and then I’d let go. There’s nothing to argue about. At the time, compared to your safety and my self-esteem, he was definitely more important. You can blame me, whatever you want, but I don’t want to lie to you.”

Ye Yueshen glared at him fiercely, then turned his head away again. In fact, his red eyes had no deterrent power at all.

“You’re more perceptive and intelligent than me. You just have bad luck.” Liu Qingying looked at him: “I hope everything goes well for you in the future.”

Ye Yueshen felt short of breath. The ending of the original book was like a tragic backdrop highlighting this moment. Gong Shengyin and Liu Qingying’s happy ending after suffering, disgusting and grandly reunited.

Ye Yueshen’s head ached from their cheerful laughter. He felt dazed, even a little unable to distinguish between reality and the past, muttering, “If I hadn’t come, if I had never appeared, you would be together…”

But Liu Qingying said: “Don’t torture yourself over a point of no return, and don’t think too highly of the other path at the fork. The divergences in life may not be permanently divergent, maybe they are constantly entangled. Fate will push you to that original path. Our strength is unable to resist it. This isn’t your personal fault.”

The words Ye Yueshen used to comfort him at the time, he remembered every word, but at the time he didn’t know the weight of these words, which was actually worth more than youthful obsession.

Liu Qingying showed a relieved smile: “Zherong, I’m very happy to see you again.”

Ye Yueshen took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. He walked past Liu Qingying and said indifferently, “I’m not happy.”

Seeing Ye Yueshen come out, Xuédōng followed him with concern: “Third Master, your face looks terrible. What’s wrong?”

Ye Yueshen didn’t speak. Xuédōng chattered on: “Third Master, don’t be angry. Look at how down and out he is now. It’s retribution. You should feel happy.”

“Don’t talk.” Ye Yueshen saw Junzhu coming out. He quickened his pace to meet her and helped Junzhu into the carriage.

After returning to the manor, Ye Yueshen went to bed for a nap, sleeping until dusk before waking up. Compared to when he first returned home, with a cold face that showed everyone he was unhappy, after waking up, he fiddled with his jewelry box in front of the dressing table for a while. The lacquered box was filled with treasures sent by Gong Xunwu.

Ye Yueshen dumped out all the glittering treasures, then methodically placed them into individual small compartments. If Liu Qingying had found his own way to liberation, there was no reason why he couldn’t. Ye Yueshen thought so.

Yǐnjiàn saw this and quietly retreated, telling Ye Yuanshen, who was waiting outside, “Eldest Master, the Third Master looks much more energetic. He’s counting his treasures. This servant believes that being fond of money is a sign of vitality. Eldest Master, you can rest assured.”

Ye Yuanshen didn’t mind her wording and nodded before leaving.

During the evening meal, the family sat together. While talking about matters in the Imperial Palace, Ye Yuanshen secretly sized up Ye Yueshen, who seemed to have a good appetite. He had already eaten two buns, a bowl of fragrant rice, and was gnawing a chicken leg at the bottom of the bowl messily, while holding a piece of tender pork knuckle in his hand.

He ate terribly, but fortunately his face made him seem less impolite. Even Junzhu couldn’t bear to be critical, only thinking that her son was hungry.

After Ye Yueshen finished eating, he wiped his fingers one by one with a handkerchief, then quietly waited for them to talk, absentmindedly, and even accidentally yawned.

“Little Yue, go back and rest.” Marquis Ye took the initiative to let him leave.

After Ye Yueshen made a polite gesture, Junzhu also said it was fine, so he got up and left, taking a palm-sized piece of glutinous rice cake with him.

After he left, Ye Yuanshen said, “Qi Wang received a beating for seeing Little Yue. He wanted to leave the palace right after being beaten, but the Empress Dowager stopped him and summoned the Imperial Physician to treat him. Imperial Physician Ju Su has not left the palace, and it is rumored that the beating was severe.”

Ye Lingshen clicked his tongue: “Will this ever end?”

The family was silent for a while, and Junzhu said: “Based on my understanding of Qi Wang, I’m afraid he will come soon. Ling’er, you have nothing to do tomorrow anyway, go and keep your younger brother company tonight.”

Ye Yueshen originally had a small appetite, but he had eaten too much tonight and couldn’t sit still. He called Xuédōng to take a walk in the small alley in front of the door, walking from east to west, and then from west to east.

When they reached the end, they heard someone muttering something around the corner. Ye Yueshen held his breath and listened for a while, then turned to Xuédōng and said, “Why are there Miao people everywhere?”

“That shouldn’t be.” Xuédōng went over to take a look. Two Miao people seemed to have passed by and had already walked away: “What are they doing here? Miao people who come to the capital are usually in the bustling city. Even if they live further away, they wouldn’t come here. They don’t look like they can afford houses here.”

“Could they be scouting?” Ye Yueshen asked: “Don’t tell me they’re coming for me.”

Xuédōng also became nervous: “Then let’s go back to the manor quickly.”

“I’m just saying.” Ye Yueshen stretched lazily: “Even if they’re coming for me, we’re at our own doorstep. There’s nothing to be afraid of. They can’t possibly bully me at my own door, right?”

The two walked back and forth a few more times. When it was completely dark, Ye Yueshen finally felt a little sleepy. He yawned: “Let’s go back.”

Just as they were about to enter the door, they seemed to hear fighting sounds in the distance. Ye Yueshen stopped again. Xuédōng urged: “Third Master, let’s go in quickly. They’re fighting over there.”

Ye Yueshen stretched his head to listen for a while: “Since they’re already fighting, that means it has nothing to do with us. I want to go see the excitement.”