It was on a narrow path with a horse standing there at sunset.
Glancing at all the family members, Wu Suijun set his gaze on Wu Jin. He said nothing, then he rode on the horse and sped away with dust swirling in the air.
Wu Jin took a deep breath with full of energy in his eyes. When his father came back, he wanted to demonstrate to his father that he was able enough to guard the entire Wu Family!
With Wu Suijun, the head of the Wu Family dispatched to the border, the Wu Family fell out of favor completely.
Although Wu Suijun was still a Third-Grade General, no one dared to engage closely with the Wu Family since Dongfang Xiao had cracked down Wu Suijun in public that day. The Wu Family members who used to walk around arrogantly disappeared suddenly, which was embarrassing indeed.
…
After dozens of miles along the official road in the east of Yunjing City, one could see an osmanthus forest. Although it was just past the period of the blossom, Su Li could still smell the slight sweetness.
The carriage drove down the official road and went deep along the path in the osmanthus forest. A huge yard gradually emerged out of the thick woods.
Su Li found Dongfang Rui here but did not say anything.
Squeak—
The carriage stopped in front of the yard. Wu Bin jumped off the carriage, and immediately installed the wooden ladder. Then he lifted the carriage curtain and said, “Master, Miss, here we are.”
After the incident of the Wu Family, Dongfang Rui once again proposed that Su Li should recognize her ancestry. Su Li’s answer left Dongfang Rui speechless.
“My family name is Su.”
However, Su Li did not protest against the addressing method of Wu Bin.
Wu Bin was joyous inside and hinted Dongfang Rui with eye contact, who just came to himself from the long memories. With hesitation flashing in his eyes, Dongfang Rui said, “Li, go in and look around. This is the yard I built for your mother.”
Having a glance at Wu Bin, Su Li opened the door and went in quietly.
Wu Bin got excited, and whispered to Dongfang Rui, “Master, it is clear that Miss is accepting you now. You should be happy.”
Dongfang Rui was cheered up a little bit. A bitter smile was put on his face. For more than a decade, he had never come to the yard. There were too many memories about him and Yun here.
It was Su Li who revitalized him to set foot on this territory again.
Walking into the yard, Su Li, who was just distracted, felt pacified by the smell of the sandalwood.
The yard was not huge but was arranged in a unique and ingenious way with all functions. Different from the Lord Rui’s Mansion, the structure presented with woman’s softness everywhere, which made her very comfortable.
It must be designed by mother.
She crossed her fingers through the artificial rocks and trees. When she walked down the path, her look became more peaceful. The rush to kill which remained in her heart for the previous nights vanished at the moment.
It was obvious that someone had dedicated to cleaning the yard and maintaining its original appearance. The cleaning was done in a very careful manner.
Su Li regained herself from thought, and gently pushed the door open. A stream of cold air was coming at her. The furniture in the house was in style popular more than a decade ago but remained dustless. She touched the desk surface and sat down.
Was mother used to sit here studying day in and day out?
Suddenly, Su Li saw the clothes stacked on the bed next to the pillow. She got up and walked over to pick it up.
It was a baby’s silk dress. Mother should have not known that she was pregnant, but she had already prepared clothes for her baby. Was she expecting her birth?
Su Li was lost in thought, holding the silk dress in her hands. She seemed to see a woman with a vague face sitting on the edge of the bed, organizing the clothes while expecting.
Tears came out her eyes and dripped on the clothes.
It turned out that she had been so carefully taken care of and looked forward by a woman.
“Mother.”
Su Li tried to make a sound. Some hoarse voices echoed in the room, as if someone was responding.
“Miss, the incense and candles are ready,” said Wu Bin. Su Li reorganized herself and walked outside after the tears vaporized.
This house was built for her mother by father. Now the tomb of her mother was situated here.
Following Wu Bin, she climbed the mountain behind the yard. On a very open hill top, Su Li saw Dongfang Rui beside a low slope. He seemed quite lonely.
Su Rui approached the grave and saw the words on the tombstone.
It read “The Tomb of the Deceased Wife Su Yun and Child” and “Established by Husband Dongfang Rui.”
It was a very simple tombstone without the epitaph to record Su Yun’s life. Moreover, the tombstone was made of regular materials.
“Your mother likes simplicity. If I get things complicated, she would definitely blame me again.”
Dongfang Rui took a deep breath and pretended to smile with ease, “I wanted to bury your mother into the imperial mausoleum, but the Queen Mother was still alive. I couldn’t disobey her, so, I can only bury your mother here. Maybe this is just what your mother wanted. The tomb of the Dongfang Family is too dirty for her.”
Su Li looked at Wu Bin, who was standing far and did not attempt to near. She couldn’t help but sigh, ignited the incense and candles and kneeled towards the tomb without hesitation. She planted the burning incense in the soft soil and cleaned the dust on the tombstone.
“No need to pretend to be strong in front of me.”
The plain words of his daughter reduced Dongfang Rui to tears at once. His tone was trembling slightly, “Your mother must say I became soft again. Never mind…”
He came over every year, and every time he couldn’t help but wail. Why today was an exception?
Taking a deep breath, Dongfang Rui took the wrapped head and put it on the top of the tombstone after uncovering the shroud. His eyes were filled with pleasure, “Yun, I did it. I’ve found our daughter and cut the head of our enemy. You can rest in peace now.”
The wind came across faces like whispers around the ear.
Su Li removed weeds around the grave, and looked down the mountain. The entire slope was covered by the osmanthus forest. The scenery was quite splendid.
She suddenly felt relaxed. At least when her mother was alive, she had led a happy life. There was a man who loved her deeply. She didn’t spend her life in vain and she must be happy in the other world.
After a long silence, Su Li turned around and said, “Lord Rui, can I have some moments with my mother?”
There was a hint of disappointment in the eyes of Dongfang Rui yet he still cared about Su Li, “It’s not early. I am waiting for you at the foot of the mountain for two hours. Talk to your mother then.”
“Fine.”
Knowing that Dongfang Rui was leaving, the proprietress hiding in the grass immediately tried to follow up but was stopped by Xuan Jingzhou. A voice was transmitted instantly.
“Are you still obsessed with it? Even if you don’t care about everything that Dongfang Rui had done, what about Yun? Would Yun be happy if you killed him? What about Li?”
The proprietress’s figure slightly shook. She seemed extremely sad and self-accused. After a long time, she suddenly released power as if she had lost all her strength. Then she went down the hill.
“Let’s go. I don’t have the courage to face Li.”
She was always clear that if she could arrive earlier on that day, Yun would…not have to die.
After Dongfang Rui left, there were nothing left at the tombstone except Su Li and the head.
Su Li gently stroked the tombstone, just like touching her mother’s cheek.
“Mother, I always know that that man owes you nothing. He remains unmarried and has been looking for me around the world in these years. But how can I address him father?”
She still remembered that she had poisoned Dongfang Rui in her previous life. She watched the man spitting black blood out of his mouth. She derived great joy from the scene and wore ferociousness on her face.
Then Su Zipei appeared and told the truth. Dongfang Rui died with astonishment and remorse in his eyes. The picture kept lingering in her mind.
Would this grave sin be easily wiped off if she started over?
“Monsters like you and me deserve a terrible death to repay our great sins. I will wait for you in the hell. Hahahaha…”
What Ye Tian said before she died resurfaced in her head. Su Li’s eyes got wet. She sat near the tombstone and slowly held tight her arms.
At this moment, she was neither a wise female strategist nor “Mr. Li” in charge of everything. She was nothing but a sixteen-year-old girl who had no one to share her guilt.
The mountain wind hit hard, which made the shroud creak. Finally, the head was blown at the feet of Su Li.
Su Li raised her head and stared at the head for a long while.
Suddenly, her brows wrinkled gently, and she noticed something abnormal. A golden light condensed in her eyes. Su Li discovered Wu Lirong’s face suddenly became distorted and turned into another one.
This was not Wu Lirong’s head.
Su Li retook a sullen look. Her cultivation was triggered by the anger, convulsing everything around her.
Being wrathful, she smashed the head with a palm. Blood was spilled everywhere.
Wu Lirong was not dead yet.
She slowly rose up. At this moment, she was furious and also very calm.
It could maintain such an appearance after death that even she could not see any clues. It seemed that such superb disguise skill was not related to the martial arts circle. Instead, it was likely to be a technique practiced by the Real Spiritual Circle！
Was Wu Lirong actually connected to the Real Spiritual Circle?
An hour later, the horizon was dyed with the red glow of sunset. Su Li came down from the mountain, and Dongfang Rui quickly took out a thick cloak and put it on Su Li. “Butler Wu said that it gets windy on the mountain, and wear more to get warm.”
Su Li answered gently and stepped into the carriage. She did not tell Dongfang Rui about the incident of Wu Lirong. In order to avenge her mother, Dongfang Rui had already irritated Dongfang Xiao, and made an enemy with the Wu Family. For the time being it was not appropriate to act rashly. She would take it from here.
Having seen Su Li embarked on the carriage in obedience and softened her tune, Dongfang Rui got on the carriage with satisfaction and then they left.
At the same time, in an ordinary house in Yunjing City, Wu Lirong carefully opened the door and walked in. In the dimly lit house, a small oil lamp was burning. Her shadow looked horrible against the light. Wu Lirong saw the shadow enlarged under the light, and suddenly let out a sigh of relief. She closed the door.
At this moment, a chilling voice rose quietly. “Wu Lirong, I risked being exposed to help you escape. Should you also fulfill your promise and help me find the whereabouts of Ning Qing?”
Wu Lirong got goose bumps on her back as if she was stalked by a viper in the dark, and she would be eaten alive in the next moment.
Cold sweat appeared on her forehead and slowly she turned, flattering as she said, “Have patience, sir. As you know, I am in a quite dangerous situation now. How can I send someone to inquire about Ning Qing so easily? Why not wait just a few more days? Maybe when everything is settled down…”
Bang!
A three-feet sword flew over Wu Lirong’s neck in a flash, which was nailed to the wooden door behind her, creaking.
“Ah, ah, ah!”
Wu Lirong was so frightened that she screamed while covering her neck. Suddenly another item flew to her. Her mouth was stuffed with a steamed bread.
“If you really want to die, keep screaming!”
