Chapter 116

Luo Minghuan wore a dispirited look on her face when she returned.

Jun Zishu knew that Luo Minghuan's mind must be in turmoil right now, so she didn't try to pester her. Instead, she quietly waited by Luo Minghuan's side and mimicked whatever the other party did.

"Let me be alone for a while," Luo Minghuan said as she pinched Jun Zishu's cheek before locking herself in a side room.

Meanwhile, Jun Zishu nodded and gave Luo Minghuan the space she needed.

Luo Minghuan had a strong mental fortitude. She only had difficulty calming down and sorting out her thoughts because of her anger. Rather than the concern of others, what she needed now was a quiet environment to think properly.

Lord Luo did not lie to Luo Minghuan. Everything he said was the truth, albeit a bloody and disgusting truth.

The mental image Luo Minghuan had of her mother had always been perfect. She had always considered her mother the weak and kind one, while her father the root of all evil. So, it was only natural that Luo Minghuan had difficulty facing reality when the truth was suddenly overturned.

Jun Zishu had known the truth since the very beginning, so she couldn't help but pity Luo Minghuan.

Luo Minghuan had originally thought that she was already in hell. However, she had never expected that the truth behind her mother's death would push her even deeper into the abyss.

In reality, the entire Luo family was abnormal.

In Jun Zishu's opinion, Luo Minghuan's mother should be a neurotic with a pessimistic personality.

Although Luo Minghuan's mother loved Lord Luo, she loved herself more. She also only believed in herself and nobody else, which was why she didn't have much compassion for her children. Specifically, she didn't have any compassion for children with no value.

After learning that her son would grow up into a fool, Luo Minghuan's mother must've felt that her son would only grow to become more and more of a disadvantage to her in the future. Setting aside what others would say, just the annoyance he could potentially cause to Lord Luo was already more than enough to worry her.

To make matters worse, her daughter had an unhealthy body and could potentially pass away at any moment.

With her two children in such a terrible state, it basically meant that the Luo family would not have any successors to the family business. At this rate, Lord Luo was bound to have to find a successor sooner or later, which would spell disaster for her.

So, to prevent herself from being put into a completely disadvantageous position, Luo Minghuan's mother used an extreme measure to win Lord Luo's pity. Then, she did her best to nurse her and her daughter's bodies. —If she could give birth to another child, great. If not, she could place her hopes on her daughter.

Fortunately, her daughter did not let down her expectations and grew up into an excellent child with superb talent in doing business. Now, all she needed to do was have her daughter take control of the family business, find a son-in-law that would marry into the family, wait to have grandchildren, and everything would be perfect.

However, Luo Minghuan's mother's plans were ruined when a taoist prophesied that her daughter wouldn't live past 25.

How could Luo Minghuan's mother not panic in this situation? Whether it was for her sake or her daughter's sake, she desperately pleaded to the taoist for a solution.

Standing by the bed-chamber's entrance, Jun Zishu let out a faint sigh as she looked up at the sky.

Luo Minghuan would most likely fall into depression for a long period once she verified her father's words. She would come to find that her praiseworthy and inspiring mother was nothing but a dirty schemer in reality.

Luo Minghuan would probably never forgive her mother for killing her elder brother. So what if her elder brother was a fool? Jun Zishu's current body was also a fool. Yet, Luo Minghuan still loved her nonetheless.

What a pitiful child.

Ironically, in this not-so-clean home, the only one who treated Luo Minghuan sincerely was the father who Luo Minghuan hated previously.

From the perspective of this era, Lord Luo was a good husband and a good father.

…

Luo Minghuan holed herself in the side room for the entire afternoon before coming out. Then, after taking her medicine, she accompanied Jun Zishu for dinner before hurriedly leaving the courtyard again.

Jun Zishu did not ask Luo Minghuan where she was going or what she was leaving for. She merely waited quietly for Luo Minghuan's return.

The next few days, Luo Minghuan rarely stayed at home. Even when she returned, she would quickly leave after taking her medicine and accompanying Jun Zishu for a meal. Then, when she returned again late at night, she would quietly climb into bed and go to sleep while embracing Jun Zishu.

Jun Zishu knew what Luo Minghuan was busy with, so she didn't try to cling to her.

After this cycle repeated for four days, Jun Zishu found Luo Minghuan sitting in the courtyard in the afternoon.

Today's weather was excellent. The sun was shining, and the air felt warm and comfortable. Birds of unknown species were also making melodious chirping sounds while perched on the surrounding trees.

Normally, the arrival of spring should be a time where joy filled people's hearts.

Yet, whether it was the servants passing by or Ruyun, who waited on Luo Minghuan nearby, everyone in the courtyard kept quiet out of fear right now.

Despite the warm sunlight shining onto the courtyard, the figure sat in the middle of the courtyard radiated an icy aura, her appearance giving off a gloomy feeling. At a glance, one could tell that Luo Minghuan was in a bad mood.

However, Luo Minghuan couldn't be blamed for behaving like this. After making all those shocking discoveries, how could she possibly be in a good mood?

At this time, it looked as if Luo Minghuan had created a separate world around herself, isolating everyone outside.

"Second Young Madam," Ruyun greeted Jun Zishu in a hushed voice before looking toward Luo Minghuan's lonely back with a worried gaze.

Jun Zishu walked over and stood in front of Luo Minghuan.

Luo Minghuan narrowed her eyes as she looked up, the glaring sunlight making it difficult for her to get a clear look at the person in front of her. Even so, she still knew who stood in front of her.

However, Luo Minghuan did not speak, choosing to lower her head once more instead.

Jun Zishu, quiet as ever, sat down beside Luo Minghuan and held Luo Minghuan's hand.

Luo Minghuan was initially stunned, but she then responded in kind.

Like so, the two sat quietly in the courtyard until the sun was low and the evening breeze was getting cold.

"I sometimes think that you're not stupid. In reality, you are much smarter than everyone and much cuter than everyone," Luo Minghuan absent-mindedly said before keeping quiet again.

"Yuanyuan has never been stupid," Jun Zishu said, blinking her eyes innocently.

…

After dinner, Luo Minghuan visited Lord Luo's study.

Jun Zishu waited for Luo Minghuan in their room. She had already succeeded in jumbling up the story's timeline and prevented the worst from happening.

…

Luo Minghuan was in a slightly better mood when she returned. Though, she was still a little absent-minded when she bathed with Jun Zishu.

When it was time to sleep, and the two embraced each other on the bed, Luo Minghuan finally decided to spill the words in her heart.

Perhaps this was the charm of the night. It evoked the sorrows in one's heart and compelled one to talk about even dark and distressing thoughts.

"I used to think that she loved me very much. Now that I think about it, I realize how ridiculous of a thought it was. I don't want to think that she doesn't have any real feelings for me, but I cannot acknowledge such a…"

Luo Minghuan could not acknowledge such a vicious mother.

Jun Zishu knew that Luo Minghuan was only venting her emotions and wasn't seeking a response. So, she quietly listened, her fingers wrapped around Luo Minghuan's.

"How could she be that vicious? How could she bear to do such a thing?"

Luo Minghuan's voice sounded sad and helpless.

Indeed. How could a mother be so vicious as to kill her own child?

Moreover, the "vengeful servant" at the time hadn't pushed only her elder brother into the pond. The servant had also pushed her in.

How scary was that woman to predict that her elder brother would save her first and sacrifice himself in return?

From an outsider's perspective, Luo Minghuan was completely justified to call her mother out as a cruel woman. However, she wasn't an outsider, so she couldn't do it. Moreover, since the person she wanted to question had already departed years ago, the only thing she could do was to suffer by herself.

"Husband, I don't understand what you are saying, but I know that you must be very sad," Jun Zishu said before leaning forward and kissing Luo Minghuan on the lips. Then, she smiled in Luo Minghuan's embrace and continued, "I would cry whenever I am sad. Then, after going to sleep and waking up the next day, I won't be sad anymore.

"I will always be with you."

In the current situation, rather than say a bunch of useless and perfunctory words of comfort, a simple "I will be with you" would more than suffice.

Humans were creatures that were afraid of loneliness. Even if a person was strong, they would still be moved when someone chose to accompany them during their moment of loneliness.

Luo Minghuan tightened her embrace around Jun Zishu, the warmth coming from Jun Zishu's body permeating into her heart and making her feel a lot more comfortable.

Some answers were obvious to see. It was just that people refused to believe these answers and chose to question them for fear that they couldn't withstand the truth.

In the afternoon, Luo Minghuan had already forced herself to accept reality and admit her mistake to her father. Meanwhile, the moment she apologized, she felt her heart becoming empty.

There was no "truth" left to pursue now.

Her father had called himself a joke, and Luo Minghuan felt that she, too, was a joke.

She had foolishly loved her mother and foolishly hated her father. She had failed to see the truth for what it was and blindly insisted on her version of the truth.

Fortunately, she had someone always accompanying her by her side.

"Little dummy."

"Mhm."

"Little dummy."

Luo Minghuan called out again as if doing so would allow her to pour out all of her love.

"Mhm."

Feeling a cooling kiss on her face, Jun Zishu poked her head out of Luo Minghuan's embrace and let Luo Minghuan kiss her.

"Why are you so obedient?"

The little dummy was so obedient and lovable.

To Luo Minghuan, Jun Zishu was the most precious treasure in this world.

Jun Zishu responded to Luo Minghuan's kiss. When Luo Minghuan eventually released her, she rested her chin on Luo Minghuan's shoulder, panting softly.

"Do you like me, Husband?"

"I like you." I like you to bits.

"I will always be obedient, then," Jun Zishu said, her eyes as clear as a lake.

Luo Minghuan's heart was moved. Looking down, she carefully sucked on Jun Zishu's red and supple lips time and again to convey her affection.

Luo Minghuan finally entered her beloved's peach garden, the movement of her fingers churning out clear columns of glistening liquid.

Subsequently, fine whimpering and gasping sounds filled the night.

…

Half a month later, Luo Minghuan moved out of the Luo Manor with Jun Zishu and Ruyun. She also took ownership of a few shops from her father.

Meanwhile, apart from visiting her father from time to time, she would seldom return to the Luo Manor.

Her business proceeded smoothly, and she paid no heed to the people who questioned her abilities.

On her 25th birthday, the sky started drizzling.

When Luo Minghuan walked out of her shop, she saw Jun Zishu standing outside with a paper umbrella in her hand.

"It's raining, Husband. I'm here to fetch you home."

"Okay."

Luo Minghuan smiled, her eyes carrying tender warmth.

[Mission Over.]