Chapter 464: Zhou Jian

Chapter 464: Chapter 464: Zhou Jian

"Mr. Shui Jing?" Zhong Shan frowned. What is he doing here at this time?

"Invite him in quickly!" Zhong Shan ordered.

"Yes!" The messenger quickly left.

In the main hall, Zhong Shan looked at everyone and said, "You may all leave for now."

"Yes!" everyone responded and left promptly.

Soon, Mr. Shui Jing was brought in.

Mr. Shui Jing, dressed in his usual scholar's robe and holding a feather fan, still appeared as elegant and unrestrained as ever. The only difference was the shadow of worry that clouded his brow. Clearly, he was troubled by something.

"Mr. Shui Jing, it's been a long time!" Zhong Shan greeted with a smile.

"Greetings, Lord Dongfang!" Mr. Shui Jing immediately replied.

"Mr. Shui Jing, no need for such formalities. Back when Qi Tianhou wreaked havoc in the Ancient Holy City and falsely accused Princess Qianyou, if it weren't for your timely advice, I wouldn't have exposed Qi Tianhou's true colors, nor would he have faced such a miserable downfall. I owe much to you, Mr. Shui Jing. Please, just call me Zhong Shan," Zhong Shan said with a smile.

"Alas, I had no choice but to disturb you this time. Please don't blame me!" Mr. Shui Jing shook his head and sighed.

"Oh?"

"It's a long story!" Mr. Shui Jing sighed again.

"Please, Mr. Shui Jing, let's discuss this at length. This way, please."

Zhong Shan led Mr. Shui Jing to a small pavilion outside the Eastern Hall. The two sat down, and a servant brought tea.

"Mr. Shui Jing, just speak your mind. If there's anything I can help with, I will do my utmost," Zhong Shan said. Indeed, both were smart men, no need to beat around the bush.

"Thank you!" Mr. Shui Jing nodded.

"I came here this time to seek advice from you on matters of the heart!" Mr. Shui Jing said surprisingly.

Matters of the heart? Zhong Shan's eyes widened instantly. No way!

Seeing Zhong Shan's expression, Mr. Shui Jing smiled bitterly.

"Others wouldn't understand, so I had to turn to you, Mr. Zhong Shan. I have always admired your way with women, being entangled with princesses of two dynasties," Mr. Shui Jing said.

"Uh?" Zhong Shan felt slightly embarrassed. Was that a compliment or an insult?

But seeing Mr. Shui Jing's sincere eyes, Zhong Shan knew he was genuinely seeking help.

"Do you remember the ninth consort of King Daxuan?" Mr. Shui Jing asked with a hint of bitterness.

The ninth consort of King Daxuan, Princess Qianyou's senior sister, was the woman who had always been on Mr. Shui Jing's mind. It was said that before he even met her, Mr. Shui Jing was already searching for her. But when he found her, she had married King Daxuan. Since then, Mr. Shui Jing willingly served under King Daxuan, just to catch a glimpse of her occasionally.

"I remember," Zhong Shan nodded.

"At that moment, I grabbed a sword and rushed to the backyard. She was there, holding a sword as well."

Zhou Jian's eyes were bloodshot, his sword pointed at Liu Yanyan. Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

"Yanyan, tell me this isn't true. None of this is true," Zhou Jian pleaded, his eyes red and the tip of his sword trembling. He couldn't believe that the woman he loved most, the woman he loved with all his heart, had killed his entire family.

Liu Yanyan gave a sorrowful smile, "It's all true! I am a descendant of the Liu family! My parents' blood feud is irreconcilable!"

"No, this isn't true!" Zhou Jian roared at the sky, tears pouring down his face.

Why is this happening? Oh heavens, what did I do wrong? Why is this happening? The woman I love the most killed my entire family?

Zhou Jian completely forgot his father's advice from the previous day: not to carry the grudges of the past, not to hate Liu Yanyan.

Seeing Liu Yanyan standing there with her sword, he lost his mind and lunged at her with his sword. Liu Yanyan also thrust her sword forward. At that moment, Zhou Jian's heart was a turmoil of emotions, filled with despair. He thought that if he could kill her, they could both end this tormenting love together.

With a sound of piercing flesh, his sword went through her heart. But at the last moment, Liu Yanyan deliberately let go of her sword, wearing a sorrowful yet serene smile, willingly dying by his hand.

Zhou Jian was suddenly numb, frozen in place. It wasn't until Liu Yanyan fell that he rushed forward to hold her, tears streaming down his face like a river.

"Why did it have to be like this? Why?" Zhou Jian muttered in a daze.

Liu Yanyan, though pierced through the heart, didn't die immediately. She fell into Zhou Jian's arms with a sorrowful smile.

"Master..." Liu Yanyan smiled bitterly.

"Yanyan, why? Why did it have to be like this?" Zhou Jian shouted.

"I'm sorry, Master. I'm going first. You must live well. I told my brother, no matter what, he must let you go. He promised. The enmity between our families ends here," Liu Yanyan said weakly.

"No, why did it have to be like this?" Zhou Jian still couldn't accept the reality.

Gently caressing Zhou Jian's face, Liu Yanyan spoke with reluctance, "I have always been your maid, watching you practice calligraphy every day was the happiest time for me. I bore the family grudge and had to seek revenge. Entering the Zhou household was just for revenge, but I fell in love with you. It shouldn't have happened, but I don't regret it. Being able to be your woman while alive was enough for me. I'm sorry, Master. I'm sorry. I thought of this death long ago. I just wanted to die by your hand to ease your anger. As long as you live well, it doesn't matter how I die."

"No...no..." Zhou Jian cried, holding Liu Yanyan.

"Master, I'm sorry I can no longer serve you. I am a bad woman, I'm sorry," Liu Yanyan said with difficulty.

Zhou Jian laughed painfully, "Hehehe..."

The sky seemed to turn black and white. His hatred for Liu Yanyan had long disappeared, replaced only by infinite tenderness and love.

"Master, in the next life, I will be your maid again, grinding ink for you every day, okay?" Liu Yanyan said with difficulty.

"Okay, okay!" Zhou Jian's tears had dried, replaced by streaks of blood tears running down his cheeks.

Liu Yanyan's eyes closed weakly, not seeing the blood tears, but she spoke softly, "In the next life, you'll write our names before me. You'll say you need 'Sanyang Spring' ink, and I'll say we ran out and add more for you. That's when I'll remember you."

With that, Liu Yanyan spoke no more.

Mr. Shui Jing recalled the past, his heart filled with emotion, and two lines of tears flowed down his face. Though a lifetime had passed, washing away all causes and effects, and the hatred was gone, this love had broken through the shackles of reincarnation. It refused to be buried by the cycle of life and death. For eternity, it could not be forgotten.