dognovel Chapter 111 One Person Bears the Burden
Chapter 111 One Person Bears the Burden
Even the guards were momentarily stunned, thinking that the person sitting by the window was Huang Ziliang himself.
“Young Master Mo, this should be Wu Chengye’s personal item. As the saying goes, a thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole. This little thing will surely not cost her her life in the future.”
"What does Mr. Huang mean?"
"I believe you have all the skills and abilities to replicate a few of them."
Mo Baiyun squinted, making no move, but took the pendant in his hand and examined it repeatedly. It was indeed Wu Chengye's personal token. He looked at Huang Ziliang with new respect. If this were a villain, their master might not be able to defeat him.
"Be careful in everything you do from now on, Mr. Huang. Wu Chengye seems very interested in you. I feel that she intends to invite you to her residence. Why don't you go?"
"If she doesn't get her hands on something a couple of times, how will she know how precious it is?"
Mo Baiyun nodded, finding some truth in what he said. After seeing him off, he still swaggered out the main gate wearing his veiled hat.
The person who was secretly observing also went back to report to Wu Chengye, saying that he hadn't done anything all day, just went out and sat in the inn for a while before coming out again, and hadn't come out since returning to his residence.
Wu Chengye was also waiting, hoping that Huang Ziliang would finally be unable to hold on any longer and would take the pendant to Honglai Inn for help. However, for two days in a row, he neither went out nor asked for help.
He did send someone who was secretly following Sima Lingyu to report some things to her, but she had no intention of picking a fight with him now. She was only focused on Huang Ziliang, and the more she couldn't see him, the more she missed him.
Wu Chengye sat in the hall, holding a teacup, lost in thought. Huang Ziliang flashed through his mind. Every frown, every smile, every furrowed brow—how could there be such a similar person? Yet, he was even more lively than Sima Lingchuan. Most importantly, he was clean and whole.
If she gets him, then he belongs only to her. This damned possessiveness... As he was lost in thought, someone came to report that Sima Houfu was requesting an audience.
Now, hearing the name Sima Lingchuan, she no longer felt that flutter in her heart. Perhaps another person had already invaded her heart. Her eyes even showed a bit of impatience: "What is he doing here!"
"Your Highness, the Marquis Sima has sent several visiting cards, wishing to meet the Lady of Lingyu."
"Then let them meet. I never said they couldn't meet. It all depends on whether Sima Lingyu is willing or not."
Sima Lingyu was covered in wounds, none of which were fatal, but they were all a disgrace to him. There were burn marks from candles, whip marks, and marks from biting and pinching his fingers. He was ashamed to see anyone.
After obtaining Wu Chengye's consent, someone went to inform Sima Lingyu that his brother had come to see him. At first, he was happy, but then he looked at himself and saw that his once pure and innocent appearance had become like this. How could he bear to see his brother?
Lan'er listened with delight. He had been waiting there all day, but the Marquis hadn't come. Since Wu Chengye had allowed it last time, why hadn't he come?
"Master, don't you know how many times the eldest son has come? Just see him once, you've suffered so much inside."
“Lan’er, what does what I’ve been through have to do with my brother? If he saw me like this, he would definitely blame himself and take all the blame on himself. Why bother? Let me suffer this pain alone.”
"Master! Please go and see him. Lan'er doesn't want to see you suffer alone."
Seeing Lan'er kneel down with a thud, he knew she was doing it all for his own good. After thinking it over, he said, "Then you help me with my makeup and clothes. Remember, you must cover up all those marks so that your brother can't see them."
Lan'er wiped away the tears on her face, stood up and found a relatively thicker garment for Sima Lingyu to wear, and then applied a layer of makeup to make him look healthier.
Sima Lingyu looked in the mirror, took a deep breath, and walked with the same dignified bearing as before she was married, slowly making her way to the reception room in the backyard, where Sima Lingchuan had already been led to wait for her.
Sima Lingchuan actually understood his younger brother quite well. He saw through him at a glance, seeing his stiff posture and fake smile.
"Little brother, you've suffered so much."
"Brother, it's not bitter."
However, Lan'er had already told Sima Lingchuan about Sima Lingyu's experiences in the mansion. He gritted his teeth with a bitter expression and said, "Brother, if you really can't stay in this mansion, then go home."
“Brother, don’t you understand our mother? In the first three years when the Fourth Prince was staying at his residence, did she care about you? Similarly, do you think he will care about me now? I told you back then that I didn’t want to marry him!”
When he spoke of his mother, there was no love in his eyes, only hatred. He hated his mother for pushing him into the fire.
At first, he even held a sliver of hope that Wu Chengye might change his mind like Wu Ziyan, but the increasingly severe pain inflicted on him made him clear-headed and sharp-witted.
“Brother, I’m already very happy that you came to see me. Please don’t come again. This mansion is not a good place, and people will gossip about you behind your back because of your past relationship with the Second Princess.”
"It's all because of me..."
Sure enough, Sima Lingchuan began to blame himself again, believing that he was partly responsible for his brother's death, but the most guilty one was Wu Chengye.
If they continued, Sima Lingyu would be unable to hold back his tears. He glanced at Lan'er, who of course understood his meaning and went over to support Sima Lingchuan's hand.
"Young Master, please return."
Those secretly watching them were also getting impatient; it was just the men crying and wailing, and nothing important was being discussed. She started to sway.
Sima Lingchuan passed Sima Lingyu, handed him a slip of paper, and nodded to him.
They were, after all, the prime minister's sons, so how could they just cry and whine? Huang Ziliang had already included them in this scheme. He just needed Sima Lingyu to put up with Wu Chengye's perverted ways for the time being, lower his pride, and occasionally make her happy.
After Sima Lingchuan had gone far away, Sima Lingyu returned to his room and unfolded the note. He was shocked to see the detailed plan written on it, but he felt more relieved. If the plan succeeded, he would be free.
After Sima Lingchuan left the mansion, the people monitoring them returned to report to Wu Chengye. Wu Chengye squinted and asked, "What were they saying?"
"It's just some crying and wailing among men, nothing important is being said."
"Ah."
Once the guards had left, she opened her eyes, thinking that Sima Lingyu was quite sensible; he couldn't very well bring up those things. [Tonight, I can really pity him a bit.]
Meanwhile, Sima Lingyu burned the paper, took a deep breath, and composed himself. Since the die was cast, he was not a clean person whether he did it or not, so how could things get any worse?
"Lan'er, dress me up nicely. I need to set some rules for the gentlemen in the manor!"
When Lan'er heard this, she didn't know what was written on the note that had given their master such great enthusiasm. I quickly composed myself, found the most beautiful jewelry and clothes from the dowry, and dressed him up nicely.