Volume 1: Phoenix Nirvana, Reborn from the Ashes Chapter 37: Chronic Illness? (Major Revision)

  He withdrew his gaze and caught sight of Yuxiang's body in the corner, took a few light steps, beckoned to someone to secretly move it away.

  He stood with his hands behind him, and despite being over fifty years old, he still looked spirited and showed no signs of middle-aged decline. His eyes were fixed on the young girl standing beside Qianye.

  A faint halo enveloped her, her slender figure wrapped in a large black robe that swayed gently with the wind. A watery veil separated her from the world, distant and detached, yet unable to conceal the soft glow she inadvertently emitted.

  Water is a horizontal wave in the eye, mountains are gathered at the peak of the eyebrow, and a startled swan glances at the clear stream.

  Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and everyone knew that the number one beauty of Da Yong was Mu Zi Ru. However, this girl surpassed Mu Zi Ru in many ways. The beauty of most women is often superficial, either delicate and charming, or elegant and refined, or pure and innocent, but still bearing the demeanor of a woman. But for this girl, her appearance was no longer the most important thing. Her slender figure stood upright, as if containing infinite power within, exuding unyielding determination and an iron-like spirit, reminding him of someone.

  There was once a person, also seemingly forever standing like a spear, forever erect on horseback, raising one legendary scene after another. The figure that came with the swing of a sword in memory seemed to overlap somewhat with the straight waist and back of a maiden. Ling Tian's expression was somewhat gloomy, his eyes surging with hidden currents, his voice low and husky, as he asked: "Who are you?"

  "Song of Purity." A pure song is neither humble nor arrogant, a straightforward answer.

  "You are Mo Ai's eldest daughter. It seems that the illness that has been lingering on you for a long time has finally recovered?" Yu Ling Tian asked with eyes full of joy and concern.

  Chronic illness?

  Qing Ge glanced at Mu Zong Pei and Qin Yanlian, a mocking smile playing on her lips. She didn't know that this body had other illnesses besides being frequently beaten and scolded. It seemed that these two had said quite a few "good words" in front of the Emperor to prevent Yu Ling Tian from seeing her, truly going to great lengths.

  Her eyes sparkled like stars as she coldly smiled and said: "Qing Ge doesn't know what illness she has, I wonder how Your Majesty saw that my body is not well?"

  Upon hearing this, Yu Ling Tian's face showed a look of surprise, his eyes lingering on the girl as if deep in thought.

  Over the years, he had thought about meeting his future granddaughter-in-law when he came to Mu's house. Each time, he was put off by Mu Zongpei and Qin Yanlian with excuses such as "her body is weak" or "she has a terrible illness" and couldn't even bear the wind. He asked several times, but it was always the same. Later on, he didn't ask again. But now, it seems that's not the case.

  That snow lotus-like splendor, how could it be possessed by someone who has been bedridden with illness for a long time? Those eyes that shine with creased radiance, as if competing with the sun and moon in brilliance, how could they be released by someone afflicted with a terrible disease?

  His gaze shifted to the girl's clothes, which were made of the cheapest and most ordinary old fabric, only worn by poor commoners. Even maids from families of officials above the third rank would not wear such clothes.

  Logically speaking, she is the eldest daughter of the Mu Mansion, and if not necessarily dressed in gold and jade, wearing silk and satin, enjoying endless wealth, at least she should be wearing the clothes of a noble young lady from a big family, dressing up to be youthful and beautiful, fresh and bright.

  He turned around with his hands behind his back, his eyes dark and deep, and asked in a low voice: "Mu Ai Qing, what kind of illness has Mu Qing Ge been suffering from all these years that he can't get out of bed to see guests?"

  Even the benevolent emperor was also a monarch of a country, at this time his majestic aura burst out, and the air pressure in the court suddenly increased, all the servants lowered their heads and felt cold all over.

  A thousand nights of separation, yet he remains calm and composed, not a hint of fear in sight. He is the esteemed Prince of Dong Lei, after all, so it's only natural that he wouldn't be afraid. He glances sideways at the young girl, who stands tall with not a hint of humility on her face, as if everything before her eyes was just a speck of dust without any weight. The corners of his mouth curve upwards slightly, and his amber pupils sparkle with amusement. This trip to Da Yong is really worth it, how interesting.

  Mo Zong Pei's eyes sparkled with fine light, and he bowed his head to salute, explaining: "I report to Your Majesty, I don't know, these matters in the mansion were all handed over to my humble wife for handling. All I heard was that my humble wife said our young daughter had contracted a serious illness and couldn't see anyone."

  He turned around and pointed at Qin Yanlian: "You wicked woman, with His Majesty present here today, how can you still not confess the truth?!"

  Qin Yanlian's beautiful eyes paused, somewhat disbelieving. Was Master pushing all the responsibility onto her? Her fingernails dug in, her face lowered with a resentful expression, tightly biting her teeth, wanting her to admit fault to that despicable person? Don't even think about it!

  "Wicked woman, will you speak or not?" Mu Zongpei's face was stern and righteous, scolding with a sky-full of anger.

  Qin Yanlian's anger suddenly rose, and Mu Qingge, again Mu Qingge, she raised her head with evil eyes scanning past, coincidentally meeting the cold gaze of Qingge.

  Qing Ge gave her a light glance, full of disdain and contempt, with a cold smile on the corner of his mouth that was mocking.

  Qin Yanlian couldn't bear such a tone and immediately cursed: "Mu Qingge, you bastard, how dare you glare at me..."

  As soon as the words came out, Ling Tian's face sank, and he let out a cold hum. His eyes seemed to have sharp swords flashing in them. You dare to scold me with such words right in front of me! It's not worth mentioning how you treated me on ordinary days!

  The master of the country's eyes were dark and turbulent, his voice filled with anger as he scolded: "Mu Ai Qing, what is going on here! You said Mu Qing Ge has been bedridden for a long time, but let's not talk about whether she's really ill or not. Open your eyes and take a look at what she's wearing! I see that even the maids in your household are dressed better than her! Is it that the salary I give you every month is not enough?! Not to mention that she's the eldest daughter of the Mu household, but also because she's the future empress, my great-granddaughter, and you treat her like this, what crime is this? Do you know?!"

  Qian Ye's gaze paused for a moment, the smiling corners of his lips slightly faded. Was Mei Qing Song the future empress of Da Yong Emperor's eldest grandson? He turned his head, his beautiful eyes with a hint of confusion, looking at Qing Song.

  The clear and cool gaze also happened to turn around, it seems that this emperor of Da Yong still doesn't know that his treasured grandson has submitted a divorce letter. What an irony! The grandson has submitted the divorce letter, yet the grandfather is still here talking about the future crown princess. Having met the crown prince before, Qing Ge didn't have any thoughts or intentions to get entangled with him again. This misunderstanding must be clarified, she was just about to speak up.

  Mu Zongpei immediately knelt down with a thud, his face filled with self-reproach, and said sorrowfully: "For so many years, I have been deceived into thinking that the concubine was managing the inner and outer affairs of the palace properly. I also thought she had the demeanor of a main wife. But now, I realize that she is ruthless and cruel, without any maternal kindness. I will definitely severely punish her!"

  He didn't wait for the empress to speak, turned around and faced Qin Yanlian, sternly saying: "From today on, you are no longer the mistress of the Mu family. You should reflect well in the mansion, recite the Heart Sutra five times a day, and the Virtues of Women ten times!"

  This punishment is already very light, clever people immediately accept it, unfortunately, some people are born to be foolish.

  As soon as she heard that she was going to lose her position as the mistress of the house, Qin Yanlian's face showed unwillingness, her eyebrows stood upright and her eyes blazed with anger, and she burst out: "Old master, you're not unaware..."

  Mu Zongpei's face suddenly turned ugly, and she rushed up, slapping Qin Yelian's face with a loud slap, knocking her to the ground. Her eyes gleamed with cold light, and her voice was icy and ruthless as she said, "If you want to go back to the Qin family, I won't stop you!"

  Shameless! I've never seen a woman as shameless as her! She even dares to speak ill of him in front of the Emperor! He'd rather kill her than let that happen!

  Going back to the Qin family means divorcing his wife!

  In ancient times, the greatest shame for a woman was to be divorced! Otherwise, Mu Qingge would not have been disheartened and eventually died from severe injuries due to being divorced.

  Qin Yanlian didn't dare to speak again, covering the swollen half of her face that looked like a pig's head, sitting stupidly on the ground, her eyes dull and seemingly unable to believe everything that had happened before her.

  Mu Zong Pei saw that she was no longer speaking, and only then did he turn around, retracting the fierce gaze from earlier. His eyes were filled with sincerity as he spoke sincerely, "I am also at fault for all of this. I have always taken my older brother as a model, placing importance on national affairs, never thinking that such a thing would happen in our own household. Please, Your Majesty, punish me."

  Upon hearing Mu Zong Pei mention his brother, a faint memory and sorrow floated in Ling Tian's eyes. He waved his hand, seemingly with a hint of sighing, and said: "If your brother weren't... Alas, it's all in the past now. You're also busy with national affairs, be more careful in the future..."