bookrebus Chapter 719 The Childhood Sweetheart Used as a Shield (29)
Chapter 719 The Childhood Sweetheart Used as a Shield (29)
The guards Su Youbai sent to protect Mu Zhou would return to the palace to report every day.
Today, the guards intercepted a bloodstained copper coin pendant.
The copper coins were strung together with red thread, suggesting that they were usually worn around the neck.
Clearly, these are copper coins used to pray for peace.
"The copper coin was brought to the Mu residence by a little beggar. This servant has already investigated, and this copper coin..."
The guard paused for a moment, secretly glancing at Su Youbai's expression, before cautiously saying:
"The copper coins were sent to the Mu residence by someone arranged by Qin Yansi."
As for the origin of the copper coins, the guards also investigated it thoroughly.
"The copper coin was obtained by Madam Mu from the temple last year and has been worn by Her Highness ever since. As for how it ended up in Qin Yansi's hands, this servant has no idea."
The guards were extremely cautious in their words, not daring to utter a single unnecessary word or offer any speculation.
Su Youbai gave a cold, smirking smile.
How did it end up in Qin Yansi's hands?
Without a doubt, it must have been Mu Zhou who gave it to Qin Yansi, hoping he would be safe and sound on the battlefield.
She gave Qin Yansi the copper coin she always carried with her.
This realization almost instantly plunged Su Youbai into immense resentment.
He could no longer calm down and went straight to the Mu residence.
Then I saw Mu Zhou hurriedly preparing to leave.
A sudden chill enveloped him.
Did she receive a message from Qin Yansi through other channels? Is she going to save Qin Yansi?
Does she regret it?
She felt sorry for Qin Yansi?
Does this mean she won't marry him...?
Su Youbai couldn't control the dark aura spreading in his eyes; he almost laid out all the most extreme aspects of himself.
But when he met Mu Zhou's bright, sparkling eyes, the darkness in his heart began to be gradually purified.
In particular, seeing that he hadn't spoken, a hint of worry appeared between her brows, and she stepped forward to take his hand:
"Your Majesty, what has happened?"
Su Youbai subconsciously grasped her hand in return, the soft touch spreading in his palm, and Su Youbai's calmness and rationality finally returned.
Mu Zhou knew nothing.
She simply handed over her handkerchief and went out to release the lanterns.
Su Youbai softened his eyebrows and eyes:
"It's alright, I'll take you."
*
Su Youbai led Mu Zhou away by the hand, and after dropping them off, he watched the two laughing and frolicking by the river from afar. His heavy heart filled with jealousy and resentment finally felt a little better.
Reason regained control of his mind, and he held the copper coin in his hand, rubbing it slowly with his fingertips.
He had been keeping an eye on Qin Yansi's affairs, so he naturally knew why he gave this copper coin to Mu Zhou.
Last month, Qin Yansi was tricked by Luo Mengyao, the mistress he kept outside, and went to a remote mountain village to hide his whereabouts. Subsequently, Qin Yansi was controlled and abused by Luo Mengyao, and almost died.
Qin Yansi had no one else with him, so he could only entrust a kind neighbor to help deliver the copper coins to the Mu residence and give them to Mu Zhou.
Fearing trouble, the neighbor hired a little beggar to deliver two steamed buns to the child.
Qin Yansi hoped that Mu Zhou would realize he was in trouble and go to his rescue after seeing the bloodstained copper coin.
However, his last hope was also dashed.
The copper coin ended up in Su Youbai's hands.
He slowly clenched his fist, his eyes shifting darkly.
He then looked at Mu Zhou not far away, where she was making a wish upon the lantern with her hands clasped together.
Su Youbai let out a soft breath.
He shouldn't have taken his anger out on Mu Zhou.
The two were engaged at the time, and she was deceived, so giving Qin Yansi peace coins was not a big deal.
Su Youbai frowned, his breath hardening, as he repeatedly tried to reassure himself.
On the other side, after placing the lantern in the water, Mu Zhou clasped his hands together and silently made a wish. Then he opened his eyes and looked in the direction of Su Youbai's carriage.
Although you can't see his face clearly, you can still feel the turbulent emotions surging within him.
Mu Zhou silently curled the corners of his lips.
She was naturally aware of the reason why he was in a bad mood.
After Luo Mengyao recovered, she coaxed Qin Yansi by saying that she was still not well and wanted to go to a secluded place to recuperate and spend some time with him in the countryside.
Qin Yansi was already under immense pressure due to his setbacks in officialdom, the public's condemnation of him in the capital, and the domineering presence of his wife, Li Shi. When his beloved Luo Mengyao offered to temporarily retire to the countryside with him and live an ordinary life, he naturally agreed.
This also allows them to avoid public scrutiny.
Unexpectedly, after arriving at the village, he took some kind of medicine and became weak and sore all over.
When she woke up again, she was already chained to the head of the bed.
Even more terrifying, his tendons in his hands and feet were severed, leaving him with no ability to struggle.
Then he saw Luo Mengyao sit down next to him with a smile.
After hearing her vicious remarks, Qin Yansi realized that she had always hated him.
Especially when she heard her say things like, "You're just a selfish piece of trash who can only achieve your so-called revenge by sacrificing others. You're incompetent and disgusting," Qin Yansi became furious and started cursing at her.
"I've already tried my best to make it up to you, what more do you want from me?"
"I used Mu Zhou because I had no choice but to avenge my grandfather. What do you young women know about national righteousness? You've only suffered some injuries. Do you know what kind of life I had on the battlefield, where swords and spears had no eyes?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Mengyao slapped him twice, exposing his feigned moral high ground.
"You claim to be a paragon of righteousness? When you sacrificed other soldiers for personal revenge, why didn't you talk about national righteousness? Of the thousands of soldiers you took with you, did half of them return alive? If it weren't for you, they wouldn't have had to sacrifice themselves! Stop trying to glorify yourself!"
"If you were truly as righteous as you claim, you should have gone to the border alone to assassinate King Daman. If you succeeded and came back alive, great; if not, you should have died a heroic death. Then I would acknowledge you as a man of honor and loyalty. But what you've done now is nothing more than the actions of a coward who fears death!"
Luo Mengyao had kept these words to herself for a long time since she last met Mu Zhou.
Now that she could finally use that medicine, seeing Qin Yansi no longer so aloof but lying there being bullied by her, she felt an indescribable sense of relief.
Qin Yansi was in a much worse situation. He was already enduring the pain from the severed tendons in his hand, and now, due to Luo Mengyao's words, he felt so suffocated in his chest that he felt like he was going to vomit blood.
However, this is not the end.
Luo Mengyao returned all the suffering she had endured at the hands of the Empress Dowager to Qin Yansi, doubly so.
Qin Yansi then realized what Luo Mengyao had suffered.
This was no less serious than the injuries he sustained at the border.
In particular, these are both mental and physical torments and blows.
As he lay dying, he suddenly noticed something fall out from the seam of his clothes.
It was the same copper coin that Mu Zhou had given him for peace.
His last glimmer of hope instantly rose within him.
So he took advantage of a kind neighbor.
Unexpectedly, the copper coin was intercepted by Su Youbai's men first.
Thinking of this, Mu Zhou chuckled and poked at the water on the shore, making the lantern go further away.