I want to die!

Chapter 16 A Couple with a Tragic Fate

The sight of his daughter Li Ziqing's striking double pupils surprised Zhou Xing and also reminded him of a past event from the original owner's memories.

The Li family was originally considered wealthy, but the decline of their fortunes was due not only to the actions of the patriarch, Li Yingcai, but also to the sudden eye ailment that broke the camel's back.

When his eye disease flared up, his pupils became deformed, and he could not see. As a result, his family fortune was exhausted, he was in debt, and eventually starved to death.

His eyes were still open when he died, but his pupils were deformed, with two layers inside and out, like eerie tree rings.

The only surviving daughter of the Li family later developed a pair of unusual double pupils... There must be a connection between the two.

Zhou Xing was pondering whether this pair of double pupils, formed later in life, was simply due to an eye condition called pupil adhesion, or whether it possessed some kind of special ability.

He instinctively took a step forward, wanting to take a closer look.

To everyone's surprise, as he took a step forward, Li Ziqing subtly took a step back and shrank behind the crowd.

Seeing Zhou Xing approach, several beggars immediately surrounded him, spitting out a string of auspicious phrases begging for money: "Sir, have mercy and give us some food! Your merit is immeasurable; may you have many children and grandchildren, and enjoy long and prosperous lives!"

"A house full of children and grandchildren..." Zhou Xing glanced down at his eunuch robes and thought to himself that the younger generation of beggars these days had no sense of propriety. Saying such auspicious words in front of "Li Yingcai"?

Zhou Xing shook his head secretly, his gaze falling on Li Ziqing at the back of the crowd, sensing something amiss.

Putting aside Li Ziqing's double pupils, just considering that Li Yingcai sends money home every month, the Li family may not be considered wealthy now, but they certainly wouldn't be begging on the streets like Li Xuanqing was back then.

Based on his judgment, Li Ziqing was probably not a newcomer to the beggars' guild and was too shy to admit it.

Did she intentionally join the ranks of these beggars because of Li Yingcai...? But how could she know that Li's father, Li Yingcai, had just arrived at Anping Post Station, twenty miles outside the county town?

The many questions in his heart remained unanswered, and Li Ziqing clearly had no intention of acknowledging him.

"Eunuch Li, His Highness commands you to come over." A voice came from behind.

It was Zhang Kui, the head of the guards from last night. He coldly stared at Zhou Xing at the entrance of the post station:

"We need to set off this morning and rest in Qingshui County. Please don't delay us, Eunuch Li."

Zhou Xing had no choice but to ignore the beggar in front of him and walk back into the post station.

As he turned his back, the subtle, piercing gaze returned, causing Zhou Xing to instinctively tense up.

Although Zhou Chen, the hostage, said something about "luring the snake out of its hole," it was just an excuse to go home to visit his family and rack up points.

But at this moment, Zhou Xing also knew that... Li Yingcai was a pawn used by the villains to frame the hostage Zhou Chen.

He is still alive, and he walks out of the Southern Zhou prince's room as if nothing has happened.

Without a doubt, he is now a thorn in the side of the mastermind, and he will probably die at lightning speed very soon.

Under the watchful eyes of others, he walked upstairs and entered the room of the Southern Zhou prince.

Zhou Chen, the proton, was pacing back and forth in his room. After yesterday's conflict, he realized his situation and was now quite agitated.

Seeing Zhou Xing enter, he concealed the worry on his face and said with a faint smile:

"Little Li, you've come at the perfect time."

"I have secretly reported to the Crown Prince of Da Mang that someone in the delegation was plotting against me. The Crown Prince of Da Mang took this very seriously and ordered the delegation to rest temporarily in Qingshui County."

Speaking of the Crown Prince of Da Mang, this prince of Southern Zhou also showed a hint of undisguised envy.

Logically speaking, he was also the crown prince of the Southern Zhou Dynasty, the legitimate heir of the Central Plains dynasty hundreds of years ago.

But the Southern Zhou, now confined to a corner of the country, cannot rely on the past.

Zhou Chen, the so-called crown prince, was actually a hostage in name only. The actual heir apparent was someone else, and the crown prince in name was just a pawn sent to the enemy country as a hostage.

However, Murong Ying, the crown prince of the Great Mang, was quite different.

Not to mention that the Great Mang Dynasty has almost unified the vast land of China, the emperors of the Great Mang Dynasty have had remarkably long lifespans since the celestial beings descended to earth.

For example, Emperor Taichang of the Great Mang Dynasty has been on the throne for 110 years.

Meanwhile, Murong Ying, the crown prince of the Great Mang, had already been overseeing the country as crown prince for sixty years.

Is there any crown prince in this world who reigns for sixty years? This one from the Great Mang Dynasty certainly does.

His actual reign lasted longer than that of many emperors throughout history, so calling him half an emperor wouldn't be far off.

"...The Crown Prince of Da Mang has ordered the delegation to rest temporarily in Qingshui County. He will personally come to investigate the truth about the thieves and ensure my safe journey to the capital." Zhou Chen's words even revealed an unconcealable sense of being flattered.

The Crown Prince, who is in charge of the country, is personally escorting him to the capital. What kind of treatment is that?

Zhou Xing was stunned.

So all his words yesterday were for nothing?

The prince of Southern Zhou immediately contacted the court of Great Mang and reported the matter to the higher authorities.

This guy is stupid...

What else can Stephen Chow say?

"Your Highness is truly wise and powerful. You made the decisive move to contact the Great Mang Dynasty. The traitors will surely be caught soon!" Zhou Xing exclaimed.

But in his heart, he felt that this prince of Southern Zhou probably wouldn't live much longer.

Once this matter is clarified, he might not die in the short term. But a hostage sent to the capital would have to stay in the capital of the Great Mang Kingdom for eight to ten years.

After this scandal has died down, I'm afraid he'll be shot in the back and commit suicide in the capital.

Given his status as the Crown Prince of Southern Zhou, if he were to die unjustly, he might even become my future body...

"Haha, that's easy, that's easy..." Seeing Zhou Xing's flattery, the hostage Zhou Chen felt relieved and laughed heartily:

"Once we arrive in Qingshui County today, I will grant you your leave to return home."

"Then you'll be the one to lure the snake out of its hole." The hostage, Zhou Chen, patted him on the shoulder, offering a promise:

"Don't worry, this is just a ploy to lure the snake out of its hole."

"If the thieves really make a move, I have the Crown Prince of Da Mang behind me. I will ensure that you escape danger and your life is safe."

So they just took the crown prince of the enemy country as their backer... Zhou Xing was deeply moved:

"Thank you, Your Highness. I am willing to die for you!"

..............

That morning, the delegation's carriages left the post station and headed straight for Qingshui County.

The beggars who had been gathered at the door had long been driven away, afraid of disturbing the distinguished guest. They only dared to watch from afar, hoping that some distinguished guest would give them something.

Li Ziqing was also there.

She carefully concealed her gaze, glancing at the eunuch Li Yingcai in the delegation out of the corner of her eye.

And in the carriage behind, I glimpsed through the carriage window the nobleman being protected by the delegation.

The hostage prince of the Southern Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Chen.

Her eyes were deep and unfathomable as she silently murmured to herself:

"Father, why didn't you die in this life?"

In Li Ziqing's eyes, her double pupils rippled slowly like waves.

Having two pupils in one eye is a rare phenomenon, but it wasn't something Li Ziqing was born with.

The pupils, one inside and one outside, are like ripples on a lake or the rings of a tree.

Trees have annual rings, and each annual ring represents a year.

Li Ziqing's double pupils actually represent two overlapping lives of hers.

Li Ziqing is a reborn person.

In the previous timeline, her biological father, Li Yingcai, was transferred to serve Zhou Chen, the hostage prince of Southern Zhou.

Before even reaching the capital, at Anping Post Station in Qingshui County, the Southern Zhou prince Zhou Chen went berserk, and Li Yingcai was brutally defiled and killed by Zhou Chen, becoming a laughingstock ever since.

Unofficial histories later even recorded that Zhou Chen and the eunuch Li Yingcai were actually a pair of star-crossed lovers. One was the crown prince of the Southern Zhou Dynasty who endured humiliation to enter the capital, and the other was a secret agent of the Great Mang Dynasty.

Their personal love affair, intertwined with national and familial hatred, became a tangled mess. In the end, the prince, recalling the past, murdered his lover amidst desolation...

Later, Li Ziqing rose up in rebellion and eventually became the Great Qi Empress, vying for control of the Central Plains... This unofficial history spread far and wide as the Great Qi Empress's status rose.

This is clearly the enemy's way of attacking her by exploiting her background.

Li Ziqing didn't believe it, but she couldn't explain it.

She finds it hard to say how much of a father-daughter relationship she has with her biological father, Li Yingcai, given that he was absent during her childhood and the time they spent together was far too short.

She always said that "the eldest brother is like a father." Her eldest brother, Li Xuanqing, who worked as a beggar to supplement the family income, was the real family member to her, half brother and half father.

But Li Yingcai was, after all, her father.

But as a descendant of a raped eunuch... the hostage prince of Southern Zhou was her lifelong enemy.

It's not just a personal grudge, but also a national enemy.

Only she knew that Zhou Chen, the hostage prince of Southern Zhou, would become a false emperor with the support of the Great Mang a year later, and become a sinner who brought chaos to the Central Plains.

"In this life, I will take back everything I've lost!"

"To protect my father's chastity, I must assassinate the future scourge of Kyushu, the absurd and false emperor, the eunuch Leipu!"

"Anyone who dares to mention the star-crossed lovers again will be fed manure! Any rumors, even the slightest hint of them, must be nipped in the bud!"

Li Ziqing silently made a vow in her heart.

While Zhou Chen has not yet been supported as a false emperor, and while this hostage is not yet valued so much in Da Mang.

Having been given a second chance at life, she is determined to reverse the course of history and protect her father's chastity!

A few days ago, after she awakened to the wisdom of her past life, Li Ziqing rushed to the post station immediately.

The post station was the primary crime scene where Li Yingcai, the biological father, was raped and his body dumped.

She wanted to come over herself and search for clues on Li Yingcai's body.

However, what puzzled her most was...

When she finally managed to blend into the beggars' group and make every effort to reach Anping Post Station.

She didn't find Li Yingcai's body, but instead found a living father!

"Was history changed in the previous life?"

..................

Zhou Xing squeezed into the carriage carrying the servants as the delegation entered the county town.

He sat by the window and pulled back the carriage curtain to look out as they entered the county town.

Ten years have passed since Qingshui County was established, but the streets and alleys are still vaguely similar, with the same hazy sky and gray faces.

There were far fewer homeless people and beggars on both sides of the road than Zhou Xing remembered from a winter night ten years ago.

I just don't know if the world has improved, or if the people from the past are no longer here.

As soon as Zhou Xing pulled back the curtain, several beggars in the distance looked over. A few haphazardly piled blue bricks lay on the ground beside them.

"Please, sir, have mercy and give me some money for medical expenses so I can celebrate the New Year!"

Zhou Xing could tell at a glance that this was the brick-making technique from Wuhuazi Street, something they had already mastered back in the day.

But when these beggars raised bricks to smash their own heads...

With a sharp crack, a whip lashed out and struck Wu Huazi's hand, knocking him and the brick to the ground.

Wu Huazi looked at the bloodstains on her hands and the broken blue bricks on the ground, and almost lost her soul. How could she dare to go any closer?

The one who took action was Zhang Kui, the head of the guards driving the carriage. He glanced sideways at the beggars who wanted to block the road from his horse, and the beggars who were about to surround him immediately dispersed.

"Being a beggar requires discernment. Some nobles are kind-hearted and can't bear to see the poor being willing to give alms, while others can't stand the poor either. Getting involved with the poor could mean losing your life." Zhou Xing lowered the curtain again.

The inn where the delegation stayed in the county town was a few courtyards located on the back street of the county government office, specifically for officials passing through.

White walls and green tiles, imposing threshold, and two stone lions at the entrance.

Not long after Zhou Xing arrived, he was summoned away by the hostage Zhou Chen.

"Keep this waist token. You're one of my men now, and you can use this token to enter and leave the post station." Zhou Chen pointed to the waist token on the table, his face revealing an undisguised smugness.

"Once the Crown Prince of Da Mang arrives, Zhang Kui and his gang, along with his mastermind, won't be able to cause trouble for much longer."

Zhou Xing said expressionlessly, "Congratulations, Your Highness."

"No need to congratulate me. If this succeeds, you'll have played a crucial role!"

"When the Crown Prince arrives, I will tell him your plan to lure the enemy out. If the villains do make their move, you will be both the bait and the hero."

Zhou Xing was drenched in sweat.

"I'm just a lowly eunuch, what plan could I possibly have? It was all thanks to Your Highness's quick wit..."

It took him half an hour to make Zhou Chen realize that this plan to lure the snake out of its hole was actually his own amazing wisdom before he breathed a sigh of relief and went out.

The courtyard was quiet, with several guards with long swords hanging from their waists standing at the gate, looking quite vigilant.

............

Zhou Xing didn't go home right away. He went to Nanguan Street first to change into casual clothes and bought two jin of local pork.

After thinking it over, he finally bought a three-foot-long sword and then hurried home.

What I saw along the way was vaguely similar to what I saw ten years ago, except that there seemed to be fewer people on the streets.

Occasionally, a few coolies dressed in tattered gray gowns would walk by, carrying sacks on their shoulders, their steps heavy, their eyes empty and numb.

The archways and shop signs in the county town looked old and dilapidated. People came and went, but there was little vitality in them. It was as if even the air had turned a bleak gray-white.

As they approached the Li family's residence, they could see Li Ziqing chopping firewood in the courtyard.

But upon closer inspection, Li Ziqing turned her back and went back into the house, seemingly avoiding him.

"The treatment of my father, who hasn't been home for ten years, is quite different from that of my older brother, Li Xuanqing."

Zhou Xing shook his head slightly and stepped into the courtyard.

The fence was shorter than I remembered, and there were several newly repaired bamboo strips, which were a lighter color than the old ones.

The door to the main room was ajar, and the Spring Festival couplets on the door had faded to grayish-white, with only a few broken strokes remaining on the paper.

Zhou Xing's gaze swept across the courtyard, finally settling on a corner.

There stood a scarecrow.

Although it's called a scarecrow, it's actually much more elaborate than the kind used to scare away birds in the fields. It has a human shape, a skeleton, and even clothes.

But the clothes on top were very simple. They were more like a tattered burlap sack than clothes, with holes in the chest and arms.

These are not ordinary clothes.

These are the clothes that Wu Huazi begged for. The holes in the clothes are for showing his pitiful state and letting kind people see the wounds on his body.

"Why are you back, my lord?" The door to the main room opened, and his wife, Zhang, stood there looking at him.

The twilight shone on her face, revealing lines at the corners of her eyes.

Li Ziqing stood silently behind Zhang Shi, her entire body in shadow, with only half of her face illuminated by a sliver of light filtering through the door frame.

Dust floated in the twilight light, and Li Ziqing's eyes were as black as the long night.