The Sorrowmender

Chapter 32 – Borrow!!

Listening to Xu Qingzhou's words and sensing the intriguing intent in his eyes, Mo Shengge was momentarily stunned, her expression freezing for an instant.

She slowly shifted her gaze away from Xu Qingzhou and instinctively looked at the tea on the table, which seemed to have gone cold.

"He really knows—" she silently thought to herself.

She knew very well what Xu Qingzhou was referring to, and she was filled with anticipation. Most of her worries dissipated because Xu Qingzhou had said there was a solution.

However, as a woman who held the power of life and death over an entire city, she naturally wouldn't display the joy and excitement of ordinary women.

She simply touched the teacup, feeling the residual warmth that was no longer as warm as her hand.

"Everyone, leave. No one is allowed within three hundred meters. Those who disobey will be killed."

Her voice was as gentle as an orchid, and she spoke slowly.

Then, the sound of rustling could be heard from the roof, like a night cat scurrying across the beams.

Outside the main hall, a leader shouted loudly.

"Lady's orders, everyone retreat three hundred meters. Disobey, and you shall be executed!"

"Retreat!!"

The uniform footsteps gradually faded away until they could no longer be heard.

The entire pavilion was silent, and outside the main hall, there was not a soul in sight.

An eerie silence.

Mo Shengge unceremoniously poured out the warm tea from her cup, refilled it for herself, and took a light sip, as if trying to conceal something.

"Mister, you can speak now."

Xu Qingzhou sat up straighter, tapping the table unconsciously, pondering how to speak, how to choose, whether to advance or retreat, to resolve or to kill. Ultimately, he had to decide.

But before that, he wanted to see if there was a third possibility, a way to avoid risk.

With a tentative attitude, he slowly said:

"Lady's worries are not difficult to resolve. I have two solutions, but there are some risks. However, before that, I want to ask Lady, if I could restore your husband Lin Shuo to his former self, what would you think?"

Mo Shengge's willow-like eyebrows furrowed slightly. She put down her tea and sat up straight, her gaze once again falling on Xu Qingzhou.

Suddenly, she smiled gently and said:

"But Mister, that's not what I want."

She didn't give Xu Qingzhou an answer, yet she did give him an answer. The meaning was clear; she was unwilling.

Even if she could save Lin Shuo, she was unwilling. What she sought was the position of the city lord of Linfeng City, to bear a son, to rule from behind the curtain, and to firmly control Linfeng City in her hands.

Xu Qingzhou also chuckled softly. Why hold onto such unfounded hope? Or perhaps, he shouldn't have asked such a question, how foolish.

If she truly wanted to save him, her worry should have been about letting him save people.

"Very well, very well, then I shall tell Lady the two methods, and the choice will be yours."

"Please, Mister, enlighten me." She returned to her polite demeanor, like a noble lady, also a virtuous wife and loving mother.

"What Lady seeks is merely a Qilin Prodigy, and it must be of Lin family blood, correct?"

Mo Shengge's cold face twitched, and she nodded calmly.

"Mister is truly a sage, yes."

Xu Qingzhou waved his hand, "It's not difficult. The first method, I give Lady a pill. As long as the city lord takes it, he can enjoy a night of pleasure, and Lady will surely conceive a Qilin Prodigy. However—"

He paused slightly, his tone heavy, "My medicine is too potent. City Lord Lin Shuo's body is weak, and his time is near. After taking it, once the matter is done, he will die."

The words "he will die" were emphasized heavily.

After hearing this, Mo Shengge showed no great reaction, but her eyes were already deep in thought.

She seemed unconcerned about the city lord's life or death, already contemplating how to ensure everything went smoothly after making her choice.

After a long time, she asked with a gentle gaze, "Mister, is there really such a medicine in the world? The doctor said—"

Before she could finish, Xu Qingzhou spoke directly, "In this vast world, there are all sorts of wonders. Lady is but an ordinary person, unable to look up to see the height of the sky, nor look down to measure the breadth of the earth. Linfeng City is but a speck of dust compared to the universe. Don't say your husband is infertile; even if both men and women were infertile, one could still create life. Does Lady believe this?"

Mo Shengge smiled slightly, "Mister is a sage, I believe what Mister says."

No one knew Lin Shuo was infertile; the outside world only knew Mo Shengge couldn't bear children. Lin Shuo refused to take concubines, and people thought he was a devoted lover.

But who knew she silently bore all this for him?

After all, if outsiders knew the city lord couldn't have children, Linfeng City would inevitably face turmoil, just as it does now. Without her, Linfeng City would have long been in chaos, perhaps even changed hands.

She bore the reputation of being infertile and endured the scorn of many in the city.

Some said she was a fox spirit, seducing Lin Shuo, while others said she was a jinx, wanting to end the Lin lineage.

After all, everyone in Linfeng knew the Lin family had only one heir per generation, and she alone occupied Lin Shuo. Not only that, but she also couldn't bear children, so how could there not be rumors?

So Mo Shengge hated Lin Shuo. She had come this far only because she married him, and she never wanted to marry him.

But born in such an era, in the Mo family, she had no choice. Everything had to be done as others arranged, as if from birth to death, she was destined to be a puppet controlled by others.

So she longed for power, to control power, to act as she wished, to control others. She vowed never to be controlled again in this life.

Who says women are inferior to men? She refused to believe it.

And Xu Qingzhou not only spoke her mind but also knew Lin Shuo was infertile. If he wasn't a sage, what was he? How could she doubt his words?

She was just wondering if there was a better choice.

So she asked again, "Mister mentioned two solutions earlier. What is the second one?"

Xu Qingzhou didn't keep her in suspense and directly said five words:

"Borrow another man's seed."

"What?"

"Literally, since Lin Shuo can't have children, others surely can."

After speaking, Xu Qingzhou took the porcelain pot from the table and poured himself a cup of tea, feeling a bit parched after talking for so long.

Mo Shengge smiled faintly.

"Mister, you must be joking. Surely you know that if the city lord's bloodline isn't legitimate, it can be detected. If I really did that, I fear not only would I not survive, but I'd also be drowned."

Xu Qingzhou took a sip of tea, smacking his lips, and replied nonchalantly.

"Of course, I know. It's just a small trick with a spiritual array to test blood. Why not borrow from someone in the Lin family?"

Mo Shengge sighed, a hint of melancholy in her eyes, "Mister doesn't know, but my husband Lin Shuo is the last of the Lin family. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dragged it out until now, nor would I have come to seek Mister's help."

She had thought about it, but with no one left in the Lin family, where could she borrow from?

"Who said your husband Lin Shuo is the last of the Lin family?"

Mo Shengge was startled by his words and asked cautiously, "Mister, what do you mean?"