The Sorrowmender

Chapter 57 – The story ends

The matter came to a close, and Xu Qingzhou returned to the Pavilion of Forgetting Worries with the white-haired girl.

Wuyou was still sound asleep.

Yet her brows were furrowed, as if something troubled her heart.

"I'll take Wuyou back to her room to sleep."

The white-haired girl, reluctant to leave Xu Qingzhou's back, spoke softly. She walked over to Wuyou and easily picked up Little Wuyou, who was a size smaller than her, as if holding a large doll.

Xu Qingzhou nodded slightly in response.

"Alright!"

Before reaching the door, the white-haired girl stopped, turned back to glance at him, and said without reason,

"If you're hurt, rest early, otherwise... Wuyou will be sad if she finds out."

Xu Qingzhou squinted his eyes into a narrow slit.

"Got it!"

The wooden door closed gently, extinguishing the candlelight.

The moon set over the Western Mountain, and the wind grew heavy.

When dawn broke, Little Wuyou cried a little, but it was out of joy.

Because the sister she believed in was safe and sound right beside her.

Wuyou was very sensible, but she was still a child. Being a child, she naturally didn't have many worries.

As for last night's events, they were easily brushed aside.

As morning light crept in, everything in front of the Pavilion of Forgetting Worries was as usual, with two long lines forming.

Little Wuyou distributed lots, drew lots, and Xu Qingzhou relieved worries...

The only difference was that the white-haired girl was nowhere to be found in the queue.

After relieving worries, Xu Qingzhou went to Wang Dong'er's restaurant, as usual, to tell stories of the Three Kingdoms.

And he spoke for an entire hour.

He spoke quickly, and everyone listened intently. In the story, Cao Cao died, Liu Bei died, Zhuge Liang died—

It was like the end of a flourishing era, the sunset fading away, and the story seemed to have reached a conclusion at that moment.

Even though this ending was hard to accept.

The story ended, and it was uncertain if there would be a sequel.

Children, in their innocence, rejoiced at Cao Cao's death and mourned Liu Bei's.

Women, with their limited knowledge, each had their own worries and feelings.

Gentlemen sighed, nearly shedding manly tears at Zhuge Liang's lament, "Oh vast heavens, why do you treat me so unfairly?"

People left in twos and threes, whispering to each other.

"They all died, ah, the Three Kingdoms, the heroes have all withered away."

"I always disliked Cao Cao, but now that he's dead, I can't seem to feel happy."

"Do you think Mister will bring them back to life in the next story? In a world with immortals, could they be resurrected?"

One person waved a fan, looking up at the sky.

"No, Mister's story has ended."

A companion, puzzled, asked, "What do you mean, Young Master?"

"Today, Mister didn't say that line when the gavel fell—"

"—To know what happens next, tune in next time!"

"You mean, Mister..."

"............"

Those who didn't understand naturally didn't understand, but those who did, naturally did.

The story was over, and Mister was naturally going to leave.

After finishing the story, Xu Qingzhou took the white-haired girl out of the city, heading towards Linfeng City.

The next day, the Pavilion of Forgetting Worries didn't open. Wuyou only said that Mister had gone on a long journey and didn't know when he would return.

People left in disappointment, whispering among themselves.

"Did Mister really leave? Will he come back?"

"I heard from Liu the Scholar that Mister's story is finished, and he might be leaving. I don't know if it's true."

"What are you thinking? Didn't Wuyou say that Mister just went on a trip and will be back in a few days? Besides, Mister cares so much for Wuyou, if he really left, how could he leave Wuyou behind?"

"That's right, maybe we're overthinking it. Let's come back in a few days."

"Yes, naturally!"

Five days later—

Linfeng City.

At dusk, the setting sun was like blood.

In a room within the City Lord's mansion, as soon as darkness fell, the sound of "Yan Yan Yan Yan" could be heard.

Outside the house, the courtyard and pavilion were empty.

Outside the courtyard, high walls surrounded the area, filled with hidden sentries and obvious posts.

As night deepened, the noise inside the house finally subsided, replaced by the sound of cicadas in the deep walls.

Inside the house...

Mo Shengge, her face flushed and filled with melancholy, her eyes brimming with spring waves, was tidying her disheveled, wide dark gold robe.

In front of her were two large beds carved from golden nanmu wood.

On each bed lay a man.

On the left, the man's limbs were bound with ropes, his body naked, his face haggard, as if his body had been hollowed out, staring lifelessly out the window.

On the right, the man lay flat on the bed, covered with a golden quilt, his face thin, lips bloodless.

His eyes were bloodshot, unusually red, his teeth clenched, fists tightly gripped, with blood seeping from his tiger's mouth.

His expression was one of righteous indignation, yet also one of utter despair.

Mo Shengge slowly approached the man on the right, took a handkerchief, and wiped the blood from his tiger's mouth.

Her eyes were full of mockery, her voice soft and sinister, "How did you hurt yourself? Don't you know your own body? You can't die now, understand?"

Lin Shuo used all his strength, his lips slightly parted, trying to speak, but couldn't, only managing a contorted expression.

"Does it hurt? Heh... Since marrying into your Lin family and becoming your Lady, have I ever had a day without pain, a moment without suffering?"

"Rest assured, I won't let you die. I want you to live, to live a life worse than death."

"I want you to see with your own eyes how I engage in illicit acts with your younger brother, and I want you to see how I inherit this vast Lin family estate."

If an ordinary person were present, seeing Mo Shengge like this, they would be greatly shocked.

Who would have thought that the City Lord's Lady, who was always so dignified, elegant, and knowledgeable in public, would have such an unsightly side in private?

She stood up, broke free from Lin Shuo's hand, and left the room.

Leaving Lin Shuo alone, his face filled with despair and sorrow... He never dreamed that he, the dignified City Lord of Linfeng, would end up in such a situation.

Mo Shengge left the courtyard, in high spirits, not forgetting to instruct the guards to keep a close watch and not let anyone disturb the City Lord's recovery.

"Recently, the Lady seems to be in a good mood."

"Indeed, but it's best to say less and see less about the Lady's affairs, or it could cost lives."

"Understood!!"

She was naturally happy. A few days ago, news came from the death guards that Mister Forgetting Worries was dead, and that girl was also dead.

Now that she had found the Lin bloodline, everything was proceeding according to her plan.

As long as there was a seed in her womb, Linfeng City would be hers.

In fact, Linfeng was already hers.

How could she not be happy?

She returned to the main hall, naturally reviewing today's memorials, the city's affairs large and small.

Unbeknownst to her, two rows of maids and dozens of eunuchs had already followed her.

Entering the main hall.

Resplendent with gold and jade, the lights dazzling like glass, it was a grand and dignified scene.

But as soon as Mo Shengge stepped into the main hall, the maids and eunuchs behind her scattered like frightened rabbits.

The door of the main hall slammed shut with a "bang!", shaking the surrounding candles and echoing with the wind.

The sudden scene made Mo Shengge's heart tighten, her confidence and composure vanished, revealing a hint of panic in her eyes, her hands clenching tightly under her embroidered robe.

She raised her eyes to look around, finally fixing her gaze on the golden phoenix seat where she usually sat.

There, a figure sat prominently.

Dressed in white, exuding an unparalleled charm.

Familiar features, familiar smile, Mo Shengge lost her composure, stepping back two steps as if she had seen a ghost.

"Mister Forgetting Worries?"

Xu Qingzhou slowly raised his head, chuckling softly as he asked,

"Lady, how have you been?"