kvmb Chapter 209 The road ahead is long, and who knows what will happen next?
Chapter 209 The road ahead is long, and who knows what will happen next?
In the still of the night, the whole world seemed shrouded in a thick layer of ink. The courtyard of the Sixth Prince's Mansion was deep and secluded, the silhouettes of the trees in the night shadows resembling lurking beasts.
The hexagonal pavilion stands quietly in the darkness, its eaves resembling a bird about to spread its wings but then freezing in place.
The Sixth Prince, Murong Xu, dressed in a black outer robe, sat alone on a stone bench in the pavilion. Moonlight, like water, fell on his shoulders, outlining his slightly lonely figure.
He looked up at the night sky, where the stars twinkled like jewels set against the black canvas. Murong Xu couldn't help but sigh softly.
In the dead of night, the high walls of the Prince's mansion isolated him from the noise of the outside world, but could not contain the turmoil in his heart.
Numerous complicated matters entangled his mind like a tangled mess, impossible to unravel, leaving him restless and unable to sleep. He could only find a moment of peace in this pavilion, gazing at the vast starry sky.
Suddenly, the scene of his confrontation with Li Yue that day flashed into his mind. Recalling this, the corners of Murong Xu's mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, and a barely perceptible smile quietly appeared.
But in an instant, he snapped back to reality, as if startled by his own reaction. He shook his head slightly and murmured to himself, "Sigh, why did I suddenly think of her?" His voice drifted into the quiet night, carrying a hint of melancholy that even he himself was unaware of.
Murong Xu raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the layers of night, as if looking towards a freedom that seemed unattainable. A moment later, a sigh escaped his lips:
"If I were just an ordinary person in the city, free and unrestrained, not confined to the four corners of this royal palace, not needing to deal with power struggles, rising with the sunrise every day and returning with the sunset, enjoying the simplicity and tranquility of life, how pleasant and wonderful that would be."
After he finished speaking, his eyes were full of longing, as if he were already living that ordinary yet carefree life.
On the edge of that desolate and lonely village, all around was ruin and bleakness. A solitary thatched hut stood out starkly in the dim night. A howling wind swept by, and the thatch rustled, as if whispering endless sorrow.
The room was dark, with only moonlight filtering through the cracks, casting pale shadows. A thin, frail woman, wrapped in a thin, tattered coat, sat huddled by the doorway.
This woman is Huan'er.
She looked up at the night sky, the moonlight falling on her pale face, her brows and eyes filled with an unyielding sorrow. Her brows were furrowed, her eyelids slightly lowered, and her eyes were filled with pain and helplessness.
She subconsciously raised her hand and gently stroked her slightly protruding belly, her movements soft yet filled with endless sorrow. "I'm sorry, baby," her voice trembled, choked with sobs, "It's all my fault. Even now, my fate is still in someone else's hands, and you have to suffer along with me... I don't deserve to be your mother."
The words had barely left her lips when tears, no longer able to be held back, gushed forth like a flood bursting its banks. Her shoulders trembled violently, her hands tightly covering her face, tears streaming through her fingers. The suppressed sobs carried far into the silent night, a lament for the injustice of fate, a cathartic outpouring of despair for the future.
The night was deep, and all was quiet except for the sound of the wind howling outside.
The door was gently pushed open, making a soft creaking sound.
Li Yue, still sleepy-eyed and with slightly unsteady steps, walked out of the house.
The moonlight, like water, spilled into the courtyard, and she immediately spotted Huan'er sitting at the door. Li Yue was startled and quickly approached.
"Huan'er, what's wrong? Why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night..." Li Yue's voice was filled with deep concern. As she approached, she saw Huan'er's face streaked with tears in the moonlight. "Ah~ you, you've been crying."
Upon hearing this, Huan'er seemed startled. She hurriedly raised her hand and vigorously wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, trying to force a smile. However, the smile appeared extremely forced against the backdrop of her tears. "No, no! The wind was too strong, it made my eyes dry." Her voice was still choked with emotion, and her words revealed obvious panic.
Seeing Huan'er's state, Li Yue felt a pang of pain in her heart. She shook her head helplessly, slowly sat down beside her, gently put her arm around Huan'er's shoulder, and carefully tidied her wind-blown hair with her other hand. Her eyes were filled with heartache and worry as she softly asked, "Is it... that you're thinking of the people from the Prince's mansion?"
Upon hearing this, Huan'er could no longer contain his emotions. He suddenly hugged Li Yue, sobbing uncontrollably, "My lady... sob sob sob."
Li Yue subconsciously patted Huan'er's back gently, her eyes filled with worry and heartache, and comforted her softly, "Huan'er, don't cry, let bygones be bygones. Although our place can't compare to the luxury and wealth of the Prince's Mansion, don't worry, I will do my best to make sure you never suffer again!"
Huan'er sobbed, her voice filled with self-abasement and gratitude: "I don't care about any of that. I'm just a lowly maidservant, how can I compare to my master? I'm already grateful that you took me and the child in my belly in, and I dare not have any more expectations."
Upon hearing this, Li Yue immediately released Huan'er, grasped her shoulders with both hands, and said seriously, "Huan'er! What are you saying! So what if I'm a maid? So what if I'm poor? In my eyes, everyone is born equal, and there is no distinction between noble and lowly. Although I am poor, I live by my own hands, and I live a carefree and comfortable life. I have never felt that I owe anything."
Huan'er's heart jolted, and she blurted out, "Equality for all?" In an instant, her thoughts drifted back to the Prince's Mansion, recalling that Ninth Princess Lin Qianqian had once said the same thing to her. She sighed silently, "[Ninth Princess... she also told me that there is no distinction between noble and lowly people, everyone is equal... I wonder how she is now, alas...]"
Li Yue held Huan'er's hand tightly, her gaze firm yet gentle, and looked into Huan'er's eyes as she said, "Huan'er, stop overthinking. Just stay here and make yourself at home. From now on, I'll be with you, and we can overcome any difficulty, no matter how big."
Huan'er nodded slightly and replied softly, "I...uh-huh." Her voice was still a little trembling, but it carried a hint of reassurance.
“That’s right! Smile more, be happier, it’s good for you and the baby. Alright, it’s cold outside at night, let’s go inside and rest.” Li Yue said, gently helping Huan’er up.
Although Huan'er was still filled with a trace of sorrow, she looked at Li Yue, who was taking good care of her, and obediently went into the house with her.
The journey ahead is shrouded in mist, with endless unknowns lurking within.
Every step felt like stepping into the depths of a fog, with no idea what scenery or obstacles awaited next.
Is it a sunlit, smooth road, or a treacherous path strewn with thorns? Is it a sudden surprise, or an unavoidable predicament? Everything is shrouded in mystery.