The old marshal's hair and beard were bristling, his rage unquenchable. His deafening roar was laced with intense rage, but there was also a sense of powerless sorrow hidden within.
The old marshal's current state of mind was similar to Shangguan Lingxiu and Yun Yang's, perhaps even more so.
He could lead an army of a million men and defend against the enemy from a thousand miles away, he could command his troops with ease, he could also charge into the enemy's formation and lead the army bravely without fear. However, he was filled with a sense of helplessness when faced with these fickle and easily instigated fools!
To the old marshal, it was a blessing that the Shangguan Family of Generals' name had been washed clean today, but it was also a wake-up call – a wake-up call that grieved for the loss of their kind.
Today, it could be the Shangguan Family of Generals, but tomorrow, could a few words be spoken against Leng Daoyin and Qiu Jianhan? They were all soldiers, after all. Even the Shangguan Family of Generals, a family of meritorious and loyal souls, had almost been annihilated, what was he?
In the backyard of the Shangguan Residence, a family of widows stood quietly, all of them expressionless.
Hearing the old marshal's thunderous roar, the eyes of the entire family were rimmed red, tears streaming down their cheeks. Their fists were clenched tight, the grief and indignation they felt could not be expressed in words.
When they were being pointed at by the public, they had not shed tears of sadness; they had only felt indignation.
Now that the truth had been clarified and their reputation had been restored, they could not help the tears that flowed freely.
The old mistress lit a stick of incense shakily and raised it above her head, gently inserting it into the censer before the memorial tablets.
Green smoke billowed.
The memorial tablets were arranged neatly, watching the rising smoke in silence.
Those who were alive and those who were dead, they were all silent.
All the women's eyes were focused on the old mistress.
There was no emotion on the old mistress' face, but her tears continued to fall. She straightened her body quietly, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared at the memorial tablets.
After a long, long time, the old mistress murmured, "I know what all of you want to say … You want to say that all of you seek peace of mind and justice. This is what all of you want to say, isn't it? I know that your entire family is made up of scum like this. Even if you die a hundred times, you won't regret it … "
Her voice gradually trembled. "You guys are happy! Let out a loud roar, charge forward, and die a heroic death. Die once and for all, and it will be extremely satisfying! But you've made us stay! You have peace of mind and righteousness. You died for your country without any regrets. But do you really not feel guilty at all for leaving us orphans and widows behind? "
"If you die, everything will be over. You won't know anything! But we're still alive, so we deserve to suffer all of this! "
Old Madam's tears flowed down her cheeks as she suddenly shouted, "But why should we bear all of this?!"
She pointed her skinny hand at the door behind her and shouted, "Why do we have to bear all this! One of you, come out and tell me, what right do you have?! "
The entire mourning hall suddenly trembled at the sound of this question.
The eyes of all the women in the family turned red and their bodies trembled.
Qiu Jianhan's heavy voice came from outside the door, "Sister-in-law, we're here."
The Old Mistress said coldly, "The two Marshals have come personally and graced us with your presence. However, your feet do not step on this lowly ground. How can I accept such treatment? A family of orphans and widows can't bear the courtesy of two important military officials coming to visit personally. Please return. "
The door darkened as Qiu Jianhan and Leng Daoyin's tall frame appeared at the door and strode forward.
Coming before Old Madam, both of them knelt on the ground with a loud thud. "We've come late. Forgive us, sister-in-law!"
Two marshals of the imperial court, veterans of the military, old generals who could shake the entire Empire of Yutang with a single shout, knelt before Old Madam obediently, their faces filled with guilt.
Old Madam's breath was stuck in her throat. She did not speak for a long time. After a while, she finally sighed softly, the cane in her hand paused for a moment as she said, "Get up."
"Yes! Allow the both of us to offer incense to the Family of Generals' forefathers, brothers, and children as a token of our appreciation. "
Qiu Jianhan and Leng Daoyin stood up and retrieved a pot of incense each respectfully. They lit the incense and raised it reverently, bowing meticulously as they went forward.
Their expressions were unprecedentedly solemn.
There was a faint glint in the eyes of the two old marshals. It was as if the Shangguan Family of Generals' long-awaited valiance that dominated the battlefield and was unrivaled in the world flashed before their eyes at this very moment.
The hall was silent.
After some time, the two old generals straightened up.
Old Madam was still standing straight. She suddenly sighed and said softly, "Xiao Qiu, Xiao Leng … I ask you …"
She was expressionless and her voice was cold, without the slightest bit of emotion. She slowly extended her hand and pointed outside. She said indifferently, "Could it be … that our family has been bathed in blood and killing for generations just to protect … this group outside?"
Old Marshal Qiu and Leng Daoyin were silent at the same time.
After a long while, both of them straightened their chests and said bitterly but resolutely, "We, the Yutang soldiers, eat the imperial court's salary and enjoy the offerings of the people. Our rations and pay are all provided by the country …"
"What we seek is for the peace of our hearts and the presence of righteousness! Nothing else! "
The two old generals spoke in unison.
What we seek is for the peace of our hearts and the presence of righteousness!
It was these two sentences again!
These two sentences were truly impassioned and could be used in any way!
Old Madam was suddenly enraged. Tears gushed out of her eyes as she cursed, "You seek this too, don't you? Peace of your hearts and the presence of righteousness? Good, good, good! You are so righteous, you are so impassioned! Get out! Get out! Go to peace of your hearts! Go to righteousness! Get out! Get out! Get out! "
As she cried and cursed, the walking stick in her hand came crashing down on the two old generals!
The two old generals endured it without moving, their gazes filled with heartache and sorrow.
They could empathize with the Shangguan Family's plight.
The boundless chill in their hearts, the chill in their bodies …
Poof!
Old Madam threw her walking stick on the ground and suddenly knelt before the memorial tablets, bawling her eyes out.
Endless heartache and sorrow poured out amidst her sorrowful cries.
Countless memorial tablets remained still amidst the smoke; Qiu Jianhan and Leng Daoyin stood still as well.
All the women of the Shangguan Family did not move. Each of them looked sorrowful, but there was also a sense of relief.
"What we seek is for the peace of our hearts and the presence of righteousness!"
There was still a second part to this sentence.
"That's enough!"
…
Yun Yang, who did not know the subsequent developments on the other side, returned to his residence in high spirits, feeling refreshed. He was surprised to find out that Yun Zuiyue had sent someone to deliver an invitation, saying that there was something urgent for him to attend to.
Yun Yang could not help being stunned when he heard the news. Why would Yun Zuiyue look for him at this time? What was her intention?
Just as he was about to head out to Cirrus House to investigate, he saw a young girl dressed in green walking over quickly, accompanied by two burly men.
It was Ju Chen, one of the twelve golden hairpins of Cirrus House. Although she was not familiar with Yun Yang, they knew each other.
"Young Master Yun." Ju Chen's pretty face was smiling. "Sister Yue knows that Young Master Yun is busy and will not be meeting at Cirrus House this time. She has sent this young sister to welcome you."
Yun Yang smiled. "That is fine. May I know where Sister Yue is now?"
Ju Chen smiled and said, "Sister Yue is waiting for young master at a fun place. She hopes that young master will head there quickly."
A fun place?
Head there quickly?
Yun Yang's eyes scanned Ju Chen's face thoughtfully and nodded. "Since Sister Yue has summoned us, let us go now."
He turned and waved his hand, greeting her as usual. However, he shot a look at Fang Mofei.
Fang Mofei lowered his head and said, "Young master, do you want this subordinate to go with you?"
"No need, what are you going to do?"
Lao Mei looked after the house. Yun Yang rejected him and said, "Stay at home and look after the house."
The moment they departed, Yun Yang suddenly whistled. Whitey Two sprinted over and jumped into Yun Yang's embrace.
Yun Yang laughed and stuffed Whitey Two deeper into his pocket before following Ju Chen.
Fang Mofei waited for Yun Yang to leave before he chuckled and vanished into thin air. "Lao Mei, I'll go first, you go second. Don't be discovered lest you ruin young master's setup. "
Lao Mei snorted and muttered angrily, "Now you're the one arranging for me. Don't you have any sense of first come, first served?"
He followed Fang Mofei with an annoyed expression.
The sky was already turning dark. It was already dusk.
Ju Chen led the way in front, smiling like a blooming flower as she chatted with Yun Yang.
The two guards followed beside her expressionlessly.
"Why do these two look so unfamiliar? I guess we haven't met before?" Yun Yang said with a smile, looking at the two guards.
Ju Chen chuckled with her hand covering her mouth. "Does young master know everyone in Cirrus House?"
Yun Yang laughed. "Not bad, not bad. There are so many people in Cirrus House, how could I know them all?"
Yun Yang did not speak anymore, but each time his gaze swept past Ju Chen, there was an additional chill in the depths of his gaze.
You know everyone in Cirrus House?
That's right, I know everyone in Cirrus House! Not just the guards, even the maids and cooks … I know every single one of them, every single one of them!
His hands were still in his sleeves as he walked leisurely, like a rich young master who was accompanying a beauty out for a stroll. He exuded an indescribable sense of carefreeness and elegance.
Ju Chen's beautiful eyes occasionally glanced at Yun Yang's face, and she could not help but feel a tinge of pity.
It was such a pity that such a gentle young master, whose looks and aura were one in a million …
The further they walked, the more secluded they became; they were getting closer to the red-light district.
Looking from afar, the people on the streets had become densely packed in the evening.
Finally, after turning a corner on a dirty street, both sides of the road were filled with hawkers who had set up stalls.
How could there be so many people setting up stalls here at this hour?
The corners of Yun Yang's lips curled into a smile as he asked, seemingly unintentionally, "Ju Chen, where are you taking me? Why would Sister Yue come to a place like this? What's so fun about a place like this? "
Ju Chen forced a smile and said, "Young master, don't be so anxious. We have already arrived."
"Arrived?" Yun Yang turned to point at the street. "This is it? How is this place fun? "
Seeing Yun Yang turn, Ju Chen's petite body suddenly retreated swiftly as she hollered, "Do it!"
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