Chapter 339
Chapter 339: Red Dowries (XII)
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Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Perfidious?” Xu Ke regained his senses after being in a state of confusion . He looked somber and subconsciously grasped Xunmei’s hands . “When did it start?”
Xunmei sighed, a sad look in her eyes . With an almost pleading tone, she said, “It’s really not suitable for me to say anything more, but don’t worry . Langjun is quick-witted . Taxue probably won’t be able to deceive her . I really don’t want to bring up things that are in the past…”
However, was Xu Ke going to just stop there?
“Explain it to me clearly . Tell me whatever you can . ” Xu Ke sighed heavily, and the look in his eyes became particularly serious . “Since you and I have become husband and wife, we are one . We share bliss and misfortune together . If this isn’t too serious, I’ll confess it to Langjun for you and beg her to handle this matter leniently . If it’s a very serious matter, I’ll try to carry the burden for you, but you can’t deliberately hide it from me . ”
Xunmei did not speak a word . How was she going to tell him about this?
They should have been a newlywed couple that slept together in the same bed and told each other about their affections . However, they looked at each other silently, and the atmosphere grew tense .
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“Xunmei, you were willing to marry me because you were seeking another way out, right?”
All of a sudden, Xu Ke looked at Xunmei with keen, sparkling eyes . The depth and inquiring look in his eyes seemed to rip Xunmei apart and see through her mind .
“I…” Xunmei moved her lips . Under such a gaze, she actually could not lie . Her fair and delicate hands unconsciously twisted the corner of the blanket . She could not help but avoid Xu Ke’s gaze .
If there was a crack in the ground, she would have sunk into it, which would have given her a sense of security .
Xu Ke sighed a little and said sincerely, “I’m a commoner . I don’t have any honor and achievements . I got involved in a homicide case because of my mother . I was imprisoned and sentenced to corporal punishment that had me carve and ink characters on my forehead . Although there was amnesty, I eventually ended up in the class of rabbles and was treated as a trading good . Had I not been lucky enough to meet Langjun, who was helpful and encouraging, I don’t know what kind of a situation I’d be in right now… I wouldn’t be able to live such a happy and smooth life . My aunt gets to spend her remaining days happy, and I have a beautiful wife by my side . Therefore, to me, Langjun’s life is more important than my own . ”
Xunmei’s heart jolted, and she could not help but clench her fists .
“In fact, I was once doubtful . What kind of a luck did I have for you to be interested in me while you were beside Langjun? Thinking about it now, there seem to be secrets, which probably involve many things . Xunmei, since you’re now married to me, we’re husband and wife for life . It’s not going to change . I’ll never abandon you . So, no matter what, we’ll face all of it together . ”
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When Xu Ke went to Shangjing with Jiang Pengji for the first time, Xunmei had expressed her feelings to him . He did not respond back . It was not that he did not have feelings for her, but he had to carefully consider his conditions and his future . He felt that he could not hold such a decent girl up, so he declined politely .
However, over the next few years, he noticed and remembered Xunmei’s devotion . His aunt repeatedly mentioned to him how filial, lovely, and deep Xunmei’s love for him was . With such persuasion, even if Xu Ke had a heart of stone, he could not help but fall passionately in love with her .
Xu Ke held Xunmei’s hands, only to find that there was cold sweat all over her palms, and her fingers were trembling .
“I don’t know much about this…” After a long time, the candle in the room was burning quietly . Xunmei then started to speak hesitantly .
“You don’t know much about…?” Xu Ke was even more doubtful .
“Why should I lie to you now?” Xunmei lowered her head . Her long eyelashes created a fan-shaped shadow . “I really don’t know much about it . In fact, I’m not from Dongqing . My hometown is the small village on the border of Zhongzhao . I still remember that there was a drought in my hometown that year and there was wilderness everywhere . Not a single grain was reaped . People fought furiously just for some scraps…”
She’s from Zhongzhao? Xu Ke was stunned . He quickly calmed down and listened to Xunmei carefully .
“After that––I don’t know who instigated it––but my father sold my mother to the brothels in exchange for some food . I was stubborn at that time . I was very well-known for being bold and vigorous . As if my heart was covered with lard, I held a kitchen knife and slashed the man till he was half-dead…”
Xunmei was telling her story calmly, but Xu Ke was aghast and felt sorry for her . He was shocked that she had killed her father with her own hands, but she had no choice but to act that way . Of course, he felt sorry for her because Xunmei had to encounter such things at a young age .
“I’m so terrified… Every time I close my eyes, it’s like there are devils around me who want me dead . ”
Murdering one’s father was a great sin that could not be forgiven . Even if her father was not dead yet, she was so scared that she wanted to escape .
However, a large-scale drought and food shortage resulted in a massive number of refugees . Xunmei was still very young at that time and could not protect herself at all . At last, she was caught by traffickers and was secretly sold to Dongqing, which was bordered by Zhongzhao . Xunmei found an opportunity and escaped .
Hearing that Xunmei escaped from the hands of the traffickers, Xu Ke could not help but think about himself at that time . He had also planned to escape, but he was stopped by Jiang Pengji . His plan went down the drain .
“After that, I became a child beggar . I met an old beggar and learned some tricks for stealing . I would steal when I was very hungry . One day, I accidentally stole the First Lady’s jade pendant from her waist…” Speaking of that, she could not help but smile . “I was also lucky to have met the late First Lady, who was kind and generous . If it was anyone else, I’m afraid that I’d have been beaten to death . ”
The late First Lady, Gu Min, saw that Xunmei was pitiful . Moreover, she was a little girl . If she continued to wander on the streets, her future life would be ruined . She was pretty . Would the local hooligans not have evil intentions towards her after she grew up? Therefore, Gu Min took Xunmei back to the Liu residence and let her be a servant in the residence . She ensured that she would have three meals a day .
“I initially thought that it would be my life . After reaching the age of 15, I’d marry a male servant . When I got older, I’d become a wet nurse in the residence and serve the young master… However, I didn’t expect the health of the late First Lady to deteriorate day by day . That year, the plum blossoms were in full bloom . She then died a sudden death . ”
Gu Min had passed away, leaving Liu Xi as the only child . The entire Liu residence fell into darkness . Liu She chose carefully and finally picked Xunmei and Taxue as Liu Xi’s personal servants . He ordered someone to teach them martial arts in secret .
Judging from their origins alone, Xunmei had a clean background . The late Gu Min had done Xunmei a huge favor, so she would not harm Gu Min’s child .
Liu She had a good plan and his arrangements were thoughtful, but his plans always fell short of any actual changes .
“After that, the Master took office in Hu County . The Second Lady managed everything in the household . However, the Second Lady Hu was bedridden with a lingering illness most of the time . Madam Hu was in charge of the backyard affairs with her identity as Liu She’s mistress, and that inevitably brought criticisms . During that period, it was a bit chaotic in the residence, giving the robbers a chance to break in . ” Xunmei sighed and continued, “A man and a woman came and said that they were my biological parents…”