NOVPUBShen Roujia did not look at Hong Xiao with pity but rather with a calm clarity.
“Hong Xiao, do you plan to see her?”
Hong Xiao’s actions paused. “Didn’t you two come here just to hear my story?”
Shen Roujia did not give her any opportunity. “We are here to solve problems.”
Her tone paused slightly, “Hong Xiao, why waste your time? With your abilities, if you truly hate her, you could have destroyed her already.”
Hong Xiao gave a bitter laugh. “Heh… So, I couldn’t escape the eyes of a young girl.”
Shen Roujia remained silent, but Gu Zhi looked confused. “What?”
Hong Xiao’s fingers trembled slightly as she picked up her tea bowl.
“Pei Lang betrayed me. We escaped the sandstorms of the border town but couldn’t escape the dazzling sun of the capital.”
All of this was within Shen Roujia’s expectations.
“Hong Xiao, you are clearer and crueler than I imagined.”
Hong Xiao’s voice was hoarse and slightly nasal.
“I killed him, and I killed myself too…”
Shen Roujia also picked up her tea bowl and drank it in one gulp.
“But you did not harm Hua Zui. Hong Xiao… I toast to you for this. I have never admired a woman as much as I admire you. You are the first.”
Hong Xiao knew that Hua Zui had saved her life, and no matter how much she hated her, she would maintain her bottom line.
Hong Xiao seemed to deflate. “Pei Lang used his life to atone for his guilt. I couldn’t repay him with mine… Why did he rush into the fire to save me!” 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
“If he had just let me die, how much less torment would there have been!”
“I can’t let him go, and I can’t let go of my hatred. I have no way…”
She held her head and cried, her tears gradually soaking through the white gauze.
Shen Roujia gently patted Gu Zhi’s arm.
“Let’s go back.”
Hong Xiao did not respond further.
Gu Zhi followed Shen Roujia’s instructions and left a letter for Hua Zui.
The remaining issues were left for the two women to resolve.
Shen Roujia did not want to interfere too much in the affairs of the characters in the story.
This time, she intervened only out of kindness.
As they were leaving, Gu Zhi helped Shen Roujia onto her horse, then slowly spoke, “I bet you are curious why I am helping Aunt Hua like this.”
Shen Roujia did not want to pry into others’ privacy, especially not the meticulous female protagonist’s.
She sighed inwardly, then raised her eyebrows and blinked gently.
“Yes, why?”
Gu Zhi seemed to trust Shen Roujia more and more.
“Because she saved my mother. Although… she couldn’t save my unborn brother, if Aunt Hua hadn’t rushed into the Gu family with a doctor, my mother would have died when I was five or six.”
Shen Roujia was genuinely surprised to learn about this connection.
Initially, she had thought that Hua Zui and Gu Zhi’s mother might have had some acquaintance.
But no one would have expected such a profound debt of gratitude.
Shen Roujia became more enthusiastic. “Then let’s hurry back and help to the end!”
Gu Zhi quickly shook her head. “No need. These are just their obsessions, not something we can solve.”
Shen Roujia looked deeply at Gu Zhi, realizing she also saw things clearly.
Hua Zui was indeed a woman who dared to love and hate.
However, Shen Roujia couldn’t help but comment, “Doesn’t Hua Zui seem a bit overly compassionate? Why do so many people owe her gratitude?”
After leaving the Eastern Palace for over three days, there was still no news from Xu Zening.
By the fifth day, Shen Roujia herself felt restless.
Hong Xiao’s mistake was living too clearly, sigh…
