Chapter 548: I'm Sorry... Thank You

"Of course I will avenge him!"

Zhu Zhuqing said without hesitation: "Because he is the person I love most. No matter what, even if it means death, I will not let off the person who hurt him."

Zhu Zhuyue closed her eyes and smiled: "Look, at a time like this, what is the point of talking about right or wrong..."

"But you don't love him! You don't love Dai Mubai!" Zhu Zhuqing said.

Zhu Zhuyue slowly opened her eyes, her gaze like a pool of stagnant water: "I truly have never loved him, but he was my reliance for living. Without him, I don't know how I am supposed to go on living..."

"You!"

Zhu Zhuqing was very angry, but a hand appeared on her shoulder and grabbed her.

She turned her head and saw Qin Jian standing beside her with a calm expression, whispering: "No need to say more, I can understand her."

"She is a person without goals, so her sustenance is always placed on others. Without this, she will lose her purpose. If such a person has a lifelong partner they love, then she would be very happy, but if she is unfortunate..."

Qin Jian shook his head: "Forget it, let's not dwell on this. It is better to ask her where this poison came from. As an ordinary woman without the slightest ambition, she shouldn't have been able to obtain such a powerful poison."

"No need to ask me, I won't say..."

Zhu Zhuyue smiled softly, a smile full of despair: "Just like my life was pinned on Dai Mubai, some things are carved into my bones. They are things this world told me, and so I became this way. Whether it is serving my husband and raising children... or loving my sisters... or being filial to my parents..."

"Fine, I understand..."

Before Zhu Zhuqing could speak again, Qin Jian suddenly grabbed her shoulder and lifted her up.

"No need to follow. I will deal with this murderer who attempted to poison me alone."

Whoosh...

He said this indifferently, then pulled Zhu Zhuqing along, stepped onto his Light Sword, and whistled away.

Inside the great hall, everyone looked at each other, not knowing what kind of divine twist this was, with the judgment only halfway through.

"Zhu Youling, is this matter over?"

Zhu Bilian stood beside Zhu Youling and said quietly: "I know this child Zhuyue; she will not betray me."

Zhu Youling nodded imperceptibly and said: "Next time, don't plan such idiotic schemes on your own. It is meaningless."

Zhu Bilian's cheek twitched: "I was only trying to share your burdens."

"Short-sighted!"

Zhu Youling flicked her sleeves: "Do you think I absolutely do not allow Zhuqing to carry out family reforms? I have always been preparing for both possibilities. On the surface, I stand with the Star Luo Empire, but in secret, I provide some convenience to Zhuqing. In this way, regardless of whether the Star Luo Empire grows powerful or the Spirit Hall unifies the Dalu in the future, our family will not meet with disaster and can continue to exist."

"Ah?!"

Zhu Bilian's eyes widened suddenly: "No wonder he gave me that mixed poison; so he didn't trust you either!"

"So, that poison was secretly provided by His Majesty..."

Zhu Youling's eyes were cold: "Using us to poison the Spirit Hall Chief Judge, then throwing you out as a scapegoat. If that doesn't work, he can even throw out the Zhu family. Anyway, as long as the bloodline remains, within a hundred years, it will be a new Nether Family, and one completely under his control..."

"I have to say, this Spirit Hall Chief Judge's overt scheme is too formidable. Even though Zhuqing is in a state of being sidelined, he still planted the seeds of mutual suspicion between us and the Imperial Palace..."

She sighed softly: "It is just that His Majesty would be so resolute in striking first—that was indeed something I did not anticipate beforehand, but this is his method..."

Zhu Bilian's eyes were now spinning in circles: "His Majesty actually..."

"In the future, when dealing with Zhuqing's affairs, we must lean more toward her..."

"..."

Outside the Imperial Palace, Qin Jian landed with Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyue in a secluded place.

"Alright, I have brought the person to you."

Qin Jian said casually: "Although some messy things happened, the result is the same."

Both Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyue were very confused by this turn of events.

But at this moment, a figure in dark red robes turned out from the corner ahead. He knelt on one knee and said respectfully: "Many thanks to the Chief Judge for fulfilling this!"

"No need, as long as you fulfill your promise afterward."

Qin Jian tossed Zhu Zhuyue over, and the man caught her in his arms in a flurry.

"Ah! You... you are..."

Zhu Zhuyue, who had originally been in a state of deathly silence, saw the man's face, and her whole being seemed to come back to life.

"Zhongye!"

Her body was trembling violently; she wanted to reach out, but did not dare.

But the man she called Zhongye grabbed her hand fiercely and pressed it against his cheek. His originally stern face became entirely gentle and affectionate: "It's me... it's your Zhongye who has returned..."

"Zhong... ye..."

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were slightly dazed for a moment, then she widened them: "It's you! Zhu Zhongye!"

"Zhuqing, you know him too?"

Qin Jian watched the suffering couple reunite with his hands in his pockets: "I once had a brief encounter with him outside Slaughter City. This time, he found me through the Judgment Hall, and well... he told a moving love story..."

"I know..."

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were also somewhat strange: "He is from a branch of the family and had high talent. Since childhood, he liked the Third Sister, but unfortunately, our direct-line daughters are all meant for political marriages, so... I didn't expect that after so many years, he would return."

"He is now the head of the branch family."

Qin Jian crossed his arms and said: "I actually admire him quite a bit. As someone born into a branch family, he cultivated alone, hunted Evil Soul Masters to hand over to the Spirit Hall for a living, returned as a Soul King, took the position of branch head, and then found me, hoping I would save Zhu Zhuyue on the condition that his branch would pledge allegiance to you..."

"So that's how it is..."

Zhu Zhuqing blinked: "Qin Jian, you had planned to save the Third Sister all along?"

"Yeah, but before I could even steal her out of the Imperial Palace, she delivered herself to my doorstep..." Qin Jian rubbed his forehead.

Zhu Zhuqing: "..."

"Zhongye... I thought... I thought..."

Zhu Zhuyue lay in Zhu Zhongye's arms, her hand stroking his face trembling violently, her face covered in tears: "I thought... you had given up long ago..."

"I promised you, whether it be five years, ten years, or twenty years... I will definitely return to marry you!"

Zhu Zhongye's voice was deep and tender: "Now, I have returned..."

"Wuu wuu..."

Zhu Zhuyue covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhu Zhuqing could not help but lean into Qin Jian's embrace, remaining silent for a long time.

She was very fortunate now; fortunate that Qin Jian had agreed to Zhu Zhongye's request, and fortunate to have the current outcome.

To her, Zhu Zhuyue was the closest person in the entire family; if they had truly severed ties completely, it would have been a devastating blow to her.

"Thank you... thank you..."

After a long while, having gone from hell to heaven, Zhu Zhuyue finally recovered her senses and immediately knelt down with a thud before Qin Jian, her face full of shame and gratitude: "I'm sorry... thank you..."

(End of this chapter)