Chapter 1579

Li Chen Zhou sighed and said, "Uncle, don't believe one-sided words."

Li Mingfu saw he firmly refused to admit in front of him, had no choice, his gaze turned back to the ancestral tablets lined up ahead and said: "Since the founding of Da Yong, my Li clan has been loyal and steadfast, serving the country with devotion, giving our all until death; I do not wish to see a person who endangers the state appear in the Li clan." His gaze sternly fixed on Li Chen Zhou and said: "Although the Grand Empress Dowager has retreated, that does not mean she can tolerate others endangering her children. I will not allow anyone, out of their own ambition, to plunge our entire ******** into danger."

After saying that, without waiting for Li Chen Zhou to explain, he flicked his sleeve heavily and turned to leave.

Li Chen Zhou's lips curled with a bitter smile; he did not rush to rise from the ground, still kneeling there, gazing at his grandfather's tablet, then his eyes fell on his father's tablet. The Li clan has been loyal and steadfast, serving Da Yong with devotion, yet what have they gained in the end? Those who backed the uncle's earlier words are not merely blind loyalty but also fear—fear of the Grand Empress Dowager's tyranny; to preserve the Li clan, the uncle has indeed sacrificed much, but this cannot change the fact that his vigor is exhausted. Too many in the Li clan have lost insight into external affairs due to a life of ease. The world's winds shift; an unprecedented upheaval is about to unfold; clinging to remnants leads only to a dead end.

Li Chen Zhou's body suddenly stilled, then slowly turned around, seeing his wife Jian Rongxin dressed in a white fur coat, holding a red umbrella, standing silently in the snow‑filled night, gazing at him from afar; according to Li clan rules, female members may not enter the ancestral hall without permission, and Jian Rongxin is no exception.

Li Chen Zhou slowly rose to his feet and walked toward the outside of the ancestral hall.

Jian Rongxin looked at him, a faint smile appearing on her cheeks stung by the cold wind, like a spring flower quietly blooming in this chilly snowy night.

Li Chen Zhou approached her and said softly, "How did you come? It's cold outside!" Though his words showed concern, his expression remained unsmiling; he did not want his wife to have seen what just happened.

Jian Rongxin said gently, "I heard you were summoned by Uncle for a talk, and not seeing you return for a while, I came to check on you." She did so out of worry, fearing her husband might be wronged. Uncle Li Mingfu usually treats her with great courtesy—first because he admires her virtue and conduct, and second because he and her father, Jian Xihe, are close friends; indeed, a major reason for Li Chen Zhou and Jian Rongxin's marriage back then was this connection.

Li Chen Zhou gave a faint smile and said softly, "Go back." Seeing his wife, he couldn't help but think of his father‑in‑law Jian Xihe, who was also one of the Grand Empress Dowager's trusted officials in court. Before the uncle summoned him for a talk today, he had met Jian Xihe; perhaps tonight his father‑in‑law is also involved. Among relatives, differing political views have split them into many factions, and Li Chen Zhou feels quite helpless about this.

Seeing her husband hurry ahead, Jian Rongxin could only follow in small steps; several times she tried to extend her umbrella to shield him from wind and snow, but she could never keep up with his pace.

Li Chen Zhou seemed not to notice his wife behind him, his steps growing ever faster. Jian Rongxin finally gave up trying, silently following behind him; the distance between them only grew wider.

After entering their residence one after another, Li Chen Zhou went into the room. He took off his overcoat; after a while Jian Rongxin entered, silently shaking off the snow on her body, and Li Chen Zhou did not help her undo her outer coat as he usually did. Instead, he sat in the master's chair, staring blankly at the candlelight.

With the maid's help, Jian Rongxin removed her outer coat, whispered a few instructions, and the maid withdrew. Not long after, she brought over a steaming bowl of ginseng soup, signaled the maid to leave, and placed the hot ginseng soup before Li Chen Zhou, saying softly, "The weather is freezing; have some ginseng soup to warm yourself."

Li Chen Zhou shook his head: "I don't want to drink!"

Jian Rongxin's long black lashes fluttered once; the melted snow crystals on them sparkled. She set the ginseng soup on the table, moved behind Li Chen Zhou, and gently pounded his shoulders with her dainty fists.

Li Chen Zhou, however, impatiently rose, evaded her kindness, walked a few steps forward, his back like a dark cloud overshadowing her petite frame, and said in a low voice, "Did your father come today?"

Jian Rongxin bit her cherry lips and whispered, "He did come, to play chess with Uncle..."

Li Chen Zhou gave a cold snort and said, "Chess?"

Jian Rongxin said, "You needn't doubt him; he would never harbor ill will toward you."

Li Chen Zhou abruptly turned around, his icy gaze making Jian Rongxin's heart tremble; after years of marriage, she had never seen him so cold.

Jian Rongxin said, "Husband, have you heard something?"

Li Chen Zhou said, "Where in the world is there a wall that doesn't let wind through?"

Jian Rongxin heard the implication in his words, sighed softly, and said, "My father has long ceased to involve himself in politics, and even if he occasionally discusses affairs, he could never do anything detrimental to you."

"That's not necessarily so!" Li Chen Zhou's tone was unprecedentedly cold.

Jian Rongxin said, "Actually… actually he came today partly to play chess, and partly to make polite conversation with Uncle; what he cares about most is when he can hold a grandchild." Saying this, Jian Rongxin became infinitely shy, her face flushing to the ears, she lowered her head, not daring to look at her husband.

Li Chen Zhou's face grew ever uglier; he coldly stared at Jian Rongxin and asked, "Do you resent me in your heart?"

Upon hearing him say that, Jian Rongxin realized he had misunderstood her, hastily shook her head and said, "No, husband, you've mistaken me; many things cannot be forced, I have never blamed you. Since marrying you, you have treated me very well; I have always been happy and joyful. The fact that I have not borne you a son or daughter is entirely my own doing, and has nothing to do with you."

Li Chen Zhou's face turned ashen; he coldly said, "You say this to my face, but your heart may not truly think so."

Seeing him misunderstand her, Jian Rongxin stepped forward, reaching to grab his arm, but Li Chen Zhou suddenly shoved her arm aside with great roughness; unable to withstand his push, she lost balance and fell heavily to the ground, her forehead striking the floor, instantly bruising.

A look of disgust appeared on Li Chen Zhou's face; he flicked his fingers against his body.

Tears welled up in Jian Rongxin's eyes; she had thought her husband had merely knocked her down by accident, and even if he now came to help her up, she would not blame him—but she never expected Li Chen Zhou to remain unmoved, his disgust toward her reaching such a degree. Jian Rongxin bit her cherry lip, her heart bleeding; she reminded herself not to cry, endured the pain, and silently rose from the ground without a word. She stopped her tears, forced a strained smile, and said, "Are you hungry? The ginseng soup has cooled; I'll go warm it up for you."

Li Chen Zhou said, "Why bother being so hypocritical? Is it not true that you have always favored Hong Xinglian?" Hong Xinglian is a renowned talent of Da Yong and the husband of the Grand Princess Xue Lingjun; he and Li Chen Zhou were once hailed as the twin stars of literature and martial arts among Da Yong's youth, though he died young.

Jian Rongxin endured the pain and came to the table; but as she lifted the ginseng soup, she heard his words, her heart aching as if cut by a knife—the soup still warm in her hands, yet her heart felt plunged into an ice cave. She straightened her back and said, word by word, "Hong Xinglian is merely my father's student; I do admire his talent, but I regard him only as an elder brother. Your words are unfair to me and disrespectful to the late Brother Hong."

Li Chen Zhou gave a hollow cold laugh and said, "Elder Brother Hong! You address him so affectionately—do you perhaps wish you had married him instead?"

Jian Rongxin suddenly turned, her beautiful eyes flashing with anger as they fixed on Li Chen Zhou. This talented lady of Da Yong, even when furious, remains extraordinarily beautiful, evoking pity; she declared, "I swear, my relationship with Elder Brother Hong is pure!"

Li Chen Zhou said, "Originally your father wanted you to marry Hong Xinglian; if it weren't for the sudden appearance of Xue Lingjun, you two would likely have been living together, and for your Jian family I am merely a backup option."

Trembling with fury, Jian Rongxin's delicate frame shook; although she had long known her husband harbored resentment over this matter, he had never openly expressed it after marriage. Today, inexplicably, he dumped everything at once, and what pained her most was that he not only disregarded her dignity but also showed no respect for her own father. Composing herself, she said softly, "If you truly believe I have violated womanly duties, then divorce me—I, Jian Rongxin, will utter no complaint. But you may not insult my chastity, nor disparage my father; Hong Xinglian has been dead for many years—how can you be so harsh toward a departed soul and still have any conscience?"

Li Chen Zhou merely gave a cold snort.

Jian Rongxin said, "Since marrying into your Li household, I have always strived to fulfill my duties; though I have many shortcomings, I ask myself whether I have upheld womanly virtue—I have never done anything to disappoint you, Li Chen Zhou, nor brought disgrace upon the Li family gate. As the saying goes, among the three unfilial acts, lacking heirs is the greatest. I have married you for so many years and failed to continue the Li lineage—that is my fault. But… ask your heart… do you regard me as your wife? Do you regard me as a woman?"

Li Chen Zhou's eyes suddenly widened; he then raised his palm.

Jian Rongxin lifted her petite face, fearlessly meeting his gaze, and said softly, "You have too many secrets; over these years I have been nothing more than a prop for you, helping you put on a show of a loving couple before the world—everyone envies me, but who knows my true life? Do you know how painful my heart is each time my mother asks about me?"

Li Chen Zhou's handsome visage twisted into a feral grimace at her words; he suddenly gritted his teeth and snarled low, "Get out… get back to your parents' home…"

Tonight I'm accompanying my son to watch Batman beat Superman; the bad news is there's only First Update, the good news is that Zhangyu's condition seems to have returned! (To be continued~^~)