Chapter 606: Love's Return? Zhui Yu Decides!

Really?!

Where is she?!

Why didn't you say earlier?

Of course I want to know!

I've been looking for Aunt and Miao'er for nearly twenty years!

I, I even thought I'd never find them in this lifetime!

Where have they shown up?

Tell me quickly!

Zhui Yu's face lit up with surprise, and she began frantically circling around Po Feng.

She kept muttering: "As long as I find my cousin, see that she has a stable life; if she doesn't have a stable life, that's fine too—I can properly settle her."

That way I can be single‑minded and go rescue Que'er—

Po Feng looked at her with some heartache: "Your cousin isn't doing too well."

I only confirmed this news a few days ago.

After your family's disaster back then, your cousin and aunt were both implicated and sold.

They were first sold to Lingnan, and later forced to be sold together to a merchant household.

The master of that household took a liking to your aunt, forcibly making her a concubine, but then disliked your cousin as a nuisance and had her buried alive.

Your aunt, to save your cousin, rushed out in the heavy rain despite the obstacles and dug your cousin out of the earth with her own hands.

Fortunately your cousin still had a breath left; unfortunately, your aunt—

Zhui Yu turned ashen and pressed: "What happened to Aunt?"

Come on, tell me!

Po Feng said: "Your aunt was struck with a stick when she broke through the blockade; while carrying your cousin to the street to seek help, she herself collapsed first."

From then on, she never woke up again.

Zhui Yu stared blankly as tears streamed down.

So Miao'er was only five when she lost her mother?

Was my aunt just beaten to death like that?

How did Miao'er manage to survive? Why, after all these years, have we still not found her?

How did you come to know her news?

Po Feng: "Miao'er was rescued off the street by the lady of an official household."

Seeing how pitiful the mother and daughter were, that lady paid for your aunt's burial.

And that merchant household, seeing a death on the street, naturally dared not step forward.

From then on, your cousin stayed by that lady's side, working as a little maid.

But good fortune didn't last.

Just two years later, that official's household was also raided.

Your cousin was then sold again, and after various twists she ended up……in that kind of place.

Zhui Yu was nearly losing her soul.

Hearing this, she momentarily couldn't react, or perhaps she dared not think further.

That kind of place?

What kind of place is that?

Say it!!

Po Feng closed his eyes briefly: "A brothel."

Zhui Yu shouted in disbelief: "Impossible!!"

Miao'er was only seven then!!

How could she suffer such a fate?

Absolutely impossible!!

Po Feng, seeing his frenzied, anguished state, grabbed him and said: "Calm down!"

She was indeed young when sent there, but she went along with her family's daughter to become a government courtesan.

After entering, she continued to work as that maid.

But as she grew older and her beauty could no longer be concealed, she still……could not preserve herself.

Zhui Yu staggered backward.

Pale-faced, she leaned against the pillar, slid down it to sit on the ground, and could not get up again.

Po Feng: "She has suffered a lot over these years."

I heard that at sixteen she became the top courtesan because of her beauty, outshining all the official household girls she used to serve.

Perhaps this provoked jealousy; that girl teamed up with a dissolute rake and won your cousin's heart.

Feigning deep affection, he actually only wanted to trick her into paying silver to buy her own freedom.

However, the status of a government courtesan cannot be easily redeemed, so your cousin was coaxed by that lover to elope from the brothel.

By the time she realized she'd been deceived, it was already too late.

She was found by the officials; fortunately she reacted quickly, claiming she had been forcibly taken. That lover was beaten to death on the spot, and your cousin was imprisoned for a year.

When she came out again, she was still sent back to the brothel. However, after a year, that brothel's top courtesan position had already been taken by someone else.

Fortunately your cousin didn't give up; she schemed to give that official lady a venereal disease, and the lady fell seriously ill within three months and died.

By now, although she never regained the top courtesan rank, it's said she has become versatile and accomplished, a talented woman who no longer needs to take clients.

Zhui Yu swept away the tears on his face with a swipe of his arm: "Where is she?"

"I'll go find her!"

"I will rescue her and bring her home… come back!"

Po Feng: "Rest assured, she has already been rescued."

"She is currently on the way to Mantuo City."

"When you next return from the Western Regions with the princess consort, you will be able to see her."

Zhui Yu: "Thanks, thank you. Thank you, brother…"

"Thank you for helping me find Miao'er."

"Such great kindness, I will keep it in my heart, unforgettable for life."

Po Feng: "Between us brothers, there's no need to say such things."

"But… have you decided how to settle her in the future?"

"I gather from your words that you still want to reconcile with Miss Que'er?"

"What about your cousin then?"

"You two had your marriage arranged as children; her family was also implicated by yours back then."

"Zhui Yu, can you really just not care about her?"

Zhui Yu panicked: "I, I don't know."

"Let me think, let me think a bit…"

He stumbled to his feet and then hurriedly left Po Feng's sight.

Po Feng sighed and shook his head.

"This life is too bitter."

Zhui Yu went back and got roaring drunk.

Li Qingluo, upon hearing this news, was also somewhat surprised.

"He got drunk?"

"Was it Que'er and Sha San who provoked him again?"

Zheng Mama shook her head: "Probably not."

"This afternoon, when he came back from outside, his eyes were red and swollen, as if he had been crying."

"At that time, Que'er and Sha San were both in the mansion, so they hadn't seen each other."

Li Qingluo: "Go and personally help take better care of him."

"He must have encountered something very difficult; otherwise, he wouldn't normally do something like this."

"By the way, don't tell Que'er."

Zheng Mama personally went to look after Zhui Yu.

However, after Zhui Yu got drunk, he suddenly rushed out of the room, saying he wanted to find Que'er.

"Que'er!"

"I'm a scoundrel."

"I clearly can't let you go in my heart."

"But I can't just ignore Miao'er…"

"Miao'er is suffering terribly."

"And her suffering is something our family brought upon her."

"I can't again behave like a beast and harm her…"

"Que'er… Que'er—"

"I originally wanted you to see my sincerity, but now nothing matters…"

"What should I do? Tell me, what should I do!"

Zhui Yu went into a drunken frenzy in the garden.

Sha San, with a grim face, originally wanted to go up and fight him, but Que'er grabbed him with one hand.

Que'er stepped forward and personally gave Zhui Yu a slap.

"Have you caused enough trouble!?"

"I and you are already over; you still don't get it?"

"No matter what you do, I won't even glance at you again!"

"Zhui Yu, don't make me hate you again!"

Que'er's heartless words were like a basin of cold water, completely sobering Zhui Yu.

He covered his face and turned away, leaving in a daze.

Que'er watched his retreating back, unable to hide the pain in her eyes.

When Sha San stepped forward from behind to show concern, she quickly covered her eyes.

"Let's go, this is so annoying!"

"Always like this, we can't have peace!"

Sha San patted her head: "It's fine."

"From now on, if you don't want to see him, we'll just avoid him."

Que'er smiled: "Mm. Let's go, accompany me to buy some dry provisions for the young lady on the road."

The two left hand in hand, unaware that, upon hearing Que'er's two sentences, Zhui Yu's back had already stiffened and he stood frozen at the corner.

He sat down on the ground along the wall.

He covered his eyes and began to cry.

As it turned out, I was such an annoying thing.

Until a shadow covered his head, he heard a sigh.

"Love between men and women can never be forced."

"Otherwise, what you get can only be a bitter fruit."

"Zhui Yu, you should look ahead."

Zhui Yu, face streaked with tears, lifted his head to look at Li Qingluo.

"Miss?"

As it turned out, it was raining.

Li Qingluo was holding an umbrella for him, so he didn't let him become any more disheveled.

Li Qingluo said: "You see, it's going to rain, a young woman will marry—these things can't be stopped."

"Some things, once missed, are missed."

"Life isn't just about love and romance."

"Since she's firmly chosen someone else and found her true love in this life, shouldn't you be happy for her?"

"Perhaps next time you can learn to cherish a true heart, and then you won't lose it again."

"Zhui Yu, we're all waiting to see that spirited Young Master Zhui Yu return again."

"Don't let me and Your Highness down."

Li Qingluo then shoved the umbrella into his hand, got up, and ran off in the rain with Zheng Mama.

Zhui Yu stared, gripping the umbrella in his hand.

Suddenly he moved the umbrella aside, lifted his head, and let the fine rain soak him.

Not knowing what he'd thought of, he gave a bitter laugh.

He raised his hand to cover his face, laughing, unable to tell whether the wetness on his face was tears or rain.

Yes, he could no longer indulge in love.

He still had other responsibilities.

He still had two close brothers, as well as Your Highness and the princess consort.

Moreover, a great undertaking awaited him.

Moreover, there was Miao'er.

The ill-fated Miao'er.

Zhui Yu rushed to the City Lord's Manor and found Po Feng.

Po Feng saw his disheveled state and jumped in shock.

"What's wrong with you?"

Zhui Yu stepped forward, feeling wronged, and hugged Po Feng.

"Po Feng, am I annoying?"

"Am I really annoying?"

Po Feng: "This… sometimes, indeed quite annoying."

Zhui Yu's whole body stiffened.

Then, angry, he punched Po Feng in the chest.

"You bastard! I'm your brother—how can you despise me for being annoying?"

Zhui Yu angrily walked aside to sit down, waiting for Po Feng to throw him a dry handkerchief and a clean set of clothes, only then did he feel moved and hug him tightly.

"Po Feng, I've decided."

Zhui Yu lowered his head; rain slid over his handsome face, finally dripping from his chin.

Po Feng came over to help him wipe his head: "What have you decided?"