Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 432 Everything Can Start Over Again!

Chapter 432: Chapter 432 Everything Can Start Over Again!

Speaking of Mei Yuzong, he was also a complex person.

But born as a human, with all emotions and desires, who can truly be pure? Everyone is complex in one way or another.

Before he entered the palace, he might have guessed that Chen Honglian must be inside.

For Chen Honglian was taken away by a "Noble Lady" and disappeared without a trace, as if she no longer existed in this world.

In those confused and furious years, Mei Yuzong felt both hatred and anger. The love in his heart had long since eroded away, leaving only reluctant hatred in his empty heart.

For over twenty years, he did not spend a day without wanting to confront Chen Honglian, to ask why she had killed his parents, why she had poisoned his throat rendering him mute, why she had unhesitatingly abandoned their vows and thrown herself into the arms of another?

Until he entered the palace and saw Consort Jing in that instant.

Mei Yuzong knew then that there was no need to ask anything anymore.

Such splendor and supreme favor, which woman wouldn’t want?

A mere peasant girl given a chance to soar up like a phoenix, which woman wouldn’t seize it?

Indeed, he understood then and there was no need to confront anymore. Yet the unwillingness in his heart grew stronger. In his midnight dreams, it was as though he was back on the mound where his parents were buried, inside the rotting coffins were decaying, dark bones staring at him resentfully, asking why they lay rotting in the mire while that woman was glamorous and about to become the queen of the nation?

Why? Why?

How could such a ruthless, merciless, and venomous woman be showered with glory, live a life of privilege, and a hundred years later be gloriously buried in the Imperial Mausoleum, receiving the respectful offerings of future generations?

Upon their next meeting, Chen Honglian recognized him.

The current Consort Jing was no longer the brash young girl who wore her heart on her sleeve, and only briefly lost her composure before regaining her calm demeanor.

As expected, soon their troupe was ordered to be sent out of the palace, by order of Consort Jing.

But quickly, they were told there was no need to leave the palace and to peacefully prepare for the opera.

On the day of the autumn banquet, he finally understood that the one playing the game against Consort Jing was Consort Yun, and behind Consort Yun was Prince Ling’s Mansion.

That day he also saw the rumored Princess Consort Ling, young and beautiful, serene and transparent, her black eyes seemed to see through everything. With just one look, he felt all the darkness in his heart exposed.

Yet Princess Consort Ling smiled at him gently, though it was faint and fleeting, almost as if it were an illusion, but still, he saw the kindness in her eyes.

At that moment, Mei Yuzong made up his mind.

He thought that Princess Consort Ling and Prince Ling must have a way to protect the lives of everyone in his troupe. As long as they weren’t harmed because of him, he could sacrifice everything.

Even if it meant death.

His life had no meaning anyway.

He heard the hidden hints in the idle chat between the palace maids and eunuchs; that was his only chance to meet Consort Jing, and he went without hesitation.

When he dropped that forged handkerchief, he wasn’t clear on what he was thinking or expecting.

But his objective was achieved, and Consort Jing’s attitude shifted from indifferent to enthusiastic.

And then, he finally understood how "lonely" Chen Honglian was in the palace.

Hadn’t he guessed as much when he forged the handkerchief?

Yet he felt none of his former love, only deeper hatred.

Look, in Chen Honglian’s eyes, he was nothing but a man to be called upon and dismissed at will.

He was, in fact, merely an emotional anchor for Chen Honglian, something that made her feel she still had charm and was forever worthy of being loved.

In Chen Honglian’s eyes, his torments and pains over the past two decades could merely be dismissed with a light laugh.

Since then, he had developed a disgust and fear of women, yet Chen Honglian arrogantly believed he remained chaste for her, unable to forget the old affections.

How ridiculous!

Ultimately, Chen Honglian still saw him as the naive young man from those days, still hopelessly devoted to her, easy to manipulate. Thus, he earnestly played this role in front of her.

In Consort Jing’s view, his adherence to proper conduct was out of respect, also out of a fear to offend. Thus, Consort Jing lowered her guard, never suspecting that he was also a part of her calculated plans.

Perhaps Consort Jing thought that the glamour of wealth was too dazzling, and he was too reluctant to let go of this enormous wealth.

In any case, he fulfilled his final plan, as he wished.

His last words, "I love you," were also a deception, aimed only to disorient Consort Jing with his death.

"Father, mother, I have avenged you, I am coming to you now."

Closing his eyes, Mei Yuzong felt a relaxation he had never experienced before, his resentment of over two decades ended by his own hands, and he died without regrets.

A quiet sobbing carried to his ears.

Mei Yuzong’s head throbbed with piercing pain. He opened his eyes, his vision blurred, thinking he had arrived in the Underworld.

"Troupe leader! Troupe leader, have you awakened?"

A familiar voice called out, and Mei Yuzong’s vision gradually cleared. He saw a pretty young girl with red-rimmed eyes at his bedside, stunned for a moment, then he turned to look at the bed, the modest but noble decorations in the room. He sat up, causing the wound on his head to pull painfully, eliciting a hiss from him.

"Troupe leader, please lie down! Princess Consort Ling said your head injury is severe and requires several months to heal properly!"

"Princess Consort Ling? Xiao Yuyu, am I still alive? Is this, Prince Ling’s Mansion?"

The girl named Xiao Yuyu cried and laughed, "You’re not dead, this is indeed Prince Ling’s Mansion, three days ago, you were hidden under Princess Consort Ling’s carriage and transported here by Prince Ling and Princess Consort Ling!"

Had three days already passed?

Mei Yuzong also found it hard to understand how he, a dead man, had come back to life.

As he was losing consciousness, he thought he heard someone declare he was dead, and even heard the Emperor command to have his body chopped up and fed to the dogs.

That day he had hit the pillar with all his might, intent on dying; if he had lived, the Emperor would have tortured him severely and even implicated the troupe.

Tears streaming, Xiao Yuyu said, "Do you remember the candy I gave you to eat? That was from a maid of Princess Consort Ling, who told me that the pill could save your life. I didn’t want you to die, so I tricked you into swallowing it."

Troupe leader had shared the plan with her long before, for in his eyes, she was the most sensible, composed, and able to ensure the troupe’s complete withdrawal.

But her calm maturity was all an act because only then would troupe leader value her more highly.

She had no other choice, so she had to trust Princess Consort Ling. Fortunately, she obtained the Sweet Medicine Pill and tricked the troupe leader into taking it, thus he survived.

Looking at the troupe leader’s confused and bewildered expression, Xiao Yuyu burst into giggles. It was good to see such lively expressions on him!

She explained, "That pill was a Breath-holding Pill, which took effect when you were critically injured, allowing you to have no breath or heartbeat, but it only lasted for an hour. It was a heinous criminal who was substituted for you and fed to the dogs. After you were brought back to Prince Ling’s Mansion, you were carefully treated by Princess Consort Ling and her master. You’ve been unconscious for three full days, but thankfully, you woke up!"

"Everything can start anew, troupe leader!"

The girl spoke jubilantly, her eyes sparkling brightly.

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