Chapter 77

"Good, very good, your Southern Palace Family really knows how to shame yourselves!"

Upon returning to the Fragrant Flower Palace, Nangong Ling was met by an irate Shangguan Mingyue.

"Please tell Nangong Lin that if he dares to show his face before my aunt again, don't blame my sword for not recognizing him!" Shangguan Mingyue's eyes were red, her chest heaving, and the long sword in her hand, gleaming under the sunlight, pointed directly at Nangong Ling.

When Nangong Lin came up the mountain, she was managing the business at the Shengyu Trading Company's branch in Fufeng City. Later, she heard that the man who had once caused her aunt to be heartbroken had the audacity to return and ask for reconciliation. She was so enraged that countless innocent plants and trees in the mountains became victims of her sword, used to vent her anger.

"Nangong Lin came?" Nangong Ling was taken aback upon hearing that her rakish second uncle had actually come to the Fragrant Flower Palace.

"Not only did he come." Shangguan Mingyue sneered, "After what he did back then, he now wants to win back my aunt's heart. His shamelessness is truly remarkable."

Thinking of Shangguan Junyi's pale face and heartbroken expression, she felt an intense pain in her heart, wishing she could personally kill that despicable scoundrel who had broken her aunt's heart.

"Shangguan sister, I am very sorry for what Nangong Lin has done." Nangong Ling, despite being scolded by Shangguan Mingyue, did not get angry but instead apologized softly.

"I don't deserve to be called your 'sister'." Shangguan Mingyue's anger had not subsided, "I cannot blame you for what that man did, but I beg you to persuade him not to come and trouble my aunt again. Our Shangguan family is a small and humble household, and we cannot afford to be associated with him!"

With that, she did not wait for Nangong Ling's response and left the courtyard in a huff.

"Nangong sister, don't blame her for being impolite. Shangguan Miss and Shangguan Sister are like sisters, despite being aunt and niece," Zhong Wen saw Nangong Ling frowning and could not help but try to mediate. "The harm the Nangong family caused to Shangguan Sister back then was too great, so it's no wonder Shangguan Miss couldn't control her emotions."

"How could I blame her? The Nangong Family truly owes Shangguan Elder," Nangong Ling smiled bitterly, "If I were in her position, I might have already drawn my sword."

"Sister, don't blame yourself; what happened back then has nothing to do with you," Zhong Wen comforted her softly. "I'll go see Shangguan Sister."

As Zhong Wen left, a figure in green appeared before Nangong Ling, her cold eyes filled with anger.

"Am I not back?" Nangong Ling smiled faintly, "Don't worry, I won't run away. This time, I just went out to train with my junior sisters."

"Remember, no more excuses," the woman in green said coldly, "Don't think that just because you have a teacher at the Tianlun realm, I can't do anything to you."

"Don't worry, I said I won't run, and I won't," Nangong Ling met the woman's gaze fearlessly, "Have you followed me for so long and still don't understand my character?"

"That's best."

The woman in green slowly disappeared from the courtyard.

Nangong Ling sighed softly, her lively eyes showing a rare hint of worry.

...

"Ba Qin, Si Qi." Zhong Wen came to Shangguan Junyi's room and saw the two young maids sitting on a stone bench outside the door, their faces filled with deep sorrow.

"Zhong Wen brother!" The two maids' eyes lit up upon seeing Zhong Wen, "You're back."

"What are you doing sitting in front of Shangguan Sister's door?" Zhong Wen asked with a smile.

"Zhong Wen brother, this afternoon, Shangguan Elder was making pottery with us, and we were all very happy," Si Qi, who was more outgoing than Ba Qin, couldn't help but tell him, "Later, when Ning'er sister said an old friend had come to visit, she went out to see him. After that, she stayed upstairs and hasn't come down since."

The young maid pointed upwards, and Zhong Wen looked up to see a slender and graceful figure sitting on the roof, her arm supporting her cheek, her back looking incredibly lonely in the sunlight.

"Zhong Wen brother," Ba Qin said softly, "I think I saw Shangguan Elder crying."

"It's fine, go back now," Zhong Wen gently patted the two maids' heads, "I'll go see her."

Without much effort, he lightly stepped and appeared beside Shangguan Junyi.

Shangguan Junyi had always been gentle and considerate to him. Seeing her, who was usually cheerful and understanding, with her brows lowered and tears in her eyes, looking so fragile and heartbroken, Zhong Wen felt a pang of pain in his heart. He even felt a hatred towards Nangong Lin, whom he had never met, just like Shangguan Mingyue.

He quietly approached Shangguan Junyi, sat down beside her, and remained silent, just accompanying her in her silence.

Shangguan Junyi had sensed Zhong Wen's presence but did not turn around, still staring blankly at the trees and flowers outside the wall.

"Am I very foolish?" After a long while, she suddenly spoke, "I knew he was lying to me, but when I saw him, my heart still wavered."

"How can you be? Shangguan Sister has experienced much and is very wise," Zhong Wen shook his head, "It's just that first love always leaves some indelible marks in one's heart."

"You're so young, yet you understand so much. You must be an expert in this field," Shangguan Junyi tried to make a joke, but there was no smile in her eyes.

"Sister, do you still love him?" Zhong Wen, seeing her struggle to adjust her emotions, decided to ask directly.

"I don't know," Shangguan Junyi's eyes were unfocused, as if she hadn't sorted out her thoughts, "Given his character, I should only despise him and have no feelings of love, but this heartache..."

"Sister, no matter what, I can't let you fall into the fire again," Zhong Wen suddenly reached out and held Shangguan Junyi's hand, grinning, "If you want to marry, you should find someone who is handsomer, gentler, and more capable than me. Otherwise, I won't let you go so easily."

"What are you to me, comparing yourself to me?" Shangguan Junyi, caught off guard by his bold move, blushed and felt flustered, quickly pulling her hand away and glaring at him, "Besides, if I really want to leave, can you stop me?"

"Then I'll secretly go and kill Nangong Lin," Zhong Wen said mischievously.

"You..." Shangguan Junyi lightly tapped his forehead, her tone filled with a hint of helplessness.

"Sister, do you know how beautiful and charming you are?" Zhong Wen continued to try to cheer her up, "I can guarantee that if you stand on the street and announce that you're looking for a husband, the line of applicants will stretch from Fufeng City all the way to the capital."

"You're really getting carried away," Shangguan Junyi finally couldn't help but laugh, her worry slightly easing.

"Sister, a woman as beautiful as you should find someone who knows how to love, respect, and cherish you," Zhong Wen suddenly became serious, "Nangong Lin, a scoundrel, is not even as good as me. If you marry him, you might as well marry me."

"You're very confident," Shangguan Junyi covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes showing a hint of coquettishness.

Zhong Wen stood up, flicked his hair in a very stylish manner, and asked with a wink, "Sister, to be honest, who is handsomer, me or Nangong Lin?"

"Little brother, do you want the truth?" Shangguan Junyi's eyes sparkled mischievously.

"No!" Zhong Wen answered immediately.

Shangguan Junyi was so amused that she almost burst out laughing, "In that case, he is slightly handsomer than you."

"Shangguan Sister, that's the expression that suits you best," Zhong Wen gazed into Shangguan Junyi's watery eyes, speaking slowly.

Shangguan Junyi was taken aback, realizing that she had unconsciously forgotten about Nangong Lin and felt much lighter.

"Thank you."

"Sister, I once heard a saying, and now I'll pass it on to you," Zhong Wen recalled a certain father from his previous life, "Back then, you didn't care about me, but now I'm out of your league."

Shangguan Junyi's body trembled, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

After a long while, she lifted her head, looking at the handsome young man before her, her eyes sparkling, her smile charming, exuding a mature woman's allure, "Little brother, don't worry. I no longer have any love for Nangong Lin. What remains in my heart is just a lingering memory. Let it fade away. If he comes again, I'll avoid him."

"That won't do," Zhong Wen shook his head, "He wronged you, not the other way around. Why should you avoid him?"

"What do you plan to do?" Shangguan Junyi, seeing his expression, knew he had some idea.

"When Nangong Lin comes again, we'll..." Zhong Wen leaned in and whispered in Shangguan Junyi's ear, "What do you think, sister?"

"You... you little rascal!" Shangguan Junyi bit her lip, looking at him in surprise, "This might be a significant blow to him."

"He made you suffer so much back then. A little punishment is nothing," Zhong Wen said dismissively, "Dealing with a scoundrel doesn't require mercy. Not taking his life is already a great act of kindness."

"Sister, I'm already old and no longer attractive. If I kill my only suitor, who will want to marry me in the future?" Shangguan Junyi, feeling lighter, couldn't help but joke.

"Sister, your future husband will be the most handsome, gentle, and capable man of his time, perhaps even a bit better than me," Zhong Wen was delighted to see the gentle and lively Shangguan Junyi return.

"What if in the future, you can't find a man who is handsomer, gentler, and more capable than you?" Shangguan Junyi teased, "Will you let me live alone?"

"If you can't find one, then I'll have to make do with me," Zhong Wen patted his chest resolutely.

Suddenly, a fragrant breeze blew past, and Zhong Wen felt a soft and warm touch on his right cheek. It was a kiss from Shangguan Junyi.

"Little brother, this is my thank you."

Shangguan Junyi's figure had already disappeared from the roof, leaving behind a string of silver laughter.

Touching his right cheek, which still held the lingering fragrance, Zhong Wen was dazed for a long time, feeling as if he had inadvertently fallen into something.

He decided not to wash his face for three days...