NFBE Chapter 382 Two People Reminiscing
Chapter 382 Two People Reminiscing
Upon hearing this, Dong Nanxi couldn't help but feel a bitter smile. He slowly turned his gaze to the outside of the hall, where the swaying bamboo shadows danced gently in the breeze, as if telling of his inner helplessness and sorrow.
His thoughts drifted away, returning to those unbearable years. He had once been so confident, believing that with his talent and knowledge, he would surely distinguish himself in the Great Xia court and carve out his own niche. However, after arriving in the Southern Frontier, he realized that reality had ruthlessly shattered his dreams; the feeling of being second only to the emperor was not easy.
From the crown prince of the Great Xia Dynasty to a destitute man fleeing with his aunt, his life trajectory has undergone a dramatic transformation, like a rollercoaster ride. Once, he was of noble birth and enjoyed all the riches and honors, but the wheels of fate mercilessly swept him into a massive storm.
During his time fleeing with his aunt, he had to lower himself and copy books for others to make a living. At first, he could copy some classic texts, and although the income was meager, it was enough to maintain a basic standard of living. However, as time went on, the pressure of life became unbearable. To fill his stomach, he had to copy illustrations, creating those vulgar and disreputable pictures and writing obscene and vulgar lyrics.
Who could truly understand the bitterness and suffering he had endured? Dong Nanxi sighed inwardly. Only he himself knew best the hardships and humiliations he had suffered along the way. Every time he picked up a paintbrush, he felt his soul being eroded little by little, yet the cruelty of reality prevented him from putting down his brush.
"Are you here to interrogate me?" Dong Nanxi finally withdrew his gaze, looking at Murong Qing before him, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. His voice was low, revealing a hint of helplessness and despair. It was as if he had long anticipated this day, only that it had come so soon.
"I was in a much worse situation many years ago than I am now!" Dong Nanxi sighed deeply, as if the unbearable past was weighing on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
At that time, he was like a leaf in the wind, homeless and wandering from place to place. He often didn't know where his next meal would come from, suffering from hunger and cold. In order to earn some meager money, he was willing to do any kind of hard and tiring work. As long as he could have food to eat, survive, and pay for his aunt's medical treatment, he would be content.
However, fate was always so cruel to him. If his elder brother hadn't discovered him by chance, and Ye Qingchen hadn't saved his aunt, she would probably be long gone, and he himself would probably have disappeared into the vast sea of people, never to be found again.
Dong Nanxi's words were filled with emotion and sorrow. His past was like a tattered scroll slowly unfolding before his eyes. Every detail was vivid in his mind; it was the darkest moment of his life, a memory he could never erase.
Murong Qing listened quietly, his heart reeling as if struck by lightning. He had assumed that Dong Nanxi's life would be smooth sailing and carefree, having first become the top scholar and then the imperial son-in-law. He never imagined that Dong Nanxi would endure so much hardship and suffering.
Thinking back to their childhood, Dong Nanxi always took meticulous care of him, always putting him first when it came to good food or fun toys. Now, looking at his slightly haggard cousin, Murong Qing felt a pang of guilt and self-reproach.
“Cousin, I…” Murong Qing opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that his throat was blocked by something, and all his words turned into a silent sigh.
Dong Nanxi waved her hand, interrupting him: "Enough, enough, it's all in the past. But how have you managed all these years? That incident back then..." At this point, Dong Nanxi's voice choked up, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Murong Qing's expression darkened, and she slowly said, "Back then, my father swapped my clothes with yours. I had already collapsed in a pool of blood, but then I woke up. However, everyone in the courtyard must have died; there was blood everywhere. I cried and screamed in the courtyard, and there was a huge fire outside. A master took me away, and I was lucky enough to escape. Later, he made me learn martial arts from him. Over the years, I have been secretly investigating the truth behind the massacre of the Dong family, hoping to one day clear their name and avenge them. I never expected that you would be exonerated later."
"Exonerated and avenged?" Dong Nanxi was taken aback for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "The Dong family's injustice has been cleared. My brother, the Emperor..." Dong Nanxi looked at Gu Mochen, her eyes filled with gratitude, "My brother investigated the truth, punished those murderers, and after becoming Emperor, he restored the Dong family's innocence. He also punished those bad people, but the Dong family members are still all gone. Fortunately, you are still alive!"
Upon hearing this, Murong Qing's eyes flashed with surprise, then he smiled with relief: "Very good, very good. In truth, my return to the martial world was only to clear the name of the Dong family and avenge them. Now that you have accomplished that, there is nothing more I can do. Over the years, I have always wanted to come and see you, but the Prince Chen's mansion was impregnable back then, and the Prince Consort's mansion was also protected by many people. I didn't want to disturb too many people, and I also heard that the Emperor of Great Xia was traveling in the Southern Frontier, so I waited for Gu Mochen, and that's how I finally met you."
Dong Nanxi stepped forward, grasped Murong Qing's hand tightly, and said with excitement in his eyes, "Yuqing, you've suffered so much these years. From now on, stay in the Southern Frontier, and we brothers will never be separated again."
Looking into Dong Nanxi's sincere eyes, Murong Qing felt a surge of warmth in his heart and nodded heavily: "Okay, cousin, we'll never be apart again."
At this moment, Gu Mochen looked at the two brothers who had been reunited, and a gratified smile appeared on his lips. He stood up and said, "Alright, you two brothers haven't seen each other for many years, you must have a lot to say. Bai Yufei, have Bai Zhi Fuling and the palace maids help prepare some wine and dishes so that they can have a good chat."
Bai Yufei responded and flew away. Dong Nanxi and Murong Qing were still chatting in the main hall when Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen led Wen You and Song Ming out of the room. Inside, Dong Nanxi and Murong Qing talked back and forth, recounting their experiences over the years. Dong Nanxi even seemed to be quietly crying.
Gu Wenyou and Song Ming strolled around the courtyard with Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen, watching this heartwarming scene, their hearts filled with emotion. Gu Wenyou couldn't help but say, "I never imagined that my uncle, the Imperial Son-in-Law, had such a story."
Song Ming nodded and said, "Yes, life's encounters are truly unpredictable. However, Dong Nanxi's reunion with her cousin is a joyous occasion."
Gu Mochen looked at the sky outside the hall and said thoughtfully, "Murong Qing must be quite old now. He should still have a peaceful life!"