Chapter 555: Chapter 508, Martyrdom of Love_1
Daohua and Xiao Yeyang stepped out of the shop to see a girl in white mourning attire walking past on the street.
“What’s with this girl? Even if there was a death in the family, she shouldn’t be parading around the streets in the New Year like this. Isn’t this deliberately unsettling people?”
The owner of the neighboring bookstore saw her and disapprovingly commented as he stood at the doorway.
Soon, others joined in.
“That girl seems to be heading toward the Zhuang Residence.”
“The Zhuang Family is celebrating a joyous occasion today. Her presence might bring them bad luck.”
“I recognize that girl. She’s the Zhuang son’s sweetheart. Just you wait, there’s going to be quite a show.”
As soon as these words were spoken, a burning flame of gossip lit among the bystanders, and even Daohua pricked up her ears.
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang shook his head in some resignation, “Why are you so interested in these boring street matters too?”
Daohua retorted, “Life is full of variety. It never hurts to watch and listen more. Besides, did you notice? That girl just now, her expression seemed a bit off. It feels like something is going to happen.”
Xiao Yeyang was speechless, “How could I, a grown man, be staring at a girl like that?”
Seeing that the surrounding people were following the girl toward the Zhuang Residence, Daohua couldn’t help saying, “Xiao Yeyang, let’s go have a look too,” and started walking forward.
Xiao Yeyang, resigned and with no choice, followed.
In the New Year, everyone was idle and looking for entertainment. A fresh and strange event naturally drew a crowd, especially one involving the wealthy Zhuang Family—it attracted even more attention.
The girl in mourning attire attracted more and more attention as she walked, with a growing crowd following her.
Xiao Yeyang, worried that Daohua might get bumped, held her back and walked at the edge of the crowd, avoiding the more crowded areas.
Daohua didn’t enjoy squeezing through the crowd either, so she and Xiao Yeyang walked slowly, guessing as they went, “It must be another story of a love-struck young master abandoning a good girl. Why are men so fickle?”
Xiao Yeyang was at his wit’s end, “Don’t tar everyone with the same brush. I’m not fickle.”
Daohua glanced sideways and scoffed, “Don’t speak too soon; just make sure you don’t end up eating your words later.”
Xiao Yeyang, thoroughly annoyed, said, “Yan Yiyi, why won’t you believe me? When have you ever seen me entangled with other girls?”
Daohua immediately responded, “You really have the nerve to lie through your teeth. Weren’t you involved with Miss Jiang?” She said, pursing her lips, “Now, there are still quite a few officials’ families in Zhongzhou spreading rumors about your childhood sweetheart relationship.”
Xiao Yeyang was frustrated, “Haven’t I explained the situation with Wanying to you? That childhood sweetheart nonsense is just baseless fabrication.”
Daohua stopped, turned around to face Xiao Yeyang, “I’m asking you, Miss Jiang didn’t mind tarnishing her own reputation to be tied with you, you know what her intentions are, right?”
Xiao Yeyang’s brows knotted, “Whatever her intentions, they have nothing to do with me.”
Daohua fell silent for a moment, “What if the Empress Dowager in the palace insists on pushing for your union?”
Xiao Yeyang asserted decisively, “I will not agree.”
Daohua fell silent. She wanted to say that some things don’t need his agreement, just like the recent promotion of the Consort Ma to a higher status. But saying this out loud could hurt Xiao Yeyang, so she swallowed her words.
Seeing Daohua silent, Xiao Yeyang also pursed his lips and kept quiet.
Behind them, the butler and Wang Manman saw the two bickering and were extremely anxious.
Just then, a sudden noise erupted in the street as people scattered in every direction, now rushing together toward a particular place.
“Something bad has happened, someone’s committed suicide by running into the wall in front of the Zhuang Residence.”
“Is it that girl in the mourning outfit from before?”
“Indeed, it’s her. She went straight to the Zhuang Residence’s gate and without a word, slammed into it. The blood, they say, spilled everywhere—more crimson than the red silk.”
“Such a pity, that girl looked so young, barely at the age of marriage, right? How could she be so desperate?”
Hearing the hubbub of the crowd, Daohua’s attention shifted, and she quickly followed the flow of people toward the Zhuang Residence.
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang quickly grabbed her, cautiously protecting her as they went.
Soon, the crowd had gathered outside the gate of the Zhuang Residence.
By the time Daohua and Xiao Yeyang arrived, the gates were already surrounded by commoners packed tightly together. Daohua stood on tiptoes, barely able to see a girl in white lying on the stone steps, and a few steps away, a middle-aged man clad in red silk stood with a livid face—it was clear he was Master Zhuang.
Looking at the girl lying on the ground, not a trace of pity appeared on Master Zhuang’s face, only disgust and irritation: “Someone, quickly remove her.”
In the crowd, there were those who enjoyed a spectacle and would add fuel to the fire, and they immediately took up the call: “Master Zhuang, the girl might not be dead yet. You, call a doctor to have a look. After all, she has had a relationship with your son.”
Upon hearing this, Master Zhuang’s face turned an even deeper shade of purple. He wanted to gesture for the servants to hurry and carry her away, but calls for a doctor from the crowd only grew louder.
“That’s right, Master Zhuang, today is a day of great joy for your family. Still, call a doctor to take a look; after all, it’s a human life at stake.”
Many spoke, but not one person stepped forward.
Daohua, on tiptoes and stretching her neck, peered: “A young girl doesn’t have much strength. She probably just cracked her head and isn’t dead, but if we let the wound keep bleeding, then who can say?”
Xiao Yeyang saw her frown deepening and turned his head to look at Defu.
Defu, catching the signal, immediately made his way to the gate: “Make way, everyone, let me have a look.”
As soon as these words were uttered, the crowd quickly cleared a path for Defu.
Master Zhuang wanted to scold Defu for being a busybody, but just then, the butler noticed Xiao Yeyang and Daohua and hurriedly walked over, whispering something in his ear.
After hearing the words, Master Zhuang immediately looked towards Xiao Yeyang and Daohua. Observing Xiao Yeyang’s commanding presence, Master Zhuang moved his lips but ultimately didn’t voice any objection as Defu approached.
As Defu was about to kneel down to check if the girl in white still had breath, suddenly, a figure in red dashed out from the Zhuang Residence: “Huiniang!”
The person was dressed in festive attire, and the crowd immediately knew this was the Zhuang family’s son who was to be married that day.
The Zhuang family’s son, ignoring Master Zhuang’s attempts to stop him, rushed to the girl in white. He gently cradled her in his arms, his hands trembling as he wiped the blood from her forehead: “Huiniang, it’s me, I’m here, open your eyes and look at me.”
Master Zhuang’s face turned a ghastly shade of purple as he watched his son: “Congcong, what are you doing? Get up right this moment.”
The Zhuang family’s son remained unmoved, staring at the girl in his arms who was motionless, his expression one of anguished despair: “How could you be so foolish, so foolish? If you die, how can I go on living alone?”
After speaking, he lifted his eyes to the blood-stained pillar, slowly placed the girl in white back on the ground, and then stood up to face Master Zhuang, dropping to his knees with a thump.
“Father, your son has been unfilial, please forgive me.”
Seeing his son like this, Master Zhuang felt a pang of panic: “Congcong, let bygones be bygones. Father doesn’t blame you. Let’s live well together in the future.”
Tears streamed from the eyes of the Zhuang family’s son; he kowtowed thrice emphatically to Master Zhuang and then slowly turned his head towards the girl in white: “Huiniang, wait for me.”
With that, he charged fiercely toward the pillar.
“Defu, stop him!”
Daohua sensed something was amiss as soon as the Zhuang family’s son knelt before Master Zhuang. Seeing the son charging towards the pillar, she shouted loudly.
Defu, unprepared for the son’s act of desperation, hesitated for a moment. By the time he reacted, the son had already reached the pillar, and it was too late to stop him.
Just as the son was about to collide with the pillar, Xiao Yeyang threw his Jade Pendant.
The Jade Pendant struck the Zhuang family’s son, slightly reducing the force of his impact, but he still slammed into the pillar, falling to the ground with a face covered in blood in an instant.
“Congcong!”
Master Zhuang turned pale with fright.
Meanwhile, the bride had also run out of the Zhuang Residence. Upon seeing the Zhuang family’s son crash against the pillar, she collapsed to the ground, her legs giving way beneath her.
Source: NovelFull.com, updated on N𝘰vgo.co