CHAPTER 405: CHAPTER 346: THIS ISN’T FAIR (PART 2)

After glancing back in the direction of the manor’s main building, Emma couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly.

"I guess I’m not as good at enduring as I thought I was."

...

Was that... the crest of the Golden Hibiscus Family?!

Following Emma’s gaze, Leon spotted the emerald green crest of a golden cuckoo on the second-floor curtain wall, along with workers dismantling the wall with the Bauhinia Family motifs, and was immediately taken aback.

In theory, the Golden Hibiscus Family and the Bauhinia Family had a closely-knit relationship, with intermarriages being very frequent over nearly two hundred years. The Golden Hibiscus Marquis himself had gained the right to control the Northern Border trade routes through such family ties.

Therefore, in the current situation where nobles close to the Bauhinia were either killed or exiled, he did indeed have the right by bloodline to inherit the Treasure Flower Manor, with an inheritance rank nearly equal to Senior Emma’s.

But if it was true as Senior Emma said, that the Golden Hibiscus Family was the primary culprit for the Bauhinia Family’s downfall, then how could they have the audacity to move in?

Moreover... isn’t this practically begging to be killed?

Noticing Emma’s hand turning slightly cold, and the look of chilling intent filling her usually gentle eyes, Leon couldn’t help but close his eyes, his scalp tingling at the audacious move by the Golden Hibiscus Family.

If the Golden Hibiscus Family hadn’t intruded, Senior Emma might have continued enduring, relying on little Ellie’s presence, waiting until she became a Branch Director.

But now, the Golden Hibiscus Family seemed ready to take over completely, moving their entire family into the Bauhinia Family’s manor, and this truly was... the enemy who destroyed one’s home not only blatantly appeared before them but also unashamedly moved into their house; anyone would find this unbearable!

If Senior Emma weren’t bound by the Word Spirit and unable to use the Anomalous Object, even the cockroaches in their cupboard would have to face judgment!

"I can drive them out!"

Golden Hibiscus Family occupying the manor = Senior Emma unable to hold back from taking revenge = violating the regulations of the Purification Bureau = Senior Emma facing execution!

The moment this equation formed in his mind, Leon immediately suggested,

"Senior Emma, just endure a little longer, and I’ll go find the king..."

"No need."

Before Leon could finish, Emma refused his suggestion, her expression calm as she remarked,

"Leon, for Ellie, I’ve endured for six whole years, but now I truly don’t want to endure anymore."

"But you’re already a Level One Cleaner. Just one vacancy in a Branch Director position..."

"The main bureau is currently sealed off; without a Director appointment, even if there was a vacancy, I couldn’t be promoted, and even if there was a vacancy, it might not even be my turn."

Looking affectionately at her daughter, who was pulling Melanie’s hand to show her the flowers she’d planted, Emma softly said,

"Moreover, to me, this manor truly holds no value; those once beautiful past memories, when thought of the final outcome, only become painful recollections.

I stayed here because Ellie couldn’t leave; she could only exist in this manor full of my memories. Otherwise, I would’ve moved away long ago."

Hearing this, Leon couldn’t help but take a deep breath and, feeling slightly frustrated, emphasized,

"I said, I can drive them out! You and Ellie can still live here. Just wait until the headquarters unseals in half a year..."

"Leon, that’s not the key issue."

Squeezing Leon’s clenched hands, Emma said warmly,

"When I first realized the Golden Hibiscus Family wanted to move in, I also considered driving them out and then pretending nothing happened, continuing to wait as before. But after a day of thinking, I’ve come to realize,

There are many Level One Cleaners with strength similar to mine but more seniority. Even if there is a vacancy, it’s most likely not going to be my turn for promotion. So, while it seems just a step away, to truly wait for an opportunity for revenge, it might take another twenty or thirty years, or even longer."

"Leon, I truly can’t wait any longer."

Gazing at the golden cuckoo crest on the main building’s curtain wall, as if making a certain resolve, Emma’s eyes, shimmering like waves, settled down completely,

"Do you remember the only Crow of Death Report that approached me?

It was my sister’s. At that time, she was a bit older than Ellie is now, but was born weak, growing very small, seemingly almost the same age as Ellie now."

Turning to look at the three children playfully frolicking in the semi-abandoned garden, recalling the once joyous little girl running toward her from the stone path in the garden, Emma spoke with a gentle voice,

"My mother was often bedridden due to poor health since I was young, and my father was a very rigid and distant person, so she clung to me from a young age.

Before that incident occurred, I often stayed here in this garden with her. The small greenhouse just dismantled in front of the garden was built for her at my request, it’s where she loved the most.

She was much more lively than Ellie usually is, very much similar to Ellie today, and also liked small birds and flowers. She enjoyed using crayons to draw colorful, though messy, pictures. Perhaps Ellie’s fondness for these things comes from my longing for her..."

At this point, Emma fell into a brief silence, then resumed,

"But she’s already dead, strangled before me, her corpse lying next to my mother, and in less than two weeks, it would have been her tenth birthday on her execution day."

"..."

"She was just a nine-year-old child, who never committed any wrongs, but her life halted that day, and she’ll never have any future anymore.

Yet the real wrongdoers can live on without remorse, parading into her home, demolishing her house, and completely erasing her existence.

Even the one who truly deserves to die can continue living for another twenty or thirty years, until he grows old and senile, forgetting what he once did, only then awaiting the judgment he should’ve gotten."

Withdrawing her gaze from the verdant crest of the golden cuckoo on the curtain wall, Emma turned to Leon beside her, her voice calm yet resolute,

"This is unjust!"

"..."

In Leon’s speechless silence, Emma withdrew her gaze, her expression serene as she said,

"Perhaps I vaguely knew from the beginning that the current Ellie isn’t truly Ellie, but because of clinging to this last warmth, I’ve used endurance as an excuse to deceive myself for six years and cowardly for six years.

Now, I must do what I should have done six years ago.

As a daughter, I must kill him for my parents! As a mother, I must kill him for drowned Ellie! As the last of the Bao Hua, I must kill him for those kinsfolk who could’ve avoided death!"

"..."

...

How could she be persuaded?

Looking at Emma beside him, no longer filled with indignation and instead returning to calmness, Leon’s heart couldn’t help but feel a chill.

If Senior Emma had merely been provoked by the actions of the Golden Hibiscus Family, impulsively acting out of anger, he could have found a way to persuade her to hold on a little longer for Ellie’s sake.

But viewing Senior Emma now, after her initial anger and a day’s contemplation, she had calmed and truly understood what she intended to do; it was now impossible to stop her.

"What about Ellie?"

Holding onto his last hope, Leon tried to remind her,

"You said it yourself, Ellie will grow up. So why not wait, at least until she’s a bit older, like..."

"Leon, you promised to respect my wishes."

"..."

"Actually, I know you’re right, and if there was a better option, I might indeed not need to do this. But I’ve waited six whole years and truly don’t want to wait any longer."

Giving a gentle smile to Leon, Emma reached out to smooth his furrowed brows, softly requesting,

"Let’s end this topic here. Let’s temporarily forget those annoying matters and help Ellie have a birthday without regrets, shall we?"