CHAPTER 965: CHAPTER 965: MING DAILAN HAS GONE MAD

Atonement through death?!

Ming Dailan was deeply hurt by these words.

She had imagined countless scenarios of turning against Xiao Hongdao.

But everything now was contrary to her expectations.

She was the victim, she was the one with the greatest right to be angry and curse. Why should Xiao Hongdao accuse her?

As for that child...

Dazed, Ming Dailan recalled that eleven years ago, she was pregnant with Xiao Hongdao’s second child.

He seemed overjoyed, constantly caring for her, granting her every request.

Five months into her pregnancy, the tests revealed it was a boy.

She did indeed entertain the thought, jokingly discussing with Xiao Hongdao that if Ah Hui was unwilling to accept the nobility, perhaps they should nurture this child well.

Xiao Hongdao’s response was peculiar, as if he was contemplating deeply, with a hint of conflict.

Later, in less than half a month, Shaoyan was attacked, and despite her worry, she didn’t dare to leave the country due to her pregnancy.

Ming Dailan planned to visit Shaoyan after giving birth, but it was Xiao Hongdao, with a gentlemanly demeanor, who said he could arrange the Knight Squad to escort her back to Parma, sparing her daily worry and anxiety.

She felt grateful and believed she had found a good partner.

And what happened later became the catalyst for her miscarriage and Shaoyan’s estrangement.

Ming Dailan was lost in her memories, unable to extract herself, as Xiao Hongdao’s words repeatedly echoed in her ears:

—You can’t distinguish right from wrong and lack self-awareness.

Was it her fault all along?

At this moment, Xiao Hongdao pinched his brow and through his fingers looked at Shang Zonghai, provocatively stimulating Ming Dailan, "It’s just that you misjudged people, which led you to love her deeply."

Shang Zonghai glanced at the woman sitting dazedly on the ground, saying detachedly, "Too young to know better, let’s not mention it."

In this matter, the two of them were quite in sync.

Xiao Hongdao glanced at Li Qiao, tapping the rim of his cup, "Junior brother, my request is simple. Exchange Xiao Yeyan for her three teachers. Agree or not, I’ll give you time to consider it at home."

Clearly, in his eyes, Xiao Yeyan was much more valuable and worthy than Xiao Yening.

"Are you really abandoning your little girl?" Shang Zonghai twisted the Buddha Beads, smiling ambiguously.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongdao waved his hand dismissively, "She’s not worth my effort. Do what you wish."

Shang Zonghai smiled calmly and nodded, "As expected, you’re still heartless."

"A ruthless man is truly brave." Xiao Hongdao stroked the rim of his cup, raising his brows meaningfully, "You should learn from me. It might bring you greater success."

...

Soon, Shang Zonghai left with Li Qiao.

Xiao Hongdao’s expression gradually turned solemn, overshadowed by gloom.

Shang Zonghai’s appearance disrupted his plans.

But, junior brother, we still have plenty of time.

In the meantime, quiet sobbing came from the back left, Xiao Hongdao didn’t even glance, as he held his tea cup, lost in contemplation.

Ming Dailan’s eyes were hollow, tears streaming down, "Xiao Hongdao, you’re so cruel..."

Her Shaoyan, her unborn child, her forcibly removed womb.

Everything, everything, was all because of him.

Xiao Hongdao coldly glanced at her, "You’ve been with me for so long, yet your ability to accept hasn’t improved."

"You’re not human, you’re heartless, you’ll die badly..."

Ming Dailan screamed hysterically, wanting to grab something to attack him, but the brick floor was so clean that even weeds were absent.

Her nails clawed at the brick seams, eyes glaring, her hatred flooding like a broken dam.

Yet, Xiao Hongdao seemed unaffected by her curses.

He sighed indifferently, looking down at Ming Dailan, "When you were scheming behind my back, didn’t you think about ending up like this? I sent you to the border Scarlet City, yet you learned to overestimate yourself."

Ming Dailan never imagined the ever-obedient Xiao Hongdao could speak such cutting words.

She widened her eyes and shook her head, clutching onto her last bit of feminine fantasy, murmuring, "Why treat me like this... back then..."

Those promises, faded though they were, were still made by him.

How did it come to this.

Xiao Hongdao slowly stood up, with some effort stooping before Ming Dailan.

He raised his hand, gently caressing her chin, his voice like a cold winter breeze, "Who told you to marry Shang Zonghai, who told you to be greedy.

Thirty years ago I didn’t marry you, thirty years after how can you still foolishly dream? You don’t know, back then I willingly gave you up, no one forced me, I just didn’t want you. Even if you’re the daughter of a mere Parma Shoemaker, your beauty means nothing.

Rather than blame me, consider yourself. Weren’t you focused on the status of the Ducal Residence? Vanity is fine, but you’re too realistic. I merely offered you an olive branch, but you betrayed Shang Zonghai.

Ming Dailan, you have beauty but no worth. At this point, you don’t reflect but blame others? Let me suggest a path, while you’re still youthful, try reconciling with Shang Zonghai.

After all, he only ever had you as a woman. From start to finish, he’s the only one who ever loved you."

Xiao Hongdao never loved Ming Dailan.

Killing is only a nod of the head, yet Xiao Hongdao’s words cut to the heart.

His cruelty didn’t surface, but each word rooted deeply, thoroughly dismantling a person’s faith from within.

Ming Dailan went mad.

Half a life of glory, half a life adrift.

In the moment Ming Dailan was destroyed, she only remembered one name, Shang Zonghai.

Once upon a time, she seemed to know someone, surname Shang, given name Zun, courtesy name Zonghai.

In her memory, everyone called him Master Zun, while she called him Ah Zun.

He painted for her, taught her medicine, named a pharmacy after her.

He was powerful and domineering, yet exceedingly kind to her.

Later, she lost Ah Zun.

...

Time flew by, night fell.

The elaborate wedding continued, Li Qiao stood by Shang Zonghai near the garden lake, both silent for a long time.

Shang Zonghai stood with his hands behind his back, the Buddha Beads clutched in his palm, a gentle breeze passed by, he spoke, "Girl, your teachers, dad will save them."

Li Qiao gazed at his and Shang Yu’s similar profiles, curling her lips into a smile, "No need, the teachers are quite safe."

"Oh?" Shang Zonghai glanced at her in surprise, seeing her nod earnestly, he couldn’t help but smile broadly, "Good, well done."

Li Qiao didn’t explain much more but turned to look at several figures lingering in the dim lights behind them, "Dad, it’s chilly by the lake, let’s go back."

Shang Zonghai sighed longingly, his voice slightly slow, "Go ahead, don’t keep them waiting too long."

"And you?"

Shang Zonghai gazed at the lake surface rippling in the breeze, gently waved his hand, "I have matters to attend to, Wei Lang and Wei Ang are nearby, no need to worry."

Li Qiao pursed her lips and softly agreed, then turned and left.

After she left, Shang Zonghai stood alone by the lake, his silhouette tall and steadfast like a pine.

The night breeze blew, he once more twirled the Buddha Beads, asking quietly, "How’s the situation there?"

Wei Lang walked out from behind a tree, reporting meticulously, "Just now, someone came to deliver a message, Xiao Hongdao has already left the Cabinet Office, Xiao, Madam Xiao... is still near the Buddha Hall... searching for someone."

"Who are they searching for?" Shang Zonghai squinted slightly, light reflecting off his glasses into the lake’s ripples.

Wei Lang gulped, hesitantly daring to utter two words, "Ah Zun."

Shang Zonghai calmly and coolly shook his head, "If she’s gone mad, send her where she belongs."

Wei Lang pondered hesitantly for a few seconds, where she belongs... the mental asylum or the underworld?