Chapter 219: Chapter 216: The Tides of History Always Need Someone to Push, Someone to Step Forward

Facing a conflict with his own initial aspirations, indeed... quite contradictory.

Xie Huai’an did not want to make her uncomfortable. He took out the jade hanging from his neck from beneath his collar.

"Mianmian, rest assured, I will be more vigilant. Once I achieve the grand cause, I will return to Wuheng to be with you. Look, the protective stone you gave me, I have always kept it with me."

He is the main character of the original book, and Ruan Mian cannot stop the plot tasks he must complete.

Moreover, he has his own pursuits and ideals. How could he ignore the words Mr. Zhang said on his deathbed, just living his own peaceful life?

The tides of history always need someone to push them forward, someone to step forward.

Ruan Mian took a deep breath and softly agreed, "Alright, I will wait for your return. But now, during this time in Xingjia, I want to stay with you."

Xie Huai’an tightened his grip, and with her support, he headed towards a secluded manor.

This might be another one of his hidden bases. Not long after they arrived, Guard Liu hurriedly approached.

Seeing them indeed here, he finally felt relieved! He rushed forward, "Master! Are you alright? And you, Miss Ruan?"

"No problem." Xie Huai’an gestured dismissively, wanting to change the topic: "I was taken to prison without notifying you in advance, making you worry, I apologize."

Guard Liu quickly shook his head, "Master must have your own arrangements. However... while I was looking for you, I discovered something regarding your sister."

Upon hearing this, Xie Huai’an’s expression suddenly changed, "How is my sister?"

Sister? Ruan Mian paused for a moment, was this person mentioned in the original book?

Guard Liu’s expression was not good. After hesitating for a moment, he continued.

"Lady Yue... she has now been taken into the Prince Mansion as a concubine by the Princely Heir."

"After Elder Zhang was taken away, Lady Yue went to the government office to plead. We all thought she and the others were being held temporarily, but I found out that on the day she went to plead, the Princely Heir passed by and forcibly took her back to the Prince Mansion."

Upon hearing this, Xie Huai’an’s face darkened immediately.

And this so-called Lady Yue, Ruan Mian indeed couldn’t remember her.

She might be a character who appeared in the later stages of the original book, or perhaps she wasn’t mentioned in the book at all.

She looked at Xie Huai’an and asked, "Master, is this Lady Yue your sister? I’ve never heard of you having a sister."

Xie Huai’an simply explained to her, "My sister, like me, is a student of the teacher. She was a child Elder Zhang adopted from refugees, and she has always regarded the teacher as a father."

"After the teacher retired to his hometown from the Capital City, my sister followed him to take care of him."

So that’s it, which is why she was the first to go to the government office to plead when Zhang Dao Yan got into trouble, unfortunately encountering the event of being forcibly taken.

That Princely Heir Mu Ren holds immense power in Xingjia, taking a woman, especially one with no parents, is as easy as can be.

Seeing Xie Huai’an already deep in thought, Ruan Mian took the initiative to volunteer.

"Master, let me handle the matter of Lady Yue. Your priority now is to focus on recovering from your injuries. Didn’t you say there are other matters you need to deal with?"

For instance, the aftermath of Elder Zhang and the other imprisoned students.

Perhaps Xie Huai’an is still setting up plans in the background, he is wounded now, how can he manage so much? Ruan Mian knew he would worry about her, so she spoke in advance.

"Master, rest assured, I certainly won’t act rashly. I will first inquire about Lady Yue’s current situation and inform you at any time. If you have any thoughts, we can discuss and act together."

Xie Huai’an’s heart raced because he had never thought that in his life, there would be a woman so concerned and protective of him.

Meanwhile, in the Prince Mansion’s private estate, cries of agony echoed one after another.

The maids outside the estate trembled with fear, holding trays but not daring to enter, muttering among themselves.

"How could I dare go in now? What if I displease the Young Master and he orders me to be executed?!"

"I don’t dare either. Why does Lady Yue constantly anger the Young Master? How many times has she been tormented by him already?"

They dared not even bring tea, just hearing the screams of women in the estate made them hesitant.

Inside, the aristocratically dressed Princely Heir Mu Ren wielded a long whip, violently venting his inner frustration.

The barbed whip struck the woman, staining her clothes with blood.

It was truly flesh-splitting pain.

Yet the woman, drenched in cold sweat, pale-faced, glared at him fiercely.

The more she did, the angrier Mu Ren became.

"Ayue, why do you look at me with such eyes? You know how fond I am of you, why won’t you please me? Why do you regard me as a serpent or scorpion whenever I approach?"

Mu Ren gritted his teeth, approaching her, loosening her bindings, then pulling her into his arms.

Ignoring her wounds, he grabbed a cup of strong liquor from the table and poured it down her throat.

The woman struggled, the liquor poured into her wounds, mixing with torn flesh, making her skin tighten in pain, barely able to breathe.

Tearful, she gritted her teeth and spoke, again reminding Mu Ren, "Young Master, I am not called Ayue, and Ayue is not me."

But before she could finish speaking, Mu Ren slapped her hard!

He suddenly threw her down, tilting her head, her mouth bleeding...

She supported herself on the ground with both hands, struggling to get up, and said word by word.

"I am Zhang Yue, not the Young Master... The Ayue girl the Young Master seeks... is not the same person..."

"Ayue!"

Mu Ren pulled her into his arms, tightly observing her from top to bottom, not missing a single detail: "How can you not be Ayue? You are Ayue!"

"Ayue, are you angry with me? You avoid me every day, are you angry with me?"

Mu Ren paid no heed to Zhang Yue’s words, recklessly clutching her waist as if he intended to break it.

"The daughter of General Lanqiang and I are only in a political marriage! My father forced me to marry her, but my heart is only with you, Ayue."

"Look at me, look at me!"

Mu Ren forcibly gripped her chin, lifting her head to meet Zhang Yue’s fearful gaze, his expression subtly changed, and suddenly softened, releasing her abruptly!

Seeing her fall, he hurriedly helped her up, full of distress.

"Ayue, are you alright? I’m sorry, Ayue, it’s all my fault, it’s my fault."

He held Zhang Yue tightly in his arms, depriving her of even the space to breathe, pressing her wounds until fresh blood flowed, increasing her pain.

Yet he ignored the words of others, repeatedly apologizing while holding Zhang Yue.

"It’s all my fault, Ayue please forgive me. I know you’re angry with me. I promise you, even if I marry Nabuhui, my heart will only cherish you."

"I was not gentle with you just now because I was upset in the moment, please understand me, won’t you?"

The person before her filled Zhang Yue with immense fear.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com