Chapter 366 - 364: Such a Strong Woman (Second Update)

Chapter 366: Chapter 364: Such a Strong Woman (Second Update)

Xu Jing’s heart tightened slightly, and she turned around to hold Xiao Yi’s hand.

Xiao Yi smiled faintly, looked at her, and said, "Rest assured, so many years have passed, and it can no longer affect me like it did before.

When my mother heard the news about my father and brother, she fainted on the spot.

Misfortunes never come singly, and not long after that, news came that my grandfather and my two uncles died on the battlefield.

My mother fell seriously ill, almost couldn’t make it through, and I was helpless and terrified at the time, didn’t even have the time to grieve, just stayed by her side all day long, afraid she would leave me too."

Xiao Yi took a light breath, raised the corners of his mouth bitterly, and said, "One night, my mother suddenly touched my face and said softly, fortunately, I still have you by my side, fortunately, you are well...

I wholeheartedly thought that my mother had finally made it through the hardest time and wanted to pull herself together, and I was very happy, holding her hand and saying I’d always be with her, and wouldn’t leave.

After that, my mother told me to go back and rest, said I had watched over her for so many days and must be very tired, she didn’t want to see anything happen to anyone around her anymore.

To comfort her, I agreed and went back to my room to rest, and that is the one thing I regret most to this day..."

Xu Jing pursed her lips, already guessing what happened next.

"Even though I went back to my room, I was still worried about my mother, couldn’t sleep, and in the middle of the night, I couldn’t help but get up, wanting to sneak a look at her.

Who knew, as soon as I entered her courtyard, I saw all the maids standing there with anxious faces, crying out to the rooftop, and when I looked up, there, in the cold, dim moonlight, was my mother, wearing a plain outfit, standing on the rooftop...

That was the most afraid and helpless moment of my life. I cried, begging her to come down, not to leave me alone, but she just gave me a sorrowful look, said, ’Yi’er, I’m sorry, I can’t hold on any longer,’ and... jumped from the rooftop."

Even though Xiao Yi said this event could no longer affect him like it did before, Xu Jing still heard the thick bitterness and sorrow in his voice.

At that time, he was just a ten-year-old child, watching his mom jump from the rooftop and die in front of him, it’s unimaginable the shadow this cast over him.

Not knowing what to say, Xu Jing just silently tightened her grip on his hand. After a while, she whispered, "But then, why are you not on good terms with your father?"

From this, it seems his mother’s death wasn’t caused by his father either.

She had originally thought it was because of his mother that he had such a tense relationship with his father.

Xiao Yi suddenly laughed sarcastically and said, "It’s not over. Less than a month after my mother passed away, news came from the battlefield saying my father was found. He had been injured by the enemy army, fallen off a cliff, and was rescued by nearby villagers.

Along with the news also came confirmation of my brother’s death.

I vaguely remember my feelings at that time, just that I had never hoped so desperately for my father’s return; everyone close to me was gone, only my father remained.

About half a year later, the war finally subsided, and my father returned to the capital with the triumphant army. And along with them, a young woman who was over five months pregnant."

Xu Jing looked at Xiao Yi in disbelief.

Xiao Yi closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "When I found out about this, I angrily went to question my father, and he said that when he was in mortal danger, this woman saved him; she was like a savior to him. Her parents died early, and she had a very tragic life, so he felt obligated to take care of her.

But I didn’t care to listen to those words, only asked him if, when he was with her, he knew my mother was gone.

My father only remained silent, and at last, he merely said calmly that children shouldn’t meddle in adult affairs.

I was young back then, and didn’t understand many things, but one of the nannies beside my mother told me that, based on when the woman became pregnant, my father likely got together with her soon after hearing the news of my mother’s death."

No wonder, no wonder Xiao Yi was never on good terms with his father.

No wonder Xiao Yi was so averse to returning to the Xiao Family because of this incident.

Xu Jingjing paused for a moment, sighing inwardly, "It must have been very hard for you at that time."

Xiao Yi was silent for a while, and just when Xu Jing thought he wasn’t going to speak again, he suddenly said hoarsely, "Jing, I told you before, I once had no intention of marrying. I believed that women were fragile beings who could only depend on others to survive, much like how my mother and the woman my father brought back were.

When my mother chose to end her life, I didn’t blame her because I knew she had endured a lot during that time; yet sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder why she couldn’t hold on a little longer? Why couldn’t she try to stand up again for me?

I didn’t want to marry and constantly worry about whether my wife could survive alone, whether, if I were gone one day, our child would end up alone in this world like I did back then.

It wasn’t until I saw you in Anping County..."

Xu Jing was startled, watching the man beside her slightly turn his head to look at her. His dark eyes seemed to traverse time, shifting from the endless sorrow and pain of the past to a present lively, flowing smile. He softly said, "Back then, regardless of what you faced, you never thought of giving up, even when wronged or casually thrown into prison, you still found every way to save yourself.

You have no idea, when I saw you in the prison, holding hostage a tall and strong Government Official, the first thought that crossed my mind was—this woman is truly more powerful than a lion; even on the gallows, she’d never yield and would surely fight with the executioner.

Looking back now, from that moment, I had already started to care about you."

Xu Jing’s mouth twitched.

What kind of talk is this? So her first impression to him was that of a madwoman comparable to a lion?

She pursed her lips and slightly raised her head, saying, "You’re not quite right; at the very least, I wouldn’t let myself get to the point of being on the gallows."

Xiao Yi looked at her with a slight smile, warmth in his eyes, "Yes, with your cleverness, you surely wouldn’t let yourself reach that point."

Seeing he hadn’t grasped her meaning, Xu Jing smiled helplessly and earnestly said, "So, you don’t have to worry about me. No matter what, I’ll live well, and if you need me, I’ll always be by your side."

Absolutely won’t leave you as your mother did.

From a very young age, she knew that in this world, no one can be relied upon, not even parents, as they too could leave one day.

She had come this far relying on her own strength.

So, she’s capable of loving herself, and even more capable of loving others.

Seeing her speak so earnestly, Xiao Yi was slightly startled, feeling a continuous stream of warmth flowing from his heart like spring water. After a while, he finally found his voice, and in a low voice, said, "Alright, thank you, Jing."

She didn’t know how lucky he was to have met her.

The person who truly helped him emerge from the shadow cast by his parents was really her.

The two of them silently gazed at each other for a while, and suddenly, Xiao Yi chuckled lightly and said, "My mother is now buried in the Xiao Family cemetery in Jinzhou. When the flowers bloom warmly in February, I will take you and Chang Xiao back to Jinzhou to pay respects to my mother, okay?"

Xu Jing was stunned, a sudden explosion in her mind.

February? Typically, people would visit graves either during Qingming or on the deceased’s anniversary.

She looked at Xiao Yi and said with some difficulty, "Yanci, was your mother... possibly in February when she passed away?"