EBE Chapter 236 The Past of Nangong Jin (2)
Chapter 236 The Past of Nangong Jin (2)
As if he had finally found an audience after so many years, Nangong Jin opened up and began to talk non-stop.
Lin Shu had no choice but to keep quiet and listen to Nangong Jin continue his story:
"After my father died, I was too weak to prepare his body for burial, so I sold myself to a noble family in Mengzhou Prefecture and was able to bury him."
And so I settled down in Mengzhou Prefecture.
As I've grown older, my appearance has become increasingly striking. Gradually, I've noticed that the masters in my household seem to be taking special care of me. I didn't understand why before, but later I realized—
It turns out that the master of the manor intended to use me to climb the social ladder to a higher position, which is why, apart from having to learn the methods of seductive women, I had to obey him in everything else.
Finally, when I was fifteen years old, I was sent to the mansion of a prominent family surnamed Xu.
By then, I was old enough to understand things, and I thought I was destined to have a tragic life like my father's, a life that began at the age of fifteen and from which I could not escape...
Fortunately, I was luckier than my father and met Jing'er's mother. She was originally a refined and talented woman, but in order to avoid arousing the jealousy of that person and to continue the family's glory, she chose to become an ignorant and uneducated second-generation rich kid...
Our union was not based on love from the beginning, but merely on mutual need. She needed to use my lowly status to play the role of a 'hopeless son of a bitch,' while I needed to use her to escape my predicament…
But gradually, without realizing it, I found myself developing feelings for her!
When I was seventeen, Jing'er was born. When she was born, she was fair and chubby, and looked just like my father...
At that time, my wife was considerate and my son was adorable. I once thought that this was God's compensation for my tragic fate of the previous ten years!
......"
This memory seems to be the simplest and happiest time in Nangong Jin's life. When he talks about Xu Jingyun and his wife, his frivolous eyes are often filled with a look of nostalgia.
My whole being was enveloped in a longing and anticipation!
Lin Shu didn't interrupt his reminiscence, but sat quietly at the lower end of the table, acting as a listener.
After a long while, Nangong Jin pulled himself out of his memories, his expression turning cold again:
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.
Twenty years ago, when Jing'er was not yet three years old, I took him back to the Jin family to pay respects to our ancestors. It was through this unexpected turn of events that I met the woman who had abandoned her father.
She recognized me through the jade pendant and revealed her identity. Only then did I realize that she was actually Nangong Qi, the newly enthroned empress of Nanli.
She said she wanted to take me back to Nanli and give me a life of luxury and wealth;
I am unwilling, after all, this person is also the executioner of my and my father's tragic fate, and she looks like she is only about thirty years old even though she is nearly fifty. Moreover, she has never asked about my father's whereabouts from beginning to end. I am displeased...
Whether it was pride or something else, the woman only said one sentence, "Royal blood must not be left to the outside world," and then forcibly took me away...
Jing'er was almost injured by them, but fortunately, we were in Fengming at the time, and I had many people protecting me, so in the end only I was taken away...
After arriving in Nanli, that woman placed me in the harem and would visit me every now and then, but her attitude towards me was very strange.
Her offspring observed for a while, and one by one they followed suit, disregarding me and often making me dress up as livestock for their amusement. I have tolerated it time and time again...
But on one occasion, those so-called younger brothers and sisters of mine actually took the only jade pendant that my father had left me. When I begged them, they humiliated me and even carved that word on my face.
……
At this point, Nangong Jin raised his hand, touching the 'treachery' character mark on his face, and continued:
"I originally thought that this was because my father had no official status and therefore regarded me as an illegitimate child..."
It wasn't until one of the palace attendants accidentally let slip the secret, and combined with the woman's regretful look when she saw my face disfigured, that I realized that the "adulterer" referred to me, meaning—my lover.
That woman who should have been my mother was shameless enough to want to imprison her own son!
I, too, escaped this calamity by a stroke of luck!
I don't understand. I just wanted to live a good life, but reality often hits me hard because I have no power or influence!
Therefore, I understand that only power can provide the best protection, and one day, I will personally wash away this shame from my face...
Ultimately, after enduring humiliation and biding my time for over a decade, sending away those so-called relatives one by one, I became the Regent, above all others in Nanli. But at the same time, I also developed even greater ambitions…
As soon as Nangong Jin finished speaking, Lin Shu's admiration surged like a tidal wave. He had only glossed over many details in his memory, and only he himself knew the hardships he had endured.
In ancient times, King Goujian of Yue endured hardship and humiliation to achieve his goal. In today's world, where men are filled with malice, he has actually reached such a position!
Such courage is beyond the reach of most women!
Then, Lin Shu realized that the other person must have a reason for telling her so much, so she said with a hint of respect:
"The Regent's life has been full of ups and downs, and it is truly remarkable that he has achieved such a position. Your daughter admires him greatly."
However, you've said so much today, surely not to reminisce about the past with Lin Shu!
"Hahahaha..." Nangong Jin tilted his head back and laughed heartily a few times before continuing:
"Of course, I don't have that kind of free time! As for what it is about, Shu'er is clever, why don't you guess first?"
Seeing that the other party seemed to have emerged from his memories and reverted to his lazy and dashing regent, Lin Shu thought for a moment and said firmly, "A-Yun. For A-Yun!"
Upon hearing this, Nangong Jin smiled approvingly, then stood up, walked to Lin Shu, stopped her from getting up with him, patted her shoulder, and said:
"That's right! I did it all for A-Yun."
Since he was five years old, when I first returned home, he has been dressed as a woman. Every day, he not only has to learn poetry, etiquette, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, martial arts, and tools, but also the way of governing the country.
I was grooming him to be the crown prince, and I thought that once I resolved all the troubles, I could help him ascend the throne. But now, for your sake, I've put on men's clothes again!
so……"
"What does the Regent mean by this?" Lin Shu frowned and looked over. Why did Nangong Jin's words seem like he wanted to break her up with Ayun? But upon closer inspection, it didn't seem like it!
Lin Shu's frown was extremely subtle, and she still maintained an aloof and cold expression, but Nangong Jin could discern her meaning from that expressionless face and thus explained:
"I do not intend to separate you and Jing'er!"
"But you've abducted my heir; shouldn't you compensate me with one?"
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