Chapter 23: Lock Away All Regrets!

“Yun Jin! This is not a place for you to act recklessly! Take back what you just said immediately!”

For some reason, seeing Yun Jin’s stubborn expression made Sheng Yuhan’s heart tighten. He quickly spoke up to stop her.

Yet, Yun Jin’s face remained unmoved. Instead, her gaze burned as she looked directly at Sheng Yuhan.

“Young Master, ever since you saved my life over ten years ago, I secretly swore to follow you until death.”

“If you insist on not letting me stay by your side, then I have no choice but to take my own life to fulfill my oath.”

The young girl’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes glistened with unshed tears. Though her figure was frail, she stood tall and firm, as if a great strength was contained within her.

The people around them were deeply moved by her words, some even shedding tears at the sheer weight of her devotion.

Sheng Yuhan had no way to deal with Yun Jin’s unwavering determination. With a helpless sigh, he compromised:

“Fine. If you wish to follow me, then do as you please.”

He then cupped his hands toward the officer in a polite manner and said, “Officer, Yun Jin is indeed… she is indeed my person. I ask that you allow her to pass.”

Even he himself did not realize that when he spoke the words ‘Yun Jin is my person’, a faint, almost imperceptible blush crept onto his pale, angular cheeks.

Meanwhile, nestled in Sheng Yichen’s embrace, Sheng Nanxi was dozing off, yet she still kept one ear open, eager to ship this pairing.

According to the original novel, this maid of her eldest brother was originally from an esteemed noble family. However, when she was seven years old, her entire family was slaughtered.

Her father, brothers, and sisters had fought desperately to ensure her escape, yet she still couldn’t outrun her enemies’ pursuit.

At the critical moment, it was Sheng Yuhan who happened to pass by and saved her life.

From then on, she took the name Yun Jin and willingly sold herself into Qin Wangfei Manor to serve by her savior’s side.

Through the past ten years, she had been with him—studying by candlelight, reciting poetry, admiring flowers…

Wherever Sheng Yuhan was, Yun Jin would always be nearby, as steadfast as jade and orchid.

Even in the years when her brother was poisoned and paralyzed, when all his former admirers abandoned him, Yun Jin remained, caring for him without a word of complaint.

In the original novel, there was indeed a scene where Yun Jin threatened to take her own life just to follow Sheng Yuhan into exile in Beijiang.

Unfortunately, they didn’t even make it halfway before her brother succumbed to illness due to the lack of medicine and care.

Devastated beyond measure, Yun Jin took her own life beside his hastily buried grave.

At that time, Sheng Nanxi had been completely invested in this tragic love story, heartbroken over the feelings that had remained unspoken between them.

She even shed a single, precious tear when reading the part where Yun Jin ended her own life.

Now, peeking through half-lidded eyes, she studied Sheng Yuhan and Yun Jin, who stood nearby.

One seated, one standing—even though both were dressed in coarse linen garments, their elegance and noble demeanor could not be concealed.

They looked just like a pair of celestial lovers standing proudly amidst the mortal world.

A perfect match indeed!

Sheng Nanxi almost forgot to breathe, pretending to be asleep while her heart was filled with pink, romantic bubbles.

Wuhu! She was witnessing this CP in real life!

Since she had transmigrated here, she would make sure to protect every family member who loved her.

All regrets—she would lock them away for good!

Sheng Nanxi silently swore to herself.

Just then, Li Zhenyi, who had been pushing the old Wangfei’s wheelchair, suddenly stumbled and fell to the side.

“Mother!”

Sheng Yichen, who was walking beside her, was startled. He hurriedly reached out to support her but nearly ended up knocking Sheng Nanxi over in the process!

Fortunately, Sheng Nanxi reacted quickly, wrapping her arms tightly around her third brother’s neck. Otherwise, she might have gone flying like a little ball.

But now was not the time to argue with her resentful brother. Instead, she blinked her big eyes and anxiously checked on the Qin Wangfei.

“I’m… I’m fine,” the Qin Wangfei said weakly.

Her face was deathly pale, and her lips had lost all color.

She steadied herself against Sheng Yichen’s shoulder, taking a deep breath before standing upright again.

At some point, her once-bright and charming eyes had dimmed, as if she had aged ten years in an instant.

“Mother, let me push Grandfather instead. You can lean on me while we walk,” Sheng Nanxi offered.

“I’m fine. I was just a little tired earlier. I feel better now.”

Qin Wangfei firmly pushed aside Sheng Yichen’s hand when he tried to take over pushing their grandmother’s wheelchair. Her voice was weak but unwavering.

Seeing Sheng Nanxi looking at her with worry-filled eyes, Qin Wangfei’s gaze softened as she gently rubbed the little girl’s fluffy head.

“Xi’er, be good. It’s alright. Everything will pass. Are you tired? Rest in your brother’s arms for a while.”

Sheng Nanxi immediately understood—Qin Wangfei was suffering from excessive stress and lack of proper nutrition, which had led to her current weakness. Today’s exhaustion had triggered a bout of low blood sugar.

However, with the soldiers watching their every move, it wasn’t convenient for her to act. She could only wait for an opportunity when the guards let their guard down to find a way to give her mother some medicine.

Her mind raced with countless thoughts, but she remained outwardly composed, simply nodding obediently at Qin Wangfei.

Qin Wangfei hadn’t expected her usually mischievous and playful youngest daughter to be so understanding. The realization filled her with both heartache and relief. She turned to Sheng Yichen and sternly instructed:

“A’Yi, you’re the only one in our family with any fighting ability left. No matter what happens, protect your sister.”

“Mm, I understand. Don’t worry, Mother.”

For once, Sheng Yichen shed his usual frivolous demeanor and responded seriously.

Sheng Nanxi quietly buried her little head into her brother’s shoulder. She didn’t know why, but her eyes grew slightly misty.

As an orphan in her past life, she had always envied the original owner of this body while reading the novel—how every member of her family doted on her and cherished her.

Now, she was the one being loved and protected.

For the first time, Sheng Nanxi felt that even though her supernatural abilities had been reset to zero, and she would have to start training from scratch to regain her former strength…

She had gained something even more precious—people who truly loved and cared for her.

Perhaps, transmigrating into this world wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

The wind howled as goose-feather-like snowflakes fell relentlessly.

Even though Sheng Yichen shielded Sheng Nanxi from the cold with his body, her little face was still pale with frost, her tiny teeth chattering uncontrollably.

She discreetly activated her fire-based ability, warming the air around them so that her family members could feel a little more comfortable.

The Emperor and the Grand Preceptor still cared about their reputation. In order to completely ruin the Qin Wangfei Manor’s standing, they insisted on following the tradition of parading criminals through the city—even though the capital itself was already in chaos.

Dozens of people from both the main and branch families of the Qin Wangfei Manor were bound together with heavy, icy iron chains, driven forward by soldiers as they marched through the streets.

A sharp-voiced eunuch with deep internal energy followed beside them, loudly announcing the supposed crimes of Prince Qin, Sheng Jinghai:

“It has been thoroughly investigated, and the criminal Sheng Jinghai is guilty of eight major offenses:

“First, the massacre of prisoners: Though leading an army, he ruthlessly slaughtered captives with extreme cruelty, an act devoid of humanity and morality.

“Second, wanton pillaging and assault: As the governor of military affairs, he allowed his troops to violate women and plunder the wealth of the people, a crime that defies all reason and justice.

“Third, the corruption of virtue…”

The eunuch’s shrill voice echoed through the streets, carrying these fabricated charges into every corner of the capital.

Each false accusation struck Li Zhenyi’s heart like a heavy stone.

No wonder her brave and battle-hardened husband and their fifth son had suffered tragic fates half a month ago—one gravely injured from a fall, the other missing after plummeting off a cliff. No wonder the court had suddenly erupted with forces attacking the Qin Wangfei Manor.

It had all been part of a carefully orchestrated scheme by the Emperor and the Grand Preceptor!

Massacring prisoners? Pillaging and assault?

What a joke!

In his last letter, her husband had reminded her that those in high positions should uphold their morals, treat the people with kindness, and fulfill their responsibilities.

Yet in the blink of an eye, their entire family was being condemned as criminals for these very same fabricated offenses.

Anyone with a brain could see—this was nothing more than a classic case of slaughtering the dog after the hunt!

How utterly laughable!

Her husband and son had risked their lives to defend this country, suffering countless wounds in the process. They had bled and fought for the sake of protecting the Xiao family’s throne.

And now, the Southern Qi royal family—the very people they had never once questioned—turned out to be the ones who wanted them dead the most!

Overwhelmed with grief and rage, Li Zhenyi felt her vision darken. The long-suppressed emotions of the past days surged uncontrollably, and she suddenly collapsed.

“You wretched woman! Still trying to fake a faint? Get up and keep moving!”

A nearby officer bellowed in anger. Without hesitation, he raised his whip and lashed it toward Li Zhenyi.

A cold glint flashed in Sheng Nanxi’s eyes.

Just as she was about to intervene, a small pebble suddenly shot through the air at an astonishing speed.

It deflected the officer’s whip before continuing its trajectory straight toward his forehead!