"Ancestral Master, is what your maid said true?"
"Yes, it is."
These three nonchalant words forcefully quelled the couple's years - long resentment.
If...
If their daughter had truly harmed the Ancestral Master...
Then,
Even they wouldn't be able to protect her.
The Sea Spirit Kingdom had received the Ancestral Master's protection. Later, with Emperor Huiyuan's diligent governance and the pacification of the world, they, the later generations, were able to live in peace.
"Then—"
"I'm showing you these not to seek your guilt or anything. The punishment for her is already sufficient. She will no longer be like a cultivator. From now on, it's up to you to rebuild her world."
The couple, Lord and Lady Xia, exchanged a look.
Seeing this, they were about to kneel again.
Zhao Shuning waved her hand gently.
They had no choice but to sit back in their seats.
It had only been a short while, but these two people were always on the verge of kneeling. Zhao Shuning felt that although she remembered her past life, in this life, in front of the Xia couple, her body was just a junior.
If they kept kneeling like this, she might lose years off her life.
"Thank you, Ancestral Master, for sparing our daughter. In the future, if the Ancestral Master has any requests, even if it means going through fire and water, we, even if we exhaust all the power of the Duke's Mansion, will never hesitate to sacrifice our lives."
Zhao Shuning shrugged.
It was an exaggeration.
She wasn't the kind of person who liked to rely on others' power. Returning Xia Wanning to them was just a matter of convenience. She couldn't bear to see them so desolate in their later years because of their longing for their daughter.
"By the way, we'll only stay here for at most one day. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Eastern Continent with the princess of the Eastern Continent."
"Ancestral Master, what about Jingning?"
"He made many mistakes, but he didn't explicitly kill anyone. Later, I've investigated this matter clearly. Most of it was just rumors spread by the common people. However, you don't need to interfere with his obsession with Dongfang Yuchen. Let him sort it out by himself. Also, five hundred years ago, there was a witch named An Yun in your Sea Spirit Kingdom. The things she left behind must be completely destroyed. Although Xia Qingyan has burned most of them, there are still one or two things left. Otherwise, Xia Jingning wouldn't have been deceived and regarded that non - existent evil book as the truth, which led him to do so many wrong things."
The Duke and his wife nodded hurriedly.
"After the Ancestral Master leaves, I will surely report this to the emperor. As long as the things left by that witch are found, they will all be destroyed."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
Then she said, "I want to rest. Let's disperse like this."
After the Xia couple bowed, they rushed to see Xia Wanning in a hurry.
Luo Qiu said, "Miss, they miss their daughter so much. Aren't you worried that once Xia Wanning says something to them, they'll turn against you?"
"No."
The Xia couple were still quite upright.
Their daughter had done so many disgraceful things. Now that she could keep her life, it was already a gift from heaven. Just now, she had shown them the evidence.
They weren't the kind of people who couldn't tell right from wrong. They knew what to do.
"Why don't you call me sister anymore? Also, it's really uncomfortable for me to see you in this appearance."
Luo Qiu was stunned.
Then she said, "I... I've made up my mind since the moment I came to Shengjing City with you. I've really committed many sins. Now that I'm with you, I don't think I'm worthy of calling you sister. From now on, I'll be your real maid. The relationship between us will be like that of a master and a servant."
"Xiao Qiu."
"Miss, now I'm satisfied just being able to stay by your side to atone for my sins. I don't dare to expect anything more. If you don't even let me do this, I'll never be able to hold my head up while following you."
Zhao Shuning said, "You're a ninth - rank alchemist. No matter where you go, you can be worshiped by countless great families. Do you want to be a maid by my side? Are you joking with me?"
"Miss, I'm serious."
Luo Qiu was indeed serious.
She wasn't a bad person by nature. Her personality was gentle. The reason she became like that later was because of the ruthless world.
Now...
All she had ever wanted in her life...
Was for her sister to come back to life.
Now...
It had come true.
Her hands were stained with blood, but she could still stay by her sister's side. Luo Qiu was content.
She should have been a dead person. Now that she could stand here and follow her sister, from now on, she would do whatever her sister said.
"Seeing you like this, I can't persuade you, can I?"
"Miss."
"Fine. Anyway, you must remember that you're not a maid in my eyes."
Luo Qiu was filled with gratitude.
"Xiao Qiu understands."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
On the other side,
Xia Jingning arranged for Xia Wanning to live in the boudoir he had prepared for her for decades. He also found dozens of servants to attend to her.
After he left the room, he saw his parents rushing towards here. He also understood how much his parents had missed this elder sister over the decades. So he just said a few words to his parents and then withdrew.
After leaving the courtyard,
As if possessed,
He couldn't help but walk towards the courtyard where Dongfang Yinuo was resting.
When he reached the courtyard gate,
He didn't dare to go in.
She was leaving tomorrow, wasn't she?
After she left,
He didn't know if she would come back.
Dongfang Yinuo felt that it was about time. The senior should have already explained the specific matters to the Duke and his wife. So she planned to go and see Zhao Shuning.
She wanted to ask if there was anything she needed to bring on the way back to the Eastern Continent.
But as soon as she stepped out of the door, she bumped into Xia Jingning who was pacing back and forth at the courtyard gate.
She lost her balance and almost fell.
Seeing this, Xia Jingning quickly reached out his hand to support her, but Dongfang Yinuo took the opportunity to hold on to the courtyard wall and subtly avoided Xia Jingning's hands.
Those hands hung in the air, and Xia Jingning felt a strange feeling in his heart.
"Princess, where are you going?"
"Your Highness, I'm going to find the senior to discuss tomorrow's journey."
Dongfang Yinuo didn't want to say more.
She stepped forward and planned to walk around.
But Xia Jingning suddenly blocked her way.
Dongfang Yinuo raised her eyes.
"Does Your Highness have anything else to say?"
"I... I just want to ask about Yu Rou. How is she?"
"Miss Qi is fine. Your Highness doesn't need to worry. Her contracted beast has also been returned to her. Now, they should have all returned to the Eastern Wilderness. If Your Highness is worried, you can send someone to the Eastern Wilderness to find her and bring her back."
"That's not what I meant."
"If Your Highness has nothing else to say, please don't block my way."
Xia Jingning withdrew awkwardly.
"Princess, please."
Dongfang Yinuo nodded slightly.
She walked past Xia Jingning indifferently.
From then on,
She never looked back.