northernbook Chapter 68 What is Love in This World?
Chapter 68 What is Love in This World?
Perhaps seeing Ning Cuo stirred up painful memories, and a heartbroken person is easily drunk. Nie Feng downed several jugs of wine, his face flushed red, and he began to talk nonsense.
Seeing his state, Shen Qing guessed he would black out after sobering up, so she took the opportunity to gossip a bit.
“Brother Nie, I have also heard about your sister’s situation and feel deeply sorry for her. Marquis Wei Yun is ungrateful. Why doesn’t the Nie family seek justice?”
Nie Feng's eyes instantly reddened upon hearing this. A man doesn't easily shed tears, but he hadn't reached the point of deep sorrow. "My dear, it is I who have wronged you!"
Shen Qing pieced together a story of a moral madman from Nie Feng's fragmented and incoherent drunken ramblings.
Although Nie Yiren was born into a military family, she was well-educated and reasonable. As the only girl in the family, her parents and brothers cherished her like a precious jewel.
General Nie and Marquis Yun of the Former Guard, Ning Yuan, fought side by side for more than ten years and were deeply comrades-in-arms. They arranged a marriage between Nie Yiren and Ning Cuo when they were children. However, because these two men were stationed at the border for many years and Madam Qiao did not care about Ning Cuo, they never came to propose marriage. It was only a verbal engagement, similar to the relationship between the original owner Shen Qingxi and the heir of the Marquis of Yongyi.
Nie Yiren and Ning Cuo both grew up in Yudu and could be considered childhood sweethearts. However, Nie Yiren treated Ning Cuo like a younger brother, and Ning Cuo respected and loved her like an older sister.
If nothing unexpected had happened, these two could have at least lived a life of mutual respect and harmony. However, things are unpredictable, and an unexpected event occurred.
When Nie Yiren was sixteen, Du Ruofei, a historian from Jing Kingdom, visited Yu Kingdom. Their meeting was like a golden breeze and jade dew, surpassing countless encounters in the mortal world.
The two secretly fell in love, but even if Nie Yiren was not engaged, the Nie family would not agree to marry her off to Jingguo. So the two agreed to elope and meet at Chunfeng Pavilion outside Yudu City on the day Du Ruofei returned to the country.
But on that day, Nie Yiren was unable to keep her appointment because Nie Feng stopped her halfway and told her the news that Ning Yuan had died in battle.
At that moment, Nie Yiren knew what decision her upright and righteous father would make, and she could not leave.
Back home, just as she had expected, General Nie announced in public that he would get married during the hundred-day mourning period in order to support Ning Cuo.
She had initially thought that it was just a verbal engagement, and breaking it would be fine. However, after General Nie's public pronouncement, she realized that if she ran away, it would be putting her father in an unjust position, which would be extremely unfilial. It would also put Ning Cuo, who was already walking on thin ice, in an even more embarrassing situation, and betray the friendship between the Ning and Nie families.
Out of filial piety, Nie Yiren obediently boarded the bridal sedan chair and married into the Ning family, fulfilling her duties as the mistress of the house and helping Ning Cuo manage the household.
Nie Feng thought that Du Ruofei was just an unexpected little incident, and that his sister and Ning Cuo would get along better and better.
Unexpectedly, three years later, Ning missed the mourning period and left the mansion to join the army. He repeatedly made meritorious contributions and gradually gained a foothold.
Nie Yiren's health deteriorated, and Ning Cuo began to take concubines. Nie Feng was furious and stormed into Ning Cuo's house, only to find out that Nie Yiren had helped Ning Cuo take the concubines. Nie Feng had no choice but to back down.
Later, Nie Yiren's condition dragged on for nearly two years without improvement. Nie Feng became suspicious and, during a visit, stole some of the dregs of the medicine to have a famous doctor examine them. He discovered that the dregs contained Pinellia ternata, which was not in the prescription, making it a slow-acting poison. Long-term use would gradually weaken her.
But he discovered it too late; Nie Yiren's health was beyond saving. He assumed it was a secret affair in the inner quarters, that Ning Cuo's concubines had harmed her, and he was furious and determined to find the culprit.
As it turned out, Nie Yiren stopped him again; she was the one who poisoned him.
"Why?" Nie Feng was incredulous, thinking she was covering for someone else.
"I only ask that I do not fail you."
She will never betray the love between father and daughter, the duty between husband and wife, or the heart of her lover.
Nie Yiren sacrificed her own life to save everyone.
……
Shen Qing and Shen Yun looked at Nie Feng, who was drunk and unconscious, and sighed deeply.
The back courtyard of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau)
Ning Cuo stood in front of the carved wooden window, gazing up at the bright moon in the sky, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
A pair of delicate hands rested on his shoulders, draping a cloak over him. Ning Cuo didn't turn around. "Tang Yi, do you know what love is?"
Ye Tangyi lowered her head shyly. Ning Cuo didn't hear what she said clearly, her thoughts drifting into distant memories.
When he was fifteen, during his most difficult time, Uncle Nie stood in front of him like a mountain, blocking all malice. He was very grateful and secretly resolved that no matter what kind of temper Sister Yiren had, he would treat her like a Bodhisattva.
Nie Yiren was very kind. After entering the house, she said that rushing to hold the wedding ceremony during the hot summer was only a temporary measure, and that the filial piety should still be observed. He was very moved because he truly loved his father. So they slept in separate rooms for three years.
But after he finished mourning, his beloved fell ill. The doctor said it was due to overwork and that they should not have sex until she recovered.
But he was worried, so he made a makeshift bed on the floor in the room to take care of her personally. He didn't even bother to say anything to Nie Yiren, who had taken it upon herself to arrange a concubine for him. He knelt by the bedside, held her hand, and comforted her, "Sister, don't worry, you will get better. Don't think too much."
However, Nie Yiren's condition worsened and showed no signs of improvement. Not only did Nie Feng become suspicious, but even he suspected that the concubines in the backyard might be jealous and plotting against their mistress.
Later, he personally prepared the medicine without relying on others. That day, he carried the medicine bowl, blowing on it as he walked. When he reached the door, he heard Nie Yiren talking to his brother-in-law, so he waited outside the door without disturbing them.
"I put the pinellia in."
Why?
"Because of love, in this life, I only ask not to let you down."
He stood there stunned outside the door for a long time, almost losing his balance. He turned around with difficulty and wandered aimlessly.
Love? What is love?
He thought of his mother, who, for the sake of so-called love, refused to take her husband's surname. Everyone called her Mrs. Qiao, and she didn't shed a single tear when her husband died. She ignored her own son, letting him fend for himself, while she remained calm and composed in the Buddhist hall.
He often wanted to ask his mother, "Did Buddha teach you compassion?"
He always knew that his mother didn't love his father, and by extension, he didn't love him either, but it didn't matter, he had a wonderful wife.
But it turns out, his wife didn't love him either. Does love matter that much? They got along so well, why did she have to die?
For love?
He had always regarded Nie Yiren as a cherished family member, and now that she was dying, a huge piece of his heart felt empty.
Unbeknownst to him, he had walked into a courtyard, where a woman he had never looked at before was gazing at him with delight.
Do you know what love is?
"Naturally, that's how I feel when I see you, my lord."
Perhaps it was a lie, but it did bring a sliver of comfort to his empty heart.
……
"Lord Marquis?" Ye Tangyi shook Ning Cuo.
Ning Cuo snapped out of her daze and looked into her affectionate eyes. She had a sudden realization: when you fall in love with someone, it's hard for anyone else to catch your eye or touch your heart.
"You should go to sleep early, I have things to do." With that, he turned and left without a trace of regret.
Ye Tangyi watched Ning Cuo's retreating figure and felt inexplicably uneasy, as if he would never come again.