One Glimpse of a Beloved Man, a Lifetime Ruined

Yet Zi Pingxiu merely listened in silence, not uttering a word from beginning to end. He sat there quietly, his face dark and gloomy.

When the account was finished, he showed no reaction. The three cultivators exchanged glances.

In the end, Jia Wuqun gave a dry cough and walked over. Cupping his hands toward the three, he said, "Thank you for your hard work, Masters. The Chancellor is grief-stricken and has lost his composure somewhat. Please forgive him."

Naturally, the three exchanged polite courtesies. Jia Wuqun nodded to the steward, signaling him to personally see them out, while making a gesture as though reaching into his sleeve.

The steward understood. He was being told to offer them a monetary token of thanks. He immediately stepped forward and invited the three to leave, personally escorting them out.

With the outsiders gone, Jia Wuqun turned and stared at the silently seated Zi Pingxiu for a while. At last, he sighed. "Chancellor, this happened so suddenly. The dead are gone, and nothing can be undone. Please restrain your grief."

"Alas!" Zi Pingxiu let out a faint, choked breath and gave a bitter laugh. "He did not want to earn a reputation for relying on a woman? Heh heh, did he not know how much Chun'er cared for him? Did I want him to send troops at a time like this? Chun'er had always felt she had wronged him. She kept begging me to find a way to give him an opportunity, and this was how he repaid her! He actually drew his sword and slit his own throat over that? Fine, very fine! For that scrap of backbone, he even abandoned his own wife and children. A hero! He fulfilled his own integrity and cast aside his family. Is that what a hero