RECONCILIATION 3

"De Ta?!" Yu Mu Li La was shocked by De Ta's statement. "Why do you want to defect to Zhou Wang?!"

De Ta blinked, got uneasy. "I... actually I have been eager to join Zhou Wang since quite a long time ago... since I heard that he is willing to accept those from Dark Sects like the Mao Shan Sect, also willing to learn from peasants, I have been eager to follow him... so... is this an opportunity The Daoist Seniors give to me? I can meet Zhou Wang in person to express my wish?..."

"De Ta! I want to join with you only to save Master Yun, not to defect!..."

"Don't prohibit De Ta!"

The hoarse mumble came from De Ta's back. Yu Mu Li La was more thunderstruck. "Master Yun... you... you also?..."

Half conscious before, Yun was now fully aware. Her eyes sparkled sharply. Her voice was weak and hoarse, but it was audible. "De Ta has his own opinion, even though we don't agree with him, but we have to understand him. Since I was imprisoned, I have a lot of time to reflect on what happens so far. Rumilie, whom I fully trusted, has the heart to sacrifice me. I know it was he who sent me the anonymous letter that led to this disaster. I was stupid, I was so eager to follow the letter, but after I recall my memory, I feel very familiar with the writing. Yes... even though it has been changed, the writing still leaves traces. It is Rumilie's writing. Rumilie is indeed a cruel, weird man, I know, he falls in love unnaturally with Wan Ya, that's why he went insane when Wan Ya caught the disease and died..."

Yu Mu Li La clasped her mouth. "Rumilie... loves Wan Ya... even though Wan Ya is also a man?!..."

Yun nodded. "He is a weirdo, and his weirdness drives his brain to be able to commit any cruelty. He doesn't care even if he has to kill those who are loyal to him. He is a cruel leader who just wants to vent his own selfishness. All this time I was unaware, that all he did is actually no more than burning the grudge and hatred inside my mind. I am so stupid because by then he manages to control my mind, yet it is because the Ming government has committed cruelty, killing and raping Yunnan people arbitrarily when they conquered us..."

"Wait a minute, Yun!" Zhu Su interrupted quickly. "What do you mean by Ming government kills and rapes Yunnan people? Fu Huang forbade his generals to rape Yuan Imperial Princesses even though Yuan is his mortal enemy! So how can we do such things towards the innocent Yunnan people!"

"What an ignorant and naive lord, you are! It is a load of nonsense, the reality is far different! I am a living witness, who was raped by a throng of your soldiers when I was a child!"

Zhu Su and Hu Nayin widened their eyes in shock at Yun's confession. Hu Nayin did not know about this miserable incident. Ah, I see then, why Master Yun hates the Ming government so much. She was a victim of their oppression, Hu Nayin thought. Unable to give any response, Hu Nayin could only sigh sadly.

Zhu Su himself, his eyes flashed strangely.

"Do you know who is the general who instructed such cruel thing?" He asked.

"Lan Yu and his cruel crony Fu Youde!" Yun replied angrily.

"Ah... Lan Yu that culprit," Now Zhu Su sighed irritatedly. "I have to explain this to you, Yun. Lan Yu is a rebel. He is different from Fu Huang, he is vile and doesn't have the ethos of a true leader. For him, people are a herd of cows, must be utilized as well as possible. He also can't contain his damn lust for beautiful women. He even raped Yuan princesses... but Fu Huang has punished him for his insolence. So, I must tell you, his actions don't reflect the ethos of us Ming rulers. We are leaders with strong ethics. And I, on behalf of Fu Huang, apologize for his barbaric actions which we can't prevent profusely to you as the victim.

After that, Zhu Su bowed down to Yun.

Yun's eyes went round. She was astonished. In her imagination, all Ming rulers were a bunch of despicable people who did not care about their people. As the result, she never listened to Hu Nayin's persuasion. But now the real evidence existed before her eyes. The Ming ruler, whom she thought to be arrogant and prideful, now even bowed down and apologized towards her. Towards her, the rebel who fought against him!

Yun was not a heartless woman. In fact, her heart was as fragile as glass. That was why she could hate Hu Nayin so much, because actually she loved Hu Nayin so deeply and then her affection was marred with disappointment, it made the deep affection turned into deep hatred. Now, the door to Yun's heart was knocked on.

A strange vibe flowed through Yun's entire body. The door to her pure heart had opened.

"I... am the same as De Ta... I want to join Zhou Wang."

"Master Yun!" Now it was Hu Nayin who exclaimed in disbelief. Before, it was so hard for her to persuade the master, she had come to Yun so many times but it all ended in failure. However, Zhu Su had not even moved his mouth to ask Yun, and it was Yun herself who wanted to join him! That was why Hu Nayin found it hard to believe this fact. "Master Yun... really wants to join us?!"

"It is your intention, Nayin, isn't it?..."

"But..."

"It is normal that people find it difficult to accept the joyful news. I repeat it again. I will not support Huan Shikang anymore, and now, I want to join Zhou Wang with De Ta!"

"Why, Master Yun?!" Hu Nayin and Yu Mu Li La asked in unison. Both of them immediately looked at each other.

"Haven't I explain? I am irritated due to the betrayal of Huan Shikang and Rumilie. It has been enough to make up my mind not to help them anymore. Then... Nayin, well, you did it. You win. You manage to convince me that Zhou Wang is a kindhearted person, and unlike other ruthless leaders, he is willing to help people affected by disaster. I can't help but be moved to see him when he came in person to Shuanghu District to examine the people. Even though he was at high risk of getting infected, but he didn't care about it, he kept focusing on helping the people. He is not a leader who is crazy to be worshiped and demands people's sacrifices for him, on the contrary, he is a leader who is willing to sacrifice himself to help his people. He really fits with your description, Nayin. All this time I have not trusted your persuasion to cooperate with Zhou Wang, but now, you did it. So you should be proud that your hard work is paid off in the end."

Zhu Su looked at Hu Nayin, beamed with joy. In the end, that unfair accusations the officials did because of suspecting Hu Nayin of allying with Yun for often visiting her were proven false. Hu Nayin did visit Yun, but her purpose was to persuade her to join with them.

Zhu Su felt tremendous relief in his chest now. Hu Nayin had proven her loyalty and virtue, one hundred percent.

"Master Yun! Daoist Priest! Of course, I am willing to accept both of you! You are smart and knowledgeable, I am also looking for genius people to dedicate themselves for the prosperity of the people!" Zhu Su said cheerfully.

De Ta and Yun beamed. They saluted. "From today, we are the followers of Your Highness!"