Chapter 356: Isn't That a Little Rude?

Soon, a delicious aroma of food wafted through the air. Zhen Le's stomach rumbled at the smell.

"Hearing your stomach growl, I knew you must be hungry. And I'm very confident in my cooking; you'll definitely like it," Lin Fan said.

He could sense that this newly acquainted friend had many stories to tell.

But he didn't pry.

He knew that everyone carries their own burdens. If they don't offer to share, there's no need to ask, as it might cause them pain.

As Lin Fan brought plate after plate of seemingly delicious dishes to the table, Zhen Le's eyes sparkled.

"My skills aren't bad, right?" Lin Fan asked.

"Mm, very good."

"Eat up. Today's cooking is much better than yesterday's."

Their conversation lacked any unnecessary embellishments.

They spoke of simple topics.

"Are you lonely living here?" Zhen Le asked proactively.

This was the first time she had taken the initiative to ask Lin Fan a question.

Lin Fan replied, "I used to be, but now that you're here, you're the first friend I've made in this place. Since you come to see me every day, I don't feel lonely anymore."

Hearing this, Zhen Le's face flushed.

In an era where girls were married off at twelve or thirteen, his words carried a deeper meaning.

Who could say Lin Fan wasn't a smooth talker?

His words, once spoken, were lethal. It made one wonder, were they afraid?

Although Zhen Le was only ten years old, she understood a lot.

So, after Lin Fan finished speaking, she lowered her head to eat, not saying a word.

Lin Fan was puzzled. Did I say something wrong?

It didn't seem like it.

Having a good friend around certainly banished loneliness.

Just like when Old Zhang or Xiao Bao were with him, he wouldn't feel lonely.

"Why didn't your adoptive father send you away? Maybe you could have had freedom," Zhen Le asked.

"I don't know." When encountering something he didn't understand, he would say he didn't know. There was definitely no problem with that, and he truly didn't know. He had woken up in this situation; how could he have thought of so much?

Zhen Le understood.

From her perspective, it was clear that Lin Fan knew he had no future. Being sent here meant his ultimate fate was to die of old age in this place.

He didn't tell her these things because he didn't want to share his unhappiness with her.

Every time she came, Lin Fan was always smiling, as if he had always been happy. This was a performance for her benefit, so she wouldn't dwell on those unhappy things.

Thinking of this...

Large teardrops rolled down from Zhen Le's eyes. She had never met anyone who cared for her like this.

If she voiced her thoughts and asked Lin Fan if this was the case, he would surely be bewildered.

I really am happy.

You're overthinking it.

"Why are you crying? Is it because the food I made is so delicious that it makes you want to cry?" Lin Fan asked in surprise. He had long suspected that the food he made was truly delicious enough to make people cry. Qing Lian used to be like this, crying while eating.

Back then, he had asked Qing Lian...

Lian, what's wrong?

Lian replied: Young Master, the food is too delicious.

Lin Fan believed in his own skills. It must be the case; there was no other explanation.

Zhen Le didn't reveal her true thoughts, only nodding, seemingly agreeing with Lin Fan's explanation. There were some things she didn't want to say, preferring to keep them in her heart.

For half a month, Zhen Le appeared every two or three days.

Every time she came, it was Lin Fan's happiest moment. Having company dispelled any loneliness.

Zhen Le always arrived with a smile on her face.

For Lin Fan, seeing the little girl smile happily was the most joyful thing. He felt his efforts were worthwhile.

For Zhen Le, no matter how much torment she faced outside, whenever she came to Lin Fan's place, her mind would empty, as if purified. Everything felt warm and she had a strong sense of security.

She knew that this person before her was genuinely kind to her.

Night.

Zhen Le stayed in her small room, looking through the Nine Nether Godly Scriptures. The golden leaf was placed beside her. Whenever she was tired of reading, she would play with the golden leaf, as if Lin Fan was always by her side.

Knock, knock!

At that moment, a hurried knocking came from outside.

Hearing the sound, Zhen Le panicked and quickly hid the Nine Nether Godly Scriptures and the golden leaf in her bosom. Then, she pretended to be asleep. She was used to this situation. Perhaps she was a forgotten princess, the most insignificant and tragic existence in the deep palace.

Soon, a figure burst into the room.

"Cui Rong..."

This was the only servant in the West Palace Courtyard who treated her well. She was a few years older than Zhen Le. Because Consort Xian was so cruel, Zhen Le was afraid of implicating others and never got close to anyone. Cui Rong knew this, so sometimes, she would secretly give Zhen Le food and secretly report on the situation, telling her where Consort Xian would be so she could avoid her and not incur her wrath.

"Princess, hide quickly! The Consort encountered the Empress today and was humiliated. She's furious now and says she wants to see you. Someone is coming to get you now. Hide quickly, or it will be too late!" Cui Rong said urgently.

Zhen Le's face turned deathly pale.

She was terrified of seeing Consort Xian.

It was the eternal nightmare in her heart.

Just at that moment, several figures entered from the doorway, and a grim voice echoed, "The Consort suspected someone would leak the information, but I didn't expect it to be you, Cui Rong. Very good. Come with us."

Cui Rong's face paled dramatically, clearly not expecting this.

West Palace Courtyard.

"Your Highness, it was Cui Rong who leaked the information. We caught her red-handed," a servant reported.

"Spare me, Your Highness, spare me! This servant will never dare to do it again!" Cui Rong knelt and kowtowed, completely panicked. She knew the Consort would never let her off.

Consort Xian waved her hand. "Drag her away and beat her to death with sticks."

"Yes."

Zhen Le tugged at Cui Rong, then looked pleadingly at Consort Xian. "Please spare Sister Cui Rong! She wasn't trying to warn me; she was calling me over."

"Oh?" Consort Xian's lips curled into a smile. "A lowly servant who doesn't know her place. Beating her to death is too lenient. Chop her into mincemeat and feed her to the dogs."

"Your Highness, spare me! Please leave me a whole corpse!" Cui Rong pleaded.

"Drag her away. The sight of her disgusts me." Consort Xian waved her hand. The humiliation she suffered during the day didn't make her scream and shout; instead, it transformed into the cruelest of methods, taking her anger out on these servants.

Zhen Le grabbed Consort Xian's robe. "Mother, please, spare her! I beg you!"

Consort Xian kicked Zhen Le away with a look of disgust. "You're dirtying my ears, dirtying my clothes."

Soon, Cui Rong was dragged away. With the echoing screams, Zhen Le's face turned completely white, her eyes filled with nothing but terror.

"What's this?"

At that moment, because of the earlier kick, the book and golden leaf fell out of Zhen Le's bosom.

"No..."

Seeing Consort Xian about to pick up her things, Zhen Le lunged forward to retrieve them, but was firmly pinned down by the servants beside her.

"What filthy things."

In Consort Xian's eyes, it was just a blank book with nothing written in it. As for the golden leaf, it was also unremarkable. Deep within the palace, when she was once favored, what hadn't she seen?

"A dyed leaf, hmph... always messing with these nonsensical things."

"Give it back to me! Give my things back!" Zhen Le cried.

"Slap her! Make her stop crying. It's annoying to hear." Consort Xian frowned.

The surrounding servants immediately obeyed.

The sound of slapping echoed incessantly.

Although she was a princess, their true master was Consort Xian. The Consort didn't treat her as her own daughter, much less as a princess. Even the Emperor had never seen her. Who would acknowledge her?

Tears welled up in Zhenle's eyes. She bit her lip, preventing herself from crying out.

"Speak! Who gave you these things?" Consort Xian demanded.

Zhenle lowered her head and remained silent. She wouldn't mention Lin Fan. She had suffered too much hardship and torment in the deep palace; she knew this place was like hell.

If Consort Xian knew she often visited Lin Fan...

Lin Fan would be in danger.

He would be executed.

"Speak!" Consort Xian roared.

Zhenle said, "I picked them up myself."

"Picked them up?" Consort Xian sneered. "Fine, don't speak. We'll investigate slowly. If I find out who gave them to you, they're dead."

"As for these things...they're an eyesore."

Rip!

Consort Xian tore the book, which appeared to be blank to her, to shreds.

"Give me back the leaf!"

Zhenle cried out. She only wanted to keep the golden leaf; it was a gift.

But she still underestimated Consort Xian's cruelty. The more she wanted it, the less likely she was to get it.

"You want it that badly?"

"I want it. I only want the leaf."

Consort Xian smiled. Unlike Lin Fan's smile, hers was sinister.

"Since you want it so much, I'll grant your wish. Someone, pry open her mouth and make her eat all of this."

The surrounding servants surrounded Zhenle and then began to work.

They pried open her mouth.

They shoved the shredded book and the golden leaf into Zhenle's mouth.

The tears in Zhenle's eyes had dried.

All the tears of her life had dried.

As the servants carried Zhenle away, she turned her head and looked towards the distant rustling sound, a sound like chopping meat. Her eyes were calm, without a trace of emotion.

Zhenle, tossed casually into a room, lay painfully on the bed.

She curled up her body.

A terrifying aura erupted from within her.

Somewhere in a righteous sect...

A white-haired elder explained worldly matters to his direct disciple.

"The most terrifying cultivation technique in the world is the Nine Nether Divine Scripture. However, this technique has been lost for a thousand years. According to legend, the person who cultivated the Nine Nether Divine Scripture to completion a thousand years ago roamed the world invincible, taking heads amidst armies of hundreds of thousands, as if entering uninhabited territory, unstoppable."

"But those who cultivate this technique will inevitably suffer mental collapse, falling into the evil path, becoming a demon among evils, a king among demons, utterly terrifying."

A bright young disciple curiously asked, "What happened to the person who successfully cultivated it?"

"Heaven took him."

At this moment...

Zhenle's condition was dire. Black mist emanated from her body, the mist so dense it had solidified, like the breath of hell seeping into the world, as if some terrifying existence in the darkness was awakening.

"The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things."

"The Dao follows nature..."

A profound voice resonated through Zhenle's mind.

The black mist struggled.

No one knew what was happening; everything seemed very strange.

The Nine Nether Divine Scripture was a wordless heavenly book, its contents visible only to special individuals. The person who successfully cultivated it a thousand years ago also cultivated based on what they saw.

But no one had ever swallowed the Nine Nether Divine Scripture itself.

Paper that remained undamaged for a millennium was no ordinary paper.

In the Empress's residence...

"Your Majesty, this servant heard sounds of scolding and beating from the West Palace Courtyard. Consort Xian must be furious," a servant reported.

The Empress, sitting there dignified and elegant, sipped her tea calmly.

A smile played on her lips.

The struggle for the heir apparent was fierce.

Her son would undoubtedly be the new emperor.

Even if Consort Xian's son was favored by the Emperor, what good was it? He was already beneath the earth, useless.

Many officials in the court were her people.

As for the remaining princes, as long as she dealt with them carefully, there wouldn't be any major problems. But caution was always advisable. No matter what, she had to be careful to prevent any unforeseen issues.

The next day...

Lin Fan pushed open the door and breathed in the fresh air, his nose twitching.

"What an evil smell."

But he didn't pay much attention to it.

There were plenty of evil smells around; there was no need to constantly worry about them.

Then, he opened his heart and embraced nature, the energy particles floating in the air continuously flowing into his body.

He felt invigorated.

Extremely comfortable.

"Ah, so refreshing."

After his morning exercise, he went to the nearby field to till the soil. Life was simple like this, filled with joy and happiness. He felt that Zhenle would come looking for him today.

At noon...

Lin Fan finished preparing the meal and placed it on the table. He then filled two bowls with rice, one for himself and one for Zhenle.

Then, he rested his chin on his hand and stared at the doorway, waiting patiently.

"Strange, she should be here by now."

According to their usual schedule, Zhenle would appear at the door, and he would wave to her. Zhenle would then run in with a smile and eat with him.

They would chat casually.

Although they didn't talk about anything important, their conversations were always enjoyable. For Lin Fan, happiness was simple.

After a long while...

"Sigh, the food's gone cold."

Lin Fan looked down at the food on the table, took the dishes back to the stove to reheat them, then brought them back to the table and continued to wait.

Perhaps something had delayed her.

"Zhenle, what are you so busy with?"

"You have to eat."

Lin Fan continued to wait.

He just wanted to wait for Zhenle; he had no other thoughts.

Several years later...

The sun was scorching hot on this day.

Lin Fan, as usual, was tidying up the courtyard. Through years of hard work, he had made good use of all the cultivable land in the courtyard and had also learned how to repair the house.

He didn't know how to do it at first.

But later, he gradually figured it out.

Sometimes, Lin Fan wondered if he was a genius, having learned another skill in just a few years.

At this moment...

Lin Fan looked towards the gate. A strange old man slowly walked in from outside, giving off an unfathomable aura.

Lin Fan, who enjoyed encountering strong individuals, always liked to spar with them.

After all, it was a good way to learn from each other.

But this old man wasn't within the realm of "strong." He felt weak to Lin Fan, not impressive at all, and Lin Fan had no desire to fight him.

"Hello," Lin Fan greeted with a smile. "May I ask what brings you here?"

Lin Fan, being polite, greeted the stranger amicably.

"Lin Fan, have you gotten used to living here after all these years?" the old man asked.

Lin Fan replied in surprise, "You know me?"

"Of course." The old man looked around at the surroundings and nodded in satisfaction. "Hmm, not bad. Even in such a secluded and cold place, you've kept it organized. You haven't disappointed me."

The old man pushed open the door and walked inside.

Lin Fan was very curious. Who was this old man?

Although I don't mind...

But entering my house without my permission seems a bit impolite.

Forget it, I, Lin Fan, forgive you.

Respecting the elderly and cherishing the young!

Virtue!