LET GO OF THE PAST 1

Bao Mei laughed. "Well then, Zhou Wang?! You can't answer this question, can you?! I'm sure you won't be able to answer it! Such the cruel blood like you!..."

"Loyalty."

Bao Mei was surprised. "Wh... why? What's your reason?..."

"Have I answered it correctly? The answer is loyalty?"

"Explain your answer so that I can evaluate whether it is right or false!"

"If I want to answer Love, I don't think it's the right answer. Love can change over time. Especially when someone falls in love because of being attracted by beauty, it can quickly fade if the beauty is damaged. So, Love that may only last for a moment, will not make a human become the stupidest creature. Then, if I answer Trust, it is also the same. Trust is easily damaged when it is betrayed. But Loyalty, is different. When wives swear allegiance to their husbands, they will do whatever it takes to declare their loyalty even if they must sacrifice themselves and their own freedom. When the people declare their loyalty to their rulers, they would do everything to declare their loyalty, even including sacrificing themselves. The rulers want to fight for the interest of expanding their territory, the loyal generals and soldiers will follow their wills without asking even though they might die on the battlefield. The rulers oppress the people with arbitrary laws, the loyal people will obey it obediently. The most important point, loyalty will not easily wear off, because something is called to be loyal only after passing through a long time. Even though the rulers are guilty, the loyal people do not dare to criticize them or try to advise them, and allow the error to continue. The subordinates will keep defending the rulers even when they are wrong - because that is indeed the condition of loyalty."

Bao Mei lowered her eyes. She forced her tongue that felt dry to answer weakly, "You're right..."

"Stop all this!"

Zhu Su and Hu Nayin were agape. Wu Qi had been standing in front of them, brandishing his sword.

"Sir Wu Qi! How come you protect him?!" Wei Han could not accept it.

"Of course I must! Zhou Wang is my master, of course, I have to protect him!"

"But... aren't you the one who fight him?!"

"It was a big mistake I've ever made. Zhou Wang is not like what I thought before as well as the gossip you told me. I am guilty to him. I must make amends with this!"

A strange roar appeared in this deserted meadow. As all of them turned their heads, horse steps numbered in the hundreds were galloping towards them, and after they arrived, they immediately surrounded their enemy tightly.

"Fu Wang! Thank Heaven, we manage to find you! All of us looked for you from before but still couldn't find you, fortunately A Jiang happened to see you going out with A Chen!" Zhu Youdun shouted in relief.

"Bai Lian Jiao! You are all under siege! It is not the same as before right now, we bring with us doubled army! Don't you dare take a fight or you will regret it!" A Nuo shouted aloud.

Four Bai Lian Jiao members also realized that A Nuo was right. Not only Wu Qi was no longer with them, he was even fighting them. They fell silent. Ma Ya looked at Bao Mei, "Mei, never mind... We have to admit that we've lost... so let's release our grudges."

Bao Mei did not reply.

"Let go of your grudge for Bao Ling." Ma Ya said again. "Let go of your grudge for your younger sister."

Bao Mei finally faltered. "Yes... I really can't accept Ling's death... My poor sister, she was only sixteen at that time, and she was also so naïve... She was so eager to be a court lady, it's a great honor for her to devote herself to the imperial family... But instead of appreciating her naivety and loyalty, the Emperor even forced her to be buried alive with him... the reason is... to prove her loyalty!..."

Tears rolled down Bao Mei's cheeks.

Ma Ya patted Bao Mei on the shoulder as she started to sob pitifully.

Hu Nayin watched everything happening before her eyes carefully. On the one hand, she was relieved that it had all been resolved. But on the other hand, a feeling of compassion for the four Bai Lian Jiao emerged in her heart. It turned out that the four of them were so eager to kill Zhu Su was because of a heart-wrenching reason. The reason that really made her heart touched. Even though she was quite annoyed by the chaos they once caused, but in the end, she could not blame them. After all, they were kindhearted people because of willing to help her sincerely. The kindheartedness which was damaged by the cruelty of the lust for power.

And perhaps, Master Yun is similar to them... yes, it must be. She always said that the Ming government is cruel and oppressive to the Yunnan people... She must have a pitiful reason behind it all?

The soldiers arrested the four Bai Lian Jiao members, and Mrs. Deng and Deng Linping as well. They were all taken to Kaifeng and would undergo the trial there that would decide what sentences they should endure. With their hands tied tightly behind their backs, the six of them were walking while bowing down. Mrs. Deng even began to sob, regretting the fate of her and her son.

Hu Nayin bit her lip. She felt very sorry for them. Moreover, for Mrs. Deng and Deng Linping, who was not only innocent since they never tried to attack Zhu Su, but also contributed greatly to healing her. Of course, she must not let them be punished unfairly. She had to free them... But, she was confused, what should she do to make Zhu Su listen to her? She was not totally innocent, after all. It was beyond her expectation that Zhu Su was willing to forgive her so easily, how did she dare to ask him to forgive two other people?...

But suddenly, that idea came to her mind.