Rebirth: Ordinary Life and Living

Zhou Xinyue drank a spoonful of porridge, but for some reason, tears fell into the bowl one by one like pearls from a broken string.

The smiling lady next to her saw it, walked over with concern, took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears.

The old lady wiped her tears and said, "Child, you are still young and don't know what love is. How could someone who truly loves you bear to see his beloved girl cry so sadly? There is no need to torture yourself like this, understand? Child. Come, drink some porridge. Everything will be fine."

Zhou Xinyue looked up. The kind lady in front of her didn't say anything, but just took the bowl of porridge and drank it in big gulps.

When the old lady saw Zhou Xinyue's reaction, she said happily, "That's right. This body is your own. If you damage it, no one will feel sorry for you. So the only way is to be good to yourself."

Zhou Xinyue lowered her head and still said nothing.

The old lady put the empty bowl that Zhou Xinyue had finished drinking on the table.

She turned around and patiently advised Zhou Xinyue, "Miss, although you didn't say anything, I know in my heart that you are no different from those girls in the city. You all like the prince who got married yesterday. But, girl, he is a member of the royal family. How can a commoner like me cling to him?"

Zhou Xinyue nodded. The old lady continued, "As a member of the royal family, let alone a prince, it is not a problem for him to have three wives and four concubines. However, even the concubines who can really enter the palace are not ordinary people! They are all rich or noble."

Zhou Xinyue nodded again without saying anything.

The old lady patted Zhou Xinyue's hand and said, "So, child, you should think more about yourself and your family. Forget about those people who are as far away as the stars."

Zhou Xinyue looked up at the lady in front of her, still without saying a word.

The old lady smiled, stood up with the empty bowl in hand and prepared to leave, then turned around and said, "Oh, by the way, you have been in a coma for three days and three nights. That Xingxing girl has been taking care of you without closing her eyes. I, the old lady, persuaded her for a long time before she agreed to go to my grandson's room and lie down for a while. You just woke up and are still weak, so you should stay here with me for a while and get well before leaving. Okay, lie down and rest for a while, I'm going to sell tofu."

After saying that, the old lady gently closed the wooden door and left.

Zhou Xinyue's mind went blank. She didn't know what to do, what to do next, or what to do in the future.

Zhou Xinyue curled up on the bed, all that came to her mind were the little details of her and Jin Youyuan's past.

The words he had said to herself under the starry sky of Cangdu City, and the things they had done together.

He once saved himself in front of his family, etc.

Too many memories, too much sweetness. Now it all seems to be a kind of irony.

Zhou Xinyue was overwhelmed by these sweet memories and couldn't get out of them.

When I think of that day when I saw him wearing a blood-red groom's suit and marrying another woman.

Zhou Xinyue could no longer control her emotions and broke down crying.

The heart-wrenching cry caused an old man who was grinding beans outside to shake his head repeatedly.

Zhou Xinyue was immersed in memories and couldn't extricate herself.

Why did he lie to me? Zhou Xinyue couldn't figure it out. Why did he lie to me?

Zhou Xinyue cried and said, "You asked me to believe you, and I chose to believe you, but why did you lie to me? Jin Youyuan, why did you lie to me?"

Zhou Xinyue cried for a long time.

In the evening, Zhou Xinyue turned around and saw Fanxing guarding her.

Looking at the thinner Fanxing, Zhou Xinyue said with red and swollen eyes: "Xing'er, why have you lost weight? Why do you look so haggard! Go and have a rest for a while, I'm fine!"

Fanxing frowned and gestured with a worried look on her face, meaning: "You're still talking about me, but you look more haggard than me. You look like this, and I'm very worried about you. Very, very worried about you."

Zhou Xinyue shook her head and said, "I'm fine, don't worry."

Fanxing gestured and said, "You are obviously pretending to be yourself, sister, I hope you get better. Be brave."

Zhou Xinyue nodded and said, "Well, I understand your good intentions, Xing'er, I believe I will get better in a while. It's just that I need some time now."

The stars gestured to mean that she would be with her forever.

Zhou Xinyue nodded and said weakly, "I want to be alone for a while, you go out and talk to Auntie and the others first!"

Fanxing nodded, and Zhou Xinyue continued to lie there in a trance.

Two days passed unknowingly. Zhou Xinyue felt that her health had improved. She said goodbye to the old lady and left some silver notes for them to express her gratitude before leaving.

Zhou Xinyue and Fanxing returned to the inn in a trance. The waiter still greeted them warmly and took them to a secluded private room.

Soon, the enthusiastic waiter brought all their favorite side dishes.

But Fanxing ordered some of Zhou Xinyue’s favorite vegetarian dishes.

Zhou Xinyue looked at these vegetarian dishes but still had no appetite.

Zhou Xinyue let Fanxing order whatever she liked.

Fanxing shook her head and gestured, "Sister, you don't have much appetite. I also feel that I don't have much appetite."

Zhou Xinyue was just about to say something to Fanxing when she suddenly heard a few people talking in the private room next door.

Zhou Xinyue pricked up her ears and heard someone next door say, "This capital city looks lively now, but in fact a small number of people have already fled. If it weren't for the fear of arousing the court's vigilance, everyone would leave in small waves. By now, half of some families would have left."

Another person said, "Yes, now that King Lai Lin has married the daughter of Prime Minister Guan Li, it's like a tiger growing a pair of wings. I'm afraid this is the general trend of the world!"

Another person said: "Not necessarily, I heard..."

Zhou Xinyue noticed that the voice was very low, and she knew that the person was deliberately speaking in a low voice.

Zhou Xinyue hurriedly put her ear to the ground and vaguely heard the man say, "If the two forces join forces to fight against him, it will be a disaster!"

Someone asked, “What should we do next?”

"I'm afraid there will be a bloody battle soon. I moved my wife and children to my hometown in the south last month!"

"You are so cunning. You told me last month that you didn't have that idea, and this month you said you had moved your entire family back to your hometown. You are so insidious and cunning!"

"Let's not talk about this anymore. What we should worry about now is what we should do!"

"Wait for the right opportunity and act accordingly! No one knows how things will develop next, and no one knows how long the current emperor can live."

"Yeah! Let's take it one step at a time!"

After hearing this, Zhou Xinyue roughly understood what Jin Youyuan was planning and the general meaning of what he said.