Chapter 169 Everyone Has Two Sides

Luo Sinian's face was full of shock; these details were indeed something he had never thought of before.

At first, he had thought that Consort Li cared about Luo Junhe and couldn't bear to see him in such a miserable state, which was why she had always been unwilling to visit Prince Ye's Mansion.

He even thought that the Ice Stone Bed she had commissioned at great expense, and the ice sent daily from the palace for his baths to suppress the Fire Poison, were all obtained by Consort Li through her painstaking efforts for him.

But Luo Sinian had never considered that her actions would not only bring no benefit to Luo Junhe but would actually harm him.

His thoughts were in turmoil, and he was in a state of utter bewilderment.

"Third Brother, but she is your birth mother, the one who gave birth to you. Nowadays, which consort in the palace doesn't rely on her son for status? If she wants to live well in the palace, she has to depend on you. I really can't figure out what possible reason Consort Li would have to do this."

"What benefit would killing you bring her?"

Luo Junhe sneered and did not answer.

Benefits? There definitely were some.

But you'd have to ask Consort Li herself for that.

"Eighth Brother, I'm telling you this today for no other reason than to remind you that the palace is unpredictable and full of deceit. Those who have managed to survive in the palace for years, even the most insignificant low-ranking consort, must have some cunning. Not to mention Consort Li, who has been in the palace for twenty-three years."

"Everyone has two sides—one shown to outsiders, and one shown to oneself. The gentle, generous, virtuous, and kind persona you see might just be the one she intentionally lets you see. Behind closed doors, what is she really like?"

"In this world, the human heart is the hardest to fathom. You can't judge everything by appearances. Those with ugly exteriors are not necessarily bad people; conversely, those with good exteriors are not necessarily good people. It's time for you to broaden your horizons and sharpen your mind, so you don't suffer great losses in the future."

Luo Sinian's heart was in turmoil. After seeing Luo Junhe, he felt overjoyed, but after the ecstasy came shock and horror.

What Luo Junhe said today was beyond Luo Sinian's understanding, shattering his idealized image of Consort Li.

Suppressing his chaotic emotions, he solemnly said to Luo Junhe:

"Third Brother, I have remembered everything you told me today. I will think it over carefully when I go back. Indeed, I was too shortsighted before, causing you to suffer so much. From now on, I will do exactly as you say and will never let you and Princess Ye down again."

"Eighth Brother, you've grown up."

Luo Junhe looked at him with dark eyes, as if the young man before him had suddenly become independent-minded.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as if remembering something, and suddenly his eyes lit up with a smile.

"A Tang is the only person besides you who has been good to me. If not for her, I might already be dead now."

"She is a very good and remarkable girl. She suffered a lot in the countryside since childhood. Although she married me, she hasn't enjoyed much happiness. These past few months, she has been taking care of me and cleaning up the mess at Prince Ye's Mansion."

"Eighth Brother, I hope you will treat her with respect in the future. Without her, Prince Ye's Mansion wouldn't be as peaceful as it is now. She deserves for you to call her 'Third Sister-in-Law.'"

As Luo Junhe said this, he looked up at Luo Sinian, his strikingly handsome face full of seriousness.

"She is the wife I love most, and you are my best brother. I don't want you to have disagreements or become enemies because of me."

"You two are the most important people to me in this world. I don't want to lose either of you. Do you understand what I mean?"

Luo Sinian pressed his lips together. He could tell that Luo Junhe's words came from the heart.

He was genuinely looking out for him, and he also truly loved Ji Yuntang.

Ji Yuntang held a very special place in his heart.

Of course, it was indeed her arrival that changed everything and saved Luo Junhe's life.

Now, Luo Sinian was genuinely impressed by Ji Yuntang from the bottom of his heart.

All his previous prejudice and arrogance vanished completely at this moment.

Although she was a woman, she had done things many men couldn't.

Brave and resourceful, with unmatched wisdom, she and his third brother were a perfect match.

Just in terms of her unwavering loyalty, no woman in the capital city could compare to her.

Luo Sinian raised his eyes and stared straight at Luo Junhe, his voice full of certainty.

"Third Brother, rest assured. I understand everything you said. Third Sister-in-Law has done a lot for you and Prince Ye's Mansion. I have seen it all. From now on, I will treat Third Sister-in-Law with the utmost respect."

Luo Junhe smiled with satisfaction. "Hearing you say this puts my mind at ease."

The two talked for a long time in the room. An hour later, Luo Sinian came out.

He found Ji Yuntang and looked at her remorsefully.

"Third Sister-in-Law, I have offended you greatly in the past. Thank you for being willing to treat my third brother. Seeing how he's changed, I'm truly happy for him."

"I will never forget your great kindness. If you ever need anything in the future, just send someone to Prince Chen's Mansion to find me. I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Indeed, Luo Junhe was now very different from three months ago. If before he had been a stagnant pool, now he was a flowing, vibrant spring.

Luo Sinian had never seen Luo Junhe so happy. Freed from the torment of illness, he even smiled much more.

He thought that perhaps only Ji Yuntang could make Luo Junhe rediscover the meaning of life and become his true self.

Ji Yuntang raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a half-smile.

"There's no need for fire and water. As long as you don't hold back your third brother and me in the future, that's enough."

"Today you have also seen A He and know that I mean him no harm. If I ever hear again that you are belittling our own morale, boosting others' arrogance, and slandering me in front of outsiders, I promise I'll give you such a beating you'll see stars."

As she spoke, Ji Yuntang reached out swiftly and drew the longsword from Luo Sinian's waist.

"Shua!"

She swung the sword as fast as a soaring dragon. With a flash of cold light before their eyes, a wrist-thick branch above their heads was mercilessly cut off.

Luo Sinian: "..."

Luo Sinian: "!!!"

Fortunately, he reacted quickly; otherwise, he would have been hit by the branch.

He looked at Ji Yuntang, his eyes showing shock mixed with a hint of scrutiny and mostly admiration.

He could swear that even as a martial artist, he had not seen clearly how Ji Yuntang made her move; the sword at his waist had already been drawn by her.

If she had really been an enemy, he'd probably be dead by now.

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