When he was pulled out of the prison cell again, he saw his master. But looking at the man’s gaunt appearance, he could hardly believe his eyes. Although he had often gone hungry in the cell recently and lost weight, he was nothing like the other man. The latter looked as if he had suffered greatly over the years, both physically and mentally. Still, he could understand. He had heard that they were going to the execution ground this time. What else could they expect? His head and his son were about to be separated. The thought sent a shiver down his spine. But the guards behind him kept urging him forward. If he slowed down, he would feel the whip on his body. To escape the pain, he had to quicken his pace.
Although he had regretted countless times recently, this was the first time he had truly felt the terror of death. Listening to the constant crying around him, he couldn't help but burst into tears. It was too late for anything now. Kneeling on the execution platform, he looked at Wu Caiwei seated above and the executioners raising their blades high. Resigned, he closed his eyes. With a swift swing of the sword, Sun Guotang and Madam Sun’s heads fell. Wu Caiwei felt a release in her chest, recognizing it as the residual consciousness of the original host.
Becoming a scapegoat was no different from fulfilling her mission. It didn't matter. She had to leave the Emperor’s side. She could tell he truly had no lingering attachment to the palace, which was why he had to let her go. However, his wariness of her was evident. She could sense how many people were monitoring her. She understood that the Emperor did not trust her. After all, she knew many of his secrets and possessed formidable martial arts skills. If she had intended to harm him, it would have been easy. Unfortunately for him, no matter how long he watched her, she had no intention of opposing him.
Another matter, however, caused Wu Caiwei considerable worry: Li Shengxu’s health had completely deteriorated. Despite their efforts to regulate his body with medication recently, he continued to weaken at a visible rate. His parents, Li Father and Li Mother, were heartbroken but helpless. Every time they tried to find a physician, Li Shengxu insisted that he himself was a doctor and that his illness was incurable, urging them not to waste their efforts.
Initially, they didn’t believe him. In the past, they might have let it go, but now that they had money, they could afford to consult doctors. Thus, they summoned nearly ten renowned physicians. Unfortunately, each of them shook their heads, stating that his body had been completely depleted.
The couple was heartbroken. They wept bitterly, lamenting that they were to die. They felt fortunate to have lived to see them return, and they had no regrets. If there were a next life, he wished to be their son again.
Although everyone was deeply saddened, they all made an effort to appear cheerful, accompanying him through his final months.
Knowing his death was imminent, Li Shengxu tightly held Wu Caiwei’s hand. He opened his mouth, as if to say a thousand words, but he knew that even without speaking, Wu Caiwei could guess. He would likely no longer be able to accompany her. The path ahead was one she had to walk alone. Wu Caiwei gently patted his hand, reassuring him that she would live well and enjoy life, urging him not to worry.
Li Shengxu smiled self-deprecatingly. Although he couldn't bear to leave her, he knew he hadn't been able to help her in recent times; rather, he had been a burden.
As his hand slowly fell, Wu Caiwei felt as if she were trying to grasp something, urgently lifting his hand and bringing it to her face. This time was different from all previous occasions. She knew that although they would part, they would meet again in the near future, so she had never grieved when he left this world. This time, she knew things were different. Perhaps she would never see him again. The thought was a stabbing pain.
When Wu Caiwei returned to that space again, she found that the essence in the bottle was full. A premonition suddenly struck her that perhaps she would soon see the father she had longed for. Then, her head spun, and she lost consciousness. When she awoke again, she was astonished to find herself in a dilapidated house. At first, she thought she had to complete a new task, but after a while, she suddenly leaped out of bed with a gasp. Touching her arms and looking at her small hands, she was shocked to discover that she had returned to the age of seven. Su Dan Novel Network.
The thought of seeing her young parents soon filled her with excitement. She recalled what had happened when she was seven years old. First, her grandmother, who had been paralyzed for many years, was nearing her end. She remembered being the first to discover it. That morning, she went to bring her grandmother food and called out for a long time without a response. Frightened, she quickly ran back to find the adults. Soon, her grandmother was moved to a straw nest on the floor and passed away the next day. At the time, she, young and ignorant, had grieved for a long time.
She wondered if she, back in her childhood, could see her grandmother one last time. It had been too long; she had forgotten what her grandmother looked like, only vaguely remembering that she had doted on her, often giving her pocket money, and sometimes even sneaking a few candies into her pocket.
“Caiwei, what are you thinking about? Hurry up and get up. Today is your first day of school, and you can’t be late.” She was lost in thought when the door creaked open. Seeing her young mother standing not far away, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
Her mother in memory was white-haired and aged, but her current mother had long braids, was thirty years old, and radiated vitality.
“Why are you crying, child? You must have had another nightmare. Don’t worry, Mom is here. Hurry up and get up. Don’t wake your younger sister. Today is your school day, and you can’t be late. Otherwise, you’ll leave a bad impression on the teacher and affect your studies.” Her young mother said as she wiped away her tears, and with nimble movements, helped her get dressed, pull her to eat, and wash up. Then, carrying her small schoolbag, she walked towards the school in her memory. Along the way, she encountered many little friends, which gave her a strange feeling.
Seeing the school, which she hadn't seen in who knows how long, was a rarity. Later children were all driven to and from school, and at noon, they rarely returned home, eating at school. But in this era, there were no cars. If there were, they were bicycles bought by families who were slightly better off, which they treasured and used for errands. How could they possibly pick up and drop off children? Besides, children in this era had no concept of being picked up or dropped off. Regardless of wind or rain, they went to school and returned home on their own. Although the children of this era worked hard, they were full of joy. And because they received sufficient exercise, they were strong and healthy, unlike later children who got sick easily.
The school was still the same school. The teaching building was much taller than she remembered, and the teachers' dormitory was also shabbier than she remembered. With the opportunity to live again, Wu Caiwei decided that this time she would definitely become the exemplary child her parents desired. She remembered that when she was young, her parents always praised her aunt’s daughter and often told her to study hard. At the time, she thought her parents were simply fond of comparing. However, the different fates of the two later proved them right. She, who had only attended undergraduate school, became a primary school teacher, while she, who had graduated with a master's degree early, became a university professor. This time, she decided to make up for past regrets and make them proud of her.