Re-embroidering life

The Autumn Examination was finally over, and the whole family met Ji Zimo at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall. He looked haggard, with sunken eyes, and had lost a lot of weight. He even staggered when he walked. Old Mrs. Ji immediately wiped away her tears, even though her first two sons had the same experience when they left the Autumn Examination Hall. After all, Ji Zimo was her most beloved youngest son.

Ji Zixuan strode forward, his face filled with relief and heartache. He asked something in a babble while patting Ji Zimo's back gently with his hand.

Shui Qinghua was pushed to the back by her mother-in-law and uncle, watching from a distance. She found that as he grew older, Ji Zimo looked more and more like Ji Zixuan. The power of blood was really magical. The only difference was his eyes. Ji Zimo's eyes were not as deep and sharp as Ji Zixuan's. His eyes were like a pool of spring water, always rippling with tenderness. When he was young, he was compared to the moon and warm jade, mostly because of these eyes.

Ji Zimo answered Ji Zixuan's question tiredly, and when he raised his eyes, his sight met Shui Qinghua's. Shui Qinghua smiled at him, and Ji Zimo's eyes lit up.

Old Mrs. Ji asked Shui Qinghua to take care of Ji Zimo's food and clothing, and then returned to the mansion with the support of Ji Zixuan.

Finally, the couple was left alone. Although Shui Qinghua had a lot to say, she held back when she saw Ji Zimo's dazed state, and just took care of him with all her heart. Ji Zimo slept for three days and three nights before he regained his energy and his face turned red. Only then did he realize that his wife had been looking restless.

"Qinghua, what happened at home when I was away?"

Shui Qinghua sat opposite Ji Zimo, with a hint of hesitation in her eyes: "Zimo, I have something to tell you. It may sound a little ridiculous, but I hope you can listen to me carefully."

Ji Zimo's eyes flashed with doubt: "Qinghua, we are husband and wife, what can't we say? Just say it."

Shui Qinghua took a deep breath. The thought of rebirth was too horrifying. She decided to pretend it was a dream. "Do you remember that I once had a dream where the Third Prince became the Crown Prince and Sister Yajing became the Crown Princess?"

Ji Zimo nodded.

"I had the same dream again recently. In the dream, the story continued to move forward. I did not seek medical treatment from the Chen family, but continued to do housework until I became terminally ill."

The unbearable past life was the untouchable pain in Shui Qinghua's heart. Now, she was completely immersed in that painful memory, and told Ji Zimo about her past life experience one by one. Her trembling voice, red eyes, and suppressed sobs made Ji Zimo unconsciously bring into her emotions.

Ji Zimo had a very strange feeling that what Qinghua described was not a dream, but her personal experience. Dreams are always vague and confusing, but the story Qinghua told was clear and logical, and he seemed to have been in the world she described.

Finally, Shui Qinghua asked him: "If you were in my dream and faced the two choices given by the Xie family, what would you choose?"

Ji Zimo's face was filled with obvious pain. He thought for a long time and said slowly: "Qinghua, I don't know what I would have chosen before. But now, after experiencing the disaster in Qianzhou, I think the most important thing in the world is life. As long as people are alive, there is hope. Therefore, I will choose to accept the Snow Lotus Pill. As long as there is a glimmer of hope to save you, I will not give up."

He stopped, feeling overwhelmed by the story, feeling suffocated. "As long as you can survive, continue to enjoy the sunshine and rain, and embroider without worries, I can do anything, even if I have to be a treacherous villain."

"Zimo!" Shui Qinghua's tears flowed down. "You mean..."

Ji Zimo nodded: "I will never divorce my wife and marry another woman under duress. That would be a humiliation to myself. But I will not die. For you and for the children, I would rather live with the infamy."

Shui Qinghua couldn't hold back any longer and threw herself into Ji Zimo's arms, crying loudly. She cried bitterly, as if she wanted to vent all the anger, sorrow, and hatred accumulated in two lifetimes. "It's useless, no matter what you choose. I was already dead when you were still in the Xie family. I couldn't wait for you, and I died with hatred for you!"

Ji Zimo's hands trembled as he embraced Shui Qinghua. The feeling became stronger. It was not a dream, it was everything Qinghua had experienced! Because she hated him, the love in her eyes for him disappeared overnight. No matter how hard he tried, there was always a veil between them.

"Qinghua, tell me everything, I can bear it." Ji Zimo held Shui Qinghua's shoulders with both hands and forced her to sit up. He looked into her eyes calmly and firmly, "I know you still have a lot to say. What is the secret in your heart? Why don't you like Wei'er?"

Shui Qinghua knew she couldn't hide it anymore. Ji Zimo was not a fool. He had noticed her abnormal behavior long ago and had hinted at it many times, but she had evaded it every time. This time, she didn't want to escape again, because she was too tired and too lonely. She needed someone to support her and tell her that the nightmare was over.

Shui Qinghua closed her eyes tightly. She didn't open her eyes until she calmed down and stopped crying. She said slowly, "Actually, the dream I was talking about was my last life. I was dead, but when I opened my eyes, I was reborn on the birthing bed where Wei'er was born. The day Wei'er was born was the day I was reborn."

Ji Zimo's eyes suddenly opened wide. He had all sorts of guesses in his mind, but the truth was even more horrifying than he imagined, especially Qinghua's words "I'm already dead", which made him feel a sharp pain in his heart. He didn't say anything, but listened attentively to what Qinghua continued to say.

Shui Qinghua told Ji Zimo everything. Rumors, death, desperate waiting, rebirth, Wei'er's changes. And all her guesses about Tang Fu, Tan Meixue, and Xue Lian Dan.

Shui Qinghua finished her story calmly, but Ji Zimo was already in tears. He finally understood everything, and found the answer to all the strange behaviors of Qinghua in his eyes.

It turned out that in the previous life, Qinghua worked so hard that she became terminally ill at a young age. He also listened to what others said and went to ask for medicine when Qinghua needed him the most, causing Qinghua to die in despair. He was heartbroken and hugged Shui Qinghua tightly, his arms tightening as if he wanted to rub her into his flesh and blood: "I'm sorry, Qinghua, it's me who made you bear so much alone. Whether in the previous life or in this life, I have done too little for you. I am not worthy of being your husband, and I am not worthy of being Fei'er and the others' father."

Tears flowed from his eyes like heavy rain.

Shui Qinghua shook her head: "You did have some shortcomings, but we were all set up. God has mercy on me and let me live again. In this life, we must live well, and those who harmed us must pay the price."

Ji Zimo's eyes were filled with regret: "Qinghua, from today on, you are no longer fighting alone. Whether it is to find answers or to seek justice, I will be with you." He held Shui Qinghua's hand tightly, his voice trembling: "Including myself, how could I be so stupid as not to notice your illness? Qinghua, you are right to hate me, and I hate myself too. You don't need to forgive me, just let me take good care of you and atone for my past life."