A Peacemaker's Sorrow

Chapter XLI

Though Qiu Haitang was no longer a girl in her prime, her face was still as fair as a magnolia flower, her makeup vibrant and beautiful. Along with her slender figure and full bosom, her looks were very striking. And since her looks were striking, she naturally couldn't escape the fate of becoming a member of Luo Binghe's harem.

"I'm asking you a question! Why do you not look at me?" Steps away, Qiu Haitang held her sword across her chest, as though if it came down to it, she was ready to kill them before slitting her own throat.

Shen Yuan couldn't help but scowl at the sound of her voice, she was undoubtedly the same as back then. "So that's why. No wonder. No wonder I searched for so many years but still never found either of you again."

Everyone was whispering amongst themselves.

Lao Gongzhu asked his question with a tone of understanding. "Immortal Masters, is this young lady indeed a former acquaintance of both of you?"

Shen Qingqiu scowled at him, the fan in his hand cracking from the force of his grip, and Shen Yuan truly couldn't help but want to deny the truth.

"Former acquaintance?" Qiu Haitang continued sorrowfully. "I am not only a former acquaintance. Shen Jiu, this man, who looks so dignified, was once my childhood sweetheart...and I am his wife! Shen Yuan is my brother-in-law!"

There were a few gasps that rang out, a few people muttering their questions, and at his side; he could feel Yue Qingyuan stiffen. It was no mystery to Yue Qingyuan what happened to both Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan at the hands of the Yinchen and Qiu families, though for this woman to appear so suddenly, and claim such a thing, it truly was too much.

Shen Yuan could hear Shen Qingqiu's low growl slowly building in his throat, and before his brother could say anything damning to himself, and before Luo Binghe could possibly get his claws on him for having a childhood affair with one of his wives; Shen Yuan stepped forward with his hand crossed in front of him.

"Madam, please do not shout or say such blasphemous things. I know for a fact you and my brother were never married, you only claimed such when we were children after he disappeared." Shen Yuan said all of this with a placid tone, making it sound like he was merely scolding a lovesick and delusional teenager rather than a furious woman.

Master Wu Chen had interacted with the trio from Cang Qiong Mountain for some time and received Shen Yuan's care, so he had a favorable impression of him. Previously, when Cang Qiong Mountain Sect and Huan Hua Palace had been arguing, he had been unable to interject, but he spoke up now. "Amitabha, if this benefactor has something to say, please explain it properly and explain it completely: blind accusations do not invite confidence."

Just like that, Qiu Haitang became the focus of everyone's attention. Face flushed red with emotion, she puffed out her chest as she stepped closer to Shen Yuan and said loudly, "If a single word I, Qiu Haitang, say from here on out is false, may my heart be pierced by ten thousand of the demons' poisonous arrows, and may I be undeserving of a peaceful death!" She pointed straight at Shen Yuan, fury clear in her eyes and from her energy. "This person is now one of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect's Peak Lords of Qing Jing Peak, Shen Qingxin, the widely renowned Ming Quzi sword. But no one knows of thing he used to be!"

Her language was rather harsh, and Qi Qingqi's shapely willow-leaf brows rose in anger. "Watch your words!"

"Peak Lord Qi, there's no need for anger. Why not let this young lady continue? We cannot silence people's mouths." The Old Palace Master said.

Qiu Haitang looked at him and clenched her teeth, the hatred in her eyes and energy overcoming the fear, and her voice once again grew loud. "When he was eight years old, he was but a slave of my uncle's that he purchased from traveling child traffickers after my family bought Shen Jiu. My uncle saw how he was abused, and thought him pitiful, so he brought him home with him to his estate, taught him how to read and write, paid for his food and clothing—kept him, and he was exceptionally close with him and his wife Jing Lian. They were practically parents to him!" Shen Yuan could only stand there silently, pursing his lips and forcing himself to listen to all of this. Clearly, he and Qiu Haitang had very different ideas of how his childhood was spent.