"When my flower blooms, all others wither..." Search for the latest chapter!
He never imagined that one day he would come to regret his past actions.
He hated himself for provoking her, for stirring her emotions. Even if she would have chosen him anyway, he should have restrained himself, allowing her to remain the calm, composed woman focused on the world, untroubled by emotional turmoil.
"Youyou, I'm sorry..." Despite his remorse, he knew that even if time reversed and he returned to the beginning, aware of today's outcome, he would still be unable to resist drawing closer to her step by step, gradually occupying her heart.
Shen Xihe gently shook her head, her gaze distant as she watched the revived Eucommia Leaf bonsai in the distance: "Beichen, in your heart, I should not be a fragile woman who cannot endure the pain of life and death. In this lifetime, there are many ways to live, each with its own splendor.
You need not feel regret or guilt. From the day I married you, I understood what the future might hold. I never wished you ill, but I never naively believed everything in this world would go according to my desires.
I long knew this day of parting might come, yet I still followed my heart and leaned toward you. I never deliberately suppressed my feelings nor intentionally avoided them. Because in living, I refuse to force myself. Had I been unwilling, even your utmost efforts might not have moved me in the slightest.
In this sense, perhaps you and I are bound by fate. Since fate has brought us together, whether our bond is deep or shallow, it is ultimately inescapable. Why trouble ourselves unnecessarily? Why regret the irreversible past or worry about the unpredictable future?
Whether you have decades of life remaining, only eight months left, or if your time ends tomorrow or the next moment—what does it matter? Shouldn't we cherish every moment we have together and find joy in it?
For your intrusion into the life I never planned, I have nothing but heartfelt joy.
Happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy—all are enriched because of you, enough to savor for the rest of my life."
Shen Xihe was someone who saw through the ways of the world. She never believed that possession should only bring abundance and joy. Whether it was a person, an object, or a path, once she chose to accept and begin, she welcomed happiness with open arms and faced sorrow with equanimity.
When flowers bloomed in splendor, she smiled joyfully and celebrated; when thorns covered the ground, she remained unflinching and pressed forward.
This was Shen Xihe's way of navigating life.
Xiao Huayong, who had been burdened with sorrow and melancholy, suddenly felt his perspective narrow in comparison to Shen Xihe's. Her open-minded and composed attitude dispelled his lingering grief, clearing his mind in an instant.
Though she was the one who would bear the pain of losing her spouse, she was the one comforting him. Xiao Huayong wrapped his arms around Shen Xihe, casting aside his futile, chaotic emotions. Calm and gentle, he held her softly: "Shall we leave it to fate's arrangement?"
"Fate's arrangement?" Shen Xihe was puzzled.
"A month—it's not easy for me to impregnate you. This month, let's not take any precautions. Let's see if fate grants us a child. If not, in two months, we'll announce that you are three months pregnant." Xiao Huayong had compromised.
Delaying his departure by a month or two would not significantly impact him. He still hoped to accompany her during her most difficult and vulnerable moments, to be by her side one last time.
Shen Xihe remained silent for a long time, so long that Xiao Huayong's heart grew anxious. Finally, she softly replied, "Alright."She wanted to be willful just once, but not reckless—after all, she carried more than just Xiao Huayong's affection for her.
Let fate decide.
If destined, like Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai, a single night of passion could lead to pregnancy; if not, some couples might marry for a lifetime yet remain childless.
Shen Xihe sent Zhenzhu to seek out Xie Yunhuai. With Old Man with White Hair's shared notes and their half-sibling-like bond as fellow disciples, Xie Yunhuai was the one who understood the Unique Poison in Xiao Huayong's body best. If she wished to conceive, she needed to know whether his condition could be regulated or if there was a way to control the Unique Poison to increase the possibility.
Xie Yunhuai held nothing back, sharing every feasible method he could think of, every approach he believed useful, with Zhenzhu, who returned and relayed it all to Shen Xihe.
Meticulously, from clothing, food, lodging, to daily routines, Shen Xihe followed Xie Yunhuai's instructions to the letter and strictly demanded Xiao Huayong's cooperation.
A few days passed like this when Sui Axi reported: "Your Highness, the person you requested has been modified, but..."Shen Xihe, still languid from being fiercely tossed around by Xiao Huayong the previous night, reclined half-against the beauty couch, gazing lazily at the pond." It took her a moment to process Sui Axi's words. After her mind caught up, she straightened abruptly. "But what?"
"But Worldly Son Bu's voice is too distinctive. I've consulted and trained with the ventriloquist master sent by the Crown Prince, but this person simply has no talent for it..." Sui Axi sounded deeply troubled.
Unlike Lu Bing, the first bone-restructured person sent to Xiao Changfeng—a wandering martial artist who rarely encountered past acquaintances—Bu Shulin had grown up in the capital. Though Sui Axi had successfully restructured the person's bones, the voice remained an insurmountable obstacle. One spoken word would give them away.
"Bring the person to me first..." Shen Xihe ordered, then paused and turned to Biyu. "Invite Worldly Son Bu as well."
Since learning that Cui Jinbai's poison had been cured, Bu Shulin had not set foot in the Cui residence, unable to face him. She still hadn't told Cui Jinbai about her pregnancy. Meanwhile, Cui Jinbai, still recuperating with half his arm unresponsive, had not left the Cui residence.
He had sent his personal servant to find Bu Shulin several times, but she always turned him away.
These past few days, Bu Shulin had been wavering indecisively, her mind in a haze. When Biyu came to summon her, she immediately entered the palace.
Sui Axi's person arrived first before Shen Xihe, so when Bu Shulin stepped into the room, she froze rigidly at the doorway.
The person before her—dressed identically, with the same figure and face—stunned her for a long moment. Then she swept over like a whirlwind, pinching and touching the person to confirm it wasn't a disguise. Astonished, she exclaimed, "Youyou, where did you find this? Does my father have an illegitimate child? Or did my mother give birth to twins back then... But no, if that were the case, the male infant should have been kept..."
At this point, completely forgetting her own female identity, Bu Shulin actually reached toward the person's crotch to verify their gender, startling them into a rapid retreat and bow. "Young Master..."
"A Lin!" Shen Xihe couldn't bear to watch any longer and sharply rebuked her.Bu Shulin finally snapped back to reality, offering Shen Xihe an awkward smile. She had simply grown too accustomed to mingling with Ding Zhi and his crowd, momentarily forgetting proper decorum.
Yet as she gazed upon this person who looked exactly like her, having heard his voice, her earlier astonishment faded—their voices were entirely different. For your convenience in future readings, you can click the "Bookmark" below to save your progress (Chapter 697: Let Fate Decide) and find it readily upon reopening your bookshelf!
If you enjoy "When My Flower Blooms, All Others Wither," please recommend this book to your friends (via QQ, blog, WeChat, etc.). Thank you for your support!!
OpenNovel