4362

Chapter 4362: 5.0114 Grand Aspirations

"When I came in just now, I heard Qiaoqiao had some conflict with the Mermaid Clan. Where are they now?"

"Mother, it's a long story. Let's talk as we go."

Qing Hongse stood outside the crowd, her mouth slightly agape, watching Qing Xuexue and her mother walk away together, momentarily frozen.

He Luan and the others naturally followed the Queen, leaving her to stand there blankly for a while before she slowly followed, utterly dejected.

So, Mother truly didn't care for her. Wasn't this something she already knew?

Why did she still feel a little sad?

"Mother, are we truly going to live in Wangchuan?" Qing Xuexue supported the Queen's left hand, tilting her head to look at her.

If they were to live under someone else's roof for a long time, it wouldn't be a pleasant feeling.

Qing Ye smiled at her, "Isn't the purpose of this trip to the Three States to establish the Heaven's Fury battle group?"

"Mother wants to join?"

"Li Sha Island should be a good choice." Qing Ye gently patted her daughter's hand. "Let's take it one step at a time and see."

Qiao Mu pushed open a long window, looking up at the silver moonlight cascading down from the sky.

A faint silver frost covered the windowpanes.

A soft moonlight illuminated the courtyard.

A stuffy breeze blew across her face, rustling a strand of hair by her temple.

Mo Lian walked slowly to her side, looking down at a small red wooden box on the table.

Not long ago, the Mermaid Clan had sent over her mother's few belongings.

Her mother, for so many years, only had this small box of personal items.

A few pieces of jewelry, a few personal effects.

And a short knife, inlaid with a row of blue gems, looking rather unrefined.

It was quite ugly, yet the scabbard's hilt had long been worn smooth from touch, indicating the knife was much beloved by its owner.

Qiao Mu pulled it out. The blade, not having been used for so many years, no longer shone brightly.

The dull edge even had a small chip in it.

"So ugly," Qiao Mu murmured, her small hand tracing the blade inch by inch, pausing for a moment.

"Fusheng."

"What?" Mo Lian was slightly startled, looking down at his wife's small hand.

"Fusheng." Qiao Mu touched the very faded inscription on the knife. "Fusheng."

"Fusheng?" Mo Lian muttered softly.

"Life is like a dream, and when the dream awakes, it's all empty." Qiao Mu returned the dull knife to its sheath, gripping it tightly in her hand.

"My Qiaoqiao," Mo Lian reached out and hugged her slender waist, sighing softly, "Tomorrow, we'll go back. Don't worry about these matters anymore."

Qiao Mu lifted her head from his embrace, her eyes serious as she looked at him. After a long moment, she shook her head.

Mo Lian raised his handsome eyebrow slightly.

"It's not for anything else," Qiao Mu reached out and covered his heart, murmuring softly, "It's for you, for my parents and siblings, for our friends. I hope the Three States are stable, the dynasty long-lasting, the world peaceful, and the times prosperous. I don't want to see this world turn into..."

...a living hell, like in her previous life.

Having seen the vibrant, flourishing world, who would willingly experience a desolate world of ruins and broken tiles again?

"We don't fight for others, only for our future generations, and the well-being of our descendants."

Mo Lian's eyes flickered. He cupped her small face in his hands, smiling as he nodded, "Good, my Qiaoqiao is so good. Everything... will surely be as you wish."

"What do you think 'Fusheng' means?" Qiao Mu asked softly, resting her head on his chest.

Her mother treasured that broken short knife; it couldn't be meaningless.

Fusheng, Fusheng...

What is Fusheng?