Chapter 273: Truth of the Past

"Master!"

Ye Shiyuan cried out in alarm.

Before Bai He could make a move, the horrifying creature had already died by Ye Shiyuan’s hand.

It transformed into a cloud of black smoke and vanished without a trace.

What remained on the ground was indeed a corpse.

Nothing but a skeleton was left behind.

The bones were covered with the distinctive markings unique to the ghost race, proving that this individual had been dead for a very, very long time.

"No..."

Princess Guantao let out a cry of anguish and unwillingness.

At the same time, all those who had previously been under her control instantly regained their senses.

Ye Shiyuan naturally wrapped an arm around Bai He’s waist.

"Master, are you alright?"

"It’s only a minor aberration. I could have handled it myself. Why were you in such a hurry to come over?"

Ye Shiyuan had simply seen the situation and instinctively rushed over.

He had not thought about it any further than that.

The Bai He in his mind could be a little timid at times, yet he was also incredibly brave.

Even if he had not rushed over, nothing would probably have happened to him.

"I was too anxious."

Bai He smiled at Ye Shiyuan.

"It’s just a small matter. It’s fine."

Meanwhile, Princess Guantao had collapsed to her knees on the ground.

Her face seemed to have aged several years in an instant.

The years of effort and dedication she had invested had been destroyed by Ye Shiyuan in a single moment.

The hatred in her heart immediately multiplied several times over.

"Guards! Kill him! Kill him right now!"

However, the people who had regained their senses now possessed their own independent thoughts once more.

Looking at Princess Guantao, who appeared almost insane, they found themselves caught in a dilemma.

Should they obey her order or not?

"Stop."

Ye Yuan walked in through the entrance.

"Everyone leave. Without my permission, no one is allowed to speak of what happened here. If anyone lets this matter become known, they will be executed immediately."

"Yes."

The servants hurriedly withdrew as quickly as possible.

As for whether they would dare speak about it afterward, and whether anyone would believe them if they did, that was another matter entirely.

"Madam."

Ye Yuan walked over to Princess Guantao and crouched beside her.

Princess Guantao grabbed hold of his clothing and shouted, "Husband, kill this bastard! Kill this little wretch! Kill him!"

"Madam, so many years have already passed. Let it go."

"Let it go? How can I let it go?"

Princess Guantao’s expression twisted with hatred.

"That wretched woman killed my child. She killed my child! I want her dead! No, even after she died, I still would not let her go. I wanted her to die without a burial place. I wanted her to know no peace even after death."

Ye Shiyuan’s hands tightened into fists.

At that moment, the bottle hanging from his waist suddenly moved.

Ye Shiyuan opened it.

Yue Yueying’s spirit soul flew out from within.

Both Ye Yuan and Princess Guantao looked over.

Especially Ye Yuan.

He could not believe that his lawful wife, the woman he had once married, was now standing before him alive in spirit form.

No, she was not truly alive.

In fact, she appeared faint and ethereal, as though she could disappear at any moment.

"A’Ying..."

"Husband. Princess."

"You wretched woman! If you have any courage at all, then stop running and give my child his life back!"

Yue Yueying’s eyes darkened slightly.

"What happened back then was indeed my fault."

She lowered her gaze.

"You took my husband away. You took the position that belonged to me. In a moment of weakness and resentment, I lost my way and committed a terrible mistake."

The events of those years had always been far more complicated than they appeared on the surface.

Princess Guantao had fallen in love with Ye Yuan.

Using her status and influence, she struck a deal with him and married him.

At the same time, she protected him and safeguarded his entire family.

But for Yue Yueying, the lawful wife, how could she possibly endure such humiliation?

When Princess Guantao became pregnant, she...

The memories of those events resurfaced in her mind once again.

Yue Yueying deeply regretted what she had done in the past.

She had simply been unwilling to accept it.

Unwilling to accept everything Princess Guantao had taken from her.

And because of one impulsive decision she made back then, consequences had been created that could never be erased.

Perhaps this was what people meant by karma and retribution.

"Mother..."

Ye Shiyuan did not remember much about what had happened when he was young.

He had never known that such a story existed behind everything.

"Mother is a sinner."

Yue Yueying’s expression was full of guilt.

"Mother once committed such a vicious act as well. Shiyuan, let the grudges of our generation end here."

Ye Shiyuan’s expression became complicated.

Then he heard Yue Yueying continue speaking.

"Besides, you have already entered the path of cultivation. I do not want you to ruin everything because of me."

She looked at him gently.

"Everything I suffered was because of that child. It was I who harmed that child."

Ye Shiyuan did not know what to say.

When it came to this matter, who could truly determine who was completely innocent and who was entirely guilty?

Ye Yuan had been forced to agree to Princess Guantao’s conditions for the sake of his family, while his own mother, unable to accept the situation, had caused the death of Princess Guantao’s unborn child. Then, in order to avenge that child, Princess Guantao had gone on to commit everything that followed.

Yet even after hearing Yue Yueying’s words, Princess Guantao still bared her teeth and claws in rage.

If Ye Yuan had not been holding her back, she would have already lunged at Yue Yueying.

"Let go of me! I’m going to strangle her!"

"She is already dead."