97: Chapter 97 Living Better Than You: The General Male Supporting Character 15

[How can this be?]

[This male lead is an idiot!]

[Not believing his wife but believing an outsider, that's enough to sentence him to death!]

[He didn't really believe the outsider; he didn't conclude that Nan Li pushed her.]

[But it is a fact that he didn't believe Nan Li.]

[I think it's still the victim's filter affecting him.]

[Please, once he apologizes, Nan Li will also be a victim who was framed, okay?]

[Gentlemen, it doesn't matter anymore. I think after this, it's impossible for the male and female leads to develop real feelings.]

While the barrage was discussing this, Meng Zhu leaned into Nan Jin's ear.

"Does my wife wish to save her?"

Nan Jin was stunned. She found his words unbelievable, but she did not refute him immediately.

She looked at Nan Li, her gaze complex.

Then, she turned to look at Meng Zhu, her eyes filled with inquiry.

"Is my wife curious about how I knew you wanted to save her?"

Nan Jin nodded subconsciously, then snapped back to her senses, as if waking from a dream.

"Who said I wanted to save her? She deserves it!"

Meng Zhu tightened his grip on Nan Jin's hand.

"I understand my wife better than anyone; you were never a bad person to begin with."

Nan Jin fell silent.

Meng Zhu thought to himself, "As I expected."

With his understanding of Nan Jin from the plot of two lifetimes, especially having analyzed her inner thoughts before.

Meng Zhu now had ninety percent certainty regarding Nan Jin's thoughts.

In truth, the person Nan Jin had always hated was Prime Minister Nan Ling.

She hated him for failing her mother, and she also hated his favoritism over the years.

As for Nan Li, that was mostly an obsession.

In the previous life, there was only one reason why Nan Jin killed Nan Li.

It was that very sentence she said herself.

"Since she is living better than me, then I can only make her die before me!"

That's right, this was the reason Nan Jin killed Nan Li in the previous life.

Conversely, if Nan Jin were living better than Nan Li, then Nan Jin could actually tolerate Nan Li all along.

Regarding this incident, Meng Zhu guessed many things from Nan Jin's perpetually stiff expression.

For instance, in the previous life, when Nan Jin faced this situation, she must have hated Li Ruolan.

Therefore, in this life, she was watching the show, but it was not impossible that she hoped Nan Li, who was favored by others, could defeat Li Ruolan, and also vent some of the anger for the Nan Jin of the previous life.

Meng Zhu nudged Nan Jin, but said nothing more.

He didn't do anything else either.

He just wanted to ensure Nan Jin would not get lost in hatred.

Many people who have avenged their deep blood feuds often commit suicide, or retreat into the mountains and forests, never to enter the world again.

Cases like this, to put it bluntly, mean their hearts were occupied by hatred, and they were lost in that hatred.

Once their great revenge is fulfilled, they lose the meaning of living, or even lose their humanity entirely, becoming madmen of vengeance who can no longer live a normal life.

Just at this moment, Prince Yu finally reacted, realizing the change in Nan Li's attitude.

He hurriedly stood up, scrambling to make amends.

"Li'er, I didn't say you pushed Ruolan; I just didn't want the matter to blow up."

"Ruolan was frightened and was just spouting nonsense earlier; I just wanted you to soothe her first."

Unfortunately, upon hearing these words, Nan Li's expression remained completely unmoved.

Instead, it was Li Ruolan who didn't accept it.

"Cousin, you... how could you say that? I didn't frame her!"

"Enough, all of you, be silent!"

The Empress approached gracefully, surrounded by palace attendants. Although that shout of "be silent" was not loud, it carried the majesty of one who has long held a high position, instantly suppressing all sounds.

"The Flower Appreciation Banquet was originally a place for me to invite everyone to enjoy the scenery and converse. Now that it has turned into this, what kind of decorum is this?"

The Empress's phoenix eyes swept coldly over the crowd.

"The granddaughter of the Prince of Zhenbei falling into the water is by no means a small matter, but the reputation of an imperial daughter-in-law must also not be compromised."

The Empress smoothed her sleeves, her voice devoid of sorrow or joy.

"I will personally report this matter to His Majesty and request the Grand Court of Justice to intervene and investigate. Before the truth comes to light, the Grand Court of Justice will absolutely not listen to the one-sided words of any party."

"Likewise, no rumors regarding today's events are permitted to spread."

Once these words were spoken, everyone present shuddered.

"We obey the Empress's decree!"

"That is all. Miss Li is still shaken; go to the side hall and change into clean clothes first, lest she catch a cold."

The Empress waved her hand, clearly having lost any interest in continuing.

"Today's Flower Appreciation Banquet ends here; everyone may disperse."

The carriage on the return journey rolled over the bluestone road, making a dull rumbling sound.

The young masters and noble daughters of various families had arrived in high spirits, only to return in disappointment.

Yet they had no idea how many unknown secrets lay behind this flower banquet.

The barrage audience knew a lot, but they also had more doubts.

[The plot has gone completely off the rails, and didn't the previous scene flashback indicate that Meng Zhu awakened his memories of the previous life? Why can't I understand this anymore?]

[Yes, yes, yes, why does he have no reaction at all to the female lead being wronged, and is still holding Nan Jin?]

Watching the two, Meng Zhu and Nan Jin, snuggled together in the carriage, the barrage could not understand.

[Didn't he use a pebble to save Nan Li earlier? Maybe this is a disguise now?]

[That's not important. I want to know why Meng Zhu suddenly targeted Prince Jing. More than half of the army supports Prince Jing; isn't Meng Zhu afraid?]

[I have a bad feeling. In this kind of ancient setting, Meng Zhu isn't thinking about romance, is he? Is he starting to think about rebelling?]

[It's possible. Look at that; it was clearly cold-blooded, okay? Even if she was his original wife in the previous life, he just watched her get framed like that?]

[It's over. Now that you mention it, Meng Zhu's character design is going to collapse.]

[Where did these haters come from? Making conclusions without finishing the story?]

Watching these barrages, some confused and some indignant, Meng Zhu did not care at all.

Did Nan Li need him to save her?

She was the film's female lead; minor plot points could not hurt her at all.

Moreover, the current situation was orchestrated by Meng Zhu himself.

Since he let Prince Yu save Li Ruolan, then as a price, it was inevitable that Prince Yu and Nan Li would become estranged.

And Meng Zhu had his own matters. He had been waiting for this day, not to put on a good show, and not for Nan Li.

What he was waiting for was precisely those memories of the previous life that had just awakened.

After reading the barrage, Meng Zhu stroked Nan Jin, who was resting against him.

He then closed his eyes and began to recall every detail of his previous life.

A massive amount of memories flashed by like film reels.

Among them, there were naturally memories concerning Nan Li.

But the film world was always a world with complete logic.

In the memories of the previous life, there were also changes in the imperial court, the rotation of officials, various major and minor events that occurred over five years, as well as friends to be made in the future, and big scandals that would explode.

Even the factional strife between Prince Liang and Prince Jing, as well as the various trump cards they eventually revealed.

These were all precious pieces of intelligence that could not be bought.

Following this, Meng Zhu recalled his earlier plans and began to review and deduce, constantly perfecting them.

He had placed many chess pieces early on, but only until this moment did he truly sit at the chessboard.

"Husband."

A soft murmur came from his side; Nan Jin gently tugged on his sleeve.

Meng Zhu opened his eyes; the calculation in his eyes met those clear eyes and instantly dissipated completely.

"What is it?"

He held her tighter, his warm palm stroking her back rhythmically.

Nan Jin thought for a moment, then decided to speak her mind.

"Earlier in the garden, your expression was a bit off; what happened?"

Nan Jin had been shocked at the time and was slightly dazed.

But this did not mean she hadn't noticed Meng Zhu's abnormality.

There is always an indescribable connection between lovers.

Meng Zhu looked down at her.

He knew that the abnormality Nan Jin noticed was likely the matter of him using his internal energy to suppress Prince Jing.

Or perhaps she had also slightly sensed his recovery of memories from the previous life.

But to the surprise of the barrage audience, of these two things, Meng Zhu chose to conceal the matter regarding Prince Jing.

He sighed and pinched Nan Jin's cheek.

"Wife, I just learned that I owe a huge favor, and I am afraid that in the future, we, as husband and wife, will need to repay it together!"