The little sister raised 10,000 hands to support her and sent her out the door happily.

They walked together and walked ten meters out of the door. They asked Xiang Du, "Are you not feeling well today..."

"No, don't talk." Ke Yi pulled up his hood, "Is it okay to just leave like this?"

"Can."

Xiang Du didn't know why, so he walked slowly forward with Ke Yi. There were no people on the street, and the buildings on both sides were full of residents talking about them.

Passing by a two-story house, the man and woman inside were talking.

"I remember that the last list of the dead was announced with hundreds of people in it. Last year and the year before last, it added up to more than 5,000 people."

"Less than five thousand."

"Only 300 people came back. What went wrong? Didn't more than 100,000 people be sent out? Where did the rest go?"

"I don't know. It's better not to talk about this. It's scary to think about it."

Away from this house, they moved forward, and the next place was relatively empty. It was a small town residence of a nobleman. Although there was no courtyard, it was still luxurious, and there were people talking inside.

"Where did your Majesty stay today? In the valley, right?"

"Yes, sir, at the home of the First Class Marquis."

"I'm so envious. His family is really lucky."

"Yes, sir."

"what's on your mind?"

"Nothing, sir, I need to take a few days off."

"Ask for leave? What happened?"

"I'm going to the military camp. My son's comrades are back alive. I want to ask... just understand."

"Well, I understand. I will write a letter to my friends in the military camp. You can just take the letter and go."

“Thank you very much.”

The noble families who governed the city were also left behind, and their walking speed slowed down a lot.

A little further on, there was a civilian's residence, and there was a faint cry inside.

"Lao Pan's son has not come back and has not been notified of his death in action. I thought that this time when the army returned to China, the father and son would be reunited. It is really pitiful. It is really not easy for Lao Pan to pull this single seedling to grow up by himself."

"Yes, it's fine now. There's only one person left. What will he do in this life?"

"I went to congratulate him a few days ago. Before leaving today, Lao Pan also bought a large amount of ingredients. I don't know what happened to this poor man."

"How about going to see him?"

"Forget it, it's better not to go."

Xiang Du somewhat understood the reason why Ke Yi wanted to go on quietly. He felt very uncomfortable, especially when he heard the sobbing in these families.

After passing a few houses with no sound, they passed a residence where dishes were smashed and tables smashed, and they didn't know how furious the people inside were.

Xiang Du noticed a certain simple house. There was a woman outside the house. The woman was holding a wine bottle in her hand. Sometimes she looked up with tears in her eyes, and sometimes she buried her head in her knees.

Xiang Du knew this woman. She was newly married before he went to the royal capital.

When I passed the woman's place, I heard the sound of children inside the door.

"Mom, I'm hungry."

There is no greater tragedy in the world than this.

But she also covered her hood with all her strength, hiding her sadness.

After walking a little further, I saw many houses with dark lights, filled with pain and despair, irritability and abuse, wailing and self-blame.

Everyone's emotions can no longer prove that the small town has been shrouded in complete sadness.

After hope disappears, what remains in reality is a long-lasting sadness.

How many people have been indifferent to war, how many people have been full of enthusiasm for reunion, and how many people can't raise their heads in the face of heavy facts.

Xiang Du's heart, which was completely untouched by hundreds of thousands of lives, began to throb at this moment.

He didn't feel sentimental, but he could feel it, but he was also suffering from incomparable pain.

They listened to the joys and sorrows of each family, and unknowingly arrived at the river. The river water was very cold in this season, but the river water was different today. Every paper boat flowing on it exuded warmth.

Those paper boats were folded by people in the small town on their own initiative. Each paper boat has a small candle.

Candlelight forms a river of destruction.

Each paper boat symbolizes the wishes of the living for the deceased.

Xiang Du felt that this devastated river was beautiful and romantic, and he felt a sense of comfort.

When the paper boats covered half of the river, someone took the lead in singing hymns. The singing was weak at first, but as more and more people joined in, the hymns became louder and louder.

Ke Yi was completely opposite to Xiang Du's feelings. Ke Yi completely covered himself with his hood, fell down on the railing that was as cold as the river water, and sobbed in pain.

In her mouth, she choked with sobs and sang the same hymn that the mourners here were singing.

Xiang Du knew it more or less and sang along.

Singing has an invisible power that can ignore any language and thinking gaps and closely connect people's emotions. After hearing the singing, some citizens of the small town opened their windows and some walked out of their homes.

The whole city came together to remember the deceased.

When the singing finally stopped, it seemed as if he had fallen asleep, and all he could hear was his even breathing.

Xiang Du also thought that she had fallen asleep, but he never thought about it. He held on to the railing and said, "Xiang Du, I never thought that one day, human life would be so cheap."

"this……"

"Just listen to me, okay?"

"Um."

"During this time with your family, I felt an unprecedented warmth. The family plays with each other, encourages each other, and understands each other. This kind of time is really precious.

I thought a lot and imagined about my future life, whether I would have such a beautiful family. It doesn't matter if it's noisy or there are some conflicts. As long as the family stays together, that's enough.

This is a sin. I am a maid and have to serve the gods all my life. This kind of thinking is rebellious. However, I also want to embrace family affection.

But today, I truly understand that there are too many sufferings in the world. As you once told me, you can only see the sufferings in the world when you step out of the church.

My thoughts are so messed up. There is a decision that has been taking root in my heart and it has reached the point where it is unavoidable.

I'm sorry, Xiang Du, I can't face my true feelings, and I can't answer your request. I want to be alone, can you leave first?"

Xiang Du gently put his hand on Ke Yi's back, but Ke Yi avoided it.

"I can't leave you here alone, it's too unsafe."

"It's okay. People here are very kind. I beg you, give me some space."

"Oh well."

"grateful."

Xiang Du really left Ke Yi by the river, and he returned home by mistake, but his mind was already a mess.

Just when I opened the door, my little sister suddenly appeared behind the door and asked excitedly: "How is it? How is it? What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything." Xiang Du walked upstairs, "Why are you so happy?"

"You're the only one who came back?"

"She wants to be alone."

"That means there is hope?"

"What?"

Xiang Du stopped, turned around suddenly, and looked at his little sister with his eyes: "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Your confession! Didn't you talk about this?"

"You are overthinking, we are just going out for a walk." Xiang Du walked upstairs, "And I said, she is a maid and cannot get married."

"Handmaids are human beings too. They must have emotions. I know you must like this beautiful woman. I'm afraid you won't be able to take this step, so I've written a love letter for you."

The younger sister happily showed off her achievements, but after hearing these words, Xiang Du was stunned. He rushed back quickly and asked eagerly: "When did you do it?"

"Just this afternoon, before that woman came, I wrote a love letter to the beautiful lady in advance because I was not afraid that you two would end the negotiation. She specially asked you to go out for a walk, which shows that you still have hope. You don't need to thank me."

"you……"

Xiang Dufan suddenly woke up and remembered the last words Ke Yi said. She could not answer her request.

At this moment, Xiang Du was surrounded by darkness. He wanted to reach out to grab a life-saving straw, but all he could grab was air.

He pushed open the door desperately and rushed to the river like crazy.

But when he arrived at the river, he couldn't find Ke Yi at all, so he searched along the river for two hours, but he couldn't even see the shadow of Ke Yi.

There is really nothing here except sadness from the whole town.

Xiang Du felt that the whole world was spinning. He continued to look for it while feeling dizzy. When the sun rose the next day, he dragged his tired body back home.

Mr. Bu stood in front of his house with two bodyguards. Xiang Du's family was blocked inside the house, looking at Mr. Bu outside the door in fear.
Chapter completed!