NOVEL NEXT Chapter 67
Liang Jue’s words deeply shook Shen Meng. She had always had conflicting feelings towards Liang Jue. After all, if it were about compensation, she should compensate the Liang Jue from the previous life who had been cheated of money. But what if the Liang Jue of this life also shared those memories with him?
Even though she had lived two lives, suddenly learning such a secret left Shen Meng unable to remain calm. She asked her husband, “How much do you remember about those things?”
Her question was somewhat ambiguous, as Liang Jue’s casual remark didn’t necessarily mean he truly remembered those things.
Liang Jue replied, “After Ping An was born, I had intermittent dreams. I can’t remember the small details clearly, but when Ping An wasn’t born, you wrote me a divorce letter and remarried the third prince. At that time, you sought refuge with Her Third Highness…”
He recounted the fragmented events he could recall. Some unimportant things were quite vague in his dreams, but some crucial events, such as what Shen Meng wrote in the divorce letter, the day he left the Shen family, and the day Shen Meng married Xue Ning, he remembered quite clearly.
After listening to him for almost half an hour, until he recounted how he died in the previous life, Shen Meng finally spoke up, “That’s enough, it’s more than enough.”
There was no need for further elaboration. Liang Jue remembered what he should remember. In the previous life, she died, lingering by his side as a ghost.
Now she finally had the chance to ask the question she had been longing to ask: “In the previous life, did you resent me?”
Liang Jue was silent for a moment before replying, “To say I didn’t resent you would be too false. When we lost our child, you wrote a divorce letter and remarried Xue Ning. I resented you then. But you were my choice, and I have no regrets.”
He didn’t just resent; he even hated her at the time, wishing he could drag Shen Meng to death with him so she wouldn’t need to find someone else. But it was just wishful thinking. Where could he bring himself to do anything to the heartless woman? Especially after hearing that Shen Meng had died, all that hatred in his heart had long disappeared, leaving only memories of the good in this heartless person.
As for this life, he didn’t have those memories. Shen Meng had never mistreated him, so he just treated it as a dream.
There was only one thing, whether in the previous life or in this life, Xue Ning remained the biggest variable. In the previous life, Shen Meng remarried for power, but in this life, Xue Ning came with the imperial jade seal.
Just now, Shen Meng herself said that Xue Ning was ruthless towards Meng Zhai, and Meng Zhai is just a mere grassroots leader among many forces, not the most promising. What right does Xue Ning have to choose Meng Zhai, especially considering Shen Meng’s presence here?
Compared to the wealth they offered to Meng Zhai and Shen Meng’s strategizing, although precious to Meng Zhai, they were not as irreplaceable as the imperial jade seal.
After all, with the imperial seal, it’s like having legitimacy. Moreover, if Xue Ning uses this as an exchange, Meng Zhai would not allow Shen Meng to refuse.
With this in mind, Liang Jue stared at Shen Meng intently and asked, “If he asks you to choose, would you choose him?”
If Xue Ning did this, Shen Meng would undoubtedly have to choose between him and wealth and power. After all, no ruler can tolerate insubordination from their subordinates.
Shen Meng remained silent for a moment, then asked him, “Do you want to hear the truth, or do you want to hear a lie?”
“Start with a lie,” Liang Jue said, clearly nervous despite having asked the question already. His lips were dry, and after pursing them a few times, he managed to say, “The lie is, I would choose you without hesitation.” Seeing Liang Jue’s eyes dimmed, Shen Meng continued, “The truth is, I don’t know whom I would choose. I’m pretty sure Xue Ning wouldn’t exchange for this using the imperial jade seal, so there’s no need to face such a choice. But if I were to face that choice, I don’t know what I would do.”
She tried to force a smile, but it seemed tinged with resignation. “So, do you regret it now? After all, you chose a wife who has always been so selfish.”
Liang Jue’s expression relaxed, his eyes regained their brightness. He shook his head, “I’m glad. I’m glad your honest answer is ‘I don’t know’ rather than outright denying me.”
If Shen Meng had said she would definitely choose him and their child, he would have been saddened by her unwillingness to tell the truth. Even he would be swayed by temptation, let alone Shen Meng, who had never placed much importance on sentimental attachments.
For Shen Meng to say such words showed that she cared about him. It sounded sad, but whoever loves more always ends up at a disadvantage in a relationship.
Shen Meng didn’t expect him to say such words. She was naturally less sentimental and couldn’t place as much importance on emotions as Liang Jue did.
After carefully considering her words, she said, “The crafty rabbit has three burrows. Meng Zhai is a good lord, but people’s hearts can change. I never thought of climbing to the highest position, just hoping to leave a mark in history.”
She promised, “More than these, I know you prefer the peaceful days in the countryside. Although it’s a bit early to say this now, I promise that when I’m ennobled and appointed, it will be time for you and me to retire together.”