It was he who killed his mother!
The scholar buried his face in his hands, tears dripping through his fingers, the sound of his weeping tinged with regret, touching those beside him.
Lu Tong raised his head, looking at the distant sky.
Commoners are always like this, when something happens, they blame themselves, regret, and always search for the cause within. They wish they could take on all the faults in the world upon themselves.
Were his father and mother the same?
When they heard of Lu Rou's death, of Lu Qian being imprisoned, did they too toss and turn with self-blame for not protecting their children, like Wu Youcai, who couldn't let go? Did they feel heart-wrenching pain? Did they cry?
Flames licked the yellow paper, illuminating the dim spirit hall.
Lu Tong lowered her gaze to the sobbing man, and after a long while, she said, "Wu Youcai, it's been twelve years since your first time stepping into the examination hall at eighteen."
