met free Chapter 60: Full Peach's Counterattack, Koi God's Path to Immortality
Chapter 60: Full Peach's Counterattack, Koi God's Path to Immortality
Chapter Sixty: Nine Lifetimes of Tragic Fate: Man Tao's Counterattack and the Divine Path of the Koi God
In the capital, Man Tao, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, was a well-known obedient girl, her every move strictly bound by rules and etiquette. Every day, just as dawn broke, her personal maid, Xiao Lian, would "drag" her out of bed like a little alarm clock.
"My dear young lady, the sun is already high in the sky! There's an important etiquette class today, you can't be late!" Xiaolian shouted at the top of her lungs as she quickly found clothes for Mantao.
Man Tao burrowed her head under the covers, muttering, "Let me sleep a little longer, I haven't finished my game of sleep yet." But there was nothing she could do; she couldn't fight city hall. Reluctantly, she sat up, still sleepy-eyed, and let Xiao Lian do as she pleased. Man Tao thought to herself, "Every day is more tiring than fighting a war. Can't I sleep a little longer? But what can I do? I'm the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion; I can't let the family's reputation be ruined." At this moment, she was like a wind-up puppet, mechanically following the program set by her family.
In etiquette class, Mantao studied with utmost seriousness, mastering every gesture perfectly. When she bowed, she was as graceful as a butterfly in flight. The teacher watched from the side, nodding in approval and praising, "Mantao, your etiquette is truly superb. You will surely be a model of elegance for young ladies in the capital."
Man Tao's lips curled up slightly, revealing a standard smile, but in her heart she thought, "Hmph, this is a piece of cake. With my talent, learning these things is a piece of cake. But I can't be arrogant. I still have to work hard to maintain the family's good reputation."
Who would have thought that this seemingly peaceful life, like a house made of paper, could collapse at any moment?
In order to curry favor with the prime minister and marry the prime minister's sister, the Duke of Zhenguo actually wanted to kick out his wife and all his legitimate children, and even had murderous intentions.
"Father, have you been blinded by greed? Mother, my brother, and my sister are your own flesh and blood! How could you do such a thing that is worse than that of a pig or a dog!" Man Tao's face turned red with anger, her eyes wide like copper bells. She rushed straight to the Duke of Zhenguo, put her hands on her hips, and questioned him loudly.
The Duke of Zhenguo glared at her and roared like an angry lion, "What do you know! This is for the future of the family. You little brat, stop meddling in other people's business, behave yourself, and don't ruin my plans!"
Upon hearing this, Man Tao was furious, her anger flaring up instantly: "You scumbag father! You always seemed so respectable, but I never imagined you were such a heartless bastard. Since you're so ruthless, don't blame me for being ruthless. Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
From then on, Mantao remained outwardly the gentle and quiet lady from a respectable family, but secretly she turned into a "vengeful goddess."
She first seized the opportunity to deliberately cry in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's new lover, saying how cruel the Duke of Zhenguo was to his mother, brothers, and sisters. This made the new lover feel overwhelmed with sympathy and also made her dissatisfied with the Duke of Zhenguo.
The Duke of Zhenguo was still kept in the dark, thinking that Mantao was an easy target. Once, the Duke of Zhenguo proudly boasted to Mantao about his upcoming wedding. Mantao sneered inwardly, "Keep showing off. Once I've gathered all the evidence, you'll be crying."
But she put on a well-behaved expression and said insincerely, "Congratulations, Father. It seems our family is going to rise to prominence in the future."
Finally, Mantao seized the opportunity and presented the emperor with all the evidence of the Duke of Zhenguo's embezzlement, bribery, and collusion with foreign enemies.
Upon reading it, the emperor was furious and immediately ordered a thorough investigation. The Duke of Zhenguo was now in a panic, pacing anxiously around his residence like an ant on a hot pan.
When the officials arrived, the Duke of Zhenguo still tried to argue, but the evidence rendered him speechless, and he could only slink away in disgrace. The once powerful Duke of Zhenguo was now like a defeated rooster, slumped on the ground, his eyes filled with despair.
Man Tao thought she could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but unexpectedly, other members of the family started fighting for power and causing a huge commotion.
The uncles and aunts quarreled and fought every day in the mansion over the inheritance; the cousins were so eager to tear each other apart for even the smallest gain.
Looking at the chaotic situation, Man Tao felt extremely distressed, but she still gritted her teeth and said, "This is the legacy left by our ancestors. I will risk my life to prevent it from being destroyed by these people!"
Her younger sister, Manying, sneered from the side, "Sister, what are you working so hard for? You might as well find a good family to marry into and save yourself the trouble of worrying about this."
Man Tao rolled her eyes at her and said, "What do you know? This is our home, and I want to protect it, unlike some people who only know how to sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor, being selfish and self-serving."
Mantao ran around everywhere, comforting the elders in the clan and dealing with outside business partners, busy as a spinning top. But the family members still distrusted and schemed against each other, and Mantao's efforts were like punching cotton, without any results.
Finally, on a stormy night, Man Tao collapsed at the table where she was handling family affairs. This resilient woman passed away just like that.
As time flows by, memories resurface, and in those memories, in the distant, fantastical realm of gods, Cheng Ruyi sits serenely, enjoying celestial fruits while leisurely observing the bustling affairs of the mortal world. She is none other than the renowned Koi Goddess, possessing extraordinary abilities.
With just a thought, she can bestow endless good fortune and wealth upon good people; she is practically a walking "fortune-making machine." She can also make her words come true, and whatever she says becomes law. Once she utters those words, everything in the world has to obey her. Even more amazing is that she can foresee the future. The past, present, and future are all clearly visible to her, like an open book.
"Your Majesty, trouble has broken out again in the mortal realm. Many kind people are suffering. Please think of a way to save them!" The celestial attendant rushed in, reporting anxiously.
Cheng Ruyi raised an eyebrow and said confidently, "Watch me, I'll solve their problem." With that, she waved her long sleeves, and her body shimmered with multicolored light, like fireworks, before she vanished from the divine palace and descended to the mortal realm.
Cheng Ruyi descended to the mortal realm and displayed her extraordinary powers. With a wave of her small hand, she helped the disaster-stricken people rebuild their homes; with a word from her small mouth, she ensured that the good people who had been bullied by bad people received the compensation they deserved. Seeing the smiles on the faces of those who had once been frowning, Cheng Ruyi felt incredibly happy, as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
Cheng Ruyi was caught in a cycle of memories, two lines of clear tears hanging on her fair and rosy cheeks. Recalling her tragic experience as Man Tao in her previous life, Cheng Ruyi was filled with emotion: "In my tragic past life, I lived like a soulless puppet under the oppression of my family, and in the end, I even lost my life; now, my former self is the Koi Goddess, able to control my own destiny and help others. The difference is too great."
Commenter: This story teaches us that no matter how many difficulties life throws our way, we must never give up hope, and even more importantly, we must never lose ourselves. In adversity, we must fight bravely and uphold the justice and kindness in our hearts.
Stagehand: Just like Man Tao, even though she ultimately couldn't change her family's fate, her courage in fighting is admirable; and like Cheng Ruyi, the hardships of her past life became stepping stones for her growth, making her stronger and more appreciative of everything she has now. Therefore, no matter how difficult the road ahead, we must persevere and write our own wonderful life story with courage and kindness.