The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 189 Children
"My lady, it's all my fault, no matter what. Please don't say anymore. I've said I'm willing to bear all the consequences!" the Cowherd said, his face full of sorrow, as if he couldn't have what he wanted, or as if he had countless grievances he couldn't express. He was still acting.

“Wrong? You are guilty, guilty of a heinous crime!” said the Fifth Fairy.

"Yes, I am guilty," Niulang replied, but he did not hear the Ziwei Emperor speak up for him again, and his heart sank.

The Ziwei Emperor watched coldly. He had only come to test the waters. The Queen Mother's previous concessions were enough to show that he had no interest in protecting the Cowherd anymore.

“Whether we are guilty or not should be decided by the Emperor and the Empress. It’s not something we can just admit to casually,” said the Golden Bull Star Lord. She looked at the Weaver Girl and said, “My granddaughter speaks so confidently that it makes us seem like we are guilty of heinous crimes. My brother is also indecisive, but in such matters, we never listen to only one side’s story. The truth is often clearer to the bystanders. My granddaughter and my brother have been married for many years, and all the mortals in that small mountain village can witness it. People can pretend for a while, but they can’t pretend forever. Why not send someone down to the mortal world to provide corroborating evidence?”

The Ziwei Emperor remained silent. In the purple light, he glanced at the Golden Bull Star Lord, whose eyes flickered with a strange expression, seemingly an expectation, but certainly not an attempt to exonerate the Cowherd. After ascending to immortality, one's future is uncertain, and the past is like mist. Even a great master would have to pay a price to calculate it. The Golden Bull Star Lord had followed the Ziwei Emperor for many years, and the latter had never investigated his past. As long as his loyalty remained, that was enough.

Taurus was protected by the Ziwei Emperor. Since the Ziwei Emperor did not speak, the others in the room would obviously take Taurus's words as the Ziwei Emperor's meaning.

"Mortals, without cultivation, are ignorant of their five senses and are easily deceived. Moreover, what can a group of mortals say about matters of the Heavenly Realm? They are merely trying to buy time. Your Majesty, please punish the Cowherd!" said the Fifth Fairy.

"Such a refusal, could there really be some hidden reason behind this?" The Golden Bull Star Lord was not to be outdone. He suddenly smiled and said, "Fine, since you are unwilling to descend to the mortal realm to obtain evidence, the two children of the Cowherd and his granddaughter are currently in the Heavenly Court. They are of heavenly blood, and their minds should be pure and innocent. Moreover, since both sides are close relatives in this world, they should be able to speak frankly, which would be even better evidence!"

"Why are you involving children in adult matters?" The eldest princess glared at Taurus Star Lord. "If you do this, no matter the reason, you'll point the finger at their biological parents. How are the two children supposed to face each other afterward?"

"Great Emperor." Taurus Star Lord looked at Ziwei Great Emperor again.

"Taurus, you've changed," Emperor Ziwei sighed.

“Taurus has indeed changed. Over the years, I originally thought that I would be able to let go of what happened back then after ascending to heaven, but it has only gotten worse and worse, almost becoming a demon in my heart. Your Majesty, I know that you hate evil as if it were your enemy, but please believe me, things will not get any worse,” Taurus Star Lord said earnestly. “Later, I will also give you an explanation.”

"Alright." After a moment of silence, the Ziwei Emperor finally agreed.

“Reason becomes clear through debate. The eldest princess is right. This matter may hurt the two children, but can we just leave it at that? Someone has to take over. And in life, at certain junctures, we always have to make choices,” said the Ziwei Emperor. He then instructed his attendant, “Tong’er, go and bring them here.”

"No, Your Majesty!" said the Fifth Fairy. She looked at Yuntai with pleading eyes. She knew the attitude of the two children. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly felt a force descend upon her, rendering her speechless.

"Ugh!"

There was a long silence on the platform, and finally only a sigh was heard.

"Is my granddaughter questioning my decision?" The voice of the Ziwei Emperor sent chills down the spines of the Fifth Fairy. "Brother Taurus, this…"

The Cowherd looked at the Golden Bull Star Lord with gratitude, his voice sounding as if he was somewhat reluctant to summon his child, but in reality, it concealed his ecstatic joy. Although he didn't quite understand what the Golden Bull Star Lord had said, none of that mattered. What mattered was that the Golden Bull Star Lord had once again secured the protection of the Purple Star Emperor for him, and even now, he was still wholeheartedly protecting him. What a good elder brother!

The Weaver Girl lay prostrate on the ground, without uttering a word.

The light of the sun and moon dimmed, seemingly suppressed by the purple light, leaving everything to its own devices.

Before long, three children arrived at the scene. One of them was the attendant of the Ziwei Emperor. He walked straight into the purple light and shadow, stood beside the Ziwei Emperor, and concealed his presence. The other two children were naturally Niu Jin and Niu Yin.

Niu Jin and Niu Yin looked somewhat bewildered, standing in the middle of the field, unsure of what to do. The girl held the boy's hand tightly, looking a little awkward.

“Good children, your father and mother have some family matters to discuss. If you had to choose, would you choose your father or your mother?” Taurus Star Lord said gently. “Think about it carefully. Over the years, between your father and mother, who has treated you better? And how has your father treated your mother?”

The Cowherd lowered his head to the ground at some point, not for any other reason, but because he was afraid that others would see his grin. Although his behavior was no different from self-deception in the eyes of everyone present, he just wanted to avoid being seen by the two little ones. Seeing that the situation was about to turn around, he couldn't help himself.

"Which is better, your father or your mother?" asked Taurus Star Lord.

"Taurus, how could you ask such a question?" the eldest princess shouted angrily. Of course, she also realized that something was wrong, but since things had come to this point, there was nothing she could do.

"Father..." The little girl's voice was still quite childish, and a smile had already appeared in the cowherd's eyes, but the next moment, it took a sharp turn for the worse, and his heart felt as if it had been thrown into an ice cave, "Father, something bad has happened!"

"Niu Yin!" Niu Lang roared, kneeling upright abruptly. "How could you say such a thing!" He suddenly seemed to remember something and looked at his son. "Jin'er, your sister is being unreasonable. You tell me, how has your father treated you?"

“Father has always treated us well,” Niu Jin said calmly, “but Father, that cannot be a reason for you to hurt Mother.”

"You ingrates!" The Cowherd's eyes widened. "You two ingrates! I scrimp and save to give you all the food I have. I work myself to the bone to support a family of four, and you don't even know how to be grateful. Now you're trying to kill me!"

On the ground, the Weaver Girl lay prostrate, her body trembling slightly. She hadn't cried when she was insulted by the Cowherd, nor when she was hurt by the rumors, nor even when she was recounting her pain. But now, hearing her children's words, she could no longer hold back. All the grievances she had suppressed over the years had begun to flow silently, but gradually turned into sobs.

(End of this chapter)