Chapter 25 Owning the Whole World
The first time I saw her, she was sitting on a chestnut pony, with two pigtails, looking fierce. The palace maid followed behind her, looking timid and hesitant.
"You are not allowed to follow me." She cracked her whip hard, and the foal neighed and galloped forward.
The wind tossed her jet-black hair, and her laughter echoed wildly in the breeze. Everyone in the palace feared her, and she was overjoyed, laughing with unbridled abandon.
I was curious how there could be such an arrogant and unrestrained woman in the palace.
Having a mission to the Moon Palace, and for reasons I don't know, I decided to start with her.
After observing her for three consecutive days, I found that she was indeed living according to her own heart, and therefore, she was an anomaly in the palace.
The first time I saw a look of helplessness on her face.
The woman opposite her was her mother.
I could clearly hear her questioning.
Mother, how could you do this to me?
She had never shown her emotions so openly before; the woman with tears in her eyes didn't seem like herself.
Her mother seemed determined to be cruel to her. "Mera, this is the palace. All the cruelty and filth are hidden here. You'd better watch yourself..."
She gritted her teeth and said coldly, "Fine, Mother..." The last "Mother" trembled in her cold voice, as if she had fallen into a cold abyss and her body shuddered.
Every time she saw her mother, she would call her "Consort Li".
Having completely lost the support of her family in the palace, she became even more reckless. The other princesses began to plot against her, even considering sending her abroad for a political marriage. After she ruined their plans, they came up with another scheme.
Just then, I appeared. The timing was perfect; she had just escaped from the banquet and was wandering aimlessly in the Imperial Garden. When she reached the peach trees, she suddenly became unsteady, her steps faltering, and it looked like the people behind her were about to rush out. I quickly went over, grabbed her, and pulled her away.
Her usually cold eyes were now vacant, her face flushed, and she was panting heavily. I knew she'd been drugged. To prevent their plan, I had to take her to be off the drugs immediately.
I held her the whole way, and it seemed to be the first time I had ever held a woman like this. Perhaps for a moment, my frozen heart was moved by her charm.
She suddenly snapped to her senses, her eyes flashing like a sword, ready to kill me. She reached out, raising her hand to strike. I easily caught her. She stared at me stubbornly, her trembling lips firmly saying, "Let me go."
I didn't know she still had this kind of willpower. What I did know was that this drug was very potent, the strongest of all drugs. Even a strong woman would instantly become a wanton woman after taking it. She wouldn't let me touch her anymore, and a hint of determination appeared in her eyes and body.
I suddenly understood her thoughts, and my heart skipped a beat, but it was too late to act. She had already bitten her tongue. At that moment, my heart clenched violently, as if gripped tightly by something, the pain excruciating. I told myself, I can't let her die.
I brought her back to Moonlit Pavilion, knowing that there must be medicine there to save her. I talked to the pavilion owner for a long time, and she finally agreed. But her condition was that I must serve Moonlit Pavilion for life. I entered Moonlit Pavilion back then for my sister, and now I stay for her, but I feel it's worth it.
She woke up, and I told her who I was. She looked at me and asked if I would be her personal bodyguard, and I agreed.
I went into the palace with her. She continued to be unrestrained and arrogant, while I simply stood behind her, ready to step forward and serve her whenever she needed me. Only I knew that the happier she laughed, the more her heart ached. She used her willfulness and arrogance to mask her wounded heart.
Later, Consort Li passed away. She was outside the palace at the time, and when she returned in the afternoon, the sight of white made her slow her pace for a moment. Then she heard a palace eunuch say that Consort Li had passed away. Her eyes widened, filled with astonishment. She couldn't believe it, and she anxiously called for me to take her to Consort Li's palace. She remained quiet the whole way, and I knew she was resisting the reality.
Upon seeing the lifeless body of Consort Li in the coffin, she became agitated, screaming Consort Li's name while kicking. The Emperor was furious and ordered her to be dragged away. I followed behind her, and she suddenly became timid, muttering, "Impossible, impossible..."
I wanted to comfort her, but I wasn't qualified. The blue lotus flower on half of my face constantly reminded me that I belonged to the Moonlit Pavilion.
To my surprise, she suddenly turned around and angrily questioned me, asking why I hadn't let her die and why I had saved her! I didn't answer, which made her even more agitated and furious. She rushed at me and started hitting me repeatedly, even whipping me with a whip.
After Consort Li died, Meila's temper became even more volatile. Many people in her palace were transferred away under various pretexts. Gradually, only she, me, and her strange maid remained.
The Emperor confined her to the palace, where she became very irritable. Later, she would whip me every day. At that time, she seemed unlike herself; she would whip me until she was drenched in sweat, glaring fiercely at me.
The palace maids said that the Fifth Princess had gone mad, that she had completely degenerated.
In reality, her heart was truly twisted and filled with immense pain. Every night, she would call me to her side, ask me to take off my clothes, and apply medicine to my back. Sometimes, with my back to her, I could clearly feel the warm liquid falling onto my back.
Each time she was hit, her heart ached more; she had become possessed. One day, when she was applying medicine to me, she suddenly hugged me from behind.
I am in great pain, Lin Si.
My heart ached terribly, but I didn't say a word.
She turned my body around so that I could look directly at her.
Lin Si, I have nothing left. I only have you.
The coldness that had lingered in my heart for so many years was suddenly melted away, and I felt a flutter in my heart, as if something was flowing within me.
She rushed over and bumped her lips against mine.
For a fleeting moment, my mind went blank. I don't think I've ever been so out of control, acting like a fool.
She pushed me away, stood up, and burst into laughter.
She looked at me triumphantly, "I thought you liked me, Lin Si, but it turns out that's not the case. Otherwise, why didn't you react at all? I'm relieved."
Looking at her smug expression, I knew my instantly gloomy mood must have been incredibly stupid.
I think it's okay, even if she's seen as a wicked demon by everyone else. In my eyes, she'll always be a fairy.
They didn't understand her heart; her heart was purer and kinder than anyone else's.
I was summoned back to Yueming Tower, and I refused several times. Eventually, Chen forcibly dragged me back to the tower. What I was about to face was a trial by the tower itself.
Finally, I was taken to the water dungeon. In that small, damp space, my mind was constantly filled with thoughts of Mela. I worried about her, I missed her, I was afraid she would get hurt…
Every moment I wanted to be back by her side. When I saw Jue, I started begging him. He was on good terms with me in the building, and I kept pleading with him. I saw a hint of hesitation in his eyes. I began to desperately persuade him to let me go. I wasn't afraid, and I didn't care about the consequences. I just wanted to be back by her side immediately.
She agreed, but I became even more anxious. Without even saying thank you, I rushed away, wanting to fly to her side immediately.
As soon as I entered the palace, I sensed something was wrong. I rushed in, pulled back the curtain, and saw Mela covered in wounds. My heart ached, and I resisted the urge to embrace her. I gently applied medicine to her wounds.
It turns out she offended the Emperor today and was given fifty lashes. That silly girl…
She looked at me and said, "You're finally back..."
I nodded.
She suddenly rushed into my arms, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist. At that moment, my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my throat.
Rinji, please don't leave me again. Without you, I'm all alone.
My heart skipped a beat. I wouldn't leave you. I promised her that I would never leave her, except in death.
Lin Si, I don't want to live alone in this world.
My heart was stirred; that long-empty space finally felt filled. I silently watched her, sensing her feelings.
I remain the same silent Lin Si, quietly following behind her, ready to appear before her whenever she needs me.
Her happiness is my happiness. Her troubles are my troubles.
I, who shouldn't have so many emotions, have somehow become a person with such rich emotions.
And I, too, have moments of anger. That was when she betrothed the rescued sparrow to me. I admit, I was indeed angry at that moment. I no longer yielded to her, but instead voiced my clear objections.
Fifth Princess, I will do whatever you say, even if it means death. But this is something I cannot comply with.
My heart felt like it was being torn apart in an instant.
Even when she made me whip myself, I couldn't feel any pain. My heart ached so much that I was almost numb. The physical pain was nothing compared to this. I deliberately used some internal force when I whipped myself, and the blood flowing continuously from the wounds couldn't hide the pain in my heart.
I became even more silent, remaining by her side. I didn't want to upset her, but I also didn't want to marry another woman.
I know we've grown apart. She always asks me why I did what I did, why I wouldn't marry Que'er. I remain silent, and she gets anxious, so she sends me to be punished. My wounds, not yet healed, are bleeding again.
In the end, she couldn't bring herself to do it and placed the best medicine from the palace on the table. I've never resented her; my feelings remain unchanged.
Later, Jue came to find me and said that the building was going to send someone to arrest me and take me back.
I'm not afraid, because when I see her, I feel like I have the whole world.
Author's Note:
Happy New Year! O(∩_∩)O~~
Chapter 26 Acting Master
"You mean, Lin Si was taken away?" He glanced at her. "Who could it be?"
Snap—the gleaming black whip rose into the air, like a nimble snake whipping up a gust of wind.
The overwhelming wind made me instinctively close my eyes, and when I opened them again, there was a gleaming silver sword across Dugu Meila's neck.
"Let me go, I'm a princess!" she shouted fiercely, her eyes wide.
He touched his neck; thankfully, the whip had almost caught it. He glanced sideways at Lu Yiheng, who was pointing his sword at Dugu Meila.
His narrow eyes narrowed, and he raised a slight brow. His thin lips parted slightly: "Fifth Princess, it would be best if you behaved yourself. After all, these are extraordinary times."
Dugu Meila was furious, her hair practically steaming, and she struggled violently. She thought Lu Yiheng was just trying to scare her, but the sword beside her neck didn't budge. It sliced open a small, scarlet gash. Her eyes narrowed sharply, revealing an incredulous light, "You, you actually..."
Lu Yiheng gave a signal, and several men rushed forward to tie up Dugu Meila. He barely managed to put down his sword, then took out a silk handkerchief to carefully wipe her face. "Take her away."
"Lu Yiheng, you're nothing but my eldest brother's dog! You wait, I'll make sure you die a horrible death!!"
Each roar was more furious than the last.
Somewhat puzzled by Lu Yiheng's cold-bloodedness, it seemed as if he would kill Dugu Meila without mercy if she continued to resist.
Lu Yiheng's eyes darkened, and he concealed all his emotions. He turned around and asked, "Girl, what's wrong?" He reached out and ruffled my hair.