Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 32

Tears silently streamed down her face. Zi Jin hugged Jun Chi and sat him on the bed, gently stroking his thin back, avoiding his wound.

Jun Chi timidly raised his head to look at Zi Jin, and after a long while, his eyes were no longer lifeless. His eyes slowly reddened: "Jin... Brother, you finally... you finally came. Chi'er thought... thought you didn't want... Chi'er... Chi'er... was afraid... so afraid..."

Zi Jin wrapped the trembling Jun Chi tightly in her cloak, gently wiping away his tears, her eyes filled with sorrow: It's my fault.

“My lord, there isn’t even a charcoal brazier lit inside. I think we should take the Third Prince back to Taiping Pavilion as soon as possible.”

With red eyes, Zi Jin turned back and glared fiercely at Xi Bao, then took off her cloak and carefully wrapped it around Jun Chi. Jun Chi anxiously gripped Zi Jin's clothes tightly, unwilling to let go, his delicate eyes filled with uncertainty and panic.

Zi Jin lowered her head and gently touched Jun Chi's burning cheek: Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'll take you back.

Jun Chi smiled absentmindedly, quietly releasing Zi Jin's hand. His hazy eyes showed less panic and more reassurance.

Xi Bao's fair face was red from the cold. He lowered his head with a troubled expression and said, "Aunt Yu Luo saw that the Third Prince was very ill and kept calling out 'Mother Consort,' so she had me bring him back. Aunt Yu Luo and I never imagined that His Highness would encounter such a situation..."

Zi Jin reached out, avoiding her wound, to pick up Jun Chi, but having barely eaten anything all day, she couldn't manage it after several attempts.

"Master, let this servant do it." happy Bao stepped forward, stealing a glance at Zi Jin's increasingly somber expression, and whispered.

Zi Jin looked at Jun Chi in her arms. Jun Chi nodded slightly. Seeing that Jun Chi did not object, she let go of him.

Xi Bao stepped forward meekly, wrapped the cloak around herself again, and carefully picked up Jun Chi. Under the cloak, Zi Jin squeezed Jun Chi's hand, and Jun Chi smiled absentmindedly again.

Zi Jin felt a sharp pang of sorrow in her heart, and she lowered her head and turned away, not daring to let anyone see the tears in her eyes.

As everyone turned around, a pale-faced woman, dressed in a simple and worn imperial concubine's palace dress, leaned against the door with disheveled hair, staring blankly at Jun Chi in happy Bao's arms with tears streaming down her face.

Jun Chi's pupils contracted, and he trembled involuntarily. He opened his mouth to the woman but remained silent. Finally, he slowly closed his eyes, and a tear slid down from beneath his long eyelashes, falling to the cold ground and shattering into pieces.

Upon seeing the woman, Zi Jin's face instantly darkened. She gave Xi Bao a meaningful look, and happy Bao nodded, then grabbed Jun Chi and hurried away, brushing past the woman.

The woman turned around in alarm, suddenly reaching out her hand before slowly lowering it again. She gazed in the direction Jun Chi had gone, her eyes filled with grief and regret.

After a long while, the woman slowly slid down the door, covered her face, and burst into tears.

Zi Jin glanced at the woman with disdain, then got up and left.

The woman suddenly knelt on the ground and grabbed Zi Jin's departing leg.

Zi Jin was startled and tried to break free, but the woman held on tightly and wouldn't let go.

“I didn’t mean to… I really didn’t mean to, why do I always hurt him like this… It’s always me… I don’t know what I did… I really don’t know what I did… He is my own son… He is my only hope in this life… How could I treat him like this?… How could I treat her like this?…” Consort Lin hugged Zi Jin’s legs tightly, and before she could finish speaking, tears were already streaming down her face.

Zi Jin's disgust lessened somewhat. What absolute right or wrong exists in the palace? She was... just a pitiful woman driven mad by these palace walls.

Zi Jin reached out her hand, wanting to help Consort Lin up.

Lin Fei suddenly released Zi Jin's legs and banged her head hard. The ground and her forehead collided, making a "thump, thump, thump" sound, each sound striking the depths of Zi Jin's heart.

Zi Jin knelt down, pulled Lin Fei up, and gently wiped the wound on her forehead: Why? ...Why did you have to do this? Why did you have to do this...?

"Young Master Zi, I beg you... I beg you not to abandon him again... He has had nothing since he was little... nothing at all... Now even his only mother can't tell right from wrong... I beg you to have pity on him... and have pity on me too... I know you have always felt sorry for Chi'er, and I dare not ask you to treat him like a brother. I only ask that you protect him and help him live peacefully in this land of wolves... My life is ruined. I only ask that Chi'er can have a better life... I, Dugu Qinglin, will never forget your great kindness to my mother and me. In the next life, I will be willing to be your servant and repay you!" Consort Lin's hair was disheveled, her eyes were red, there were bruises on her forehead, and her face was full of panic.

Zi Jin stood there, stunned. She had only saved Jun Chi because she was attracted to his softness and obedience, never delving into the source of his fear and unease. How bitter must it be for a child to suffer day after day in this palace, worse than a cold palace, enduring the scorn of others and the whippings of his closest relatives? How agonizing must it be? He was such a small child, why did he have to endure all this? Why did he have to endure all this?

Zi Jin helped Lin Fei up and gently wiped away her tears: From now on... I will never let Jun Chi suffer even the slightest grievance again!

Consort Lin raised her tearful eyes, a bitter smile appearing on her pale face, her eyes filled with endless gratitude and unconcealable sorrow.

Under the moonlight, Consort Lin, whose skin was pale from years of lack of sunlight, had a deep sorrow etched on her brows. Her delicate eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and her lips were a sickly pale white. Her oval face framed dark eyes stained with tears. One could imagine that she must have been an exceptional beauty in her youth, perhaps even the most stunning woman in the harem. But why had she fallen to such a state? Why had Emperor Xuanlong neglected her so much?

Zi Jin pulled Lin Fei up, nodded firmly and solemnly, not daring to look at Lin Fei's haggard yet joyful face any longer, and turned away.

Zi Jin strode quickly into Taiping Pavilion, then stopped halfway, her face icy cold: Who?...Who? Who drove this mother and child to such a state? Why must that small body bear such unbearable burdens? Whose fault is this? Whose fault?! Who was wrong?!

Outside the Taiping Pavilion, Yu Luo held a glass palace lantern, her eyes filled with worry, gazing towards the road where Zi Jin was returning. When she saw Zi Jin running, she rushed out to greet her with joy.

Zi Jin's face was cold and indifferent. She didn't even glance at Yu Luo before brushing past him.

Yu Luo, who had been beaming with joy, stood frozen in place, a hint of disbelief and grievance flashing in her eyes.

Four charcoal braziers were lit in the bedroom, making it as warm as spring. On the sandalwood bed, Xibao carefully wiped Junchi's wounds.

Jun Chi's dark eyes were fixed on the heavy curtain. When he saw Zi Jin enter the room, his eyes showed joy.

Zi Jin rubbed her hands together by the door, patted the chill off her body, and then sat down on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Jun Chi, gently stroking his soft, long hair.

Jun Chi looked at Zi Jin obediently, a faint smile playing on his lips. He squinted his eyes comfortably, as if the whip marks all over his body no longer hurt.

Xi Bao carefully finished applying the medicine and then brought out three quilts. Zi Jin found the softest brocade quilt and wrapped Jun Chi in it, placing the remaining two mattresses under him so he could lean against them.

Yu Luo, holding the medicine, stood by the bedside, about to speak. Zi Jin reached out and took the bowl, not even glancing at Yu Luo.

Yu Luo lowered his head in humiliation and silently retreated to one side.

Zi Jin smiled at Jun Chi, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes. She lowered her head, gently blowing on the medicine, testing the temperature with her lips before feeding it to Jun Chi.

Jun Chi's bright eyes shone, and he smiled weakly at Zi Jin: "No...it doesn't hurt...not at all..." Then Jun Chi's gaze slowly dimmed as he looked at Zi Jin, "Brother Jin...brother...please don't...leave me...leave me again, okay?"

Zi Jin nodded slightly, her eyes reddening slightly. She suddenly turned her face and saw Yu Luo standing to the side. She glared at Yu Luo fiercely, her eyes full of reproach.

Yu Luo bit her lower lip in grievance and knelt down with a "plop" and said, "Master, please don't blame Yu Luo. When Yu Luo saw that the Third Prince was so ill and kept calling out 'Mother Consort,' she felt pity and ordered Xi Bao to send the Third Prince back to Su Ran Palace."

Zi Jin didn't even glance at Yu Luo kneeling in the corner, and continued to feed Jun Chi his medicine.

Jun Chi glanced at Yu Luo, wanting to plead for her, but was glared at by Zi Jin and had no choice but to obediently drink the medicine.

happy Bao stood on the other side with a troubled expression, unsure whether to offer advice or not.