Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 36
A goddess reincarnated to save the common people, she was reborn to answer questions of love and tribulations throughout countless lifetimes; her past life was but a dream (Part 4)
Past Events, a Dream (Part 4) In the early summer of the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yaochen, the Empress was eighteen years old.
This year's summer flowers bloomed exceptionally early and exceptionally brilliantly. The Imperial Garden is now a sea of flowers, the sunlight shining on the blossoms, reflecting a soft, radiant glow that is dazzlingly beautiful.
The Empress swung merrily on the swing amidst the sea of flowers, her face slightly turned to the side, a faint smile playing on her lips, the joy reaching her eyes. Her sweet appearance outshone the entire garden of blossoms.
Jun Ying stood behind the swing, firmly protecting the person on it, and occasionally gently pushing them off the swing.
"Jun Xiaosan, how long has it been since you last swung on the swing with me?" The Empress's tone, tinged with resentment, made one want to pity her.
"Your Majesty has not been this happy in a long time..." Jun Ying lowered his eyes and replied in a firm voice.
"Do you know? I saw him, clad in armor, sitting majestically on his steed, looking down upon everyone... How spirited and radiant he was! His warm smile, like the spring sunshine, warmed my heart. My heart was pounding so fast. I saw him walking towards me from afar on the reviewing stand, my mind in turmoil. When he knelt at my feet, I thought I had won the whole world..."
Empress Yanzai leaned her head against the rope, her face showing the intoxicated bliss of a young girl in love. Jun Ying had never seen her like that before, and it both captivated and broke his heart.
Jun Ying knew perfectly well who that person was, yet she still forced herself to ask for the answer: "Is it General Zi Yingfeng?"
"You were near me at the time, did you see him?" The Empress turned her head and nodded with a happy expression.
Jun Ying's heart was being battered by waves, his brown eyes suppressing a tumultuous pain: No matter when, you never knew that I could only see you. Why didn't you know? ...Why didn't you know?
"I will go to my brother tomorrow to discuss making Zi Yingfeng the ruler. What do you think of this?" The Empress's eyes flickered, and she asked with a smile, "If you don't speak, I will take it as your agreement."
Jun Ying stood behind Empress Yanzai, watching her joyful figure like a nightingale. He finally opened his mouth but then closed it weakly: If you're happy... if you're happy, everything will be alright...
A goddess reincarnated, originally for the sake of all living beings, was born to answer questions of love and to face calamity. How can the truth of this hasten separation? (Part Two)
How can the truth hasten our separation? (Part Two) Early summer of the sixteenth year of Xuanlong reign of the Yue Kingdom: The second son of the Yue Kingdom emperor, sixteen years old.
Emperor Xuanlong bestowed upon him the title of Prince Feng'an, ten thousand taels of gold, a mansion, and arranged for the eldest daughter of the General, Zi Feng, to be his princess, and the second daughter, Zi Feng, to be his concubine. The marriage was to take place after the General's triumphant return.
The afternoon sun blazed fiercely, making the earth seem ablaze. Outside Taiping Pavilion, the unnamed trees grew exceptionally lush and verdant. Under their shade, Zi Jin lay on a bamboo chair, dozing with a book in her hand. Beside her on a small table were writing brushes, ink, paper, and a plate of snacks.
A long strand of hair brushed against Zi Jin's nose. Zi Jin rubbed her nose, rolled over impatiently, and the book fell off her. The person walked over, picked up the book, and examined it closely.
Half-asleep, Zi Jin seemed to sense someone approaching and groggily opened her eyes. She saw a stunningly beautiful profile, intently gazing at a book in its hands. Zi Jin instinctively reached for her own book, only to find it empty. She jumped up abruptly and reached out to snatch it back.
"Reading these obscene books and filthy words all day long, no wonder you're getting more and more dull." west Le smiled slightly, dodging Zi Jin's snatching attempt, and gracefully lay down in the bamboo chair.
Zi Jin looked depressed: How did a normal romance novel become pornography here?
west Le casually flipped through a couple of pages, then winked mysteriously at Zi Jin: "Little mute, are you in love?"
Zi Jin's face was like a spilled palette of colors, a real spectacle of green, white, red, blue, and ochre.
"Could it be... that you have a crush on me?" west Le suddenly stood up and whispered ambiguously in Zi Jin's ear.
Zi Jin reflexively covered her ears, took several steps back, and looked at Xi Le with astonishment: This is simply... outrageous! Does this devil not want to tease me?
A seductive smile appeared on west Le's face as she leaned weakly against Zi Jin: "Little mute, shall I marry you?"
Zi Jin stared at west Le warily: His smile was so offensive; she wondered what kind of scheme he was plotting now.
"The boy rode a bamboo horse, playing with green plums around the bed, and lived together in Changgan, two little ones without suspicion. Is this about you and me?" Xi Le asked, pointing to a sentence marked next to the book with an innocent look on her face, but the mocking light in her eyes was irritating no matter how you looked at it.
Zi Jin rolled her eyes: It's about a man and a woman in the book, how could it be you and me?
Zi Jin suddenly remembered her male identity and looked at Princess west Le with a surprised expression: No way... You can't be that blind, can you?
west Le seemed to revel in Zi Jin's astonishment, her smile growing even more alluring. Just as she leaned towards Zi Jin again, she was interrupted by a question, and she abruptly turned to glare fiercely at Xi Bao, who stood not far away.
Seeing that Zi Jin was still lost in thought, Xi Bao lowered her head and forced herself to speak again, "Reporting to... Master, it's almost time."
Zi Jin turned around abruptly and saw Xi Bao looking at her resentfully, like a wronged little wife.
Jun Chi, dressed in a brand-new embroidered purple robe, with a formal bright yellow dragon headband adorning his meticulously styled hair, stood awkwardly beside happy Bao, his cheeks slightly flushed, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Seeing so many people arrive, west Le lay back down in the bamboo chair, bored, and flipped through the book in his hand, ignoring the awkward situation he had created.
"It's getting late, shouldn't you get ready, Master? The carriage has been waiting for quite some time." Seeing that Zi Jin hadn't come to her senses yet, Xi Bao could only add another sentence, forcing herself to speak.
Zi Jin suddenly realized what was happening, and without even glancing at west Le, hurriedly walked towards Taiping Pavilion.
west Le threw down the book in her hand, stood up and stepped forward to stop Zi Jin, who was about to leave: "Little mute, are you leaving the palace?"
Seeing Xi Le grab Zi Jin's hand without any hesitation, Jun Chi frowned slightly but ultimately said nothing.
happy Bao glanced at the sky and said anxiously, "Your Highness, the Emperor has granted permission for the Second Prince to go and congratulate him on the establishment of his residence."
west Le raised an eyebrow with boredom, thought for a moment, and then a mysterious smile appeared on her lips again: "Little mute, go and come back soon. I'll be waiting for you."
Seeing west Le's unsettling smile, Zi Jin felt a chill run down her spine and quickly nodded perfunctorily.
west Le turned and left with satisfaction, but the smile only made people feel more uncomfortable.
Zi Jin shook her head helplessly and quickly ran into Taiping Pavilion.
Seeing that west Le had gone far away, Xi Bao finally dared to breathe a sigh of relief and went forward to pick up the things that Zi Jin had left behind. When she got to the book, Jun Chi took it first.
Jun Chi picked up the book and flipped through it a few times. His expression changed instantly, and he turned and went into Taiping Pavilion.
"The boy rode a bamboo horse, playing with green plums around the bed. We lived together in Changgan, two little ones without suspicion. Jin, why did you write this poem on the side of the book?" Jun Chi asked gently as he walked to Zi Jin's side with a faint smile on his face.
Zi Jin glanced at the troublesome poem with a mournful expression. It was written unintentionally, so why did it cause so much trouble?