Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 38
"What are you afraid of? It's not you who did the bad thing." Jun Lin walked closer to Zi Jin, sat down beside her, and asked softly, his voice so gentle it sent chills down one's spine.
Zi Jin was so frightened that she dared not move. She secretly wondered: Would the pig-headed crown prince be unable to do anything to his own crown princess and take his anger out on her? Or would he kill her to silence her after she had stumbled upon his family scandal? Would anyone hear her if she shouted "Help!"? It seemed that this place was far from the front courtyard.
Jun Lin's eyes were deep and unfathomable, making it impossible to discern his thoughts. He slowly rested his head on Zi Jin's shoulder, his appearance both stubborn and vulnerable.
Zi Jin swallowed hard, nervously trying to get away.
"Don't move... let me lean on you for a while... just for a while." The vulnerability and pleading in Jun Lin's tone were something Zi Jin had never heard before. She found it hard to imagine that such a voice came from the mouth of the once arrogant and domineering Crown Prince.
Zi Jin straightened her body stiffly, utterly helpless against the stubborn, fragile, and utterly unfamiliar Jun Lin. No matter how domineering and arrogant Jun Lin was, he was still just a seventeen-year-old boy. Now, hearing that his wife was trying to kill their future child in order to gain favor, what was he thinking? He was so arrogant, so proud, so domineering, yet in the end, he still wanted to marry a woman he didn't love for the throne. Now that he finally had a woman he loved, and had only spoiled and pampered her a little, everyone around him couldn't stand it. The Crown Prince… was nothing more than the most noble but pitiful creature in the palace.
Zi Jin slowly reached out and gently stroked Jun Lin's back. Jun Lin's body trembled slightly, like a wounded little animal. He pressed his head closer to Zi Jin's neck, as if trying to absorb more warmth.
Zi Jin couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for this seventeen-year-old boy. She gently nuzzled Jun Lin's face and stroked his long, black hair.
Jun Lin trembled violently, tightly embracing Zi Jin, letting out a wounded sob: "Why? Why won't they treat me with sincerity? In their eyes, I'm just the Crown Prince, just the Crown Prince. They appear respectful and obedient, yet they scheme against me behind my back. Why? Why?! Why is this happening?"
Jun Lin's phoenix eyes were filled with turmoil. He shook Zi Jin in confusion, hoping to get the answer he wanted.
Zi Jin looked at Jun Lin with pity, and for a moment she didn't know how to comfort this child who was more pitiful than anyone else.
Jun Lin's pupils contracted sharply, and he abruptly released Zi Jin: "I don't need your pity! I am the Crown Prince, and everything will belong to me. Why would I need a mute like you to pity me!"
After Jun Lin finished speaking, he suddenly stood up and stumbled towards the front courtyard without looking back.
Zi Jin shook her head with a bitter smile. Why bother? Why force herself to keep saying "I am the Crown Prince" when she clearly hates the title so much? Why bother?
The palace—a place where murder never stains the skin. It uses its opulent splendor and overwhelming power to draw out the evil within your heart; one wrong step, and there's no turning back. If Jun Lin truly relinquishes his title as crown prince, can he escape? And who would truly let him go?
Zi Jin stared blankly for a while, then stood up, shook her head with a wry smile, and walked towards the front courtyard: "It's none of my business, so I'll just mind my own business..."
In the front courtyard, Jun Lin sat calmly in the main seat, his expression completely normal, showing no trace of what had just happened. The Crown Princess and another unfamiliar woman sat beside him.
Zi Jin wanted to find a seat in the back, but she couldn't find an empty seat. The only empty seat was in the front row, next to Jun Chibian.
Jun Chi's gaze was unfocused as if searching for something. When he saw Zi Jin, he smiled and waved to her.
Zi Jin lowered her head and hunched her back, reluctantly sitting down next to Jun Chi, and gave an apologetic smile to Jun An opposite her.
Jun'an raised his wine cup and returned her a smile.
"Where did you go? Look at all these weeds. I had Xibao look for you for ages, but we couldn't find you." Jun Chi removed the weeds from Zi Jin's head, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and said softly.
Zi Jin looked at Jun Lin guiltily, only to see Jun Lin give her a sharp look.
Zi Jin subconsciously shrank her head and quickly looked away, pretending to eat the snacks Jun Chi handed her nonchalantly. While Jun Lin was not paying attention, she carefully examined the strange woman sitting next to Jun Lin.
The woman wasn't as fair-skinned and delicate as the Crown Princess, but she still had exquisite and charming features. By modern standards, she would be considered a healthy beauty. In particular, her bright, expressive eyes seemed to speak volumes. Her sly expression was lively yet refined, giving people a comfortable and pleasant feeling.
It must be admitted that the Pig-Headed Crown Prince has a good eye for talent. But whether he can protect this powerless, weak, and unconnected woman in the deep palace depends on his own abilities.
Given the arrogant and domineering nature of the "Pig-Headed Prince," the thought of the severe consequences if he were to lose his beloved is terrifying.
"Jin, don't drink it. Although this wine tastes sweet like fruit, it has a strong aftereffect." Jun Chi said worriedly as he saw Zi Jin unconsciously drinking glass after glass of wine on the table.
Zi Jin glanced at Jun Chi with disdain: This is what you call alcohol? Back in the day, I drank 58-proof Erguotou with those girls in my dorm every day and I was never really drunk. How could this alcohol make me drunk? Not to mention I only drank five or six cups, even if I drank a whole jin (500ml), I would still be standing tall.
Zi Jin watched impatiently as the people around her recited poems and composed verses. She thought that a banquet should be accompanied by a group of female entertainers or several male entertainers, or at the very least, beautiful women should be invited to perform erotic dances and take off their clothes. It was such a waste of the atmosphere for these people who were so sour to write poems.
Jun Chi seemed to sense Zi Jin's impatience and coaxed her gently, "Shall I play a tune for you?"
Zi Jin turned her face, revealing a bright smile, and nodded without hesitation.
Jun Chi smiled blankly, then walked onto the stage without hesitation. His eunuchs had already prepared his jade zither.
The strings were plucked, producing a deep and restrained clear sound that gave people a gentle and comfortable feeling. The sound seemed to comfort people's unease and hesitation, and also seemed to contain a cautious probing and hesitation.
Wandering leisurely, sometimes near, sometimes far, it seems like the whispers of lovers, or the comforting of a spoiled child, with a touch of tenderness and indulgence.
The high notes are composed, the deep notes are elegant, as if intoxicated, as if in a dream.
When the song ended, thunderous applause erupted.
Zi Jin smiled broadly and staggered toward Jun Chi. Seeing Zi Jin's unsteady gait, Jun Chi quickly stepped off the stage to greet her.
As soon as Zi Jin saw Jun Chi walking towards her, she pounced on him. Before anyone could react, Zi Jin grinned and kissed Jun Chi on the lips.
Sure enough, it was just as I had imagined—soft, sweet, and fragrant.
Everyone stared in stunned disbelief at the scene, and the hall fell into complete silence.
Jun Chi stared wide-eyed in astonishment, forgetting to struggle, and stood there dumbfounded, letting Zi Jin cling to him and steal the honey from his mouth.
"What kind of behavior is this!" As expected of Crown Prince Jun Lin, he was the first to react.
Jun'an stood awkwardly in his seat, unsure of what to do.
Jun Chi finally came to his senses, his face instantly turning bright red. He quickly pushed Zi Jin away.
Zi Jin lost her footing and fell sideways to the ground. Jun, his face flushed, hurriedly pulled her back into his arms. At this moment, everyone realized: he was already drunk.
"Your Highness, Second Brother, please allow me to take Zi Jin back to the palace first," Jun Chi said, his voice trembling slightly as he forced himself to remain calm.
"Very well, then, Third Brother..."
"I think that's unnecessary. If that mute girl does anything improper to my third brother on the way, wouldn't that make us a laughingstock? I'll take her back myself." Jun Lin interrupted Jun An with a cold face, making it impossible to read his emotions.
Before anyone could react, Jun Lin dragged Zi Jin away, his face icy cold.