Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 40

Jin'er:

The borderlands are incredibly beautiful. When I return in triumph, I will definitely show you the scenery. All is well, so don't worry.

Jin'er:

Yu Luo said you dislike life in the palace, and knows you are wronged and imprisoned. She believes that when you return in triumph, you will be free.

Jin'er:

I've heard that you're at odds with the Crown Prince, and that he's been bullying Jin'er with arrogance and recklessness. I'm very worried. Jin'er will endure this for now, and when we return to court, I will definitely help you get justice.

Jin'er:

The Second Prince has taken good care of you, which is very comforting. Knowing that Jin'er is not very diligent in her studies, he does not wish to force her and hopes that Jin'er can do as she pleases and not worry about it.

Jin'er:

I heard you were saddened by the Third Prince's background, and I am comforted to know of Jin'er's kind nature. Although the Third Prince comes from humble beginnings, I will certainly help him recover what he has lost when he returns to the capital. I hope Jin'er will not be sad.

Jin'er:

I am very pleased to know that you and the Third Prince get along well and are like brothers. Yesterday we captured a lost city, and I believe that you will be able to reunite with Jin'er soon.

Jin'er:

Another year has passed, and Zhi Jin'er still dislikes palace life, her heart burning with worry. In her spare time, she often thinks of Zhi Jin'er's unwillingness, her heart aching, yet she feels powerless and saddened.

Jin'er:

Hearing that Jin'er had fallen into the lake while swimming, he was terrified. Later, upon learning that Jin'er had rescued three princes, he became even more worried. The Crown Prince had already etched in his heart the fact that Jin'er had repaid kindness with enmity.

Jin'er:

I was furious to hear that he bullied Jin'er at Taiping Pavilion the day before the Crown Prince's wedding. How could someone with such a narrow mind and arrogance be worthy of inheriting the throne? I will certainly not forgive him when I return to court.

Jin'er:

The Second Prince takes such good care of Jin'er that I quite like him. I've heard that he has been granted the title of Prince and is quite interested in Zi Feng. I wonder if it would be good to betroth Zi Feng to him?

Jin'er:

I heard that the Third Prince's chronic speech impediment has greatly improved, and he has corrected many of Jin'er's bad habits. He has become much more lenient in disciplining Jin'er, which has caused her to complain constantly. I hope that Jin'er can understand the Third Prince's good intentions.

Jin'er:

The great victory on the frontier is imminent, and we will soon return to the capital. The day we return will surely be the day Jin'er is free. Then, the two of us can travel to famous scenic spots and taste all the local delicacies, shall we?

"Master! Quickly put these things away, the Third Prince is back!" Yu Luo rushed in from outside, hurriedly stuffing the small note on the table into the bundle, and then locked the bundle in the cabinet.

Zi Jin slumped helplessly onto her desk, rolling her eyes: How could she have saved such a nemesis back then?! At first, he had a slight stutter, but he was delicate, cute, and obedient. Ever since she corrected his speech impediment, he speaks fluently, even more so than she did back then! Now he's even loosening his control over her more and more. What a mess… what a mess… Could he have faked a stutter to gain sympathy back then?

"happy Bao said you took Yu Luo to the front building to look around again?" Jun Chi's voice was as gentle and calm as ever, but Zi Jin could still hear the hidden anger in it.

Zi Jin glared fiercely at happy Bao: "These past two years in the palace have been too comfortable. happy Bao has even turned to being a spy. It seems the real mistress needs to act like one."

"Don't blame Xibao. I know you miss your father dearly, but the city walls are steep and dangerous, and neither you nor Yulu know martial arts. How can I feel at ease?" Jun Chi softened his tone and sat down next to Zi Jin to coax her.

Zi Jin slumped helplessly onto the table, unwilling to lift her head: "Sigh... A man is like a tree that grows up and cannot be kept at home; keeping him only brings sorrow. Look at you, always talking about Yu Luo, no wonder people say people in love have no brains. Yu Luo was sent by my cheap old man to protect me, how could she not know martial arts? Maybe she's even better at it than you!"

"I know you won't accept my lecture. If you go to the front building again next time, be sure to wait for me to come with you." Jun Chi stroked Zi Jin's long hair and smiled.

Zi Jin blinked innocently, then nodded with a hint of helplessness. She used to love touching his soft, long hair, but now he was so much taller than her that she had to jump to reach it. So now it was his turn to ruffle her hair. Sure enough, what goes around comes around…

After hiding the items, Yu Luo quickly placed a plate of snacks in front of Zi Jin to cover up her panic.

Zi Jin picked up a piece, nodded, and ate it in one bite, nodding in satisfaction. Overjoyed, Zi Jin forgot that Jun Chi was still standing to the side, and smiled as she kissed Yu Luo.

Jun Chi roughly grabbed Zi Jin's arm and said sternly, "How many times have I told you, you must not treat Yu Luo lightly!"

Jun Chi seemed to realize his mistake and quickly released Zi Jin's arm, awkwardly turning his head to the side as if he were the one who had been wronged.

Jun Chi's defense of Yu Luo made Zi Jin feel wronged: she was a woman, so what was wrong with playing around with Yu Luo? It's a crime to dress as a man! A crime? ...It seems like a minor crime.

Zi Jin tilted her head and thought for a while, then suddenly slapped her forehead and excitedly picked up the pen and ink on the table and wrote: Don't worry! I will definitely betroth Yu Luo to you before I leave the palace.

Jun Chi glanced at Zi Jin, then at Yu Luo, let out a soft snort, and turned to leave Taiping Pavilion.

What an eccentric kid! He likes things, so why is he shy? He's just so innocent!

Yu Luo bit her lower lip, kept her head down, and retreated without even glancing at Zi Jin.

Zi Jin stared blankly at the expressions on their departing faces, unaware of what she had said wrong.

"Heh...heh, little mute!"

west Le's distinctive high-pitched voice startled Zi Jin, who was deep in thought, and she immediately looked around for the source of the voice.

With a graceful somersault, west Le leaped down from the beam and leaned comfortably against Zi Jin, a strange smile appearing on her stunningly beautiful face.

Zi Jin thought to herself: Chen Kingdom, west Le, the Grand Elder, the Princess... couldn't you have appeared in a more normal way?

west Le clung to Zi Jin's thin frame without any hesitation, pouting as she asked, "Little mute, why are they doing this?"

Zi Jin shook her head: You're asking me? Who should I ask? I'd like to know too!

"Why don't we go and take a look together? These two are quite strange." west Le blinked her innocent peach blossom eyes and said with a curious and coquettish expression.

The daily teasing had made Zi Jin immune to Xi Le's bewitching behavior. However, whenever Xi Le showed this side of herself, Zi Jin always found it difficult to refuse her requests.