Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 44

Zi Jin slowly raised her head, her tearful eyes reflecting west Le's stunningly beautiful face.

west Le quietly rose, her white gauze robe fluttering in the wind, the sunlight reflecting off her face, making her breathtakingly beautiful. She gave a radiant smile and reached out her hand to Zi Jin.

Zi Jin slightly raised her eyes, gazing at Xi Le's smiling face. Her heart, shrouded in darkness, surprisingly yearned for a glimmer of light. It seemed like an eternity had passed, yet also like a fleeting moment, when Zi Jin slowly reached out and placed her hand in west Le's palm.

west Le held Zi Jin's hand tightly, her smile growing even brighter. She smiled and pulled Zi Jin along, the two walking silently beneath the palace walls. A gentle breeze occasionally blew, ruffling Xi Le's meticulously styled hair; at that moment, west Le appeared even more charming than the most vibrant forsythia on a branch.

“My mother died in childbirth, and my father refused to see me afterward. My brother raised me single-handedly. I was very close to my brother from a young age, and he regarded me as his only child… Later, my brother fell ill, and even though we consulted all the famous doctors in the country, none of them could help. I was heartbroken and desperate, but whenever I saw my brother's smiling face, I felt so happy again. No matter what, my brother was always with me. But then my brother suddenly disappeared. I was so scared, so very scared. I've never been so scared before. Do you know how terrified I was?” west Le turned to look at Zi Jin, her eyes full of questions.

Zi Jin lowered her eyes and slowly bowed her head, unsure how to comfort this princess who was always so domineering.

"Do you know this place?" For some reason, the two had arrived at a secluded palace.

Zi Jin raised her head and looked around. She seemed to have a vague sense of familiarity. When she saw the pavilion not far away, she was shocked. A blurry image appeared in her mind: a young man with white hair and white clothes, like a celestial being who had mistakenly entered the mortal world.

west Le seemed to be looking at Zi Jin, yet also at something in the distance: "This is the palace where they imprisoned my brother. They used my brother as a bargaining chip to coerce my Chen Kingdom into sending troops. I exchanged myself for my brother... My brother was innocent and naive, how could they... Do you still believe Zi Yingfeng now? The world calls him a hero, holding most of the Yue Kingdom in his hands, yet he resorts to such despicable means. Are you still willing to believe him?"

west Le turned her head to look at Zi Jin, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Zi Jin lowered her eyes, her mind racing with thoughts. Should she believe him? Should she trust him? Should she really believe him?

Jin'er:

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

Jin'er:

I've heard you're very interested in pharmacology and medicine. On the day we meet again, I'll definitely take Jin'er to Rouge Valley to find that reclusive divine physician, so that Jin'er's skills can become even more exquisite.

Jin'er:

I heard you acquired a five-colored glass thumb ring, and I like it very much. After your triumphant return, I will definitely take Zi Jin to Suiling Town, where the people are truly masters of glass craftsmanship.

Jin'er:

The scenery in Jiangnan is beautiful everywhere, and I've heard you love the pastries from the Imperial Kitchen. All the world's pastries originated in Jiangnan; when I return in triumph, I'll definitely take Jin'er to eat all the pastries from Jiangnan.

Zi Jin raised her head to meet west Le's gaze, her eyes firm and fearless, but hidden in them was a desperate gamble: I'm willing to place my last bet on him. I believe in him, inexplicably believe in him.

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 5)

The Past is but a Dream (Part 5) Inside the Palace of Locked Love, Emperor Xuanlong's fingers trembled slightly as he gently stroked the smiling face of the woman in the painting, his eyes filled with sorrow and self-reproach.

"Lin'er's child is gone. It's my fault for not protecting him. Will you... blame me?"

During the reign of Emperor Yaochen, the Empress was thirteen years old.

Empress Yanzai smiled as she personally arranged a sumptuous meal. Then, raising an eyebrow slightly, she cheerfully called out to the air, "Jun Xiaosan! Quickly show yourself!"

Before the words were even finished, Jun Ying had already positioned himself behind the Empress. Jun Ying seemed to be infected by the Empress's joy, his eyes filled with a slight smile and undisguised indulgence.

The Empress stepped forward, took Jun Ying's hand, and pulled him to sit down beside her in a charming manner, saying, "Jun Xiao San, these are all prepared by me personally, so you must eat more."

Jun Ying stared blankly at the hand that the Empress was holding, a strange glint in his brown eyes: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Empress smiled and tilted her head, picking up a piece of chicken and carefully placing it in Jun Ying's bowl: "Sister Su'er will be going with you tomorrow, and I am extremely reluctant to part with her... However, I believe you will not mistreat Su'er. Consider this meal today my way of thanking you in advance." After saying this, the Empress raised her cup of wine.

Jun Ying's eyes flickered, and he hurriedly lowered his gaze, picking up the wine from the Empress's hand and drinking it all in one gulp.

The Empress raised an eyebrow, a strange smile playing on her lips, and picked up her wine cup again: "All these years, thanks to Jun Xiaosan, I have been able to live to this day. This cup of wine is bestowed upon you by me."

Looking into the Empress's clear eyes and charming smile, Jun Ying took the wine cup and drank it down without hesitation.

The Empress looked at Jun Ying but smiled without saying a word, a strange glint in her eyes.

Jun Ying felt uneasy under the Empress's piercing gaze. His ears turned bright red, and he was extremely agitated. His body was burning with heat, yet he felt utterly powerless.

Seeing Jun Ying's rapid breathing and flushed face, the Empress finally burst out laughing: "Haha... the medical book really didn't deceive me... ha..."

"Your Majesty..." Jun Ying suddenly stood up, but fell back down weakly, staring at the Empress in utter astonishment.

"Jun Xiaosan! You think you can fool me so easily? Do you think I don't know what you're up to? You want to take Su'er out of the palace and raise her elsewhere." The Empress's smile turned sharp as she glared at Jun Ying.

"Your Majesty... how could this be?" Jun Ying's breathing became rapid as he tried to calm himself down, his eyes fixed on the Empress's delicate red lips as she opened and closed her mouth.

"In all these years you've served me, when have you ever dared to lie to me? When you spoke, you wouldn't look me in the eye, and I immediately sensed something was wrong. I sent people to investigate, only to find out you'd already made arrangements! Jun Xiaosan, I trusted you so much! And yet you…"

"Your Majesty! If it were anything else, I, Jun Ying, would gladly die for it! But this matter concerns Miss Su'er's life, and I cannot ruin her future." Jun Ying's breathing became increasingly rapid, and his mind was in complete chaos.

"You can rest assured! I have long known that Sister Su'er has feelings for you. Otherwise, why would I have persisted so much?" The Empress smiled slightly and said with a hint of pride.

"Your Majesty..." Jun Ying's eyes were bloodshot, and he could no longer form a coherent sentence.

"Someone! Quickly go and summon Su'er!" The Empress turned to Jun Ying and smiled gently. "Don't struggle. I not only had someone administer a drug, but also added a dispelling agent. If the drug isn't removed, your impressive martial arts skills will be useless. You should know that I have no use for a cripple."

The empress's voice was cold, and her smile didn't reach her eyes. After speaking, she turned and left.

Jun Ying plunged a chopstick deep into his leg, then grabbed the Empress's robes tightly, pleading, "Your Majesty!...I beg you...don't..."

The Empress turned around, glanced indifferently at Jun Ying's wounds, winked playfully, and smiled slightly: "I have already fed my sister the Hehe Soup. If my sister becomes pregnant, I will definitely cherish him as my own child." After saying this, she tore her clothes and walked out without looking back.

Jun Ying clutched the bright yellow hem of her robe tightly, watching the Empress's departing figure, her eyes filled with endless sorrow...

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 Four)