Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 45
How can the truth hasten parting (Part 4) In the early spring, the sycamore trees outside the Imperial Study were covered with purple sycamore flowers.
Emperor Xuanlong stood in the imperial study, gazing at the woman opposite him who was even more proud than the paulownia flower.
Princess Xile's eyes were as black as night, her gaze captivating. She wore a bright yellow princess's formal attire, embroidered with nine phoenixes poised for flight. Her clothing revealed the rank and status of Princess Xile within the Chen Kingdom, as well as the extent of her favor.
west Le smiled elegantly, her usual allure replaced by a stern and dignified air: "What has Your Majesty decided?"
Emperor Xuanlong raised an eyebrow slightly: "How can I trust you?"
Xi Le could tell that Emperor Xuanlong was already tempted, and his smile deepened: "Your Majesty must already know that Zi Yingfeng cherishes this boy even more than the entire Zi clan. If Your Majesty lets this good opportunity slip by, it will be extremely difficult to take revenge on Zi Yingfeng in the future."
Emperor Xuanlong frowned, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his brown eyes: "How do you know I will agree to your request? No matter how many faults Zi Yingfeng has, he is still my general. Why should I cooperate with you?"
"Others may not know, but how could my Sikou family not know how much the Emperor hates Zi Yingfeng? Xi Le's hatred for Zi Yingfeng is no less than the Emperor's. If it weren't for him, would Xi Le's elder brother be in such a miserable state? Now, the vast Chen Kingdom is only supported by my second brother, while my elder brother... Therefore, Xi Le wants him to taste the pain of losing his beloved. Moreover, I am truly in love with the young master of the Zi family. If he could see that the person he respects most is so wretched, he would give up and return to the Chen Kingdom with me." west Le's words revealed deep sorrow and hope.
Emperor Xuanlong raised an eyebrow, the images of those short rafts flashing through his mind, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips: "Fine! I'll cooperate with you."
A glint of light flashed in Xi Le's peach-blossom eyes, followed by a grateful smile: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. Zi Yingfeng has been secretly summoned back by you. I hope this can be done as soon as possible. I received a letter from the Chen family that my elder brother has been ill for a long time, so I hope to return as soon as possible."
A faint melancholy appeared on Emperor Xuanlong's handsome face. After a long while, he raised his eyes and asked, "Sikou Xunxiang... I haven't seen your brother for many years. How is he? I was forced to invite Prince Anle to be my guest back then, and later I wronged the princess... I'm sure Sikou Xunxiang must be blaming me."
"Your Majesty need not feel guilty, this matter is long past. west Le voluntarily exchanged for her second brother, it has nothing to do with Your Majesty. If Your Majesty truly wishes to make amends, Xi Le only asks that Your Majesty allow her to take away the third young master of the Zi family smoothly."
Emperor Xuanlong turned around, a fierce hatred flashing in his eyes: "Two days to get everything done."
A victorious smile spread across west Le's lips as he gracefully performed a standard palace salute, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty." His lowered eyes were filled with a cold, murderous intent.
The full moon illuminated the dark night as if it were daytime. Zi Jin lay leisurely under a tree outside Taiping Pavilion, gazing at the distant starry sky, a sweet smile on her lips. Suddenly, a white figure descended from the sky, his robes fluttering, dancing without wind, his body radiating a faint glow, like a celestial being descended to earth. He slowly walked towards Zi Jin.
Zi Jin's eyes widened involuntarily, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. Every day, that person would stand there, as if waiting for someone, standing at a distance, but never taking the initiative to approach her. Why was he walking towards her today?
Closer... As Zi Jin saw the person, dressed in white, with snow-white hair fluttering in the moonlight, closer... his face was obscured by the shadows of the trees... but the heavy shadows still outlined his perfect features...
The white-haired man raised his eyes, staring blankly at Zi Jin. His eyes shone brightly in the darkness, yet seemed to have endured countless hardships. He slowly reached out his hand to Zi Jin, his whole being filled with sorrow: "When? When will you remember me?..." It was a sigh of despair, yet also a helpless accusation.
Zi Jin stood up blankly, surprisingly unafraid, and slowly walked towards the white-haired man as if possessed. The white-haired man stood alone under the moon, as if he had been waiting for millennia. He gazed at Zi Jin's figure, the despair in his eyes slowly fading, replaced by a faint joy.
Zi Jin stood awkwardly in front of the white-haired man, like a child who had done something wrong, not daring to look up at him. The white-haired man slowly stretched out his hands and opened his arms.
Zi Jin stared blankly at those slender, jade-like hands, then suddenly threw herself into the white-haired man's arms: "Brother..."
The white-haired man trembled and suddenly tightened his arms around him: "Jin'er... Jin'er... Jin'er... my Jin'er... my Jin'er... why won't you come looking for me? Why won't you come looking for me?"
"Where are you, brother..." Zi Jin looked up and met a pair of eyes as warm and gentle as black jade.
Under the moonlight, his translucent skin and snow-white hair complemented each other, his dark, warm eyes shimmered with layers of light, and a soothing smile seemed to appear on his lips. He exuded an undeniable nobility with a touch of tranquility. His white gauze robe was casually draped over his body, fluttering in the breeze, making him look like a celestial being from the heavens.
It was that white-haired boy! No… that boy was not yet twenty, and the person before him was much older. The boy's eyes were innocently clear, while the person before him had eyes filled with despair and pain. The boy's voice was soft and childlike, while the person before him had a voice as cold and clear as jade striking jade.
"Jin'er...why are you unwilling to come to Chen Kingdom to find me? Why are you unwilling to come to Chen Kingdom to find me?" Each question deepened the pain in the man's eyes, as if a long-standing wound had been violently torn open, bleeding profusely.
Zi Jin lowered her eyes, not daring to look at the man. Her chest ached terribly, and guilt and unease overwhelmed her: "I...I..."
Just as Zi Jin was at a loss for what to do, a sudden pain forced her to open her eyes, her body covered in cold sweat. She stared wide-eyed at west Le's alluring face.
How long has it been? That person appears in my dreams every night, but I can't see his face clearly. He just stands there at a distance, harmlessly, never speaking. What's wrong today? What's wrong?
Zi Jin didn't believe in ghosts and spirits, but she was originally a ghost who could possess people. So who was that white-haired man? Why had he been appearing in her dreams every night for so long? Strangely, she wasn't afraid at all.
"What a dream! I've been calling you for ages and you still haven't woken up!" west Le said, her face tense with displeasure, and pinched Zi Jin hard again.
Zi Jin grimaced, rubbing the spot where west Le had pinched her, glaring resentfully at west Le, who was dressed in black: What an incredibly handsome man! She hadn't even asked where he lived, how many acres of farmland he owned, or if he was married! A dream come true, a dream come true! How could this jinx have ruined it all? It's true what they say, the more beautiful a woman is, the more vicious she can be. Zhang Wuji's mother was right.
Zi Jin looked out the window. The moonlight was bright and clear, and it was midnight at most: "It's the middle of the night, can't people get a good night's sleep?"
west Le got up and walked to his desk, then opened a locked cabinet and took out the bundle inside.
The more Zi Jin looked at the bundle, the more familiar it seemed. Wasn't this hers? All the medicines she had concocted and all her belongings were inside! Could it be that she was going to rob her?!
Zi Jin lunged forward, trying to snatch it back: "Robbery! Help! Robbery!"
west Le deftly dodged the pursuit, then grabbed Zi Jin and said, "I'll keep this bundle for you for now. Come with me to see a great show! I guarantee it will be spectacular."
Zi Jin opened her mouth wide, wanting to call for help, but west Le covered her mouth: "Shh! Don't shout! If you shout, you'll have pretended to be mute for four years for nothing."
Zi Jin rolled her eyes helplessly: "I won't shout, I won't shout, just let go first."
Xi Le laughed seductively, whispering in Zi Jin's ear, "We need to leave as soon as possible. The war is long over. That old fox, Emperor Xuanlong, should have honored the alliance and sent me back to Chen Kingdom long ago. But he hasn't mentioned it at all. Does he intend to imprison me for life? Chen Kingdom has sent twenty-four secret guards to help me escape tonight. I know you have someone you love and don't want to leave with me. But I don't want to hide what you need to know from you. Come with me and see for yourself. Whether you stay or leave is up to you."
Before Zi Jin could react, west Le grabbed her and flew out the window. The two flew all the way to a room inside the Forbidden City, where west Le released Zi Jin's pressure points.
Zi Jin followed west Le, who was carrying a bundle, with a mixture of curiosity and confusion: Why did you come to the old emperor's palace when you said you were going to watch a play? The old emperor is getting bolder and bolder; there isn't even a single guard in his palace.
"Mmm...mmm...uh..."
Upon hearing this voice, Zi Jin's eyes gleamed with predatory intent: "Xile, oh Xile, you truly are my best friend, even knowing about my penchant for porn. In ancient times, there were no adult films to watch, yet you took me to see a live broadcast—a true confidant!"
"Hmm...my dear minister...how is it?" came the heavy voice of Emperor Xuanlong from inside.
"Um... um... may the emperor live long..."
Zi Jin was stunned. Men! She never expected to witness a live demonstration of homosexuality in ancient times. The ancients were truly more perverse than people today! BL novels—you're absolutely right!
Zi Jin had long forgotten the purpose of her visit. She quickly made a hole in the gap between the door and window and peered inside without blinking.
west Le gently pushed the door open a crack and whispered, "You can see clearly from here."
Zi Jin's eyes lit up, and she looked at west Le with satisfaction, thinking: west Le understands me.