Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 66

"Ugh...it hurts..."

Dugu Xihui was startled, her face instantly returning to its icy expression. She abruptly stood up and strode quickly towards the inner room. Lou Shuo automatically rose and followed closely behind.

Zi Jin's face was slightly dark, bluish-purple, her brows were furrowed in pain, she was curled up in a ball struggling to breathe, her hands were covering her chest, and she was trembling.

Dugu Xihui stood helplessly by the bed, her mind in turmoil, not knowing what to do.

Lou Shuo noticed Dugu Xihui's helplessness and quickly sat down by the bed, helping Zi Jin sit up and lean against him: "Master, don't panic. Miss Zi is not in any danger. It's just that the wound on her chest has affected her internal organs, making it difficult for her to breathe. Sitting upright like this will alleviate the pain."

Zi Jin's clothes were disheveled as she leaned softly against Lou Shuo's chest. Her complexion had improved considerably, and her breathing was no longer as labored as before. The hand that had been covering her chest gradually lowered.

Dugu Xihui's expression changed upon seeing this: "Men and women should not touch each other. If this continues... what will happen when she wakes up..."

Lou Shuo understood Dugu Xihui's meaning, his slightly dark face suddenly flushed red, and he abruptly stood up as if he had suddenly realized something. Seeing that Zi Jin was about to fall onto the bed, Dugu Xihui, without thinking, hurriedly supported Zi Jin's body as she was about to fall and turned around to sit down.

Unconscious and still shaken, Zi Jin clung tightly to Dugu Xihui's clothes, nestling obediently in his arms. For some reason, Dugu Xihui, whose mood had been gloomy just moments before, smiled slightly and, without thinking, pulled up the blanket, wrapping Zi Jin tightly around himself.

Lou Shuo, who was standing to the side, stared at the scene with his mouth agape in astonishment. After a long while, he realized his lapse in composure and quickly took two steps back, saying, "I'll go and check if the pain-relieving herbs are ready."

Dugu Xihui nodded silently, and Lou Shuo retreated as if fleeing.

Zi Jin, still unconscious, seemed uncomfortable, wriggling in Dugu Xihui's arms, trying to find a comfortable position. Dugu Xihui, who had never served anyone before, was completely bewildered and stiffened, not daring to move.

Dugu Xihui's body grew increasingly stiff, his hands trembling unsure of where to go. Zi Jin, having lost her footing, slowly slumped to one side, and Dugu Xihui quickly caught her. Zi Jin immediately found support, subconsciously grasping Dugu Xihui's hand and resting against his shoulder.

Seeing that Zi Jin was sleeping comfortably, Dugu Xihui immediately relaxed and reached out to wipe the sweat from his face. He stared blankly at Zi Jin's sleeping face, feeling a part of his heart slowly soften, as if it could be squeezed to release water.

He unconsciously rubbed Zi Jin's cheek with the back of his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. If Lou Shuo saw this, he would be terrified. When had Dugu Xi Hui ever shown such a carefree and warm smile?

While unconscious, Zi Jin felt a suffocating pain in her chest, but suddenly felt much lighter and less uncomfortable. Slowly, the surrounding atmosphere changed again and again, and a familiar scent mixed with a faint milky fragrance made Zi Jin feel very at ease and she fell into a deep sleep.

A lifetime of love and hate, hard to understand, reincarnation begins again. The bamboo grower is heartless, the past is but a dream. (Part Six)

Past Events, a Dream (VI) - Late Spring of the Fifth Year of Yanzai in the Yaochen Era, Empress at the Age of Eight

Dugu Ruoxi, the patriarch of the Dugu clan, was overjoyed to have a son and sent him to the palace to keep the eight-year-old Empress Yanzai company.

In the late spring of the tenth year of the Yaochen era, the Empress was thirteen years old.

The thirteen-year-old Empress Yeonjae is about to marry the prime minister's eighteen-year-old eldest son.

The weather at the end of spring is cool and refreshing, with a hint of sweet grass.

Empress Yanzai stood in the imperial study, her youthful face ashen. She clenched the memorial in her hand tightly, her hand trembling slightly.

Jun Ying looked troubled. He stood behind the Empress, wanting to comfort her, but didn't know how to start.

The Empress turned around angrily and slammed the memorial to the ground: "Dugu Ruoxi! Dugu Ruoxi! He actually... Don't think that just because he's my uncle, I should be afraid of him!" Her childish voice was filled with overwhelming rage.

Jun Ying stepped forward, picked up the memorial from the ground, gently placed it on the imperial desk, and asked softly, "What has angered Your Majesty so?"

"Gu Du Ruoxi said that if I want to marry Sikou Xunxiang, I must marry Dugu Xihui before that! How dare you threaten me with the matter of assuming power! Dugu Xihui?! Dugu Xihui!? Who is that?..." The angry voice slowly turned into confusion.

Jun Ying lowered his head, suppressing the smile in his eyes: "Your Majesty has forgotten? The child who was sent to the palace five years ago was the only son of the Dugu family—Dugu Xihui. Before he was even born, he had already been made the first concubine and betrothed to Your Majesty."

"Where is Dugu Xihui?" The Empress lowered her head, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.

Five years ago, His Majesty, fearing that the infant would be too noisy, granted him residence in Xiayang Palace.

The empress turned her head in thought, a picture flashing through her mind: a wrinkled, monkey-like infant who cried incessantly when presented to the emperor and was later given to live in the most remote Xia Yang Palace in the harem.

"Set up the Xia Yang Palace!" The Empress smiled enigmatically as she stepped out of the Imperial Study and called out to those outside. Jun Ying had already hidden himself in the darkness.

In late spring, the Xiayang Palace was lush and vibrant, showing no sign of the emperor's indifference or desolation.

A tiny, exquisitely beautiful figure chases after colorful butterflies in the courtyard, its joyful laughter echoing throughout every corner of Xiayang Palace, adding warmth to the early summer air.

The Empress stopped her attendants and quietly entered the courtyard, her phoenix eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and curiosity.

Seeing a stranger enter, the little figure tilted its head and curiously examined the Empress, then asked calmly, "Who are you?"

The Empress gazed at the tiny figure, as exquisite as glass in the sunlight, and smiled knowingly: Dugu Xihui? Mother, what a brilliant move! Now that my uncle's only son is in my hands, how dare he coerce me?

"Young master! Young master! Don't run around... This old servant..." The over-fifty-year-old eunuch Fu Lai ran over, about to scold the servant, but stood there dumbfounded. After a long while, he finally came to his senses and pulled the servant up to kneel down with him.

"This servant was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival and failed to greet you properly. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!" After saying this, he pulled the servant aside and kowtowed together.

Dugu Xihui, at a loss, was pulled and forced to kowtow by Eunuch Fulai, her amber eyes looking at the Empress with unease.

The Empress smiled gently, stepped forward, and personally helped Eunuch Fu Lai to his feet. She said softly, "Please rise, Eunuch. I am so grateful for your help in teaching Xi Hui all these years." After speaking, she squatted down and embraced the stiff-bodied Dugu Xi Hui, examining him closely.

With red eyes and moving lips, Eunuch Fu Lai looked at Dugu Xi Hui in the Empress's arms with immense relief, unable to believe that such a tremendous blessing had descended upon Xia Yang Palace so unexpectedly.

Dugu Xihui shrank back, her small body trembling, her round eyes, innocent like a little fox, looking pleadingly at Grandpa Fulai.

The Empress smiled gently and coaxed softly, "Don't be afraid of me. From now on, when you see me, just call me 'elder sister'."

Dugu Xihui timidly raised her head, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, and whispered, "Father-in-law said you are Hui'er's wife...aren't you?"

The Empress was stunned for a long time. After a while, a genuine smile appeared in her eyes. She affectionately hugged Dugu Xihui and coaxed her softly, "When you grow up, you will be my wife. For now, you should call me sister."

Dugu Xihui nestled blankly in the Empress's arms: "My lady, why haven't you come to see Hui'er for so long?" His childish voice was full of resentment.

The Empress took Dugu Xihui's small, delicate hand and placed it on her face, saying gently, "I have been too busy and have neglected Hui'er. I will not leave Hui'er alone from now on."

Dugu Xihui nestled obediently in the Empress's arms, a slight smile revealing adorable dimples. She felt a long-lost warmth in her heart: Never again… never again… to live alone in this cold palace… My wife will stay with me… always with me… My wife feels so warm… so very warm…