Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 83

Jun Lin's face grew paler and paler, and he broke out in a cold sweat, but he still bit his lip and refused to make a sound, staring intently at Qi Yongyue.

Anger flashed across west Le's delicate face as she raised her short sword, intending to repeat her previous trick.

"Stop!" Zi Jin's dark eyes were filled with reluctance. She hurriedly turned her face away, not daring to look at Xi Le's increasingly gloomy face and the expectation in Jun Lin's eyes.

west Le sneered: "Now is not the time to be soft-hearted."

Jun Lin's already dim phoenix eyes suddenly lit up, and he gave Zi Jin a weak smile, as if to say: You, in the end, feel sorry for me.

Zi Jin knew that she couldn't afford to be soft-hearted anymore. If they couldn't escape this time and fell into Jun Lin's hands again, Xi Le and Dugu Xi Hui would likely have no chance of survival, and she herself would have no chance of escaping. She turned her head away from Jun Lin and said to Xi Le, "I'll talk to him."

A struggle flashed in west Le's peach blossom eyes, but in the end she chose to believe Zi Jin and leaped away from the horse with Jun Lin.

Zi Jin carefully helped the weakened Dugu Xi Hui off the horse, and exchanged a glance with west Le.

west Le's beautiful eyes flashed, and almost instantly she pushed Jun Lin into Zi Jin's arms. At that moment, one of the guards seized the opportunity to try to snatch Jun Lin back, but Xi Le saw through his intention. She pressed her short sword tightly against Jun Lin's back, carefully looked around, and then took Dugu Xi Hui from him.

west Le handed the short sword to Zi Jin, who waved her hand with a wry smile: "No need, I have silver needles." How could she ride a horse if she held a short sword? Back then, under Jun Lin's special care, her horsemanship was the most "outstanding" among them.

west Le cautiously looked around, then smiled and said, "That's true. The little mute has plenty of poison needles. If His Highness the Crown Prince refuses to cooperate... he can just stick them into vital points to save everyone from seeing blood." After saying that, she helped Dugu Xi Hui onto her horse.

Qi Yongyue and his guards, who were already itching to act, took a step back upon hearing this. Qi Yongyue stared thoughtfully at Zi Jin, seemingly considering whether she would really do so.

Zi Jin slowly helped Jun Lin onto the horse, seemingly afraid of aggravating the wound on his arm. Her cautious and careful manner comforted Jun Lin.

Jun Lin closed his phoenix eyes, leaning obediently and peacefully in Zi Jin's arms. His face was as white as rice paper, but the corners of his mouth were upturned, and a slight look of satisfaction could be seen between his brows.

Zi Jin glanced at Jun Lin's bleeding arm, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "Let them open the door. If you lose too much blood, your life will be in danger."

Jun Lin slowly opened his eyes, smiled weakly, his phoenix eyes already somewhat unfocused: "Jin'er... Jin'er... you're worried about me..."

Seeing Jun Lin's pale face, Qi Yongyue could no longer care about anything else: "Open the city gates. If Your Highness blames me, I will take full responsibility."

Upon hearing this, the city guards swung the city gates wide almost instantly.

west Le and Zi Jin rode side by side, galloping out of the city gate, with Qi Yongyue and the others following closely behind.

Jun Lin leaned softly against Zi Jin's chest, his slender phoenix eyes upturned at the corners, his gaze hazy, his smile dreamlike: "Jin'er... are you going to take me with you?"

Zi Jin followed closely behind west Le's horse. Suddenly, west Le turned around and sneered, "Throw him off."

Upon hearing this, Jun Lin tightly gripped Zi Jin's sleeve with his uninjured hand, his phoenix eyes filled with unease and anxiety.

Dugu Xihui turned his head slightly and carefully observed Zi Jin's reaction.

Zi Jin protected Jun Lin, then hesitated for a moment.

Jun Lin raised his eyebrows with delight, his heart slightly at ease. In his misty eyes, one could clearly see the joy of regaining what he had lost.

"What if... you fall?" Zi Jin asked with difficulty, not daring to look at Jun Lin.

Upon hearing this, Jun Lin's heart sank to the bottom.

Dugu Xihui slowly turned her head back, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.

"Don't worry, what you don't want, someone else will take as a treasure. My little mute is very chivalrous, so just throw him away." west Le's icy tone softened considerably.

Jun Lin gripped Zi Jin's clothes tightly, as if using all his strength. His unfocused phoenix eyes were filled with panic and helplessness: "Jin'er... Jin'er... Jin'er, don't... don't leave me again, don't... leave me again... take me away... take me away... okay?..." The words, almost broken, came out of his mouth unconsciously.

Hearing this, Zi Jin felt a pang of sorrow. She and Jun Lin had always been at odds since childhood, but in their interactions and mutual revenge, she had truly returned to the carefree days of her childhood… There, only between them was there no pretense, no deception. Jun Lin's face was ruthless, yet he had genuinely shown her immense tolerance. A prince who had enjoyed such favor, if he truly wanted to take revenge on a powerless hostage, would surely make her suffer a fate worse than death in the palace. She knew the extent of Jun Lin's indulgence deep within her, which was why she had dared to provoke him again and again. In contrast, those close to her were all scheming and calculating. What was true sincerity? What was true affection? It was a pity… gratitude could not reciprocate his overflowing love. Now, I have hurt you, deceived you, and you have still forgotten me… this heartless man.

"Can't bear to part with it? Then hurry up and throw it away!" west Le's voice was already filled with displeasure.

Zi Jin inserted four silver needles into Jun Lin's arm, and the wound, which had been bleeding profusely, seemed to stop bleeding so badly.

Jun Lin, who was already in a semi-conscious state, sensed Zi Jin's reluctance to part. A smile appeared on his lips as he leaned comfortably on Zi Jin's shoulder.

Zi Jin's eyes reddened slightly. She opened her mouth and silently uttered three words: "I'm sorry..."

Jun Lin's pale face was filled with panic. His trembling hand gripped Zi Jin's clothes tightly.

Zi Jin turned her head away, gritted her teeth, and fiercely tore off a corner of her clothes. With her eyes closed, she pushed Jun Lin, who was already weak all over, off the horse.

Qi Yong leaped forward and caught Jun Lin firmly.

Zi Jin turned around and met Jun Lin's panicked phoenix eyes. He stared at Zi Jin with fear in his eyes, wanting to shout, but in the end only a weak voice came out: "Jin'er... take me away... okay? Don't leave... leave me again... please... don't leave me..."

"Lord Qi, stop chasing us! Quickly find someone to treat your Crown Prince!" west Le's arrogant laughter came from afar.

Qi Yongyue's eyes were filled with hatred and killing intent. He stared at Zi Jin's distant figure for a long time, then picked up the unconscious Jun Lin and flew towards the city.

Zi Jin rode alone, running alongside Xi Le Dugu Xi Hui, galloping for a whole day until they finally crossed the border of Lizhou. A hint of joy finally appeared on Zi Jin's face, which had been tense all day.

The scenery outside the state, under the spring night sky, evoked a profound sense of desolation and wandering.

Zi Jin slowed her horse, letting the cold spring wind whip her thoughts and troubled heart. All along the way, the despair and heartbreak in Jun Lin's phoenix eyes remained etched in her mind, impossible to shake off.

Zi Jin raised her hand to tidy her messy hair. As she let go, she touched the cold jade pendant at her waist. Zi Jin took it off and examined it closely by the moonlight. Next to the phoenix with its wings spread as if about to take flight, she saw a vertical line of cursive script that read, "Holding your hand, we will never be apart."

As Zi Jin closed her eyes, she recalled the two lines Jun Lin had written at the jade shop that day: "To grow old with you, never to be abandoned in this life or the next. Holding your hand, never to be separated from you in this lifetime or the next."

Zi Jin smiled bitterly. Who had taught the future monarch of a nation to be so sentimental?

The Grand Tutor instructed him daily: The Crown Prince is destined to be a lonely king, a widow in the future, and it is destined that he cannot be sentimental.

The Grand Tutor instructed me daily: "In the past, King Jie's favoritism towards his sister Xi led to the downfall of the Xia dynasty; King Zhou's infatuation with Daji led to the destruction of the Shang dynasty; and King You lost his life for a smile from Bao Si. How can I, the future ruler of your family, not heed the Grand Tutor's advice?"

Since ancient times, love has often been accompanied by regret, hasn't it?