Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 90
Four years ago, this young man was already twenty; now, he should have a wife by now.
Zi Jin listened to the boy's words with little concern and continued to wipe the wound on his hand, but she couldn't clean the hand that was holding the earring. The boy noticed Zi Jin's predicament and a look of distress appeared on his face, but he was unwilling to put down the earring and could only look at Zi Jin innocently.
Zi Jin stood up, shook her head helplessly, took off a blue pouch from her waist, and handed it to the boy: "Put it in and hang it on your waist, then you won't lose it again."
The boy smiled slightly, carefully placed the earring in his purse, put the purse in his pocket, and obediently stretched out his hand.
Zi Jin absentmindedly applied the medicine to the boy, pulling on it several times and causing him pain. The boy could only bite his lower lip and frown, not daring to groan.
"Young master, you look unfamiliar."
Zi Jin was stunned for a moment before realizing that the "young master" was being addressed to her: "You've only been here a few days."
"Really...we've met before?"
Zi Jin lowered her eyes and shook her head slightly: "It's all set up. I'll have them take you home."
"No, these clothes..." The boy's face showed a hint of grievance and hurt. He tugged at his clothes, which were covered in holes, in frustration. "If they see this, I'll be punished."
Zi Jin hurriedly looked away, not daring to look at the boy's slightly aggrieved face. She sighed softly, got up and rummaged through the wardrobe: She really brought trouble upon herself by bringing back such a big problem. If Xi Le found out, there would definitely be no peace.
She casually picked up a white robe from the trunk and compared it to the boy's figure; it seemed to fit him well. The boy was much taller than Zi Jin, so the robe was clearly not meant for her.
The boy stood up, propped himself up with his hands, closed his eyes, and stood still.
Zi Jin was stunned by the boy's inexplicable actions: What is he doing? Is he sleepwalking?
"No, change clothes?" After a long silence, the boy opened his eyes and asked in confusion.
Zi Jin's eyes widened. "You really don't consider yourself an outsider? Am I your household's head maid? Why should I serve you?!"
The boy seemed to sense Zi Jin's resentment, and unease flashed in his eyes. He lowered his head and said, "I... I won't."
Zi Jin suppressed her anger and walked step by step toward the boy: I'm not angry! I'm not angry! Getting angry with an idiot is worse than being an idiot yourself. Don't argue with an idiot, don't argue with an idiot!
Zi Jin placed the brand-new robe on the bed and slowly began to undress the boy. Her hands trembled uncontrollably; she had never taken off anyone's clothes before, let alone a man's. Although he was a novice, he had everything one would expect, and he was a rare gem. It was inevitable that she would be nervous, incredibly nervous.
The boy suddenly opened his eyes, and Zi Jin shuddered, asking, "What...what's wrong?"
The boy took the blue pouch out of his pocket and clutched it tightly in his hand: "I forgot about it."
Zi Jin nodded and continued her work. Perhaps startled by the boy, she sped up and became much rougher, her heart filled with irritation as she just wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.
The boy clearly sensed Zi Jin's impatience, but he lowered his head even further. Even when Zi Jin touched his wound, he only trembled slightly, not daring to make a sound or resist.
"Young Master? You're back?" Xiao Shuang's voice came from outside the door.
"Ah! Oh...you're...back. Is there something you need?" Zi Jin roughly pushed the boy onto the bed, stuffed the clothes he had changed out of under the bed, and pulled the bed curtains closed.
"Young Master, what are you doing?" Xiao Shuang pushed the door open and entered, only to see Zi Jin hurriedly pulling up the bed curtains.
"Ah...oh, I want to sleep. Is there something you need?" Zi Jin quickly sat on the bed.
"Didn't you say you wanted to take a bath, young master?"
"A bath? Oh... I suddenly feel tired, I want... I want to sleep first." Zi Jin finished speaking and quickly yawned, rushing into the tent, but accidentally pressed down on the boy's injured hand. "Ugh..." Zi Jin hurriedly covered the boy's mouth as he was about to groan, glaring at him threateningly.
"Then young master, please rest. Xiaoshuang will tidy up these things." Outside the tent, Xiaoshuang's hurried footsteps could be heard.
Zi Jin carefully moved aside and lifted the hand that had been pressed under her. The wound on that hand reopened and bled again, and Zi Jin felt waves of self-reproach.
The boy noticed Zi Jin's self-reproach, lowered his eyes, bit his lower lip, his hands trembling slightly, his gentle eyes filled with grievances, as if he were expressing even the grievances he suffered while getting dressed.
Zi Jin looked at the boy with his head down, but dared not utter a word of comfort, while the blood on her hand continued to flow. As if possessed, she placed her hand to her lips and licked away the blood little by little. The boy raised his eyes, staring blankly at Zi Jin, his jade-like cheeks slightly flushed, and his dark eyes slowly gathered mist, becoming hazy and shimmering.
Outside the tent, the footsteps had stopped, and a soft sound of the door closing jolted Zi Jin back to reality. Realizing her lapse in judgment, she quickly stopped. She looked awkwardly at the young man. In the darkness, the young man's eyes were hazy. He gently tilted his head, rested it on Zi Jin's shoulder, and slowly closed his eyes.
“Uh…that…” Zi Jin didn’t know what to say. She let go of the boy’s hand in a daze, but the boy gently took her hand in his.
"Don't make noise, I want to sleep..." The boy's voice was hazy, as if he were murmuring in a dream.
"Oh..." Zi Jin responded blankly, her mind a jumble of confusion. The boy's even breathing was hypnotic, slowly closing Zi Jin's eyes, her mind no longer clear. She vaguely remembered something was wrong, yet she couldn't quite recall what it was. This feeling of peace seemed familiar, yet also felt entirely new. The conflicting emotions within her, intertwined with the tranquility around her, eventually lulled Zi Jin 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 10)
Past Events, a Dream (Part 10) 526 Years of Flourishing Era, 13 Years of Autumn, Empress Yanzai
In the late autumn of the tenth year of the reign of Emperor Yaochen (526 AD), the eldest son of the Chancellor, Sima Xunxiang, was eighteen years old.
Inside the palace, fiery red silks danced everywhere, exuding auspiciousness and joy. In the distance, boisterous and cheerful palace music drifted up, the sounds of voices rising and falling, the entire palace brimming with celebration. Tonight, Empress Yanzai was getting married; the whole country rejoiced, and a general amnesty was declared.
Crimson robes adorned with golden phoenixes, and magnificent red tassels cascading from either side of a golden and jade phoenix crown, along with his embroidered gold, silver, and jade garments and intricately clasped fasteners, made Sikou Xunxiang appear like a divine being. The room, filled with red curtains and silks, enveloped his serene figure under the eaves of the bed, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty.
The night was deep, and the Phoenix Palace, adorned with red curtains and silk, was eerily quiet, completely out of place with the deafening gongs and drums outside. Turning his head to look at the high-rising moon, Sikou Xunxiang, sitting quietly on the edge of the bed, revealed a bitter smile.
It turns out, it's the same everywhere.
Empress Yanzai walked slowly to the outside of the Phoenix Palace and stopped. Although she was also dressed in a red robe with a gold dragon and a red brocade crown with a dragon, there was no trace of joy on her face; instead, her expression was full of resentment and humiliation.
This Fengyi Palace was originally Empress Dugu's bedroom, and yesterday it was her bedroom with Dugu Xihui. But from now on, it will take the surname of Sikou. How can she be willing to accept this?!
The world belongs to the Nalan family! No one should even think of taking a piece of it!
Empress Yanzai reached out and pushed open the door of Fengyi Palace, tilting her head as she stepped into the palace adorned with red curtains and silk. The glass screens, reflecting the bright candlelight, were a kaleidoscope of colors, casting shimmering halos on the white marble walls, while the dragon and phoenix candles hissed as they burned.
Sikou Xunxiang, seated within a red curtain and silk curtains, quickly lowered his eyes, waiting for the person to enter.