Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 107

Inside Liuran Pavilion, there was no way to retreat; Zi Jin was completely surrounded by the Imperial Guards. Step by step, she retreated to the stone steps leading to the water, the icy lake water already soaking her boots.

"Don't come any closer!" The Imperial Guards approached step by step, and Zi Jin retreated step by step. When the lake water reached her calves, Zi Jin suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Don't hurt her!" Xiaoshuang and Mr. Fang slowly approached the stone steps.

"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!" Zi Jin's eyes were unfocused as she hysterically shouted at the crowd.

Xiaoshuang and Mr. Fang immediately stood still.

"Young master, don't be afraid. I am Xiaoshuang. Come, stretch out your hand, and I will help you up." Xiaoshuang said and tried to move forward.

"Don't come any closer! Or I'll jump!"

"Miss Xiaoshuang, please don't be impatient... Young Master's health has reached its limit. Let me find a way to remove the silver needles first," Old Master Fang said anxiously in a low voice.

"Don't come any closer! Nobody is allowed to come any closer!" Zi Jin raised her blood-covered hand and pointed at the crowd.

One of the Imperial Guards stepped forward: "Aunt Xiaoshuang, please think of a solution quickly. The Emperor and the Prince have already asked, and we will have a hard time explaining ourselves."

Xiao Shuang thought for a moment, then whispered, "Go quickly and report this matter truthfully to Lord Jin. Tell him that the person surrounded in Liuranting is the Yue Kingdom prince who has suddenly become agitated."

Zi Jin stood swaying precariously in the water, her unfocused eyes seemingly searching for something in the crowd.

"Young Master," Xiao Shuang called softly, "What are you looking for?"

“Yu Luo… Why hasn’t the general returned yet? Doesn’t he want me anymore?” Zi Jin murmured, gazing at the crowd.

"Young master, what are you saying..."

“Following her words, she can’t afford to become manic again.” Xiao Shuang’s words were interrupted by Mr. Fang’s whisper.

"The general will be back soon," Xiaoshuang replied gently.

“When I woke up… he told me he was my father… he told me to wait for him to come back and take me away… I truly cared for Jun Chi, and I truly waited for him… I just wanted to live freely. Taking the medicine… I wasn’t afraid. Jun Lin bullied me… I wasn’t afraid either. With my father, I still had hope. Waiting for my father became my only hope in life. They said Princess Xi Le was capricious, but I insisted that Xi Le was a good person. Although she often teased me… I knew… she didn’t want anyone to hurt or harm me… Now I don’t blame Jun Chi anymore… I don’t blame him at all. He was just like me… only wanted to live… to live well… which is why he went to such lengths to get close to me at such a young age… He had no ill intentions towards me… There… those without favor, love, or status… were not qualified to live… I only felt pity for him…”

At the pavilion on the shore of Weiyang Lake, lanterns were just lit, and people in splendid attire and colorful hair were dressed in vibrant hues. On the intricately painted sandalwood table, various exquisite dishes were laid out. Sikou Xunxiang and Yu Luo sat at the head of the table, with Dugu Xihui and a veiled woman to their left, and Prince Anle alone to their right. Everyone wore harmonious and perfectly appropriate smiles.

Not far away, the melodious piano music abruptly stopped, replaced by a series of footsteps and chaotic shouts.

The Imperial Guards ran over from afar, walked to Jin Yu behind Prince Anle, and whispered something in his ear, but were interrupted by the Chief Minister of Justice, Xun Xiang.

"What's causing all this commotion over there?" Sikou Xunxiang glanced at the guard and asked casually.

The guard quickly stepped forward and knelt before the head of the table: "Your Majesty, it is the Prince of Yue, who resides in Weiyang Palace, who has been surrounded by us at Liuran Pavilion."

"Does such a small matter require a report? Now that it's surrounded, why don't you quickly take it back to Weiyang Palace?" King Anle said, playing with the cup in his hand without looking up.

"Yes, yes, we've surrounded him... but that young master is extremely agitated. He's currently standing on the stone steps by the water at Liuran Pavilion, confronting everyone. Aunt Xiaoshuang and Doctor Fang don't dare to touch him, for fear of startling him again," the guard said with a troubled expression.

King Anle suddenly stood up, his face contorted with rage: "Outrageous!" After saying this, he turned and walked toward Liuranting.

Dugu Xihui smiled humbly and said to Sikou Xunxiang, who was seated at the head of the table, "I never imagined that Weiyang Palace, which has been empty for more than ten years, would be inhabited now. I wonder who lives there? Would you like to come and take a look?"

Sikou Xunxiang considered for a moment, then smiled and said, "I haven't met the guests that Le'er brought back from Yue Kingdom yet. Let's go together." After speaking, Sikou Xunxiang raised his hand to smooth Yu Luo's hair, which had been ruffled by the lake breeze. "Nan'er, are you tired? If you are... I'll have them send you back first."

Yu Luo lowered her eyes: "Nan'er wants to go with the Emperor to see him."

Sikou Xunxiang smiled indulgently, stood up, took the cloak from the palace servant, carefully draped it over Yu Luo's shoulders, and then, as if no one else was around, took Yu Luo's hand and walked towards Liuran Pavilion. Dugu Xihui and the veiled woman followed closely behind.

A gust of wind blew by, and Zi Jin seemed a little cold. She touched her arm, her sleeve stained with blood: "Yu Luo... is it going to snow?... Why is it so cold?"

"No, it's just the wind," Xiao said, her eyes slightly red, as she lowered her voice to comfort her.

Zi Jin looked up at the bright moon in the sky: "Does Yu Luo know Yun Ran?... I know her, she's Jun Lin's concubine... She's straightforward, innocent, and sweet... She said life is so tiring... She said it's so cold there... She said we wouldn't leave until we were drunk. How could such a beautiful woman become like that? How could she become like that? Yu Luo... I'm so scared... I'm so scared that one day I'll become like her, I'll become as crazy as she is... So I want to leave, so I want to escape, I'm waiting for Father to come and get me... I'm hoping Father will come back victorious to get me... But why... But why..."

"Bring her up here!" King Anle glared at Zi Jin, his face ashen.

Zi Jin turned her head slightly, her unfocused eyes sweeping over Prince Anle in the lamplight before expressionlessly searching for the figure she wanted in the crowd.

King Anle's face was full of gloom as he quickly took two steps forward.

"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!" Zi Jin exclaimed in alarm and took two steps back.

When Prince Anle saw Zi Jin clearly, his pupils contracted slightly. In the moonlight, Zi Jin's face was ashen and lifeless. Her once bright and spirited eyes were dull and unfocused. She was much thinner than when she arrived, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. Her once rosy lips were sickly pale, and her face had lost all its former smile and liveliness. Her blue clothes were stained with blood, making her look like a walking corpse.

Anle Wang's heart was in turmoil. Only a few days... only a few days, how could she have become like this? She shouldn't be like this, she shouldn't be like this.

"Little mute! I order you... to come up here right now!" King Anle roared, his voice trembling slightly at the end.

Zi Jin didn't even glance at him, continuing to search for a familiar figure in the crowd.

"you!……"

“Your Highness, please do not startle her any further. The silver needles in her arm have not been removed, and the blood draws over the past few days have pushed her body to its limit. She is now only clinging to life... The early summer dew is heavy, and the water is icy cold. She... cannot endure any more pain.” Old Master Fang interrupted Prince Anle’s angry shout and whispered in his ear.

King Anle stood there, his pupils contracting in waves. He stretched out a slightly trembling hand: "Little mute... come, be good... come to me." His gentle voice trembled slightly.

Zi Jin turned her face blankly: "Who are you...? Have I seen you before?"

A reassuring smile appeared on the lips of Prince Anle: "I am Xile. Come, come to my side, I will take you out of the palace... to the best restaurant, to eat the best food..."

“Xile…Xile…” Zi Jin’s eyes were filled with confusion as she stared blankly at Prince Anle, as if trying to see the person in front of her clearly.

The Imperial Guards on the outer perimeter parted to make way, and Sikou Xunxiang, Yu Luo, Dugu Xihui, and the veiled woman walked in together.

Zi Jin's pupils contracted sharply as she stared in shock behind Prince Anle: "Fish...fall...fish fall..."

Yu Luo stared blankly at Zi Jin in the water, her lips moving, but when she felt the gaze beside her, she quickly looked away.