Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 114
Zi Jin stared in shock at the little white creature on the large rock. The morning light shone on it, ethereal and dreamlike, making one feel as if the person before them would vanish at any moment.
As Xiao Bai watched Zi Jin approach little by little, he felt an indescribable joy. He turned around and reached out to pull Zi Jin up, but his foot slipped, and he fell backward with a sudden thud.
Zi Jin was immediately terrified. Without thinking, she lunged forward and tightly embraced Xiao Bai. The two plummeted together. With Zi Jin's hands and feet bound, Xiao Bai could only flip over in mid-air to shield Zi Jin in her arms. The two fell into the deep pool at the same time.
The two sank rapidly to the bottom of the water, and Xiao Bai tried his best to pull them up. Unfortunately, his unparalleled martial arts skills lost their original effectiveness underwater. After struggling for a while, he slowly closed his eyes and gradually released Zi Jin.
The biting cold snapped Zi Jin back to reality. She gripped Xiao Bai's hand tightly as he tried to let go, wrapped one arm around his waist, and slowly paddled towards the shore.
With great effort, Zi Jin managed to get Xiao Bai ashore. Her arms ached as she slowly dragged Xiao Bai onto the dry grass. Feeling dizzy, she pressed on Xiao Bai's abdomen and only felt slightly relieved when she saw that Xiao Bai had vomited a lot of water.
Zi Jin gripped Xiao Bai's hand tightly, lying helplessly on the spot, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips: Back in the Moon Kingdom's Azure Moon Lake, she hadn't been this weak even after rescuing three burdens, but now, after dragging a little white rabbit across a small pond, she couldn't even lift her arm. People age so quickly; it's only been a few years? Just a few years? And she's already unrecognizable.
Xiao Bai murmured softly, her fingers trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. As if she had thought of something, she suddenly turned to look at Zi Jin, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.
Zi Jin looked into Xiao Bai's eyes and burst out laughing: "Xiao Bai, you have unparalleled martial arts skills, but it turns out you're a landlubber. It's strange, it seems like none of the people here can swim."
Xiao Bai tried to pull her hand away from Zi Jin's grasp but failed, and frowned slightly.
A wave of dizziness made Zi Jin's ears ring. She struggled to lift her eyelids and whispered, "Xiao Bai, I have no strength left... Carry me home..."
Xiao Bai frowned as he looked at the unconscious Zi Jin. He tried to pull his hand away again but failed. He could only lift Zi Jin up and carry her towards the village...
A lifetime of love and hate, hard to understand, reincarnation begins again. The bamboo grower is heartless, the past is but a dream. (Thirteen)
The past is but a dream (13) After days of snow, the sky was a deep blue, but the weather was gloomy and cold.
In the vast palace, only the crackling of firewood in the fireplace could be heard. The emperor and empress, holding books, sat leaning against the bed, a hint of weariness showing between their brows.
Empress Yanzai quietly approached, snatched the scroll from the Empress's hands, and sat down beside her: "Brother, why are you so oblivious?"
The Emperor and Empress raised their eyes and smiled faintly: "I have been lying here for so long, I am already fine."
Empress Yanzai rubbed her hands together, put her arms around the Emperor and Empress's waist, and buried her face in his chest: "Brother, don't worry about anything else, just focus on getting better. You've lost a lot of weight these days, and it breaks my heart."
The Emperor and Empress lifted the brocade quilt and draped it subtly over Empress Yanzai, gently stroking her long hair: "It's my fault for making Jin'er worry. I won't do it again."
Empress Yanzai seemed to suddenly remember something, abruptly stood up, turned around and took two steps, then, as if realizing her rashness, quickly turned back and said, "Brother, wait a moment, Jin'er will be right back."
The Emperor and Empress silently withdrew their hands, a hint of disappointment flashing in their eyes. They then looked up at the Empress again and smiled gently: "Yes, go."
Empress Yanzai abandoned her attendants and rushed to the imperial kitchen: "Have the pastries I ordered yesterday been prepared?"
Empress Yanzai, looking smug, carried a plate of green pastries and hurried back to Weiyang Palace.
Suddenly, a dark figure knelt down in front of Empress Yanzai.
Empress Yanzai stopped and squinted at Jun Ying, who was kneeling before her: "What happened?"
"Her Majesty the Emperor and Empress's teacher, Lin Cheng, along with the young prince of the Ministry of Justice, entered Weiyang Palace a moment ago... That Lin Cheng is the older brother of Lin Feng, the treacherous official from the Salt Transport Bureau eighteen years ago." Jun Ying lowered his head and replied in a deep voice, his tone full of worry.
Empress Yanzai stared thoughtfully at Jun Ying: "Lin Feng?"
"Eighteen years ago, Lin Feng, the Salt Transport Commissioner, embezzled a large amount of disaster relief funds and was executed along with his entire family. Only Lin Cheng, a martial arts expert, escaped. Since then, Lin Cheng has been secretly given a different identity and is highly valued by the Sikou family. He is not only the martial arts instructor of the Emperor and Empress but also the adoptive father of the young Sikou prince... Lin Cheng is a peerless martial artist and ruthless... Your Majesty, it would be best not to go to Weiyang Palace at this time." Jun Ying finally dared not hide anything and finished speaking in one breath.
Empress Yanzai sneered and said in a deep voice, "Heh, the Sikou family is truly loyal and cunning, having raised such a remnant for eighteen years. You may leave; I know what I'm doing."
Jun Ying looked up at Empress Yan Zai with a troubled expression, hesitated, and finally gritted his teeth and hid in the shadows.
The people around the Emperor and Empress's palace had long been dismissed. Empress Yanzai, holding a silver tray and suppressing her breath, stopped in front of the window of the Emperor and Empress's palace and listened to the conversation inside.
Inside the hall, Lin Cheng, his face streaked with tears, stared intently at the Emperor and Empress with clouded eyes: "Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable! If the Empress were to gain control of those 20,000 Imperial Guards, the consequences would be unimaginable! Eighteen years ago, over two hundred members of my family died unjustly at the hands of the Nalan Southern tribe… For eighteen years, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to the Sikou family. How can Your Highness disregard my nurturing grace and the Prime Minister's grand ambitions and act so recklessly? Does Your Highness know how heartbroken I am by your actions…"
The Emperor and Empress slowly lowered their heads, pressed their hands to their chests, and coughed lightly twice: "Master, my mind is made up about this matter... cough... please don't say any more."
Lin Cheng stared incredulously at his most prized and obedient disciple, then suddenly knelt down: "I beg Your Highness to reconsider!"
The Emperor and Empress turned their heads and silently looked at Sikou Xunle, who was fast asleep on the bed. After a long while, they said, "It's getting late. Master, take Xunle back to the mansion. It will be time to go to bed soon."
Lin Cheng suddenly looked up, his eyes shifting from surprise to resentment. His eyes were bloodshot as he sternly rebuked, "Sikou Xunxiang! What did that vixen give you that made you so disloyal and unfilial, disregarding our eighteen years of master-disciple relationship..."
Sikou Xunle sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes: "Father, it's getting late, shouldn't we go back to the manor?"
Lin Cheng's expression changed instantly. He quickly pulled out a dagger from his pocket, grabbed Sikou Xunle who was standing right in front of him, and gave the Emperor and Empress a sinister smile: "Sikou Xunxiang, if you are heartless, don't blame me for being ruthless too!"
Sikou Xunle stared wide-eyed in shock and asked blankly, "Father... what's wrong with you?"
The Emperor and Empress stood up abruptly, their dark, gentle eyes filled with panic: "Master...why would you do this!"
Lin Cheng's aged face revealed sorrow: "Xiang'er, I raised you with my own hands, passing on all my skills to you, treating you like my own son. Yet today, you disregard our bond for that vixen. Xiang'er, you are infatuated with that vixen, but how can you know she isn't using you? You must know that you sit on the throne today not because of your extraordinary talent, nor because of your unparalleled beauty. If it weren't for the Sikou family's firm grip on half the empire, do you think that vixen would allow you to sit here so peacefully?" "Does she obey you in every way? ...If you truly care for her, you mustn't let her escape your control. Otherwise, given that vixen's personality, you'll be the one suffering the most! Why don't you think of your father? He's already so old. If it weren't for your and your brother's careers, why would he go to such lengths? How can you bear to disappoint him again and again when he's about to achieve his goal? Xiang'er...don't let romantic feelings blind you. If that vixen gains military power...your Sikou family won't be far from extinction..."
"Insolence! Who dares to spout such nonsense here!" The Empress, holding a silver tray, pushed open the palace door and stared intently at Lin Cheng with her sharp phoenix eyes.
Si Kou Xunxiang looked at the Empress at the door in alarm. Just now... how much did she hear?
When Lin Cheng turned his head and saw that the person was the Empress, his already sorrowful eyes suddenly turned fierce, revealing murderous intent. He pressed the dagger closer to the struggling Sikou Xunle and said harshly, "Sikou Xunxiang! Do you want your brother or your military power? You should think carefully!"
The Empress narrowed her phoenix eyes dangerously: "Guards! Seize the assassin!"
Lin Cheng stared at the Empress with eyes full of hatred, and said in a sharp voice, "The young master of the Sikou family is in my hands, who..." Before he could finish speaking, he and Sikou Xunle took off into the air, and the dagger was thrust straight at Empress Yanzai.
Empress Yanzai protected the silver plate in her hand and nimbly dodged the dagger. Just then, Jun Ying descended from the sky and blocked Lin Cheng's dagger with his sword.
Empress Yanzai stepped back a few steps to a safe place and handed the silver tray to the guard beside her.
Lin Cheng did not linger in battle and dodged Jun Ying's attack, flying straight towards Empress Yanzai. In the blink of an eye, he saw that Empress Yanzai had already hidden on the outskirts of the Imperial Guard.