Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 131

"For your own selfish reasons! ...you want the people of this world to suffer endlessly." Zi Jin said, squinting her eyes.

"Ha... The Nalan people are cold-hearted by nature, how did such a sentimental seed like you emerge? What about the people? What about the world? What belongs to whom should be returned to whom! These are not things you can control. Now you just need to think it through and make a good choice."

Zi Jin stared intently at the old woman's face: "Who exactly are you?"

The old woman looked at Zi Jin and smiled kindly: "Grandma can see that although you remember everything about Zi Yinfeng, you haven't remembered anyone else. If you remembered everything, you wouldn't be so charitable. They owe you and the Nalan family far too much, and Grandma will definitely make sure you get it all back."

“But I don’t want revenge… I just want to live an ordinary life… Father also regretted the mistakes he made that would haunt him for life… Father suffered so much, all he asked for was one person’s forgiveness… He gave up so much… What is there to hate?… Perhaps they, like Father, had their own reasons.” Zi Jin’s eyes flickered, with tears welling up, and her domineering aura vanished instantly.

Seeing that Zi Jin had relented, the old woman's smile deepened. She slowly walked up to Zi Jin and stroked her long hair: "They did nothing wrong, but what about you? What wrong have you done? Have you forgotten? You trusted Yu Luo completely, yet she not only poisoned you every day but also stole your beloved. If General Zi hadn't risked his life to protect you, you wouldn't be alive today. Do you know why General Zi's right hand was broken inch by inch?... When I found you two, General Zi held you tightly in his arms, and I couldn't pull you away no matter what. If I hadn't broken his hand bones inch by inch, he probably wouldn't have let go of you even in death."

You felt sorry for Dugu Xihui, but he abused you in every way. Later, he even used your life to save a stranger. Don't you remember?

And then there's Princess Xile. You were so devoted to her, yet she not only deceived you for four years, but also tricked you into going to the Chen Kingdom. To cure her mentally challenged brother, she didn't hesitate to feed you the Soul-Snatching Elixir and draw your blood every day. Now, this inhuman, ghostly state is all thanks to those two brothers, Sikou.

You must know that although General Zi is already poisoned, if it is properly suppressed, he may still live for a few more years. You must remember firmly who pushed you off the cliff, and who stood by and watched you die on the cliff, causing General Zi to leave this world so early?

Although you were imprisoned in the Moon Kingdom for four years and lost your freedom, no one truly intended to harm you. Think about it; since your release, who has ever genuinely cared for you? You were devoted to Sikou Xunxiang, but what about him? How did he treat you? Do you really not remember? Or do you simply not want to remember? Are you trying to escape? Don't you hate him at all? Really, not at all?!

Zi Jin's eyes were red-rimmed, her head hung low, her hands clenched into fists and trembling slightly. After a long while, she raised her head to look at the old woman, a flash of fierceness crossing her eyes: "What does Grandma say we should do?"

The old woman smiled gently and patted Zi Jin's head affectionately, saying, "Good Jin'er... I will definitely make you pay for all the injustices you have suffered, and let them taste the bitterness of a broken family and a life worse than death."

Unresolved emotions and inescapable demonic obstacles; karmic retribution—when will we meet again? Ten years of grudges and debts, all lost in the vastness of time. (Part Three)

Ten Years of Enmity, Now Lost (Part 3) The air on a summer morning was a little chilly. The lotus leaves on Weiyang Lake were covered with dew, and a faint fragrance of lotus wafted in the air. Sikou Xunxiang sat quietly on the railing of Liuran Pavilion, his eyelashes still wet with dew. He held a rough wooden hairpin in one hand, his eyes unfocused, his empty expression heartbreaking to behold.

Prince Anle carefully squatted down beside Sikou Xunxiang: "Brother... we've been sitting here for days, shall we go get something to eat?"

Si Kou Xunxiang slowly raised his eyes, and it took him a while to see the person in front of him clearly: "Did you find him?"

Prince Anle smiled and said, "Brother, don't worry. Not finding her isn't a bad thing. It means she's definitely alright. Brother... shall we have the imperial physician take a look at your hand? If this hand isn't treated soon, it will definitely be ruined... If her hand is ruined... she'll be heartbroken."

Si Kou Xunxiang looked up at the center of the lake, no longer speaking, but the hand holding the hairpin tightened its grip.

“Brother, what’s the point of you sitting here without eating, drinking, or sleeping? She’ll never know! Brother… how about this? Once your hand is healed, we’ll go find her and bring her back. Then you can make it up to her however you want. Your hand has been dislocated for so many days. Do you really want it to be ruined? Is that enough?” Prince Anle grasped Sikou Xunxiang’s cold, numb hand.

Si Kou Xunxiang gazed at the center of the lake: "It's ruined... for the best."

Prince Anle suddenly hugged Sikou Xunxiang's waist: "Brother, don't blame yourself anymore, don't feel guilty anymore. It's not your fault, it's not your fault. It was your dislocated arm that prevented you from holding her. It wasn't you who pushed her, it wasn't you who ignored her, it wasn't you who didn't want to hold her. It wasn't your fault. I don't know anything, I don't know anything. It was Le'er... it was Le'er who kept lying to me... it was Le'er..."

Sikou Xunxiang lowered his head and stroked Prince Anle's face: "Le'er, you're not young anymore. It's time for you to leave the palace and establish your own residence. Last time they gave me a few portraits, and I think they're fine..."

“Brother…can you really bear to drive me out of the palace?” Prince Anle raised his eyes and stared intently at Sikou Xunxiang.

Sikou Xunxiang carefully combed Anle Wang's hair: "If you don't want to leave the palace, then stay here. Le'er is old enough to take a concubine. I'll find a good woman for Le'er so that she can love Le'er for the rest of her life."

Prince Anle's narrow eyes gradually turned cold: "Does my brother find me troublesome? Does my brother find me a burden?"

Si Kou Huanxiang's lips curled slightly, but there was no trace of a smile in them: "How could I possibly dislike Le'er? I'm just afraid... I'm afraid that if I'm gone one day, Le'er will be lonely..."

"How could I not be here, brother? How could I not be here?! Brother, Little Mute isn't dead, Little Mute really isn't dead! Someone saw her and Zi Yingfeng being rescued, someone really saw it! Brother, don't blame yourself, don't be like this. Is there nothing else in this world you cherish besides Little Mute? Besides, Little Mute isn't dead at all. She'll come back to find you. She loves you so much, she can't let you go. Brother, don't be like this, brother, don't be like this, Le'er is scared." Prince Anle hugged Sikou Xunxiang tightly.

Sikou Xunxiang stared blankly at Prince Anle: "She...is she really alive?"

Prince Anle nodded repeatedly: "It's true, it's true. A villager down the mountain saw them being rescued and put into a carriage. So the two should be alright."

Si Kou Xunxiang slowly closed his eyes: "Good...that's good..." His voice choked slightly.

"Brother, can you eat something? Can you heal your hand? We're waiting for Little Mute, searching for Little Mute. Please don't do this. As long as she's alive, we still have hope, don't we?"

Sikou Xunxiang slowly turned his face, a fleeting smile appearing on his face, his silver hair fluttering in the lake breeze: "In that case, very well... Le'er, you may leave now, I would like to sit by myself for a while."

Sikou Xunxiang's jade-like face faced the wind, his hair fluttered slightly, his white robes flowed gracefully, and his smile was calm, as if he had forgotten the vicissitudes of the world and wanted to ride the wind away.

Prince Anle was utterly shocked. Now that he had revealed the news that she and Zi Yinfeng were alive, would he have no more worries or guilt? Would he think that her and Zi Yinfeng's wandering to the ends of the earth was enough to fulfill their happiness? If he had no more thoughts or attachments, then... No! He couldn't do this... How could he be so impulsive? Why did he say it? Didn't he decide not to?

Prince Anle gently held Sikou Xunxiang's injured hand: "Brother, let the imperial physician examine your hand first. I have something very important to tell you. If you agree to treat my hand, I will tell you everything I know."

Si Kou Huanxiang turned around, a look of astonishment flashing across his face: "She...something happened to her?"

"Treat the hands first."

"Le'er..."

"Treat the hands first."

"Le'er..."

"Don't try to trick me into saying anything more. If you don't treat my hand, then don't say anything at all." King Anle's face was full of anger. He turned to leave, but someone grabbed his wrist.

"Summon the imperial physician."

Mr. Fang stood with his head down in Liuran Pavilion: "Although it has been delayed for some time, the bone in the joint has not been worn away yet. I have prescribed a medicine, and His Majesty will be well after taking it for seven days."

Si Kou Huanxiang gently moved his wrist: "Thank you, sir."

Old Master Fang raised his head and looked at Prince Anle: "The Emperor is now in much better shape. If there are no unexpected changes, things will never be like they were before. I am getting old, and Your Highness once promised me..."

“No!” Prince Anle’s face turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, “Although my brother has not shown any unusual symptoms recently, there is no guarantee that it will not relapse in the future. It would be better for the old gentleman to stay for a few more days.”

Old Master Fang's expression changed: "When I examined His Majesty's pulse before, I knew that His Majesty was born with an unusual condition, lacking a pulse compared to ordinary people. However, when I examined His Majesty's pulse just now, I found that His Majesty's pulse had returned to normal. It seems that what His Majesty lacked has returned, and it will never relapse unless there is an abnormal change! Why is Your Highness delaying the release of this old man?!"

Si Kou Xunxiang's jade-like face was even paler than before: "She's recovered... then what about her..."

King Anle's face turned ashen instantly, his heart filled with unease: "...Since that's how it is...I will grant the old gentleman's request."