Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 163

Dugu Xihui raised her eyes and smiled, a smile that seemed particularly dazzling in the quiet, cold night: "Now that things have come to this point, does Madam still have no intention of abandoning her granddaughter? If she were chosen... I'm afraid everyone would have already taken her away from this mountain town."

A look of sorrow flashed in Madam Yu's eyes: "You are all truly heartless."

Dugu Xihui glanced at Prince Anle casually: "If we're talking about ruthlessness... I'm afraid no one can compare to Prince Anle... You've already had physical intimacy with her... yet you still left her here, and ended up like this yourself?"

Hearing the conversation outside, Zi Jin's smile deepened, her expression becoming even more sarcastic. She lit the lotus incense on the table and casually began to play the zither. A cheerful and light melody drifted through the cave, the music rising and falling like the bright sunshine of spring.

Suddenly, the sound of a zither filled the air, and everyone looked up in surprise into the cave. To be able to play such a cheerful tune even now, one wonders if she truly knew the truth.

King Anle stared blankly at the cave entrance with his peach blossom eyes, his gaze so complex that no one dared to look into it.

Lady Yu looked past the crowd and at Jun Lin: "Does Your Highness also wish to go in?"

Jun Lin was dressed in an exquisite blue robe, with wide sleeves and a golden crown, his clothes fluttering as he moved. He turned and looked directly at Madam Yu: "Does Madam wish to break the contract? Madam, rest assured, as long as Jun Lin is here... they may not succeed."

"About half a year ago, when I was passing through the capital of Chen Kingdom, I found a child covered in wounds. I discovered she was my long-lost granddaughter, and in my joy, I took her back to 'Bu Ri Valley' to recuperate. This thousand-year-old icy cave is a forbidden area of my Yu family, and has not been opened for many years. Three months ago, this child, using some unknown method, opened this long-abandoned cave and obtained the Crimson Jade and the corpse of a woman who had died many years ago." The old lady's eyes were unfathomable as she carefully observed everyone's reactions, continuing, "I wonder what you gentlemen lost? Was it the child? The Crimson Jade? Or the corpse?"

Dugu Xihui wore a black robe with gold trim, the slightly tight outer garment perfectly outlining his slender and graceful figure. A solitary jade pendant hung at his waist, and he held a crystal-clear jade flute in his hand. He closed his eyes, listening to the music, which seemed to have disturbed his mind. The resolute expression on his face faded considerably, and a look of irritation appeared between his brows. He was unwilling to say anything more.

Prince Anle's purple brocade robe fluttered in the night breeze. He glanced sideways at Sikou Xunxiang, whose face was veiled: "My brother and I lost something very important, and it seems to be inside this cave." Gradually, a smile crept into Prince Anle's eyes. He smiled and stepped forward: "Madam, there's no need to ask any more questions. We'll find out once we get inside the cave. For now... please lead the way."

Madam Yu stopped speaking, glanced at everyone one by one again, turned and walked into the cave, with Bao Xian and Wu Tong following closely behind.

Dugu Xihui, Jun Lin, and Anle Wang exchanged glances and followed closely behind Madam Yu. Sikou Xunxiang looked up at the cave entrance and followed them inside, while Lou Shuo and Qi Yongyue were left outside.

As everyone slowly entered the cave, the music gradually subsided, as if it had jumped from the joyful morning sun to the darkness after sunset, filled with a sense of sorrow, resentment, and a faint expectation.

Hearing the music, everyone felt inexplicably saddened; tonight... was destined to be sleepless...

Unresolved emotions and inescapable demonic obstacles; karmic retribution—when will we meet again? Parting leaves fall in the wind, the zither strings break. (Part 8)

When everyone appeared below the high platform, the last note of the zither also fell.

Everyone looked up at the high platform and saw a woman in fiery robes adorned with golden phoenixes. A long golden phoenix hairpin held her loosely in a bun at the back of her head, and her jet-black hair cascaded down to her waist like flowing water. Her eyes were as dark as midnight and as warm as jade. Unfortunately, a veil embroidered with golden phoenixes covered her face. Although it obscured most of her features, everyone recognized her at a glance.

Zi Jin looked up and glanced indifferently at the people below the platform. When she saw the person in white gauze behind Prince Anle, she was slightly taken aback, and then lowered her head again: "It's been a long time since I've seen you all."

Jun Lin was moved and took a step forward, clenching his fists inside his robe, and stood still: "Jin'er, come down."

Sikou Huanxiang shifted slightly, about to step forward, but Prince Anle grabbed his arm. He patted Sikou Huanxiang's back imperceptibly, and Sikou Huanxiang stood upright, seemingly having regained his composure. Prince Anle's beautiful eyes flickered, subtly scrutinizing Zi Jin, and he chuckled, "Why are you covering your face? Is the little mute too ashamed to show her face?"

Dugu Xihui frowned and glanced at Madam Yu: "Madam Yu and Crown Prince Jun have a prior agreement. I'm afraid the person on this stage... is someone else."

Lady Yu suddenly looked up and said coldly, "Could it be that King Dugu thinks Jin'er is a person in disguise?"

Bao Xian subtly shifted his body, shielding Wutong behind him. Even with such a slight movement, it did not escape Dugu Xihui's sharp eyes.

"On the banks of the Huaiyin River, there is a 'Golden Jade Hall,' a building that houses the Naming Tower, a place that encompasses heaven, earth, sun, moon, and human affairs. The tower's owner, Young Master Jinyang, has a face as handsome as jade and looks as handsome as Xun Xiang, but unfortunately, he was disfigured that time." Zi Jin removed the veil from her face with one hand, looked at Dugu Xihui, and spoke slowly.

Dugu Xihui frowned as he looked at Zi Jin, unconsciously raising his hand to stroke the exquisitely painted, gold-stamped sky-blue peach blossom on his face. It was a peach blossom so vibrant it was almost fading, its most beautiful moment perfectly captured on his face, each petal exuding an air of decadence.

Prince Anle's eyes turned cold: "The little mute boy remembers it very clearly."

On the stage, Zi Jin's dark eyes flickered as she gently plucked the strings of her zither, smiling slightly. "Back then, I met Princess Xi Le in the Nalan family temple, and I was utterly captivated by her beauty. Years later, Zi Jin often recalls that afternoon, remembering the breathtaking moment when she first saw the princess's radiant face. 'A beautiful woman rolls up the beaded curtain, sitting deep within, her brows furrowed. Only tear stains are seen, but who knows whom she hates?' Does Your Highness still believe I am an imposter?"

Zi Jin's smile deepened, and then she looked at Jun Lin: "Your Highness, do you still remember those jokes from your childhood? ...The land is so beautiful, attracting countless heroes to bow down; the beauties are so charming, even heroes would give up the land."

Si Kou Xunxiang, whose face was covered by a white veil, remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the ice coffin. It seemed that apart from the person inside the ice coffin, his eyes could not see anything else around him.

Jun Lin stared blankly at Zi Jin, his phoenix eyes shimmering with moonlight, ripples of joy gently spreading across his face, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, his gaze focused and tolerant.

With tenderness in her dark eyes, Zi Jin looked at Jun Lin and said, "Jun Lin... come up here."

Dugu Xihui and Sikou Xunle immediately became serious and secretly on guard.

Bao Xian's brows furrowed deeper and deeper as he turned to look at the person he was protecting behind him.

Madam Yu was also filled with doubt. To make the plan seem more realistic, she hadn't told Jun Lin about Wutong impersonating Zi Jin. Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Madam Yu secretly regretted her actions, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes, unsure whether to intervene.

Prince Anle and Dugu Xihui watched Jun Lin walk step by step toward the high platform, eager to make a move. But Zi Jin slowly took out a purple ice crystal from her bosom: "Prince Sikou, King Dugu, do not move rashly... It would be bad if Zi Jin accidentally crushed the Crimson Jade in her nervousness."

Jun Lin's eyes were filled with longing, reluctance, and an overwhelming, unyielding emotion. He slowly walked towards the stage, his cautious, fearful, and uneasy demeanor as if he were in a dream. Zi Jin had only been gone for a few days, and he couldn't bear it anymore. Having possessed her, he couldn't bear to lose her again. The constant longing these past few days had tormented him to the point of near death. So be it… whether she loved him or not, whether she liked him or not, it really didn't matter anymore. As long as she could be by his side, as long as she could always be by his side, that was enough.

Zi Jin gently rose, took Jun Lin's hand, and slowly led him to the ice coffin: "Do you still remember her? You were once her most beloved child, and she even wanted to pass the throne to you... Do you remember?"

Jun Lin looked at the person in the dragon robe in the ice coffin, frowned slightly, shook his head slightly, turned his face and said softly, "Jin'er, you should know that I am different from them. I... did not come for her."

Zi Jin smiled gently, the smile reaching her eyes. She slowly reached out and hugged Jun Lin's waist, obediently leaning against his chest: "Jun Lin... I know, I've always known... so I didn't prepare a role for you in this play, you can just watch."

Jun Lin's hands trembled slightly, and waves of happiness rippled in his eyes. He held Zi Jin tightly in his arms, his contented expression as if he had gained everything.

Jin'er, I want nothing more, I want nothing more. The world is vast, but you alone are enough for me. I only want you, only you, Jin'er, do you know that? Do you know that?

But in the next instant, that happy face changed color: "Jin'er, you...!" Jun Lin collapsed weakly into Zi Jin's arms, his eyes filled with fear, as the scenes from the past flashed before his eyes again.

Zi Jin chuckled and placed Jun Lin beside the ice coffin, letting him sit against it. She gently tugged at her cloak: "Your Highness, people say you learn from your mistakes. After all these years, you're still as gullible as ever... Tell me... why do you believe everything I say? In Lizhou... by the hot springs... and today too... You're so easy to fool, you're no challenge at all... So you don't need to perform in today's act, just watch."

A hint of pain flashed in Jun Lin's eyes: "The hot spring... was that also a lie?"

Zi Jin raised her hand and used a silver needle to press Jun Lin's acupoint to silence him, then clenched her fist tightly inside her cloak. She slowly stood up, looked down at Jun Lin, and said in a hard voice, "What else does Your Highness think? If I really had feelings for you, why would I wait until today?"

Madam Yu and Bao Xian's eyes flashed with deep unease, while only Wu Tong remained calm.

Zi Jin returned to her zither, inhaled the fragrance of the lotus beside her, played with the Crimson Jade in her hand, and smiled at the crowd below the stage. When she glanced at Si Kou Xunxiang, who was staring at the ice coffin, a hint of an inscrutable emotion flashed in her eyes. She lowered her eyes and smiled slightly: "You three should make your choices carefully. Don't listen to the rumors in the market and make the wrong choice."

The King of Anle, who had been staring at Jun Lin, suddenly turned grim. He turned to Zi Jin with narrowed eyes and sneered, "Little mute, you're going to be disappointed. This isn't just some common rumor; it's a record from the Nalan Tantric sect."