Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 184
"Get out of the way!" Zi Jin's voice was even colder, her mind preoccupied with Xiao Bai. They'd been out for quite a while; Xiao Bai must know by now, and she must be frantic with worry.
Madam Yu slowly stood up from her seat, walked behind Zi Jin, and said after a long while, "According to his age, Si Kou Huan Xiang should be forty years old this year, right? Doesn't Jin'er want to know why Si Kou Huan Xiang has always looked like he's twenty years old all these years?"
Zi Jin turned her head slightly, looking at Madam Yu warily. After a long while, she turned around and sat back down in her original spot: "Speak quickly if you have something to say."
Madam Yu smiled slightly and sat down next to Zi Jin: "Jin'er, do you remember how you regained your senses?"
"So what if you remember? So what if you don't? What does it have to do with you, Madam?" Zi Jin said coldly, without even glancing at Madam Yu.
"Jin'er thought it was Sikou Xunxiang who saved you, didn't she?" Seeing Zi Jin's heartless appearance, Madam Yu gradually lost her smile, and her voice was no longer as loving as before.
"Hehe, what words will Madam use to deceive me this time? But this time, I am unusually looking forward to Madam's deception." Zi Jin smiled insincerely and said lightly.
"Nalan Fengjin! Don't push your luck! I've always been devoted to you and to you, yet you're always on guard against me and don't trust me... That's bad enough... But you clearly knew that was Lin'er... that was our Lin'er, yet you still treated him so cruelly! You were so heartless to treat him like that! What's so good about Sikou Xunxiang? He's nothing but a useless piece of trash who's good for nothing!" Madam Yu suddenly stood up and pointed at Zi Jin, shouting loudly.
Zi Jin sat there and stared at Madam Yu for a long time before saying, word by word, "If Madam Yu continues to slander my husband like this, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"He doesn't deserve to be your husband! If he hadn't used his own spirit and blood to imprison your soul, do you think I would be where I am today! Do you know I'm only forty years old, yet I look like a sixty-year-old man! If it weren't for you, how could I have let Sikou Xunxiang live off my lifespan! He stole twenty years from me! He stole twenty years of my life, do you know that! Do you know that I knew this day would come when I did all this, but I still did it for you, and look how you treat me! Look how you treat me!!" Madam Yu screamed hysterically.
Zi Jin's ears were ringing. She stood there stunned, unable to find her voice for a long time: "How...how could this be..."
"Although Sikou Xunxiang initially intended to save you, his carelessness in guarding your soul nearly caused it to dissipate. He sacrificed his own essence and blood to stabilize your soul, but at that time, your soul was not only burned by the Reincarnation Lamp but also stained by his blood. Seeing your weakened state, the essence he abandoned began to devour you little by little! When I received you from Jun Ying, you were already so scattered that you could barely form a soul. If I had sacrificed myself to save you, Sikou Xunxiang's soul would have undoubtedly benefited greatly. But without much thought, I went through countless trials to find a pregnant woman whose soul resonated with yours, and I brutally killed the soul of the child in her womb, using my own lifespan to nourish you." "It was the soul that allowed Sikou Xunxiang to reap such a great benefit. To this day, he remains the same as before, while I have become like this? ...Jin'er...haven't I done enough for you? ...Your soul was burned by that Reincarnation Lamp, and you don't remember me...I don't blame you...but now that you remember everything, why do you still treat me like that? And why do you still treat our Lin'er like that...Do you know that Lin'er...he gave you all his power to save your life, and he has long since lost his martial arts skills...He treated you so sincerely, how could you bear to hurt him? ...You and I grew up together since childhood, why are you so heartless for Sikou Xunxiang?" Madam Yu's words were filled with blood and tears, her cloudy eyes filled with accusation.
"Jun Lin... what will you do in the future... I... I don't know... how could this happen..." Zi Jin looked panicked and at a loss.
Madam Yu gazed at Zi Jin's flustered appearance for a long time before smiling slightly: "Jin'er, don't worry about me. In the past six months, you and Si Kou Xun Xiang have already consummated your marriage. When your essence and blood merged, your spirit naturally returned to his body. At that time, I felt much better. It seems... he should have recovered by now. He must have remembered everything and won't be as foolish as before... Ha, it's funny to think about... Back then, Prince Anle made Si Kou Xun Xiang drink your blood every day in order to help him recover as soon as possible, but he didn't know that the best method was for the two of you to have sex... But even if he knew, he definitely wouldn't have done it..."
Zi Jin lowered her eyes, and after a long while, slowly stood up and gave Madam Yu a deep bow: "I will keep what you have said in mind, Madam. I will take my leave now."
"Where do you want to go? Do you still want to go back? Sikou Xunxiang has already recovered. He has been deceiving you all this time. Do you still want to go back?" Madam Yu asked anxiously.
Zi Jin looked up at Madam Yu and smiled gently: "So what? Sikou Xunxiang is unparalleled in the world, possessing extraordinary talent. He has both civil and military achievements, he is full of literary and poetic knowledge and strategies for governing the country, he has the capital to look down on the world and the most beautiful face in the world, yet for me, for my slight unease, he put down his pride, arrogance, and all his talents, and pretended to be so foolish and ignorant. Isn't that enough?"
Madam Yu was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Jin'er, now that you've remembered everything, you should know that the men of the Sikou family cannot be trusted. Aren't you afraid that he has ulterior motives?"
“Whether he has ulterior motives or not, I know best. Madam, you should save your worries. I, Zi Jin, will take my leave now.” Zi Jin smiled respectfully at Madam Yu and stepped aside to walk past her.
"Do you think you can get away?" Madam Yu turned around and looked at Zi Jin's back.
Zi Jin stood still, coldly watching the hidden door blocked by Bao Xian: "What does Madam intend to do?"
"Come with me to the Moon Kingdom and do what you are supposed to do."
Zi Jin glanced at the person behind her: "Zi Jin doesn't understand Madam's meaning. What does Madam think Zi Jin should do? Is it to become His Highness the Crown Prince's concubine? Or to unify the Three Kingdoms according to Madam and Jun Ying's ambition?"
Madam Yu's anger was ignited by Zi Jin's cold attitude. She sneered, "It's good that you know. Since you're so stubborn, don't blame me for being impolite. Bao Xian, see your master to the carriage."
Zi Jin glanced at Bao Xian, who was blocking the hidden door, then looked back at Madam Yu's confident face, smiled slightly, and instantly came to Bao Xian's side. Before he could react, she casually pressed the major acupoints on his body, supported Bao Xian's waist, and moved him to the side little by little, revealing the hidden door.
Madam Yu stared wide-eyed at the scene before her, utterly astonished. She knew Bao Xian's martial arts skills all too well… but how could she believe what she was seeing? Only a little over half a year… just over half a year…
"Farewell, Madam Yu," Zi Jin said with a smile as she opened the hidden door and turned back.
"Nalan Fengjin!!" A hysterical scream.
Zi Jin's brows already showed impatience. Standing there without turning around, she said, "I will always remember your kindness, Madam. I hope you will not press me so hard."
"Nalan Fengjin! If you dare take another step, I will die in front of you!" Madam Yu shouted hysterically.
Zi Jin sighed silently. She turned around slowly, looking at Madam Yu who was holding a jade hairpin to her. She walked back step by step, until she reached Bao Xian's side. Without making a sound, she removed a button: "Why did you do this, Madam?"
"Do you know what Lin'er has become because of you? Do you know what he... How can you be so unmoved? You will come back with me this time... As long as you treat him well, treat him well, I will never force you again... Jin'er, you should know that I gave you your life, you can't... you can't treat my son and me so heartlessly..." Madam Yu's arm suddenly went numb, and a button fell to the ground with a thud. She stared blankly at Zi Jin.
Zi Jin slowly lowered her hand and walked step by step toward the hidden door: "Love... can never be exchanged, much less given away... Let Jun Lin give up."
"Nalan Fengjin! Nalan Fengjin! How could you be so cold-blooded, you..."
The hidden door slowly closed, blocking out all outside noise. Zi Jin let out a slow breath, her brows furrowed with exhaustion. She walked back the way she came, guided by her memory, but she was in such a hurry that she didn't see the despair filling those emerald eyes.
Love and hate leave no trace, deep affection is hard to wait for; the descendants of the gods, three generations of marriage and grudges, how can the past grievances be recounted? (Part 4)
How can we talk about past grievances? (Part 4) Cheng Qingsong stood at the shop entrance and glanced at the three people who walked in and the crowd outside: "I wonder what this young master means?"
Prince Anle was dressed in a magnificent purple robe with gold trim, exquisite jade buttons, and a dazzling array of jade pendants at his waist. He wore black boots with gold-trimmed soles, and his hair was meticulously styled. Even a sideways glance revealed his breathtaking beauty. He smiled slightly at Cheng Qingsong, then coldly ordered, "Take him down!"
Jin Yu and the four others quickly stepped forward and surrounded Cheng Qingsong.
Cheng Qingsong smiled smugly: "You little brats think you can mess with this old man!"
King Anle smiled slightly: "Then let's give it a try! Why don't you make your move!"
Cheng Qingsong took a deep breath, but his legs went weak, and he barely managed to stay upright by grabbing the counter beside him: "You..."
"Hehe... Although the old senior was extremely careful, he shouldn't have touched the fabrics in the shop, and he shouldn't have smelled the shopkeeper's special incense out of curiosity." King Anle sat down in the place where Cheng Qingsong had been sitting, with a smile on his face.
Cheng Qingsong suddenly realized his mistake, inwardly regretting his curiosity about the peculiar herbal scent. He wondered how an ordinary shopkeeper could possess such rare herbs. He took a deep breath and lunged towards Prince Anle, suddenly releasing the golden needles from his waist in a mid-air spin. Jin Yu, seemingly prepared, deflected all the needles with a swift movement of his sword, then thrust it straight towards Cheng Qingsong's waist. Those around Jin Yu, having already sensed his killing intent, simultaneously drew their swords and thrust them at Cheng Qingsong.
The shop was only a few meters apart. Cheng Qingsong gritted his teeth and, filled with hatred, suddenly rammed into Jin Yu. The sword in Jin Yu's hand went straight into Cheng Qingsong's abdomen. Cheng Qingsong grabbed the sword and slapped Jin Yu with his palm. Although it was less than 30% of his strength, Jin Yu was still sent flying.
Seeing Cheng Qingsong's formidable strength, the other four dared not underestimate him any longer. They gathered all their inner energy and thrust their swords at Cheng Qingsong from four different directions...
"stop!"
While the four were distracted, a large hole suddenly appeared in the roof, and a dark figure flashed past. When everyone came to their senses, Cheng Qingsong was nowhere to be seen.
"Chase!" Jin Yu struggled to his feet and led the four of them to run quickly outside.