Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 196

"You're despicable! How could you become so cruel!?"

Jun Lin slowly walked to Cheng Qingsong's side, a dazed look on his face: "Am I despicable? Am I cruel?... Do you know how much I did for your smile? Do you know how much I sacrificed for your words? When you heard that zither music, couldn't you hear my heart? Whatever you disliked, whatever you didn't want, I never forced you in the slightest? Back then, in the underground spring, you told me... when you told me you wanted me, do you know how happy I was? I wanted to give you the whole world! I wanted to give you everything! I wanted to give you my life! But why? Why did you turn around and forget your promise, turn around and draw your sword against me? Do you know how much pain I felt then? How much pain?!"

Zi Jin said, "Even so, it's only me who has wronged you! Why did you have to harm the people around me!?"

"I am where I am today entirely because of you! I laid my heart bare for you, yet you discarded it like trash... Since that's the case, I will no longer have any illusions. As long as I can keep you by my side, what does it matter if I have to bear the infamy of being cruel, heartless, and forcing the throne? Jin'er... I can betray the entire world for you, but I will never... I will never allow you to betray me again!" After saying this, he pulled the silver chain ruthlessly, and Cheng Qingsong, who was already in a semi-conscious state, screamed in agony.

"Stop!" Zi Jin exclaimed in surprise, then lowered her voice, "I'll do whatever you want."

Jun Lin put down the silver chain in his hand, walked step by step to Zi Jin's side, reached out and embraced her, nestled his head in the crook of her neck, and murmured softly, "Jin'er... who else in this world can treat you like this? Who else in this world can treat me like this? Come with me, okay? Don't leave, okay?"

Zi Jin glanced at Cheng Qingsong and said gently, "Alright... I'll go with you. You can do whatever you want. But please put Master down first, okay?"

Jun Lin slowly straightened up, carefully looked Zi Jin up and down, and smiled as he took out a small brass bottle from his pocket, pouring out a white pill: "Eat it."

Zi Jin reached out and took the pill, swallowing it without a second thought.

Jun Lin's lips curled into an enigmatic smile as he casually waved to the people behind him. The people who had been following him rushed forward, untied the unconscious Cheng Qingsong, who was covered in blood, and carried him to a nearby carriage.

"Those iron chains..."

"The chains can't be removed. Master is highly skilled in martial arts, and it would be bad if he accidentally hurt himself." Jun Lin smiled and stepped forward, embracing Zi Jin again. As if whispering sweet nothings, he gently spoke into Zi Jin's ear.

"Master is still injured..."

"Jin'er, don't worry, someone will take care of it. As long as Jin'er is obedient, how could I bear to let my master suffer?" Jun Lin nestled in Zi Jin's neck, greedily inhaling her familiar scent.

Zi Jin secretly circulated her qi and realized that the pill she had just swallowed was a power-dissolving powder. At this moment, she dared not rashly push away the person on her body, and could only stand stiffly in place.

After a long while, Jun Lin slowly released Zi Jin from his arms, then took her hand and walked step by step toward the carriage not far away.

"Wait...wait..." Seeing Jun Lin's face suddenly darken, Zi Jin lowered her eyes slightly and said with a forced smile, "I...I don't think I'll have much of a chance to come back. Could I take my things with me?"

Jun Lin stared into Zi Jin's eyes for a long time, then smiled slightly: "Is there nothing in the palace? Would I possibly wrong Jin'er?"

"No, I'm just bringing some things I like... Is that alright?" Zi Jin looked at Jun Lin with a hint of pleading.

Jun Lin stroked Zi Jin's long hair, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his lips: "Alright, I'll go with you to get it."

Zi Jin walked quickly back to her bedroom, found a piece of coarse cloth, and placed all the medicine bottles from the drawer on the cloth.

Jun Lin, standing to the side, casually picked up a bottle of medicine and frowned slightly: "Are you taking all of these with you?"

"Mmm," Zi Jin replied softly as she busied herself packing.

Jun Lin waved to the person outside the door, and the doorman quickly stepped forward, rolled up the coarse cloth and the medicine bottles, and hugged them to his arms.

Zi Jin stared blankly at the person: "These are medicines for Master's injuries, not..."

Jun Lin's lips curled into a sarcastic smile: "Have the servants keep these things for you. As for the medicine, do you think the medicine in the palace is inferior to yours?"

Zi Jin glanced at Jun Lin, lowered her eyes slightly, a glint of light flashing in them, walked to the desk and took out a jade pendant, looked at it again and again, and then carefully put it into her bosom.

A glint flashed in Jun Lin's eyes, and almost instantly he turned his head away, refusing to look at the person opposite him again.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zi Jin quickly put the other three jade bottles in the drawer into her bosom, then walked to the table in front of the bed, hugged the white jade zither, and obediently walked to Jun Lin: "Alright."

Seeing Zi Jin awkwardly carrying that ordinary-looking white jade zither, Jun Lin frowned slightly: "Let this servant carry these things for you."

Zi Jin seemed a little reluctant, but after thinking for a moment, she finally handed the white jade zither in her arms to the person beside her.

A flicker of anxiety crossed Jun Lin's eyes. He scooped Zi Jin up in his arms and whispered in her ear, "Jin'er, are you dawdling like this because you're reluctant to leave this place, or because you're reluctant to leave the people who used to live here?!"

Zi Jin exclaimed in surprise, then shook her head: "No...no, I think about Master's injury..."

"If you behave yourself, no one will make things difficult for him." Jun Lin strode onto the carriage, his voice tinged with an indescribable gloom.

Love and hate leave no trace, deep affection is hard to wait for; the descendants of the gods, three generations of marital entanglements, when will they again sing the lament of old age together? (Part 3)

When shall we play the Ballad of White Hair Together (Part 3)

A faint, calming fragrance filled the car. Jun Lin's phoenix eyes shimmered with a subtle light as he gazed intently at the sleeping woman in his arms. After a long while, he slowly reached out and gently stroked her furrowed brows.

Even though I've already held her in my arms, even though I've already taken her under my wings, why do I still feel so terrified? Why does my heart still feel so empty?

Gradually, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Jun Lin's tender phoenix eyes. His hands tightened little by little, pulling the person in his arms closer and closer.

"Ugh..." Zi Jin cried out in pain unconsciously while fast asleep.

Jun Lin's unfocused phoenix eyes instantly regained their usual sharpness. He released his hands as if he had just woken up, looking at the arm of the person in his arms that he had gripped so tightly that it was bruised and purple. He gently stroked it again and again, but he could not erase the marks left by his grip.

When the carriage arrived at Qingzhen Post Station, Jun Lin jumped off the carriage carrying Zi Jin. The accompanying palace servants immediately brought out an incense burner from the carriage and followed Jun Lin with utmost caution. After settling Zi Jin in the main bedroom, the palace servants placed the incense burner on the table beside the bed.

Jun Lin raised his eyes and glanced at the incense burner: "It can only burn for another half an hour."

The palace attendant lowered her eyes: "Yes. Your Majesty, Lord Qi has been back for quite some time and is currently waiting in the front hall."

Jun Lin glanced at Zi Jin, who was still fast asleep, and instructed again, "Make sure to put out the incense in half an hour."

The palace maid responded softly, and Jun Lin turned and walked out the door.

Jun Lin sat on the main chair in the hall, glanced at the person kneeling at his feet, and casually waved his hand: "How did things go?"

Qi Yongyue stood up, took two steps forward to Jun Lin's side, and whispered, "Si Kou Xunle has been taking the antidote for a year, and he is currently in a weakened state. I imagine Si Kou Xunxiang will be reluctant to part with his precious younger brother and won't catch up so quickly."

"Does Sikou Xunxiang have any doubts?" Jun Lin asked, narrowing his eyes.