Hibiscus as a Painting - Chapter 209
Jun Chi glanced at the courtyard gate and asked, "How did you get here?"
"Your former personal eunuch brought me here... Huh? Where is he?"
Jun Chi frowned and said, "A personal eunuch?..."
"He said you were injured and sick, but no imperial physician treated you... Oh right, are your injuries healed?" Zi Jin looked Jun Chi up and down, asking in confusion.
A hint of anxiety flashed across Jun Chi's face. He gripped Zi Jin's hand tightly and strode towards the backyard: "Quick, let's go! I'll take you out!"
"Bang!" The courtyard door was kicked open, and instantly, the once dark courtyard was brightly lit.
Jun Chi and Zi Jin turned around in surprise, and their expressions changed instantly when they saw the many armed guards. He subtly shielded Zi Jin behind him and watched the crowd warily.
Jun Lin's eyes were bloodshot as he strode out from the crowd. When he saw the two holding hands tightly, his originally gloomy face turned murderous, and his phoenix eyes flashed with a bloodthirsty light. He approached step by step, exuding an overbearing aura and killing intent: "Where are you going?"
Jun Chi shielded Zi Jin and retreated step by step, both of them looking at the person in front of them with extreme fear.
Jun Lin stared intently at Zi Jin behind Jun Chi and said in a deep voice, "Jin'er, come here."
Zi Jin was so overwhelmed by the murderous aura emanating from him that she could hardly breathe, and almost reflexively hid behind Jun Chi again.
"Your Majesty, there must be a misunderstanding, Your Majesty..."
Jun Lin didn't allow Jun Chi to say anything more. He stepped forward and reached out to grab Zi Jin, but Jun Chi raised his hand to block him.
Jun Chi said urgently, "Your Majesty, please don't take your anger out on her. Everything is my fault."
Jun Lin's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. He slowly raised his eyes to look at Jun Chi, his phoenix eyes now filled with a bloodthirsty flame. Almost instantly, he raised his hand and struck Jun Chi's chest. Jun Chi was caught off guard and took the full force of the blow, clutching his chest and staggering back several steps.
Jun Chi clutched his chest and stood up straight, looking directly at Jun Lin: "Your Majesty's skill has declined considerably. This palm strike in your rage was less than 20% of your power. You have truly shown me great mercy."
Jun Lin coldly replied, "Do you think I wouldn't dare kill you?"
Jun Chi laughed and said, "Do you think I still care? It doesn't matter how you treat me, but she is now His Majesty's woman. Instead of protecting her, His Majesty has put her in such a dangerous situation... I think His Majesty has no right to demand her!"
Jun Lin's phoenix eyes were cold and filled with murderous intent: "Take down the Third Prince, regardless of his life or death!"
Instantly, the guards surrounding them drew their swords and approached Jun Chi and Zi Jin step by step.
Jun Chi and Zi Jin retreated step by step until they reached the base of the wall. Zi Jin, who had been protected by Jun Chi, suddenly stepped forward and stood in front of Jun Chi, staring intently at Jun Lin in the firelight: "Don't make things difficult for him. I'll go with you."
Jun Chi reached out to pull Zi Jin back, but Zi Jin shoved him away.
Jun Lin looked Zi Jin up and down. Her exquisite robe was covered in mud and oil stains, and her once elegant hairstyle was now a mess.
Slowly, a cruel smile appeared on Jun Lin's lips: "For him, you're willing to endure any hardship... Fine! Since you protect him so much, I will grant your wish! Guards! Take the young lady to Su Ran Palace!"
Zi Jin glanced back at Jun Chi and said, "It was my oversight that dragged you into this, but you already promised me, so you can't go back on your word."
Jun Chi clenched his fists, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips: "Don't worry... I promised you, and I will definitely do it."
Zi Jin smiled easily: "It's just changing places to stay. Look at how worried you are. You've stayed at Su Ran Palace before, so why can't I? Don't worry."
"Take the girl away right now!" Jun Lin roared.
Zi Jin slowly turned around, a mocking smile appearing on her lips: "No need for Your Majesty to trouble yourself, I know the way myself." After saying that, she quickly walked towards the courtyard gate.
Jun Lin gave Jun Chi, who was still standing there in a daze, a deep look before turning and leaving.
Love and hate leave no trace, deep affection is hard to wait for; the descendants of the gods, three generations of marital entanglements fill the river, watching the tide rise amidst wind and rain (Part Six)
Watching the tide rise amidst the wind and rain (Part 6)
Standing inside the Su Ran Palace, Zi Jin gazed at the chaotic and dilapidated surroundings. The white curtains had turned black, and the bedding on the table was indistinguishable from its original color, though upon closer inspection, the exposed cotton wadding was still visible. The original paint on the tables and chairs was no longer discernible, and looking out the window, the weeds in the courtyard had grown taller than a person. All around was pitch black, except for the small oil lamp on the table, emitting black smoke and providing a faint, persistent light.
Jun Lin smiled coldly: "Isn't this place more comfortable for you than Chaofeng Palace?"
Zi Jin casually found a chair and sat down leisurely, ignoring the dust on it: "It's definitely much more comfortable than the Phoenix Palace. I just couldn't get used to living there. It seems I'm destined to be a busybody and can't enjoy that kind of peaceful life."
Jun Lin stepped forward and grabbed Zi Jin's chin: "I want to see if you can really endure this suffering, and I want to see how long you can keep up your stubbornness! I'm waiting, I'm waiting for you to cry and beg me to forgive you."
Zi Jin met Jun Lin's cold gaze: "Then please wait patiently, Your Majesty."
Jun Lin's phoenix eyes were filled with anger, and his grip on Zi Jin's chin tightened, staring fiercely at her. Zi Jin gritted her teeth, enduring the pain in her chin, and glared back at Jun Lin.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Before even seeing anyone, Xiao Wu's anxious voice could be heard.
Jun Lin released Zi Jin abruptly, suppressing his anger, and turned to walk towards the door.
Xiao Wu rushed in and whispered something in Jun Lin's ear. Before Xiao Wu could finish speaking, Jun Lin's face turned cold. Without even glancing at Zi Jin, he strode out of the room and headed quickly toward the gate of Su Ran Palace.
After watching Jun Lin leave, Zi Jin slumped weakly into her chair. She raised her hand to touch her aching chin and rubbed her throbbing head, feeling utterly exhausted. She walked to the bedside, pulled the blanket down and shook it casually, patted the sheets, and, enduring the unpleasant musty smell, slowly lay down. Her tense nerves gradually relaxed, and the fatigue of a day and night of hard work instantly washed over her. Before long, Zi Jin fell into a deep sleep.
As dawn approached, the usually quiet and secluded Locked Love Palace was now brightly lit, as if it were daytime.
Jun Lin's phoenix eyes were lifeless as he sat blankly on the edge of the bed, his trembling hand stroking the sleeping face of the person on the bed. A faint smile still lingered at the corners of his lips, his face serene and peaceful, the brows that had been furrowed for years finally smoothing out. Perhaps because he didn't like to smile, time hadn't left many marks on his face; there wasn't even a fine line at the corner of his eyes.
Jun Lin reached out and tightly grasped the other person's hand, placing it against his own face. Gradually, gradually, his phoenix eyes filled with tears, a deep sorrow pressing on his chest, making breathing difficult and painful. He stroked his face with the other person's hand again and again, his phoenix eyes suddenly closing, and uncontrollable tears silently streaming down his face.
“Lin’er, this world was meant for you, but you can’t use it, this power, to force her… Back then, your father was wrong. He shouldn’t have imposed his obsession on you. But since learning of her fall off the cliff… your father has figured it out… If she likes you, your father will do everything he can to grant her wish. But if she doesn’t like you… your father will never allow you to use everything he has given you to force her.”
“Lin’er, it’s not that your father won’t let go, but I know what you’re thinking. Lin’er… she is ultimately not yours. Your eagerness for this world is just to force her into it. How can your father agree to that?”
“Father is injured, Father is no longer able to do what he wants, but as long as Father is on the throne, Lin’er will not be able to do whatever he wants.”
"Heh, Father's Lin'er is truly meticulous... He can so easily force abdication, usurp the throne, and change dynasties... If this empire is given to Lin'er, Father can truly rest assured."