Aviso de muerte 2 Destino

Capítulo 8

Zhu Chengyu went to the Southern Mansion to propose marriage, how come Ling'er didn't know? There's no time to think about that now.

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [22]: "So you just robbed! You're a complete robber!"

A robber? No one has ever said he looks like a robber! Fine, since she thinks he's a robber, then let him be a robber for once.

Zhu Chengyu revealed his shameless nature, "Say whatever you want? You're not leaving now!"

"You!" Ling'er was speechless with anger.

"If you have nothing to say to me, I'm leaving!"

"Get out! Get out! You bastard! Zhu Chengyu, you bastard! You'll die a horrible death!"

Zhu Chengyu ignored her, muttering to himself as he walked away, "A beating is a sign of affection, a scolding is a sign of love! I love you so much... I love you so much..." He walked further and further away, until the last part of his words faded from memory. What would happen if he loved her so much? No one but himself knew what would happen if he loved her so much.

Ling'er walked back to the bedside with a blank stare, gazing at the snow-white curtains. She knew she couldn't rush things; the most important thing was to find a way to escape. But all the doors and windows were locked, and she had no magical powers to escape. How could she possibly get out?

Knowing Zhu Chengyu's temperament, he would never let this go easily. Ling'er, being so intelligent, though she didn't know who Zhu Chengyu was, had already seen through his wickedness. If this matter got out, it would inevitably implicate the Nan family! Public opinion was a terrifying thing! Ling'er's death was not a pity, but how could she face her master and mistress! Thinking of her situation and the future misfortune of the Nan family, Ling'er's nose stung, grief welled up, and tears streamed down her face.

This is a small villa that Shang Minglun bought, named Yiqing Xiaozhu. Zhu Chengyu often comes here, but today, after they have done such a big thing, they have made this place their hideout for this operation.

Zhu Chengyu hadn't gone far; he and Ling'er were separated by only a wall. Shang Minglun ordered his servants to set out wine and dishes, and began to drink alone amidst the table full of delicacies.

Zhu Chengyu had someone drill a hole in the wall beforehand so that he could clearly see into Ling'er's room; he wanted to keep her every move under his watchful eye.

"What's your rush? It's not you who's locked up right now," Shang Minglun said calmly. "Stop looking, let's drink first! Are you worried she'll run away?"

"Never mind that, just eat! You can't shut your mouth even with food!" Zhu Chengyu's temper has been getting worse lately.

Shang Minglun retorted defiantly, "You're a noob, you're ungrateful and treacherous. Don't come begging to me again!"

Zhu Chengyu ignored him and continued to spy. After a while, his expression became uncertain. Shang Minglun, not knowing what was wrong, asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

He remained silent for a while before quietly saying, "Hey! Hey! Look, she looks like she's crying!"

Shang Minglun, thinking something was wrong, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and said dismissively, "So what if she cries? It's no big deal! It would be strange if she didn't cry."

What do you mean by that?

After Zhu Chengyu asked him that question, Shang Minglun became quite smug and said proudly, "You don't understand, do you? Do you want me, the master of love, to pass on my secret techniques to you?"

"Blow away! [A series of seemingly random characters]... ...

So, are you going to listen or not?

"Speak!" Zhu Chengyu said lazily.

"This woman only has three tricks up her sleeve!" Shang Minglun said, shaking his head. "These three tricks are: crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang herself!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chengyu's eyes revealed a mocking look, thinking to himself, "Did they really think it was some kind of secret technique that was not passed down to others? So this is it!"

Shang Minglun understood Zhu Chengyu's meaning. He got up from his seat and came to Zhu Chengyu's side, saying, "Listen to me! She's already started crying. You don't need to pay attention to her. Judging from the situation, she'll start making a scene soon. You don't need to pay attention to her then either. Just wait until she tries to hang herself before you go over. Hey! You can have fun, but don't cause anyone to die!"

"Don't worry! I'm even more anxious than you!" As soon as Zhu Chengyu finished speaking, a series of loud crashing sounds came from Ling'er's room.

Ling'er had been thinking about all the evil things Zhu Chengyu had done to her, and she was filled with resentment and anger. The fragrance of incense in the room grew stronger and stronger, and she felt a little uncomfortable. Her head was spinning, and all the antique treasures in the room turned into Zhu Chengyu's grinning, thieving faces in her eyes. She grabbed a cup next to her and smashed it at one of the faces, breaking a jade bottle.

The jade bottle, a precious tribute from the Uyghurs, shattered with a loud "crack." Ling'er felt a little better, but the smiling face on the wall seemed even more sinister. Without thinking further, she threw the second cup as well.

As Shang Minglun listened, his face changed color. He slapped his thigh in desperation, "Oh dear! My dear aunt, all my valuable 'treasures' are in that room! Please, aunt, have mercy!" He then went over to stop them.

Zhu Chengyu laughed and grabbed him, "Don't go over there, let her smash it! If you go over now, she'll have smashed it to a near-complete state by now!"

Shang Minglun's eyes turned red with anxiety. "Zhu Chengyu, you're still laughing! You're still laughing! It's all your fault! That little vixen smashed all my things! What are we going to do about it?" Shang Minglun was furious because of his "darling"!

"What are we going to do? She even dared to push me into the water, what are your little things compared to that?" Zhu Chengyu said gloatingly, "Come to my mansion tomorrow, take whatever you like!"

Hearing this, Shang Minglun felt a little relieved. He reminded Zhu Chengyu, "Hey! Stop looking and hurry over to take a look. It looks like his time to hang himself is approaching!"

Zhu Chengyu and Shang Minglun tiptoed to Ling'er's room. The sound of things being smashed had stopped. Zhu Chengyu peered into the room through the door. Shang Minglun squeezed in too; he'd never seen anyone hang themselves before, and he couldn't possibly miss such a spectacle!

This was no small matter. Ling'er was sitting on the bed, her face ashen, her eyes distant and cold. She was wrapping a white silk ribbon around her hand, layer by layer.

"Ling'er, you mustn't!" Zhu Chengyu thought Ling'er was going to hang herself, and he was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. He fumbled for the key while shouting, "Please don't do anything rash! I'll open the door right away! Oh dear! Why can't I open this lock?" He then angrily said to Shang Minglun, "What kind of lock is this in your house? Oh, it's open! It's open! Get up quickly, don't block the way."

Pushing Shang Minglun aside, Zhu Chengyu pulled the door open. He looked up and his face instantly changed color. He saw a flash of cold light, and a gleaming knife was thrust towards his face. Zhu Chengyu's mind raced; someone wanted to kill him. He dodged the first blow. When he could see clearly, the person wielding the knife was none other than Ling'er!

Ling'er swung her knife horizontally again, aiming for Zhu Chengyu's abdomen. Ling'er didn't really want to kill him, but only to force him into the corridor next to her---The Magpie Bridge Fairy replied [23]: While Zhu Chengyu dodged, Ling'er had already stepped out of the gatehouse. Shang Minglun shouted: "Cousin, be careful! She is holding the Kunyu Treasure Knife, which can cut through iron like mud. Don't underestimate it!"

Although the Kunlu sword was small, it was quite heavy. Ling'er initially had trouble holding it, so she wrapped a white silk ribbon around her hand. She thought that as soon as someone opened the door, she could use the sword to escape. Zhu Chengyu, mistakenly believing she was going to hang herself, opened the door for her, and Ling'er was able to escape.

After a couple of moves, Zhu Chengyu realized that Ling'er didn't know martial arts. The reason she was able to force Zhu Chengyu to retreat two steps was firstly because of the sharpness of her dagger, and secondly because she was determined to die. If she could break out, that would be best; if not, she would rather die than let Zhu Chengyu's evil scheme succeed.

Seeing Ling'er run towards the door, Zhu Chengyu did not stop her, but only whistled. Suddenly, several servants dressed in dark blue clothes rushed out from the door and guarded it.

Ling'er knew she couldn't escape. She slowly turned the car around, her eyes filled with despair and grievance.

Zhu Chengyu looked around with self-satisfaction and a cheerful smile. He walked to Ling'er's side, grabbed her chin, and gently ran his thumb across her cheek.

"Ling'er, where do you think you're going? Do you think you can escape?"

"Zhu Chengyu, why do you keep bothering me?" Ling'er's large eyes welled up with tears. Every time she looked at him with resentment, he felt his heart clench, but he remained expressionless, replying in his usual tone, "I just want to bother you!"

Ling'er took two steps back, her head held high with pride and stubbornness, her face filled with humiliation and resentment as she stared directly into Zhu Chengyu's eyes and said softly but forcefully, "No more, no more!" Then she raised the Kunlu sword and stabbed it towards her heart.

Zhu Chengyu was horrified; he never expected Ling'er to resort to such a desperate measure. Without thinking, he grabbed Ling'er's wrist, halting the dagger's trajectory. Ling'er screamed in alarm, "Don't touch me!" Then, the dagger suddenly stabbed out in the opposite direction, heading straight for Zhu Chengyu's heart.

Zhu Chengyu retreated hastily, but Ling'er was one step ahead of him, and a cut still appeared on his chest. Zhu Chengyu clutched his chest, blood seeping from between his fingers. He stared at Ling'er in disbelief, his eyes wide with astonishment, unable to utter a single word.

Ling'er was also frightened. She was shocked by her own behavior. Who would have thought that the usually well-behaved and gentle Ling'er would take a knife and stab someone?

"Cousin, are you alright? Cousin, don't scare me!" Shang Minglun, pale with fright, rushed over to support Zhu Chengyu. He then shouted at the servants, "You fools, go and fetch a doctor! And seize her!"

One servant went to fetch a doctor, while the rest of the servants headed aggressively toward Ling'er. If the assassin who was supposed to kill the prince escaped, they would all lose their heads.

"No one is allowed to move! No one is allowed to go and fetch a doctor!" Zhu Chengyu struggled to stand up straight. His words confused everyone. Why didn't he call a doctor when he was injured? Did he want to die?

Zhu Chengyu refused Shang Minglun's help and, clutching his wound, cautiously approached Ling'er. Ling'er, terrified, took two steps back, her delicate brows furrowed and her breathing rapid as she raised her Kunlu sword and cried out, "Don't come any closer!"

"Do you really want me to die? Do you really hate me that much?" His voice trembled, and his lips turned from purple to white.

Ling'er's dark eyes shone strangely like cold stars in the mist. Tears still clung to her face, her expression solemn and dignified, carrying a tragic sense of sacrifice, making her look poignant and beautiful. She clenched her teeth and lower lip, then coldly and slowly said, "Don't worry! Since I've killed you, I'll repay you with my life!" Without hesitation, she once again brought the dagger to her neck.

"No!" Zhu Chengyu screamed wildly. Ling'er's hand trembled, and she stopped inexplicably. But this was, after all, the Kunlu sword, and it still left a thin line of blood on her neck, like a red hair.

A hurt expression appeared on Zhu Chengyu's face. He stared into her bright, star-like eyes, into her dazzling beauty... his heart clenched. After a long while, he finally said in a hoarse voice, "I don't blame you, you can go!" He seemed to have used a great deal of strength to squeeze out these words, and a barely perceptible reluctance and bitterness flashed in his eyes.

Ling'er could hardly believe her ears! Zhu Chengyu would actually let her go? Would he really allow it? But Ling'er knew she hadn't misheard.

Ling'er wasn't the only one stunned; even Shang Minglun was puzzled. "Cousin, you..." "Let her go! No one is allowed to stop her! Do you hear me?" Zhu Chengyu said sternly, his wound bleeding profusely, his face growing increasingly pale.

Shang Minglun dared not disobey Zhu Chengyu's words. With a wave of his hand, the servants made way for him.

Ling'er straightened her back, walked to the door, went out the gate, and left on her own.

Watching Ling'er's departing figure, Zhu Chengyu felt a strange sense of abandonment. She simply left, stingily refusing to even turn her head. She had wounded him, yet showed not a trace of remorse. How he wished she would turn back and look at him! Just one glance! Whatever message those eyes conveyed, as long as she turned back!

But no! Nothing at all! He lost this round again. "Again"? What a pathetic word.

Ling'er stepped out the door, her mind a complete blank. She didn't want to think about anything, only to get back to safety as quickly as possible. Perhaps she was still shaken; her legs were a little unresponsive, and she couldn't walk fast, but she was afraid the villains would catch up. In truth, if they really wanted to chase after her, Ling'er couldn't escape them anyway.

She didn't know how long she had walked, but once she reached the main road and figured out the direction, she returned to the Southern Mansion.

Back at the Southern Mansion, it was already completely dark. As she had expected, Ningyue was already weeping uncontrollably, and Ximei was even more so. Nanbin had received a message from Steward Xu saying that Ling'er had been kidnapped and had rushed back from the palace; even Sun Chenlin had come. Just when everyone was at a loss for what to do, Ling'er returned on her own. Everyone was both surprised and delighted, but for a moment they didn't know what to say or ask.

"Ling'er, what happened? Steward Xu said you were kidnapped, we were so worried." Ningyue was young and not very composed, so she was the first to ask.

“Yes! Who’s so bold as to commit a crime right under the emperor’s nose!” Sun Chenlin asked as well.

"I don't know either! I guess I offended them in the business world before, but who knows!"

"Then how did you escape?" Ningyue continued to ask.

“These people are all after money. I happened to have some money on me, so I bribed the guards and escaped,” Ling’er said without changing her expression.

Ningyue wanted to ask more, but Nanbin stopped her.

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [24]: “Ling’er is tired, go and rest first, we can talk about it tomorrow!” Nan Bin said.

The eldest brother is like a father. With the master and mistress not home, everything naturally had to be done according to Nan Bin's instructions. Nan Bin finally breathed a sigh of relief; Ling'er's safe return was the best-case scenario. Firstly, there was no need to alarm her parents far away in Linyi; secondly, although Ling'er had been kidnapped, she hadn't spent the night outside, and her clothes weren't even dirty, so her chastity was preserved. Furthermore, given Ling'er's personality, if something had gone wrong in this matter, she certainly wouldn't have returned alive; everything else was minor.

Ling'er sat in the bathtub, pressing her slightly aching legs and feet. She must have walked too much during the day; even her feet were swollen. Only then did Ling'er feel a little relieved. She didn't want to think about the events and people of the day, but those things lingered around her like an inescapable mist.

What shocked her most was that she actually used a knife to stab someone. Not only could others not believe it, but even she herself couldn't believe it. And him—that Zhu Chengyu. After all her attempts to entangle him failed and she stabbed him, he actually let her go?

Ling'er felt that the stab wound she had made wasn't very deep, but he seemed to have lost a lot of blood. Would he die? If he died, wouldn't she be in legal trouble?

Xi Mei came in to bring hot water. After adding the hot water, Xi Mei helped Ling'er tidy up her clothes.

"Sister Ling, you're amazing!" Xi Mei smiled mysteriously.

"What?" Ling'er asked absentmindedly.

“You know perfectly well that you managed to fool the young master, the grandson, and the young lady with just a few words. Don’t try to hide it from me!” Xi Mei said bluntly. “Although I don’t know who kidnapped you today, it’s certainly not because you offended anyone in the business world as you claim.”

"Ximei!" Ling'er called softly, her brows furrowed.

"Sister Ling, don't worry, you must have your reasons for not wanting to talk about it!" Xi Mei said understandingly, "The eldest young master works in the palace, so he naturally doesn't understand business matters. The young lady rarely leaves the house and doesn't understand anything either. As for the young master Sun, he's an outsider, so it's not his place to worry about him! So, don't worry, I will never mention, speak of, or ask about this matter again!"

Ling'er looked at Ximei gratefully, speechless for a moment.

Ling'er was still thinking about the day's events, and even after her bath, she remained somewhat unsettled. Lying in bed, every time she closed her eyes, Zhu Chengyu's nightmarish face would appear before her, refusing to leave.

The doorman opened the door, and there was Ningyue. As usual, she took off her shoes and climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), leaning against Ling'er's side.

"Ling'er, I have something to tell you!" Ningyue's words were filled with undisguised excitement and joy.

"Okay! Go ahead and say it, I'm listening!" We've had this kind of conversation, snuggling together in bed, countless times!

“Today, as soon as you got into trouble, Chenlin came right away. My elder brother knows about what happened between Chenlin and me. He approves of it and said he will tell Mother when she comes back. I think Mother won’t object. It’s just that Father…” Ningyue suddenly couldn’t continue.

"Are you afraid the master won't agree?" Ling'er asked. Ningyue remained silent, only letting out a soft sigh.

"Don't worry, Master won't disagree," Ling'er reassured her. "Your marriage is arranged by your parents and a matchmaker, and with Nan Bin and Nan Shan pleading on your behalf, I can't think of any reason why Master would disagree."

"Ling'er, you don't know! I heard from the servants that on the Lantern Festival, Lord Shang came to propose marriage to me on behalf of Prince Suning. Father was about to agree, but Mother rejected him outright!"

"Now that you're back, what are you worried about? In the end, it's still Madam who calls the shots in our household!" Ling'er sincerely admired Madam's decisiveness and experience!

"I'm afraid that Prince Suning won't give up. I've heard that he holds a high position and is arrogant and willful. If Mother tells him this time, I'm afraid he'll hold a grudge. What if he makes things difficult for Father in front of the Emperor? That Zhu Chengyu is particularly fond of bullying others by abusing his power!"

Ningyue's words were not without reason, but who could control the affairs of the court? Ling'er was very tired. Ningyue kept rambling on and on, but Ling'er didn't listen to a lot of it, except for the last sentence, which she heard very clearly.

"What? You're saying who's abusing their power?"