L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 106

"Brother Jin..." Zhengxuan, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat in the center of the hall and called out to Jinxuan who entered the hall with a gloomy expression.

"Royal brother." Jinxuan smiled and walked steadily yet lightly to Zhengxuan, bowing deeply.

"Jin-di, you...you really want to get married? You really don't regret it, it's not too late to regret it now..." Zheng-xuan carefully observed Jin-xuan and asked with a glimmer of hope.

Seeing that the two of them had finally achieved their happy ending, he and Qing'er were relieved enough to travel the world. However, on their way back to the capital yesterday, they heard the news that Jin Di and Princess Wu Ying were getting married. Enraged, Qing'er immediately rushed back, only to find the Jin Prince's residence bustling with wedding preparations. After confirming this with the steward, the two of them stormed back to the palace without even entering the residence, causing Qing'er to throw a huge tantrum. She smashed everything in her bedchamber. When the Crown Prince's tutor tried to comfort the prince, a woman claiming to be Mo Yueying told him that the prince had gone on a trip with Yelü Ying and hadn't been seen since. What had happened? How could two perfectly fine people be going from marrying one woman to traveling with another? He couldn't see Jin Di, and Qing'er didn't want to see him at all. So, he still didn't know what had happened and hoped that Jin Di's actions were just a momentary impulse, perhaps something could be salvaged.

"Why does Your Majesty ask such a question?" Jinxuan asked, puzzled. Didn't His Majesty and Qing'er always hope that he and Jun would be together forever? Why is it that today, after he finally married Jun, His Majesty keeps asking him if he regrets it? And why didn't His Majesty's sister-in-law come?

"Uh, it's nothing, I was just worried you might act impulsively." Zhengxuan was at a loss for words when asked, and turned his face away.

"Of course I will not regret it. I have waited for this day for far too long..." Jinxuan raised his face and said with firmness and happiness. Marrying Jun was his lifelong dream and his only goal.

"Fine, then!" Zheng Xuan flung his sleeves, sat down angrily, his face dark. If he wanted to marry Cheng Wuying so badly, why did he ask him to arrange a marriage between him and Jun Zi that day? It was utterly baffling!

"Brother, why didn't Yuqing come?" Jinxuan asked the question he had been wanting to ask. He had found it strange when he saw his brother come alone: Putting aside his friendship with Yuqing, just look at Yuqing's relationship with Jun! The two were closer than sisters, so why didn't she come to his wedding today?

"I'm not feeling well." Zhengxuan turned his face away, a little angry. How dare she mention Qing'er? It's a wonder she didn't just come over with a knife, let alone expect her to officiate the wedding. If it weren't for the sake of Jindi and Prince Zhongwu, he would never have come. He doesn't know how angry Qing'er is in the palace right now.

"Are you alright?" Jin Xuan asked, a look of worry appearing on his cheerful face. Was Yu Qing sick? No wonder my brother's complexion had been so poor.

"It's nothing." Zhengxuan said through gritted teeth. Nothing? No wonder you made him so angry. He just couldn't understand why Jindi would want to marry Cheng Wuying for no reason.

"Sigh, Jindi, what exactly happened between you and Jun..." Zhengxuan was about to ask when a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

"The bride is here! The bride is here..." someone shouted from outside, and all the guests who came to offer their congratulations rushed to the door to see.

"Here it comes..." Jinxuan excitedly rubbed his hands together, shouted, and ran out.

Zhengxuan sighed, shook his head, and decided not to join in the fun or ask Jinxuan anymore. Wasn't it obvious?

"Your Highness, congratulations." Just as Jinxuan was about to step out the door, Yelü Ying's wicked voice suddenly rang out.

"Congratulations." Jin Xuan never expected Yelü Ying to appear. His joyful face darkened slightly as he calmly said, but alarm bells were ringing in his mind: The Emperor is going to marry him. Given Yelü Ying's infatuation with the Emperor, how could he possibly attend their wedding and even congratulate him? Judging from his expression, it didn't seem like he was forcing a smile, but rather like he was smug. No, no, there must be something wrong here!

Just as Jinxuan was about to grasp the problem, the matchmaker's urging voice rang out, interrupting Jinxuan's thoughts. Thinking that Jun was still waiting for him in the bridal sedan chair, he automatically ignored the unease in his heart and walked past Yelü Ying toward the bridal sedan chair.

The Prince Jin's mansion was bustling with activity, while the Crown Prince's tutor's mansion appeared desolate. All the servants were furious with their master and wished they could beat up that heartless prince on his behalf. However, their master seemed completely unaffected, remaining as steady as a mountain, sitting in his study reading and practicing calligraphy, undisturbed at all.

In truth, Ao Jun wasn't as unaffected as they thought. She sat at her desk, picked up the jade flute Jin Xuan had given her, and examined it tenderly, seemingly lost in memories. Finally, she let out a long sigh, picked up her brush, and wrote on the pristine white Xuan paper: "The north wind howls, like a sword wound. Rustling yellow leaves accompany my sleep, a mournful wind blows on my pillow. The jade flute remains as warm as ever, but the person I knew is no more."

Swallows flutter away, but love remains. Zhang Lang's wealth and honor have severed all ties, and I will not shed tears of blood like Yingying. I wish to sever our ties with my sword, but alas, longing has already become a calamity.

She put down her pen and chuckled self-deprecatingly. She was becoming more and more like an ancient person, even trying to write poetry when she was feeling down. If Xue knew, she would laugh herself to death. Hehe... Goodbye, Xue, Jinxuan... Goodbye.

After thinking it over, she picked up the jade flute on the table, pushed open the door and went out. It was almost noon, and they were about to have their wedding ceremony, right? So she should leave too... She looked at the jade flute in her hand and gave a self-deprecating smile: She still couldn't let go.

"Ying'er, are you there?" Ao Jun called out as she pushed open Yue Ying's door. She was about to leave and wanted to tell Ying'er to ask if she wanted to come with her. But as soon as she entered, she smelled a very fragrant aroma. She knew that Ying'er had come up with some new dish again.

"Brother, you're here! I was just about to go call you." Upon seeing Ao Jun enter, Yueying skipped happily to her side like a little bird, naturally taking her arm and exclaiming excitedly. Perfect timing! She was just about to go find her!

"Ying'er, I smelled a fragrance as soon as you came in. Did you hide something good?" Ao Jun patted Yue Ying's head affectionately and smiled. Seeing Ying'er's mischievous appearance made her feel unusually good.

"Your nose is really sharp. But the good stuff is for your brother too." Yueying said meaningfully, pulling Aojun to sit down at the table and pouring him a glass of wine.

"Ying'er is so good to her brother." Ao Jun smiled as he watched the wine being poured from the wine pot into the wine cup.

"Of course, you're my dearest brother!" Yueying picked up a wine glass and held it in front of Aojun, smiling sweetly. Once you drink this, everything will be irreversible, and you'll suffer for the rest of your life. But do I really want you to suffer? Why am I hesitating now? All the plans have gone unexpectedly smoothly, and we're almost there. Why am I hesitating?

"You are also my dearest sister." Ao Jun picked up her wine glass, her unfathomable eyes looking directly into Yue Ying's. With Xue and Ying'er, she was content!

Feeling guilty under Ao Jun's gaze, Yueying looked away. Why was her brother looking at her like that? Had he already figured something out?

I picked up my glass and downed it in one gulp. Hmm, this wine has a delicate fragrance, not bad...

"Brother..." Yueying exclaimed in surprise when she saw Aojun drink the wine. Instinctively, she wanted to stop him. Although this wine was not poisoned, it could ruin her brother's happiness for a lifetime.

"What's wrong? I'm so hungry! Let me see what good stuff Ying'er has cooked?" Ao Jun put down his wine glass, smiled, and eagerly picked up his chopsticks to eat. "Mmm, delicious," Ao Jun squinted his eyes, as if savoring the taste.

Yueying's eyes were slightly red. This scene looked so familiar! Back in the military camp, my brother always had this expression whenever he ate the food she cooked. It seemed like they had returned to those happy times.

"Ying'er, what's wrong? Your eyes are all red." Ao Jun asked, putting down his chopsticks when he saw Yueying's red eyes.

"It's nothing, just some sand in my eye," Yueying said with a smile, rubbing her eyes. The wine's already been drunk; there's no going back!

"Why does everyone use this excuse? Hehe...you..." Ao Jun smiled indulgently. She didn't believe such a lame excuse! Just as she was about to go over and ask, she suddenly felt dizzy and weak all over. What was going on?

"Brother..." Yueying called out cautiously to Aojun, but did not go forward to help her.

"My head is so dizzy, so uncomfortable... this wine..." Ao Jun slumped into a chair and said with difficulty. Not only was she dizzy, but she also felt extremely uncomfortable all over. This did not seem like the symptoms of an illness. A thought flashed through her mind, and she picked up the wine glass. She looked at Ying'er in disbelief and said, "Impossible. Ying'er would not harm her. She would not poison her."

"Brother, I'm sorry, this is what you owe me." Yueying stood up and said coldly, no longer the innocent little girl she once was. This Yueying was a stranger to her.

"Ying'er, you...you've never forgiven me, have you?" Ao Jun closed his eyes and said calmly.

"Forgive you? Hmph, do you know how much my heart ached, how much I hated you, when I found out the person I deeply loved had been lying to me all along, when I found out I loved another woman?" Yueying sneered, her eyes filled with resentment. He wanted to cry, he wanted to cry so badly. Brother, do you know that?

"So that's how it is. So I hurt you this badly. Heh... Actually, I... should have seen through it sooner. I trusted you too much. Otherwise, no matter how you tried to hide it, you would never have been able to escape my eyes. Ying'er, you were originally a simple and lovely little girl. Why did you... become like this today?" Ao Jun laughed, seemingly mocking herself and feeling heartbroken. Why? Just because she didn't tell her her true identity, she wanted to kill her. Ying'er, when did you become so ruthless?

"Why has it come to this? You still ask me why? It's you who made me the biggest joke, it's you who ruined my dreams, it's you who made me like this. I hate you, and I'll make you taste the excruciating pain of being betrayed by your lover, haha... You'll never be with your beloved prince, you can't stop it, haha..." Yueying roared at Aojun as if she were going crazy, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Why? At this moment, she felt no pleasure in revenge, only regret, regret...

"Hate me? Jinxuan never betrayed me. It was all your and Cheng Wuying's conspiracy. No, Yelü Ying was involved too, wasn't he?" Ao Jun asked calmly, but her tone was certain.

She understood, she understood everything. Jin Xuan hadn't betrayed her at all. Everything, everything, was just a play orchestrated by Ying'er, Cheng Wuying, and Yelü Ying. Everything they said was a lie, hahaha… Who would have thought that she, who prided herself on her cunning and meticulous planning, would fall for such a lowly scheme, misunderstand Jin Xuan, and personally push him towards Cheng Wuying? How could she possibly face Jin Xuan now, or stop him from doing so…

"Yes," Yueying whispered. She was indeed clever; she understood everything immediately. If the people who deceived her weren't her most trusted confidants, herself and Yelü Ying, then probably no one in the world could have tricked her. Her emotions had blinded her, allowing them to succeed. She had manipulated her feelings…

"Hahaha... I never thought I, Ling Aojun, would be such a failure as a person. The people I'm closest to and most trusted have actually teamed up against me, digging one pit after another for me to fall into, hahaha... And I still trusted you so much, yet I hurt the people who love me the most... Fine, very well... very well indeed..." Aojun closed her eyes and laughed loudly, a cold smile on her lips. She didn't want Yueying to see her despair and sadness; this was the last bit of dignity she wanted to preserve. But the glistening tears in the corners of her eyes betrayed her.