L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 132

"universe?"

"..."

The morning glow had turned into the sunset, and the Ouyang brothers' curiosity had been piqued by the wonders of the 21st century. Question after question, one within another, kept Ao Jun and Ao Xue exhausted until they collapsed. The questions wouldn't stop, leaving them speechless. They simply didn't know how to explain it! They regretted ever telling them about the 21st century; they had only asked for trouble.

Several more days passed peacefully. During these days, the four of them played together every day, carefree, no longer thinking about the emperor, empress, princes, strategists, the crown prince's tutor, or the sect leader, nor mentioning the poison of 'sorrowful white hair.' Like teenage lovers, they spent each day happily. Every night, Jinxuan and Aojun slept in each other's arms, greeting the next morning's dawn together, gaining another day to spend together…

These days, everyone has been sensible enough not to disturb their time alone. Yelü Ying and Dongfang Junhao are the same; they just stand at a distance, watching Ao Jun smile and watch Ao Jun nestled happily in Jin Xuan's arms... There's simply no way they can get between the two of them.

Yelü Ying sat alone in his room. His naturally red eyes had returned to normal, but they no longer gleamed with evil. They were as calm as still water, and his bewildered face seemed to indicate that he could not find any purpose in life.

A few soft knocks suddenly reached his ears, but he seemed not to hear them and remained motionless, showing no intention of opening the door.

Upon seeing that the door was unlocked, the person pushed it open and entered, softly calling out to the lifeless Yelü Ying, "Yelü Ying."

The calm voice startled Yelü Ying, who turned around abruptly and exclaimed in disbelief, "Your Majesty?"

That familiar white robe, those magnetic eyes, those... two strands of white hair floating on his forehead—who else could it be but Jun? He just really didn't expect Jun to take the initiative to find him, and there was no hatred or disgust in his calm and breezy eyes as he had imagined. Was he dreaming?

“Mm.” Ao Jun nodded gently, but faced with Yelü Ying’s burning red eyes, she didn’t know how to speak for a moment.

"Jun, is there something you want to say?" Yelü Ying's calm red eyes lit up again. He pulled Ao Jun to sit down on a chair and smiled happily. At this moment, he was like a child who had made a mistake and had been forgiven by his teacher. His innocent face was filled with undisguised joy.

"Here, take this back." Ao Jun slightly turned her head, took out the wolf-shaped jade pendant Yelü Ying had given her from her bosom, and held it out to Yelü Ying, speaking calmly. Seeing Yelü Ying like this stirred a pang of pity in her heart, but she knew she couldn't hesitate any longer. She could leave at any moment; she couldn't let Yelü Ying ruin his life. Only by letting him let go of this relationship could he possibly find his own happiness. If she hadn't hesitated back then, perhaps none of this would have happened. It was she who gave Yelü Ying hope time and time again, leading him to believe that as long as she and Jin Xuan were separated, they could be together.

Yelü Ying's bright red eyes dimmed, the smile on his lips froze, and he did not take the jade pendant. He gave a bitter smile and said, "You still haven't forgiven me, have you?"

"No, Yelü Ying, when I first learned the truth, I hated you, but then I realized that hating someone is exhausting, so I stopped hating you a long time ago. Besides, I was the one who wronged you first, and I also bear responsibility for what you did. I've already said that we're still friends, just like we were at the border..." Ao Jun shook his head. The meaning was clear: let them forget all the unpleasant things that happened in Kyoto!

"Friends? Heh... Yes! We can only be friends now." Yelü Ying looked up at the sky and chuckled softly, his voice filled with helplessness, sorrow, and loneliness.

"Yelü Ying..." Ao Jun frowned, calling out softly with concern. Looking into his familiar red eyes, she recalled the words Jin Xuan had told her: how much Yelü Ying had suffered for her. If he hadn't just discovered that the Holy Emperor was her, Yelü Ying would have already gone with 'her'.

"Since we're friends, why would I take back a gift I gave you? Could it be that being friends is just talk?" Yelü Ying suddenly revealed a wicked smile, feigning anger, as if he had reverted to his former arrogant and evil 'Devouring Flame Evil Lord'.

“You know best what the significance of this jade pendant is. We are friends, so I am not its owner. I believe that one day you will find its true owner.” Ao Jun ignored Yelü Ying’s ’anger’, placed the jade pendant in his hand, smiled, and said with a firm belief in his magnetic eyes.

Yelü Ying gripped the wolf-shaped jade pendant tightly, a bitter smile playing on his lips. He said softly, "The real master? Heh..." The only master it recognizes is you, only you!

"As a friend, I wish you well. Even if I... am gone, I will still bless you from afar." Ao Jun patted Yelü Ying's shoulder, offering a sincere blessing. Perhaps he can't let go now, but time will be the best healer. He will eventually forget her and meet a woman who can truly bring him happiness, she firmly believed.

"My lord, please let me let you go. Even if it hurts, I will do as you say. But please don't say you want to leave again, okay?" Yelü Ying was shocked when he heard Ao Jun's words. He grabbed her hand tightly and pleaded anxiously.

"Alright." A glint of moisture flashed in Ao Jun's unfathomable eyes as she nodded, moved. Such a deeply affectionate man—she was destined to betray him in this life.

Leaving Yelü Ying's room, Ao Jun returned to his own room with heavy steps. "Yelü Ying," he said, "such a pained and helpless expression shouldn't be on you. You should be confident. Arrogant person, I hope you can let go of this soon!"

As soon as I entered the room, I saw that familiar figure drawing something on the table, and my heart was instantly filled with joy: happiness is so simple.

With a deep smile, he walked over silently. On the table, a long scroll depicted a lifelike landscape painting, with the majestic grandeur of Mount Tai, the vastness of the desert, and the picturesque scenery of Jiangnan. The entire landscape seemed to leap off the page, offering a panoramic view.

"I never imagined Jinxuan had such talent! Hmm, he's comparable to a master." After Jinxuan finished his painting, Aojun walked around the table to Jinxuan's side, tapping the table as if appreciating it, and teased him.

"Jun, you've come." Jin Xuan pulled Ao Jun into his arms, rested his head on Ao Jun's neck, and smiled gently.

"Hmm." Ao Jun was about to say something when her brows suddenly furrowed, and she only managed a soft reply. Had the deadline arrived so quickly?

Jinxuan tightened his grip on Aojun's hand, as if he had sensed something. Was fate really so cruel, taking away their happiness so quickly?

"Hehe...it seems something's missing? Jinxuan, you haven't inscribed anything yet?" Ao Junqiang used his inner strength to suppress the surge of bloodlust and heartache, and said with a faint smile.

"I haven't thought of what to write yet. Why don't you write it, Jun?" Jinxuan said with a gentle smile, as if nothing was wrong. He reached out, picked up the brush, and placed it in Aojun's hand.

"Alright!" Ao Jun said mischievously, picking up his brush and writing quickly on the scroll. As soon as he finished writing the last character, a drop of blood fell onto the scroll, slowly spreading out and reddening the picturesque landscape, like a bright red peony blooming in the mountains, drop by drop, blooming all over the entire mountain.

"Leaning against the railing, I listen to the wind and rain, and calmly observe the path of the world." Jin Xuan seemed not to see the blooming peony, and calmly recited the poem written by Ao Jun. However, his deep eyes were already covered with tears, his fists were clenched tightly, and his body trembled continuously.

"Jinxuan, this land is so beautiful, you must take me to see it. No matter where I am, I will accompany you through the world." Aojun raised her hand, wiping the blood from her lips, turned around, took Jinxuan's hand, released his grip, and gave him a seductive smile, her gaze fixed intently into his deep eyes. She was probably about to leave, and now she needed a promise from Jinxuan.

"Mmm." Jinxuan hugged Aojun tightly, burying his head in Aojun's neck, and responded softly. He understood what Jun meant; Jun wanted a promise from him, but Jun, this was too cruel, really too cruel. Without you, living is truly painful.

Ao Jun hugged Jin Xuan tightly, two lines of tears streaming down her face. She knew that death would end everything, and the living were the ones who suffered the most. Such a promise was too difficult for Jin Xuan, but she had to do it.

Amidst the wind and rain of the landscape, the two embraced tenderly, their love reflected in the blooming peonies, making everything in the world seem insignificant in that instant.

"Sect Master, Your Highness..." But an inconsiderate voice suddenly rang out, shattering this exquisite scene.

Jin Xuan frowned, his eyes sharpening like daggers as he pierced Sheng Lu, who had suddenly rushed in. Sheng Lu instantly broke out in a cold sweat, instinctively wanting to retreat. It seemed she had arrived at the worst possible time, but then…

"Sect Master, Your Highness, Elder Huang has arrived. He seems to have found a record about 'Sorrowful White Hair'." Upon seeing the two strands of white hair floating on Ao Jun's forehead, Sheng Lu realized why she had inadvertently interrupted their "good time." She succinctly stated the key point, her joy evident in her words.

"Where is he?" Jin Xuan's deep eyes shone brightly, as if he had suddenly seen a spring of water in the desert. He asked anxiously, but before Sheng Lu could answer, he hurriedly pulled Ao Jun out of the room.

Just as Sheng Lu was about to answer, two figures, one in green and one in white, flashed past her, leaving her alone in the elegant room. There was also the painting. Upon seeing the 'blooming peonies' in the painting, Sheng Lu's joyful expression froze, her whole body trembled, and she murmured, "The sect leader... thankfully Elder Huang arrived in time." With a flash, she followed him out of the room.

Jinxuan and Aojun encountered Shenghuang and the others who had rushed over after hearing the news halfway there.

"Sect Master..." Upon seeing that it was Ao Jun, Sheng Huang hurriedly went to greet him, his face beaming with joy. His indescribable happiness overshadowed his fatigue and travel-worn appearance.

"Have you found an antidote for the 'Grief-Induced White Hair' poison?" Before Sheng Huang could finish speaking, Jin Xuan grabbed Sheng Huang's arm anxiously and asked abruptly.

Sheng Huang glanced at Jin Xuan, then at Ao Jun in Jin Xuan's arms, and instantly understood who the person in front of him was. He hurriedly took out a very old book from his pocket, opened it, and found that it contained writing that no one present except Sheng Zi could understand.

"Is this Miao script?" Sheng Zi asked in confusion as soon as she glanced at the characters. Why would Elder Huang bring out an ancient Miao book? Could 'White Hair Sorrow' be related to the Miao people? She was half Miao herself, but she had never heard of the Miao people having a poison called 'White Hair Sorrow'.

“That’s right. After the sect leader left the Holy Immortal Sect, I searched through all the ancient books and records but still couldn’t find any record of ‘Sorrowful White Hair.’ Later, I thought that the Miao people were the origin of all poison arts in the world, so I thought I might be able to find it there. So I set off for Miao territory. With the help of the clan chief, I finally found this book a few days ago. It’s about ‘Sorrowful White Hair’, no, it should be said that it’s about the Miao Holy Maiden from three hundred years ago. It records that the Holy Maiden’s poison arts were the highest and most talented in the history of Miao territory. However, she fell in love with the emperor at the time and voluntarily gave up everything to enter the palace…” Saint Huang nodded and said.

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the impatient Sheng Zi: "You old fool, I told you to find the antidote for 'Sad White Hair,' why are you looking for some saintess?"