Chapter 23 Wei Jingchen

Perhaps he had mistaken someone for someone else. Wei Jingchen quickly put that aside and bowed to Lin Chengye.

"Can they play chess? Surely not everyone in the Lin family is only good at fighting?"

"I know a little."

Lin Chengye nodded, looking at the chessboard the man had placed in the front hall, and sitting kneeling on either side of the low table. Wei Jingchen was clearly not one for idle chatter; he simply pointed at the chessboard, allowing Lin Chengye to move first with white pieces. Lin Chengye didn't refuse and readily picked up a piece, placing it on the board.

Wei Jingchen's moves were swift and agile, quite different from her usual solemn demeanor. The pieces moved with agility and grace, rolling across her fingertips before falling without a second thought, like an eagle soaring over a snow-capped mountain.

Lin Chengye hadn't had such a satisfying game of chess in a long time, and he was thoroughly enjoying himself. His fingers once again lifted the glistening, snow-white chess piece, breaking the silence that had been filled only with the monotonous sound of pieces being placed.

“My elder brother once mentioned His Highness.”

"oh."

Upon hearing this, Wei Jingchen remained unmoved, quickly placed another piece, and asked.

"What did you mention about me?"

"He didn't mention much, but said that when the Lin family was still in the capital, he often went to the palace, and that's how he got to know you. He said that you were exceptionally intelligent from a young age, but you didn't smile much."

Actually, that's not all. He also told some embarrassing stories, saying that the Third Princess rarely smiled, and he had to use all his tricks to make her laugh every time.

Lin Chengtong mentioned the Third Princess very rarely, and whenever he did, he gritted his teeth, but he wasn't really angry; there was a hint of awkwardness in his voice, as if mentioning that princess was some kind of monstrous monster or something else...

A heartless person.

"Yes, he prefers to climb over the palace walls rather than use the gates, but since the Empress Dowager likes it, no one dares to punish him."

Wei Jingchen's gaze became deep and distant, and his movement of placing a piece suddenly slowed down. In that instant, time and dust seemed to stand still, blurry and far-reaching, as if it came from ten years ago.

She hadn't mentioned that person for a long time.

After all, their breakup wasn't amicable; she and Lin Chengtong had a huge argument.

Lin Chengtong said he wasn't good at being hypocritical and wanted to make a name for himself on the battlefield.

She looked at the angry boy with a detached expression, somewhat puzzled. She said, "What does it matter? I just need you to stay by my side quietly. What good are winning battles if they only increase His Majesty's suspicion?"

The handsome young man looked at her in disbelief, as if he had been humiliated, all his tender feelings vanishing in an instant. She watched as his face flushed red and his eyes became bloodshot.

Lin Chengtong opened his mouth in vain, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word. He gripped the cold hilt of the sword beside him, which bore the marks of his blood and sweat from years of practice, and his right palm was calloused.

He knew Wei Jingchen understood, but she had never truly acknowledged it. Even though they loved each other, they couldn't be called soulmates. When Lin Chengtong stormed off, he didn't even feel anger, only a profound emptiness within him, and he walked away without looking back.

The dappled shadows on the bluestone path in the bamboo forest were broken by Lin Chengtong's every step, but what stood between the two of them was more than just that. However, Wei Jingchen was too lazy to even glance at it or think about it.

Wei Jingchen spoke slowly.

"We met when we were young, and we were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love. My father also intended for him to be my consort, and was almost about to issue an imperial decree to bestow our marriage. However, Lin Chengtong did not want to stay in the palace and wanted to go far away with my mother to make a name for himself. But I would not give up the throne for him and go to the frontier, so I gave up the idea. But I never expected..."

After many years apart, she was frustrated and unsuccessful in the capital. No matter what she did, she could not gain any favor from her father and aunt. Just when she was about to despair, she heard that he had made great achievements in the north and found a perfect match. Her first reaction was jealousy.

Like a tidal wave, jealousy almost engulfed her in the night, painful and bitter. When news from the north arrived, she lost control and crushed the porcelain cup in her hand. The scalding tea trickled from her fingertips into her sleeve, leaving a long red mark, but she was completely unaware of it.

Lin Chengtong is so lucky. Wei Jingchen was alone with the moon at that time, thinking about it, and ordered his men to replace the tea with strong liquor.

...

But it didn't seem as good as she had imagined.

The next time news of that person was heard was at the end of last year. The news of the massacre in Litao Prefecture, the deaths of all the Weilai soldiers, and the destruction of the Lin family shocked the entire court and the public.

Even the eldest princess, who was recuperating at Yongfo Temple, was furious and immediately returned home, ordering her envoy to take the fish tally to Yangguan in Lai Kingdom to mobilize an army of 100,000.

It only breeds suspicion! It only breeds suspicion! It only breeds suspicion! Words spoken years ago have become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In a fit of rage, Wei Jingchen swept all the books off the desk with a single blow, smashing everything within reach—everything was an eyesore and a facade. The pitch-black ground, as dark as the dappled bamboo shadows of that day, made her feel breathless.

The maids and guards around her knelt down tremblingly, begging her to calm down.

How to calm down?

That was three months, not three days, a full three months! Why hasn't there been a single word from Kyoto!

"Father, I believe this tragedy in Litao Prefecture is not merely a matter of regret and lamentation; it must have been premeditated! Not a single one of the 60,000 Weilai soldiers survived, and not a single word of news has returned to the capital. There must be spies from other countries within our Lai Kingdom. If we do not eliminate them..."

Wei Jingchen stood with her hands clasped in front of the Qingli Hall in the inner court, her eyes bloodshot. She had no recollection of the journey from her residence to this place, like a lost soul, her heart as cold as winter ice.

"Alright, I am also heartbroken now."

The person behind the curtain coughed heavily, arching their back in pain. She stood with her hands clasped, staring intently at the shadow.

The person she once most longed for and admired, no longer possessed any imperial authority. He was like a setting sun, past its prime, about to disappear at any moment.

"Father!"

"Shut up! Are you trying to say that I am the one who..."

"Your subject dares not! Your subject..."

With a thud, she knelt down, her hands pressed against her forehead as she bent over. But the moment her body touched the cold ground, Wei Jingchen became unusually clear-headed. She heard an extremely faint yet clear cracking sound, and then all her distracting thoughts and desires surged forth recklessly, growing wildly like thorny vines.

She should have given up on trying to gain any favor from her father or aunt long ago. After all, that position has always been stained with blood.

If you are incompetent, why are you sitting there? If you could choose such a mediocre person as your elder brother as the crown prince... then why, why?

The only one who can't be me, Wei Jingchen?

"I never imagined that we would be separated forever."

Wei Jingchen's last word fell into the cool night of Penghua City, very softly.

Lin Chengye's fingertips trembled.

"Your Highness, what exactly have you done? I am well aware of Your Highness's situation over the years. His Majesty and the Eldest Princess neither want you to leave the capital nor want you to achieve any merit..."

"In a moment of impulsiveness, he offended his father in the palace, and not long after, he was ordered to go south to supervise the army."

Wei Jingchen spoke succinctly, looked at the chessboard puzzle again, and finally looked into Lin Chengye's eyes.

"Is there anything else you want to ask? I need your help, so I should at least show some sincerity."

"Your Highness, I don't know much about the affairs of your court. I only know..."

The move was swift and decisive, a soft sound interrupting Wei Jingchen's probing.

Wei Jingchen realized that Hei Zi was beyond saving. She suddenly raised her head and met the boy's calm, still eyes, where sparks were rising and about to burst into flames.

She was still unaware that her words were like a fuse, about to ignite something. But Wei Jingchen found it unusually amusing.

That's right, that's the kind of person she wants.

Lin Chengye stared at her with a half-smile and said, word by word.

"Whoever drags the Lin family into hell, I will pull them out of the world."

"good."

Wei Jingchen casually picked up a piece and threw it onto the chessboard, instantly shattering a settled game into chaos. But her mood was lighter than ever since that day, like occasionally glimpsing a path forward while trapped in a fog—a good omen indeed.

"Let's leave it at that for tonight. I'll visit you again when the flower viewing party ends and you're leaving Penghua City."

Hearing about her deceased brother tonight was the biggest gain. As for how much of Wei Jingchen's words were true or false, and whether she should negotiate with him, Lin Chengye still needed to consider it. Stopping now suited her perfectly.

She walked into the courtyard, but couldn't find him. Helpless, she shouted at the gate.

"Bian Yi!"

With a whoosh, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, the person stirred up a gust of wind and drifted down like a white bird.

Are you leaving?

Bian Yi asked softly, but her eyes swept over Wei Jingchen. She was clearly much calmer, and those complex and unspeakable emotions were suppressed in her eyes, leaving only the tenderness of an elder loving a child.

Suddenly, she spoke, her voice a little hoarse.

"...How are you doing?"

"...What counts as good?"

Wei Jingchen was taken aback, and it took him a while to realize that he was asking her a question.

"Are you well-fed and warmly clothed?"

Bian Yi touched the tip of her nose. She didn't really understand either, but it was indeed what she most wanted to know.

For twenty-one years, besides hatred, the only thing she cared about was this child.

"Peace and joy."

Lin Chengye added from the side.

"boring."

Wei Jingchen raised an eyebrow, flicked his red sleeve, turned around, and slammed the door shut. The red jade on his head, adorned with a jade crown, also disappeared inside the doorway.

"Why does this child have such a bad temper?"

Bian Yi muttered something under her breath and touched the tip of her nose. She turned her head and suddenly noticed Lin Chengye looking at her with a half-smile. She immediately stood up straight.

“I’ve remembered the second thing I need to be honest about.”

Lin Chengye said leisurely.

...

As Lin Chengye was leaving Jiangjin Medical Clinic, he suddenly whispered something to the doctor.

“That person in the backyard is faking illness; get rid of her quickly.”

"What?"

The doctor paused for a moment, then looked at her suspiciously.

"But... but I'm not sure... her pulse is indeed a little unstable..."

And what's wrong with this person? Isn't that her friend inside? Did they have a fight in there?

"Hmm, that's probably caused by a martial artist forcibly reversing their technique; she did it on purpose."

Suddenly, Lin Chengye pulled out the jade pendant that Huang Qindong had given him from his pocket, flashed it under the doctor's nose, and then quickly put it back. He then tapped the dazed man on the forehead.

"Don't let just anyone in, lest you get into trouble."