Chapter 35 The Thirty-Fifth River Lantern
A few steps away, the sound of their voices was carried away by the wind.
Suddenly, Lu Huantang sensed a murderous aura. He instantly turned around, drew his sword, and went back to protect Jiang Linzhi.
There was no one else there except the old man. But the murderous aura definitely wasn't emanating from him.
A gust of wind blew, and the old man suddenly staggered forward, his hand holding the dagger falling to the ground. His head was thrown off, rolling to Jiang Linzhi's feet before coming to a stop, his eyes fixed on Jiang Linzhi, but he was lifeless.
It wasn't just dust; there were others too.
Lu Huantang was startled; even he couldn't sense its presence, it came and went without a trace.
The wind picked up again, blowing out the candlelight inside the lantern.
Lu Huantang couldn't see Jiang Linzhi's expression. She stood there with her head down, motionless. She wasn't flustered at all; perhaps... this was one of her people.
Lu Huantang finally relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had retreated to the street corner, he had been keeping a watchful eye on things and had overheard the rest of the conversation. Although he didn't know the whole story, he roughly knew that Jiang Linzhi had done something wrong and harmed the old man's family.
Without a doubt, it must be something terrible that happened to the Jiang family. Looking at Jiang Linzhi's current state, Lu Huantang felt two voices tearing at him. One voice told him that she was pitiful and he should go and comfort her; the other voice sneered that she was definitely faking it, that she killed someone and still wanted to eliminate the last one.
Jiang Linzhi held up the dagger and said, "Chen, help me check if there is any Zhu Yan powder on it."
His mind went blank with a deafening buzz, leaving his ears ringing for a long time. Coming to his senses, Lu Huantang staggered forward, his hands trembling as he looked at her wound, completely unsure what to do.
Even if Jiang Linzhi receives the best treatment, he won't live more than five years.
Moreover, if Jiang Linzhi were to actively inhale the snuff bottle, he would be executed according to the laws of Sui. The emperor treasures this purse so much that he would surely conceal this matter. If it were to be exposed when necessary, the emperor's authority would be greatly diminished, and Jiang Linzhi would not survive.
What a vicious method to kill two birds with one stone!
Lu Huantang hurriedly pulled her outside, saying, "There's medicine on the dagger; we must go to the clinic."
Jiang Linzhi didn't look up, standing still: "Are you genuinely concerned about me, or are you just afraid that something will happen to me and I'll lose my snuff bottle?"
"What does the snuff bottle have to do with me!" Lu Huantang was so frightened he flew into a rage.
Jiang Linzhi rested his head against Lu Huantang's chest without uttering a sound, much like a child facing the wall in contemplation.
Lu Huantang could only stand there stiffly, his endless fear slowly subsiding. He inadvertently noticed a white hair on Jiang Linzhi's head, so he helped her pluck it out and teased her, "You're getting old, you even have white hair."
"......"
"Even if you bleed more, the medicine powder won't come out. Come with me to the clinic, okay?"
"......"
"If you die, who will I marry?"
Jiang Linzhi finally moved, but she remained expressionless. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, turned around, and sat back in her previous spot. Beside a corpse still oozing warm blood, she picked up the bowl of cold noodles and ate it all.
The wound was treated as a regular one and bandaged at the clinic. The atmosphere outside was just right, and Jiang Linzhi didn't plan to go home. Instead, he pulled Lu Huantang through the crowd to release river lanterns on the bridge.
To the north of Sui State lies a desolate, extinct volcano, perpetually covered in snow. The meltwater from the volcano forms the Junan River, which stretches out before us. On one side of the river, the landscape is a vibrant mix of orange and green, while on the other, a vast expanse of white snow blankets the land. There are nine bridges spanning the river—not just one, nor eighty-one, but nine plus nine—eighteen bridges in total.
The bridge is strange, the scenery is strange, and the name is strange too.
Therefore, many stories have been passed down, making it a popular destination for festivals.
Legend has it that if a river lantern floats downstream, the Snow Mountain Goddess will bless the person who releases it and grant their dreams.
The bridge was filled with young men and women making wishes in pairs. Lu Huantang, worried about Jiang Linzhi's injury, absentmindedly bought two river lanterns. When he handed the lanterns to Jiang Linzhi, he realized that he hadn't bought incense or brought a tinderbox.
The scattered sparks on the river drifted far away, converging into a fiery dragon that stretched into the distance. Only their faces remained in shadow; Jiang Linzhi looked at Lu Huantang, and Lu Huantang looked at Jiang Linzhi.
Suddenly, light shone on their faces, and a flame rose from Jiang Linzhi's fingertip. It flickered with the summer breeze, and although the flame was small, it did not go out because there was no source of fire.
Lu Huantang reached out to shield the small flame from the wind and held the wick out to it.
The light came on, and Lu Huantang handed it to Jiang Linzhi.
Jiang Linzhi was taken aback, but didn't extend his hand. He smiled and said, "I don't believe in this stuff."
In the past, Lu Huantang would not have believed it either, but having just experienced such an event, Lu Huantang hoped that the old man was talking nonsense to scare Jiang Linzhi. After all, snuff bottles were strictly controlled in Sui Kingdom, and even high-ranking officials would find it difficult to obtain them, let alone a commoner like him.
Lu Huantang wanted to ask the gods for protection. He followed the example of others, closed his eyes and prayed silently, and then used his inner strength to steadily place the river lantern on the river.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Jiang Linzhi leaning on the railing, looking at him with a leisurely smile. It wasn't like looking at a lover, but more like looking at a child playing. Lu Huantang covered Jiang Linzhi's eyes, pressed her head into his arms, and threatened in a low voice: "You are not allowed to be disrespectful to the gods."
"You believe this?" A smiling voice still came from her arms.
"I didn't believe it before, but it's okay to believe it today."
Jiang Linzhi said, "Why do you think the most loyal believers of gods and Buddhas are those who have seen through the illusions of the world and are free from worldly desires? If gods and Buddhas were truly useful, they would certainly fulfill the wishes of their believers, instead of demanding that they be without thoughts or desires. It's just that they don't have the ability but still want to hold high positions. This thing... tsk... is very fragile."
Saying such unorthodox words, Jiang Linzhi finally struggled out of Lu Huantang's arms. She looked up at Lu Huantang, her eyes sparkling like stars, reflecting a galaxy that few people noticed, and said smugly, "Let me tell you a secret, in the Sui Kingdom, you should pray to me instead of praying to the gods."
Only Jiang Linzhi could utter such arrogant words.
Lu Huantang didn't take those words seriously. Like a believer, he placed Jiang Linzhi's hand on his forehead and said, "I take Miss as my guide."
Concerned about Jiang Linzhi's injuries, Lu Huantang took her back early, where the physician was already waiting.
Having received the news beforehand, Qi Lingjun looked at Lu Huantang with a cold expression. However, Lu Huantang was unwilling to put up with his attitude this time and wanted to go in with the doctor. Qi Lingjun blocked Lu Huantang from entering and said rudely, "Lord Marquis, you should have had enough fun today and go back to your residence."
Even though he used to dislike Lu Huantang, Qi Lingjun's years of experience had made him always humble and polite. But today, when the servants came to report that Jiang Linzhi was injured and still releasing river lanterns, Qi Lingjun's disgust for Lu Huantang reached its peak. He hated Lu Huantang for not protecting Jiang Linzhi, hated Lu Huantang for letting her act recklessly, and hated even more that Lu Huantang could monopolize her favor.
Lu Huantang refused to back down, saying, "I need to confirm that she is unharmed."
Even with the vast difference in strength, Qi Lingjun still reached out and firmly stopped Lu Huantang, saying with each word clear and firm: "You killed and injured her before, what are you pretending to be merciful for now? With your skills, would you let an old man hurt her? What are you really up to? We all know."
The noise outside was too loud, so Jiang Linzhi hurriedly came out and stood between the two of them, saying, "Is it really necessary to make such a fuss over such a minor injury?"
Qi Lingjun glanced at the doctor, who immediately bowed and said, "The powder on the dagger is indeed from the snuff bottle."
The weight that had been hanging over his heart suddenly came crashing down, shattering everything Qi Lingjun had painstakingly managed. Qi Lingjun abruptly drew a guard's sword, pointing it at Lu Huantang's throat, and said in a deep voice, "Get out."
Those piercing eyes were truly terrifying, sharper than a sword's edge, as if they were about to tear the person opposite them to pieces at any moment.
Jiang Linzhi had never seen Qi Lingjun look like he was about to kill anyone before, so he immediately stood in front of Lu Huantang and advised, "It's not a big deal, put down your sword."
Lu Huantang had no doubt that Qi Lingjun would kill him at any moment, but seeing the slightly trembling sword, fearing it might accidentally injure Jiang Linzhi, he pulled Jiang Linzhi behind him and said, "Whatever the illness, I will take full responsibility. If you feel uncomfortable, you can..."
With a "sizzle," the sound of the sword piercing flesh rang out. Qi Lingjun's attack was swift and ruthless, without a single wasted word. Before anyone could react, he was about to deliver a second thrust.
Jiang Linzhi swiftly drew Lu Huantang's sword and pressed it against Qi Lingjun's chest, angrily saying, "He didn't hire the assassin, so why are you taking your anger out on him!"
"Don't you know why I lost my temper with him, Miss?" Qi Lingjun looked coldly at Jiang Linzhi.
She was well aware of Qi Lingjun's feelings for her; his selfish intentions of seeking ambiguity and exploitation had been blatantly exposed. And in front of Lu Huantang no less, making Jiang Linzhi feel incredibly embarrassed.
"Get out!" Since he showed no mercy, Jiang Linzhi had no reason to show any mercy either. She spoke coldly and stood protectively in front of Lu Huantang.
"Do you want him or me?" Qi Lingjun's eyes remained cold as ice, devoid of any affection.
"You're just someone I picked up. I can pick up whoever I want all over the street whenever I want. How dare you threaten me like this?" Jiang Linzhi's words were harsh, but his sword didn't advance an inch.
Qi Lingjun pressed forward relentlessly, almost obsessively: "Is he still me?"
"You're just being unreasonable!" Jiang Linzhi was forced to back away.
"Yes, I have no evidence." So it's just being unreasonable? Before, everything was under his control, he had everything he was right and had evidence. But in this matter, he only had his most subjective intuition, and she just didn't believe him?
"Don't force me!" Jiang Linzhi said in a trembling voice, driven to the brink of collapse.
Qi Lingjun took another step forward, refusing to back down.
The next moment, everyone in the courtyard knelt down and kowtowed to the ground, as if afraid of seeing something.
Qi Lingjun looked at the sword in his chest, his gaze shifting from a chilling, menacing look to a still, lifeless calm, mirroring the deathly tranquility he had when he followed the exiles.
Suddenly, Qi Lingjun reached out and grasped Jiang Linzhi's hand holding the sword, forcefully plunging the sword into his own chest. He just looked at him quietly and said, "I understand."
Blood dripped down the sword and onto the ground, turning from warm to icy cold, the dripping sound deafening.
What vanished with it was all the tenderness between the two.
Completely disappeared.
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