Zhou Changling smiled gently, wiping away the tears from Bai Lingxi's eyes. His voice was still as clear and pleasant as ever.
"Today is our wedding day, why are you crying? It's bad luck."
Bai Lingxi became increasingly distraught. She kept shaking her head, refusing to speak, her eyes red as if about to bleed. The sight of a beautiful woman shedding tears was heartbreaking.
She was the one who stabbed someone, yet tears streamed down her face, splashing onto the ground and making her look incredibly pitiful!
Zhou Changling was worried that she wouldn't feel satisfied, and he was right; with her small strength and such a shallow wound, how could she possibly feel satisfied?
then--
Zhou Changling held her small hand and forcefully pushed the gold hairpin further in, making the wound deeper and deeper, with blood gushing out.
Bai Lingxi suddenly opened her eyes wide, staring at Zhou Changling in disbelief, looking utterly shocked and confused as to why he had done this.
Clearly, it was I who hurt him, wasn't it?
Seeing the wound getting deeper and deeper, until the entire hairpin was embedded in Zhou Changling's chest, and bright red blood flowing out relentlessly.
In the end, Bai Lingxi let go on her own. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, but she was still so delicate and beautiful. She shouted to stop the other person.
"Stop using so much force, Zhou Changling! Are you stupid? You'll die!"
Zhou Changling didn't care about his wounds at all. In his eyes, everything Bai Lingxi did was a favor to him, even if it was harmful.
"Don't cry, it hurts my heart to see you cry."
Bai Lingxi sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face, and cried out in despair, "I just wanted you to know how much pain he was in!"
"So, please don't be so good to me, please—" Bai Lingxi was almost crying herself to death; her mind was in complete chaos.
On one hand, there was the sight of Zhou Jin dying before her eyes; on the other hand, there was Zhou Changling holding her small hand and guiding it inside, his face full of indulgent smiles…
Despite the deep wound, Zhou Changling seemed oblivious, not even blinking.
Bai Lingxi felt her soul split in two. A voice told her that she loved Zhou Jin, that he was dead, and that everyone who hurt him should die!
But another voice said that she loved Zhou Changling, that he had done so much for her, and that she had hurt him; that she was the one who should die!
Bai Lingxi couldn't bear the guilt in her heart; it felt like her soul was being torn apart, and she cried even more heartbreakingly.
Seeing Bai Lingxi break down in tears, Zhou Changling felt a pang of heartache!
He passionately kissed away the tears from Bai Lingxi's eyes.
The passionate kiss was like the sweetest anesthetic, temporarily numbing the pain of both of them.
Numerous kisses landed on Bai Lingxi's small face, wiping away the tears on her cheeks.
Bai Lingxi endured it passively, letting out sad sobs. The tightly taut string in her mind snapped with a "snap!"
The light in Bai Lingxi's eyes gradually faded, dimming inch by inch.
Zhou Changling stopped what he was doing and stared at her quietly for a while, watching the light in her eyes gradually disappear and her whole person become lifeless.
Zhou Changling tensed up, his whole body taut, as if he were defending against some enemy.
But all the resentment vanished upon seeing Bai Lingxi's listlessness and breakdown.
...
"well--"
After a long pause, Zhou Changling sighed and took Bai Lingxi's hand: "Come on, I'll take you to see someone."
Bai Lingxi was numb and mechanically led around, her eyes devoid of light, as if her soul had been ripped out.
As Zhou Changling reached the door, Li Lin knelt to pay his respects. Upon rising and seeing the bloodstains on Zhou Changling's chest, he was immediately shocked: "Your Majesty, there's blood on your chest—"
"It's alright." Zhou Changling didn't want him to alarm more people, so he stopped him from exclaiming.
"Your Majesty, shall we summon the imperial physician to bandage your wound? Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance!"
Having served Zhou Changling for so long, Li Lin was extremely devoted to him, except for the last time when he got drunk and made a mistake. He was even more worried about Zhou Changling's health than Zhou Changling himself.
"Just have someone wait. I'm taking the Empress to Luanxi Pavilion now. Have a sedan chair prepared, but don't make a fuss."
Zhou Changling's intention was to arrange his people to prevent others from spreading this matter, mainly to protect the Empress.
Li Lin understood. It was impossible for him not to resent Bai Lingxi at all, but since the Emperor hadn't pursued the matter, he couldn't say anything.
Li Lin then received the order and instructed his trusted subordinates: "Yes!"
Soon a very discreet sedan chair stopped in front of them, and Zhou Changling led Bai Lingxi into it.
During this time, Bai Lingxi didn't say a word, like a puppet on a string, without her own emotions, just doing whatever others said without any reaction.
The sedan chair traveled exceptionally smoothly, and Zhou Changling's wounds were not aggravated, so the pain was not as severe.
He closed his eyes and rested.
...
We arrived at Luanxi Pavilion.
Hearing the commotion, Li Mu was the first to come out and check the situation.
After a few days apart, Li Mu had aged considerably; his once gray hair was now almost entirely white, and he seemed much less energetic.
"This servant greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
Li Mu hurriedly bowed, his expression tense and flustered, seemingly trying his best to conceal his inner unease.
"May I ask Your Majesty, today is supposed to be your and the Empress's wedding day, why have you graced Luanxi Pavilion with your presence so late at night? Is there any important matter at hand?"
Li Mu cautiously raised his head, secretly glancing at the expressions of the two, only to see the conspicuous phoenix hairpin on Zhou Changling's chest. The phoenix weeping blood was an ominous sign!
"I've brought the Empress to visit some old friends. Eunuch Li, won't you invite us in for a seat?"
Zhou Changling seemed oblivious to Li Mu's shocked gaze and continued speaking, but his words still greatly surprised Li Mu!
"Your Majesty, there's nothing to see here, you—"
However, before Li Mu could finish speaking, Zhou Changling had already led Bai Lingxi around him.
Li Mu instinctively tried to stop them, but was pinned to the ground by the bodyguards who appeared out of nowhere.
"don't want--"
Li Mu watched helplessly as the other person entered the main hall, his eyes filled with despair, and collapsed to the ground.
It's over, everything is over.
Bai Lingxi didn't understand why Zhou Changling had brought her here, and why Eunuch Li's reaction was so strange.
until--
The next moment, a handsome and tall figure lay quietly on the bed, and that face was none other than Zhou Jin, whom she believed to be dead long ago!
Zhou Jin?
Is he still alive?
Bai Lingxi's eyes darted around, as if her rusty brain had finally started working again.
Immediately afterwards, the soul seemed to have found its home again, obediently returning to its body.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she looked at Zhou Changling, who had remained silent until now. Her expression was one of intense emotion, a mixture of tears and laughter on her face.
"Zhou Jin, is he really not dead?"
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