Chapter 25 "Sister-in-law, are you alright?"...
Her husband had passed away, and she was to be buried with him. This was a devastating blow for the woman, but Ling Cunrui had made all the necessary preparations. His guards spread out to block the way out, fully prepared.
He thought she would cry, call for help, or struggle to escape, but she did none of that.
Bai Xuerou could only take a step back as if she couldn't help it, her face turning even paler.
She felt a mixture of shock and anger, but none of it compared to the intense resentment she felt. When Ling Zheng died, she thought everything was over, but Ling Cunrui's appearance told her that she had been too naive.
Even if he dies, Ling Zheng will take her with him.
Most of her guards stayed in the outer courtyard and wouldn't follow her except when she went out. Bai Shan was the exception; he was her close bodyguard, and she would protect him no matter where he was.
But Bai Shan was alone; even with his superior martial arts skills, how could he possibly defeat this ten-person team?
With the two people who just came in, I wonder how Jin Tao and the others are doing?
"What did you do to Jin Tao and the others?" Bai Xuerou asked.
Ling Cunrui was taken aback, not expecting Bai Xuerou to ask this first.
Everyone in the manor knows that Bai Xue Rou has a good temper, so it's quite remarkable that she still remembers her maid at this time.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, he's just been knocked unconscious," he said.
Bai Xuerou finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It's alright.
She looked at the people in front of her, finally meeting Ling Cunrui's gaze, and said, "Was it when he mentioned proposing at the coming-of-age ceremony?"
Ling Zheng said he couldn't bear to part with her, was this the kind of reluctance he felt?
Her voice sounded like a question, yet also like a certainty, but it also carried a strong, chilling pain and sorrow.
There is no greater sorrow than a broken heart.
Looking at the person in front of him, Ling Cunrui suddenly thought of this sentence, and then nodded silently.
“Exactly,” he said.
Yes.
He still remembers the shock at the time. Who would have thought that the prince and princess had just reminisced about the past and talked about what happened back then, and then dismissed the servants, called him over and gave him this order.
This isn't about being afraid the princess will be lonely.
He was afraid of being alone and didn't want to travel alone.
Bai Xuerou swayed precariously, but suddenly smiled.
Sneer, mockery, sarcasm, disdain.
Bai Xuerou thought she was ridiculous. While she was feeling guilty, Ling Zheng had already decided to make her die with him.
At this moment, Bai Xuerou had no more doubts about the plot of that novel.
Ling Zheng is absolutely capable of doing that kind of thing, she thought.
This is not love, it is possession.
“That’s the kind of person he is, I should have known,” she murmured, lamenting that she was still grieving and tormented by her conscience.
What was described in the novel never happened, did it?
Ling Zheng, however, was already thinking of having her die with him.
Despite having modern memories, she ultimately doesn't quite fit in with this world.
Bai Xuerou looked at the tray Ling Cunrui was holding with a sneer, and asked again, "Did he say whether he wanted me to choose the white silk or the poisoned wine?"
This was a completely sarcastic remark, which made Ling Cunrui silent for a moment before he answered, "No."
"No? Judging from your expression, he must have said something else. Tell me about it." Ling Cunrui was Ling Zheng's personal guard, having followed him since he was a child. She knew him somewhat; he was a man of few words, not particularly tactful, but absolutely loyal to Ling Zheng.
The way he acted, Ling Zheng must have said something.
"The prince said, if you wish to follow him—"
"Ha." Before she could finish listening, Bai Xuerou couldn't help but sneer, her expression full of incredulous surprise.
“…Then so be it…” Ling Cunrui clearly knew what Bai Xuerou was laughing at, and finished speaking silently.
Bai Xuerou shook her head, finding it utterly absurd.
Should we follow him?
Is Ling Zheng insane, or is he just too complacent? He's already willing to make her his concubine, to marry her again, and he's even hoping she'll abandon her family and friends in this world, give up everything, and die?
"That's ridiculous."
In the empty mourning hall, everyone listened to Bai Xuerou say these words.
Ling Cunrui remained silent, looking at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, and felt a deep sense of regret.
Such a beauty, what a pity.
But it was probably precisely because of her appearance that the prince made this decision...
“This wine is very potent, but it won’t cause much pain.” Ling Cunrui softened his voice, suppressing his reluctance. “Your Highness, please.”
Regardless of love, no one would be willing to let such a beautiful woman perish.
Bai Xuerou gradually calmed down, and apart from the lingering pain in her eyes, her expression was very calm.
"Have you considered what will happen to you if you lay a hand on me? Sixth Master will definitely avenge me," she warned.
Ling Cunrui replied without hesitation, “There’s no need for the Princess to worry about that. The Prince has treated me with the kindness of a second life, and we have already given up everything. After sending the Princess on her way, we will immediately follow him.”
Bai Xuerou asked coldly, "If you don't care about your own lives, what about the people around you? Although you have no parents or relatives, you still have close friends. Have you ever thought about how they might be implicated by you?"
The guards who came today were not familiar to Bai Xuerou. Of those who usually followed Ling Zheng, Bai Xuerou only vaguely remembered two of them, both of whom were orphans. With this in mind, she understood the situation. Indeed, if her relatives were present, who would dare to harm her?
But even if a person has no relatives, they will always have friends or other close people in the world. Naturally, she did not want ordinary people to be implicated, but at this moment, she could only try to sternly persuade these people to waver.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, one of the guards' expressions changed slightly.
“Being born into this world, living is not necessarily a blessing. If I have wronged anyone, I will repay them in my next life.” Ling Cunrui’s expression became more and more resolute as she spoke, her heart as hard as iron. However, she did not want Bai Xuerou to continue, lest someone waver. She raised her hand to signal her.
The guards immediately pressed forward.
Bai Xuerou frowned.
“He’s already dead, it’s just a dead man’s order,” she said, trying to survive.
No one expected anything to happen tonight. No one would disturb the coffin in the courtyard at night. No matter how noble a person is, once they are dead, they are dead. No one would want to get close to a dead person; just thinking about it is considered unlucky.
The people inside had all been dealt with by the guards, and now the only ones who could move were probably her and Bai Shan. Bai Xuerou had schemed and plotted for so many years, and she absolutely did not want to die here tonight, let alone be buried with Ling Zheng. Just thinking about it made her furious.
She didn't want to die; she wanted to live.
But even the dead can take lives. Ling Cunrui didn't say anything, but looked helplessly at Bai Xuerou, "Please, Your Highness, don't put me in a difficult position."
He doesn't want to resort to violence if he can.
Bai Xuerou took another step back.
Ling Cunrui frowned slightly, looking somewhat troubled, but his words were firm: "Go."
He couldn't afford to delay. Ling Xun had already taken over the defense of the Prince's Mansion today. Although they had made special arrangements and concealed their whereabouts when they came, no one was sure if he would receive the news and come.
Just as his bodyguards were about to step forward, someone rushed in through the window.
"Secret Guards?" Ling Cunrui's eyes hardened, and his expression became much more serious.
Two bodyguards appeared, firmly protecting Bai Xue Rou and keeping watch on the other guards.
"Go!" Ling Cunrui gave the order, and his guards immediately stepped forward.
He brought a small squad of ten men, with two guarding outside and eight inside including himself. He didn't think that these three guards, one in the open and two in the shadows, could stop him. But reality exceeded his expectations once again. These men were all exceptionally skilled and fearless, willing to risk injury to stop them.
He put down the tray and was about to step forward when he saw the fire in the air. He looked up and was immediately shocked—
Bai Xuerou lit the curtains, and in the firelight, he could only see her cold profile.
The fire started almost instantly. She took a step back, threw the candle on the coffin, turned around, picked up the hem of her skirt, and ran to the window.
She's going to set up a funeral hall?!
Ling Cunrui thought in disbelief.
Bai Xuerou glanced at it out of the corner of her eye, a cold sneer in her heart, thinking—
What's with his incredulous attitude? Ling Zheng wanted her to be buried with him, she just set up a mourning hall.
Bai Xuerou pushed open the window and tried to climb out, but a man in black appeared just in time, helped her climb out the window, and rushed towards the door.
The guards immediately gave chase, but the already injured Bai Shan and others desperately tried to stop them. However, they were outnumbered, and Ling Cunrui eventually led the three of them out in pursuit.
Bai Xuerou had neglected her training, so her speed was limited. No matter how hard she ran, she couldn't go fast, which slowed down the guards who appeared later. She was caught up by Ling Cunrui as soon as she reached the courtyard. Someone stepped forward to stop the guards, and Ling Cunrui chased after Bai Xuerou, his eyes filled with guilt.
"I'm sorry," he said, raising his knife to slash at Bai Xuerou's neck.
Bai Xuerou turned around and looked at him defensively, her eyes wide, trying her best to back away.
But the knife was so long, and Ling Cunrui's movements were so fast that it seemed like only a moment had passed before he felt the sharp wind of the blade on the side of his neck.
She's going to die.
The thought flashed quickly through my clumsy body.
Just then, a long sword was thrown from a distance. Ling Cunrui instinctively dodged and cut the sword in half.
Bai Xuerou hurriedly stepped back, hearing Ling Xun calling her voice—
"Sister-in-law!"
For a long time afterward, Bai Xuerou would hear this voice in her dreams during her midnight nightmares.
And for many years, she remembered it clearly.
In the past, when Bai Xuerou read novels and stories, she never understood why she could fall in love with someone who had only saved her life.
Now she understands.
Being rescued when you were on the verge of death and in despair, and given a new lease on life, is such a profound and unforgettable experience that it is etched in your heart.
Ling Cunrui reacted extremely quickly. He slashed at the blade, and almost the instant Bai Xuerou heard Ling Xun's voice, he rushed towards Bai Xuerou again and slashed at her.
Bai Xuerou had nowhere to dodge and fell to the ground. Ling Cunrui twisted his wrist and slashed downwards.
An arrow came flying at him, but he neither dodged nor avoided it. He watched as the arrow pierced his chest, but his sword did not stop. His determination to kill Bai Xuerou was unwavering.
Bai Xuerou raised her arm in front of her, hoping to slightly block his blade.
As for what would happen to her arm, she didn't have time to think about it anymore.
Suddenly, she heard a sharp, clear clang that pierced her ears. The shrill sound made her feel dizzy for a moment.
Bai Xuerou opened her eyes wide in confusion, and amidst the continuous sounds of clashing swords, she belatedly realized that the sharp blade that was supposed to fall had not arrived.
She lowered her arm and saw a silver-gray figure standing in front of her, blocking Ling Cunrui.
Then, one figure after another appeared and blocked the guards brought by Ling Cunrui.
We're saved.
Bai Xuerou thought in a daze, and her whole body instantly relaxed.
It's Ling Xun.
Looking at the person who was blocking Ling Cunrui, Bai Xuerou finally recognized the person's identity.
Compared to the others, he appeared somewhat less tall and sturdy.
He's only sixteen after all.
While Bai Xuerou was still in a daze, Ling Xun stepped back. His personal guards had already stopped Ling Cunrui and the others, while he himself went to Bai Xuerou's side immediately. He first checked that she had no wounds, and then, relieved, he knelt down on one knee beside her and asked worriedly, "Sister-in-law, are you alright?"
As he spoke, he reached out to help Bai Xuerou up.
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Author's Note: "Hero saves the damsel in distress" is really cheesy (just kidding). And as usual, I'll be updating at midnight, so there will be another update around midnight. From now on, it'll be a fixed midnight update.
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