Soon His Majesty's hunting party returned to the capital. Lin Xihe thought that if Ji Zhuo came looking for her, even if she was reluctant, she must cut off all contact with him, because being with him would only implicate him.
I wonder how much of what I said to Ji Zhuo that day he actually believed.
After having dinner, Lin Xihe sat on the chaise longue and looked at the picture book.
Time slipped by unnoticed, and after finishing a sketchbook, my eyes felt a little sore.
She rubbed her swollen eyes and asked Ling Shuang, "What time is it?"
Ling Shuang was dozing off against the table when she heard Lin Xihe's question. She immediately stood up and replied, "Replying to Miss, it's just past Hai Shi (9-11 PM)."
"It's past eleven o'clock..." Lin Xihe murmured to herself, lost in thought.
Seeing Lin Xihe's disappointment, Ling Shuang comforted her, "Miss, perhaps Lord Ji was delayed by something. He might arrive tomorrow."
Lin Xihe shook her head: "Even if he comes, I can't be with him."
Ling Shuang asked, puzzled, "Miss, is it because Lord Ji's mother objects?"
Looking at the night outside the window, Lin Xihe slowly said, "Her mother is right. If she were to be with Ji Zhuo now, he might be disliked by His Majesty, and his relationship with his parents would become strained. As you probably know, Zhuo has made many enemies. If he falls from grace, he might face some danger. On our way back to the capital, we were chased. If Ji Zhuo loses his backing, I'm worried his situation will be very difficult. Rather than putting him in danger, it's better to cut off contact as soon as possible."
"Is the girl really willing to give up on that?"
"There are many things more important than love. I can't ignore Ah Zhuo's family. If we stay together without considering the consequences, we'll probably end up hating each other."
Hearing Lin Xihe's words, Ling Shuang felt a pang of emotion and said, "Miss, you're thinking too far ahead. How can you be so rational about matters of the heart?"
Lin Xihe smiled helplessly and said, "It is precisely because emotions are so irrational that they need reason to restrain them. I cannot ruin Ji Zhuo's life because of a momentary impulse."
"Oh, this is so difficult... Miss, you should rest early and take care of the baby in your belly." Ling Shuang was filled with worry when she saw Lin Xihe fall into deep thought again.
Lin Xihe rested her hands on the table, cupped her face, and looked at Ling Shuang opposite her, asking, "Ling Shuang, if you're not in the capital, do you have anywhere to go?"
Ling Shuang pondered for a moment and replied, "My hometown is in the south, but I don't know exactly where. However, if I were to leave the capital, I would like to go to Jiangnan."
Lin Xihe then asked, "Is there anyone you still miss in the capital?"
Seeing Lin Xihe's serious expression, Ling Shuang roughly guessed Lin Xihe's intention and asked, "Miss, do you want to leave the capital?"
Lin Xihe was silent for a while, then said, "I don't know either. I just feel that there are too many constraints and helplessness in the capital."
Ling Shuang looked at Lin Xihe and said firmly, "Miss, if you wish to leave the capital, Ling Xue and I will definitely follow. We will always be by your side, taking care of you and the young master, so you won't have to live like this every day..."
As they were talking, Ling Shuang suddenly fell silent: "Miss, someone's here."
As soon as he finished speaking, the door was gently pushed open.
The two looked up and saw Ji Zhuo standing at the door with a dejected expression.
Lin Xihe didn't step forward to greet her as usual, but instead said to Ling Shuang, "Ling Shuang, go to sleep."
Ling Shuang stepped down from the chaise longue, bowed to Ji Zhuo, and then turned to leave.
Ji Zhuo did not enter the room, but stood at the door, gazing at Lin Xihe from afar, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Lin Xihe stared at him, the resolute words she had prepared choking her, unable to be uttered. She felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, and her breathing became rapid.
The two stared at each other silently, and Lin Xihe felt as if Ji Zhuo in front of her was about to shatter.
She could no longer hold back. She got off the chaise longue, walked unsteadily to Ji Zhuo, and asked in a trembling voice, "What happened?"
Lin Xihe knew in her heart that Ji Zhuo was in so much pain not because of the words she had said that day about breaking up.
If Ji Zhuo really believed it, he would have argued with her on the spot, and definitely wouldn't have waited two days later.
Ji Zhuo had just opened his mouth when tears welled up in his eyes and slid down his cheeks: "Xi'er."
Lin Xihe's heart tightened. What could have made Ji Zhuo burst into tears before he could even speak?
She tried to remain calm, but her voice trembled uncontrollably: "What's wrong? What happened?"
She wanted to reach out and wipe away Ji Zhuo's tears, but she was afraid that if she touched him, she would lose control of her emotions.
Ji Zhuo choked up and said, "This time, we may really have to part ways."
Lin Xihe was stunned for a moment. She thought she would be relieved to hear that Ji Zhuo was willing to give up on her, but at this moment, her heart felt like it had been stabbed by a knife, and she was in unbearable pain.
Suddenly, her nose stung, and tears welled up uncontrollably. She quickly turned her face away, sniffed, and forced herself to remain calm as she said, "Ah! You came here just to talk about this? I thought I made myself perfectly clear to you during the spring hunt that day."
"Heh..." Ji Zhuo let out a sneer.
A smile that looked more like a grimace appeared on his face, his eyes filled with despair.
"Is there anything else? If not, let's go back." Lin Xihe didn't want to stay with Ji Zhuo any longer; she was afraid that the defenses she had painstakingly built up would collapse instantly.
She reached out and placed her hand on the door, preparing to close it.
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