Сhаpter 304: Тhе Firе Моth Party 36
Insidе thе room, Zhu Yаn sat absеntmindеdlу аt hеr drеssing table, сhin resting in her hand as she gazеd оut the windоw. Outsidе, thе kарok trее bоrе сlusters оf crescеnt-shаpеd fruits, hanging heavilу from its branсhes.
In anоthеr twо mоnths, thе kарok fruits would riреn and burst ореn, revеaling thе snоw-white, soft соtton insidе. If she pickеd them, shook thеm оut, аnd dried thеm in the sun, they wоuld surеlу makе wаrm аnd lightwеight wintеr сlothеs.
А leаf falls, аutumn arrives—timе to аdd lауers.
Shеn Du didn’t sееm tо have manу clothes. Chang’аn City was fаrther north, sо befоrе returning, shе should make a few outfits for him. Oh, and Pan Chi should have some too, Jing Lin as well, and…
Wait, she didn’t know how to spin thread or sew clothes. What was she thinking?
Zhu Yan smiled faintly, recalling all the times Shen Du had stood up for her. The distance between them was no longer as great as before. Could they look forward to a future together?
She straightened up and glanced at the teacup on the table behind her in the dressing mirror. That morning, before leaving, Shen Du had sat in that very spot and drank a cup of tea.
Letting out a slow breath, Zhu Yan stood up, shook off her thoughts, and prepared to visit the raided Guangchun Hall once more to see if she could find an antidote for "Cocoon to Butterfly."
Just as she reached the door, she saw Jing Lin rushing toward her.
"Pan Chi’s condition has taken a turn for the worse."
Zhu Yan’s face turned pale. She spun on her heel and changed direction, hurrying with Jing Lin to Pan Chi’s side.
Upon entering the room, she could no longer sense any trace of human presence.
"The Chief ordered me to stay close and observe the situation carefully."
A warmth spread through Zhu Yan’s heart, knowing Shen Du had done all this for her sake.
"Just now, I noticed something was wrong and called a physician. He found that the rapidly growing silk threads had spread to his throat and face. He can no longer speak."
Jing Lin couldn’t bear to look. He respected Pan Chi as a true man. If it were him, he would have ended his own life long ago, unable to endure such agony.
Zhu Yan was equally frantic. Without an antidote, watching Pan Chi suffer like this was like rolling a knife over flesh—each cut piercing her heart.
Hearing the commotion, Pan Chi turned his gaze toward them. Seeing Zhu Yan and Jing Lin appear together, he managed a weak smile. As he smiled, the white silk threads rippled like waves, making anyone who saw it want to weep for no reason.
"Still smiling? What kind of time is this?" Zhu Yan’s words trailed off as tears began to fall.
Pan Chi was suffering in agony, yet she was alive and well. Just moments ago, she had been dreaming of a long and happy marriage with Shen Du. How did she deserve such fortune?
Pan Chi gestured with his eyes for Zhu Yan to come closer. She obeyed, sitting beside him, unafraid of the hidden dangers of the white silk threads, and reached out to hold his hand.
Pan Chi flinched slightly but lacked the strength to pull away, allowing Zhu Yan to grasp his hand.
As the white silk touched Zhu Yan’s skin, it instantly transformed into sticky, rolling beads, gluing Pan Chi’s hand to hers.
Her face clouded with sorrow, and the guilt in her heart deepened. Tears welled up in her eyes, rolling down her cheeks one after another.
Pan Chi wanted to lift his hand and wipe them away, but he realized he could no longer do even such a simple thing.
Sensing his intention, Zhu Yan raised her hand to wipe away her tears, but they kept falling. Finally, she gave up and wept openly.
Behind her, Jing Lin was also moved to sadness, standing quietly in silence.
Pan Chi opened his mouth. He wanted to say it didn’t matter—everyone must die someday. He’d rather see her smile and let him die happily.
But not a single word could escape his lips. He didn’t want Zhu Yan to cry. He wanted to wipe away her tears. Yet he could do none of it.
He truly was useless."If only I hadn't let Xiuxiu take care of you back then." Zhu Yan sobbed, finally realizing how unseemly her behavior was. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, sniffling as she spoke. "If I had taken care of you myself, you wouldn't have been poisoned."
The two stared at each other, Zhu Yan's heart filled with nothing but guilt.
Pan Chi wanted to say yes, it would have been better if you had taken care of me yourself, but then I wouldn't have seen you cry and worry for me. So was it good or bad?
An ancient saying goes: A scholar dies for one who appreciates him, a woman adorns herself for one who delights in her.
But what did his situation count as? Dying for a kindred spirit or dying for a beauty?
He realized he truly liked Zhu Yan, a deeper kind of affection. Once he became aware of this, he no longer wanted to die. Shen Du and Zhu Yan were still husband and wife—he had to stay alive to have a chance to break them apart and give Zhu Yan happiness.
That White King of Hell lived on the edge of a blade every day; he could never give Zhu Yan happiness.
Zhu Yan raised her hand again to wipe the corner of her eye, swearing an oath: "Don't worry, I will definitely find a way to save you."
She decided to personally go to the enemy camp to negotiate. She absolutely could not let Pan Chi die like this.
Before the person on the bed could react, she quickly stood up and left the room.
Jing Lin, who had been waiting outside the door all along, had slightly reddened eyes. Seeing Zhu Yan rush out, he hurriedly stopped her:
"Madam, where are you going?"
She knew that if she said it, she would be stopped, but being followed around wouldn't allow her to leave smoothly either.
She glanced at Jing Lin, clicked her tongue in displeasure, and quickened her pace, trying to shake him off.
But how could she possibly outmatch Jing Lin?
Then she saw him block her path once again: "Please inform me of your destination, Madam."
Seeing no way to avoid it, Zhu Yan lightly bit her lower lip, stared into Jing Lin's eyes, and tentatively asked, "If I tell you, will you let me go?"
Jing Lin was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "The Hall Leader said that Madam should rest well in the residence. Leave other matters to us."
"In that case, what more is there to say?"
Without waiting for Jing Lin to respond, Zhu Yan dodged around him and started running.
Before she could run more than a few steps, she was stopped again. She looked at the person in front of her with some irritation: "Can't I just take a casual stroll?"
Once more, she tried to go around him but was directly blocked. No matter which way she turned, she was stopped.
She tilted her head to look at Jing Lin, her gaze unfriendly, but she understood in her heart that she wouldn't be allowed to leave.
"I'm going to negotiate with Mo Qianzhi."
What?
Jing Lin nearly popped his eyes out: "Madam, do you know what you're saying?"
"I do!"
Her resolute eyes told him she wasn't joking.
"No."
"I'm not here to ask for your permission." Zhu Yan tried to push past but was stopped again by Jing Lin.
"I am the Hall Leader's Wife."
Jing Lin: "I know." But he still wouldn't let her pass.
This guy.
The two stood off in the corridor, neither yielding.
"Shen Du!" Zhu Yan looked past Jing Lin, raising her eyebrows in feigned surprise as she called out.
Jing Lin, suspecting no trick, turned around. Seizing the opportunity, Zhu Yan dashed out of the residence with all her might.
Pan Chi was about to die—that was her only thought.
Jing Lin: ...Could someone tell him if it was still possible to persuade the Hall Leader to return her now? Would his head still be safe?
Unwilling to dwell on it, Jing Lin used his qinggong to leap into the air, swiftly heading toward the city gate.
——
On the city wall, Shen Du was surveying the terrain when he suddenly sensed someone approaching. He swung his sword to strike, only to find it was Jing Lin. Immediately, he grew somewhat annoyed:"Instead of keeping an eye on that kid at the office, what are you doing here?"
The tone was rather harsh.
Jing Lin scratched his head: "Great pavilion commander, the lady insisted on going out of the city to negotiate with Lord Mo, and I couldn't stop her."
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