Chapter 242: Accompany
“Does it look good?”
Huang Ru looked out the window. The young girl’s brows and eyes were smiling, her face fair with a layer of blush floating on top, just like…
Her gaze fell on a lotus bud inserted in a porcelain vase on the windowsill.
The summer wind blew, the lotus bud swayed gently, and Bai Li also swayed gently.
“It looks good.” Huang Ru looked at Bai Li, reached out to gently stroke the lotus bud beside her, and then stroked Bai Li’s hand raised above her head, and said admiringly, “The blooming lotus flower is really beautiful.”
As she spoke, she pulled down one of Bai Li’s hands.
It seemed like she was plucking off a petal.
Bai Li wrinkled her nose, but it was inevitable that the flower would be picked. She continued to sway gently with the wind.
The next moment, Huang Ru pulled a hairpin from her head with her other hand and stabbed it into her wrist.
She used a lot of force, directly piercing the skin and flesh. Blood spots instantly appeared on Bai Li’s fair skin.
“Flowers don’t bleed.” Huang Ru said, looking at Bai Li, “Bai Li, you’re bleeding.”
The smile on Bai Li’s face froze for a moment, the pain extended from her arm, she let out a cry of pain, and her scattered eyes focused.
Huang Ru looked into her eyes and called softly, “Ah Li.”
Bai Li looked at her for a moment, lowered her eyes, put down the other hand that was raised above her head, and reached for the wrist that Huang Ru was holding.
She hummed in response.
Huang Ru breathed a sigh of relief, but then frowned: “Her soul is already so unstable?”
In fact, she had long suspected that something was wrong with Bai Li. During this period of contact, although she seemed normal, as someone who had watched her grow up and taught her personally, she could sense the difference from the little Bai Li she was familiar with.
But it could be explained. After all, she had gone through so much, and was even hurt by them, the couple. In the face of such a blow, people would always change somewhat.
It was not until today, when she saw it with her own eyes, that Bai Li was unaware that she had treated herself as a lotus bud.
This was a situation that only occurred when she was a child and had not yet developed self-awareness.
After she grew up, especially after being taught by them, the couple, she would never be like this.
Her soul was already out of control.
Seeing Huang Ru’s expression, Bai Li took the initiative to say: “I was too happy just now, and my emotions fluctuated too much, so I lost my mind.”
Master Zhuang and his wife had taught before that people like her should be pure-hearted and indifferent, seeking the ultimate emptiness and keeping quiet, in order to stabilize their souls.
She had always followed this idea and achieved it, until the sudden change in her family affairs, coupled with her risky actions, led to her falling into a coma, which led to subsequent events.
Then this time, what was wrong?
What did Zhou Jingyun say? What made her lose control of her soul?
“It has nothing to do with him.” Bai Li interrupted Huang Ru’s guess and pulled up her sleeve. “It’s not the first time.”
Huang Ru saw several mottled marks on her arm, which seemed to have been pinched out. So…
“You reacted too quickly,” Bai Li said, “If it had been a little later, I would have noticed it myself, and I would have pinched myself awake.”
Would she? Huang Ru looked at the pinch marks on her arm and said, “When we entered the capital, I told you not to transform into dreams…”
Bai Li nodded: “I remember, but…” She shook her head again. “That was my only way to save my life. If I hadn’t done that, I would have been gone long ago.”
She looked down at the little bloodstain on her wrist that had just been pierced, and smiled.
“Now I just lose my mind occasionally, and I wake up as soon as I feel pain. It’s already very good.”
Huang Ru frowned: “Ah Li, this is not good. It shows that your body has been severely damaged…”
Bai Li smiled at her: “Then I can only ask Madam to keep an eye on me. When I don’t notice, you can wake me up with a hairpin in time.”
Huang Ru was about to say something, but Bai Li shook her head to interrupt her.
“This far into it, I can’t stop.” She looked at Huang Ru. “I was able to return from that danger because of my obsession. If I give up this obsession, my soul will not be unstable, but will dissipate immediately.”
Huang Ru looked at her, swallowed back what she was about to say, and sighed: “Then rest for a while now, come and watch Nannan for a while.”
Bai Li also sighed: “Taking care of children is so tiring, Madam, can I just lie down and not move?”
Huang Ru couldn’t help but smile, as if she saw the little Bai Li who bargained with her over the assigned homework again.
“No, for you, physical labor is better!” She put on a stern face and called the wet nurse in the side room, “Bring Nannan over.”
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When Zhou Jingyun came back, Bai Li came to greet him while rubbing her arms.
“Why are you back so late?”
“The child looks small, but it’s so tiring to hold her.”
“I played with her, but she cried after a while.”
“After crying, she actually wanted to play with me again.”
Listening to her complaints, Zhou Jingyun smiled and said while taking off his outer robe: “I’ll play with her tonight.”
Bai Li had already left this matter behind and went to look through the incense ingredients that Zhou Jingyun had bought.
“Is that enough?” Zhou Jingyun asked.
Bai Li nodded: “Enough.” As she said that, she set up the incense-making tools at the desk, and Zhou Jingyun sat down on the Arhat bed beside her.
“Also, can you give me a dagger?” Bai Li thought of something and said again.
“For cutting incense ingredients?” Zhou Jingyun asked, “How big do you want it?”
Bai Li looked at him and smiled: “Not for cutting incense ingredients, but for cutting myself.”
Zhou Jingyun was stunned for a moment, sat up straight, and watched Bai Li continue speaking with a smile.
“A little smaller, easy to carry, and sharp, that’s all.”
Zhou Jingyun asked: “Are the methods you mentioned before, such as shaking, pushing, and throwing into the water, no longer working?”
“They work.” Bai Li said, “Just in case, I need more preparation.”
She glanced at her wrist. Actually, she hadn’t told Huang Ru the truth. She had pinched herself before losing her mind. This was indeed the first time she had lost her mind without realizing it, and she didn’t wake up until Huang Ru pierced her and made her bleed.
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It seemed that she had to prepare for this situation in the future, lest pinching herself, breaking a hairpin, or pricking herself would not work.
Zhou Jingyun looked at her for a moment, nodded, and stood up: “I understand, I’ll go to the study to look for it.”
Watching him pick up his outer robe and walk out, Bai Li was stunned for a moment, then smiled. Why didn’t he ask if she was going to take risks again?
He just went to do whatever she asked him to do.
Zhou Jingyun stood outside the door and let out a soft breath.
He knew that what she was going to do next was very dangerous, just like the previous few times. Which time was she not in danger?
There was nothing to ask.
He wouldn’t stop her or persuade her.
No one wanted to take risks, she must have no choice.
No matter what she did, he would accompany her.
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On the fourth day after the pleasure boat sank, the boat had been salvaged, the river became calm, and the dock became quiet again.
Zhang Ze reined in his horse and looked over, frowning, “Is this matter just going to be left alone?”
The attendant beside him smiled and said, “Princess Jinyu doesn’t care, what can Prince Chu do? The Capital Prefecture has directly sentenced those so-called deserters to death, and the case is settled. Prince Chu went to the Li Residence yesterday afternoon.”
Zhang Ze looked at him and asked, “What did he do?”
The attendant laughed heartily: “To give gifts.”
“Give gifts?” Zhang Ze seemed to disbelieve it.
“No, no, Prince Chu said it was to give gifts on behalf of Princess Jinyu, to express his apology for slandering Grand General Li. In fact, Prince Chu also went to say harsh words.” Another attendant said.
He even took out a booklet from his sleeve and flipped through it, apparently having already obtained what Prince Chu said at the Li Residence.
“Prince Chu first pointed at Li Chengyuan and said that he knew he did it, and told him not to bully others too much. Then he said that if the granddaughter of the Li family wanted to be worthy of him, Li Chengyuan had better show his sincerity. Even if he didn’t plead guilty, at least he should mourn for his pleasure boat.”
Zhang Ze laughed: “It’s really pitiful for a child without a father.”
“That’s what Li Chengyuan said too.” The attendant said, “He said in front of Prince Chu that he didn’t even know how to speak without a father to teach him.”
“Prince Chu left in shame and anger.” Another attendant said, “He ran back to Princess Jinyu and cried, saying fiercely that after the granddaughter of the Li family marries him, he will never let her go back to her parents’ home.”
The surrounding attendants all burst into laughter.
Zhang Ze didn’t laugh, but was lost in thought.
“Inspector, is there something wrong?” An attendant asked.
Zhang Ze said, “Is this matter just going to be left alone?”
This was the second time Zhang Ze had asked this question, and the attendants were a little puzzled: “Prince Chu can only do this.”
Prince Chu could only do this, then what about the others?
Could it be that that woman who pretended to be Empress Jiang just let it go?
She was definitely not dead, and he had been keeping an eye on that side. When the group of fake deserters rushed onto the boat, and the soldiers and horses on the periphery, they all made strange movements, freezing in place, and did not immediately start killing. As a result, there were not many casualties on the pleasure boat this time…
This must be that woman’s doing.
Could it be that she didn’t know that they were going for her and the little princess?
Or even if she knew, she just treated it as a misunderstanding, and Prince Chu didn’t pursue it, so they just let it go?
She didn’t even dare to deal with a Li Chengyuan…
There was a trace of disdain in Zhang Ze’s eyes. She only knew how to scare people with fake illusions. Since that was the case, he would find an opportunity to personally send her on her way!
“Let’s go.” He was not interested in asking any more questions, and urged his horse to go into the city.
As soon as he returned to the Censorate, an attendant came forward to report.
“Inspector, Zhou Jingyun is looking for you.”
Zhou Jingyun?
Zhang Ze narrowed his eyes slightly. Looking for him?
…
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In the spacious hall, Zhou Jingyun sat drinking tea. When he saw Zhang Ze come in, he raised his teacup and said, “The tea here is really good, Inspector.”
Zhang Ze nodded: “What His Majesty has, I have here, and what His Majesty doesn’t have, I also have here. Young Master, please enjoy yourself to the fullest.”
Zhou Jingyun smiled and didn’t answer his arrogant words, but asked, “Have you heard about Prince Chu going to the Li Residence?”
Zhang Ze sat down opposite him and asked with a half-smile, “What? Hearing that Prince Chu was humiliated, you came to me to pour out your distress?”
Zhou Jingyun seemed not to have heard his teasing, took a sip of tea, and continued, “Grand General Li is going to hold a banquet tomorrow night.”
Zhang Ze let out an “oh”: “Why?” Without waiting for Zhou Jingyun to answer, he immediately said, “Could it be to celebrate the sinking and destruction of Prince Chu’s pleasure boat?” He nodded again, “That’s right, Li Shilang had an accident on the pleasure boat, and now the pleasure boat has finally sunk, Grand General Li should indeed celebrate.”
After saying that, he burst into laughter.
Zhou Jingyun didn’t answer either, and continued speaking his own words: “I received an invitation.”
Zhang Ze laughed again: “Grand General Li is so sensible. He knows that you have a close relationship with Prince Chu, so he must invite you.”
Zhou Jingyun took out an invitation and placed it on the table: “I also asked for one for you, Inspector.”
Zhang Ze’s laughter stopped abruptly. He looked at the invitation that Zhou Jingyun pushed over, then raised his head: “What do you mean?”
Zhou Jingyun finally responded to his words this time, with a faint smile: “She said, she wants you to go.”
She?
Who was she? Zhang Ze immediately reacted and looked down at the invitation that was pushed over.
What did she want to do?
