Lingxi knew she had to return to the palace.
Her imperial brother had given her a year, but it had been two. No matter how indulgent he was, he wouldn't let her continue her incorrigible idleness.
She was already twenty-one.
In the common folk's eyes, she was an old maid who wouldn't get married.
Tulang had received the emperor's decree and was to escort her back to the palace tomorrow.
She would likely never see her brother Wentang again in this lifetime.
Her heart no longer knew pain, only a profound emptiness.
"Ling'er, I want to try one last time, just one."
Even though she knew it wouldn't change anything, she still wanted to visit Dusheng Tower before entering the palace. Even if she couldn't see him, getting closer would suffice.
He had become a monk at Dusheng Tower. Didn't Buddhism teach that sincerity could move heaven and earth? She would kowtow all the way up the mountain, just to see if he would meet her.
"Princess, you... Alright, Ling'er will accompany you. One last time."
If Lingxi had known that her "one last time" would lead to what it did, she would never have indulged herself that night.
Stubbornness was not a good trait; it harmed oneself and others.
Under the cover of the quiet night, she and Ling'er slipped out of the inn. By the time dawn broke and the city gates opened, they were heading towards Dusheng Tower.
At the foot of the mountain, Lingxi kowtowed every three steps.
She had walked this mountain path too many times. Ever since she learned that her brother Wentang had become a monk here, she had been running up and down this road.
She had only seen him once at the beginning, and after that, he refused to see her.
Everyone said that sincerity could move mountains, why didn't it work for her!
He was still the same, his voice was still the same, he hadn't changed at all!
When her imperial sister was mentioned, a fleeting bewilderment appeared in his eyes. He did not belong to the Buddha.
Ling'er followed behind, kowtowing with her. Lingxi told her to stop, but Ling'er didn't listen.
The mountain path was rough, the dew was heavy, her legs were cold, and her forehead was numb. Occasionally, early morning pilgrims passed by, casting only sympathetic glances.
Those who came at this hour surely had prayers for the Buddha; no one had the time to pay attention to others.
Soon, she could see the imposing gate of Dusheng Tower.
The incident happened at this moment.
She and Ling'er were dragged into the woods.
The perpetrators were the son and a servant of the Commander of the Four Districts, whose family had been implicated in corruption and had their property confiscated.
"My entire family was exiled, my parents died on the road, and my sister was defiled and died. Aren't you a noble princess? Then I will kill you, tear you into pieces, and throw them at the palace gate. Let's see if that dog emperor will come out!"
"She's not the princess, I am!" Ling'er shouted.
The man, filled with rage, snarled, "Shut up! You're all going to die!"
"Brother Wentang, help—"
Lingxi cried out, but was slapped and her mouth was gagged.
At this moment, Ling'er, with a strength she didn't know she possessed, lunged at the servant, causing him to stumble backward and hit his head on a rock, killing him instantly.
This enraged the man further. He drew his sword and lunged at her, but Ling'er threw herself forward and grabbed his arm.
"Princess, hurry and go! Go call for help!"
Lingxi dared not delay. She scrambled up and stumbled towards Dusheng Tower.
Her legs were numb from kneeling, and she fell countless times before reaching Dusheng Tower.
The gate of Dusheng Tower had not yet opened, and everyone was waiting outside. Lingxi, with her hair disheveled, ran towards them. The women were startled and screamed.
"Help! Help! There are attackers, save us!"
Lingxi frantically pounded on the gate. Upon hearing her cries, others joined in.
The gate opened, and several martial monks rushed out. At this moment, Lingxi had no time to focus on anything else, nor did she care if Brother Wentang appeared. She trembled, filled with fear.
Ling'er was as frail as she was, and that man had a knife. She couldn't bear to think about it, couldn't bear to think...
By the time she finally rushed back, it was, as she had feared, too late.
The body of the villain lay on the ground. Tulang was holding the dying Ling'er. A bloody hole marred her chest, and blood flowed out as if inexhaustible.
"Prin... Princess..." Ling'er's body convulsed as she reached out to her.
"Ling'er..."
"Don't... look for him anymore. Don't make yourself... sad..." Ling'er grasped her hand tightly, with all her remaining strength.
She didn't blame her; even now, she was still thinking of her.
"Ling'er, don't die, don't die! I won't look for him anymore, let's go back, I'll take you back!"
Lingxi recalled the past few years. Her joys, her sorrows, her confusion – Ling'er had always been by her side.
She had only Ling'er now.
"Prin... cess, Ling'er has been very happy following you."
She was merely the humblest of palace maids. After offering a few words of comfort to Princess Lingxi, she had been fortunate enough to become her personal attendant. These years had been truly comfortable and free.
However, she could no longer accompany the princess.
"Princess, Ling'er... is leaving." Blood trickled from Ling'er's lips. She looked with effort towards Tulang, her vision blurring, unable to see Tulang's pained gaze.
"Protect... protect... Pub..." Her hand suddenly lost its grip and slipped from Lingxi's.
Her eyes slowly closed.
Ling'er was dead.
Tulang knelt down, holding her tightly, his mouth agape in a silent roar.
Lingxi had never known that Tulang loved Ling'er. At this moment, he probably regretted never having spoken his feelings aloud.
At the city gate, Lingxi stopped, gazing blankly at the tall, sturdy city walls. Suddenly, she didn't know what purpose her life served.
There seemed to be nothing interesting.
She felt a little tired.
"Is the princess still being willful?"
Tulang, holding Ling'er's corpse, spoke with a blank expression.
Tulang didn't know that Ling'er had also liked him. She remembered how Ling'er would cover her mouth and giggle after ordering Tulang around, and how her voice would become unusually excited when she chatted with Lingxi at night, occasionally mentioning Tulang.
She hadn't paid much attention before. It was only now, with Ling'er dead, that she recalled these past moments.
If this incident hadn't happened, perhaps they would have ended up together and lived a happy life.
But there were no ifs.
She saw no need to tell Tulang, to cause him more regret.
"What right do I have to be willful..."
She simply didn't know where to go.
A carriage stopped beside them, and a refined young gentleman alighted.
He glanced at Ling'er in Tulang's arms, then at Lingxi, whose eyes were vacant.
His clear brow furrowed.
"Princess Lingxi, what are you thinking?"
Why did she look so lifeless?
They hadn't seen each other for two years, and she seemed to have suffered a great blow, her face having become much thinner.
"I'm thinking about what I'm living for."
Liu Donghuai's brow twitched, and Tulang also turned to look at her.