Hualuo Chang'an

Chengning County Prince's Mansion and Ling Xiang's Mansion are both in Futai Street, not far apart.

The last time Gongyi Ning went to Lingxiang Mansion was a few months ago, there was a banquet in Lingxiang Mansion for Luo Changxi, Ling Shuangxiu invited her, Gongyi Ning wanted to see the oiran Chen Yu again, so she went to the banquet with Luo Changxi .But that time they walked through the main entrance and entered the lobby. This time, Mrs. Ling Xiang personally entertained the two of them, and after exchanging pleasantries, they took them to the backyard where Ling Shuangxiu lived.

This is the first time Gong Yining has come to Ling Shuangxiu's yard.

When she saw it, she was taken aback.

Green leaves and green vines, red flowers and purple calyx, and tall trees covered with overlapping white petals exude a faint fragrance, forming shade one after another.

In the past, Gong Yining only heard that Ling Shuangxiu preferred to grow flowers and grass. She only thought it was a boudoir lady's leisure time. At most, it was just a flower field or a few bonsai trees. However, she did not expect that the backyard of Ling Xiangxiu's mansion had been completely remodeled by Ling Shuangxiu. It became another world.If I hadn't known where I was, I'm afraid I would have thought that I had strayed into a wonderful forest of flowers and valleys somewhere.

Luo Changxi may not have been here for a long time, and he was a little surprised to see this scene at this time.

"Shuangxiu is really amazing!" Gong Yining watched all the way down, amazed, "I've only seen a beauty similar to this one."

"Where did you see it?"

Luo Changxi was also a little curious.

"I met a girl with a weird temper a few years ago. She lived alone in the mountains since she was a child because of the evil spirit in her life." Gongyi thought for a while before saying, "The place where she lives is just like here. Generally... no, it's even better than here, the mountains are full of poisonous flowers and herbs, and there are monster trees and vines that can confuse people's hearts."

Luo Changxi had also heard a lot of strange people and strange things in the Jianghu before, knowing that Gong Yining was talking about a Jianghu woman, so he asked one more question: "A person who raises poison?"

"No." Gong Yining suddenly smiled secretly, "On the contrary, that girl is a miracle doctor."

"Genius doctor?" Luo Changxi frowned slightly, "Then...can you invite this genius doctor girl to show Shuangxiu?"

Only then did Gong Yining come to her senses, and said repeatedly: "That's right, why didn't I think of it? After we've seen Shuangxiu first, I'll write a letter to this miracle doctor after we go back!"

While speaking, he had already reached the door of the room, and a maid woman came up to welcome them, and after saluting, she led the way and brought the two of them into the house.

Ling Shuangxiu looked really bad.

I didn't see her in just two days, but Ling Shuangxiu seemed to have suffered a lot of pain, her eyes were dim, her face was pale, and she lost a lot of weight.Seeing the two of them, Ling Shuangxiu forced herself to sit up from the bed, and smiled at them with all her strength.

"Hey, don't move around if you are not in good health!"

Gong Yining hated those vain rituals the most. Seeing Ling Shuangxiu's appearance, she didn't care about anything. Ling Shuangxiu looked for a pillow to lean on, and stretched the quilt for her, doing a lot of work.

"I haven't congratulated Your Highness yet. Now His Highness has the honorary title of 'Zheng Guo', and his prestige in the court is even stronger. And..." Ling Shuangxiu said here, first glanced at Gong Yining meaningfully, and then continued, " Since Your Highness came to visit me with Sister Ning, I think the two of you have already understood each other." Ling Shuangxiu has always been intelligent, and she could tell at a glance that the expressions and actions of these two people were different from before, so she naturally guessed the meaning behind it. .

Gongyi Ning is usually a very forthright person, but when Ling Shuangxiu mentioned the matter between her and Luo Changxi, she didn't dare to speak up, and subconsciously looked back at Luo Changxi.

Luo Changxi was very generous, nodding in reply: "Not bad."

After hearing this, Ling Shuangxiu couldn't help laughing at Gong Yining again: "Sister Ning's wish has been fulfilled, it's really gratifying."

Although she was ridiculed by Ling Shuangxiu, Gongyi Ning didn't feel embarrassed, but she judged others by herself, and seeing Ling Shuangxiu was really happy for her, she couldn't help but think of Ling Shuangxiu.Gong Yining knew what Ling Shuangxiu was thinking, not to mention the fact that there was a huge difference between Ling Shuangxiu and Qu Yiliu, the emperor's decree to bestow marriage was really worrying, especially seeing Ling Shuangxiu's weak and helpless expression at this time. look like help...

Gongyi Ning's heart was sore, but she didn't know how to comfort her.

Ling Shuangxiu was born with a delicate heart, and noticed that the expressions of the two of them were not right, and said with a smile: "It seems that my business... you all know?"

"Ah."

Luo Changxi responded.

Ling Shuangxiu was about to speak, but Gong Yining suddenly stood up and said angrily: "In my opinion, don't care about giving marriages or emperors! Since the decree has just been issued and everyone is not prepared, we simply Sneak out with you, hide in a place where others can't find, and never come back again! Can't afford to be provoked, can't you hide?"

Luo Changxi shook his head and said, "I really can't hide."

"Why can't I hide?"

"If Shuangxiu hides, she is resisting the decree." Luo Changxi said lightly, "Resisting the decree is not respectful, and the nine clans will be punished."

Nine tribes...

If Ling Shuangxiu ran away, all members of the Ling family who stayed behind would die.

However, Gong Yining quickly thought of another thing, and couldn't help laughing: "Wait, if you really talk about the Nine Clans... Luo Changxi, you are also in the Nine Clans, let's talk about it in detail, Your Majesty You can also be counted in the Nine Clans, can't you?"

After hearing this, Luo Changxi actually thought about it carefully.

"I am indeed within the nine clans, but the emperor is not. Moreover, even if I am within the nine clans, it doesn't matter. You probably don't know that members of the royal family have the privilege of immunity. As long as you are not involved in the case, you will not be questioned."

Gongyi Ning snorted coldly: "You are really taking advantage."

Ling Shuangxiu listened interestingly, and didn't feel too sad. Instead, she advised them: "There is no need to think about this matter. There is no other way, I have already resigned to my fate..."

"Accept your fate?" Gongyi became anxious, "How can you accept your fate so easily! You can't accept your fate!"

Speaking of these two words, Ling Shuangxiu was stunned.

Luo Changxi asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Ling Shuangxiu said, "Even if I don't accept my fate, I won't be able to last for a long time with my body...as it is now."

Gong Yining refused, and said: "There are no unsolvable problems in this world. I know a genius doctor, and I will ask her to treat you when the time comes, and you will definitely recover."

Unexpectedly, when Ling Shuangxiu heard this, her expression suddenly changed.

"No, I don't see a doctor!"

"Why don't you take a look?" Gongyi Ning was more anxious than she was, "See what's the matter? Besides, that miracle doctor is very powerful, just let her take a look, and she can know what's wrong with you."

"I... I don't want to see it!"

Ling Shuangxiu was a little excited, she couldn't catch her breath, and coughed vigorously.Luo Changxi and Gong Yining were both terrified by this, they hurriedly stepped forward to rub her back and handed her water, and then hurriedly went outside to call the doctor to see.But as soon as Gong Yining got up, she was grabbed by Ling Shuangxiu.

"You don't have to...go."

"Can……"

"My illness... I don't need anyone to look at it at all." After coughing for a while, Ling Shuangxiu's complexion became worse, white as paper, which was really worrying, but her hand was very strong, and she clenched it tightly. Holding on to Gong Yining's sleeve, "Because... my illness is actually... actually caused by myself...."

"what?"

Gong Yining turned pale with shock, and Luo Changxi couldn't believe it.

"Your Highness..." Ling Shuangxiu showed a weak smile to Luo Changxi, "No, in fact, I always wanted to call you cousin, just like when you lived in my house when you were young."

Luo Changxi nodded and said, "I am your elder sister, you don't have to be obsessed with etiquette."

"Cousin..." Ling Shuangxiu looked sad, but she seemed to have found some strength from this call, and said with great difficulty, "Do you remember that when I was young, I was in good health, and I could go out riding a small bike with you?" Maju, shoot flower arrows?"

"remember."

"Later, you left and went to the mountains to learn martial arts." Ling Shuangxiu's tone gradually slowed down, "A year later, you came back once, and my health was not good at that time, I had to drink medicine all day long, and I couldn't go out again. Can be locked in the house."

"Yes."

"My illness...is not a disease brought out from the mother's womb as rumored outside. It's myself..."

"Yourself?" Gong Yining asked again, "What about you..."

"I'm actually... not as good as you think. I'm the most... most selfish person in the world." Ling Shuangxiu said this, coughed twice, and said, "As the daughter of the Ling family, Now that you have enjoyed the honor and wealth of the Ling family, you should know how to 'accept fate', but I just refuse to 'accept fate'. Although I am determined to destroy myself, in the end, I still cannot escape my life."

The daughter of the Ling family...

——Luo Changxi's mother and concubine are also the daughters of the Ling family.

At that time, Emperor Taizu made a decree to select the daughter of the Ling family at that time into the palace as the side concubine of the crown prince.Others don't know the inside story of this matter, but Luo Changxi knows something vaguely.This is not only the meaning of Emperor Taizu, but also the wishes of the Ling family themselves.The Ling family is a big family, in order to protect the status of the family, they have to sacrifice a few daughters.After Luo Changxi grew up, he only guessed after hearing a few words from his master.Now hearing what Ling Shuangxiu said again, Luo Changxi suddenly came to his senses.

"You mean...you were going to enter the palace?"

"Yes. I have been raised by my parents since I was a child, and everyone in my family regards me very highly." Ling Shuangxiu nodded, "I didn't know the reason before, but later, I overheard it... It's a pity that I Young and ignorant, selfish and selfish, only thinking about himself, unwilling to 'accept fate' no matter what."

Gong Yining also understood, and stared at Ling Shuangxiu with wide eyes.

"...Coincidentally, I got a heart-wrenching flower after some adventures." Ling Shuangxiu raised her eyes and glanced at Gong Yining. I'm afraid she'll be able to see right away that I'm not sick at all, but poisoned by the heart-corroding flower."

Gong Yining really heard the man talk about her heartache.

Corroding Heart Peanuts are born in the humid southwest and are highly poisonous. However, the poison does not kill people immediately, but slowly erodes the five internal organs bit by bit, causing the poisoned person's heart and lungs to collapse, causing them to die in agony.

Gong Yining never expected that this seemingly weak Ling Shuangxiu would take poison and injure her body in order to avoid entering the palace!

"Later I got very sick, so naturally I couldn't enter the palace." Ling Shuangxiu's face was full of sorrow, "It has been delayed for many years, and even the marriage has not been negotiated. My parents have a lot of pity for me, but I... I am in pain every day Blame yourself..."

The reason behind this illness is really complicated, Luo Changxi and Gongyi listened attentively, and for a moment they didn't know how to react.

"It seems extremely hypocritical to say these things now." Ling Shuangxiu smiled bitterly, "But it is indeed the truth. I have been tortured by the Corrosion Heart Flower for so many years, and I have already seen it clearly and regretted it."

"What are you regretting!" Gong Yining understood, "No, I'm not saying that you shouldn't regret taking poison, I mean, it's not your fault that you don't want to enter the palace. Life is more tormenting than eclipsing heart flowers! Moreover, if you enter the palace, you won't meet... you won't meet... some people."

Gong Yining originally wanted to mention Qu Yiliu, but soon realized that Qu Yiliu is also a big trouble, so it's better not to mention it, so as not to make Ling Shuangxiu feel sad.

"All in all, since it is the path you chose, you don't have to regret it. Even if you regret it, there is no turning back. It's better to go to the end of one path. If you go wrong, you will be wrong! Who knows, is the other path better? What could be more wrong?"

Luo Changxi always felt that Gong Yining had the most fallacies and the most unreasonable ones, but this time, she actually agreed with Gong Yining's point of view.

"Yes, at this point, you should take care of yourself, otherwise, you will lose everything."

This time Ling Shuangxiu confides the secret that has been hidden for many years at once, and the knot in her heart is finally opened, naturally she is not so depressed, she nodded quickly and said: "Well, you are very right."

Luo Changxi suddenly asked her again: "By the way, why did the emperor suddenly think of giving you a marriage?"

"It's easy to understand." Ling Shuangxiu said calmly, "Chen Qian lost his reputation as a warrior in the autumn hunt. The emperor was worried that General Chen would lose face, so he wanted to give him a favor. As for me... because The relationship between not being able to enter the palace for a year, the emperor naturally knew that I would not live for a long time, even if I married into the Chen family, it would not be a problem. Besides, I guess, the emperor would probably think that if I really died in the Chen family in the future, it would be considered a Because of my own health, the Chen and Ling families will have some rifts because of this, so that's even better, it can be regarded as killing multiple birds with one stone."

Speaking of this, Ling Shuangxiu suddenly sighed.

"As for my father... he should also know that I don't live long, pity me for years of suffering, and think that he should let me marry once, and he also knows what it's like to be a bride."

After hearing Ling Shuangxiu's words, Gong Yining suddenly felt that it would not be a good thing for a person to be as smart and transparent as Ling Shuangxiu.If you live soberly at any time, you will inevitably suffer secretly.

"Then what are you going to do? Could it be... Is this how you want to marry?"

"Yes." Ling Shuangxiu said, "But before that, I would like to ask you to do me a favor."

"What are you busy with?"

"I want to... meet someone."