Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 28

A chilling sensation gradually spread through her entire body. Lingxi instinctively wanted to stop Zhao Qingsui’s hand holding the water ladle or even fetch a hand warmer for her. However, Zhao Qingsui’s cold and piercing gaze froze Lingxi in place.

It was only when Su Rui returned with the imperial physician that Zhao Qingsui slowly loosened her grip on the ladle, as if suddenly drained of strength. The ladle fell with a muffled thud onto the water’s surface before quickly sinking, bubbles rising in its wake.

Lingxi and Zhao Sheng were placed in separate rooms. This arrangement was partly for their rest and recovery, and partly because their injuries differed and required different care. Moreover, the incident was a blatant challenge to imperial authority, necessitating strict secrecy.

Zhao Qingsui stood at the highest step in the main hall, one hand behind her back. Though dressed in luxurious robes, the darkened fabric at her sleeves, soaked with water, was still visible.

A draft swept past Lingxi, slipping between her fingers before continuing onward.

Beside Zhao Qingsui, the flickering candlelight swayed with the breeze. The dim yellow light failed to mask the chilling aura that pervaded the hall.

Suddenly, Lingxi furrowed her brows. She raised her hand to signal the servants to remain outside, then turned back into the hall.

She walked past the kneeling commander of the imperial guards, retrieved a hand warmer from the table where she and Zhao Qingsui had been seated, and then respectfully approached the steps.

“Your Highness, I hope you will take care of yourself.”

Lingxi held the hand warmer in both hands and gently extended it forward. She continued, “With Commander Gao here, Your Highness can be assured that the assassin will be caught.”

The figure standing high above remained silent for a long time. Lingxi, keeping her head lowered, could only see the candlelight casting Zhao Qingsui’s shadow onto the embroidered carpet beneath her feet, a narrow, dark silhouette blocking the path of the blooming red lotus patterns.

The lotus flowers bloomed brilliantly, pushing through the darkness, climbing higher—until in the next moment, another shadow completely smothered them.

“How bold of you, Consort, to defy my orders.”

The voice came from right in front of Lingxi. The moment she withdrew her peripheral gaze, Zhao Qingsui’s sleeve had already brushed past her eyes.

“I dare not, Your Highness. Please quell your anger.”

The hand warmer in Lingxi’s palms was suddenly taken away. The absence of its weight left her hands lingering in the same position.

Zhao Qingsui’s fingertips traced the surface of the hand warmer. Its heat had nearly dissipated, yet at the very bottom, there remained a faint warmth. That lingering warmth spread outward from her fingers, and her gaze swept subtly over Lingxi’s still-outstretched palms.

Perhaps that warmth had come from his hands, Zhao Qingsui mused.

“Commander Gao.”

“Present!”

“No matter what, I must see them alive or their corpse.”

“Yes!”

The words, laced with bone-chilling authority, fell into Lingxi’s ears, yet strangely, they brought her a sense of warmth.

This odd emotion surged from her mind through her body, even reaching her fingertips, leaving them tingling.

“Consort, do you admit your guilt?”

The eerie voice in front of her pulled Lingxi back to reality.

“I admit my guilt,” she answered softly.

Zhao Qingsui’s gaze lingered slightly, as if the image of Lingxi kneeling at the bedside on their wedding night overlapped with the person before her now.

Different occasions, different matters—yet somehow, everything felt the same.

Zhao Qingsui turned to Su Rui, who immediately lowered her head and stepped back.

“In that case, follow me.”

“Yes.”

Lingxi followed Zhao Qingsui out of the main hall, stepping over the rough cobblestones of the courtyard, then across the wooden planks spanning the lake, and finally down a long corridor leading to a secluded courtyard.

White magnolia trees lined both sides of the courtyard. It was their blooming season, and the delicate white petals trembled in the wind, though few had fallen to the ground.

Lingxi took in the sight of the white blossoms. When she turned back, Zhao Qingsui stood at the highest step beneath the eaves, looking at her.

Her dark eyes shone like the brightest morning star in the night sky—dazzling and impossible to ignore.

The fragrance of the flowers surged around them, enclosing them in its embrace.

“Your Highness, Imperial Physician Wang has arrived.”

Su Rui’s voice rang out from behind, making Lingxi lower her gaze belatedly.

The figure under the eaves paused for a moment but quickly masked any reaction.

“Let him in.”

Lingxi sat to the side as the physician applied medicine to her wounds. Su Rui replaced her hand warmer, and Zhao Qingsui held it while sitting next to her.

The thick medicinal ointment coated her wounds, and the burning pain dulled as if covered by a thin veil, making it difficult to distinguish whether it was the medicine’s effect or the presence of the person beside her.

“Imperial Physician Wang, how is the condition?”

“Your Highness, fortunately, only a few droplets splashed onto him. As long as he is careful, there will be no serious harm.”

Zhao Qingsui’s gaze swept over the wounds on Lingxi’s hand. “What poison was hidden in that wine cup?”

“Your Highness, after consulting the other physicians, we suspect it to be green vitriol oil based on the injuries.”

Zhao Qingsui narrowed her eyes. “Outrageous!”

“Please calm your anger, Your Highness.”

The physician knelt in submission, and silence instantly filled the room.

Lingxi furrowed her brows in thought, suddenly recalling something just as Su Rui’s voice sounded from outside.

“Your Highness, Minister Li from the Court of Judicial Review requests an audience.”

Zhao Qingsui replied indifferently, “Have him wait in the study.”

“Yes.”

The bitterness of the ointment spread through the air. Zhao Qingsui’s tightly furrowed brows never relaxed. Lingxi stood and bowed before her.

“Your Highness, I request permission to investigate this case with Minister Li to ease your burdens.”

Zhao Qingsui’s gaze darkened. “Have you forgotten that you are still guilty?”

“I can atone by—”

“Enough.”

Zhao Qingsui looked at her sharply, her furrowed brows deepening. Her gaze lingered on Lingxi’s wounded hand before shifting away.

“Your only task is to follow the physician’s instructions. That is the only pardon you will receive. Minister Li will handle the matter.”

Lingxi wanted to speak but found herself at a loss for words.

Zhao Qingsui abruptly stood. “No more discussion. Physician Wang, continue treating the Consort.”

“Yes.”

With that, Zhao Qingsui lowered her gaze and left.

Lingxi bowed as she watched her leave. Only when Zhao Qingsui’s figure disappeared did the physician’s murmuring bring her back to the moment.

“What did you say, Physician Wang?”

“Ah, Consort, I said Her Highness treats you very well.”

A sudden tingling spread through Lingxi’s entire body.

Left in Zhao Qingsui’s courtyard to rest, Lingxi dared not step out without permission. She knew nothing about the case or anyone else’s actions.

The magnolia fragrance drifted through the courtyard. Sitting outside for too long, Lingxi began to feel cold—perhaps due to her still-damp robes.

After making sure no one was around, she sighed.

Forget it.

She closed the doors and windows, removed her outer robe, and spread it over the table. Taking a candle, she attempted to dry it with the flame.

As the candlelight flickered, Zhao Qingsui’s figure seemed to emerge in her mind, drawing her in, making it hard to look away.

Just then, a voice sounded outside.

“Her Highness has arrived!”

Lingxi’s head snapped up, startled.

Her robe lay on the table, while she wore only her thin undergarments.

She hastily set the candle aside, reaching for her robe just as footsteps approached the door.