Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 35

Zhao Qingsui reached out, her cool hands covering Lingxi’s eyes, gently closing her bloodshot gaze.

“Before Great Tai was unified, I once led an army to suppress the rebel forces. I even used myself as bait to lure them into a trap.”

Her fingers slightly brushed against Lingxi’s brow. Zhao Qingsui smoothed it out with her fingertips.

“Before battle, I calculated the timing, assessed the terrain, and strategized accordingly. I ensured every step moved forward precisely. Standing atop the city walls, I was fully confident of victory.”

“But tonight, I did not calculate the timing, nor did I assess the terrain. I did not even plan for human factors. This assassination attempt—I only reacted based on my wartime experience.”

Suddenly, something soft brushed against her palm.

Lingxi opened her eyes, peering through the gaps between Zhao Qingsui’s fingers.

Her fingertips gently traced over Lingxi’s forehead. The warmth seeped in, like spring melting away the last of the winter ice.

“Yet, I am still fully confident.”

Her tone was calm and steady, as if nothing had happened here.

Meeting Lingxi’s gaze, Zhao Qingsui’s lips curved slightly. She leaned down and whispered, “Do you know why?”

Her hand moved down from Lingxi’s brow, tracing along her cheek. The warmth of Zhao Qingsui’s breath fell on Lingxi’s forehead. In that instant, she felt as if she had been pushed into an ethereal void, weightless, hearing only the sound of her own heartbeat.

Before her, an illusionary mirror formed. As she lifted her gaze, countless reflections appeared within, all showing her standing behind Zhao Qingsui, silently watching her.

Her pupils shrank sharply. She lowered her gaze, only she knew—the reflections did not move much. Even her expression was calm. But one thing remained constant: no matter where she looked, her eyes were always fixed on Zhao Qingsui.

This was a truth she could neither change nor ignore.

—Whoosh!

“Your Highness, be careful!”

A sudden warning from the shadow guards rang out.

The illusionary mirror shattered instantly, and the void vanished with it.

In the next second, an arrow shot from behind, slicing past Lingxi’s face with intense force. The sharp edge whistled through the air, making her pupils contract. She instinctively stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Zhao Qingsui.

The arrow closed in, its deadly tip tearing through her outer robe, reaching her inner garments within mere moments. Yet, in that brief instant, Lingxi subconsciously clenched Zhao Qingsui’s hand.

“Mm.”

The impact shook her chest, and she let out a muffled groan. But the pain she expected never came. She pulled a jade flute from her sleeve and reached for the arrow, easily plucking it free with minimal effort. The arrowhead gleamed under the light—clean, with nothing unusual.

Lingxi frowned as she examined it. She wanted to touch the spot where the arrow had struck, but Zhao Qingsui stepped forward, stopping her movements.

Zhao Qingsui’s gaze was clear and steady. She allowed Lingxi to hold her hand, then took a step forward, reaching to touch the place where the arrow had landed.

“Your Highness?”

Zhao Qingsui’s slender fingers slipped into the torn fabric, yet Lingxi felt no warmth from them. Instead, Zhao Qingsui pressed down slightly, creating a firm resistance.

—”The night air is cold. Naturally, one must dress in heavier layers.”

Lingxi recalled Zhao Qingsui’s words when she had changed into more casual clothes earlier. Realization dawned on her.

“Mm, it’s nothing.”

After confirming her safety, Zhao Qingsui withdrew her hand but did not put any distance between them.

“Soft porcupine armor?”

“Yes.”

“There is only one such piece in all of Great Tai. How could you…”

Lingxi’s frown deepened. She wanted to say more, but the words caught in her throat.

Zhao Qingsui quietly looked at her, then slowly lifted the hand Lingxi had been gripping. Her gaze swept over their intertwined fingers before she spoke in a soft voice, “Because I trust that you would risk your life to protect me.”

She tightened her grip on Lingxi’s hand. Like a fire igniting, the warmth spread from their palms, engulfing Lingxi entirely.

The sensation was vivid and real. In just an instant, Lingxi’s bl00d turned scorching hot. A surge of emotions rushed through her veins, beating fiercely against her heart.

A buzzing filled her ears. But almost immediately, countless echoes of Zhao Qingsui’s voice overlapped in her mind, refusing to fade away.

“Your Highness, all assassins outside the inn have been eliminated. We failed in our duties to protect you—please punish us.”

A sudden voice from behind Zhao Qingsui pulled Lingxi back to reality.

The first light of dawn broke through the sky, forcing its way through the darkness. The guards quickly cleared the battlefield, searching each fallen assassin.

“Your Highness, we found nothing.”

As expected, the assassins had erased all traces of their master’s identity.

“Mm. We return to the capital.”

“Yes.”

On the way back, Lingxi sat beside Zhao Qingsui inside the carriage, while Su Rui remained outside. Lingxi shifted uncomfortably before standing up.

“What is it?”

Zhao Qingsui looked up at her.

Lingxi lowered her head and saluted. “Your Highness, during the battle, I was stained with bl00d. I fear the carriage will carry an unpleasant odor.”

Zhao Qingsui studied her, her brow slightly raised. “It’s fine. Sit.”

“Yes.”

Lingxi sat back down, maintaining her usual posture—back straight, eyes forward, hands resting on her knees.

Zhao Qingsui observed her for a moment, then lightly tapped the lid of her teacup. “Consort, what did you find at the marked location?”

Lingxi carefully reported everything she had discovered, then added, “Among the corpses, one short, stout man carried an engineering bureau token. Another, holding a white fan, mentioned someone called ‘Lord Li.’”

“It seems they had a hidden den in the mass graveyard to collect survivors and turn them into assassins.”

Her voice was calm, but when she spoke of the assassins, a faint anger seeped through.

“There are many officials with the surname Li in court,” Zhao Qingsui said, sipping her tea. “But how coincidental that Grand Chancellor Li is among them.”

“Your Highness, from the way the white fan bearer spoke, ‘Lord Li’ may not even know what is being done in his name.”

“That’s possible. The spies I sent last night reported no unusual movements in the capital.”

Lingxi frowned. “An assassination attempt on you is a grave matter. No matter how confident they are, they shouldn’t remain this silent.”

She hesitated, then corrected herself. “But we can’t be sure yet.”

Zhao Qingsui set down her teacup, her eyes narrowing. “Have an artist draw the white fan bearer’s likeness. Investigate the engineering bureau. And as for ‘Lord Li’—start with the chancellor.”

“Yes.”

Lingxi bowed and fell back into her rigid posture, but her mind replayed Zhao Qingsui’s words over and over.

And because of that, she completely missed the lingering gaze Zhao Qingsui cast upon her.

When they returned to the residence, at the fork in the courtyard path, Ling Xi hadn’t yet asked to leave, but Zhao Qingsui spoke first, “Prince Consort, come with me.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Qingsui dismissed the servants in the courtyard. The light shining in through the window dimly lit her figure.

She walked through the beaded curtain but stopped beside the round table. Just as Ling Xi came to a stop, Zhao Qingsui turned to look at her.

Her gaze was steady, with a hint of judgment. Ling Xi lowered her head slightly, avoiding her eyes.

“Lu Mu.”

This was the first time Zhao Qingsui called her by that name to her face. She didn’t say “Lord Lu” or “Prince Consort,” but instead used the two words Ling Xi found the most unfamiliar.

The name came with a bit of coldness. Ling Xi bowed deeply. “Your Highness, I am here.”

“Do you still not understand?”

“What I said to you at the inn—how much of it do you truly understand?”

Ling Xi stood stiffly. Her hands were held together in front of her, pressing tightly against each other. But for a moment, she didn’t know how to reply.

The silence grew longer and longer. Ling Xi frowned, then finally said, “Your Highness, I understand.”

“Understand?” Zhao Qingsui suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Then tell me—what exactly do you understand?”

“Please calm down, Your Highness.”

“I understand Your Highness’s feelings. I also understand my own.”

Ling Xi felt a throbbing pain at her temples, as if something was knocking against them again and again.

“But… but…”

Ling Xi stopped. Her mind was full of thoughts, but she didn’t know how to speak the words that came after “but.”

“Lu Mu, stand up straight.”

Zhao Qingsui’s tone calmed again. Ling Xi slowly closed her eyes, then opened them.

“Yes.”

Ling Xi straightened her back. Before she could even lift her eyes, Zhao Qingsui leaned forward toward her.

Ling Xi instinctively stepped back. When she looked clearly, she saw Zhao Qingsui narrowing her eyes slightly, stepping forward again in response to her retreat.