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墨書 Inktalez
I spent many days searching for his whereabouts, yet he seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, leaving no trace behind.
Thanks to the influence of the Southern Duke's Residence, the Little Prince vaguely knew that I was looking for someone.
He asked, "Who are you searching for? If you tell me the truth, the intelligence network of the palace can surely help you find them."
"Someone very important," I replied. "You wouldn't know them."
He simply said, "Oh," and did not press further.
One day, it suddenly occurred to me that if it were truly Ling Zhiya, he would never allow his brothers to lie dead in the wilderness.
That night, I quietly slipped out of my room. The Little Prince turned over in his sleep, and I froze in place for a long time, only daring to rise when I was sure he was sound asleep.
To be honest, sometimes I find the Little Prince quite foolish; he believes everything I say without question.
I once mentioned that a fortune teller had told me this month was not suitable for intimacy, or else misfortune would follow, and he indeed refrained from touching me.
He is clearly a cunning and somewhat rogue character!
Could it be that he is waiting for me to willingly engage in those intimate rites with him?
Surely not... My mind wandered as I pondered the Little Prince's various behaviors, to the point where I reached the Mass Grave—a place so eerie that I hardly felt fear.
Well, perhaps there was a little fear after all.
I ventured out every midnight, and the Little Prince never seemed to notice.
After three nights of waiting, Ling Zhiya finally appeared, digging a grave beside the corpse with a shovel.
I was overwhelmed with excitement and blurted out, "Grand Leader."
He didn't seem surprised at all. He paused his work and asked, "What do you want from me?"
"I knew you wouldn't let the brothers become wandering souls. I knew all those were rumors; their deaths have nothing to do with you."
He let out a cold laugh, appearing particularly sinister under the moonlight. "No, you're wrong. I did kill them. Don't you know they all died from poisoned wine? Only I could trick them into drinking it—only I."
I stood frozen in place, my face as pale as paper. It took me a moment to regain my voice. "No... you're lying..."
"I'm not lying. I've grown weary over the years and wanted to withdraw from the world, but I feared they would expose my whereabouts, so I killed them all. Look closely; this is who I am. I'm not a good person at all."
He suddenly turned to me. "An Feichang, do you regret saving me now?"
My lips trembled, and I couldn't utter a word as cold sweat beaded on my forehead. Suddenly, a sharp pain surged through my abdomen, and my legs gave way. "It hurts..."
"What’s wrong with you?"
Ling Zhiya moved closer, reaching for my wrist. I jumped up abruptly and used my other hand to pull hard.
A human skin mask was torn away, revealing the face of the Little Prince—Wen Renxiu—behind it.
I had never called his name before, but in a moment of panic, I blurted out, "Wen Renxiu!"
He first showed a look of confusion, then quickly composed himself. "It is I."
I lowered my head. "Do you know I am a member of the Nishang Society? Do you know I am searching for the Grand Leader, Ling Zhiya?"
He smiled and said, "It’s no matter; I don’t mind. I noticed you’ve lost quite a bit of weight while searching for Ling Zhiya, and my heart ached for you. So, I disguised myself as him, not expecting you to see through it. Wife, you truly are exceptionally clever."
"How coincidental; Ling Zhiya has also disguised himself as you."
His smile faltered slightly as he reached out his hand. "Wife, let’s go back; the night is getting chilly."
I remained seated on the ground, unmoving. "Are you Ling Zhiya or Wen Renxiu? Are you the Grand Leader of the Nishang Society or the Little Prince of the court?"
"An Feichang..."
"How ruthless. You established the Nishang Society to climb higher in the court, didn’t you? Any minister opposing you could be eliminated under the guise of the Nishang Society, just like those ministers who died at your wedding. Once the emperor turns against you, you incite a rebellion with the Nishang Society and then use the suppression and capture of traitors to solidify your position."
I gazed at the layers of corpses in the Mass Grave. "What a pity for these brave young men, blinded by their loyalty to the wrong leader."
*
The night was eerily quiet, as if shrouded in a veil of deathly silence.
After a long while, he finally spoke slowly. "In my plan, Ling Zhiya was destined to die after being poisoned by the Heartbreak Powder. From that moment on, there would be no more Ling Zhiya in this world. Do you know why I changed my plan? It’s because of you. You begged me so desperately not to die. How could I bear to see you heartbroken and in despair?"
"I despise such cruel people like the Executioner." I turned my head away, my face filled with disgust.
He gazed at me quietly, his eyes reflecting endless weariness and loneliness. After a long moment, he weakly waved his hand. "You may go."
With a heavy heart, I took a few slow steps, but he suddenly called out to me loudly, "If... I beg you not to leave..."
"I will still leave."
I responded resolutely without looking back. "A person whose hands are stained with blood makes me feel nauseous; it's unbearable."
I heard his self-deprecating laughter, filled with bitterness and helplessness, and after that, he remained silent.
My steps felt unusually heavy, as if each one pressed down on my heart, yet I had no choice but to move further away. Even though I harbored feelings for him, even though I knew he cared for me too.
A man who treats the lives of others like mere ants and tramples on them cannot be someone I can accept or cherish, no matter how much he loves and protects me.
Perhaps in the eyes of those ancient people, the Little Prince taking lives is just an everyday occurrence, insignificant. But having been educated in modern times, I understand the preciousness and equality of life; this is an undeniable truth.
This is the vast chasm between us, as if a river of time spanning thousands of years cruelly separates us.
I held back my tears and choked out, "Little Prince, farewell."
As the words left my lips, I realized I was already in tears, the drops falling like scattered beads from a broken string, soaking my clothes.
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