The Destiny that Hasn't Ended

CHAPTER 17 "LIKE A MOTH"

The day had entered the morning, but the sky was still a bit dark because the sun had still not risen. It was seen that Nao Yu had put on a robe covering his head and part of his face and was escorted by Xiao Wan out of the palace without anyone knowing. After Nao Yu entered the horse carriage, Xiao Wan returned and reported to Yuan.

"Prince, why did you do it?" xiao Wan asked the man sitting at his reading table.

Yuan was silent. His eyes went to the page of the book he was opening on the table.

"If you want to seize the throne, isn't now the right time? The Emperor and the Crown Prince are dying..."

"The Queen will not remain silent. If I use an army, I'm afraid the time won't come. After all, Lin Zi had become a part of my life. I have lost my mother, this time I don't want to lose Lin Zi"

"Then why did you let Nao Yu go? If she testifies, won't Miss Xiu be free?"

Yuan sighed as he closed the book he had only been looking at since.

"The Queen always watches over me. I used to take Nao Yu into the palace. I already consider Nao Yu like my own sister. If Nao Yu testifies, the Empress will also definitely not let me go. In the end, the three of us will die. Now, at least I can save 2 lives"

"The prince's intention is.." Xiao Wan muttered in surprise after understanding the intent of Yuan's words.

Xiao Wan immediately knelt down, both of her hands in front of her chest and her body slightly bent.

"Prince, please reconsider your decision!" xiao Wan pleaded.

The day is getting noon. Lin Zi was in the middle of the interrogation page which was also the execution ground. Lin Zi's hands were tied to the chair she was sitting on. His head lowered because his body was no longer powerful. He has not eaten or drank anything since his arrest and is still sun-dried.

"It's noon today, do the execution!" empress orders from the surveillance terrace.

The executioner raised his large machete with both hands. Then Yuan walked into the execution page.

"Stop execution!" say someone from a distance.

Yuan was surprised because that voice was not his voice. Wh who?

Lin Zi raised her head, her gaze still a bit blurry. A faint faint look of a man wearing a layer 1 hanfu bearing the emblem of a dragon was walking through the corridor towards the surveillance terrace. His steps were shaken, his left hand held on to the wooden wall as he walked and his right hand touched his stomach.

"Jing Xuan.." muttered Lin Zi softly recognizing the figure.

The empress who saw him immediately approached Xuan and helped Xuan prop up the body.

"Xiao'er.. Have you come to your senses?! Why did you come here, your body is still not strong enough to walk" the empress said.

"Lin Zi is innocent... He is the target and I intend to protect him myself. The original culprit had already been caught." Xuan said somewhat stammered with the pain of the wound re-emitting blood.

Yuan immediately brought the unconscious Lin Zi back to the Yue pavilion. The servant had replaced Lin Zi's blood-filled white shirt with a clean white shirt. The doctor also examined her and gave her medicine.

Yuan rubbed Lin Zi's face which still had her blood stain with a towel that had been soaked in warm water. Lin Zi's face looked pale white.

"Nao Yu. get me a drink, I'm thirsty once.." muttered Lin Zi slowly opening her still eyes with a blurry look.

Yuan immediately picked up a drink and helped Lin Zi to drink. Lin Zi blinked her eyes many times.

"Jing Yuan.. Where is Nao Yu? Why isn't he here?" asked Lin Zi to Yuan who was just speechless.

"Nao Yu... " Yuan hesitated to continue his words.

Then there was the sound of a gong being hit hard, a sign of execution about to begin. Lin Zi thought of various possibilities recalling the time when Nao Yu lied to her that night. Lin Zi immediately ran towards the execution page. He fell limp to see Nao Yu who had been hanging limp. His tears flowed without aba. Yuan walked up to him and stroked his shoulders trying to calm down Lin Zi a bit whose cries began to break.

Previously Nao Yu had indeed left the palace and had traveled quite a distance. But the anxiety was clearly on his face. He recalled Yuan's words many times before and tried to understand his point. Finally he killed the coachman who was controlling his chariot. He cut the horse rope from the carriage and rode it back to the palace. He entered silently into Xuan's room and gave Xuan the antidote to the poison he had stored. Soon Xuan regained his senses and saw Nao Yu standing beside him. Xuan tried to sit down and Nao Yu immediately knelt before Xuan.

"Crown Prince please forgive me.. It was the servant who made Miss Xiu chased by the tiger during the hunt and it was the servant who released the arrow that night." said Nao Yu immediately admitted his mistake.

"You gave me the antidote and admitted your mistake, what do you want?" asked Xuan without further ado.

"Miss Xiu will be executed soon. For the sake of Miss Xiu, Prince Yuan will sacrifice himself to save her.."

Xuan was very surprised to hear Lin Zi was about to be executed.

"Extsecution?"

"Really! Servant...I beg the Crown Prince to save Prince Yuan! Only you can do it. If the servant went and admitted it himself, the three of us would definitely not survive. So please save Prince Yuan!" said Nao Yu who then prostrated.

"But I can't keep you from being punished...."

"Hamba... I am willing to be put to death, so I beg you to save Prince Yuan" Nao Yu said back in prostration pleading with Xuan.

Yuan held Lin Zi on his back. Lin Zi's body was already limp and her gaze had been blank. After arriving at the Yue pavilion, Yuan lowered Lin Zi on his bed. Lin Zi just sat on her bedside with her head bowed. His tears had dried up but his sight was still empty. It looks like a living corpse.

Yuan knelt down in front of Lin Zi. Both of his hands clasped Lin Zi's hands.

"Zi'er.you must take it.." Yuan said as he rubbed Lin Zi's hand.

Lin Zi was still silent. Then Yuan took out a letter from inside his sleeve.

"I found this on your pillow" Yuan said.

Lin Zi opened the letter and started reading it in her heart.

Miss, if you've read this letter it means I'm already on death row. Earlier, I wanted to apologize as much for trying to kill you who was very good to me all this time.

Lin Zi's eyes were glazed back with glass considering everything she had done with Nao Yu. Nao Yu's laughter was still etched clearly in his memory.

I don't mean to harm you, but my stupidity and selfishness can't be covered up. In exchange I have received my punishment and you can lie to me for life. If you ask me why I ended up giving myself up even though I had the chance to leave.... I think the answer is the same as a moth flying into the light of fire even though he knows it will make him die. Just like you want to protect your loved ones, I also want to protect such feelings.. Miss.thank you for what you have given me all this time. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve you. If there's a next life, I don't mind serving you back.

Lin Zi clasped tightly onto the paper and her crying broke again. Yuan grabbed Lin Zi's body and pulled her into his embrace.

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Connect . . .