THE FLOWER PALACE'S SECRET

Chapter 59: The Question

The residence of Prince Qin had already become busy since the past few days. A long red cloth adorns every corner of the building without exception. The servants and guards were busy preparing for their master's wedding as best they could. Food supply, wine, as well as some other necessities are well arranged by the housekeeper. One more day, this residence will have a new mistress.

No matter how busy the preparation and how luxurious the wedding is, there is no happy look on the face of a couple who will tie the promise of tomorrow. Lin Zian desperately refrained from escaping, because he knew if he escaped, he would be branded as a traitor who had sacrificed the future peace of the kingdom.

Her brother who had been poisoned by her thoughts seemed to have actually taken her hostage. Lin Zian's life was nothing more than a puppet of power. In fact, it would not hurt if Lin Yang remarried to Princess Duanmu, instead sacrificing the happiness and family of his own sister. There really was no real definition of happiness among the royal family. They are all bound by rules that rob them of their freedom in many ways.

Had Shen Yanzhia been here, Lin Zian might have been able to lay her body on the woman's lap, crying and complaining without fear. His beloved wife had been gone for months, not even the word of the wind had she heard. Shen Yanzhia seemed to be lost to the earth. In fact, the woman was clearly in the capital. The arrangements of Prince Yun and Niang Yuan were truly great. They had managed to disguise Shen Yanzhia's existence well.

For the past two days, Lin Zian had confined himself to the Western Pavilion, the place that Shen Yanzhia's room was in when the woman was here. Lin Zian lamented every distinctive scent of Shen Yanzhia left there, making him rethink the girl many times. Lin Zian stared at the things that his wife had left behind, hoping that all of this was just a dream during the day. He really wished that he had never returned to the capital, got married, then felt hurt like this.

Lin Zian was really frustrated.

Where should he look for Shen Yanzhia? Did the woman not hear the screams of her thrashing heart reject this marriage? Tomorrow, if he comes, everything may be too late. In the future, this room will be filled by another woman who has the same pain as herself. If they both suffer, why should they push themselves?

Lin Zian and Princess Duanmu knew very well that the two of them could not oppose fate. The heavens have created them and made them part of a royal family forever bound with power. The question of whether you are happy or not is no longer important. As long as it can satisfy the people and secure the country, people born into the royal family are required to give up themselves, even when asked for life.

Rumors circulated among the lower folk, that Mo Ran was hiding a fugitive in Lingxiang Pavilion until the pavilion was closed for a while. If only Lin Zian were a little more sensitive and insoluble in his sadness, he might be able to discover the truth of Shen Yanzhia's existence. The man who is usually so careful actually even slumped at a time like this.

Tan'er who refused liberation upon himself knocked on the door. The maid carried a mysterious letter she had found in front of the gate of the residence. It smells like apples. She was stunned to see her beloved employer's husband sitting contemplating with a blank look. The Second Prince who was usually so dignified, today seemed very alarming.

The letter paper was placed on a lighted candle. Some of the writing came about miraculously. Lin Zian's countenance changed instantly as he read the contents of the secret letter. A glimmer of hope suddenly shimmered from his eyes, then descended into his heart, resurrecting the soul that had fallen asleep for a long time.

"Zhi'er is fine. You just have a good marriage. That was enough to save everyone. Prince Qin, you don't have to worry about anything."

Lin Zian was eager to find out where this letter came from. If he managed to find it, he might as well be able to find Shen Yanzhia. On the one hand, he was happy because there was a person who had given him good news regarding his wife's condition. But on the other hand, the longing grew interspersed with pain when imagining that the woman who would walk with him in the future was no longer Shen Yanzhia, but Princess Duanmu.

The letter was then burned to ashes. Lin Zian got up, then immediately walked out of the Western Pavilion. He ignored the servants who greeted him. There's something he has to do for tomorrow. After all, marriage will still happen. Lin Zian did not want to do something that he would later regret, because he realized there were too many things about Shen Yanzhia that he had missed.

Lin Zian continued to walk nonstop. He had gone through many intersections, but something he was looking for was not found either. He wanted to trace the trail of the mail sender because he was sure that the person had not gone far. If it did not get the desired answer to his question, at least let him know whether Shen Yanzhia was really fine as the letter said or it was all just a charade to strengthen his heart.

Someone then patted her shoulder. As she turned her head, a woman whose age might not be much different from her concubine mother stood up, looking at her calmly. Her face was so auspicious even though there was already an age mark on her cheeks. His clothes were ordinary, yet somehow exuded a very different aura as Lin Zian looked at him deeper.

"Xiao Qin," called the woman.

"You..Who?"

"Mr Yuan."

Niang Yuan looked at Lin Zian intently. This was the first time he had seen his son-in-law and nephew after eighteen years had passed. Lin Zian's face was too similar to the current Emperor, who at the time eighteen years ago became his own sister-in-law. Looking at his face, Niang Yuan instantly recalled Xiao Yanzhi, the deceased Crown Prince, the uncle of the man standing before him.

"You know me?"

"No. But Xiao Jing Mei told me all the stories about you."

Lin Zian's eyes flashed. This person knew Shen Yanzhia!

"Where is Zhi'er? Let me meet him!"

"Xiao Qin, listen up. Learn to let go. You are the Second Prince of this country. You can't risk the future of this nation just because of your selfishness."

"On what basis? Isn't my life not mine?"

Noticing his daughter-in-law's emotions peaking, Niang Yuan sighed. He understood that Lin Zian must have been heartbroken. However, the pain of his heart was nothing in Niang Yuan's eyes when compared to the pain that Shen Yanzhia was experiencing. His daughter was already miserable from birth, she had to lose her father and grandfather, even almost losing her life before she could see the world with her own two eyes. The pain that Lin Zian had experienced was not comparable to the pain suffered by him and by the Queen Mother for eighteen years. The pain was not comparable to the tears of the people who fell upon losing their Emperor and Crown Prince.

Lin Zian shouldn't have acted like a young master who lost his lover. Inside his body was flowing the blood of the royal family, then the burden he had piku was also heavy. Lin Zian should have understood, that he and Shen Yanzhia had different destinies. Shen Yanzhia had already let herself go, sacrificing by leaving. Now, it was Lin Zian's turn to let go of everything.

"Because that's what he wants!"

"Let me meet him! Tell me where Zhi'er is!"

"Xiao Qin, you want to bring everyone to die with you?"

Lin Zian looked down. Niang Yuan was right. He cannot be selfish. He got too carried away. He missed Shen Yanzhia too much. Niang Yuan looked back at him. Provided that Lin Zian lived his marriage well, then Shen Yanzhia's life would not be in danger anymore. After all the chaos had passed, he wanted to bring his daughter back to Dongshan Temple, as the heart wounds could have healed over time.

"If your destiny is connected, the heavens will reunite you," Niang Yuan said, before he disappeared among the crowd.