Proud Feather

Chapter 121 Death
No choice.

Because she is a princess, and because he is a prince.

Chu Ling recalled a saying she had heard long ago: "Man cannot fight against fate."

If that's the case, what's the point of her trying anymore? The game was already lost the moment her older brother died.

But... why did she have to admit defeat? Having lived such a life with such effort, why would she admit defeat again if given the chance? On what grounds?
If the ending was predetermined, then what did it mean for her to struggle to get back up time and time again over those eight years? What did it mean for her to question her conscience time and time again? She didn't believe that God had brought her back just to lose again!
"So what if I'm not a prince?" Chu Ling finally spoke up. "We are all descendants of the Chu family, descendants of the founding emperor, and blood relatives of the emperor. Why can't I be chosen?"

Lin Wenyu's eyes widened suddenly, and the next moment she kowtowed, her voice trembling as she said, "Princess, be careful what you say! These words will bring disaster if someone hears them!"

Chu Ling curled the corners of her lips: "You really do care about this princess."

Lin Wenyu dared not say more, for fear of hearing something even more deadly.

Chu Ling lost interest and didn't bother to ask any further. Although Lin Wenyu didn't give a direct answer, Chu Ling already knew the answer.

She took off her cloak and threw it over: "Those two officers are over there in the woods, go find them yourself!"

Lin Wenyu was taken aback: "Princess, Princess, are you letting this sinner go?"

Chu Ling said calmly, "Otherwise what? What's the point of killing you?"

"..." A complex emotion flashed in Lin Wenyu's eyes, and he kowtowed with a hint of sincerity, "Thank you, Princess, for sparing my life."

After saying that, he picked up his cloak and ran, stumbling along the hillside.

……

The moonlight was cold and clear, and a sigh echoed from the wilderness.

Xiao Yu's voice came from inside the carriage: "Princess, why are you doing this? He has someone backing him. If these words get out..."

"So what if word gets out? Will they complain to Father that I'm vying for the throne?" Chu Ling scoffed. "Who would believe that? If Father won't give it to me, where am I supposed to fight for it?"

Xiao Yu was speechless.

"Let's go back!" Chu Ling closed her eyes to rest. "Consider tonight a favor I owe you."

Perhaps influenced by her emotions, Gongsun Hong and the others also fell silent. The three of them quietly tended to the fire, moved the earthenware pots, packed up the tents, and prepared to return home.
-
Lin Wenyu was panting heavily as he ran with all his might into the woods.

The cloak was wrapped tightly around his body, bringing him a precious warmth.

Recalling the way the princess threw the cloak at him, he couldn't help but feel moved. The princess was a good person, but alas, good people don't live long in this world.

In consideration of the clothes bestowed upon him today, if he were to regain power one day, he would surely spare the princess's life—his conscience was not strong enough, and this was the most he could do.

Lost in thought, Lin Wenyu reached the edge of the woods, but looked left and right and saw no one.

Did he go to the wrong place? No, he saw his package!
Could it be that those two constables ran away? They're really unreliable!
Lin Wenyu had no choice but to pick up the package, brush off the dust, and sit down on a roadside stone to rest.

He's in a terrible state; his feet are throbbing with pain, and his body is covered in cuts and bruises. Fortunately, they're all superficial and will heal eventually…

Lin Wenyu took out a hard biscuit from the package, took a couple of bites to relieve his hunger, and then carefully considered his next move.

He definitely couldn't go back to the capital; making a scene would do him no good. But without official assistance, he couldn't travel on his own, and besides, he was covered in injuries from the fall tonight and couldn't walk for the time being.

It seems I need to find a place to rest for a few days, and then figure out a way to notify my people...

He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and froze.

"Who?" Lin Wenyu jumped up in surprise and looked around.

A rustling sound rang out, and someone emerged from behind the tree.

Dressed in black and masked, wielding a sharp blade!
Lin Wenyu stammered, "Who...who are you? Under the Emperor's nose, don't be so insolent!"

The other person didn't say a word, but just walked closer step by step.

Lin Wenyu slowly realized that these were definitely not bandits, but assassins. Who? Who wanted to kill him? The princess? No, if the princess wanted to kill him, she wouldn't have let him go earlier. Could it be…

He backed away step by step, his voice hoarse: "You can't do this! I've rendered service to my master, I... ah!"

……

On the other side of the hillside, Xiao Yu, inside the carriage, suddenly spoke up: "Wait! Did you hear anything?"

Wu Zhiyong stopped cracking the whip and asked in confusion, "What was that sound? There wasn't anything, was there?"

Qingcha said, "Princess, I think I heard it too."

So everyone quieted down and listened carefully.

"Not good! Over in the woods!" Xiao Yu leaped out of the carriage. "Old Wu, let's go!"

"Alright!" Wu Zhi threw the reins to the servant, grabbed his arm, and galloped toward the source of the sound.

“Let’s go too!” Chu Ling said, turning her head.

Qingcha responded with a "yes," then gently pulled her by the waist and flew away as well.

"Sigh~" Gongsun Hong, who had been left behind, could only rub his nose and huddle together with the servant. "Young man, you're so impatient..."

Wu Zhi was fast on his feet, and the place was close to the woods. As soon as he turned the corner of the hillside, he saw the black-clad men who were committing the crime and immediately shouted, "Stop!"

The man in black calmly tossed Lin Wenyu aside and leaped into the woods.

In a flash, Xiao Yu pinpointed the location by sound and threw a short arrow.

The man in black staggered, seemingly hit by a shot. But he only paused briefly before disappearing into the woods.

The woods at night were a good place to ambush, so the two had to stop.

"Minister Lin!" Chu Ling called out.

Qingcha lifted the person up, examined the wound on the abdomen, and said softly, "It's no use, it's a fatal wound."

Chu Ling was stunned for a long time.

Is Lin Wenyu, that old bastard, really going to die? He hasn't even become a husband yet, nor has he become his second brother's accomplice, and he's already dying like this?
The dying Lin Wenyu let out a groan: "Princess..."

Chu Ling looked down at him, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She hadn't killed Lin Wenyu earlier not out of pity, but because she didn't want to resort to vigilante justice. Lin Wenyu deserved to die, and should be executed under the law, not for her personal vendetta.

Unexpectedly, even though I didn't kill him, he was still going to die.

"Do you know who's behind this?" she asked.

Tears welled in Lin Wenyu's cloudy eyes as he struggled to reply, "Please don't ask, you can't ask..."

"Why not?" Chu Ling was furious. "You've already lost your life, and you still want to protect him?"

Lin Wenyu gave a bitter laugh, but didn't respond to her words: "Your Majesty... I advise you, stop wasting your efforts, you can't win... The Crown Prince's death is the will of Heaven..."

Chu Ling stopped.

What does this mean? What is meant by "divine will"?

Lin Wenyu was breathing rapidly, blood kept gushing from his mouth, his pupils were dilated, and he looked like he was about to die.

He gripped Chu Ling's sleeve tightly, using his last bit of strength: "If you insist... pharmacy owner..."

"what?"

Lin Wenyu was speechless, his eyes were open, and his hands were hanging down.