A Shocking Dream

Chapter 165

When Qin Rongchen heard the news of Lin Bingshuang's "death," he felt as if his spine had been torn out. He collapsed to the ground, his eyes hollow, the world instantly losing its color. Everyone in the palace witnessed him imprisoning himself in his room, gazing at old objects, his appetite waning, his figure steadily emaciated. The once gentle, high-spirited prince now resembled a delicate flower wilted by a frost, haggard and withered, his heart filled with grief for his beloved's passing, lost in endless "what ifs" and "memories," unable to extricate himself.

But now, his back was straight, and though his expression was solemn, it revealed a toughness that had been tempered, as if he had found the light of dawn in the dark night and reforged his soul armor. Qin Rongchen retracted his gaze, raised his hand and took a sip of tea, moistening his dry throat, before slowly speaking: "Yijing, in those days, I was indeed depressed, thinking that the person I loved was gone forever, and that the world had lost its meaning. But when the group in Linzhou learned that she was still alive, and had fought side by side with me, facing life and death together, so many complicated emotions surged in my heart. But when I learned about her deeply hidden multiple identities..." He paused, as if choked by the past, his eyes looking at the swaying branches outside the pavilion, his thoughts drifting away.

Faced with the dual distress of epidemic and bandits in Linzhou, Lin Bingshuang, dressed in tight clothes, moved nimbly through the enemy camp, the long sword in her hand gleaming coldly as she beheaded the bandits; then she turned around and prepared medicine with her bare hands, taking good care of the patient at the bedside, her eyes full of compassion.

"From then on, I understood that although love is important in this world, we cannot ignore the overall situation. As a descendant of the royal family, I bear the expectations of the country and the people. How can I indulge in love and endanger the court and the people because of my own personal feelings? Lin Bingshuang has a special identity and is connected to various forces. If I just think about the old love and don't distinguish right from wrong, when the storm comes, everything will be too late." Qin Rongchen raised his eyes and met Su Yijing's eyes, with determination and clarity in his eyes, like a bonfire on a cold night, shining brightly.

Su Yijing listened to Qin Rongchen's words. He nodded slightly, and his long-furrowed brows finally relaxed a little. His expression softened a little, and his eyes were no longer filled with the worries and doubts of the past. Instead, they were filled with overflowing admiration, shining brightly, as if penetrating the layers of the person in front of him and reaching the depths of his soul.

"It's a blessing for you to have this realization. It's also a blessing for the court and the people. There is more than just love between men and women in this world. Lin Bingshuang can let you go, and you can let her go." Su Yijing's voice was mellow and steady, echoing slowly in this empty and slightly lonely porch. Every word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of force, hitting Qin Rongchen's heart, stirring up thousands of waves of memories of the past.

At first, he was filled with resentment and grief, like a child robbed of a cherished treasure. He languished in the darkness, unable to sleep. The candlelight in the palace illuminated his haggard, lonely figure. His eyes welled with tears as he stared blankly at the old belongings she had left behind. The sweet memories of the past became a poison that gnawed at his heart. But as he tossed and turned in the dark night, gazing out the window at the cold moon hanging high, he gradually sobered. The teachings he had received since childhood as a member of the royal family, the responsibilities he shouldered, tolled like a bell, awakening him from the mire of love.

Qin Rongchen raised his head and met Su Yijing's gaze, which was filled with clarity and determination after having gone through hardships, as if it was steel tempered by fire: "Yijing, you are absolutely right. In the past, I was indeed blinded by love and almost forgot the foundation of my life and the weight of my responsibilities. Lin Bingshuang has her choices and plans, and I can no longer be trapped in this love affair." He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, as if he was gathering all his strength to break the shackles of the past.

Su Yijing approached, and without hesitation, he took a step forward and patted Qin Rongchen's shoulder firmly. This pat carried the concern of an old friend, and even more so, the deep hope that the situation could be reversed. His expression was solemn, like a sky covered with leaden clouds, but the depths of his eyes, like the horizon at the end of a cold night, were filled with the light of hope, gleaming brightly. His voice was low and powerful, echoing in the quiet, cold air: "If you can wake up in time, it will be a turning point."

Qin Rongchen, trapped in his love for Lin Bingshuang, couldn't extricate himself, like a reckless moth drawn to a candle flame, his heart and eyes filled with only her every smile, every move. Qin Rongchen felt as if his spine had been torn out, his soul broken. The carved beams and painted buildings of the villa became a cage for him, and he wandered the corridors and sat in his study, sighing over the few words she had left behind and the lingering fragrance of old things, drowning in the painful quagmire of being deceived and abandoned.

At that time, Su Yijing saw it all, anxious in his heart, and tried to persuade him with all his heart, but he was always repelled by Qin Rongchen's obsession. But now, the man in front of him had straightened his back again. Although his face still looked a little haggard, his expression had shed its dejection and replaced it with a resolute one, like an ancient pine tree that has been weathered by wind and rain, shaking off its fallen leaves, taking root in the broken rock, and preparing to face the new frost, snow, thunder and lightning.

And amidst this gratitude and self-reflection, a burning determination, like a beacon ignited by a fierce wind, leaped and rose in his eyes, burning the previous dejection and confusion to ashes. "Yijing, some things have come to my senses, so I won't continue down this foolish path." Qin Rongchen spoke, his voice dry and hoarse, and he forced a wry smile. The self-deprecation in that smile was like a sharp thorn, piercing his heart.

The courtyard was deep, dappled with sunlight. The small courtyard of the villa felt like a quiet corner away from the mundane world, isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city and the treacherous affairs of the court. Qin Rongchen and Su Yijing stood side by side under a majestic ancient locust tree. The autumn breeze rustled the leaves, as if whispering stories of the past and quietly expressing their expectations for the unknown future.

Qin Rongchen stood tall, his hands behind his back, his figure erect, his clothes fluttering slightly in the wind. His expression had shed the dejection and confusion of the past few days, now filled with determination, like a sword unsheathed, its cold light restrained yet unstoppable. He gazed up at the sparse and dense branches, his gaze far-reaching, as if penetrating the layers of green shade, catching sight of the undercurrents lurking deep within the palace, and the thorny path of political intrigue that he urgently needed to tread.

Su Yijing stood quietly to the side, his dark robe as still as the night. He folded his arms across his chest, his expression solemn yet tinged with relief. The earnest words he had used to persuade Qin Rongchen still echoed in his ears. Fortunately, the man before him had finally freed himself from the quagmire of emotion, regaining the sense of responsibility and awareness expected of a royal descendant and pillar of the court. Seeing Qin Rongchen lost in thought, Su Yijing fell silent. He knew Qin Rongchen's character well. He was a man of his word. Once he made up his mind, he would not change it, no matter how hard it was. Now that he had resolved to return to the court and break the impasse, he would give it his all, fearless of any obstacle.