On the way back to the Eastern Palace, You Rong's mind was a mess, unable to think. Only one thing occupied his thoughts.
Lin Qinghe had committed suicide.
You Rong felt as if his strength had been drained. He didn't know how he returned to the Eastern Palace and arrived before his sleeping quarters.
You Rong stood outside the chamber, his face ashen. He extended his hand several times before daring to push open the door.
Lin Qinghe, sitting on the bed, heard the sound and, mistaking it for Ying Chun and others, instinctively raised the porcelain shard, pressing it against her throat again.
You Rong strode in and immediately saw the sharp shard Lin Qinghe held against her neck, with clear bloodstains on her fair skin.
His heart clenched, an inexpressible pain spreading from the depths of his soul to every limb.
Lin Qinghe looked up and, seeing it was You Rong, her heart leaped. "Your Highness, the Crown Prince! You've returned. This servant has something to tell you, this servant..."
Overjoyed, Lin Qinghe lowered the hand holding the shard. You Rong, seeing this, his gaze sharpened. He flashed before her, his large hand tightly grasping the shard. He squeezed it with all his might. The sharp shard pierced his palm, and bright red blood welled up, dripping down their entwined hands, drop by drop, onto the ground.
Lin Qinghe cried out, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince! Your hand! Let go quickly!"
You Rong seemed possessed. He ignored his injured hand, tightening his grip on the shard with even greater force. As Lin Qinghe tried to pry his hand open and make him release it, his eyes turned so red they seemed to bleed. He raised his hand and violently threw the shard to the ground.
The shard embedded itself an inch into the floor!
Lin Qinghe felt a wave of dizziness. With the clinking sound of the iron chains on her feet, she was pushed onto the bed, with You Rong pressing down on her.
You Rong's bleeding hand gripped Lin Qinghe's chin. His handsome face was etched with anger and sorrow. "Do you like You Feng that much?! To the point of attempting suicide for him?"
Their bodies pressed together, and Lin Qinghe caught the strong scent of alcohol on You Rong, rendering her speechless for a moment.
She had finally managed to force him back, only to find him drunk. How could she possibly explain anything to him now?
Lin Qinghe pushed against You Rong's chest, frowning. "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, you're drunk. Let go of this servant first. This servant will call for someone to prepare a bowl of sobering soup. Once you've sobered up, we can talk."
You Rong seemed not to hear Lin Qinghe's words. He smirked and let out a laugh, his hoarse laughter laced with despair.
"Hahaha... Then I'll tell you, You Feng is dead! Killed by my own hands! Killed with a single sword strike! His corpse was thrown into the mass grave outside the city, with no place for his remains!" You Rong tightened his grip on Lin Qinghe's chin, the force so great it seemed he would crush her jawbone. "How about that? Do you hate me?"
Lin Qinghe wanted to answer, but You Rong's grip on her chin was too painful. Her small face contorted with pain, making it impossible for her to speak.
You Rong's heart was filled with bitterness. He roared almost madly, "Hate me! I want you to hate me to the bone! Hate me so much that... you can never forget me in this lifetime!"
With that, You Rong, as if venting his rage, lowered his head and bit Lin Qinghe's lips fiercely. There was no tenderness, only a kiss like a wild beast gnawing at its prey. Soon, both tasted the sweet tang of blood in their mouths.
Lin Qinghe wanted to struggle, but she was a woman with no martial arts skills and no strength to even lift a chicken. How could she resist You Rong, who possessed martial arts and was a man? She could only watch as her clothes were torn to shreds and thrown to the ground like rags.
You Rong's drunkenness mixed with his anger, completely devoid of reason... leaving Lin Qinghe in immense suffering.
Lin Qinghe cursed in her heart: You damn him! She was violated again!
...
Afterward, Lin Qinghe experienced a familiar ache throughout her body, so exhausted that she couldn't even move a finger. The only difference from that day was that she managed to stay conscious, not falling into a stupor.
You Rong buried his head in her neck, holding her tightly. Lin Qinghe felt as if she could barely breathe. She wanted to push You Rong away slightly, but the warmth on her neck made her movements abruptly stop.
She heard You Rong sobbing softly.
You Rong mumbled incoherently, "Please, stay by my side. What You Feng can give you, I can give you. What You Feng cannot give you, I can also give you. I can give you the position of Crown Princess, I can give you the position of Empress. I can treat you even better... Look at me. Don't like You Feng. Like me... will you?"
At this moment, Lin Qinghe's heart felt as if it had been struck by something, an indescribable feeling spreading through her.
She furrowed her brow, and in the end, unable to bear it, she gently embraced You Rong, patted his back softly, and whispered, "Okay, I don't like You Feng. I like you, alright..."
Drunk as he was, You Rong didn't know if he could hear. His breathing gradually calmed, and he fell asleep.
Lin Qinghe wanted to check You Rong's left hand, but he held her so tightly that he refused to let go. She couldn't examine it, so she had no choice but to give up.
After all, he was the male lead, with protagonist's halo. This kind of injury wouldn't be a problem for him.
Lin Qinghe didn't want to dwell on her chaotic thoughts. Coupled with the onset of sleepiness, she could no longer resist. She closed her eyes and also fell asleep.
The night passed quietly. As the sky outside gradually brightened and light streamed in, You Rong's eyelids fluttered slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.
You Rong frowned, his head aching as if it would explode. The slightest movement of the warm body in his arms made him stiffen. The fragmented memories of the previous night flooded his mind.
You Rong lowered his gaze to the sleeping Lin Qinghe. The bloodstains on her neck were glaringly obvious.
He gave a bitter smile. His long, slender, fair fingers reached out to touch the wound on her neck, but hesitated.
The person she admired was You Feng. He had killed You Feng, and he had expected her to hate him to the core. He had prepared himself for her to hate him her entire life, but if she couldn't bear it and tried to end her own life, what would he do?
Suddenly, Lin Qinghe's long, thick eyelashes fluttered twice. She opened her eyes and woke up.
You Rong instantly suppressed all emotion, his face cold and stern. He sneered, "Lin Qinghe, don't you hate me? Then I'll give you an opportunity. If you can kill me while staying by my side, it will depend on your own abilities!"
Lin Qinghe was stunned by You Rong's words.
Had he not heard what she said last night?
Then again, Lin Qinghe felt it was nothing. You Rong had been clearly very drunk last night. It was not surprising that he would forget after sobering up.
Seeing Lin Qinghe's silence, You Rong pursed his lips, his heart feeling as if it were being pricked by needles.
Could it be that You Feng was dead, and she no longer wanted to live?
You Rong's heart felt hollow, a vast emptiness causing discomfort. He used anger to mask his panic. He grabbed Lin Qinghe's chin, lifting it, and roared, "Did you hear me! I'm giving you a chance to kill me. Don't you want revenge for You Feng!"
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this servant doesn't like..."
Before she could finish, You Rong interrupted her. His eyes turned cold, and he threatened, "Don't you have an elderly grandfather outside the palace? If you dare to take your own life, I'll have him brought here and tortured to death!"
Lin Qinghe was speechless.
Had this man gone mad? Couldn't he listen to what others were saying!
Clearly, You Rong was in no state to listen. Lin Qinghe sighed deeply. She wrapped her arms around You Rong's neck, pulled him close, and tilted her head up to kiss him.
You Rong's pupils contracted, and his entire body stiffened. His handsome face wore an expression of utter astonishment.