PNB Chapter 229 So soon she's throwing herself into his arms
Chapter 229 So soon she's throwing herself into his arms
"Leaving the palace?"
Lu Zhiheng's brows furrowed involuntarily. He repeated the sentence and said coldly, "Aren't you right outside the palace now?"
"You know perfectly well that's not what I meant."
Chu Qingyin's tone was somewhat urgent: "Lord Lu, you have already helped me once, why not help me again?"
Seeing that she looked serious and not joking, Lu Zhiheng also stopped teasing her.
He stared at her, lowering his voice: "Are you really determined to leave the palace?"
"Yes, I want to leave the palace."
Chu Qingyin nodded gently, her gaze firm. "Lu Zhiheng, I am already tired of the intrigue and backstabbing within the palace walls. If it weren't for the need to overturn the case of the Duke of Chu's family, I would not have wanted to enter the palace. Now that the Chu family's injustice has been cleared, I have no more attachment to the palace, let alone want to continue being a caged bird that has lost its freedom."
"That's a capital offense punishable by beheading! Doesn't Consort Liang fear it?"
Lu Zhiheng frowned, as if judging the truthfulness of her words, "Do you know that once this is discovered, not only you, but I will also be implicated, and the extermination of my entire family would not be an exaggeration, and even the Chu family..."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin was surprised that the other party had already seen through her identity. However, she could not care about such things and could only smile bitterly, with a resolute look in her eyes.
“Lord Lu, how could I not know? But every day in the palace is torture. Rather than being trapped in this golden cage, living a life worse than death, I might as well take a gamble.”
After saying that, her eyes reddened, and she turned her head away.
Looking at the seemingly fragile yet incredibly stubborn woman before him, Lu Zhiheng couldn't help but recall various past events.
During that time when the two of them were in trouble and trapped in the mountains, she never had the thought of dying.
How could such a bright, outgoing, and determined woman be willing to be confined to the palace for her entire life?
After a long pause, he asked in a low voice, "What about His Majesty? Don't you care about him anymore?"
Chu Qingyin was slightly taken aback.
His Majesty.
Pei Yuanling.
Does she really not care?
Chu Qingyin's resolve wavered only briefly before she clenched her teeth.
She once regarded Pei Yuanling as her everything, but what happened?
She died in the cold palace, and he never came to see her. Now, she has long seen through the hypocrisy and strife within the palace walls, and that former attachment has gradually faded away.
“I once thought that as long as I gained his favor, I could establish myself in this palace. But now, I feel utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.”
Chu Qingyin's voice lowered, and the disappointment in her eyes could no longer be concealed. "Pei Yuanling, I have completely given up on him."
Lu Zhiheng frowned and asked again, "What about Empress Wang's revenge? Aren't you going to take it either?"
Chu Qingyin wasn't surprised at all when he asked this.
Lu Zhiheng has always been very smart, so it's normal that he could guess this.
"The Wang family is now in decline, and Empress Wang is facing difficulties in the palace. I'm afraid she won't be able to hold on for much longer. Now that my brother has been released from prison, I don't want to seek revenge anymore. Let everything take its course."
"Are you really sure?" Lu Zhiheng asked again in a low and serious voice.
Chu Qingyin nodded: "I am willing to give up everything here, just to fake my death and leave the palace. Lord Lu, please help me."
Lu Zhiheng gave Chu Qingyin a deep look, a fleeting, indescribable emotion passing through his eyes.
"You... your reasons for wanting to leave the palace are just these?"
Lu Zhiheng thought that Chu Qingyin must have wanted to leave the palace partly because of him.
Otherwise, why would she say these things to herself?
Chu Qingyin naturally understood Lu Zhiheng's unspoken meaning. She pursed her lips, her eyes filled with tears, and looked at the man before her. "It's not just that, Lord Lu. I thought you understood..."
Lu Zhiheng was stunned for a moment.
The next moment, the corners of his mouth almost turned up in a smile, but he finally suppressed it: "I can help you get out of the palace."
Lu Zhiheng's promise delighted Chu Qingyin.
Given Lu Zhiheng's methods and status, if he were willing to help, there would be a great chance for him to leave the palace.
I was absolutely right in making that move.
Lu Zhiheng took in the smug look in her eyes and said, "Although I agree to help you, you must follow my arrangements."
A glimmer of hope instantly ignited in Chu Qingyin's eyes. She excitedly grabbed Lu Zhiheng's hand: "Really? Lord Lu, I knew you would help me. Now, you're the only one who can help me."
Lu Zhiheng looked at her hand, his heart stirred with emotion, but he quickly suppressed it and said solemnly, "Don't be too happy yet, this matter is extremely difficult. I will go and prepare some valuables and accommodations first. Don't show anything unusual in the palace, just act as usual."
Chu Qingyin nodded vigorously, "I understand, I'll listen to you."
At this moment, she was filled with longing for a free life in the future.
Escaping from the palace is an extremely dangerous thing; a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.
Fake death to escape the palace is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.
Lu Zhiheng is meticulous and cautious. With his help, my chances of escaping will greatly increase.
"Lord Lu, how do you plan to help me?" Chu Qingyin pondered for a moment before finally asking.
Lu Zhiheng casually asked, "You don't believe me?"
He raised his eyebrows slightly, which was quite handsome.
This man is indeed cautious!
Chu Qingyin thought to herself, but didn't show it on her face. She just bit her lip and gave the man a coquettish look. "The harem is full of undercurrents, and the intrigue and deceit are hard to guard against. If I am not careful, I will fall from the high platform and become a corpse. Therefore, I must be careful in everything to prevent any unforeseen events."
As Chu Qingyin had predicted, Lu Zhiheng's suspicion eased slightly upon hearing this.
His thin lips moved slightly, and after a long pause, he finally managed to utter three words in a low voice: "I'm sorry—"
"I shouldn't have..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Chu Qingyin feigned strength, wiped away the tears welling up in her eyes, and gave a bitter smile.
“I am now Pei Yuanling’s concubine, so it’s understandable that you don’t believe me.”
Lu Zhiheng knew that explaining further at this point would be pointless, so he revealed part of his plan.
"If you want to fake your death and leave the palace, I can arrange a new identity for you."
"Of course, I will also prepare a substitute for you and place her in Feixue Palace. No one will find out. We'll burn her down, and no one will know."
The more they talked, the more amused Lu Zhiheng became.
"So, Consort Liang, you must think this through. If you die, you will never be able to go back."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin's eyes flickered twice.
She naturally knew that once Lu Zhiheng's plan was implemented, she would completely disappear from Pei Yuanling's world, and Pei Yuanling would live forever in longing and guilt for her.
For some reason, a complex emotion welled up in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it.
Chu Qingyin took a deep breath; this was a high-stakes gamble.
However, from the moment she contacted Lu Zhiheng, she was already prepared to gamble everything.
"Okay, I believe you. Lu Zhiheng, I'm willing to follow your plan."
The man raised an eyebrow and curled his thin lips slightly. "Yes, I will have my people arrange everything secretly. You just need to wait for my message."
Chu Qingyin nodded. "Okay."
After a slight pause, he added, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
She used the excuse of her wet shoes and socks to come out, because if she stayed out too long, Pei Yuanling would become suspicious.
Chu Qingyin turned to leave, but Lu Zhiheng suddenly reached out and grabbed her.
"and many more."
His voice was deep and powerful, "Chu Qingyin."
Chu Qingyin was about to turn around when she suddenly heard him call out that name, and her heart skipped a beat again.
Although she knew he had guessed her identity, being so blatantly exposed by him still left her somewhat dazed.
She lost focus for a moment, and her left foot stepped on a moss-covered stone, about to fall.
Fortunately, Lu Zhiheng reacted quickly and pulled her firmly into his arms.
"What, are you already throwing yourself into my arms so soon?"