In the palace,
The old king's temper towards Lin Cheng had changed from his hostility yesterday, and he had resumed his usual kind and amiable demeanor. However, his questions were too deliberate: "Miss Qiao and Mr. Qin did not come together?"
If it were anyone else who lacked such discretion, they would surely get a beating.
Lin Cheng looked weary, helpless in the face of this: "Why must You pretend to ask when You already know the answer. She has just returned to her country."
He was grateful that the old king had given him face by not summoning a crowd to publicly punish him, otherwise half the members of the royal family would know that he had been cuckolded, and by his own friend at that. It would truly be a grand spectacle of humiliation.
However, if he could not provide a satisfactory answer to the old king today, the old king would no longer spare his face.
The old king smiled and consoled: "That friend of yours is quite a character. It is understandable that your fiancee would throw herself at him."
Lin Cheng: "She is no longer my fiancee."
The old king was elated, but did not overtly show it on his face.
He disingenuously consoled: "Take care of your health, Duke Lin. It's good that you saw through that woman early and cut your losses in time."
He thought to himself: fortunately the hacked system has been restored to normal.
Lin Cheng did not respond. He sat in the chair, lowered his eyes to look at the floor, absent-mindedly stroking the fur of the cat in his arms. His expression was gloomy and lonely, his mind wandering. He looked every bit like a man heartbroken by love.
The old king said: "I told the Duke early on that Karina genuinely loves you and wants the best for you."
"These last few days, Lai En has been very concerned about Karina, but she remains unaffected, her heart is only with you, Duke."
Lin Cheng seemed to heave a sigh. After a moment he asked: "How is Princess Karina's injury recovering?"
The old king said: "The Duke probably does not know how serious her injuries actually are. If it were not for your sake..."
A flash of murderous intent passed through the old king's eyes.
Lin Cheng took out a small bottle of ointment from his pocket: "This medicine will help Princess Karina's face."
The old king: "Was it given by that woman?"
Lin Cheng did not reply, only said: "I still hope that for my sake, no more grievances will be held against her. After all, she was an innocent victim."
The old king said: "Very well, but you have to personally deliver this medicine to Karina yourself. That is not an unreasonable request, is it?"
Lin Cheng lowered his eyes for a moment, and nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, the old king continued pushing with another bait: "Since the Duke is in low spirits, shall we postpone Princess Karina's matter for another day?"
Lin Cheng raised his face. There was no visible emotion: "There is no need. Since it is inevitable I might as well face it early."
The king said: "So Duke Lin has made up his mind?"
Lin Cheng said plainly: "What does it matter, marrying one or the other makes no difference."
The king's eyes lit up. He could barely restrain the excitement in his heart. He stood up and asked "So the Duke agrees?"
Lin Cheng said: "As a subject I have no choice. The moment the agreement was signed I knew." He stood up, "Do as you wish." Then he walked towards the door, "I'm going to deliver the medicine."
Lin Cheng wore the air of one whose heart had died, indifferent to anything and everything.
But no one would care whether he truly wanted to marry Karina. No one cared if he would be happy or not. As the Duke, as the Duke who had signed an indenturement, talking of love was too unrealistic.
What they wanted was Lin Cheng's capabilities, his loyalty and value. Moreover in their eyes, marrying a princess and inheriting the throne was something others coveted but could not obtain. Only Lin Cheng was unaware of his good fortune.
To the old king, handing the throne to Lin Cheng would not only secure his family's status in C Country, but also gain an able man. His own daughter would find happiness too.
It was a win-win outcome.
As for Lin Cheng...they would confidently determine that in a few years Lin Cheng would realize just how wise today's decision had been.
He had clearly been befuddled by love earlier. This confirmed all the more that Qiao Ying was disastrous for men.
Upon hearing that Lin Cheng had agreed to marry Karina, that Qiao Ying had returned to her country, and parted amiably with Lin Cheng, Kala could not help but ask: "Did Mr. Qin...also return to his country?"
The elated old king remarked: "He probably didn't have the nerve to stay, did he?"
"He left..." Kala had mixed feelings.
Seeing her daughter distraught, the old king consoled in high spirits: "Though outstanding in looks, status, abilities with no flaws, his conduct was unsatisfactory. You needn't be heartbroken for him. Your father will find another excellent match for you."
Kala murmured: "There are no faithful men. They are all the same. Your daughter does not wish to marry for the time being."
As soon as Lin Cheng consented to marry Karina, Lai En, who had eyes in the royal palace, received the news at once.
Lai En said: "Damn it!"
Lafeier's expression was ominous, his eyes brimming with malice: "Should have found an opportunity early on to kill Lin Cheng, nip this in the bud."
Lai En was startled by his father's words. He looked at his father who seemed like a different person, and couldn't speak for a while.
After some time, he asked: "What should we do now?"
Lafeier silently tugged at the corner of his mouth. His tone brooked no doubt: "There are far too many ways to prevent him from succeeding the throne. He does not have the fortune to occupy that seat."
Lai En contemplated and said: "Would it not seem too obvious now if we make a move on him?"
Lafeier said: "Still afraid of incurring that old codger's wrath? Moreover with Lin Cheng dead, how long can that old fellow still act tough?"
Lai En hesitated: "But..."
Lafeier stared ahead at some point. His tone ominous: "Daring to contend with us over the position, I want his life. If the royal family dares intervene, I will take all their lives too."
Karina, whose face had been disfigured and was now disabled, even harbored thoughts of dying these past days. She refused to meet anyone, including Lin Cheng who had come to visit her now, and was barred outside her sick ward.
Since she was injured until now, this was Lin Cheng's first time visiting her.
Karina only asked the maid attending her: "Did that woman come?" She both feared and hated Qiao Ying.
Hearing that Lin Cheng had come alone, Karina only heaved a sigh of relief. There was not the slightest joy in her heart, nor did she have any wish to see Lin Cheng at all.
She had no mood now to care about any Duke Lin or the royal family. She only cared about her face and her possibly disabled leg.
"Princess, will you really not invite Duke Lin in?"
Karina's expression was awful. Her entire face twisted fearsomely: "Do you think I'm fit to see anyone like this!?"
The maid servant shrank back in fright, not daring to utter another word.
After a while,
the guard came in with gifts and a bottle of medicine: "Princess, this is the medicinal ointment Duke Lin sent. He said it can treat Your Highness's face."
Karina looked over immediately: "Give it here quickly!"
Soon after, Karina also received her father's message, learning that Qiao Ying and Qin Hanyue had committed adultery, that Lin Cheng and Qiao Ying had separated amicably, and that he had consented to marry her. The hugely relieved Karina came alive again.
The king acted swiftly. He promptly announced Lin Cheng and Karina's matter to all members of the royal family, and began selecting dates for their engagement, fearful that Lin Cheng would go back on his word.
In the deep of night,
a black silhouette infiltrated Lin Cheng's ducal residence. It slipped something into the cup specially reserved for Lin Cheng in his chambers,
then, as silently as it had come, it stole away once more into the darkness...
Lin Cheng ceaselessly received congratulatory calls from members of the royal family, perfunctorily dealing with them before returning to his rooms early to wash up and retire for the night after drinking the water in his cup...
In the palace,
The old king's temper towards Lin Cheng had changed from his hostility yesterday, and he had resumed his usual kind and amiable demeanor. However, his questions were too deliberate: "Miss Qiao and Mr. Qin did not come together?"
If it were anyone else who lacked such discretion, they would surely get a beating.
Lin Cheng looked weary, helpless in the face of this: "Why must You pretend to ask when You already know the answer. She has just returned to her country."
He was grateful that the old king had given him face by not summoning a crowd to publicly punish him, otherwise half the members of the royal family would know that he had been cuckolded, and by his own friend at that. It would truly be a grand spectacle of humiliation.
However, if he could not provide a satisfactory answer to the old king today, the old king would no longer spare his face.
The old king smiled and consoled: "That friend of yours is quite a character. It is understandable that your fiancee would throw herself at him."
Lin Cheng: "She is no longer my fiancee."
The old king was elated, but did not overtly show it on his face.
He disingenuously consoled: "Take care of your health, Duke Lin. It's good that you saw through that woman early and cut your losses in time."
He thought to himself: fortunately the hacked system has been restored to normal.
Lin Cheng did not respond. He sat in the chair, lowered his eyes to look at the floor, absent-mindedly stroking the fur of the cat in his arms. His expression was gloomy and lonely, his mind wandering. He looked every bit like a man heartbroken by love.
The old king said: "I told the Duke early on that Karina genuinely loves you and wants the best for you."
"These last few days, Lai En has been very concerned about Karina, but she remains unaffected, her heart is only with you, Duke."
Lin Cheng seemed to heave a sigh. After a moment he asked: "How is Princess Karina's injury recovering?"
The old king said: "The Duke probably does not know how serious her injuries actually are. If it were not for your sake..."
A flash of murderous intent passed through the old king's eyes.
Lin Cheng took out a small bottle of ointment from his pocket: "This medicine will help Princess Karina's face."
The old king: "Was it given by that woman?"
Lin Cheng did not reply, only said: "I still hope that for my sake, no more grievances will be held against her. After all, she was an innocent victim."
The old king said: "Very well, but you have to personally deliver this medicine to Karina yourself. That is not an unreasonable request, is it?"
Lin Cheng lowered his eyes for a moment, and nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, the old king continued pushing with another bait: "Since the Duke is in low spirits, shall we postpone Princess Karina's matter for another day?"
Lin Cheng raised his face. There was no visible emotion: "There is no need. Since it is inevitable I might as well face it early."
The king said: "So Duke Lin has made up his mind?"
Lin Cheng said plainly: "What does it matter, marrying one or the other makes no difference."
The king's eyes lit up. He could barely restrain the excitement in his heart. He stood up and asked "So the Duke agrees?"
Lin Cheng said: "As a subject I have no choice. The moment the agreement was signed I knew." He stood up, "Do as you wish." Then he walked towards the door, "I'm going to deliver the medicine."
Lin Cheng wore the air of one whose heart had died, indifferent to anything and everything.
But no one would care whether he truly wanted to marry Karina. No one cared if he would be happy or not. As the Duke, as the Duke who had signed an indenturement, talking of love was too unrealistic.
What they wanted was Lin Cheng's capabilities, his loyalty and value. Moreover in their eyes, marrying a princess and inheriting the throne was something others coveted but could not obtain. Only Lin Cheng was unaware of his good fortune.
To the old king, handing the throne to Lin Cheng would not only secure his family's status in C Country, but also gain an able man. His own daughter would find happiness too.
It was a win-win outcome.
As for Lin Cheng...they would confidently determine that in a few years Lin Cheng would realize just how wise today's decision had been.
He had clearly been befuddled by love earlier. This confirmed all the more that Qiao Ying was disastrous for men.
Upon hearing that Lin Cheng had agreed to marry Karina, that Qiao Ying had returned to her country, and parted amiably with Lin Cheng, Kala could not help but ask: "Did Mr. Qin...also return to his country?"
The elated old king remarked: "He probably didn't have the nerve to stay, did he?"
"He left..." Kala had mixed feelings.
Seeing her daughter distraught, the old king consoled in high spirits: "Though outstanding in looks, status, abilities with no flaws, his conduct was unsatisfactory. You needn't be heartbroken for him. Your father will find another excellent match for you."
Kala murmured: "There are no faithful men. They are all the same. Your daughter does not wish to marry for the time being."
As soon as Lin Cheng consented to marry Karina, Lai En, who had eyes in the royal palace, received the news at once.
Lai En said: "Damn it!"
Lafeier's expression was ominous, his eyes brimming with malice: "Should have found an opportunity early on to kill Lin Cheng, nip this in the bud."
Lai En was startled by his father's words. He looked at his father who seemed like a different person, and couldn't speak for a while.
After some time, he asked: "What should we do now?"
Lafeier silently tugged at the corner of his mouth. His tone brooked no doubt: "There are far too many ways to prevent him from succeeding the throne. He does not have the fortune to occupy that seat."
Lai En contemplated and said: "Would it not seem too obvious now if we make a move on him?"
Lafeier said: "Still afraid of incurring that old codger's wrath? Moreover with Lin Cheng dead, how long can that old fellow still act tough?"
Lai En hesitated: "But..."
Lafeier stared ahead at some point. His tone ominous: "Daring to contend with us over the position, I want his life. If the royal family dares intervene, I will take all their lives too."
Karina, whose face had been disfigured and was now disabled, even harbored thoughts of dying these past days. She refused to meet anyone, including Lin Cheng who had come to visit her now, and was barred outside her sick ward.
Since she was injured until now, this was Lin Cheng's first time visiting her.
Karina only asked the maid attending her: "Did that woman come?" She both feared and hated Qiao Ying.
Hearing that Lin Cheng had come alone, Karina only heaved a sigh of relief. There was not the slightest joy in her heart, nor did she have any wish to see Lin Cheng at all.
She had no mood now to care about any Duke Lin or the royal family. She only cared about her face and her possibly disabled leg.
"Princess, will you really not invite Duke Lin in?"
Karina's expression was awful. Her entire face twisted fearsomely: "Do you think I'm fit to see anyone like this!?"
The maid servant shrank back in fright, not daring to utter another word.
After a while,
the guard came in with gifts and a bottle of medicine: "Princess, this is the medicinal ointment Duke Lin sent. He said it can treat Your Highness's face."
Karina looked over immediately: "Give it here quickly!"
Soon after, Karina also received her father's message, learning that Qiao Ying and Qin Hanyue had committed adultery, that Lin Cheng and Qiao Ying had separated amicably, and that he had consented to marry her. The hugely relieved Karina came alive again.
The king acted swiftly. He promptly announced Lin Cheng and Karina's matter to all members of the royal family, and began selecting dates for their engagement, fearful that Lin Cheng would go back on his word.
In the deep of night,
a black silhouette infiltrated Lin Cheng's ducal residence. It slipped something into the cup specially reserved for Lin Cheng in his chambers,
then, as silently as it had come, it stole away once more into the darkness...
Lin Cheng ceaselessly received congratulatory calls from members of the royal family, perfunctorily dealing with them before returning to his rooms early to wash up and retire for the night after drinking the water in his cup...
