Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Everything in the World Can Be Given Up!
The other party didn’t seem to care about Liu Sisi’s question at all.
“Your question is strange. Heilong Mountain is so vast and has been around for countless years. How could I possibly be someone from Heilong Mountain? Wouldn’t that make me an old monster?”
“You don’t want to say it, do you? Fine! Since you won’t say it, I’ll take my leave!”
Having said that, Liu Sisi turned to leave without any hesitation.
“Wait! Don’t go.”
The other party suddenly reached out and grabbed Liu Sisi’s arm, pulling her back forcefully.
“Let go!”
Liu Sisi was prepared and quickly slid her hand, cutting the back of his hand. The silk glove ripped, revealing a white hand.
The other person apparently had no defense, and her cut left a bloody mark on his hand, with fresh blood seeping out immediately.
“Wow! Women truly have poisonous hearts, as the saying goes!”
He didn’t even furrow his eyebrows, instead raising his hand, licking the blood off with the tip of his tongue, and lifting his head to smile enchantingly: “Little beauty, are you so eager for me to take care of you?”
Such a captivating smile, paired with the judge’s mask, looked utterly out of place.
“Are you done messing around? Can we just speak openly?”
Liu Sisi crossed her arms and glared at him: “Who are you, really? Why did you spare me back then? Why have you helped me so much since? And, were the people that came to the County Magistrate’s residency your men? Why have you come to see me today?”
“Tsk tsk tsk… You have so many questions, and your grievances run deep.”
The other person suddenly listened for a moment before saying with a smile, “Some small fries are approaching. Let’s go! We’ll find another place, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
“Where to?”
“Shh! Don’t talk, just follow me!”
In a flash, Liu Sisi felt herself being lifted into the arms of the other person. They leapt into the air and flew away.
As she turned, she saw two familiar figures slowly climbing up the slope from below.
She opened her mouth to shout, but suddenly felt a pain in her ribs and her body was immobilized.
All her words were stifled, transformed into unvoiced sobs. She could only let the other person carry her through the air, as the biting cold wind scraped her face, making it impossible for her to open her eyes.
Finally, the wind stopped. She opened her eyes and found herself in a garden.
Facing the biting cold and the falling snow, the garden was filled with proud plum blossoms. Their fragrance was so rich and elegant, such an ice-cold jade beauty. The white blossoms resembled the snow, the red ones shone like fire, the yellow ones were more splendid than gold and silver, and the pink ones looked like colorful clouds filling the sky. Dancing in the cold wind and falling snow, the plum blossoms exuded a fresh and elegant scent, making one feel incredibly refreshed and exhilarated, unable to contain themselves.
Amidst the breathtaking scenery, Liu Sisi suddenly forgot everything around her, not even realizing that she had regained her ability to move.
“This whole plum garden was personally planted by me for her. She loved plum blossoms, especially the cold blossoms that bloomed facing the chilly wind. Unfortunately, now the plum trees remain, and the plum blossoms are still in full bloom, while she has long turned into a handful of yellow earth. I no longer have the scenery for appreciating the plum blossoms, allowing the flowers to bloom and wither with each year passing faster than the last.”
As the words were being spoken, an old man strolled in from behind, accompanied by the seemingly never-ending light snow, and came to stand in front of her, smiling at her.
His gaze was deep, as if looking through her at another person, filled with reminiscence.
Liu Sisi naturally recognized that this man was the old gentleman who had gifted her the painting in the small pavilion!
“You…”
Liu Sisi suddenly felt her throat was terribly dry, and when she opened her mouth, she realized that she had regained her freedom of movement.
Twisting her already sore neck, she carefully looked at him.
Unlike his cloth clothing and restrained aura from last time, today, he wore a purple-black, gold-trimmed long banner, a golden crown and luxurious attire, with magnificent eyebrows and nose, displaying an indomitable noble spirit.
Indeed, the old saying “A Buddha needs gold, and a person needs clothes” rang true!
Liu Sisi breathed a sigh of relief with countless thoughts in her heart, and smilingly paid her respects: “So the old gentleman’s residence is here. Sisi was just momentarily stunned by the beautiful scenery and has been quite rude. I hope the old gentleman will forgive me.”
“Hahaha… Get up, get up! There is no need for such formalities between you and me. Today, I had people bring you here so that you could appreciate the beauty of the full bloom of the cold plum blossoms in the garden!”
As the old gentleman spoke, he personally reached out to help Liu Sisi up.
“Old gentleman, you are too kind!”
Liu Sisi took the opportunity to bow and gracefully retreated two steps, keeping a distance of about two feet from the other.
The old gentleman didn’t mind, waved his hand, and directly tapped his palm lightly.
Then he laughed and said, “Seeing your thin body and slender waist, how can you bear such severe cold with such weakness? You should take care of your body.”
“Sisi has long been accustomed to such cold. Thank you for your concern, old gentleman. Initially, you kindly gifted me the painting scroll. After returning, I had it carefully framed. It now hangs in my study so that I see it every night, never forgetting.”
Her cheeks were smiling, her gaze seemingly demure, but secretly, she clenched her fingers tightly.
As expected, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. At the outset, she inadvertently accepted the painting and soon brought her so much trouble. It really made one want to spit blood!
“Hmm! I naturally understand this. You sent the painting to Gan Family’s shop, where, because of my seal on it, it caught the attention of the Gan Family, which led to the subsequent events.”
The old gentleman spoke lightly, as if it was nothing worth mentioning.
Liu Sisi’s mind flashed with a possibility, and she couldn’t help but exclaim, “So, you are the former Crown Prince everyone talks about, and those assassins back then were you…!”
The old gentleman stroked his beard and laughed heartily, without denying it. “The youngster can be taught!”
Liu Sisi couldn’t help but chuckle repeatedly. Various thoughts raced through her heart, as she tried to deduce what had happened in reverse.
Initially, during her escape, she had left the painting scroll in the small wooden house, which might be the reason why it was discovered by the assassins who chased after her later, inadvertently saving her life!
It really was thanks to this painting scroll!
However, knowing the real origin of the incident afterward, she found herself at a loss for words!
The old gentleman, who was actually the former Crown Prince, saw the changing expressions on her face, and laughed heartily, saying, “You need not worry about anything else! With me protecting you, you can go anywhere in the world!”