Upon returning to the Prince of Jingbei's mansion, Qing Yan immediately began preparing for the wedding. Since the preparations had already started before, there was no sense of panic.
During this time, Murong Jing He was exceptionally busy, though it was unclear what exactly he was doing. Even Yue Qin, who followed him in and out, was rarely seen.
Mei Lin remained in the courtyard where she had originally stayed, attended by Ditang. The bald-headed healer did not return with them; instead, Murong Jing He had arranged for someone to escort him back to his hometown. Murong Jing He gave him the jade piece that had once been delivered to Qing Yan by the corpse messenger, saying, "The divine doctor healed me with jade, so I repay with jade."
The healer left. He had no familial ties with Mei Lin, no reason to stay for her. After all, he didn’t like Jingbei and knew that Mei Lin would no longer be raising the pulse jade for him. So he decided to sever ties altogether. Before leaving, he gave Mei Lin a look, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.
At that moment, Mei Lin suddenly understood. The healer couldn't save her; otherwise, with his temperament, he wouldn't have deliberately held back or made things difficult for anyone.
As she watched the healer's carriage gradually disappear into the falling snow, she felt as if she were watching her own life slowly fade away, becoming more distant. She simply watched, as if she were a bystander. She thought, perhaps she had long since prepared herself for this.
She wanted to live, but she wasn't afraid of death.
Murong Jing He turned his horse around and began to trot through the snow. Mei Lin, seated in front of him, withdrew her thoughts and turned to bury her face in his chest. He wrapped her tightly in his cloak, enclosing her completely.
If she could survive until the spring of the coming year, it would be wonderful. Feeling the warmth emanating from his body, hope flickered in her eyes again, and for a moment, she felt a sense of happiness. She thought, perhaps she would live to see the vivid red spring blossoms of Jingbei in February, large and vibrant...
Vividly red, like the bride's wedding robe she now held in her hands. A color that should not have been worn by a concubine... This wedding robe had clearly been prepared for another woman.
Although she understood this in her heart, Mei Lin still allowed Ditang to help her put on the dress. In just a few hours, she would be bowing in the wedding ceremony, and she still needed to have her hair styled and makeup done. Perhaps marrying a concubine wasn't considered a big deal, not requiring much formality, but for her, whether wife or concubine, it would only happen once. Others might not care, but she couldn't afford not to. Unfortunately, at this most important moment in her life, there was no one to accompany her.
Just as she finished dressing, the door was suddenly thrown open with a loud bang, and Luo Mei stood outside, her beautiful eyes cold as they fixed on her—no, on the wedding robe she was wearing. After confirming that it wasn't a joke, a layer of frost spread across Luo Mei's face. She placed her hand on the sword at her waist, drew it halfway, and then slammed it back into its sheath before turning and walking away.
"You will never marry him." Her resolute and cold words hung in the air like a curse, drifting away into the snow-filled sky.
Mei Lin lowered her eyes and sat down in front of the vanity, waiting for someone to come and style her hair and apply her makeup.
Instead, Murong Jing He arrived.
He was still dressed in his usual attire, with none of the joy that should accompany a wedding. Mei Lin watched him quietly as he dismissed Ditang and the woman who had come to do her hair, leaving them standing in the hallway. She felt no waves of emotion. The moment Luo Mei appeared, she knew the wedding likely wouldn't happen, so now... there was nothing to be surprised about.
"I promised Luo Mei I would never bring you into my household," Murong Jing He told her.
She bowed her head slightly, unsure of what expression he wore when he said this—perhaps guilt, perhaps nothing at all. She reached up to undo the wedding robe she was wearing. This robe was never meant for her; she hadn’t even had time to warm it, so taking it off wouldn't cause her any sorrow, just as he didn't.
"No need to take it off. She doesn't want this wedding robe anymore; I'll have another one made for her," Murong Jing He said, noticing her lack of reluctance. A surge of irritation flared up within him, but he forced it down and continued with the reason he had come: "Luo Mei and I will choose another date for our wedding. Today... today, I will officiate a marriage between you and Qing Yan."
Her hands trembled, and the knot at her waist tightened into a dead knot. Mei Lin looked up, disbelief in her eyes as she stared at him. She wondered if she had heard wrong.
Her already pale face looked even more ashen against the vibrant red of the wedding robe, with faint blue veins visible beneath her skin. Her long hair fell lifelessly down her back, devoid of any shine.
Murong Jing He averted his gaze slightly, suddenly finding it difficult to look at her.
"Qing Yan will treat you well..." As he said this, he found his throat constricting, making it difficult to speak. But he couldn't refuse Luo Mei. He couldn't reject a proud woman who had set aside her pride, which was as important as life itself, in front of him—not for a woman who shouldn't have become an important part of his life.
This time, Mei Lin truly heard him. Her face couldn't turn any paler, but her hands began to tremble uncontrollably, as if she wanted to grab something and throw it at this man who thought he could control everything. But when her hand touched the powder box on the vanity, she merely gripped it tightly.
Then, she reached out her other hand, extending it toward Murong Jing He.
"The antidote." She mouthed the words silently as she looked at him. She knew he was smart enough to understand.
Her meaning was clear. If he gave her the antidote to rid her body of the poison, she would marry Qing Yan.
Murong Jing He hadn't expected her to bargain instead of crying and refusing or clinging to him. His emotions became a tangled mess of confusion, not knowing whether to feel disappointed or irritated. He hesitated, suppressing his growing frustration, and forced himself to appear indifferent. "There isn't a ready-made antidote, but I can have one prepared for you." In truth, he had already begun this process, but he hadn't mentioned it until now because it wasn't yet complete.
Mei Lin knew that, despite his faults, he generally kept his promises. Smiling faintly, she made another request.
"From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." She dipped her pointed finger in rouge and wrote this sentence on the white silk handkerchief, the red characters blooming like plum blossoms before their eyes.
Murong Jing He's face darkened as he stared at the words, as if he wanted to gouge them out with his eyes. After a long pause, he forced his expression to relax, took the handkerchief, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it into the brazier, saying nonchalantly, "As you wish!" Then he turned and strode out.
Mei Lin remained in her previous position, not watching him leave.
Ditang and the woman who had come to do her hair entered the room.
"Miss, should we still do your hair and makeup?" Ditang asked hesitantly. She was trained in martial arts, and Murong Jing He hadn't lowered his voice, so she had heard everything that was said in the room.
Mei Lin nodded. She sat back down, her gaze settling on the copper mirror atop the vanity. She watched as the pale woman reflected in the mirror looked back at her, her pallor gradually covered by the vibrant colors of the bridal makeup.
Without an elder to bless her by combing her hair, the makeup artist took over, combing her hair while reciting traditional blessings.
"First comb to the end."
"Second comb for a life of harmony."
"Third comb for a house full of children and grandchildren..."
Mei Lin's eyes slowly filled with tears.
He said she was his, that she belonged to him completely. He said that she couldn't marry anyone but him...
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