NCCnovel Chapter 308 The Truth (Part )
Chapter 308 The Truth (Part )
Cen Jiexiao suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with fear and confusion, tears welling up in her eyes. "Use me? How?" Her voice was hoarse and filled with a hint of disbelief.
"The Queen Mother knows Lord Chen's affection for you." Li Lingxuan's tone became solemn.
"The Queen Mother has already thoroughly investigated your affairs. She deliberately used your life to threaten Master Chen and make him work for the Queen Mother's party."
Cen Jiexiao's pupils suddenly contracted, as if she had heard something incredible. She couldn't imagine that she had become a pawn in someone else's hands, a pawn used to threaten the person she loved.
"In order to protect you, Lord Chen can only resort to this last resort to make you give up on him, so that the Queen Mother can't use you." Li Lingxuan continued.
Li Lingxuan paused and added, "He did this for your own good."
"For my own good? Is this what he calls doing it for my own good? Making me endure this pain, making me misunderstand him, making me hate him?" Cen Jiexiao repeated these words, her tone full of bitterness and self-mockery.
"He would rather you hate him than see you get hurt." Li Lingxuan's voice was low and firm.
"Besides, you know the Queen Mother's methods. If Master Chen doesn't agree, what will happen to you?"
Sister Cen fell silent. She certainly knew the Queen Mother's methods. She had witnessed firsthand how she treated those who disobeyed her. If the eldest brother did not agree to the Queen Mother's request, she would probably...
"He...he really...loves me so much?" Cen Jiexiao's voice trembled with a hint of sob.
"Yes, he loves you more than he loves himself." Li Lingxuan answered affirmatively.
"But...but..." Cen Jiexiao wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say.
"I know it's hard for you to accept this fact, but this is the truth. You must be strong, for yourself and for Master Chen."
"I... I don't know..." Cen Jiexiao's tears finally burst out, and she felt that her world was collapsing.
"You must know that you can't fall down. You still have a lot to do." Li Lingxuan's voice was firm and powerful.
Cen Jiexiao's heart was full of contradictions and struggles. She didn't know what to do, and she didn't know how to face this cruel reality.
"You must cheer up. You can't let Lord Chen's efforts go to waste." Li Lingxuan's voice sounded again.
"I...I will..." Cen Jiexiao's voice was weak, but she knew that she had to be strong, for herself and for Lord Chen.
A sudden chill washed over her, like a bucket of ice water cascading down from head to toe. Cen Jiexiao felt icy cold from head to toe. Her body stiffened, as if frozen in place, her thoughts tangled in a spiderweb, making it hard to breathe. She had never imagined she would become a pawn in someone else's hands, a pawn to be manipulated, a pawn to threaten Chen Zigui.
She recalled Chen Zigui's cold eyes that day, like icicles in the cold of winter, piercing her heart. She recalled Chen Zigui's resolute tone that day, like a sharp blade, slicing her soul. She recalled Chen Zigui's piercing embrace that day, like a blazing fire, burning her sanity. It turned out that none of this was real, everything was fake, an elaborate deception. It wasn't that he didn't love her, but that he loved her too much, so much that he would rather hurt her than let her suffer any harm.
"Did he...did he really say that?" Cen Jiexiao's voice trembled, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to go out at any moment. Tears welled up in her eyes, glittering like broken pearls, gleaming with poignant beauty.
Li Lingxuan nodded gently, her eyes full of sympathy and pity, as if silently telling Chen Zigui's helplessness and pain.
"Master Chen also said..." Li Lingxuan paused, as if organizing her words, trying to express Chen Zigui's feelings in the most tactful way.
"If one day, he is in a life-or-death situation..."
Cen Jiexiao held her breath, her heart beating faster, as if she had sensed some ominous premonition.
"...Let you forget him..." Li Lingxuan's voice was low and sad, like the sound of sobbing wind, echoing in Cen Jiexiao's ears.
Cen Jiexiao could no longer hold back her tears, which burst out like pearls that had broken off the string, rolling down one by one and dripping onto her clothes, leaving wet marks.
"...start a new life..." Li Lingxuan continued, her voice choked, as if something was blocking her throat.
Cen Jiexiao covered her mouth and cried silently, her shoulders shaking constantly, like a small boat swaying in a storm, which could capsize at any time.
"...He said that he couldn't give you happiness..." Li Lingxuan's voice became lower and weaker, almost inaudible.
"...but he hopes you will be happy..." Li Lingxuan's last sentence was almost whispered, full of helplessness and blessings.
Li Lingxuan stood quietly by the side without saying a word, but silently handed her a silk handkerchief. The snow-white silk handkerchief was as pure and flawless as a snowflake in winter.
Cen Jiexiao took the handkerchief, gently wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself. She raised her head and looked at Li Lingxuan, her eyes firm and resolute, like the twinkling stars in the night sky, emitting a dazzling light.
"I want to see him." Cen Jiexiao said in a firm tone, without any hesitation or delay.
Li Lingxuan was slightly stunned, then she smiled with relief, as warm and bright as the sunshine in spring.
"Okay, I'll take you to see him." Li Lingxuan's voice was gentle and firm, full of hope and strength.
Li Lingxuan gently pushed open the door, motioning for Cen Jiexiao to enter. Cen Jiexiao took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within her, and stepped into the room. The room was dimly lit, filled with a faint medicinal aroma, mingling with the familiar scent of Chen Zigui. The curtains were half-drawn, letting in only a faint ray of light, making the furnishings appear hazy.
Chen Zigui stood by the window with his back to her. He was so thin that he looked like he could be blown down by a gust of wind. His lonely figure looked particularly lonely in the dim light, like a sculpture, solidifying all his sadness and helplessness.
Hearing footsteps, Chen Zigui slowly turned. Upon seeing Cen Jiexiao, a flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes, quickly replaced by a deeper sense of helplessness. His face was pale, his lips chapped, his eye sockets sunken, and a deep sense of fatigue settled between his brows, as if he had endured countless sleepless nights. Once full of vigor and vitality, he now resembled a dying oil lamp, emitting its last faint light.