PDLP Chapter 1393 Atonement: Serving the Princess Like a Slave
Chapter 1393 Atonement: Serving the Princess Like a Slave
"Thump!" Ling Xingmu knelt down immediately, and said guiltily, "I will listen to the princess and give you my worthless life."
Ji Ling was surprised, not expecting Ling Xingmu to suddenly kneel down. She tried to pull him up, but she couldn't budge him.
"You idiot, stand up for me!"
"No." Ling Xingmu shook his head slightly, looking up at Ji Ling: "It is I who have failed your kindness, it is I who left without saying goodbye, causing you sadness, and it is I who have been looking for the wrong people all the way and only found you now."
"Ji Ling, you can have me. You can hit me, scold me, or even kill me!"
"But before that, I have to go back to the Northern Border. As a member of the Ling family, I must explain things clearly to my family before I can stay in the capital without any worries and stay by your side, Princess."
Ji Ling's face was calm as she looked at Ling Xingmu without saying a word.
Ling Xingmu looked up, his eyes downcast, his face a mixture of dejection and guilt. Once he returned to Ji Ling's side, he could atone for his sins. He was prepared to be her slave.
"Who could possibly want you!" Ji Ling pursed her lips. "You noble young master Ling, do you think I, this princess, would be willing to serve you, you clumsy ox, this stupid horse?" She belatedly realized what Ling Xingmu meant. So this blockhead wanted to become her servant to atone for his sins! So she was such a bad person in his eyes!
“I…” Ling Xingmu stammered, unsure how to reply.
The two were immediately at a stalemate when Yun Mujiu spoke up at the right moment, reminding them, "Are you still drinking tea? It's going to get cold."
"They're here." Ji Ling nodded with a smile, stomped her foot, and forcibly pulled Ling Xingmu up again.
"You want to be a servant? I don't have such a capable servant; I can't possibly take on that responsibility."
"I will try my best to change," Ling Xingmu said weakly.
"Alright, Ling Xingmu, why can't you figure out what the princess means properly!" Yun Mujiu sighed, rubbing her forehead. Did the princess say she wanted him to stay as a servant? There are many ways he can stay!
Ling Xingmu's expression was complicated. At this moment, the effects of acupuncture began to take hold, and then a fragment of memory flashed through his mind.
He then recalled, "Actually, when I first called myself 'Mu,' it wasn't just because it sounded like 'wood,' but also because it sounded like one of the characters in my name, 'shepherd.'"
"Oh." Ji Ling responded flatly, seemingly a little unhappy. She muttered to herself, "Idiot!"
The room fell silent again, and Yun Mujiu invited everyone to enjoy tea and refreshments.
At this moment, Ye Xiaohan, who was cooperating with her, spoke up and asked Ling Chiye, who had been quiet all along, some questions.
The last time at the Night King's Mansion, Ling Chiye said that he had accidentally visited Xiangchuan Prefecture, but said that his younger brother had never had the opportunity to travel outside the Northern Border.
But the truth is, Ling Xingmu has also crossed the Northern Border.
Ling Chiye held up his teacup and explained, "My third brother never had the chance to travel outside the Northern Border for his studies, but he did leave seven years ago. He went there on a whim, and after he and his group were caught, they were almost punished to the point of losing their lives."
"Firstly, the Ling family of the Northern Boundary has a rule that members of the Ling family cannot easily leave the Northern Boundary. Therefore, the news of his departure cannot be leaked, as it would cause unrest in the Northern Boundary and other regions. Secondly, he is fleeing, which is a serious matter, so the news of his departure must be kept secret for the time being and not disclosed to the outside world."
Ultimately, all traces of Ling Xingmu's experiences outside were erased by the Northern Realm.
Furthermore, what Ling Chiye emphasized to Ye Xiaohan and Yun Mujiu was that Ling Xingmu had no opportunity to travel outside, not that Ling Xingmu had never left the Northern Border.
Furthermore, Ling Chiye was unaware that Ling Xingmu was searching for someone, nor that Ye Xiaohan and Yun Mujiu were helping Ji Ling search for someone, so the information he revealed was not fully mentioned or disclosed.
The conversation had clarified a series of past events, and Ling Chiye said quietly, "Xingmu, you really did have ulterior motives for coming to Zhongyue Capital." He almost beat his younger brother to death.
Ling Xingmu's face turned pale, and he couldn't say anything.
"Alright." Yun Mujiu changed the subject. "Since you are leaving tomorrow, the prince and I will give you a farewell gift today."
The gifts were mostly medicines and traditional Chinese medicine skincare products, as well as some unique local specialties of Zhongyue.
The Ling brothers were surprised and touched, and thanked the couple.
Ling Xingmu stood up and bowed to Ji Ling: "I'm sorry, Princess, I owe you."
She added, "I even sent people to investigate you before, but unfortunately they didn't find out that you were the Tenth Sister."
Ji Ling pursed her lips: "Who told you to hide so well? My bodyguards discovered that someone was investigating me, and then intercepted the investigation. I told them to continue investigating who was behind it, but they couldn't find out anything."
Ling Xingmu sighed, then a playful voice sounded in his ear: "You wouldn't happen to have a crush on Princess Huiyang, would you?"
“How could that be!” Ling Xingmu denied it repeatedly, and replied seriously to Meng Ninglang, “During my investigation of Princess Huiyang, I had no other thoughts about her.”
Meng Ninglang didn't believe it: "But you've been investigating Princess Huiyang all along, and I heard from Mu Jiu that you even sent people to suppress Gao Yang and her faction who had bullied the princess. After Gao Yang was imprisoned, you even sent people to beat her up."
Ji Ling seized on the key point and asked Ling Xingmu, "Are you deeply saddened by the princess's fate?"
"Yes." Ling Xingmu readily admitted, then said earnestly, "I also regret the experience I missed with the princess, and I feel sorry for what you have gone through. In short, as long as you are happy now, I am at ease."
A hint of unease flashed across Ji Ling's face. Yun Muji tugged at Ji Ling's sleeve and joined the conversation, recounting some past events.
“Young Master Ling, your features and back view resemble the boy Ji Ling described, only your walking posture is different.” In their attempt to investigate further, they strayed from the right path in probing Ling Chiye.
Ling Chiye raised an eyebrow slightly, glanced quickly at Princess Ji Ling, and replied, "Xing Mu looked like me when he was young, but his appearance changed as he grew up, so his eyebrows and eyes look more like his mother's than his father's. I, on the other hand, have always looked like my father."
Yun Mujiu nodded, and Princess Ji Ling also nodded somewhat blankly.
As the afternoon tea banquet was drawing to a close, Princess Ji Ling took her leave and thanked the Night King and his wife.
Ling Xingmu stared blankly at Ji Ling's slender figure, unable to utter a word. Ji Ling and his older brother should have a good relationship, so what was he to him?
Seeing Ling Xingmu's complete lack of reaction, Ji Ling felt a surge of suppressed anger, and a pang of heartache rose within her. Was he really so indifferent to her existence? Was he really that cold-hearted?
After watching the whole thing, Yun Mujiu tugged at Ye Xiaohan's hand. He gave her an encouraging and supportive look, which prompted Yun Mujiu to take immediate action.
"Alright!" Yun Mujiu stood between the two awkward teenagers, patted them on the shoulder, and said with a flourish—
"Now that we're parting ways, what else do you have to say? Speak quickly, or you might not have another chance! What's missed is missed! This is the only time!"