Chapter 453 - 451: Let Me Walk With You

Chapter 453: Chapter 451: Let Me Walk With You

Prince Ling slightly pursed his lips, just looking at the distraught Princess Consort Ling without saying anything.

Perhaps for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

Xu Jing ignored them and looked at the soldiers who had escorted Prince Ling inside, asking, "How is the situation outside?"

One of the soldiers took a step forward, gave a salute, and replied, panting, "Reporting to Miss Xu, the situation outside is not good. The Jiang Family has sent more people than we initially expected. Fortunately, Governor Zhang had secretly arranged manpower beforehand. When Prince Ling arrived, there were a few experts by his side, otherwise, we might not have been able to protect Prince Ling.

But the Jiang Family’s men keep coming, and there is a trend of them bringing in more reinforcements. Now, people from all directions are under their control at Shuiyunjian. We’ve already exhausted almost all our efforts just fending off their attacks.

Please stay safely inside Shuiyunjian, if the situation really becomes dire, Governor Zhang will make other arrangements."

Xu Jing’s eyebrows slightly creased.

At such a critical moment, General Han was seriously injured and unable to preside over the situation, which meant they were lacking significant support.

But for the Jiang Family, this was undoubtedly a perfect opportunity to seize Prince Ling. They would certainly go all out, throwing everything they have to capture Prince Ling.

Now is wartime, and most of the troops have been sent to the front line, leaving only the basic forces to guard each state. Therefore, even though Governor Zhang borrowed soldiers from neighboring states two days ago, the numbers aren’t substantial.

And three days ago, Governor Zhang had already sent people to the Capital City to seek support from the court, but it’s uncertain if the reinforcements from the court will arrive in time.

After reporting the situation, the soldiers cautiously opened the inn door once more and went out to rejoin the battle.

Only then did Xu Jing turn and look towards Prince Ling and Princess Consort Ling. It seemed that the previous screaming had exhausted Princess Consort Ling’s energy, as she suddenly fell back into her chair as if powerless.

Prince Ling’s eyes flashed with worry, and he stepped forward, saying, "Mother..."

"Don’t come over!"

The Princess Consort Ling gritted her teeth and said sharply, "You still haven’t answered me: why did you come back?! Originally... originally, just a little longer and we would have succeeded. The Jiang Family wouldn’t have known you were still alive in this world, and the court couldn’t imprison you...

Do you understand what your return represents this time?!"

Prince Ling’s steps paused, his face filled with boundless sadness as he looked at his mother, and then suddenly sighed darkly, saying, "Miss Xu set a trap for me, inviting me into a trap; even knowing there was deceit, I couldn’t not return..."

Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Ling’s sharp and cold eyes immediately turned to Xu Jing.

At this point, Xu Jing didn’t intend to hide it from them anymore and smiled faintly, "In these past few days, I had Governor Zhang secretly spread the news in Xinzhou that the murderer of Princess Ling has been captured and will soon be sent to the Capital City for trial."

Of course, I also deliberately added some content that would stir up emotions, such as the murderer killed so many people, committed heinous crimes, and among them was Princess Ling, so there’s no escape from a death sentence.

And Princess Consort Ling had been staying in the room these days, naturally unaware of the upheavals outside.

Princess Consort Ling’s eyes widened suddenly, gritting her teeth and saying, "You returned just for this? I told you, you don’t have to worry about me. I have ways to protect myself; they can’t harm a hair on my head! Living well is more important to me than anything..."

As long as she firmly denied the crime, what could they do to her?

At most, imprison her for life.

But her going to the Capital City this time, being imprisoned for life, was her fate all along.

Prince Ling smiled helplessly, as if he wanted to say something, opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word.

Xu Jing glanced at him, and then spoke the words he couldn’t say, "Imperial Concubine, how could you expect Prince Ling not to worry? After all, he knows very well that you are the mastermind behind all of this.

Even if the possibility of Imperial Concubine confessing and surrendering is one in a thousand, as her children, they dare not gamble, let alone..."

Xu Jing paused, her voice unconsciously softened, "Imperial Concubine, are you sure the life you want Prince Ling to have is really the life he wants to live?"

If Prince Ling truly wanted to leave, he should have left Xinzhou the day the Full Moon Building caught fire.

Even if he hadn’t left Xinzhou yet, he wouldn’t choose to walk into the trap just because of that news.

He could have continued to hide and observe the situation until it was confirmed that Imperial Concubine would indeed be convicted, and then it wouldn’t be too late to come out.

The setup Xu Jing arranged was also a way to test Prince Ling’s attitude.

In retrospect, her initial impression of Prince Ling wasn’t wrong. Princess Consort Ling was the mastermind behind all of this, while Prince Ling might not have known beforehand, or he didn’t agree with what Princess Consort Ling did.

Princess Consort Ling’s eyes slightly widened, gritting each word through her teeth, "I did all this for his own good. Now that he’s back, he will surely regret it in the future..."

Prince Ling looked at Princess Consort Ling with desolation in his eyes, gently shook his head, and said, "Mother, don’t say anymore. Miss Xu, those previous people died because of me. If you are looking for the culprit who killed them, it should be me."

Princess Consort Ling shuddered, hurriedly saying, "Rang’er, what nonsense are you saying?!"

"I am not talking nonsense!"

Prince Ling’s voice suddenly raised, abruptly interrupting Princess Consort Ling’s words.

The normally gentle and mild-mannered Lord suddenly erupted with such a fierce aura, even causing Princess Consort Ling to freeze in place, unable to speak.

Prince Ling let out a bitter laugh, looking at Princess Consort Ling, saying, "Mother, Miss Xu is right. You never asked me what kind of life I wanted; I didn’t even know you had planned so many things for me before."

He didn’t deliberately hide the truth because he knew hiding it would be useless; Mother wouldn’t allow him to take all this on himself.

"I know your teenage years were very unhappy; that period of experience even became a psychological shadow for you. I also know you didn’t want me to live a life like yours, so from my childhood, you always worked hard to protect me behind you, striving to let me live a pure and free life.

Ironically, it was not until the journey to the Capital City that I realized you always knew the Jiang Family had rebellious intentions, and you knew that if the Jiang Family rebelled, it would inevitably drag both of us into this vortex. Before this, I always thought you didn’t want to associate with the Jiang Family just because of things from your teenage years."

As Prince Ling spoke, he raised his hand and painfully covered his eyes, choking on his words, "Mother, I don’t hate you; I only hate my own incompetence. It should be me, as your son, protecting you.

But, Mother, I don’t want to spend my whole life being shielded by you. I cannot in good conscience enjoy the so-called freedom you sacrificed yourself to provide me.

Mother, although freedom is beautiful, I have never pursued freedom. Mother, let me walk the road ahead with you."