Chapter 486 Trouble with the Devil Within

Xun Fang was the name in the register, where it told of her birthplace, her surname, which was Wu, as well as the information that she had entered the palace since she was six years old.

When she was thirteen, she started to serve Lin Mengya’s mother by her side. It was a short stint of three years before Lin Mengya brought her out of the depth of the palace.

Three years in a person’s life might seem like a blink of an eye.

However, Fanggu had spent her entire life waiting for Lin Mengya’s mother whom she built a memory around having spent only three years with.

Min’er said that Fanggu would often sit on her bed dazing while staring at the plum flower pattern hairpin.

Perhaps she was mesmerizing about those days back in the palace when she and Lin Mengya’s mother used to keep other company.

Although Fanggu’s face was drained of its colors by now, Lin Mengya instructed Min’er to bring some makeup powder, so she could put it on Fanggu personally.

If not for the frightening gaping wound on Fanggu’s neck, she appeared to be at peace as if she was asleep, now that her eyes were closed.

“Min’er, can you do me a favor? Do not mention Fanggu’s death to anybody. If someone inquires about her, just say that she has gone on a trip far away and it’ll take a while before she returns.”

Lin Mengya got up and said with a low voice, keeping her eyes on Fanggu in front of her.

“Alright.”

A teary-eyed Min’er was exceptionally cooperative. Even Lin Mengya felt bad towards Min’er.

“Forget it, why don’t you come along with us. With the crowd, there are many eyes here. In the absence of Fanggu, as a little girl, you may have to deal with troubles. Follow me for the time being. Once things calm down, I’ll find a safe place for you to stay. Do you have any relatives? You may take shelter with them.”

Lin Mengya inquired cautiously, thinking that this place was no longer safe. Lin Mengya wondered how Fanggu managed to keep those formidable people at bay on normal days.

This place was after all a gambling house and it would not be conducive for Min’er to remain here.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’m not going to implicate you all. If someone were to ask about this, I won’t betray you.”

To everyone’s surprise, Min’er had seen through their lack of trust in her.

For this, Lin Mengya felt utterly ashamed of herself that she wished for a hole to crawl into.

“If Fanggu was able to be devoted to your mother, Your Highness, likewise I would remain devoted to Fanggu. I understand that you are destined for great things. Fanggu had died so you could be preserved. Having grown up in a gambling house, I am aware of something. Please rest assured that I won’t betray you.”

The deep, hoarse wounding words did not sound like they would come out from the mouth of an inexperienced lass.

Lin Mengya could not deny her reason for suggesting to bring Min’er with her was more or less because she did not want her secret to be leaked.

However, when her intention had been exposed, she could not help blushing.

“We believe you. In that case, we will bring Fanggu’s body with us. Do be careful in all things. If you come across any difficulties, just bring Fanggu’s plum flower pattern hairpin to the Crown Prince’s Mansion to look for me.”

Lin Mengya held out the plum flower pattern golden hairpin and offered it to Min’er with both hands.

By the side, Yu An and Zuo Qiuyu had found a clean blanket and carefully wrapped Fanggu’s body in it.

Min’er first looked at Lin Mengya with swollen, teary eyes, then her gaze moved on to Fanggu’s body and a yearning look appeared in her eyes.

“I don’t need this. This must be very important to Fanggu since she treasured it so much. I can’t accept it, Your Highness. Although I don’t know who was Fanggu’s murderer, please promise me that you will find him and avenge for her.”

Lin Mengya could not help but nod when she saw the determination in Min’er’s eyes.

Looking at Min’er, Lin Mengya seemed to see herself of the past.

The difference was that while Lin Mengya was able to avenge herself by killing her enemies, Min’er, on the other hand, could only place her hope on other people.

Lin Mengya gave Min’er a big nod. Even if she was not doing it for the sake of her promise to Min’er, she would still find the murderer.”

Seeing Lin Mengya’s nod of approval, Min’er’s face broke into a brilliant smile. Lin Mengya saw something was wrong and reached out to grasp Min’er wrist.

However, she was a step too late. A sharp dagger had been pierced into Min’er heart.

“Don’t!”

Lin Mengya cried out in terror. Even Long Tianyu, who was standing behind her, failed to react in time.

He looked on as Min’er, who was just asking Lin Mengya to avenge for her master a moment, had collapsed onto the floor suddenly.

Lin Mengya, who was grasping her wrist, fell to the ground together with Min’er.

“Why are you so silly, Min’er? Quick, bring me some hemostatic. I want to save her life! I want to save her life!”

However, it was too late. Death had cast its shadow on Min’er’s youthful face.

Lin Mengya was a physician. It was unlikely that she did not know that Min’er had utterly plunged the dagger into her heart.

Even if this had happened in the present day, when medical science was highly advanced, the chance of her succeeding in saving her life was slim.

What’s more, the current situation was worse.

“Don’t need to try… to save me, You Highness… only a dead person won’t betray you… Remember, remember your promise to me.”

In excruciating pain, Min’er’s life was slipping away with every breath she took.

Lin Mengya covered Min’er’s wound with her hands, but no matter how hard she tried to stop the bleeding, the warm, red liquid slowly seeped through the gaps between her fingers.

“I won’t forget to avenge Fanggu. Please hang on there. I’ll make you well. I will!”

Nevertheless, regardless of how highly skilled Lin Mengya was as a doctor, Min’er’s life was slowly slipping away.

The moment Min’er heard Lin Mengya said that she would avenge for Fanggu, a smile broke out on her face.

Such a young life had come to an end seemingly with a liberating smile.

Lin Mengya felt the body in her arms slowly turning cold.

Long Tianyu had been holding Lin Mengya in his arms since they came out of Hengyun Gambling House.

All the way until they reached the Crown Prince’s Mansion, Lin Mengya remained in a daze.

On the other hand, Zuo Qiuyu and Yu An had found a suitable place to keep Fanggu and Min’er’s bodies.

Lin Mengya, however, had a fixed gaze in one direction, yet her eyes were out of focus.

Death was not an unfamiliar term to Lin Mengya.

She had experienced the pain and hopelessness brought about by death, including her own death.

Nevertheless, people whom she did not wish to be taken away by death kept appearing around her, and they would quickly meet with death in front of her eyes like bubbles.

Long Tianyu was naturally worried about Lin Mengya, although she had tried to put on a front that said she was unbothered.

Nevertheless, she was a good girl who esteemed comradeship.

This was especially true for the faithful pair of Fanggu and Min’er. Not to mention Lin Mengya, even Long Tianyu was greatly shaken.

What Long Tianyu feared most was that Lin Mengya would blame this series of events on herself.

Right from the time of Yue Ting’s tragic death, the devil in Lin Mengya’s heart had stayed on.

She felt that she had brought about the misfortune of people around her. This was the reason she had decisively sent Xiaoyu away and chased Baisu away.

Long Tianyu had seen how Lin Mengya snapped when Baishao got injured.

However, the blows came upon Lin Mengya one after another and because of the devil in her heart, she could well be so fixated that she would not be able to extricate herself from the predicament.

At this moment, Long Tianyu would rather Lin Mengya not be such an intelligent and capable person.

If she was just a less smart, she would not be so sensitive and she would not be overthinking matters.

No one could help her now.

Lin Mengya did not react to everything he said just now. All Long Tianyu could do now was keep watch over her, staying by her side. He could only watch her anxiously.

As opposed to Long Tianyu’s thinking, while Fanggu’s death had stirred up the devil in Lin Mengya, Min’er’s death had woken Lin Mengya to a sudden realization.

.

Fanggu had died to protect her, while Min’er was merely fulfilling Fanggu’s wish.

They both had a choice, but they had chosen death without hesitation.

Lin Mengya was unable to understand such a choice at the beginning, but she was gradually coming to realization.

Indeed she was unable to shirk her responsibility on their deaths, but it was not only because she was lacking in the capability.

It was also because of the evil desires in the people’s heart that led to the unfolding of such a tragedy.

If Lin Mengya subsequently sank deeply into self-blame and went mad, would the people around her not suffer because of it?

She used to despise authority and status, but these two had now become a protection for her family.

Since this was the case, what was stopping her from doing what she wanted to do?

If one day the Lin Mengya before them no longer needed protection from anyone, death would no longer be a nightmare to her.

Somehow, Lin Mengya felt that she had become a different person from the past.

However, even she was unable to pinpoint what had changed within her.

Lin Mengya’s consciousness returned to reality from the Shen Nung system and the cold flash in her eyes passed in an instant.

“What happened? Where are you not feeling well?”

As Long Tianyu looked at her eyes once again, they no longer lacked luster or looked lifeless.

Once again, a splendid vigor filled the deep of her eyes. Long Tianyu, who had been on tenterhooks had finally settled.

Nevertheless, he was still pretty worried that Lin Mengya was unable to overcome the blow.

“I’m alright. What shall we do with Fanggu and Min’er’s bodies? Why don’t we find a place to bury them? It’s best that man be returned to the ground.”

Lin Mengya had an indifferent expression when she spoke. I was as if she was discussing some unimportant matter.

Long Tianyu was a little stunned. Her indifferent tone of voice and the rational arrangement were indeed fitting of Lin Mengya’s usual mannerism.

Long Tianyu was surprised by how she conducted herself with composure during this time.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Should I be weeping to show my sincerity towards them? No way. Tears are for grieving them after I personally bury the enemies. All I want to do now is find out who the murderer is, so I won’t let them down.”

Lin Mengya’s words made a lot of sense so much so that Long Tianyu was unable to see anything abnormal about her.

Perhaps this lass had truly been enlightened and had finally overcome the devil within her.

She stretched and loosened her limbs as she looked at the brilliant sunset afar. The night had almost fallen and the competition had just started.