73 The Path To Choose (2/2)

”Cough! Cough!” Rin quickly covered her mouth to muffle out the violent sound.

Taking in a sharp breath, Rin dipped her head to stare at her palms.

”Does his daughter and wife know yet?”

”I informed his wife, however, his daughter…she's still young, I believe it'll be best to not tell her.” Wei Jingyi calmly poured a cup of tea for the girl seated across from him.

Rin silently accepts the cup and merely gazes at its contents. Her jade-like fingers softly grazing the rim of the cup.

”How is she?”

Releasing a grave sigh Wei Jingyi pours another cup for himself. ”In shock is all I can say. Of course, it's an expected reaction after telling someone their husband killed himself to save his people.”

Wei Jingyi's sentence caused Rin's hands to squeeze her cup tightly and her eyes to droop. The man seated opposite from her in the lantern-lit room silently examines her expression.

”Princess, I don't mean to be frank, but I'm curious as to why this has affected you so. I believe you and the governor knew one another for onemonth, correct?”

Softly, Rin nods her head while vacantly staring at her cup.

”Then why?”

Why does it bother you so much?

Already knowing his question, Rin purses her pale lips and feels her jaw clench.

For a few seconds Rin hesitates to speak, but after finally thinking it through, she spoke her thoughts.

”After my mother and I escaped the Li Palace, the two of us lived in a village in the Northern Empire.” Rin begins to speak softly.

The girl's emerald, inscrutable eyes release a faint glint of coldness.

”Once three years past, Li Chang found us and sent men to kill me and kidnap my mother. When they caught us she told me to run, and I did. After that she...”

Rin's voice gradually trailed off as she spoke, her voice from the beginning firm and resolute.

”I see. So just like your mother, Governor Tao also gave up his life to let you live along with his people.”

”En.”

Unable to hold in a sigh, Wei Jingyi light scratches his bearded chin.

”Princess, do you ever wonder why they gave up their lives so you could live?” He asked as he calmly sipped his tea.

Raising her eyes toward the man, Rin's forehead wrinkles. In response to the girl's confused expression, a gentle smile curls up on Wei Jingyi's lips.

”It's because they believe in you.”

”Why would they…”

”Princess, do you remember what Sir Tao said? Every living thing in this world has a purpose, a path to serve. Some people's path is to follow or support others, while there are also those who are meant to lead. They believed in a few years or so, you'd make a difference someday. They believe in the power you hold and the knowledge you obtain. They didn't sacrifice their lives for you, but for a better future.”

Slowly, Rin processed his words, allowing them to sink in deep within her heart.

At the time of her mother's death, she had always thought back to when she ran away.

Times where she dreamt of that night all over again and wondered if things would have changed if she went back. But as a child, all she would be was a nuisance.

Looking back at her moments in the village the two stayed in for the past three years, Rin soon remembered the repeated reminders her mother would tell her and how she'd trained her years of self-defense.

The simple facial expressions and actions her mother showed quickly made Rin understand something.

Her mother was prepared to die. From the beginning, she knew her days were coming to an end.

Rin sometimes wondered if everything she's done was what her mother wanted.

Seeking revenge on Li Chang and killing him.

It was the only thing that kept Rin living and thriving to succeed, however, if she were to continue to follow this path did that mean more would die for her?

Taking in a deep breath Rin slowly calms the anxiousness in her heart. For now, she'll push those thoughts aside. She had other things to worry about at the moment.

Rin stands up feebly. ”Take me to the provincial office. I need to inform the troops of our surrender.”

Quietly nodding his head, Wei Jingyi follows Rin out of the room.

For the time being, she needed to push her fate in a new and dangerous direction