The Princess And The Lord
Chapter 1438: The Insight

Chapter 1438: The Insight

After a lengthy discussion with Lucas and the others, Lory left with a heavy heart. She kept thinking about the bodies, who they were, why they died, and more importantly, what for? Lory couldn’t fathom why so many people had to die.

Then she remembered Lazarus, how he used souls to nourish his power. So Lory told Lucas and everyone that this creature might do the same? But wasn’t Zalchana killed the healers for that very reason? Then what were these people being used for?

In the end, all she could do was wait for further examination of the bodies. Hopefully, they would soon find out who—or what—those corpses really were.

Lory climbed the stairs to the third floor and walked along the hallways until she reached a room with tall double wooden doors, intricately carved with lotus flowers and phoenixes.

The atmosphere emanating from behind the doors was unlike any other room in the palace. And that was exactly what Lory had intended.

A small smile tugged at her lips, feeling satisfied with how this room came up. Seeing this door reminded her of the days she had lived in Nin Jing Manor with Zhao Li Xin.

She pushed the door open. The familiar scent of cypress wood and ink drifted into her nostrils, wrapping around her like a memory. And there he was, his gorgeous husband, Zhao Li Xin. Dressed in his long black robe, his upper body bent gracefully over a large wooden table as he drew in quiet concentration. Such a sight to behold.

Zhao Li Xin immediately noticed Lory’s arrival and paused. Slowly, he lifted his gaze. The moment their eyes met, the cold sharpness in his eyes melted away, replaced by a warmth so gentle it softened every edge of his expression. A tender smile curved across his handsome face.

"You’re here," Zhao Li Xin said, his voice low and melodious, like a song meant only for her.

"Are you busy?" Lory stepped into the room she had carefully renovated to resemble the study room in Nin Jing Manor, recreating it from memory.

The marble floors had been replaced with warm, dark wood, and the walls were painted in soft cream tones, accented by elegant wood paneling. The room was furnished with a dark wooden desk, tall bookshelves, and a cozy sitting area with arhat chairs. His paintings and calligraphy adorned the walls, breathing life and character into the space.

And on a small side table sat a pot of bluebell flowers. It seemed like an odd addition to the otherwise refined, masculine room, yet Lory remembered what Mong Yi had once told her, that Zhao Li Xin cared deeply for that flower and never allowed anyone else to touch it. But the truth was, it wasn’t the flower he cherished, but it was the memory it held. The memory of the moment he met her... and fell in love with her at first sight.

"You like the new room I designed for you?" Lory asked as she walked over to Zhao Li Xin.

He chuckled softly, his eyes tender as they met hers. When Lory proudly showed him the room, he was honestly dumbfounded. He had no idea Lory would prepare the room that similar to his old room in his manor. At that moment,t he must admit he was deeply touched by Lory’s care and thoughtfulness.

Though he never cared where he lived, as long as he was with Lory. But unexpectedly, Zhao Li Xin couldn’t help but feel a faint tinge of melancholy as he looked around the room. Quiet memories stirred beneath the surface, some good, some bad; strangely, he found it quite...important.

Still, he had never once regretted coming to this world to be with Lory, and he knew without a doubt that his subordinates back home would have agreed with him. Yet, this place... this room, stirred something deep within him.

He had believed his emotions were long buried, dulled by years of survival, wars, and solitude. But it turned out they weren’t dead after all, just dormant. And of course, it had to be his Lory who awakened them.

A soft sigh escaped him as he set down his brush. He stepped closer and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his warmth.

"Yes, I like it very much," he said quietly. "But you didn’t have to do this. I’m happy enough just being by your side."

"Yes, I like it very much. But you didn’t have to do this. I’m happy enough just being by your side."

Lory pursed her lips, "I know. But I wanted to treat you just like you treated me when I lived with you at your place. Besides, I want you to feel at home here in the palace."

"Anywhere feels like home when I’m with you," Zhao Li Xin honestly said.

Lory’s cheeks turned red, her heart fluttered it beating so fast, because she knew Zhao Li Xin was not someone to say something he wasn’t actually mean it. He has always been like that from the moment she met him, and she always finds it adorable.

Lory wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.

"You’re so nice... I really want to spoil you," she murmured, pressing her cheek against his chest.

Now she understood why Zhao Li Xin used to shower her with luxurious things. Turns out that when you had the ability, it was only natural to want to give. Now that she held both wealth and power, she found herself wanting to offer him the best the world could give him.

"Then, I shall express my deepest thanks for Her Highness’s generosity," Zhao Li Xin said with an exaggeratedly formal bow, eyes gleaming with mischief. "How about I show it tonight?"

Lory’s face flushed. She shoved him lightly. "Okay, stop it! I’m still recovering from last night, okay..." she mumbled the last part, barely audible.

Zhao Li Xin released her and burst out laughing. Lory knew she was being teased, so she quickly changed the subject. "What are you drawing now?"

Knowing she’d get sulky if he pushed too far, Zhao Li Xin relented and answered casually, "Just something ordinary, orchids, bamboo forest and such. Hugo said people like this kind of thing."

His tone lacked any real interest, clearly showing he was only doing it because someone asked, not because he enjoyed it.

For most artists, such indifference toward their own work would seem bizarre or even offensive.

But Lory had long grown used to Zhao Li Xin’s apathetic nature. No matter how talented he was, whether in painting, calligraphy, or forging weapons and stuff, he never seemed passionate about any of it. Even when he was cultivating his power, it was only because he knew it was crucial for his survival, that’s all.

"It’s still beautiful, though," Lory said sincerely. Unlike him, she considered her own drawing skills average at best.

"You think so?" Zhao Li Xin tilted his head, genuinely curious. "I just drew it from memory."

But as his gaze shifted to Lory, he noticed a subtle change in her expression, something heavy lingering behind her eyes, weighing down her usual brightness.

His voice softened. "Are you okay...?"

Lory smiled faintly. Her husband had always been perceptive to her feelings. She sat down in the chair nearby, propped her chin on her palm, and sighed.

"Yeah... I got some bad news today."

"Oh?" Zhao Li Xin’s brows lifted slightly as he waited for her to elaborate.

Lory went on to explain everything, what she’d learned from Fargo and the discussion that followed, also her growing concern about the whole situation. meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin listened attentively, not interrupting once. When she finished, he remained quiet for a moment, deep in thought.

"The truth is, I still don’t fully understand the extent of the gifted power," he finally said, "But aside from soul nourishment... is there any other use by killing other humans? You think this is connected to that creature because you remembered Lazarus, but what if it’s not the case?"

"What do you mean?" Lory looked at him with a puzzled look.

Zhao Li Xin kindly explained his analysis while picking up the brush and continuing his drawing. "Refocus your approach. Don’t immediately attribute everything to Zalchana. Your first priority should be to verify whether similar incidents—perhaps not identical, but comparable in nature—have occurred in the past. Only after systematically eliminating those possibilities can you reasonably conclude that Zalchana is responsible."

Lory thought Zhao Li Xin’s words made sense, Lory contemplated for a long moment and muttered "Similar case, huh...?"

Lory’s brows furrowed as she tried to search her memory. She racked her brain, flipping through old knowledge and vague recollections—then suddenly, her eyes lit up.

"Wait a minute. I think I remember something like this happening before..." she murmured, biting her thumb while her eyes darted from side to side in thought. Then she looked up at Zhao Li Xin, eyes wide with realization.

Without warning, Lory ran to him, pulled him in, and planted a loud kiss on his cheek. Her eyes sparkled with admiration.

"Li Xin, darling, you’re a genius!"

Before he could respond, she snatched her phone off the table and rushed to the door.

"Honey! There’s something I need to do. I’ll see you tonight, okay!" She blew him a kiss, then left.

Zhao Li Xin watched as she vanished through the door, her footsteps echoing faintly down the corridor. A slow, amused smile curved at the corner of his lips. He exhaled softly, neither surprised nor rushed.

Zhao Li Xin gave a slight shake of his head, the way one might when indulging the antics of someone they deeply adore.

With measured ease, he dipped his brush back into the ink and resumed his work, his movements smooth and unhurried. The tip of the brush glided across the paper in steady strokes, unaffected by the whirlwind that had just passed through the room.

To an outsider, it would seem as though nothing had happened at all. But for Zhao Li Xin, that brief moment, her kiss, her excitement, her presence, was quietly etched into him, just as enduring as the ink on the page.