Chapter 44: The Bitterness in Her Heart

  The first snow of early winter drifted with the wind, falling all over the sky and ground like scattered silver and jade. Soon, it covered the layers of branches and leaves with a layer of white, making the glazed tiles and flying eaves look exceptionally clear and cold.

  At this time, the Heavenly Emperor must have taken a short rest. You dust didn't rush back to the Zhidi Hall either, and instead strolled slowly along the light snowflakes, leaving behind a trail of shallow footprints as he looked back.

  She couldn't help but smile, the blue satin embroidered with magnolia flowers on her boots stretched out from under her skirt, taking a step at a time in the snow and turning around in a circle. Her feet trampled out a pattern of blooming flowers, and she jumped back a few steps, standing sideways to admire the view. After looking for a while, she suddenly felt a bit uneasy, and when she raised her head, she saw a figure wearing a crimson cloak standing in the pavilion on top of the stone mountain not far away, quietly gazing over at this side. The slender eyes that were looking at her had a hint of enchanting smile, thin lips slightly pursed with a softness that was even more infused with a hint of evil intention, and it blended perfectly with the icy snow.

  The red in the snowy shadow was so dazzling that you had an idea to dodge immediately, but it was too late. The man walked down along the small path on the stone mountain and came straight towards her.

  You clutched the memorial in your arms and saluted lightly: "I have seen Your Highness."

  At night, Tian Li stood in the snow, looking at the white fox fur and plain clothes wrapped around her slender figure. For a moment, he was confused and thought that Feng Xian was standing in front of him again. However, when he raised his head, the clear and elegant face with bright eyes and flowing gaze was clearly someone else.

  It was the first time that you and I were alone in the same night sky, and my heart was secretly uneasy. Seeing him not speaking, I couldn't help but look up in surprise, and a pair of melancholy eyes met me head-on, staring at her with a lost and pained expression.

  He stood before her, yet remained silent. Qing Chen also didn't know what to say to him, so she simply stood there quietly. Ye Tian Yun's pair of slender eyes narrowed slightly, and under the snowlight, amidst the interplay of light and darkness, it seemed as if countless enchanting glows were shooting towards her, carrying with them a bewitching charm that was enough to make one dizzy. If this had been before, no matter how gloomy Ye Tian Yun looked, Qing Chen would still have thought about him and Xian Wu's tragic love story; now, however, she didn't have such thoughts at all.

  The crimson cloak fluttered in the wind, and under the dark sky, it reflected the white snow, making it even more eerie. In the night sky, a faint light flickered, and a deep, shallow shadow appeared, giving off an ominous aura that was so thick it seemed to give off a hint of evil energy, making one's heart feel uneasy. She didn't want to drag things out with him, took a step back, and said: "If Your Highness has nothing else to say, I'll take my leave."

  "What's wrong?" she asked, following her. "Where are you going?"

  "You naturally said: 'It is Zhiyuan Hall.'"

  At night, Tian Ming saw her deliberately keeping a distance from him and said, "Why must you hide from me?"

  "You're not a fierce beast, Your Highness, why should I hide?"

  He raised his foot and walked along the snowy ground, turning his head to glance at her: "Let's take a walk together then."

  You only felt that the gaze was inexplicably heart-pounding, and not dodging would be fake, so he made an excuse: "I still need to return to Zhiyuan Hall to report back, if Your Highness didn't bring anyone with you, I'll send someone to inform them."

  "Yè Tiān Méng said: 'You are Xiǎo Wǔ's younger sister, which makes me your brother-in-law. Luan Fei addresses me as "brother-in-law", but why do you keep calling me "Your Excellency"?'".

  Your delicate eyebrows, soft and gentle, lowered your eyes and said in a tone that was neither soft nor hard: "Why doesn't brother-in-law go see Luan Fei instead of sister? If he's late, it might be difficult to see her." The two words "brother-in-law" were intentionally paused, with an unusual emphasis on the tone, making people feel strange but unable to pinpoint what was wrong.

  Ye Tian's narrow and long eyes moved, reflecting the blood-red cloak's extreme seductive beauty. Unknowingly, whether it was due to being in this icy sky and snowy land or something else, Qing Chen felt that the surroundings were exceptionally desolate and quiet, almost to the point where he could hear his own heartbeat. The thick falling snow couldn't cover it up either.

  Yè Tiān Miǎo's mouth curved into a smile: "I was just about to go take a look, didn't expect to run into you here." After speaking, he let out his hand, and the wind on his body scattered: "You might as well come with me." He stepped through the snow towards Yan Xi Palace.

  You saw him say go and went, unexpectedly. Although unwilling to have anything to do with him, after thinking about it, he still couldn't put his mind at ease, so he followed up afterwards.

  The swan flew, the original energy had not recovered. After you left, she lay quietly in bed alone, and all sorts of things floated restlessly in her mind, but unlike usual, clever strategies emerged to solve the current desperate situation. Suddenly, she heard a slight sound from the door, someone else entered the Spring Pavilion, she closed her eyes and held her breath, just like before when she was unconscious, without revealing any signs.

  Qing Chen entered the room at night and saw Luan Fei sleeping soundly, the peony-colored palace embroidery was shallow and deep, faintly reflected in Ye Tianming's eyes with a hint of evil charm, but covered with a layer of suffocating obscurity. Qing Chen heard Ye Tianming say in a low voice: "Feng Wu".

  A faint cry, seemingly from the distant depths of night, brought endless sorrow and desolation to this cold winter day. Jing Yun was taken aback for a moment, and at this time, the night sky cleared up a bit, and he said in a hoarse voice to Jing Yun: "Do you know that today is your sister's memorial day?"

  Qing Chen's heart felt stifled by the pain in his words, for Tian Di's love for Lian Fei and Taizi's love for Luan Fei were all so deeply passionate. But as for Ye Tian Hong's love for Xian Wu, it was a different story altogether, and he couldn't help but feel a little shallow towards Luan Fei. Qing Chen looked at him and said, "If that's the case, Your Highness, why don't you help find an antidote for the Li Xin Nai He Cao, to comfort my sister's spirit in heaven?"

  His eyes flashed with a hint of danger, but he quickly covered it up and said, "How would I have something like that?"

  "How could there be such a thing, and yet I know it's true," Feng said with a sigh. "It seems that next year on this day will be the anniversary of my sisters' deaths. I wonder what Xian Wu thinks about it in the underworld."

  "What did you say?"

  You dust smiled unintentionally in his angry gaze, with shadows dancing between his eyebrows and eyes. Although he lost that weak and helpless look, he gained a hint of elegance and refinement, but it made his heart churn with emotion, unable to move his eyes away.

  At this point, it was unclear whether it was dawn or dusk. Qing looked at Ruan Fei who was lying quietly and said faintly: "Your Highness is a sensible person, I won't beat around the bush either. From the start, you never intended to give Ruan Fei an antidote, did you?"

  Ye Tianming glanced at Luan Fei, then turned his soft gaze back to Qingchen: "Luan Fei has said he can do anything for me, fearless of life and death, what's the point of having an antidote?"

  You dust glanced at Luan Fei, her eyelashes slightly trembling as she slowly walked away. The night sky was vast and wanted to watch her, so he turned his back on Luan Fei.

  "I really don't know if Your Highness is sentimental or not." She said with a hint of sarcasm, "Some people are hard to part with even after they're gone, while others are discarded like worn-out shoes. Although we're sisters, it seems our fates are different. Poor Ruan Fei has been loyal to you in vain; when facing her, doesn't Your Highness have a shred of sympathy?"

  The night sky was dim, and his eyes narrowed into a thin line: "Who can replace Xian Wu?" He walked step by step towards Qing Chen's side: "However, you are more like Xian Wu than Yuan Fei. Any woman who looks like Xian Wu, I will not let go."

  As the two of them drew closer, the sense of danger grew thicker. In Night Sky's enchanting eyes, Qing Chen saw his own reflection gradually clear up. At this time, Luan Fei's hand was tightly grasping the brocade quilt, his already thin fingers pale and taut, almost to the point of breaking, as if he had reached the limit of his endurance. Qing Chen suddenly realized that if Night Sky were to find out that Luan Fei was not in mortal danger, who knows what evil deeds he might commit again. A thought flashed through her mind, she took a step back and pushed open the door: "In that case, Your Highness doesn't need to wait here for long, let's move somewhere else to talk."

  In the side hall, there were few people walking around, and the long corridor was quiet, with only the sound of snow entering one's ears. The vast expanse of white made it seem even more serene. After a moment of dizziness, Ye Tian smiled coldly and shook open his cloak, letting it fall onto Ruan Fei's body: "Xian Wu likes red the most, so today I'll give this to Ruan Fei as a gift." Having said that, he turned around and walked out of the room without looking back. Qing Chen glanced at Ruan Fei quietly before closing the door and leaving.

  As she walked out of the Spring Pavilion, Qing Chen was about to leave when Ye Tianheng suddenly turned around and blocked her path. She hastily retreated backward but found herself trapped by a tall pillar with no way to retreat. However, Ye Tianheng didn't stop there; he continued to push her until they were both enclosed in a narrow space, his hand propping up the pillar as he stared at her and said, "Don't think of ways to avoid me, you will be mine one day."

  Qing Chen's phoenix eyes sank cold, and she stared straight at him with a piercing gaze, making Ye Tian Yun pause for a moment. Even someone as calm as clear water could have such an unyielding moment, which was truly rare to see. He heard Qing Chen say in a low, gentle yet completely emotionless voice: "So you use them up and then kick them away, right? The prince has made a good calculation."

  The night sky had a sly smile on his face: "These can be said after they become my women, it's not too late."

  You don't get angry, but instead smile, your jade-like face is cold and stern in the midst of laughter, making people dare not gaze at you: "Then go ahead and try, perhaps in the end you'll regret it."

  "Do you want to try it now?"

  "You'd better be careful with the Emperor's decree, if you mess it up, who can bear the consequences?"

  He glanced down at the document blocking the two of them and slowly pressed it down with his idle right hand: "I can't afford to, neither can you."

  "You raise an eyebrow and ask: 'As for the matter of the crown prince, how many points do you think you can take responsibility for in front of the emperor?'"

  Ye Tianming slowly straightened up: "I'm worried that the Feng family will also have a share, and the county master won't go to expose their own family's ugliness, right?"

  You coldly moved your hand away: "The Phoenix family's little scandal compared to the imperial family is nothing, Your Highness should still be self-respecting."

  The night sky was filled with a hint of tenderness, which made that stunning face even more dazzling: "You say I'm heartless, but Feng Xiang isn't much better. Go back and tell Feng Xiang that I won't mistreat the Feng family. The pain of losing a daughter will have its equivalent gain, and I won't let him suffer losses. However, also tell him that this current daughter of his, I want to take her for myself."

  Your complexion is as clear and pure as snow in the courtyard, but your words are even colder. You say slowly: "Not everything in this world can be obtained just because you want it."

  Her enchanting eyes flickered slightly, and a warm, blood-colored tenderness that could bewitch people's hearts emerged: "Then you don't understand men at all. If a man really wants a woman, no one can stop him."

  "You're too confident, which isn't necessarily a good thing. Remember the precedents of Luan Fei and the Crown Prince. Your Highness should think about the consequences before speaking."

  The night sky was dark and gloomy, and he suddenly reached out and grasped Qingchen's chin, his voice low and menacing: "You don't believe I have the guts? Well, let me show you right now!" He exerted force with his hand and leaned in, pressing his lips down on hers. Qingchen struggled and angrily shouted: "Let go!"

  "Let go!" At the same time, a stern rebuke mixed with anger rang out. Taking advantage of Ye Tianyun's momentary distraction, Qing Chen shook off his grasp and pushed him away fiercely. On the long corridor, Ye Tianyun's eyes narrowed slightly, his face no longer showing its usual gentle elegance, but instead was as cold as frost.

  After Ye Tian Meng regained his composure, he actually smiled and asked softly: "Seventh Brother?"

  "What are you doing?" Ye Tian asked in a cold voice.

  Ye Tian Mo said: "Nothing, just chatted with Qing Chen for a few words."

  You dare to be so presumptuous in the Yanxi Palace, saying: "I don't have the interest to chat idly with Your Highness, please restrain yourself from now on!"

  Ye Tian Zhan suppressed the anger in his heart: "The rules between the Crown Prince and Xiuyi, I'm sure you all understand, no need for me to remind you."

  Ye Tian Miao took two steps forward, walked to Ye Tian Zhan's side, and whispered with a smile: "Seventh brother, why be so angry? Is it because I did what you wanted to do but didn't dare to?"

  "Yitian Zhan looked at him coldly and said, 'What did you say?' The atmosphere suddenly became tense, with flying snow swirling in and icy winds cutting like knives through the luxurious clothes, making everyone feel a chill run down their spines."

  Ye Tianming stopped in his tracks: "Everyone knows that Qing Chen is from Seventh Brother's estate, and Seventh Brother treats her with great care."

  "The night sky was cold and calm at the bottom of his eyes, and he said, 'Since you know, it's best to be more restrained.'"

  "What a pity, there are some things that I must get, so today I'll just say hello to Seventh Brother first."

  He snorted coldly, after all, he had a deep tolerance, and especially did not want to make trouble in the Yanxi Palace, even if his anger was burning, he only said lightly: "In that case, I will accompany you to the end."

  Only a few words, like ice and snow, with Ye Tianming's provocative gaze, they exchanged blows, their shoulders almost brushing against each other, sparks flying everywhere. Ye Tianming said nonchalantly: "It's not easy to see Seventh Brother get angry, but I didn't expect it was because of a woman!"

  As he watched him leave, in that instant, the warmth of spring water at the bottom of his eyes turned into a cold winter, and the chill was like a sword. The sharp light made Qing Chen's heart tremble with fear, but when he turned back, he smiled slowly at Qing Chen: "Are you okay?"

  "You shake your head and say, 'Nothing's wrong, I have to hurry back to Zhiyuan Hall.'"

  "Be careful..." The night sky was furrowed between her eyebrows, and she warned, "You must be cautious everywhere in the palace."

  You quietly lowered your eyes, the Crown Prince's matter has not been settled yet, but all the situations have already started to change. Being in a crucial position, she could sense it with intuition, just like what Night Sky Xuan and Night Sky Ming said earlier, was it just for this small matter in front of her? After a moment of silence, she said to Night Sky Xuan: "Don't do anything, especially not for me." She couldn't say more than that, and she didn't linger any longer.

  Ye Tian Zhan watched as Qing Chen turned and walked into the snow, seemingly wanting to call out to her but not making a sound. The dense and fluttering snow quickly hung down an endless curtain between the two people, and when Qing Chen's figure disappeared into the vast snowy veil, Ye Tian Zhan lightly sighed, raised his hand, and a thin layer of snow fell into his palm, transforming into glittering water droplets.