Chapter 2: The Light and Dark Theft

  Deep night. Autumn leaves have withered away. Dry branches appear desolate under the cold moonlight.

  The courtyard of the post house is empty and deserted. The lake surface, which has already frozen into a thin layer of ice, does not have a single ripple. In the elegant pavilion by the lake, there is a faint sound of a guqin being played intermittently.

  Nalan Xixi suddenly stopped in her tracks, lifted her head, and found herself unknowingly back at this place once again. The familiar melody lingered around her ears, a elegant tune that somehow carried a hint of desolation.

  She followed the sound of the guqin and slowly approached, it was a stone pavilion again. Under the pavilion, a white figure sat in front of the guqin, her sleeves fluttering slightly in the cold wind. Her slender fingers moved like flowing water on the strings, playing a melody that was both subtle and profound, touching the heartstrings.

  Listening to her was like being on the scene itself, extremely tense. Holding one's breath and staring intently.

  Suddenly, the music stopped abruptly. The cold wind swept by. Nalan Xinnuo came back to her senses and met the gaze cast from inside the pavilion.

  Her delicate and elegant face was as calm and serene as ever in the moonlight. He quietly gazed at Nalan Xinnuo, his eyes filled with emotions that Nalan Xinnuo couldn't understand, nor did he want her to.

  In such a quiet and peaceful night, people always involuntarily reveal their true feelings.

  "The princess personally set up a temporary palace. I don't know what she's doing. Intentionally keeping her distance. He put on a respectful attitude."

  Nalan Xixi's expression slightly paused. She was just a bit tired and wanted to come out for some fresh air, but unknowingly walked all the way here.

  Nalan Xixi was silent for a long time and couldn't think of how to respond. Dugu Han's expression slightly eased. "I am not convenient to act, cannot go forward to welcome you, please forgive me, Your Highness."

  "It's getting cold. Go to bed early."

  For a moment, the air was frozen. Nalan Xinnuo's face was expressionless, but in her heart, she regretted what she had just said. Although her tone was very cold, it seemed like an intimate reminder. Whether others are cold or not is none of your business. Whether they sleep well or not has nothing to do with you.

  "This tune is finished, then go." Du Guo Han nodded slightly.

  Nalan Xixiao nodded slightly and turned around to leave. Behind her, a clear and cold voice with a hint of hesitation said, "Can I...".

  Nalan Xixi's eyes condensed slightly. The voice behind her paused for a moment, as if gathering courage to continue: "Stay and listen to me finish this song before you leave."

  The courtyard fell silent again. A faint gloom flashed in Du Gu's cold eyes. "I was presumptuous..."

  "Okay."

  Four eyes met. Time seemed to stand still. Nalan Xianyu smiled faintly. Dugu Han subconsciously turned his face away, a hint of embarrassment on his face.

  Walked into the pavilion. Nalan Xixi stood beside him. Dugu Hanshan said calmly, "Please sit down, Your Highness."

  Nalan Xinnuo lowered his head and looked over, inside the pavilion there was only him sitting upright on the guqin seat. The guqin seat was very long, he hadn't occupied it fully. Nalan Xinnuo didn't hesitate, walked over and sat down beside him.

  A refreshing fragrance wafted around her, but she couldn't quite place what it was. As she inhaled, she detected the coolness of mint, the subtle elegance of plum blossoms, the purity of lotus flowers, and a hint of something that resembled the warmth of winter sunshine.

  For a moment, the fatigue that had accumulated over many days dissipated under the fragrance. Dugu Han looked at her slightly puzzled expression and took out a jade pendant from his bosom to hand it to her.

  Nalan Xixi was slightly hesitant. She took over the jade pendant. The jade pendant had a faint temperature. On top of it, fragrance overflowed. The fragrance was emitted from this jade. "This jade has temperature."

  Nalan Xixi gazed at the jade pendant. Although she had seen many things and was knowledgeable, this was her first time seeing a piece of jade that not only had warmth but also emitted fragrance.

  Du Guo Han heard this and couldn't help but reveal a smile. Nalan Xianuo raised her head, feeling empty inside.

  His smile was like the melting of cold ice, and under his pure and elegant face, a pair of clear eyes were spotless, reflecting the moonlight, like a pool of clear water, transparent and crystal clear.

  Nalan Xixi didn't open her eyes. Her heart was a bit messy. This was the first time she saw him smile. He... actually smiled too.

  "This jade understands human feelings, knows warmth and cold, some people can wear it with temperature, while others cannot." Du Guhan's tone was still clear and cold, but with a few more warm tones, like this warm jade giving warmth to people on a cold autumn night.

  "What kind of person wears it and won't have a temperature." Nalan Xixi was puzzled. Is there such an evil thing?

  "Dugu Cold Smile's smile grew deeper. 'Corpse.'"

  Nalan Xixi's face suddenly turned red with shame and annoyance. Nonsense, this jade pendant is worn on a person's body, of course it will have the temperature of a human being. He actually dared to tease her, speaking as if he was right.

  Nalan Xixi originally wanted to return the jade to him. Dugu Han stretched out his hand, and his slender fingers stroked the strings of the zither, continuing the interrupted melody.

  Nalan Xixi withdrew her hand. Her two hands were clasped together, holding the jade piece. For some reason, she didn't want to let go of its warmth.

  Although Nalan Xixi didn't understand the guqin, the material used for this guqin was a rare type of stalactite stone. She couldn't see anything special about the strings, but just by listening to the sound, she knew that it wasn't an ordinary guqin.

  The sound of the zither is like a gentle stream flowing in the air, easily intoxicating people, like a cup of fine wine, but while wine intoxicates the person, this zither music intoxicates the heart.

  Nalan Xinnuo closed her eyes, quietly listening. Unknowingly, a long time had passed. The sound of the guqin gradually weakened. Nalan Xinnuo's hand felt a warmth. She opened her eyes to find Dugu Han holding her hand and placing it on the guqin.

  "I won't play..." Nalan Xixi wanted to withdraw her hand.

  Dugu Han smiled silently, holding her hand. His broad palm covered hers, his slender fingers moving hers. Gently pressing the strings, his right hand plucked them lightly, and a gentle melody floated out.

  Nalan Xixi's eyes widened slightly in surprise, like a child discovering a new continent. She held her breath and followed Dugu Han's hand as he controlled the rhythm, feeling an unprecedented thrill in her heart.

  At this time, a black figure suddenly flashed over. Narlan Xianuo subconsciously drew back his hand, but accidentally hooked the strings. The string broke, and the piano sound stopped abruptly. The strings burst open, sweeping across Dugu Han's wrist, leaving a blood mark.

  "Master..." The visitor had intended to report something, but upon raising his eyes and seeing Du Guo Han, he immediately fell silent.

  Nalan Xixi took out a handkerchief and pressed it against Dugu Han's hand to stop the bleeding. Dugu Han said calmly, "It's nothing."

  Behind him, a man in his forties pushed a wheelchair out. Seeing Dugu Han and Nalan Xianyu together, the man hesitated for a moment before walking up to them.

  Nalan Xixiao glanced at the dark guard below and stood up, saying: "The sky is already late, so I won't bother you anymore."

  Du Guo Han nodded silently. Didn't say a word. Nalan Xianyu turned around and walked outwards. The dark guard glanced at Du Guo Han, then left immediately.

  "The prince, there's news over there." The big Han bowed his head and handed the letter that had just been crumpled up in a hurry to Du Guhan.

  Exiting the palace, a dark guard closely followed Nalan Xianyu and said in a low voice: "Master, I have some leads on the person you asked me to investigate."

  Nalan Xixi's footsteps came to a sudden stop. "Found it."

  Dark Guard nodded. "There are three in total. They're all still alive. Two of them are in Sheng Jin, and only one is in Luo Tian."

  Nalan Xixi's expression turned serious as he stood up. "Prepare the horses immediately. I will go and ask in person."

  Early morning. The village is gradually coming back to life. Autumn harvest has passed. Villagers are mostly chatting and drinking tea together. Very relaxing.

  Suddenly, a hurried horseshoe sound rose from the village entrance. Several fast horses galloped over.

  The villagers looked up one after another, and saw a slender young man leading a team of black-clad men rushing towards the village.

  The village was small, and in just a moment, several swift horses had already galloped to the end of the village. The sound of horseshoes suddenly stopped. Several people jumped off their horses. A man in black walked over and directly climbed up the wall and jumped into the courtyard. He opened the door for Nalan Xinnuo.

  The people in the house heard the commotion outside, opened the door and came out. They only saw a young man walking towards them. The young man looked ordinary, but his face had an air of natural authority. Seeing that something was amiss, the man hastily knelt down and kowtowed.

  Nalan Xizuo ignored him and walked straight into the house. Inside, a woman looked at the man in black with terror, fell to her knees with a thud, and begged for mercy repeatedly.

  "You are Chun Niang." Nalan Xixiao walked in front of her and looked at her coldly.

  The woman nodded. Not daring to look at her, Nalan Xinnuo said lightly: "Get up."

  No room for denial. Chunniang immediately stood up. The black-clad man behind Nalan Xinnuo retreated. Nalan Xinnuo looked at Chunniang and said coldly, "I'll ask you a few questions. You must answer truthfully. If your answers are correct, no one will bother you again. But if you dare to tell even half a lie, don't blame me for being impolite."

  The young woman nodded repeatedly. "I don't dare."

  "You're from Sheng Jin Country." Nalan Xian asked.

  "I... I was originally a person from the state of Chu Yuan. Since childhood, I have been a slave in the palace. Later, I followed Princess Murong to the Holy Golden State. After that, Princess Murong married into the Luo Tian family. I also followed the princess to Luo Tian." Chun Niang replied fluently.

  Nalan Xixi slightly narrowed her eyes. "Oh... At that time when the Emperor was born, you should still have been by the Empress Dowager's side."

  The spring maiden nodded her head. "Yes."

  "Who is it." The cold voice carried a hint of warning.

  The young woman suddenly knelt down. "I don't understand what you're saying..."

  Nalan Xixi sneered coldly. "You should know Zhao Song, shouldn't you?"

  Chunniang was taken aback. Nalan Xinnuo continued: "Don't say it."

  Chunniang's heart was struggling, but she never spoke up. Nalan Xinnuo smiled and said, "The person outside is your son, right?"

  The spring daughter was shocked. Her face suddenly turned pale white. "Little ones say... little ones say..."

  Nalan Xixi's smile faded, and she gazed coldly at her. She fell silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice: "When the princess married the king, she was already pregnant... The king is actually..."

  The cold wind blows by. The doors and windows are blown left and right, swaying back and forth. They hit the wall and make a dull thud.

  Nalan Xixi's face turned even colder. It was that person.

  So he always protected him like that. So he chose to do it at the last minute.

  But such truth, how can he accept it?

  Nalan Xino pulled out a silver note from her bosom and tossed it to Chunniang, wanting to say something but stopping herself. She turned around and walked away. Chunniang picked up the silver note on the ground, and the number on it made her eyes widen in surprise.

  Nalan Xixi walked out of the door, jumped onto her horse, and took a glance at the courtyard in front of her. She gave a subtle signal to the dark guard, who nodded and turned around to walk towards the back of the courtyard.

  The horse whinnied and galloped forward with a raised hoof, soon disappearing into the village path.

  Suddenly, thick smoke billowed up from the courtyard. The autumn wind blew by, and the flames quickly spread to the roof of the house. Cries for help came from inside, but no one emerged for a long time. In just a moment, the entire courtyard was engulfed in the raging fire.

  The morning sun is like fire. The cold wind remains.