“You should leave.” Her body grew weaker, her head dizzy, intoxicated by his tenderness. “You…” Xia Yuye stood up, angrily walking away. The white figure faded into the distance, her head growing heavier, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds, and darkness enveloped her as she fell into slumber. “Ah…” A sigh of resignation echoed for a long time in the empty palace. A dark figure picked up the frail, almost fragile person from the ground and left.
Upon opening her eyes, she saw smooth stone walls. “You’re awake.” The voice was cold, distant as if from a thousand miles away. Turning to the left, a man in black stood straight, facing Xiao Tu. This man had an extraordinary aura, but his silver mask concealed what must have been an exceptional face. “No need to ask who I am, just stay here peacefully.” His voice was deep, unfamiliar. With that, the man left the stone chamber.
Ha… how laughable, she thought, to find herself in yet another completely strange place. She felt as though she was being led by others, a feeling she disliked. Memories were slowly awakening, and the haughty spirit of Goddess Lingying was also reviving…
“Miss, I am Chun’er, here to serve you.” A lively maid brought in a tray of pastries. The sweet aroma was so familiar, something she hadn’t tasted in a long time. The scent of milk filled her mouth, a flavor she loved, and her big eyes crinkled into slits with joy. The next day, she felt much more comfortable and her mood improved. “Chun’er, I want to go out to bask in the sun.” It was a habit; she loved lying on the lawn, watching the sky, soaking up the sunlight, and taking a little nap.
“But…” This was an underground palace; where could there be sunlight? This posed a problem for the little maid. A shadow flashed by, “You want to sunbathe?” The voice was icy, the silver mask in place. Chun’er trembled at his arrival and quickly excused herself.
“Yes.” Curious, why was Chun’er so frightened by him, as if she had seen a ghost? “Come.” As soon as the words fell, she felt a grip around her waist, pulling her into a cold embrace. Her head was pressed tightly against his chest, wind rushing past her ears, and then she was set down on the ground. The sunlight was blinding, surrounded by green grass and blooming wildflowers. The air was filled with the scent of earth, grass, and flowers – the essence of nature.
Like a playful child, she laughed brightly and ran into the flower meadow. Her white hair fluttered in the wind, exuding a sense of freedom and abandon. “The wandering child should seek a place to call their own. No need for pretense or falsehood, to be as free as the wind. Farewell to naivety and ignorance, I hope not to grow too mature. Adults have too many lies, dreams are gradually stolen by reality. I want to venture out, my young heart has the courage to pursue. To see how vast the world is, how big the sky can be, how hard dreams are to achieve. I want to wander alone, it might be more joyful. There might be setbacks, but this is my choice. The wandering child cries for themselves. The wandering child laughs from the heart. The wandering child spends youth recklessly. His heart is broader than the world. The wandering child weaves dreams. The wandering child takes responsibility for themselves. The wandering child walks forward with their head held high. Even failure won’t make them retreat.” A sweet song rose from amidst the flowers, sung by a young maiden, carried by the breeze to distant lands…
Beside her, a man in black stood, his expression hidden beneath the silver mask, unknown whether the beautiful song could melt the ice in his heart…
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Great Change
“Chun’er, do you know where there’s a bathhouse?” Every day, bathing in a tub felt unnatural. She was used to bathing in pools or hot springs, where she could soak to relieve fatigue, sometimes even falling asleep. But the water in the tub cooled too quickly.
“There’s a hot spring in the courtyard to the west, but it’s for the palace master’s exclusive use,” Chun’er answered truthfully. “Okay, I understand,” Xiaotu replied, her mind fixated on the word “hot spring,” completely missing the second part of the sentence. Chun’er laid out the bedding and then withdrew. The door opened, revealing a small head peeking out; Xiaotu looked around to ensure no one was in sight before sneaking out toward the western courtyard. Upon entering the courtyard, she saw it was brightly lit with lanterns hung high, and steam was rising. “Hehe, finally, I can have a good bath today,” she giggled, shedding her cumbersome clothes. With a splash, her jade-like feet entered the hot spring, slowly sitting at the bottom. The water kissed her skin, soft as jade fat, and she sighed in comfort. Her hair, interwoven with strands of gold, soaked in the water, wrapping around her snow-white legs. It felt very comfortable and warm, her cheeks slightly flushed. Before long, she felt drowsy. The water covered her chest, and white steam spread out, concealing the tempting scene.
Suddenly, a pair of strong hands reached from behind, wrapping around her chest and lingering on her firm breasts. “It tickles…” she felt an itch and reached to scratch it. The firm desire was between her legs. She picked up the robe beside her to cover her alluring body, and under the silver mask was heavy breathing. The moonlight was thick; the man in black carried Xiaotu back to her room like a ghost, unnoticed. He threw Xiaotu onto the bed. “Ouch!” she cried out in pain as her head hit the bed. “Who allowed you into the western courtyard?” he asked, his voice laced with restrained desire and a hint of anger.
“I’m not used to bathing in a tub,” she said, rubbing her head in grievance. “I fall asleep when I bathe,” she continued, pouting and rubbing her head. “By the time I wake up, the water is cold.” The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt; tears welled up in her eyes. “I’ll catch a cold,” she sniffed, trying to hold back her tears. “It hurts,” she muttered softly. It seemed like none of this was her fault; it was all the fault of the black-clad man who didn’t know how to cherish beauty. “I’ll take you back tomorrow morning,” the man said coldly. As sunlight streamed into the empty palace, on the bed lay a white-haired woman, sleeping sweetly. The light touched her exquisite face as she opened her eyes. The palace, with its dilapidated halls, carried a hint of eerie atmosphere. She woke up again, unexpectedly back here; she didn’t know whether to be happy or…
Who was that mysterious man? He had taken her away for no reason and now brought her back; in just a few days, her body had returned to its original state, feeling no discomfort and seemingly filled with endless energy. Having disappeared for three days, she doubted anyone would care. Yes, in this cold palace, whether she lived or died, no one would mind.
The door opened with a “bang,” and Muyao, dressed in orange, appeared before Xiaotu. “Miss Ai, I’ve come to deliver some news,” she said, her demeanor far from her usual coquettishness, now assertive and imposing. “Oh? What good news makes the princess so happy?” Xiaotu disliked her hypocritical smile and her affected mannerisms. “Tomorrow is the day I marry Brother Ye. I hope you will come to celebrate. Brother Ye and I are looking forward to your presence,” she said, then turned and left, leaving behind an air of triumph and sweet anticipation.
