“Aunt, this servant is just following orders to take this miss out of the palace on business!” He spoke with a pleasant expression, his face full of smiles, yet with an underlying helplessness and fear.
“Eunuch, you can go out alone on business, but this miss is someone the King wants. If she leaves the palace with you, how can we explain this to the King!” As soon as they finished speaking, they ruthlessly pushed the eunuch aside and carried me off in another direction.
He cupped my face and murmured, his face bearing an unmistakable sadness and despair.
In that instant, I clearly saw tears glistening at the corners of his eyes, his reddened eyes full of helplessness and panic.
“Ran Hui’er has long been dead, and the person standing before you is nothing more than a stranger who looks very much like her!” I said, letting him hold my face, quietly looking at him.
“Yes, Hui’er is dead, killed by me, she died in my arms!” The Cang Lian before me seemed not to be the Cang Lian I knew, this fragile person made me feel strangely afraid.
“You’re drunk, rest well!” Looking at his appearance, my heart felt an inexplicable compassion. I knew clearly that this seemingly cold man also had a fragile side, with fears unknown to others.
“Don’t go, don’t go, stay with me! I don’t want to lie alone on this blood-stained bed!
He hugged me tightly from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder, repeatedly saying, “It’s so cold here, so cold! As soon as I close my eyes, I can smell the blood in the air, and as soon as I close my eyes, I can see your resentful eyes!” He sobbed on my shoulder, and I could clearly feel wet liquid flowing on his back.
I faced away from him, not turning around, not looking at him. This day had given me too much shock. I never knew that this cold and ruthless monarch could have such a fragile side, could have something he could not face.
I let him hold me, and my heart began to soften because of his vulnerability.
But before I could speak, I looked up to meet Water Zi Wei’s profound and unfathomable eyes at the door. His pitch-black, deep eyes revealed no emotion, yet I could not ignore how unnaturally calm they were.
“Your Majesty, the wine you requested!” His cold voice was like an arrow ruthlessly piercing my heart. He didn’t even look at me, simply raising his hand respectfully to hand the wine to Cang Lian.
“Hui’er, shall we have the Grand Master pour the wine!” Cang Lian’s dejected face suddenly wore a cruel playful expression, his drunkenness instantly clearing when Water Zi Wei appeared.
I coldly watched them, not understanding what game they were playing. Water Zi Wei clearly wanted me to leave, yet before Cang Lian he acted as if he didn’t know me.
And Cang Lian, who was just moments ago as fragile as a child, was now back to his usual cold and ruthless self.
“My name is Ran Yan’er!” My icy voice echoed in the air, without emotional fluctuation or any tone.
Cang Lian returned to his initial unfeeling and difficult manner, not even wanting to give me a chance to breathe.
