The capital welcomed the first snow after winter’s arrival.

The snowflakes were initially scattered and fine, but gradually grew more assertive, covering palace halls and humble dwellings alike. The mortal realm became one.

In the outer city, Xie Hongchen walked along the street. Even in such weather, there were still vendors setting up stalls by the roadside. His clothing was too eye-catching, his temperament coldly transcendent, drawing countless passersby to secretly stare.

He stopped beside a small stall. Seeing this, the vendor hurriedly said enthusiastically, “Immortal Elder, do you fancy these plum blossoms?”

On his small stall were displayed many plum branches.

“Immortal Elder, buy a branch! These plum blossoms are called ‘Thinking of Your Peace.’ They have quite a history!” The vendor was about to continue when Xie Hongchen had already taken out silver coins and purchased a branch of winter plum.

The plum branch had been in bud, but as soon as the snowflakes covered it, it bloomed completely. The entire branch of flowers was red as fire, breathtakingly beautiful. Xie Hongchen held the plum branch in his hand. This flower didn’t quite match him—his clothing was too plain, his bearing that of an immortal Daoist. But this flower was too vivid, like within those sacred scriptures and true words—a touch of mortal heart.

At this time, at Si Tianjian.

Di Yiqiu pushed Huang Rang, returning from Baihu Si to Xuanwu Si.

The capital’s winter was truly cold. Huang Rang began to admire Di Yiqiu’s foresight—if not for this blanket draped over her legs, she would definitely be freezing terribly right now. Her hands were tucked under the blanket, a thick cloak draped over her body, someone holding an umbrella above her head, so she didn’t feel the snow’s cold.

People around them constantly moved aside to the road’s edge, bowing respectfully. Facing their furtive glances, Di Yiqiu didn’t care, and even Huang Rang had grown numb to it. Not far away was a tree of red plums blooming beneath the snow, its fragrance pleasant, breathtakingly beautiful.

Huang Rang was drawn by that red color, her vacant and hollow pupils seeming to ignite with two flames. Di Yiqiu noticed. He pushed Huang Rang under the tree and said, “These plum blossoms are called ‘Thinking of Your Peace.’ Do you remember?”

Huang Rang only stared at those fire-red plum blossoms. Thinking of Your Peace, indeed…

Di Yiqiu simply raised his hand, broke off a branch of plum blossoms, and placed it on her lap. The red plums were like dripping blood.

Thinking of Your Peace…

In the fifth year of Chengyuan, after a night of passion with Xie Hongchen, he was to return to Yuhu Xuanzong. Although he promised to marry her, Huang Rang wasn’t reassured—she had never trusted other people’s promises. If Xie Hongchen left and never returned, wouldn’t she suffer a huge loss?

But it also wasn’t appropriate to forcibly detain him. Xie Hongchen wasn’t a man with soft ears.

So on the day of parting, she broke off a branch of plum blossoms to give him.

These plum blossoms were cultivated by her own hands, blooming when snow fell. Her original intention was that because winter had few flowers, she wanted to create a very good selling point, making those noble ladies and young misses willing to pay high prices to purchase them.

But at this moment, to make this man think of her whenever he saw the flowers, she casually gave it this name, saying, “Hongchen, after you leave, I don’t know if there will be another chance to meet. These flowers bloom when they see snow. I’ve named them ‘Thinking of Your Peace.’ From now on, no matter the ends of the earth, dawn or dusk, when flowers bloom, I’ll think of your peace.”

He accepted those flowers, and as promised, when the first snow of the season came, he arrived bearing that plum branch to marry her. Only on that day, there wasn’t much tender affection in his brows.

—He knew what he wanted, and he also knew what Huang Rang wanted.

Huang Rang wanted the title and honor of being the sect mistress, and he gave it to her. While he coveted her charm that seeped into her very bones, and Huang Rang didn’t stint either, remaining unchanged for a hundred years.

How ridiculous—later on, men and women of the world actually liked to use this flower to pledge their love.

Huang Rang stared at the tree full of red plums in a daze. Di Yiqiu stood beneath the tree, keeping her company as she viewed the flowers.

This day, the snow in the capital fell as large as席 席席 席席席 席席席席席席席 席席席席席席席席 -席 席席席席席席席席席席席 large as mats. He held the umbrella, yet snow accumulated on half his shoulder.

Suddenly, someone came running over. Seeing Di Yiqiu, he hurriedly said, “Jianzheng, His Majesty summons you. You must enter the palace immediately.”

Enter the palace? Huang Rang’s heart tightened.

Di Yiqiu seemed unconcerned and said, “Eunuch, please wait a moment. Allow me to change clothes.”

That eunuch said, “Jianzheng, His Majesty’s summons is urgent. You should…”

Only then did Di Yiqiu look at him, saying gently, “What, is it inconvenient for Eunuch Fu to wait for this official?”

The eunuch suddenly realized and hurriedly bowed, saying, “This slave will respectfully await the Jianzheng here.”

Only then did Di Yiqiu make a sound of acknowledgment. He tidied the stray hairs by Huang Rang’s temples and said, “You go back to your room first.”

Very well. Huang Rang knew it was inconvenient for him to bring her along, and she didn’t want to see this Shi Wenyu either. So she silently agreed.

Di Yiqiu pushed her into the bedroom, still removed her dress and robe, and placed her properly in the bedding. He carefully lit the candles and placed the warming basin near the bed. Then he closed the door and went out.

Huang Rang watched his departing back and actually felt quite worried.

—After just a few short days together, she seemed to have already begun relying on this man. Thinking it over carefully, it was also because she truly had no other support.

Huang Rang sighed inwardly.

The imperial palace, Yuanrong Pagoda.

The current emperor, Shi Wenyu, secluded himself here for cultivation.

Below the pagoda were eight-sided jade steps, all with guards. Di Yiqiu ascended the steps and entered the pagoda. Inside, the murals on the walls differed on each level. There were images of Shi Wenyu leading troops in battle, as well as various immortals refining elixirs, chanting scriptures, and ascending to the heavens.

Di Yiqiu went straight to the ninth level, where Shi Wenyu usually rested.

He knelt outside the pearl curtain, awaiting the summons. The temperature inside the pagoda was too high for him, stuffy enough to make him sweat.

Behind the curtain, Shi Wenyu lit a burner of incense, lightly gathering the smoke with his hand, and said, “Come in.”

Only then did Di Yiqiu enter. Shi Wenyu turned his head. His long hair was loose, his build tall, his features gaunt. He wore black and white Daoist robes, presenting an image untainted by worldly dust. Looking this way, he appeared only about thirty years old, showing no signs of age. But his eyes were murky, his gaze weathered and gloomy.

Though time hadn’t managed to take his life, it had still left indelible marks on him.

Di Yiqiu knelt again, bowing to him and saying, “Your Majesty.”

Shi Wenyu didn’t tell him to rise, only saying, “I heard you recently acquired an exquisite plaything that you treasure dearly. How come you didn’t bring it for me to see?”

Di Yiqiu’s heart stirred slightly, but his face showed nothing. He only said, “It’s merely a toy. How would I dare bring it before Your Majesty and sully Your Majesty’s ears?”

Shi Wenyu laughed lightly and said, “You still can’t let go of that woman. You child, you’ve never been able to see through things since you were young.”

Di Yiqiu touched his forehead to the ground. “This subject is foolish.”

“Some things, when not obtained, naturally remain unforgettable. But if truly held in hand, they become like weeds and dirt.” He watched the incense in the burner ignite and said, “The matter of the longevity elixir—how are the preparations coming?”

Di Yiqiu said, “In response to Your Majesty, the spiritual elixir will soon be completed and can definitely be presented on time.”

Shi Wenyu made a sound of acknowledgment, seeming very satisfied, but suddenly said, “Fifth Brother has been feeling stifled in the pagoda lately. I’ve sent him to find you. Thinking that between you brothers, you can speak some intimate words. If you see him, you must have a good talk with him.”

He deliberately first mentioned Di Yiqiu’s recent beloved object, to show how well-informed his eyes and ears were at Si Tianjian. Then he brought up Fifth Brother. Though he hadn’t left Yuanrong Pagoda in a long time, he knew everything about all the departments.

Perhaps he already knew about Fifth Brother’s death too.

Di Yiqiu lowered his head and said, “With Fifth Brother’s temperament, how would he confide in this subject?”

Truly, flawless. Shi Wenyu couldn’t see anything from his face and turned to say, “Though his temperament is proud and unruly, you must be more tolerant. After all, you’re blood brothers.”

Di Yiqiu respectfully responded with an affirmative.

Shi Wenyu added, “Perhaps it’s the severe cold of snowy days. Recently I’ve always felt physically weary.”

Di Yiqiu understood and said, “The longevity elixir has not yet formed. Your Majesty’s dragon body has difficulty adapting to the winter cold. Why not still use this subject’s blood to temporarily relieve the fatigue?”

Shi Wenyu nodded and said, “That’s good. Among my countless sons and daughters, only your blood is the purest.”

Di Yiqiu touched his forehead to the ground and said, “This subject will go obtain the blood immediately.”

Shi Wenyu inhaled the smoke from the burner. Di Yiqiu knew what that was—incense made from Immortal Grass.

Over a hundred years ago, he went to Immortal Tea Town and discovered that Huang Rang had specially cultivated Immortal Grass. She used this grass to roll cigarettes for her father Huang Shu. This grass was easily addictive, so she used Clarity Pills to remove its toxicity. Huang Shu was especially fond of it.

Di Yiqiu found a way to let Shi Wenyu discover it. Shi Wenyu, being suspicious, naturally investigated this grass’s drawbacks. But after Shi Wenyu burned this grass, he still couldn’t resist its temptation.

He was also cautious, likewise taking Clarity Pills to resist the medicinal properties of Immortal Grass.

The miraculous aspect of this grass was that after inhaling it, one would immediately fall into a realm of extreme bliss, where all desires and hopes would come true. Such a thing—even knowing there must be a price—there were always people who found it hard to give up.

Sure enough, after Shi Wenyu inhaled this incense, his consciousness gradually grew soft and muddled. He waved his hand and said, “Go.”

Di Yiqiu came to the base of the pagoda. Below Yuanrong Pagoda was actually another world.

Here there were no more ornate wall carvings. Dim candlelight vaguely illuminated several prison cells.

The people in the cells were bound by iron chains, only able to move within a zhang’s distance. Hearing sounds, they rushed to the cell doors, disheveled and filthy, no longer resembling human forms. Even more terrifying was that their bodies were covered densely with snake scales. The scales grew chaotically and randomly on their bodies, creating a horrifying sight.

“Let me out! Let me out!” They desperately shook the prison doors, making muffled and unclear shouts.

An attendant made the lamp brighter, and they immediately covered their eyes and shrank into corners. They seemed unable to bear such light.

The attendant respectfully handed over a silver knife and brought forth a golden bowl.

Di Yiqiu took the knife and made a cut on his wrist. Blood gushed forth, gradually gathering in the bowl into a vivid pool of red. The attendant stared at the bowl. When the blood had filled more than half the bowl, he finally took out medicinal gauze and said, “That’s enough. This slave will apply medicine for the Jianzheng.”

Di Yiqiu pressed his wound and said, “No need.” He bandaged the wound himself, and the attendant escorted him out.

As he was about to ascend, he looked back. In this sunless prison cage, pairs of eyes stared fixedly at him.

Imprisoned here were all his brothers and sisters. As imperial princes and princesses, they should have had fine clothes and food, living in luxury and comfort. But now they were imprisoned in this place, neither human nor ghost.

“Jianzheng? Let’s go.” The attendant carefully urged.

Di Yiqiu stepped out of the dungeon and returned to the first level of Yuanrong Pagoda. It was like returning to the mortal world from hell.

He slowly left the pagoda, but behind him something still seemed to be watching and following.

Di Yiqiu had always been firm in mind and nature, but at this moment, he had an impulse to look back.

He must still be affected by the medicinal properties of that incense.

Shi Wenyu only knew it was Immortal Grass. He didn’t know there was another grass, a variant of Immortal Grass. Because the appearance and smell were exactly the same, when making incense each time, mixing in one or two stalks, no one would notice at all.

Xuanwu Si.

Huang Rang lay on the bed, silently waiting. She recalled her own life and found it truly laughable. Since marrying into Yuhu Xuanzong, she had spent a hundred years waiting for Xie Hongchen. Later, imprisoned in the secret chamber within the mountain belly, she had ten years of time waiting for escape.

Now she began waiting for Di Yiqiu.

In the wind and snow, extremely familiar footsteps sounded.

Huang Rang wished she could sit up in alarm.

The door creaked open. Before the person entered, wind and snow first filled the room.

Di Yiqiu closed the door. He seemed extremely weary. He simply removed his clothes and shoes and went straight to bed. Huang Rang waited for quite a while, but seeing he didn’t plan to pay attention to her, she was immediately very disappointed.

But after a while, she suddenly felt the bedding trembling slightly. Huang Rang didn’t understand why. From the corner of her eye, she looked over. In the weak candlelight, Di Yiqiu was shaking.

Was he crying?

Huang Rang was shocked inwardly, and many thoughts immediately appeared.

He went to see his father, and after returning, he was hiding in the bedding secretly crying. So what beastly thing did his father do?

Huang Rang wasn’t an innocent young girl. She knew all kinds of people existed in this world… people with mother complexes, father complexes. Could it be that Shi Wenyu… had a son complex?

Then he… then Di Yiqiu… good heavens!

Huang Rang’s thoughts gradually became less than healthy. Until Di Yiqiu turned over and embraced her, only then did she discover—Di Yiqiu was cold. His fingertips pressed against the back of her neck were practically like ice. His entire body, even through clothing, one could feel the cold air.

And Di Yiqiu quickly released her.

He got up to dress, and also properly covered Huang Rang with the bedding. Huang Rang not only saw the medicinal gauze wrapped around his wrist but also saw his completely bloodless face. His voice was also full of weariness as he said, “I’ll go sleep in the study.”

Having said this, he took a light fur coat and closed the door as he left.

In that moment, Huang Rang wanted to make him stay. Unfortunately, she now was like a zither, like a tree—ultimately just a lifeless object.

In the mortal world of bitter wind and sudden snow, who could truly warm whom?