A common tiled house with blue tiles and white walls. Outside, dried fish and vegetables hung to cure, along with some colorful clothes – judging by their material and style, items favored by local customs.

In the corner of the wall were piled fishing nets, bamboo traps, water basins and such, arranged in perfect order – exactly the appearance a household near a great river should present.

It looked completely without suspicious points.

Inside the house someone was moaning – a young man’s voice. An old man was digging three feet deep in the courtyard, then drawing water from the well, pouring it into the soil layer, stirring it muddy with a stick. Once it settled and cleared, the extracted water would be the earth syrup that could counteract the poison from mixing ophiopogon and crucian carp.

Qin Chang Ge hid in a tree outside the courtyard, her blazing gaze fixed on the old man digging in the yard. His movements seemed ordinary enough, no apparent flaws visible.

Only his actions seemed slightly uncoordinated, as if he’d been injured somewhere.

The courtyard was already surrounded three layers thick – not even wings could escape. Qin Chang Ge knew her martial arts weren’t as good as Bai Yuan’s, so she’d use human wave tactics. After all, with Bai Yuan carrying the Queen through twists and turns, he wouldn’t have many people with him.

Slowly making a gesture, Qin Chang Ge’s body sprang forward, directly attacking the small courtyard.

With a whoosh, crossbow archers appeared simultaneously on walls and in the courtyard. Countless arrows gleaming with cold light arranged in neat, dark straight lines, drawing a seamless circle above the wall tops.

The old man digging for water raised his iron shovel. A cold light blazed, fierce wind striking directly at Qin Chang Ge’s chest.

At the same moment, black stones suddenly shot from the four corners of the courtyard and under the eaves. Wind sounds whistled, weaving into a net that trapped Qin Chang Ge at the center.

Qin Chang Ge laughed coldly. Her body suddenly flattened as she pulled in her abdomen and compressed her bones, moving left and darting right through the densely woven stone net, dodging each by a hair’s breadth. She raised her hand – brilliant light flashed as it collided with the viciously chopping shovel.

Crack! The iron shovel shattered, even the long handle split completely. But suddenly a thin iron hook shot from the handle’s tail, clattering as it caught the fishing net at the wall corner. The old man’s arm shook, and the fishing net flew up like a blanket, its mesh gleaming with blue and purple – entirely poisoned.

After casting the net, the old man tried to retreat. Qin Chang Ge smiled: “Where are you going?” She kicked up – the shovel flew and struck the old man’s abdomen, making him vomit a mouthful of stagnant blood. Before he could retreat further, Qin Chang Ge’s next move arrived. One foot hooked behind his knee, pulling him forward into a fall as she laughed lightly: “Let you be my cushion.”

With a muffled grunt, the old man fell onto her. The next instant, the fishing net spun down perfectly, covering the old man entirely.

The scene under the net was rather strange – Qin Chang Ge lay flat on the bottom, but didn’t let the old man touch her body. Instead, both knees raised up, one pressing his throat and one his abdomen, holding him straight above herself.

Winking at the old man, Qin Chang Ge said: “Not everyone is qualified to press down on me.”

Reaching out to grip his throat, Qin Chang Ge ripped off his mask with a swish, revealing his still-young face. She said slowly: “General Yi, how rarely loyal you are, fighting while injured. Where is that lovely master of yours?”

Coughing up bloody foam and spitting at Qin Chang Ge, Yi Cheng said coldly: “Who is my master?”

Tilting her head to avoid the blood, Qin Chang Ge smiled: “You’re not poisoned? Your master gave you antidote first? Really treats you well. I remember hearing that General Yi and Minister Bai were childhood friends with extraordinary bond. How is it that lifelong childhood friends let you take the front line while he hides in his shell like a turtle?”

“Stop trying to sow discord,” Yi Cheng said harshly. “Qin Chang Ge, you naturally husband-killing, malicious woman…”

“Smack!”

Blood sprayed, and instantly three teeth rolled across the ground.

Qin Chang Ge grabbed Yi Cheng, flipped up, and made a graceful arc in mid-air. As the net fell to the ground, she threw Yi Cheng onto it and stepped on his chest. Shaking her hand, Qin Chang Ge said coldly: “I don’t mind knocking out all your teeth, as long as you dare keep talking.”

“You—”

“Smack!”

Two more teeth fell to the ground with blood.

“‘Those who understand the times are wise men’ seems not to work on you?” Qin Chang Ge narrowed her eyes but no longer looked at him, staring instead at the window that suddenly showed a tall shadow: “Minister, wouldn’t you advise your childhood friend?”

“Go ahead and kill him,” came a laughing voice from inside – clearly Bai Yuan’s tone. “Torturing him like this really doesn’t befit your status as the world’s divine empress. Even I feel sorry for you.”

The shadow seemed to move its sleeve slightly, as if pouring tea with casual elegance.

Qin Chang Ge smiled, slowly tightening her grip on Yi Cheng’s throat.

“Once upon a time, there was a child who wandered to Eastern Yan with his mother. At first he had some silver, which was inadvertently exposed at an inn and completely stolen by thieves. That mother was said to be thrown out of the inn to wander the streets, fortunately saved by kind local people. Later the child sold rice cakes and accidentally encountered that family again. They often looked after each other, and he became good friends with their child. Their friendship never changed over the years. After that child rose to prosperity, he greatly repaid that family, and his childhood friend also became a general because of this.”

The house fell silent, the shadow’s arm moving slightly.

“Bai Yuan, I really want to know – toward your benefactor, toward your only friend who has followed you through life and death for years, will you be even slightly soft-hearted?” Qin Chang Ge said coldly: “I don’t want to shoot you full of arrows – that would be too unworthy of Minister Bai’s efforts. You, bring the Queen and come out.”

The house remained motionless, but the shadow never moved from the window, even seeming to lean closer as if wanting to see more clearly.

Qin Chang Ge waved her hand. A group of Phoenix Alliance guards dropped into the courtyard, their crossbows all aimed at that shadow.

“Must I count one, two, three again? How boring.” Qin Chang Ge dragged Yi Cheng over, saying lightly: “I’ll use sounds instead of numbers – listen to these sounds.”

She raised her hand and smiled.

Crack!

The sound of breaking bone rang through the quiet night, chilling to hear.

Yi Cheng’s scream cut off halfway as he forcibly held it in. The excruciating pain of his left hand being brutally twisted and broken made his entire face contort, cold sweat crashing to the ground from his forehead.

The house was silent as death – even the earlier moaning had stopped.

The shadow disappeared from the window. All crossbows immediately went on high alert, but there was no movement.

Qin Chang Ge laughed coldly and raised her hand again.

“Crack.”

Right hand broken.

Yi Cheng convulsed, biting through his lip corner. A trail of blood flowed from his lips, yet he stubbornly made no sound.

“Crack!”

Left leg.

“Whoosh!”

Fierce wind whistled, the paper window shattered, wooden frame struck and shattered into flying pieces. A white light instantly reached Qin Chang Ge.

Aimed at – the chest of the pain-unconscious Yi Cheng!

Qin Chang Ge’s eyes turned cold. Her body spun, dragging Yi Cheng away from that deadly small arrow, casually tossing Yi Cheng into her subordinate’s arms behind her and shouting: “Wrong!”

Before her words ended, she had already leaped up, crashing through the door with a bang. Behind her, guards shouted: “Master, be careful!” and rushed forward.

But Qin Chang Ge’s body stopped at the doorway, her gaze sweeping once before she laughed in extreme anger.

Where were any Queen or Bai Yuan in the room? A gray-clothed man held an oddly-shaped crossbow-like box – the small arrow that had tried to kill Yi Cheng had been shot from this. Another man stood in a corner of the room. Before him was a figure made of iron wire frame, draped in a loose-sleeved pale gold robe. In front of this dummy was an oil lamp, using refraction angles to cast shadows on the window.

The man held an iron wire in his hand – apparently all the shadow’s tea-pouring and hand movements had been him manipulating wires from the corner.

The dummy was made quite naturally and realistically, with smooth lines that at first glance really did resemble Bai Yuan himself.

Qin Chang Ge could only laugh coldly in rage – the initial voice had indeed been Bai Yuan’s, but later it wasn’t. Hatefully, hearing that voice and seeing the shadow’s natural posture, surrounded with no escape route and Yi Cheng in her hands, she’d thought it foolproof. She truly hadn’t expected that he could even throw out Yi Cheng as bait.

This Minister who had once publicly declared to Eastern Yan’s court officials, “Having received the Yi family’s kindness in youth, I must repay it with my life” – everyone in Eastern Yan knew Yi Cheng’s close friendship with him, his absolute loyalty, truly inseparable lifelong confidants.

Precisely knowing Yi Cheng’s importance to him, Qin Chang Ge had wanted to force Bai Yuan to personally kill him – otherwise she would have just shot him full of arrows long ago.

Yet this Minister, both in passion and ruthlessness, had reached human peaks – he could despise kingdoms for the Queen, yet push out his only lifelong friend to escape.

Qin Chang Ge kept laughing coldly as she strode forward. Those two men saw her coming, faces pale as their upper and lower teeth clenched together. Qin Chang Ge didn’t stop them, watching with a cold smile: “Bite, go ahead, bite faster.”

Both men froze, actually forgetting to bite down as they stared at her in amazement. Qin Chang Ge clapped her hands, and guards immediately rushed forward to capture both men.

The courage for self-destruction always lasted only an instant. After that instant passed, the will to survive struggled even more fiercely. Those two men crawled forward wailing, kowtowing repeatedly: “We know where the Minister went! We know—”

“I know too.” Qin Chang Ge coldly interrupted, stepping back slightly, her gaze surveying the room once, frowning.

No entrance?

As Qian Jue’s disciple skilled in formations, one glance should reveal even the most secret chamber entrance, yet that sweep had found nothing.

Could he have drilled into the walls? Unfortunately, the walls had no hidden layers – Qin Chang Ge had already checked.

People searching for mechanisms have habitual methods, generally favoring fixed objects like walls, under beds, etc. But Bai Yuan definitely wouldn’t take the common path.

Stepping back again, Qin Chang Ge took in everything – the few objects: table, chair, bed… nothing special.

Special…

Actually, there was something special in this room…

Qin Chang Ge’s eyes lit up. She suddenly punched down the dummy standing in the corner.

The dummy fell, its feet still connected to iron chains deeply anchored underground.

“What a hidden entrance, what clever thinking.” Qin Chang Ge’s gaze shifted as her left hand grabbed a gray-clothed man while her right yanked the chain hard.

“Thud!”

A dense cluster of arrows shot from under the iron cover that had been lifted with loose earth, immediately turning the nearby black-clothed man into a pincushion.

Qin Chang Ge tossed the corpse aside without a glance, about to go down when her guards had already rushed over, competing to jump down.

With a bitter smile, Qin Chang Ge said: “He wouldn’t have time to prepare so many mechanisms – at most just this one…”

About to descend, those who’d entered the tunnel had already retreated, urgently reporting: “The tunnel is very short, ending at a dry well three houses away. No one’s there!”

But Qin Chang Ge only stared at the iron cover that had been lifted, its edges lightly stained with blood traces. Qin Chang Ge gave a look, and guards immediately understood, squeezing out Sikong Hen who had just squeezed in.

Crouching down and dabbing the blood traces with her finger, Qin Chang Ge said leisurely: “So she really is quite seriously ill. I wondered – in a month’s time, with Bai Yuan’s abilities, he only got this far and delayed without moving, so it was because…”

Waving her hand, Qin Chang Ge said: “Go directly to Yan City Wharf!”

Night winds carrying water’s fishy scent grew stronger and stronger. Permeating the city’s fish and shrimp odors mixed with March’s most abundant cotton tree blossoms, it actually smelled like blood.

Qin Chang Ge led Phoenix Alliance subordinates racing through the night wind – she didn’t plan to use local military in Yan City to surround Bai Yuan. This was formerly Nanmin territory after all. Though it became Xiliang territory last year, inevitably the people might still think of their former country. Who knew what kind of people were in the reorganized army? So she didn’t even notify local officials.

This caused trouble. On Yan City’s main street at Pingkang Ward, some Phoenix Alliance guards were spotted by patrolling soldiers who raised alarm and gave chase. Qin Chang Ge had no choice but to remove her waist token, ordering the chief beside her, Tu Ying, to negotiate. Tu Ying was the new Phoenix Alliance leader promoted after Qi Fan left. Qin Chang Ge hadn’t selected other leaders – in her heart, the Phoenix Alliance Three’s positions would remain forever vacant.

Tu Ying went on his mission while Qin Chang Ge continued tracking. Since Bai Yuan had revealed his trail, his next step would definitely be taking boat downstream. No need to go anywhere else – head straight for the wharf.

Qin Chang Ge had already ordered Phoenix Alliance subordinates to blockade the wharf day and night, using silver to buy off all boat owners not to sail for several days. She even bought and destroyed all the boat paddles, ensuring no one could set sail these few days. She didn’t believe Bai Yuan would carry boat paddles with him. If he used sword to paddle, he’d have no hands free for arrows. If he used hands to paddle, he’d just spin in place.

Rushing to Yan City Wharf, she indeed saw Bai Yuan ahead carrying a woman as he flew forward, guards before and behind him. Further away, a small boat suddenly appeared from under some hidden trees.

The person on the boat was dressed as a fisherman, face unclear. He seemed to turn back and smile at Qin Chang Ge, raised both hands, and a white rainbow first appeared in his palms. Then the white rainbow split in two, transforming into twin swords that gradually widened into paddle shapes.

Qin Chang Ge’s face went white with rage – damn Shui Jingchen, damn Caizhu sword technique! That swordplay actually used qi to control swords. Since it was direct manipulation and transformation, naturally any shape was possible. How had she forgotten this formidable enemy!

Ahead, Bai Yuan gave a long whistle, exerted force with his feet, immediately raising rolling dust clouds as he floated down into the boat carrying the Queen.

“Clang!”

Dozens of sword lights suddenly blazed at the water’s edge, crossing like shears to viciously cut at Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan laughed heartily, kicked repeatedly with both feet, shattering all the sword lights of the ambushed Phoenix Alliance guards, then landed steadily in the boat. Shui Jingchen waved his “light paddles,” and the small boat immediately shot away like an arrow.

Qin Chang Ge leaped up, accelerating in pursuit, when urgent hoofbeats suddenly sounded behind her.

“Master! Secret report!”

Qin Chang Ge whirled around.

Tu Ying wouldn’t fail to know this was the life-or-death moment of pursuing Bai Yuan. For him to shout so urgently at such a critical time – what shocking change could this be!

In Yan City, swords flashed and blades gleamed. In Prince Jing’an’s mansion, birds sang and flowers bloomed.

Under house arrest, Prince Yu reclined slantwise in the “snow-bright” “ice circle,” silver like snow beneath him, red lanterns blazing overhead.

His fingers were buried in the silver snow where no one could see the paper ball he quietly clutched.

Half-opening his beautiful eyes, he gazed at the red lantern in fascination. On the lantern, faintly, a woman danced barefoot in graceful postures.

Yu Zixi’s expression watching that lantern was flowing like a stretch of charming spring light tinged with unmelted snow – every inch tender with deep feeling, every part distant with longing.

…In a flash, so many years had passed.

That year, that blood moon night, meeting at the Red River ice circle. Seeing her from afar on thin ice, a Heavenly Demon Dance with flying flowers falling, the vast sea silent and still.

He stared in amazement, reining his horse, thunderstruck by her heavenly beauty. From then his thoughts were knotted, inch by inch bound to those spinning, brilliant dance steps, never able to break free for a moment.

Life’s first ray of light, in one glance.

That bright, beautiful, graceful figure in the ice circle was like an eternally undispersed sprig of rosemary, irreplaceably soaking his unrestrained years from then on.

That day under ice winds, he stopped his horse to watch. Those flowing dance steps reflected on the crystal ice and snow all around – the mirror-like ice surface was full of her shadows: casting sleeves, brushing temples, raising head, lifting feet, bending waist, trembling fingers…

In her palm was a red lantern, delicate and exquisite, yet not matching her physical beauty. That leisurely red light floated lightly with her dance postures – every movement was a gorgeous dream.

He forgot where he was.

Dusk gathered on all sides. The forest-cold wind from the ice circle blew over. He found it harsh and couldn’t help closing his eyes.

Just this one closing – when he opened them again, her figure was gone.

As if it were all a dream.

He felt lost, spurring his horse to search, but saw only emptiness on the ice circle, no trace of the beautiful woman.

If not for that red lantern lying quietly on the ice, he would have thought it really was a dream.

If not a dream, how could there be such absolutely wonderful dance? If not a dream, how could there be such Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady grace?

Perhaps the lantern was carelessly dropped by the Mysterious Lady, left for him as a keepsake?

He quietly held that lantern, bewildered about what day or night it was.

Behind him, soldiers urged in low voices – the great battle wasn’t finished, General Xiao was still waiting for his reinforcements.

Finally departing with three backward glances at every step, he thought to himself: next time, next time when I come again, next time when I encounter her again, I must not be reluctant to interrupt her world-stunning dance. I should first ask clearly for her fragrant name, her residence, what place she hails from.

…There was no next time.

In that instant when he turned his back to the ice circle and departed, he never once thought that that stunning glimpse was destined to be only a shocking encounter in his lifetime, with no subsequent fate arranged to fulfill his lifetime of searching hardship.

Red River silent, ice circle vast – he searched every corner yet could never again see the person he wished to see.

He searched for her for many, many years.

To find her, he disappointed all his close friends and became the kind of shadowy person he himself despised.

Six years ago, a letter arrived by wild goose. That junior martial brother from the same school who never maintained contact asked him: Would you like to see again that dancing woman from atop the glacier?

Just for that one sentence, he lost sleep for an entire month.

Then he refused.

Bai Yuan wasn’t anxious, only having someone deliver another item – a strip of red silk that looked completely ordinary on the surface. Yet when he held the red silk toward candlelight, he immediately saw those stunning dance steps that had haunted his dreams for years.

He vaguely recalled that year she had a slender waist, her clothes fluttering in the wind. That wisp of silk ribbon scattered in the wind was vaguely of this color and appearance.

He held the red silk toward candlelight again and again, then gently covered his face with it, intoxicated by that ethereal, distant fragrance.

Three days later, he contacted Bai Yuan and said: Good.

From then on, he abandoned friends, conspired in secret, and joined forces with him to kill the woman he had most loved and admired in his life.

He contacted An Feiqing and brought Shui Jingchen into the capital.

He infiltrated Changle Palace and installed the mechanisms Shui Jingchen gave him. He had chatted with His Majesty beforehand, learning of the Empress’s daily routine that day. Using that half hour, he did what he least wanted to do in his lifetime.

He secretly conspired with Empress Dowager Jiang in a hidden chamber, forcing the crime of adultery upon Ruiyi.

He gave Empress Dowager Jiang half a blue fruit – a divine illusion fruit from Qingma Sacred Mountain, an extremely rare treasure he had obtained by chance years ago. When dissolved in tea it was colorless and tasteless, not poisonous, yet could control one’s mind to do anything the poisoner willed, and unless broken by Qingma Sect members using their unique method, one would never remember what they had done.

And naturally, he would never awaken His Majesty’s memory of this period.

He was somewhat wary of Empress Dowager Jiang, not wanting her to know the divine illusion fruit’s function and use it against His Majesty. He only told her this thing helped calm His Majesty’s occasional irritability and could make His Majesty disinterested in women, avoiding Qin Chang Ge monopolizing the six palaces.

Empress Dowager Jiang used that fruit when Xiao Jue came to pay respects. He had originally only wanted her to control Xiao Jue’s consciousness that night, then find an opportunity to plant the idea “Ruiyi eloped” himself. He hadn’t expected Empress Dowager Jiang’s hatred of Chang Ge to be so excessive that while giving Xiao Jue tea, she actually tried suggesting “go dig out her eyes.”

That night, Xiao Jue entered Changle Palace. He was on the palace roof then, fingers gripping the glazed tiles tightly, watching Xiao Jue slowly walk forward, seeing Empress Dowager Jiang lurking far behind in the corridor, seeing Xiao Chen immediately dismiss guards after discovering something wrong with Xiao Jue, withdrawing Changle’s defenders so Xiao Jue could push open Changle Palace doors undisturbed and then dig out Chang Ge’s eyes.

Shui Jingchen set the fire and killed the palace servants. He only stared blankly at the stars and moon in the sky, crushing the already cracked tiles in his hands to powder.

When Shui Jingchen was killing palace servants, Xiao Jue walked back to Longzhang Palace carrying the eyes. He dared not let this thing remain in that palace – if Xiao Jue discovered it later, it would bring unforeseen disaster. He brought Shui Jingchen to an uninhabited palace chamber to wait while he safely escorted him from the palace, then rushed to Longzhang Palace, pressed Xiao Jue’s acupoints, and originally planned to destroy those eyes. Yet suddenly his heart ached, thinking of Changle Palace burning and Chang Ge’s body destroyed without trace. He couldn’t bear to discard another part of her body, so he casually took a box for memorials from Xiao Jue’s desk, packed them inside, then went to Changshou Palace.

He used the remaining half blue fruit, putting it in Empress Dowager Jiang’s tea. After she drank it, he removed memories related to their conspiracy and the divine illusion fruit, leaving only the memory of Xiao Chen dismissing the Imperial Guards. If the matter was discovered later, let Prince Zhao take the blame!

When he was performing the technique on Empress Dowager Jiang, he suddenly discovered a hidden compartment in that carved peony wall in the inner hall. On a whim, he casually stuffed that box into the hidden wall.

After leaving Changshou Palace, he saw Shui Jingchen had returned to Changle Palace, gathering Chang Ge’s remains to take away. He grabbed him to ask what he was doing. Shui Jingchen’s answer made him furious, and he immediately attacked. They hadn’t exchanged many moves when a masked person in white appeared with extremely high martial arts. The three engaged in chaotic battle, and finally Chang Ge’s remains were seized by the three men in parts.

He built a tomb for Chang Ge’s portion of remains in the dense forest below Shanglin Mountain. That place vaguely had mechanisms Qin Chang Ge had arranged while alive, making him feel close. He occasionally went there to sit and think of those exhilarating days of galloping horses on battlefields, laughing while killing enemies, and those days of endless arguments with that detestable yet cunning woman – arguing then fighting, fighting then arguing again.

…Those days were forever destroyed by his own hand.

Destroyed, betrayed, harmed, yet couldn’t exchange for the long-dreamed reunion and flying together as paired wings, couldn’t exchange for her.

Bai Yuan said she was severely injured, very severely. Perhaps she would never wake in this lifetime. He was trying hard to heal her, using thousand-year ice ginseng from below Qingma Mountain to sustain her vitality. Her body was frozen in an ice cave with layers of mechanisms – naturally Bai Yuan could enter and exit, but Bai Yuan refused his entry.

Bai Yuan said she had consciousness but shouldn’t have any emotional fluctuations. If he rashly entered to awaken her, it might very well cost her life.

Hearing those words that day, he stood transfixed before the ice cave for a very long time. Why was the transparent wind from the mountain peak so like blade edges, cutting him full of bloody holes stroke by stroke?

That flowing blood froze forever on Qingma Mountain, becoming unfading colored glaciers.

He killed Chang Ge, betrayed Xiao Jue, abandoned lifelong friendships, yet couldn’t even see her once.

And Chang Ge, that clever, cunning yet proud woman – he had thought in this life she would forever be the confidant who could ride shoulder to shoulder with him, standing at the pinnacle of wind and clouds, laughing while directing the six nations; the devoted female friend with whom he’d argue and quarrel for life yet share absolute loyalty; or perhaps, if he hadn’t met her first, he felt he might have eventually fallen in love with Chang Ge.

Yet everything was just “thought,” just “if,” just destiny.

Between him and her, there had been so many beautiful choices, yet he chose the most painful one.

He personally killed his confidant, his close friend, only for the shadow of that barefoot dancing sprite above the ice circle years ago.

Of the thirty-three celestial palaces, Lihen Heaven is highest; of four hundred and forty diseases, lovesickness is most bitter.

…

…Under the red lantern’s reflection, Yu Zixi’s smile flowed like water. Over these years, he had long learned to transform all mental turmoil into spring-water-like smiles. In those ever-changing expressions, all secrets floated away like river lanterns following the current.

When did he realize she had returned?

It seemed to be the day they eliminated the wolves, when she spoke cunningly, vaguely showing the style of their old arguments. In those black jade-like eyes, familiar ripples danced.

Yet it was only an instant’s déjà vu – he dared not believe. He had seen her die with his own eyes, personally taken her eyes, personally buried her bones. No one had touched her death more closely than he.

Yet through those repeated encounters, he grew increasingly confused. He began to be obsessed with clashing with her, seeking in those clashes the similar traces preserved in memory.

When Ming Shuang “died,” he never believed it. He continued searching in his field of vision, finding that Zhao Moyan whose temperament and expression were completely different yet startlingly similar to Ming Shuang and Qin Chang Ge.

The figures of Ming Shuang, Zhao Moyan, Qin Chang Ge – three different people gradually revealed their common outline through his repeated intentional and unintentional provocations.

He knew she had returned.

Whether that moment brought sorrow or joy, he had forgotten. Chang Ge, Chang Ge, have you come to reclaim your debts?

He didn’t want to hide it, yet still wanted to see her once more – that beloved of his, frozen in the glacier, who had never opened her eyes.

That day he released Bai Yuan, he had no choice but to release him. Her life needed Bai Yuan to sustain it. Whether or not Bai Yuan was lying, having one more hope was better than no hope.

That night Chang Ge drank Red River strong liquor with him here. She called him “Flower Fox.” He heard it clearly yet sorrowfully didn’t want to hear it.

No, I don’t want to know you’re the mother scorpion. I don’t know who you are – at least now I don’t want to know, or I might very well be forced to oppose you again. The nightmare came once – that’s enough. I don’t want a second time.

I don’t want a second time, but why does fate always force me to a second time?

…Yu Zixi’s fingers buried in the “snow pile” clenched again. The qi force between his fingers uncontrollably contracted with a pop, crushing that small wax pill.

The letter said:

A’Jue is dead… A’Jue is dead…

Chang Ge is pursuing Bai Yuan in a fight to the death…

She has improved somewhat. After finishing this matter and resolving Bai Yuan’s crisis, he could see her…

If Bai Yuan died, he would never see her again…

Yu Zixi suddenly laughed madly.

His laughter was low and haunting, echoing in the empty garden. All around, slight tremors arose, gradually producing the sound of ice crystals shattering. Then those high-hanging water crystals shaped like icicles all fell to the ground, smashing among the broken silver flakes with clear, tinkling sounds.

More and more ice crystals were pulverized, like a crystal rain falling from the sky.

Yu Zixi only laughed madly, laughing until his body trembled, laughing until blood slowly seeped from the corners of his mouth.

Bai Yuan… Bai Yuan… you want me to kill Chang Ge, you want me to release you causing Xiao Jue’s death, and you want me to kill their only son.

You… you… what do you take me for?

And I… I… what am I?

I’m just a deranged, shameless, despicable madman who for selfish desires can use any means, can overturn the world!

My heart, where is my heart? My heart is long gone – when I murdered my appreciated confidant, when I caused the death of my blood-and-fire comrade, when I saw that brilliantly radiant woman dancing like a flying celestial in the ice mirror many years ago, it was already dug out, crushed, discarded.

Life’s seven great sufferings: birth, old age, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, meeting with enemies, not obtaining what one seeks.

Not obtaining what one seeks – always going against the wind, flowing upstream, betraying the world’s direction, struggling forward. The western treasure tree is called Whirling, yet I have no fate to bear that fruit of longevity.

…In the midst of love and desire, people come and go alone, are born and die alone. Joy and suffering are their own to bear – none can substitute.

The mad laughter gradually faded. The once carefully crafted ice circle garden commemorating first meeting with his beloved had been destroyed. Among the scattered crystals on the ground, the red-robed man slowly stood up.

His steps were calm and steady as he walked out.

Just reaching the doorway, a deputy commander from Nine Gates Admiral’s subordinates immediately surrounded him respectfully yet vigilantly, bowing and asking: “Where does Your Highness wish to go? We shall prepare carriages and horses.”

“I want to enter the palace. I have urgent military intelligence to report to the Crown Prince regent.” Yu Zixi kept his hands in his sleeves, gazing at the sky with distant eyes.

“This…” The man was troubled. Before His Majesty and Grand Tutor left the capital, they had repeatedly instructed to watch Prince Yu’s movements closely, especially not letting him enter the palace. For so long, Prince Yu had been content staying in his own mansion, never causing any trouble. Yet today he suddenly pulled this stunt – what to do?

“You won’t let me go?” Yu Zixi glanced over sideways. Though he showed no killing intent, meeting such a gaze made the man freeze and tremble all over. He wiped sweat from his forehead and stammered: “This subordinate dares not, it’s just…”

“I know you won’t let me leave unless I explain clearly,” Yu Zixi looked at him coldly. “I’ll tell you – His Majesty died at Yu City. I must immediately report to the Crown Prince. Tell me, is this news urgent or not?”

“Ah!”

The deputy commander was shocked into stepping back, his lips turning white as he stared wide-eyed at Yu Zixi: “Your Your Your Highness can’t be joking about such things…”

“Cursing the imperial family is a capital crime. I never joke with my life.” Yu Zixi glanced at him sideways. “You obstruct me, delaying my report of this critically important news – are you trying to joke with your own life?”

The deputy commander, meeting those crystal-bright yet mysterious eyes, felt like ice water had been poured over him from head to toe. He stepped back in panic, stammering: “This subordinate dares not… dares not…”

Yu Zixi no longer paid him attention. With a finger snap, his eighteen guards immediately surrounded him as they sped away like dust on the wind, leaving the deputy commander behind in layers of smoke and ash.

The deputy commander stood stunned for a while, then suddenly jumped up, roaring at his subordinate soldiers:

“What are you standing there for? Quickly report to the Admiral! Something big has happened!”

The atmosphere in the Great Ceremony Hall was solemn, officials looking serious, Old Jia Duan sweating profusely, Crown Prince Xiao drowsy with sleep.

Why did this blasted court session have to last so long? Why was this small throne placed beside the imperial seat so high? It made one have to be careful not to be caught when wanting to slack off.

Baozi had risen at the fourth watch to practice martial arts, attended court at the fifth watch, and had already sat on the throne for two hours – he was truly tired.

The buzzing sounds below were really hypnotic…

Baozi yawned satisfyingly, preparing to sleep to this natural lullaby.

…Why was this lullaby getting noisier and noisier?

Baozi impatiently shifted to support his head with the other hand, suddenly hearing a commotion below, followed by Old Jia Duan’s startled cry.

What’s all the noise! Who’s so lacking in virtue across eight generations, disturbing this Crown Prince’s sleep!

Baozi opened his eyes in fury, and saw a court full of shocked, confused expressions. Beside him, Old Jia Duan trembled with his hands and lips, loudly saying: “Prince Jing’an speaks nonsense – why are you all panicking? Someone come, go deliver an edict to His Highness saying that before His Majesty’s personal campaign he issued orders for His Highness to remain in his mansion in contemplation. Since the edict hasn’t been withdrawn, how can His Highness leave without permission? Please ask His Highness to return to his mansion!”

“But he said His Majesty died at Yu City…”

“Silence!”

Old Jia Duan roared, the veins on his neck almost bursting. That official was frightened by his rare, imposing fury into stepping back and nearly slipping.

After roaring, Jia Duan immediately turned worriedly to look at the Crown Prince.

Baozi had already frozen in his seat.

Below, all officials raised their heads looking at that seven-year-old child on the throne.

Prince Jing’an’s palace gate message said His Majesty was struck by arrows at Yu City and died, Xiliang suffered devastating defeat, but fortunately the Empress returned and reorganized the army to turn defeat into victory… this this this this didn’t match the military reports! The reports only mentioned great victory at Yu City. His Majesty died? Heavens…

Old Jia Duan and Youtiao’er watched Baozi worriedly. Jia Duan nudged Youtiao’er, Youtiao’er nudged Baozi, but Baozi showed no reaction at all.

Baozi indeed had no reaction now. All his spirit suddenly fell into chaos. That strange suffocating feeling from these past days pressed heavily on his heart. His mind was full of horizontal, vertical, diagonal messy lines, yet he couldn’t make sense of what they were.

Father… has died?

Really?

…

Taking a breath, Baozi suddenly jumped onto the imperial throne and shouted: “Go! Let Prince Jing’an enter the hall! I want to question him personally and get to the bottom of this!”

“Crown Prince…”

“Go!!”

The eunuch was frightened by his forcefully shouted voice into stepping back. He really hadn’t expected such a small child could produce such a loud voice. He ran out stumbling and crawling.

Old Jia Duan saw the situation was beyond control and could only loyally move closer to Baozi, while ordering guards to surround the Great Ceremony Hall.