Heavy snow fell profusely, blanketing all of Mount Ji, yet it could never cover wave after wave of the stench of blood!

Jingrong looked at Duke Yuguo’s corpse, the long sword in his hand dripping with fresh blood. That scorching blood flowed along the blade to the sharp sword tip, then dripped drop by drop onto the white snow at his feet.

“Can you promise me one thing?”

“When the time comes, spare his life!”

By his ear echoed Wei Yi’s voice.

He had clearly promised, yet now he had broken his word.

…

The twenty-first year of Qi Zhen’s reign, winter.

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Xian has shown deficiency in virtue, lacks loyalty and filial piety, has offended His Majesty—he is the root of national harm, guilty of disrespect. Therefore, his princely title is stripped, he is demoted to Lingzhou, and for his entire lifetime may never return to the capital. This is decreed.”

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Wei Yi is the son of a Duke, virtuous in conduct, respectful and sincere in bearing. He is hereby granted the title of Prince Shun of the Second Rank.”

All those involved in the matter were also arrested—the Minister of Personnel, Minister Qu, Old General Li, Master Yu, and others…

Those who deserved rewards naturally received them without exception.

After that day, Emperor Qi Zhen fell gravely ill and no longer held court. He ordered all court matters to be handled by Jingrong.

Prince of the Second Rank’s Manor.

Now bearing the title of Prince of the Second Rank, Wei Yi had established his own household. The Emperor in his benevolence even had Duke Yuguo’s body buried in the imperial tomb, letting bygones be bygones.

In the manor’s back courtyard, seven or eight children played and laughed in the snow. Sometimes they chased each other around the flower beds, sometimes they found bamboo sticks from somewhere and tapped them on the ground, or they rolled snowballs and had a wonderful time throwing them.

Wei Yi sat on the stone steps, draped in a thick sable fur coat. Snowflakes playfully landed on him, but he paid them no mind, letting them be. His pair of gentle eyes were as clean and clear as white snow, and when they fell upon the children, they even revealed a touch of indulgence.

The children gathered around him, pulling at him. “Prince Brother, come play snowball fight with us.”

“Prince Brother, play with us.”

“Prince Brother…”

He was pulled up by the children and joined their snowball fight.

Joyful sounds filled the entire back courtyard.

Ji Yunshu stood in the distant covered corridor, quietly watching this scene, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

How she wished it could always be like this—happy and carefree.

The maid beside her asked, “Miss, won’t you go over?”

She shook her head and sighed softly, looking at the snow filling the sky.

She said, “In the blink of an eye, a year has passed.”

What she didn’t know was that as she spoke these words, Wei Yi in the distance was looking her way. Entering his field of vision was that slender, petite figure in elegant clothing, long hair draped over her shoulders, gently flowing with the wind. Though those eyes were deep and bright, her delicate face showed a faint melancholy. Standing in the corner beneath the corridor’s edge, she made one want to reach out and embrace her—quite a beautiful sight. Wei Yi was entranced, until a child beside him tugged at his sleeve corner, pulling his thoughts back, and he rejoined the “snowball fight.”

Bright laughter echoed long and far…

Several days later, New Year’s Eve.

Jingxian departed for Lingzhou.

He wore ordinary commoner’s clothing, clutching an old bundle in his hands that contained only a few worn garments. His entire face was plain and pale, his eyes calm and tranquil. It turned out that losing everything didn’t feel as “fatal” as imagined. Rather, it was like unloading a heavy burden—much more relaxed.

Looking at the cloudless sky, he took a deep breath.

So refreshing!

And as he left the capital, only Muruo came to see him off.

“Lingzhou is a good place. It’s spring-like all year round there. After you arrive, take good care of yourself. In any case, be careful along the way.”

Jingxian said with a smile, “It’s rare that even today, you still came to see me off.”

“After today’s parting, who knows when we’ll meet again. No matter what, I should come see you off.”

“Muruo… I owe you.”

“There’s no talk of owing—you don’t owe me anything either. There’s no need to keep carrying this burden. Though you and I can no longer be as we were before, I truly hope you’ll be well.”

Jingxian’s eyes moistened. He had countless words in his heart, but when they reached his lips, there were only two words.

“Thank you!”

Then he suddenly remembered something. From his sleeve, he took out an exquisite bottle and handed it to Muruo.

“What is this?”

“This is the antidote to the toad poison.”

Muruo was shocked. “How did you know?”

“Actually, from the day you brought Miss Ji into the palace to see me, I knew she had been poisoned by toad venom. You should know my mother consort was skilled with poisons, and I naturally took after her. Toad poison is extremely cold, but it’s not without an antidote. As long as she takes this medicine, she’ll recover.”

Muruo held the “life-saving medicine,” extremely moved.

He also thanked him on Ji Yunshu’s behalf.

Jingxian said, “Today is New Year’s Eve, originally a day for family reunions. I imagine this year you’ll be going to Prince Rong’s manor. No need to see me off—go back early and prepare.”

“I have something for you.”

“Hmm?”

Muruo took an object from his waist and pressed it into his hand.

Looking at it, it was actually the fish-shaped jade pendant he had found outside the capital for Jingrong.

His fingers gently caressed the jade pendant, and he smiled bitterly.

“He ultimately… still cannot forgive me.”

“You’ve misunderstood. He knows you smashed your mother consort’s jade pendant, so he had me give you this one. Perhaps you need this jade more than he does.”

“I see.”

His heart felt relieved, and he carefully put away the jade pendant.

After saying goodbye, he boarded the carriage and left the capital.

Outside the capital, snowflakes flew like particles.

The carriage traveled very slowly.

Jingxian lifted the curtain to look outside. The mountains were a vast expanse of white, but the monotonous white color didn’t make one feel dull—rather, it was more comfortable.

“Chirp chirp…”

Again, a flock of azure-winged magpies flew overhead, quickly darting into the forest nearby. Occasionally three to five broke away from the formation, flying up and down above the treetops.

Extremely adorable!

Watching this scene, a smile spread across his lips, his eyes full of longing.

Lingzhou was a good place, spring-like all year round, with birds singing and flowers blooming. It would be where he would settle for the rest of his life.

Thinking this, he became even more expectant.

Suddenly—

A sharp pain in his chest!

His brow furrowed. He coughed twice, and fresh blood spurted from his nose and mouth, splashing onto his clean robe. He reached up to wipe it, getting blood all over his hand.

At this moment, he knew he wouldn’t make it—wouldn’t make it to Lingzhou, wouldn’t get to see the beautiful scenery there, wouldn’t get to hear the birds’ moving calls.

He moved his lips with difficulty, instructing those outside the carriage, “Please… go faster.”

The people outside replied, “Yes.”

So the carriage traveled much faster than before.

He leaned against the carriage wall, having no strength left to support his gasping body.

Liberation!

He would never again have to return to that cold palace, never again have to endure winter after winter.

Perhaps a fledgling’s return to the nest truly was fate!