After a long while, Huang Beishuang finally thought to ask him, “You still haven’t said how you came up here? What are you here for?” In her heart, she had thought there was some chance he had come to see her, but her intuition told her this man was not so simple.
Qingyun pulled her to sit with him on the railing, smiling as he said, “In this world, any place can be as if uninhabited to me. Whether it’s Wen’s camp, Guanghan Palace, or your heart!” He spoke as if it were a matter of course, domineering and unreasonable.
But hearing this, Huang Beishuang was even more moved. Could loving someone so deeply take away her lifelong dignity and pride? Her heart, before him, was truly just a pilgrim-like devotion!
That night, Huang Beishuang and Qingyun played the xiao together, laughing and discussing the affairs of the world. Though the night was cold, he held her constantly, wrapping her in his outer garment, so she never felt even a hint of chill. Even the jade xiao began to feel warm. It wasn’t until dawn broke on the horizon that Qingyun quietly left, and Huang Beishuang returned to her chambers.
She still hadn’t asked why he had come here. It seemed that in her impression, he was originally a person who appeared and disappeared mysteriously, his whereabouts hard to trace. Huang Beishuang leaned by the bed, though she gazed out the window, her heart had drifted far away…
“In three days, I’ll come to see you again!”
Suddenly remembering his parting words, she couldn’t help but smile.
Three days would pass quickly; in three days, he would come to see her again.
Ye Pei and the other two were tidying her bed when they looked up and saw her secretly smiling again. They couldn’t help but tease, “Widow Consort, if you want to laugh, just laugh. But secretly smiling isn’t good. If the king sees it and starts digging for reasons, what will you do?”
Huang Beishuang stopped smiling and dove under the covers, mumbling in response, “You girls are getting more and more improper! I’m tired, I haven’t slept all night. You all go out, and don’t come disturb me!”
The three maids covered their mouths and laughed quietly, then gently left the room.
The three stood guard at the door, their hearts full of surprise. Last night, they had been guarding the roadside when they saw Na Xiuer lingering in the pavilion for a long time. Alarmed, they went to check and unexpectedly witnessed a scene that made them blush. It was their mistress, who was usually so cautious in her words and actions, happily leaning in a man’s embrace, drinking wine, gazing at the moon, playing the xiao, and discussing swordsmanship, which astonished them greatly.
However, regarding Qingyun’s appearance, they seemed to have expected it, exchanging knowing glances before tactfully retreating.
In this world, there are always some waits that are involuntary,
They can make your reason and emotions stand on opposite sides,
They can make your intelligence and slowness intertwine in confusion,
Finally, in that waiting,
You forget everything…
A thousand ordinary people have a thousand ways of living. If they make a thousand mistakes, there are also a thousand ways to make amends. In this regard, they are fortunate. Even if they don’t always succeed, at least they don’t have to make mistakes that catch everyone’s attention, mistakes that are like a nail in the white wall of history. Whether driven in or pulled out, it leaves a fly-like scar that can never be erased in a lifetime!
In this respect, the now-extinct Ma Sui is an example. King Ge’er Jinqin, overestimating himself, underestimated foreign troops, ultimately giving up millions of territories and tens of millions of people. His foolishness is a nail. And Hugu, now like a startled bird, where King Gu Cha was weak and ineffective, to strengthen national defense, carelessly introduced fifty thousand elite cavalry from Tiandu. Now, with Tiandu troops occupying the market, overnight they have seized all the strongholds of Hugu’s capital. His narrow-mindedness is a nail. Originally, these two men – one fearing death and surrendering easily, the other fearing defeat and seeking help everywhere – were very normal reactions for ordinary people. But heaven gave them the fate of being kings, so after they enjoyed all the glory and wealth, they also ruined their family’s legacy. Even if they regret it, they cannot start over. History books will record this harshly, leaving them to be ridiculed for ten thousand generations and cursed for three lifetimes, because a king cannot cover his shame.
That night, Hugu did not wait for the return of the hero Zhan Bie, nor did they wait for Cloud Swamp’s world-renowned Red Cavalry. Instead, quietly and silently, the flag of Tiandu was raised on the palace roof.
A play was enacted where one king knelt before another!
In Cloud Swamp, the weather was getting colder.
Three days had passed. As night fell, Huang Beishuang was sitting sideways on the edge of the bed, holding a yellow-green jade bracelet, occasionally examining it in the candlelight on the table. She murmured, “Zai Ping, look, there are wisps of cloud inside. It’s really beautiful!” She pressed it to her lips, “It’s very cold, like frost and snow!” She was talking to herself, smiling at Zai Ping and Dao Qiu who were washing her feet.
“This servant rarely sees Frost Consort with such an expression!” Zai Ping smiled.
“Will Lord Qing come to the bedchamber today? Isn’t that too bold?” Unlike Zai Ping’s ease, Dao Qiu’s face was full of worry. Na Xiu had always been strict with herself, but they never thought she would do such a thing as sneaking around today. Although there was no actual relationship, Na Zhan was still her husband. If people found out that Frost Consort was secretly meeting her lover in her bedchamber, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Huang Beishuang knew Zai Ping’s thoughts. She was also very anxious. She knew it was wrong, but as soon as she thought of that person, she could no longer control herself. She lowered her eyelids and pressed her lips harder against the jade bracelet, for a long, long time…
Seeing that the moon was high in the sky outside the window, Zai Ping and Dao Qiu slowly retreated with the water basin, gently closing the door.
The guard Lian Huan, standing outside the door, quickly stepped forward to stop them when he saw them come out, asking strangely, “Has he come?”
Dao Qiu smiled, knowing he was a bit embarrassed and nervous, and replied, “Not yet! Frost Consort is waiting. Don’t go in and make a fool of yourself!”
But Lian Huan, with one hand tightly gripping the long sword at his waist, said with furrowed brows, “Who exactly is Lord Qing? That night, we were all guarding the only road to the upper Huaiyue Pavilion, but we didn’t see a single person. How did he get up there? Moreover, this is the Cloud Swamp palace, heavily guarded. How can he come and go as he pleases? Doesn’t Frost Consort find this strange?”
His words aligned with Dao Qiu’s thoughts to some degree, but Dao Qiu just smiled helplessly, “The strangest thing in the world is love. Don’t forget, no matter how smart Frost Consort is, she’s still a woman!”
Lian Huan listened, half understanding and half not. Although this man was a military genius, he was also an unsentimental fellow. Seeing his confused expression, Dao Qiu shook her head and turned to leave, “Guard well, don’t let His Majesty barge in! We’ll be waiting at the palace gate!”
Hearing this, Lian Huan quickly stood up straight and said in unison with the other guards, “We swear to protect Na Xiu with our lives!”
Dao Qiu finally couldn’t help but burst into laughter, tears falling from the corners of her eyes. Men are truly wonderful creatures! she thought.
Huayu Palace.
Youjia leaned in Na Zhan’s embrace, “Your Majesty, you haven’t come to see me for two days!” This tender whisper finally brought the Cloud Swamp king’s thoughts back. Na Zhan stroked her beautiful hair, saying indulgently, “You’re with child. I fear coming here too often might harm you!” Hearing this, Youjia was deeply moved. She buried her face in his chest and said, “Your Majesty, don’t worry! Jia’er knows what she’s doing. Please don’t have any concerns!” Na Zhan smiled and gently embraced her back to the bed. Amidst the romantic atmosphere, he vaguely heard Na Zhan’s hoarse voice, faintly saying, “Tonight, there’s no sound of the xiao either…”