I recognized the voice of this man in white – he was the one I had encountered outside the tea storehouse that day.

He looked at me with a smile. “So this is the Empress?” As he spoke, he turned to Xiao Huan, “Speaking of which, after meeting Your Majesty that day, I had the fortune of briefly encountering the Empress.”

‘Your humble servant’? When speaking to Xiao Huan, he neither addressed himself as ‘this minister’ nor ‘this commoner’, but rather as ‘your humble servant’. Using such an address with the Emperor was a privilege granted by Emperor Taizong to the descendants of the Xiao clan’s secondary branches.

Xiao Huan slowly stood up while supporting himself against the tree trunk. His movements were deliberate as if any sudden motion might disturb something. Head lowered, he coughed softly, yet his words came out clear and measured: “Could you not wait even these few days… Prince of Chu?”

The man in white smiled, narrowing his phoenix eyes until they revealed just a hint of mirth at their corners.

His eyes were the color of distant mountains shrouded in mist, with pupils that held an ethereal emptiness, drawing one to sink into their unfathomable depths like a rippling pool. Matching those bewitching eyes was a face of bone-deep allure. If Xiao Huan only showed a touch of enchantment when his hair was loose, then this man’s allure seemed innate – every gesture, from his eyebrows to the corners of his eyes, carried a natural seductiveness. This was truly a heaven-granted face meant to enchant all beings.

He was Prince Xiao Qingqin of Chu – renowned throughout the court and by commoners alike for his extraordinary beauty even in his youth. It was said the people of Chu would willingly wait three days along the official roads just to glimpse his incomparable face. Wherever his carriage passed, crowds would surge forward, creating quite a spectacle.

Chuckling softly, Xiao Qingqin spoke in his refined, unhurried voice: “Indeed… I cannot wait. If His Majesty doesn’t die on his own, whose throne am I supposed to take?”

Xiao Huan didn’t answer. Supporting himself against the tree trunk, he buried his head deeply. Though he struggled to maintain composure, his shoulders couldn’t help but tremble.

My head buzzing incessantly, I suddenly shouted: “It’s a capital offense for a feudal prince to leave his domain without imperial decree! Xiao Qingqin, how dare you!”

No matter how ridiculous or pointless my words might be, let me keep talking. Each extra second bought was another moment for Xiao Huan to regulate his internal energy.

“What?” Xiao Qingqin laughed in disbelief, a touch of bewilderment crossing his eyes. Those pale ink-colored pupils flickered once before he smiled faintly. “Empress… have you lost your mind?”

“You think you alone can escape from this heavily guarded forbidden palace?” I clenched my fists and continued shouting, “Even if you escape, you’ll no longer be the noble prince but a heinous traitor! Think carefully and step away from His Majesty immediately!”

Xiao Qingqin laughed, his eyes seductive as silk: “Lose and I’m a traitor, but win and this forbidden palace becomes mine.” He paused, suddenly lifting the corner of his mouth. “That includes you too, Empress who loves playing palace maid. Though I find you quite lacking in beauty, I might be moved to let you stay and serve me if the mood strikes.”

I scoffed coldly: “Who do you think you are? Let me tell you, in this world except for Brother Xiao, I wouldn’t serve anyone else even if they kowtowed to me.”

“Such loyalty,” Xiao Qingqin genuinely set aside Xiao Huan to chat with me, smiling faintly. “Is this what they call staying faithful to one person?”

I snorted coldly: “I don’t care what you think, and I won’t bother explaining. I love Brother Xiao, so I’m willing to do anything for him. It’s that simple.” As I said this, my nose suddenly stung, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Xiao Huan raise his head against the tree trunk to look at me, lifting the corner of his mouth in a smile.

This fool – I’m working so hard to buy him time, how does he still have the leisure to smile at me? Fool!

My cheeks felt wet; tears had fallen without my notice. How embarrassing.

“Pfft!” Xiao Qingqin laughed, his gaze settling either on my face or somewhere else, somewhat absent-minded: “Don’t count on His Majesty regulating his internal energy. Even if he were uninjured, I would still defeat him in combat.”

“Talking big without fear of biting your tongue!” I snorted coldly, raising an eyebrow. “If you’re so confident you can defeat Brother Xiao, why not face him fairly instead of setting traps? Though you won’t admit it, you’re afraid of him!”

“Think what you will,” Xiao Qingqin wasn’t provoked by my words. He casually pointed his royal sword at Stone, smiling lightly. “Enough idle talk. Commander Stone, please return and tell the Empress Dowager to follow my orders. Otherwise,” he smiled, “the Vermilion Bird branch of the Xiao clan will truly end here.”

Stone’s face contorted with bulging veins as he clenched his fists, frozen in place, neither retreating nor daring to move.

“Stone!” Xiao Huan, barely standing against the tree trunk with a face white as paper, called out sharply.

Stone understood Xiao Huan wanted him not to be reckless but to quickly inform the Empress Dowager. Lowering his head, he responded in a deep voice: “Yes.” Then turned and ran from the courtyard without looking back.

Xiao Qingqin smiled at Xiao Huan: “His Majesty is quite sensible.”

Xiao Huan’s chest heaved violently as he gave Xiao Qingqin a faint look: “The Prince is too kind.”

Hong Qing then approached Xiao Qingqin and knelt on one knee: “Master, how shall we deal with the Empress?”

Xiao Qingqin smiled: “Li Hong Qing, you once begged me to spare the Empress’s life, and I agreed. However, I find this woman quite disagreeable. Just gouge out her eyes and sever the tendons in her hands and feet.” He spoke casually as if disposing of a doll he’d grown tired of.

Hong Qing’s shoulders trembled violently, but he finally lowered his head and whispered: “Yes.”

“If you dare touch her,” Xiao Huan suddenly spoke, taking a breath before continuing, “forget about the throne.”

Xiao Qingqin raised an eyebrow and made an “Oh?” sound: “With your life in others’ hands, what makes Your Majesty think I should listen to you?”

“To ascend the throne, you need my edict passing it to you. Otherwise, without legitimate succession, do you think the other princes of the Xiao clan’s Azure Dragon branch would willingly submit to you?” Xiao Huan took a deep breath before finishing, raising his head to fix his deep eyes on Xiao Qingqin, laughing lightly. “You should know… besides you, there’s that old Prince of Qi and that fat Prince Liu who wants to be Emperor…”

“Nonsense!” Xiao Qingqin’s snow-white face suddenly flushed red as he grabbed Xiao Huan’s collar, pushing him against the tree trunk. “Those fools, how dare they!”

The force made Xiao Huan cough up a large mouthful of blood. Xiao Qingqin quickly let go and dodged, but his snow-white sleeves were still splattered with blood drops, like blooming red plum blossoms.

Leaning against the tree trunk, Xiao Huan covered his mouth while coughing and coldly smiled: “How unfortunate… if you still want me… alive to write your edict… you’d better be more courteous… Before your subordinate… injured me… my cold poison had already flared up… my heart meridian… could break… at any moment…”

At the words “your subordinate,” Hong Qing’s shoulders trembled again as he buried his head deeper.

Xiao Qingqin frowned deeply at the blood stains on his sleeve before addressing Ying, who had been watching the show from the rooftop: “Give him some life-preserving pills. I don’t want a dead emperor.”

Ying shook his head, still smiling: “What makes you think I have life-preserving pills? I only kill people, not save them. Though I do have some Supreme Bliss Incense – even the gravely injured recover their strength after inhaling it as if becoming a different person. Should I let brother take some?”

I couldn’t help but rebuke: “That kind of drug only temporarily numbs the nerves. After it wears off, it worsens the condition. Do you want your brother to die early?”

Ying maintained his innocent expression: “You figured it out. I was planning to kill brother anyway.”

“You…” I was speechless with anger.

“Stop arguing!” Xiao Qingqin frowned, staring at the crimson bloodstains on his clothes before waving his hand. “Fine, no need to gouge out the Empress’s eyes. We can go…”

Before he could finish, I quickly cut in: “I’ll also stay as your hostage. One more hostage is better than one less.”

Xiao Qingqin gave a faint snort: “As you wish.”

Not waiting for him to finish, I rushed to the locust tree to support Xiao Huan, who was still covering his mouth and coughing incessantly, his body shaking violently.

“We all said you should just rest, why did you come out?” My eyes burned with held-back tears as I held him. I couldn’t cry now – with Xiao Huan so severely injured, it was up to me to find a way to help him escape from Xiao Qingqin.

“The smell of blood is too strong in this courtyard. Let’s go to the Palace of Heart’s Repose. Li Hong Qing, lead the way,” Xiao Qingqin commanded indifferently. Whether intentionally or not, his pale ink-colored eyes lingered on my face for a moment.

Before our arrival, all palace maids and eunuchs had been driven from the Palace of Heart’s Repose, leaving the entire courtyard silent and desolate, appearing particularly bleak under the gloomy sky.

After finally helping Xiao Huan lie down in the East Warming Chamber, his coughing continued unabated, each cough bringing up spots of blood.

Xiao Qingqin hadn’t expected to have Hong Qing injure Xiao Huan just as his cold poison flared up. Somewhat regretful and fearing the accusation of regicide, he ordered Hong Qing to send for a royal physician from the Imperial Medical Academy.

With Li Mingshang absent, the Medical Academy sent Imperial Physician Yang, whom I had seen in the Palace of Benevolent Peace a few days ago.

Imperial Physician Yang remained composed. After taking Xiao Huan’s pulse, he withdrew without a word.

I grabbed him and asked: “How is His Majesty?”

Imperial Physician Yang glanced at Xiao Qingqin leaning against the doorframe before calmly speaking: “Forgive this humble servant’s directness, but His Majesty has carried the cold poison of the Ice Snow Love Calamity since childhood. This poison gathers between the heart and lungs, making His Majesty’s cardiopulmonary system much weaker than ordinary people’s. How could it withstand such repeated damage? If this servant’s assessment is correct, His Majesty’s body recently suffered another severe injury. Though his life was preserved, the damage to his heart and lungs was particularly severe, reaching an irreparable state. Yet today he was struck again with such force…” He stopped, shaking his head.

“This humble servant dares to say,” Imperial Physician Yang paused before continuing, “in my view, Heaven’s mandate is truly exhausted, and the Great Journey approaches.”

“Nonsense! If Imperial Physician Li were here, would he say the same thing?” I couldn’t help but curse, then quickly covered my mouth, remembering Xiao Huan was resting inside.

Imperial Physician Yang shook his head: “His Majesty is Imperial Physician Li’s disciple, with medical skills no less than mine. He likely understands his condition better than anyone. Your Majesty need not carefully conceal it from him.” He paused before continuing, “Your Majesty, this servant’s abilities are limited. I dare not say Imperial Physician Li would be as helpless as I am, but the cycle of heaven’s way is not something human power can control. Ultimately, individual human strength has its limits. Your Majesty should not be too persistent.”

I waved my hand, not wanting to waste words with him: “Enough talk. What medicine can you prescribe to ease his symptoms, at least to stop the coughing? Hurry up and write the prescription.”

Imperial Physician Yang hesitated: “Human power has reached its limit. Moreover, the root illness is untreatable. Merely suppressing the cough would be like drinking poison to quench thirst – it only adds to the suffering.”

“So you’re saying just wait for death?” I didn’t know whether to laugh coldly or try to calm down as I raised my hand to my forehead. “Tell me, how much time is left?”

Imperial Physician Yang was silent for a moment: “At most three to five days, at least… within a day.”

I lowered my hand from my forehead, my body seeming to shake uncontrollably. I raised my arm to point at the door: “You may get out.”

Imperial Physician Yang said nothing, bowed deeply, and left carrying his medicine chest.

Night had fallen deep, and the winter wind of the twelfth lunar month blew in through the wide-open doors. In the grand, nearly empty Palace of Heart’s Repose, candlelight flickered. Through the wooden door, Xiao Huan’s faint coughing could be heard intermittently, sometimes there, sometimes seemingly gone.

I placed my hand on the oak door, feeling the cold seep through from inside, slowly penetrating my heart. Crouching down, I buried my head in my arms. My eyes and throat were dry, painfully raw, with a burning sensation.

“Hey, you…” A warm hand rested on my shoulder, accompanied by a voice.

I violently shrugged it off: “Get out! All of you get out! Every one of you wishes for his death, and now that he’s dying, are you all happy? Satisfied? Content? Get out!”

“Hey,” that voice laughed, “your hairpin fell out. If you can’t mind your appearance, I at least don’t want to see someone with disheveled hair looking like a ghost.”

Xiao Qingqin’s voice remained refined, like clear springs, coolly melodious.

I collected myself and looked up to see him holding a silver hairpin. Taking it, I thanked him. My thoughts were in chaos, I mechanically fixed my hair and stood up.

Xiao Qingqin strolled to the imperial desk inside the hall, tapping his finger on the surface, shaking his head: “Just a huali wood table, mediocre material at best.” He turned his head, lifting the corner of his mouth in a smile, his pale ink-colored eyes misty in the candlelight. “My clothes are dirty. Why don’t you find me something to change into?”

I barely knew what I was doing as I nodded in agreement: “Follow me.”

Xiao Qingqin suddenly became as obedient as a child, nodding and following me.

In a side wing of the Palace of Heart’s Repose was a small room specifically for storing Xiao Huan’s daily clothing. I lit a candle and went in to find clothes for Xiao Qingqin to change into.

Xiao Huan preferred subtle colors, so most of his daily casual wear was simple and plain. Xiao Qingqin was about the same build as Xiao Huan, so many clothes would fit him. I searched and searched, unwilling to give Xiao Qingqin any of Xiao Huan’s favorite clothes. Finally, I grabbed a crimson gauze narrow-sleeved robe with five dragons coiling around the collar that he had worn for banquets and handed it to Xiao Qingqin: “Here, change into this.”

Xiao Qingqin’s expression suddenly turned unpleasant: “You give me such a gaudy garment?”

“Don’t you want to be Emperor? Isn’t this a dragon robe? Let you enjoy it in advance, isn’t that good?” I looked up at him.

Xiao Qingqin snorted: “I’d rather wear these dirty clothes.” As he spoke, he suddenly smiled at me. “Do you know Luo Xianxue?”

“You know about Xianxue?” I found it strange that he suddenly brought this up.

“‘Three feet without flourish, three lives of washed blood, no gold unearthed, no-kill unreturned’ – truly excellent swordplay.” Xiao Qingqin smiled lightly. “When Feng Yuanjiang killed him, it took quite some effort.”

I stared blankly at his smiling face, each expression as if stepped out of a painting, losing none of its beauty even in darkness. I repeated in a low voice: “This matter… you were behind it?”

Xiao Qingqin nodded frankly: “Yes, not only did I orchestrate it, I was there that day. Before he died, Luo Xianxue was still clutching a white jade fan pendant – the one you gave him, right? It had your name carved on it.”

I took a breath, a shred of calm remaining in my mind: “Why did you kill Xianxue?”

Xiao Qingqin spoke casually, his tone light: “He was too uncooperative. I wanted to bring him under my command, but after doing just one task for me, he said he wanted to retire from the jianghu. So I had Feng Yuanjiang kill him.” He covered his mouth and laughed, “Oh right, the one who sent Luo Xianxue into the palace to assassinate our Emperor was me. I didn’t understand then why he would agree to enter the palace to die, but now I think he probably wanted to die at that time…”

My head was buzzing so loudly I couldn’t hear what he said after that. I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The sharp sound echoed in the small room. He seemed not to have expected me to hit him and held his face, staring at me in a daze.

I moved past him, walked out of the room, and threw the candlestick to the ground.

Why was I even asking about these things? What did I care about before? Was Xianxue killed by Xiao Huan’s men? Did the person who killed Xianxue ever receive punishment? Why did Du Tingxin say those things to me? What exactly was the relationship between Xiao Huan and Du Tingxin?

To have cared about such things… how ridiculous. It’s all too late now.

Everything’s too late… I suddenly understood the meaning of the Empress Dowager’s words. She said that someday, I would remember the mistakes made in my reckless youth, remember those people who would never return.

But before I could reach the day when I was no longer young, before I could grasp the person I thought I could still hold onto, everything was too late.

The cold wind swept through the empty courtyard, stirring up withered, broken leaves on the ground. Why must winter always be so desolate?

Xiao Huan coughed intermittently all night while I kept watch beside him. Deep in the night, he told me to rest, but I shook my head in refusal, just holding his hand as I dozed at the bedside.

In my hazy state, I heard what seemed to be the sound of a xiao flute from outside the window, an ethereal, floating melody. It continued for a long time, not stopping even as the sky began to lighten.

When I raised my head from the bedside in the morning, Xiao Huan was already sitting up, eyes half-closed, listening to the floating sound outside the window.

I smiled at him: “Not resting anymore?”

He shook his head, coughed lightly twice, and smiled: “Beautiful flute playing. The Prince of Chu is a refined person.”

The player was Xiao Qingqin. I nodded without speaking.

The flute music stopped abruptly. Xiao Qingqin pushed open the window and sat on the windowsill. His white clothes were as pure as snow, his fingers holding a jade-green flute. Against the desolate winter scene outside, his beauty appeared even more extraordinary, like an immortal.

He smiled at Xiao Huan: “You knew it was my playing just from the sound – could Your Majesty be my kindred spirit?”

“Playing all night with such full breath, never faltering – besides the Prince of Chu, Hong Qing and Ying probably couldn’t manage it,” Xiao Huan smiled and said.

“So it was deduction… I thought Your Majesty understood my heart,” Xiao Qingqin’s eyes moved languidly as he laughed softly. “Never mind.”

Xiao Huan also smiled, lowering his head to cough lightly several times: “The Prince of Chu didn’t come to the capital alone, did he?”

Xiao Qingqin’s smile remained unchanged: “Of course not. How could I dare to oppose Your Majesty without bringing some death guards and winning over some court officials?”

Xiao Huan coughed lightly and smiled: “If there’s anything unexpected… it’s that I never thought the usually uninvolved Prince of Chu would want this throne?”

Xiao Qingqin gripped his flute and jumped down from the windowsill, laughing once: “Why do I want the throne? It’s simple – anything that’s yours, I find pleasure in taking it from you.”

Xiao Huan nodded slightly, coughing a few times: “I see… Come to think of it, the Prince of Chu and I haven’t seen each other for over ten years.”

Hearing this, Xiao Qingqin suddenly narrowed his eyes and laughed coldly: “As a feudal prince stationed abroad, I naturally couldn’t return to the capital without an imperial edict. Your Majesty hasn’t thought of Xiao Qingqin in Chu for over ten years, so I had to force Your Majesty to think of me.”

Even I could hear the resentment in his words and was stunned for a moment.

Xiao Huan lowered his head silently for a moment, then smiled: “The Prince need not think that way.”

Xiao Qingqin was already growing impatient, tapping his flute in his hand as he said coldly: “Your Majesty should hurry and write the edict of succession. Who knows when you might breathe your last? Who would I turn to then?”

Xiao Huan nodded and smiled at me: “Cangcang, go fetch paper and brush.”

I couldn’t help saying: “Brother Xiao, are you really going to pass the throne to him?”

Xiao Huan nodded: “The country cannot go a day without a ruler. Among the princes of the Xiao clan’s branch families, whether in literary talent, martial arts, or reputation, the Prince of Chu is the best choice. I had originally planned to pass the throne to him; this is just earlier than expected.”

Hearing this, Xiao Qingqin’s laugh grew colder: “Saying it like that makes me seem too impatient, doesn’t it?”

Xiao Huan was about to write the succession edict, yet he still spoke this way. I couldn’t help retorting: “Not at all – you’re just committing regicide and usurping the throne for your selfish desires!”

Xiao Qingqin was stunned by my words, momentarily speechless.

I ignored him and went to the West Warming Chamber to fetch writing materials, bringing a small table to place on the bed and laying out the paper.

Xiao Huan wrote the edict at the small table. Though it wasn’t long, his coughing interrupted him several times. I replaced the handkerchief in his hand, now spotted with blood stains, with a clean one.

When the edict was finished, I picked up the imperial seal, about to hand it to Xiao Huan, when Hong Qing burst through the hall doors outside, his expression panicked: “Master, the Empress Dowager has ordered men to surround the Palace of Heart’s Repose. They’re preparing to force their way in. Fortunately, Ying had already scattered confusion incense outside the walls, so they can’t enter for now.”

Before Hong Qing finished speaking, Xiao Huan suddenly coughed up blood onto the freshly written edict. He quickly covered his mouth with his handkerchief.

Xiao Qingqin was also startled, then laughed softly: “Your Majesty, it seems your mother no longer cares about your life and death, insisting on capturing this traitor.”

I hurriedly moved the table away, supporting Xiao Huan to lie down, but he shook his head, removing the handkerchief from his mouth and saying between coughs: “Leave… get out…”

Xiao Qingqin frowned: “Leave? What good would that do?”

“Leaving the palace might still give you a chance to live… *cough cough*… do you want to die defending this place?” Xiao Huan spoke with difficulty, suddenly gripping my hand tightly. “I don’t have long to live, Mother has long known… she wants to kill you.”

“Me?” I was stunned.

Xiao Huan violently coughed up another mouthful of blood. He covered his mouth with the handkerchief, the blue silk quickly staining dark red. His somewhat convulsing hand reached toward Ying by the bed, his deep eyes flashing with fierce light: “Your… Supreme Bliss Incense… *cough cough*… give it to me… quickly…”

Looking at his eyes, Ying stepped back before coming to his senses: “Alright.” He reached into his robe and took out a small porcelain bottle.

I quickly embraced Xiao Huan: “Have you gone mad? Using that will kill you!”

He paused, looking at me with a smile: “I promised to protect you for life…”

Protect me for life? I froze. Why did these words sound familiar? When had I heard them before?

He looked at me, those deep eyes still holding their gentle gaze: “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect this life would be so short.”

Everything that happened next became chaotic.

Ying hurriedly handed over the small bottle. Xiao Huan took it and drank all the medicine inside, then bent down to pick up the imperial seal. Without using seal ink, he pressed it into the fresh blood on the edict.

He threw the edict to Xiao Qingqin and stood up holding my hand, giving orders without pause: “Hong Qing, lead the way with Ying. Prince of Chu will guard the rear. After leaving the Palace of Heart’s Repose, head toward the Hall of Literary Splendor. The corner towers won’t be heavily guarded at this time – we’ll exit there.”

Hong Qing, probably used to following Xiao Huan’s commands, immediately responded: “Yes.” He left with Ying, while Xiao Huan pulled me along closely behind them. Xiao Qingqin hesitated briefly, tucked the jade flute and edict into his robes, and followed.

The Imperial Guard’s elite troops had already rushed into the courtyard. Hong Qing and Ying cut a path through the crowd. Xiao Huan stood among the people and shouted: “Who dares block the way!”

Seeing Xiao Huan, the elite troops froze, their swords and sabers no longer moving.

Taking advantage of this moment, Xiao Huan pulled me through the crowd, out through the Gate of Observing Righteousness. The northern end of the covered walkway was packed with imperial guards in dark combat attire. In the middle of the path stood a large yellow umbrella, under which stood the Empress Dowager, with Du Tingxin and Stone standing beside her with lowered heads.

Seeing Xiao Huan, the Empress Dowager’s body trembled as she stepped forward, her voice shaking: “Huan’er, for this woman, you would truly throw away your life?”

“Mother has asked this question many times, and each time, my answer remains the same,” Xiao Huan stopped, smiled, and gripped my hand tightly. “As long as I live, I will protect her completely. Mother, I’m taking her out of the palace. Please step aside.”

“It seems we have nothing left to say,” the Empress Dowager laughed coldly. “Twenty years of mother and son’s love can’t compare to one promise made to this woman. Have you forgotten how she threw herself into another man’s arms, how she treated you with cold disdain? Go ask her if she still remembers that promise from years ago. Throwing away your life for a promise long forgotten by others – Xiao Huan, when did you become so foolish?” The Empress Dowager’s voice was harsh and commanding.

“It hasn’t been about that promise for a long time,” Xiao Huan continued smiling. “Don’t you understand, Mother?”

After a dead silence, the Empress Dowager’s voice trembled: “You’re too much like your father, Huan’er. Why must you be so like him?” Her hand rose, shaking as she addressed the imperial guards behind her: “Listen! Your Emperor is already dead. Arrest these rebels! If they resist, kill them without mercy!”

Stone, as the commander of the escort garrison, stood at the front. He saluted, drew his sword, and walked forward slowly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Qingqin and Hong Qing fended off the approaching elite troops. Xiao Qingqin still had leisure to smile: “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has turned against you. Will your succession edict still be valid?” In his white robes, he moved freely among the forest of blades and arrows, his garments floating, still maintaining his elegant demeanor.

“Just keep it safe and stop talking nonsense,” Xiao Huan snapped. As Stone swung his sword, Xiao Huan avoided it by lowering his shoulder, his two fingers already gripping the blade.

“Too many openings,” Xiao Huan smiled at him. “Being soft with an enemy is the most foolish thing.”

Before his words ended, Stone’s sword broke in two with a clang. Xiao Huan’s fingers twisted, gripping the broken half. The broken sword was neither long nor short, exactly the length of a royal sword. A white rainbow burst from his hand, the white blade drawing a line of blood across Stone’s chest. Blood gushed from his chest like spilled ink as Stone fell straight to the ground.

Xiao Huan coldly smiled as he lowered the short sword, its tip pointing to the ground as blood dripped steadily. He narrowed his deep eyes: “Who else wants to die?”

Stone was known as the palace’s finest warrior, Xiao Huan’s trusted aide who never left his side. Now Xiao Huan had struck him down with a single move. The scene fell silent, and none of the imperial guards forming an iron barrier behind the Empress Dowager dared step forward.

Even the Empress Dowager seemed stunned, the covered walkway deadly quiet.

Xiao Huan decisively turned back: “Forward!”

Xiao Qingqin and Hong Qing had already driven back the nearby elite troops. Xiao Qingqin stood to the side holding his flute, laughing lightly: “I just realized – the Empress Dowager must have stationed heavy forces behind us. We might as well go through the Meridian Gate, catching them off guard.”

As he spoke, he had already rushed ahead.

Hong Qing pulled Ying along behind Xiao Qingqin, with me and Xiao Huan following. As we left, I looked back one last time.

In the covered walkway, Stone lay bleeding on the ground. The Empress Dowager remained silent, her expression unreadable. Du Tingxin stood quietly beside her, but as we were about to turn through the gate, she suddenly raised her head.

She didn’t look at me, nor anywhere else – her gaze fell directly on Xiao Huan’s retreating figure.

The dark-robed imperial guards passed by her, drawing their swords to pursue us, but her gaze remained fixed on Xiao Huan’s back. Though her eyes held no tears, I saw in them despair – despair so deep that no tears could wash it away.

Du Tingxin was an excellent woman – extraordinarily beautiful, learned, and talented, yet gentle and graceful. She was different from worthless me.

Sometimes I would wonder, why was it me and not her?

Why was it me?

Before that young man smiled at me in the autumn wind of Jiangnan, long ago in a more distant time, a youth had smiled gently at me. His face was pale and beautiful, and he narrowed his eyes as dark as the night sky, smiling warmly: “Little girl, it’s promised then – this life, I’ll protect you.”

So it had been promised long ago. Through each passing moment, through the dangerous storms of the jianghu, through the quiet palace life, that youth had always remembered that promise.

Even when his face was cold as frost, he had never truly hurt me. Even when misunderstood and blamed, he never wanted to let go of my hand. He would brave enemy territory alone when I was in danger. Even in his final moments, knowing I was in danger, he would use all his strength to save me. Time after time, he had only wanted to protect me. Everything had been promised between that youth and that naive little girl, and he still remembered, while that little girl had long forgotten.

The front courtyard guards hadn’t yet been mobilized in the chaos. Not until the rear right gate did we see a squad of elite troops running from the far end of the covered walkway. Xiao Huan frowned and pointed to the steps: “Go up.”

The Three Great Halls were normally strictly off-limits, but the platform was empty, and we proceeded smoothly. We left through a side door by the Hall of Supreme Harmony and were about to find a way down when Xiao Huan suddenly stopped. Following his gaze, I saw the man in gray.

He stood in our path, hands behind his back. The morning sun illuminated half his face, that deathly pale face devoid of expression. He wore a mask, but even with it, I recognized him instantly – Gui Wuchang. No one else could carry such an intense aura of desolate loneliness, a coldness taken to extremes, cold as death itself.

“This is as far as you go. Stay here,” his voice was equally cold as he slowly raised his right hand, that empty hand slightly curled as if holding an invisible sword.

Xiao Huan released my hand, his eyes fixed on Gui Wuchang though his words were for Xiao Qingqin: “You and Hong Qing take them away. I’ll hold him back.”

Xiao Qingqin laughed dismissively: “Don’t talk like you’re going to your death. Is this man so formidable? Why not defeat him and leave together?”

Xiao Huan didn’t respond, but Gui Wuchang gave a slight cold laugh: “Such an arrogant youth.”

Before his words ended, he launched a fierce attack on Xiao Qingqin. Even with Xiao Qingqin’s swift technique changes, he barely managed to block the incoming fingers with his jade flute.

The jade flute snapped in two with a crack, as if forced back by an invisible sword. Xiao Qingqin stepped back, his chest heaving, momentarily speechless.

Xiao Huan struck at Gui Wuchang with his palm, shouting: “Go quickly!”

Xiao Qingqin hesitated, then recovered and grabbed my sleeve. Hong Qing nodded to Ying: “Go with the master.” Then he raised his sword to join the fight.

Xiao Qingqin stomped in frustration: “What are you doing? Leaving me alone with two young ladies?”

Seeing Hong Qing, Gui Wuchang laughed coldly: “You’re Li Xiaowo’s son? You should know well the consequences of betraying the royal family.” As he spoke, he deflected Xiao Huan’s palm with one hand while striking down at Hong Qing with the other.

Hong Qing ignored this thunderous strike, his sword moving at an angle to thrust directly at the opening under Gui Wuchang’s arm – a completely reckless attack seeking only to wound the enemy regardless of survival.

After blocking Gui Wuchang’s palm, Xiao Huan immediately struck again, forcing Gui Wuchang to withdraw his attack on Hong Qing and step back.

Without turning his head, Xiao Huan shouted at Hong Qing: “I ordered you to escort Her Majesty the Empress away. Do you dare disobey?”

Hong Qing stood frozen with his sword, finally murmuring after a long moment: “Your Majesty.”

Gui Wuchang laughed coldly: “Such a magnanimous Emperor. You should worry about your own life first.” His palm accurately pierced through the gap between Xiao Huan’s arms, striking his lower abdomen.

Xiao Huan leaped back several steps to dissipate the force of the blow, dropping to one knee.

He wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve and stood up, supporting himself against the white marble railing.

Gui Wuchang laughed coldly: “Your internal energy has already scattered, hasn’t it? With a dying body, you still dare hope to hold me back?”

Xiao Huan didn’t speak, just raised his head to look at Xiao Qingqin. Xiao Qingqin bit his lip: “Fine!” Then he said to Hong Qing: “Follow your Emperor’s orders, take Ying and go.”

Ying was unusually obedient today, quietly walking to Hong Qing’s side and tugging at his clothes: “Let’s go.”

Xiao Qingqin pulled me down the steps. I looked back at Gui Wuchang and Xiao Huan standing in silent confrontation as dark-robed imperial guards began pouring out of the side door – the pursuit had caught up.

Xiao Huan only watched Gui Wuchang, not looking at me. If I escaped like this, we would never meet again, would we? From now on, through all of heaven and earth, I would never again see that cyan figure before my eyes.

I suddenly wrenched my hand from Xiao Qingqin’s grip and ran back.

Xiao Qingqin hadn’t expected this and called anxiously from behind: “You…”

I brushed past Gui Wuchang, running toward Xiao Huan.

Seeing me, anxiety flashed in his deep eyes: “Cangcang…”

I rushed forward and embraced him.

His body was ice cold. I buried my head in his clothes, inhaling the faint scent of medicinal herbs.

He anxiously tried to pull me away: “Cangcang, be good, don’t do this.”

I took a deep breath and raised my head to look at him: “Of everyone, you’re the worst! Talking about protecting me – you think I care about that? Now you’re about to die… You’ll be free in death, but what about me left alone? I hate you, you silent gourd who never says anything!” I held him tightly, looking straight into his eyes. “I hate you! I’m telling you this so you won’t rest easy even in death!”

He looked at me quietly, then suddenly smiled, reaching out to wipe the tears from the corner of my eye: “Even without makeup, crying doesn’t suit you.”

“You dare say I’m not pretty?” I glared at him.

“I wouldn’t dare,” he smiled. “Cangcang is the most beautiful, even with tears staining her face, still beautiful.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear,” I smiled triumphantly, rising on tiptoe to kiss his lips lightly. “Brother Xiao, that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard in this life… I’ll remember it well until my hair turns white and I’m too old to walk, I won’t forget.”

He smiled and nodded: “That’s good. That makes me very happy.”

I raised an eyebrow: “Then it’s promised – remember until we’re too old to walk.”

He smiled, his brow relaxing as he nodded gently: “It’s promised – remember until we’re too old to walk.”

A great force pulled me away from Xiao Huan. Gui Wuchang’s palm struck Xiao Huan’s chest. He fell backward, his body flipping over the white marble railing, falling toward the platform below.

I reached out to grab him but missed. That young man slipped past my hand and fell.

The last I saw was his calm, smiling face. What a fool – he was falling from the highest cloud-dragon stone wall before the Hall of Supreme Harmony. I had never seen anyone fall from the clouds with such a peaceful smile.

I desperately gripped the railing. This body wanted so badly to jump down with him, but I couldn’t, because I had promised to remember those words until I was too old to walk. When I became too old to walk, would we be able to go together then?

Everything gradually darkened. I vaguely heard Xiao Qingqin calling: “Cangcang! Cangcang!”

Something shattered in my heart, and that young man’s shadow turned pitch black. There were still so many things I hadn’t told him.