She could remain here and wait if this was a forbidden area. When Zhuang Yushan returned, she could claim they separated, and people would be sent to search for her. However, being discovered in a restricted area would be inexcusable, regardless of the circumstances. If the Emperor were to blame her, it would be fatal for a young lady of proper upbringing. She hadn’t expected Zhuang Yushan’s intentions to be so malicious. Though reborn and still young, she showed no mercy in her methods.
However, Han Yan didn’t know the way out either. This area was largely deserted, which likely meant the entire vicinity was sensitive territory – one wrong step could lead to another forbidden zone.
Thinking of this, Han Yan couldn’t help but feel frustrated. She should have asked Ji Lan and the others to follow. Unfortunately, the maids were all serving in one place, too far from her, so she hadn’t considered it thoroughly.
Gritting her teeth, Han Yan shook her head and walked toward the easternmost part, where there was a large grove of trees. Typically, human instinct would drive one toward open spaces, but Han Yan dared not do so. If this was indeed a restricted area, the dense trees might provide some cover, while the buildings were off-limits.
Walking while staying alert to her surroundings, Han Yan quickly discovered that there was no single person around! When things are tranquil, there must be something amiss. Areas in the palace without eunuchs or palace maids in attendance must have their reasons. Meanwhile, Han Yan secretly rejoiced at her quick departure earlier – the area near the restroom was a large open space with nowhere to hide! If anyone came searching, they would spot her immediately.
But walking like this, when would she ever return to Mei Garden?
After walking for an unknown period, the grove seemed endless. As Han Yan grew anxious, a rich fragrance suddenly wafted through the air. The scent was refreshing, and Han Yan was startled when she caught its scent.
Looking up, she froze – there was an enormous grove of red plum blossoms!
If the Empress’s white plum garden was beautiful, this red plum grove was otherworldly.
Large clusters of plum blossoms bloomed delicately, their striking red adding a touch of vibrancy. While plum blossoms were typically considered austere, these red ones were passionate and dazzling, standing proudly on their branches with a solitary beauty. Fearless of wind and snow, they graced the harsh winter branches. For a moment, Han Yan felt as if spring had arrived.
Ten li of red plum blossoms covered in snow – both gorgeous and plain, both lively and quiet, like the sorrowful blossoming of a maiden’s beauty. Magnificent and brilliant, what could be more beautiful, what could be more tragic than falling and blooming for one’s lord, yet having no one to appreciate it?
The plum blossoms bloomed and withered with such urgency, their brilliant red color bringing tears to Han Yan’s eyes. Life held too many fleeting moments, beauty could not last forever, just like her previous life – dying in her most beautiful years, on her most beautiful day.
She almost felt she was the red plum blossom herself, dying on the day of her full bloom, grieving with no one to appreciate her. Her beauty, her goodness, that person couldn’t see them.
Plum blossoms only bloom in winter, so they must endure the baptism of blizzards. Her life would never know the meaning of “smooth sailing.” So in this life, she would face wind and rain with no one to pity her. Who could understand how to appreciate her, who could understand how to care for her? She was like a warrior, living both sorrowfully and proudly, yet… with only one path forward!
Tears welled in Han Yan’s eyes as she took a few steps forward, almost in a trance. Suddenly, she felt an inquiring gaze from nearby. Her heart trembled, and her mind instantly cleared. Looking up in that direction, she saw a tall figure standing by the palace wall in the distance. Under the red plum blossoms, the figure almost merged with the snow, gazing at her quietly.
Just as Han Yan looked toward the person, snow began falling from the sky.
Snowflakes fell softly on Han Yan’s head and shoulders, momentarily blurring the person’s features. Han Yan dared not move – she had been discovered. She stood frozen in place, unsure what to do.
Who laid thousands of snow piles on level ground, cutting and carving these flowers that reach the sky?
Now the snow fell in swirling flurries, dotted with red plum blossoms – if not for the stranger standing nearby, it would truly be a beautiful scene.
Unfortunately, the protagonist had no mind to appreciate such beauty. After the initial panic, Han Yan gradually calmed down. The person’s presence here meant either they belonged in this restricted area or their status was high enough that they need not fear the label of “restricted area.”
Lowering her head in thought, she considered that although the person had discovered her, they remained silent – were they letting her go?
Han Yan hesitated, deciding that regardless of who the person was, fleeing quickly was the best option. Just as she was about to step away, she heard voices coming from ahead.
Han Yan immediately tensed – how could there be more people?
Though this was a vast red plum grove with dense trees, it couldn’t completely conceal Han Yan’s figure. Moreover, in the snow, Han Yan’s attire was particularly eye-catching.
Panicking, Han Yan glanced up and noticed the long palace wall – she might have been able to hide in its corner, but that person from earlier was still standing there.
Han Yan grew nervous – were the person from before and these approaching people on the same side? If they were, any choice would lead to the same outcome. If not, which should she choose?
The footsteps drew closer, accompanied by the voices of a man and woman – two people were coming, while only one person stood at the wall. Han Yan bit her lip and walked toward the palace wall.
The figure by the wall seemed to show no reaction, paying attention neither to Han Yan nor to the approaching couple, continuing to stand straight under the plum tree.
The closer she got, the more nervous Han Yan became, but the man and woman were already walking deeper into the plum grove. Han Yan kept her head down as she walked forward, seeing elegant official boots with gold trim just a step away from her.
She felt inexplicably tense, as the person before her emanated an extremely sharp coldness. At this moment, Han Yan didn’t dare raise her head.
But before she could think further, moans from a man and woman came from ahead – sounds that seemed both pleasurable and painful, mixed with the woman’s soft panting and the man’s impatient groans. Han Yan almost immediately understood, froze for two seconds, and her small face instantly turned scarlet.
In her previous life, before her marriage, Madam Chen had given her some small books to read. The Wang Manor was different from other households – Madam Chen had instructed Han Yan on how to capture Wei Rufeng’s heart, speaking in great detail and even using puppets for demonstration. Han Yan naturally understood what these sounds represented. Thinking of Wei Rufeng, Han Yan’s face turned pale, and then she grew nervous again.
Among the palace women, apart from the visiting ladies and young misses, almost all were the Emperor’s women. At this time, the Emperor and male guests should be hunting at the hunting grounds, yet this man was engaging in illicit relations with a woman in the palace. Whether this woman was the Emperor’s consort or someone else, this was the crime of illicit relations. If Han Yan were discovered, she would certainly face death. If the man was of high status and the woman was a lady from outside the palace, and Han Yan encountered their indecent act here today, she would have no choice but to marry that man!