Looking through the carved vermilion window, one could see the beautiful woman lounging on the bed.

Mi Shan looked thoughtful, fiddling with the glass pagoda bottle in her hand.

Looking at the flickering flames inside.

Her cheeks were flushed, whether from the sunlight or not.

Or was it just naturally red?

Scenes of us on the water involuntarily surfaced in my mind.

He taught her how to swim.

He carried her, riding on the back of the black dragon at breakneck speed.

And that passionate kiss by the water.

Mi Shan's eyes flickered, and her heart pounded faster.

She seemed to realize that it was wrong for her to secretly think about a man like that.

In a panic, he hurriedly stuffed the glass pagoda bottle he was holding into the quilt.

Little did they know,

The person had been standing outside the carved window for quite some time.

Li Shengyuan squinted through the bed curtains, unable to see very clearly, but he could vaguely make out Mi Shan's face.

A weight was lifted from my heart.

Fortunately, she was still in the palace.

Contrary to popular belief, he did not disappear in the middle of the night; he must have gone off to have an affair with the Crown Prince.

The emperor came quietly and left quietly.

No trace was left.

Mi Shan lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep no matter what she did. She stared blankly at the ceiling with her bright, dark almond-shaped eyes wide open.

Why isn't he coming tonight?

Yes, now that His Majesty has become suspicious, it is wise for him not to come.

Just as Mi Shan closed her eyes, counting the lambs and about to fall asleep.

A familiar, clear flute melody drifted from afar.

It flew over the woods and over the palace walls.

It pierced through her ear and entered her dream.

In my dream.

There are two children, a boy and a girl.

The little girl sat on the swing set, watching the little boy, who was a few years older than her, push her back and forth.

"Higher! I want it higher!"

"Xie Ling, didn't you eat enough for lunch?"

The boy behind her was provoked and pushed her away forcefully.

"ah--"

The little girl screamed.

Laughter echoed in layers.

The maple leaves on the entire mountain turned completely red, so red they looked like they were on fire.

In the blink of an eye, the little girl was running wildly on the mountain.

The little boy named Xie Ling chased after them.

When she could no longer run and murmured that she wanted to go home, he affectionately patted her head, his eyes full of tenderness, and carried her on his back.

Step by step,

Head down the mountain.

...

In dreams and out of dreams,

Mi Shan smiled slightly and slept soundly.

-

The Eastern Palace.

The flute melody faded.

Li Changyu, dressed in a black robe, sat on the rooftop, with the full moon hanging high behind him like a silver plate.

The wind made his robes flutter, and his silhouette looked indescribably lonely.

The song ended.

Suddenly, another person appeared beside me.

As the smoke dissipated, the woman swayed her fox tail and squatted down beside him.

"My lord, this tune you play is so mournful, is there someone you miss?"

"It's none of your business."

Li Changyu got up, jumped off the roof, and prepared to go back inside.

Bai Lingyu's figure reappeared before him, and she opened her arms to block him.

"You're so nice to Mi Shan, have you fallen for her?"

"Fox, get out of the way."

"Hmph... You used to call me Mother Consort, now you call me Fox. Sure enough, you've changed since Mi Shan came along!"

"I don't believe you will keep your promise!"

Bai Lingyu was consumed by jealousy. "What if you soften your heart towards her..."

"I already have someone I like in my heart."

Li Changyu interrupted him coldly, then frowned.

Mi Shan's face involuntarily appeared in my mind.

Why?

Her face was superimposed on that person's; this feeling appeared without warning, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"But that person is already dead. She died when you were still Xie Ling!"

"I've been with you for so long! Can't I take her place in your heart?"

Was all the kindness you showed me in the past just a lie?

“We’re just business partners. That’s why I’ve never touched you. In my heart, no one can compare to that person.”

Li Changyu snapped out of his daze, his cold gaze unmoved, staring into the direction of some empty space, his voice icy.

"I can give you everything you want. Except my heart."

"Liars, you humans are all liars!" Bai Lingyu cried, then turned and ran away.

Five years ago.

This was the first time she met Li Changyu.

It is on the snow-capped mountains of the northern region.

At that time, she was just a little fox, with injured legs, and was tightly trapped in an animal trap.

Dragging its mutilated body, it left a long trail of blood on the snow.

Li Changyu appeared at that time.

He lifted her up and cut the animal trap in half with his sword.

He even bandaged her wounds.

The little fox had never met such a gentle person.

From initial fear to gradually giving up the struggle,

Realizing that he was a good person, she would always limp behind him, waiting for him to take pity on her and give her a piece of dried meat.

There's a battle going on on the mountain.

He seems to be one of them too.

I just don't know why he's always wandering around in the mountains and forests.

The little fox watched him until one day, an avalanche occurred.

The fox's den was buried.

All the members of the tribe died inside.

When the little fox rushed back, its father, mother, playmates, and all its relatives had all turned into cold, motionless corpses.

Its mournful cries shook the mountains and forests, causing snow to fall.

The little fox dug a new burrow, settled his family there, and then...

The first thing to do is to seek revenge on the emperor.

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