Winter snow is falling, and the whole world is covered in silver.

Hua Rong stood atop the Star-Picking Tower, her black and red palace attire exuding an air of grandeur.

Her gaze was fixed on a point in the void, and she became mesmerized.

Xin Yuan, standing behind her, reminded her, "Your Majesty, it's time to return to the palace for your meal."

Hua Rong sighed and reached out to grasp at the air.

Unable to break free.

That mysterious black power seemed to bind her.

She couldn't leave the palace.

Just like this country that was destined to perish, it still had to perish.

"Let's go back."

======

[...+1, +1, +1...]

Emperor Bing smiled bitterly.

He himself never expected that his resentment towards Gongsun Ming would be so great.

If you keep adding like this, one day you'll reach the value where your wishes come true.

"But the country is about to perish."

Di Bing did try, or rather, he always tried.

However, there was no way around it; the Western merchants had been weak for a long time, were riddled with problems, and were filled with public resentment.

But he still didn't give up, nor did he ever think about giving up.

He stood up and headed towards Chuyang Palace.

With a sense of trepidation, he entered the palace he hadn't set foot in for so long.

The moment he stepped inside, he smelled a certain fragrance.

Looking up, one can see pots of small, purplish-red flowers on the windowsill of Chuyang Palace.

He remembered this flower; it was a flower she had suddenly come to like more than a year ago.

He didn't recognize it, but she said, "This flower is called lilac."

Every petal is delicately fragrant.

This is called clove.

He stood by the window, gazing into the distance, somewhat lost in thought.

"Your Majesty."

Hua Rong stood at the door for a long time before speaking in a low voice.

Upon hearing the sound, Di Bing turned around and smiled at Hua Rong.

The two were not far apart, but the atmosphere was just right.

It was a rare moment of peace when the two of them were together.

Hua Rong was the first to walk to the window, kneel down on the prayer mat, and pour a pot of tea for Di Bing.

"Your Majesty, please be seated."

Perhaps because there were no mechanical electronic sounds in his mind, Di Bing felt a little more at ease.

He knelt opposite Hua Rong, with only a low table between them.

"It has been a long time since I have been like this with the Queen."

It has been 229 days since the last time.

“Yes.” Hua Rong’s voice was clear and cool, less cold. “His Majesty is always impatient to be with me.”

Hua Rong didn't blame Di Bing; she was simply not good at interacting with men.

Or perhaps they simply weren't interested.

Emperor Bing's eyes flickered, with faint ripples.

"I am simply... timid."

After hesitating for a long time, Di Bing finally said what he had always wanted to say.

He looked at Hua Rong, speaking clearly and deliberately: "I admire you, but I know you have someone else in your heart, so I dare not get close. If I do get close, I fear you will discover my feelings, so I can only speak harshly to you."

“Rongrong, I…I always feel so helpless in your presence.”

The Emperor's hand, holding the teacup, was pale at the knuckles.

Hua Rong's gaze fell on those hands, which were as slender as a woman's.

But Hua Rongque knew that it was the hand that drew the bow and the hand that drew the sword.

Just like himself, even though he desperately didn't want the throne.

After becoming king, he was diligent in governing every day.

Hua Rong didn't know what a wise ruler was like, but she knew that Di Bing was a competent king.

Hua Rong stood up, walked behind him, and hugged him from behind, her left hand touching his chest.

"Is the king infatuated with his concubine?"

Di Bing's heart was racing, and his head was spinning.

close.

So close.

He had never been this close to Rongrong before.

He dared not move, fearing it was all a dream.

"Yes, I... I am in love with you."

Feeling the tighter hug from behind, he seemed encouraged and continued, "I fell in love with you when I was eighteen."

Many times, Di Bing wanted to forget what the girl had said before she pushed him into the water.

Only in that way can I stop thinking about her and missing her.

“I overheard the eldest prince and his guards talking; they want you to drown. Listen, I’m going to push you into the water so you can get back to the palace. Don’t worry, I’ll save you.”

However, there are some things he can't forget.

The sun was blazing that day, the pool water was cold, but her smile was warm.

Hua Rong felt the temperature of his subordinate's heart and suddenly lost interest in taking it.

She let go of him, walked to the windowsill, and stroked the delicate yet strong lilac.

"I was only ten years old then."

Di Bing was somewhat embarrassed.

He stood up, feeling much more relaxed than when he stood up.

He stood beside her, an arm's length apart.

"Rongrong, I am about to become the ruler of a fallen kingdom."

He said this very softly, which made Hua Rong look at him.

"Yes, I know," Hua Rong replied softly.

The two stood there, silent but not awkward.

A breeze blew by, stirring the lilacs on the windowsill and bringing a faint fragrance.

Outside the window is the back garden of Zhengyang Palace, where a swing made by Xin Yuan swayed a few times in the wind, with a small arc.

Several tall trees reach for the sky, and when the wind blows, they shake off a blanket of white snow.

Like other palaces, Zhengyang Palace also welcomes winter.

Except for the lilacs that are still blooming shyly on the windowsill.

Di Bing took a deep breath; his nose felt cool, and the black down on his neck felt warm and soft.

"But I still want to do something, even if it's... insignificant."

Hua Rong turned her head to look at him.

He's only twenty-four, still very young.

However, there were marks between his eyebrows, making it easy to see that he often frowned.

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