Chapter 180

Then, a flash of cold light appeared!

Yan Chaoji instinctively dodged, but his right arm released her.

"you...?!"

Even though he dodged extremely quickly, the dagger still narrowly missed him because the two were so close together, leaving a red mark on his neck, which was particularly shocking at that moment.

Yan Chaoji still did not let go.

Then, a sentence that appeared out of nowhere abruptly broke the somewhat eerie atmosphere.

Her voice was icy: "Yan Zhao, you only think of me this late?"

"It seems... your cold-hearted and ungrateful nature hasn't changed all these years."

Her voice was like thick fog and frozen ice, making it hard to breathe, but Yan Chaoji's left palm tightened involuntarily upon hearing it.

So...you really are her.

"Right?"

He leaned down slightly, ignoring the bloodstains on his neck, and stared at her face, asking softly, "You recognized me a long time ago."

It's likely that she recognized him back in Jinhe Village when he used the alias Yan Zhao.

But why?

But she refuses to acknowledge him?!

White plum blossoms bloom brilliantly in the courtyard, with a magnificent palace in the background. In this snowy landscape, black and crimson have become three colors.

Snow falls on the petals, creating a serene scene, while plum blossoms adorn the snow, creating a beautiful spectacle.

When Yan Chaoji saw her looking at the scar on his neck, he parted his lips and called out his former alias: "Then should I call Your Highness Yan Chaoji now?"

"Or is it Yan Zhao?"

Upon hearing her voice, Yan Chaoji felt somewhat saddened and explained, "I didn't have time to explain my identity at the time."

"It's not that I deliberately wanted to lie to you."

She tiptoed closer to him and shook her head: "It seems more natural to say Yan Zhao."

Ying Ning pondered for a moment, but her next words sent a chill down Yan Chaoji's spine: "Yan Zhao, who owes me a life."

"haven't seen you for a long time."

She spoke the last four words in a very low voice. If someone were watching from a distance, the way the two were so close and entangled would seem like lovers kissing. But Yan Chaoji felt a sharp pain in his chest.

I don't know what he was thinking about...

His hand...

Gradually, slowly, they loosened their grip.

"Long time no see." He owed her so much, and he deserved this retribution.

*

That year in Biancheng.

The two were just strangers who met by chance when they were young. He intentionally hid by her side to escape the pursuit of the other princes, but later he owed her a debt that he would never forget.

Yan Qizhen thought of what happened back then and felt guilty.

"That day..." he finally spoke.

"After the assassin kidnapped you, I wanted to go find you immediately, but I was delayed by other things." His eyes were full of pain, and he was reluctant to recall that past event.

"You hate me today, blame me."

"I have nothing to say." Yan Chaoji's hawk-like eyes were already showing signs of unease.

"Is it your fault?"

"Hate you?" She tilted her head slightly, seemingly puzzled.

"You abandoned me and fled when I was in danger." Ying Ning slowly spoke, revealing an old story between the original owner and Yan Chaoji.

Why should I remember such an ungrateful person?

"Since you don't remember, why hold a grudge?"

The original owner once offered Yan Chaoji a helping hand in Biancheng, but unexpectedly, this almost led to the original owner's death in Biancheng.

The person who hunted down Yan Chaoji back then was a bodyguard of the Second Prince, who was vying for the position of Crown Prince. Because he was wary of the late emperor's favor towards this younger brother, he set up an ambush in Biancheng.

Unable to find the injured Yan Chaoji outside the city, they entered the city a few days later.

Then, by chance, they discovered that Yan Chaoji was right next to the original owner of the body. They immediately set a trap and kidnapped Bai Yingning in the street, using her life to force Yan Chaoji to come alone.

Yan Chaoji, however, fled.

At that time, he was not yet the famous regent, but just a young prince who was favored by his father. When faced with difficulties, he must have hesitated a bit.

It's not a complete resolute decision.

Because of that one wrong decision, he has lived in pain for many years.

Over the years, Yan Chaoji has often wondered if this tragic fate could have been avoided if he had resolutely gone to save her back then.

“That day, I thought I could wait for the garrison general’s troops before going to find you together.” A trickle of blood dripped from the wound on his neck, eventually disappearing into the depths of his dark cloak.

"But I never expected..."

The purplish-red figure in front of him smiled leisurely, as if he thought his current guilt was insignificant.

"But I never expected that the General stationed in the border region had already submitted to the Second Prince?" Ying Ning said.

"yes."

Yan Chaoji agreed and did not pursue the matter of how she knew about what happened back then.

He knew it was an ambush, so he immediately sent a message to the garrison general in the border city, intending to reveal his identity to get help. However, he did not expect that the general already had another master.

"By the time I realized what was happening, the agreed time had already passed, and I assumed you had already... been harmed." Yan Chaoji's hawk-like eyes darkened, as if there were still some things he wanted to say.

Yingning finished her sentence: "The guards from the Western Regions found me, and then I sent them to search for you in Biancheng. At that time, I was young and worried that you might have encountered some danger."

"But I was surprised to learn that you had already left Biancheng."

"At the time, I felt that your identity was probably extraordinary, but I never expected that you would be the famous Regent of the Min Dynasty. It was quite unexpected."

She slightly raised her phoenix eyes, and the expression in them was somewhat unfathomable to Yan Chaoji.

"If it weren't for the guards coming to find me, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to have such a pleasant conversation with Your Highness in this palace today."

"I know I owe you my life, and I will definitely explain this to you." The man's deep voice was somewhat restrained, but he still spoke softly.

Unexpectedly, Yingning shook her head: "Consider this a repayment from Your Highness."

"From now on, we'll be even."

Then she tossed the dagger towards Yan Chaoji with her bare hand. He caught it with a wave of his hand, but did not intend to accept it.

The figure in crimson robes walked back to the palace gate without looking back.

Yan Chaoji watched her retreating figure and said sharply, "You... still hold a grudge about what happened back then."

moment.

With a creak.

A clump of snow fell from the white plum tree.

"Are you resentful that I didn't go to save you?" Yan Chaoji pressed.

“Yan Chaoji,” Yingning called out, interrupting him.

"When they kidnapped me, do you know who I saw?" She turned to look at him, whose hawk-like eyes were incredibly deep, and when he heard her words, they almost shattered into a deep pool.

He dared not utter a single sound.

"It seems you knew." Then she sneered, as if she found it ridiculous, and flung her sleeves into the hall, ignoring the person behind her.

He was left alone, amidst the snowy landscape.

He stood before the white plum tree, his hawk-like eyes almost overflowing with hidden meaning, and then, as if he had thought of something, he let out a muffled laugh.

His past actions all testify to how despicable his bloodline is.

My elder brother.

Ultimately...

What difference is there between you and me?

And all those years of Gu worms were just him punishing himself.

*

A dark figure emerged from the hidden passageway of the palace.

Yan Qizhen walked slowly through the secret passage, supporting himself against the wall. Sui Feng, who was in front of him, turned around with some worry in his expression: "Your Highness, I still think it's not appropriate."

"Why don't you go out of the city first? Leave the matter of Princess Zhaoning to me."

Holding a torch in the wind, his shadow was particularly distinct in the secret passage.

As he turned around, the firelight somewhat diluted the resolute look in the eyes of the person behind him. After hearing Sui Feng's words, Yan Qizhen shook his head: "It's alright."

"Your arrangements regarding leaving the palace are still needed; I will go on my own."

"But...Your Highness," Sui Feng tried to persuade him further.

"This is my order." Yan Qizhen's eyes held a rare hint of authority.

Sui Feng could only sigh inwardly. He hadn't expected His Highness to go to such lengths for Princess Zhaoning, but as a subordinate, he had no choice but to obey His Highness's orders.

This secret passage is extremely long, and the final exit is in the stone slabs of the secluded palace where Yan Qizhen lived in his childhood.

When Yan Qizhen emerged from the secret passage, he glanced around the palace where he had once lived, his expression seemingly growing colder, and called out to Suifeng.

It wasn't until the two had passed the rear hall that Yan Qizhen glanced at it from afar.

This hall holds his most terrifying and disgusting memories from the past. Even today, when he thinks of those scenes, he still trembles and tries to break free from those memories.

Yan Qizhen gritted his teeth and said to Sui Feng, "Let's...go."

*

Inside the Qiankun Palace.

The hall was noticeably crowded, with dozens of people dressed in strangely styled blue robes standing respectfully in front of the curtain, making Li He, who was standing to the side, somewhat nervous.

His Majesty's health is deteriorating day by day, and there is still no news from the Regent. Yesterday, His Majesty was furious and ordered someone to convey a decree to the outside of the palace, saying that Princess Zhaoning had offended the emperor and damaged the diplomatic relations between the two countries, and that she would be imprisoned on a chosen day.

Li He shook his head inwardly. Sure enough, His Majesty had been driven to a dead end. At this moment, in order to find the Fourth Prince, he couldn't even care about the face between the two countries.

However, compared to the emperor of a nation, a princess from the Western Regions is indeed nothing.

"Your Majesty, they've arrived." Li He snapped out of his thoughts and bowed slightly as he spoke in a low voice.

And the person behind the curtain spoke after a long while:

"That rebellious son... his whereabouts are now unknown... and Yan Chaoji actually dared to disobey my orders... cough cough cough..." Judging from his voice, the Emperor of the Min Dynasty was already somewhat weak.

"I am currently unwell, and you are all people I have personally trained..."

"No matter what, we must find that rebellious son."

The emperor's tone gradually rose, and even Li He felt a little apprehensive.

"Even if... with the help of the Regent, you must find that rebellious son for me!!" The emperor's voice was already somewhat manic.

Li He was naturally aware of the emperor's physical condition; the fourth prince's poison was not only tormenting His Majesty's body, but also his heart.

Over the years, His Majesty has gone to great lengths to maintain his reputation as a "diligent and loving ruler," but the Fourth Prince has caused His Majesty such trouble and has now become such a monstrous figure. How could His Majesty not go mad?

While Li He was still pondering, a square-faced man from among the blue-robed men stepped out. Li He quietly looked up and saw that this man was none other than Liu Ping, who had been in seclusion for a long time.

This man is deeply favored by His Majesty, and it is said that the Gu worms on the Regent's body were his work.

Liu Ping spoke with a strong voice, but his eyes were rather sinister: "This humble servant has something to report to His Majesty."

"Speak," the emperor coughed again.

Liu Ping continued, "This humble servant has recently developed a worm that can track the Heart-Eating Gu, and has discovered a strange thing."

"It seems... the Regent Prince may have visited Lingyun Palace these past few days."

*

"Alright, go in." The Imperial Guards outside Lingyun Palace checked the food box and found nothing amiss, then waved their hands, allowing the eunuch who had brought the food to enter the palace.

The task of guarding the Lingyun Palace involved dealing with the eunuchs who delivered meals almost all day long.

After completing their routine duties, the Imperial Guards whispered among themselves to their companions: "Old Wang, why haven't you played matchmaker for me with Ruyun from the Brocade Palace that you mentioned last time?"

"How can this be discussed openly?!" Old Wang hurriedly waved his hand. The palace maid and the guard were involved, which was a serious matter. However, Ru Yun was going to leave the palace after the New Year, so he got involved in the matter.

The two walked aside and began to discuss quietly. Meanwhile, the eunuch carrying a food box outside the palace lowered his head and stepped into Lingyun Palace. As soon as he entered the palace, he bumped into a palace maid who was clearing the snow from the palace.

A somewhat sarcastic palace maid looked him up and down: "Who are you?"

"The Imperial Kitchen has sent this servant to deliver the meal." The eunuch's voice wasn't very shrill, unlike the voice of an ordinary eunuch.

Why wasn't it Xiao Wenzi who brought the food today?

"Xiao Wenzi is ill, so the Imperial Kitchen sent this servant here." Even with his head bowed, the eunuch's profile was still fair and delicate, with one side of his lips being very pale.

"So that's how it is." The mean-spirited palace maid looked her up and down, still seemingly somewhat doubtful.

"Sister Ling'er, why are you still standing here?" It wasn't until a sweet, lingering voice came out that the palace maid called Ling'er changed her expression, but her expression was not good.

Another palace maid walked over quickly.

"Give it to me." Green Smoke's voice was exceptionally pleasant, as if it were a vine tightly binding one's heart.

Green Smoke took the servant's food box, paying no attention to the eunuch bowing his head beside him, and instead put his other hand on Leng'er's shoulder:

"Sister, are you still angry with me? I'm just a lowly guard, is it worth being angry with me for so long?" Green Smoke chuckled, but the malice in her eyes did not show.

"Don't try to claim kinship, who's your sister?" Leng'er clearly disliked the green smoke.

"Oh dear, Sister Ling'er, let's go back to our room first."

"Princess Zhaoning is still taking a nap and doesn't need us."

"My sister really didn't mean it..."

Green Smoke, holding Leng'er's hand, walked further and further away towards the wing room not far away. Halfway there, she seemed to remember something and turned to the eunuch behind her, saying, "Little eunuch, when you go to deliver the meals, don't disturb the noble people in the palace."

Then, he grabbed Leng'er and left without turning his head.

The eunuch, with his head bowed, paused for a moment, then picked up the food box and walked off in another direction.

Once he reached the outside of the main hall, his pace quickened.

After passing several palace maids who were guarding him, the slender eunuch stepped into the hall. But as soon as he looked up, he saw a woman holding a pen in front of a sandalwood desk, her willow-like figure half-bowed.

She had him completely under her thumb, yet he was still obsessed with her.

Her expression as she held the brush was thoughtful, but it was unclear what she was drawing.

Hearing the footsteps of the person entering, he didn't look up, but instead picked up the wolf-hair brush lying to the side and sketched a few more lines, casually remarking:

"Just leave it there."

The person dressed in dark blue was clearly stunned for a moment, then put the food box back on the table, no longer suppressing his voice: "Father has already issued a decree, yet A-Ning still has the mind to paint."

"Have you...changed your mind?"