Chapter 1 A familiar face suddenly appears in my heart.

Jiang Yinyue and Wei Qin got separated, lost in the boundless snowfield.

The rustling snowflakes pattered against her face, soaking into her skin and spreading a chill deep within her heart.

With her hands tucked into her bundle, she hurried forward, not even bothering to pick up the purse she had dropped on the ground, because a middle-aged figure had appeared behind her at some point, following her from a distance until he seemed to be keeping a close eye on her.

The distance is gradually closing.

The man was wearing a coarse cloth jacket, had a mustache, chapped and red cheeks, and his gaze became increasingly undisguised.

The surroundings were desolate, with the wind and snow howling in her ears. Amidst a ringing in her ears, Jiang Yinyue vaguely heard the hoarse voice of the person behind her.

"Young lady, are you lost?"

"This place is in the middle of nowhere, let's not waste our energy. Why don't we go back with you and have a bowl of hot soup to warm ourselves up, and then we can make a plan?"

"Have you gotten separated from your family? I'm a hunter from around here; I might be able to help you."

Jiang Yinyue dared not turn around, much less stop to speak. She quickened her pace, hoping to find Wei Qin, but Wei Qin had told her more than once that people often cannot wait for timely help when they are in adversity, and that it is better to take a chance than to wait passively.

Jiang Yinyue gripped the bundle tightly in her hands, trying her best to remain calm and not let fear consume her consciousness.

Seeing his "prey" run far away, the man snorted and took a step to chase after it, but he did not expect that a seemingly delicate little girl would be as agile as a rabbit.

Is it the instinct for survival?

But he's a hunter.

When they reached the top of the hill, the man lunged forward and grabbed Jiang Yinyue's ankle.

"Still running?!"

Jiang Yinyue lost her balance and plunged into the snow. When she turned around, she kicked the rough, large hand that was gripping her ankle.

Terrified, she couldn't utter a sound.

The broken appearance piqued the man's interest.

They were in high spirits.

The man didn't even reach out to remove the veil covering Jiang Yinyue's mouth and nose. He immediately knelt on the ground and started untying his belt, impatient and afraid that the duck that was about to be eaten would fly away.

The wind subsided, and the snowflakes fell like drifting catkins, slowly drifting down.

In the snow-covered mountains and fields, the rustling sound of fabric could be heard, faint and accompanied by a sinister laugh.

A satin cloak was thrown into the air.

Jiang Yinyue struggled in vain, her cold little hands still tightly clutching the bundle. She saw the person's face clearly and felt extremely disgusted, but she was no match for the other party. The more she struggled, the more she fell into the other party's control.

Don't push me!

Her bloodless lips trembled slightly. Despite her nausea, she warned him coldly, but her collar was still roughly torn by the man.

"What's the point of forcing you...?"

"Bang!"

The sound of gunfire piercing through the snowstorm echoed across the mountains and fields, startling the birds perched on bare branches and awakening the hibernating beasts...

A pair of thin eyelids lifted in a half-asleep state, and the gaze gradually became shimmering as consciousness returned.

The sound of wheels crunching on snow abruptly stopped in his ears. The man sat up in the carved carriage painted with the Eastern Palace totem, his smooth robes draped over the edge of the couch.

He lifted one side of the curtain and looked at the accompanying guards who were already waiting at the window.

Why is there a gunshot?

"Your Highness, I have already sent someone to investigate."

Crown Prince Wei Xichen rose, bent down and stepped out of the carriage. He stood quietly on the carriage corridor, his wide brocade sleeves filled with the cold wind, like a crane spreading its wings, leaving an enduring mark in the snow.

Fine snowflakes brushed against the hem of his jade-green robe, as if adding a touch of elegance to his timeless beauty.

The man stood with his hands behind his back, gazing in the direction from which the gunfire was coming.

A woman's voice came from under the carriage, soft and gentle, speculating about the sound of gunfire: "Perhaps a centurion is leading troops in drills nearby, disturbing Your Highness."

Wei Xichen looked in the direction of the voice, his thoughtful gaze softening as he reached out to the woman and pulled her onto the carriage.

The woman smoothed the stray hairs that had been ruffled by the wind, revealing a pair of slanted eyes that had been drawn with a single stroke. This person was none other than Yan Zhuyi, the daughter of an eighth-rank official who had been welcomed into the Eastern Palace by the Crown Prince against all odds three years ago.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye. The woman has shed her timidity and naivety and transformed into a calm and elegant woman. Meanwhile, her father has been promoted continuously during these three years and is now the third-rank salt transport commissioner of Yangzhou.

Upon hearing Yan Zhuyi's guess, Wei Xichen simply smiled and shook his head slightly. "Judging from the sound, it sounds like the newly improved muskets of the Shenji Battalion, which have not yet been distributed to the regional command offices, let alone the garrisons."

Just as Yan Zhuyi was about to laugh and say that she was still half asleep, she saw a person and a horse rushing back.

Several feet away from the convoy, a guard dismounted and shouted, "Report!"

Wei Xichen raised his sleeve, signaling the guards to step forward.

Everyone's gaze fell on the returning guard, but instead of bringing back the gunman, they saw him kneeling on the ground, his eyes darting around, stammering.

The imperial guards accompanying the emperor were all elites who had seen all kinds of storms, so why would they show any signs of distress?

Yan Zhuyi's tone became serious, "Report what you saw truthfully."

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, the person holding the gun is... is Jiang Yinyue, the daughter of the Minister!" The guard lowered his head even further and continued to explain, "She said it was to drive away a brown bear that suddenly appeared."

After he finished speaking, all was quiet.

The veteran officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, who had served the Crown Prince for many years, looked at each other in bewilderment. The names that had not been mentioned for three years had become somewhat unfamiliar. They wondered whether the sound of the names would be a thunderclap or a slight chill in the ears of His Highness and His Majesty.

The daughter of the Minister, who was ridiculed by the powerful and wealthy in the capital for three whole years, was as arrogant as she was back then, and as pathetic as she was when she was eliminated. In the end, she married a poor man and her life ended hastily.

The storyteller lamented the decline of his beloved, but upon reflection, he realized that the Crown Prince would not truly tolerate such a willful and arrogant woman by his side. He was simply setting up a scheme to pave the way for his sweetheart.

Jiang Yinyue's arrogance and rudeness serve to highlight the gentle and virtuous nature of her beloved.

Yan Zhuyi turned her gaze in the stillness to look at the Crown Prince's profile and noticed that his jaw was slightly tense.

The sunlight filtering through the clouds seemed to favor this exquisite gem, unwilling to reveal its flaws. But all jade has its imperfections; no jade is perfect, and no person is perfect.

Where is she?

After a moment of silence, Wei Xichen moved his thin lips and asked the kneeling guard.

The guard lowered his head even further, "Madam Jiang refuses to accompany me to pay my respects to Your Highness, I..."

Out of respect for Minister Jiang's authority, how could he dare to use force to arrest someone? For three years, while Jiang Yinyue became a laughingstock, Minister Jiang Song of the Ministry of Justice remained a powerful and influential official, favored by the Emperor and treated with courtesy by the Crown Prince. This man had only two children; even if his daughter was incompetent, he wouldn't stand idly by and let her be bullied.

Yan Zhuyi smiled and said, "Since she didn't want to come and reminisce, I won't force her. Fortunately, it was a close call. I hope she can turn bad luck into good luck in the future."

Long before accompanying the Crown Prince on his tour, she had heard that the Minister of Revenue intended to recommend Wei Qin, a compiler of the Hanlin Academy, for the position of Salt Transport Commissioner in Yangzhou. Following her husband's lead, Jiang Yinyue's trip was likely to accompany him to Yangzhou to take up his post.

How could the Crown Prince not know?

But ever since Jiang Yinyue got married, Yan Zhuyi has never heard the Crown Prince mention Jiang Yinyue's name again. Three years have passed and things have changed. Shouldn't the feelings and guilt from the past have diminished?

Yan Zhuyi took the Crown Prince's arm, intending to accompany him back to the carriage to play chess to relieve his boredom, but suddenly a "thunderclap" exploded in her ears.

A loud rumbling sound was heard.

“She is carrying a musket, which is against the rules. Bring her to see me.”

**

Before we knew it, the clouds had parted and the snow had cleared, the world was shrouded in mist, and the mountains and fields were covered in silver. Although there was no lush spring scenery with mist and flowers, there was still a misty scene that was always new to see.

Jiang Yinyue had no interest in appreciating the scenery. She was half-carried by the guards to a nearby post station, which was also the place Wei Qin originally planned to take her to stay overnight. It was a must-stop for officials traveling far away to rest. However, she lost her way in the mountains and could not find the post station.

Along the way, the vast and beautiful mountains stretched out like a sliver of white glass, bright and clear, extending the field of vision. But what Jiang Yinyue saw was an empty, desolate, and boundless expanse. At the very end she finally reached, there was the person she least wanted to see.

The mockery and ridicule have echoed in my ears for three years without ceasing.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. Those who gloated did not let her go. They used sarcastic words to strip away her glamorous facade, laughing at her for thinking she had won the prince's favor, only to unwittingly become the daughter of a minor official, foolish and unaware of her own shortcomings.

The Crown Prince stirred the waters of her heart, allowing her to be spoiled and willful, leading her to mistakenly believe that she was the only choice for Crown Princess. However, when she was feeling smug, he personally crushed her heart and self-esteem.

As the sun set, its afterglow turning blood red, and the twilight faded, Jiang Yinyue was led into a small hut by the head guard.

The mountain inn was simple; besides a table and chairs, there was only a small bamboo bed inside.

Jiang Yinyue got some hot water and food from the post station worker, then nestled on the small bed and became drowsy.

In a daze, she heard a knock on the door that was neither too loud nor too soft, and had to open her heavy eyelids to deal with whoever it was.

"Madam Jiang, Her Majesty has come to visit. Please rise and greet her."

The person who pushed open the door was a maidservant beside Yan Zhuyi. Compared to the attitude of the guards, she was not particularly respectful, but when she turned around to welcome someone in, she lowered her head and looked at them obediently, as if she were a completely different person.

Yan Zhuyi, dressed in a cloud-patterned purple dress, gracefully stepped across the threshold, her delicate hand resting on the maid's wrist. Compared to Jiang Yinyue's disheveled state, she exuded elegance and grace.

Behind her followed another maid and a swordsman.

The woman's calm demeanor exuded a completely different aura than it had three years ago.

The self-cultivated arrogance of those in positions of power is fully embodied in Yan Zhuyi.

Meeting Jiang Yinyue's gaze, Yan Zhuyi curled her lips, walked past the maid to the bedside, and pressed down on Jiang Yinyue's shoulder, "You are weak, you don't need to get up. I asked the innkeeper to stew some bird's nest, I'll bring it to you later to nourish your body."

Jiang Yinyue lowered her eyelashes, suppressing all her emotions.

The maid outside the door reminded her, "Madam Jiang should address Your Highness as 'Your Highness'."

"Stop talking nonsense." Yan Zhuyi glanced at the maid, then turned back to stare at Jiang Yinyue's pale face. "We're old acquaintances, no need for formalities. I've had Han Yan prepare some clothes for you to change into, so I can take you to see His Highness."

As he spoke, he instructed the maid Han Yan to step forward.

Jiang Yinyue pulled her cloak tighter, avoiding the maid's outstretched hand. "No need."

"Madam's clothes are dirty and not suitable for meeting His Highness. Please change into something clean."

The female servant was as strong as a man, and her domineering posture enraged Jiang Yinyue, who used all her strength to push her away.

"ah......"

Yan Zhuyi helped the staggering maid up and didn't mind. "Never mind, let Madam Jiang change it herself."

She dismissed the maids and sat by the bed, advising, "It has always been the crown prince who is willing to summon you, not the officials' wives. His Highness is willing to see you because of our past relationship. One should know better."

Glancing at Jiang Yinyue's hands peeking out from under her cloak, she gently grasped them and was surprised to find them unusually soft. They were hands that had been raised in luxury, and had not become rough despite marrying into a poor family.

Jiang Yinyue did not soften under the other party's understanding. She withdrew her hand, tied her cloak, and did not even glance at the brand-new bright dress. She was more stubborn than a calf.

Aside from Jiang Yinyue, it's hard to find another official's wife who would dare to be disrespectful to the Crown Prince's wife. It's as if her stubbornness is intertwined with the Crown Prince's authority, so no matter how reckless she acts, she won't be retaliated against by the Crown Prince's majesty.

Yan Zhuyi believed that her audacious and willful nature stemmed from the Crown Prince. They met at an innocent age, childhood sweethearts, their bond so pure and innocent that it would remain forever unbroken for most. If only that incident hadn't happened...

Yan Zhuyi raised an eyebrow and instructed Jiang Yinyue to change her clothes as soon as possible so that she could go with her to meet the Crown Prince.

As she stepped out from under the shaded eaves, moonlight spilled onto Yan Zhuyi's delicate face. Her deep, slanted eyes trembled slightly when she saw a solitary figure under the moonlight.

The man, bathed in the enchanting glow of the bright moonlight, wore a silver-gray cloak and stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from the small house.

The original summons turned into a personal visit.

Yan Zhuyi composed herself and stepped forward, instructing the maid to urge Jiang Yinyue to change her clothes quickly.

The Crown Prince turned around at the sound, his amber eyes calm and still. He looked at the small house with only a crack in the door and suddenly remembered the scene when he was young and visited the Jiang residence to play chess with Minister Jiang Song in the waterside pavilion.

As soon as he entered the waterside pavilion, he noticed a hidden compartment inside the south wall of the main hall, where a small figure was peeking out through the crack in the door.

From that day on, that little figure always followed him, growing from a mischievous little boy into a sharp and shrewd young woman.

The young girl yearns for romance and beauty, yet in those same romances, all her hopes are extinguished.

He knew her grievances better than anyone else.

Through a crack in the door, the light and shadow of time flowed by.

He stepped past the maids, stopping them from urging the people inside, and knocked on the door with his fingers.

A note from the author:

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It's open! Sorry for the wait, let's unfold this story together with Yin Yue!

Thank you to all the little ones who fed me nutrient solution before I started writing this article.