Chapter 88 [VIP]

Yesterday the spring sunshine was warm, today it suddenly grows colder. Snowflakes melt on the eaves, thorns stand stiff as corpses. Let the bright sun shine for a hundred years, its sharp edges like flying discs to block the clouds, salt flowers and corpses lie scattered for a hundred and twenty miles, forgive the heart's jade words shattered in desolation.

Lu Xuejin watched as the snow blanketed the sky, covering the entire muddy ground in the middle of the night. A thin layer of snow piled up, forming a pristine white that shimmered with fragmented light in the darkness. The flowers under the eaves had all withered, becoming cold corpses. These tropical plants, still basking in their warm dreams, could hardly withstand the sudden chill.

An indescribable emotion welled up within him, and his feelings transformed into snowflakes in the air, drifting lightly up and falling to become part of the weight of the thick snow.

It was clearly late at night, yet I felt no sleepiness whatsoever. The palace was clearly warmer, yet I always felt chilly in the wind. I had clearly watched Wei Ning leave, but I kept recalling his expression.

The cold wind howled and whistled past my ears, as if it were accumulating resentment and accusing the wind and snow of being merciless.

He got up in the middle of the night and left the courtyard. Perhaps it was because of the snow that day that he couldn't fall asleep, so he went out to the streets of Lidu. The night was quiet. He walked through the alley with its flower-patterned windows and came to the city gate where the garrison was located.

He realized he was in a hazy state, situated on a chessboard, his thoughts the game itself. The pieces on that board were now stuck, drawing him into a state of separation from his own heart. His rationality supported his fragmented thoughts, but his body remained unresponsive. Many scenes flashed through his mind, scenes that left him undisturbed, yet like a slow-acting drug, they controlled him, rendering him immobile.

In the freezing snow, the soldiers guarding the city gate stood motionless, their faces illuminated by torches. Xiao Qi was speaking softly to the soldiers, her teeth bared, when she suddenly noticed something and rolled the whites of her eyes at him.

When Xiao Qi saw Lu Xuejin, her gaze lingered for a moment, and she looked at him for a while before her brows furrowed slightly. Then she continued talking to the soldiers with her head down.

The soldiers initially wanted to stop her, but seeing that Xiao Qi didn't object, they exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately didn't stop her, letting Lu Xuejin go in.

The hall, originally used as a resting place for the officials stationed there, has now become a place for the sick to rest. The hall is brightly lit, and the plum tree, which was originally on its last legs, has shown signs of revival in the face of the cold snow. Clusters of weak new buds have sprouted in front of the window.

Lu Xuejin paused outside the palace, gazing at the window through which the busy figures of doctors and guards could be seen through the paper panes. No matter how busy the passersby were, the person lying on the bed maintained the same posture, her breath peaceful in her deep sleep, like a beautiful woman reflected on a screen.

The filth slowly eroded the beauty upon her, melting her like a pearl into a pool of desolate white bones.

After the servants had finally left, a dim lamp remained in the hall. Through that lamplight, Wei Ning's silhouette was outlined. Wei Ning was guarding Xue Yi's bedside, fast asleep under the candlelight.

He stepped into the hall, but neither of them reacted. As he approached, he saw Xue Yi's sickly profile and Wei Ning's sleeping face. He recalled their trip to Lushan Mountain near Shengjing. At that time, the night was filled with stars. When they rested on the mountaintop, the scene before him overlapped with the scene in his memory.

Twinkling stars, a bright night sky, a young boy and girl nestled together. When Xue Yi fell ill, the two of them took turns caring for him. As children, they always hoped that their loved one's illness would disappear quickly, leaving behind pain and torment.

He now knows he has never made a wrong choice, and every step he has taken should have been the right one. Yet, the emotions that flow from his memories always seep out from the cracks of reason.

He stood tall before the hall, gazing at Xue Yi's pale face on the bed. His sickly appearance, his weak breath, the needle marks on his arm—the person on the bed had transformed into a withered, soft flower. Slowly, it withered away, consumed by pus and blood.

Just then, perhaps sensing his gaze, the person on the bed subtly changed their aura. The candlelight flickered, and the weakly trembling eyelashes slowly fluttered down, opening in the dim light. The small mole under the eye became incredibly clear, and Xue Yi's slender pupils reflected his image.

The hall fell silent, the sound of wind and snow outside clearly audible. His expression appeared in Xue Yi's eyes. Xue Yi's face was pale, his pupils were like a deep pool of water. His unfocused eyes slowly came back to him when they looked at him, his eyes slightly dazed, with a hint of probing and disbelief, as if he were in a dream.

“…Changyou?” Xue Yi called him softly.

Lu Xuejin noticed a change in a certain part of his body. The chess game that had been hanging over his mind gradually cleared up under Xue Yi's questioning. When he looked into Xue Yi's eyes, he sensed an indescribable change, and that unspeakable pity and sorrow gradually became tangible.

He saw his younger self again.

The boy in red stood beside him, gloating as he watched his movements, his gaze intriguing as he hesitated after making his choice.

“…” Lu Xuejin sighed silently in her heart.

He sat down by Xue Yi's bedside, touched Wei Ning's hand, looked down at Xue Yi's appearance, and whispered, "Brother, were you angry with me during the day?"

He asked in a slightly gentle voice, a soft emotion surfacing in his brown eyes. That emotion enveloped Xue Yi, dispelling the gloom that had accumulated in Xue Yi's mind.

Xue Yi coughed again, "cough..." His cheeks flushed weakly from struggling to breathe. His fingers were immediately grabbed, touching something icy cold. Xue Yi held on tightly, as if afraid it would disappear at any moment.

They clearly wanted to leave as soon as they saw him, but now they're unwilling to let go.

Thinking of this, Lu Xuejin transmitted his warmth to Xue Yi through his fingertips and said to Xue Yi, "Brother, don't worry, I won't leave. You just need to get better soon."

The image of His Highness's smiling face flashed through his mind. Where was His Highness now? His heart was torn in two, one half following the young prince, the other half remaining by the sickbed, firmly bound by it.

...

Murong Yue: "Sister Ziyan, is there anything you can't tell me now?"

The boy looked up at the clouds drifting across the sky, touched a snowflake, and crushed it without hesitation. Murong Yue looked at him thoughtfully, appearing innocent and seemingly having truly listened, but there was no smile in his eyes.

Ziyan slipped out of the city, and upon hearing this, she lowered her veil and said patiently, "This is the young master's order. Your Highness, please stay here in peace. You only need three days... After three days, you can return to the city."

Yege lifted the curtain from his tent. News had already come from his men that he knew the King of Wei had arrived in Lidu. He figured the King was coming for his nephew, and if Yue'er were told this, Yue'er would surely insist on entering the city. Lord Lu was thoughtful and didn't want Yue'er to take any risks.

Murong Yue turned his head slightly and asked, "What important matter is it? Are you trying to lie to me, brother? Could it be that you've gone back on your word about coming to Li and are now going back to the capital?"

“Young Master’s feelings for His Highness are sincere and he will never go back on his word,” Ziyan said. “His Highness’s birthday is in three days. Young Master may want to make good preparations for His Highness’s birthday. I cannot reveal too much, so please rest assured, Your Highness.”

Ziyan paused slightly as she spoke. Now that Xue Yi has arrived in Lidu, along with the Wuling army, how should we view this… Young Master must return to the capital. Staying here will only bring disaster upon His Highness, and naturally, Young Master would not want that to happen.

She stayed by the young master's side the whole time, though not as attentively caring as Tengluo. Thinking that it was his birthday in three days, and that the young master would have to part with him, she looked at the boy before her and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

Upon hearing this, Murong Yue laughed, his fan-shaped eyes opening wide. His handsome and aloof face resembled a deity awakening in a fairyland, warm and radiant, making one dizzy with delight.

"Sister Ziyan, please don't lie to me with Brother Changyou. If you lie to me, I will chase after you to the ends of the earth."

"..." Ziyan said, "This servant would not dare. Your Highness, please wait here for me. I will come to take Your Highness back in three days."

After leaving those words behind, Ziyan hurriedly departed. Murong Yue watched the direction Ziyan had gone. The Hu tribe's tent was incredibly warm, making his cheeks flushed. Only after she left did he regain his composure, his eyes becoming dark and unfathomable.

Murong Yue: "Uncle, what do you think?"

Yege felt deeply grateful for Lu Xuejin's great kindness and righteousness. Although his nephew was exceptionally talented, he was still a fledgling in front of the King of Wei. The fate of a fledgling facing such a massive army was self-evident.

“Lord Lu likes Yue’er, we can all see that. You should also change your gloomy nature,” Yege said.

"Stay here with me and go back in three days."

Murong Yue didn't answer. He closed one eye; ever since the snow, his right eye had been twitching incessantly. He felt uneasy, and Ziyan arrived just then, as if confirming his unease. Something must have happened to his brother, which was why he wasn't allowed to go back.

How could he sit idly by and wait for his death?

"Listen up, all of you! Go through the city, house to house, and bring back anyone who knows the whereabouts of the Ninth Prince immediately. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, kill the innocent rather than let the guilty go free. Even if you have to tear the ground up, find the Ninth Prince!" Xiao Qi said.

"Yes!" The Wuling soldiers below, clad in silver armor and iron helmets, stood solemnly in formation amidst the snowflakes, their voices echoing outwards from the capital.

"go!"

As Xiao Qi gave the order, the soldiers scattered. The scattered soldiers carried portraits of Murong Yue, and the entire capital city was immediately surrounded by soldiers. The gates of the houses were forcibly opened, and the soldiers rushed in, nailing the portraits of Murong Yue to the beams and pillars.

"Hey! Have you seen this person before?"

"No! No! Sir, spare my life!"

"Remember this well, this is a criminal who escaped from the capital. Anyone who sees him and provides clues will be richly rewarded. If you know anything but report it, you will be beheaded!"

The iron cavalry trampled down the thresholds of the people in Lidu, and in just one day, the soldiers captured a hundred people and brought them to the military camp for interrogation. Because Murong Yue had grown up in Lidu, some recognized him as the Ninth Prince. Anyone who identified him as the Ninth Prince and was not a criminal was beheaded by Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi: "A sinner is a sinner. Causing the Emperor to be uneasy is a capital offense. Listen carefully: if you cannot find the Ninth Prince this time, your entire Li City will be buried with him."

The severed head lay atop the city wall, the snow still falling, and congealed blood dripped down the wall, forming a pool of blood on the ground.

Lu Xuejin stayed by Xue Yi's bedside all night, but Xue Yi didn't wake up. Instead, Wei Ning woke up first. When Wei Ning saw him, he looked slightly surprised. The two of them left Xue Yi's room and walked down the corridor one after the other.

“He’s come here with no intention of taking His Highness’s life. Is there anything I can help you with? Where is His Highness hiding now? Can you ensure his safety?” Wei Ning asked.

Lu Xuejin walked ahead, remaining silent upon hearing this. Looking at Wei Ning's worried expression, he felt as if he saw himself reflected in Wei Ning's eyes. He paused slightly, and the reflection of the Water Moon Guanyin in the courtyard merged with Wei Ning's own shadow at his feet.

"...It was all my oversight. If I hadn't insisted on coming to Lidu, my brother wouldn't have followed me here," Lu Xuejin said calmly.

Wei Ning: "How can I blame you... Don't blame yourself. It's my fault. I didn't stop him from coming to the capital. Song Zhao insisted that Xiao Qi come with him. If I could have stopped Xue Yi or General Xiao, things wouldn't have turned out this way."

They both stopped at the same time, finding themselves in the enormous shadow of the Water Moon Guanyin.

Lu Xuejin saw the criminals Xiao Qi had brought back and the corpses hanging at the city gate. He stared at the flowing blood for a long time before looking away.

“Wei Ning, I should be the one saying this. You don’t need to blame yourself. Since my brother has found this place, it’s all because of me, so naturally I should resolve it. I will return to the capital with my brother, and I will do my best to ensure His Highness’s safety. I will return to the capital with my brother, and I hope you can stay here for the time being and prevent Xiao Qi from finding His Highness… Could I ask you for a favor?” Lu Xuejin asked, her eyes lowered.

Wei Ning felt a surge of overwhelming powerlessness wash over her. The young man before her, as always, showed no emotion. He blamed neither her nor the seriously ill person on the sickbed; he attributed everything to himself. Meeting his clear, deep, and icy eyes, her breathing slowed.

“Of course. I don’t want Your Highness to get hurt, so I’ll leave Xue Yi in your care.”

Lu Xuejin noticed Wei Ning's emotions, smiled at him, and reassured him, "Don't worry, I don't blame you. We always try to have the best of both worlds, and it's inevitable that things will be tough in this world."

"..." Wei Ning, "Where are you going?"

Lu Xuejin: "Go to General Xiao's place. There must be no more bloodshed before my brother wakes up."

The gently falling snowflakes, as they descended, whitened the ends of his eyebrows and landed on the young man's cloak adorned with blooming trumpet creeper flowers. The young man's expression turned somber amidst the swirling snow. As if touched by divine pity, a long wind was summoned to disperse the snow, easing his frown and anxieties. His divinely beautiful eyes and brows caused soldiers on the road to momentarily mistake him for an immortal.

“Do not torture the people. Do not treat the people with disrespect or rudeness. Go and tell General Xiao that these corpses should be sent back for a proper burial and that he should apologize to the people.”

The soldier wondered who could command General Xiao to act. Seeing the young man's aloof and noble air, he unconsciously lowered his head, feeling that all his actions had become shameful, and in the midst of filth, he discovered his original conscience.

A note from the author: