Rainy Night
Physician Xu had been gone for a while. Pan'er, who had been ordered to keep an eye on Physician Xu, returned shortly afterward. She whispered:
"Princess, after returning, Physician Xu went straight back to the Imperial Hospital and didn't talk much with anyone along the way. He even sent the palace maid sent by Changchun Palace back. It seems that Physician Xu will keep today's events to himself."
Princess Kunrou rubbed her slightly sore temples and sighed, "Back when Physician Xu was still taking my mother's pulse, I knew he was a reliable person. Unfortunately, his medical skills became so superb that the Empress took over. Now it seems that with the lives of his clansmen in danger, he won't dare to act recklessly for the time being. We just need to send more people to keep an eye on him."
Enough. She dismissed the maids standing in the hall and then looked at Lin Xu sitting on the couch.
Ever since she emerged from behind the screen, her face had been deathly pale, devoid of any color, yet her eyes shone with an indescribable light.
"Lin Xu, you just said..."
Lin Xu nodded, looking at Liao Yan with undiminished brilliance in his eyes.
"Although all of this is merely my wild guess, given the current series of coincidences, there is only one explanation left. The day Her Majesty the Empress was so shocked happened to be the day Prince Mao achieved a great victory over the enemy and returned triumphantly, having pacified the plains. And my mother, presumably, inadvertently stumbled upon some secret that had to be hidden for many years, a secret that no one could know even a fraction of. And this matter concerns the current Crown Prince, the Empress, and even more so, Prince Mao, who now holds immense power in the court..."
"With your wisdom and intelligence, you surely understand the meaning behind my words—"
Almost simultaneously, another bolt of lightning crashed down outside. The entire windowpane of the side hall was briefly illuminated by a white light. The light and shadow flashed by, and their eyes met.
Liao Yan raised her hand to half-cover the swaying pavilion, blocking the impending downpour of wind and rain.
After a moment, she looked at the flickering candlelight and whispered, "...At the palace banquet that year, although I was still young, I remember that Prince Mao was in a great mood and got drunk. He hugged all the princes... The one he hugged the tightest and longest, and who wouldn't let go, is now the Crown Prince."
I see.
Even the usually calm and composed Liao Yan was startled by such a bold speculation and broke out in a cold sweat.
"But even if we know the truth, what can we do...?"
Even if she is truly ambitious, even if she really longs for that position and that place, even if she has studied diligently for many years and is no less skilled in literature and martial arts than anyone else in the world, now that this terrifying and dangerous secret has been discovered by the two of them, if she is not careful, she will lose everything...
Prince Mao was her uncle, and the Crown Prince was her cousin. They had grown up together for many years and naturally had a deep friendship.
Moreover, Prince Mao has made great military achievements over the years and holds military power over most of the country. His nephew Duan Jinru alone can now mobilize half of the palace's troops. Not to mention the Empress and the Crown Prince, once these three unite, how can she possibly withstand their encirclement and suppression on her own?
Lin Xu's expression was exceptionally solemn. She reached out and placed her hands on Liao Yan's cold hands. Her body temperature was not much warmer than Liao Yan's, but it seemed as if an extraordinary power was slowly infusing her with a sense of tranquility.
"When I first visited the princess's residence, amidst the swirling bamboo forest, I told her that I was the one in the world who best understood her thoughts and fulfilled her desires. And now, the current situation is perfect for me to help her get there—"
"—The best time."
Liao Yan looked at the face before her, as pure as the whitest flower in a gardenia bush. Even though she had just become a mother, her eyes were still full of ambition that she could not hide.
The people of Dayu were civilized, but there was no precedent for an empress, so most women could only do things like being a good wife and mother, and gently managing the household. Even if someone had a burning ambition, they could only hide everything due to their surroundings, close the doors of their house, and become the most obedient noblewoman.
But Lin Xu, her face, her eyes, all her bold or absurd actions, never once tried to hide her true self.
She seemed utterly disdainful of revealing her inner thoughts, her schemes and plots... These complex emotions, intertwined with her most aloof and alluring face, only made her more captivating.
From childhood, Liao Yan had witnessed countless beautiful noblewomen fighting tooth and nail for men, jewelry, and reputation. Yet, these men, who were the ones being fought over, were all irresistibly drawn to Lin Xu, and some even fell in love with her.
What's even more ridiculous is that Lin Xu's thoughts were exactly the same as these men's from beginning to end. She was obsessed with revenge, obsessed with how to become the supreme ruler of the world. What she cared about was exactly the same as these pampered men.
That's why, from the very first moment she met Lin Xu, she subconsciously wanted to believe her.
She believed she could truly help her reach that place that had appeared in her dreams countless times, that had haunted her soul so long, yet that she couldn't easily speak of. This time, she still wanted to believe in her. With all her heart.
...
The torrential rain continued until midnight.
The princess's residence, solemn and majestic by day, still stands tall and imposing even in the deep darkness of night. Amidst the sound of cascading rain, an inconspicuous lacquered wooden door slowly opens.
Lin Xu emerged quietly, draped in an enormous black cloak, followed closely by three highly skilled guards. Liao Yan, fearing the Dou family might cause trouble again, was determined to ensure Lin Xu's safety and a safe return home.
The rain fell like silver needles, pattering against the tiles and stone steps. A rushing torrent had already gathered in the alley, quickly soaking her robes. Lin Xu wore a hood, the brim barely obscuring her view of the endless rain, leaving only a desolate scene before her.
For some reason, she suddenly felt a little flustered.
In an instant, before Lin Xu could think further, he felt something strange flash through the air besides the raindrops—
Her eyes flickered, and her heart pounded... Oh no, it's murderous intent!
Meanwhile, the guards, all well-trained, had clearly sensed the danger. However, before they could reach for their swords at their waists, several heads suddenly appeared on the previously empty rooftops!
Those people moved very quickly. They all covered their faces with black cloths, making it impossible to see their faces in the torrential rain. The guards panicked and immediately tried to protect the frightened Lin Xu in the center. But suddenly, several extremely faint silver lights flashed towards them from all directions!
Before the guards could react, they were all struck in the neck by the incredibly sharp silver needles and quickly collapsed to the ground unconscious. Lin Xu knew something was wrong. She hadn't expected to encounter such a crisis as soon as she stepped out the door, let alone be ambushed in front of the most prestigious and unparalleled princess's residence in Dayu.
Who else but the Empress could possibly offend the Eldest Princess?!
But right now, the rain was pouring down from all sides, and she was completely surrounded by those masked men in black. She didn't even have any weapons to defend herself. How could she protect herself now? In despair, Lin Xu looked at a dark alleyway not far from her.
She had no other choice but to gamble everything she had on these people!
Lin Xu gritted her teeth, lifted her skirt, and ran towards the dark alleyway. The path was slippery, and she nearly fell several times, but she hurriedly continued running forward. She gasped for breath, while the men in black had already vanished from the rooftops, nowhere to be found. She had no time to think; just as she was congratulating herself on narrowly escaping their ambush, her still-shaken body was pushed forward by an incredibly powerful force.
A dark shadow, like a mountain of ink, loomed before her. It was a tall man, his face completely obscured by a hood, only his plain cloak visible. Rain dripped incessantly from the hem of his garment, and moonlight shone through the thick clouds and mist, making the man's silhouette appear hazy and ghostly.
Her heart was pounding wildly. She had no idea where the person in front of her had been hiding. As the dark figure closed in, she instinctively took a half step back, her mind racing to come up with a new way to escape.
The man, however, was relentless, closing in with a swift movement. Amidst the wind and rain, the sound of his sleeves fluttering could be faintly heard. In an instant, a large hand gripped her wrist tightly, and before she could break free, another hand landed on her shoulder with unwavering force, pinning her against the wall.
Before she knew it, she was pressed firmly against the wall behind her, and rainwater dripped down the stone bricks, quickly soaking her clothes.
"haven't seen you for a long time."
The man's voice carried a hint of mockery as his tall frame slowly approached her, almost completely blocking out the only light in front of her. His warm breath invaded her ear, carrying a scent that was faintly damp and a long-lost familiar aroma.
She opened her eyes wide and looked at the person in front of her who slowly raised his hand and removed the hood from his head, revealing a pair of dark eyes that had been looking down at her since the beginning.
Bathed in the soft moonlight, everything seemed just as it had always been, yet everything also seemed to have changed.
Lin Xu pursed her lips, which were dry from nervousness. A myriad of thoughts surged through her mind, but she couldn't say anything at the moment, only managing to stammer out a single sentence.
"You... what are you doing here?"
Even after so long, through the heavy darkness of the night, that face was still breathtakingly beautiful, even more so than before, with a sharper edge. Dou Yanxun's face was deathly pale, but his lips were tinged with a faint red, and the faint smile on his lips became even more pronounced.
Despite his handsome features that never showed a hint of a smile, a faint smile always seemed to grace his lips when he looked at her.
Lin Xu unconsciously took a step back, the cold rain seeping in through her cloak, making her shiver involuntarily. But Dou Yanxun in front of her was a complete stranger to her, her heart was pounding so hard she could hardly stand, but even so, she still had to force herself to appear calm in front of him.
We must not let him see through our disguise.
Seeing her eyelids lower slightly, Dou Yanxun gently tightened his grip on her wrist with his right hand, and sure enough, her brows furrowed slightly, only to be quickly smoothed out. The more composed she remained, the more he wanted to continue testing her.
Test her limits.
Test her true feelings.
"Dou Yanxun, so late at night... you led a large group of men to ambush in front of the princess's residence. Do you know that this is a serious crime?"
She questioned him in a low voice, but even so, her eyes deliberately avoided his gaze.
Dou Yanxun leaned forward slightly, his high, straight nose almost touching the raindrops remaining on her cheek.
And that soft, gentle spring rain, a long-lost scent that he longed for day and night, keeping him awake at night.
Lin Xu felt his gaze lingering on her for so long that her cheeks quickly began to burn. Was she blushing in front of him? How utterly inappropriate! She felt flustered, clenching her fists tightly, yet unable to suppress the urge to distance herself from him.
He was way too close to her.
Dou Yanxun, however, seemed quite relaxed. He looked up at the sky and the incessant rain with a bored expression before lowering his head again to look at her.
His gaze swept from the wet hem of her clothes to her white knuckles, and finally settled on her eyes.
The next moment, without any warning, he leaned down and kissed her lips.
The scorching heat mixed with the icy rain, sweeping over her like a whirlwind, making it hard for her to breathe and leaving her almost completely powerless.
His large hands effortlessly gripped her hands, holding her firmly in his arms. No matter how much she struggled, he never let go.
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