Chapter 26 Her eyes became distant
For a moment, Xue Lanyi felt that he really would cut her flesh with a knife. Her hair stood on end, and she quickly wiped it off.
Wei Zhang gripped her wrist, like an iron clamp.
Xue Lanyi felt like her bones were about to break, and said in a trembling voice, "Yun Jian, I didn't mean to."
Wei Zhang met those pitiful eyes, remained silent for a moment, and finally released her wrist. He then took a silk handkerchief, wrapped it around his fingertips, and touched the bloodstained area.
Xue Lanyi was still in shock. With each movement of his cool fingers, she gasped for breath and shrank back.
The water rippled before Wei Zhang's eyes, yet he could never touch her.
He was losing his patience, frowned, and said firmly, leaving no room for argument: "Take a deep breath and bring it to me yourself."
Xue Lanyi shuddered. Although she felt ashamed, it was still better than having her skin scraped off.
She swallowed and straightened her back.
Wei Zhang wiped it gently.
At this moment, he was exceptionally meticulous and gentle, wiping away the dust as he did so.
Just like polishing his beloved thumb ring or seal, he would wipe every dark corner and pattern until it was spotless.
However, Xue Lanyi's skin was not porcelain, and when he scratched and pulled it with his fingertips, it quickly bled.
A slight stinging sensation, along with some other unusual feelings, assaulted Xue Lanyi's mind.
She pressed his hand down, her breath coming in short gasps, "Yun Jian, it's clean now."
Wei Zhang looked up at the moisture in her eyes, his fingertips kneading her eyes without stopping, "Next time you get it dirty, I'll have a better way to clean it for you."
The pressure on my hand was a little too strong, and the sensations of pain and tingling alternated.
Xue Lanyi didn't understand what method he was going to use; she only knew that he was deliberately provoking and warning her.
A thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, and she nodded repeatedly, her neck arched as if she were a fish out of breath, panting heavily.
Seeing that she was truly obedient, Wei Zhang released her and continued to wipe away the remaining blood from her waist, then her arm.
Xue Lanyi remained immersed in the lingering pain.
It wasn't until a drop of water fell on Xue Lanyi's left wrist that her confused thoughts suddenly cleared.
The blood on her left wrist wasn't actually residual; it was blood that had flowed from Wei Xuancheng's sword wound.
If Wei Zhang discovers her wound, he will immediately realize that she is intentionally protecting Wei Xuan, which will cause another uproar.
Xue Lanyi's heart skipped a beat. Seeing that his fingertips were about to touch the scar, she quickly reached out and grabbed his neck. "Yun Jian!"
Wei Zhang's hand, which was wiping, missed its target, and he looked up in suspicion.
Xue Lanyi acted faster than she thought, and the two stared at each other, the air frozen for a few breaths.
A moment later, she hugged his neck even tighter.
"It's already cleaned very well, don't bother with this."
The girl's red lips parted slightly, and her damp breath sprayed against his ear.
Wei Zhang felt a tickle in his ears as he admired her eyes, which were filled with spring water, and the flush at the corners of her eyes that had been teased.
The mist, sometimes thick and sometimes thin, adds a touch of hazy charm.
Wei Zhang knew that she had just been moved by emotions.
They were experienced people who knew each other's bodies well, so faced with the beautiful scenery, Wei Zhang inevitably tensed up, but his face remained calm as he smiled and said, "If not this, what else?"
What do you think?
"I don't know," Wei Zhang said.
Xue Lanyi choked and fell silent.
Xue Lanyi felt very uncomfortable hearing those flirtatious words from the past being spoken again.
But she had finally managed to divert Wei Zhang's attention, and she couldn't let all her efforts go to waste.
She smiled again, her red lips curving closer to his ear, her breath sweet as orchids: "I'll play with you."
The words "soft and gentle" reached Wei Zhang's ears, and his breathing became uncontrollably disordered.
In bed, she was often a mix of youthful innocence and allure. When passion was at its peak, she would seduce him with her enthusiasm and even take the initiative.
Therefore, Wei Zhang was not surprised that she said such things.
Upon further reflection, Li Zhaoyang, so unattainable and inviolable, reserved all her charms for him alone.
A surge of energy welled up in Wei Zhang's abdomen.
He grabbed the back of her head, looked into her eyes, and said, "Trying to mess with me? Try it."
As she spoke, she closed her eyes slightly and kissed him.
Xue Lanyi suddenly turned her head away.
His kiss missed, and he frowned slightly in impatience.
"This place is too hard." Xue Lanyi patted the stone steps.
Her skin was delicate; after sitting on the hard bluestone slab for just fifteen minutes, a red patch appeared on her thigh.
"If you mistreat me here, you will suffer in the future," she said, her eyes sparkling with seductive charm.
Wei Zhang was not very restrained in some matters, and he was reluctant to damage her and cause himself suffering on the bluestone slab.
So, unusually, he listened to advice and glanced around the room.
The main room was not furnished with much furniture, let alone a soft couch; only a window couch was available.
He then carried her to the window.
The window faced the only road leading to and from Chong'an Hall.
The night was pitch black, and two figures could be vaguely seen loitering in the corridor not far away...
“Brother, you won’t take this path.”
The deep voice landed on Xue Lanyi's forehead.
Xue Lanyi quickly turned around.
Wei Zhang had already lifted her up and sat her on the windowsill, his arms wrapped around her sides.
She was only slightly distracted before Wei Zhang caught her.
Her heart raced, and she closed the window a crack. "I'm just afraid of being seen."
Wei Zhang stared at her without changing his expression, clearly disbelieving.
Xue Lanyi cupped his face in her hands and kissed his lips. "Yun Jian, I have already listened to you and killed Wei Xuan. Why don't you believe me?"
"Have you forgotten? No matter what, Xue Lanyi will always love Wei Yunjian." Her gentle voice was still as resolute as ever.
For a fleeting moment, it truly felt like there was some genuine emotion involved.
But what does it matter if it's true or false?
She made the vow herself, and she had to keep it to the end; she had no other choice.
Wei Zhang temporarily put aside all his considerations and only thought about one thing at this moment.
He bent down and took her lower lip into his mouth, gently sucking and kissing it.
Xue Lanyi returned his kiss, her tongue teasing his tongue intermittently, her soft breaths entering his mouth.
Wei Zhang's breathing tightened, he swallowed instinctively, and closed his eyes.
Xue Lanyi kept her eyes half-closed, only daring to show disgust as she watched him gradually sink into depravity.
Xue Lanyi will always love Wei Yunjian.
However, she is not Xue Lanyi.
Her eyes became distant, and she mechanically and skillfully teased him, lured him, and seduced him into falling deeper.
She had learned a lot in the brothel, but she always wanted to treat him sincerely and was unwilling to use such methods.
But now, she doesn't care about his sincerity at all.
Xue Lanyi had too few chips, so she could only let him be trapped by greed, which gave her a chance to escape.
Xue Lanyi took a deep breath and, suppressing her reluctance, hooked her arm around his belt...
The kiss came to an abrupt end in an instant.
Wei Zhang suddenly looked up, his eyes revealing a trapped beast that was about to break free of its cage.
"Yun Jian, come here." Her eyes were red and moist.
For a moment, Wei Zhang was like a puppet on a string, moving along with her force.
The man's tall body leaned down, and Xue Lanyi's back slammed against the window.
Something fell with a thud outside the window.
Just as Wei Zhang was about to straighten his back and take another step, there was a knock at the door. "Your Highness, His Majesty has arrived in person."
The surge abruptly stopped, leaving only the man's lingering gasps.
"Lords Shen and Jiang have sent me to see you. Please come to the living room as soon as possible!" Qingyang said, forcing himself to speak.
The situation is tense tonight, concerning the rebels.
The Crown Prince is a man of great strategic thinking; he should not be indulging in women at this time.
But Qingyang could hear Wei Zhang's uncontrollable breathing from outside the door, which was really abnormal, so he had to interrupt the prince.
"Let's deal with the important matters first." Xue Lanyi released him and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Wei Zhang felt a sense of relief as his stomach emptied, and he stood there taking a deep breath.
Xue Lanyi came down from the windowsill first, brushed past him, and went to the closet where clean clothes were always kept.
The faint scent of lilies and sandalwood mingled around her, entwining around Wei Zhang's shoulders.
The tide did not subside with her departure; instead, it surged forth with even greater force.
When Xue Lanyi returned after putting on her outer robe, he was still in the same spot, breathing deeply.
"What's wrong?" Xue Lanyi draped a coat over him, her breath brushing against his neck.
Wei Zhang swallowed hard. "It's alright."
At this time, one should certainly not be preoccupied with desires.
He vaguely realized that his feelings for her were growing stronger, which was not a good thing.
He focused his energy in his dantian, suppressed his agitation, and then spread his arms to let Xue Lanyi change her clothes.
Even after I was fully dressed, my anger hadn't subsided.
Wei Zhang was never someone who could lose control of himself like that.
His fingers, hidden in his sleeve, clenched into his palm, his knuckles turning white.
"I'll have Qingyang make me a cup of herbal tea to help clear heat."
Xue Lanyi witnessed everything before her and was about to get up and leave.
A hand grabbed her arm.
She buried her face in Wei Zhang's firm chest.
He wanted to say "no need" as the soft, fragrant body embraced him, but what came out of his mouth was: "Don't sleep too soundly for a while, wait for me."
Well, tonight is our wedding night, so a little indulgence is only natural.
After saying this, Wei Zhang's anger subsided, and he tucked his sleeves and walked out.
The door to the bedroom was opened, letting in a ray of sunlight, which was quickly closed again, plunging Xue Lanyi into darkness once more.
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that a pair of unfathomable eyes were fixed on her through the crack in the door.
The door closed, and Wei Zhang adjusted his black cloak, then walked along the path behind the main room towards the living room.
"His Majesty has arrived. Should the Crown Prince change into his court robes?" Qingyang followed behind.
"No need."
The current emperor is neither a man of great wisdom nor courage.
His greatest fear was that his younger brother, the crown prince, would return and seize his throne. Ever since he heard that the former crown prince was still alive, the emperor had been unable to eat or sleep properly and had nightmares constantly.
Tonight, with the arrest of the princelings, it would be a miracle if he didn't hide under the emperor's desk trembling with fear; how could he dare to personally go to the scene?
It seems that Shen Jinglan and Jiang Tao couldn't wait for him, so they forged an imperial edict to force him to show himself.
Why would these two risk such a heinous crime to see him in such a hurry? And how did they know he was in the mansion?
Wei Zhang's steps faltered slightly as he caught a glimpse of the overturned and shattered flowerpots outside the back window.
That was what fell out when Xue Lanyi's back hit the window.
Wei Zhang stared at the mess on the ground, remaining silent for a long time, his hand behind his back slowly turning the ring on his thumb.
Qingyang didn't know what had happened, but he knew that the prince's expression must mean that someone had displeased him.
"Miss Xue...should I send someone to keep an eye on Miss Xue?"
Wei Zhang's expression turned even more unpleasant.
Now that Xue Lanyi is a concubine in the household and the heir's woman, Qingyang's words are indeed disrespectful.
"Your subordinate is guilty!" Qingyang bowed even lower, his gaze lowered as he observed Wei Zhang's expression. "Then... what about the eldest young master? Should we treat his illness?"
The twenty-three former Crown Prince's associates who were arrested earlier did indeed extract some information about the former Crown Prince after being tortured in the imperial prison, but Shen Jinglan's follow-up efforts yielded nothing.
It seems that Wei Xuan took precautions after the princelings were arrested.
Wei Xuan was skilled in surprise attacks and his whereabouts were unpredictable, which naturally made the Crown Prince's whereabouts mysterious as well.
Therefore, the key to finding the former crown prince lies with Wei Xuan.
"I've temporarily settled the eldest son in the old house. Should we move him to the secret room?"
"If you're fishing, why would you hide the bait?"
If the big fish doesn't bite, you have to keep fishing.
Previously, the bait was Xue Lanyi, and the fish was Wei Xuan.
Things have changed drastically; it seems things will have to change completely.
Wei Zhang chuckled, shook his head, and strolled away.
Separated by a wall, Xue Lanyi secretly observed Wei Zhang through the crack in the window.
Only after he had gone far away did Xue Lanyi relax her tense body and slide down to sit by the window.
Her face lost its radiance, her eyelashes drooped, and she could not hide the pain in her eyes.
She wrapped her arms around her knees, hugging herself tightly.
But the lingering scent of cold pine resin all around her made her shiver.
She wasn't mentally prepared to engage in sexual relations with him as if nothing had happened.
Therefore, she deliberately had Wei Zhang carry her to the windowsill and then deliberately knocked over the flowerpots outside the window so that the two adults in the distant corridor could hear the commotion.
At this critical moment tonight, if the two officials knew that Wei Zhang was still in the mood for bathing and pleasure, they would naturally try their best to call Wei Zhang away, and would certainly keep him occupied for an hour or two.
Even an hour or two would be good; if she stayed in Wei Zhang's arms any longer, she was afraid she would have a mental breakdown.
Tragically, even after Wei Zhang left, she could not escape his influence.
She leaned against the windowsill, her steps faltering as she walked to the edge of the bathtub, where she took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the marks off her body.
My lips are slightly swollen from rubbing, and my neck is red, but why can't I get them clean?
She gazed at her reflection in the clear water, her neck and collarbone etched with the purplish-blue hickeys of Wei Zhang.
The old and the new overlap, and things can never be restored to their original state.
Xue Lanyi's heart was as heavy as a stone, yet she stubbornly and mechanically wiped away the purple marks again and again.
My neck was cut open, and beads of blood were flowing down my neck.
It's piping hot.
It was as hot as the blood of the boy on horseback during their escape that year.
At that time, Wei Xuan had lost too much blood and was shivering from the cold.
She tried to take off her outer garment and wrap it around him.
He pressed down on her hand that was unbuttoning her clothes from behind. "No, I'm afraid, I'm afraid I won't live to see the day I marry you. Don't let, don't let my future husband's family find fault with our Yiyi."
They tumbled off their horses and fell onto the lakeshore.
The wind on the lake is bleak, carrying with it the gentle voice of the boy from that year and that day.
Xue Lanyi felt as if her heart had been squeezed and crushed.
The pain brought her to her senses.
She didn't have time to grieve; she had to find Wei Xuan.
She wanted him to live a long and healthy life.
Wei Zhang won't be back for an hour or two, so she should take advantage of the chaos to search for him.
Xue Lanyi wiped her blurred vision and swallowed the bitterness in her throat.
After confirming that no one was around, they took advantage of the darkness to head towards the bamboo grove behind the Duke's mansion.
When Wei Xuan was a child, he always loved to practice his sword in this bamboo forest. Every time Xue Lanyi came to find him, she never knew that he would suddenly hang upside down from that tree and make funny faces to scare her.
Xue Lanyi was always so frightened that she would either splash water on his face or smear mud on it.
But this time, as she walked through the dark forest, she no longer heard the boy's laughter.
The night wind swept through the forest, shattering the past into nothingness.
"Liefeng, are you there?" She clenched her fists nervously and called out tentatively.
Not far away, the light sound of horses' hooves came, and a white horse galloped towards her, nuzzling into her arms.
This is the warhorse that Wei Xuan raised from a young age. She is very close to him and is also very intelligent.
It escaped while Chong'an Hall was in chaos.
Xue Lanyi guessed that it would come here to wait for its owner.
She ruffled the horse's mane. "Liefeng, do you know where Wei Xuan is?"
The horse snorted and knelt down.
It carried her over the hillside towards the old courtyard of the Duke's mansion.
The Duke of Zhenguo's two residences occupy the entire Nanshan Mountain. On one side of the mountain are the new houses where everyone lives, and on the other side are the abandoned old houses, which are rarely inhabited.
Upon reaching the mountaintop, Xue Lanyi immediately saw Wei Xuan bound to a rack in the dilapidated courtyard, seemingly unconscious.
He was only wearing a white undergarment. Due to excessive blood loss, he was weak and his neck was chained to a wooden frame to force him to lift his head.
Fortunately, there was someone with a medicine box nearby who helped him stop the bleeding.
It seems Wei Zhang really didn't intend for him to die now.
Xue Lanyi bit her lip nervously, staring intently at every breath the man in the distance exhaled.
Finally, she saw his Adam's apple move.
"Ah Xuan is awake!"
The horse trotted happily, and Xue Lanyi smiled along with it.
Suddenly, a deafening sound of whipping echoed through the night sky.
The whip struck Wei Xuan hard, leaving a bloody welt on his white undergarment.
Then, several more lashes were applied repeatedly.
Xue Lanyi's pupils dilated, and her smile froze on her lips.
Why would they be so kind as to save Wei Xuan?
They just wanted to keep him hanging on, repeatedly humiliating him to get him to talk.
He was such a fine and upright young man.
He once said that if he ever fell into the hands of the enemy, he would rather commit suicide than suffer all kinds of humiliation.
Xue Lanyi insisted that he must live no matter what.
For the past three years, he has lived for Xue Lanyi.
If she hadn't been so muddle-headed and unable to judge people, they should have been riding horses outside Shengjing City tonight.
Xue Lanyi hated herself for being stupid, her fingers gripping the saddle tightly, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
The horse seemed to sense its owner's remorse, turning its head to rub against Xue Lanyi's hand, snorting.
The fierce winds that had roamed the battlefield for years were extremely docile in her presence.
The horse's intelligence calmed Xue Lanyi down a bit.
"I'm fine." Xue Lanyi patted its head.
Lie Feng, with his nose tucked in, nudged the sachet tied with a red string around his neck to her hand.
Xue Lanyi paused slightly, "What Ah Xuan left for me?"
The horse nodded.
Xue Lanyi opened the sachet with a puzzled look, only to find a peace charm inside.
Above it was a handwritten note by Wei Xuan: "Wishing Yiyi good health and a long life."
My memory vaguely returned to a birthday banquet from a certain year.
The six cups clinked together.
At that time, they had just delivered a passionate speech before the emperor, persuading him to abolish the status of the lowly.
His Majesty readily agreed.
They thought they had succeeded, and that night they talked loudly and got very drunk.
However, a few days later, Wei Xuan was sent on a distant expedition, and the entire new political party was detained overnight and accused of plotting to usurp the throne.
They endured torture but refused to confess until death.
Ultimately, Wei Zhang, one of the six, stepped forward and identified their crimes.
All the vows of unyielding to the death have become a joke.
They became rebels who coveted the throne, while Wei Zhang became a meritorious official who sacrificed his own family for the greater good.
The "good health and long life" that we once thought were within our grasp has become an unattainable wish.
In Dayong, where Wei Zhang held absolute power, could they still live to a ripe old age?
Xue Lanyi asked herself dejectedly, her fingertips tracing the words Wei Xuan had written on the amulet over and over again, as if trying to find an answer.
Suddenly, she felt a dent in the lower right corner of the amulet.
It is a gold-leaf intaglio print from Qutan Temple.
Xue Lanyi pondered for a moment, then asked Lie Feng in surprise, "Before coming to the manor, did you visit Qutan Temple?"
Lie Feng nodded.
Wei Xuan came here to rescue her from Shengjing, so why did he go to Qutan Temple specifically to ask for a peace charm for her?
This is very unusual.
"Amulet for safety, a life-saving charm..."
Xue Lanyi murmured, then suddenly realized.
Wei Xuan likely gave the evidence of Wei Zhang's murder of Prince Qi to the abbot of Qutan Temple!
Qutan Temple was a royal temple, allowing easy access to the emperor while remaining far from court intrigues. Subjects were not allowed to trespass there, making it the perfect place to hide evidence of crimes.
Wei Xuan must have considered that this trip back to the Duke's mansion might be his last, so he tied the amulet to Lie Feng, which was actually a life-saving charm for Xue Lanyi.
Even if she is alone in the future and cannot escape Wei Zhang's control, she will not be completely passive because she has evidence that Wei Zhang killed the prince.
Even before he died, Wei Xuan was still trying to leave her a way out.
Xue Lanyi felt a lump in her throat; she had so much to say to him.
He dismounted, opened his mouth, but had nowhere to confide in.
They were separated by mountains and crowds, making it difficult to communicate even with a single glance.
Xue Lanyi stared blankly at him as he struggled to his death until the moon was about to set.
She couldn't stay any longer.
She was going back to be Wei Zhang's concubine. A pang of pain shot through her heart. She slowly pulled her gaze away from Wei Xuan, gritted her teeth, and turned to leave.
A sudden gust of wind arose on the mountaintop, blinding her and causing her to stumble half a step as her clothes fluttered.
Immediately, the rich fragrance of lilies filled the air.
She lowered her hand that had been shielding her from the wind and sand, and what came into view was a lily covering an entire slope, its petals quietly unfolding towards the moonlight.
Even in the darkest of nights, a patch of pure white stubbornly grows.
These are flowers that Wei Xuan planted when he was young, saying they would bloom when she married into the family.
They also want to look at the flowers together.
Xue Lanyi's eyes lit up. She scooped up a handful of fallen lily petals and stood at the highest point.
The wind passed behind her, stirring up the pure white petals.
The flowers twirled and danced under the moonlight, then formed an arc and were carried away into the distance.
Inside the courtyard, the guards, exhausted from fighting, rested against the corner of the wall.
Suddenly, a petal lightly brushed against the wound on Wei Xuan's cheekbone.
He breathed intermittently, struggling to lift his eyelids, which were covered in blood.
On the mountaintop, under the bright moon, the girl's pale yellow skirt fluttered, and she was enveloped in a shimmering white halo. Petals flew continuously from her hands, as if a fairy from the moon was bestowing blessings upon the world.
Wei Xuanmu stood amidst a rain of petals, surrounded by fallen blossoms and fragrant scents, as if a gentle force was healing her wounds.
Her girl must have... returned.
An unexpected surprise struck Wei Xuan's heart.
He struggled to open his palm, which was hanging above his head, and a petal slipped through his fingers, carefully held in his hand.
"Ah Xuan saw me!"
Xue Lanyi was so happy that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly, and she didn't know which sentence to say first.
Ultimately, the images of her loving and tender relationship with Wei Zhang during those days, and how she ruthlessly humiliated and attempted to assassinate him for his sake, flooded her mind first.
Her lips froze, and her eyes darted around nervously.
Wei Xuan, far away, raised his lips slightly, as if to say, "It's alright."
It's alright, no matter what Li Zhaoyang did, Wei Xuan won't mind.
Because he had sworn an oath before the Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon: "Wei Xuan will be the person in this world who loves Li Zhaoyang the most!"
His voice was so loud that it reached the ears of every devout man and woman.
It also pierced through the darkness of those five years.
Xue Lanyi's heart was finally filled with joy.
It's pointless to blame yourself or feel guilty now.
She still had a life-saving talisman, which she planned to use to help Wei Xuan escape from prison.
She picked a lily and pinned it in her hair, smiling at him with her eyes crinkling.
Wei Xuan understood what she meant.
She was saying: Live well, and Li Zhaoyang is willing to marry Wei Xuan.
She agreed!
A subtle fragrance wafts through the air; the lilies of that year have bloomed tonight…
But tonight's moon cannot shine into the flower hall of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
The atmosphere was somber at the dimly lit desk.
The flickering candlelight illuminated Wei Zhang's face, obscuring his expression.
Shen Jinglan sat opposite him and slammed his hand on the table: "You can brush off this nonsense about Wei Xuan's death on Shen Tao, but I don't believe a single word of it!"
Wei Zhang sat upright in his armchair, seemingly oblivious to what was happening, and flicked his fingertips as he poured fish food into the fish tank.
The fish flocked to his hand, wagging their tails and begging for food.
He seems to have recently become obsessed with raising these useless little fish fry.
The last time Shen Jinglan saw it, there was only one bottle and one fish, but now he has a whole tank of them.
Shen Jinglan had no interest in raising fish, so he moved his fish tank to the side.
The two faces are now facing each other, no longer separated by the fish tank.
"His Majesty has been having nightmares for three days and three nights because of the arrest of the former Crown Prince's faction. You should at least hand Wei Xuan over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard so that His Majesty can get some rest for a few days. I'm afraid His Majesty's health won't be able to take it." Shen Jinglan said with a worried expression, softening her tone.
Wei Zhang then raised his eyes and wiped the grime from his fingertips with a handkerchief: "The imperial prison is too small. If you lock Wei Xuan up there, how will others put on a show?"
"Singing opera? Who?"
In retrospect, the princelings have either been imprisoned, escaped, or died, and are no longer a force to be reckoned with. Who has the ability to stir up any waves now?
"You mean... Li Zhaoyang?" Shen Jinglan suddenly realized, her face turning wary. "Has she regained her memories? I told you that keeping Li Zhaoyang around would be a hidden danger, but you wouldn't listen!"
“It’s Xue Lanyi,” Wei Zhang corrected his wording.
Regardless of whether she has regained her memory or not, as long as Wei Zhang does not allow it, she will always be Xue Lanyi and can never be Li Zhaoyang again.
Shen Jinglan lacked Wei Zhang's confidence.
After all, Princess Zhaoyang was able to escort the former crown prince out of the capital in full view of everyone.
It's not impossible for her to take Wei Xuan away again.
"Just tell me, Li Zhaoyang..." Shen Jinglan began, but Wei Zhang's eyes darkened, and he changed his words, "Is Xue Lanyi planning to take Wei Xuan away? What does she plan to do?"
"I have no idea."
"..."
Shen Jinglan was stunned: "You don't know? Is there anything in this world that you, Wei Yunjian, don't know?"
This is not like Lord Wei Zhang's style.
Shen Jinglan didn't believe it at all.
Wei Zhang genuinely had no idea how Xue Lanyi would respond next.
Of course, he was too lazy to speculate.
Xue Lanyi's performance today—the panicked act in the bridal chamber and the tender affection in the bedroom—was truly excellent; for a moment, she almost fooled Wei Zhang.
Her chess moves changed several times, much to Wei Zhang's delight.
The joy of playing chess lies precisely in this.
Wei Zhang suddenly felt that in the past, he had focused too closely on every piece on the chessboard and every move, and that it was too bland and tasteless.
He was happy to remain still and observe Xue Lanyi's next move.
"What's the rush? Someone will make their move within three days."
Wei Zhang was quite relaxed, but this worried Shen Jinglan greatly.
Once Xue Lanyi successfully rescues Wei Xuan from the capital, they will join forces with the former crown prince and occupy the western border, becoming even more powerful and threatening the emperor.
Shen Jinglan couldn't sit still any longer. "At least tell me, how should we plan to deal with this?"
"response……"
Wei Zhang picked up the small glass bottle beside him and admired it by candlelight.
Inside was the small red finned fish whose scales had been bitten off. Now, Wei Zhang had raised it to be plump and healthy, and the small bottle could hardly contain it.
When it gets arrogant, it likes to jump around.
Wei Zhang tilted the bottle slightly, and the red-scaled fish leaped up and tumbled into the large, transparent fish tank.
The fish swayed its tail, swimming freely, quite pleased with itself.
Wei Zhang teased it with a dry blade of grass, saying casually, "Let it go, let it be."
"Let them go? You're planning to let them off the hook?" Shen Jinglan was shocked.
Wei Zhang realized that he was not a fisherman at all, and it would be better to do something more interesting than to talk to him.
He straightened his robe and stood up. "You don't need to worry about anything else. Just know that everyone will pay the price for their reckless behavior."
His voice was calm yet gloomy, and Shen Jinglan knew that Wei Zhang was not one to give up easily.
He felt a little relieved and watched Wei Zhang's departing figure. "We haven't finished talking yet, where are you going?"
Wei Zhang turned his head to the side and curled his lips into a smile, "Feed the fish."
The beautiful night is still halfway over; we shouldn't waste it.
Fish need to be fed well for the splashes they make to look pretty.
Wei Zhang pushed open the door and left.
Shen Jinglan sat there, puzzled. Suddenly, a loud splashing sound came from the fish tank.
He turned around and saw streaks of blood spreading in the fish tank.
The fish were gathering and tearing at the little red-scaled fish that had come from elsewhere.
That red-scaled fish had probably been pampered in the glass bottle for too long; though beautiful, it could no longer withstand the harshness of the outside world.
Its scales were broken, its tail was severed, and it floated to the surface again and again in a disheveled state, exhaling air toward Wei Zhang as if pleading for his help.
Wei Zhang, bathed in moonlight, disappeared into the night.
The alley outside Chong'an Hall was very dark.
The two ugly lanterns that Xue Lanyi made were later hung outside the back gate and were still lit every day, but they did not light up tonight.
Wei Zhang couldn't see clearly when he crossed the threshold and kicked the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper, still snoring, was startled by the sight of a large, dark group of people in front of him. He scrambled to his knees at Wei Zhang's feet, saying, "This old servant has disturbed Your Highness. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Where is Aunt Xue?
"Aunt Xue...?"
The young master was a man of few words, and when he did speak, it was always about Qingyang.
Why are you suddenly asking about Xue...?
The gatekeeper suddenly realized, "I didn't see him come back. Does the young master have any instructions for Consort Xue? This old servant will go and do it."
What are your instructions?
Wei Zhang seemed to have nothing to give, and silently entered the courtyard.
The courtyard needs to be even quieter.
The small kitchen was cold and empty; the stove that had been simmering red bean porridge for years was now out of commission.
The bedroom window was dark, and there was no silhouette of someone embroidering under the lamp.
Everything in sight looked dead.
Wei Zhang stared at the empty courtyard, unsure of where to go next, and paused for a moment.
After a long while, the fox fur on her shoulder was gently stroked, and the familiar scent of lilies wafted into her nostrils.
Wei Zhang subconsciously turned his head, but there was nothing behind him, only a night breeze blowing in his face.
A few white petals were swept away and flew towards him.
Wei Zhang tilted his head slightly, and a petal brushed past his face, flying away where he couldn't catch it.
There was only emptiness before me again.
He looked up and followed the direction of the wind.
The distant hills were bustling with activity, as countless white petals swirled and danced in the air before being carried away by a long gust of wind towards the old house.
From a distance, lily petals form a heavenly staircase between the mountaintop and the old house.
It seems that the lilies my brother planted in Nanshan have finally found their admirers.
It seems that Xue Lanyi was even more eager to make her move than he had imagined.
Unfortunately, the opening scene was such a clichéd tale as the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.
Boring.
A hint of disdain emanated from Wei Zhang's nose as he slowly took two steps back and turned to leave.
The fallen flowers on the ground were crushed into mud by the official's boots.
He had only taken a few steps when his cloak was tripped by a flower branch on the veranda bench.
Wei Zhang was quite impatient and was about to pull open the hem of his robe.
The petals of the lilies in the pot gradually opened, facing Wei Zhang.
The petals are moist and white, while the center of the flower is a bright pale yellow, just like a smiling face.
A scene flashed through Wei Zhang's mind, and he unconsciously reached out to touch the flower. His hand hovered in mid-air, but then he curled his fingertips.
"Oh, young lady, your lilies are in bloom! If the prince sees them, he will surely be delighted!"
At that moment, Granny Liu's exclamation came from the end of the corridor.
The night was too dark, and Granny Liu could only vaguely see a figure. She thought it was a young lady tending to the flowers and plants, so she rushed over with a watering can and only then did she see Wei Zhang's face clearly.
The dappled shadows of the trees swayed on his face, exuding an unassailable aura of authority.
Granny Liu quickly took two steps back and bent down, saying, "This old servant's eyes are failing me, Your Highness, please forgive me."
After a long while, no one responded.
Granny Liu glanced upwards out of the corner of her eye and noticed that the young master showed no intention of punishing her; he was simply staring blankly at the flowers.
Granny Liu hurriedly explained, "This is a birthday gift that the young lady prepared for the young master. She has been preparing the gift for three years, taking care of it day and night, wishing she could hold it in her arms and sleep with it, hoping that the young master could see the flowers bloom."
Just then, a night breeze swept through the corridor, causing the flowers to tilt towards Wei Zhang, their petals trembling and lightly brushing against his fingers.
Wei Zhang recalled that seven days ago, Xue Lanyi's porcelain-white face was also placed in his palm, her eyes full of expectation as she looked up at him and asked if she could spend his birthday with him.
A slight itch spread through Wei Zhang, who rubbed his fingertips together.
Seeing that the young master was somewhat moved, Granny Liu naturally hoped that he would treat the young lady more kindly, so she mustered up her courage and said a few more words.
"The young lady once said: These lilies are a token of love between the prince and the young lady, symbolizing unwavering loyalty. The more the lilies bloom, the deeper their affection."
Granny Liu clapped her hands. "The young lady also said that she once promised the young master that she would marry him when the lilies were in full bloom. Isn't it a coincidence, young master? The lilies have bloomed on the very day you are to take the young lady as your bride!"
Laughter echoed in the dark night, but no one responded.
The air around us seemed even colder.
Grandma Liu's smile froze.
Suddenly, the night wind changed direction.
Wei Zhang released the flower from his hand and turned it towards the south, to the land where lilies bloomed in abundance.
This flower clearly couldn't resist the urge to fly away.
"This flower is quite remarkable; it seems to understand human nature."
Seeing that the young master showed no sign of surprise, Granny Liu, still somewhat shaken, chimed in, "Yes, young lady, you take such good care of the flowers, so naturally the flowers love you too..."
Grandma Liu was speaking when she took the bud into her palm with her well-defined knuckles and slowly rotated it.
It's just twisting a flower, but it feels like twisting off a head, sending chills down your spine.
Grandma Liu's pupils dilated in fright.
The flower the girl had been growing for three years broke.
Wei Zhang opened his palm, and withered petals fell softly from between his fingers...
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