Although the Imperial Master felt that the Fifth Prince had been acting a little strangely recently, he was too busy worrying about other things as he was about to have his revenge taken to heart, and was completely focused on harming the Emperor.
But he did not forget the important matter. Before killing the old emperor, he and General Xin set the wedding date in advance, which was in the middle of next month. The reason was that if they delayed it for a while longer, it would be the Chinese New Year and it would be difficult to hold the wedding then.
The emperor thought about it and agreed. He could feel that his health was not very good. If he died one day, the military power in Xin Wujiang's hands would still be a hidden danger. It would be better for him to get married earlier and let the imperial teacher keep an eye on him.
So the wedding date was set. No matter what, the imperial teacher would not let the emperor die before Lan Shuang's wedding.
After the old general left the palace, he said a few words to the imperial teacher, and then they parted ways. The imperial teacher returned home, looked at the dowry prepared for Lan Shuang, and after making sure there was no problem, he sat at the desk in a daze.
"Sir, the Saint's wedding dress is ready. Please review it."
The maids came in holding Lan Shuang's wedding dress. The Imperial Master narrowed his eyes, stood up and walked over. The phoenix coronet, bridal bridal gown, and red veil were all placed on the tray.
The phoenix crown was made extremely delicately, inlaid with gold, jade, and pearls, with tassels covering the face. Just by looking at it, the imperial teacher could imagine how beautiful Lan Shuang would look when she wore it.
He pursed his lips and looked at the wedding dress. The bright red dress was made of the finest material. It felt smooth and drapey, with a faint, delicate pearlescent sheen. It was embroidered with golden phoenixes and auspicious clouds.
"What do you think, my Lord?"
The maid looked at him expectantly. The Imperial Master was silent for a long time before nodding, "Very good. Send it to her."
The maid was puzzled: "Sir, won't you go to see the Saint? She has been living in the prayer platform for more than a month."
The Imperial Master sighed and wanted to refuse, but thinking that their next meeting might be her wedding day, he hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll go later."
"Yes." Although the maid was confused, she did not try to persuade him.
…
At the end of October, the weather was getting colder and colder, with a bleak wind and a thick layer of leaves falling on the prayer platform every day.
Lan Shuang stood in front of the window, looking at the sky full of dark clouds, her face indescribably calm.
The maid came over and put a cloak on her. "It's cold, Saint, why don't you close the window?"
"It's okay. It's boring to be stuck in the room all day. I think it's going to snow tonight, so I'll just wait here."
"Waiting for snow?" the maid wondered.
"Well, of course we have to wait for the first snow of this winter."
Lan Shuang tightened her cloak and said to the maid, "Go and warm a pot of wine for me."
The maid couldn't help but try to persuade her, but Lan Shuang glanced at her and said, "Hmm?"
The maid swallowed it back and said, "Yes."
With a fluttering sound, a jackdaw flew up from the branch outside the yard. Lan Shuang blinked, pushed the door open and walked out.
There was a cold wind blowing in the yard. After standing there for a while, a cool breeze fell on the tip of Lan Shuang's nose.
Lan Shuang let out a short exclamation, then opened her palm and caught a snowflake, "It's snowing."
As the words fell, more and more snowflakes began to fall, fluttering around like a big white dream.
Lan Shuang walked down the stairs and couldn't help laughing. When she looked up at the snow, the whole world slowed down, as if white clouds were crushed and scattered, covering the ground in a short while.
She walked lightly on the snow, like a deer playing in the snow, naughty and clever. Her laughter spread far away, infecting people and making them happy too.
Xin Wujiang had landed on the eaves at some point, standing with his hands behind his back, looking at her quietly with his eyes lowered.
The wind and snow are blowing, the world is silent, and only these two people form a world of their own.
"A gentle breeze shakes the trees in the courtyard, and fine snow falls through the gaps in the curtains. It lingers in the air like swirling fog, and the steps look like piles of flowers..." (Poem in Praise of Snow by Wu Jun)
Lan Shuang stood in the courtyard with her arms outstretched, reciting poetry aloud. The vastness of the sky and earth made her voice even clearer.
The maid walked to the corridor with the warmed wine and said to Lan Shuang: "Saint, wine——"
Lan Shuang turned around and smiled, "Here I come!"
In an instant, someone's heart was beating fast.
Lan Shuang walked to the corridor, took the wine jug and cup, and said to the maid with a smile, "Go away. I'll stay here for a while."
"Don't drink too much, it's good wine. It's harmful to your health." The maid advised and then bowed: "I'll take my leave."
The maids all returned to their rooms. Lan Shuang poured a glass of wine, walked down the corridor, and raised her glass to the person on the eaves, inviting him: "Since you're here, why not have a drink before you leave?"
Xin Wujiang's expressionless face suddenly melted like an iceberg, and a lotus blossomed. He smiled and leaped into the courtyard, taking the wine glass from Lan Shuang's hand. "Did you know I was here?"
Lan Shuang looked at him with sparkling eyes and said, "Because I feel you are looking at me."
Xin Wujiang raised his eyebrows, "Really?"
Is his gaze so obvious?
Lan Shuang seemed to know what he was thinking and whispered, "When you like someone, you can't hide the look in your eyes. It's very warm."
Xin Wujiang was stunned.
Do you like it?
Lan Shuang picked up the wine jug, raised her head and opened her lips. The transparent wine drew an arc and fell into her mouth, with a heroic momentum.
Xin Wujiang's eyes darkened slightly, his gaze fell on her, and he raised his hand to drink the wine in the glass.
Lan Shuang straightened up, licked her lips, and her eyes seemed brighter. There was no moon tonight, but the moon was in her eyes.
“Good wine.”
Lan Shuang's expression changed immediately after she finished praising him. Xin Wujiang frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
Lan Shuang: "I...poof..."
She suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Even though she turned her face away and didn't spray Xin Wujiang, a few drops still fell on the back of his hand.
Looking at the bright red blood beads, Xin Wujiang's whole body suddenly turned cold, "Lan Shuang!"
He threw away the wine glass, stopped Lan Shuang and brought her into his arms.
Lan Shuang was exhausted, and the wine jug in her hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces, with wine splattering all over the floor.
The Imperial Master who walked in from outside happened to see this scene and his face suddenly changed: "Shuang'er!"
Lan Shuang slowly fell down, her face turning paler and paler. Xin Wujiang immediately picked her up horizontally, looked at the Imperial Master gloomily, and carried her to the bedroom.
The Imperial Master had no time to worry about why Xin Wujiang was here in the middle of the night. He looked at Lan Shuang worriedly. In just a short while, Lan Shuang had fainted, her face slightly blue.
This is a symptom of poisoning!
“How could it be…”
The Imperial Master frowned. It had been less than a month since the last time the poison broke out. How could it happen again?
Fortunately, he brought the antidote with him this time, otherwise it would have been terrible.
Xin Wujiang quickly entered the bedroom and put Lan Shuang on the bed. He took off her shoes and cloak, and pulled the quilt over her. She was very cold, and when she was in his arms, he felt as if he was holding a piece of ice.
"Lan Shuang?"
He called out, and Lan Shuang dazedly grabbed his hand and wouldn't let go, muttering, "Cold... so cold... Xin Wujiang..."
"I'm here, don't be afraid."
Xin Wujiang held her hand and channeled his Qi into her body. The Imperial Master said coldly, "Get out of the way."
He took out a porcelain bottle from his arms, poured out an antidote, pinched Lan Shuang's chin and fed it to her.
Xin Wujiang's eyes were like knives. "Did you poison her?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com