Chapter 125 She had indeed stabbed him in the head...
Time flies, and more than a month has passed in the blink of an eye. Since the beginning of winter, the weather has become colder day by day.
Yingxue exhaled white vapor from her nose, thinking that this winter was indeed colder than in previous years.
Kyoto's climate is usually not cold, with mild winters in previous years. I don't know why it's so cold this year.
Something unusual must be going on. Rumors have been circulating in the palace that something big might happen this winter, which is why there are strange celestial phenomena.
However, no matter how big the matter was, it had nothing to do with her, a mere palace maid.
For her, whether Yan Jiarou ate well and slept soundly today was the most important thing.
She had served her since childhood; she was more like her older sister than her personal maid.
In her eyes, Yan Jiarou was the cutest girl in the world. Her appearance was beyond words, beautiful and charming. In addition, she was kind-hearted, innocent and pure, and treated her very well. Her occasional spoiled behavior was just a little girl throwing a tantrum.
She thought that everyone in the world who had met her must have liked her. She also sincerely hoped that she could always be so carefree.
Lately, for some reason, she often sits alone in a daze, sometimes for a long time. She hasn't smiled in a long time, and she's no longer as lively as before.
Not only was she listless during the day, but she also couldn't sleep well at night, as if she was plagued by nightmares. Only when the Third Prince came would she force herself to stay awake, treat him as before, hold him in her arms, and then fall into a deep sleep after a lot of fuss.
She had asked her if something was on her mind, but she just shook her head blankly.
She thought, "My little princess has a secret too."
Yingxue rubbed her hands together, put down the window sill, and turned to Yan Jiarou with a smile, "Master, judging from the weather, I reckon it'll snow in a few days!" Her voice trembled with excitement, not for any other reason than to make Yan Jiarou happy on a snowy day. These past few days, she had been quite melancholy, and Yingxue longed to see her smile again on the day of the snow. Her little princess, once her source of joy.
She remembered that she had been looking forward to snow for a long time, and for a while, the first thing she asked herself every morning was whether it had snowed. This made her both amused and exasperated.
As for why, Kyoto doesn't often see snow. The snowflakes are crystal clear and white, falling gently like a dream. I suppose no girl doesn't look forward to snow.
Besides, the Third Prince had promised the princess that if it snowed, he would build her the most beautiful snowman in the world. Yingxue secretly guessed that he might be building himself, since there was probably no one more handsome than him in the world.
After Yingxue finished speaking to Yan Jiarou, she thought Yan Jiarou would be very happy. However, after listening, Yan Jiarou remained lying on the chaise longue with her eyes closed, showing no reaction whatsoever.
Yingxue frowned and walked towards her: "Princess?"
Yan Jiarou slowly opened her eyes, her expression calm and undisturbed. She simply said, "Whether it snows or not is no longer any of my business. Yingxue, there's no need to mention this matter again."
"...Yes, Princess."
Yingxue's face showed worry. Even the snow could not make the princess happy. Could it be that those nightmares were really so terrible that they made the princess so worried that even her mood for enjoying the snow was swept away? Why are so many doses of calming medicine ineffective? It seems that the imperial physician should be asked to change the prescription.
Thinking this, she couldn't help but take a few steps closer, wanting to say some words of comfort and reassurance. But when she got closer and carefully examined her face, she felt that she had lost a lot of weight recently, and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
Yan Jiarou was slightly taken aback when she saw her staring at her for a long time. She raised her hand and touched her face: "What's wrong? Do I look terrible right now?"
Her eyelashes drooped, and a self-deprecating smile appeared on her lips, but her expression clearly carried a hint of loneliness: "I'm far inferior to Cui Lingyi and Ji Le, aren't I..."
Yingxue was startled: "How could this be? Princess, how could you compare yourself to those two? Miss Cui's beauty is renowned throughout the Great Wei, and she is known as the most beautiful woman in the capital. She certainly lives up to her reputation, but you, Princess, are no less beautiful than her. She is aloof and ethereal, while you are charming and beautiful. Each has her own merits. As for Sister Ji Le, she is merely slightly more pretty. How can she be compared to you?"
"Although the princess has lost some weight recently, she now has a touch of the delicate beauty of Xi Shi, and her beauty is even greater than before." Although Yingxue said this to comfort her, it was not untrue.
“Is that so?” Yan Jiarou said softly, “But Xiao Che said he prefers me as I was before.”
Yingxue was taken aback and quickly said, "That's because you, Princess, have been hiding something from the Third Prince. You said that your recent thinness was due to deliberately eating less to lose weight, and he was heartbroken, so he said that."
“Is that so?” Her gaze fell on a point in the void, and after a long while, she suddenly said in a ethereal voice, “But whether he likes it or not is no longer important.”
Whether it will snow this winter or not is no longer important to her.
——
Inside the East Palace.
Xiao Jue stood by the window. After winter arrived, the sky darkened early.
A bronze sparrow holding a branch lamp was lit beside him, the candlelight dim and ambiguous. His eyelids were lowered, and his face was hidden in the dim light, making it impossible to discern his expression.
Li Rong stood behind him and said, "Your Highness, news has come from Zichen Palace that His Majesty has suffered two sudden fainting spells in the past few days. Because he regained consciousness quickly, he did not take it seriously. But you and I both know that it is caused by long-term use of Jinwu Pills. Once fainting occurs, he will definitely suffer a stroke within three days."
The Golden Crow Pill is the same elixir that Xiao Jue presented to Xiao Yuangan last time. It is said to be able to enter a dream and meet Jiang Chenyu.
"As expected, Father Emperor could not resist the temptation of meeting Jiang Chenyu. The general was right. Even though he has always been suspicious and extremely wary of me, if the bait is Jiang Chenyu, he will be like a bee or butterfly that is addicted to poppies. He knows it is poisonous, but he still cannot resist it."
"Your Highness is wise. However, according to the information our people have gathered, although His Majesty ultimately could not resist the temptation of meeting the Consort in his dreams, he did not overindulge in the medication, and the duration was not long. Logically, he should not have suffered a stroke so quickly. It is likely that this winter has been exceptionally cold, which has accelerated the process. However, due to this forced treatment, the toxins have not accumulated enough in his body. We do not know if he will ever recover and wake up..."
Xiao Jue sneered, "It doesn't matter. As long as he suffers a stroke and falls into a coma, I naturally have ways to keep him in a coma indefinitely."
"Yes, Your Highness, when do you plan to make your move?"
Xiao Jue narrowed his eyes: "Didn't you say he would definitely fall into a coma within three days? Then let's set it for three days from now."
It just so happens that the full moon will be in three days, which can be used as an excuse to tell Yan Jiarou that it will be the right time for her to take action.
"General Li, do you remember what I told you before? Last time, Xiao Che used the excuse that he had learned in advance that the Maitreya Church was going to assassinate him in the palace, so he ambushed near the Pixiang Hall on that day to escape the charge of treason. Afterwards, the Maitreya Church did not enter the palace to assassinate him. Xiao Che claimed that his plan was leaked and was canceled at the last minute. Since he failed to see the Maitreya Church enter the palace as he wished that day, I will grant his wish this time."
“Since he can use the ‘Maitreya Cult’ as a cover, I can naturally use the ‘Maitreya Cult’ to achieve my goals. I had this idea as early as when Xiao Che used the Maitreya Cult as an excuse to clear his name of treason. So I sent people to disguise themselves as monks to monitor the activities of the Maitreya Cult among the people and to infiltrate them when the opportunity arose.”
"That man is named Cui Yan. He is familiar with all sorts of people and is skilled in social interaction and disguise. He quickly infiltrated the Maitreya Sect and gradually rose to the position of protector, gaining the trust of the sect leader, Lu Wujiu. Lu Wujiu is a man who has always been reckless. Since taking power, he has been plotting to assassinate the emperor. The fact that Xiao Che dared to use this as a pretext proves that it was not just a baseless rumor."
"The reason why the plan was canceled last time could indeed be considered as a 'leak'—Xiao Che discovered their spies in the palace and eliminated them one by one."
"But if you can remove them, you can easily reinsert them. I'm behind Cui Yan; wouldn't it be easy for me to 'plant' a few spies for them in the palace? They'll just assume it's all Cui Yan's doing. After all, Cui Yan initially sought refuge with the Maitreya sect under the pretext of being persecuted by the court, and then gained an audience with Lu Wujiu by donating a large sum of money. The identity I fabricated for him was that of a descendant of a disgraced official—a wealthy descendant of a disgraced official. It's not surprising that he has some connections in the palace."
"When that old bastard suffers a stroke, I will order Cui Yan to spread the news within the Maitreya Sect. Lu Wujiu, being reckless, has been struggling to find a suitable opportunity to storm the palace and assassinate the emperor. That old bastard's stroke will be the opportunity I give him."
"Now that the 'insiders' in the palace have been arranged and everything is ready except for the final push, Xiao Yuangan's stroke will naturally be that final push."
"They want to capture the capital and overthrow the rule of the Great Wei. There is no better time than when the current emperor suffers a stroke and the palace is in chaos."
"However, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Since I dared to let the people of the Maitreya Sect in, I will naturally deploy the Imperial Guards in advance. After I use them to kill Xiao Che, this farce will come to an end."
"At that time, my father will suffer a stroke and be unconscious, and Xiao Che will be killed by the people of the Maitreya Cult. Naturally, I will be the only one to oversee the country. Once I have the power to oversee the country, and my father is still unconscious, it will be a matter of course for me to inherit the throne."
Li Rong said, "Your Highness is absolutely right. However, the people of Lanling are cunning by nature, and their physiques are extraordinary. Moreover, the Third Prince's skills are also remarkable. I am worried..."
"Are you worried that even if you catch him off guard, that rabble from the Maitreya Cult won't be able to kill him?"
"Don't worry, the Maitreya Sect is just a front." Xiao Jue curled his lips and said quietly, "The one who will really kill him is someone else. And it will be a sure thing, and he will never fight back."
——
Inside Chenghuan Hall, springtime romance was in full swing.
White smoke curled from the Boshan incense burner, filling the room with a sweet, cloying fragrance mixed with a strong musk scent, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Through the curtains, one could vaguely see two intertwined figures on the bed.
After an unknown amount of time, the heavy breathing gradually stopped. The man sat up from the bed, casually picked up a shirt from the clothes rack beside him, and the frosty moonlight shone on his body, making it possible to vaguely see the red marks covering his fair back.
Those were scratches left on his back by the woman when she was overcome with passion.
The intensity of their affair is evident.
Tonight, the little rabbit was indeed unusually unrestrained.
Xiao Che draped his inner robe over his body, his thumb brushing against his lips, where the warm, smooth texture still lingered.
Tsk, the little rabbit's...it's so soft down there.
He lazily curled the corners of his lips, a rare hint of satisfaction in his expression.
Just as he was about to get out of bed, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind. They were soft and boneless, yet they held him tightly, as if using all the strength in their lives: "Xiao Che, don't go..."
Her voice was incredibly sweet and gentle, yet it carried a hint of a sob, a plaintive lament: "Stay with me a little longer..."
Xiao Che raised an eyebrow slightly, took her hand, and slowly turned around: "What's wrong, darling?"
He was met with a passionate kiss.
Her soft, rosy lips pressed against his, swallowing all her questions between her teeth.
Xiao Che stroked the back of her head. Then, he immediately took the initiative, pushing her down and kissing her fiercely.
Rabbits are delicate and soft, and are always the easiest to push over.
...Angrily deleted two hundred words...
After the kiss ended, he looked at the already... [unclear - possibly referring to a clitoris or arousal] little rabbit, leaned in and gently sucked on her earlobe, asking with a smile, "Why are you so hot today, Qin, hmm?"
Yan Jiarou stared blankly at Cheng Chen above her head, her rosy lips slightly parted.
He said blankly, "...This is the last time."
Xiao Che was leaning against her, twirling a strand of her dark hair with his fingertips. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow slightly and said casually, "Hmm? What do you mean, the last time?"
Yan Jiarou's eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she had just come to her senses, and she turned her face slightly away: "...It's nothing, I meant the last time tonight."
"Coming again tonight?" Xiao Che's lips curled into a smirk as he teased her in her ear, "Can your body handle it? Aren't you afraid of deleting everything...?"
Tonight, for some reason, Little Rabbit is just... (Delete all)
Yan Jiarou turned to the side: "If you don't want it, then forget it..."
"Don't want to? Huh? Who said no?" Xiao Che turned her body around, mumbled, "What's given away can't be taken back..."
Yan Jiarou... At this moment, she couldn't help but refuse and angrily delete two hundred words.
Xiao Che raised his head, a playful smile on his lips: "Where shall we eat, hmm?"
Yan Jiarou blinked her misty eyes, a hint of confusion in them: "I..."
"Oh, I see, delete all the baby stuff... right..."
Yan Jiarou's mind was in a daze, and she didn't react for a moment: "...What?"
Just as I was about to ask another question, Xiao Che had already...
Her voice suddenly changed tone. "Why is it still locked after deleting everything?"
"Xiao Che, no..."
...
Xiao Che suddenly raised his head, wiping his lips with his thumb. He smiled wickedly and said lazily, "Baby. That's enough. Now it's my turn."
"Hmm... wait a minute, Xiao Che, delete everything..."
Gradually, a woman's melodious voice began to play again... seemingly reluctant, yet also...
...
After an unknown amount of time, once everything had calmed down, Xiao Che embraced Yan Jiarou intimately, kissing her tenderly, his delicate kisses falling from her forehead to her neck.
"Baby," he gently rubbed her cheek, still asking, "you still haven't told me why you're being so enthusiastic today, hmm?"
Yan Jiarou turned to look at him, her gaze dark and intense: "Didn't you always complain that I was too delicate, that I couldn't handle it after one or two times, and that I couldn't satisfy you? Well then today, I'll let you satisfy yourself this once."
"Oh?" Xiao Che asked with a smile, "Why are you being so kind today?"
Yan Jiarou lowered her eyelashes, concealing the emotions in her eyes: "Because, this is a gift."
"A gift? What's with all this talk about giving me a gift?"
“...You’ll find out tomorrow,” she said.
For some reason, the voice sounded somewhat light and airy.
"Our Yan Yan has learned to keep things mysterious now," Xiao Che said with a smile. "Alright, I'll wait for tomorrow."
He rested his chin on her shoulder and neck, gently nuzzling her: "But Yan Yan, speaking of gifts, over the years, you've only ever cared about Xiao Jue's birthday, going to great lengths to prepare birthday gifts he likes, but you've been extremely perfunctory with my birthday gifts. Ask yourself honestly, which of the gifts I gave you wasn't given with great care, and you treat me like this? You're such a heartless little thing."
Whether it was her imagination or not, Xiao Che's tone sounded unusually aggrieved when he said this.
In fact, she hardly ever opened the birthday gifts he gave her. Since he gave them so casually, she naturally didn't care about receiving them either, and just tossed them into the storeroom.
Later, she got together with him, and because it had been so long, she didn't remember about the birthday gifts for a while.
If their relationship were still strong, and she still loved him as much, he would have dug out those wedding gifts after his reminder today. Unfortunately…
She pursed her lips: "I used to like him, so naturally I paid more attention to him. You were always going against me back then, and I was angry, so I inevitably became a bit perfunctory."
“But the person you like now is me,” Xiao Che lifted her chin, his amber eyes fixed on hers, his tone clearly irritated, and finally he just sighed softly: “Naturally you should only care about me.”
As he spoke, he pressed his forehead against hers, gently nuzzling her nose, and said in a hoarse voice, "It's time to make up for all the wrongs you've done to me in the past."
Yan Jiarou said softly, "Then what do you want?"
Seeing the rabbit take the bait, Xiao Che smiled and said in a good mood, "It's very simple. I'm almost twenty now, so I should have twenty thoughtful birthday gifts. Yan Yan, with our relationship, it's not too much to ask you to give me these twenty thoughtful birthday gifts, is it?"
"I..." Yan Jiarou sighed, "Twenty birthday gifts, Xiao Che, where am I supposed to find them for you in such a short time?"
Xiao Che chuckled: "What's the rush? I didn't ask you to give it to me right away. For the next twenty years, you can just prepare an extra gift every time you send me a birthday present."
Yan Jiarou was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and murmured, "The next twenty years..."
“Yes,” Xiao Che took her hand, intertwined his fingers with hers, and gently kissed the back of her hand. “Yan Yan, we are going to grow old together. We will have more than one twenty years together.”
The young man's handsome face was so close, speaking the most touching words of love in the world. How familiar this scene was, just like the countless tender moments the two of them had shared in the past.
Yan Jiarou was momentarily dazed, but after a moment, she smiled, her expression somewhat unreal: "Okay."
——
Xiao Che did not return to Hanguang Palace that night; it was simply too late, and Yan Jiarou was unusually clingy.
Prior to this, he had never stayed overnight at Chenghuan Palace.
Tonight was also the first time in a long time that he had slept in the same bed with her all night, and he learned that her nightmares were much more serious than he had known.
She had nightmares almost all night.
In her dream, she kept calling his name, crying and begging him not to leave her.
He frowned, comforting her again and again. He didn't know why Yan Jiarou was having such a nightmare, so anxious and insecure, even though he had almost shown her his heart.
"Poor little thing." He stroked her cheek with his thumb and sighed almost gently.
He thought that perhaps he hadn't been good enough to her, which was why she was so insecure.
Then he will treat her even better in the future.
——
Yan Jiarou was plagued by nightmares all night, and he naturally couldn't get any rest either, barely sleeping at all.
As dawn was breaking, I suddenly felt a sharp chill. I got up and looked out the window. Through the paper window, I could vaguely see something fluttering down. When I opened the window, I was surprised to find that it was snowing outside.
He almost instinctively turned around to tell Yan Jiarou the surprise, but then suddenly remembered that she had only been asleep for a short while, so he immediately fell silent, thankfully without waking her.
He dressed quietly and went out without making a sound.
It had been snowing for a while now, and a layer of snow had accumulated in the courtyard. It wasn't thick, but it was enough to build a snowman.
Xiao Che smiled and bent down to rub a ball of fresh snow...
...
He had just finished building a pair of snowmen when the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds.
After spending an hour on the snow, the chill seeped into my bones, and my body was almost numb with cold. Fortunately, I managed to keep my promise to Little Rabbit.
The snowman he built might not be the best, but it was certainly the one he put the most effort into. He thought Yan Jiarou would understand his intentions once she saw it.
——
After leaving Chenghuan Hall and heading south past Zichen Hall, just as they were about to arrive at Hanyuan Hall, they were informed that Xiao Yuangan had suddenly suffered a stroke and all court affairs were temporarily suspended.
"How could that be? I saw my father a few days ago, and he was in very good spirits."
"Your Highness, the imperial physicians also cannot diagnose the exact cause, but they estimate it is due to the sudden onset of winter and the excessively cold weather."
...
Xiao Che followed Cheng En to the Zichen Palace, but no sooner had they arrived than news came that the Maitreya Sect had somehow infiltrated the imperial city and taken advantage of the Imperial Guards' rotation to storm the inner palace, where they were now causing chaos.
Because the incident happened so suddenly, the palace guards were caught off guard and the palace was in complete chaos. If there was any place that was the safest, it would be the Zichen Palace, where Xiao Yuangan’s personal guards were stationed year-round.
However, other palaces might not be the same.
The women of the palace, even the noble ladies and wives of officials who had come to the palace for the Empress Dowager's plum blossom banquet, all came to the Zichen Palace.
Xiao Che, however, did not see Yan Jiarou.
Oh no! Chenghuan Palace is located in a remote area, the farthest from Zichen Palace. Yan Jiarou was tormented by him for half the night last night and only fell into a deep sleep at dawn. She may not know that the weather outside has changed.
No, he had to go to Chenghuan Palace to find her!
Upon exiting the Zichen Palace, they ran into Yan Xiao, who had led a troop of imperial guards to reinforce the defenses. Seeing Xiao Che emerging from the Zichen Palace, Yan Xiao immediately said in a deep voice, "At this critical moment, the palace is in complete chaos. Why is Your Highness not staying in the Zichen Palace? What are you doing out here?"
Xiao Che: "What is the current situation in the palace?"
"Those Maitreya sect members infiltrated the imperial city in batches under the guise of the Construction Bureau. Some even mixed in with the water delivery team and the night soil collectors. In total, there are probably over a thousand of them. Moreover, they have an inside agent in the palace. Perhaps they bribed the palace eunuchs to open the palace gates for them. However, they are ultimately a rabble. The Imperial Guard General has already led the Imperial Guard to suppress the rebels. It won't be long before this chaos is quelled."
Xiao Che frowned and said, "In other words, they will continue to roam and cause trouble for a while. Yan Yan is not safe in Chenghuan Palace. I have to go and bring her back."
Yan Xiao took a deep breath: "I knew it was for her!"
"Alright, I'll assign you a few men. Go and come back quickly."
Xiao Che placed his hand on his shoulder, and upon hearing this, he slightly curled the corner of his lips: "Thanks, brother."
Yan Xiaoshen glanced at him and said only, "Go quickly and come back quickly. I will be waiting for you in Zichen Palace."
——
On the road, Xiao Che encountered a group of wandering rebels. Seeing his attire and demeanor, they guessed that he was a prince. They immediately became enraged and swung their swords at him.
However, given Xiao Che's skills, they naturally couldn't harm him in the slightest. But during the fight, he noticed that one of them didn't fight him as desperately as the others. Although his face was covered with a black cloth, his pair of slanted, triangular eyes looked somewhat familiar to him, as if he had seen them somewhere before. A red mole that was revealed behind his ear when he turned to the side further confirmed his idea.
A sense of doubt immediately arose in my mind.
Just then, someone swung a knife at him from behind. He twitched his ears slightly, turned around abruptly, and kicked the knife at the chest.
The man was immediately kicked ten feet away, and after falling to the ground, he suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood.
Xiao Che noticed something fall from his waist; it looked like a palace construction supervisor's token. How could a rebel have a palace token? Obtaining a construction supervisor's token was far more difficult than bribing a eunuch. No wonder so many people had infiltrated; the person behind it was probably not simple.
However, Yan Jiarou was naturally the most important person at the moment, so Xiao Che simply picked up the waist token and put it in his pocket, no longer getting entangled with those rebels.
——
Upon arriving at Chenghuan Palace, they saw Yan Jiarou standing under the corridor admiring the snow from afar, with nothing unusual happening around her.
It seems that Chenghuan Palace is located in a secluded place, and the rebels have not yet come here to cause trouble.
Xiao Che breathed a sigh of relief and walked over to Yan Jiarou: "Yan Yan, come with me."
Hearing the commotion, Yan Jiarou turned to look at him: "Xiao Che, you've come."
She smiled slightly, but her face was obscured by the fine snow, making her smile seem even more ethereal: "Look, it's snowing."
Xiao Che's Adam's apple bobbed as he stepped forward and took her hand. "I saw it, sweetie. I'll accompany you to enjoy the snow later. Come with me now."
Just as he finished speaking and was about to take her away, an arrow suddenly whistled through the air. Xiao Che immediately dodged to the side with Yan Jiarou. The arrow barely grazed his forehead. He frowned and turned to look. He saw that Xiao Jue had been standing at the palace gate at some point, followed by the guards of the Eastern Palace. He was holding a crossbow in his hand and slowly stroking the bowstring.
Xiao Che shielded Yan Jiarou behind him, slowly narrowing his eyes: "What does the Crown Prince mean by this?"
"Oh, it's my third brother. The Maitreya Sect is causing trouble. I was worried about Jia Rou, so I came to Chenghuan Palace to check on her. I didn't expect this snow-white stuff to be so dazzling. I didn't see it clearly at first and thought it was a rebel. I almost hurt my third brother. I'm really sorry."
"Is that so?" Xiao Che raised his eyes slightly, his meaning ambiguous, and said, "Jia Rou is protected by me, so there is no need for the Crown Prince to worry about her. Now that the Maitreya Sect is causing trouble, the Crown Prince should lead his personal guards to jointly resist the foreign enemy. When it comes to matters of right and wrong, I think the Crown Prince should be able to make a clear decision."
Xiao Jue was still smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "Third brother is right, I have learned something."
Xiao Che frowned, his eyelids twitching. Xiao Jue was acting strangely today. From the moment he saw him appear here with his guards, he had a vague feeling that something was wrong.
The most urgent task is to get Yan Jiarou away from here.
He nodded slightly to the Imperial Guards beside him, and the others understood and led the way for him.
Xiao Jue raised his hand slightly, and the guards lined up on both sides, as if to make way for Xiao Che and the others.
Xiao Che took Yan Jiarou's hand and was about to lead her forward when he found that Yan Jiarou seemed to be frozen in place, not moving at all.
He turned to look at her: "What's wrong? Were you scared?"
“Don’t be afraid,” he said softly, “I’m here.”
Yan Jiarou lowered her head, making it impossible to see the expression on her face. Only her voice could be heard floating lightly in the swirling snow: "Xiao Che, do you still remember last night when you asked me why I gave you such a gift?"
“I remember, you said I would know tomorrow.” He reached out and stroked her face, smiling brightly. “Speaking of which, it’s already ‘tomorrow’ now—baby, why are you suddenly bringing this up?”
“Yes, it’s already ‘tomorrow’ now…” She raised her head, her fair face appearing even more bloodless against the backdrop of snow, exuding a pale frailty, as beautiful and fragile as glass: “I think it’s time to tell you the answer.”
It wasn't the right time to talk to her about this. Xiao Che wanted to take her away from here immediately, but he noticed that Yan Jiarou's expression was strange. Perhaps the little girl was sentimental and felt a little sad when she saw snow, so she seemed a bit absent-minded.
He was unwilling to go against her wishes; whatever she wanted to say to him, whenever and wherever she wanted, he would listen.
The rebels are no threat, and the Imperial Guards and local militia are guarding the area. It won't take much time, so he curled his lips and asked cooperatively, "What is it, hmm?"
Yan Jiarou looked at him, then took another step forward, bringing the two closer together.
She stared at him for a long time, but remained silent.
Xiao Che raised an eyebrow slightly: "What's wrong? Didn't you have something to say to me? Why are you standing there blankly?"
He smiled, his long, slender fingers touching her brow bone, trying to smooth away the lingering daze between her brows: "Were you really frightened? I told you, don't be afraid, I'm here..."
The rest of the words were left unsaid.
It was a very muffled sound, yet also very soft, so soft that it sounded like snow falling.
The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh is just like that.
People from Lanling have a physical advantage over ordinary people, but they also have to endure ten times the pain that ordinary people cannot bear.
The excruciating pain spread through his chest, and his fingers, which were resting on his brow bone, curled up uncontrollably.
But the most painful part wasn't the knife in my chest.
He was betrayed by Yan Jiarou; that one blow was so devastating...
It was like falling into a deep lake, with water pouring into his mouth and nose from all directions, icy cold and relentless, dragging him further and further down.
The cold snowflakes fell softly, sticking to the back of my hand and melting instantly, yet they were so cold, the chill seemed to seep into my very bones.
Even now, Xiao Che still looked at her blankly: "Yan Yan..." as if he didn't know what he had done wrong.
He had never experienced such pain in his life, so unbearable, to the point that he was almost losing consciousness. Otherwise, he would never have uttered such vulnerable words in front of her: "Yan Yan, I'm in so much pain... I'm so cold..."
But she just stared at him coldly, her face showing an almost numb blankness.
She looked at him as if he were an inanimate object.
"You asked me why I would give you a gift out of the blue," she said softly. "This is the answer."
"If we hadn't delivered it yesterday, we would never have had the chance again."
"Xiao Che, our ill-fated relationship began with lust, and it should end with lust as well. Let's consider last night's events a final conclusion. Today, our ties are severed."
Severing all ties—these four heavy words were spoken by her so lightly.
My body grew colder and colder, a desperate chill seeping into my bones and spreading throughout my entire body.
At this critical moment, he suddenly laughed.
He then very slowly lowered his head, examining his wounds with a detached and indifferent air, as if he were an observer.
The third rib down from the right chest.
That was precisely his Achilles' heel.
Just as I expected.
She had indeed stabbed him in the vital spot, that very spot… she truly wanted him dead. A gift? It turned out that yesterday, during their most intimate moments, she had called his name repeatedly, doing the most intimate things with him, so reluctant to part, but what she was thinking about was how to plunge the dagger into his vital spot.
A stab to the vital point causes pain a hundred times greater than that of an ordinary person.
No wonder it hurts so much...
The intense pain gradually blurred his vision, and all he could see was a vast expanse of white.
Yes, it's snowing.
It's not about a fondness for delicate appearances, but rather a preference for quietude. It has its own roots and sprouts. ①
Snowflakes are beautiful, but ultimately they have no roots.
It hasn't snowed in Kyoto for many years... This dreamlike snow scene will melt away completely in a few days, leaving no trace.
Ultimately, it was short-lived and hopeless.
He thought this might be the last snowfall he would ever see in his life.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
