Chapter 31 Fireworks in Full Bloom, Danger Lurking in the Shadows
The banquet drew to a close in a warm and satisfying atmosphere. The palace servants quietly cleared away the scattered dishes and served refreshing hot tea. Everyone assumed the banquet was about to end and prepared to rise to see the Emperor and Consort off.
However, Yuwen Che stood up first, then gently helped Su Luoxue, who looked puzzled, to her feet. Li Dehai immediately and cleverly took Su Luoxue's magnificent fox fur cloak, which Yuwen Che took and personally draped over her shoulders, tying the belt to ensure she was completely covered and not a single wisp of cold wind could get in. Following this, Li Dehai also draped a black cloak embroidered with gold dragon patterns over Yuwen Che's shoulders.
Yuwen Che glanced around at everyone in the hall and said loudly, "Today is Consort Chen's birthday, and I have prepared a little something for you all to enjoy. Please come with me to the outside of the hall to see it."
Having said that, he naturally put his arm around Su Luoxue's waist, half-protecting and half-embracing her, and led the way out of the warm pavilion. Although everyone was curious, they quickly got up, straightened their clothes, and followed the Empress out of the warm palace.
Stepping outside the palace gates, a biting chill hit you, a stark contrast to the warmth inside. Fine snowflakes continued to drift in the air, leaving a thin layer of silver on the ground. Palace lanterns cast a hazy glow in the snowy night.
Su Luoxue was held tightly in Yuwen Che's arms, and she didn't feel cold at all. However, she was full of doubts. She looked up at his well-defined jawline and asked softly, "Ache, what are we looking at outside? It's so cold outside."
Yuwen Che looked down at her with a mysterious smile, keeping her in suspense: "You'll find out in a moment." He wrapped his arms around her tighter, shielding her in his large cloak and warm embrace, and gently nuzzled the top of her head with his chin, gesturing: "Look at the sky."
Su Luoxue looked up as instructed, gazing at the inky black night sky. Apart from the swirling snowflakes and a few scattered, cold stars, there was nothing. She blinked, looked again carefully, but it was still empty. She became even more confused, tugging at Yuwen Che's sleeve: "The sky? There's nothing there..."
Before she finished speaking, a smile flashed in Yuwen Che's eyes, and he nodded slightly to Li Dehai, who was already waiting not far away.
Li Dehai understood and immediately gestured towards the distance.
Just as Su Luoxue was looking at him with a puzzled expression, suddenly—
"Whoosh—Bang!"
A sharp whistling sound pierced the silent night sky, followed by a massive, dazzling golden light that exploded in the center of the dark night! Like a golden chrysanthemum in full bloom, or a meteor shower, it instantly illuminated the entire palace sky as bright as day! The light was dazzling and the colors were more vibrant than imagined, far surpassing ordinary fireworks!
"Ah!" Su Luoxue gasped softly in surprise at the sudden loud noise and dazzling light, and subconsciously shrank into Yuwen Che's arms.
Yuwen Che was prepared and caught her steadily, patting her back gently to comfort her: "Don't be afraid, these are fireworks that I specially brought from the Western Regions to celebrate your birthday."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of whooshing sounds rang out.
"Whoosh—Bang! Whoosh whoosh—Bang bang bang!"
More fireworks soared into the sky, bursting forth in a dazzling display. Some resembled a peacock spreading its tail, shimmering with iridescent light; others resembled a cascading Milky Way, a shower of silver rain; still others formed intricate patterns, even faintly revealing auspicious motifs. The multicolored lights intertwined, painting the snowflakes with dreamlike hues, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
"So...so beautiful!" Su Luoxue looked up, mesmerized. She had never seen such a beautiful and magnificent sight. The dazzling light reflected in her clear pupils and illuminated the expression of surprise and deep emotion on her face.
Yuwen Che looked down at the face of the woman in his arms, illuminated by the fireworks. The happiness and amazement radiating from it were the gift he most wanted to see. He held her tighter and whispered in her ear, "Do you like it?"
Su Luoxue nodded vigorously, too excited to speak, and simply hugged him tightly.
Outside the palace, all the royal family members, ministers, and their families who had come out to watch were also stunned by the unprecedentedly magnificent fireworks display, uttering gasps of amazement. Children excitedly pointed to the sky and cheered.
At this moment, a dazzling display of colors graced the sky, set against a backdrop of icy snow. Yuwen Che presented his beloved with this exquisitely romantic visual feast, a unique birthday gift. He also declared to everyone that he was willing to offer her all the beauty in the world. Su Luoxue stood beside him, gazing together at the starry sky that had been set ablaze for her, her heart overflowing with boundless happiness and love.
The night sky was illuminated as brightly as day by a series of dazzling fireworks, their multicolored lights reflecting off the swirling snowflakes, creating a dreamlike and enchanting scene. The younger children, unable to contain their excitement, danced and laughed joyfully in the snow. The adults, too, temporarily forgot their formalities, gazing up at this rare spectacle with expressions of awe and joy.
Yuwen Che's fireworks display was clearly abundant, wave after wave, each unique in shape, larger and more dazzling than the last. Sometimes thousands of sparks cascaded down like a waterfall, and sometimes they coalesced into giant peony or phoenix patterns, lingering for a long time and drawing cheers from the crowd.
Su Luoxue was as happy as a child. After the initial shock, she was completely captivated by the breathtaking scenery. She couldn't help but gently wriggle out of Yuwen Che's warm embrace, take a few steps forward, and gaze up at the sky even more intently. She opened her arms as if to embrace the starry sky that had blossomed just for her, her face beaming with a pure and radiant smile, constantly exclaiming in admiration:
"It's so beautiful! Ah Che, look at that! Doesn't it look like a golden willow tree?"
Wow! That purple one, it's such a big lotus flower!
"My God... I've never seen such beautiful fireworks..."
Her joyful figure looked especially beautiful in the flickering fireworks. Yuwen Che stood not far behind her, his gaze following her tenderly, a satisfied smile on his lips. Seeing her so happy made all his careful preparations worthwhile.
The entire palace was immersed in the joyous atmosphere of this grand birthday celebration. The guards and palace staff were mostly drawn to the fireworks in the sky, and their vigilance was inevitably a little less than usual.
However, beyond this sea of joy, there is a place that is like a forgotten ice cellar—Fengyi Palace.
The once luxurious palace is now deserted and desolate. The palace gates are locked from the outside, and only a few guards shiver in the cold wind. Inside, the deposed Empress Shen, her hair disheveled and dressed in thin, old clothes, sits emaciated in the cold hall. The booming sounds of fireworks and faint laughter coming from outside are like poisoned daggers, repeatedly torturing her heart.
She knew that Yuwen Che was celebrating that bitch's birthday! Such a grand scene, such elaborate fireworks—this was a treatment she, the Empress, had never received! Hatred, like a venomous snake, grew wildly in her heart, devouring her last shred of reason.
Just as another massive burst of fireworks soared into the sky, illuminating the night as bright as day and drawing everyone's attention, a flash of mad determination crossed Shen's eyes. Taking advantage of the guards outside the door also being distracted by the fireworks, she quietly walked to a secluded window frame in the palace, a window that had become somewhat loose due to years of disrepair. With all her might, she managed to pry open a crack in the window frame!
Her thin body squeezed through the gap and fell into the cold snow. Ignoring the cold, she relied on her familiarity with the palace layout and, like a ghost in the dark, stealthily made her way along the shadows towards the brightest lights and the loudest laughter—the location where Su Luoxue was.
Her fingernails dug deep into her palms, drawing blood. Only one frantic thought raged in Shen's mind:
Su Luoxue...you took everything from me...tonight is your death night!
Beneath a joyous feast, a deadly crisis is quietly approaching.
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