The biting cold wind wrapped around the heavy snow, almost completely burying Li Rui's figure in the white world. He stumbled and ran, his lips turned purple from the cold, but he didn't care about the cold. A dark cave appeared in front of him, and the entrance was covered by thick snow, almost hidden in the cliff. He shook his hands and pushed away the snow, revealing a narrow cave entrance, and a cold air hit his face. Taking a deep breath, Li Rui endured the fatigue and went in.

The cave was dark and damp, and the air was filled with a musty smell. With the weak light, he found another cave inside, and a secret room hidden in the mountain suddenly appeared before his eyes. The walls of the secret room were engraved with ancient runes, and in the center was a sandalwood box with lifelike dragon patterns carved on it. He opened the box carefully, and inside were some yellowed bamboo slips and a book. Li Rui glanced at the words on the bamboo slips and was shocked. This was the secret decree of the previous emperor, recording the unknown secrets of the Great Zhou Dynasty and some hidden forces. He knew that if this secret fell into Li Chengze's hands, the consequences would be disastrous.

He didn't bother to look at them carefully, put them away carefully, and quickly left the cave.

The snowstorm was still raging. Li Rui avoided the pursuers while looking for the way to Lin Qingya. In the vast snowfield, he vaguely saw a familiar figure. It was Lin Qingya. She was wearing a plain winter coat and a long sword on her waist. She stood there heroically. Behind her were several guards fighting with a team of black-clad people.

Li Rui rushed over and joined the fight. Lin Qingya wielded her sword, her movements were clean and smooth, like flowing water, and several black-clothed men were defeated in an instant. Seeing Li Rui, she smiled with relief. "I'm glad you're okay." Lin Qingya said while dealing with the remaining black-clothed men, with a hint of gentleness in her eyes. The tip of her sword flashed a cold light, and the black-clothed men fell to the ground.

"I found the secret room left by the late emperor, inside..." Li Rui panted and roughly described what happened, and his voice trembled a little because of excitement. In the snow, sword shadows swayed, and the sounds of killing came one after another.

After listening to this, Lin Qingya nodded gently. She looked at the vast white snow in front of her, her eyes firm and deep. "Let's go back." She put away her sword and turned to walk down the mountain. At the foot of the snowy mountain, several carriages were already waiting.

After returning to the capital, Lin Qingya reported the contents of the secret room to Li Heng. After reading the secret decree, Li Heng's face was uncertain. He looked up at Lin Qingya, his eyes flashing with complex light. "You...actually found this secret." His voice was low and hoarse, with a trace of barely perceptible fear. Li Heng gently stroked the armrest of the dragon chair. Liang did not speak, only his fingertips gently stroking the armrest, and the faint sound echoed in the empty imperial study.

Lin Qingya used the evidence revealed in the secret edict to further strike against the remnants of Li Chengze and Li Chengqian. She quietly exposed the collusion between the two and foreign forces, making it completely impossible for the two to turn over.

"Your Majesty," Lin Qingya said in a calm voice, "these two have wicked ambitions and are trying to overthrow our country. They should be severely punished!" She straightened her back and spoke in a firm tone.

Under the dim palace lights, Lin Qingya slowly poured tea. The fragrance of tea lingered, but it could not dispel the troubles in her heart. Li Rui left a mark in her heart, like the fragrance of tea, which was lingering, but bitter. She thought of the battle. In order to protect her, Li Rui rushed into the enemy camp without hesitation. His bravery and responsibility moved her. But the deep love in his eyes made her feel scared. She gently put down the teacup, and her fingertips unconsciously stroked the smooth porcelain surface of the cup. The exquisite teacup formed a strong contrast with her chaotic mood at the moment.

"Qingya, what are you thinking about?" Li Rui's voice broke the silence. He stood at the door, his posture upright, holding a thick fox fur cloak in his hand, looking at her with gentle and worried eyes.

Lin Qingya came back to her senses and dodged a glance. "Nothing, just a little tired." She said lightly, with a barely perceptible detachment in her tone. She stood up and took the cloak. The warm fox fur brushed against her skin, but it couldn't warm her cold heart. "Thank you for the cloak. It's very warm."

"Qingya," Li Rui took a step closer, his tone carrying a hint of anxiety, "Are you... still blaming me for not performing well enough at that time?" He bit his lower lip lightly, his eyes flashing with anxiety. The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, with only the sound of two people's light footsteps and breathing echoing.

Lin Qingya avoided Li Rui's burning gaze and gently put her cloak on her shoulders. "It's not your fault," she said with some difficulty, her voice trembling slightly, "It's just... I..." She took a deep breath and tried to control her emotions, "I have a special identity, so I can't..." She couldn't continue, her eyes were slightly red. Li Rui looked at Lin Qingya's forced calmness, and felt distressed and anxious. He stretched out his hand to Lin Qingya, wanting to touch her cheek, but it finally stopped in mid-air.

"I understand," Li Rui's eyes dimmed, and his tone was low and helpless. "But I will always wait for you." After he finished speaking, he turned and left, and the corner of his clothes brushed against the teacup that had already been soaked by the cold on the table, making a soft sound. Lin Qingya looked at Li Rui's back as he left, and a complex emotion surged in her heart. She knew that Li Rui's love was sincere and deep, but she couldn't respond at this moment.

The next day, during the morning court session, Li Heng's eyes remained fixed on Lin Qingya. Lin Qingya was still calm and collected, handling government affairs in an orderly manner. She handed over the memorial, her tone calm but loud. The entire court was silent, only Lin Qingya's voice, neither hurried nor slow, echoed in the magnificent hall, declaring her power and status. Li Heng's eyes were even more complicated and difficult to discern, admiration, jealousy, and even... a hint of... admiration?

Li Heng looked at Lin Qingya and smiled: "Lin Qing's family has made great contributions, and I will not treat you unfairly." As soon as he said this, the ministers echoed and praised him. However, behind this superficial praise, there was an unknown ripple. Li Heng's tone carried a hint of unquestionable meaning and deep testing, and was mixed with some incomprehensible and complex emotions.

Lin Qingya saluted Li Heng, her face expressionless and her eyes calm as water. "Your Majesty, I will obey your will." She stood up, turned around and left, her steps firm and elegant, but she left the civil and military officials in the court with their own thoughts and guesses.