Chapter 82 Willingly
In winter, Chang'an is covered in silver, with red lanterns hanging high inside and outside the palace walls. After the first snow, the world is clear and bright.
As night fell, the sky was as black as ink, the Milky Way was dazzling, and the palace was brightly lit. The glass palace lanterns shone with a warm glow, like stars fallen to earth.
Today is the New Year's Grand Ceremony, the most solemn moment of the year, symbolizing the majesty and inclusiveness of the Celestial Empire. The palace gates open to the heavens, and people from all nations pay homage to the emperor.
Inside Hanyuan Hall, incense smoke curls upwards, bells and drums resound, and melodious music fills the air. The ceiling is painted with the sun, moon, and stars, and the pillars are carved with dragons and phoenixes, showcasing the grandeur of the imperial palace.
Pei Xuanlin, dressed in a black dragon robe and wearing a crown, sat upright on the dragon throne on the high platform.
Although he was the protagonist of the night, the object of worship from all nations, he remained indifferent amidst the extraordinary atmosphere, his gaze frequently sweeping towards the empty seat beside him.
A servant whispered a reminder: "Your Majesty, the auspicious time has arrived."
Pei Xuanlin nodded slightly, but did not utter a word.
He wanted to wait for Xue Yingyue.
But she didn't come.
She was probably still angry with him. That's just how she is—unrestrained, willful, and capricious. Even on such an important occasion, she could make him face it alone without any scruples, causing him to lose face and embarrass himself in front of the world. Yet, he couldn't bear to blame her.
Pei Xuanlin sighed softly, his eyes dimming slightly.
"Let the banquet begin."
No matter how long you wait, Xue Yingyue will not come.
Thinking of this, Pei Xuanlin couldn't help but feel disappointed.
The banquet has begun, with singing and dancing filling the air. Dancers twirl gracefully, and musicians play in unison. The Hu Xuan dance from the Western Regions, the Peacock dance from the Southern Frontier, the elegant music from the East, and the drum music from the Northern Barbarians are performed in turn, creating a dazzling spectacle.
However, Pei Xuanlin's heart was entirely with Xue Yingyue, and he had no interest in watching.
He raised his cup to drink, his gaze blank, feeling that the splendor of the entire hall was like fleeting shadows, utterly tasteless.
Without Xue Yingyue by his side, this grand banquet was nothing more than a slightly special performance to him.
Just as everyone was immersed in the singing and dancing, a clear and melodious drumbeat rang out, with a light and lively rhythm.
Immediately afterwards, a group of dancers entered the hall, their steps light and graceful, like clouds and mist.
Hundreds of dancers danced, and the banquet dance floor resembled a celestial palace.
Among the group of dancers, one figure stood out and caught Pei Xuanlin's eye.
Her dance was graceful, and she wore a peach-colored dance dress with a skirt that spread out like clouds. A jade belt was tied around her waist, her hair was tied up in a high bun with a gold hairpin, and her face was covered with a light veil, revealing only a pair of bright eyes that were as clear as autumn water.
The moment she appeared, the entire venue fell silent.
Her dance was like a startled swan skimming the water, or a swirling snowflake in the wind. Xue Yingyue's figure was light and graceful. When she raised her sleeves, it was like a crane dancing in the sky. When she stepped down, it was like a lotus blooming on the water. Every movement was just right, both powerful and graceful.
Pei Xuanlin stood up abruptly, his eyes flashing with shock and ecstasy. He recognized her at a glance.
He knew those eyes all too well.
It's definitely Xue Yingyue.
Even if her face was covered by a light veil, even if she was hidden among hundreds of dancers, he could recognize her at a glance.
"That's...the Empress?"
Several ministers recognized him and couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
"My God, it really is the Empress?"
"It's actually the Empress! Wasn't the Empress under house arrest?"
"Rumors have it that the Emperor and Empress are at odds, but today I see the Empress personally performing a dance for the Emperor. Could it be that the rumors are wrong?"
The hall was abuzz with discussion, and the envoys also turned their heads in amazement at Xue Yingyue's beauty.
As the stunning dance came to an end, the drumbeats gradually subsided, leaving a lingering echo.
Xue Yingyue stood in the hall, her light veil fluttering slightly, her breath coming in short gasps, and she looked at Pei Xuanlin on the high platform with a smile.
Pei Xuanlin could no longer restrain himself and, supporting himself, stepped down from the high platform.
He was still recovering from typhoid fever and had been bedridden for the past few days, unable to move clearly. He had even come here today by palanquin, but now he insisted on walking down the jade steps himself and walking towards her step by step.
The courtiers held their breath, and the envoys stood in solemn silence.
Everyone was watching the emperor's every move.
Pei Xuanlin walked step by step to Xue Yingyue, extended his hand, his voice trembled slightly, and his face showed both surprise and joy.
"Your Majesty, you have arrived."
Xue Yingyue looked at him, her eyes seemingly holding a thousand words, but in the end, they only turned into a smile.
She slowly reached out and gently placed her hand in his palm, speaking softly.
"I'm late, Your Majesty, are you angry with me?"
Pei Xuanlin chuckled and said, "How could I blame you? It's good that you came."
Xue Yingyue raised her eyes, her brows furrowed with affection, and asked softly, "Your Majesty, what do you think of my 'Dance of the Startled Swan'?"
Pei Xuanlin gazed at her and said sincerely, "You are absolutely beautiful. In my eyes, no dancer can compare to you."
"Would you be willing to play a pipa tune for me?" Xue Yingyue smiled gently and charmingly, blinked, and said softly, "I will also dance a 'Feathered Robe and Rainbow Skirt' for you."
Pei Xuanlin was taken aback, then overjoyed: "I'm willing to do anything as long as you're happy."
The hall was quickly prepared.
A small table was placed in the center of the hall, upon which sat Xue Yingyue's phoenix-headed golden nanmu pipa, which she had prepared long ago.
Xue Yingyue changed into a moon-white long dress, the wide sleeves fluttering lightly, the skirt flowing and shimmering with a cool halo. A light and translucent white jade ornament adorned her hair, and the ethereal aura surrounding her made her look like a fairy from the moon palace, untouched by the dust of the world.
Pei Xuan sat down at the desk and tuned the strings.
He often listened to his mother play music when he was very young. His mother was especially skilled at playing the pipa, so he was very familiar with the pipa.
As the pipa began to play, its melody was melodious and moving, and Xue Yingyue danced to the music.
The dance moves were completely different from the previous "Dance of the Startled Swan," graceful and ethereal, like moonlight falling.
Pei Xuanlin played the instrument while gazing at her, his eyes glistening with tears as he watched her graceful dance.
Xue Yingyue is expressing her love and forgiveness for him in her own way.
Is she really willing to put aside past grievances and get back together with him?
Or was this merely a delaying tactic, a show of imperial affection that she had to put on in front of numerous court officials and envoys simply to save face?
As the music ended, the lingering notes faded away, and the hall fell silent.
After a long while, people finally came to their senses and burst into thunderous applause and praise.
"The Empress is so pure and innocent, it's hard to reconcile her with the things she has done."
"Who can argue with that? They're like completely different people."
"The Empress is so beautiful, no wonder she could bewitch the Emperor so much."
"A heart of a tyrant and the appearance of a crane."
After Xue Yingyue finished her dance, she ignored the opinions of the officials at the banquet and went to the back hall to take off her dance costume and change into a formal dress that had been prepared in advance.
After changing her clothes, she returned to the banquet and sat down next to Pei Xuanlin.
At this moment, the Emperor and Empress sat together, officials paid their respects, and envoys from all nations bowed and shouted in unison, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live His Majesty the Empress!"
Pei Xuanlin held her hand, their fingers intertwined, and never let go.
He looked down at her and asked softly, "Are you tired?"
Xue Yingyue shook her head and smiled, "Not tired."
Pei Xuanlin felt a warmth in his heart and whispered, "Thank you."
Xue Yingyue turned her head, her eyes like water, and quietly looked at him, saying, "I am the Empress, this is what I should do."
Pei Xuanlin gave a weak smile.
Sure enough, she still didn't forgive him.
But today, Xue Yingyue was kind enough to give him enough face and surprise him with a dance, not making him feel embarrassed in front of the Wan Kingdom. That was already good enough.
Be content with what you have.
...
The banquet continued, with fine wines, delicacies, and rare treats filling the table.
The aroma of wine wafted from the glass goblets, accompanied by the sounds of string and wind instruments. Amidst the clinking of glasses, the group laughed and chatted.
The atmosphere between the two of them was exceptionally subtle, as if they were the only two people in the world, with everything else serving as background.
Xue Yingyue drank one glass of strong liquor after another. The liquor burned like fire as it entered her throat, but she remained calm and composed as she poured the entire glass of liquor into her stomach.
His gaze would occasionally fall on Pei Xuanlin beside him.
Although his face remained the same, Xue Yingyue could see a sickly pallor hidden between Pei Xuanlin's brows. She knew why, because it was the result of her doing.
Thinking of this, Xue Yingyue raised her cup to Pei Xuanlin, a hint of a smile in her cool demeanor: "Your Majesty, I toast you."
Pei Xuanlin looked at her, a complex emotion rising in his eyes.
Finally, he smiled slightly, picked up his wine glass, and gently clinked it against hers: "It is rare for the Empress to be so pleased, so I shall keep her company."
The glasses clinked together, and as the wine entered his throat, he felt a burning sensation and his stomach churning, but he still forced a smile and drank the wine in one gulp.
"Another toast to you." Xue Yingyue raised an eyebrow, looking at his slightly tipsy appearance, and smiled as she poured him another full glass.
"Okay." Pei Xuanlin nodded and drank the wine in one gulp again.
Seeing Pei Xuanlin drinking so heartily, Xue Yingyue poured another cup: "The third cup, may the Emperor enjoy good health and endless happiness."
Pei Xuanlin lowered his eyes, watching her pour the wine, and smiled gently: "With you here, I am naturally safe and sound."
Cup after cup, Xue Yingyue toasted frequently, and Pei Xuanlin drank quickly.
Everyone in the hall noticed something was amiss and whispered among themselves, but no one dared to say a word.
Everyone knows that the emperor and empress have a grudge against each other and have been in a cold war for months, acting like strangers. But tonight, the empress took the initiative to offer wine several times, and the emperor actually drank it all. Such a scene is truly rare.
Pei Xuanlin has a very low alcohol tolerance and usually has to be extremely careful even when drinking a little. But today, as Xue Yingyue raised her glass to him time and time again, he smiled and never refused, just so she could be happy.
After drinking to a sufficient degree, Xue Yingyue rose to leave, giving a slight bow: "I am not a good drinker, so I will take my leave now."
Pei Xuanlin looked at her, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.
Xue Yingyue was clearly not a lightweight drinker; she was just trying to trick him. But what could he do? All along, she had always done whatever she wanted, and he had never had the right to refuse.
Pei Xuanlin gave a weak smile and said gently to her, "You must be tired today. Go back and get some rest."
Xue Yingyue's presence was already a sign of her pity for him, and Pei Xuanlin dared not ask for more. At least for now, he dared not hope that she would forgive him.
These days, he is seriously ill in bed, restless, and often thinks of her.
Yes, their relationship had long since ended, but the binding status of the emperor and empress forced them to remain closely together.
For him, that was enough.
As long as Xue Yingyue remains Empress, she must fulfill her duties as Empress, be inseparable from him, and never leave his side. Even in history books, her name must be written next to his.
Even if you lose her heart, you can still have her body.
Let it continue like this...
Time passed, the banquet ended, and the palace lanterns gradually went out.
Pei Xuanlin didn't let anyone follow him and returned to his bedchamber alone, his steps slightly unsteady, the effects of the alcohol taking hold.
He was already seriously ill and weak, with a very low alcohol tolerance. Today, he had drunk many glasses of strong liquor, which had already exceeded his body's limits. At this moment, he felt dizzy and unsteady on his feet.
Pei Xuanlin staggered into the inner hall, and in his dazed state, he saw a familiar figure standing in front of the curtain.
The figure was slender and tall, dressed in red, with long hair like a waterfall and a graceful figure. At this moment, with her back to him, she looked like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting.
"Ah Li?"
Pei Xuanlin muttered to himself, thinking he was hallucinating because he was too drunk.
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, thinking he must be missing Xue Yingyue terribly. How could she possibly come? He was probably hallucinating from drinking too much.
He shook his head, pulled back the curtain, and staggered into the hall, trying to unveil the illusion.
As he approached, the figure slowly turned around.
She was dressed in a red Western Region dancer's costume, the dress was light and airy, adorned with gold and silver threads, and a delicate chain was tied around her waist, which jingled softly with her steps. Her face was covered with exquisite makeup, her eyes were slightly upturned, her lips were the color of cherry blossoms, and her eyes were as clear as water as she quietly gazed at him.
It is Xue Yingyue.
She really is here.
Pei Xuanlin froze, his heart seemingly stopping. He couldn't believe his eyes and hesitantly took a few steps forward.
Didn't she already leave? Didn't she already return to Zichen Palace? How come she's here?
"You...how did you get here? Why didn't you tell me?"
Xue Yingyue did not answer, but smiled gently and then began to dance gracefully.
Her dance was graceful, and the layers of her skirt, adorned with gold threads and glass beads, bloomed like flames as she spun.
Pei Xuanlin was stunned.
Her waist was as supple as a willow, her arms as serpentine as snakes, and every movement carried an exotic allure and deep affection. The silver bells specially tied to her ankles rang out with each step, their clear sound like celestial music that instantly brightened the ears.
Pei Xuanlin stared blankly, his heart pounding.
He approached step by step until he stood behind Xue Yingyue, reached out, and gently took her hand.
Xue Yingyue stopped dancing involuntarily.
She slowly turned her head, her eyes sparkling.
Pei Xuanlin's hand followed hers and slowly slid down to her waist, while his other hand caressed her cheek, his fingertips trembling slightly.
Her skin was still as delicate as he remembered, and the warm touch almost brought him to tears.
"Didn't you already hate me?" Pei Xuanlin pressed his ear against her neck, his voice low and husky, tinged with a hint of grievance and unease. "Why are you still here?"
Before he finished speaking, he lowered his head and placed delicate kisses on her neck, as gentle as rain, carrying a sense of intoxication and longing.
Xue Yingyue sighed softly, raised her hand, grabbed his arm with one hand, and stroked his face with the other, her fingertips tracing his eyebrows, eyes, and lips, as if confirming his presence.
“I love you,” she whispered, her voice like a gentle breeze in your ear, “I forgive you.”
"Really? That's great!"
Pei Xuanlin closed his eyes, leaned on her shoulder, his body trembling slightly due to the alcohol and his illness.
He had been seriously ill for many days, and today he had drunk alcohol. At this moment, he felt physically and mentally exhausted, yet he felt a sense of peace he had never felt before.
These days, he is seriously ill in bed, coughing up blood day and night, and the imperial physicians all say that his heart disease is difficult to cure.
Pei Xuanlin was well aware that his illness was partly due to a cold and partly due to heartbreak.
Losing Xue Yingyue is more painful than letting him die.
Now she's back, and she says she's forgiven him, and that she loves him.
Pei Xuanlin had a faint smile on his lips. He closed his eyes, leaned on her shoulder, and his voice was tired and hoarse.
"Let's be good to each other from now on and never fight again, okay?"
Xue Yingyue closed her eyes briefly, her voice gentle yet firm: "Okay."
She raised her hand to straighten Pei Xuanlin's slightly disheveled collar, then turned and walked to the table, picked up a wine pot, poured a cup of wine, and handed it to Pei Xuanlin.
"Sanlang, drink this cup of celebratory wine, then we'll go to bed."
Xue Yingyue's magnetic voice was incredibly alluring. Pei Xuanlin lowered his eyes to look at the glass of wine, becoming completely absorbed in it. The wine was clear and bright, with a subtle sheen.
He instantly understood.
He had been seriously ill for many days, and medicine had failed to help him. Perhaps it was not typhoid fever or heart disease, but rather that someone had poisoned him.
As for who poisoned him, he already knew.
But Pei Xuanlin ultimately said nothing.
He simply smiled, took the glass, and drank it all in one gulp.
"The wine my beloved concubine handed me is just the best," he said with a smile, a hint of relief in his eyes and a touch of drunkenness and satisfaction in his voice.
Upon hearing this, Xue Yingyue looked at him, her eyes flickering slightly, but she remained silent.
As the wine went down his throat, Pei Xuanlin felt a warm current flow through his entire body, as if his tired body had been infused with strength.
He reached out and pulled her into his arms, then lowered his head to kiss her lips.
The kiss was tender and affectionate, filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion and the ecstasy of something lost and then regained.
Their lips met, their breaths mingled, as if they wanted to merge their souls into each other's bodies.
He carried her, walking gently towards the bed, as if afraid of hurting her.
Pei Xuanlin gently placed her on the soft quilt, leaned down to gaze at Xue Yingyue's face, his fingertips lightly stroking her eyebrows and eyes, his voice low and husky: "Tonight, let me serve you well."
Xue Yingyue looked at him, her eyes glistening with tears, and nodded gently.
That night, Pei Xuanlin was unusually gentle.
He was no longer as eager as before, no longer trying to possess her forcefully, but instead devoted himself to being considerate of her.
He kissed her forehead, the corners of her eyes, her lips, her neck, and continued downwards, each movement filled with careful tenderness.
He stroked her hair, her shoulders, her waist, felt the warmth of her skin, and listened to her soft breathing.
Does it hurt?
Xue Yingyue shook her head.
"Won't you be cold?"
"If you hold me, I won't be cold."
Upon hearing this, Pei Xuanlin hugged Xue Yingyue even tighter, warming her with his body heat and enveloping her in love.
They merged together, as if only the two of them remained in the world.
At this moment, they are just two people in love who have finally come together again after a long period of cold war.
Afterwards, Pei Xuanlin held Xue Yingyue in his arms, leaned against the headboard, and pulled the blanket over her.
She nestled in his arms, her eyes closed, her breathing even, a faint blush on her face.
Pei Xuanlin lowered his head and kissed her hair, whispering, "I will never make you sad again."
Xue Yingyue didn't open her eyes, but simply hummed softly.
She didn't believe it; her heart was already riddled with holes.
Pei Xuanlin gazed at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, knowing that the night was about to end and a new day was about to begin.
He was terrified that it was all just a dream, and that Xue Yingyue would disappear when he woke up.
No, it won't happen.
Xue Yingyue was still by his side, and she said she loved him and forgave him.
As long as she's still by his side, everything will be alright.
Even if the wine was truly poisoned, even if he only had one day left to live, he would be willing to do anything as long as he was with Xue Yingyue.
Thus, the two remained preoccupied with their own thoughts, sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams.
Author's Note: A no-prize guessing game: Who is the female lead?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
