New Year's Eve (2)
A strong sense of self-mockery and indescribable irritation welled up inside me.
What concubines did he have in his household? Only a maidservant, whom he had forcibly kept there under the pretext of being "somewhat different," whose status was awkward, and who constantly declared she would remain "clearly separate" from him. How could he possibly compare her to the jealous, petty concubines in his brothers' households? It was utterly ridiculous!
But the sixth prince's question, "Why didn't you bring it to show the Empress Dowager?" stung like a thorn in a place he had deliberately ignored. Bring it? In what capacity? As a maid? Or as Xiao Chengyan's...?
The thought had barely crossed his mind when he ruthlessly suppressed it. His agitation only intensified. He put down his wine cup, feeling the warm fragrance and clamor of the hall become even more suffocating.
Just then, the Empress Dowager's kind voice came: "Yan'er? Are you feeling unwell again? You don't look well."
Xiao Chengyan immediately composed himself, rose from his seat, walked to the Empress Dowager's seat, bowed, and said in a gentle voice, "Your Majesty, I am well. However, the hall is crowded and stuffy, and I am still recovering from my illness, so I am not feeling well. I am afraid that I may disturb Your Majesty's enjoyment. I would like to take my leave first and return to my residence to rest. Please grant me permission."
The Empress Dowager looked at his pale face, her eyes filled with heartache, and nodded repeatedly: "Good, good, go back and rest, your health is important! Changfeng, take good care of your prince!"
"Grandson thanks Your Majesty for your kindness." Xiao Chengyan bowed again and calmly withdrew from the noisy Linde Hall amidst the concerned and inquisitive gazes of the crowd.
A biting wind swept in from outside the palace, instantly dispelling the perfumed scent and oppressive atmosphere, slightly easing the pent-up frustration in his chest. He took a deep breath of the cold air and headed towards the palace gate.
“You are a high and mighty prince, and I am a dutiful maid, nothing more…” “Clearly distinct”… Gu Jinghong’s stubborn yet slightly aggrieved eyes resurfaced in my mind.
Xiao Chengyan frowned deeply, and his pace quickened unconsciously.
...
The carriage was already waiting outside the palace gates. Upon seeing him emerge, Changfeng immediately greeted him: "Your Highness."
Xiao Chengyan was about to get into the carriage when he stopped. He gazed at the crimson night sky reflected on the long street outside the palace gate, listening to the distant sounds of people and firecrackers, and remained silent for a moment.
"Your Highness?" Changfeng asked, somewhat puzzled.
Xiao Chengyan's gaze fell upon the dazzling fireworks. His thin lips parted slightly, and his voice was low, carrying an impulse he himself was unaware of, driven by some emotion: "...It's still early. Let's go to the main street to see the fireworks."
Meanwhile, on Beigulou Street.
The lights were dazzling, and the crowd was bustling with noise.
Wrapped in an inconspicuous gray squirrel cloak, Gu Jinghong moved through the surging crowd like a fish. Under the cover of the huge fireworks display, she had just swiftly taken the crucial "Southern Wind Secret Box" from her target, "Falcon."
However, "Falcon" was clearly not someone to be trifled with, and instantly sensed something was wrong. Several sharp killing intents, like shadows, soon broke through Ding Jiu's defenses, and two figures even managed to break through, locking onto Gu Jinghong.
We've been exposed!
Gu Jinghong's heart skipped a beat. He hid the secret box in a hidden pocket in his sleeve and turned around without hesitation, crashing into the denser crowd.
She dodged left and right, using pedestrians and stalls for cover, trying to shake off her pursuers. But the two men were extremely agile and stayed close behind.
Another huge burst of fireworks exploded nearby.
"boom--!!!"
A deafening roar and a shockwave rushed towards them, and the crowd erupted in even louder screams and shoving!
Gu Jinghong's ears were ringing from the shock, and his feet were suddenly pushed by the crowd behind him, causing him to stumble forward uncontrollably!
"Bang!"
She crashed hard into a warm, firm chest. The force was so great that her nose stung, and her forehead slammed against the other person's chin!
"Ugh..." A familiar, low, painful groan came from above.
Gu Jinghong was so shocked by the impact that she saw stars. The immense sense of danger and the murderous aura closing in from behind left her no time to think. She instinctively looked up—
Their eyes met.
Time seemed to freeze amidst the deafening sounds of fireworks.
The study, brightly lit by candlelight… a cold, starkly defined space… and now, so close, those deep, bewildered eyes…
Xiao Chengyan?! What's he doing here?
Gu Jinghong's pupils suddenly contracted, and she subconsciously turned around to look behind her. The pursuers were almost within reach!
When life and death hang in the balance, all notions of "clear distinctions" and any sense of restraint or concern are thrown to the winds. Survival and completing the mission are the only priorities!
Amid Xiao Chengyan's surprised and astonished gaze, a resolute glint flashed in Gu Jinghong's eyes. She suddenly stood on tiptoe, cupped his stiff cheeks with both hands, and pressed her cold lips, carrying the scent of gunpowder and snow, onto his lips without a second thought.
Time seemed to stretch out infinitely—
That sudden, cold yet soft touch, with a desperate force, was like a strange electric current, abruptly piercing through Xiao Chengyan's chaotic and anxious mind.
The stifling atmosphere at the palace banquet, the absurdity of being ridiculed, the powerlessness against the "clear distinction"... all the churning negative emotions were forcibly suppressed by a more powerful, almost blank, impact the moment this absurd kiss struck.
His mind was buzzing, his body was stiff, and all his senses were focused on the unfamiliar yet domineering touch on his lips and the trembling body pressed tightly against him in his arms.
Gu Jinghong's earth-shattering move was clearly seen by the two pursuers!
“Boss! It’s…” one of them whispered, trying to confirm Gu Jinghong’s face.
However, their angle was terrible. Gu Jinghong was almost entirely nestled in Xiao Chengyan's tall, broad embrace, her cheek pressed against his chest, and Xiao Chengyan's chin resting precisely on her forehead. Most importantly, she was actively and passionately kissing the King of Ashes, a gesture that completely blocked their best view of her face!
All that could be seen was the stiff profile of the King of Embers and the back of the woman's head, which was half-covered by the hood of her cloak.
"Damn it, I can't see his face!" another cursed under his breath, his heart pounding with anxiety. The target was so close, the box within easy reach, but alas... the person opposite him was the King of Ashes.
In the blink of an eye, Changfeng had already darted to Xiao Chengyan's side like a cheetah. Although he was also stunned by the scene before him, his instinct to protect overcame everything.
Changfeng's hand was already on the hilt of his sword, his sharp gaze like a tangible blade, instantly piercing the surrounding people who were trying to approach or whose behavior was suspicious! At the same time, several guards from the royal palace, who were hidden in the shadows, quickly squeezed out of the crowd and silently blocked the two men's retreat, forming an encirclement.
The infamous reputation of the King of Jin, and the murderous aura of the guards in the royal palace.
Furthermore, the target's intimate relationship with the King of Ember, and their inability to forcefully confirm the target's identity and seize the box amidst the surrounding guards...
Extreme resentment and fear flashed in their eyes. They looked at each other and instantly understood each other's meaning: the mission had failed, the risk of their identities being exposed had increased dramatically, and if they didn't leave now, they would surely die!
"Retreat!" the leader spat out through gritted teeth. Without further hesitation, the two men seized the moment when the crowd was distracted by Changfeng's shout and the astonishing scene, and the next wave of fireworks created chaos. Like eels, they slipped into the surging crowd and disappeared without a trace in a few flashes, leaving behind only a heart full of frustration and doubt.
The signal that the crisis was over surged through Gu Jinghong's tense nerves like an electric current.
The moment she achieved her goal, a tremendous sense of panic and absurdity overwhelmed her—what had she done? She had actually kissed Xiao Chengyan? And under these circumstances!
As if burned by a hot iron, she abruptly released her hands that were holding his cheeks, her body instinctively trying to bounce away from his embrace.
However, perhaps the kiss she had just given her all had exhausted her last bit of strength, or perhaps the dizziness from the impact had finally hit her, her body went limp and she was unable to break free immediately.
What terrified her even more was that Xiao Chengyan's arms around her waist not only did not loosen, but instead tightened suddenly like a red-hot iron hoop, with such force that it almost broke her waist!
Their eyes met again.
The flickering lights of fireworks reflected in his deep eyes, and the strange, overwhelming tranquility that had just been brought about by her kiss shattered instantly, like ice being struck by a boulder.
Shock, bewilderment, and overwhelming rage at being violated surged through his deep eyes like a raging tsunami. An incredulous, chilling light shone within them, fixed intently on her panicked face.
Gu Jinghong's heart sank to the bottom of an icy abyss, feeling even more desperate than when she was being chased earlier.
“Gu Jinghong.” The three words were squeezed out one by one from his tightly pursed thin lips, cold and piercing, carrying the aura of an impending storm.
The muscles in his jaw were taut, a sign of him desperately suppressing a burst of rage. The spot where she had bumped into him seemed to hurt even more, and even the lingering cold touch on his lips felt like a brand of shame.
"Your Highness..." Gu Jinghong's voice trembled as she tried to explain, but she fell silent under his gaze, which seemed to want to devour her whole. The secret box in her sleeve felt like a red-hot iron, searing her heart and soul.
"Clearly distinct?" Xiao Chengyan's lips curled into an extremely cold and mocking smile, his voice low and resonant like an echo from hell, "Is this how you 'clearly distinguish' yourself from me?!"
Seeing this, Changfeng felt a chill run down his spine and forced himself to step forward: "Your Highness, this place... is crowded and noisy..."
Xiao Chengyan's gaze was like a poisoned blade, sweeping over the curious, inquisitive, and shocked looks around him. Those gazes fueled the murderous intent within him!
He looked down and gazed once more at the audacious woman in his arms, who was now pale with fear.
A raging fire burned fiercely in his chest, threatening to consume him. But beneath this fury, a deeper, more complex turmoil, a tremor he himself couldn't comprehend, was churning wildly. This kiss… this damned kiss! How dare she?!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
