Chapter 8
"I know Xiao Ran is thinking of replacing Shao Sizhi with Li Xiaoyi and Gao Qing. To be fair, Li Xiaoyi and Shao Sizhi are quite similar, and they have great personalities too."
Qi Nian'an splashed some water and slowly exhaled a puff of white mist. She glanced at the window and then turned her gaze towards it. The palace doors were tightly closed, and the candlelight flickered.
Li Xiaoyi and Shao Sizhi didn't know what they talked about behind closed doors, but she had a feeling it was related to her.
Nan Zhi handed her a handkerchief and gently wiped her face.
"Your Majesty, there is something I must say, which you may not wish to hear."
She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "After all, you are a spy from an enemy country. Even if Prince Yun is willing to vouch for you, your situation in the palace is still precarious. The word 'love' applies to both you and your motherland..."
Qi Nian'an felt a chill run down her spine, making her feel extremely uneasy.
I forgot about that.
"It's okay, I know."
"I felt sorry for you when I saw you looking so sad a few days ago. You have been more cheerful these past few days, which I think is because your spirit is clear. That's why I dared to offer you such advice. Please don't be offended, Your Majesty."
Nan Zhi reached out and scooped up the water from her hair, then used a towel to absorb the water stains.
"But no matter what, whether you love her or are determined to serve the country, just remember that Nanzhi will always be on your side."
Qi Nian'an turned to look at Nan Zhi. Her eyes seemed to hold a thousand sorrows, yet her concern followed her in subtle ways.
I'm so touched.
"If I were no longer myself, Nan Zhi, would you still be on my side?" she asked tentatively.
Nan Zhi's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly as she lowered her eyes to look at Qi Nian'an. The two stared at each other in silence.
"meeting."
After a long pause, she spoke softly but resolutely.
"Okay, I'm on your side too." Qi Nian'an felt a warmth emerge from the panic in her heart. "In the future, when no one is around, don't refer to yourself as a servant. We're friends, so just speak normally."
She got out of the bathtub, grabbed a towel, shook her hair because she was cold, and kept jumping around.
"Actually, I'm no longer obsessed, but... when it comes to feelings, who can say for sure?"
Nan Zhi chuckled softly, shook her head helplessly, and wrapped her tightly in the blanket.
"Then I wish Your Majesty all your wishes will be fulfilled."
The dim candlelight stained the window paper, and a beautiful woman emerging from her bath brought with her a thin mist. Smoke and dust mingled as the two walked side by side.
*
Shao Sizhi's well-defined knuckles slowly pushed open the mahogany palace door, and the emerald-green brilliance appeared even colder under the moonlight.
"I understand. Your Highness, you must be tired. Please rest early."
The voice was deep and resonant, carrying a hint of gritted teeth.
"It is tiring for an emperor to be busy with countless affairs of state, but even a wise ruler should take care of his health and go to bed early."
Li Xiaoran gave a forced smile, stood up and offered a few centimeters of his body, then bowed and invited him to join her.
The snow on the artificial hill beside them shook off, a black cloak hung from a crevice in the rock, and a pair of fair hands kept clenching and pulling outwards, lowering their voices as if afraid of being noticed.
"You stand outside the palace gate. If he notices you, hide in the pit. I dug a sturdy one, don't worry."
Qi Nian'an, draped in white, tugged at Nan Zhi's sleeve and whispered. Shao Sizhi frowned and looked over. She hurriedly lowered her body.
Nan Zhi, dressed in the same white robes, nodded and walked around the artificial hill from behind, gradually disappearing into the distance.
She got up and climbed to the top of the artificial mountain using both her hands and feet.
There was still some snow on the mountaintop, and it was quite cold to put your fingers in it. The melted snow was especially cold, and the exposed skin felt particularly stiff.
But the view was excellent; even in complete darkness, one could clearly see Shao Sizhi walking to a spot not far from the foot of the artificial hill, followed by Steward Liu, one in front and one behind.
Hey bro~
She waved wildly on the mountain, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
Qi Nian'an deliberately changed her tone, and Shao Sizhi couldn't understand even if he were beaten to death that it was her on the mountain. She grabbed her clothes and shook them, then shouted and went down the artificial mountain, sweeping up the snow as she went.
The entrance to the cave was piled with snow, and she stood not far away.
Shao Sizhi tilted his head slightly, sighed almost imperceptibly, and then raised his hand to instruct Liu Neng to go forward and check what was going on.
"Your Majesty, there is nothing unusual."
Liu Neng looked at a spot not far away, mixed with snow, where it was too dark to see who was causing the disturbance. He circled around and then returned.
A barely perceptible suspicion arose in Shao Sizhi's heart, but that familiar figure quickly vanished.
Not her?
He saw a huge, swaying figure suddenly appear on the tree, the white cloth strips trembling slightly in the wind. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but even the two fluorescent blue reflections seemed a little eerie.
He shouted without allowing any room for argument, "Insolence! Who is playing tricks on us!"
The shadow didn't answer, but leaned against the branch, shifting its posture to appear precarious, even putting all four limbs together, as if it were about to fall to the ground and rush towards them at any moment.
Shao Sizhi was certain it was a person.
Qi Nian'an's stomach ached from trying to suppress her laughter, and Shao Sizhi, radiating a chilling aura, walked towards her.
She used the momentum to slide down the tree and walked quickly towards the artificial hill.
"stop!"
Just as Shao Sizhi was about to grab her, he slipped and missed, and the white cloth disappeared.
It left behind a perfectly round crater.
A flickering will-o'-the-wisp remained in the center of the cave. When you reached out to touch it, it was cold to the touch and was quickly extinguished.
"Your Majesty, Consort Ling just sent a message asking when..."
"Let's go."
Shao Sizhi waved his hand and pushed Liu Neng away, his mind filled with that eerie white and blue light.
He had to re-examine who was playing tricks.
The moon cast dappled shadows on the vermilion palace walls, the branches of the trees were disheveled and hoarse, and the wind rustled eerily through them.
Shao Sizhi walked straight ahead without looking to the side, his lonely shadow over Liu Neng's slightly hunched figure. The two remained one in front of the other. He deliberately dispersed the entourage and slowed his pace, seemingly enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.
A smile crept across Qi Nian'an's face as she raised her hand, gesturing for Nan Zhi to put her down.
The hemp rope was intentionally twisted to be extremely thin, which was quite a feat for Nan Zhi to find such a prop. She wrapped it tightly around her waist several times, and tied her shoulders and arms in a cross shape as she steadily moved down.
Shao Sizhi frowned, as if a gaze was watching and chasing him, relentlessly pursuing him like a spider web.
He looked up abruptly and saw a pale face covered in blood, with dark red and sandy scars embedded in the body of the crooked corpse. The wind moved with the shadows, and white strands of blood clung to the neck, with a few drops of damp blood still dripping down the neck.
He did not carry a sword, nor did he know martial arts.
A chill suddenly shot up my spine.
Shao Sizhi was momentarily flustered; he hadn't felt such fear since ascending the throne.
Liu Neng's panicked, shrill voice came from behind. Shao Sizhi closed his eyes, took a deep breath, stood still, and took a few steps back, finally regaining some composure.
There may be ghosts and gods in this world, but they can never entangle him, the true Son of Heaven. He seized the throne by his own abilities, so what grievances could he possibly seek redress for?
He stepped forward and grabbed the so-called "ghost," but felt a lingering warmth on his fingertips, and a surge of anger rose from the bottom of his heart.
The "ghost" landed in a panic, retreating towards itself, step by step, its pace both rapid and just enough to keep up. It would glance back occasionally, then gracefully land again, finally stopping motionless under the tree.
The "ghost" took off its mask, but it was too dark to see its face clearly.
Qi Nian'an was itching with desire, just waiting for Shao Sizhi to step forward and fall into the pit so she could float up and, by chance, save the hero.
Unfortunately, Shao Sizhi turned around and walked away without any hesitation.
Um? ? ?
How could I not be curious? How could I not want to come and find out what it was? How could I...?
Bang—
"ah!"
"Your Majesty!"
We're doomed.
Her foot slipped and her calf went weak, and she couldn't stand up no matter what. Qi Nian'an's face changed, and she lost her footing and fell into the pit.
She was pinned down and trapped, unsure if Shao Sizhi had gone far. If she were discovered...
"I knew it was you."
Shao Sizhi poked his head out of the hole. With a cold face, he squatted down and ripped off her mask. He then crushed the mask into powder bit by bit and examined it closely in the candlelight that Liu Neng had taken from Consort Ling.
"You should really look at your expression back then, it's hilarious."
Qi Nian'an gave an awkward smile, raised his hand and gave a thumbs up, then tried to stand up by shoveling dirt from the sides.
I wish I hadn't dug so deep.
She managed to stand up straight, then thrashed about, bracing herself against the edge with both hands.
Shao Sizhi watched coldly from the side, clutching the crumpled mask in his hand, his lips pressed tightly together, looking slightly angry.
Qi Nian'an was helpless; the slippery stones under her feet kept slipping and falling, and she just couldn't climb up.
She tried to tilt her head back and send brainwaves at Shao Sizhi, but Shao Sizhi raised an eyebrow and said softly, "You should really look at your expression right now, it's utterly ridiculous."
...
…………
Qi Nian'an shouted, "Why? Why are you so mean? How could you see me fall into a pit and do nothing but mock me? You have to laugh at me at a time like this!!"
What are you doing?!
Candles were lit one after another in Consort Ling's palace. In the distance, a sharp shout could be heard: "Who is making such a racket so late at night? Drag them out!"
The angry rebukes gradually faded into the distance, disappearing into the empty palace avenue.
Shao Sizhi lowered his head and chuckled to himself. He squatted down and remained motionless, still coldly watching her struggle.
That bastard.
Qi Nian'an gave up struggling and reached out her hand with a self-righteous air.
“Pull me up.”
"Was this pit dug for me?"
Shao Sizhi asked.
Qi Nian'an reluctantly hummed in agreement, feeling an awkward sense of being seen naked late at night.
Suddenly, Shao Sizhi reached out and lifted her up. His hand was exceptionally strong, gripping her so tightly it hurt. The icy coldness was enveloped by that warmth. She listened to the increasingly loud breathing beside her, and her heart couldn't help but feel a slight tickle, pounding heavily.
"Go back and learn more about etiquette and manners from Consort Yi. You're always like this, giving me a headache," Shao Sizhi said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing these words, Qi Nian'an felt a sudden surge of anger, and disappointment instantly overwhelmed the fleeting excitement in her heart.
She turned and left.
My wrist was grabbed, with that familiar force, but this time it seemed to be intentionally softened.
"What did I say wrong?"
Shao Sizhi frowned, his hoarse voice now carrying a hint of refinement, as if he wasn't the one who had been watching from the sidelines, yet he was genuinely puzzled by it.
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