When Lin Mucian returned, the palace chambers had already been lit with braziers, no longer so cold and desolate.
She snuggled under the covers, not quite understanding why the young emperor was suddenly so displeased.
She could naturally see the dramatic shift in his emotions.
But she didn't understand—was he angry? What was he angry about?
The flicker of coldness that crossed his eyes caused a slight flutter in her heart.
She remained perplexed, though the warmth beneath the covers was quite comforting.
She thought of the astonished and disbelieving expression on the face of that Azure Sparrow today.
It brought her a sense of peculiar delight. Lying in bed, she felt that the Azure Sparrow must have never imagined that her tricks would actually fail on Ling Qianhe.
However—
Recalling the moment Ling Qianhe's fingertips clenched hers tightly, and the desire that surged in his eyes, her breathing involuntarily quickened.
Ling Qianhe, what exactly was he thinking?
…
Ling Qianhe remained seated in his palace chambers, silent, in the dead of night.
Meanwhile, Zhi Zhi, the Azure Sparrow, had already resigned herself to despair. She simply couldn't fathom Ling Qianhe's attitude. After all, her innate ability had worked perfectly on Helian Lanyian…
Helian Lanyian hadn't seen through any of her flaws.
He felt deeply guilty towards her.
He had even believed her when she said she would die, and had thus severed the spiritual veins of Si Mucian, the daughter of the former Demon Emperor. But why had it had no effect on Ling Qianhe at all?
No, her innate ability was not flawed.
She must have fabricated a dream where she had saved him, and he would certainly believe that dream to be true.
Could it really be as he had said?
That he was an inherently wicked person, devoid of emotion?
That he felt nothing for the fragile maiden who had saved him?
Thinking of this, Xue Zhizhi's mind was in utter turmoil.
But at the same time, she felt a pang of worry—no, it absolutely shouldn't be like this.
Xue Zhizhi's heart trembled slightly. She desperately told herself.
If Ling Qianhe was truly a heartless demon,
Then his treatment of Si Mucian should have been the same.
She didn't need to feel worried, because even if it was Si Mucian, he would surely treat her harshly, and would not let Si Mucian gain any advantage over him.
And besides—
Xue Zhizhi thought, Si Mucian had been in the mortal realm for a long time. She had spent even longer with this demon. Since that was the case, she must have suffered even more hardship at his hands.
Thinking this, her thoughts stirred, and a pleased expression spread across her face.
A faint smile even involuntarily curved her lips.
Her descent into the mortal realm—
Was naturally aimed at Si Mucian.
This daughter of the former Demon Emperor had once gouged out her eyes and broken her wings.
She bore this grudge in her heart. She had originally intended to descend to the mortal realm and find a way to bewitch Ling Qianhe.
Ideally, she wanted this demon to gouge out Si Mucian's eyes, to avenge her.
But she hadn't expected the situation to unfold entirely as she had thought.
Xue Zhizhi took a deep breath. Her eyes were filled with a chilling sharpness, and that coldness rippled outwards.
Then, a cold sneer touched Xue Zhizhi's lips.
She didn't believe it. This demon trusted Si Mucian so much. She was sure she could find an opportunity.
Her fingers covered her eyes, recalling the searing pain of her eyes being gouged out.
Xue Zhizhi's cheeks remained ashen, but the hatred in her heart surged incessantly.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open—she heard footsteps, and for a moment, she was startled. Then, a faint scent of tuberose filled her nostrils.
Xue Zhizhi immediately raised her head. She was instantly filled with excitement.
"Your Majesty?"
She knew it! Ling Qianhe wouldn't abandon her!
This demon must feel guilty, after all, she was his unattainable dream!
Xue Zhizhi was still smugly thinking this to herself.
Ling Qianhe, meanwhile, smiled. He walked up to Xue Zhizhi, his hand lightly brushing past her eyes. Then, Xue Zhizhi heard Ling Qianhe speak.
"I have something to ask you."
His tone could hardly be described as pleasant.
Xue Zhizhi was slightly taken aback—her voice trembled a little.
Despite her breathtaking beauty, the slightest hint of trembling made her appear vulnerable and helpless.
Even a man of iron resolve would be softened by such a sight.
"What… what is it?"
Xue Zhizhi hesitated, then cautiously lifted her head. She said,
"Has this servant done something to displease Your Majesty… Your Majesty, this servant did not mean to…"
Ling Qianhe glanced at her with disgust.
"You, of all people, dare to call yourself 'this servant' (Qie)? What 'Qie'? You are but a slave."
A cold smile played on Ling Qianhe's lips.
A subtle, sinister chill lingered in the air.
This exquisitely handsome youth looked at the fragile maiden before him without a shred of pity.
"You said her past is not as simple as I thought. You know her past? But I remember, she entered the palace as a maid at a very young age, and always lacked presence in the palace—didn't she?"
Ling Qianhe asked Xue Zhizhi this.
Xue Zhizhi trembled slightly, but she knew who Ling Qianhe was referring to.
It was Si Mucian.
Precisely because of this, she gathered her spirits and, without hesitation, said in one breath.
"Yes, this slave…"
The self-reference felt humiliating, but she bit her tongue and continued.
"This slave—does indeed know her past."
"Her past is not that simple… she is a sinner, a schemer, hiding by Your Majesty's side… she has harbored intentions towards Your Majesty for a long time, and came for Your Majesty from the very beginning."
Just as she was about to elaborate, she heard Ling Qianhe say.
"Oh? Is that so?"
He smiled, a strange smile blooming on his lips.
For some reason, Xue Zhizhi even detected a hint of amusement in Ling Qianhe's words.
"From the very beginning, she came for me?"
What wonderful news!
He didn't ask about any schemes or plots, but instead changed the subject.
"Since you say you know her past, then I ask you, did she have someone she loved in her past?"
Ling Qianhe asked this question casually. Xue Zhizhi hesitated, suddenly uncertain and greatly distressed. Her skin was as white as the driven snow, but now her lips also began to pale.
"This…"
Her words seemed to hover on her tongue, unable to be spoken for a long time.
Ling Qianhe sneered.
"Cannot say?"
Xue Zhizhi didn't know what he meant or how he would react to her words. She bit her tongue, forcing herself to be clear-headed, and then said in one breath.
"She did!"
"She has a childhood sweetheart fiancé…"
"She was very good to this fiancé; they grew up together, and had a betrothal from a young age…"
Ling Qianhe's expression gradually turned colder.
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
So that's how it is. She has a fiancé.
Although he didn't know if what the pale maiden before him said was true, or if she was deceiving him.
But just thinking of this possibility brought a faint ache to his heart, like a sharp squeeze that caused a slight pain.
If she has a fiancé—
"Her fiancé has never sought her out. How can I determine if your words are true or false?"
Xue Zhizhi immediately replied.
"If Your Majesty does not believe me, I have here a Heart-Seeking Stone. Your Majesty may take it and ask her. Ask her if she has a fiancé—ask her if she truly admires Your Majesty, or if she stayed by Your Majesty's side out of necessity to complete a mission!"
"Your Majesty, please ask!"
She hurriedly took out a piece of emerald green stone from her pocket.
Then, her eyelashes fluttered minutely, and her voice became very, very soft.
"Your Majesty, she is deliberately seducing Your Majesty!"
"She is a woman of loose morals, promiscuous!"
Ling Qianhe let out a soft laugh, then put away the stone.
"Is that so?"
In the depths of his eyes, a bright light seemed to flash for a moment. Bbfang.com
Like a comet streaking across the night sky, only to fall into a deep, unfathomable river valley, he turned and walked away.
"Do not play any tricks."
"Otherwise, I will not hesitate to grind you into dust!"
Xue Zhizhi watched his retreating figure. Only then did she realize that a fine sheen of cold sweat had unknowingly formed on her back, soaking through her clothes. Her breathing faltered.
This youth… was even more terrifying than she had imagined.
However, he went to ask Si Mucian… did he care, or did he want to find trouble with her?
She couldn't be sure. But thinking of the Heart-Seeking Stone, she bit her lip slightly.
This demon—
If his thoughts were indeed confirmed, and he knew Si Mucian had ulterior motives for being by his side, he certainly wouldn't show mercy to Si Mucian, would he?
He surely—truly wouldn't show mercy.
…
Lin Mucian slept soundly that night. When she woke, the sky was dimly lit. Perhaps because of the snowfall, everything appeared somewhat dim.
The room was still warm, the brazier still functional, using what must have been the most luxurious and noble charcoal.
She got up and froze the moment she opened the door.
The youth, clad in a dark black robe, stood outside. He must have been there for some time, as snow had fallen on him, making him almost resemble a snowman.
He seemed utterly unfazed, shaking the accumulated snow from himself.
"I was afraid of waking you, so I waited for a while."
Lin Mucian watched him silently. His features were exquisite. In the biting cold, he alone resembled a splendid, vibrant peony blooming in the snow, capable of coiling around one's heart inch by inch.
He smiled, leaned closer to Lin Mucian's face, and asked.
"May I come in?"
Lin Mucian hesitantly stepped aside. Snow had fallen on his hair, and she found the scene utterly beautiful. Paired with the youth's clear, cold eyes, she involuntarily reached out, wanting to brush the snowflakes from his shoulders.
But in an instant.
He grasped her wrist.
His palm was icy cold, but he looked intently into her eyes, smiled, and said.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
She answered vaguely.
"All right."
With Ling Qianhe holding her, they walked into her chamber and sat down. She offered to make him tea, and he silently watched her perform the duties of a maid. A moment later, he spoke from behind her.
"I went to see Xue Zhizhi last night."
Lin Mucian froze.
"Ah?"
"You…"
She wanted to ask Ling Qianhe if he had slept with Xue Zhizhi.
The words reached her lips but then stopped abruptly, unable to be spoken.
On one hand, she felt Ling Qianhe's taste wouldn't be that poor, but Xue Zhizhi's secret technique was hard to judge, so she was extremely anxious.
If Ling Qianhe had actually slept with Xue Zhizhi—wearing a face identical to Ling Qianhe's, she would truly be angry!
Her face turned cold, and she mentally asked the little system.
"Did he really sleep with Xue Zhizhi?"
The little system froze, then stammered.
"How… how is that possible!"
The little system paused, its voice rising several octaves.
"How could he sleep with Xue Zhizhi? Hostess, you underestimate him too much! He is an outstanding representative of the 'Male Virtues Class.' Apart from his fated love, he looks down on no one."
"He would absolutely not get involved with any other woman!"
"Hostess, believe me!"
"He is absolutely a model of male virtue!"
Lin Mucian almost choked on the little system's words. Model of male virtue—what kind of term was that? Was it really acceptable to say that?
Meanwhile, Ling Qianhe glanced at her slightly dazed expression, the smile on his lips becoming more pleased. His eyes grew brighter. He looked into her eyes, but for some unknown reason, the tenderness in them slowly subsided.
A moment later.
Ling Qianhe said.
"I went to find Xue Zhizhi because I was curious about your past."
"She told me you have a childhood sweetheart fiancé."
"Therefore, I came to find you, and waited for you outside the door for so long, just to clarify this matter."
Ling Qianhe looked at Lin Mucian.
As Ling Qianhe's gaze fixed directly upon her, Lin Mucian felt a sudden pang of guilt. The matter of a fiancé… it wasn't exactly a huge problem, but to deny it outright felt like deceiving him.
Her grievances with Helian Lanyian were not that simple.
This childhood sweetheart fiancé had treated her most cruelly.
Even more cruelly than Xuan Yuan Yuting, the senior disciple from the Nine Heavens.
Just as she was about to explain.
She heard Ling Qianhe continue.
"Xue Zhizhi gave me a stone, saying it's called a Heart-Seeking Stone."
"It can tell if a person is speaking the truth. But—"
He looked at the youth before him, and the stone reappeared in his palm. Without a moment's hesitation, he crushed the stone. A deep smile spread across Ling Qianhe's lips.
"I don't need it."
"Whatever you say, I believe."
"Even if you have a fiancé, after so long, if that man hasn't appeared, then the engagement is likely invalid."
"Besides, you promised to stay by my side. No one can take you away."
"She wants to sow discord, but I won't believe her."
He was beside her, his fingers gently caressing her—then he said.
"In this world, I only believe you."
Outside, the wind stirred the vast white snow. His presence was chilling, but Lin Mucian felt as if she could see past his icy eyes to the hot, burning, beating sincerity hidden within his chest.
She was silent for a moment, then said.
"I once had a fiancé—unfortunately, he is no longer so."
"What we have now is only enmity."
"You said you wanted to help me get revenge. One of my enemies is him."
Her words made the youth before her pause, and then an extremely pleased smile bloomed on his lips. He nodded as if highly satisfied, and then said in a sharp tone.
"Good."
"Since he is an enemy, I will… kill him."