Outside, the dew grew heavier and the air colder. The moon's radiance, like a light veil, cascaded into the sleeping chambers of the Weiyang Palace.
Liu Liu tugged at the brocade quilt, only to immediately sense a burning gaze fixed upon her within the chamber. Who would be sitting in her room at this ungodly hour? If this person harbored ill intentions, she would have sensed the dangerous aura long ago.
"Who?"
She spoke with a cool, clear voice, sitting up in an elegant, unhurried motion. She parted the gauze curtains, her gaze falling upon Hong Xiu, who was meant to keep watch, now lying unconscious nearby.
It seemed this person's martial arts were unfathomably profound. However, Liu Liu couldn't quite make out his face. He was seated on a soft couch by the window, and the moonlight cast a soft glow upon his face, obscuring her vision.
"Me?" His smooth voice echoed. Liu Liu's lips parted, her expression darkening. Must this man come to her chambers in the dead of night?
"Nangong Yue? Are you accustomed to sneaking into other people's chambers in the middle of the night?"
Nangong Yue remained silent. He hadn't seen her for days, his gaze greedily fixed upon her. In truth, he had been telling himself that her happiness was all that mattered.
But as time wore on, his heart found no peace. The intense desire to be with her was impossible to suppress, so he stopped trying. He had come to see her.
Seeing her lounging casually on the bed brought a warmth and satisfaction to his heart. Why, when he had lost everything, hadn't fate allowed him to meet her sooner? His heart was filled with resentment.
"I miss you," he sighed, as if the admission were an inevitability, a helplessness he himself could not overcome.
By now, Liu Liu's eyes had adjusted to the soft luminescence of the moonlight. She clearly saw the man seated by the window, his dark hair flowing, his white robes like snow.
Just as when they first met. If anything had changed, it was that his gaze had once been cold, devoid of warmth. Now, it was filled with tenderness, a captivating smile gracing his lips as he gazed at her without blinking.
Although he was beautiful and always appeared to help her when needed, there were times she would find herself lost in thought. What if she had met him first? Would things have been different?
But now, she disapproved of his nocturnal intrusion into her chambers. Her expression grew displeasured, and she spoke coolly.
"Nangong Yue, I find speaking like this in the middle of the night to be very boring, no, exceedingly boring. It's as if you're talking to yourself."
Nangong Yue did not react with anger to Liu Liu's tone. Perhaps he could never be angry with her. Even if she were to rage, he could melt her anger away with his gentle, water-like gaze, smiling like the winter sun, its fine, fragmented golden rays warming the heart.
Liu Liu finally could not resist his innocent smile and sighed.
"Speak, what brings you to my chambers at this hour?"
Nangong Yue's gaze suddenly deepened, a mix of joy and sorrow swirling in his clear, glazed eyes. After a long pause, he spoke softly, "They've come for me. My father has come for me."
"Oh,"
Hearing his words, Liu Liu felt happy for him. She hadn't expected his father to come for him. That was wonderful! The thought of him having family companionship from now on…
Liu Liu was genuinely happy for him, knowing how deeply he craved such familial affection. His loneliness, his isolation, his solitude all stemmed from the absence of someone to care for him. Now his kin had come to fetch him; wasn't that truly great?
"Congratulations, you've finally waited. I believe your parents must feel great guilt. They must not have come to fetch you because something happened?"
In her sheer delight, Liu Liu overlooked the faint chill in his eyes. He was not happy; quite the contrary, he felt a touch of hatred. He lowered his head, his dark hair falling to obscure half his face, making the other half appear even more perfect, its contours sharp, his skin radiant, his dark hair smooth.
Only his long, curled eyelashes occasionally blinked, shedding a coldness. Liu Liu spoke belatedly,
"What's wrong? You don't seem very happy. Did something happen?"
Nangong Yue raised his face, his fair fingers gently tucking the long strands of hair by his face behind his ear. He spoke with elegant gentleness, "Liu'er, will you and Mu Xing leave here with me? I am willing to abandon everything, only seeking to live a simple life with you."
"Ah,"
Liu Liu gasped. She knew Nangong Yue liked her, but he had never so directly asked them to leave with him as he did tonight. What had happened? For her and Mu Xing to go with him, how was that possible?
Regardless of whether she was with Feng Xie or not, she had never thought of being with Nangong Yue. They were ultimately destined to miss each other, just as she and Feng Lie had. A missed connection meant a lifetime apart.
"Nangong, what are you saying? You've lost your composure tonight."
Liu Liu reminded Nangong Yue. His eyes flickered, slowly clouding over as if mourning something. As Liu Liu was about to press for details, a crystal tear sprang from Nangong Yue's eye. He, the proud and chillingly charismatic man of this world, was actually weeping.
Liu Liu knew something must have happened, otherwise Nangong Yue would not be like this.
"Nangong, tell me, what exactly happened? Tell me, I will help you."
If he had the slightest difficulty, she would help him. For even if he wasn't her mate, he was undoubtedly her confidant. If she were to name a confidant in her life, Nangong Yue would undoubtedly be the one.
But tonight, he had confused her. He was such a proud man, yet he shed tears before her, tears that pierced to the bone, filled with despair.
Nangong Yue stood up. His white robes billowed like clouds, as if about to drift away. A cold sentence was thrown down, "Liu'er, in truth, I only want you. Isn't it better that he has gained the empire?" After speaking, his figure flashed, and he flew out from the open window frame, like a pure white butterfly, carrying the destruction of rebirth, vanishing into the night.
Liu Liu's scalp tingled. What exactly had happened to Nangong Yue? Tomorrow morning, she would send someone to investigate his former residence.
As for the remaining time, Liu Liu had no desire to sleep. Her heart was filled with worry. Why had Nangong Yue said such things? He had first said his father had come to fetch him, yet instead of joy, there was none. He wanted her to leave with him. It all looked like something had indeed happened.
This matter was related to his newly appeared father. After so many years of absence, he appeared with what ulterior motive? Perhaps this was why Nangong was unhappy. But why did he want her to leave with him?
Liu Liu tossed and turned on the bed, unable to sleep until dawn. With dark circles under her eyes, she looked at her two maids, Hong Xiu and Ming Yue, who were attending her.
"Your Ladyship, what's wrong?" Hong Xiu asked as she helped her mistress to rise, feeling a dull ache in her waist herself. She couldn't understand why she had fallen asleep and was baffled.
"Yes, Your Ladyship looks so preoccupied?" Even the slow-witted Ming Yue noticed it. It seemed her thoughts were too heavy. Liu Liu quickly collected her thoughts, resolving not to let the Emperor see, lest he become overly anxious.
"Help me apply some light powder to my face, especially under my eyes."
"Yes, your servant understands."
Hong Xiu meticulously applied makeup to her mistress. Today was the wedding day of Prince Yan. As the Empress, her Ladyship naturally had to attend the Prince Yan's manor without losing decorum, and applying makeup was essential. The two maids chose a luxurious chiffon gown, with two plum blossoms embroidered on the cuffs. They layered a thin, transparent smoke-colored gauze over it. Her hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a row of flying cloud hairpins that glinted with light. At her temples, a patch of pale red plum petals was pressed, exuding clarity and elegance, yet also an aura of grandeur and nobility. With every movement, the faint fragrance of plum blossoms wafted out. This chiffon gown was dyed with plum blossoms, a favorite of Liu Liu's.