Chapter 9, Night Exploration

Tonight, in this old attire, with the aid of backlighting and the hazy moonlight, I staged a ghostly reenactment, merely to test whether the feelings of the old acquaintance from years past still remain unchanged

Wenchang widened his eyes, wanting to exclaim in surprise, but somehow the sound was frozen in the night.

No, it is I, I have returned

It is not a dream

And Qin Changge smiled as he looked at her, saying: "Wenchang, an old friend has come to visit, have you been well since we last met?"

The breeze from the water palace carries a subtle fragrance, the embroidered curtain opens, yet it is not the bright moon that one glimpses.

Her slender brows furrowed into a line as she said, "Which palace are you a maid from? How could you come to my palace dressed like this? Are you not afraid of the palace rules?"

Before the words were finished, Wenchang suddenly rolled off the bed.

Old friends have long turned to ashes, their souls must have been reborn, what use is there in thinking about it again

Wenchang's hand trembled, and his fingers became stiff in the middle.

Long Song

Qin Changge was momentarily taken aback, and then saw Wenchang hurriedly closing the doors and windows, running around barefoot to check the surroundings. Unable to suppress a smile, he said: "Rest assured, I picked some purple grass and thyme from the Imperial Garden while passing by, and scattered them beside the candles in the outer hall. Thanks to you, the people in your palace will have a good night's sleep tonight"

Then the shadow stepped forward, revealing its outline

Qin Changge stepped forward, took her hand, and smiled gently

The faint moonlight is dim, casting a subtle blue hue that reflects upon her exquisite features, with the angle of her elegantly arched brows being breathtakingly beautiful

It was merely a dream of m.hetushucom.com

Long Song

It seemed that she had asked the right question, and the figure no longer retreated

The night mist has risen, a layer of crystalline dew has formed on the ground, and the night-blooming cereus has blossomed outside the hall

Qin Changge slowly smiled, and a flash of light appeared in the darkness.

The body suddenly stiffened

The person did not respond, merely gazing at her in silence, as her garments fluttered in the wind, seemingly ready to take flight at any moment.

Wenchang gasped in shock, his eyes wide with terror, "You... you..."

The wind has risen

She ... ... you ... ... " Wenchang tightly intertwined his fingers, " How do you know she ... ... "

The moonlight cast a veil behind her, surrounding her with a faint halo, yet it did not hinder Wenchang from clearly seeing the spiral bun adorned with gauze and the plain garment accentuated by a striking beauty mark

A pair of hands gently brushes against the gauze curtain

Wenchang let out a sigh, gently and weakly wiping the sweat from his brow as he looked up at the canopy adorned with luminous pearls.

As if in a dream

What do I mean? Qin Changge blinked and said, "She and I, in terms of expression, demeanor, and tone of voice, are exactly the same?"

Uncertain of the reason, she kept turning her face to the side, gazing out at the distant Longzhang Palace. Wenchang felt a tightening in her heart, as if a thought was on the verge of breaking free. That thought struck her insides like a cold snowflake, causing a faint pain in her deeply buried memories. She waited for her to turn her face, yet feared that she would.

The beauty of the country, depicted in the book, is now marred by a small crimson mole, vibrant and alive, resembling a fallen tear

Qin Changge smiled faintly, a smile that was very sincere, yet one could not help but apply a discount to that sincerity. "What you just said, Your Majesty, in this palace, the queen who met an untimely death, isn't that Qin Changge?"

Indeed, there are people

Wenchang opened his eyes suddenly

Wenchang, this is your greatest quality," Qin Changge leisurely sat down on the brocade stool, raised his hand to brush his hair, and smiled, "You are startled yet composed, possessing the demeanor of a great general. Moreover, you are kind-hearted; upon seeing the palace maid who rushed into your chamber at midnight, you would not, like them, shriek about assassins and recklessly strike without consideration.

The gentle breeze swayed as she stepped in, leading with the soft flutter of her garments. Her hair was styled in a delicate bun, adorned with silk ribbons, and her attire was light and ethereal. Though her figure appeared fragile, her demeanor was poised and measured. It seemed as though she walked slowly, yet in an instant, she was right before me

The hands that lift the curtain, delicate jade-like fingers, skin fairer than snow, effortlessly create a graceful pose. As the curtain is drawn back, a slender figure appears, strolling up the steps, parting the curtain and entering the hall.

Everything in the dream seems to reappear, the shock of Wenchang breaks through the chest, and one opens their mouth to cry out

With a light chuckle, Qin Changge strolled forward

She has firmly remembered these words, never having spoken of them to another for many years. Now, this stranger, dressed as the palace maid from the long song of years past, how could she possibly know?

She sat up, staring at Qin Changge, and asked: "Who are you? m.hetushu.com.com"

It is yet another lonely night. Ever since that person passed away, I have become increasingly solitary in the palace, living each day like a page in a bound book, muddled and unaware of what evening it is.

She finally ended her gaze, gently tilting her head.

Tonight, as the wind blows through the curtains, the sound of rustling is incessant. In a daze, I recall the old friends who once offered their heartfelt assistance. My emotions are stirred, and thus I drift into dreams

It is not that she is overly suspicious; rather, it is the ghostly palace, filled with shadowy figures, permeated by the ambiguous and damp atmosphere of conspiracy, struggle, and the allure of power. Anyone who has been immersed in it for too long is bound to be tainted, turning into a monster. After three years, whether Wenchang can still maintain her integrity is something she truly cannot be certain of

At this moment, as the night reveals the ethereal visitor, under the sway of a disturbed mind and a dazed spirit, the words that escape one's lips are naturally the truest reflection of the soul's hidden secrets

Qin Changge caught a glimpse and sighed, saying: "There is no need to reach into the hidden compartment under the bed for your dagger; I harbor no ill will towards you"

The wind tonight gently swirls around the corners of the palace, how strange it is

Tears welled up in Wenchang's eyes all of a sudden

I do not know, I really do not know..." Wenchang covered her face and began to sob, "That year, when I arrived at the Chang Le Palace, I saw that your palace had turned into a sea of flames, and the empress dowager, for some reason, was in front of the palace, laughing and dancing, repeatedly saying she wanted to be reborn... The seventy-two palace attendants of Chang Le Palace, along with the empress dowager and the crown prince... In total, there were seventy-four corpses... Later, for some unknown reason, rumors spread that you had faked your death, but in reality, you... The seventy-two palace attendants of Chang Le Palace, along with the empress dowager and the crown prince... In total, there were seventy-four corpses... Later, for some unknown reason, rumors spread that you had faked your death, but in reality, you... Another man eloped... But I do not believe it... I know you left, I know... They killed you and still want to slander you...

The queen, in a whisper reminiscent of a dream, gently turned over and got out of bed, walking towards that figure. As she approached, the shadow suddenly stepped back two paces.

Wenchang sat up slightly, intending to wait for the palace maid who had carelessly forgotten to close the window properly.

"How can you call her by her name directly?" Wen Chang suddenly became angry, his usually gentle expression now filled with a stern demeanor: "How dare you call her by her name? Who are you? What is your purpose for coming here in the dead of night?"

Enough

Wenchang has already passed the inspection

Wenchang slowly opened his eyes

Behind the gauze curtain, in front of the window, the shadows of the trees sway gently. Within the mottled gray shadows, faint human figures are subtly projected onto the ground

Wenchang stopped, leaning back against the window with his back turned, his hands pressed against the window, his gaze a mix of surprise and joy as he looked at Qin Changge, and said softly: "Are you manifesting through this palace maid tonight... The palace is extremely superstitious about such ghostly matters; if discovered, this maid's life would be in danger, so I must be cautious."

In front of the hall, the layers of gauze curtains are lifted by the wind, swaying in the moonlight of the day. The fragrant incense rises gently from the Boshan tripod, creating a faint and ethereal smoke. This smoke intermittently disperses and condenses, fluttering like a crystal curtain.

You are the spirit of the unyielding book, arriving on this desolate night, riding the wind, with the visage reminiscent of the longevity palace from that year, hinting to me that you cannot forget the past, once again stepping into this dark court that has buried your brilliance. Shall we revisit the glories of yesteryear and the ruins?

Murmuring: "Your Majesty, have you returned?"

There is a dagger hidden in the secret compartment under the bed, a secret known only to her and Chang Ge. In those years, she was trapped in the depths of the palace, haunted by nightmares, restless and tossing in bed. Chang Ge gave her a dagger and created a secret compartment under the bed, designing a very intricate mechanism. She comforted her, saying: "Divine weapons and sharp tools have always been effective in warding off evil and subduing demons. Placing it under your pillow can ensure a peaceful night's sleep. If you encounter any misfortune, this mechanism can also serve as a means of self-defense. However, you must never disclose this to anyone; otherwise, the mechanism will cease to be a mechanism."

She sat upright on the bed, but her hand slowly reached beneath the covers

Queen... do you no longer trust me? Are you resentful of the treacherous hearts within this palace, where loyalties shift like clouds? Are you disgusted by these opulent halls built upon a foundation of flesh and bone, the golden palaces and jade towers? If you harbor such hatred, why do you return today? Is it that your grievances remain unresolved, and you seek to uncover the truth?

At first glance, the jade hook on the account gently swayed, striking the bed rail, producing a clear and melodious sound

A thought flashed through her mind, startling her to the point of a complete shock, and she suddenly covered her mouth.

Wenchang stared blankly at her, then gazed blankly at the shadow on the ground, and after a long while murmured: "I am confused again; where would a ghost have a shadow?"