Chapter Seven, The Wild Guest Amidst the Clear Frost Filling the Sky

Aunt Xi, being such a meticulous person, would she leave one of my windows open?

I sat on the ground, glaring at the young man, baring my teeth at him: "Why are you pointing a sword at me? Put it away!"

Thank you for saving Qiu Lan last time, Princess Xianfeng

I nodded slightly. Such a person is clearly the arch-enemy of Yu Wen Zhao, and bringing him into the palace would naturally be a disaster. One careless move would inevitably implicate both my mother and me, so he must be dismissed as soon as possible. Yan Yuanfeng has been in the palace for quite some time, and the guards at each gate are naturally familiar with him. Moreover, he has always been a trusted confidant of my mother and Jun Yu, so there must be a way to quietly get him out.

"You were injured?" I exclaimed, "Then how dare you come to kidnap me? Are you seeking death?"

Aunt Xi! I pulled up Aunt Xi, who was pale and struggling to suppress her nausea, and said angrily: "We are returning to the palace!"

Moreover, it is on such a cold day as New Year's Eve

The next morning, I went to find Yan Yuanfeng

The young boy scratched his head, then moved the charcoal basin closer, and curled up beside it, laughing as he said: "Actually, I am about to freeze to death as well. I am so cold that I can no longer feel any pain."

I shivered slightly and hurriedly closed the window. When I turned to look at the charcoal stove, it was filled to the brim with silver frost charcoal, radiating a warm, clear red glow. It seems that Aunt Xi has come in at some point to add charcoal for me.

I agreed

I was about to move forward when Yan Yuanfeng held me back and said in a low voice, "Princess, let us be a bit cautious at this moment."

My mother was somewhat surprised to see me return early, and I quietly explained the reason to her

If my face is covered with wrinkles, I fear that on the day the palace falls, we will have already departed with your father. There is a kind of sorrow and despair in my mother's voice, reminiscent of the blood-curdling cry of the cuckoo.

I was momentarily taken aback and finally thought to ask: "Uncle Yan, do you know who these assassins are?"

Yan Yuanfeng's eyes momentarily contracted, and after a long while, they slowly relaxed. He patted my shoulder and replied gently yet somewhat sadly: "Yes, you have grown up so much already!"

When my father was alive, how could my mother have cared even a little about the affairs of the previous dynasty? She devoted all her intelligence and wisdom to the daily life of the Emperor and the upbringing of us siblings

I took one last look at those corpses

Indeed, I may have fallen asleep on my way to the Yuwen residence, and Aunt Xi must have covered me with a brocade quilt. However, after I disembarked, the palace maids attending to me should not have forgotten to return the brocade quilt to its original place

"Since I won't be able to enjoy myself today anyway, let's talk about it when we return to the palace." I felt a bit more at ease, grabbed his beard, and said, "Remember this, next time make sure to show me some entertaining tricks. I really don't feel like playing anymore today; my appetite has diminished to the point that I don't even need to have dinner."

That person, quick of eye and hand, swiftly grasped the candle flame, holding it steadily in their hand

Yan Yuanfeng replied, "I have arrived." He reached into his bosom and took out a plain blue object, throwing it to the man. Swiftly, he covered the surface of the chair, restoring everything to its original state, and then sheathed his sword.

Such a commotion in the carriage must have been heard by the driver as well

I restrained my astonishment, smiled calmly, and said loudly: "Aunt Xi, you really are something; even asking you to serve a cup of tea ends up in a spill. Could it be that you frightened those assassins? Uncle Yan, come quickly and help clean up!"

Which corner of the potential residence of Yu Wenzhao is waiting for the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to him

The musicians and the evening butterflies were exposed in the square, their garments stained with congealed, darkened blood, and they were already dead

Yet I surprisingly felt at ease. For some reason, I seemed to have a conviction that with such a handsome young man, he would certainly not truly harm me

Mother furrowed her brows in contemplation: "Hmm, who could these people be? They certainly cannot be from Suzhou. I am only afraid that Yu Wenzhao will become vigilant. He has always advised your maternal grandfather and uncle not to act rashly. Could they be from the forces of King Liu and Huangfu Junzhuo? Not long ago, news came from King Liu's side stating that although your brother is the legitimate son, he was established by the usurper Yu Wenzhao, thus his claim is neither just nor proper. Upon hearing this, Yu Wenzhao dispatched Cai Bingde to launch an attack. It is said that the two armies are currently engaged in fierce battle around the Liu River, with no clear victor yet, and Yu Wenzhao is preparing to send the Yu Wenhong brothers. King Liu's forces are not as strong as the Yu clan, so it is possible they might resort to assassination, attempting to cut off the source of power. However, it could also be from Jin Guo's An Shiyuan. Although An Shiyuan is somewhat perceived as mediocre and timid, he has many strong generals under his command, and all three of his sons are not to be underestimated. Especially his second son, An Yichen, who is said to have had a star fall from the sky into the delivery room at the time of his birth, hence he was named Yichen."

Yan Yuanfeng's sword is already pointed at the neck of the person sitting under the chair

The young man tightened the wound with his belt while awkwardly smiling: "I do not dare! I was merely testing the princess's courage! Indeed, it lives up to its reputation!"

I lifted the brocade quilt and shook it open

The appearances of Yuwen Hong and Yuwen Xie are much more rugged in their lines, resembling Yuwen Zhao more closely. However, I do not know what Yuwen Qing will grow up to look like—though it seems that his appearance has little to do with me. In a few more years, if he does not die of illness, it is also possible that he could be killed by his father's enemies.

Yuwen Zhao, seeing my anger, also put on a smiling face and said: "You said you wanted to see me, so I brought you here to see me, just to tease you a little! Don't be angry!"

Yan Yuanfeng frowned and said, "Princess, it is better for you to know less about these matters."

Yan Yuanfeng took a deep breath and quickly turned to glance at me

The man did not dare to relax, keeping a vigilant watch on us. He seized Du Guipin and dragged her far away before finally sheathing his knife. Grabbing Du Guipin's hand, he charged outward.

I felt a sense of hesitation in my heart, yet I could not help but inhale repeatedly while retreating, colliding against Yan Yuanfeng's sturdy chest.

Just as I was about to return to bed, I noticed a warm, soft golden light illuminating the doorway. Aunt Xi had entered from the outer room, carrying a glass lamp. Upon seeing me curled up by the charcoal stove, she hurried over to warm my hands and said, "On such a cold day, why aren't you going back to bed to sleep?"

Additionally, there are several unfamiliar individuals, most likely the internal accomplices of the two, who are also covered in wounds and blood. There are even two heads that have been severed and discarded to the side. A few hunting dogs are circling around the corpses, sniffing them, leading me to suspect that by tomorrow morning, these individuals may be completely obliterated.

The floor-to-ceiling translucent shark silk curtains, the soft and light cloud-patterned silk bed curtains, and the delicate tassels of auspicious flying birds inlaid with golden threads hanging down all around, under the glow of a faint yellow candlelight, create layers of mysterious and ever-changing pale shadows.

These two palace maids, one named Xi Yu and the other named Xiao Yan, have been with me since childhood. Although they are somewhat timid, they can still be considered loyal, both pressing their hands to their chests and nodding in agreement

However, as long as I think about the fact that there is a living person sitting beneath me, I cannot feel entirely comfortable. After fidgeting for a while, I pushed Xi Yu Xiao Yan aside and took a seat on the side chair, quietly asking Yan Yuanfeng: "What did you just throw to him?"

The space under the chair is hollow, originally intended for storing cushions, clothing, and winter quilts. At this moment, the quilt has been taken out and placed on one side of the carriage

I nodded slightly and tilted my head to ask, "Have all those bad people been caught?"

I carefully observed my nominal future mother-in-law. Although she was older, her features were quite proper, especially her pair of eyes, which had a beautiful curve. I could imagine that she must have been a striking beauty in her youth. However, at this moment, she was utterly incomparable to my mother

While I was sleeping soundly, I suddenly heard a series of loud noises from outside, rising and falling, growing increasingly louder, reminiscent of the day when Yuwen Zhao staged a coup. My heart jolted, and I sat up abruptly, only to see that the window had somehow been opened, causing the small candle I had left lit for the night to flicker uncertainly, and the light in the room fluctuated accordingly.

Yan Yuanfeng supported me, slowly guiding me behind him. He smiled, stepped aside, and said: "Young master, please! Let us pretend we have seen nothing."

I nestled into her embrace and said in a spoiled tone: "How could Mother be old? Everyone says that Mother looks just about the same as my sister, not a single wrinkle can be seen."

I raised the candle flame and walked towards my bed, my palms already sweating cold

I bit my lip, exhaling the coldness that seeped out, then put on my coat and got up to look around the wardrobe, curtains, and all other possible hiding places.

Once again, Liu Sui was seen bringing several eunuchs from outside the palace, heading directly towards his mother's residence, seemingly to report the situation to her. Although his steps were hurried, there was no sign of panic on his face, suggesting that the disturbances outside were likely not directed at us. On such a cold day, I could hardly be bothered to pay attention, only feeling the wind biting into my body as I had just crawled out of bed, particularly chilling to the bone and difficult to endure. His steps were hurried, yet there was no sign of panic, indicating that the disturbances outside were likely not aimed at us. On such a cold day, I could hardly be bothered to pay attention, only feeling the wind biting into my body as I had just crawled out of bed, particularly chilling to the bone and difficult to endure.

Draped in a pink jacket adorned with branches of red plum blossoms, I leaned my head out of the window, only to feel the biting cold wind as the trees swayed. The sky was a deep leaden color, with thick clouds pressing down, not allowing a single ray of moonlight to break through. Beyond the palace walls, flickers of firelight could be seen here and there, yet they were not in our Zhaoyang Hall, suggesting that something had occurred within the palace.

He paused for a moment, seemingly speaking to himself: "An Shiyuan has a renowned expert by his side, whose surname is Qiu, named Qiu Lan. He carries some Anxia bloodline, has deep blue eyes, wields a steel knife, and possesses extraordinary skills"

"You little rascal..." Yan Yuanfeng extended his hand, seemingly wanting to pinch my nose, but then hesitated, slowly retracting his hand and touching his own nose instead, saying: "This man told me his surname is Qiu."

On New Year's Eve, the palace was still adorned with lanterns and decorations, bustling with activity, but without my father in the palace, no amount of red lanterns could reflect a festive mood. After having dinner with my mother and younger brother, I retreated to my room and went to bed early, covering my head.

I recalled Du Guipin and asked, "Did he ever say how he treated Du Guipin?"

He smiled easily, yet the arms that shielded me were tense

Aunt Xi gently gathered my long hair that was draped over my shoulders and said affectionately, "Let them make a fuss; it's the middle of the night. You mustn't catch a cold. Quickly go back to bed."

Yan Yuanfeng said: "I did not inquire about this. However, I have gathered that he should have been injured by Yuwen Hong. It seems that Yuwen Hong is quite protective of Concubine Du, and after having a confrontation with this person, he injured him. Later, considering the life of Concubine Du, he ultimately let him escape. Concubine Du should be fine; she... should be an acquaintance of this person."

Until just before New Year's Eve, all parties sought peace, temporarily laying down arms to celebrate the New Year. Yu Wen Zhao had arranged the military defenses well and finally managed to return home, where affairs were naturally numerous. Each time he visited his mother, it was merely a hurried overnight stay before he left again. It would have been better if he had not come at all, as it only left people feeling much more depressed.

I felt a wave of nausea and turned to Yu Wen Zhao, exclaiming: "Uncle Yu Wen, if you didn't want me to come and play, you should have said so earlier. Why did you ask me to look at these? From now on, whenever I think of your family's residence, I will first think of these filthy things!"

"This place is filled with easily flammable silk blankets, Your Highness. Do you wish to burn us both alive?" The person chuckled lightly, their exceptionally handsome face appearing quite youthful, seemingly around sixteen or seventeen years old. Even while standing with a sword, they exuded an air of elegance and nobility. Yet, traces of youthful innocence could still be seen between their brows, lending them a certain charm. In the dim candlelight, their complexion appeared somewhat pale, but their eyes shone like stars, exuding an inexplicable familiarity. Yet, traces of youthful innocence could still be seen between their brows, lending them a certain charm. In the dim candlelight, their complexion appeared somewhat pale, but their eyes shone like stars, exuding an inexplicable familiarity.

What the mother barely protected was merely us siblings

I nestled in my mother's warm embrace, afraid to look at the pain and helplessness in her eyes

I traced my fingers along my mother's brows and eyes. Her brows and eyes were deeply etched, bearing an immeasurable amount of sorrow and concerns compared to before

Upon entering the palace, I hurriedly jumped down from the carriage, exchanged a glance with Yan Yuanfeng, and rushed back to the Zhaoyang Hall

On such a cold and desolate night, the grandly furnished bedroom seemed completely isolated from the outside world by thick doors and windows, with only the occasional crackling of the frost and charcoal breaking the eerie silence

King Liu launched an attack from the east, while in the south of the capital, there was the uprising led by Li Shuanghuai, which was said to be somewhat connected to Bai Fuwei of Mingzhou. In the northwest, An Shiyuan's call to "purify the court" grew louder, and there were signs of a large-scale military mobilization. For a time, Yu Wenzhao was running around everywhere, losing the mood to jest with us mother and daughter, which made the palace much quieter.

I went to find out that Yu Wen Zhao asked me to take a look; if it is not a prank, then it is a warning to the tiger by shaking the mountain, to kill the chicken to scare the monkey

I was startled, my hand trembled, and the candle flame had already fallen.

Perhaps, at the moment when my father was strangled by the white silk, the Great Yan Dynasty had already fallen.

The two palace maids in attendance have already gasped in silence

He unfastened the thick black satin robe, and a large patch of brown was slowly spreading at the waist

Yet, as I sit in the comfortable and spacious cabin, I can't shake the feeling that something is amiss

Once, the evening butterfly, so graceful and charming, lay on its back beneath the sunlight, its dark hair flowing and shining, its delicate and pale features resembling a broken-winged butterfly, dried and transformed into a breathtakingly beautiful yet haunting landscape.

Yan Yuanfeng noticed my unhappiness and felt a bit uneasy. After thinking for a moment, he turned back and said softly: "Although Yu Wenzhao's influence is significant near the capital, other forces in various places are also considerable, all eyeing the capital with great vigilance. The emperor's position, though high, is currently the weakest link, and he is almost entirely under the control of the Yu Wen clan, which is known throughout the world. Anyone who wants to deal with the Yu Wen clan, regardless of who it is, poses no harm to us. The emperor's position, though high, is currently the weakest link, and he is almost entirely under the control of the Yu Wen clan, which is known throughout the world. Anyone who wants to deal with the Yu Wen clan, regardless of who it is, poses no harm to us. ... Even if things get worse, they cannot get too bad; even if we retreat to the mountains and forests, living a simple and free life with our family is still better than the current situation ...

For more than a month thereafter, I remained in the palace, learning to play the piano, sing, write, and paint under the guidance of my instructors, and did not go out anymore

I could not help but feel angry, pointing at my own nose and shouting: "Yan Yuanfeng, can you stop treating me like a child? Look closely, I have already grown up."

But I am certain that I have never seen him before. Among the young men I know, there is no one who would take a sword and hide under my bed in the middle of the night

Yan Yuanfeng led us directly to find Lady Yuwen. Lady Yuwen was busy instructing someone to help me change my clothes and also ordered them to quickly prepare the soothing soup, fearing that I might be frightened.

Yan Yuanfeng took a deep breath, pushed me aside into Aunt Xi's arms, lifted the fox fur cushion, and forcefully pulled open the seat cover.

I let out a sound and ran back to the bedside, burrowing into the blankets, and said: "I keep wondering if it is the traitors surrounding our Zhaoyang Palace again"

These matters are merely talk. The Emperor is still the true dragon of heaven, is he not..." I said with a sense of melancholy

When Yuwen Zhao finally came to see me, his complexion was evidently not very good. He patted my shoulder and said, "Qiqing, I didn't let you have a good time today. Another day, uncle will find some fun things to amuse you."

I gazed into his misty pupils and said softly, "Of course, I can see things that are obvious; how could Uncle Yan not see them?"

A cold light shot out from beneath the chair, but was swiftly suppressed by another, more brilliant sword light.

I shot them a glare and made a gesture for silence

It is indeed a sword with a sharp edge.

He slowly lowered the knife, his face pale, while the other hand pressed against his chest, fresh blood oozing through his fingers. His deeply sunken eyes were a dark blue, like the sea before a storm. His tightly clenched lips had already turned a shade of purple.

Did he successfully escape

He said that later, his voice grew fainter, like a sigh drifting in space, barely audible. My nose tinged with bitterness, and I could no longer speak, merely hanging my head, allowing Aunt Xi to lead me as I slowly followed Yan Yuanfeng forward.

It was indeed the man in black who had previously taken Du Guipin hostage

"The medicine for the injury," Yan Yuanfeng replied softly, "do not make a sound after returning to the palace. I will find a way to send him away after nightfall"

Yan Yuanfeng frowned and said, "It doesn't have much of a scent. Xiyan, did you change the incense in the burner?"

I recalled what that smell was. It was the scent of blood that I had once encountered in the Yuwen residence, though at this moment it had been significantly diminished under the cover of incense

My body hair instantly stood on end

After only a brief moment in front of the charcoal stove, the cooled chest has already returned to warmth, bringing great comfort

By noon, the outside was still in disarray. I attempted to peek outside several times, but was stopped by Madam Yuwen and Aunt Xi. Yan Yuanfeng was patrolling outside the courtyard and forbade me from going out.

I sighed and said, "Go move that charcoal brazier over here, I am freezing to death"

I let out a sigh of relief, sat back down in my chair, and turned to the two palace maids, whispering, "You didn't see anything, did you?"

"An Shiyuan's person ... ..." I marveled. This matter is becoming increasingly interesting

The mother smiled gently and asked, "Has mother grown old? Are there many wrinkles now?"

"Do not overthink it." Aunt Xi helped me cover it properly, and then she added charcoal to the crane-patterned bronze foot stove, preparing it well, before saying: "It is just a couple of assassins, but they do not seem to be targeting us. Your Highness, please sleep peacefully."

For the first time in my life, I directly called Yan Yuanfeng by his name, and it was also the first time I shouted at Yan Yuanfeng like this

I yawned and said, "I heard a commotion outside, so I got up to take a look"

Under the protection of the palace guards and a large contingent dispatched by my superior, Wen Zhao, my carriage made its grand return to the palace

I clapped my hands and said: "Good, very good!"

"Uncle Yan, Aunt Xi, do you smell anything?" I asked, sniffing back and forth.

I listened to the faint commotion outside, watching the small candle flame flicker and dance, and suddenly my heart began to race as well. It was a struggle to suppress the impulse to call back Aunt Xi.

Aunt Xi stood up, also sniffing her nose, and said: "The fragrance hasn't changed. However, there is a strange smell."

Yuwen Zhao was also somewhat distracted, and he smiled as he said, "Alright, I will send more people to escort you back to the palace. I still need to conduct a thorough investigation here to ensure that no more traitors slip in, as it would not be good if the princess were to be alarmed."

At that moment, my chair, upholstered with thick fox fur, seemed to tremble slightly, as if something alive were stirring within it

Raise all the steel knives towards Yu Wen Zhao, and I will wholeheartedly support with both hands

Yuwen Zhao smiled, somewhat mysteriously: "They are all in the front yard training ground, do you want to take a look?"

The mother's expression suddenly turned desolate, and she slowly said, "If he were here, if he were here, I wouldn't have to worry so much, would I?"

Do you know me? Is my audacity well-known? This situation seems a bit troublesome

Carefully pulling aside the cloud-patterned silk curtain that hung over the sky-blue brocade carpet, before I had the chance to peek under the bed, a sudden dark shadow darted out, and a cold light struck my face, already pressing down on my shoulder and neck

Although the lunch prepared for me by Lady Yuwen cannot be described as lavish, it is indeed exquisite in both color and flavor, representing a rare instance of refined home-cooked cuisine. Unfortunately, I have little appetite, as my mind is entirely captivated by the unexpected assassination incident at the Yuwen residence

The sentiments expressed in that language seem to weigh heavily with a sense of lament over the fleeting passage of time, as yesterday is no longer. Yet, I always feel that there must be some unspoken meanings that I do not comprehend, but I do not know where to begin to inquire, so I merely follow behind him in a state of melancholy.

I nervously observed the man with a look of suspicion on his face, while Du Guipin, on the other hand, moved her steps as if she were pushing him forward, her gem-like bright eyes sparkling with light. I couldn't tell if I was mistaken, but I felt that Du Guipin did not seem as frightened as she appeared to be.

The young man indeed obeyed obediently, immediately sheathing the sword with a swift motion, not inferior to Xiao Caiyi in his finesse.

Our Great Yan Dynasty has long been in a state of decline, and the throne of Junyu is nothing more than a mere formality.

I fantasize about the pain of Yu Wen Zhao after Yu Wen Qing is stabbed to death, and I can't help but smile.

He merely wanted me to see the fate of his opponents

Last night, I had him change into the guard's attire and took the opportunity to send him out during the shift change. Yan Yuanfeng, already aware of my intentions, immediately spoke up

I let out a scoff, while Yan Yuanfeng had already turned his head to instruct someone to prepare the carriage to return to the palace

I laughed and said, "What is there to be afraid of? Uncle Yuwen will naturally protect me. Moreover, I also have my own guards to protect me."

Madam Yuwen personally presented the soothing soup to me, smiling as she said, "You child, you truly fear neither heaven nor earth, bursting out like this, and yet you can still smile."

Among the bodies of the assassins, there was surprisingly no sign of the man in the black robe who had taken Du Guipin hostage

To protect the well-being of the family with one's own appearance and body must be the greatest resentment and pain of a mother throughout her life

A conspicuous bloodstain, evidently caused by a scratch, is starkly smeared across the pink bedding.

Aunt Xi raised the glass lamp and checked each window in the room one by one, then finally exited the room and went to sleep on his bed in the outer room