Chapter 9

I was taken aback, and at the moment he paused slightly, I forcefully pushed him away and exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind? Is this the place you should be?"

But strangely, the number of the Imperial Guards is increasing. It was at this moment that I felt something was amiss.

Lu Haikong was taken aback, his complexion gradually turning pale. He gritted his teeth and said: "Song Yunxiang, at this point, you still refuse to open up, you still refuse to trust me!"

He still has a long life ahead of him, with many wonderful experiences to go through, not merely as a fleeting moment of initial suffering, but as a complete being in land, sea, and air, living vibrantly and fully.

Regardless of how conflicted I feel in the coming days, the day of the wedding has ultimately arrived

I forced a smile and said, "Don't say it like that. You will regret it..."

Lu Haikong did not pay attention to me and said to himself: "The soldiers of Jicheng told me that you were carried on someone's shoulders and taken away forcefully..."

The leader of the imperial guards furrowed his brow and reluctantly bowed, saying: "Miss Song, I apologize for the offense; I am ordered to search for the assassin." After saying this, he did not even glance at me, and with a wave of his hand to the guards behind him, he commanded: "Search!" The group then kicked open my door and began to rummage through my quarters in a chaotic manner.

Land, sea, and air, my father wronged you back then; now, let me repay that debt on his behalf

Today, he is anxious

I quietly accompanied Old Man Song for a while, until he could no longer withstand his fatigue and fell asleep. Only then did I leave the mansion and sit in the large red sedan chair, swaying as I entered the palace

From the beginning of this life, I knew that there would definitely be such a day, but I always thought that the person walking outside the carriage would be Lu Haikong. I have always harbored a rebellious mindset and felt quite dissatisfied, but now, I am even more dissatisfied with the current situation

"Song Yunxiang, you have never owed me anything," Lu Haikong said through clenched teeth, "What do you have to repay me with"

On another snowy night, I found myself unable to sleep. I simply put on some clothes and got up, walking to the window. As I pushed open the window, I happened to catch sight of a figure in black deftly incapacitating the guard stationed outside my door. I blinked in disbelief, feeling that this person's silhouette was so familiar that it left me in shock.

In the next moment, a cacophony suddenly erupted from an unknown direction. Before I could comprehend the situation, the two guards who had been gripping my arms fell to the ground with a thud. I was taken aback, but then I felt an arm tightly wrap around my waist

He twisted his mouth and let out a painful "hiss" sound, but he did not pull away my hand, only expressing his grievance by saying: "Yunxiang, it hurts"

I raised an eyebrow and remarked, "I just let out a fart while sleeping, and it made a bit of a sound."

My consciousness was somewhat hazy, and I seemed to see King Li anxiously scratching his ears and cheeks in front of the desk, exclaiming: "This is not the same! This is different from what I wrote! How could I have killed the wrong person!"

"Land, sea, and air." I looked at him for quite a while and said, "Are you trying to throw your life away?"

You should go back and take care of yourself

I really want to... stretch out a foot and trip that man off his horse

The Third Prince is the eldest son of the current emperor who is still alive. Although he has fallen ill, the royal ceremony must still be grand. My husband will greet me at the palace gate, riding a tall horse, while I will be seated in a palanquin carried by eight bearers. We will circle half of the capital and ascend the altar to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, and to pay homage to our ancestors

"Ladder!" After taking a few steps, the Third Prince suddenly said, "How do we ascend the ladder? Oh, we must ascend the ladder step by step; above is the altar for offering sacrifices to heaven, and we must be solemn." I curled my lips and allowed him to lead me slowly upward. After stepping onto the last step of the ladder, he guided me forward for three steps, saying, "What are we to do? Oh, we pay respects to heaven and earth, to our ancestors, and to our parents."

Suddenly, someone forcefully grabbed my arm, twisting both of my hands behind my back. The pain made me involuntarily bend over, and the voices around me gradually became clearer. It was the guards shouting in my ear: "How dare you attempt to assassinate the Third Prince!"

Lu Haikong was momentarily taken aback, then raised his hand and placed it on my head, awkwardly patting me as he comforted, "Do not cry." As soon as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly darkened, "Yunxiang, we will discuss this in detail when we return."

In the end, I managed to restrain this impulse until the red sedan came to a stop, the curtain was lifted, and a man's hand reached beneath my red veil. Looking at this pair of delicate white hands, I suddenly recalled that night when Lu Haikong ran to my window, reaching through the window to cover my mouth; his hands were icy cold, and the palms had a rough texture. That child, born as noble as a prince, had endured too much suffering. Looking at this pair of delicate white hands, I suddenly recalled that night when Lu Haikong ran to my window, reaching through the window to cover my mouth; his hands were icy cold, and the palms had a rough texture. That child, born as noble as a prince, had endured too much suffering

I hugged the quilt tightly and pounded it with my fists a few times. The pitiful appearance of my little wife finally emerged! I could almost imagine the lewd smile on the face of King Li, his big beard shaking. The image of a grass-mud horse trampling on King Li's face rushed through my mind, and as I pounded the quilt, I silently shouted, have you seen enough, have you seen enough, have you seen enough!

The day of my marriage is approaching, and the guards patrolling the entrance of my palace have gradually increased in number. At night, the sound of women weeping can no longer be heard; only the heavy footsteps of the guards pacing back and forth remain, more oppressive than in the Protectorate of the Northern Frontier.

I remained silent. Lu Haikong said: "It is not that I lack reason, nor is it that no one has dissuaded me..." He paused, as if recalling something terrifying, his gaze slightly lowered. "It is just that I heard you were kidnapped..."

Seeing his expression, my heart suddenly felt a pang of bitterness. Taking a deep breath of the cold air, I said: "Lu Haikong, I left you a letter. You know, it is my own choice to return."

I restrained the surging emotions within my heart and held his hand

I also smiled with a pouting lip, putting on the appearance of a pitiful little wife: "Lu Haikong, you have no romantic feelings for me."

For a moment, I found myself not wanting to argue whether his actions could be considered inappropriate. I only felt a burning pain in my heart and chest. He rubbed against my lips, swearing as if in a vow: "In the next life, and the life after that, I will surely encounter you."

"Live this life well, strive to survive." I squinted and smiled, "I'll go ahead first."

I am feeling so energetic right now, I fear it might be... a fleeting moment of brilliance.

Why? He stood outside the window, his head lowered, staring at the ground, "Sixteen years of acquaintance, five years of life and death companionship... Yunxiang, I know you must have your reasons

He stared straight at me and said, "I want it, but I also want you"

A strange feeling suddenly surged in my heart, a mix of reluctance and heartache. I turned back to look, only to see Lu Haikong clinging to that cold body, which had already ceased to breathe, crying like a child

The bright red sedan chair awaited me at the palace gate, and the maidservants applied a heavy makeup that I had never worn before, adorning me with the elaborate phoenix crown and the flowing robes... I donned the most splendid attire of my life to marry a man whose face I had never even seen, and it is said that he has some issues with his mind

From now on, I will be at odds with him and will not encounter him again

Suddenly, a glimmer caught my peripheral vision. I turned my head to look, and it was the Third Prince on the altar, pushing aside the protective circle of people around him and stepping forward.

Oh dear, it is snowing. My voice is hoarse, yet I surprisingly feel full of energy, my whole body feels extremely light, much lighter than when I was making the auspicious clouds.

With a sigh, Father Song raised his withered hand and gently placed it on my head, just as he did when I was a child, saying: "Our Yunxiang has grown up too"

I glanced up briefly and saw several royal guards escorting the Third Prince backward. The Third Prince, touching his neck, wore a look of shock and fear. I gritted my teeth in anger, but what I felt more was helplessness. Here I am, the illustrious Fairy of Auspicious Clouds, yet today I have been bullied by a few mere mortals. This feeling is truly too distressing

I opened my eyes and saw snowflakes drifting in the sky, the face of Lu Hai Kong above me, white snow covering his head of gray hair, as if he had aged in this lifetime.

Before I could finish my words, he suddenly buried his head down. I was astonished, feeling his warm lips pressed against my cold ones. They were so close that I could not see his face; I could only feel salty droplets rolling into my mouth, leaving a bitter taste between my lips and teeth.

I felt my body go limp and released my hand. Not long ago, I had held Old Song's hand, and he had affectionately patted my head. It turns out that amidst the vicissitudes of life, parting in life and death is truly too easy. In a daze, I seemed to understand the words that the drunken matchmaker often murmured at the tip of his tongue.

I have no idea what I am crying about. I thought for a long time, countless words floated through my mind, words of defense, words of stubbornness, words of evasion and denial, but all the words that came to my lips turned into a trembling sentence: "Father is gone"

With a slight exertion of his arms, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, I felt a flash before my eyes, and suddenly I found myself comfortably resting on his back. I marveled, "What kind of skill is this?" I cleared my throat and added, "How convenient it is to move things around."

As the order was given, the surrounding guards all fell to the ground

Lu Haikong held me gently and said, "Don't be afraid, we will find a doctor who can cure you"

A sudden chill gripped my heart, disregarding everything as I forcefully tore off the red veil, not caring about the occasion. I seized the collar of the Third Prince's robe and asked him sternly:

Sitting in the sedan chair, covered by the stifling red veil, I listened to the sound of hooves clattering outside, and suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of blockage in my heart

I did not see the emperor; the eunuch in charge placed me in a deserted palace within the harem. Next door is likely the cold palace, where I can hear women weeping at midnight. I find their cries quite melodious, as if they are singing a tune, and I sleep very soundly every night.

I watched them leave in the end, empty-handed and defeated.

The red veil obstructed my view, and I could only see the ground beneath my feet. The man beside me was pulling me along, persistently asking: "What is your surname, my lady? Oh, you are of the Song family, the daughter of the prime minister. How old are you, my lady? Oh, you are a bit older, already twenty. Do you wish to marry, my lady? Oh, that question should not be asked, hehe."

How did all the guards get knocked unconscious

I find it a bit hard to breathe like this, Land, Sea, and Air, could you carry me

The Third Prince's gaze swept across my face, but I could not overlook the glee hidden in his eyes. In the royal court, where intrigue and scheming abound, one cannot survive to this day without being shrewd. However, these matters are no longer of concern to me; I was filled with rage, glaring fiercely at the Third Prince, and said word by word: "What did you say?"

In this lifetime, I have reincarnated so early. After Lu Haikong's life comes to an end, he will certainly not be able to find me. Moreover, by that time, he will have transformed into the primordial void, and after regaining his memories, he probably will not think to come looking for me...

As soon as I opened my mouth, the figure in black moved and swiftly reached the window, where he extended his hand through the window and directly covered my mouth: "Silence." His face was covered with a black cloth, and his voice was muffled, but after living together for more than ten years, I was still able to recognize him.

The days in the palace are as lonely as snow, yet they pass quickly, much like when I stood guard at the entrance of the Moon Elder's temple. Back then, I only dreamed of the exquisite wine that I could never afford, lamenting the Moon Elder's stinginess. Now, however, I occasionally find myself recalling that snowy night when Lu Haikong blushed while saying the words "to propose" to me.

The next day, a decree from the palace was issued. It set the date for my marriage to the third prince and stated that the palace rituals were complex, requiring me to enter the palace to study immediately, until the day of the wedding

I do not want your help, get lost

Only after he mentioned it did I recall that, upon leaving the altar for the heavenly sacrifice, the hidden weapon thrown by the Third Prince had pierced my back. It is obvious without needing to guess that the hidden weapon is poisoned, and the poison of the royal family is not something that can be easily cured

The emperor's intentions are quite clear; as long as he keeps me imprisoned in the palace, he need not fear that Song will set fire to his backyard after he goes to war, for once there is a change in the capital, I will undoubtedly be the first to die as cannon fodder. This is what is meant by a hostage.

I indeed feel that his mind is not functioning very well

I insist on saving you! Lu Haikong exclaimed, "Do not look for those ridiculous excuses! What does it matter if I do not understand love between men and women or the feelings of a couple? I only know that if you truly wish to marry him today, I can turn around and leave immediately. If you can live happily and peacefully in the future, I will not utter another word! But can you? Song Yunxiang, do you dare to guarantee that you will be able to live happily every day from now on? If you can..." His voice faltered, and his hand suddenly touched my cheek. The roughness of his fingertips, not befitting his age, was a testament to his hard life. "Song Yunxiang, do you dare to guarantee that you will be able to live happily every day from now on? If you can..." His voice faltered again, and his hand suddenly touched my cheek. The roughness of his fingertips, not befitting his age, was a testament to his hard life. Lu Haikong lost his voice, "If you can, then why the hell are you still crying?"

Mortals are helpless, while immortals are indifferent

I tapped his hand to signal him to let go, and then said, "Hmm, I can see it now." Lu Haikong was surprisingly reckless to this extent; how did he, a rebel leader, manage to infiltrate the inner palace so silently? I couldn't help but reach out my hand, pinching his face hard, leaving a red mark on his skin.

I couldn't help but smile, heh heh, Big Beard Li, do you think I, Xiao Xiang, am so easy to bully? You want Lu Haikong to die first, but if I had drunk the Meng Po soup, my latter half of life would surely be filled with melancholy and sorrow, leading to my demise. However, now, he cannot die.

Lu Haikong softly said: "Yunxiang, let's talk outside the city."

In the distance, the hurried footsteps of the Imperial Guard could be faintly heard, causing my heart to tighten. Yet, I gritted my teeth and did not urge Lu Haikong to leave. Lu Haikong looked at me for a long while, appearing extremely disappointed, before finally turning his head, taking a deep breath, and using his lightness skill to vanish into the vast night.

What did you say? Oh, Prime Minister Song Qinwen has passed away, and the young lady of the Prime Minister's residence will no longer have a support.

I nodded in agreement: "Alright." My head felt somewhat weak as it rested on his shoulder. Suddenly, I recalled a time when Lu Haikong was a child, playing in the Xiang residence. He had asked me to carry him home when he was tired. At that moment, I had intended to leave him there, but he cried so pitifully that I reluctantly carried him back. The setting sun cast a slanting light, and the distance from the Xiang residence to the General's residence was merely a few steps, yet he fell into a deep sleep on my shoulder. At that time, I had intended to leave him there, but he cried so pitifully that I reluctantly carried him back. The setting sun cast a slanting light, and the distance from the Xiang residence to the General's residence was merely a few steps, yet he fell into a deep sleep on my shoulder.

His voice was subdued, carrying a hint of hoarseness.

What are you saying

He listened for a while, then suddenly pulled down the mask, revealing a pair of black eyes reflecting the brightness of the snow: "Yunxiang, it is I."

It seems that the emperor has probably guessed that Lu Haikong would come... and Lu Haikong cannot be unaware of the great danger that would arise once he appears

Lu Haikong took a slight step back, steadied himself, and raised his head, glaring at me with red eyes: "I am such a fool!" He had learned quite a few curse words during his time in the military in the north, and occasionally, when passing by the training ground, I could hear him shouting at the soldiers in a coarse voice. However, he had always been very obedient to me, never once raising his voice.

"No one has kidnapped me," I interrupted him, speaking coldly and clearly. "I left you a note; it was my own choice to return."

Now the sun is shining brightly, yet I can still discern the semblance of a sunset. I close my eyes and softly say: "So this is how it feels to be carried by someone; no wonder one can fall asleep like this"

He had just taken a step when the imperial guards arrived. Upon seeing the guards lying haphazardly in the front hall, one of the imperial guards asked me, standing by the window, "Where is the thief?"

I felt a bit weak, unable to hold onto his neck. The continuous running made the air of land, sea, and sky become hurried, and he called out: "Yunxiang, hold on tighter."

I have no desire to engage with him at all, merely moving alongside him like a lifeless corpse

Close the door, I tidied up the disheveled bed and lay back down on it. The words that Lu Haikong said before leaving kept swirling in my mind, open yourself, believe in him? This little brat will grow up to say some nonsense that people completely cannot understand

As my soul left my body, I was immediately seized by the ghostly messengers, who chattered incessantly as they led me along the path to the Yellow Springs.

A multitude of men in black suddenly emerged from somewhere beneath the Altar of Heaven, engaging in fierce combat with the Imperial Guards below. On the Altar of Heaven, the Imperial Guards were already few in number, and several had been cut down by Lu Haikong. The remaining guards tightly surrounded the Third Prince, not daring to launch an attack. Lu Hai and I began to hurl insults at each other in this sacrificial ground of the Heavenly Dynasty.

After the eunuch delivering the imperial edict left, I went to bid farewell to Father Song in his bedroom. He stared intently at the imperial decree, his gaze profound. I squatted by his bedside and softly said: "Father, as long as you are here, the Emperor will not harm me, so you must take good care of yourself, live a long life, and infuriate the Emperor."

I was still in a daze when Lu Haikong suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist without explanation, lifting me up and swiftly flying down towards the altar of sacrifice. He placed his finger to his lips and let out a loud whistle, causing hundreds of men in black to attempt to withdraw from the entanglement.

I held Lu Haikong's neck, glanced at the increasingly resolute profile of this young man, and suddenly felt a twinge of reluctance, wondering why this could only be a love entanglement for a lifetime

Thief? I yawned and said, "I didn't see anything."

How should I tell him? That Song father plotted to harm General Lu's family back then for self-preservation? That I betrayed him and returned to the capital for my father, his father's enemy? For five years in the northern frontier, I never mentioned the past to him, not a single word, because in this lifetime, my bloodline and his hatred are the most fatal ties between us

Ah, that's just right. I smiled and said, "From now on, neither of us owes anything to the other." I squinted, as if I could see a ghostly figure approaching from afar, "Lu Haikong, in the next life, don't let us meet again...

Although it was such a lewd statement, at that moment, when it came out of his mouth, I truly did not detect any hint of lewdness, much like a child swearing an oath to study earnestly, filled with positive energy

I do not know how long it has been, when I felt someone tapping my face: "Yunxiang? Yunxiang..."

The corners of his lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to refute me, to cover up for both me and himself. But in the end, he still fell silent, curling his lips into a smile, yet there was no hint of joy in his eyes: "Yunxiang, you shouldn't always be so honest."

Alas, where is the Prime Minister? Oh, the Prime Minister of Song passed away at home last night

All the noise and chaos around me, including the people in front of me, seemed to vanish. I stood isolated for a moment, looking up at the sky, gritting my teeth: "Damn it!"

Hello

Hmm. I agreed, exerting all my strength to hold tightly onto his neck. We have not yet left the capital, and we are not yet safe, so I cannot let go.

If it is said that Father Song has passed away, the Emperor must be exceedingly pleased. My engagement to the Third Prince would then be of no use; he could immediately proclaim it to the world and order me to observe a three-year mourning period. Yet the Emperor has chosen to suppress the news and continues to carry out this marriage. Since it has been arranged, there must be compelling reasons for him to do so.