Chapter 5: Enchantment

She gazed longingly at the round moon on the horizon, her long feather-like eyelashes trembling, yet ultimately no tears fell. The cold wind blew against her solitary figure, accentuating her profound desolation

His dark eyes lingered on the ugly, winding dark blue lines, and an inexplicable anger rose within him—how could anyone inflict such torture on a delicate and frail woman

She opened her mouth but ultimately could not bring herself to utter the words "Junhou".

If I, the lord, were to say I will not let go, what would you do then

Her seemingly casual reproach ignited a fire in the eyes of the surrounding women, their beautiful eyes shining brightly, as if they were about to reduce Yan Ji to ashes.

Facing the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Yan Ji summoned the attendant behind her. When the light focused on the tattoo on Shu Zhen's face, everyone gasped in astonishment

No! She is on the side of the king...

Madam Yuan's meaningful toast brought the banquet to a splendid climax, yet although everyone spoke in unison, each harbored their own ulterior motives, which was evident.

Do you not know that... peeking at such scenes requires one to be cautious of their footing

His eyes sparkled as he fixed his gaze intently on Yan Ji, and everyone assumed he was exchanging glances with her, but only he knew his heart was as clear as a mirror—this was due to that graceful figure.

A silent sigh echoed in her heart as she stood beneath the tree by the icy lake. The pine trees swayed gracefully above her, and enveloped in darkness, she could only perceive the ethereal palace lanterns in the front hall, suspended high, their light weaving like fabric, as if she were in another world

... ...

The two individuals embraced each other intimately, their long and fervent breaths faintly echoing, almost igniting the cold night. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, clearly illuminating the woman in the azure attire. She was seen half-leaning against the stone, her body stretched and taut from ecstasy, her delicate bosom partially exposed, her rosy face imbued with the essence of spring. It was none other than Yan Ji, who had just stolen the spotlight at the evening banquet.

Upon seeing this, Yan Ji showed no signs of panic and continued to smile lightly, saying: "Sister, you are truly joking. The Lord has always treated all of us sisters equally, how could he possibly show favoritism towards me? This matter was originally bestowed by the Lord himself."

The night is cool and deep, the high walls of the palace obscure the moonlight, and the candles in the back garden appear dim. The deep snow has solidified into ice, and she feels as if each step she takes is like walking on clouds

So it was her

Zhu Wen finally awakened from his daze, picked up the golden cup, brought it to his lips, and asked with a somewhat perfunctory smile: "Indeed, this garment is truly eye-catching"

A clear and rich voice, whispering close to the ear, though it is as fine as a mosquito's buzz, one can distinctly hear the teasing laughter within it

Zhu Wen gazed at her, lost in thought, until the slightly urging call of Madam Yuan broke the silence

It is her

The sound gradually faded, merging with the sound of the pines swaying in the wind. Xu Zhen, unwilling to listen any longer, turned and slowed his pace, cautiously preparing to turn back. However, unexpectedly, due to a prolonged period of stillness, his legs weakened, and he stumbled, nearly falling to the ground

You inform the esteemed person that Madam Yuan has already seen through my identity

All that has passed...

In the next moment, the embroidery needle carried with him was drawn out, creating a burst of silver light, and it fiercely pierced into the rampaging wrist. Zhu Wen gasped in cold air, his face almost contorted in agony from the intense pain. He gritted his teeth, swallowing his cries of pain, yet he could only feel that his palm was already empty and devoid of any trace. That thin, frail white shadow had already stumbled away, darting off like the wind.

Shu Zhen only felt a rush of warm breath against her ear, and her entire cheek felt numb. She turned her head and was astonished to discover that the person approaching was wearing a seven-peak jade crown, with elegant eyes that held a smile, yet emanated a chilling aura.

The calm and undisturbed bass speaks softly by the ear, devoid of any hint of the common shyness often associated with women

Please let go

The intense sounds of breathing continued, gradually, however, one could hear the two individuals beginning to engage in a murmured conversation

The noble lady adorned with a butterfly hairpin and snow willow, gently embraces a round fan, while scholars and poets gather with lantern riddles, showcasing their extraordinary talents. In the winding and distant Ba River that surrounds the capital, lanterns flicker and drift quietly towards the ends of the sky

Shu Zhen only felt that those large hands were pressed against her collar, gently caressing her tender skin. Though her heart was filled with great anger, her face remained calm and composed as she quietly said: "If you do not let go, I will have no choice but to offend you!"

She remained silent, waiting for him to let go of her, but unexpectedly, Zhu Wen held her even tighter, creating an increasingly intimate and ambiguous atmosphere between them

Madam Yuan smiled charmingly, her eyes sparkling as she said: "Such exquisite cloud brocade... Previously, Your Excellency bestowed a piece upon my sister, but this one surpasses it by several measures—Your Excellency, you are truly too partial towards Sister Yan..."

Then eliminate her

The night is deep, and the bright full moon hangs high in the sky. The banquet has concluded, leaving only a profound silence in the courtyard, with the palace lanterns swaying gently

Sister Yan is truly enchanting today ... ... What do you say, Your Excellency?

Zhu Wen turned his head slightly to glance at the passionate entangled couple, a deep cold smile flickering at the corner of his lips, and he disdainfully sighed, "This time, they actually sent such mindless fools!"

Zhu nodded in approval and smiled, saying: "It is also your discerning eye for talent that has brought you this fortune"

It is the Lantern Festival again, yet I wonder if Zhuque Street in the capital is as brilliantly illuminated as usual, bustling with visitors...

In that moment, his dark eyes sparkled, and his smile resembled that of a fierce deity, yet he was endowed with a countenance as ethereal as an immortal, captivating anyone who caught a glimpse, to the point where their very souls seemed almost drawn in.

In the icy black eyes, there was a hint of teasing amusement, yet one could faintly perceive the underlying fervor and obsession

She had turned around, just about to head back, when she suddenly discovered that, a few zhang ahead to her right, there were two people sitting closely together by the edge of the icy lake, whispering to each other

Congratulations to Miss Yan for acquiring this skilled artisan... Also, congratulations to Your Excellency for gaining Miss Yan, this renowned beauty who understands the language of the heart

Today marks the Lantern Festival once again

Previously, this cloud brocade was accidentally splashed with tea by a maid. I thought to myself that this was a gift from the noble lord, and I truly could not bear to discard it—fortunately, her skilled hands and excellent embroidery concealed the flaw.

The moonlight illuminated the path as she hurriedly ran, her long black hair cascading down, a dark trail dragging on the bright snow, resembling a fairy lost in the mortal realm, captivating all who beheld her

Yan Ji sat upright, her demeanor poised, and in her glances, there was an air of satisfaction and pride. She had come with Shu Zhen, initially to show off, and now she aimed to leave a good impression of cherishing gifts and valuing frugality in front of the noble lord. As she observed the envious gazes around her, she smiled even more, choosing to remain silent.

And she, forever smiling in that way, allows that person to hold her hand, as they drink leisurely together in a small tavern on the outskirts of Beijing, enjoying a tranquil and carefree moment

At the critical moment, a pair of warm and strong hands timely caught her waist, lifting her horizontally and embracing her in their arms

Shu Zhen did not return to her own courtyard, but instead slowly walked along the winding path into the back garden

Zhu Wen's heart trembled, and the wine in the golden goblet nearly spilled out. He squinted his eyes, recalling the bizarre avalanche from two months ago, when he rescued that blood-soaked woman with tattooed markings on her face in Juyuan.

She gazed intently at Zhu Wen, her eyes filled with affection, and softly said: "Your Excellency has always been frugal, and I have always kept this in mind; how could I dare to indulge in extravagance?"