Chapter 6: Clouds and Mud

Shu Zhen's gaze sharpened, filled with great astonishment. Zhu, aware of her thoughts, let out a bitter smile and sighed, "Do you really think that everyone in our Xie Kingdom is uncivilized and uneducated in poetry and literature?"

He actually knows!

It is simply unbelievable to hear this—each royal palace in various countries has countless concubines, and in the eyes of those in power, the servants and slaves are akin to ants; even if they were to take a few for themselves, it would be considered a matter of course

Last night, the darkness was dim, and your aim was quite accurate

Such a provocation towards him, I fear...! ... This matter is unlikely to end well

Humans are the knives and the chopping boards, while I am the fish and the meat. Now that things have come to this point, what more is there to say

Only this sole "younger sister" remains by her side. If she resists, how will this child escape from danger?

If you are unwilling, you may refuse, and you can even stab me with a needle a couple more times; why endure it so patiently

that's all

She remained silent, merely extending her hand to tremulously close the palace door, completely isolating the lingering fragrance of incense behind her

You may return first

She was momentarily taken aback, opened her eyes, and saw Zhu Wen staring intently at her, his deep-set eyes fixed on her without blinking.

Escaping fame and hiding from the world is difficult to avoid, I only wish that heaven would spare humanity

His movements are casual, yet they proclaim a resolute determination to achieve his goals

Why be so patient and enduring

Rainbow Lattice

Shu Zhen raised her head, her dark eyes deep and silent, remaining wordless

What are the two characters like

Is he... is this an apology

A slight rustle made the entangled couple aware, and they hurriedly covered themselves and looked around. Zhu flashed into the depths of the forest, and in the fluttering of her garments, she vanished without a trace

Zhu Wen silently recited, pondering for a moment, yet his expression suddenly brightened, and he smiled, saying: "Is it also wild and carefree, yet earnest... ?"

Between words, there is surprisingly much appreciation, devoid of the usual indifference and aloofness

Yet time, like a knife, strips everything away from her; all that remains for her now is only ... ...

If it were in the past, the proud and haughty her would probably rather die than endure the slightest humiliation

As she lifted the hem of her skirt, stepping down from the higher ground, with a ghostly and ethereal presence, she recalled two lines she had once read in a historical account during her youth.

Hearing this calm remark, Zhu felt an inexplicable pang in his heart, and without further ado, he pulled the person into his embrace, asking, "What is your name?"

It seems that one cannot stay in this palace any longer... She smiled bitterly, recalling her current situation.

Does it hurt ... ... !

She called out softly, a smile playing on her lips, with emotions too complex to express

A pang of pain struck his heart as he reached out his hand, gently caressing the rough texture, murmuring softly: "Does it hurt?"

She extended her delicate fingers, suppressing the overwhelming feelings of humiliation and anger within her, and wrote her name on the table

Tentatively circulating the true energy, after barely completing one cycle, I immediately felt an extreme coldness in the dantian, and the meridians were in excruciating pain, as if they were about to burst. The internal force that had just begun to form immediately dissipated throughout the limbs and bones, leaving not a trace behind

She bit her lip, suppressing the overwhelming anger and sorrow within her, and quickly contemplated: escaping from this heavily guarded palace was already no easy task, let alone with someone as frail as Hongling...

The skirt sways lightly, revealing the skin of the upper chest, snow-white and smooth, reflecting a faint glow. The palm of the hand feels even more painful, yet the face remains indifferent.

He felt a surge of anger in his heart, yet he extended his hand, with a gentle strength that even he found difficult to comprehend, to help her up from the ground

What a fiery temperament

He let out a light sigh, as if he were about to express anger and reprimand her, yet in the end, he said nothing. He simply took her pure white hand from her sleeve, gazing at the central area, which was a bloody mess, remaining silent. Then, he took a silk handkerchief and carefully began to bandage her wounds.

Having made up her mind, she shook herself and, with great difficulty, rose from the snow, taking one step at a time towards the sky

Such a person, once stirred by intention, would they truly withdraw so easily

He smiled with a carefree elegance, yet in his brows and eyes, there was none of the cold ruthlessness typical of the battlefield. His dark eyes sparkled as he gazed at her intently

After a while, there was not a trace of movement

As he inquired, he casually loosened the belt around her waist.

Zhu Wen could only feel the warm and soft jade in his arms, the woman's eyes were ethereal and hazy, and on her snow-white face, the ugly mackerel patterns were densely spread, making it all the more striking.

The feeling of relief was akin to being granted a full pardon. I retreated to the front of the palace gate, only to hear a low voice behind me say: "Just remember, if you do not wish it, I will not touch you in the slightest"

I apologize...

His voice carried a sense of melancholy as he waved his hand, commanding her to withdraw

Her smile was as radiant as a flower, as if nothing had happened, embracing the rainbow in her arms, yet her heart was filled with boundless sorrow

Some information about Zhu Wen flashed through her mind from the secret files

Beneath the crimson threshold of the hall, there are steps made of Han white jade, tiered one after another. She stands atop the high platform, as if she can still hear his questioning in her ears

Shu Zhen was sprinting through the snow, her legs feeling weak, and with a stumble, she fell into a snowdrift

Her snow-white visage was immersed in the shadows of the corner, making even her brows and eyes indistinct. The reflection of the snowlight glimmered on her lips, where a touch of crimson slowly flowed down. The clarity and elegance in her dark eyes gradually receded, transforming into a faint sigh.

He stood in the flower path, inhaling the subtle fragrance of the cold plum blossoms. A smile of determination flashed in his eyes, deep yet radiant

She smiled faintly with a hint of bitterness, a glimmer flashing in her eyes, clear and translucent, extraordinarily beautiful beyond compare

The wind lifted her garments, and that slender, fragile figure was almost engulfed by the snowlight of the world around her

Sister

Leaning against the cold, damp corner of the wall, she inadvertently rose, recalling her earlier actions driven by anger, causing her usually calm and meticulous heart to sink

Zhu Wen leisurely gazed at the familiar figure kneeling below with a lowered head, only to feel a lingering pain in his wrist.

A tremor of sincerity stirs within my heart, and the emotions in my chest surge like a glacier breaking its dam, leaving me unable to contain myself

Shu Zhen's entire body was frozen; she clenched her hands tightly, completely unaware of the sharp nails piercing her palms. The pale golden sunlight filtered through the window, and she squinted, giving a sorrowful smile.

Shu Zhen remained silent, while Zhu Wen, amidst bursts of laughter, completely tore open the waistband

Since that nightmarish night, having been tossed about and subjected to humiliation and blame, having tasted all the pains of this world, has anyone ever asked: Are you in pain?

Her eyes flickered mysteriously, freezing all thoughts, and she calmly said: "Three days after the execution, there will be no more consciousness."

Her slender and agile fingers reached this point as she closed her eyes, waiting for the moment of execution.

... ...

... ...

After careful consideration, the course of action is already clear.

The illegitimate son of the Xie King, the most sharp and dangerous young noble, is also the ruthless leader of the ghostly deities of the Northwest. His renowned name can silence the cries of children at night

What a continuously persistent elixir of dispersal ... ? ... Like maggots attached to bones, it is indestructible and inexhaustible. Am I to be bound by it for my entire life ? !

Zhu Wen's voice, mingled with the warmth of incense, came clearly from above.

The essence of reality.

One misstep leads to another... Oh heavens, if you are unwilling to spare me, then at the very least, do not let it bring disaster to those around me

In the corner beneath the stone steps, there is a timid little face gazing with hope.

But he actually apologized and backed off

He murmured softly, his sharp eyes reflecting a complexity that was difficult to articulate

In the Silver Peace Hall, the purple smoke swirls from the bronze incense burner shaped like a mythical beast, while the scent of dragon's saliva brings warmth and fragrance to the entire hall, yet it also leaves one in a state of distraction, languor, and leisure

He gathered his clothes and stepped out, the remnants of snow on the branches fell, wetting his robe without him noticing. He only felt that glance just now, as cold as ice and snow, filled with anger and reproach. Clearly serene and dignified, yet it stirred a tumult in the hearts of people, evoking fanciful thoughts.