章 155: Dealing with Liu Xinyou.
The night was cold as water, and the Xuelan Palace was steeped in silence.
In the study, Lan Yi Xuan sat at his desk, diligently reviewing memorials. Behind him, Lei Yun and Lei An stood in quiet vigilance, the only sounds in the room the rhythmic scratching of a brush on paper and the occasional crackle of the candle flames.
Suddenly, the door to the study swung open. Both Lei Yun and Lei An raised their heads, glancing at the door, but saw no one—only the biting winter wind blowing into the room. The flames on the desk flickered and dimmed, and the candle on the round table by the door was snuffed out by the gust.
Lei An exchanged a glance with Lei Yun, then cautiously cast a look at Lan Yi Xuan, who continued reading, unperturbed. Lei An stepped around him toward the door and peered outside, just as a figure in green robes appeared in the doorway.
Lei An was momentarily startled, but his expression quickly shifted to one of delight. "Master Ye!" he exclaimed, stepping aside to allow Ye Wuji to enter with a respectful gesture.
Ye Wuji walked in, brushing off the cold dew clinging to his robe with unhurried grace.
Lei An, beaming, turned to Lan Yi Xuan with excitement. "My lord, Master Ye has arrived."
Lei Yun followed suit, bowing respectfully as he stood beside Ye Wuji. "Master Ye," he greeted, though his tone was much calmer compared to Lei An's enthusiasm.
Ye Wuji's movements were as elusive as ever. Lan Yi Xuan had sent men to find him more than a month ago, and it was only a few days ago that they had located him in Feng City. Given the timing, it was not surprising that he had arrived at Xuelan Palace now.
"Xuan Er," Ye Wuji called softly.
His steps were small and slow, yet his movements were so light and agile that he made no sound as he approached.
It was only then that Lan Yi Xuan looked up, his calm and gentle gaze meeting the figure walking toward him. Ye Wuji appeared just as he had in Pan City—immortal-like, transcendent from the earthly world, with an air of elegance and refinement. His eyes, especially, were filled with a profound kindness that made others instinctively trust him, as though nothing in this world was beyond his tolerance.
"Master," Lan Yi Xuan greeted, setting down his brush and rising to his feet. With a glance toward Lei Yun and Lei An, he silently signaled for them to leave. The two men, in perfect synchronization, quietly exited the room and closed the door behind them.
"You've lost weight, Xuan Er."
The voice was soft and indifferent, without a trace of pity, yet it carried an unspoken sympathy. His lips curled into that familiar, gentle smile that always radiated warmth.
Though only three days had passed since Xuan Yue's departure, Lan Yi Xuan appeared visibly haggard, not only physically but in spirit. His purple robes still carried their regal air, and his gaze remained warm, yet it now held a faint chill, keeping others at a distance.
The two sat at the table. Lan Yi Xuan personally poured tea for Ye Wuji, handing him the cup without saying a word.
Ye Wuji took the tea with a quiet sigh. "Xuan Er, this is the trial of your fate."
He spoke with a touch of resignation. Xuan Er had always been intelligent and composed, yet even he had fallen prey to the entanglements of love, leading to such an outcome. Ye Wuji understood the pain all too well, which was why he had once warned him—but in the end, Xuan Er had followed the same path as he.
"If you love her, don't entangle yourself in her fate. Why didn't you heed my advice?"
As soon as Ye Wuji spoke, another sigh escaped him. Over the years, had he not endured the same with his junior sister? Though he knew she despised him for the past, and though their future together was impossible, he had never been able to restrain his feelings for her. And yet, why had he put himself through it?
Lan Yi Xuan poured himself a cup of tea, his fingers lightly tracing the rim of the cup. "Please tell me the truth about what happened back then," he said, raising the cup to his lips for a small sip.
"Xuan Er, the matter is already settled. Why persist in clinging to the past? What meaning does it hold?"
Lan Yi Xuan did not reply, placing the cup back on the table with a soft clink. His gaze drifted past Ye Wuji's shoulder, focusing on the darkness beyond the window.
To conceal one's emotions was a ruler's creed. Over the years, he had adhered strictly to this principle. The past, with all its grievances, indeed held little significance. But to do nothing, to leave things unresolved, only deepened his unease. Whether it was Gong Shaohua or Liu Xinyou, the mere thought of what they had done to him and Xuan Yue still stirred an uncontainable rage, no matter how much he tried to suppress it.
The hatred for his mother's death, the pain of stolen love—he had never expected life to be smooth, but he could not allow those who had destroyed his happiness to walk free.
Who could truly understand the depth of his pain? Who could bear such a burden?
"Master, you sowed the seeds, and now I must reap this bitter harvest."
A flicker of regret crossed Ye Wuji's eyes. He had personally guided this student—so bright, so insightful, yet even he could not overcome the trials of love. Ye Wuji knew he bore much of the blame for today's outcome. Had he resolved matters with his junior sister all those years ago, perhaps things would have turned out differently. Watching his once-promising student now caught in this plight filled him with discomfort.
"If you wish to know, I will tell you. But I have one request."
His tone remained mild, but after over a decade as Lan Yi Xuan's master, he knew full well what his student intended.
"Spare her life."
Ye Wuji's gaze remained as compassionate as ever, tinged with hesitation and sorrow.
He had betrayed his junior sister yet expected the unfamiliar to bear the burden for him. Over the years, that child, Xuan Yue, must have suffered greatly.
The cycle of cause and effect meant that this outcome was entirely of her own making; he had no right to intervene. However, at the core of the matter, he bore an inescapable responsibility.
Ye Wuji took a sip of tea, rose from the table, and moved to the window. Resting one hand on the sill, he gazed out at the star-studded night sky. A chill breeze blew in, and he gradually fell into contemplation.
"Since the founding of the Zhou Dynasty, there has existed a faction in Feng City known as the Tianshan Sect. Our ancestor, Tian Jizi, was renowned for his profound knowledge and mastery of both ancient and contemporary wisdom, earning the title of the National Master of the Zhou Dynasty. Following the rebellion that led to the decline of the Heavenly Dynasty, our Tianshan Sect also fell into decline. At that time, the sect's leader, who was also my master and the father of my junior sister, was hailed as a once-in-a-century genius. He observed the stars and predicted great turmoil in the world. He instructed me to seek out a ruler and a Phoenix Maiden who could unite the chaos, directing me to you while also revealing the whereabouts of the Phoenix Maiden to my junior sister. At that time, I was on the verge of marrying her."
"When he told me about this matter, I opposed it. I had grown up alongside my junior sister, and I had always loved her dearly. How could I abandon her at such a critical moment? For me, she was not just the woman I loved; she was someone I had watched grow up. My master, who was obsessed with astrology, seldom concerned himself with my junior sister's affairs. As a result, she had always relied on me heavily. My master intended for me and my junior sister to each guide one another, so that you and Xuan Yue could strive together for the world, allowing me and my junior sister to live in seclusion in the mountains. His greatest wish in life was to restore the Tianshan Sect's prestige, but he misunderstood my junior sister. She had a very stubborn temperament, unlike my master, who had grand ambitions. In fact, she was somewhat selfish; she only wanted to be with me and acted in extreme ways. In her youth, she was innocent and charming, and as the sole daughter of the sect leader, many of my junior brothers admired her. However, she never appreciated their kindness and often resisted their goodwill. When she fell ill, if other junior brothers brought her her favorite fruits, she would throw them back at them without hesitation, lashing out with harsh words. My master entrusted me with her care before his death; I could not allow her to be alone."
Ye Wuji quietly recalled that bittersweet memory, his fingers slowly tightening on the windowsill. "Thus, I did not heed my master's advice and proceeded with the wedding as planned. Yet, unexpectedly, on the day of the wedding, my master committed suicide by poison. Before he died, he left me a blood letter, instructing me not to marry my junior sister because he knew that once we became husband and wife, there would be no possibility of separation. My master had raised and taught me, and this was his dying wish; I could not refuse. So, in front of the assembled guests, I called off the engagement with my junior sister without offering an explanation and turned to leave. Overnight, she turned gray. You can likely imagine what followed."
Ye Wuji turned to look at Lan Yixuan, his thoughts still lost in memory. "All along, she believed that it was I who sought the Phoenix Maiden and sought ways to oppose me. In Xuan Yue, she planted the seeds of love's poison, likely hoping to find someone who mirrored her own misfortune."
Ye Wuji did not elaborate further, but it was not surprising that someone as extreme, radical, and selfish as Liu Xinyou would act in such a manner.
"If I had clarified everything with my junior sister back then, perhaps things would not have turned out this way today. You, Yue'er, and the Crown Prince of Fengguo would be much happier than you are now. My master, obsessed with astrology, if he had understood my junior sister as well as I did, today's outcome would also have been different."
A person's extreme behavior is influenced not only by innate character but also by past experiences. Although my junior sister was selfish in those days, it was merely a form of youthful petulance; she would not have resorted to such ruthless means, leaving no path of retreat.
"Xuan'er, how do you intend to deal with Xinyou?"
Lan Yixuan fixed his gaze on Ye Wuji, a smile curving his lips. "Master, you must rest here peacefully. It is also a chance for your disciple to repay your nurturing grace."
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