章 85: "Beg me"
A flicker of astonishment passed through Xianyue's eyes, akin to a blooming night-blooming cereus, though it lasted but a fleeting moment. Despite Huachuxue's unwavering gaze fixed upon her, in the enveloping darkness of the night, the lanterns suspended from the trees swayed with the night breeze, their glow intermittently brightening and dimming, yet she remained oblivious to everything around her.
The corners of Xianyue's lips curled into a smirk as she regarded the slightly vexed Huachuxue. Unhurried and unfazed, she replied in a nonchalant tone, then gracefully walked past her, choosing a spot at the stone table behind her to sit down. The pavilion was impeccably clean; not a trace of yellowed leaves remained, and a selection of tea and pastries indicated recent tidying.
Pouring herself a cup of tea, she treated Huachuxue as though she were merely air. After standing in place for some time without any response from Xianyue, Huachuxue, exasperated, turned around. Her delicate brows knitted together, and her face reflected evident anger and frustration, the shimmering glimmer in her eyes intensified by a thin veneer of annoyance, rendering her even more enchanting.
Though her steps were small, they were swift, allowing her to quickly cross to the opposite side of Xianyue and confront her while sipping tea with leisurely composure. "Aren't you worried I might have poisoned it?"
She glared fiercely at Xianyue, unable to bear the sight of her carefree and self-satisfied demeanor. Had she known Xianyue would be so nonchalant, she would have never allowed the servants to prepare these refreshments.
"Then feel free to poison me," Xianyue retorted, casually plucking a pastry and shoving it into her mouth. Her words were slightly muffled, yet she exuded satisfaction, her arched brows and upturned lips dusted with crumbs of green pastry, cold and mocking.
As Xianyue beheld Huachuxue's tightly furrowed brow, her smile only widened. She had deceived the entire world, including her parents, yet Lanyixuan understood her true nature. A woman, when not forced into a corner, would never risk actions that could cause her beloved man to harbor lifelong resentment. Huachuxue, despite her fury, would never dare resort to such underhanded tactics against her.
Infuriated yet unsure how to respond, Huachuxue glared at the smiling Xianyue, bewildered that such audacity existed in the world. She genuinely considered acting against her but lacked the courage. Suddenly struck by an idea, a smile crept onto her tense face as she gazed at Xianyue, a smile steeped in depth and malice, akin to a poisonous thorn concealed within darkness. "Would you like to know the entrance to the Valley of Death?"
Without a hint of uncertainty, she fixed her nearly resolute gaze on Xianyue, lips pursed in feigned generosity. "If you beg me, I shall reveal the location of the Valley of Death and how to reach it."
Xianyue paused slightly, holding her teacup, and propped her chin on her hand. "You know?"
Her eyes spoke volumes, conveying disbelief. "I've heard that in the entire Chu Kingdom, only the King and a map exist. You are merely a princess."
As for the Bai family, since the royal family was unaware, it was clear they wished to keep it from them, and she had no interest in leaking secrets.
Huachuxue's eyes narrowed as she regarded Xianyue with disdain, deeply dissatisfied. She too was a princess; why did she enjoy the unparalleled favor of the Crown Prince of Fengguo, the protection of Bai Zhanting, and even the affection of Brother Xuan? In terms of talent, beauty, and poise, Huachuxue saw no reason why she should be inferior. Brother Xuan belonged to her, and any woman daring to vie for his attention would meet a dire fate; she intended to trample them all underfoot.
"I possess the map, and my father personally provided me with the route. You can seek Bai Zhanting and Bai Ao, and I can see that there are things you desperately desire hidden within. If you beg me, I shall hand you the map and personally escort you to the entrance."
Xianyue lifted her teacup, casting a fleeting glance at the self-assured Huachuxue. Shaking the tea gently, she sighed wistfully, "If only it were fine wine." She shot a sideways glance at the stunned Huachuxue, chuckling softly. "Princess, remember to bring good wine if you wish to meet me next time."
With that, she dismissed Huachuxue, her attention drifting back to the tea before her.
Huachuxue fixated on Xianyue, desperately searching her face for any sign of abnormality, yet found none. Everything about her—her arched brows, her upturned lips, and her calm smile—was wholly unlike what she had anticipated. After managing to obtain the entrance to the Valley of Death from her father, she wished to witness this lofty, dismissive woman brought low, crushed beneath her heel. She sought to prove to Brother Xuan that such a despicable woman was unworthy of his affections. Why had it turned out this way?
"Do you not wish to know the entrance to the Valley of Death?"
Huachuxue's tone rose, her voice louder.
"I do," Xianyue replied directly, without hesitation.
Of course, she wished to know. If she did not, she wouldn't have ventured into the palace she despised, nor would she attend those tedious court banquets. She would not have allowed Bai Zhanting to leave in a fit of anger nor sought out Old Master Bai for some negotiation.
"Then beg me," Huachuxue declared, rising to her feet and stepping closer to Xianyue. Though she was petite, she still towered over the seated Xianyue.
"Beg me, and I shall tell you."
Though she was uncertain why she desired to venture into the Valley of Death, Hua Chuxue was convinced that this matter was undeniably connected to Feng Jiulan. According to her father, the treasures within were bizarre and extraordinary, including rare medicinal herbs that could not be found elsewhere in the world. The crown prince of Feng Nation and his sister shared a profound bond; surely, she would be willing to sacrifice everything for him. However, before revealing anything to her, she wished to see her kneel, grasping at her robes, begging for answers, only to then smile and dismiss her with a kick.
Xian Yue tilted her head, though her posture did not invoke a sense of submission: "Why?"
Setting her teacup down upon the table, she fixed her gaze upon Hua Chuxue, letting out a soft laugh. Her bright eyes sparkled innocently as they blinked at the hauntingly beautiful gaze before her. That light laughter, delicate and gentle, bore a sharpness akin to a sickle, piercing straight into Hua Chuxue's heart.
Xian Yue rose, standing face-to-face with Hua Chuxue. She was not particularly tall, yet she towered over her rival by a head, exuding an innate regal authority reminiscent of a queen surveying her subjects, leaving others in awe and yearning to worship her.
"Why should I beg you? Princess Chuxue, if you truly wished to tell me, you would do so without my pleading. But if your heart is not in it, then even if I knelt before you, weeping and clinging desperately to you, it would be in vain."
"It's the dead of night, and you sneaked out of the palace to summon me, all just to divulge this matter, isn't it? You can't stand to see your brother Xuan treat me well; wishing for my demise isn't a new desire for you. Since you could extract information from the King of Chu and obtain a map, you must know just how perilous that place is. You wouldn't dare harm your beloved brother, but you would show no mercy to me, your rival. You'd be delighted to see me vanish into the Valley of Death, ensuring that there's no one left to compete with you for Xuan, wouldn't you?"
As she uttered the last three words, Xian Yue leaned closer to Hua Chuxue's face. The latter's eyes widened as she caught sight of Xian Yue's icy, disdainful smile. The warm breath that brushed against her face felt frigid. Hua Chuxue moved her lips but remained silent, fixing her gaze on Xian Yue. Indeed, she thought just that. The Valley of Death, known as the Endless Abyss, had another name—the Valley of No Return. Anyone who entered would never emerge again. She wished for Xian Yue to disappear without a trace, fully aware that this was a choice made by Xian Yue herself.
"I wish to go to the Valley of Death, just as you wish for me to go there. It serves our respective purposes, so why should I beg you?"
The breath she exhaled brushed against Hua Chuxue's ear as she turned, fixated on Xian Yue, who smiled like a blooming flower, gently lifting her chin with a playful demeanor: "If a beauty gazes at me like that, I might lose control."
"Let go."
Hua Chuxue shook her head vigorously, forcefully swatting Xian Yue's hand away. Deep inside, Xian Yue felt a sense of relief; if Lan Yixuan held such importance in Hua Chuxue's heart, how could it possibly lead the adept deceiver to lose control?
Xian Yue's smile faded as her demeanor grew serious and earnest: "I initially had every intention of going, but after hearing from everyone about the grave dangers of that place—an inescapable fate—I reconsidered. If my brother were to find out that I risked my life for him and something were to happen to me, he would undoubtedly be devastated. Therefore, my earlier impulse has diminished significantly."
She withdrew her hand from Hua Chuxue's chin, blowing on it before giving it a light pat: "If you truly want to tell me, do so quickly. Time is of the essence; as the princess of Feng Nation, I cannot linger in the Kingdom of Chu for too long. If there are no results soon, I will return to Feng Nation in a couple of days and have Lan Yixuan propose to me."
Her seemingly carefree words left Hua Chuxue pale with shock: "That cannot be."
Xuan brother was hers, and no one could steal him from her.
"When the time comes, I hope Princess Chuxue will be sure to come."
Xian Yue patted Hua Chuxue's shoulder. Although she was two or three years younger, she appeared far more mature and composed, almost like an older sister: "I will definitely go with your Xuan brother to fetch you."
With that, Xian Yue turned to leave. Hua Chuxue, snapping back to reality, hurriedly chased after her, pulling out a piece of bright yellow silk from her pocket, holding it aloft with both hands, blocking Xian Yue's path. Her graceful figure was tinged with anxiety, and her eyes resembled those of a frightened rabbit, which only delighted Xian Yue further.
"This is the map to the entrance of the Valley of Death."
Without waiting for Xian Yue's consent, she pressed the item into her hands: "Two days from now, at Soul-Dead Cliff, the Fire Dragon's fruit is most effective against the Crown Prince's ailment."
Gazing at the precious map in her hands, Xian Yue's fingers gradually tightened around it, a look of relief and ease gracing her features.
Finally, it was in her possession.
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