章 124: Leaving the Palace
"With a heart so wicked, it's no wonder Xuelan has long refused to see you."
Gong Shaohua's back stiffened suddenly as she fixed her gaze on Liu Xinyou, asking impulsively, "Do you know where he is?"
Her tone was laced with urgency, unmistakable to anyone; even now, she was relentlessly pursuing news of that person.
"Tell me."
Gong Shaohua placed her hand on Liu Xinyou's arm. Although it was a plea, her tone bore the unmistakable air of command. Perhaps others would be intimidated by her status as the Queen of Lan and would readily divulge all, but Liu Xinyou was impervious to such tactics. No matter the threats posed, even with a knife at her throat, if she refused to speak, no one could compel her. Had Gong Shaohua adopted a more humble approach, Liu Xinyou might have revealed information out of shared misfortune.
"Have you searched for so many years in Lian City without any word? His eyes are blind; even if you stood before him, what would it matter?"
Without hesitation, Liu Xinyou brushed Gong Shaohua's hand away. "Put away your theatrics; I am not your obedient servant. These tactics are of no use to me. We are partners now. Do not presume that just because I have confided in you, you can act with impunity and do as you please. I have already developed an antidote. Regardless of your actions, you must not touch Yue'er. Otherwise, I will give the antidote to her."
Though Gong Shaohua was eager to learn of Xuelan's whereabouts, she refused to surrender her pride in front of Liu Xinyou, leading to a heated exchange over Xuelan's fate.
Xianyue felt her consciousness begin to wane, unable to discern the arguments between Gong Shaohua and Liu Xinyou, but ultimately, Gong Shaohua gained nothing from her. She assured them that she would never endanger Xianyue's safety but demanded that Liu Xinyou refrain from giving the antidote to Lan Yixuan.
Xianyue hugged her knees, tears flowing freely, yet her heart was steeped in desolation. Liu Xinyou understood her, just as she understood Liu Xinyou. Was Gong Shaohua clever? Perhaps not; in her desperation to prevent Lan Yixuan from attaining happiness, she had lost her rationality and former sharpness. Since Liu Xinyou was intent on severing her retreat, condemning her to accompany her in perpetual misfortune, how could she have possibly devised the antidote during this time?
In that moment, Xianyue found herself loathing her understanding of Liu Xinyou. Otherwise, she might have held onto a glimmer of hope.
The voices above gradually faded, and familiar footsteps echoed from above. Liu Xinyou was the first to leave, soon followed by Gong Shaohua, her hurried, disordered footsteps revealing her discontent. As the world around her fell into silence,
Xianyue remained crouched beneath the lake, hugging her knees, unwilling to move, resting her head on them, eyes shut tight. Tears slipped silently from the corners of her eyes as she held that position, doing nothing, thinking of nothing.
The light surrounding her gradually dimmed, and the lake's surface reflected a dazzling golden glow, blinding her. Xianyue, like a kitten, slowly opened her eyes, only to close them again swiftly. Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head back; the vibrant twilight sky blazed like a blooming camellia. She forcefully wiped away her tears, pushing against the large stone in the water to rise. Perhaps due to squatting for too long, her legs felt numb, and as she stood, she fell back into the water, her body now drenched, resembling a drenched chick.
Tears streamed down her face once more, accompanied by soft whimpers that surfaced only in the depths of despair, barely audible beneath the sound of splashing water. Without hesitation, Xianyue wiped away her uncontrollable tears and continued to look upward.
As night descended, the crimson brightness faded, replaced by an infinite darkness sprinkled with countless stars. Gradually, her tear-blurred vision began to clear, much like the sunlight breaking through a veil of dark clouds. Her bright eyes resembled a sky washed clean by rain—pure and clear. The tears on her face dried in the wind, and the corners of her mouth turned upward, revealing a somewhat forced smile. After several attempts, she finally let out a light laugh, clear and melodious like the sound of silver bells in the night.
"In this world, what could possibly defeat me, Feng Xianyue?"
She bit her lip, laughed aloud after a moment, glanced back at the place where she had hidden, then turned away, leaving without a trace of nostalgia, just as she had on countless previous occasions.
Effortlessly avoiding the numerous patrolling guards and bustling eunuchs and palace maids, Xianyue had just exited Weiyang Palace when she heard Bai Pingting calling her from behind, "Princess!"
She hurried over, clearly anxious after waiting there all day. Initially intending to find someone, she reconsidered, deeming it an ill-timed decision, and had remained there restlessly. Upon finally spotting Xianyue, she rushed forward.
"Why did you only come out at this hour?"
Bai Pingting grasped Xianyue's hand, which felt chilling to the bone, startling her. "Why are your hands so cold?"
In the tranquil night, the rhythmic sound of dripping water reached her ears. Bai Pingting touched Xianyue's damp clothing. "Why are you completely soaked?"
Xianyue smiled softly, resting her head on Bai Pingting's shoulder. "Sister Pingting, you are so nagging."
Bai Pingting turned her head to scrutinize Xianyue for a moment. Suddenly, Xianyue stood up, touched her face, leaned closer to Bai Pingting, and playfully shook her head. "Sister Pingting, do I have flowers on my face?"
The smile, the expression, and the tone of her speech revealed no hint of anomaly, yet Bai Pingting felt an unsettling sense of something being amiss.
"You saw her at noon, didn't you? The woman in white with white hair is my master, Liu Xinyou. I've always lived on Pear Blossom Mountain. I was curious why she suddenly appeared in Weiyang Palace, so I followed her and nearly got discovered. And that's how it ended up."
Xianyue gestured toward her drenched self, her words a blend of truth and fabrication, leaving Bai Pingting momentarily bewildered about her suspicions.
"Why are you out so late, Princess?"
She had been carefully waiting in the corner of Weiyang Palace, but the woman in white with flowing hair had long since departed.
"Mother has been lingering in the pavilion on the back mountain, reluctant to leave, especially with several maids around. I didn't dare to stir up any trouble and waited until they all departed before I came up."
This justified her chilly hands and drenched clothes. Moreover, Bai Pingting was unaware of the grievances between Lan Yixuan and the current queen; she only felt that although the queen was not particularly fond of Lan Yixuan, he was still his biological mother, and Xianyue was her daughter-in-law, someone who deeply loved Lan Yixuan. Furthermore, he was the prince of Feng. Such clandestine matters, if discovered, would surely lead to trouble.
"What bad luck."
Seeing Bai Pingting deep in thought, frowning in discontent, Xianyue brushed the water off herself. "I had intended to eavesdrop on their conversation, but I ended up staying in the lake for half the day."
Xianyue rubbed her arms, eyes closed, shivering slightly. Bai Pingting hurriedly suggested, "Princess, you're completely soaked; let's return and change into dry clothes."
Although the weather wasn't particularly cold, the night breeze was strong, and after spending an entire afternoon in the water, Bai Pingting felt responsible for Xianyue's well-being and dared not slacken her vigilance.
"I'm not going back."
Xianyue gently waved away the hand resting on her arm, gazing longingly toward the palace's outer expanse. She yawned and stretched, saying, "Lately, I've been cooped up with Young Master Lan in Xuelan Palace; I'm afraid I'm getting rusty."
As she spoke, she forcefully shook off the water on her clothes, splattering it onto Bai Pingting's face. "Sister Pingting, I want to leave the palace."
"Princess, please don't make a scene."
Bai Pingting dodged the water Xianyue had splashed and stepped aside, wiping her face. The sky darkened, the green-tiled palace walls stood tall, and the magnificent palace lanterns hung high, all heralding the arrival of night. "Princess, it's getting late; let's wait until tomorrow to leave the palace."
Xianyue shook her head, refusing, "I cannot bear to stay in this place for even a minute longer."
She insisted, moving closer to Bai Pingting, who was startled by her fervent demeanor; the seemingly unhinged princess looked as if she was on the brink of losing control. "If you won't go, then I shall go alone."
Her long, dark hair glistened with droplets of water at the ends, still clinging without falling. Her brows held the innocence and impulsiveness of youth. Though Bai Pingting felt it odd that Xianyue was leaving, she couldn't quite pinpoint what was strange about it; nonetheless, she followed suit. "Princess, the young lord should be waiting for you in Xuelan Palace."
Xianyue continued on her path, "Sister Pingting, didn't you say you didn't like him? Why are you speaking well of him now? When I first arrived in Lan, he left me alone in the royal mansion. Let him stay in Xuelan Palace by himself."
Before she could finish speaking, Xianyue suddenly turned around, pointing a finger at Bai Pingting. "Tell him I won't be returning for now. I have been in Lan for over a month and have yet to see my dear sisters who traveled thousands of miles from Feng with me; it would be rather remiss."
Xianyue pursed her lips, and Bai Pingting had already anticipated what she was about to say. "Princess, I will accompany you."
Bai Pingting turned around, glanced about, and spoke to a maid for a moment before returning to Xianyue. "I've instructed that little maid to tell the young lord that the princess is heading to the military camp in the western suburbs and will not be returning for now."
Xianyue nodded, smiling as she walked ahead. "Then let us go."
Bai Pingting followed behind.
"Sister Pingting, riding under the night sky with the wind feels delightful. I've been cooped up in Xuelan Palace all this time while Young Master Lan deals with government affairs; it's terribly dull. That day in Ganquan Palace, I didn't get to drink enough; going out will give me a chance to stretch my limbs. I intend to return only when I'm thoroughly intoxicated."
Xianyue looked at Bai Pingting, a radiant smile illuminating her face. She was determined to shoulder all the burdens herself as Feng Xianyue.
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