Chapter 101: Since You Have Come

The two sat facing each other—one as serene as the green hills beyond the boat, the other as cold and piercing as the lake’s clear waters. Blood Snow remained motionless; since her counterpart made no move to dine, neither did she. After all, she was beneath another’s eaves; prudence dictated her conduct.

“I am quite curious,” Dan Ying’s icy gaze rested on her, “why have you not asked about Ji Wuqing? Or the poison in your body, or whether the poison in Ji Wuqing has been cured?” At the mention of Ji Wuqing, her expression shifted ever so slightly.

“I don’t see the need to ask. At the very least, he is well for now.” Her manner was unruffled, far from the panic Dan Ying had anticipated.

In truth, she herself was puzzled. It stood to reason that finding the Soul-Leaving Herb on Crow Mountain owed much to Gongshen Linger, and it had to be her to refine the antidote. So then, had he captured Gongshen Linger as well?

“You are not wrong. Ji Wuqing has indeed returned to the palace safe and sound. But why is he unharmed, while you have become my prisoner?” His lips curled into a cold sneer, laced with mockery.

What was he trying to say?

Blood Snow arched her brow, a hint of restrained annoyance flashing across her calm face. “So the Crown Prince did not invite me for a meal, but simply to unsettle me.”

Did he hope to sow discord between her and Ji Wuqing? How laughable. Once she placed her trust in someone, she would not waver—a stubbornness she herself recognized. Dan Ying, however, could not have known this, for he knew only Yuan Xue, not the woman before him now.

“Well then, must the two of you converse in this way?” The atmosphere was eased by Yu Die, who stood nearby, her voice carrying a touch of valor. “Your Highness, if we do not eat soon, these fine dishes will grow cold and their flavors wasted.”

She approached the table and poured fragrant wine for both Dan Ying and Blood Snow. “Miss Xue, there’s no need for anger. Our Crown Prince simply lacks the knack for charming young ladies.”

“Thank you, but I have no need for his charm,” Blood Snow replied with a slight nod.

This woman at Dan Ying’s side was certainly not ordinary; to interrupt their conversation so boldly spoke to her unusual poise. She must be one of his closest confidantes, or at least hold a position of no small importance.

After the meal, Yu Die personally escorted her back. This time, the silence between them melted away, and the two exchanged sporadic conversation.

“Miss Xue, do you know where we are now?” Yu Die asked, walking at her side, her tone friendly.

“I’m afraid I do not,” Blood Snow replied, shaking her head.

“Rest assured, we are still within the borders of Ji Kingdom,” Yu Die said with a soft laugh. “As for our Crown Prince, he is indeed not gentle—handsome, but not one to dote on a lady. Still, he is already being quite amiable with you.”

Blood Snow’s expression remained composed, though a trace of curiosity flickered in her eyes. “You are an interesting one, to speak of your master in such a way.”

“I simply find your company agreeable, Miss Xue,” Yu Die replied, her clear, spirited gaze settling on Blood Snow with a hint of inquiry.

Yet despite their conversation, Blood Snow learned nothing to her advantage. Still, she would not be content to wait passively for rescue. To rely solely on Ji Wuqing would be too burdensome a fate.

She wandered to the window, gazing out at verdant mountains and clear waters, the lake’s gentle sounds painting a tranquil landscape. The exquisite manor was hidden deep among the hills, with no other dwellings in sight.

Soft notes of a zither drifted through the air like incense lingering in a burner, captivating all who heard, their faces unconsciously enraptured. Gently, someone approached, stepping through the garden, a deep purple robe brushing against brilliant blossoms. Yet the beauty of the flowers, trembling in the wind, could not compare to the cold elegance of the woman passing by.

“I heard you called for me, my lord,” Gongshen Linger said, stopping beside a stone pillar, her beautiful face tinged with fatigue.

“A day’s rest should have seen you recovered,” Zuo Qiu Linye replied, elegantly strumming his zither, his slender fingers plucking at the strings.

He sat quietly, his crimson robe loose and trailing on the ground, petals scattered upon the fabric, adding a touch of allure. Eyes closed, his fingers played without a single misstep.

“Is this your way of showing concern for me, my lord?” Gongshen Linger teased. “I know what you wish to ask. Yes, the blind empress was indeed seized by the Crown Prince of Dan Kingdom. As for the blood tears in her body, they have been cured and pose no further threat to her life.”

“I did not know even you could neutralize the blood tears, Gongshen.”

“You never asked, so I had no reason to boast,” she retorted. “Perhaps if you paid me more attention, you would not be so ignorant of such things.”

“Given your foul mood today, I shall not hold your rudeness against you,” Zuo Qiu Linye replied, ignoring her barbs and returning to his music. “Are you worried about Ji Wuqing? The Soul-Leaving Herb has been made into an antidote and given to Little Xue, but what of the poison in Ji Wuqing?”

Yes, what indeed? If his poison was not cured soon, his life would be in peril.

“But isn’t that good news for you, my lord? If Ji Kingdom falls without a fight, surely you would be pleased.” Her concern for Ji Wuqing stung all the more for being so plainly exposed.

“There’s no need to be so agitated,” Zuo Qiu Linye replied languidly, his crimson lips uttering words that pierced her heart. “Don’t think I don’t know you still carry the antidote made from the Soul-Leaving Herb. Yet even if you lay it before him, he would not spare it a glance.”

There was no refuting this. Even if she offered the antidote with both hands, Ji Wuqing would not so much as look at her.

“You are the young master of Wu Kingdom, after all. Affairs of the heart are best set aside—especially when the other party is the king of Ji Kingdom.”

“Thank you for your concern, my lord, but perhaps you should focus more on our next moves than on music and flowers.”

Suddenly, the music ceased, leaving only silence. The wind stirred, red petals danced and fell without a sound.

“It seems you have recovered well after a day’s rest, young master,” said a man in white as he entered, bowing respectfully to Zuo Qiu Linye. “My lord, the Crown Prince of Dan Kingdom has been located. We await your orders.”

“I am not feeling well; I’ll take my leave,” Gongshen Linger said, seizing the chance to escape the stifling atmosphere. Her heart felt heavy, as if she were suffocating.

“Should you not hear our plans for what comes next?” Elder Yue’s gentle voice was as warm and inviting as his name.

But Gongshen Linger, knowing his true nature, was unmoved. “What does it matter to me? I came here to enjoy the scenery, nothing more.” With that, she turned and left.

“Our young master’s temper grows by the day,” Elder Yue remarked, watching her retreat. “Please, my lord, do not take offense.”

“We shall see how long Elder Jin can indulge her,” Zuo Qiu Linye said icily, rising and moving to the tea table. “Come, sit with me. I wish to know what role Dan Kingdom plays in all of this.”

“Yes, my lord.” Elder Yue adjusted his robes with composure and sat across from him. “The Shadow Pavilion reports that the Crown Prince of Dan Kingdom has long been maneuvering in secret, targeting the Blood Empress of Ji Kingdom. The Blood Empress and the Crown Prince are old acquaintances, and their relationship is quite close.”

“Quite close? So is Dan Kingdom acting out of personal sentiment or for some ulterior motive?” Zuo Qiu Linye’s expression darkened. Was the lowly prince truly attempting to snatch someone from his grasp?

If so, he would teach them the meaning of self-awareness.

“That depends on the Crown Prince’s intentions, but either reason is untenable. To make an enemy of Wu Kingdom is hardly wise.”

Though the Crown Prince of Dan Kingdom was clever and capable, and might become a hegemon should he inherit the throne, for now he remained a prince, his authority yet untested. Moreover, his current position in Dan Kingdom was precarious; what power did he truly possess?

Gongshen Linger, stifled by the oppressive courtyard, wandered to a small hill outside the manor. From the heights, she looked down at the beauty of the landscape, her slim form swaying in the wind, as if she might be blown away at any moment.

“So troubled, young master? That is unlike you,” Elder Yue appeared silently at her side, as quiet as moonlight falling upon the earth.

“Weren’t you discussing important matters with my lord? How are you here so soon?” she asked, glancing his way before returning her gaze to the mountains.

“There was little left to discuss once the decision was made,” Elder Yue replied. “But you, young master, still brood over the king of Ji Kingdom?”

“It’s nothing,” Gongshen Linger answered, shaking her head.

“Let me guess: when the Crown Prince of Dan Kingdom ambushed you, the King of Ji protected his queen, while his hidden guards were sent to shield you. That must have moved you…”

“I know what you mean, but I also know he only protected me because I could refine the antidote from the Soul-Leaving Herb. It was a matter of utility, nothing more,” she interrupted, her tone eerily calm.

“It is good you understand,” Elder Yue nodded, casting his gaze over the scenic manor. “The manor is being cleared out; we should prepare to leave as well.”

The next morning, the mist had yet to lift, veiling the world in layers of gauze like a maiden’s delicate veil, soft and ethereal.

The boat drifted slowly into another deep mountain. On board, the precautions were even more stringent—whether guarding against assassins or against her was unclear.

Her eyes…

She touched the silk band over her eyes, uncertain whether to feel joy or sorrow.

There might be hope for her sight. It was said that poison could be fought with poison. Yuan Xue, her former self, had lost her sight to a toxin, and the blood tears—a rare poison—happened to counteract the one afflicting her eyes. Such a coincidence was almost unbelievable.

As she pondered this, someone approached.

“You recover quickly; you seem almost well now,” the newcomer remarked, brows furrowed, his expression indifferent and his eyes glinting with a cold light.

“All thanks to the Crown Prince’s excellent medicine,” Blood Snow replied blandly, her words concealing her true feelings.

If not for their impending arrival in Dan Kingdom, she would not have hastened her recovery, secretly employing the Soul Capture Technique to render herself outwardly normal.

“Naturally, my doing. How do you intend to repay me?” Dan Ying’s gaze lingered on her, his eyes filled with hidden meaning.

“My person is here. What more could the Crown Prince desire?” Her tone was light, almost mocking, yet carried not a trace of care.

“Hmph, you have quite the sharp tongue now,” Dan Ying said coldly, his handsome face stoic.

A chilly wind swept across the deck. Blood Snow stood there, clothed in little more than a thick, snowy-white fox fur, its lustrous pelt almost blending with her pale complexion, making her features indistinct.

She seemed as though she might drift away at any moment, into the distant unknown.