Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Is that what the Abbot told you?" Mei Shuang asked.
Chu Xiruo merely stared at her coldly, her beautiful eyes filled with anger, disappointment, and jealousy, a mix of emotions that made Mei Shuang feel that the Chu Xiruo before her was utterly unfamiliar. In a daze, she recalled Jinghui from the remote temple, as delicate as an orchid in a deep valley, appearing calm and serene. It seemed that at that time, she didn't want to harm herself; she simply had no opportunity while being under house arrest.
The porcelain-white delicate face and the striking black-and-white eyes were still the same, yet it was evident that this was not the same person.
Chu Xiruo looked at Mei Shuang and thought of the handsome man on the mountain who had only dared to hide behind a tree while gazing at the figure in flowing robes atop the peak. A sour feeling began to spread in her chest, as if it had fermented, filling her entire chest with an indescribable bitterness.
When had he ever looked at anyone like this? Yet it was precisely this woman before him!
Chu Xiruo's throat felt bitter, and her clear eyes seemed to glisten. "I thought he came to find me, but I never expected his intention was you..."
Mei Shuang's heart skipped a beat. Did she really just say that?
For a moment, she looked uncertainly at the seemingly lost Chu Xiruo, her mind replaying the scene when Xiao Luo arrived, leaving her somewhat stunned.
Chu Xiruo let out a sorrowful laugh. "They say distance creates beauty; between him and me, what has been created is you! I thought I lost to someone else! In fact, losing to anyone would be better than losing to you! Mei Shuang, I am unwilling. Our childhood bond over so many years has been completely destroyed by you..."
"Destroyed?" Mei Shuang replied speechlessly. "Miss Chu, I have already said that I am not the previous Mei Shuang. I have no intention of competing for affection with you. If you like him, go ahead!"
"No intention?" Chu Xiruo stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Even if you have no intention, he has feelings. Mei Shuang! No, I remember you said your name is Lin Yuxiang; it's precisely because you are not the previous Mei Shuang that you attracted him!"
Mei Shuang raised her hand in a stopping gesture. "Miss Chu, I believe today is not the right occasion to discuss this topic. You didn't call me here just to talk about the Emperor's affections, did you? The heart of a ruler is hard to gauge; is this your first time hearing that? With so many women in his harem, how do you know where his heart truly lies? So don't overthink it; perhaps neither of us is on his menu..."
At that moment, Mei Shuang suddenly remembered Pure Zen Abbot saying that Chu Xiruo was the daughter of the Former Emperor. If that were true, then Xiao Luo and she would be siblings. However, judging by the current situation, it seemed Chu Xiruo was still unaware.
If what Pure Zen Abbot said was true and Chu Xiruo learned the truth, how would she react?
As Mei Shuang made this "reminder," Chu Xiruo seemed to awaken from a dream. She indeed could not contain herself, especially with Mei Shuang's words about "so many women in his harem," which clearly provoked Chu Xiruo. She felt a tightness in her chest as if countless fine needles were pricking her all over; for a moment, she found it hard to breathe.
Mei Shuang looked at her with pity. "Wake up, Miss Chu. He is not the same Lord Luo as before. Lord Luo could promise you a lifetime, but the Emperor may not be able to. I was fortunate enough to be invited to a gathering in the palace, where beauty came in all shapes and sizes. To be honest, that kind of blessing is hard to refuse, tsk tsk..."
Chu Xiruo widened her eyes, breathing a bit heavily. "Who exactly are you? You are not the Mei Shuang from before; have you turned into someone else?"
"I don't intend to explain this further. Just consider me Mei Shuang, but let me say it again: the Mei Shuang before the wedding has nothing to do with me. Believe it or not, that's how it is..."
Chu Xiruo snorted coldly. "No matter who you are, what's important is that you're here today, so just stay put..."
As soon as Chu Xiruo finished speaking, Mei Shuang suddenly turned around as if startled by something, letting out an "Ah!" and lunging forward, collapsing onto the ground behind Chu Xiruo.
This sudden change startled Chu Xiruo. She focused her gaze behind Mei Shuang but saw nothing there. When she turned back to look at Mei Shuang, she found her already getting up, brushing off the dirt from her clothes while still shaken. "What was that? Something just blew in my ear; it scared me to death!"
Chu Xiruo frowned and said coldly, "Stop playing tricks!"
Mei Shuang paused her brushing and straightened up with a bitter smile. "Now that we're here, what tricks could I possibly have..."
"Better not have any tricks."
A casual voice from above made Mei Shuang freeze in place, her heart racing.
She slowly raised her gaze and saw Nangong Nuo standing against a distant rock wall in his splendid robes, hands clasped behind his back, looking relaxed as he gazed at the astonished Mei Shuang. A smirk appeared on his lips. "An old friend reunited, Miss Mei Shuang; how have you been?"
Seeing Chu Xiruo standing silently beside her with her head lowered and eyes cast down, Mei Shuang felt utterly confused about how they had ended up together.
However, at this moment, seeing Nangong Nuo again brought nothing but shock and the lingering grudge from their past encounter. If it weren't for Shijieyu, she might have already become a ghost beneath his blade.
Mei Shuang chuckled coldly, "Truly an old acquaintance. Zhao Prince, you have a good memory to still remember me?"
She looked around, suddenly smiling, "Once again in such a dark place, does Zhao Prince really avoid the light?"
As she spoke, Nangong Nuo had already come down and stood directly in front of Mei Shuang.
At such a close distance, she could clearly smell the faint fragrance emanating from Nangong Nuo. They were so close that Mei Shuang could hear his breathing.
Nangong Nuo's peach blossom eyes swept over Mei Shuang from head to toe, finally resting on her face.
Wherever Nangong Nuo's gaze landed, Mei Shuang felt as if she were being stripped bare, discomfort washing over her, but she gritted her teeth and held firm.
When their eyes met, Nangong Nuo looked into her striking black-and-white eyes and chuckled lightly. Suddenly leaning closer to Mei Shuang's ear, he whispered, "Miss Mei Shuang is still as beautiful as ever..."
A rush of warm breath brushed against her ear, startling Mei Shuang. A shiver ran down her spine; instinctively, she took a step back and retorted sarcastically, "Zhao Prince, is there really a need to be so familiar?"
Nangong Nuo straightened up and teased, "When did Miss Mei Shuang learn to be so subtle? I remember you rushed to Miaochun Tower to find a match without a second thought..."
Hearing Nangong Nuo bring up the past made Mei Shuang's face flush with anger. She couldn't help but grit her teeth in frustration; it turned out this man knew everything!
Not wanting to fall behind, Mei Shuang shot back, "Did Zhao Prince not once say he would marry me? But where were you when my life was at stake?! You turned a blind eye to my suffering; do you think I’m not allowed to save myself?"
Nangong Nuo nodded, his dark eyes glinting. "Indeed, sharp-tongued."
"Is that so? Thank you. I never expected the mastermind behind bringing me here would be Zhao Prince. I assume Zhao Prince isn't here just to reminisce or argue with me..."
She turned to the side where Chu Xiruo stood. "Miss Chu, having been under the Empress Dowager's house arrest for so long, you probably don't know that things outside have changed drastically. Open your eyes and take a good look; this proud Zhao Prince, the only Other Clan Prince of the Great Qin Empire, has long betrayed your Lord Luo. He is now a key target for the court as an Imperial Criminal! By colluding with him, are you disregarding the Current Emperor's face?"
Chu Xiruo was clearly taken aback by the words. She raised her eyes to look at the calm Nangong Nuo, then glanced at Mei Shuang, her expression uncertain. Ultimately, she lowered her head and said nothing.
Nangong Nuo turned his gaze toward Mei Shuang, a faint smirk appearing at the corner of his lips.
Mei Shuang turned to Nangong Nuo angrily and said, "Each person should bear their own responsibilities. You made a grave mistake; why drag her into this?"
Nangong Nuo smiled slightly. "You are mistaken. We are partners in this venture. You heard it just now; it was Xiao Luo who wronged her..."
Mei Shuang was left utterly speechless.
There was no doubt that this was not a coincidence. Chu Xiruo falling into Nangong Nuo's hands would inevitably pose a threat to Xiao Luo.
In the current situation, saying more would be pointless; she could only resign herself to the circumstances.
"Miss Mei Shuang, since our last parting, I have missed your flustered demeanor. How about this? Come with me and enjoy my treasures..."
Reluctantly, she followed Nangong Nuo up along the rocky wall. The seemingly impassable cliffside revealed a narrow path that twisted and turned upward.
As they ascended higher, everything below began to blur, and with each extinguished torch, darkness enveloped them.
Only the dim light reflecting off the rocky walls guided their way forward.
That light was reminiscent of what she had seen upon entering, which she had thought to be some kind of gem emitting a glow.
Nangong Nuo led the way at the front, with her in the middle and Chu Xiruo bringing up the rear. They moved silently forward, occasionally hearing the rustle of skirts.
The terrain was uneven, and several times Mei Shuang lost her footing, nearly tumbling down and breaking into a cold sweat from the sudden fright.
The people walking in front and behind seemed completely oblivious to her presence, let alone offering a helping hand.
Frustrated, Mei Shuang felt like picking up a stone from the ground and throwing it at Nangong Nuo's head.
It was as if Nangong Nuo had eyes on the back of his head. Just as Mei Shuang picked up a stone, he said, "Miss Mei Shuang, if you can't walk steadily, perhaps you should forgo the burden in your hands?"
Mei Shuang was speechless and could only awkwardly set the stone down.
They continued along the stone wall for what felt like ages. After crouching through an opening, they suddenly found themselves in a wide-open space.
Before them lay an area about the size of a basketball court, with a stone table and benches in the center, surrounded by lush greenery. The environment was quite elegant.
Next to the stone wall stood an ancient tree with gnarled roots spiraling upward. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that this open space had been formed by the interaction of massive stones. At the top, several gaps allowed sunlight to filter through, illuminating what would otherwise be a dark space with warmth and brightness.
Of course, this height was definitely not the peak of the mountain; it was merely the summit of a side peak at most.
After surveying her surroundings for a while, Mei Shuang couldn't help but admire Nangong Nuo. It was impressive that he could hide in this mountain; clearly, its allure was extraordinary. However, given its remote location, it would be difficult for an ordinary person to find.
Comment 0 Comment Count