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墨書 Inktalez
After recovering from her initial shock, Mei Shuang leaned on the table, resting her chin on one hand while dipping the other into the teacup, scribbling something on the surface.
To an outsider, it might have seemed like she was diligently practicing her writing. In reality, she was jotting down names: Mei Ru, Zhao Prince, Eastern Kingdom, Ishihara, Living Buddha, and an unknown figure in black...
These were all individuals she had encountered personally; she knew each one and could describe their characteristics. The reason she wrote them together was that she felt they shared a peculiar trait—each of them had an oddness about them that seemed to connect them in some way.
For instance, both Mei Ru and Nangong Nuo had once told her that she was destined never to become Empress;
Or that day at the inn when she went downstairs to check on her sick senior brother Yun Kong, only to find Ishihara coming out of Nangong Nuo's room.
Mei Ru—Eastern Kingdom—Ishihara—Nangong Nuo.
Mei Shuang drew lines connecting these names on the table, finally linking Mei Ru and Nangong Nuo. What kind of relationship could they possibly have?
Clearly different; Mei Ru had informed the Eastern Kingdom of her whereabouts with the intent to kill her. Yet, it was evident that Nangong Nuo had always protected her.
Most importantly, why was Nangong Nuo so interested in what she had said in her dreams?
After scribbling aimlessly for a while and deep in thought, Mei Shuang felt even more confused. She was good at making connections, but the countless possibilities she considered were all quickly dismissed by herself, leaving her with a headache. Finally, she wiped away the words on the table with her hand and stood up, heading to the courtyard.
Spring had arrived; flowers bloomed in vibrant colors and birds flew overhead in the courtyard, filling her with envy.
She realized she could no longer stay in this place, especially after last night's dream. She thought that perhaps her past life—the true daughter of Mei Manor—knew too much...
---
In a discreet village near Dazhao Temple, several dozen households lived scattered among the mountains. They rose with the sun and rested at sunset, almost completely isolated from the outside world.
The village primarily cultivates peaches, and during this season, the pink peach blossoms blanket the mountains, creating a scene reminiscent of a paradise.
On a hillside behind a house on the western side of the village, Mei Ru, who has regained her vitality after some recovery, stands under a peach tree, gazing blankly into the distance.
Behind her, Yun Kong, dressed in white robes, stands several paces away, silently watching her.
Having shed her bright red palace attire, Mei Ru wears a moon-white dress. Her long black hair cascades over her shoulders, and without the cumbersome hairpins and ornaments, she appears much more refreshing.
He gazes at her delicate silhouette. The gentle breeze stirs her hair, revealing her slender yet straight-backed figure. Standing amidst the fallen petals in the peach orchard, she resembles a lively sculpture carved from white jade.
Yun Kong lets out a soft sigh and is about to turn away when he inadvertently disturbs Mei Ru.
Mei Ru pulls her thoughts back and says lightly with an almost imperceptible warmth, “Why don’t you rest a little longer?”
Yun Kong halts his steps, contemplates for a moment, then walks over. Mei Ru faces towards the capital city; it’s clear she is lost in thought again.
“I’m fine now,” Yun Kong replies calmly. “I should return to Dazhao Temple tomorrow.”
“Dazhao Temple?” Mei Ru suddenly turns to look at Yun Kong, incredulous. “Have you lost your mind? Going back now is just asking for trouble! Do you think the emperor of the Great Qin Empire is idle? He might have already set up traps at Dazhao Temple, just waiting for your return…”
Yun Kong remains silent.
After a moment of silence, his dark eyes fixate on Mei Ru, filled with an indescribable complexity. His voice becomes somewhat hoarse as he says, “If my return could change your mind about me, I would be willing…”
“You—” Mei Ru feels a tightness in her chest; a faint blush gradually rises on her pale face, and anger colors her eyes. “Yun Kong, don’t push me… I have no way out now…”
Yun Kong quietly gazes at Mei Ru, then suddenly turns and begins to leave.
"Stop!"
Mei Ru's sharp voice made Yun Kong hesitate for a moment, but he still halted his steps, pressing his lips together in silence.
Mei Ru stared blankly at the man in white before her. He stood tall, and the scar on his forehead was particularly striking under the sunlight.
He was no longer the carefree wanderer he once was. For his own sake, he had willingly secluded himself in Dazhao Temple, living incognito for several years.
Time had flown by; she had grown from a young girl into a woman, yet she had never given him anything—not even a promise she knew she could not fulfill. He had waited for her foolishly.
The choices she made had clearly caused immense pain to the man before her, yet he continued to accommodate her...
Suddenly, an inexplicable bitterness surged within her chest. Mei Ru's breath quickened as she could no longer hold back. She rushed forward and tightly embraced the strong man from behind, choking back tears as she said, "I caused you harm; please don’t go back..."
The sensation of being tightly held made Yun Kong freeze momentarily. The warmth and faint fragrance of her body pressed against his back caused him to pause.
He took a deep breath, his tone gentle as spring breeze. "It doesn’t matter how long I wait for you, as long as you still want me to wait... You can stop now and leave with me. The world is vast; we can make anywhere our home..."
As Mei Ru listened to those tender words, tears filled her eyes. She hadn’t experienced such gentleness in a long time. Even as the Empress, second only to none, all she received was an unyielding iceberg.
However, when she heard the last part—"leave this place"—it jolted her awake like a sudden blow. She froze for a moment before releasing her grip around his strong waist and stepping back abruptly, shaking her head fiercely. "No! It’s too late for everything!"
Yun Kong's pupils suddenly constricted. The tension in his body gradually relaxed as disappointment washed over him. Turning to look at the tearful Mei Ru, his gaze lost its earlier warmth, and his tone turned cold. "Even if you kill her, what will you gain? The praise of Zhao Prince or the favor of the Emperor of Great Qin? Don’t you realize? She is no longer who she used to be. Even if you were to kill her first, it would only be an act of senseless slaughter."
"You—" Mei Ru gasped in shock, staring at Yun Kong in disbelief. "You’re actually speaking up for her."
"The Left Chancellor has already been exposed; your plans with the Eastern Kingdom are completely impossible now. The Eastern Kingdom has turned its allegiance to the Emperor of Great Qin because Mei Shuang has already changed her identity. If I’m not mistaken, the poison you used on her has long since lost its effect... Moreover, your desire to kill Mei Shuang stems from personal vendetta. Have you considered that for those with grand ambitions, Mei Shuang’s importance far exceeds what they can imagine? Will they tolerate you killing her? You’ve tried to harm her multiple times but have failed each time; do you really think no one knows what you've done?"
Mei Ru was momentarily stunned, staring blankly for a long time before shaking her head and exclaiming, "I have no choice; I must kill her!"
Yun Kong stepped forward a few paces, saying, "Wake up! The fact that she can appear in Dazhao Temple means that the Emperor of the Great Qin Empire has had his eyes on this place for a long time. Once she shows up, all the traps you painstakingly set in Dazhao Temple will be exposed. You can't keep your cool and insist on poisoning her on the spot... Miss Ru, you are meticulous, but you cannot escape the eyes of the Empress of the Great Qin Empire..."
As Yun Kong revealed all the intricacies, Mei Ru completely broke down.
Indeed, she had lost her composure. Attempting to assassinate Mei Shuang in the middle of the night had led to her being discovered by the Emperor while recovering from her injuries.
This was how she fell into the trap set by Empress of the Great Qin Empire Xiao Luo, using Mei Shuang to draw her out and exposing the secrets of Dazhao Temple...
Thinking of this, Mei Ru stared blankly, her body going weak. Fortunately, Yun Kong was quick and caught her just before she fell.
After a moment of daze, Mei Ru wiped away her tears and took a deep breath, lamenting, "So close yet so far!"
"So now, leaving is still an option..."
Seeing Mei Ru in despair and pain made Yun Kong feel deeply distressed as he tried to comfort her.
With a sigh, Mei Ru looked into his eyes, filled with confusion. "Don't I want to leave early? But I still have my mother... She has endured so much for me, yet now she has to suffer alongside me..."
"Endured so much?" Yun Kong asked.
"My mother has suffered greatly since I was in her womb," Mei Ru said with a pale face clouded with sorrow. "The name she gave me means just that..."
She lifted her head to meet the dark gaze of Yun Kong, forcing a self-deprecating smile. "Everyone sees me living in the Left Minister's Residence, dressed in fine clothes and enjoying wealth and honor, but they don't know that for my mother, it is merely a gilded cage... My mother is my biological parent, but my father is not. Yun Kong, you may not know this, but even now, I don't know who my father is, and my mother never speaks of him..."
Yun Kong was clearly taken aback.
Mei Ru smiled bitterly and said, "My mother has always been shorter than others. I just want her to be able to hold her head high and feel proud after I become an adult... Yun Kong, perhaps you will never understand my actions, and that is because—"
Suddenly, Mei Ru struck swiftly, pressing on Yun Kong's acupoint, causing Yun Kong to freeze in place like a wooden puppet.
Yun Kong exclaimed in shock, "Miss Ru, what are you trying to do?!"
Mei Ru gazed quietly at the startled Yun Kong, her eyes flashing with a hint of sorrow. "You must stay here, Yun Kong. I can't let you be in danger..."
After saying this resolutely, she turned and walked towards Mountain Base. "They will come to pick you up soon..."
A faint voice carried on the wind from Mei Ru, "And for me, there is no turning back. I must move forward..."
"Miss Ru, are you really going to abandon me?" Yun Kong shouted angrily. "This is too dangerous! Come back!"
——
(Sorry, dear, I have to go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up. I might not be able to update.)
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