Chapter 50

My heartbeat and breathing gradually calmed, and I walked silently to the window. Sure enough, a faint, almost imperceptible scent of mandara flower came towards me.

I lifted my trembling, deathly pale hands, which I could not control, and closed the window.

In my heart, to say I am not afraid is absolutely a lie.

I turned around and saw Wei Lingfeng sitting upright on the edge of the bed, gritted my teeth, and asked: "These mandara flowers, who ordered them to be planted?"

Wei Lingfeng's expression did not change; he replied lightly: "These flowers have always been grown in the palace. Because the Empress Dowager liked them, I later ordered more to be planted."

"What about ambergris?" I walked up to the table, took a cup of water, and extinguished that incense.

Wei Lingfeng's eyebrows slightly furrowed: "What exactly do you want to ask?"

I looked at him seriously: "Why burn ambergris?"

"The Empress Dowager likes this scent, so she had people fetch the most authentic kind from thousands of miles away and sent some to me and the other consorts." Wei Lingfeng's words became more distracted as he spoke, his brows tightening further; he slowly rose and walked toward me.

"What about Junshan silver needle?" I suppressed the trembling all over my body and asked: "Is that also because of the Empress Dowager?"

Why? If it were someone else, I could understand, but Wei Lingfeng is clearly her own biological son—why would he do this?

Wei Lingfeng narrowed his eyes slightly, his whole body exuding a dangerous aura; his voice was calm yet carried an inexplicable hostility: "I have no patience to listen to you beat around the bush."

"Wei Lingfeng, you may not believe what I say, since even I am not sure whether these are mere coincidences." I licked my dry lips, my heart pounding like a drum—I did not know if it was from fear or something else—but I still spoke the rest of my words, syllable by syllable.

"The mandara flower scent, ambergris, and cold fragrance—each alone or any two mixed together are just ordinary. But once the three scents blend, if they are long‑term inhaled into the human body…"

Ice gathered in Wei Lingfeng's eyes, his voice filled with a chilling chill: "What happens with long‑term inhalation? It is a chronic poison."

"No." I lightly shook my head, the hand hanging at my side clenched into a fist before I dared to look at him: "It poses no danger to the body. Yet it can erode one's will. It does not make you go mad or turn you into a puppet; rather, it is a disguised form of hypnosis."

"Hypnosis?"

"Yes." I took a deep breath, feeling the cold aura emanating from his whole body, and for some reason suddenly felt sympathy for him.

Someone as arrogant as him might actually be being used, and the person using him is very likely his own mother.

But that feeling was merely a speck, soon swallowed by boundless fear.

Those words still rang in my ears. When I first heard them, they sounded light and warm; now, thinking back, I feel only fear.

I gathered my scattered thoughts and continued: "This is a deep hypnosis. Through drugs and some kind of… daily suggestion, it could make you unconsciously do something, weaken your will, or even… completely alter your memory."

No! These are not the root of my fear. What truly makes me unable to stop trembling is—Heart‑Eating Technique, this ancient and mysterious witchcraft. Qi Ran said, there is only one person in the world who practices it—one of the Four Grand Chancellors of Icicle…

From the time I met Qi Ran until we parted, I truly rarely ever saw him show fear or nervousness, no matter how great the danger; it seemed to vanish with his smile.

But that day, he was explaining to me the world's most potent poisons; I suddenly grew curious and asked: "Qi Ran, does Icicle have any secret imperial medicines?"

He shook his head with a smile and said: "The most toxic medicines in the world can be obtained in Icicle, and one can even make them oneself……"

His smile suddenly froze; he lightly gripped the hand resting on the table: "Heart‑Eating Technique can be realized only in Icicle in the whole world."

"It is made by blending mandara flower scent, ambergris, and cold fragrance, letting them penetrate the body, then combined with a certain suggestion, it can control a person's mind without harming the flesh."

"Isn't that just the same as deep hypnosis?" I said, somewhat excited: "I really want to witness it."

"Bing Yi!" Qi Ran suddenly grabbed me in a hug, his body and voice trembling with panic: "No! Promise me, whenever you see those three scents mixed together, you must stay far away!"

"In this world, only one person can practice Heart‑Eating Technique. Icicle—one of the Four Grand Chancellors—Bai Shengyi."

"Bing Yi, you must remember: at any time, you must absolutely never approach this person."

I returned his embrace, burying my face in his warm chest fragrant with valley herbs, and quickly whispered reassurance: "Okay, okay, I promise you, I will absolutely not approach him."

Qi Ran held me tightly; his body finally stopped trembling, yet he still murmured: "Absolutely…… don't……"

My throat felt clenched by emptiness; I came to and met Wei Lingfeng's icy gaze, a palpable killing intent swelling around me, leaving me not the slightest doubt that he would kill me offhandedly the next moment.

His voice was calm and icy: "Saying all this, aren't you afraid I'll kill you to silence you?"

I gave a faint smile; though under his control I did not feel suffocated, I slightly moved my neck, which counted as a shake of the head: "Not afraid. Unless the Emperor does not want to dispel this Heart‑Eating Technique."

Wei Lingfeng showed a smile devoid of any warmth, released his grip, sat down at the table, and said lightly: "You may go."

I gazed at him, his unnaturally calm demeanor, for a long while, and said: "If the Emperor truly wishes to know the truth, I can try to help you with hypnosis."

As I reached the door, I turned back and saw Wei Lingfeng, his expression unchanged, looking indifferently at my departure; I suddenly sighed, feeling somewhat sorrowful: "Wei Lingfeng, you need not always respond to hurt with ferocity and coldness to hide yourself. Being human, you always have moments of weakness."

Having said that, I did not look back, turned and strode out of this vast hall.

Afterwards, the days were surprisingly peaceful, except that the Luoying Gong constantly had two extra guests, Yan Jing and Chen Qianqian.

They rarely came together; when they occasionally met, it was usually just a nod and a few polite words, yet unexpectedly, they seemed to get along with me quite well...

To be honest, although Yan Jing looks very much like Xiao Yu, they are completely different people.

Xiao Yu is like the spring sunshine—warm, passionate, full of vitality; her joys, anger, sorrow, and happiness are always clearly written on her face. No matter how many outstanding people are around her, her radiance can never be obscured.

Yan Jing also radiates brilliance, impossible to ignore, yet her intensity is too dazzling, too brilliant, as if to conceal a different inner nature. I only feel I cannot fathom her, cannot see through.

However, judging from her appearance alone, Yan Jing is indeed a woman suited to stand in a high position.

Thinking of Chen Qianqian, I couldn't help but smile. She actually, in front of Xin Luo, Xin Hui, and Wu Ye, pointed at my nose and said calmly, "One day I will replace your position and become empress."

I have to admit, after just a few days of getting along, I naturally came to like this person.

She is a rather strange amalgam of contradictions.

At first sight, I felt her speech was graceful and proper, her eyes often flashing with a calm, wise light, and her views on many things were quite unique.

Later, as we became more familiar, she dropped many reservations in front of me, often taking on the airs of an elder sister, earnestly instructing me.

For example, today I asked her to stay here for a meal.

"You, you often appear shrewd and decisive, but in fact you are confused to the core. Many things that ordinary people cannot see through, you can indeed perceive at a glance. Yet you are completely oblivious to the dangers around you. If you could truly harden your heart and not care about others' lives, that would be fine. But while you seem indifferent to everything on the surface, in reality you are deeply emotional and loyal. Ying Ruo, I'm not saying this, but your temperament really does not suit staying in this complicated palace."

I nodded with a smile, served her a bowl of soup, and asked, "Qianqian, I originally thought you were close to Yan Jing, but only now realize you're not. You must know she did it on purpose, right? Why did you jump down to save her back then?"

Qianqian took the soup, a faint bitter smile appearing on her face, and said in a low voice, "If I say I wanted to retrieve that last shred of my conscience, would you believe me? The palace is a truly terrifying place; to survive here one must constantly struggle and scheme. In such a vortex, after staying long, one gradually loses oneself and can never return to the former tranquil, clear state of mind. That day, seeing Consort Rong fall into the pool, I actually knew she had some martial skills and would not so easily fall to a plot. She was actually… betting that the emperor who passed by would notice her again. But, knowing is knowing, she was after all gambling with her life; at that moment I also cursed her in my heart for being sly and deserving it; yet at that moment I thought more of how, if it were my former self, I would certainly have rushed to save her without hesitation."

I smiled sincerely at her: "So you really jumped down heedless of danger? That pool isn't shallow, and Yan Jing fell right in the centre..."

"Aren't I the only one who's so reckless?" Qianqian laughed, her eyes brimming with mirth, "At the instant I jumped, I was still cursing myself fiercely—how could there be such an idiot in this palace? In the end, just a moment later, another fool actually followed and jumped in."

I gave an embarrassed smile, not wanting to continue, so I changed the subject: "Why do you want to become empress?"

This is why I say she is a composite of contradictions. Although she is weary of the harem's intrigues, toward her husband Wei Lingfeng—whom she has hardly ever seen—she feels not even a hint of competitive affection.

But it was obvious that she had ambition—the kind of ambition to ascend to the summit and live without having to heed anyone's face, and she had never concealed it before me. Even though in front of the other consorts she always wisely kept a low profile.

"Because I am different from you, Ying Ruo," Qian Qian indeed did not shy away from the question, "Even if you leave this palace, you can still survive—no! You will certainly live better than now. But I cannot; I am destined… to be someone who must live within the red walls, constantly battling. Without the silk‑and‑jade comforts here, fighting for power, I would be not only good for nothing but also unable to survive."

"Since I am fated to survive and struggle here, it's better to climb to the top and make a mark than to be trampled underfoot."

I swallowed a mouthful of soup and laughed, "Actually, if I may say, I am the most suitable candidate for Empress, because you and Wei Lingfeng… cough, the Emperor, are of the same kind. But why…"

"Do you want to ask why I am still only a Jieyu up to now?"

I hurriedly nodded.

"Because my birth is not noble enough, and also because I have only recently resolved my heart to vie for favor."

Qian Qian gave me a look that seemed a little bewildered, her smile sad and indifferent: "In the past I, like them, thought the Emperor only appointed you as Empress for political reasons, but now I know clearly that this is not the case. Sometimes I truly envy you; no matter what kind of person, after long contact with you they cannot help but be drawn to you—whether it's the Emperor, Consort Rong, me, even Consort Li. Sometimes I also pity you, because you clearly attract so much love and hatred yet you insist on remaining indifferent. Yet the more you try to evade, the more those extreme loves and hates intensify, ultimately wounding you deeply."

A slight stir rose in my heart, but more was confusion; I shoved a bite of food in my mouth and swallowed, "It seems I understood, yet it seems I didn't. Whatever, I'll just get by."

In the following days, as the weather gradually cooled, I began to frequently enter Wei Lingfeng's chambers to give him hypnotic therapy.

Wei Lingfeng was truly… a very strange person. The first time I performed hypnosis on him, he fell into an unguarded sleep, and only when he heard a finger‑snap did his complexion turn pale and cold sweat break as he awoke.

After that, each time I hypnotized him, he woke up faster and faster; sometimes before I finished the induction, he would open his eyes with an icy stare and look at me.

"From tomorrow onward you need not hypnotize me any more," Wei Lingfeng said while annotating the memorial on his desk.

"Oh, fine," I replied indifferently, while idly looking at the few warship sketches he had drawn; they were basically refinements of the ideas I had proposed, though I must admit his drawings were truly excellent.

"Eh, what is this?" I picked up one of the drawings that resembled a map, with some unreadable symbols and numbers annotated beside it, flipping it over and over for a long time without discerning anything, and couldn't help asking curiously.

Wei Lingfeng glanced up at me, nonchalantly saying, "That's a military deployment map of the Mist Capital City of the Yin Chuan Nation."

"Yin Chuan Nation? Mist Capital City?" I was exasperated; how many countries are there in this world? When did a Yin Chuan Nation suddenly appear?

Wei Lingfeng chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Sometimes I wonder whether you are even a person of this world."

My heart tightened; I forced a dry laugh twice, then quickly changed the subject, asking, "What kind of country is Yin Chuan?"

Wei Lingfeng no longer pressed, and gave a brief overview of the Yin Chuan Nation.

"The Qi, Yin, and Yao nations each occupy parts of the land. (Isn't that similar to Jingzhou in the Three Kingdoms era?) This Mist Capital seems like the contested Jiangling… actually it's not hard to capture!" I murmured, somewhat surprised, as I carefully examined several explained military defense maps that I could now understand.

"What did you say?!" Wei Lingfeng seemed to have heard the last few words, his expression hardening, and he asked anxiously.

I quickly waved a mocking smile and shook my head to clarify, "Nothing… nothing at all. I was just talking nonsense!"

"By the way, Wei Lingfeng, do you know Chen Qianqian?"

"Chen… Qianqian?" Wei Lingfeng thought for a moment, then asked confidently, "Jieyu?"

He truly deserved applause. He could even recall a woman he had only once favored, and could state her rank.

I quickly nodded and asked, "What impression do you have of her?"

"Mature, steady, appearance… quite excellent," Wei Lingfeng raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "What? Did she offend you?"

"Impossible!" I retorted quickly, then curled my lip and said lightly, "I was just saying that in a year I will no longer monopolize the Empress position; if in the future you truly wish to choose an empress who can rule the world, Chen Qianqian would be an excellent choice—for you and for the nation. Hmm, Yan Jing is also not bad, but back then you favored her so much that she now has many enemies… By the way, why did you later neglect her? Did she offend…"

"Snap—" The heavy stack of memorials was set aside with a sound, interrupting my rambling. Wei Lingfeng stared at me coldly, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Aren't you always the type who doesn't meddle in others' affairs? Why, have you changed now? Moreover, when will my private matters ever be yours to worry about?"

A fire rose in my chest; I suddenly stood up, replying coldly, "Who would be interested in worrying about your private affairs? Unless I consider you as…"

My words abruptly stalled, and I stood there dumbfounded.

In that instant, the word "friend"—the two characters—almost slipped out. So despite constantly fearing and guarding against him, I had unconsciously come to regard him as a friend?

Was it because we had shared hardships? Because he repeatedly rescued me from trouble? Or because of the warmth he unintentionally gave?

Deep in my heart, I was not seeing him as an enemy, but… as a friend?

I couldn't help shaking my head and giving a wry smile—perhaps a life of ease for too long makes people become numb and naive?

Since antiquity, emperors may be revered, adored, worshipped, even despised, but they must never be treated as friends.

Because countless entangled interests and power struggles lie within, causing people to involuntarily use and hurt each other.

Yet being exploited by an emperor and being exploited by a friend are two entirely different harms.

I gave another wry smile, brushed myself off, and weakly said, "I'm sorry, consider those words as if I never said them. Your Majesty, I shall return now."

"Bing Yi, you said that the method called hypnosis is used in your hometown to treat people with abnormal minds?"

I turned back, somewhat stunned, and nodded, "Yes."

"Then how did you… acquire this method?"

I lifted my slender hand to grasp the door handle, and a profoundly dark smile appeared on my gradually paling face, and I said lightly, "Because, back then I also… underwent this kind of treatment."

Wei Lingfeng stared at me, and in his beautiful eyes a light of pity slowly emerged; for a long, long time he simply watched me silently, saying nothing.

I, however, suppressed the agitation in my heart and fled in a hurry.

Although Wei Lingfeng was angry, he actually heeded my suggestion and began to frequently promote Qian Qian's rank. Amid countless resentful, jealous, envious gazes and curses, within just half a month Qian Qian rose from Jieyu to Xian Fei, becoming a first‑rank consort alongside Consort Gui, Consort Shu, Consort De, and Consort Rong.

In fact, speaking honestly, Wei Lingfeng truly is a good emperor: he listens to counsel, doesn't follow blindly, acts decisively, has a big‑picture perspective; if he were to unify this Tianhe Continent, it could be a blessing for the common folk.

Unexpectedly I recalled the Yi Nation we passed through during the marriage journey; if one were to speak of an ideal system, in this era it would be the foremost priority, yet I wonder what kind of person proposed this concept—someone who could completely break conventional notions and establish a nation so close to democracy.

Alas! It's just that the nation is too small, its foundation unstable; truly waiting for its unification seems a distant prospect.

Although I was increasingly favored, Qian Qian still, as always, often ran to me, and Yan Jing likewise. Occasionally they would bump into each other; Yan Jing remained obedient and courteous, Qian Qian remained calm and dignified, and the two seemed to show no abnormality.

Only Qian Qian's expression changed: from an initial faint joy, to later often a sweet smile, and now her eyes frequently reveal three parts joy and seven parts sorrow.

I, somewhat worried, asked, "Qian Qian, what's wrong? Is the harem struggle hard? Did I hurt you?"

Qian Qian shook her head, her face showing sincere gratitude: "It was I who forced you to recommend me before the Emperor; why do you blame yourself? Moreover, the harem struggle is just a simple daily drama for me, easily handled."

I couldn't help asking oddly, "Then why do you seem more sorrowful each day? You make me worry pointlessly."

"Ying Ruo, you don't understand," Qian Qian's face darkened for a moment, she turned silently toward the window where the blossoms had withered, and in a desolate tone said, "The most hurtful thing in this world is not struggle, but… feelings."

"Feelings?" I was somewhat stunned and at a loss.

"For a woman, feelings can be her whole life; joy and happiness arise solely because of them; feelings can also be a sharp sword that wounds, silently causing blood to flow. Among these, love between men and women is the most severe, especially love that one knows can never be reciprocated."

I slowly widened my eyes, and a pale, feeble voice slipped out, "Qian Qian, could it be that you… fell in love with Wei Lingfeng?"

Tears glistened at the corners of Qian Qian's eyes, her once‑flourishing visage now pallid and desolate. She turned back, looking at me with sorrow and helplessness, yet she nodded carefully and firmly.

(End of Chapter)