Chapter 58: Ruthless Scene

By the sixth day of the Empress Dowager's ceremony I was basically out of the picture, and precisely because of that I could smoothly carry out our escape plan.

Time began to feel agonizing; the winter sun, once the brightest, now seemed only to complain that it lingered high in the sky, refusing to set. After finally enduring until dusk, there were still six hours before midnight.

And Bu Sha still hasn't returned.

Xin Hui saw me frantic, intended to come over and comfort me, but suddenly heard footsteps outside the door; a maid's voice came: "Your Majesty, the Emperor has an audience."

A slight shock rose in my heart—what could Wei Lingfeng want with me at this hour?

I glanced at Xin Hui; her brows knit, she shook her head in bewilderment. Then I looked at Wu Ye, whose lowered head hinted at some unknown thought.

Could Wei Lingfeng have discovered our plan?

No! Impossible—given his nature, even if he had discovered it, he would wait silently while we proceeded, then strike us with the heaviest blow when we were most complacent.

I cleared my throat and raised my voice: "Understood."

Blessing or curse, a curse cannot be avoided. A problem must be faced and resolved.

Standing at the entrance of Fengyin Hall and looking inside, the scene felt oddly familiar.

Wei Lingfeng sat at the desk where we usually discussed naval battles, staring vacantly at the dagger in his hand; beyond the usual solemnity and contemplation, his eyes now held many unknown things.

I stepped over the threshold into the hall. From behind, the gate creaked "creak‑creak," then a "Bang—" thundered, striking my heart.

My chest tightened sharply; I furrowed my brows, halted, turned, and resolved on the spot to break out recklessly.

Three hours ago, Chegan City Qianyan Garden.

Qianyan Garden is a famed scenic spot of Chegan in the Qi Kingdom; within, one can sip tea, recite poetry, sample delicacies from across the world, and admire ever‑blooming flowers and trees throughout the seasons.

Every day scholars and elegant guests come and go, and today was no exception; most gathered in the warm pavilion surrounded by winter plum in full bloom, sipping tea, chatting, and admiring the blossoms.

At this moment, no one would suspect that near the warm pavilion, beside a thicket of camellia trees, a youth in a thin long robe incongruous with the winter stood lingering in the cold wind.

The boy's long hair fluttered in the biting wind, tangled in the air before brushing his ears.

A silver‑gray crescent‑shaped mask covered most of his face, leaving only a pair of blue eyes colder than the winter and slightly pursed thin lips, lingering in the boundless cold and solitude.

A faint light flickered in the boy's ice‑blue pupils; turning slowly, he indeed saw a black‑clothed, black‑haired man wielding a long sword standing behind him.

His indifferent yet melodious voice, like a babbling stream, sounded: "Bu."

Bu Sha stared at him quietly, cold as ever; in his night‑black eyes twinkled specks of starlight, and after a pause asked, "Do you want to see me?"

The boy blinked slightly, then his gaze, as if realizing something, fell on the man in white as snow walking confidently toward them; the last glimmer in his eyes faded to pure iciness, but his voice remained gently warm as always: "Did you deceive him to come?"

In Bai Shengyi's black‑jade, ice‑crystal‑clear eyes, a seductive gleam shone, scorching the boy; he smiled lightly and said, "Lying sounds ugly; I only wanted you all to meet…" Then his gaze shifted to Bu Sha beside him, already tinged with a faint killing intent, and he added, "I never expected you'd still abandon that girl and come here."

A ripple in Bu Sha's dark eyes flickered briefly; he stepped forward, brandishing his knife toward him, and said coldly, "Why did you deceive me into coming here?"

Bai Shengyi seemed oblivious to the surging killing intent around him, stepped forward again, and his smile grew eerily captivating: "I was only trying to help Wei Lingfeng."

Bu Sha's complexion shifted dramatically; the hand gripping the knife jolted, and the "Blood Siphon" nearly slipped from his grasp.

The intense killing intent in his dark eyes solidified into cold anger, then flickered to a pale red; Bu Sha stepped forward, his killing aura surging like a tide, causing even the previously composed Bai Shengyi to show a slight change of hue.

In an instant, the overwhelming killing aura vanished before Bai Shengyi could regain his senses. Still black clothes, black hair, black eyes, still a chilling murderous aura colder than the winter, as if unchanged.

Bu Sha turned his head toward the boy, who seemed unchanged emotionally from start to finish; his blue eyes were indifferent and cold, yet held a long‑standing tacit understanding. No words, no explanations, just a naturally flowing rapport.

His gaze finally rested on the delicate cross‑shaped pendant at the boy's chest; his dark thick brows knit, his lips twitched, and he uttered only, "I must leave at once."

After speaking, a faint black silhouette flickered in the air, and Bu Sha vanished in an instant, disappearing from the bustling manor.

Bai Shengyi lounged lazily beneath a camphor tree, a coquettish smile curling his lips, and whispered, "Don't you want to know who Bu Sha rushed to save…?"

A faint, whisper‑like whoosh rang out; Bai Shengyi felt a sudden sting on his face as specks of blood streamed down his flawless white skin, dripping onto his neck.

A narrow, thin leaf clung to his ear, deeply embedded in the trunk of the camphor tree behind him, flapping violently in the cold wind.

The boy approached expressionlessly and said calmly, "You'd better behave, or don't blame me when I settle both your new and old scores with you."

Long hair and fluttering sleeves, interwoven with the winter's chill, swept past his side without pause.

Bai Shengyi lifted his hand to brush the still‑fresh wound; scarlet blood lingered on his fingertips. He gently placed the bloodied finger to his lips, sucking it in, his unwaning smile growing ever more bewitchingly eerie…

"Bing Yi," Wei Lingfeng murmured low and weary from behind, "I never had anyone use Xin Hui on your behalf."

My steps halted; my mind suddenly plunged into utter confusion, and I turned back, asking blankly, "What did you say?"

Wei Lingfeng lifted his head to look at me, a bitter smile curling his lips: "I never thought I'd have a day to justify myself." He glanced at the chair opposite, regained his composed, elegant smile, and said, "Please, sit."

It suddenly occurred to me that, back then, he had asked me with a furious, wounded expression, "Do you really intend to hold Xin Hui's account against me?"

Could it be… that I truly wronged him?

I inhaled deeply, took two steps forward, and sat opposite him. He placed a freshly brewed cup of tea before me, smiling gently, "This is your favorite, Junshan Silver Needle."

I took it, my cold hand covering the cup for warmth; the tea's fragrance filled my nose and lingered between my lips and teeth, yet I did not lower my head to sip.

"Indeed, through Wu Ye I learned Xin Luo's identity, and I considered using you and him to expose all the conspiracies lurking in Key Kingdom. I have never regarded ordinary lives as anything, nor see it as wrong…" He gently set the dagger on the table, his fingers lightly grazing the hilt as he continued nonchalantly, "But I have also ordered that no one may touch you or those beside you."

"You mean…" I paused, feeling my tongue and mind equally stiff and muddled, unable to form proper words, "That having Xin Hui captured in my stead… was Yan Jing's unilateral decision?"

Wei Lingfeng suddenly lifted his head to look at me, a delicate smile curving his lips, while turbulent waves churned behind his eyes; his deep voice said, "What if I say it is?"

Time slipped by second by second as we stared at each other, until I suddenly felt a tightness in my chest and realized I had unconsciously held my breath.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips as I said lightly, "Besides apologizing for the part where I wronged you, I truly don't know what else I can do."

Regardless of whose fault it is, no matter how hard this explanation is for him, my departure is inevitable.

Because the damage is already done, assigning blame cannot repair or restore it, and staying here would only let the same harm continue endlessly.

Wei Lingfeng abruptly lowered his long lashes, shielding his eyes, yet his voice emerged as calmly and composed as ever, with a faint smile: "Your reaction, just as I expected, is utterly ruthless."

My heart suddenly leapt for no reason; even though my hand clutched the hot tea, it felt intensely cold, and I couldn't help but lower my head and take a sip. The tea's aroma spread across my lips and teeth, bringing a gentle warmth.

Wei Lingfeng lifted his gaze to me, a mysterious, complex smile curling his lips; his already inscrutable eyes now seemed even deeper and more unfathomable.

A tiny spark of fear and unease began to grow in my heart. I set down the cup, ready to request to leave.

But then Wei Lingfeng's calm, silent voice rose slowly; his smile, his faint yet slightly warm gaze seemed to detach from this world, like a sound that is right beside the ear yet cannot truly be perceived—ethereal yet undeniably present.

Since childhood he never truly wanted anything—neither the supreme throne, the affection of his father‑king and mother‑queen, nor the admiration and pity of the masses. I both envied how easily he could obtain everything, and also thought that if someday he did truly desire something, I would never compete with him. Not merely because I could not win, but out of compassion, as an older brother… feeling pity for his brother who would never be happy.

At first I only listened in confusion, because aside from masking his identity, Wei Lingfeng had never referred to himself as "I" before anyone.

But slowly, I gradually widened my eyes and stared straight at the person before me who seemed to be nothing but an empty shell; the shock in my heart grew stronger and stronger. Such a story, such a background, so familiar… familiar to the point that I could reach out and touch it.

Wei Lingfeng's gaze locked onto me; his originally scattered, sorrowful light gradually condensed in his eyes, finally returning to his usual sharp composure, and he drew a faint, icy smile at the corner of his mouth: 'It's a pity that now, the only thing he truly wants… I, too, am unwilling to let go.'

Why does he know that the 'Peerless Divine Doctor' is the young master of Ice Ling? Why was Bu Sha captured yet easily released? Why did Bai Shengyi's Heart-Eating Technique afflict him? Why, when Qi Ran searched for so long for his elder imperial brother, was there not a trace of news? Why did Bu Sha say there were some matters that needed to be verified in this imperial palace…

All of this, when linked together, forms a chain where each lock clicks into the next, crystal clear.

"You, you're Xiao Qixuan…" Before he could finish, I suddenly felt my chest clench tight, my head swam and sank, and I became utterly dazed and muddled.

But it was only a few short seconds; my consciousness cleared, yet my true qi felt as if it had been drained, leaving me limp and weak. Not to mention using internal strength, even ordinary standing was impossible.

I stared at him in horror: 'Did you drug me?'

No! Impossible! The Jun Mountain Silver Needle contains a cold fragrance; Qi Ran once said that any medicine without lethal poison, when neutralized by the cold fragrance, retains less than one-twelfth of its potency, so I had never worried.

Wei Lingfeng took the cup of cold fragrance before me, lifted it to his lips, and took a gentle sip, smiling softly: 'You must be wondering, since the Jun Mountain Silver Needle clearly contains cold fragrance, why have you still been affected by Soft Bone Powder?'

I propped my weakened body up with my left hand on the table, my gaze burning fiercely into him as I squeezed out word by word: 'Because… what?' Meanwhile, under the cover of the desk, my right hand struggled to pull out the silver needle from my bosom and thrust it into the Sparrow Tail point below my chest.

Wei Lingfeng looked at me, the light in his eyes complex and unfathomable, then swept his hand across and struck my Central Palace point; my whole body went numb and limp, and the silver needle fell silently to the ground.

At this moment, aside from glaring at him in shock and rage, my mind was a utter chaos, my heart filled with fear and dread, and I could think of no way to respond……

Wei Lingfeng rose, walked around the desk, and scooped me up in a horizontal embrace; the hug that had once felt warm for a moment now scorched hot enough to frighten. His originally bright, dark eyes now seemed to hold a spark about to ignite into a prairie fire, burning as he fixed his gaze on me in his arms, deepening and sinking……

I was gently laid sideways on the brocade bed, and Wei Lingfeng sat lightly beside me; his crystal‑clear, fair fingers, burning with uncontrollable desire, traced my face, then slid down to the fastenings of the sable white fur trim, where a slight lift of his fingers loosened each buckle in turn. Soon the fur trim hung open, and with a tug it slipped lightly off the edge of the bed.

Wei Lingfeng could no longer fix upon my face the clear gaze of former days; his voice hoarse yet tinged with a faint tenderness and pity, he said: 'Drugging and sealing your pressure points aren't necessary; I merely want you to know, Bing Yi, that tonight I will not cease, nor will I… let you go.'

My heart pounded violently, sending a faint ache of numbness through my chest. Watching his crystal‑clear, slender fingers peel off my garments one by one, the chill in the room seeped into my body; I was both panicked and urgent, yet utterly helpless, cursing inwardly without cease, until I actually blurted out: 'Lewd devil! Lustful scoundrel! Trash……'

Wei Lingfeng's hand paused abruptly; his originally focused, dark expression could not help but ease slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting in an involuntary faint smile as he said lightly, 'Your cursing are not wrong.' Having spoken, he resumed his previous motion.

"Wei Lingfeng, you wouldn't think that after… whatever happens between us, I'd obediently stay in this palace, would you? And there's the contract, you……"

My clothes were unfastened one by one, drawn out, and then slipped softly to the ground.

Although it was a warm chamber, it still could not fend off the winter's chill; all that remained on me was a thin as silk snow gauze undergarment, and as my fear mounted, both body and heart trembled incessantly.

"Bing Yi, you must be thinking that every moment you delay is a moment gained—perhaps Bu Sha, perhaps Wu Ye will still arrive in time to rescue you."

Wei Lingfeng's desire, which had faded with his light smile, gradually rekindled; he lowered his head and lightly pressed a kiss to the side of my neck, the hot, sensitive touch making my whole body shudder involuntarily, yet I heard him whisper against my ear: 'Bing Yi, you wouldn't be so foolish as to forget that Wu Ye still owes me something, would you?'

My whole body jerked violently, my chattering teeth clenched tight, and my face turned deathly pale.

"As for Bu Sha, you know he went to Thousand Banquet Garden to see Qi Ran. But you probably don't realize that even the swiftest horse would need at least four hours to travel from Thousand Banquet Garden here."

"How could you possibly know…" I turned my head in shock, only to have him crush his lips against mine fiercely; the scorching breath passed between our lips and teeth, igniting and spreading, and my lips instantly swelled with pain.

Lips pressed together then parted; I jerked my face back, hearing only his increasingly unrestrained heavy breathing in my ear. He lightly rolled over, his sturdy frame now pressing down upon me.

His kisses no longer held any restraint or hesitation, falling like rain precisely upon my neck, collarbone, and ear, eliciting wave after wave of pain and tingling mingled with overwhelming desire.

His hands scorched hot without cease; one hand traced my whole body like a slow‑lit flame, the other slipped without pause into the opening of my inner garment, pressing upon my sensitive chest to knead and tease. Then, with a sudden hard pull, the sound of tearing cloth echoed like a death omen throughout the great hall……

Wei Lingfeng's gaze burned deep and fiery, suppressing his somewhat heavy breathing as he imprinted a gentle yet aggression‑filled kiss upon my fair, smooth chest; he then released the hand resting on my body and swiftly undid his own garments.

His naked body pressed tightly against mine, as if to contrast the boundless winter cold, and thus his heat grew ever more unrestrained, ever more uncontrollable.

My face and body flushed hot from the desire forced upon me, yet my lips grew ever icier and paler. I clenched my lower lip tightly; before my eyes a misty haze swam, and in a daze I seemed to see Qi Ran's face.

Gentle, smiling, icy, furious… one face after another, one scene after another flashed before my eyes, churning endlessly in my mind, filling it to overflowing, until even my heart felt swollen and sore.

Grief, anguish, repression, longing, and a hint of unwillingness—tears nearly burst forth.

I forced myself hard, biting my lip and swallowing back all the useless tears. But my body, weakened by the Soft Bone Powder, could exert no strength at all; even with such desperate effort, it could only seep out a trace of blood, producing a faint pain.

But it was enough. All I wanted was this instant of clarity and calm. Waiting for someone to come rescue me? I snorted inwardly—perhaps the former me would have thought that……

"Wei Lingfeng." I turned my head aside, avoiding his lips about to meet mine and his beautiful eyes blazing with boundless passion, suppressing my discomfort and fear, and said softly, 'Unseal my pressure points, after all I can't run away……'

Wei Lingfeng's motion stalled; his ragged breaths echoed in the empty bedchamber, the red‑tinged light in his eyes faintly regaining a glimmer of clarity as he fixed his gaze firmly upon me.

I turned my head back to look at him; my voice was calm, yet my eyes gradually showed a faint pleading and sorrow: 'I don't want… my first time… to happen like this……'

Wei Lingfeng's body, covering mine, gave a slight shudder; the fire of desire in his eyes had not faded, but ripples spread across it. Though tiny, these incessant undulations made his movements ever gentler, full of pity, yet within the depths of his eyes—swamped with fierce desire and tender affection—a complex light flickered and vanished.

He lifted his naked, crystal‑clear arm, fingertips tapping lightly; I felt a surge of agitated blood rush upward, and after a moment my body had regained its freedom, yet remained as limp and weak as at the start.

Wei Lingfeng's hands braced on either side of my body, looking down at me from above without blinking.

Before, I never imagined that an emperor as ruthless and heartless as he could have such deep, undulating emotions flickering in his eyes.

My feeble, powerless right hand wrapped around my front to rest on my lower abdomen, while my left hand, slow and laborious, rose to meet it, my index and middle fingers silently pressing the button……

Wei Lingfeng, have you never heard? Seeking help from others… is worse than relying on oneself!

Wei Lingfeng drew one hand to caress my still‑flushed cheek, speaking softly: 'Bing Yi, stay in this palace and let me cherish and love you for a lifetime, all right?'

My chest felt as if struck hard by a heavy object, an inexplicable heartache, but only for an instant, then my fingers slammed the switch——

A barely perceptible tearing‑through‑the‑air sound rang out; five anesthetic needles that dissolved upon entering the body shot into Wei Lingfeng's naked chest.

His eyes, bright as dark stars, flickered slightly; the hand caressing my face slipped down to form a fist, his crimson lips twitched but ultimately uttered no word.

His long eyelashes slowly drooped, veiling the grief, loneliness, and despair that should never have resided in his eyes. His body went limp, he collapsed onto me, naked flesh pressed together, not a hair's breadth between.

The great hall fell into silent stillness; even the breath that should have filled it seemed to have been drawn away to some unknown place, leaving nothing to linger.

Suddenly a cold sting prickled my cheek; only when I came to my senses did I notice that, unbeknownst when, tears had trickled down the corners of my eyes.

What misery brings one to wander this world? To throw everyone's lives into chaos, then flick one's sleeves and depart……

(End of chapter)