Chapter 1: It Is Snowing

In the final days of the ninth year of Yongzheng, heavy snow blanketed Lianzhou.

In the bitter cold and freezing weather, Nan Xueyin braved the cold wind and snow, struggling to hurry back to the Duan Prince Mansion.

She had just completed a mission and, by rights, could have rested for a while and waited for the wind and snow to die down before returning to report, but the Prince was running a high fever that would not break, and she could not set her mind at ease.

Upon reaching the door, however, Nan Xueyin was stopped by someone.

"Young Lady, you had best not go in; Young Lady Yingying is already inside tending to him."

Young Lady Yingying referred to Nan Xueyin's cousin, Hua Lianying, who had come to rely on her at the start of the year and was now the woman the Prince favored most.

"It is not that Young Lady Yingying insisted on coming; it is truly because the Prince, in his delirium, has been calling out Young Lady Yingying's childhood name."

Nan Xueyin's brows and eyes were cold and clear; a thin layer of snow had fallen upon her thick, crow-black lashes, and with a slight blink, the crushed snow fell away in a rustle.

"The medicine is here!"

The Prince's personal attendant, Wu Zhui, walked over quickly. He was well-acquainted with Nan Xueyin and naturally smiled, "Young Lady, why don't you take it in!"

Nan Xueyin had not intended to take it, but Wu Zhui shoved the medicine bowl directly toward her.

She helplessly took it, frowned, and looked toward the young maid Yunqi outside the door, intending to push this task onto her.

At this moment, the door opened halfway, revealing a jade-white, delicate face.

"Sister is back."

Hua Lianying smiled, her voice like a nightingale in the forest, soft and melodious, "I knew you were worried about the Prince; even if it were raining knives from the sky, you would surely hurry back."

She stepped forward, "Give the medicine to me; I will serve it to the Prince."

Nan Xueyin gave a noncommittal grunt and handed the medicine bowl over.

Hua Lianying raised her hands to take it, and just as she clearly had a hold of the bowl's edge, she let out a sudden low cry, loosened her left hand, and the medicinal soup spilled all over Nan Xueyin's hands.

This was freshly boiled medicinal soup, and it instantly scalded a striking red patch onto her skin.

The white porcelain bowl also shattered on the ground, and the dark brown medicinal liquid splashed up, blooming in a large, messy stain on the hem of Nan Xueyin's skirt.

Nan Xueyin's brow twitched.

Hua Lianying's features were all scrunched up in a very aggrieved and pitiful expression, "I didn't mean to; it was just too hot, and I couldn't hold it for a second... Sister, why don't you... go boil a new bowl of medicine?"

Her watery eyes filled with tears as she looked toward Nan Xueyin.

Unlike Hua Lianying, who was a delicate and charming beauty of humble origins, Nan Xueyin's facial contours were bold and sweeping, like a heavily blossomed flower; she was beautiful to the point of being aggressive, but she never liked to smile, which diminished her rich allure and left her brows and eyes revealing only a blade-like chill.

At this moment, Nan Xueyin merely looked down at her from above, and Hua Lianying's heart tightened instantly; she lowered her head, her voice growing faint: "Th-the main thing is... the Prince keeps calling my name, he..."

Nan Xueyin suddenly let out a laugh.

The laughter was not loud, appearing abrupt and abnormal, carrying a hint of hair-raising intimidation.

Hua Lianying's breathing hitched, her scalp went numb, and she dared not look up.

Unexpectedly, Nan Xueyin said nothing more and turned to leave.

She went to the small kitchen nearby to put the medicine on to boil, sat down, and held up her hands, watching the burns fade at a speed visible to the naked eye, her eyes devoid of the slightest emotion.

Since childhood, her constitution had been different from others; no matter what kind of injury she sustained, it always healed very quickly.

The Prince had picked her up and soon discovered her special constitution; at the time, he had stared at her for a long while before suddenly saying, "You are actually very well-suited to be an Assassin."

And so, she became an Assassin.

Over these years of licking blood from the edge of a blade and living on the brink of life and death, she had suffered countless knife and sword wounds, and each time she had done just as she did today, watching the wounds gradually heal.

She was always quiet and sparing with words, to the point that the Prince had forgotten that no matter how fast a wound heals, it still hurts.

More than an hour later, the medicine was boiled, and Nan Xueyin carried it into the room.

There was no one outside the door, and the door was left ajar by a thin crack; Nan Xueyin heard Hua Lianying's soft voice: "Sister will be back soon; she is likely just outside the door."

The Prince, Xiao Mingyu, had regained some consciousness, though his voice remained hoarse, "Don't mention her; it's annoying."

Nan Xueyin paused outside the door and lowered her head.

It was unclear what Xiao Mingyu had done inside the room, but Hua Lianying let out a shy, timid gasp, "Prince, you are still ill; you should be drinking your medicine, how can you..."

Xiao Mingyu said, "A minor illness. Behave yourself; if we get carried away later, don't go crying again."

"Prince..."

Hua Lianying sounded as if she were coquettishly pouting, the end of her voice curling in ways unknown, as if there were a fine hook plucking at one's heartstrings.

Nan Xueyin knew that Xiao Mingyu liked women to be this way most of all.

And he had indeed been stirred to high spirits.

"Young Lady Nan!"

Yunqi returned with water and called out.

Those in the room heard it too, and Hua Lianying gasped, "Prince, Prince, Sister is back."

Xiao Mingyu paused, his tone somewhat impatient, "Make her wait outside the door!"

After a moment of silence, Nan Xueyin suddenly spoke: "It is snowing."

She was afraid of the cold.

This was something Xiao Mingyu knew better than anyone else.

Years ago, he had once joked with a smile: "How about I think of a way to strike winter from the four seasons for you? That would save you from suffering this misery every year."

Yet at this very moment, Xiao Mingyu only said coldly, "This Prince said, wait outside the door. That is an order."

Nan Xueyin's expression went blank for a moment.

Her life had been saved by Xiao Mingyu.

When she was ten, she had been filthy all over, wolfing down the meat pie he handed her, and as she wiped the corner of her mouth, she had solemnly promised: "The noble person saved me; from now on, no matter what you ask me to do, I will certainly do it. Certainly. I must repay the debt of saving my life."

Since he said that waiting outside the door was an order, then no matter what, Nan Xueyin could only comply.

She grew entirely still, holding the medicine, and stood outside the door.

For all these years, she had been by Xiao Mingyu's side.

The Prince is of noble status, romantic and amorous, and possesses a handsome appearance; for many years, the women by his side have never ceased, whether they were noble daughters of official families or courtesans from brothels, if he took a fancy to them, he would keep them by his side for a period of time, and once he grew tired of them, he would give them a large sum of money or benefits they could not refuse, parting ways with them on good terms.

Women were replaced one after another, but the only person who remained by Xiao Mingyu's side was Nan Xueyin.

Her identity as an Assassin was not spoken of publicly; it was only said that she was an orphan girl whom Xiao Mingyu was raising like a younger sister.

Some said that perhaps Xiao Mingyu was waiting for Nan Xueyin to grow up, and once she reached a marriageable age, he would settle down and marry her.

Nan Xueyin originally did not believe this theory.

Until that day, when Xiao Mingyu was dead drunk, he would coldly scold and drive away anyone who approached him.

His subordinates were at their wits' end and had no choice but to come to Nan Xueyin for help.

Nan Xueyin originally only intended to give it a try, but unexpectedly, when she went over, Xiao Mingyu did not fly into a rage as he usually would, but instead began to laugh.

He beckoned and said in a soft voice, "Yinyin, come here."

Nan Xueyin followed his instructions and stepped forward.

Xiao Mingyu gazed at her for a long time and asked a question that came out of nowhere: "You like me, don't you?"

Nan Xueyin was startled.

How could she not like him? This life of hers, and everything she currently possessed, was all given by him.

It was just that...

Xiao Mingyu suddenly leaned in toward her.

Nan Xueyin subconsciously wanted to dodge, but Xiao Mingyu frowned: "Do not dodge, this is an order."

Nan Xueyin then stood still.

Xiao Mingyu leaned closer and closer, his lips inches away from hers; his robes were filled with the rich scent of agarwood, mixed with the mellow aroma of alcohol, enveloping Nan Xueyin and making her feel somewhat dazed and hazy.

She had never had such an experience, but she knew what would happen next; she had seen Xiao Mingyu press women onto couches and kiss them deeply.

At this moment, her earlobes burned, her heart pounded like a drum, and she slowly closed her eyes.

The expected kiss did not happen; instead, her shoulder suddenly felt heavy.

Nan Xueyin opened her eyes to see that Xiao Mingyu was so drunk that his head had slumped onto her shoulder, and he had fallen into a deep sleep.

She stood where she was, stunned for a long time; it took a good while before she recovered and sent Xiao Mingyu back to his room.

She stayed by his side without undressing, taking care of Xiao Mingyu all night, and returned to her own room to rest when the sky was just beginning to brighten the next day.

She had a very beautiful dream, in which the prodigal returned, and lovers were finally united.

When she woke up again, Wu Zhui told her: "Miss Nan, your cousin has come to look for you; she is currently in the Prince's courtyard."

When Nan Xueyin went to find them, she saw from afar that Xiao Mingyu was sitting on a couch, talking with Hua Lianying.

Hua Lianying was kneeling before him, her head slightly lowered, revealing a slender and smooth neck.

It was unknown what Hua Lianying replied, but Xiao Mingyu laughed heartily and reached out to pull her up from the ground.

At that moment, Nan Xueyin had an intuition that that dream might never come true again.