Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 17: The Past is Hard to Chase
In the faint morning light, half of the bed was stained red, and Wen Qingyu had finally fallen silent. White hair and a red face, a shocking sight.
Her wide-open eyes were blank, reflecting not even a trace of the man before her.
"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. Sister's departure is also a form of liberation," Wen Ruxue had arrived at some point, her words filled with sorrow, yet a glint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
"Liberation? Did I permit that?"
With this emotionally ambiguous remark, Yan Zhi Xi strode out of the hall, sweeping his sleeves aside.
At the doorway, he suddenly paused; in the dim morning light, two yellowed red lanterns hung under the eaves.
Yan Zhi Xi suddenly remembered that on their wedding night two years ago, Wen Qingyu was in this very room. When he lifted her red veil, she smiled sweetly and asked, "Yan Zhi Xi, do you still remember me?"
How did he respond?
"Of course I remember. You are Xue Er's friend and the daughter of someone who has harmed me. Marrying you is merely a matter of convenience; I can give you a title, but nothing more."
At that time, he saw the lingering affection in her eyes and mocked her for her overestimation of herself. He even punished her for calling him by his name by making her kneel in the snow all night.
On the day of the funeral, Yan Zhi Xi stood dazed on the city wall, watching the funeral procession slowly disappear into the golden-red glow. Suddenly, his heart felt as if a piece had been hollowed out; the chilly autumn wind swept through him, leaving behind an endless solitude.
Yet he did not understand why.
One month after Wen Qingyu's death, Yan Zhi Xi ordered the renovation of Chenyu Palace.
Under a osmanthus tree in the courtyard, Peach Blossom discovered a wooden box belonging to Wen Qingyu and presented it to Yan Zhi Xi.
The box had been buried for an unknown amount of time, its lacquer faded and chipped. Upon opening it, the contents were surprisingly well-preserved, consisting of some unremarkable items.
A few dried leaves, a book of poetry, a pair of children's shoes, and several neatly stacked sheets of letter paper.
Yan Zhi Xi opened one sheet; it contained only a few short lines, yet he stared at it for a long time.
It simply read: "A Qing, today I finally married you."
A Qing, A Qing.
This nickname was known only to his mother and one other person...
Five years ago.
On a desolate mountain path filled with blooming osmanthus flowers, he was being chased by the Crown Prince when he was saved by a girl with her face covered by a veil. As he left, he cupped his hands in gratitude and said to the girl, "I will never forget today's kindness. May I ask for your name?"
The girl’s bright eyes sparkled mischievously as she replied, "Why do you want to know my name? Are you planning to marry me someday?"
It was the first time he had encountered such a bold woman; he was taken aback but nodded seriously, "If you do not mind."
"Don't mind, don't mind." The girl smiled with her eyes and brows curved, "You must not forget what you said today."
"A Qing will never be forgotten."
"A Qing? So that's your name."
The girl's expression hurriedly disappeared into the golden osmanthus forest, not even realizing when her hairpin had fallen.
When he picked up the simple jade hairpin, he suddenly remembered that the girl had not told him her name.
His hands trembled involuntarily as Yan Zhi Xi opened another letter. After reading through several, he suddenly swept the memorials on the table to the ground.
Gritting his teeth, he instructed Zhang Gonggong, who was standing nearby: "Immediately summon Consort X to the Imperial Study!"
After Zhang Gonggong left to carry out the order, Yan Zhi Xi tightly clenched a few sheets of letter paper, with terrifying veins bulging on the back of his hand.
"Wen Ruxue, if you dare to deceive me..."
Comment 0 Comment Count