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墨書 Inktalez
"Mother?"
These two words exploded like thunder in my ears.
As I stood there in shock, the Master of Tianji Pavilion led his people to surround us.
In the moonlight, their red robes looked like blood, reminding me of that Blood-Red Night eight years ago.
At that moment, Xiao Yuyang took something out from his bosom—a palm-sized bronze mirror. The surface was engraved with intricate patterns; it was indeed the legendary " Heart-Reflecting Mirror," said to reflect the human heart!
"You have truly kept it all this time."
The Master of Tianji Pavilion's voice suddenly changed, carrying an indescribable sense of desolation.
"Your Highness..."
Xiao Yuyang knelt on one knee. "You have finally chosen to reveal yourself."
What?!
I stared intently at that figure in red. The elegance in every gesture, the habit of tilting her head slightly when speaking—it perfectly matched the shadow in my memory. The missing Master of Tianji Pavilion was actually...
"Since you recognize me," a sigh came from beneath the Golden Silk Mask, "you must also know about what happened back then."
"I have investigated for eight years," Xiao Yuyang's voice was low, "only to discover that you did not die but were imprisoned by the Empress Dowager in Tianji Pavilion..."
"No," the figure in red said, removing her mask to reveal a face that bore a striking resemblance to mine. "I came willingly. To protect A Yu, I had to fake my death and infiltrate Tianji Pavilion, becoming this Governing Lord."
I trembled all over. The woman before me was none other than my biological mother—Consort Duan! She had not died all those years ago; instead, she had chosen this path to safeguard me.
"But..." I stammered, "but Father..."
My mother spoke slowly, "Sixteen years ago, your father foresaw this day. He sent his son to the palace to be raised as the Crown Prince."
"It was the Empress Dowager who burned the Luo Family!" This revelation struck me like a bolt from the blue! From the very beginning, I had been mistaken. I had always regarded Lord Xiao as my father's murderer.
"Back then, the Empress Dowager schemed to kill the Empress," my mother continued softly, "to ensure her nephew ascended the throne. And I was merely a pawn in her game."
"She wanted me to give birth to the Crown Prince and then... disappear without a trace." She hadn't realized that I had already sensed her intentions.
"Before you were born, I had Luo Qingshui send his offspring to the palace while hiding you in Luo Mansion..."
"What?!" This time, it was Xiao Yuyang's turn to change color.
"So I... am not...?"
"You are!"
His mother looked at him, her eyes filled with regret.
"You are Lord Luo's child."
No wonder Father wanted me to trust Xiao Yuyang before he passed away.
His swordsmanship is so similar to mine, and he has that kind of gaze...
It turns out we were destined to be entangled long ago, yet we met in the most wrong way.
At that moment, a flurry of footsteps echoed from downstairs.
Xiao Yu's anxious voice came through:
"Princess! The Empress Dowager's people have surrounded Huaqing Pavilion!"
His mother's expression changed:
"It's too late..."
"They've already discovered my identity."
But Xiao Yuyang suddenly smiled:
"Just in time."
He turned to me, his gaze more serious than ever:
"A Yu, do you trust me?"
The boy who once wiped away Cinnabar for me now stood before me, waiting for my answer.
This time, I did not hesitate:
"I trust you. Just like Father trusted you."
He broke into a smile,
that smile reminiscent of the flickering lights from eight years ago:
"Good, then let us... put on a real show for the Empress Dowager."
Saying this, he took the Zhenhun Sword from his waist and handed it to me:
"Do you know why this sword is so similar to the Duan Hun sword?"
"Because they were originally a pair, forged by my father back in the day..."
"One sword is Duan Hun, the other is Zhen Hun."
"Just like you and me..."
"We were meant to be a pair."
"I am the son of Luo Qingshui..."
Xiao Yuyang's voice trembled slightly.
"So for the past eight years, you've been watching me, thinking I was the son of your father's murderer?"
I couldn't answer.
The truth was too absurd, leaving me at a loss on how to face this person before me.
He had once been the target of my vengeance, yet now he was my blood-related brother.
He was the young man I secretly admired, yet he was also the one I should never have fallen for.
"A Yu," he reached out as if to touch my cheek,
but stopped mid-air, his hand frozen.
"I'm sorry..."
"Your Highness is joking," I forced down the surging emotions within me,
stepping back and performing a formal bow:
"The Subject Daughter should address you as Royal Brother."
His hand remained suspended in the air, a flicker of hurt crossing his eyes.
"Why must you do this..."
"This hairpin, please take it back, Your Highness."
I removed the White Jade Hairpin from my hair and solemnly placed it on the table.
"The Subject Daughter dares not use it any longer."
"A Yu!" His voice suddenly rose, "You know how I feel about you..."
"Your Highness!" I interrupted him, "You are the Crown Prince, while I am merely a common Subject Daughter. I ask that you maintain your dignity."
My mother sighed from the side, "Qing Yu, why must you go through this..."
"Mother, you jest," I replied, my voice thick with emotion. "You hold the esteemed title of Consort Duan, while I am just a daughter of the Luo Mansion. How could I possibly deserve to call you Mother?"
"You!" My mother exclaimed urgently, "Are you truly going to pretend you didn't hear anything from tonight?"
"Your Majesty, please see reason," I forced back my tears. "The Empress Dowager's people are downstairs. If you continue speaking this way, it may ruin everything."
Xiao Yuyang suddenly let out a cold laugh, "You certainly think of others. But have you ever considered how I've felt all these years watching you hate me?"
"I stand by your side every day, and yet you treat me like an enemy, always on guard against me. You..." His voice caught in his throat. "You risk your own life for the sake of revenge!"
A shiver ran through me. I recalled the assassination attempt on Zhenbei Wang; had he not arrived in time, I would have perished at the hands of the hidden guards. But because of that, I couldn't let them take risks for me.
"You worry too much," I resumed my facade of the aloof gentleman. "The Subject Daughter is no longer that naive girl from years past; she knows her limits."
"Good!"
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