Quand je reviendrai avec toi

Chapitre 23

"You're insane!" He simply couldn't believe it.

"Even so."

She didn't look at him; her delicate nose possessed a stubborn, balanced beauty.

"I... also want to see how many of my wishes will come true in the end."

Do you really understand what you're doing?

She didn't answer anymore, and quietly walked along the corridor, as indifferent as ever.

What is Jia Ye thinking?

He couldn't fathom what her purpose was in making her willingly use herself as a bargaining chip.

Her position was already secure; no one, except the Pope, could suppress her, and she did not need to kneel before anyone.

She refused to divulge any information, coldly rejecting any inquiries, and instead assigned him to some tasks that would normally only require six wings. He spent most of the year traveling and rarely stayed on the mountain, yet even so, he could still sense the undercurrents surging within the sect.

Qianming changed his past targeting and belittling of Jiaye, and often helped the King make decisions, offering his support and words of advice, even at the risk of offending Zisu. In recent years, Zisu has been at odds with Qianming, and several times they have caused a tense scene in the palace, and she has gradually become very close to Jiuwei.

At the beginning of their tenure, Qianming and Zisu joined forces, while Jiaye and Jiuwei acted independently. Gradually, the situation changed from one of Qianming and Zisu acting independently to a struggle between them.

The usually indifferent Jia Ye's performance this year has surprised everyone.

Rumors circulated that she had become Qianming's new lover, captivated by him both physically and mentally, and that all she did was assist her husband.

Red Eagle has subtly replaced his former position, and is relied upon by Jia Ye, with communication and decision-making largely controlled by him.

The fall of Jia Ye's Shadow Guards is no longer just a rumor, but a clearly identifiable reality.

Even though the Six Wings remained as respectful to him as ever, the word spread throughout the sect, and people naturally looked at him differently.

Jia Ye never explained, issuing one order after another. Each time he returned to the mountain to report, he would only stay for a few days before another matter fell into his hands, leaving him with no free time.

His demeanor was indifferent, neither friendly nor distant, and he never spoke of anything outside of work, as if he were talking to a stranger.

What is she thinking?

The hidden dangers of relying too heavily on a person from the Central Plains?

Annoyance stemming from his excessive pursuit?

Or was it a sudden surge of suspicion and doubt?

He frequented Meiyuan Qingjia Pavilion more and more often.

Lost in thought, gazing at that similar face, I drank glass after glass of strong liquor to the accompaniment of melodious zither music. Listening to the gentle verses of Jiangnan, I sought solace in a fleeting intoxication amidst soft laughter and lighthearted conversation.

Yanrong is a gentle and kind woman. She is very understanding and rarely asks many questions.

Even though he only engaged in casual conversation and never made any intimate gestures, she didn't care at all.

With distinct features, she exudes a slightly cold aura when not smiling, yet is captivating and charming when she smiles, possessing boundless grace, as if one could glimpse another person within her.

The difference is that the person never truly laughed, and rarely showed any genuine expression.

Beneath the layers of masks lie countless unspoken thoughts and feelings.

Nobody knows.

Back at the Water Palace, the six wings gathered together in a low voice, their eyes lighting up when they saw him return.

"Boss!" Bi Jun greeted him, "You're finally back."

"What's up."

Everyone started talking at once.

"The Snow Envoy has been locked in her room all day and hasn't come out."

"The usual banquet time is approaching, and if we don't go soon, we'll be late."

"The Crimson Eagle went to urge it on, but was beaten out by the Snow Envoy." Silver Swan dragged the Crimson Eagle, the bruise on its forehead clearly visible.

"I've never seen her lose her temper like this."

"But the annual banquet cannot be neglected, and those who miss the appointed time will be punished."

"God knows what's wrong with her today."

"Could it be that women all have those few emotional days?"

"You really dare to say that."

Interrupting the boys' increasingly rambling conversation, he asked a question.

"Does anyone know the reason?" Jia Ye was not a person who indulged his emotions and rarely acted abnormally, so he was puzzled.

The group exchanged glances, and Blue Owl hesitated slightly.

"This morning, the King sent someone to deliver a reward, saying it was for the Snow Envoy to wear at the banquet tonight. If there's anything unusual about it, it's this."

The king bestows gifts, which is a common occurrence, so how could this be...?

"What kind of reward?"

"I don't know, it's a sandalwood box." Bi Jun gestured to indicate its size.

"Boss, go take a look. At least we'll have some idea of what's going on." Six eyes looked at him expectantly.

He hesitated for a long time outside the door.

After knocking for a long time without any response, he reluctantly pushed open the door.

A Ru ware celadon tripod brush washer flew through the air, nearly hitting him, but he caught it with lightning speed. He roughly understood where the blue mark on the red eagle's head came from. Given Jia Ye's skill, it wasn't surprising that he was injured unexpectedly.

The door was difficult to open.

The entire wall of bookshelves had fallen to the ground, and various books were scattered all over the room in a mess. Many of the decorative jade artifacts were broken, and the place was in complete disarray, as if it had been ransacked.

Jia Ye sat amidst a pile of miscellaneous items, hugging her knees in a daze. Beside her feet was a half-open wooden box with a gleaming lacquer finish, its contents obscured.

"Gaye?"

After waiting for a long time, I finally heard a completely emotionless voice.

"What's up."

"You..." The situation inside the room was more serious than expected, leaving him speechless for a moment. He glanced at her feet. "What did the King bestow?"

Jia Ye sneered and kicked over the box.

A beautifully crafted women's dress, along with a complete set of emerald jewelry, rolled out, shimmering in the dark room.

The finest ice silk feels slightly cool in the palm of your hand, smooth and soft.

The emeralds are translucent and bright, and set with gold and silver wire, they are luxurious and elegant, with a shimmering brilliance. At first glance, they are clearly rare and top-quality. Rings, bracelets, armlets, necklaces, earrings, forehead ornaments, waist ornaments and all kinds of other items are available, and their value is enough to rival that of a country.

What does it mean that the king bestowed these gifts upon him?

He was filled with doubt and uncertainty. Jia Ye remained silent, his pale face expressionless, his dark eyes revealing a kind of lonely ruthlessness.

"Could it be that the Master of Ceremonies made a mistake?" Usually, the gifts he received were only gold, pearls, antiques, and rare treasures, never such an item. He didn't want to think too deeply about the hidden meaning behind it.

Jia Ye shifted, sitting cross-legged, her fingers picking up a shimmering necklace, her eyes and brows both emerald green.

"At the banquet eight years ago, the king bestowed brocade robes and jade bracelets upon Fei Qin, and three days later summoned her to the palace to serve him in bed."

"At the banquet six years ago, the King bestowed upon Zi Su magnificent robes and jewels, and she stayed in the inner palace that night to enjoy his company."

"It's my turn today, and I'm being very generous. This is far more generous than what they received." His dark eyes reflected a green light, cold and detached, as if he weren't talking about himself. "No wonder. Back then, I was just a minor Seven Killer, but today I'm one of the Four Envoys. It's no wonder there's such a difference between us."

The words struck him like ice; he took a step back, his foot sinking into the broken jade bottle with a crack.

She seemed not to hear, muttering in a barely audible whisper.

“I thought I could get away with it… but it still won’t work… I was so close…” She suddenly looked up, her gaze burning with intensity. “Why did you stop Chi Shu? It’s all because of it. If only this face had been ruined, we wouldn’t be in this mess now…”

Uncontrollable resentment spilled from his words, revealing his true emotions in a rare display. He showed no fear as the blade grazed his cheek, but the King's decree overwhelmed him with rage, causing him to lose control of his agitation.

Staring intently at her frosty, pale face, he felt a tightness in his chest that made it hard to breathe.

"Why can you tolerate Qianming, but not the Pope?"

“Qianming… he won’t get anything until I get what I want.” The girl gritted her teeth bitterly, as if cursing. “Nothing… he can’t even touch a single finger of mine.”

His dark eyes were filled with despair and resentment, as if he had been driven to the brink of death.

He wanted to say that if there was any real hope, obeying the Pope would be more direct and effective than following Qianming. The Pope was the one with supreme authority.

He also thought that if it weren't for her unusual behavior over the past year, the Pope might not have had such an idea.

He also wanted to say that if she hated it so much, why should she work for the devil? She had countless opportunities to escape and go far away, but instead she trapped herself in a desperate situation.

In the end, he said nothing and knelt down on his left knee beside her.

What are you planning to do?

Night Banquet

In the dimly lit room, with heavy curtains drawn, the only sound was heavy breathing.

Ecstasy moans mingled with the soft rustling of the bed curtains as a man and woman, their naked bodies entwined, drenched in sweat, moved with rapid, rhythmic movements. With a final, powerful thrust, the taut muscles relaxed, and the man nimbly rolled to one side, his rapid breathing gradually calming.

The woman beside him had a flushed face and slightly open pupils, still savoring the afterglow of passion. After a long while, she lazily propped her head up, her long, curly hair falling casually, her eyes alluring and captivating.

"You seem quite happy today." The man sat up slightly, giving her face a frivolous look.

"Me? A little, actually." She smiled lazily, a hint of secret excitement in her eyes. "There's going to be a good show tonight."

"What kind of play?" He asked casually, his eyebrows raised.

"The King... wants to summon Jia Ye to his bedchamber." She chuckled softly. "Isn't this the show yet?"

The man suppressed his surprise, "I've only ever heard of giving her gifts; is there another meaning to it?"

"That old codger always likes to play these tricks. He's not a plaything that Meiyuan can indulge in at will, so he always has to put on a show. He gives gifts first and then asks for people. He's always done it this way."

“I thought he wasn’t interested in someone like Jia Ye.” The man lowered his eyes to hide his gaze, his hand tracing the curves of her body. “At least someone who would catch his eye should be a real woman.”

The young woman giggled sweetly, understanding the unspoken compliment. "That's true, he's always liked mature women, but with Jia Ye…"