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37. (Bonus Chapter) Past Events (Part 3)

Night, very quiet.

The moon hung low over the slender willow branches at midnight, hazy and pale, its light carrying the pallor of the clouds, coldly illuminating the fine mesh of the sky. Pale moonlight shone through the gaps, falling on my face; I didn't need to look to know my complexion was even colder.

"Leng Shuangcheng, hang in there! I'm counting on you to deal with Young Master Qiuye!" A bright voice rang in my ears, light as the wind, passing through the iron fence without a trace of emotion.

The fire seemed to engulf my entire body, and every part of my body felt scorched. The spasms hadn't subsided, and new needle-like pains appeared on my scalp. I knew that, under the influence of the medicine, the cold poison in my body had begun to take effect.

The most painful thing wasn't my heart, but my scalp. I clutched my sleeve, afraid to pull out my hair, because I was afraid Huang Yu would notice something amiss.

Her purple sleeves, as elegant as cold clouds and azure moon, were adorned with delicate white chrysanthemums, exquisite and refined. Now, however, they were splattered with murky water, disheveled and in disarray. I clutched them tightly, seeking a glimmer of hope and courage, for Bi Tou had told me that she and her sister had been invited from Hundred Flowers Valley at great expense by Qiu Ye Yi Jian, solely to have clothes tailored for me, so that I could wear something new every day, just like the Bauhinia, which grew in the Qiu Ye family's heir's mansion.

Each strand of hair felt like an anvil piercing my scalp, its sharp tips like spikes, driving bone-piercing nails directly into my skull. I couldn't hold on much longer and slowly lost consciousness.

Before I lost consciousness, a cold moonlight fell on my eyelids, gradually blurring, like ink spreading on rice paper, causing my thoughts to be soaked with watermarks everywhere.

I was lost in a dream, with blazing sunlight, emerald green water, and dense forests with intertwined branches.

I rarely dream, and I fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow, sleeping soundly without moving an inch, like an elm stump with its branches outstretched. But some people don't like me lying there so silently. Most nights, he wakes up in a fright and insists on slapping me awake several times to correct my sleeping posture.

I remember very clearly that I have only had two nightmares since I was born.

The first time was far away at Qingshan Temple. At that time, I was adrift on a vast ocean, desperately wanting to escape the East China Sea coast, because there was a mysterious and cold Bixie Manor there. The second time was in the bedroom of the Ye family mansion, where I dreamed that Tianxiao was walking further and further away from me. I chased after that white figure with all my might until he merged into the vast sunset...

But this time, in the dense forest of Qingzhou, when a red sun leaped out of the water, it brought with it a scene I had always feared: Qiu Ye walked coldly with her sword in hand, chasing after Li Tianxiao and Lin Qingluan, who appeared at the same time by the water.

"Young Master!" I shouted, sitting up in a cold sweat.

Looking around, the moonlight was hazy, a gentle breeze entered the tent, and the fragrance of flowers wafted through the gauze curtains. Where was the heart-wrenching pain of the nightmare?

This isn't the bed I lay on. I clearly remember that after taking a bath, I slept by the window, enjoying the fragrance all night.

Looking back blankly, I saw a figure in white lying quietly to my right. He opened his deep, cold eyes and looked at me calmly. As I gazed at his indifferent and handsome face, my heart felt like a glacier melting, several shimmering corners of my spine crumbling, and soft, warm tears welling up and rolling in my eyes.

This man, with his strong and cold demeanor, barged into my life. First, he forced me to admit my feelings, then he forced me to call him "husband," until finally he controlled me tightly, like a kite with its string firmly in his hand.

The freedom that Qiu Yeyijian gave me was also very limited. He liked my obedient, dignified, and beautiful appearance; he liked me being by his side, where he could see my shadow whenever he turned his head; he liked stroking my face and kissing my body; he liked watching me smile inexplicably, and sometimes when he was in a particularly good mood, he would beckon me over and trim my newly grown nails.

As long as I didn't run away from him, he took care of me meticulously, even more so than my father. Despite his coldness and forcefulness, I gradually began to draw warmth from him.

He consulted me on everything concerning me, no matter how small, and this truly moved me.

Everyone was wary of him, and I was a little afraid of him too, especially when he stared at me without moving.

For some reason, his coldness and hardness frightened me more than my father's iron ruler. He probably sensed my resistance and always softened his tone to coax me. Over time, we stumbled together. However, in those days, I was unaware of a secret.

Now I have finally discovered this secret.

In my dream tonight, facing the smiling Li Tianxiao and the indifferent him, I rushed over without thinking and hugged him.

I looked down at my slightly trembling hands, covered my face, and tears suddenly flowed silently.

Neither Qiu Yeyi nor I understood why, when faced with the choice between him and Li Tianxiao, I would choose him, this cold and ruthless man. My father once said that a man should "walk slowly and steadily, stand firmly and respectfully, sit upright and straight, and speak softly and gently," only then can he be considered a refined gentleman.

Through my blurred fingers, while he was coldly staring at me, I carefully examined him. After searching for a long time, I found that apart from his icy indifference, he had no trace of elegance or refinement.

Tianxiao, it turns out I really have forgotten you. Even in my dreams, the last thing that appears is his shadow.

How can I bear this? How can I bear this?

My tears kept flowing.

Two slightly cool fingers touched my cheek, followed by a cold voice: "What do you want?"

Qiu Yeyi saw my tears, but with a smug smile on his face, he could only gently wipe away my cold sweat.

I remained silent, trembling. The etiquette I had been taught since childhood was deeply ingrained in my heart. If I were to look directly into a pair of deep, vast eyes and face an extremely indifferent expression, I would need a great deal of courage to speak my mind.

I imagine it must have taken a lot of courage for him to face my cold and impatient attitude in the plum grove of the Ye family mansion back then.

Qiuye's toughness has always been the reason I fear him: I've never seen him sigh; except when I make things difficult for him, I've never seen him worry about anything; he's always the one scheming, no one can take advantage of him...

As I silently recalled the events, I moved to a corner of the feathered bed curtains, lowered my eyes, and carefully considered my words.

A cool breeze blew in, and autumn leaves wrapped the blanket around my body. The snow-white down was like his skin, dazzling my eyes.

"So Leng Shuangcheng's longing for me is so deep that she even calls me 'husband' in her dreams." He wiped his hand for a while, then teased me with a sly smile.

I felt a warmth on my cheek, and my heart skipped a beat. Could he have been right?

He then brought up my recent trip to Jiangning. The dim light fell on his face, highlighting a hint of coldness in his features. Looking at his icy expression, a pang of pain shot through me, and I blurted out, "Qiuye, it's you I love!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the air was so quiet that, apart from the faint fragrance of flowers, one could only hear the rustling of the flowers and trees in Fufeng.

I could no longer control my expression; I stared blankly into the air, too stunned to even look him in the eye.

Qiu Yeyi slowly approached his face, her dark, bright eyes sweeping over him: "From what you're saying, besides me, there's someone else?"

I was secretly alarmed. This person was practically a god reincarnated; nothing could be hidden from him. I couldn't help but curse him in frustration.

"Ah!" I yelled, furious, "What are you doing!"

A burning sensation suddenly rushed to my face. Qiu Yeyijian stretched out two long fingers, pinched my cheek, and grinned sinisterly: "Are you cursing me?"

"Let go! How could you!" I slapped his arm, wincing in pain.

He loosened his grip, curled the back of his fingers, and gently rubbed the spot where he had pinched it red: "I know all your tricks... You usually don't show your emotions, but when you're cursing, your eyes droop..."

I grabbed his hand and held it tightly, then glanced at him.

"What, you have something to say?" A slight smile appeared on his lips as he extended his other hand. "Come here."

I moved my knees closer to his chest. He wasn't as refined as I was; he grabbed my waist and pulled me into his arms: "Speak."

The moonlit night was gentle, the air filled with the fragrance of flowers. In this serene and beautiful night, I gradually lowered my guard: "I had a nightmare. I dreamt that you were killing someone..."

Qiu Ye tightened his grip on my arm, but didn't reply, only kissing my cheek. Encouraged by him, I continued, "There are two other people in the woods, one is Lin Qingluan, and the other is... Li Tianxiao."

Qiu Ye Song tugged at my hair, and I hissed in pain, pressing the ends of my hair as I said, "I really want you to know that I have no choice but to be with you."

He chuckled softly, then pressed his lips against my neck, taking advantage of the situation. I dodged his advances and said earnestly, "Lin Qingluan is naturally gentle and loves natural scenery, which is something we click with. I've always treated him like a brother... He was tormented by you a few days ago, and his body is becoming increasingly weak and frail. That's why I've been doing everything I can to save him..."

I turned around, gazing into Youqing's eyes behind me, and pleaded, "Knowing your nature, you'll definitely be hunting him down in the shadows. If you find him, promise me you'll let him go..."

Qiu Ye smiled and said, "Why are you looking at me like that... Even if he gets past me, his sickly sister won't let him off the hook."

I felt a pang of unease, knowing that what he said was true.

Ever since I met Qiuye, my fate has been inextricably linked with him. I also discovered a terrifying truth: Qiuye can give me passionate emotions, but fate is also taking things away from me. My loved ones are leaving me one by one...

A soft ray of moonlight shone through the window curtains, spilling into the room and making the floor appear as if it were coated with a layer of silver frost. Seeing that I had fallen silent again, Qiu Yeyijian tacitly avoided mentioning Li Tianxiao again, and touched my cheek: "Finished?"

He had a fresh, clean scent about him after his bath, which soothed me as always. I regained my composure and continued, "Lin Qingluan told me that there are tens of thousands of assassins in the Eastern Japanese headquarters. The upcoming battle will indeed be difficult to win."

"Don't worry, I have my own plans."

I sighed: "I know. The day we returned from Jiangning, you and Yinguang locked yourselves in the council chamber and wouldn't let anyone near you. I knew you were making arrangements."

Qiuye did not deny it and continued to stroke my cheek. I thought for a moment and then said, "Huangyu Shuxue's martial arts are probably above yours and mine. We haven't fought her, so we can't find out her background."

"It's alright." Upon hearing this, he suddenly reached for my clothes, and his warm lips followed: "I've waited so long, I suppose you've said everything you wanted to say?"

I gasped, reached out and wrapped my arms around his neck, whispering something in my ear that I couldn't believe with shame: "Qiuye, when will you marry me?"

38. Entering the hub

The sky is high and the clouds are wide, the wind is clear and the water is far away. Sunlight shines through the jade-green glazed tiles, casting uneven shadows.

Bi Tou tidied her hair, and wearing a long fringed dress, she gracefully stepped out the door. As she turned the corner, she saw a snow-white, aloof figure standing prominently at the foot of the corridor steps. She sighed inwardly, moved forward, and gave a graceful bow: "Young Master."

Qiu Ye stood tall with his sword, his icy, glassy eyes meeting the sunlight, his indifference undiminished: "Go and summon Steward Wu, and then go and invite Yu Xue over."

Bi Tou obeyed, summoned Wu Suan, bowed, and then headed towards the villa.

Wu Suan watched the ethereal blue ribbons disappear into the distance, then turned back and asked, "Did you stand here all night, young master?"

The silver light behind him nodded silently.

The sound of the wind cut through the long corridor, sparsely filtering through the willow branches on the east wall, their swaying like dancing musicians. Qiu Yeyi coughed in the wind and said, "Come with me, I have something to tell you."

A breeze wafted through the curtains, and incense burned in the burner. In the cool and quiet council chamber, Qiu Ye met with Wu Suan, Yin Guang, Yu Xue, and Bi Tou one by one, giving them individual instructions. The group then departed, having received their orders.

Qiu Yeyi, dressed in a white robe with her sleeves lightly rolled up, stood under the warm morning sun, which made her look even more handsome and ethereal. Even though she was bathed in soft light, her features remained as pure as frost and snow, devoid of any human presence.

As Yin Guang was disciplining the Imperial Guards, Bi Tou approached gently and said to the young master, who stood as steady as a mountain, "The flower dew that you asked me to refine is ready. When will you use it?"

Qiu Yeyi gave a curt "hmm," thought for a moment, and then said, "This item is extremely important; we must not make any mistakes."

Bi Tou quickly bowed and said, "I dare not. The flower dew is sweet like purple bamboo shoot tea. Madam will not be wary and will surely drink it all... Once it enters her stomach, the effects of the alcohol will take hold, and Madam will immediately become unconscious..."

Qiu Yeyi glanced at the sky and clouds, and coldly replied, "I will give the flower dew to Yin Guang later. After you come with me to the appointment with Huang Yu, we will immediately set off for Qixing..." She paused, then remembered something and added, "Don't die during the attack and defense battle. My wedding ceremony will still need Hua Xi's double needles to help."

At 9:00 AM, at Qishan.

Grasses grow by the stream, their deep green hue reflecting the white jade-like water. The rich color of the grass suggests the intense heat of the sunlight. A few lilac blossoms dot the grass, swaying gently in the breeze, their slender forms adding to their graceful charm.

A stream, a pavilion, a person, and a few stones.

Huang Yushu, dressed in a flowing white robe, stood gracefully by the water's edge before the pavilion, like a fairy descending from the waves. Her eyes were slightly narrowed as she gazed intently at the path leading to Qishan, a hint of interest on her face.

Behind her, Old Jin stood far away, and further away, at the bottom of the stream, a ninja in silver armor hid, holding his breath.

All the ambushes were prepared, and all that was needed was for the prey to obediently walk into the trap.

"The weather is nice." Huang Yushuxue chuckled, unable to suppress her smugness.

In the corner of a sparse woodland, two striking figures slowly approached; one in flowing white robes, immaculate and spotless; the other in flowing green gauze, ethereal and indescribably beautiful.

It was Qiu Ye Yijian and Hua Bitou who arrived as promised.

Shu Xue saw Qiu Ye turn her head slightly to give a word of advice, and the woman in the green dress bowed and stood still, gazing at them with lowered eyes.

Seeing Qiu Ye Yijian's submissive demeanor, Shu Xue snorted inwardly and waited calmly for Qiu Ye Yijian to approach.

"Young Master, would you be interested in playing a game?" Huang Yushuxue asked directly, having secured her trump card.