Night Song

Chapter 30

The girl paused, something unfamiliar flickering in her eyes, yet she couldn't quite decipher it.

"What I want... of course it exists, but it's very difficult to obtain." She seemed a little dazed.

"Even at the cost of everything, including your life?" he asked softly.

"Mmm." She closed her eyes, shutting out any thoughts that might be revealed. "I will get it even if it costs me everything, regardless of life or death."

"What is it?"

She laughed, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly.

"My wishes are none of your business." Opening her eyes, the last trace of confusion vanished without a trace, replaced by a clear and cold indifference.

"Shuying, I know what you want."

Her delicate fingertips gently touched his face, tracing his arched eyebrows and straight nose, before settling on his beautifully shaped lips.

"Perhaps one day, you will get what you want." His dark eyes were like a deep pool, tempting people to stumble and fall.

"But before that, you must be patient enough." Her pale lips, like buds just beginning to bloom in spring, parted slightly.

As if bewitched, he grasped her cold fingers, the smooth hand in his palm stirring a strange desire. He knew what she was referring to, but at this moment, what he wanted was…

He leaned down and kissed Jia Ye's lips.

I could faintly hear the soft tinkling of bells, one after another.

His lips were cold, and he gently touched them, slipping between his teeth to taste them, finding them unexpectedly sweet.

Her dark eyes widened in shock and bewilderment. She was at a loss for what to do in the face of this unexpected turn of events, and thus unwittingly allowed him to act as he pleased.

His snow-white skin had a cool, refreshing fragrance that could only be smelled up close. He gradually became intoxicated, his reason vanishing in the deep kiss, and he was trapped in the irresistible temptation.

Her pale face flushed red, and she suddenly pushed him away, her rapid breathing nearly choking her in the midst of their continued kisses. He snapped back to reality.

"You...aren't breathing?"

He almost laughed out loud, but he tried his best to hold it back.

Despite her profound understanding of human nature and the ways of the world, Jia Ye was completely unaware of intimacy and held her breath the entire time.

Jia Ye glared at him fiercely. Normally, she would have been quite imposing, but now she was leaning softly against the pillow, her chest heaving rapidly, her beautiful face flushed like a blush. There was no trace of fear about her now.

“You…you…” She searched for a long time but still couldn’t find the right words, and her face grew redder and redder.

"I won't touch you again," he said softly, suppressing his smile.

"From today onwards, what you want is what I want."

"My life belongs to you."

From then on, they truly joined hands to face all challenges.

He stopped trying to guess Jia Ye's thoughts and devoted himself to taking over most of the affairs that Jia Ye had previously controlled. Continuing the methods he had used with the Western Regions, he changed from passively executing orders to fully strategizing, abandoning all concerns and ruthlessly completing the Pope's orders at the lowest possible cost.

Whether Jia Ye was using him or was heartless, he gave up on considering whether it was worth it, and abandoned the Central Plains he longed for day and night. As long as he lived, his fate was intertwined with hers. He no longer struggled, willingly using all sorts of insidious and despicable tricks.

He took charge of all external affairs. She freed up her hands to consolidate her position and gradually expanded her authority in a more covert way. No one knows how she did it, but Qianming not only did not distance himself from her because he could not succeed, but instead became even more supportive.

He never went to Qingjia Pavilion again. Yan Rong sent people to invite him several times, but he declined on the grounds that he was too busy with other matters. He felt guilty, but he was determined never to set foot in Mei Garden again.

The only one who can truly touch my heart is that woman who is forever like a child.

He had watched her suffer humiliation, and she had suffered humiliation because of him.

In the stillness of the night, he would always recall that cool yet sweet kiss, mingled with a refreshing fragrance; he would think of her slender neck, delicate shoulders, and waist so small it could be encircled by a single hand; he would think of her wet, black hair cascading down her back, her eyes glistening with tears; he would think of that clear and beautiful song, spreading far and wide amidst the ruins; her youthful shyness, her rarely revealed vulnerability and helplessness, and her inexplicable longing filled his entire being.

We were together day and night, so close yet as distant as stars, as hopeless as day and night.

He knew he had completely fallen.

Secret Meeting

Jia Ye has become increasingly silent lately.

He took over the academic affairs and knew everything, so there was really no reason for her to worry.

He frowned for a long time as he gazed at the slender figure at the end of the waterway.

It was the dead of night, dark and quiet.

A petite figure sat on the water steps, her delicate ankles dipped into the clear pond, silently tending to the large green lotus blossoms. The night was extremely cold, but she seemed oblivious, lost in thought. Her pristine white dress lay scattered on the ground, like a snow-white epiphyllum blooming in the dark night.

He slowly walked forward and embraced her from behind; her small body was icy cold.

She wasn't surprised, and relaxed into his arms, her cold fingers gripping his wrist.

A soft voice rang out.

“Special Shadow”.

"Um."

"Did you order the massacre of the General's entire family in Shache Kingdom?"

"good."

"Why not just kill the general?"

"The general's wife comes from the palace, and her son is highly regarded by the king. Only by eliminating the root of the problem can we eradicate all hidden dangers."

Thirty-six lives, including two children under ten years old—he spoke without hesitation, his thoughts meticulous and thorough. Slaughtering the entire family might be the most swift and decisive course of action, but…

"You don't want me to do this?" Her silence surprised him slightly.

No, you did very well.

Her technique was perfect, clean and efficient, and she completed the task most effectively. Even she couldn't find a single flaw to criticize.

only…………

He... shouldn't be like this...

She stopped talking about it, wrapped her slender arms around his neck, and rested her head gently against his chest.

"It's late, take me back to my room."

A heavily guarded secret room.

The man stared intently at the girl sitting upright on the soft couch, speechless for a long time.

Are you sure you really want to do this?

I thought you would be happy.

Her fair hands picked up the teapot and slowly and gracefully adjusted the teaware, her movements light and elegant, showing no displeasure despite the other party's questioning.

"Why?" he asked, his suspicion undisguised. "You don't seem like a kind person."

“It’s a good thing you think that way.” She lowered her eyelashes casually. “I’m definitely not a good person.”

"Then why were you willing to risk letting him go?"

She smiled silently, poured two cups of tea, and pushed one towards him.

“First of all, I don’t consider it a risk.” Her face was calm and composed amidst the rising steam. “It’s nothing compared to what’s to come.”

“I’m more curious about the purpose of your plan.” His sharp gaze never wavered. “There’s no reason for you to take such a risk.”

"Please believe that I am sincere enough." She glanced back at him calmly, "And it will be in your best interest as well."

"What makes you think I'd agree? His situation is one thing, but what about the follow-up…?"

“I thought that was what you really thought.” She smiled slightly. “You can fool others, but you can’t fool me.”

"If I may ask, what do you know?" He raised his thick eyebrows and asked calmly.

"Shule".

The man's eyebrows twitched instantly at just two words.

"I don't understand."

Jia Ye chuckled softly, picked up the jade cup to warm it, and spoke casually.

"Why feign loyalty, Moon Envoy? There are some things we both know perfectly well." A hint of interest flickered in her cool eyes. "Years ago, when I pacified Shache, I was caught in the trap of Kucha. Shule was involved in everything. I knew that the King of Shule was only outwardly obedient and harbored rebellious intentions, yet I never took serious action against him. Does the Moon Envoy know why?"

"It seems that Xue has far-reaching thoughts, which are beyond our comprehension."

“I know the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions very well. All the anti-religious events that have occurred in recent years have hidden threads. Upon careful consideration, I have to admire the deep scheming of the King of Shule.”

"The Snow Envoy's years of hard work are well known, but I don't understand what this has to do with the Nine Subtleties." The man's pupils contracted, but his expression remained unchanged as he asked calmly.

"In those years, Shule lost two kings in succession, and for a time, there was a great deal of fear and panic. It was not until Sharangruo ascended the throne that he sent his eldest son to flee to the Central Plains and his youngest son to join the religion as a hostage until now."

"I have heard a little about what happened back then."

"Shalangruo was the younger brother of the King of Shule before he ascended the throne. He was a free spirit and a womanizer. Although he had a royal residence, he liked to wander and mingle among the various kingdoms in the desert. His youngest son was born after a casual encounter with a foreign woman during his travels. He grew up in the countryside and was not brought back to Shule until he was ten years old. Five years later, he was sent to the Tianshan Mountains."

The man remained silent, his striking features hidden in the shadows, his expression inscrutable.

"His son came from a humble background and was unknown in the royal palace, so he was not worth mentioning. However, Jia Ye happened to learn that when Sharang sent his son to the church as a hostage, his son's personal servant had also disappeared without a trace. What does the Moon Envoy think of this?"

"It's not surprising that the owner is homesick," the man replied slowly.

"As fate would have it, in the same year that the Moon Envoy entered the War Slave Camp, Jia Ye overheard Elder Kui casually mention that the Moon Envoy possessed exceptional talent, which allowed him to rise to the Tempering Vanguard Camp in such a short time—it left a deep impression on me." The teacup grew cold, and she casually set it down, her smile mysterious. "Does the Moon Envoy know of the fate of that Shule hostage?"

"I would like to hear the details."

“The hostage had been in the sect for three months when he offended Elder Xiao and was accidentally killed.”

"He's just a hostage from a small country. Elder Xiao has always been known for his unrestrained behavior."

"A year later, the Left Envoy of the sect plotted a rebellion, and Elder Xiao sided with the rebels. He was killed by the Moon Envoy, which can be considered a just retribution of Heaven."

"What exactly does the Snow Envoy want to say?" The man's voice was deep, with a hidden killing intent.

Jia Ye seemed oblivious, responding casually, "I was wondering if the King of Pop would think it was a coincidence, like the Moon Envoy."

"If Xue Shi is truly curious, why not give it a try?"

The air was stiff and cold, as if frozen.