The Beauties of the Cold Palace A Subtle and Alluring Woman

Chapter 38

"Brother Sima," I murmured.

He glanced at the slightly ajar window, then used his light-footed skill to leap through the crack. The guards outside only caught a fleeting glimpse of a white shadow before it vanished. Remembering the emperor's earlier anger, they dared not rashly rush in to search. Perhaps he had imagined it? They dared not add fuel to the fire or challenge his authority at this moment.

I slowly walked up to him; he was already fast asleep, fueled by the alcohol. I lowered my head and gently stroked his haggard but still undeniably handsome face. My feelings were complicated. I should hate him, but—why did my heart ache for him?

With a soft sigh, I resignedly helped him up. He was so heavy. I struggled to move him to the dragon bed. The golden fabric on it was somewhat dazzling, reminding me of unbearable memories. I suppressed the nausea in my heart, laid him down on the bed, removed his outer garments, and covered him with a brocade quilt.

She sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at him for a long time, sighed deeply, gently kissed the corner of his mouth, and then turned and left.

Unexpectedly, a powerful force pulled me over—

Volume 2, Chapter 70: Aftermath

In his hazy vision, Sima Rui seemed to see Xiao Jin, dressed as a woman, gazing at him with tender affection. In her bright, misty eyes, there was a deep, intense tenderness, as if her pity was as profound as his pain…

His soul was desolate, his body was cold and bitter. He instinctively leaned towards that warmth, instinctively wanting her gentle, flowing affection to soothe and comfort his cold body and mind.

I lost my balance and fell onto someone's hot chest. Looking up, I saw Sima Rui gazing at me with clear, innocent eyes, like a newborn baby. My heart skipped a beat; I thought he had woken up. Just as I tried to escape, he stubbornly held me tighter, preventing me from leaving. With a twist of his body, he pinned me down, unable to move. I panicked, struggling desperately, but froze, trapped in his approaching mouth.

Looking into his eyes again, although they were bright, they were still hazy and lacked liveliness. It turned out that he was not fully awake. Did he even know what he was doing?

Was he drunk?

The tingling heat on her lips wasn't an illusion; he was really kissing her. The nibbling on her neck wasn't a hallucination either; he was giving her a hickey. And the large hands groping all over her body weren't... I gasped, a chill running down my spine. Damn it, his face was buried in her breasts, whose shirt he had already torn open.

"Sima Rui!" He was certain of what he was doing. Did he know who I was?

He groaned, pulled me off the covers, and we became entangled in a tangled mess.

Just kidding, I don't want to repeat the same mistake. But just as I was about to knock him unconscious, he suddenly whispered: "Xiao Jin, Xiao Jin..." over and over again, with boundless affection, boundless desolation, boundless infatuation, and boundless struggle. Was he treating me like Xiao Jin? His large hands roamed over my skin, while his lips playfully nibbled at my shoulder, as if he were tasting something delicious in a dream... I closed my eyes, and a tear rolled down my cheek.

With a gentle nudge, he slumped against me and fell into a deep sleep, still muttering restlessly in his dreams. I remained in that position with him for a long time, my gaze vacant as I stared into the distance. Finally, I rolled over, straightened his clothes, covered him with the quilt, and watched him sleep soundly, his face innocent and adorable like a child's, devoid of any guile or coldness. I glanced at him one last time, reluctantly placed a kiss on his forehead, and whispered, "Goodnight. Sweet dreams."

A crescent moon hangs over sparse paulownia trees; the water clock has stopped, and all is quiet. Occasionally, a recluse is seen wandering alone, like the fleeting shadow of a solitary wild goose.

On the way back, I returned in a daze, my mind wandering and making me ignore the dangers lurking around me.

"Who dares to play tricks here?!" A long shout finally brought my lost soul back. I looked up and saw a man dressed as a guard standing there, staring at me menacingly.

Du Shaotang warily watched the woman in white standing on the wall. Rumors of ghosts had been circulating in the palace for the past few days. As the newly promoted head of the guards, he had a duty to find this person, whether human or ghost, to prevent her from disturbing the palace.

I looked at him and couldn't help but laugh out loud at his comical ghost-catching pose. He really was funny. He looked quite honest, probably the kind of decent person. For some reason, I suddenly decided to have some fun with him. So I made a face at him.

He was no pushover. He drew his sword and leaped onto the wall. Because I underestimated him and was just playing around, I wasn't armed. Within moments, his sword was against my slender, pale neck. I could clearly feel the cold metal touching my skin. Such close contact would have given me a heart attack.

"I surrender, I surrender." I gestured in surrender, raising my hands high. He was puzzled, and pressed his sword even closer: "Tell me, who are you? Why are you playing tricks?!"

I cried out, "Be careful, be careful, a sword! My neck, be careful not to cut it!" It turns out, I was still afraid of dying.

Then, looking pitiful, she said, "Brother, I'm just an unknown little palace maid in the Slave Palace. I only sneaked out to play at night because I was bored. I didn't mean to play any tricks. Look," I said, brushing aside my long hair that had come loose before bed, revealing my face, "Do I look like a ghost? Do I?!"

Du Shaotang stared blankly at the face that was spotless and exceptionally beautiful in the pale moonlight, but he hardened his heart and said in a deep voice, "Come with me. When you see the Emperor, he will make his decision."

Upon hearing this, I knew I was in trouble; things would get out of hand if this escalated. I had no choice but to plead in a low voice, "No, if you take me to the Emperor, my life will be in grave danger, and I might even suffer a fate worse than death. Rather than that, just kill me now." I looked at him with a tragic expression, then steeled myself, closed my eyes, and assumed a suicidal stance. I knew he was a kind-hearted man and wouldn't kill innocent people indiscriminately. I didn't want to die young.

Looking at my pitiful state, he hesitated, unable to bear it any longer, and began to think. I opened one eye and, taking him by surprise, launched a sneak attack. He was struck by my palm and retreated in pain. Seeing that I had successfully escaped, I quickly left.

Even after running a distance, she waved to him, saying, "Thanks, goodbye." Her light, pleasant laughter drifted far away.

Du Shaotang, wincing and falling, couldn't help but chuckle at his own foolishness. That little palace maid didn't seem like the type to beg; seeing her feign pitifulness, he had felt a pang of sympathy. But then again, she was so beautiful, so cute, and so amusing. Oh well, she probably wasn't intentionally pretending to be a ghost to scare people; it was probably those people who had guilty consciences. Letting her go was fine.

Thinking of the ghosts rumored in the palace, Du Shaotang smiled. This was no white-clad female ghost at all; she was practically a fairy who had secretly descended to earth.

Fleeing in panic, though it's not my style, but honestly, being captured like a female ghost was really unpleasant. Luckily, I encountered a good boy, otherwise, if I had been taken to the emperor and those women, I would have been laughed to death before even being executed, and then died of shame. That kind of death seems really shameful.

Back at Frostfall Palace, I kept anxiously looking behind me to see if he was following. Suddenly, I bumped into someone—it was so hard, it hurt! I looked up, about to scream, when he covered my mouth and dragged me into a corner. Once we were in a secluded spot, I slapped his hand away, glaring at him and yelling, "What are you doing here? Are you crazy?!" Damn it, I haven't even settled the score with him for what he did to me last time, and now he's showing up on his own.

He seemed a little off; his face was flushed, and he was speaking incoherently: "I... I heard that the emperor demoted you here. I... I was worried about you. It's all my fault, so I came to see you."

I pinched my nose in disgust and said gruffly, "Damn it, you've been drinking. Why aren't you resting instead of getting drunk? Go home now." With that, I turned and left.

He hugged me tightly, then kissed my earlobe. Damn it, my whole body went numb; he had reignited the desire I'd just felt with Sima Rui. With a little effort, I broke free and moved aside.

I looked at him and shouted, "Are you drunk? Believe me or not, I'll test my newly developed poison on you. Huan Wen, you weren't like this before. You used to be dashing and debonair, the object of admiration for many noblewomen, and you enjoyed playing the field among them. What's wrong with you now?"

He stared at me blankly: "Before? It's different now, everything is different. Wei Ying, I met you, and I thought you were just one of them to play with. But after you entered the palace, I kept thinking about you. No matter which woman I was with, I was thinking about your face, your appearance. I don't know why I'm like this. It's like I've been bewitched, and that bewitching thing is you."

I frowned, my tone softening: "Huan Wen, don't be like this. Haven't we always just been friends?"

His voice was strained: "I love you."

My expression turned slightly troubled, and I said in a low voice, "I'm sorry."

He came over and hugged me: "I know the emperor is not good to you. Will you leave with me? As long as I'm with you, all official titles and emperorship are nonsense. I don't want anything. I only want you. Wei Ying, I only want you."

I tried to struggle, but he whispered in my ear, "Just let me hold you like this for a little while, just a little while." Seeing him, who had always been so aloof, pleading so humbly, my heart softened. I gently hugged him back, feeling the warmth between us. I knew he was good to me, even if it was just a small thing, but I couldn't reciprocate his feelings. I didn't love him.

I whispered, "Huan Wen, I know you're good to me, but this is my path, my life. You can't help me much; I have to walk it myself. It may be tough, and the future may be uncertain, but I will do my best to keep going, steadfast and unwavering. Huan Wen, no matter what happens in the future, we will be friends for life. Forever."

I felt a warm sensation on my shoulder, and I was startled. How could this be? When did he invest so much emotion in me?

Was that cool, warm liquid from tears? I was astonished.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out: "Wei Ying, is that you up ahead?"

I hurriedly wiped away the tears that had somehow streamed down my face. I helped Huan Wen, who was slumping against my shoulder, out of the darkness and whispered, "It's me, Su Da."

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Volume 2, Chapter 71: Playing Matchmaker

Several hours ago. Inside the Imperial Palace.

The sound of a heavy object crashing to the ground and shattering echoed throughout the empty palace.

"Still can't find it? Three years, three years, you, you—" Sima Rui's usually calm eyes widened slightly, his face contorted, filling Chen Wen, who was kneeling on the ground, with fear. A chill ran from his feet to the top of his head. His whole body was ice-cold.

"Your subordinate knows he is guilty, please punish him, sir," Chen Wen said respectfully, bowing his head.

Sima Rui snorted, "Do you think I wouldn't dare?" In the next instant, a fierce palm wind had already stopped above Chen Wen's head. If it hadn't stopped in time, he would probably have been decapitated.

Chen Wen kept his eyes closed, cold sweat dripping down his back. Sima Rui stared at him expressionlessly, withdrew his hand, and said coldly, "Such a useless person doesn't deserve to die by my hand. I just want to know, where is he?"

"Junjin Manor is even more difficult to deal with than I imagined. We can't gather any information, not even infiltrate the area. It's like a castle, completely sealed off from the outside world. I've tried every method, but haven't found a single clue. Those people's loyalty and reverence for their master far surpasses the attitude of a subject towards the emperor." Chen Wen frowned deeply, utterly unable to understand that person. What kind of man was he that the Emperor favored him so much, and that his servants and the two princes were so loyal to him? Even with threats and inducements, no useful information could be extracted. Moreover, his whereabouts were mysterious; presumably only the current Vermilion Bird King, Mai Qi, and the recently emerged Black Tortoise King, Qing Ci, knew who he was and where he was. But so far, besides knowing who the frequently appearing Vermilion Bird King was, even the identity of the Black Tortoise King remained unknown.

Sigh, why did I take on this arduous task? For three whole years, I've been using the secret gates to search for Young Master Jin, but—now the whole world knows of the secret gates' existence. This is completely contrary to the secret gates' mission of hundreds of years. Chen Wen looked up at his master, whose lips were tightly pressed together and whose expression was uncertain. He didn't know why this high and mighty emperor seemed so unfamiliar at this moment, so unfamiliar that Chen Wen dared not speculate on how important that person was to him. Because Chen Wen saw that this emperor's eyes were filled with pain and loneliness.

Throughout history, emperors have always been lonely. Because they stand too high, the higher they climb, the colder it gets; they cannot find true friends, people with whom they have no barriers or ulterior motives. Is the master longing for that one who, for him, is his only true confidant?

For some reason, Chen Wen felt a pang of sympathy for his master. He knew such feelings were superfluous and unforgivable, but for the first time, his master was revealing his hidden loneliness, isolation, and pain. For the first time, he had abandoned his imperial pride and was pleading for hope, anticipating the appearance of that person. But the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

For the past three years, I wonder if his heart has been bleeding like it's being slowly sliced apart. The pain is so intense that he's willing to succumb to it, so intense that he pretends to be even more indifferent and distant in front of others during the day.

Alas, who says that emperors in this world have no love?

"Go look again! I don't believe it! I don't believe that I can search every inch of Jin and still not find him! I don't believe it! Write to the Xianbei princess; perhaps she knows where he is. Tell her that if she tells me where he is, I will give her the southwestern land that the Xianbei have always wanted. I will never go back on my word." Chen Wen was shocked. That land had always been a battleground for various small states on the border, but due to the strength of Jin, they had never dared to act on it. But now, his master was actually giving it away for him? That was a strategically vital location! What a joke! Without it, the border would be in constant danger, and a border crisis would be inevitable. At this moment, Chen Wen could only hope that the Xianbei princess didn't know where he was either—

Chen Wen didn't even dare to think about it.

"Sigh—" A long sigh suddenly came from above. Every time Chen Wen came to report on the progress of the investigation of that person, Sima Rui was disappointed time and time again, as if he had aged. After a long while, he said softly, "You can go now."

"Master—" Chen Wen's expression was slightly troubled, as if he was struggling with whether or not to speak. Chen Wen was afraid that the information was inaccurate and would disappoint his master again. But—

"What's wrong?" Sima Rui looked at him.

“Sigh,” Chen Wen said, “I have received news that Young Master Jin may participate in this year’s grand martial arts event at Jianxian Manor.”

Sima Rui immediately beamed: "Is it absolutely true?"

Chen Wen stammered, "I've only heard this rumor circulating in the martial arts world, but I don't know if it's true or false. Perhaps it's just a rumor." Chen Wen spoke the last sentence with difficulty.

"Oh." Sima Rui's hopeful face immediately fell silent.

"I understand, you may leave."

"This subordinate takes his leave." Chen Wen bowed and prepared to depart.

For some reason, as he reached the door, Chen Wen suddenly blurted out, "Master, will you go?"

Sima Rui responded with a light smile: "Of course I will. As long as there is even a glimmer of hope, I will not give up."

Chen Wen was so frightened he almost collapsed on the spot. Sigh, is this still the same cold-blooded, cruel emperor who could manipulate anyone at will?

Before Chen Wen had gone far, he heard the noble man inside suddenly order the chief eunuch who had been waiting outside, "Gao Lu, go and bring ten jars of Hundred Flowers Green Plum."

Gao Lu replied, "Yes, this servant will go and prepare immediately."

Drinking to drown one's sorrows only makes them worse. Chen Wen didn't know why this thought had inexplicably popped into his head. He should get down to business.

"Who is he?" Su Da asked, looking at the guy lying on my bed, completely drunk.

I wiped the sweat from his forehead with a damp towel and replied curtly, "My friend."

"Friends?" Her expression was grave. I know there's a societal notion in this world that men and women shouldn't be too close. She was probably worried that if they found out, I'd be in deep trouble.

I patted her on the shoulder and said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, in this godforsaken place, no one will find out."

Suda looked at the man lying on the bed with his eyes closed. His thin lips were tightly pursed in pain, and his face seemed vaguely familiar. Suddenly, an impossible possibility flashed through her mind: "Could it be, could it be that he is—?" Suda looked at me in surprise.

Without even looking up, I casually asked, "What is he?"

"The white-robed young master Huan Wen." Su Da's expression was somewhat excited, and there was an inexplicable blush on her face.

Hearing this familiar yet seemingly long-forgotten name, I couldn't help but chuckle: "Yeah, what's wrong?"

"No, it's nothing." She avoided my gaze.

I looked at her intently, as if I had discovered a new continent, and said in a stern voice, "Little girl, you'd better give your grandpa a serious explanation, or else—" I stretched out my claws to scare her.

She ignored me and went about taking care of the guy who was sleeping soundly.

"Hey, don't think I don't know just because you don't say anything. You," I looked at her slyly, "are you secretly in love with someone? Oh, the white-robed gentleman and the beautiful lady, they're such a perfect match. Hehe."

Her face flushed crimson, down to her ears. She looked shy and bashful. So beautiful.

"You've hit the nail on the head! You've hit the nail on the head!" I laughed like a madman.

"You, you—I'm ignoring you!" I never expected that she, who was always so cold, would have a womanly side. I never would have guessed.

I held her shoulders, looked into her beautiful eyes, and said seriously, "He's a good man. I would be very happy if you two could be together."

Her face flickered between joy and sorrow. After a long while, she said coolly, "How could it be between him and me? Putting aside whether he would like me or not, I am the emperor's woman. Even if I am banished to the cold palace, it is still my destiny in this life. What else can I hope for?"

I hugged her: "Su, don't be so discouraged. Trust me, I will definitely give you your freedom in the future. I promise. I will let you be with the person you love."

She shook her head and remained silent.

Seeing her silence, I changed the subject: "By the way, how did you meet Huan Wen? Could it be," I pretended to guess, "that you were also one of his former lovers?"