Le charme d'une femme puissante se répand à travers le monde

Chapitre 44

There are maids and eunuchs in Zhilan Palace. If I were to disappear, wouldn't they search the entire palace and make it known to everyone? Besides, I also have to be wary of Prince Tianqing coming to find me at any time. It seems I'll have to leave the palace openly tomorrow. I haven't left the palace since I came here. Now that I'm a princess, I'm afraid I'll have to bring Tian Xilan along to leave smoothly without arousing suspicion.

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Two: Where Can We Find the Vastness of Heaven and Water? If Only Life Were Like Our First Meeting (Part Three)

Chapter word count: 4045 Update time: 08-12-21 16:24

If only life could be like our first meeting (Part 3)

I tossed and turned all night, agonizing over whether to appear in men's or women's clothing the next day, and still hadn't made a decision by dawn. I got up groggily, deciding not to say a word, and let Zisu help me dress and groom. That girl was clever; she said I was leaving the palace today, and for convenience, she had prepared a set of men's clothing for me. The problem that had troubled me all night was so easily solved by Zisu's words. I stood there, letting Zisu deftly put the white robe on me. In a daze, I felt as if the person beside me was Cui'er, and I was rushing to the morning court.

As soon as I stepped out of Zhilan Palace, I saw Consort Rong's personal maid, Yu Fu, standing outside the palace gate, glancing inside from time to time. When she saw me come out, she quickly bowed to me and said, "This servant, Yu Fu, greets Princess Xiyue. May the princess be blessed."

"Get up, what's the matter?" I glanced at her and walked straight ahead.

"Your Highness, Consort Rong is hosting a banquet at the observation deck today, inviting all the ladies of the palace and Your Highness to attend. She has specially sent me to invite Your Highness," Yu Fu hurriedly said, following closely behind me.

"I understand, you can go now." I continued walking towards Tian Xilan's bedroom.

"Princess!" Along with this cry of "Princess," there seemed to be the sound of someone kneeling.

"Is there anything else?" I turned around helplessly, and sure enough, Yu Fu was already kneeling on the ground.

"Princess Xiyue, Consort Rong is hosting a banquet at the observation deck today, inviting all the ladies and princesses of the palace to attend. She has specially ordered me to invite you." She repeated her words with her head down.

"What time is it?" I asked patiently.

"Your Highness, it is the hour of Si (9-11 AM)."

"Please tell Consort Rong that unfortunately, Xiyue has something to attend to and cannot attend the banquet today. I wish everyone a pleasant time, and I will visit you another day to apologize." After saying that, I ignored her and turned to leave.

"Princess Xiyue!" Yu Fu called out urgently from behind.

My anger flared up instantly, and I was about to turn around and unleash my fury when I heard Tian Xilan's voice coming from not far ahead, along with his usual white figure.

"Yu Fu, have you been wasting all these years in the palace? You're so ungrateful. Only when you anger Princess tide Yue and she takes your life will you learn your lesson and understand the rules of the palace?"

"Please spare my life, Princess! Yu Fu deserves to die!" Before Tian Xilan could finish speaking, Yu Fu kowtowed and begged for mercy.

"Let's go." Xi Lan glanced at my outfit with a smile in her eyes, then took my hand and walked outside, ignoring Yu Fu behind her.

The carriage left the palace smoothly and sped along the streets of Tianzhou. Yesterday, I only pestered Xilan to let me see the sacred mountain and the sacred lake, without telling him the truth. I thought that the more people knew about the fox's whereabouts, the more danger was possible, so I finally decided not to tell Xilan. He didn't ask any questions and just let me be willful, agreeing to take me out of the palace.

“Weimian, is that song really called ‘Ten Steamed Buns’?” Tian Xilan carefully examined my face and asked seriously.

"Hmm," I replied absentmindedly.

To be honest, now that I'm facing Xi Lan, the thought of having to find an excuse to get rid of him later makes me feel uneasy, anxious, and even guilty. Will what I'm doing hurt Xi Lan as badly as I hurt Xiao Bai? Knowing full well what I'm doing, even with the best reason, is it unforgivable and unforgivable?

"Such a grand, tragic, and inspiring piece of music, it's such a pity it has such a name." Tian Xilan said, shaking her head and letting out a soft sigh.

Seeing his expression, and recalling the stunned and incredulous looks on Tianqing King and Tianxi Lan's faces yesterday, I couldn't help but have a mischievous thought. I forced back my laughter and said with utmost seriousness, "What's so regrettable about it? This piece is about ten steamed buns fighting each other over a single dumpling, resulting in everyone being bloodied, nine dead, and one injured. But in the end, the dumpling, disliking the only remaining steamed bun because it was injured, didn't even glance at it and followed the dumpling away. The story of the injured dumpling's remorse and suicide perfectly matches the style of this piece."

"But why fight over one steamed bun when there are ten steamed buns?" Tian Xilan asked earnestly, like a diligent student eager to learn.

"You're so silly! Ten steamed buns are men, only that dumpling is a woman!" After saying that, I finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. I never thought that Tian Xilan would be so silly and get tricked. It seems that a fake immortal can only be a fake immortal, hehe.

He smiled at me, his eyes filled with warmth, like the afternoon sun in winter, so comforting that it moved me inexplicably. His voice held a hint of joy as he said, "Weimian has finally smiled."

I stopped laughing abruptly and looked at Xi Lan across from me, only to unexpectedly see his heart reflected in his eyes. A deep, indescribable bitterness welled up inside me. Why was Xi Lan so good to me? I didn't deserve it at all.

"We'll be able to see the sacred mountain and lake soon, so why are you looking so distressed?" He smiled calmly, his voice light and cheerful.

"Hehe, how could that be? I've been looking forward to it for so long." I quickly forced a smile and even lifted the carriage curtain to peek outside.

He smiled at me, then said nothing more. I smiled back, but in my mind I was wondering what to do next.

"Weimian, we've arrived. Let's get off the carriage." Xilan leaped down from the carriage, turned around, still holding the curtain open with one hand, and reached out to me with the other.

After a slight hesitation, I placed my hand in Xi Lan's hand and then got off the carriage.

The Tianshan Mountains suddenly appeared before my eyes, pure and sacred. Not far away was Tianhu Lake, clear and indigo blue. Surrounding it was a large grassland, still green at this time, with colorful wildflowers everywhere, as if every blade of grass was in bloom.

"Xi Lan." I turned to look at him and saw that he was holding a white cloak. He walked closer and wrapped the cloak around my body, tying a knot at my collarbone.

My eyes welled up with tears. I was still hesitating whether to use the cold weather to send him back to get me some clothes, but Xi Lan had already prepared them.

"Xi Lan." I spoke again, but after only two words, I saw him looking at me and suddenly laughing happily. His voice was still clear and gentle as he said, "Are you hungry? You haven't eaten anything this morning, have you? Luckily, I prepared some of your favorite snacks. Wait a moment, I'll go get them."

I stared blankly as he turned around, got back into the carriage to get the snacks, and watched him get off the carriage and walk closer with the snacks in his hands. The snacks seemed to be still steaming. Why didn't I notice them when I was in the carriage? I was thinking of getting my clothes but couldn't, so I said I was hungry and asked him to go back and get me some food.

"Xi Lan." I looked at the plate of pastries in my hand, my heart ached, and my vision blurred. Finally, I steeled myself and spoke, "I heard that snow lotuses bloom all year round on the Tianshan Mountains."

"Hmm, do you like it, Wei Mian? I'll take you to see it."

I lowered my head, not daring to look at him or guess what his expression was. I just blinked hard and said, "I like it, but I'm afraid of the cold. Xilan, could you pick some for me?"

“Alright, as long as Wei Mian likes it, I’ll go pick it.” He agreed without hesitation, but turned to the coachman waiting behind him and said, “You go back first, we’ll go back to the palace by ourselves later.”

The coachman obeyed and drove the carriage away. I heard the sound of hooves gradually fade into the distance. I looked up at Xi Lan, and he was looking at me too. His face usually wore a warm smile, but at this moment it made me feel a little bitter. There was a fleeting, heart-wrenching sense of loss and sadness in his usually bright black eyes.

"I'm going to pick snow lotus. Wei Mian, stay here and remember to be careful." He finished speaking softly, then leaped away and flew towards the Tianshan Mountains ahead, disappearing from sight in a few moments.

Something wet slid down my cheek. Did Xi Lan know the purpose of my trip from the very beginning?

"Qianqian." A familiar voice sounded from behind. It had only been twenty days since they last met, but the voice sounded as if they had been waiting for half a lifetime.

I didn't respond, didn't speak, and didn't turn around. I just stood there, my tears flowing even more fiercely. It shouldn't be like this. Although the time and place were wrong, when we met again, I should have tried to appease that fox and not anger him, or I should have simply given him a good scolding and sent him packing. But thinking of everything I'd been through, and of Xi Lan's appearance just now, my tears fell uncontrollably.