Chapter 279: The Eve of the Second Storm (Part Three)

Chapter 279: The Eve of the Second Storm (Part Three)

After the torrential rain, the starry night sky was dominated by countless stars. The crescent moon, now bent, shone with a layer of light veiled in a faint mist, not as bright and clear as when it was full, but instead tinged with a pale yellow hue.

Inside the Qingfeng Pavilion, on the upper floor, Su Rao, who had been drunk, had been asleep for a long time and had yet to wake up.

The air was thick with the smell of alcohol, with wine flasks scattered haphazardly on the ground. The red-clad woman lay sprawled over a round stool, fast asleep from her drunkenness.

A fine layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, whether from drinking too much or from some unpleasant dream that trapped her in slumber.

In her mind, a pair of slender phoenix eyes appeared clearly, the figure lingering in her thoughts shifting between Han Mochen and Xian Yichi, and also between Yun Ji and Han Mochen.

Su Rao could not discern who had become Han Mochen, or if Han Mochen had turned into someone else...

"Who are you? Who is the real you?"

Su Rao asked, but received no answer. She took a large step forward, intending to grab Han Mochen. If she could just seize him and remove his mask, she would see the true identity hidden beneath the dark cloak.

But as Su Rao moved forward, Han Mochen stepped back.

"You were the first to shield Han Mochen from the storm. You will always be an exception for Han Mochen..."

"You cried, and people like us should not have tears; they only make us weak and powerless..."

"I was wrong to think we were the same kind. From now on, I will not appear again..."

With these three sentences, Han Mochen vanished, and Xian Yichi in her mind disappeared as well. Yun Ji, who had become blurry, became clear again.

Yun Ji stood three steps away from Su Rao, his eyes covered by a silk blindfold, his lips always carrying the gentle smile characteristic of the Prince of Jiyue. Seeing her, his smile became warmer, more genuine.

"Rao Rao, come here."

His voice was soft and tender, his long, jade-like hand extended with utmost affection.

Su Rao smiled, her almond-shaped eyes forming a crescent.

It was a sweet and pure smile, without any ulterior motives.

"Alright."

She responded, taking a step, but at the last moment, Su Rao suddenly froze, her smile fading.

"Yun Ji, I don't love you, I never have. It's all been a pretense, everything has been a pretense..."

The figure of YueHua in her mind also vanished, turning into a shadow and disappearing.

Su Rao opened her eyes, filled with cold indifference, devoid of any trace of drunkenness.

"Miss, you're awake."

Su Can heard the commotion upstairs and called out.

"Mm..."

Su Rao rubbed her temples, which throbbed after the alcohol wore off. She remembered only the standing figure of YueHua from her dream, nothing else.

After washing up and drinking a bowl of hangover soup, she finally had dinner.

She then inquired about Yinyin.

Yinyin could return.

In the afternoon, Yinyin left again, without needing to explain what he was doing.

Just as Su Can was about to speak, Yinyin returned.

He brought news...

Xian Yichi entered the palace in the afternoon and had not left since. There were no unusual events reported from the palace, and there was no word in the Capital Region about the contents of the ledger, nor anything related to Empress Rong.

Everything was eerily calm.

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Calm?"

Yinyin nodded. "Miss, perhaps we underestimated Prince Yi's patience. Even though he holds evidence against Empress Rong and despite her repeated attempts to assassinate him, as long as Emperor Wei's crisis remains unresolved, he will never truly move against Empress Rong."

Empress Rong had a firm grip on Prince Yi's weakness. It seemed that Miss's plan to use Prince Yi to deal with Empress Rong was not going smoothly.

She tapped her fingers on the table.

Su Rao looked at Su Cui and Su Can.

Suddenly, she asked:

"Where is Mr. Zhu?"

Upon returning to the Qingfeng Pavilion today, Mr. Zhu and Master Huishan were nowhere to be found.

...

Regarding Mr. Zhu and Master Huishan whom Su Rao inquired about...

Yesterday, Mr. Zhu and Master Huishan bid each other farewell.

Master Huishan, unable to cure Emperor Wei's illness and feeling that his pursuit of medical knowledge had unsettled his Buddhist nature, decided to leave upon learning that Mr. Zhu could treat the emperor. He planned to return to Wanglu Temple and enter seclusion for a while to stabilize his faith.

Mr. Bamboo, after bidding farewell to Master Huishan, did not enter the Zhu Xian Imperial Palace to seek out Emperor Wei but instead left the capital.

At the foot of Guanyang Peak, beside the official road, a wooden white horse-drawn carriage stood still, with YueHua and a man in a blue scholar's robe sitting opposite each other.

The chessboard between them was already filled with white and black pieces.

There was no loss, no win, only a stalemate. Yet, what seemed like a dead end had a hidden gap; once broken through, it could lead to a revival from the brink of death.

"Mr. Bamboo chose to stay, and I, Yunji, will not say much more. Emperor Wei of Zhu Xian appears gentle and weak, but perhaps beneath that gentleness lies a storm. Do not be careless while staying by his side."

Lifting his cup, Yunji smiled faintly.

"Here, a cup of tea, I wish Mr. Bamboo can soon find your family and the lost pharmacopoeia of your clan. You have been by my side for many years, yet I have done little to help you. Please do not hold any grudges."

"Prince, you are too kind. What you have done for me over the years is enough. The clues that have appeared now are all thanks to you. My only wish now is to fulfill my father's last wish, find the pharmacopoeia, and deal with the traitors in my family. As for my family, so many years have passed..."

Mr. Bamboo shook his head and drained his cup in one go.

"My affairs are no longer urgent. I have searched for so long, and now I am not in such a hurry. But regarding your eye ailment and heart troubles, Master Huishan asked me to convey to you that all things are cyclical, and you should not bear too heavy a burden. Some matters should be taken as they come."

"Yunji understands. I will keep in mind the advice of both Mr. Bamboo and Master Huishan, and live well."

The wooden white horse-drawn carriage departed.

Mr. Bamboo also returned to the capital.

"Yun da, let's go!"

Yunji left Yun da with Mr. Bamboo to ensure his safety in Zhu Xian.

Mr. Bamboo did not refuse.

And at this moment, Emperor Wei, who Yunji perhaps did not believe to be truly weak...

"Shao, your repeated compromises will only make her more aggressive."

In the imperial bedroom, a voice expressed concern for Xian Yi Chisha.

Emperor Wei was even more pained by his repeated involvement with Xian Yi Chisha.

"Mr. Bamboo promised to cure the pill poison in my body, I am fine. Shao should not worry anymore..."

Although he had promised Yunji not to tell Prince Yi about that night, it was clear from Emperor Wei's words that he and Yunji had met privately, and Xian Yi Chisha knew about it.

Perhaps this was why Yunji spoke those words to Mr. Bamboo.

A ruler seated on the throne, how could he truly be without ulterior motives?

"Brother, Changle has grown up and is of marriageable age. This time, when Rongfeng leaves, take her with him!"

Xian Yi Chisha did not speak of the pain mentioned by Emperor Wei but instead brought up the marriage of Xianmu Yaling, who should now marry.

What did these words mean...

Xianmu Yaling had already been exposed. If she continued to stay in Zhu Xian, it would only increase her suffering and become a soft spot for Empress Rong to manipulate him further.

On one side were her father and younger uncle, and on the other, her mother. Xianmu Yaling was caught between two difficult positions. In such a situation, leaving Zhu Xian was the only option.

"Brother, take good care of your health. Everything else will be handled by your younger brother. I will personally see Changle off and instruct Rongfeng to take good care of her."

With these words, Xian Yi Chisha finally rose and left.