Chapter 212: Where I Belong

Chapter 212: Where I Am Heading

"Your Majesty, the snow is heavy." An apparently trivial remark.

Zhou Mingqi’s brow furrowed slightly. He said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

Snow fell in silence, the air before the hall stood frozen like ice—

Lin Nanshu turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the steps as if by chance.

That heavy fox-fur robe rested motionless in the snow like a stone statue.

Only a flash of vermilion from the hem, occasionally lifted by the wind, revealed the unyielding spine beneath.

He looked away, turned to the imperial throne, and spoke in a voice as steady as if stating an established fact, not begging:

“Your Majesty, when a falcon tests its wings, the wind and dust swirl. Rather than confining it in a golden cage, why not set it free to soar through the clear sky?”

Zhou Mingqi’s eyes grew deep, his fingertips slowly stroking his jade thumb ring.

“A fledgling that beats its wings often plummets from the cliff. What I see is not a glorious journey through the clouds, but a blade still insufficiently tempered, easily shattered in an unforeseen storm.”

“A blade needs sharpening, not to be hidden away in a case until it tarnishes.” Lin Nanshu’s voice remained cold, yet like an undercurrent beneath the ice, it carried an undeniable force.

“How can an eagle that has never gazed into the abyss comprehend the vastness of the nine heavens? The smooth road you have laid for him... might not lead to the heights he truly desires.”

“It is cold at the heights.” The Emperor’s voice dropped low, with an almost imperceptible bitterness.

“The wings I gave him were for soaring, not for losing himself in impenetrable clouds, never to return.”

Lin Nanshu was silent for a moment. Snowflakes landed on his raven-dark eyelashes, forming fine ice crystals.

When he spoke again, his voice was as light as a sigh, yet weighty enough to strike the heart of the listener.

“Your Majesty, whether to return or not is the eagle’s choice…”

He paused slightly, his gaze seeming to pierce through the countless layers of palaces, gazing into the distant sky.

“If the heart yearns for the nine heavens, even a gilded cage cannot imprison the will to fly. He has never sought a safe perch. Even if his wings break, he does so willingly.”

His last few words were spoken very softly, yet like a stone dropped into a frozen lake, they sent silent ripples through the stillness.

Zhou Mingqi was silent. His gaze once again fell on that stubborn flash of vermilion below the steps, then returned to the man before him, cloaked in wind and snow.

Zhou Mingqi’s gaze lingered on Lin Nanshu’s serene face for a long time. Snow fell on the twelve ornaments of his dragon robe, soundless.

He finally spoke, his voice low, piercing the thick curtain of falling snow: “Is this… what your heart truly wishes?”

Lin Nanshu did not answer immediately. He lifted his eyes slightly, looking into the boundless white, and his gaze seemed to take on the color of snow.

After a moment, he spoke softly, each word clear and firm. Falling into the silent snow, they weighed a thousand jun: “Where he is heading is where I am heading.”

Time seemed to stand still at this moment—

Only the snowflakes fell tirelessly, covering the white marble steps, and all the thoughts and struggles beneath this palace.

Zhou Mingqi looked upon the pure whiteness of the entire courtyard, and his gaze once again brushed over the flash of vermilion almost buried by the snow below the steps.

For an instant, he felt that figure was so out of place against the towering vermilion palace walls, yet it existed with such stubbornness.

The halls were lofty, the snow fell silently, as if heaven and earth were awaiting a decision.

He finally said nothing more. The bright yellow sleeve flicked slightly.

He turned, stepped on the snow, and walked step by step toward the hall, his figure disappearing behind the lowered brocade curtain.

The snow continued to fall—

Cheng Ge hung his head, eating in small bites the piece of sesame candy that had grown a bit hard from the cold.

The cold sweetness melted on his tongue. He chewed slowly, and fine ice crystals had formed on his long eyelashes, trembling gently with his breath.

A pair of blue robe hems stained with a bit of slush appeared in the periphery of his lowered vision.

He paused in his motion and slowly lifted his head.

Lin Nanshu, somehow having returned, was standing quietly before him, blocking most of the wind and snow for him.

On his handsome features, the expression was hard to read, but those always gentle eyes were gazing deeply at him.

The two stared at each other through the curtain of snow for several seconds. The air was frozen.

Suddenly, Cheng Ge grinned at Lin Nanshu. The smile pulled at his cheeks, stiff from cold, looking a bit foolish yet exceptionally bright.

The tiny bits of white on his eyelashes trembled with it, about to fall yet not falling.

A faint ripple seemed to pass through Lin Nanshu’s eyes. He bent down and gently reached out his hand to Cheng Ge.

But Cheng Ge subtly withdrew his arm, avoiding his touch.

Lin Nanshu’s outstretched hand froze in midair. His fingertips curled slightly, and finally he slowly withdrew it, hiding it in his wide sleeve.

“His Majesty hasn’t agreed yet,” Cheng Ge’s voice was a bit hoarse from the cold, but his tone was feigned lightness. “I’m just getting warm kneeling here. I’ll stay a while longer.”

Lin Nanshu looked at his nose, red from cold, and at those still stubborn eyes.

The lines of his face softened involuntarily, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a familiar gentle arc.

“His Majesty has granted it,” he said softly.

Cheng Ge’s eyes flew wide open. He blinked in disbelief, and the snow dust on his lashes fell rustling. “…Really?”

“Mhm.” Lin Nanshu reached out his hand again, this time steadily offering it to him. “Get up.”

Only then did Cheng Ge believe. The immense joy dispelled the will he had been forcing.

He grabbed Lin Nanshu’s wrist and tried to stand up using the leverage.

But because he had knelt for so long, his legs were completely numb. His body swayed sharply, and he nearly fell back into the snow.

Lin Nanshu, quick-eyed and nimble, caught his arm and steadied him firmly.

Cheng Ge, with a rare hint of embarrassment on his face, steadied himself with Lin Nanshu’s support and muttered quietly, “…My legs are numb.”

Lin Nanshu looked at his ears red from the cold and his legs that still had no strength, said nothing, and simply turned around, bending slightly.

Cheng Ge stared at the slender but straight back before him, stunned for a moment, not understanding his intention. He just gazed blankly at the wet patches from melted snow on his blue robe.

"Muyu," Lin Nanshu's voice remained steady, "I'll carry you on my back out of the palace."

Only then did Cheng Ge snap out of it, waving his hands repeatedly, almost jumping up and down on the spot to prove himself.

"No need, no need! Really! I—I just need a minute to catch my breath, I can walk on my own! This is too much trouble for you..."

Lin Nanshu turned his face slightly, his gaze falling on his lashes trembling with embarrassment.

He reached out and, as gently as possible, brushed away the snowflake that was about to fall from his lashes.

The motion was as natural as flicking snow from his own collar.

"It's no trouble," he withdrew his hand, his eyes warm as he looked at Cheng Ge.

"That day when you carried me back from Guleng Peak, the road was treacherous all the way, and I never heard you complain that I was too much trouble."