Shuixiang followed behind the Eunuch. Yan Xun stretched out his right hand and put it flat on the desk. Shuixiang knelt down, the veil covering much of the face, and with the fringe being swept down, even her eyes could not be seen. With her head lowered, her gaze was like flowing water sweeping past everything like a snow storm. It was that same familiar hand, lanky and pale. There were countless callouses that were formed from years of holding blades, and his little finger was cut off. Even the new skin had been weathered through the years, forming an ugly scar.

　　She was merely stunned for a short while before returning to her duty. She pressed her hand to feel the Emperor’s pulse. Yan Xun could not help but be surprised by how quickly she had adjusted. Too many doctors would be stunned when looking at his hand, yet this lady did not find anything wrong.

　　After measuring his pulse, Shuixiang took one step back and said, “Your Majesty, your sickness is not serious. It is merely due to excessive fatigue and a lack of sleep. Later, this nun will prescribe medicine for you. Your Majesty just needs to drink it and rest more, and you will be fine.” Her voice was hoarse, making her words seem as if they did not actually come from her mouth. Hearing that, Yan Xun raised an eyebrow, and lightly observed her, asking, “Has your voice been like this since birth?”

　　Shuixiang replied, “Your Majesty, this nun was in a fire when young. My voice has been damaged by the smoke since then.”

　　Yan Xun stopped talking as his gaze spun across on her face before lowering again. Right now, there were servants who were about to deliver some important information. The cold wind started to blow as Yan Xun frowned, his fingers on his temple clearly exerting more strength than before.

　　Seeing that, Shuixian said, “This nun has learned massage techniques that can relieve headaches. Does the emperor wish to try?”

　　The candles in the palace seemed to brighten as the dusk befall this palace. As the night slowly passed, as Yan Xun’s gaze fell on this nun again. Looking at Shuixiang, his gaze seemed to be exceedingly meaningful. After remaining quiet for a short while, he nodded, “Sure.”

　　Shuixiang steadily walked behind him as she stretched out a pair of pristine white hands and pressed on his forehead. Her fingers were icy cold and felt like a chip off the snowy mountains. Yet Yan Xun was casual and felt his headache subside with her fingers pressing deftly on his head. Closing his eyes, he casually asked, “Your Master is Master Jingyue?”

　　Shuixiang replied softly, “Indeed, Your Majesty.”

　　“How many years have you been in the capital?”

　　Shuixiang, “Since five years ago.”

　　Lifting the corners of his mouth, his eyes had no trace of a smile as he lightly asked, “Where are you from?”

　　Calmly, Shuixiang replied, with her head lowered, “From Minzhou.”

　　Yan Xun frowned very slightly as he clenched his fist and coughed. He commented, “You sound like someone from here.”

　　Shuixiang lightly acknowledged but said no more. The hall was so big it was ridiculous. A wind came from God knows where blew in; so light, bringing with it a light scent. Shuixiang’s gaze was silent as she continued looking at this man before her. Even though she was merely looking at his back, even though she had never lifted her head once since entering the palace, she could still imagine the features of this man. Indeed, he must be still the same. With narrow eyes, deep gaze, a high nose, and thin lips, even his lips were almost the same color as his skin. He would always purse his lips together as though he did not hold anyone in high regard. That was so many years ago, yet Shuixiang’s memory seemed to go back to that time when she cowered behind her brothers, tightly held by her nanny. She could see that young boy walking over with the other children. While the other children were crying or holding back their tears, only he had a bright smile and clear eyes, completely devoid of fear of being held hostage. Looking at her who was gazing at him from the crowds, he even winked at her.

　　From then, it was a string of happiness. Even though the palace was so big and there were so many people, her eyes could only hold him. She was still young, and the palace was huge to a small girl like her, yet she would always run off and hide by the Shangwu Hall to look for him…

　　Yet, such days were ultimately over.

　　Shuixiang quietly, slowly, and deeply inhaled. In her mind, the images of cities being conquered, civilians being massacred, cavalry charging, and the days of struggle and humiliation flashed. Finally, all that was left was this figure who had always stood up straight facing all these difficulties.

　　Shuixiang’s right hand pressed on his forehead, his neck, his shoulder, his spine, as though she had relived her wretched life yet again. She looked at this man whom she had chased for over half her life, loved for half her life, hated for half her life, who was also the one who had destroyed her entire life. Her heart was pulsating furiously as though it was about to pop out from her chest. Let it be, what else can happen? Is this not for the best? She endured the struggle, went through such humiliation, endured such difficulties, and wasn’t this moment she wanted?

　　At that moment, a sharp gaze entered her eyes as her wrist flicked, and a silvery flash appeared out from her sleeves and fell into her palm. Yan Xun’s eyes suddenly lit up. In his deep eyes, he seemed to have understood something.

　　A maidservant happened to be carrying coal into the room, intending to feed the fire in the fireplace behind. Yan Xun applied strength to his feet and pulled hard on the carpet. With that, the maidservant fell, and the basket of white-hot coal fell right in between Yan Xun and Shuixiang!

　　At that moment, the people in the palace screamed in fear, and even Shuixiang had been completely taken aback by this sudden turn of events. Yan Xun took this chance to distance himself.

　　“Come! Someone come!” The eunuch was extremely distraught as he ran to Yan Xun and patted on Yan Xun, worried that he was burned. That maidservant was already so scared that she fainted. The guard charged in and pressed her down in fear of this “assassin” trying something else.

　　Even as the Empire was gradually headed for peace, there had always been assassins who did not care about their own lives in the Palace of Yan. Regardless of whether it was the loyalist of the Xia Empire or the secret members of Da Tong who had covered their tracks, they had all attempted all kinds of assassinations.

　　The palace was a mess. Everyone was pale as though they were facing a formidable enemy. They feared that the Emperor would start to blame people for this matter. Yet, Yan Xun did not say anything at all. He merely frowned. He seemed rather confused, as though he wished to ask a lot of questions. At the same time, he seemed like he did not know what to do. Yet this did not reduce his fierceness as his eyes continued to look at that person, as though he wanted to break her down and look through her heart, understanding everything about her.

　　Following his gaze, the eunuch finally saw Shuixiang.

　　While the servants were busy protecting the emperor, she merely stood there with her pale complexion. She seemed so lost, like a roaming ghost, completely devoid of any blood. She was scalded by the white hot coal, and that was not important. What was really important was that she held her hands up completely straight. The clothes on her hands caught fire and started to burn in an intense ball of fire.

　　“Ah! Quickly, save her!” the eunuch panicked and ordered.

　　A bucket of water was splashed onto her, and that was sufficient to put out the flames. Her arm was scalded. A few people headed up to support her, only to hear the senior eunuch instructing, “Quickly, bring Master Shuixiang to the side palace and bring the doctor here.” The maidservants acknowledge and started to head out.

　　“Hold up.” He suddenly opened his mouth, his voice exceedingly cold like the fire that had been exhausted. There was an impending gloom in his voice. Through the layers of veils, the sound went into her ears. With the cold rain falling outside, there was the distinct sound of water crashing onto the tiles resonating in the entire building, echoing on the empty walls along with his words.

　　“You…turn around.”

　　The room was dimly lit, and there seemed to be a tinge of red in there. The yellow candle continued to burn, bathing Yan Xun in light. The golden dragon on his clothes seemed ever so ferocious, as though it was about to break out of the dark clothes and fly into the heavens. Frowning, he would only hear the rolling thunder from afar. So close, yet so far.

　　On the other hand, Shuixiang seemed to be unable to hear anything. The world was so empty, so vast. Everything seemed so meaningless now. All these years of endurance, danger, escapades, planning, and the loneliness she faced every night suddenly turned into a pool of ashes that was devoid of any warmth. She lowered her head and looked at the embroideries on the silk veil that hid her face. With the light wind blowing past, the veil fluttered softly without support. That seemed so much like her life, never being in control.

　　This is fine. She tried to smile, yet she could not even let out a bitter smile.

　　This is fine. What else can I do? Ultimately, I am useless, still so dumb, and still so despicable.

　　She bit her lips with all her strength. She knew not what she was thinking at that moment. Why did she not stab him? Why did she end up blocking him? Was she crazy? Was she going senile? Was she cursed?

　　Or, or…were there still other emotions in her heart that had not been forgotten even after over a decade?

　　She really wanted to cry, to cry out loud without caring about anything. She wanted to cry for all the pain, tiredness, and humiliation she had suffered all these years. She did not want to cower in fear of nightmares every night. Yet, since when had this pair of eyes completely dried up? Was it when she was defeated and had to run? When she had to please that old man? Or was it when her clothes were torn apart by that group of pigs?

　　Or, was it many years ago when she wore her red bridal dress, kneeling under the blood-colored night sky, watching the two people who held hands and charged out of Zhen Huang City together?