Emperor Huiwen sat before the imperial study. He picked up an exquisite teacup, gently skimmed the floating foam with the lid, and inhaled the delicate, wispy aroma of the tea.
Then, he blew softly on the rising steam and slowly brought the cup to his lips.
He took a small sip first, then closed his eyes to savor it carefully, as if the entire world had come to a standstill in that moment.
After drinking, he gently set down the teacup, seemingly still lingering over the aftertaste of the tea’s fragrance.
The chief eunuch, Qin Huai, entered and announced, “Your Majesty, Wuqing of the Dragon Scale Guard requests an audience.”
“Summon him!”
Wuqing walked in, knelt on one knee, and clasped his fists. “Your subordinate pays respects to Your Majesty!”
Emperor Huiwen set down the teacup in his hand, his eyes growing profound. “What is the matter?”
Wuqing hesitated before speaking. “Your Majesty, the Great Zhou army has returned victorious, but Prince Li’s cold poison flared up, and he returned to the city ahead of schedule.
Last night, at the Cold Pool in the rear mountains, he was ambushed by hundreds of shadow guards.
We were outnumbered, and I also joined the battle to protect his escape.
This morning, it was confirmed that the Seventh Prince is severely injured, unconscious, and hanging by a thread.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Huiwen’s face flushed with rage. His brows furrowed like drawn swords, and his eyes shot out a chilling light as he violently smashed the teacup on the dragon-carved desk onto the floor.
His voice was laced with fury. “How could this happen!
He is already not expected to live more than a year due to the cold poison. Why won’t they let him be? They still ruthlessly target Old Seventh!”
Qin Huai looked anxious and tried to console him. “Oh, my Emperor, excessive anger harms your health. You must take care of your imperial well-being!”
“I, the Son of Heaven, cannot even protect my own son.
As an emperor, I am a failure, an utter failure!”
“Your Majesty, all of this has slipped beyond your control. You cannot watch over them every single day.”
Nangong Yuntian closed his profound eyes, calming his emotions before asking, “Was any evidence left behind?”
Wuqing pulled out several tokens from his clothing. “Reporting to Your Majesty, these were found on the bodies of the shadow guards.”
Nangong Yuntian took the tokens, turning them over and examining them carefully.
He then retrieved another token from a box containing many others and compared them. The material and color were identical—they were from the same group.
Emperor Huiwen’s eyes grew even deeper, carrying a murderous aura. His voice was fierce. “How audacious! They truly think I am blind and foolish, utterly disregarding my presence.
Since they show no brotherly affection, I need not hold back either. It is time to crush their arrogance.”
“Qin Huai, take Imperial Physician Chen and go check on Old Seventh immediately. I am worried.”
“This old servant will go at once!” Qin Huai hurried out.
Emperor Huiwen’s heart tightened with worry, his face filled with concern.
At that moment, he was alone in the imperial study.
Nangong Yuntian took out a brocade box from a silver-locked drawer. Inside was a jade-inlaid gold hairpin adorned with plum blossoms.
He picked up the hairpin and gently wiped it with his hand, a wave of sorrow washing over him. “A’jing, I miss you. It has been over a decade since you left.
I have failed you. I haven’t even taken good care of your only son.
Not only is he afflicted with cold poison and not expected to live more than a year, but now he has been attacked and lies unconscious.
A’jing, how could I face you in the afterlife?
To protect him, I sent him away early, selecting the finest masters to teach him martial arts.
Then, I sent him to Old General Chen for training, far from trouble.
I only wanted to protect him in secret, allowing him to grow.
It was only because your Li’er’s wings were not yet strong enough to become a target.
I let the other princes fight with the Crown Prince, turning a blind eye so that Old Seventh could reap the benefits!”
Nangong Yuntian held the hairpin in his hand, pressed it against his forehead, and tears fell.
After a moment, as if he had found an answer, he carefully placed the plum blossom hairpin back into the brocade box and returned it to its original spot.
He wiped away his tears with a handkerchief, his eyes filled with killing intent. He was ready to take action…
…
At some unknown time, Feng Qianqian awoke from her unconsciousness to find a small fox patting her arm repeatedly with its paw.
Feng Qianqian opened her pitch-black eyes, pushed herself up with both hands, and sat up.
She looked around: directly ahead was a hot spring, embedded like jade amidst the lush forest.
Warm water flowed gently from it, rising in wisps of steam, yet it retained an air of gentleness.
All around, towering ancient trees stood before her, their surfaces covered in moss and vines, with dense foliage and vibrant greenery.
Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting dappled and shifting shadows.
Around the hot spring, various flowers bloomed in delicate, vibrant pinks, complementing the emerald-green water.
Feng Qianqian slowly stood up. “Where is this? It’s like a paradise!”
She tried to recall: after kowtowing to the stone tablet, a door opened in the ground, and she fell through.
Not far from the hot spring pool stood a stone tablet, inscribed with the words “Cold Pool Secluded Valley.”
The little white fox patted Feng Qianqian with its paw and then ran ahead.
Feng Qianqian frowned slightly. “You mean for me to follow you.”
The little fox nodded.
When they reached the stone tablet, the little fox assumed a kneeling posture before it and kowtowed three times.
Feng Qianqian stared at the stone tablet, then turned and began to walk back.
The little fox grabbed the hem of her skirt with its mouth, refusing to let her leave.
Feng Qianqian tugged a few times, but the little fox wouldn’t let go.
She grew somewhat annoyed. “Little fox, I know you’re a Spirit Fox with human-like understanding. This time, I absolutely won’t kowtow. Otherwise, who knows what mechanism I might trigger, leaving me dead without a burial place.”
The little fox tugged at the hem of her skirt with its mouth, pulling her toward the stone tablet.
Feng Qianqian took a step forward, feeling the little white fox’s strength.
She shook her head helplessly. “Little fox, you’re too persistent.”
Looking at the little white fox, she suddenly felt a pang of pity. “Sigh, I give in!”
Feng Qianqian stopped and looked at the stone tablet, then knelt and kowtowed three times.
She muttered under her breath, “Master, don’t make things difficult for me. I’ve finally been given another life—don’t let me die.”
With a “click,” the stone coffin behind her opened.
The little fox chirped, signaling Feng Qianqian to take out the items inside—they were meant for her.
Feng Qianqian stepped forward and, with a wave of her hand, five equally sized chests appeared on the flat ground before the tablet.
Feng Qianqian opened the first chest, which contained weapons.
She picked up an ancient sword and saw intricate patterns carved on its scabbard, along with the words “Ice Soul Sword.”
She drew the sword, and a sharp silver light flashed, the blade shimmering with an icy blue glow.
Feng Qianqian’s eyes lit up with a smile. She couldn’t put it down and praised, “Truly a fine sword.”
The little white fox pointed with its paw to a Purple Jade Bracelet carved with ancient patterns inside the chest.
Feng Qianqian took out the bracelet. “You want me to wear it?”
The little white fox nodded, then scratched one paw with the other and tapped on the bracelet.
“You want me to drip blood onto this bracelet?”
The little fox nodded.
Feng Qianqian took out a silver needle, pricked her fingertip, and blood welled up.
She squeezed out two drops and let them fall onto the bracelet.
She put on the Purple Jade Bracelet, and it immediately vanished without a trace.
The little fox clapped its paws, chirping and squeaking.
At that moment, Feng Qianqian could already understand what the little white fox was saying.
Her lips curved upward, her face brimming with excitement: “Isn’t this the gem from the Dragon King mentioned in the book? From now on, I’ll be able to understand Bird and Beast Speech.”
Feng Qianqian felt as if she had stumbled upon a treasure, and all her earlier displeasure melted away…