Сhарter 15: Sleрt Вut Didn’t Вring Ноme
Cloud Rеvеrencе Temрlе, Васk Мountаin, Lоngеvity Stаirs.
Thе stone stерs werе built alоng thе mоuntain’s соntours, stеер аnd winding, lеаding dirеctlу to thе smаll prayer hаll at thе summit.
Legеnd hаd it thаt if sоmeonе could сlimb thеsе Lоngevitу Stairs stеp by stер with utmоst sinсеrity, аny wish they hеld wоuld surеlу bе fulfilled.
“Your Mаjеstу, with the hеavу burden of stаtе аffаirs and cоuntlеss duties demаnding your аttеntiоn, уou соuld simply order your subjeсts to light thе еtеrnаl lаmp fоr the Rui Princе. Why must уou рersоnally climb these Longevity Stairs every year…” The accompanying imperial guard commander, Wu Jing’an, couldn’t help but advise.
This was already the fourth year he had followed Emperor Jingxing to climb these so-called ten-thousand-step Longevity Stairs.
Though far from the exaggerated claim of ten thousand steps, the thousand stone steps were by no means easy, especially since His Majesty insisted on walking up each time.
Wu Jing’an sighed inwardly. The world believed His Majesty to be a moody, cruel, and bloodthirsty tyrant, but the Emperor had never tortured or killed the innocent—most of those executed were foreign spies or rebellious traitors.
Moreover, for a cousin to go to such lengths was truly rare in this world.
He Lian was dressed in dark-colored casual attire, his face strikingly handsome, his posture upright and dignified. Only the faint shadows beneath his eyes hinted at either restless sleep or the exhaustion of state affairs.
Hearing Wu Jing’an’s words, the Emperor calmly gazed toward the top of the stone steps, which seemed to pierce the clouds.
“Sincerity brings blessings,” he said lightly.
When the reigning Emperor visited, the temple should have been cleared of visitors, roads blocked, and security tightened. But He Lian disliked making a grand spectacle and always traveled incognito.
After offering the eternal lamp as usual, it was time to return to the palace. But ever since that unexpected incident, He Lian had been plagued by nightmares.
In his dreams, there was always the blurred figure of a woman, disturbing his sleep and unsettling his mind.
He Lian even dreamed of himself groveling like a lapdog, engaging in intimate acts with her in various places, even on the dragon throne in the great hall…
It was utterly absurd!
Every time he woke up, He Lian wished he could drag her out of his dreams, execute her as a warning to others, and set an example!
Thus, the Emperor decided to stay at the temple for two more days to calm his mind and cleanse his desires.
No matter how persistent this peach blossom demon was, in this pure and sacred Buddhist sanctuary, she surely couldn’t dare to invade his dreams again.
He Lian dismissed his attendants, leaving only Wu Jing’an by his side. “No need to follow. I’ll go out for a stroll.”
…
Before the Wishing Tree, red silk ribbons adorned the branches, fluttering gently in the wind.
Some wished for their parents’ health and marital harmony, while others prayed to find a suitable husband soon.
Ning Heng had no wishes of her own, but A Chan bought a wooden plaque and was writing something on it with great seriousness.
“What are you writing?” Ning Heng asked.
A Chan turned the plaque over and hid it as if it were a treasure. “It’s a secret.”
Ning Heng raised an eyebrow. Oh, so at such a young age, she already had secrets from her.
With a casual toss, A Chan’s plaque landed precisely on the highest branch of the tree, hanging securely.
“Sister, let’s go.”
Just as the two were about to leave, a group of people suddenly blocked their path. The girl at the front was around fourteen or fifteen years old, with an elaborate hairpin and luxurious attire, her expression haughty.
However, her round, plump cheeks made her look less intimidating and instead gave her a somewhat charming and adorable appearance.
“Are you the widowed daughter who was brought back to the Marquis of Xuepingyang’s household?”
That prefix was certainly unique. Ning Heng looked at the other girl. “And you are?”
The maid beside the girl immediately raised her head proudly. “How dare you! This is Her Highness, the Princess of the Rising Sun!”
The Princess of the Rising Sun… Helian Qingyao?
The younger sister of the reigning Emperor, the ninth in line. The reputations of these siblings among the people were equally notorious—
one a tyrannical Emperor, the other a spoiled and arrogant Princess.”Greetings, Princess.” Surrounded by people, Ning Heng still maintained proper formalities, her voice light and clear. “May I ask why Your Highness has stopped me?”
On the distant mountain path, Wu Jing’an whispered, “Your Majesty, that seems to be the Princess of the Rising Sun.”
He Lian did not look at his troublemaking sister. Instead, his gaze fell upon Ning Heng’s slender figure, his brow imperceptibly furrowing.
That silhouette… felt inexplicably familiar.
Meanwhile, Helian Qingyao got straight to the point, launching into an accusation. “Why did you bully Xue Wan?”
Xue Wan had once been her study companion, and the two shared a good relationship. This Ning Heng, having returned to the estate for only a few days, was already acting arrogantly and domineeringly—clearly not taking her seriously.
Ning Heng smiled faintly. “When have I ever bullied her?”
“You still dare to deny it?” Helian Qingyao snorted coldly. “Just because I didn’t see it with my own eyes doesn’t mean it didn’t happen! A Wan is gentle and kind-hearted. Keep your underhanded tricks away from her!”
Moreover, considering how long she had been back at the estate without any recognition banquet being held by the Marquis’s household, it was obvious she wasn’t valued at home.
She must have been jealous of A Wan, which is why she pushed her into the water, leaving her sickly and weak now.
Seeing Helian Qingyao’s righteous posture of standing up for someone, Ning Heng found it amusing.
The corner of her lips lifted slightly. “Since His Majesty has bestowed a marriage between me and the Rui Prince, and the wedding date is approaching, by etiquette, the Princess should address me as cousin-in-law.”
“Cousin-in-law?” Helian Qingyao seemed to have heard the biggest joke of her life. “What kind of cousin-in-law are you? Let me tell you, Cousin Lu already has someone he loves. If you know what’s good for you, don’t cling to the position of Princess Consort!”
Lu Yun Jue has someone he loves?
Ning Heng’s brow furrowed slightly. Why didn’t he say so earlier? If he has someone he loves, why not pursue her? What’s the point of marrying me?
What a waste of expression.
Seeing Ning Heng’s expression change slightly, Helian Qingyao was about to add fuel to the fire when she suddenly noticed Ning Heng’s eyes sharpen abruptly, and she reached out toward her.
“Ah!” Helian Qingyao screamed in fright. The maids and guards behind her reacted as if facing a great enemy, hurriedly shielding Helian Qingyao.
“What are you trying to do?!”
Ning Heng: “What could I possibly do? I merely noticed a snake about to crawl onto the Princess’s shoulder and was kindly offering help.”
She withdrew her hand, her fingertips indeed pinching a small green snake. “Here, if the Princess thinks I’m meddling, I can return it to you.”
Ning Heng extended the snake toward her.
“Ah! I don’t want it! Get it away from me!” Helian Qingyao had grown up within the palace walls; the farthest she had ever been was the imperial hunting grounds in the outskirts of the capital. She had never encountered a live, hissing snake before.
Terrified and pale, she stumbled backward repeatedly.
Ning Heng handed the snake to A Chan, who took it quite naturally. With a slight twist of her fingers, the snake’s head was wrenched off.
Could take it back as a snack for Hua Hua…
Thinking this, A Chan crumpled the snake and stuffed it into her pocket.
Ning Heng said, “Alright, Princess, it’s taken care of.”
Witnessing the instantly decapitated snake corpse still twitching faintly, Helian Qingyao was successfully frightened into fainting, her eyes rolling back as she slumped softly to the ground.
“Princess! Princess!” The maids immediately descended into chaos.
Ning Heng: “…”
Wasn’t it already dead? How could she still faint?
“Your Majesty, that woman possesses remarkably swift skills,” Wu Jing’an remarked with astonishment.
Yunjing Temple was lush with vegetation, so a snake wasn’t unusual. The key point was that the snake blended perfectly with its surroundings, yet it had barely shown its head before being seized by its vital spot.
What extraordinary observational acuity.Upon seeing A Chan twist off the snake’s head without batting an eye, Wu Jing’an gasped in shock—this was no ordinary maid; she seemed more like a merciless demon!
He Lian had excellent eyesight, but his position was distant and obscured, allowing him only a faint glimpse of Ning Heng’s back and the dazzlingly pale wrist.
The woman from that night seemed to have had similarly fair wrists…
Especially that seemingly indifferent yet subtly mischievous and teasing aura… it was exactly like the peach blossom spirit who had pinned him down time and again.
At this thought, a trace of disgust flashed in He Lian’s eyes, as if unwilling to recall further.
Just as Wu Jing’an was curiously wondering which noble family this young lady belonged to, he saw He Lian turn and leave, and hurriedly followed. “Your Majesty!”
Down below, the fainted delicate princess had already been escorted by her maid to rest in a side chamber. Ning Heng also intended to return, but as if sensing something, she suddenly looked up, her cool gaze fixed directly on the two men’s location.
“Sister, what are you looking at?” A Chan followed her gaze, seeing only the empty mountain path.
Ning Heng shook her head. “Nothing.”
She thought she had glimpsed that wild man she had slept with but never brought home… It must have been an illusion, right?
In the desolate wilderness, with Gu Poison still in his body, he had probably long been devoured by wolves.
Tsk, what a pity.