Volume Two: An Abundance of Blossoms Always Feels Lonely
Heart in Chaos
Let’s just share a room, it’s convenient
Liu Qianxun hurried back to her room as fast as she could. What had she just done? Her mind was in turmoil. She grabbed the kettle from the table and drank it all in one gulp. Her chest was heaving with her rapid breaths, leaving her heart in a state of panic.
Was she crazy? Her plan to charm had not gone this far, so why was she so impulsive? Qin Junlan’s lips were warm and soft, incredibly comfortable. At the moment of the kiss, she only thought about how to protect her, without considering if such an action was appropriate.
Thus, it made her seem hasty and eager for quick success, yet the sensation was undeniably real. She touched her chest and could still feel her heart beating irregularly.
She had never been this nervous and flustered before; such feelings only arose with Ling Yu. She couldn’t afford to be so careless; she was always skilled at concealing her emotions.
She walked over to the window, pushed it open, and could faintly see that person still crouched there, seemingly just to monitor her. By now, the letter was probably already on its way to Ling Yu.
Ling Yu, in the end, you do not trust anyone, including me. Liu Qianxun smiled bitterly, realizing that she was always this kind of person, so why feel melancholy?
It wasn’t just Liu Qianxun whose heart was in chaos; Qin Junlan stood there, dumbfounded, lightly touching her soft lips with her fingertips. Was she just kissed?
She was still in a state of delayed awareness. Although slightly older, she had never been close to anyone, leading to rumors that she liked women. She had never been infatuated with anyone, and with Bai Yifei, it was merely the imperial elders’ imagination. She once thought she had feelings for Bai Yifei, but now she realized it wasn’t true, as she had never experienced that intense longing.
She prided herself on being calm, with an open mind, capable of accommodating everything, never fearing anything or anyone. Even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of her, she could remain composed. But this time, what was this surge in her heart?
Had she already grown so fond of Liu Qianxun? Did she kiss her because she also had feelings for her? Qin Junlan could still clearly feel the lingering scent on her lips, realizing that being close to someone could feel so wonderful. How great it would be if everything were so pure, how wonderful if she were just a simple woman.
But Qin Junlan couldn’t fool herself; even if she wanted to be a ruler who desires women, she couldn’t do it. From their first encounter with her skills to the repeated tests and Yi Qingyu’s assessment, she concluded that Liu Qianxun was hiding something from her, whether it was her background or something else, yet she herself was also concealing her identity.
In this relationship lacking honesty, she didn’t know when they could truly be sincere with each other, nor had she thought about the future. As the emperor, how could she easily allow someone into her heart and remain by her side?
She sighed softly, suddenly noticing the rumbling thunder outside, followed by a torrential downpour. Qin Junlan suddenly remembered that Li Yue had no room to rest in. She stepped out of her room, coincidentally meeting Liu Qianxun who was heading out.
They exchanged glances, and Liu Qianxun’s gentle eyes had already regained their calmness. Perhaps it was just a momentary impulse, and Qin Junlan also naturally composed herself, forcibly suppressing that surge of emotion. Liu Qianxun was filled with countless thoughts and slightly nodded, momentarily unsure of what to say.
“In this thunder and lightning, where are Ye Ming and Li Yue sleeping?” Qin Junlan eventually broke the silence, wanting to pretend as if nothing had happened just moments ago.
Unexpectedly, Qin Junlan would even care for a servant by her side, which surprised Liu Qianxun. Does she usually behave like this in the palace as well? Perhaps not, but outside the palace, she never regards herself as the emperor, so she appears amiable and gentle, treating people courteously and caring for her servants.
“I was just thinking, it would be better to let them come inside to sleep comfortably.” Although Liu Qianxun is usually indifferent to Ye Ming, she is not cold-hearted. No matter how strong Ye Ming is, she is still a woman, and even if she is reserved, she needs someone to care for her.
“Li Yue, Li Yue,” Qin Junlan called out. She knew Li Yue would be within hearing distance and would appear quickly.
Strangely, there was no response this time, but it seemed like there was a faint sound of an argument coming from Bai Ruoxi’s room.
It turned out that Bai Ruoxi had secretly followed Ye Ming, noticing that they indeed used Qinggong to reach the rooftop. Unfortunately, she only had rudimentary skills and couldn’t perform such feats. She attempted to climb up secretly from the beam and was nearly at the top, but she slipped and almost fell.
Fortunately, Ye Ming was quick-witted and swift. In fact, from the moment Bai Ruoxi started climbing, Ye Ming had already noticed her but didn’t want to pay her any mind. It was finally a peaceful night, and yet she was being bothered again. With her keen hearing, she could easily tell if someone was nearby and what they were doing, especially someone like Bai Ruoxi, who barely knew martial arts.
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As the weather suddenly changed and the storm approached, she forcibly pulled Ye Ming down. Li Yue had pulled a long bench to sleep at the end of the guest room corridor, allowing her to guard her master’s door and be ready at any time. Seeing Ye Ming and Bai Ruoxi in a tug-of-war, she curiously stepped forward to watch the commotion, not hearing Qin Junlan calling her.
“Ye Ming, why are you so ungrateful? In this storm, sleeping in my room won’t harm you!”
“I’ll just sleep on the bench in the hall; young master need not worry.” Ye Ming clasped her hands in a respectful gesture, always maintaining a distance from Bai Ruoxi. Each served their master and had their own concerns; she did not want to get too close to Bai Ruoxi.
“I don’t care, I order you to sleep in my room. I… I’m afraid of thunder.” Bai Ruoxi’s face turned slightly red. She didn’t mean for Ye Ming to share the bed with her; there were benches, long tables, and blankets inside, which were certainly better than sleeping elsewhere.
She wasn’t thinking about anything else.
“What does your fear of thunder have to do with me?” Ye Ming really couldn’t understand what this stubborn princess wanted, nor did she know what the empress was thinking, bringing along such a hindrance on the disaster area inspection, making noise all the way, always willful and doing whatever she pleased. She wasn’t the empress’s person, so she wouldn’t comply.
“Young master, how about I accompany you to sleep?” Li Yue teased deliberately, knowing that Bai Ruoxi might have some affection for Ye Ming. Such a contrast of cold and warm personalities can sometimes perfectly complement each other. This young princess’s first awakening of love, perhaps she wasn’t even aware of it herself.
“I! Do! Not! Want! I just want Ye Ming!” Bai Ruoxi indeed didn’t comply. From a young age, she got whatever she wanted, and even when asking her emperor sister, as long as it wasn’t excessive, her requests were almost always fulfilled. This Ye Ming was cold and indifferent to her from their first meeting, and no matter how she acted spoiled or demanded, she never yielded to her.
People are always like this; the more someone opposes them, the more Bai Ruoxi likes to cling to them.
“Forgive me, I cannot comply,” Ye Ming replied coldly.
“Ye Ming,” Liu Qianxun’s voice called out, and Ye Ming’s expression instantly softened, “Miss.”
“Tonight, you will accompany young master Xiaobai,” Liu Qianxun personally ordered, and even if Ye Ming was unwilling, she had to obey.
“Xiao… young master Xiaobai… can you not add ‘xiao’? It sounds like you’re calling me an idiot.” Bai Ruoxi couldn’t miss Ye Ming’s attitude towards Liu Qianxun. Every time Ye Ming’s expression softened, it was when her gaze was on her.
“This is what you said yourself,” Liu Qianxun’s lips slightly curved into a smile.
“You…” Bai Ruoxi pointed at her, suddenly at a loss for words. This troublesome enchantress, not only has she captivated her emperor sister, but even in Ye Ming’s eyes, there is only her. It’s hard to see what makes her so special, besides being born with a good appearance, that would make the emperor sister miss a morning court session for her and always want to be close to her.
Just the thought of it stirs jealousy.
“Alright, Xi’er, stop causing trouble. We’ve been traveling all day and are tired, and tomorrow we must continue without rest. Tonight, everyone will sleep in the guest room, and Li Yue, you also sleep in my room.” While traveling, Qin Junlan knows not to be too particular. Under normal circumstances, according to her habits, she would dismiss everyone during sleep and rest, never allowing anyone close.
“I absolutely cannot, this servant dares not.” Li Yue, shocked, knelt down. Sharing a room with the emperor was simply madness. She would rather stand all night than dare to sleep in the emperor’s room. The place where the emperor stays is a temporary palace, and not a place for someone like her to rest freely. She cannot bear such an offense.
In the imperial palace, although she remains on standby at all times, at night, the head palace maid Yuan Xi arranges the night watch. Those palace maids must wait outside the sleeping palace. She has her own separate bedroom and does not need to guard all night unless an emergency occurs.
“Get up, we’re not in the mansion, no need to salute, and don’t be bound by etiquette,” Qin Junlan waved her hand. This Li Yue really, such saluting could expose her identity.
“Please, please, master, take back your order. At no time can this servant share a room with the master.” Li Yue’s stubbornness left Qin Junlan helpless.
Does she need to issue an imperial decree in the emperor’s tone to make her relent?
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“Boom!” A clap of thunder sounded, and a torrential rain fell from the sky, enveloping the entire Qixia Town.
Frightened, Bai Ruoxi clung to Ye Ming. Ye Ming reached out to try to comfort her but then stopped, deciding against it; she really didn’t want to care for this little princess.
Qin Junlan gazed at the heavy rain outside, her brows furrowing even more. If only Yuzhou could have such a downpour, the crops wouldn’t yield nothing.
Seeing Qin Junlan’s worried expression, Liu Qianxun guessed she was thinking about the drought in Yuzhou again.
“All of you stop arguing. Yan’er will sleep with me, Ye Ming will accompany young master Bai, and Li Yue will sleep in another room, how about it?” After Liu Qianxun spoke, Qin Junlan glanced at her.
“What? Brother sleeps with you? In the same bed?” Bai Ruoxi was discontented; this was something she had dreamed of for many years but never achieved. Could it be that this newcomer would surpass her?
“Uh…” Li Yue was embarrassed. How did it end up that she had a single superior room while the emperor and the princess had to share a room with others? It seemed inappropriate. She hadn’t realized that she was just the one left out alone.
“Master…” Li Yue still wanted to say something.
“Let’s do it this way.” Qin Junlan brushed her sleeves and left, in a bad mood, and Li Yue dared not say anything more.
Outside, the heavy rain poured like a thick curtain, while inside, the candlelight shimmered softly. Qin Junlan gazed out the window; the rainy night, illuminated by countless household lights, was still enchanting, and bustling places were always beautiful. But what about the hundred thousand disaster victims? With no food to fill their stomachs, the elderly and children might all be eagerly waiting for her imperial decree to save them.
Every time Qin Junlan thought of this, her heart became extremely heavy, and even the exquisite dishes were hard to swallow.
The wind lifted the ribbon of her hair bun, and the faint flashes of lightning illuminated her pale yet worried face. Liu Qianxun arranged the bedding and watched her for a long time.
Qin Junlan indeed shows benevolence and virtue to her own country’s people but regards the lives of other countries as insignificant. Qin Junlan is a cold and ruthless emperor, while Chaoyan is a gentle and exquisite woman. If only Chaoyan were not Qin Junlan.
Liu Qianxun often has this thought. Could it be that she has softened? It cannot be; Chaoyan is Qin Junlan, the ruler of the Ji Dynasty. She has taken the first step and must complete the rest.
She raised her eyes to see outside the window; the watchers had not left. The Shura Sect is divided into the Death Sect and the Life Sect. Members of the Life Sect usually are responsible for passing messages, while those of the Death Sect monitor, track, and kill. Everything from tonight, Ling Yu will know; isn’t this exactly what she hoped for? Hehe…
At night, in the grand residence, Ling Yu was reading by the lamplight, pondering over the map of the world, with a stack of military books beside her. She was always thinking about how to reclaim the lost cities for the Yu Kingdom.
“Sect Leader, it’s very late, rest early,” Lin Wuming brought a cup of ginseng tea, sat beside her, massaging her shoulders. “How can it be good for your body to be so tired?”
“Where have Xun’er and the Empress gone?” Ling Yu is always like this, constantly thinking about national affairs while also keeping an eye on Liu Qianxun’s movements. She likes to have everything under control, not allowing herself any risk.
“The Sect Leader is truly different with the Tower Master; we, the favorites, can’t compare to one Xun’er.” Lin Wuming’s tone was sour, filled with jealousy.
Ling Yu turned slightly, giving a charming smile, “Favorites are just favorites, with no right to be jealous. Remember your identity, understand?”
“Yes, I obey,” Lin Wuming dared not have other thoughts, but everyone being the same would have been fine, except he couldn’t stand seeing Ling Yu so concerned about one person.
“Report to the Sect Leader, a letter from the Life Sect spy.”
“Read.” Ling Yu put away her smile, sitting upright and solemn, displaying great composure.
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“The Tower Master and the Empress have taken lodging at the Hongfeng Inn in Qixia Town, the two are staying in the same room…” The subordinate reading the letter did not finish, dared not continue, and looked at Ling Yu with some fear, seeing her face already darkened, seemingly with anger.
Ling Yu picked up the teacup, took a light sip, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart, but her eyes had already revealed her inner anger, “And what else?”
“There is more, there is more…”
“Stammer again, and I will cut out your tongue.” Ling Yu drank the ginseng tea in one gulp, the cup clutched in her hand.
“There is more, the Tower Master kissed the Empress.” The subordinate’s voice grew softer, just as the sound of a cup shattering came from the main seat.
“Sect Leader, your hand is bleeding!” Lin Wuming, distressed, held her hand and took out a handkerchief to stop the bleeding. Even if angry, there was no need to crush a glass cup to pieces.
The pain in her fingertip was nothing compared to the true hurt in her heart. Wasn’t this her command? Very good, indeed. The plan was so successful that soon she might get what she wanted, so why not be happy about it?
“Hahahaha, hahahahaha…” Ling Yu suddenly laughed, “Very good, the plan is successful, continue monitoring!”
Only Lin Wuming could hear how much bitterness was mixed in that laughter.
