Lingxiang Pavilion
The candlelight flickered, casting shadows on Wu Lingyan's solitary figure.
The moon outside the window was cold and clear, complementing the atmosphere within the house, making her heart even more desolate.
Wu Lingyan crawled on the bed, tears flowing like a kite without a string, sliding down continuously and wetting the bedding.
"Your Highness, do you know that within these deep and grand mansions, my heart has long been as cold as the night, reaching its lowest ebb, and it will also wither and fall like the flowers in the garden..."
She cried so heart-wrenchingly that her face was dotted with tears.
She had hoped that by seeking help from the Empress Dowager, she could change her situation and have the prince come to the Lingxiang Pavilion to see her.
But she waited the whole day and instead heard the news that Yu Yao, that scoundrel, had been summoned into the palace by the Empress Dowager and returned with a grand reward.
Tonight, the prince has gone to the concubine's Mingxiang Pavilion again.
And her Lingxiang Pavilion, on the other hand, was cold and lonesome.
Just at that moment, a faint sound broke the silence of the night.
A black-clad figure, like a ghost, appeared silently in her room, its figure wrapped in black robes, only revealing a pair of black, ghostly eyes.
"Useless things, just crying."
The black-clad figure stood in the corner, cold as ice.
Wu Lingyan was scared stiff by this sound, and she quickly sat up, her eyes scanning the room in a panic, her expression filled with a sense of fear.
Stunned by the sudden appearance of the black-robed figure, she paused for a moment, and then cautiously stared at him, "Who are you? Why did you come to my room in the middle of the night?"
The black-robed figure laughed lightly, and his laughter carried a hint of mockery, speaking mysteriously: "Who I am is not important. What matters is that I can help you get rid of this endless loneliness and make you the brightest star in the Qin Prince's Mansion."
A glimmer of hope flickered in Wu Lingyan's eyes, but it was quickly pulled back by reason. She still watched him warily, "How will you help me? And what is your purpose?"
The black-robed figure took out a small and delicate porcelain bottle from his sleeve and placed it gently on the table, "This is Xījī Yuán. If you take it, your skin will be as translucent as snow and ice, and your appearance will become even more beautiful day by day. Most importantly, it can make you show an unprecedented charm in front of the Prince Qin."
Wu Lingyan looked at the porcelain bottle, her heart yearning for beauty beyond measure, but she wasn't sure if what the black-robed figure said was true.
Her gaze shifted to the black-robed figure, "Why are you helping me? Is there some conspiracy behind this?"
The black-robed figure didn't want to explain too much, merely saying casually, "You don't need to know too much, the choice is in your hands. Either continue to live anonymously and lonely in this palace, ending up old and alone, or seize this opportunity to change your own destiny."
Seeing her expression show signs of moving, the black-robed figure took out an ancient book that had yellowed from age from his pocket and placed it gently on the table, "This book records Zhao Feiyan's famous hand dance that made her famous. If you are willing to learn, it will surely help you rise to a new level. Of course, if you think it's useless, just burn it."
With that said, the black-robed figure turned to leave, but as if remembering something, he stopped and turned his back to Wu Lingyan, "Remember, the opportunity comes only once, and whether you seize it depends entirely on you."
The black-robed figure vanished into the night.
Wu Lingyan fell back into the chair, looking at the Xījī Yuán and ancient book on the table, her mind wrestling with indecision and turmoil.
After a long while.
In the end, she couldn't resist the temptation and picked up the porcelain bottle, pouring out the Xījī Yuán inside and placing it on her stomach.
Since things have already gone this far, even if the outcome is worse, death is just death.
It's better to treat a dead horse as if it were alive and try to make a difference, to struggle for a chance, perhaps there could still be a way out.
She then opened the ancient book and began to practice the hand dance.
Just as the black-robed figure was about to leap out of the courtyard of the Lingxiang Pavilion and vanish into the night, away from the Qin Prince's Mansion.
He was immediately pinned down by two sharp, piercing presences.
"Who are you, divine being, to dare to trespass in the Qin Prince's Mansion in the middle of the night!"
Dongfeng, dressed in black, tall and slender, held a long sword in his hand, coldly staring at the black-robed figure and roaring loudly.
Behind the black-robed figure stood Nanfeng, also in black, arms crossed, standing there with a seemingly amused expression.
"Who knows where you came from, little mouse, to dare to trespass in the Qin Prince's Mansion. Have you never seen what this place is?"
The black-robed figure's face was grim, Dongfeng and Nanfeng, two of the four guards under the Qin Prince, were said to have unparalleled martial arts.
Although he was very strong, he did not have the confidence to escape from the hands of these two.
"Damn it, how unlucky can I get, and I end up running into them two."
The black-robed figure cursed inwardly.
But it was impossible for him to surrender without a fight.
The black-robed figure's figure flashed, turning into a black wind that mixed with Dongfeng and Nanfeng in a fierce battle.
The sword light was woven, the punch wind howled, and in the night, only the continuous sound of gold and iron striking could be heard, sparks flying and illuminating a part of the world.
The entire Qin Prince's Mansion was startled by the tremendous noise and people came out to see what was happening.
The location of the fight was closest to the Lingxiang Pavilion, and Wu Lingyan was studying the hand dance inside. She heard the commotion outside and furrowed her brow slightly.
Then she hurried out to see what was happening.
In the darkness, a black-robed figure was engaged in a fierce fight with Dongfeng and Nanfeng, who were by the prince's side.
When Wu Lingyan clearly saw the black-robed figure, her face turned pale instantly.
Although she had never seen the face of the black-robed figure from beginning to end, she instinctively felt that he was the one who had just left her room.
"This is the time to leave, but I was accidentally discovered."
Wu Lingyan looked at the night, watching the several fierce figures fighting, her hands tightly clenched into fists, her nails deeply piercing into her flesh.
She silently prayed inwardly, hoping that the black-robed figure could quickly escape from here. If he were captured alive, she feared it would involve her.
In the Mingxi courtyard, the candlelight flickered, casting light on the intricate carvings on the window lattice, and also illuminating a delightful scene indoors.
"Prince, the commotion outside..."
Yu Yao's voice carried a hint of unease, trying to detach herself from this passion, but she hesitated due to her physical cravings.
She gently pushed against Xuan Yuan Cheng, her autumn-water eyes filled with worry and unfulfilled desire.
Xuan Yuan Cheng felt the woman's hesitation, and a mischievous smile appeared on his lips, his voice hoarse: "There is no need to worry, Dongfeng and Nanfeng are my elite guards, mere nightwalkers are of no concern to us. We will continue."
With that said, he pressed his lips to hers.
Yu Yao was dazed, thinking that if Xuan Yuan Cheng wasn't worried, then she shouldn't be either.
The fierce sounds in the room once again echoed, making people blush and beat their hearts.
On this side, after a fierce battle, the black-robed figure, without being careful enough, was caught by Dongfeng's sword at his weak point and sent flying his weapon.
Following that, Nanfeng landed a heavy punch, knocking the black-robed figure to the ground and capturing him alive.
Xifeng and Beifeng heard the noise and had already led the guards in the palace to surround the scene.
"Take him away and interrogate him strictly!"
Dongfeng issued a cold order to the palace guards who had arrived.
The black-robed figure was quickly dragged away by several guards and taken away to be imprisoned.
"East wind, should we report this matter to our master?"
Nanfeng looked at the black-robed figure being dragged away and asked Dongfeng with a conflicted expression.
Normally, such a question wouldn't even need to be asked, and he would just go report it directly.
The problem was that the master was currently resting in the Mingxi Pavilion of Empress Yu, and at this time, he was definitely still indulging in a physical relationship.
At this time, if it were reported, just thinking with one's fingers, the consequences would be terrible.
But it's not something to be taken lightly that someone dared to trespass in the palace. Not reporting it is also not acceptable.
Nanfeng was in a dilemma.
For this problem, Dongfeng is also very conflicted, and neither of them is willing to go.
Xifeng and Beifeng also shook their heads like a drum, both unwilling to go.
None of the four guards were willing to go.
In the end, a little eunuch was sent to report.
The little eunuch cried pitifully, with an expression of great injustice.
Why was it him?
But he dared not resist and could only go to the Mingxi Pavilion to report it helplessly.
In the late fragrance hall.
When Wu Lingyan saw the black-robed figure being captured and imprisoned, her hands tightly grabbed the door frame, and her face was as pale as a ghost.
