Chapter 538 - 441: Ruxue Has Always Been Ruxue, and She Has Never Changed
Chapter 538: Chapter 441: Ruxue Has Always Been Ruxue, and She Has Never Changed
"Xiao Mo, this is for you."
"From now on, whenever you see this little clay figurine, it’ll be like seeing me."
"Just tell this figurine that you want to see me, and I’ll come to you~"
On a street in the Imperial City, a little girl stood before a little boy, her eyes curving into crescents as she spoke.
....
"General, come back!"
"Snow-Trampling Dragon Cavalry! Follow me! Stay close to the General!"
"Protect the General to the death!"
"We will follow the General into death!"
On a vast plain littered with corpses, a man wearing an Asura Mask and wielding a silver-white Long Spear had already broken a Grand Array and slain the Prince of Qi.
Just as the great army of the Qin Kingdom thought the battle was about to end...
The enemy unexpectedly used the Blood Qi from the battlefield and the heroic souls of a million soldiers as a sacrifice to lay down another Grand Array. It trapped the leading commander, and they poured all their efforts into killing that man.
But the man remained fearless.
’If I can’t retreat from this Array, then I’ll just have to break it!’
He fought to the very end and shattered the Array, but ultimately, he also died within it.
Yet even in the moment of his death, he used his own body to protect the small clay figurine he held close.
...
On the bed in Yangxin Hall, Xiao Mo’s eyes shot open.
When Xiao Mo steadied his mind and looked around, he realized it had all been just a dream, and he let out a sigh of relief.
Getting out of bed, Xiao Mo looked at the mask and the small clay figurine sitting on the table.
He tried to recall the dream he just had.
But the dream was like a stone tossed into water; once the ripples faded, the stone itself had vanished.
No matter how hard Xiao Mo tried to remember, he couldn’t recall the slightest detail—only the lingering fear of death and a sense of guilt toward a certain woman.
’So it’s true what they say, what you see by day, you dream by night.’
Xiao Mo shook his head, deciding not to dwell on the hazy dream any longer.
Grabbing a box, Xiao Mo packed the clay figurine and the mask inside before walking out of his bedchamber.
The sun was about to set, and the blood-red sunset, like ink splashed by a fairy, stained all the palace buildings crimson. Xiao Mo gazed out, only able to see a sliver of the setting sun in the distance.
Earlier today, Xiao Mo had woken up early to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager with his two new Consorts, after which he went to Qin Siyao’s bedchamber.
After returning to his palace for a nap, he had ended up sleeping until now.
"Your Majesty, it is almost time for the evening meal. I wonder, in which Imperial Consort’s palace will Your Majesty be dining tonight?"
Si Li approached Xiao Mo’s side and spoke softly.
"Dining" was merely a euphemism.
In reality, where he dined was where he would spend the night.
"Let’s go. To Ningxue Hall."
Xiao Mo said after a moment’s thought, then strode out of the palace.
Xiao Mo thought that if the two Consorts he had just married were from ordinary families, he would certainly have gone to Hanjiu Hall tonight to make it up to Mujiu. However, his new Consorts were anything but ordinary, and he had slept in Yangxin Hall last night anyway, so there was no need to speak of making amends. Comparatively, he was more interested in going to Miss Yan’s residence to hear what she had to say about last night.
...
"His Majesty has arrived!"
In less than half an incense stick’s time, Si Li’s voice carried into Ningxue Hall.
Hearing that His Majesty had come, the Palace Maids of Ningxue Hall quickly lined up on both sides of the main door and curtsied in greeting.
At the front of the main path to Ningxue Hall, Bai Ruxue walked gracefully toward Xiao Mo and curtsied before him. "This servant respectfully welcomes Your Majesty..."
"I wish to dine with my beloved Consort tonight. I trust that is not a problem?" Xiao Mo asked with a smile as he helped Bai Ruxue up.
"Your Majesty jests. For this servant to be able to dine with Your Majesty... I couldn’t be happier. How could it possibly be a problem?"
Bai Ruxue gave a charming smile and then said to Chunyan,
"Go to the Imperial Kitchen and have them bring the evening meal."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Chunyan quickly curtsied and exited the bedchamber with a light, happy spring in her step.
In Chunyan’s eyes, the fact that His Majesty was spending the night at Ningxue Hall for the second time in a row meant that in His Majesty’s heart, her own lady was far more important than the Eldest Princess of Qin~
"Your Majesty, the night air is cold. Please, come inside," Bai Ruxue said with a gentle smile.
"Mm."
Xiao Mo nodded and followed Bai Ruxue into the room.
Bai Ruxue’s room was still decorated as it had been for their wedding night.
According to the customs of the Zhou Kingdom, these decorations would be taken down after half a month.
"Your Majesty, please have a seat."
Bai Ruxue guided Xiao Mo to a seat, poured him a cup of tea, and then sat beside him, gazing at him gently.
"There are some things that I imagine Fairy Jiang and little sister Mujiu have already told Your Majesty,"
Bai Ruxue took the initiative to speak, a smile on her face.
"This consort also knows that Your Majesty has many doubts in your heart.
But please rest assured, Your Majesty. This servant will not do anything to harm you, nor will I do anything to betray the Zhou Kingdom. The thing that this servant wants is of no use to Your Majesty anyway."
As she spoke, Bai Ruxue gave Xiao Mo a deep look.
"Once this servant obtains what I desire, I will naturally take it and leave. Before that, if Your Majesty wishes to reclaim your authority, this servant can also offer my assistance."
"That won’t be necessary. I can handle the affairs of the Imperial Court myself. I wouldn’t want to trouble Miss Yan."
Xiao Mo shook his head, politely declining.
In Xiao Mo’s view, he had the Hundred Generations Book; he could gain rewards simply by experiencing life. Besides, after several rounds of Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining, his Spirit Root and physique were no longer weak. His cultivation was currently proceeding smoothly as well. Not to mention, there were many loyal ministers in the Imperial Court who were still faithful to the House of Xiao. He wasn’t far from purging the court and restoring order. And with Yan Ruxue’s identity still unknown, accepting her help now would likely lead to more troublesome demands later.
Hearing Xiao Mo’s refusal, Bai Ruxue said nothing, merely offering a soft smile in silent acknowledgment.
Before long, the evening meal was brought in, and Bai Ruxue served Xiao Mo as he ate.
After they finished their meal, Bai Ruxue once again attended to Xiao Mo as he washed up.
The two of them treated each other with the respect of a model couple, as if they were a truly married pair.
"Your Majesty should stay here with this servant tonight,"
Bai Ruxue suggested.
"There are many of the Empress Dowager’s eyes and ears in my Ningxue Hall. If Your Majesty were to leave again tonight, I fear it would be difficult to explain."
"If you don’t mind, Miss, then I naturally have no objection."
Xiao Mo looked at Yan Ruxue’s gentle and graceful appearance, and recalling their various encounters, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.
"Is something on your mind, Your Majesty?" Bai Ruxue asked.
"Not exactly." Xiao Mo sighed softly. "But I do have a question, and I wonder if you might answer it, Miss?"
Bai Ruxue nodded gently. "Please ask, Your Majesty. There is no harm."
"Since the very first time we met, Miss, until now... which you has been the real one?"
Xiao Mo lifted his head, looking directly into her eyes as he awaited her answer.
Hearing the question from the man she loved, the woman’s expression faltered for a moment before her eyes curved into crescents like the moon.
Her peach-blossom eyes gazed at Xiao Mo, the tenderness within them mingling with the moonlight and candlelight:
"Ruxue has always been Ruxue."
"I have never changed."