In the winter night, the tea was cold along with the snacks, but the handsome and proud youth was not even a little disgusted with this.
Even it was just an appearance of eating normal food, it was as elegant and moving as a painting. Shen Miao slightly pulled the wick on the table lamp, and noticed that the clothes on Xie Jing Xing’s back were filled with coldness, as if he had just returned from outside and said, “You had been here the whole time?”
It could not be that Xie Jing Xing was hanging from the tree in Shen mansion all this time. Thinking that they were just casual words, Shen Miao did not truly believe that the Prince Rui would have nothing to do all day.
Xie Jing Xing smiled without a care, “Was not it you that asked me to kill Princess Ming An?”
Shen Miao was startled for a while and looked at Xie Jing Xing before asking, “You killed her?”
“More than that.”
Shen Miao did not speak. She had in fact experienced Xie Jing Xing’s means and methods before. Two years ago when Xie Jing Xing was still the Little Marquis of the residence of the Marquis of Lin An, those masked people that appeared during the lantern festival, he did not leave a single one alive and cleaned it all up. Two years later in the secret chambers in the residence of the Marquis of Lin An, he also dealt with Xie Chang Chao cleanly and neatly. Actually at some times, Shen Miao felt that Xie Jing Xing do possess certain qualities that an Emperor should have. But Xie Jing Xing and Fu Xiu Yi were not the same kind of people, most probably because in order to put up an act during the game of the throne, Fu Xiu Yi endured for so many years but Xie Jing Xing would arrogantly use the most direct methods for confrontation.
Perhaps this was the Imperial family of the Great Liang’s pride.
Shen Miao thought for a while before shaking her head. The Great Liang was so far away and what it had to do with her? Upon looking at Xie Jing Xing again, she suddenly felt that the current situation now was somewhat strange. Since when had Shen Miao tied herself together with Xie Jing Xing? Could it be that she really treated Xie Jing Xing as an ally?
She asked, “What did you do to her?” How would Xie Jing Xing deal with Princess Ming An? Shen Miao actually looked forward for it a little and this had a little maliciousness in it. After staying deep in the Inner Palace for so long, Shen Miao had never seen a kind female who could not see blood at all. Moreover with such a malicious person with vicious means like Princess Ming An, Shen Miao would not have the slightest sense of pity for her.
“Looking forward that much?” Xie Jing Xing looked at her laughingly and said lazily, “You will know about it tomorrow.”
Shen Miao thought about the meaning behind Xie Jing Xing’s words. How lively would Princess Ming An death be? She asked, “How about Xie Chang Wu?”
Xie Jing Xing even dare to take action against Princess Ming An, so there was no reason to Let Xie Chang Wu go.
Indeed one heard Xie Jing Xing said, “Killed.”
“Are you not afraid that the Marquis of Lin An would be upset about the matter?” Shen Miao asked as she looked at him.
The fire was burning hotly in the room as Xie Jing Xing picked up the teacup and took a sip. His thin lips that were soaked in tea became a little red, and his smile was just as casual as always, “What does the family matters of the Marquis of Lin An got to do with me?”
It was obviously words of little feelings, but Shen Miao felt a little self deprecation in that youth’s careless smile, and her heart moved slightly.
Since the beginning with the handling of the Xie brothers, Xie Jing Xing did really cut off all ties and relationship with the residence of the Marquis of Lin An. Because if there was one day when Xie Ding investigated his whereabouts, even if Xie Ding was not hostile to Xie Jing Xing initially, he would never let it down due to the death of the Xie brothers. Father and son became enemies, even though they were not real father and son, did Xie Jing Xing really had no emotions as he portrayed on the surface, or was it that he had hidden all the emotions, be it good or bad, under that pair of always smiling eyes?
Everyone in this world would have secrets that one was unwilling to tell, and Shen Miao could never know about Xie Jing Xing’s thoughts. In this snowy and cold winter night, Xie Jing Xing coming over to the tree at Shen mansion to hang out, was it really just to give a plucked flower as a present? Or was it like her, unable to sleep in this night, and borrowed the snowy winter to think about the unhappy thoughts to keep herself sober.
In doing so, both of them did have some similarities.
Suddenly Shen Miao felt that Xie Jing Xing was somewhat pleasing to her eyes.
When Xie Jing Xing caught sight of her gaze, he was slightly stunned before he said immediately, “What kind of look is that? Pity me?”
Shen Miao laughed, “I cannot even take care of myself, what qualifications do I have to be sympathetic to others? Moreover it is Your Highness Prince Rui who have the power to cover the Heavens.” Shen Miao spoke jokingly but perhaps she did not realise that her words stirred the conversation away, and made Xie Jing Xing’s heart a little better.
Xie Jing Xing looked at her with a raise brow, and suddenly both of his hands were on the table as he got closer to Shen Miao and said with a smile, “You do not have to think yourself as such. The allies that follow me have the qualifications to be higher than others.” In the winter night, his voice seemed deliberately low and had a little warmth, “Of course, if it is a female who follow me, then one will have every qualifications.”
His eyebrows were extremely beautiful. Even though Shen Miao had seen countless of handsomes in the Palace in her past life, she had never seen one this good looking before. It was not only that the appearance was good looking, but also it was like his elegance and bearing were carved onto his bone and deep into his soul. Every single movement was mesmerising, as if spring flowers were blooming in the winter, and made others feel cold yet warm. When he carefully stared at a person, it would make the other party have a misconception that in this entire world, he only took themselves seriously. (Ed: wasnt go to say a thing, but this made me barf)
His gaze landed on Shen Miao’s lips and he slightly tilted his head and with a fleeting smile, slowly lowering his head.
The shadows under the lamp were almost intertwined. The male tall and strong, the female small and delicate. It was indeed a good painting of flowers and moon.
Shen Miao’s heart slightly delayed before she pushed Xie Jing Xing away. Most probably she felt that her movements were too sudden and unnatural, she then covered it up by picking up the cool tea in front of her for a drink, but had forgotten that this tea had been drunk by Xie Jing Xing before. She lightly coughed twice and turned her head without looking at the other party, but her face was slowly beginning to heat up.
Xie Jing Xing could not help but to be overwhelmed by Shen Miao’s push and almost fell off. He landed on the chair, and then saw Shen Miao picking up the teacup in a fluster to drink. His displeased expression suddenly changed and he felt somewhat funny.
He said lazily, “Oi.”
Shen Miao did not look at him, and lowered her head to look at the shadows on the floor. The smile in Xie Jing Xing’s eyes got deeper and he deliberately teased, “You still know how to be shy?”
Shen Miao looked up suddenly and glared at him.
However even when such an angry look was being cast, most likely it was because of the slightly warm light in the room, that it made it appear soft and made it even more moving. Her brows and eyes were small and cute. They were not like the usual magnanimous and proper, but at this moment there was three tenths of shyness and seven tenths of annoyance. Her fair face had a touch of redness like when one drank alcohol and was rather emotional. Suddenly it made one thought about the winter night two years ago, when she was wearing her middle clothes with long hair, standing in front of the windows intoxicated but was wanting to watch the fireworks. Thinking about that, there was some scent of plum blossom between her lips.
Xie Jing Xing’s lips hooked up, “Shen Miao.”
“What?” Shen Miao was filled with anger. With regards to Xie Jing Xing, if he took the hard approach or used some tricks, Shen Miao could deal with it indifferently. But Xie Jing Xing would purposely treat her like he was teasing some young female, which made Shen Miao unsure how to deal with it. In her previous life in the Palace, people would be respectful in front of her and criticised her from behind but from the beginning to the end, all the people that she had came into contact were all old fashioned people who adhere to ceremonial rules and mannerism. She had never met such an arrogant and conceited person like Xie Jing Xing before. It was as if all her countermeasures had lost its effect with the other party’s unruly tricks.
“The cup that you are drinking from, is mine.” Xie Jing Xing reminded her.
Shen Miao unconsciously looked down before she wanted to directly walk out with embarrassment. She suddenly felt that tonight letting Xie Jing Xing into the room was the biggest mistake that she ever made!
“Shy?” Xie Jing Xing seemed to like her shy look and continued to get closer.
“The skies are no longer early.” Shen Miao said bluntly, “You are still not leaving?”
Xie Jing Xing did not speak and stared at her for a while. His gaze was sharp and deep that made ordinary people unable to bear it, but Shen Miao forcefully looked at him calmly. After a few moments, Xie Jing Xing stood up, “Never mind. When you are this shy, I will not bother you.” The warmth that he spoke with made one imaginative, but he did not see Shen Miao’s instantly stiff face.
He walked to the window side and Shen Miao stood up. Xie Jing Xing opened the window and the cold winter air blew in from outside, making Shen Miao shudder.
“It is cold outside, there is no need to send off.” Xie Jing Xing said, “Many thanks for hosting, the tea is good to drink and the snacks are not bad.” His figure flashed and he already reached the courtyard outside the window.
Shen Miao walked over as she planned to close the windows, but she saw that in the snowy skies that handsome purple robed youth suddenly turned back, as if he suddenly remembered something with a gentle smile.
“Oh right, you are rather cute when shy.”
Shen Miao closed the window with a ‘bang’.
She should not have been soft hearted! This person was so hateful!
After Shen Miao closed the windows, she then sat back onto her bed and watched the oil lamp at the head of the bed that was so weak that it was almost extinguished. However her eyes were unusually bright and sparkling, like they were a good quality gemstone that was glowing lustrously in the dark night.
She thought about it. If it was in her previous life, Xie Jing Xing’s action would be considered as guilty of offending the higher ranked, and she could just shout the word “impudent” and afterwards get people to drag him out to be beheaded, but in this lifetime she had no way to deal with it even as she was being teased.
But why would it be embarrassing?
Under the swaying light, that person tilted his head down and she could almost see each of his long eyelashes. His eyes and gaze were even more moving and intoxicating than the moonlight, and the slight coolness of his thin lips…
Shen Miao quivered and quickly recovered to her senses. She rubbed her heart and thought that she most likely had been too tired these days, so she was now bewitched. Such good looking person like Xie Jing Xing, would attract females, just like the lead role of a troupe. She soothed herself as such, but could not appease her strange heartbeats. When she was lying on the bed, she did not realise that her lips were unknowingly hooked up.
*****
The winter days in the Ding capital were particularly cold. The commoners that lived at the feet of the Emperor were ordinary people and most probably felt honoured, feeling that one was different from the people living outside the city and would feel superior, not to mention the officials and nobilities. Thus even when it was winter, even though people would wake up late, other than the hawkers who had to go to the streets early to set up their stalls, normal people were more willing to stay a longer at their residences for more warmth before going out.
Snow fell down heavily for an entire night yesterday, and it was extremely cold outside. Fortunately the snow stopped early in the morning, thus everyone was still willing to go out. When it was later a little, there were gradually more people on the streets.
After such an entire night of snow, the lake surface was already frozen into hard ice, that even the old people who often fished were unwilling to come over. It was not because of anything but because it would be very difficult to drill holes into such a hard ice, and would rather wait till tomorrow.
Although there was a lack of older folks fishing, there was increased number of playful children. The surface of the lake was sparkling and children loved to wear hard-soled boots and if they found a piece of wood, they would then chase each other around on the ice. Most of the children that were playing were all sons and daughters of the street hawkers. Their mothers would scold them as this would dirty their new clothes, and also feared that the ice surface would suddenly split. However the children were at the age where they loved to play thus how would they obediently listen to their mother’s words? Thus three to five of them secretly picked a piece of wood to play on the Wan Li Lake.
It was the same today.
There were several five to six year old children carrying pieces of wood to the Wan Li Lake. The surface of the lake was very slippery and the children could only walk very carefully. It was alright if one were to slip, but if the surface of the ice dirtied the newly made clothes, one would definitely be scolded by their mothers when they returned, thus they walked particularly slowly.
After reaching to the center of the Wan Li Lake with great difficulty, the few children placed the pieces of wood in their arms down and sat on them. One of them was pushing them at the back, pushing from the center of the lake out, feeling particularly happy while playing the game. A little girl who was wearing flower buds in her hair carried the wooden pieces and headed back, most probably wanting to walk further away but she suddenly stopped.
“Ah Chun, why are you standing there for?” The older boy saw his younger sister standing there in a daze and could not help but ask.
“Older Brother.” The girl by the name of Ah Chun pointed her finger in front, “That ice sculpture is strange.”
There were exquisite restaurants in the south of the city, and naturally there would be some ordinary shops. Most of the owners of these shops had accumulated their wealth and could be considered as a little wealthy, but yet could not rent the shops similar to the large restaurants. But even so, because of the unique location of the south of the city, it was still quite lively at the shops in this area.
Normally the shopkeepers or their wives would be busy with their own matters and when they were not busy, they would always liked to chat and drink tea. It was probably early today and there were not many customers, several adjacent shopkeepers gathered around the storefront to chat.
Just as they were talking about the weather that was getting colder day by day, they saw several children running over and each one of them were panting breathlessly. These few children were the children of this group of shopkeepers and would usually play together. The female shopkeeper that sells rouge took a look and suddenly became angry, “Dong-er, did you bring Ah Chun to the Wan Li Lake again? I made new clothes for Ah Chun yesterday and now it is all wet. Is your skin itching?”
Just as they were speaking, one saw the few shopkeepers coming over to discipline their own children. This was because this group of children were all in a mess. Their clothes were wet, messy and some even lost a shoe, as if they had ran over from somewhere in a rush.
Just as one wanted to say a few more words, that boy by the name of Dong-er started crying, “Wan Li Lake… There is people in the Wan Li Lake…”
As soon as everyone heard, they were startled before a middle-aged male said, “This is bad, Could it be that some child fell into the water?”
There were cases of children drowning in the Wan Li Lake all around the year. Even though it was not common in winter, it did not mean that it did not happen. If a child cracked the ice while playing, there were cases where they would die when they fall into the water. When the words were spoken, everyone faces changed. The female shopkeeper who was selling rouge was one who was warm hearted and quickly walked, “Why so still? Go and take a look first. We are all neighbours and would worry no matter whose child fell into the water. Go and look!”
As soon as every heard this, they all echoed the same sentiments and followed that female shopkeeper, and ran over to the surface of the Wan Li Lake.
When they reached the Wan Li Lake, they were stunned. They only knew that other than the children who were playful and would often come here, the usually desolated river was already surrounding by a number of people, and most of the people actually went towards the center of the lake.
“This… It cannot be that one fell into the water?” The female shopkeeper murmured.
If anything were to happen, some people would go forward to help and some people would watch the commotion, but there would not be so many people who would head to the center of the lake together. Especially when among the people heading towards the middle of the lake, many of them were the rich and noble gentlemen. This was somewhat unusual. This was not saying that the rich were not good but in this world, one would only swept the snow to others, and the rich would not care or manage the matters of the commoners but currently… Since when were there so many hospitable and friendly people in the Ding capital?
At this moment there were some people that were heading to the middle of the Wan Li Lake. Cai Lin was already so cold that he was shivering. Even though he was already wearing heavily and had a thick fur coat around him, the Wan Li Lake had always been much colder than the ground by a lot. It was especially so as the ice under one’s feet would drill the coldness from the sole up thus making Cai Lin, a delicate and spoiled gentleman, unable to bear with it.
“What is exactly on this lake?” Cai Lin asked the scoundrel friend that he always hangs out with, “Why make one come over here to look so early in the morning?”
Early in the morning, Cai Lin found the group of gentlemen that he usually hang out with, and planned to go to the gamble house to play, but who knew that his friend mentioned that there was a big incident on the Wan Li Lake and just had to pull him along.
“Actually, I do not know either.” That person said, “But I heard the servants speaking, and thus pulled you along for a look.” He approached Cai Lin and said in a low voice, “Normally we only read about corpses in books, but now one can actually see a genuine corpse.”
“Corpse?” Cai Lin jumped in shock and quickly said, “I am not going.” Even though he normally liked novelty things but the excitement was only on his mouth as he was timid to his bones. Even though he had the title of a little overlord in the past, that was extinguished by Shen Miao two years ago during the academy exams, and now he was much more aware of his place.
That friend did not listen to excuses, “Since we have walked till here, then just take a look. Just a look, what are you afraid of?”
Cai Lin could not stand being incited by others and immediately said, “How am I afraid? I will now go and take a look with you! I want to see just what kind of thing it is for it to be meet with such excitement from you.”
Both of them had already walked most of the way, and were currently very near to the center of the lake. When they reached the most central area, there were already many people surrounding it and pointing. The friend towed Cai Lin and pushed away the crowd and reached the front before pointing at the thing in the middle, “Quickly look, this is it!”
Cai Lin followed to look up.
The winter days in the Ding capital are cold and this was especially so recently. Whenever there is a bucket of water in the courtyard, on the second day, it was worth noting that it would definitely become a bucket of ice. As long as anything was drenched in water, such as the branches or the roof, after a night there would bound to be ice formed.
And in the center of the Wan Li Lake, there stood three ‘ice sculptures’.
It was not accurate to call them ice sculptures. Those three persons were frozen in the ice, and one could clearly see through the icy surface to see those person’s appearances. It was because it was like so, people could clearly understand that this was not something that craftsmen could meticulously sculpt, and it was truly three live people who were frozen to death before turning into an ice sculpture.
And the thing that made people click one’s tongue in wonder, was the postures of the three persons.
The person that was in the center was apparently a female. Her clothes were untied and half of her body was revealed, and the male at her side was reaching out to untie her Dudou (aka lingerie) while the male behind held on to this female’s waist. The female raised her head and half leaned to the male at the back. Even though the expression was somewhat stiff, but this kind of erotic movements seemed to be a living spring drawing (aka erotic drawings), making one’s imagination roam. The layers of people surrounding the ice sculptures were mostly male. There were normal commoners, rich and noble gentlemen, some were curious but some had the mindset of looking, since it was there to look even though it was a corpse, it was after all a beautiful female. Moreover, this ice sculpture was so lifelike that it did not make one horrified but made one feel allured.
And the truth was overlooked.
People would always put their sights on things that they were interested in, and men would take delight in talking about where the spring drawings (aka erotic drawings) were from or where to find such wanton female, but no one had thought about what kind of case this was. Three people were frozen to death and it should have been a terrible matter.
Cai Lin stared at that three persons’ ice sculpture. He was initially somewhat afraid of corpses but this ice sculpture was not at all scary, and instead there was some vulgar sense of pleasure thus he looked at it. The friend beside him said, “This female is beautiful looking. Look. How would a normal family be able to raise such a beauty and to be this tempting too.”
The words that were used, were like one was providing a point by point commentary on a young lady who just arrived in a brothel.
Cai Lin was parroting his friend’s words and at the same time staring carefully at the female ice sculpture. Even though there was a thin layer of ice on the surface, one was able to vaguely see the facial features of the female. The facial features were delicate and beautiful and looked familiar.
Looked familiar?
Cai Lin asked, “I felt that this young lady is somewhat family. Think about it, is this one of the young ladies that we have seen in those restaurants?”
His friend carefully looked and shook his head, “Not possible. I have been to all the pleasure houses in the Ding capital and seen all the young ladies, but I have not seen this person before.” He then said casually, “The Dudou (aka lingerie) that she wears is gold gilded. Maybe she is some noble or official family or even from the Palace.”
His words were unintentional remarks but it stunned Cai Lin.
From the Palace?
He looked up towards that female, and what appeared in front was the memory of a Palace banquet, and a young female wearing a chiffon gold dress. That slightly sullen face merged with the current stiff face and it finally became a person.
“Princess Ming An!” Cai Lin cried out involuntarily.
“What?” The friend was startled. This friend was from a wealthy businessman family, and normally did not have the opportunity to encounter the nobility from the Palace, thus he did not understand what Cai Lin was talking about.
However Cai Lin’s face changed in an instant. He finally understood why he thought that this female corpse was somewhat familiar. Previously during the Ming Qi’s tribute banquet, because he paid close attention to Shen Miao and because he once competed with Shen Miao on archery before, he also noticed Princess Ming An, who because the second him. At that time Cai Lin felt in his heart that Princess Ming An was a fellow sufferer, and empathised with her.
And the alluring postured female with the two men in the ice sculpture, if it was not Princess Ming An then who was it?
Even though Cai Lin’s words were not parroted by his friends, but the surrounding people had sharp ears and they quickly asked him, “The Princess Ming An that you mention, is it the Princess Ming An that came from the Qin country?”
“Really? The person inside is Princess Ming An?”
“How could a Princess of a country be like this… It is fake.”
“Speaking of that, the clothes that this female wear really looked somewhat like the Princess’.”
*****
In the wake of this turbulent disturbance at the Ding capital’s Wan Li Lake, Princess Ming An and the two males extremely erotic positions, were being talked about by the people of the Ming Qi in delight, and it quickly spread into the Palace. Naturally, it also spread to the Shen mansion.
Because Shen Miao had a conversation with Xie Jing Xing in the middle of the night, she could not sleep afterwards and it was only when the skies were slightly brightening when she could vaguely sleep, thus she woke up late. When Jing Zhe and Gu Yu saw that Shen Miao was sound asleep, they did not dare to wake her up and when Shen Miao woke up to have breakfast, it was already quite late.
While she was sipping on the porridge that was made by the kitchens, she was thinking of the words that Xie Jing Xing said last night, when she saw Luo Tan running in from outside like she was on fire.
Under Gao Yang’s treatment, Luo Tan’s injuries had improved a lot these few days. Even though Gao Yang always stressed Luo Tan to rest calmly, but how would Luo Tan had the ability to calm down? She as usual did what she wanted, and sometimes she made others suspicious if she was the person who almost lost her life a couple of days ago.
“Youngest Biao Sister! Youngest Biao Sister!” Luo Tan rushed in and immediately sat opposite Shen Miao.
Shen Miao’s eyes did not even raise as she continue eating the porridge in her mouth. These days Shen Xin did not allow Luo Tan and Shen Miao to go out anymore, lest to encounter the kidnappers like the last time. Thus Luo Tan had to stay in the residence and most probably was bored out of her wits. Every time Shen Miao saw Luo Tan, she felt that Luo Tan was the one who should be the younger sister and became more tolerant.
“Youngest Biao Sister, do not eat first and listen to me talk about a major event.” Luo Tan sat upright and still.
Shen Miao lack of a better option and placed the spoon in her hand down, “What happened again?”
“Princess Ming An is dead!” Luo Tan said, “Some people discovered her corpse at the Wan Li Lake early today morning, and she was together with two males… Doing that kind of stuff. But one did not know how they were frozen. Now the entire capital is talking about this matter!”
