C19 The Face of a Coldhearted Person

Recalling the past, when the new emperor ascended the throne, he was an unexpected figure, a new second prince who seemed to appear out of nowhere. The original second prince, under the care of Consort Yaoji, was still young. After the new emperor took the throne, he posthumously honored him as the Third Lord, to everyone's surprise.

That year, as spring turned to summer, a cold wind carried a chill in the air. The new emperor took power and eliminated his rivals. The Crown Prince was sentenced to a gruesome death, disheveled and humiliated, paraded for public scorn. The victor becomes king, the loser a criminal. The once high and mighty Crown Prince met his end under the executioner's blade. It was truly a lamentable sight.

She remembered those eyes of the Crown Prince, hidden beneath his filthy hair, vividly. Returning to the present, she remarked indifferently, "I've heard the Crown Prince was once full of spirit. Seeing his noble demeanor, it seems he wasn't far off."

Pei Xuanling's interest was piqued by her words, and he raised an eyebrow slightly, saying, "Truly perceptive."

She merely scoffed dismissively, then her gaze fell heavily on Cui Waner. He followed her gaze and murmured, "The Second Miss of the Cui family must have offended you somehow to face such dire consequences."

"It's none of your concern."

She turned to leave but was suddenly embraced from behind, startling her. Pei Xuanling wrapped an arm around her waist.

With a swift motion, he pulled her into his arms. She struggled fiercely, her anger evident on her face. "Let go of me!" she demanded.

He held her tighter, restricting her movements. "I'm genuinely curious," he whispered coldly in her ear, "what kind of face hides behind such a cold heart."

In an instant, a shiver ran down her spine. His breath lingered by her ear, and no matter how hard she struggled, it was futile. The wind howled with a chilling force.

Suddenly, a mist rose from the Bright Mirror Lake, quickly enveloping them both. They were startled.

The fog surrounded them. "Ah—" she gasped as she felt herself being pulled away.

When she awoke again, she found herself on a cold stone, frost clinging to her clothes, leaving her in disarray. Around her, vibrant red plum blossoms made the place seem like a fairyland.

She rubbed her sore neck and looked around. Not far away, a figure in black sat leisurely by the lake, surrounded by several plump fish. Was he the one who saved her?

She approached and saw the Strange Beast Mask on his face. Her heart skipped a beat. It was someone from the Profound Secret Pavilion who had saved her. Yet, this time, they hadn't taken her back to that confining place.

She was curious about the people from the Profound Secret Pavilion. Suddenly, the man in black turned around, his dark clothing stark against the snow, revealing only one eye. That eye sent a chill through anyone it looked at, devoid of any emotion, as if it saw through the world's illusions.

"You saved me?" she asked, stepping forward cautiously, not having time to think it over. Snatching someone from the Crown Prince's grasp seemed like something only the Profound Secret Pavilion could accomplish.

"If Miss Cui were captured, where would we find the Tianshan snow lotus?" he replied calmly. Cui Zuoyu, in a good mood, rolled her eyes slightly. So it was all for the snow lotus.

She spoke seriously, "Have you found any news about Divine Doctor Sheng, whom I asked you to locate?"

"After our extensive search, we discovered that Divine Doctor Sheng is currently at the temple on the peak of Cloud Moon Mountain. However, let me kindly warn you, his temperament is unpredictable, so be careful."

"No one turns down money," she said quietly. The man in black almost stumbled, looking at Cui Zuoyu, who was dressed just like him. How much money did this woman have? She seemed like a wealthy lady who spent money as if it were water.

In the thirty-second year of the Great Jing Dynasty, on November 13th, the Second Prince was assassinated, and the entire nation mourned. Consort Yaoji cried until her eyes were red. The Emperor ordered the Qilin Army to crush the mountain bandits' lair. Meanwhile, snow fell from the sky again, continuing for a full day and night.

Cui Waner was found lying on the ice and was brought home by Mrs. Qian. She had a fever for two days straight, and it took the best medicines from the royal physician to save her life.

Cui Zuoyu watched the snowflakes drift past the window. The streets were nearly empty, with only a few vendors selling candied fruit, bundled up in heavy clothing, trudging along with difficulty.

The Second Prince had been attacked, and the Emperor decreed that no bright-colored clothing should be worn for three days as a sign of mourning. She had little interest in palace affairs, but now she had connections with the Profound Secret Pavilion. Could the mysterious leader of the Pavilion be the new Emperor?

As her thoughts wandered, a figure in white appeared at the door, illuminated by the snow's glow. Yaen Ting looked pale and weak, as if he had suffered a serious injury, each step seeming to take great effort. He stood silently in the snow in front of the Cui Mansion.

From her distance, Cui Zuoyu couldn't hear what the servant next to him was saying. Then, she saw three or four servants kneel in unison. In Yaen Ting's eyes was a determination she had never seen before.

Oh? Here again with the same old act. She smirked, turning her gaze away and retreating into her warm, soft bed, though her hands and feet remained cold.

Through the White Deer Bank, she could reach her brother. However, even though he received her letters, he was reluctant to return to the capital. What on earth was going on with the merchants? According to the Profound Secret Pavilion, Divine Doctor Sheng was now at the temple atop Cloud Moon Mountain. It was time to bring him back to treat her brother.

In the Qian family courtyard, Cui Qiao sat with a heavy heart, while Mrs. Qian stood cautiously nearby. Moments ago, Mrs. Qian had relayed all the conditions from the Yongjing Marquis Mansion to Cui Qiao, and his expression turned cold upon hearing them.

Cui Qiao, being deeply thoughtful, understood the kind of game the Yongjing Marquis Mansion was playing. Compared to Cui Waner, Cui Zuoyu was in a league of her own. However, Cui Zuoyu was the last trump card of the Cui Mansion. If they didn’t agree to the conditions of the Yongjing Marquis Mansion, his career would be utterly ruined. Due to Cui Waner’s connections, the Yongjing Marquis Mansion opposed him at every turn in the court, and even the Emperor was somewhat annoyed with him. Forget about promotions; he wasn’t even sure if he could keep his current position.

Growing more frustrated, Cui Qiao took a sip of the cold tea beside him, instantly clearing his mind. “Master, Zuoyu definitely won’t marry that living corpse. What are we going to do about this?” Mrs. Qian asked, her face full of concern.

"You've got some nerve to talk. If it weren't for that useless daughter of yours, would we be in this mess?" Cui Qiao scoffed, his face filled with disappointment. Waner had completely ruined the perfect plan he had meticulously crafted.

"Dear," Mrs. Qian interjected, "Waner was only thinking of the family. Right now, we should focus on how to persuade Zuoyu to marry into the Yongjing Marquis Mansion."

"Early this morning, Yaen Ting was outside again, seeking Zuoyu's forgiveness. If Zuoyu marries into the Yongjing Marquis Mansion, how are we going to explain this to the Jingning Earl Mansion?"