After a night passed, in the early morning, the light outside the window drifted through the gap in the curtain like a veil, landing gently on Su Qianqian’s face, warm yet sharp enough that she instinctively furrowed her brows, only opening her eyes after a long moment.
She slowly sat up, feeling as if her vision was still shrouded in mist, her head heavy and dizzy. Raising her hand, she rubbed her eyes, which were still rimmed with unshed dampness…
The quilt beneath her was wrapped in lingering warmth, yet the tip of her nose still held the faint trace of grievance that hadn’t dissipated from last night.
Still, over the course of the night, Su Qianqian had finally sorted out her emotions—she still missed them dearly, but she no longer showed her sorrow on her face.
“Sigh, what time is it now? Maybe I should cultivate for a while… Forget it, better go get something to eat first…”
Su Qianqian shuffled to the edge of the bed, slowly sliding her feet into her shoes.
She couldn’t help but feel a bit down, her spirit listless, her mind in a haze.
The sun was just rising, all things waking to life, but Su Qianqian found today inexplicably cold and the room unusually dim…
She habitually straightened her clothes, and unaccustomedly smoothed the wrinkles from her black stockings.
Su Qianqian slowly walked to the door. The soreness in her body had started to ease, growing less obvious.
With a push of both hands, the door swung open—and someone was already waiting outside…
There, Luo Wuhen stood, gazing in a daze at the willow tree outside the door, her eyes tinged with a trace of confusion…
Sensing Su Qianqian coming out, Luo Wuhen snapped back to herself, turned her head, and resumed her usual half-smiling expression:
“You’re awake…”
“Mm, I’m up. But what are you doing outside?” Su Qianqian asked in puzzlement.
“I came back and saw you were already asleep. I didn’t want to disturb your rest, so I waited out here for a while…”
Su Qianqian looked at Luo Wuhen in front of her, feeling that something was off, but couldn’t say exactly what it was.
“Then… if there’s nothing else, shall we go get something to eat?” Su Qianqian tentatively suggested.
“Let’s go together. I have time these next couple of days.”
“I see…”
Hearing Luo Wuhen’s answer, Su Qianqian’s expression fell instead. After all, Luo Wuhen had already said she’d only give her two days to rest—she really was impatient.
And seeing Su Qianqian’s mood shift, Luo Wuhen’s expression grew ever more rigid. Perhaps she really had strayed too far down the wrong path…
All along the way, the two said little. Silence, wordless. Luo Wuhen, who usually liked to tease Su Qianqian or stir up conversation, didn’t say much either.
Perhaps it was due to her sensitive mood, but Su Qianqian started to observe more closely this place she might have to live in for quite some time…
On either side of the vermilion walls, rare and exotic flowers and plants were planted. Morning dew beaded on petals and leaves, emanating a penetrating chill.
The dawn cold hadn’t yet been chased away by the sun. The vast Palace was so still that only Su Qianqian and Luo Wuhen’s footsteps could be heard.
Su Qianqian drew her sleeves close and looked into the distance. Palace buildings stretched endlessly; glazed tiles shone with a cold, moist light in the morning sun.
Such splendor, yet it felt like a gilded cage covered in frost, trapping her within the layers upon layers of palace walls.
Not even the wind could scatter that bone-deep chill…
Thinking this, Su Qianqian tightened her clothes. It wasn’t a chill of the body, but one from her very soul.
But as they drew closer to where the Palace Maids were busy, the surroundings grew livelier, and Su Qianqian’s mood lifted a little.
Watching the busy figures of the Palace Maids, she felt she really was still living in this world, not shut away in a gilded cage—
Yet just then, as the Palace Maids all nervously knelt down, her thoughts returned, and she once more realized her current predicament…
And as she watched Su Qianqian’s newly lifted spirits sink again, Luo Wuhen turned her gaze to the crowd and, in a voice filled with authority, projected into the mind of every Palace Maid in the Palace: “From this day forth, when you see Us and the Heavenly Emperor, there is no need to kneel. Just focus on your own duties!”
The Palace Maids hesitated a moment, then slowly rose and returned to their tasks.
But the nervousness and awe they felt toward Luo Wuhen and Su Qianqian could not be erased…
Su Qianqian looked to Luo Wuhen in confusion. She could guess Luo Wuhen had said something, but… whatever.
She was the Emperor here—this was her right, and Su Qianqian had no say in the matter…
When they arrived at the Imperial Kitchen, the meals were just coming out of the ovens.
The air was filled with the scent of food, bringing a trace of earthly warmth to this place.
One dish after another was served, each exquisite and lavish, made from rare and choice ingredients.
But Su Qianqian simply ate with her head down—was she eating away her anger and sorrow?
Su Qianqian didn’t know, only that during these moments of eating, her thoughts could briefly escape this world…
Watching Su Qianqian eat heartily but as if only for the sake of eating, Luo Wuhen put a small piece of meat into her mouth, chewed and swallowed gently, then casually asked:
“Do you want to go out for a walk? It’s lively outside right now—perhaps a little outing would do you good.”
Su Qianqian paused, then looked at Luo Wuhen, who was quietly chewing another bite, and asked:
“Why did you suddenly bring this up?”
“Because you’re very lonely. Maybe a bustling environment will help you feel better… As for your younger sister and your parents, I can’t bring them here for now. Please give me some time…”
“And how will you do that? Drag them here again? Do you really still have that chance? Or will you negotiate with Lin Muxue? You know very well, that would only lead to a falling out.”
“I…” Luo Wuhen had no reply. What Su Qianqian said was true—she could only offer an empty promise, a hope…
“Rather than wait for you to bring them, I might as well find a way to escape myself. Sooner or later, I’ll find an opportunity…” Su Qianqian stared directly into Luo Wuhen’s eyes as she spoke.
Perhaps this would invite “punishment”, but it didn’t matter…
Yet the anger she expected didn’t appear. Instead, Luo Wuhen looked away, her eyelids half-lowered, thoughts flickering in her eyes as she asked:
“Aside from your longing for your family, is there any chance your heart would truly stay for me?”
“Maybe… But definitely not now…”
Su Qianqian realized that she was not the only one feeling sentimental today—Luo Wuhen was just as strange.
Did the messages she’d sent through Shun and Ying yesterday really have an effect…? It was a bit unexpected…
“I really do want to leave this place. Then, take me out—if only to briefly get away from this cold and lonely palace.”
Su Qianqian slowly stirred her tea, replying offhandedly to Luo Wuhen’s seemingly casual question.
“Then go change your clothes. Since we’re going out, you should wear something you like.”
“Alright, let’s go back—just let me finish this pork knuckle…”
When Su Qianqian returned to her room, Shun and Ying were waiting nervously outside…
“Sorry, I was in a bad mood yesterday and snapped at you. Yesterday… thank you for your concern.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright! Making sure you’re not sad anymore is our responsibility now…!”