Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow fell.

The snow started falling in the evening.

At first, it was just fine snowflakes tapping softly against the windowpane.

As night fell, the snowflakes turned into goose feather-like flakes.

It fell in abundance, silently covering the entire imperial city.

Qingyan Pavilion was locked early in the morning, and the interior was warm and inviting.

The earth dragon was burning brightly.

The silvery charcoal in the brazier crackled softly and occasionally.

It emits a faint scent of pine.

Bao'er took a hot bath and rolled around in bed wrapped in a brocade quilt.

Listen to Shen Qingci tell the story of "The Young General's Clever Victory over the Enemy's Formation".

Before long, her eyelids began to droop, and she mumbled, "Mother... the horse is tired..." before falling into a deep sleep.

Shen Qingci tucked him in, lowered the bed curtains, and walked to the window.

She pushed open a crack, and a cold wind carrying snowflakes immediately rushed in, causing her hair to flutter slightly.

The outside world was already a vast expanse of white.

The stone lanterns in the courtyard were weighed down by the snow, leaving only a hazy glow.

All was silent except for the soft rustling of falling snow.

On a snowy night like this, it's perfect for sitting around a fire and having a chat, or for snuggling under the covers and sleeping peacefully.

It's also best suited for... freezing people stiff.

She watched quietly for a moment, then closed the window.

Turning to Jinshu, who was on night duty, he said, "The snow is heavy tonight. Let those on duty outside take turns coming inside to warm up. There's no need to strictly adhere to the rules."

Jinshu agreed, then asked, "Your Majesty, what about His Majesty... I heard he didn't eat much for dinner again."

Lord Xuanying said, "His Majesty was reviewing memorials in the Imperial Study until 7:45 PM, and then..."

She paused, then lowered her voice.

"Later, for some reason, I asked for directions to Qingyan Pavilion and then went out alone."

Shen Qingci paused slightly as the ink on the Xuan paper swelled into a small blot.

"Let him be."

She said calmly, continuing to review the secret reports sent by Tingfeng Tower.

Regarding Prince Jing's recent frequent contact with several senior officials in charge of rites and sacrifices.

However, the handwriting under his pen was not as fluent as before.

---

child time.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and it seemed that only this one color and this one sound remained in the world.

Outside the tightly closed palace gates of Qingyan Pavilion,

A figure in black almost blended into the night, with a thick layer of snow accumulated on its shoulders and the top of its hair.

Nangong Ye stood there, facing the tightly closed vermilion palace gate.

Its body was as straight as a pine tree, motionless, like a lifeless snow sculpture.

He didn't even put on a cloak.

He was dressed only in ordinary dark-colored casual clothes.

Snowflakes landed on his thick eyelashes, condensing into tiny ice crystals.

The exhaled white breath quickly dissipated in the frigid air.

Xuan Ying held up an oil-paper umbrella and stood silently half a step behind him.

The umbrella was tilted completely towards the emperor, while half of his shoulder was already soaked.

He hesitated several times before finally tilting the umbrella further over.

"His Majesty,"

Xuan Ying's voice was somewhat muffled in the wind and snow.

"The snow is too heavy; Your Majesty's health is paramount. Your Majesty... must have already rested peacefully."

Nangong Ye did not answer, nor did he even look at him.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the heavy palace gate.

I saw the warm light inside and heard the child's steady breathing.

And... that person's face, perhaps, is peacefully asleep.

He knew she wouldn't come out.

They might not even know he's outside.

If you find out, you'll probably just find him ridiculous, or even more annoying.

But he still came.

I can't explain why, maybe I just want to be closer to her.

In this swirling snow,

She felt the cold she had experienced.

How did she survive those winters in the cold palace when there was no charcoal fire and the windows were drafty?

Listening to the howling north wind outside, what is on my mind?

He could neither provide an answer nor offer any compensation.

Then let's just be cold to each other for once.

Even if it's just him deceiving himself.

The snow fell silently, and time seemed to stretch out in the extreme cold.

My feet were already numb from the cold, and my fingers were stiff and curled up inside my sleeves.

The cold air seeped into every pore, eroding bones and internal organs.

The breath I exhaled frosted onto my eyelashes and eyebrows, and my vision gradually blurred.

The sound of the drum came from afar, striking past the hour of Chou (1-3 AM) and then past the hour of Yin (3-5 AM).

Apart from the falling snow, there was no other sound in the world.

Even the night patrol guards hid under the eaves.

The whole world seemed to consist only of him and the loyal shadow guards behind him.

Stubbornly standing as punishment in this seemingly endless snow.

Xuan Ying watched as the emperor's face grew increasingly pale and his lips, almost the same color as snow, and her anxiety reached its peak.

He tried speaking again: "Your Majesty, at least... move to the corridor? Or, I shall knock on the door..."

"No need."

Nangong Ye finally spoke, his voice hoarse and dry from the cold, yet exceptionally clear.

"This is what I... deserve."

He remembered her words, each one piercing to the heart.

"Some roads, if you take the wrong path, will be completely unrecognizable when you turn back."

—"Between him and me... lies the cold wind of the cold palace day and night."

Let the cold wind blow on him too.

Let this heavy snow bury him too.

Let's see if we can slightly offset that little bit.

He had inflicted coldness and despair upon her.

Even if it's only one in a billion.

At 3:45 AM, the snowfall gradually subsided.

The sky appeared as a bluish-gray hue, as if it were about to brighten.

Inside Qingyan Pavilion, Shen Qingci hadn't slept all night.

It wasn't for him.

This was to analyze several possible ways in which Prince Jing might unite with the Ministry of Rites to launch an attack.

It was to anticipate possible attacks and countermeasures in the imperial court.

The lamp oil on the desk was added three times, and the desk was covered with densely written plans.

Only occasionally, when she pauses writing, her gaze will unconsciously drift towards the window.

The howling of the wind and snow could be faintly heard.

She knew he was outside.

From Jinshu's first hesitant report,

She knew it from the moment Xuan Ying's barely perceptible aura appeared outside the palace walls.

She didn't point it out, nor did she ask anyone to persuade her.

He stood up if he wanted to.

Just as he once wanted to depose the empress, he did so.

fair enough.

But the fingers holding the pen tightened slightly when they heard a faint, suppressed cough coming from afar.

The sky finally began to lighten.

The snow stopped, and the world was covered in a blanket of white, so pure it was almost blinding.

Shen Qingci put down her pen, rubbed her sore temples, and got up to walk to the window.

She needed some cool air to keep herself completely awake.

Open the window.

A chill swept over us, carrying the crispness unique to snow.

Then, she stopped moving.

Outside the palace gates, a figure almost completely covered in snow...

It suddenly came into view without warning.

He's still here.

The dark clothes were covered with a thick layer of snow, and the hair, shoulders, and even the straight lines of the back were outlined in white.

He lowered his head slightly, making his expression unreadable.

All that could be seen were tightly pressed, bloodless lips and frost clinging to long eyelashes.

Like a statue abandoned in the snow, lonely and stiff.

It felt as if it had become one with the icy and snowy landscape, and could never warm up again.

Shen Qingci's hand, gripping the window frame, had knuckles that were slightly white.

She looked at him for a full three breaths.

Then, she turned around and faced the person who was already waiting by the door.

Jinshu, who also looked reluctant upon seeing the scene outside, gave the order in a calm and even voice:

"Please be quiet when sweeping the snow, lest you disturb His Majesty."

The tone was as natural as if he were saying, "Let's have a light breakfast today."

After saying that, she raised her hand and closed the window.

With a soft creak, the wooden window closed, separating the two worlds.

This also completely shut out her sight of that figure in the snow.

Jinshu stood frozen in place, watching her master walk calmly into the inner room.

Go check on Bao'er, who is still fast asleep.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing; his eyes were just a little red.

She whispered her master's instructions to the eunuch beside her, her voice slightly hoarse.

Outside the palace gates.

The soft sound of the window closing was particularly clear in the quiet morning.

Nangong Ye, who had been keeping his head down, trembled slightly on the frost on his eyelashes.

He slowly, very slowly, raised his head and looked at the window that had just been closed.

Behind the window paper, a blurry figure seemed to move for a moment before disappearing.

She saw it.

She knew he was there.

Then she closed the window.

There were no questions, no reprimands, and not even a trace of emotional fluctuation.

I was just worried that the sound of shoveling snow would disturb him.

How... thoughtful.

And how... cruel.

Nangong Ye suddenly chuckled softly.

The laughter was hoarse and broken, sounding exceptionally desolate in the empty snowfield.

As I laughed, a metallic sweetness welled up in my throat.

He swallowed it down with all his might.

Only a hint of dark red seeped from the corner of her lips, which was quickly frozen by the cold.

Xuan Ying held the umbrella steadily the whole time.

Unable to remain silent any longer, he knelt on one knee.

The voice was pleading: "Your Majesty! It's dawn, the snow has stopped, please return to the palace!"

"If the Emperor's body is harmed, I will die ten thousand times over!"

He reached out his hand, wanting to support the swaying figure.

Nangong Ye raised his hand and gently pushed away the umbrella that was offered to him.

The oil-paper umbrella tilted to one side, and more snow slid down from the eaves.

It hit his shoulder, but he didn't even notice.

"This is the Emperor..."

He stared at the tightly closed window, speaking each word carefully.

It was as if he was speaking to the people inside, and also to himself: "He deserves it."

As he finished speaking, he straightened his almost frozen back.

One last look at the plaque of Qingyan Pavilion.

Then, he turned around and took a step with legs that felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Step by step, I trudged through the thick snow.

They left deep and shallow footprints as they walked towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

His steps were unsteady, yet his resolve was exceptionally strong.

Xuan Ying immediately got up and followed, holding the umbrella over his head again.

Although the emperor's back was already soaked with snow water.

The snowstorm has stopped, but the chill seems to have just seeped into my bones.

Inside Qingyan Pavilion, Shen Qingci stood beside Bao'er's bed.

I could faintly hear the sound of footsteps fading away outside the window.

She lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously brushing against Bao'er's warm, soft cheek.

The child was fast asleep when he unconsciously smacked his lips and mumbled in his sleep, "Daddy...cold..."

Shen Qingci's hand suddenly stopped.

After a long while, she slowly straightened up, walked to the window, but did not open it again.

Through the paper window, I could hear the palace servants outside carefully sweeping the snow, the soft, rustling sound of their work.

It was rhythmic and gentle, as if afraid of disturbing something.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the cool air.

When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was a cold, desolate stillness.

"The Brocade Letter".

"This servant is here."

"Change your clothes, prepare the sedan chair." Her voice was clear and firm. "Today's morning court session will surely be quite lively."

"Yes."

The sound of snow sweeping outside the window remained gentle.

Meanwhile, a silent blizzard is quietly brewing in the previous dynasty.