Denghuangtai

Pei Qingyan looked down at the cloak left behind by Yun Zheng.

She feigned fainting to test Yun Zheng. However, after so many years, she hadn't held out much hope, but to her surprise, it actually worked.

In the throes of their passionate love, she witnessed Yun Zheng's secret affair with another man, leaving her heart deeply wounded. Now that their relationship is severed, she harbors a desire to test and exploit him, yet she unexpectedly receives a hint of pity from Yun Zheng.

Pei Qingyan's lips curled into a mocking smile; this sentiment was truly cheap.

That's fine. As long as Yun Zheng is soft-hearted, she'll have a better chance of winning.

She reached out and wrapped the cloak around herself. Her body, which had been numb from the cold, gradually warmed up. She had long since exhausted her strength. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, her vision began to blur, and she soon sank into endless darkness.

Neither the biting wind and snow outside nor the pitiful wails inside the prison could disturb her "peaceful dream".

To be honest, this dream wasn't a pleasant one at all; it was just a jumble of old stories, like a revolving lantern, all mixed together in fragments.

Inside the Jiaofang Palace, Empress Yunhou sat on her high seat. "I've watched you grow up, and I originally had high hopes for your relationship with Yun Zheng. But your father insisted on his own way, causing the death of my only brother. Based on that alone, our Yun family will not agree to your marriage to Lady Pei."

Pei Qingyan, seated at the lower end of the table, heard the Empress's words. Her youthful spirit was always particularly strong; she abruptly stood up, staring at the Empress's gentle face. "Your Majesty is mistaken. My father, as a military commander, is entitled to punish those who delay battles. It's not that he acted arbitrarily. As for my matter with Yun Zheng, you need not trouble yourself with it."

After speaking, Pei Qingyan gave a slight curtsy, "Take care, Your Majesty. I will take my leave now."

Before Yunhou could react, Pei Qingyan turned and left.

As Yun Hou watched her retreating figure, a strange glint flashed in her eyes. She asked loudly, "You really believe that Yun Zheng will stand on your side? Go to Cangchi and see for yourself before you start spouting nonsense."

Pei Qingyan paused slightly, a bad feeling creeping into her heart. But she refused to be outdone by the Empress, and with her head held high and an innate arrogance, she strode out of the Jiaofang Palace.

The Pei family residence is located east of the palace. In the past, Pei Qingyan always entered and exited the palace through the Dongyang Gate. But today, when he reached the fork in the road, Pei Qingyan suddenly remembered what Empress Yun had said. He turned back from his eastward step and headed south towards Cangchi Pond.

Cangchi Pond is located south of Weiyang Palace and is named for its clear, azure-colored water. The pond features artificial hills and waterside pavilions, making it a popular spot for palace staff to relax and escape the summer heat.

But in Pei Qingyan's memory, Yun Zheng rarely lingered here, which is why she wanted to go and see, determined to expose Yun Hou's lies.

Pei Qingyan moved with lightning speed, arriving near Cangchi in no time. Looking out, the scenery of Cangchi remained unchanged, but her heart sank. There, in the lakeside pavilion, Yun Zheng sat on a stone bench, while Princess Yongchang stood before him, shyly offering him a sachet.

Because Yun Zheng's back was to Pei Qingyan, Pei Qingyan could not see Yun Zheng's expression. He could only see the Princess of Yongchang's mouth opening and closing as she said something. After that, Yun Zheng took the sachet and tied it to his body.

Spring's warmth had spread across the area around Cangchi Pond. The water trembled gently, rippling with alternating light and shadow. The shimmering light reflected on Pei Qingyan's face, so much so that tears welled up in her eyes.

In the middle of the lake, a young couple sat and stood. If the person in the pavilion had nothing to do with Pei Qingyan, this scene would truly be as beautiful as a painting.

But rather...

Unfortunately, one of the boys was Yun Zheng.

Even when faced with threats from the Queen of the Clouds, she still trusted Yun Zheng!

Looking at the scene before him, Pei Qingyan felt like a joke.

Outside the dream, Pei Qingyan frowned and let out a muffled groan. She turned over, and in her dream, she went from the palace in Chang'an to the northern border.

In the vast northern lands, Pei Qingyan and his elder brother Pei Shaozhi rode their horses across the grasslands, one after the other, their hooves splashing water in the muddy puddles left by the recent rain.

Pei Qingyan wiped the sweat from his forehead, reined in the horses, and turned back to wait for Pei Shaozhi to catch up.

Pei Shaozhi caught up, reined in his horse, and rode alongside her.

"Sister, are you really sure you want to stay here? If you don't want to, your brother can ask His Majesty for permission to stay here for you."

Pei Qingyan gazed into the distance, a trace of sadness flashing in his dark eyes. "This place is quite nice; it's where my heart longs to be."

Pei Shaozhi didn't pick up on the emotion in Pei Qingyan's words. He patted Pei Qingyan's shoulder and said, "It's definitely much more comfortable here than in Chang'an. It's good for you to stay here. I'll definitely come to visit you whenever I have the chance."

"Little sister...take care..."

At the narrow pass by the river, Pei Qingyan found Pei Shaozhi amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood. The once spirited young general was now covered in arrows, his right arm bare, his face smeared with blood. He looked at Pei Qingyan, said his last words, and then closed his eyes forever.

"elder brother……"

In the imperial prison, Pei Qingyan murmured softly, tears slowly streaming down her face. Beside her, a long-bearded elder was carefully tending to the deep, bone-revealing wound on her wrist.

In the Jade Hall of Jianzhang Palace, Empress Dowager Yun was bent over her desk, writing. Yun Zheng stood beside her, head bowed, slowly grinding ink. The room was silent, while outside, the wind and snow howled.

After a long silence, Empress Dowager Yun slowly spoke: "I heard you sent the Grand Master of Ceremonies to the imperial prison?"

"Yes." Yun Zheng confessed truthfully. He knew he couldn't hide it from his aunt, so he simply didn't bother to conceal it and sent the palace physician directly to the imperial prison.

Empress Dowager Yun slammed her pen on the table, splattering ink all over the paper. "Yun Zheng! You actually treated the daughter of your enemy! What are you trying to do? Have you softened your heart? Or have you forgotten your father's grudge?"

"The criminal is seriously injured. If he does not receive timely medical treatment, he may not be able to survive until the trial," Yun Zheng replied while grinding the ink.

Empress Dowager Yun glanced at him, her gaze scrutinizing him, but Yun Zheng remained calm, showing no sign of guilt.

"Heming".

This was the courtesy name given to Yun Zheng by Empress Dowager Yun during his coming-of-age ceremony. "Between you and Lady Pei lies your father's blood. Whether you have forgotten her or not, you must not be soft-hearted towards her. Do you understand?"

"Don't worry, Aunt, I won't soften my heart."

"In that case, swear in your father's name that you will kill Pei Shi's daughter without mercy. If you break this oath, may your father's soul never rest in peace."

Yun Zheng paused in his movements. After a few breaths, he slowly put down the pine soot ink in his hand, bowed to Empress Dowager Yun, and said, "Yun Zheng hereby swears that he will eradicate the Pei clan in this lifetime. If he breaks this oath..." A strange glint flashed in his eyes, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips, "I will make sure my father never rests in peace."

"Dinner's ready."

In the imperial prison, someone knocked on the cell bars, the copper lock was opened again, the jailer placed a food box in front of Pei Qingyan, kicked Pei Qingyan, closed the door, and limped away.

Pei Qingyan barely opened her eyes, forced herself to sit up, and opened the food box with trembling hands. Without looking at the food inside, she picked up the flatbread, broke it open, and found a piece of paper folded into a square inch inside.