Chapter 145 You Are Afraid

Today, outside the east city gate of Yue Capital once again...

Feng Jinye's heart was filled with anxiety and unease. He watched as Huangfu Chen led Weishao Qianyu step by step toward their enemy, while he could only suppress his turmoil, conceal his presence, and depart in silence...

Over this period, regarding the dream that had constantly plagued Weishao Qianyu, Feng Jinye had harbored many suspicions. He understood that Huangfu Chen's intention in having Weishao Qianyu stab Yun Ming to help him detoxify was to awaken Weishao Qianyu's dormant memories...

Perhaps the day Weishao Qianyu awoke from that dream would be the day of their true parting.

Feng Jinye looked up at the blazing sun overhead, his mind filled with contrasting images of Weishao Qianyu's bright, sunshine-like smile and her haggard appearance when jolted awake by nightmares.

Just as she had said, she should have been "like flowers and trees of the heart, growing towards the light," which was why he had once again handed her over to Huangfu Chen...

Feng Jinye wanted Weishao Qianyu to resolve her inner knots, even if it meant she would hate him for it.

Once again, he had pushed her into Huangfu Chen's orbit. Even though facing Xuanji Ran on this trip was no different from bargaining with a tiger, Feng Jinye knew deeply that the most dangerous place was the safest place, and he had thorough arrangements made within the imperial city.

Moreover, in the days before parting at Guanlin City, Weishao Qianyu had brought up that dream—the one neither of them had ever discussed in detail—leaving him no choice but to let her go...

"Feng Jinye, you know which city appears in my dream, don't you?" Weishao Qianyu had simply been unwilling to dwell on it; if she thought about it carefully, flaws were everywhere under the sun.

In all the vast world, how many weddings could feature an entire city draped and blanketed in grand scarlet festive colors?

Feng Jinye looked calmly at Weishao Qianyu. He knew she was exceptionally intelligent and naturally realized that the dream plaguing her was connected to him...

Yet, neither was willing to bring it up; both were like wounded children, terrified of touching the excruciating wounds on their bodies...

Even though Feng Jinye did not say it, Weishao Qianyu knew his answer was affirmative.

Weishao Qianyu lowered her head, exhaled a breath, shook her head slightly, and then looked quietly at Weishao Qianyu, saying faintly, "Let me go to Yue Capital."

Hearing Weishao Qianyu's detached tone, a wave of bitter taste surged through Feng Jinye's heart. She had never spoken to him this way before. Even when Feng Qingxuan had attempted to assassinate her that day, she had never been so indifferent...

Feng Jinye nodded in consent. If she truly wanted to go, he could not stop her.

Weishao Qianyu's heart was torn apart by contradictions. On one hand, she wanted to pretend the dream did not exist and continue clinging to Feng Jinye's side; on the other hand, she clearly knew that a covered-up truth would always have a day of revelation...

If things continued this way, her relationship with Feng Jinye would be reduced to endless hardship. The life that should have been "like flowers and trees of the heart, growing towards the light" would cease to exist.

A dream, after all, was bound to end.

Weishao Qianyu had always known that Feng Jinye was Liyue's god-like God of War, impossible to be cornered with no means of resistance by his enemies; he must have a completely different strategy in Yue Capital!

Yet it was solely because of her presence that he had chosen to seek temporary peace in a corner.

"Let us first avenge our family bloodfeud, and then speak of other matters," Weishao Qianyu said indifferently. Xuanji Ran was the common enemy of both her and Feng Jinye.

Feng Jinye nodded calmly in agreement, knowing in his heart that she was drifting further and further away from him, yet he had no other choice.

Thus, today outside the east city gate of Yue Capital, they were separated once again.

Feng Jinye clenched his fists, his gaze turning deep and dark, an indescribable, sinister glint in his eyes like a fierce beast lurking in the pitch-black night...

Weishao Qianyu was brought back into the imperial palace. Stepping down from the carriage, she stood before a vermilion palace gate, gazing at the three large characters inscribed above: Palace of Everlasting Joy.

Xuanji Ran had arranged for her to stay in the palace reserved for emperors' consorts...

Even though Weishao Qianyu had anticipated Xuanji Ran's ulterior motives, she still felt a strong sense of repulsion toward such a palace...

Yet Weishao Qianyu believed she would not need to stay here for long.

All the way from Guanlin City to Yue Capital, two teams of hidden guards had ambushed along the shadows. Weishao Qianyu knew that the Prince of War's estate guards operated in squads of seventeen, but upon arriving at Yue Capital, several members were conspicuously missing...

Throughout this journey, Feng Jinye must have planted covert agents in every city they passed. If any abnormalities arose in Yue Capital and Guanlin City raised its banners in rebellion, the momentum would be unstoppable, and troops would soon arrive beneath the walls of Yue Capital...

Weishao Qianyu reasoned that since Xuanji Ran had obtained the Heavenly Maiden, her next step would be to firmly grasp the Heavenly Maiden in her own hands, and the best way to do so would naturally be to force her into marriage with the emperor...

And the emperor...

Who exactly was the current emperor of the Liyue Kingdom, Weishao Qianyu no longer knew for certain. The previous speculation that Liyue's emperor was very likely impersonated by Huangfu Xi was merely a guess...

Today outside the city gate, the citizens of Yue Capital had chanted, "When the Heavenly Maiden appears, the twin sons rule the world." It seemed Xuanji Ran's next move would be to let Huangfu Xi ascend the throne in the identity of one of the Xuanji twins...

Could it be that the person currently occupying Liyue's throne was not Huangfu Xi?

It was almost laughable—the sovereign of a nation, the master of the world, the supreme ruler of Liyue had been reduced to a mere joke by a woman named Xuanji Ran...

Within the short span of half a year, the emperor sitting on Liyue's throne had changed hands again and again. Who knew how many times the crown had shifted?

Now, within Yue Capital, every single conversation revolved around "the Heavenly Maiden," "Heavenly Destiny," and "twin sons ruling the world"...

In Weishao Qianyu's eyes, this was a clear omen of national collapse...

Since the founding of the state, eras of prosperity had always featured enlightened monarchs governing diligently and loyal ministers serving the country and the people.

With Liyue in its current state, it resembled a nation leaving its fate to the heavens. If this persisted, the destruction of the country and the downfall of homes would not be far away.

Weishao Qianyu stood beneath the gates of the Palace of Everlasting Joy for a long time without moving. As soon as she turned her head, she saw Huangfu Chen approaching her...

"Shouldn't you be returning to Dusk Pavilion?" Weishao Qianyu asked in surprise. If Huangfu Chen did not return to Dusk Pavilion to handle the aftermath, the fact that Feng Jinye had infiltrated Yue Capital disguised as an assassin ran a high risk of being exposed...

"Rest assured, Night Eleven and Night Nine have already slipped inside!" Huangfu Chen said as he too looked toward the three large characters of the "Palace of Everlasting Joy." The name "Everlasting Joy" was the ultimate irony for a palace assigned to Weishao Qianyu!

Weishao Qianyu knew why Huangfu Chen had come. Ultimately, she lifted her foot and led her small group into the Palace of Everlasting Joy; after all, they needed a place to rest their feet...

"Explain your reasoning," Huangfu Chen asked in a low, profound voice the moment they sat down.

"I simply felt that Xuanji Ran is ruthless and vicious. Anyone who enters a Yue Capital under her control will never be allowed to leave alive!"

Weishao Qianyu knew deeply that both Huangfu Chen and Feng Jinye harbored a sliver of hope that Yun Ming could return safely to Feng Qingxuan's side...

Yet neither Huangfu Chen nor Feng Jinye understood Xuanji Ran, this venomous woman, well enough. Setting aside Xuanji Ran's wager with Huangfu Chen—where Weishao Qianyu was traded for the gu antidote—even if Weishao Qianyu were traded for Yun Ming's life, Xuanji Ran would never let Yun Ming and Lu Yanran leave safely...

After all, Xuanji Mei had once escaped from Xuanji Ran's clutches on Yunyang Mountain, something Xuanji Ran undoubtedly regarded as an utter humiliation. Now that Xuanji Ran was aware of Xuanji Mei's existence, she would never allow anyone to escape her grasp the way Xuanji Mei had...

When all was said and done, a woman understood a woman best.

Huangfu Chen also knew that allowing Lu Yanran and the hidden guards to escort Yun Ming back to Guanlin City after detoxifying him carried immense risks. While he did not entirely agree with Weishao Qianyu's methods, he did not oppose them either.

Understanding her intent in his heart, he asked further, "Was the rosary pea your setup all along?"

Weishao Qianyu nodded and replied, "Yes."

She wanted Xuanji Ran to know that she was willing to risk her life for Yun Ming, which was the only way to ensure Xuanji Ran would not dare act rashly against him...

"What a brilliant stroke of killing two birds with one stone!" Huangfu Chen sighed literally, yet his tone sounded distinctly peculiar.

Listening to the exchange between Huangfu Chen and Weishao Qianyu, Yun Ming let out a deep sigh, filled with indescribable emotions...

He understood what Huangfu Chen meant. Today, Weishao Qianyu had threatened Xuanji Ran by inflicting a wound on herself with a dagger tainted with rosary pea poison. While it had frightened them all nearly out of their wits, it was all part of a step-by-step plan orchestrated by Weishao Qianyu...

Huangfu Chen's tone merely expressed that they had been blind fools for failing to see through Weishao Qianyu's scheme, and that their worrying had been entirely wasted...

Just as Yun Ming was agonizing over this, he suddenly heard Huangfu Chen chuckle softly, once again dropping an astonishing remark that pierced straight to the core: "You were afraid!"

Hearing this, Weishao Qianyu pursed her lips in silence, turning her head away to avoid meeting Huangfu Chen's gaze...

Afraid? She was afraid. Indeed, she had been afraid.

"It has nothing to do with you!" With a tone that kept people thousands of miles away, Weishao Qianyu truly wished Huangfu Chen could remain outside this vortex.

Yet he and Xuanji Ran shared an ambiguous, complicated relationship. Regarding the wager he spoke of, Weishao Qianyu had a premonition that it would leave everyone battered and bruised...

Given a choice, Weishao Qianyu certainly did not want to cause grief to those who loved her and bring joy to her enemies.

Hearing the four words "has nothing to do with you" from Weishao Qianyu's lips, Huangfu Chen's eyes were filled with utter shock...

She was actually angry with him...

A sudden stirring in his heart caused another wave of turbulent blood to surge within Huangfu Chen's chest. He suffered a violent fit of coughing, immediately stood up, and rushed out of the Palace of Everlasting Joy...

Weishao Qianyu stood up abruptly, stepping forward to give chase, but then stopped dead in her tracks...

It was the Heart-Devouring poison—there was no way to conceal it.

She needed to stay away from Huangfu Chen!

Watching Huangfu Chen's retreating figure with a trace of lingering forbearance, Yun Ming asked in confusion, "What is wrong with Huangfu?"

Weishao Qianyu sat back down on her stool, shook her head slightly, and said, "Just like you, he also has gu poison in his body."

Both Yun Ming and Lu Yanran froze upon hearing this, and Lu Yanran's body trembled violently. Could it be the Infatuation poison? Had he fallen in love with Weishao Qianyu, causing the Infatuation gu poison to act up?

Weishao Qianyu also remembered that Huangfu Chen carried not only the Heart-Devouring poison but the Infatuation poison as well, and she promptly shifted her gaze to Lu Yanran...

Upon arriving in Yue Capital today, she had been completely preoccupied with dealing with Xuanji Ran, setting aside any personal grievances between herself and Lu Yanran. But now, with a brief moment of quiet, she could not help but confront the reality: Lu Yanran was the true daughter of her father, Weishao Zhantian.

Thinking of her father, who had cherished his daughter above all else in the world, a trace of guilt she had never felt toward Lu Yanran surfaced in Weishao Qianyu's heart...

None of this was what she desired. Perhaps their fates were twisted and intersecting, leaving both her and Lu Yanran unable to articulate the reasons behind it all...

Yet in Weishao Qianyu's heart, that peerless affection and pampering once held in the palm of Weishao Zhantian's hand originally belonged to Lu Yanran!

Weishao Qianyu looked quietly at Lu Yanran, noting the faint resemblance between their brows. The longer she looked, the more Weishao Qianyu felt like a thief who had stolen someone else's life...