Drunken Beauty

  The east room of the distant spring pavilion was isolated from everyone, and even Ling Ye was no exception.

  The room was filled with cages of all sizes on one side, and rows of herbs, books, and various utensils on the other. Qing Chen buried her head in medicine until late at night when she stood up to rub her neck. She pushed open the door and stood there, gazing up at the sky where thin clouds floated across the pale moon. The chill that hit her face drove away the drowsiness of the deep night.

  She gazed out at the endless night sky, but her mind was still filled with all sorts of herbal prescriptions, as if they had taken root and were intertwined incessantly.

  Suddenly, a faint sound of a flute drifted into her ears. She turned her head to listen carefully and found that the tune was actually a piano piece she had played long ago. Ye Tianling had said back then that if the flute and piano were harmonized together, it wouldn't be bad. She took steps following the sound of the flute and searched all the way until she arrived at the steps of the Changchun Hall. Ye Tianling was sitting alone in the distance, wearing a white fur coat that looked so cold and clear in the night that it almost surpassed the winter snow that had not yet melted. He held a purple bamboo flute in his hand, and the gentle sound of the flute came from him.

  You stepped up the dusty stairs, the sound of the flute lingering and then stopping. The purple bamboo flute rotated between her fingers and fell into the palm of her hand. Ling Wang looked at her slender and delicate figure in the night sky without speaking a word.

  She sat down beside him: "Why are you alone here? It's late at night and you're still not resting?"

  He tilted his head slightly and asked: "How about you?"

  "You smiled and said: 'I couldn't sleep anyway, so I came out to take a look when I heard someone playing the sheng.' As you spoke, the white fur cloak on your body slipped down to your shoulders. You had only worn an ordinary winter garment when you stepped out, and now you wrapped the white fur cloak tightly around you, snuggling warmly inside."

  Ye Tian's long fingers slid gently over the purple bamboo flute, his sharp eyes gazing at the layered high stairs in front of him, and asked: "Was it you who taught Yan Yu and Wang Zhaoshou to kneel at the entrance of the palace and block my way?"

  "Huh?"; The dust was stunned, she had instructed Yan Yuqian not to let Ye Tianling enter the Empress Dowager's palace, but they actually used this method. "The method wasn't taught by me, but I did instruct them to stop you."

  Yè Tiān Líng Dào: "Do you think they can stop them?"

  "You took a look at him: 'You can't stop it, you're not a foolish person, and you won't do useless things. The imperial physician will report the Queen Mother's condition to her at any time. As a dignified prince, how can you take care of a patient? Wanting to enter the palace is just your own anxiety, in an emergency, Yan Yu and others are kind.'"

  The night sky sank into silence for a moment, and then said faintly: "I know."

  You smiled slightly: "Fourth brother, do you still remember that song from just now?"

  Yè Tiān Líng nodded: "That day you played this tune in the bamboo house on Píng Cuì Mountain."

  You sat quietly on your knees for a while, softly singing the lyrics: "The vast ocean laughs, with waves crashing on both shores, remembering today's rise and fall; The blue sky laughs, with worldly affairs surging, who loses or wins is known to heaven; The mountains and rivers laugh, with distant misty rain, how much of the mundane world has been washed away by the turbulent waves; The clear wind laughs, disturbing the quiet loneliness, leaving behind a heroic spirit, a sunset glow on the horizon..."

  The quiet night sky listened quietly, the beautiful voice of Qingmei floated in the snow shadow in front of the steps, a few parts gentle and soft, a few parts floating and free, a few parts elegant and unrestrained, a few parts empty and desolate. It seemed as if this place had transformed into misty rain with her singing, a desolate world.

  A faint, clear xiao sound rises slowly, elegant and expansive, accompanied by the song of the dust, whispering about the vast rivers and lakes. A small flat boat, the sea tide surges, heroes for thousands of years, several times sunset.

  The Tsang Hai smiles, surging tides on both shores, floating and sinking with the waves, a record of today.

  The heavens smile, and the world's tides surge; who loses and who wins, only heaven knows.

  The mountains smile, distant mist and rain, waves wash away all worldly dust, how much does one know of this mundane world?

  Cang Sheng smiled, no longer lonely, his heroic spirit still lingering in his silly smile.

  You leaned lightly against the night sky and said, "It's a pity there's no zither. You once said that this melody can be harmonized with the zither."

  Yè Tiān Líng stretched out his hand and pulled her over: "This isn't difficult either."

  "You lightly said: 'Let's sail on the five lakes, with green mountains in the distance, and not disturb the ordinary dust. Fourth brother, do you like that kind of day?'"

  Yè Tiān Líng lowered his head and asked: "Do you like it?"

  Qingchen didn't say anything and buried his head in his knees.

  The night sky was reflected in her silence, and the surrounding area was quiet and deserted, with only a faint moonlight passing through the thin clouds and shining on the snow.

  The scene before him made Ye Tian Ling feel so familiar, as if he had been sitting with her like this for thousands of years, and it hadn't changed in a long time. After a while, he said lightly: "If you like, I'll take you there someday."

  "You're so gentle," she murmured, snuggling into his warm embrace. Her mind was a bit hazy, having been tossed about for so long without rest, and now she was getting a little worn out.

  At night, Tian Ling leaned over and looked at her. She murmured dazedly: "Fourth brother, I didn't know you could get anxious too." Unconsciously muttering to herself.

  The night sky was stunned for a moment, and then a softness flashed across his eyebrows. He gently got up and hugged her.

  You only felt your body lighten in the half-dreaming and half-waking interval, then fell asleep peacefully.

  At night, Ling sent her back to the Yáo Chūn Pavilion. He saw that she was still frowning in her sleep, but after all, she was right in front of him, within sight and reach. Thinking about the news he heard from the Yan Xi Palace this morning, his heart felt like it had been slashed by a sharp blade, almost bleeding instantly. If he hadn't come to the Yan Xi Palace today, he would have really gone mad from anxiety.

  When did the person in front of me become an unforgettable attachment in my heart? Always thinking of it unintentionally, but still can't forget it even when I calm down and focus.

  There is a bit of moonlight coming in from outside the window, casting a faint shadow on Qingchen's face.

  In a crowd of thousands, I searched for him everywhere, suddenly turning around, he was there, in the dim light of the lanterns.

  He stood still for a moment, gazing at her, before turning around and walking out, gently closing the door behind him. Just as he had taken a few steps away, he suddenly shouted: "Come out!"

  A figure emerged from the shadows: "Your Highness!"; it was Ming Wei, wearing a crimson palace attire that accentuated her icy beauty.

  Yè Tiān Lǐng turned his head and asked: "Who allowed you to enter Yanxi Palace privately?"

  Ming Cong bowed his head and said: "Everyone knows that Feng Zhu and the prince have entered Yanxi Palace, fearing something unexpected."

  Ye Tian Ling Dao: "If there's anything, I'll look for you. Yan Xi Palace is a very special place now, you are not allowed to enter without permission, and you should try your best not to leave Lian Chi Palace."

  "Yes, I will protect Lotus Princess well." Ming Yu replied. "Snow Battle has been very restless these past few days, I brought it here, please take a look, Master Feng." There was something in her arms that was hiding there, she loosened her hands and Snow Battle jumped out from under the clothes, disappearing without a trace. Ming Yu was startled, Ye Tian Ling said: "Don't worry, it went to find its master itself."

  He went to the room where Ming Yu was staying, took out a letter and handed it to Ye Tianling, saying: "We have already brought out Miss Luan Fei, she has written a letter to the prince about the truth of the matter, please take a look."

  Ye Tianling had read the letter and said a little later: "Send it to Songyutai for the prince to review."

  "Since we have a plan in place, if the Crown Prince were to be deposed, wouldn't that be an excellent opportunity for us? Why must you act like this, Your Highness?"

  The night sky was overcast with dark clouds, and the moon was slowly hiding behind them. "I have my own way of doing things," he said, "just send the letter and that will be enough."

  Ming Yu said no more, and with a downward glance, he said: "Your subordinate understands, please be careful, Your Highness."

  "Go." With a wave of his hand, Ye Tian Ling disappeared into the shadows of the trees under the moonlight.

  He stood alone under the night sky, looking up towards the Songyu Platform, his eyes flashing with complex emotions, a mix of joy and sorrow, slowly settling into the dark depths, leaving no trace.