宮殿 Gōngdiàn×The Palace

CHAPTER 32

"Could you please hurry up?"

he impatiently demanded. As I struggled to assist Meixiang through the snowy terrain, I couldn't help but feel the biting cold. It seemed like our plan for escape hadn't been thoroughly thought out. I had to admit, if it had just been the two of us, we would have made much more progress by now. Glancing back at Meixiang, shivering and trembling, worry began to consume me.

What if we didn't make it in time and froze to death? Briefly, I considered waiting for our pursuers to catch up, so we could retreat to safety and help Meixiang. However, that was not an option, as we would likely be killed before we could even speak.

"How much longer?" I asked him, my voice filled with desperation.

He stopped walking and gazed up at the sky. It felt like we had been out here for days, when in reality, it had only been a few hours. Back at the cave, I overheard talk of a recent raid in a nearby village.

If that was our destination, we might have about two more hours to go from our current position. We had left under the cover of night, and I could now see the sun peeking over the horizon, indicating that we had an hour or two left. However, I wasn't entirely certain of our location. He had chosen a different route, claiming it was slightly longer but less likely to lead us into capture. Along the way, he had stopped to retrieve a bag of supplies hidden in a tree trunk, containing boots and fur for the harsh weather. The problem arose when we realized that everything in the bag was meant for two travelers, not three. I shared my fur with Meixiang and gave her my fur boots. This upset him, as he believed he was only responsible for me.

He warned me that if anything happened to me, he would face severe consequences. Reluctantly, I accepted his boots, though I blushed at the thought of Mu Yang speaking to him in the same manner, with his handsome face and disapproving scowl. It made me wonder if I missed those aspects of him now, despite my uncertainty about our future. I couldn't fool myself into thinking he would still try to possess me as he had before, although a part of me still hoped for it, while another part yearned for freedom. Perhaps seeing him would help me determine which part would prevail. Being stuck in that cave for so long had changed my perspective on many things, but there were certain principles I refused to compromise simply because I realized I wasn't entirely opposed to his advances.

I had heard rumors about his impending marriage, so I viewed this rescue mission as something he felt obligated to do, knowing that he was the reason I ended up in this predicament. I entertained the idea of us becoming friends once this was all over, but I couldn't help but snort at the thought, earning a concerned look from Meixiang. I pulled her closer for warmth, realizing that the notion of me, Liu Cai Lung, being friends with the Emperor was utterly absurd. Especially considering Mu Yang's tendency to do whatever he pleased, regardless of consequences or others' opinions.

"So?" I asked him again, growing impatient. He continued to scan the skies.

"About an hour, give or take." He finally answered.

"But." I started to say, but he interrupted, looking at Meixiang. "We would have made more progress if we didn't have the extra baggage."

He turned and walked away. I wanted to argue further, but exhaustion and the cold took their toll on me. He had sacrificed his shoe for me, but once we were somewhere warm, he better watch his words. Suddenly, we heard voices in the distance, and my heart raced.

"Did you hear that?" I whispered to him. We crouched down, Meixiang included. He took something out of his pocket and examined it before putting it back.

"They're tracking our footsteps." he confirmed. "Damn it, that's why I wanted to travel through the trees."

"I could carry Meixiang, and we could glide for a while," I suggested. He scrutinized me skeptically.

"You're the same size as her. How would you manage?" I didn't appreciate him underestimating me, assuming I was some fragile being.

"I'm stronger than I appear." I hissed, glaring at him. He snorted and shook his head.

"I'll do it." He finally agreed. "How do you figure?" I asked, eyeing his size. He wasn't much larger than me. "Fine, we'll take turns then." he conceded. I grinned, victorious. He would soon learn that I don't back down easily.

Eunch:

Something was amiss. The news I had received should have set everything in motion smoothly, with the emperor being informed by now. But here I was, listening to wedding plans, while the emperor sat idly by. If he truly knew what was happening, he would be mobilizing his army for war instead of wasting time here. Something was definitely wrong. Mu Yang rarely keeps me this close to him. Could he suspect something? I observed him closely, trying to decipher what was going on in his mind. But his majesty was an enigma. I hadn't checked in with the empress all day, and she was expecting an update.

The letter I had for her remained in my possession. My nerves were getting the best of me. I glanced up from my seat in the throne room and noticed Mu Yang's icy gaze fixed upon me. A chill ran down my spine as something passed through his eyes. I didn't like this at all. He averted his gaze and turned his attention to his pregnant concubine. I knew he had a soft spot for the princess of the north. Every night before the boy arrived, he would visit her chambers. She reveled in the attention he bestowed upon her, much to the envy of the other concubines.

Ni Ling was not pleased when he moved her from her room, placing the boy before her . He also ceased his nightly visits to her. So when he drunkenly visited her again, it came as a surprise. She flaunted their encounters around the palace, and Mu Yang allowed it. When she announced her pregnancy, the other concubines were outraged. She was granted her own wing in the palace. I wondered what she would do next. If our plan succeeded, she would be hang out with her child, or perhaps her majesty would let her be seeing how she was carrying her grandchild.

But if our plan failed, her child would become the crown prince, though the emperor's heart would not belong to her. I pondered if she knew. I stared at her as she sat by his side, hands on her swollen belly, a blissful smile on her face. That wretched woman probably believed everything was going her way. She was in for a rude awakening.