Having walked out of the palace hall, that chilly voice seems to still be echoing in her ears, Gui Wan unconsciously wraps her arms around her own body, right when she steps out of that cold and quiet palace hall, with not one person around, a smile like that of light clouds is still hanging on her face, yet from the corner of her eyes, tears are already sliding down.
Mother, you often said, actors wearing masks within the opera play, singing their sorrows, joy, anger, grief, that is all just an opera play, but why is it that, the scene I saw within Jing Ye just now, the two people were embracing, yet the sour feeling within me was difficult to restrain.
Who is to tell me, tears in the play is acting, then what about the tears under the actors’ mask, who is able to look at that? How are feelings to be endured?
******
Waves of cool breeze tucks in the sweet fragrance of green grass and leaves, brushing over the lake, blowing waves after waves of light ripples. Yao Ying stands within the courtyard, such infinitely frail posture, facing the tireless narrative of the person in front.
The curve of those brows like that of a new moon, those lips more delicate than that of flowers opening and closing, from time to time, issuing laughter like songs of the birds, such stunning beauty sufficiently softening the hearts of anyone.
Yet why is his heart not affected by this? Lou Che smiles, a little surprised by his own feelings, this woman who has once greatly affected his heart, is clearly exceedingly close to him, yet it feels as though they are as far apart as the ends of the world. Smiling, they have already changed.[3]
In a sudden burst of heartbeats, a beautiful figure charges into his arms, Lou Che lowers his head and looks at that peerlessly beautiful face, knitting his brows, he coldly says: “Lady Consort, what are you doing? Let go.” Wanting reach up to push her away, he finds that she has wrapped her arms around him tighter, for the time being, he actually could not break free.
“Lou Che……how could you be so cruel? Throwing me into this nest of jackals and wolves all alone, not even caring for my life and death, clearly knowing that someone has placed saffron in my medicine, can I not even lean on you now for a bit?”
Such demeanour that makes anyone feel tender hearted, such feelings that are delicate and moving.
Hand increasing in strength, Lou Che seizes her arms, pushing her away with a foot distance between them, sharpness sweeping past those clear warm eyes, “Lady Consort, since you already know this is a world of deceit and dishonesty, then you should know where to draw the line.”
Yao Ying’s eyes of autumn water, is sparkling with tears right now, seemingly resentful, seemingly melancholic, as she looks at Lou Che, “What is the meaning of saying such?” The tenderness within her voice is actually somewhat shaky.
The handsome young man stands within the courtyard, calmly running his hand across his sleeve, wiping away the creases from just now, exhibiting graceful movements of elegant nobility, carefully eyeing Yao Ying, seeming to be heave a sigh.
“Lady Consort Ying, at the medicine taster court lady just now, I have already found out the one who placed saffron in your medicine is Consort Li,” Blocking Yao Ying’s move to intercept his speech, Lou Che’s voice turns somewhat cold, “At the same time, I’ve found a very interesting matter.”
“What matter?” Her soft and gentle voice also restores its calm as she gracefully asks.
“Do you not know? That’s strange.” Lou Che lowly laughs, “She said, she had once approached you Lady Consort Ying, reporting the matter of the medicine containing saffron, yet you gave her money, wanting her to keep this secret, this medicine, was voluntarily consumed by you.”
The wind suddenly stills, Consort Ying’s ethereally beautiful face still carries unchanging tenderness, but has gained an addition of dull pain, smile spreading, her lips forms a beautiful curve, “It is I who doesn’t want her own child, killing the dragon child, so right now, have you come to condemn me?”
Lightly sounding a sigh, he glances over the scenery of the entire courtyard, the last traces of affections seems to have also melted away throughout these formless years, eyes looking down, he speaks coldly: “Rest assured, that medicine taster court lady will never speak again. You are perfectly safe, I am warning Lady Consort for the very last time, within the back palace, changes are constant, even if you need to take things into your own hands, you must erase all traces, and save yourself from falling into the subject of ridicule.”