Su Su had no idea how long she had been swimming.
The river was icy cold, with sharp ice fragments cutting her skin, but her numb and stiff limbs felt no pain.
She swam forward, her pace slowing down, yet she dared not stop.
Suddenly choking on a mouthful of water, she panicked and grabbed onto a piece of drifting wood. Half of her body lay on it while the other half remained submerged, floating weakly along with the wood.
Snow began to fall again from the sky, flakes landing on her cheeks.
Su Su closed her eyes, unable to move even a finger, and fell into an exhausted sleep.
Someone gently picked her up, and soon her body felt warm and cozy.
She had no idea how much time had passed when she regained consciousness, hearing the sounds of street vendors, gongs, and the joyful laughter of children.
Someone was speaking in hushed tones.
She opened her eyes and found herself lying on a soft bed.
Beside her was a low window, and the charcoal in the room crackled as it burned.
Su Su sat up and immediately spotted two men sitting at the table.
"Prince Xuan? Yu Qing?"
Yu Qing raised an eyebrow at her words. "You're awake? How do you feel?"
Su Su asked, "Why are you two here?"
Yu Qing opened his folding fan and gestured toward Xiao Lin. "You'll have to ask my senior brother about that. He was worried about you, afraid you'd be killed by the fox demon, and insisted we track you all the way here. We rowed a boat on the river for days, only to find you passed out clinging to a piece of wood. You were lucky—any later and you might have frozen to death."
Su Su said sincerely, "Thank you both."
Xiao Lin replied, "Third Miss, don't listen to Yu Qing's nonsense. You saved our lives—it's us who should be thanking you. It's only right that we ensure your safety."
Yu Qing asked, "How did you end up in the river?"
Su Su answered him, "Tantai Jin wanted me to write a letter to my elder brother to let them pass through Jiayu Pass. I jumped into the river to escape."
Yu Qing clicked his tongue in amazement. "Your husband is truly remarkable." It wasn't meant as criticism; Yu Qing genuinely felt that the man was deep and had endured humiliation for years, which was impressive.
Neither he nor the Prince of Zhao had seen this ruthless side of him before.
Su Su quickly asked, "How is my elder brother? Is he alright?"
Xiao Lin poured Su Su a cup of warm tea and said, "You've been asleep for two days. Tantai Jin's boat has already passed through Jiayu Pass. Young General Ye was poisoned and sent back to the imperial city for treatment."
Seeing Su Su's pale face, Xiao Lin comforted her, "Don't worry, it's not a life-threatening poison. He'll recover quickly once he's back in the imperial city."
Su Su breathed a sigh of relief. At least he didn't have to betray his country—Ye Qingyu's life was saved.
After finishing her tea, Xiao Lin thoughtfully ordered some food for her.
Su Su was starving and began eating from the bowl.
Yu Qing watched her with interest. "I'd heard before that Third Miss Ye was arrogant and domineering. Why are you so different from the rumors?"
When they found Third Miss Ye, she was nearly frozen into a little icicle. For a young woman to have the courage to jump into a winter river—that was bravery many men couldn't match.
Su Su smiled and said, "I also heard that Yu Qing, the retainer of the Prince of Zhao, was gentle and refined, a true gentleman. Sir Yu, you too are quite different from the rumors."
So rumors couldn't be trusted.
Yu Qing's face darkened, and he snorted.Xiao Lin looked at Su Su, a faint smile unconsciously appearing at the corners of his mouth.
Su Su said, "There's one more thing—what should we do about that seven-tailed fox demon?"
Xiao Lin replied, "I've already tried to contact my martial uncle. He should have a solution."
Though Su Su felt uneasy, she knew this was the only way. She had to go to the Desolate Abyss to find the Divine Turtle, and could only place her hopes in Xiao Lin's martial uncle regarding the seven-tailed fox matter.
At her current level, staying behind wouldn't help her defeat the fox demon.
After Su Su finished her meal, Xiao Lin said, "Third Miss Ye, this is Qingshui Town, five days' journey from the imperial city. Once you've rested, we'll return. Don't worry—His Majesty is discerning about Tantai Jin's case, and the general is loyal and righteous. Your family won't be implicated."
Su Su quickly responded, "I still have matters to attend to and can't return yet. Your Highness Prince Xuan, could you and Master Yu Qing inform my father and grandmother that I'm safe and will return home after completing my tasks?"
"Third Miss, what matters require your attention? Is there any way I can assist?"
Dressed in white robes with dark hair, his expression sincere, he genuinely wished to repay Su Su for previously saving his life.
Su Su felt warmth in her heart. Before coming to this world, her father had told her she might encounter familiar souls and should treat them calmly.
Su Su's senior martial brother was named Gongye Jiewu, a nobleman in the mortal realm. He had joined the Immortal Sect at twelve and cultivated to the Deity Transformation stage as a mortal. At just over three hundred years old, he was truly a genius.
If her calculations were correct, Xiao Lin must be her senior martial brother's past life.
However, the term "past life" brought no joy, because only through death and an undying soul could reincarnation occur.
Noticing Su Su staring blankly at Xiao Lin, Yu Qing said, "Hey, little girl, what are you looking at? Still can't forget my senior brother?"
Xiao Lin chided softly, "Yu Qing!"
Yu Qing shrugged, "Alright, alright, my bad. I'll shut up."
Su Su hurriedly waved her hands, "Your Highness Prince Xuan, please don't misunderstand. I was lost in thought just now. I was immature before, but I won't be like that anymore."
Xiao Lin nodded with a gentle smile, "I know. Third Miss... you're different from before. Yu Qing speaks carelessly—please don't take offense."
After eating and drinking her fill, Su Su finally noticed her clothes had been changed.
Yu Qing explained, "The innkeeper's daughter changed them for you. Don't worry, we wouldn't take advantage."
Regaining her strength, Su Su became lively again.
She didn't stand on ceremony with Xiao Lin, genuinely needing help now. "I need to travel far away and might not return for a long time. If it's convenient, Your Highness, could you lend me some silver? I'll write a letter and have Chun Tao deliver repayment to you."
Xiao Lin took several banknotes from his robe. Su Su's eyes widened—there were thousands of taels!
Su Su only took one note. "This is enough. Your Highness, Master Yu, take care."
Though she wished for companions on this path of altering fate, Su Su knew it wasn't possible.
Xiao Lin hadn't yet become Gongye Jiewu. As a prince of Great Xia with two nations on the brink of war, he had royal duties. Meanwhile, Su Su's mission destined her to walk a lonely road.
She waved to them and descended the inn stairs.
Watching her unrestrained retreating figure, Yu Qing teased, "Senior brother, this girl is so full of life—quite charming, actually. If she'd been like this before, would you have married her?"Xiao Lin frowned and said, "Watch your words."
There would be no "what ifs."
In their line of sight, the young girl bought a chestnut pony and disappeared into the snowstorm.
"How long has it been since we last returned to our homeland?" Jing Lan'an caught a snowflake in her hand, her expression somewhat dazed.
Five days after passing Jiayu Pass, they finally reached the border of Zhou Kingdom.
Continuing further into Zhou Kingdom, the climate would grow increasingly warmer.
The snowflake melted in Jing Lan'an's palm—this was likely the last snowfall they would witness.
Tantai Jin asked, "Does Aunt miss Zhou Kingdom?"
"Not exactly miss, but fallen leaves return to their roots. Everyone is born with their own roots, and returning to one's homeland brings profound emotions," Jing Lan'an said. "Speaking of which, Your Highness previously asked me for a Spring Silkworm Curse. However, the antidote for the Spring Silkworm Curse is not easy to concoct. A few days ago, the Saintess of our clan used the last remaining snow lotus petals to prepare one dose of the antidote. Would Your Highness need it?"
She took out an exquisite celadon porcelain bottle, not asking Tantai Jin whom he had used the Spring Silkworm Curse on.
Tantai Jin took it. The bottle felt warm, and he unconsciously rubbed it for a moment before saying, "No need."
He raised his hand and threw the antidote into the river.
"Would Your Highness care for a game of chess?"
Tantai Jin said, "Very well."
He lifted the hem of his cloak and sat opposite Jing Lan'an.
Jing Lan'an took the black pieces, while he took the white.
"Your Highness, Aunt rarely inquires about your affairs in Great Xia. Back then, I sent Lady Liu to care for you, but later I heard she went mad," Jing Lan'an placed a piece on the board. "Did she protect you well?"
A white piece landed with an air of decisiveness. Recalling the mad wet nurse in the cold palace, Tantai Jin's expression remained unchanged. "Do you suspect I drove her mad?"
Jing Lan'an was silent for a long moment. "Of course not."
Tantai Jin toyed with a chess piece and abruptly dropped a bombshell. "Your suspicion is not unfounded. At first, she wasn't mad. She still hoped to protect me, wishing that one day I could return to Zhou Kingdom and resume my position as a prince, so she could finally reap the rewards of her hardships."
"What a pitiful notion—to be trapped in purgatory yet still cling to the hope of escape one day. The days in the cold palace were too long, and she eventually realized how foolish that idea was."
"The fifth prince of Great Xia had a fondness for catamites," Tantai Jin stated calmly, causing Jing Lan'an's expression to shift.
"Your... Your Highness."
Tantai Jin placed another piece with a crisp sound, resting his chin on his hand as he reminisced. "Lady Liu added something to my meal. Unfortunately, that meal was too sumptuous—so sumptuous I couldn't bear it. I gave the food to her and took her to Zhegui Garden."
"Aunt, you probably don't know what Zhegui Garden is. That's where the filthy old eunuchs of the palace reside," Tantai Jin said, his lips curling in pity. "After Lady Liu entered, she returned mad."
Jing Lan'an closed her eyes and said sorrowfully, "Your Highness, it was my fault."
Tantai Jin shook his head and placed the final piece.
"You lose."
Jing Lan'an looked at the chessboard. It's often said that observing a game of chess is like observing life—the way one places pieces reveals their character. Tantai Jin's moves were decisive and ruthless, and he showed no concern for the lives of his pawns.
Many of his pieces died.
But he was the one who won.
Tantai Jin lost interest in a second game. He stood up alone and returned to the cabin.
Jing Lan'an picked up the chess pieces one by one and placed them back into the box. Even though she had raised Tantai Jin, she still did not understand him at all.For instance, regarding Su Su's situation—after she jumped into the river, Jing Lan'an had assumed Tantai Jin would send people to pursue her or rescue her. Yet, as days passed, he remained utterly indifferent.
This coldness sent a chill creeping through Jing Lan'an's fingertips.
As dusk approached, the shadow of another vessel gradually emerged on the water's surface.
Standing at the bow of the ship, Jing Lan'an gazed toward the approaching boat. Someone whispered, "Madam, it's the rendezvous party."
Jing Lan'an said, "We've endured much hardship these past few days. Let His Highness rest well. Instruct the kitchen to prepare a lavish feast tonight. And what of the renowned courtesan I purchased a few days ago?"
Before long, an enchantingly beautiful woman knelt gracefully at Jing Lan'an's feet.
Jing Lan'an remarked, "I've heard you remain untouched, yet you must be well-versed in all that is required. Serve His Highness diligently and bring him some joy."
Xi Qin, blushing with a mix of shyness and anticipation, replied, "Yes."
She had seen His Highness before—so strikingly handsome that she felt inferior in comparison. The mere thought of accompanying such a man quickened her heartbeat.
After Xi Qin departed with swaying grace, a maid appeared at Jing Lan'an's side.
"Will His Highness accept her?"
Jing Lan'an replied, "It matters not."
She tapped a finger over her heart. "There is no one here, so nothing truly matters."
But if there were someone in his heart...
Jing Lan'an thought to herself, perhaps she could hope that things wouldn't be so utterly hopeless.
Xi Qin pushed open the door to the chamber.
A young man in black robes sat cross-legged on the couch, his eyes closed, dark lashes resembling crow feathers.
Hearing someone enter, he opened his eyes.
Though Xi Qin had encountered many men, it was the first time a mere gaze had made her legs tremble slightly.
She felt a flicker of fear, yet her admiration for the man before her grew even stronger.
Kneeling, Xi Qin crawled toward him on her knees.
Her red lips trembled slightly as she uttered pitiable words: "Madam sent this humble servant to attend to Your Highness for the night."
Tantai Jin asked, "Did Lan An send you?"
"Yes." Xi Qin's hands loosened her belt, and suppressing the flutter in her heart, she shed her garments.
Her skin met the cold air.
She possessed a splendid figure, fair complexion, and a body capable of enticing any man.
Xi Qin expected to see intense desire in Tantai Jin's eyes, but he remained impassive, watching her as if she were a lump of lifeless flesh.
As she desperately tried to seduce him, she couldn't resist glancing downward to see if there was any reaction below his navel.
Yet the young man remained perfectly calm, a faint smirk curling his thin lips. "What? Surprised?"
In her panic, Xi Qin hastily knelt again.
She couldn't help but wonder if a prince who felt no arousal at the sight of a woman's exquisite form was perhaps...
Tantai Jin raised his hand, and blood dripped onto Xi Qin's shoulder. A black Gu worm crawled out from her body.
Seeing the wriggling insect, Xi Qin tried to scream but found her throat incapable of producing any sound.
"One Night of Dawn." Tantai Jin pinched the Gu worm and sighed. "How sorrowful. Lan An wishes for me to die joyfully."
Though his words spoke of sorrow, his eyes held not a trace of grief.
A Crimson Flame Bee flew through Xi Qin's skull. Her eyes widened, and she collapsed straight to the floor.
She died without ever understanding what had happened.
Expressionless, Tantai Jin stepped over the corpse.
Having spent fourteen years in the cold palace, what hadn't he witnessed?
Tantai Jin had never told anyone: in his eyes, all things in this world were merely withered stones, barren grass, yellow earth, and bleached skeletons. A lifeless lump of flesh—he couldn't even muster a flicker of emotion.
In the future, he would never lose control over any physical form.
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