Since the beginning of autumn, the weather in Zhou Kingdom remained warm.
On sunny days, Su Su would grope her way around the cold palace. The cold palace had nothing, and the divine power of the World-Toppling Flower in her blood was diminishing day by day.
The curved jade became her eyes, guiding her path and preventing her from stumbling and falling.
The World-Toppling Flower ravaged her body, making her increasingly thin.
Now, her pink-and-white palace dress hung loosely on her, her waist extremely slender.
The palace had many willow trees. In her spare time, Su Su would leave the courtyard of the cold palace to break off a few willow branches. After returning, she would sharpen them and set up formations.
To create the true Divine Marrow, she needed to infuse the World-Toppling Flower with yin energy.
Whether by coincidence or not, every time she went to break willow branches at dusk, she would encounter gossipy palace maids discussing the recently favored Lady Zhaohua.
"His Majesty is so good to Lady Zhaohua. I heard that these past few days, gifts have been continuously sent to her palace."
"Haven't you heard? When Lady Zhaohua fell ill, His Majesty personally took care of her."
"A few days ago, when Xiaoshunzi made a mistake, His Majesty was furious, but Lady Zhaohua pleaded for him, and His Majesty immediately calmed down."
"Even the treasures sent by Shencha were used by His Majesty to please Lady Zhaohua!"
Their laughter passed through the wall separating the cold palace, penetrating into Su Su's dark world.
Su Su heard them mention her as well—
"Then what do you think His Majesty's intentions are toward the one in the cold palace?"
"Her? I heard that back in Xia Kingdom, His Majesty hated her to the bone. Keeping her now is only to torment her."
"But she almost became the empress before."
Someone sneered, "She's blind now. If His Majesty truly liked her, why wouldn't he give her Shencha's treasures? In my opinion, His Majesty detests her beyond measure."
Su Su gripped the willow branch, lost in thought.
The autumn wind rustled her plain dress. Leaning against the palace wall, she slowly made her way back. Willow branches could attract yin energy. She sat cross-legged, drawing the cold palace's yin energy into the World-Toppling Flower in her left eye.
The yin energy entering her body made her shiver with cold, her skin turning pale.
Day after day, Su Su gradually grew accustomed to it. As yin energy entered the World-Toppling Flower, her eyes no longer bled frequently.
She knew liberation was near.
One night, she sat by the well, washing her clothes.
The curved jade suddenly said, "He's here."
Su Su paused briefly, then continued washing. Tantai Jin arrived silently—without attendants, without carrying a glass lamp—watching her from a distance.
The dark-robed emperor coldly observed the slender girl finish washing her clothes, pick up the wooden basin, and walk past him.
The cold palace was quiet and pitch-black. She seemed accustomed to it, needing no assistance as she familiarly navigated past the well.
Her expression was calm, her clear black-and-white eyes not at all resembling those of a blind person.
The girl seemed unaware of his presence. As she was about to enter her room, Tantai Jin unconsciously took a few steps forward.
Realizing what he was doing, he halted, turned around, and left.
The curved jade said, "He's gone."
Without the curved jade, Su Su would never have known he had come.
The six Soul Extinguishing Nails in his heart had completely turned him into an icy, piercing person. If there were any moments of slight loss of control, it was approximately every two months when Su Su's Spring Silkworm Curse flared up.
He would always sneer while forcing her to beg him for relief.
During their intimate moments, he occasionally lost control, unable to help but gaze at her distractedly. Yet, it lasted only a brief moment before Tantai Jin would revert to his venomous self.When he arrived, Su Su pretended not to notice and carried on with her tasks as usual.
If before the Flower of Eternal Life, she had still held some expectations for him, now her heart was a barren wasteland, devoid of even a single blade of grass.
She counted the days, waiting for the yin day and yin hour.
In November, a palace banquet was soon to be held, and Ye Bingshang had almost fully recovered.
With the Flower of Eternal Life inside her, her wounds had healed without a trace.
Xiao Hui helped her with her makeup, and gazing at the delicate beauty in the mirror, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Madam grows more beautiful by the day. Who would have thought the Flower of Eternal Life could even cure Madam's chronic ailments?"
Now, Ye Bingshang appeared with rosy lips and pearly teeth. She gently touched her face and revealed a gentle smile.
Xiao Hui said joyfully, "Recently, His Majesty has been busy clearing out the remnants of the Eighth Prince and his followers. Soon, the Zhou Kingdom will be completely at peace. Did you know, Madam, in a few days, there will be a palace banquet, and that day is actually a special one."
"What special day?"
Xiao Hui leaned close to Ye Bingshang's ear and whispered a few words. Instantly, Ye Bingshang's face flushed slightly, and she shot Xiao Hui a reproachful glance.
Xiao Hui said, "I'm not mistaken, everyone says this day is the most auspicious for praying for a child. Everyone in the Zhou Kingdom believes in this. Now that Madam's health has greatly improved, as long as you can keep His Majesty with you that day, you're sure to bear a young prince next year."
Ye Bingshang said, "You chatterbox! It's my oversight—I should have married you off long ago!"
Before the palace banquet began, Xiao Hui finished dressing Ye Bingshang, and she went to find Tantai Jin.
Their timing was unfortunate. Tantai Jin hadn't yet left for the banquet but was speaking with someone beneath a plum blossom tree.
Ye Bingshang took a look and recognized him as one of the officials in charge of hunting down the Eighth Prince. Tantai Jin had always valued capable ministers, and this official had risen quickly, with Tantai Jin seemingly intent on cultivating him as a confidant.
He had a very young and handsome face. About half a month ago, Ye Bingshang had seen this official, who seemed to be surnamed Qi.
Back then, Lord Qi was full of ambition, but now the man in official robes had eyes devoid of life.
Tantai Jin looked coldly at Qi Mo: "Have you thought it through? Do you truly wish to resign?"
Qi Mo kowtowed: "I have failed to live up to Your Majesty's great favor."
He removed his official hat, his lips utterly pale.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade him to stay, Tantai Jin said indifferently, "Get out."
Qi Mo rose and left. As he passed Ye Bingshang, he showed no reaction, like a walking corpse.
Tantai Jin stood up to go to the banquet. Seeing that he remained silent, Ye Bingshang had no choice but to follow quietly behind him.
Amidst the music of strings and pipes, the dark-robed young man rested his chin on his hand, his cold eyes watching the songs and dances on the stage.
Ye Bingshang called his name twice, but Tantai Jin gave no response.
She then knew that Tantai Jin's thoughts were elsewhere. Was it because of Lord Qi? she wondered. What exactly had Qi Mo come to say?
A sense of unease settled in her heart. Today, she had dressed carefully, and when she left, Xiao Hui had said she outshone the flowers. Even the scent on her robes had been meticulously chosen.
Ye Bingshang had been in the Zhou Kingdom for over half a year. Although everyone in the palace said she was favored, she knew the truth better than anyone. She feared that tonight, she still wouldn't be able to keep Tantai Jin with her. Moreover, the young tyrant was sharp-minded and ruthless. When she wasn't certain, she didn't dare play any tricks on him.
Tantai Jin had no idea what Ye Bingshang, seated below, was thinking. It was rare for him to be so distracted.
Qi Mo's words of resignation had made him frown.He had his own rules. Qi Mo had been involved in too many of his schemes, and now that he wanted to withdraw, even if he didn't die, he would be left half-dead.
Yet Qi Mo abandoned the opportunity for a meteoric rise and resolutely resigned from his official post.
No, it should be said he resigned in utter despair.
Tantai Jin knew Qi Mo's affairs very well. After all, when employing someone, he had to understand their background thoroughly before he could trust them.
A year ago, when the states of Xia and Zhou were at war, Qi Mo was still a minor commandant who had achieved many merits and performed illustrious deeds on the battlefield.
During the Battle of Cangzhou, Qi Mo led troops to raid a family's home, killing everyone in the household, but secretly hid away the family's fifth young miss.
Qi Mo had fallen for her at first sight. The girl, however, was fiercely determined, constantly seeking to kill Qi Mo and avenge her family.
In the young woman's eyes, there was no war—only this demon-like man who had slaughtered her family and forcibly taken her.
What infuriated her most was that Qi Mo already had a wife and family before he met her.
The fifth Miss Shen attempted to kill Qi Mo several times, but each time he saw through her plans. She was merely a delicate young woman, and in the end, Qi Mo forcibly took her as his concubine.
Qi Mo was swift and decisive in his methods. Though the fifth Miss Shen defied him repeatedly and deliberately stirred up trouble in the household, he pitied her but could not help feeling angered.
Old Madam Qi also disliked this vixen who had bewitched her son. Taking advantage of Qi Mo's absence, she joined forces with Qi Mo's legal wife to torment the fifth Miss Shen.
Qi Mo, repeatedly thwarted by the fifth Miss Shen, simply stood by and watched coldly. As time passed, he noticed the thorns in her demeanor had vanished—she became docile, lowering her gaze and speaking to him gently and amiably.
Qi Mo was overjoyed for a time and doted on the fifth Miss Shen even more, spending every night in her chambers and granting her every wish.
This year, she even bore him a son.
Everything seemed perfect until last night, when Qi Mo was ordered to suppress the Eighth Prince's rebel forces. The fifth Miss Shen set a fire, burning herself and her infant son to death, along with Qi Mo's mother and legal wife, who were trapped in the old residence.
Qi Mo's family was wiped out. The fifth Miss Shen had made him experience what it meant to have his family destroyed and his loved ones lost.
Heartbroken and desolate, Qi Mo decided to resign from his post.
Tantai Jin could see that this once-capable official now had no will to live. Even if he took no action, Qi Mo would not survive the winter.
The music from the strings and pipes grated on his ears, and the Soul Extinguishing Nails in his heart began to ache faintly.
He pressed a hand to his chest. The story of Qi Mo's concubine inexplicably unsettled him.
He suddenly stood up, filled with a strong desire to see the young woman he detested to the core.
Ye Bingshang couldn't help but speak out, "Your Majesty! The palace banquet has not yet..."
Without turning back, he said indifferently, "When the banquet ends, return on your own. I have matters to attend to."
Ye Bingshang watched helplessly as the black-robed emperor departed, her nails digging into her palms.
Tantai Jin made his way to the cold palace, the music fading into the distance. He knew he shouldn't be here before the fifteenth of the month. He had long declared that he would never harbor any feelings for her again.
He raised his hand, then let it fall.
As a prince of the Zhou Kingdom, Tantai Jin naturally knew what day it was—the day when the emperor stayed with his beloved to pray for offspring.
He shouldn't be here. His expression turned cold, and he turned back to his own palace.
Qi Mo's downfall was his own incompetence.
In the Chengqian Palace, the Soul Devouring Banner spun in the air. Tantai Jin gazed at it for a long time before saying, "Old Taoist, I recall you once mentioned a magical artifact that could bind a person, making it impossible for them to ever leave."Black mist churned, and amidst the eerie laughter, the old Taoist emerged with utmost reverence.
"Indeed, but this is an evil object. If Your Majesty uses it, it will also harm your body."
"Bring it here."
The old Taoist immediately produced two golden bracelets: "Your Majesty need not worry. Although this is an evil object, it is also a rare protective magical artifact. As long as the artifact remains unbroken, it can safeguard its master's safety. Even if she dies, this humble Taoist can still track her soul."
Tantai Jin examined the two bracelets and without hesitation clasped one onto his own wrist.
The bracelet automatically conformed to his wrist.
A trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, which Tantai Jin wiped away expressionlessly.
He curved his lips into a mocking smile.
Su Su had just lain down to sleep when the door opened.
Winter was approaching. Although Zhou Kingdom wasn't as cold as Xia Kingdom, the thin, tattered quilt in the cold palace could hardly provide warmth.
She sat up from the bed and asked the visitor, "Why have you come?"
Both knew perfectly well that today wasn't the fifteenth of the month.
The young man remained silent, grabbed her wrist, and said coldly, "I heard something today - Qi Mo's concubine killed his entire family."
Su Su said, "So you're afraid I might kill you too."
After a pause, she added, "And Ye Bingshang?"
Su Su couldn't see his expression, but the man's presence beside her made her extremely uncomfortable. She tried to withdraw her wrist, but he didn't release it.
His cool voice sounded: "Exactly."
Something cold was pushed onto her wrist, like a snake licking her pale skin.
"What is this?" Su Su said resistantly.
Tantai Jin said, "Of course, something to make you suffer. Give up hope - once worn, it cannot be removed."
The curved jade said: "He's lying to you. This is the Fu Ci Bracelet, a pair of sinister magical artifacts. He has one on his hand too, matching yours. With this, you cannot leave him for more than seven days. If you truly leave, you will die, and so will he."
After a moment's thought, the curved jade added: "At the same time, it can also protect you from harm."
Su Su's cold little hand was held in Tantai Jin's palm. After a long silence, the resistance on her face faded, replaced by a faint sense of satisfaction in her heart: "With the Divine Marrow in his body, he cannot die. Under the Heavenly Thunder, the Fu Ci Bracelet cannot restrain me. Since Tantai Jin enjoys control, let him witness with his own eyes how the Fu Ci Bracelet shatters."
He thought everything in the world was under his control, and then he would learn how powerless one could be against many things in this world.
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