In the southern border, there was a secluded valley, clean and white after the snow.
When Xie Beihan circled up from the foot of the mountain, he saw her standing in the snow, dressed in a red dress, gazing into the distance. Her slender and proud back was buffeted by the cold wind, making her skirt rustle.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at her carefully, and then walked towards her with a smile.
Ye Luan heard the faint footsteps and turned her head, only to fall into a warm and solid embrace.
"How rare, you actually came to find me."
His warm breath brushed against her ear, and the sideways glance he cast was full of meaning.
"What? Do you need something from me?"
Ye Luan broke free from his embrace and took a step back.
Xie Beihan spread his hands and leaned against a nearby tree, chuckling.
He leaned against the trunk, his posture so languid that he didn't resemble an emperor at all, yet his gaze towards her was filled with the emperor's coldness and charm.
Ye Luan asked, "Is your injury healed?"
Xie Beihan looked at her, smiling, but said nothing.
For a moment, silence flowed in the air.
"You care about me?" His smile was chillingly cold. "Let me guess, you came to find me on your own accord, hoping I'll withdraw the Beiqi troops from Xuzhou River."
Ye Luan pursed her lips. "You are the Emperor of Beiqi, you should prioritize the peace and prosperity of the common people. When two countries go to war, it is the people who suffer."
Upon hearing her words, Xie Beihan burst into laughter.
His eyes were fixed on her, scrutinizing her face, and in the depths of his eyes was an undisguised greed.
"Why don't you say that to Xiao Chizhan?"
Ye Luan raised her eyebrows. "He has no intention of going to war with Beiqi."
Xie Beihan's eyebrows lifted, and he nodded with a smile, laced with a hint of displeased provocation.
"In your eyes, I'm being unreasonable?"
Ye Luan remained silent and produced a brocade box.
Xie Beihan slowly walked over and hugged her from behind.
"You're getting bolder and bolder, daring to come see me alone. If I took you away now, would Xiao Chizhan go mad?"
Ye Luan said, "You won't."
He let out a soft scoff near her ear.
"But I truly want to see him die."
His voice was long and drawn out, his dark pupils tinged with a hint of darkness.
Ye Luan pushed him, but he held her tightly, refusing to let go.
"Since you dare to come see me, be prepared for me."
He spoke in a low voice, with a touch of sickly excitement.
Ye Luan tilted her head. "I came to see you to show you something."
Her voice was very calm, and her gaze when she looked at him did not hold the disgust he expected.
A ripple of emotion stirred in Xie Beihan's heart. He smiled lightly, released her, and took the box.
"Isn't this something Jingzhi left for you? Why show it to me?"
Ye Luan stepped back. "I discovered it later. Inside the hidden compartment, there is something he left for you."
Xie Beihan held the box, not opening it. He traced the patterns on it, and as he did, he suddenly burst into laughter.
In the silent valley, surrounded by emptiness, only his laughter echoed.
Ye Luan watched him laugh quietly.
On his usually sinister face, she saw a hint of bitterness.
"Even in death, he plots for you."
Ye Luan's eyes pricked with a slight sting of sadness, and she averted her gaze.
Xie Beihan grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at him.
"What, you want to use him to force me to give up on you, to give up on attacking Daliang?"
Ye Luan winced from the pain of his grip. "Aren't you going to see what he left you?"
Xie Beihan sneered, his eyes fixed directly on her, utterly silent.
The wind blew, rustling the leaves around them.
Ye Luan pursed her lips and met his gaze, unfaltering.
"Ye Luan."
He suddenly called her name.
"Yes."
He held her hand, caressing it gently, his eyes looking at her with wicked abandon.
"I'll wait for your wedding day, march my army to the city gates, and snatch you away, how about that?"
Ye Luan remained silent, looking at him calmly.
Xie Beihan chuckled lightly. "That would be very stimulating, wouldn't it? Would it infuriate him to death?"
"---"
Ye Luan wriggled her hand and said, "You're hurting me."
Xie Beihan raised his eyebrows and released her.
As soon as her hand was free, Ye Luan gave him a deep look before walking away.
Her faint voice, carried by the gentle breeze, reached his ears.
"Xie Beihan, you were a close friend of Jingzhi for many years. Surely you don't wish for him to be restless in the underworld."
Her retreating steps paused, and she turned to look at him.
"Let go. You be your emperor, and I will enter his estate. May we never see each other again."