The Empress Dowager made a shushing gesture to Ye Su Xue.
"Let's go out. We should let His Majesty rest. You can come with Mother to Chang Xin Palace to talk."
"Alright."
Ye Su Xue's voice was soft and respectful, which pleased the Empress Dowager greatly. She held Ye Su Xue's hand, and the two of them quietly withdrew from the imperial bedchamber.
As soon as they were gone, the person on the bed opened their eyes. A fleeting glint of sharpness flashed in the depths of their dark pupils, before they covered them again with their lashes, continuing to rest peacefully.
The weather was clear and bright, with clouds drifting by.
The vast, misty turquoise lake was as blue as magnificent silk, its surface dazzling with shimmering light under the sun.
Along the lake shore, weeping willows drooped, mirroring the lake water. All around, flowers bloomed in vibrant hues of purple and red.
Verdant pavilions and vermilion balustrades, exotic flowers in full bloom.
A uniquely designed estate, nestled against a great mountain and facing a clear lake. The fresh air carried the scent of the sea, mixed with faint floral fragrances.
Within the estate, houses with painted beams and carved pillars were neatly arranged. Exquisite and graceful courtyards were distributed throughout the grounds.
Paths paved with cobblestones led to each courtyard.
On either side of the paths were clear ponds filled with koi, and charming flower courtyards over small bridges. Pavilions stood every five steps, and structures every seven.
The glazed tiles gleamed with a vibrant sheen, adorning the estate like a celestial palace, a sight of unparalleled beauty.
This was the secret location of the Divine Dragon Palace, Yun Shui Mountain Villa, situated nearly a thousand miles away from Yan Capital, hidden deep within the mountains.
The mountain walls were steep, and the area was teeming with ferocious beasts. Ordinary people would never imagine that a hidden paradise existed here, a magnificent estate concealed within.
Everything in Yun Shui Mountain Villa was built by the former master, who dedicated his life to creating such an exquisite and beautiful estate.
Every brick, every tile, every blade of grass, and every tree had cost him considerable energy and wealth.
That night, Murong Chong and Yun Xiao, along with others, had rescued someone and led a group out of Yan Capital, heading straight for Yun Shui Mountain Villa.
As for Ye Wu Yun and Yan Yu, they had returned to their previous estate to rest. Their injuries were more severe, making long journeys inadvisable. Therefore, they were escorted by Young Master Lue Hua for their recuperation.
The others had all dispersed, leaving only Murong Chong and Yun Xiao, along with Yun Zhen and Prince Shangguan. They, with a few subordinates, were escorting Duke Yun back to Yun Shui Mountain Villa.
Along the way, Yun Xiao carefully examined the injuries on her father's leg. Fortunately, it hadn't been long since the leg was broken. She performed surgery to set the bone, though it would take time to heal.
She hadn't expected Yun Shui Mountain Villa to be so beautiful, finding it perfectly suited for his recovery.
Yun Xiao had a simple wheelchair made, instructing Yun Zhen to push her father out for some sunshine whenever he was free, as it would benefit the recovery of his leg muscles.
The afternoon sun was warm and gentle, casting a comforting glow on people's faces. Yun Xiao stretched out her arms, closed her eyes, and lay down on the grass behind her, quietly enjoying the sunbathing.
After days of continuous travel and exhaustion, she had finally recovered after two or three days of rest.
In the distance, the sound of waves crashing against rocks could be heard. Closer by, the clear lake shimmered. This interplay of movement and stillness was truly breathtaking.
She had never imagined such a wonderful place existed in the world. Stealing moments of leisure was indeed quite pleasant.
Today, Murong had gone down the mountain, so she had a rare bit of personal space.
As Yun Xiao lay with her eyes closed, enjoying the sun, a shadow suddenly fell over her, blocking the light. She involuntarily opened her eyes.
Standing beside her was Yun Zhen. In recent days, due to their busyness, their conversations and actions had been natural, as if they had forgotten the past unpleasantness.
However, now that they were alone, the incident resurfaced, making Yun Xiao feel a bit awkward. She sat up uncomfortably.
"You're here."
"Mhm." Yun Zhen didn't say anything else. He sat down opposite Yun Xiao, gazing at her. His eyes were now clear, just as they had been when she first met him.
He was once again the gentle and refined Yun Zhen, as precious as jade. He delicately plucked a blade of grass and twirled it in his hand, revealing his inner unease. The air was still, and neither spoke.
Yun Xiao glanced at him, breaking the silence. "Brother, do you have something to tell me?"
Yun Zhen finally looked up, meeting Yun Xiao's gaze directly, and spoke earnestly.
"Xiao'er, let's forget about what happened in the past."
"Mhm." Yun Xiao nodded, feeling happy to see Yun Zhen opening up.
Frankly, she didn't want her father to know about their situation, as it would affect the family's harmony. So, it was good that Yun Zhen had let go.
In the future, he would meet a good woman and understand that his current feelings might not be love, but rather the affection a brother has for his sister.
"That person, he is suitable for you, Xiao'er."
Yun Zhen added, his heart aching. It wasn't easy to move on, but he would try his best.
Moreover, that person truly earned his respect. Entrusting Xiao'er to someone he respected at least brought him some peace of mind.
"Thank you, Brother."
Yun Xiao knew who he was referring to. He had acknowledged Murong. He had witnessed everything Murong had shown over the past few days—his love, his actions, his wisdom and composure; every aspect had been just right.
"What thanks are needed? You are my sister."
Yun Zhen's mouth felt a little bitter, but his smile was bright. Sometimes, letting go was also a form of happiness, and he felt that way now.
At least, their father, he, and Xiao'er were all alive and well. What could be more joyful than being alive?
Yun Xiao also smiled. Yes, she didn't blame Yun Zhen at all; he was still her good brother.
Just as they were both smiling like a gentle spring breeze, from afar, Wan Wan came running, shouting excitedly, as if she had encountered something unpleasant.
Yun Zhen stood up, elegantly brushed off the blades of grass from his clothes, waved his hand, and said casually, "Brother has something else to attend to."
He slowly turned and walked away. His flowing sleeves, brushing the grass, were like a stream of pale blue clouds, elegant, composed, and noble.
Yun Xiao was watching him intently when Wan Wan ran up to her, panting and calling out.
"Mistress, Mistress, I heard some bad news…"
"What is it?"
Hearing that it was bad news, Yun Xiao immediately grew anxious. She didn't know what kind of bad news it could be. Had something happened to her father or Prime Minister Sima?
Indeed, Prime Minister Sima Qingyun was also at this estate.
Now, reunited with her father, they played chess and engaged in witty banter occasionally, living their days happily.
Besides the two of them, she couldn't think of anything else that could be considered bad news. Yun Xiao raised her eyebrows and looked at Wan Wan, who had finally managed to catch her breath.
"Do you know? I heard the servants of this estate say that there is a young lady in this estate who is very formidable. Some people also say…"
Wan Wan's voice trailed off at the end, becoming as faint as a mosquito's hum, barely audible. Yun Xiao raised her eyebrows and asked with a hint of amusement, "What's wrong with there being a young lady? Is she going to eat people or something?"
"No, Mistress. Those people actually said that this young lady is going to marry Young Master Murong."
"Mhm."
Marry Murong? What did that mean? She hadn't heard Murong mention anything about it. Yun Xiao curved her lips into a slight smile, leaning back, unwilling to pay it much mind.