The moonlight was as white as jade, casting a silken silver glow across the ground, and the beauty was as radiant as a flower, her heart filled with sorrow.
Meanwhile, in the Huaqing Palace on the other side, a profound stillness reigned. Liu Liu leaned against the couch, using the light of the palace lantern to meticulously study a blueprint in her hands. XXS.
This was a drawing she had instructed Dai Mei to find, depicting the flooding of farmhouses in several small counties of Jingzhou. She was carefully researching how to resolve this problem.
Although she had refused Feng Lie, she still wanted to devise a solution in private. If no good method emerged in the imperial court, perhaps her idea could alleviate the urgent crisis in Jingzhou.
"Your Highness, it is time to rest. The hour is late."
Cui'er adjusted the lamp wick with a golden needle, illuminating the sleeping chambers significantly. The lamp wick flickered a few times.
The night was deep, and a faint coolness permeated the air. It seemed the sweltering summer was drawing to a close. She sat on the couch, clad in a brocade inner robe, unmoving, and spoke softly.
"Cui'er, you should go to sleep. I am tired, and I will sleep when I am ready."
"Yes, Your Highness." Cui'er nodded, then refilled her mistress's tea before slowly withdrawing.
Liu Liu continued to ponder her wise strategy. Outside the window, a gentle breeze stirred, scattering flower petals. Faintly, the sound of a flute carried in, tinged with melancholy. She closed her eyes and listened, her form still. Tonight, she wished to go nowhere else; she simply desired some peace.
Nangong Yue, would you be at peace now? Troubled by me every night, you could not directly refuse, could you? I will never disturb you again.
Little did she know, three nights later, Nangong Yue stormed into Huaqing Palace and abducted her.
The night was dark and oppressive, devoid of a single star. Dark clouds gathered overhead, portending rain. Nangong Yue brought her to his imperial palace residence, a secluded courtyard.
This courtyard was built beside a lake. Stone paths wound through it, and ancient trees stood tall and lush. Waterfowl swam by the lake. She and he stood in a white jade pavilion, facing each other, the sound of their heavy breaths filling the air. The glazed palace lanterns surrounding the small pavilion cast a dim, diffused light.
Liu Liu had not expected Nangong Yue to dare abduct her. Her brows furrowed slightly, her expression serene as she spoke without anger or offense.
"Nangong Yue, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Nangong Yue said, moving swiftly to her side. She caught the scent of herbs on him, and a shimmering ripple flashed in his tranquil, deep eyes. Anger flickered in his voice.
"You detestable woman, you come for music when you please, and when you no longer wish to listen, you simply cease to come, is that it?"
She heard his labored breathing and a smile touched her lips, but it was edged with a cold, detached brilliance. So, that was the reason. Yet, was his act of abducting someone in the dead of night not excessively presumptuous?
"I have been busy with matters recently, so I did not come to listen. I had always thought you feared disturbing me, but it seems you require an audience. In that case, I shall come to listen in the future." She spoke with an air of nonchalance and lighthearted banter, her indifferent attitude infuriating Nangong Yue.
Evidently, he alone was perplexed. For days he had been waiting, consumed by anxiety. Day by day, his confidence waned, until tonight, when he broke into Huaqing Palace and took her.
Never before had anyone unsettled him. Her aloofness and detachment, the intelligence in her eyes, the hint of mockery on her lips – these images constantly replayed in his mind.
These virtues, compared to her beauty, masked the minor imperfections on her face. He was now like a drowning man grasping for a lifeline.
And she, completely unfazed. Did he possess no charm at all? His heart felt as if it were being fried in oil, burning with an unbearable heat. His eyes were fixed intently on the woman before him, his dark gaze burdened with such heavy pain and disappointment.
Liu Liu was startled. Why was he in such agony? It was heart-wrenching to behold. Had something happened? She reached out her jade-like hand and brushed his forehead.
"Nangong Yue, what has happened? Are you not feeling well?"
The moment Nangong Yue felt the warmth of her hand, he could no longer restrain himself. He reached out, grasped her, and pulled her into his embrace. Breathing heavily, he sighed deeply and lowered his head, searching for her lips, and then pressed them upon hers.
Liu Liu was stunned, her mind momentarily unable to process what was happening. What was he doing?
Nangong Yue had gone mad. He had gone mad! She reached out to push him away, but he remained unmoving. His tongue invasively ventured into her slightly parted lips.
Until she tasted a sweet, sticky, metallic flavor in her mouth. She bit him, and he smiled in satisfaction, releasing her.
"Liu'er, Liu'er, Liu'er…" He kept calling her name, as if merely being near her brought him a sense of fulfillment, ending his loneliness and solitude.
Liu Liu looked up, glaring at him with cold fury. In the darkness, her clear eyes held a profound censure, yet her heart thudded a little faster. She had never been kissed before and had no idea what it felt like. Her lips were swollen, her hair dishevelled. She did not realize how alluring she looked at that moment.
"Nangong Yue, you are mad! I am the Empress. Do you want to bring ruin upon yourself and me? You may have nothing, but I still have the Liu family. Do you wish to see my entire family executed?"
Nangong Yue's unfathomably deep black eyes darkened, a cool, alluring charm flickering at the corners of his brows and eyes. "I will not harm you. I just miss you." As he spoke, his gaze flickered uncertainly, his long lashes on his handsome face twitching slightly, giving him a pitiable appearance.
Liu Liu remained silent. She walked to the edge of the pavilion. Outside the pavilion, it had begun to rain. The raindrops pounded the lake, creating countless small splashes. The waterfowl sought shelter beneath the lotus leaves. Willow branches drooped by the pavilion. The rain, sometimes torrential, sometimes gentle, mirrored her current emotions.
She couldn't describe the feeling. Her first kiss, cherished for twenty years, had been taken by this inexplicably heavenly handsome man.
And in that instant, she did not feel an urge to kill him. On the contrary, the kiss felt comforting, clean. But as long as she remained in the palace, she could not afford to be entangled with any man.
"Nangong Yue, I..."
"Don't refuse me, alright?" Nangong Yue spoke quickly, as if he knew she was about to refuse. His handsome face remained serene, his black pupils shifting unpredictably.
The only constant was his heart's intent. He had been lonely for over twenty years, and finally found someone who brought him warmth and care. No matter what, he would not let her go. He was determined to hold onto her tightly, his fists clenched, his fingertips pale.
Looking at him in this state, Liu Liu no longer wished to say another word. Her form flickered, and she dashed into the rain. She wanted to let the rain drench her, to understand when she had attracted this man's attention.
She had merely listened to two of his musical pieces. Was that enough to make him cling to her? She truly could not comprehend it.
Behind her, Nangong Yue, with a flick of his long robe, covered her body. He wore only an inner robe, and the raindrops struck his clothes, his silk attire, feeling very cold. He seemed oblivious to it, only concerned that she not catch a chill.
Suddenly, she became angry. With a sweep of her hand, she knocked his arm away, and the long robe fell to the ground. They stood frozen in the rain. Liu Liu shivered slightly.
The night rain was indeed bone-chilling. What was more painful was her heart. Nangong Yue was such a wonderful man. If they had not met in the palace, perhaps she would have accepted him. But now, everything was different.
"Nangong Yue, you madman, what exactly do you want?" she roared, tears in her eyes, rain on her face, all mixing together. Her clothes were soaked through, clinging to her.
Waves of coldness surged from her palms into her body, causing her to shiver. Frantic and angry, she stumbled back several steps, almost unable to stand.
Nangong Yue gazed at her blankly, his heart constricting with pain. What he had done was indeed too sudden. If she continued like this, she would fall ill, and that was not his original intention. Therefore, he did not understand, simply staring at her.