16: Winter is getting colder, the bed is cold

On the street.

The ice and snow still hadn't melted; old snow melted, and new snow accumulated, succeeding each other in an endless cycle. Only the spring wind and the morning sun could melt the white, allowing the world to radiate its green hues.

The cold wind brushed against faces, chilling to the bone. Pedestrians hurried along the street, their thick cotton coats, reddened faces, and exhaled breaths forming a unique landscape.

Xie Weilou had his hands tucked into his sleeves, his head bowed, his figure appearing somewhat thin.

Lin Qinghuang followed beside him, hesitating for a moment before she softly said, "This time... thank you."

During this visit to the Plum Garden, she had also composed a poem, but her poem might not have secured her the top spot. It was Xie Weilou's intervention that allowed her to obtain the Tianya Sword.

Xie Weilou stopped, withdrew his hands from his sleeves, and looked at Lin Qinghuang's long, straight, beautiful legs: "Then let me touch your leg?"

"You..."

Lin Qinghuang's expression froze. She glared at Xie Weilou and then quickly walked forward.

Xie Weilou watched Lin Qinghuang's graceful figure and sighed with emotion, "Winter is getting colder, and the bed is freezing. It's a pity that Qinghuang's graceful body isn't used to warm my bed!"

——

At the same time.

The Princess's mansion, a vast and imposing residence, had plum blossoms in full bloom in its courtyard, covered in ice and snow. Yet, their fragrance was not buried; carried by the scented wind, it entered the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion.

A brazier was lit, with a pot of hot wine on top.

A woman dressed in a white gown and wearing a veil held a wine cup. Her delicate eyebrows were curved, her phoenix eyes deep, seemingly possessing a unique allure.

Her figure was excellent, like a startled swan or a soaring dragon. A silk ribbon was tied around her waist, trailing long on the ground, perfectly outlining her figure.

Her long, beautiful legs were faintly visible, captivating and dazzling. Her skin was like congealed cream, delicate and smooth, with a faint rosy glow, like a celestial maiden from a painting, standing aloof from the world, untainted by its dust.

Her dark hair, adorned with golden and emerald ornaments and sapphire pearls, was casually draped over her waist, appearing noble and sacred, yet also exuding a languid grace.

The imperial family's surname was Yan, so the Princess had a very elegant name: Yan Ruyu.

As the saying goes, 'Within books, there are houses of gold; within books, there are beauties like jade.' Her name was truly extraordinary.

Beside her, a maid in a black robe was reciting some poems.

After listening, Yan Ruyu slowly spoke, "A dissolute noble, copying a few masterpieces and showing them off, is quite amusing."

Her voice was like an oriole, clear and pleasant, yet also like a fine wine, making one feel refreshed and wanting to indulge.

"......"

The black-robed maid hesitated.

"Speak!"

Yan Ruyu toyed with her wine cup.

The black-robed maid said, "I heard from the eunuchs in the palace that the Emperor intends to bestow a marriage between Your Highness and Xie Weilou..."

Xie Weilou's sudden release from prison this time was not merely because his sentence was over, but because the Emperor had other ideas.

The Emperor's heart was incredibly complex. It was not impossible for him to suddenly arrange a marriage between a noble Princess and a fallen young master who had just been released from prison.

This matter likely hadn't reached the Zhenxi Marquis Manor yet; it was merely something a eunuch overheard by chance. Otherwise, it would certainly cause a stir throughout Tianqi City.

Yan Ruyu's fingers were slender. She squeezed the wine cup, and a hint of coldness flashed deep in her eyes.

She hated Xie Weilou intensely, wishing she could dismember him and tear him into a thousand pieces, because he had seen all of her.

Whenever she thought of this, she wished she could tear off all the skin from her body.

"Find an opportunity to eliminate him."

Yan Ruyu said indifferently.

Xie Weilou's three years in prison seemed like an imprisonment, but it was actually a form of protection from the Zhenxi Marquis Manor.

Otherwise, in three years, Xie Weilou would have long been a corpse.

Now, the Emperor in the palace even wanted to bestow a marriage between her and Xie Weilou. No way. As long as Xie Weilou was dead, everything would be fine, and she could also resolve her inner demon.

"But I see that the First Prince doesn't seem to have this idea."

The black-robed maid whispered.

If Xie Weilou and the Princess were to get together, that would definitely be what the First Prince would most want to see.

Because the Princess had always supported the First Prince. If the Zhenxi Marquis Manor allied with the Princess through marriage, it would mean that the Zhenxi Marquis Manor might lean towards the First Prince.

Yan Ruyu said calmly, "How can the struggle for Royal Power be so simple? If he doesn't even understand this much, he's not qualified for me to continue supporting him! Xie Weilou must be eliminated. You should secretly arrange for someone to handle this, and remember not to leave any traces."

"Understood, Your Highness!"

The black-robed maid bowed and then turned to leave.

Bang!

After the maid left, Yan Ruyu instantly crushed the wine cup in her hand.

Her eyes became incredibly cold: "Xie Weilou, you damned dissolute noble, you should be grateful that I haven't personally acted against you, otherwise, I would make your life worse than death!"

The incident three years ago, she indeed planned to scheme against the Third Princess and Xie Weilou.

This way, she could ruin her sister's reputation and also make the Zhenxi Marquis Manor pay a certain price.

Unexpectedly, she ended up falling into her own Fragrant Beauty trap, which was truly a case of 'stealing a chicken only to lose the rice'.

According to the information she later investigated, this matter was related to the Third Prince. She had always remembered this debt and would sooner or later make the Third Princess and the Third Prince pay a heavy price.

However, for now, Xie Weilou had to be eliminated first.

Otherwise, if she were to be married to Xie Weilou, that would absolutely be the last thing she wanted to see.

"Could the Fragrant Beauty that appeared in Wansha House also be related to the Third Prince?"

Yan Ruyu mused to herself.

The appearance of the Fragrant Beauty in Wansha House now led the First Prince to believe this matter was related to the Second Prince, as the forces behind those three young masters had already sided with the Second Prince.

But she believed that this matter might be related to the Third Prince.

Three years ago, she fell into the Fragrant Beauty trap, which seemed to be connected to the Third Prince. Now, the Fragrant Beauty had appeared again in Wansha House. How could there be such a coincidence?

It also didn't rule out that there were others lurking in the shadows, fanning the flames...

(PS: Princess can sometimes refer to the Emperor's legitimate daughter, which was more prominent during the Han dynasties, not just the Emperor's older or younger sister.)