494: longing

Situ Jun waved his hand, indifferent to her gratitude. His tone was casual, yet every word struck a chord in Xia Wei's heart.

"There is no need for such formality; you should understand my feelings for you. Your talent for Cultivation is good, and your Physique is the rare Pure Yin Precious Physique. Engaging in Dual Cultivation with me is beneficial for both of us. You can use my Pure Yang power to stabilize your Foundation and let your Cultivation progress by leaps and bounds; I can also use your Pure Yin Qi to harmonize my internal breath and break through my current Bottleneck. Since it benefits both parties, why not do it?"

Xia Wei's face flushed red, the color spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears like the glow of a sunset. She lowered her head and sat back obediently on the soft couch, not daring to say much. Only in the gaps between her downcast eyes did she quietly look up, stealing a quick glance at the man beside her.

He was exceptionally handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, a high bridge to his nose, and thin lips slightly pursed. His black robes made his figure appear even more upright, and his deep eyes seemed to hide a sea of stars.

His entire being carried both the sharp, murderous aura of a military general and the ethereal, otherworldly feel of a cultivator. These two temperaments intertwined, making it impossible to look away and causing admiration to sprout in one's heart.

To be able to follow such a figure, far away from the cage of the deep palace and escaping a fate of being manipulated by others, was the best possible destination for her—an Opportunity she wouldn't have even dared to dream of.

Situ Jun paid no mind to her shyness and constraint, leaning back against the soft couch and slowly closing his eyes.

The scent of orchids in the carriage lingered at the tip of his nose, but in his mind, the image of Liu Airu's sleeping face surfaced once more.

Her eyelashes drooped slightly like resting butterfly wings, her cheeks were faintly flushed, and her skin was delicate and warm. It felt as if the warmth and softness of her skin still remained on his fingertips, a sensation so vivid it was as if it happened only yesterday.

The reluctance in his heart surged again. Within the cold sternness of his eyes, a trace of extremely faint tenderness—reserved only for her—appeared, only to vanish in an instant, too fast for anyone to catch.

"Hah!"

Outside the carriage, the low shout of Iron Tiger Wang, the captain of the personal guard, rang out, his voice steady and powerful.

The two Snow-Treading Steeds seemed to receive the command, raising their heads and neighing loudly. The clear sound pierced the silence of the early morning.

Immediately, the horses' hooves lifted lightly and landed on the bluestone Official Road, producing a crisp "clatter-clatter" sound, steady and unhurried.

The carriage started slowly, heading north. The wheels rolled over the Official Road, leaving two shallow ruts that extended all the way into the morning light.

The warm jade base insulated them from all bumps, and the fox-fur curtains blocked out all the noise and cold from the outside. Inside the carriage, there was only the curling scent of orchids intertwined with the faint scent of pine from Situ Jun's body. It was quiet and cozy, as if time itself had slowed down at this moment.

Xia Wei sat to the side, still quiet. She also slowly closed her eyes and began to rest, not daring to make a single movement for fear of disturbing Situ Jun beside her.

In her heart, there was both anticipation for her future life in the Northern Border and a faint trace of trepidation, but mostly, it was a sense of settled peace.

The carriage drifted further away, its speed gradually increasing until it eventually turned into a black shadow, disappearing at the end of the Official Road paved with morning light, leaving only two shallow ruts lying quietly on the bluestone.

After a moment, a morning breeze blew by, kicking up some dust from the roadside that lightly fell onto the ruts, slowly covering those two marks as if a luxurious Spirit Beast carriage had never traveled north from here... Inside Kunning Palace, there was a cozy warmth, yet it could not suppress the desolation within the hall.

Liu Airu sat alone on the soft couch until the afternoon. The shadows of the sun outside the window gradually slanted westward, casting a dim yellow glow on the gold bricks in the hall. The mottled light and shadows made it seem even more lonely.

Her fingertips lightly brushed over her neck, where she had already applied a concealing balm to hide the marks from last night, yet the skin beneath her fingertips felt as if it were still burning.

That warm touch and those low whispers reminded her at every moment that last night's tenderness was not an illusion; it had truly happened.

But the bed beside her was empty, the bedding smooth without a hint of lingering warmth.

In the silent air of the hall, there was only the soothing incense burning in the censer. The smoke was thin, but it could not dispel the emptiness in her heart.

All of this reminded her at every moment—Situ Jun was gone, taking his aura and his warmth with him back to that distant Northern Border, leaving her alone in this cage-like deep palace to endure this endless loneliness and longing by herself.

"Your Majesty, you should go to the Imperial Garden to clear your mind. Staying cooped up in the hall is not good for your health. The wind outside has died down a bit now, and the sun is just right."

Her personal maid, Xiao He, walked over carrying a cup of warm red date tea. She placed the teacup on the small table by Liu Airu's hand, her voice soft and her eyes full of worry.

She had watched the Empress from morning until now, not saying a word, just sitting quietly with a loneliness so thick it wouldn't dissipate, making her heart ache.

Liu Airu slowly came to her senses, withdrawing her gaze from the shadows of the sun outside the window. She looked at Xiao He's worried face and gave a slight nod, her voice as light as a breeze:

"Very well, let's go for a walk."

Xiao He quickly stepped forward, carefully supporting Liu Airu's arm to help her up.

Liu Airu's steps were somewhat unsteady, as if she didn't even have the strength to walk. Leaning on Xiao He's support, she slowly stepped out of the gates of Kunning Palace and into the winter's Imperial Garden.

The late winter wind still carried a bone-chilling cold as it brushed past the Spirit Plants throughout the garden.

In the Imperial Garden, although it was winter, many spirit flowers were still in full bloom due to the meticulous care of the palace. The layers of petals were elegant and magnificent with vibrant colors, but such a lively scene only seemed more glaring in Liu Airu's eyes, making the emptiness in her heart feel even heavier.

She walked aimlessly along the bluestone path. The stone slabs beneath her feet were slightly cool. Everywhere her gaze landed—the pavilions, the rockeries, the flowing water—were all familiar sights, yet they seemed lonely and desolate everywhere.

In the past, there were always concubines and maids laughing and playing in the Imperial Garden, but today it was exceptionally quiet, with only the sound of the wind and her footsteps remaining.

"Your Majesty, look at those spirit carps in the pond; how beautiful they are."

Xiao He pointed to the lotus pond not far away, trying to cheer her up.

The ice in the pond had mostly melted. The sunlight spilled onto the water's surface, shimmering. Dozens of gold-scaled spirit carps swam in the water, flicking their tails, blowing bubbles, and chasing each other—it was quite lively.

Liu Airu forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

She walked slowly to the edge of the pond and looked at the reflection on the water. The person in the mirror was surrounded by jewels and emeralds, wearing a Phoenix Crown and Embroidered Robe, looking dignified and magnificent—the Empress of Tianqi whom everyone revered. Yet the loneliness and coldness in her eyes could not be hidden, like a cold pool in deep winter, chilling to the bone.

She was the most pitiful caged bird in this palace.

At this time, inside the Mysterious Clarity Master's residence next to Cining Palace, the Mysterious Clarity Master had already straightened his robes.

He was dressed in a plain Daoist robe, with white hair and beard, a lean face, and eyes as calm as still water. His entire being exuded a faint air of immortal grace.

He knew well how important Situ Jun's instructions before his departure were—to protect Liu Airu's safety and prevent Li Xuan from getting close to her. This was not just an order, but a deep affection carved into the City Lord's very bones, allowing for no mistakes.

Since Situ Jun had entrusted Liu Airu's safety to him, he could not afford the slightest negligence. Even when facing the supreme Emperor, he had to speak plainly.

The Mysterious Clarity Master straightened his robes and headed toward the Imperial Study with a calm expression, without the slightest hesitation.