Chapter Thirty-Two: Searching for Plum Blossoms

  I have to admit, I'm a extremely spoiled brat. Taking advantage of Mu Yan's doting, pampering and guilt, I recklessly acted like a rogue. Making a fuss and demanding to go out for a stroll, Mu Yan was forced into reluctantly agreeing.

  After Mu Yan put on the fifth layer of cloak, two pieces of horse armor and a piece of fur-lined battle cloak for me, I could finally go out in broad daylight.

  At this time, it was still snowing outside. According to Yuè ér, the snow had been falling for two days, probably since the night I fell ill. Although the snowfall wasn't heavy, it had already covered the ground. Walking on it made crunching sounds, which was extremely interesting.

  Such a palace, less of its former splendor, less of human emotions, less of entanglements and grudges, seems to have become more lovable.

  I and Mu Yan left the Lingbo Hall, for a moment didn't know where to go. If it were in the past, we would definitely go to the Empress's place, but now, I'm afraid no one wants to see each other. Moreover, the rumors about Mu Yan in the palace had just calmed down, and we are not celebrities who need scandals to increase our exposure rate. At this time, it is really unnecessary to create new trouble.

  Where to go is really a problem, I've lost my mind, but Mu Yan suggested it.

  Since it's impossible to go to the queen's place, I might as well do the opposite and head in the opposite direction. That way, I definitely won't run into that group of annoying gossipy women.

  "This idea is great, I strongly agree. Didn't the ancients say something about 'treading snow to find plum blossoms'? Let's also be elegant and sentimental for once, and go searching!" Before Mu Yan could express her opinion, I had already taken her on a long run towards that garden of plum blossoms without worldly worries.

  I don't know if there is a plum garden in the palace, and Mu Yan isn't very clear about it either. However, I often see in dramas that the female lead would meet the male lead in a forest like this. Hopefully such a miracle can happen to Mu Yan too, perhaps the emperor is waiting for his goddess to appear over there, this is what they call fate, let's see how those arrogant women and sycophants will look like at that time.

  With a mind full of ghosts, I didn't have time to care about Mu Yan's unresolved doubts, and simply pulled her to find that forest that should be in the middle. As it turned out, I actually found it, but it lacked the plum blossoms it should have had, and was just a bare forest.

  "Alas, it seems I've been treating this as a dating manual, how foolish! Disappointed with Linzi's uncooperative attitude, I let out my hands and plopped down on the ground, leaning against a withered tree, letting the snowflakes fall on me, muttering to myself."

  Mu Yan was curious about my behavior, seemed to be very interested, and sat down beside me with a concerned expression. "What's wrong? Didn't you say you wanted to tread the snow to find plum blossoms? Now that you're sitting here, are you waiting for the plum blossoms to come find you?"

  I couldn't help but laugh at such a joke, yet I turned around and laughed dryly at Mu Yan, sighed deeply, and continued to be melancholic.

  Moyan was amused by my actions and started giggling to herself, but the laughter was suddenly interrupted by a voice that seemed to come from nowhere!

  "Manya, did you hear that?" Mu Yan's ears were even sharper than a dog's. I hadn't heard anything yet, but she had already perked up her ears with a serious expression.

  "What? Is there a sound?"

  Mu Yan didn't answer me, instead she put her hand to her lips and made a "shh" gesture. I followed her movement and held my breath to listen carefully.

  What's this sound, I don't know how to describe it, probably some unknown musical instrument, but who would be so bored as to run into the snowy field to play music?

  Either he is too artistic or he is too pretentious!

  "What's that sound?" I asked Mu Yan beside me, who was in a state of infatuation.

  "Dong Xiao." Mu Yan replied briefly and concisely, as if she was humoring me, not wanting to be distracted from listening to the music.

  "Oh!" I replied, as if I had lost something. But thinking twice, this might be the emperor's intention, what a great opportunity, absolutely can't miss this chance to turn things around.

  I pulled her up in a daze, ignoring her murmurs beside me, and headed deep into the forest, to the source of that melody.

  Treading snow to find melody, sounds quite elegant too! Haha!

  The closer I get, the clearer I can hear this tune, but it's indeed a bit chilling to listen to. Who would play such a cold and clear melody on a snowy day? Although I don't understand what the song is trying to convey, thinking about it makes me guess that it's definitely not something happy.

  At last, in a clearing in the woods, I found the answer, but it was far from what I had imagined.

  The pale pink dress clings to her body, revealing the good figure that was hidden before. The high bun on her head is not adorned with any hairpins. The water sleeves flutter gently, and the charm emanates naturally. In the loose hem of the skirt, countless small tassels are hidden, and as she moves, the tassels also dance along, like countless lively spirits participating in this stunning performance.

  The dancer in front of me has a slender figure, but her body shape is extremely good.

  With a flick of the sleeve or a kick of the foot, the movements are clean and efficient. When spinning, it is light and agile like a swallow, and when turning back, the eyes speak volumes of tender feelings that cannot be expressed. It is as swift as a startled swan and as gentle as a swimming dragon.

  When was there such a dancer in the palace? I hadn't heard of her before. If she can be brought to my Louyuetang, it will definitely make a lot of money.

  "Good...". Seeing such a performance, I applauded and cheered without hesitation. However, this action disturbed the dancer's enthusiasm, and she stopped instantly. The music also stopped abruptly.

  "Who is it?" The one who spoke was an inconspicuous little girl, but her words had a few points of adult manner.

  "I...". Should I report his name or not? This might get Mu Yan into trouble again.

  Before I could even think it through, that little girl spoke up again, this time adding a bow.

  "Huan Huan paid her respects to Zhou Zhaoyun, saying 'I deserve to die, I don't know where Zhaoyun is.'"

  Who is Huanhuan? I know two Huanhuans. One later became a noble consort, and the other was even more impressive, becoming an empress dowager.

  Mu Yan did not recognize the person in front of her either, and her eyes were somewhat puzzled, but she just smiled and called her to get up.

  "Xie Zhaoyuan!" Ring bowed low and slowly stood up.

  It's rare to see a servant like her who still maintains such courtesy in the palace, and for this, I couldn't help but add a few more points of goodwill towards her.

  "Who's there?" The dancer finally spoke up, but her voice seemed somewhat familiar.

  "Returning to Master, it is Zhou Zhaoyuan."

  As he followed the sound and looked over, it turned out to be Shu Fei, who was normally cold and taciturn.

  Wasn't that dancer just now her? Yes, her hairstyle is still that Ling She bun, with a few decorative pins.

  She had somehow changed into a loose sable coat, her face still cold, but with a hint of blush, the faint sweat on the tip of her nose, probably from dancing, her expression still without joy or anger.

  "Mu Yan greets Shu Fei with a bow and apologizes for disturbing her elegance..."

  Mo Yan followed the palace rules and paid his respects to Empress Shu with a grand bow, and I naturally had to kneel down as well.

  This damn dynasty, always having to kneel down. Kneeling in the snowy ground, the cold air hits, it really doesn't feel good.

  "It's all right, don't mention it." The Empress's calm and collected words cut off Muran's apology.

  "Yes." Muran and I quietly got up, completely uninterested in finding Mei, and followed Empress Shu's side.

  "Zhou Shaoyuan, how have you been lately?" The Empress still had no expression, and this form of address for Zhou Shaoyuan seemed to convey a sense of distance.

  Who called her a big shot? Mu Yan was still good at dealing with such high-ranking figures, and she smiled slowly.

  "Thanks to the emperor's kindness, everything in the palace is fine!"

  "Are you alright?" The Empress's expression didn't change, but her voice rose slightly.

  "Yes."

  "Zhou Zhaoyuan, if she's as rumored, how could she be safe? But if the rumors are false, why would she run to this desolate and uninhabited forest to disturb me?"

  The words of Shu Fei were indeed true. Such a forest, far from the glamour and bustle of the world, probably only attracts those who are also cold and detached.

  Mu Yan didn't explain anymore and secretly smiled bitterly.

  "Why did Princess Shufei come here again?" I saw Mu Yan's bitter smile and mustered up the courage to ask.

  "Manya..." Muran whispered to me in a low voice, but I pretended not to see.

  "You're that maid who was scolded by Empress Dowager?" Consort Shu had a lot of poise and didn't get angry at my weakness, instead turning around to size me up.

  She looked at me like this, and I became a bit nervous, stuttering, "Uh, yes, me."

  "Didn't you say he was deaf? How can he answer?" The Empress's inquiring gaze shifted from me to Mu Yan.

  "Yes, but that's occasional. Today just happened not to recur, so I heard it clearly." I argued strongly, but this reason, even I didn't believe myself.

  "Zhen Fei is foolish and stupid, I am not." She coldly threw down a sentence, then ignored me, turned around and continued to move forward, starting to chat with Mu Yan.

  "Zhou Zhaoyuan, why did you enter the palace? You must know it's not like anyone is willing to do so. But since you've already entered, you should learn how to survive."

  "Yes, Princess..." This Shu Fei seemed to never listen to others, before Mu Yan could finish speaking, she opened her mouth again.

  "Your Majesty, are there not enough concubines in the palace? Yet, there is only one Emperor..." She sighed and after a while, she said "Do as you please!"

  At this time, we had already walked out of the forest, and the wind and snow were getting bigger. We hid in an empty pavilion to avoid the wind and snow, but this pavilion was not empty. There were two people inside, who were none other than Empress Chen and Consort Duan, who had always been at odds with each other.