20demayo Chapter 197 The Living Abandoned Empress of the Cold Palace X The Invading Unruly Buddhist Son 31
Chapter 197 The Living Abandoned Empress of the Cold Palace X The Invading Unruly Buddhist Son 31
Yun Qian's eyes turned cold, and without hesitation, she tapped her toes lightly and jumped up from the eaves, hiding her figure and putting a greater distance between herself and Qi Jueyu.
Guards in the distance, torches in hand, drew ever closer. The night wind swept through the thin, low-lying clouds, and moonlight shone faintly through the gaps, casting a shadow on the palace walls, which looked like cold iron, sharp and icy. Amidst the flickering firelight, the sound of footsteps rose and fell, approaching like thunder, suffocating. Atop the high walls, Yun Qian's figure passed like a flowing cloud, as if ready to merge with the night at any moment.
Qi Jueyu stood there, watching her back with deep emotion as she disappeared over the high wall. His nightgown swayed slightly in the wind, as if part of the night. In the darkness, only a pair of deep eyes remained, hiding unknown emotions. The cold moonlight carved a sharp profile on him, his brows slightly furrowed, and his thin lips pressed into a line. He pressed his chest, as if suppressing some surging emotion. After a moment, he snorted, his voice cold and self-deprecating, "It's really good."
The firelight gradually faded away, but the wind grew sharper, carrying a chill that ruffled Qi Jueyu's hair. He stood still for a long moment, seemingly hesitant, but ultimately turned and disappeared into the night.
By then, Yun Qian's figure had vanished into the shadows behind the palace walls. Not pausing for a moment, her feet swift as she weaved through the palace's corridors and corner towers. Her steps were as light as a swallow, her skirt fluttering like flowing clouds. Her icy blue dress shone like frost in the night. Moonlight reflected on the white fox shawl draped over her shoulders, the flowing gauze revealing a slender yet stubborn figure.
Yun Qian held her breath as she walked forward, the only sounds in her ears being the wind and her own heartbeat. She caught a glimpse of the guards' firelight approaching from the corner of her eye, and quickly retreated into an alley behind an attic, hiding herself in the deep shadows. It was dark, devoid of light, save for the shadow of a plum tree's branches, which cast a mottled pattern on the ground. Yun Qian leaned against the cold wall, suppressing her rapid breathing. Her fingertips gently brushed the edge of the shawl; the touch was slightly cool, a perfect reflection of her current mood.
The scene of her fight with Qi Jueyu just now was still vivid in her mind. The eyes in her memory were obviously as cold as stars, but occasionally they revealed some complex emotions that she could not understand. This emotion was annoying, but she could not ignore it.
"Qi Jueyu..." She murmured softly, her voice so soft it sounded like a sigh, yet also like a rebuke. She raised her hand, her fingers slowly clenching as if trying to grasp something, only to release them the next moment, leaving her palm cold.
After adjusting her dress and making sure it wasn't exposed, Yun Qian resumed her steps, sneaking quietly under the cover of night. Her figure glided past the corner tower of the palace wall like a wave, disappearing into the darkness, leaving no trace.
That night, the wind howled bitterly, shrouding the entire palace in a silent oppression. Yet, deep within this quiet night, the chessboard was already quietly shifting. New factions emerged, and the once nearly disintegrated faction was reunited, becoming more cohesive.
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Across from Qianqiu Temple, a chill wind blew through the halls, and the scent of ancient sandalwood filled the air, seemingly revealing the long-held secrets of this pure Buddhist land. No trace of Qi Jueyu had been found, even his shadow swallowed by the night.
The monks in the temple bowed quietly, as if they had never heard of any trace of him, and kept silent.
The moonlight, like water, cast a cold, serene light on the stone steps of Qianqiu Temple, casting distinct lines on the ancient reliefs. Surrounded by a crowd, the Queen of Clouds slowly ascended the high platform in front of the main hall. Her attendants carried lanterns, their flickering flames casting an even colder, more majestic light on her face. Her piercing eyes swept across every inch of Qianqiu Temple, as if seeking to uncover every clue hidden in the darkness.
"Is this the place?" Yun Hou paused, her gaze fixed on a secluded corner. A hidden door, embedded in the wall, was mottled with age. Silence reigned supreme, save for the rustling of the bamboo forest by the night wind.
An elderly eunuch stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, this secret passage was built by Emperor Taizu to lead to the mountains and forests outside the temple. Qi Jueyu most likely left through this place."
Yun Hou's expression remained unchanged, as stern as a cold sculpture. She raised her hand slightly, signaling the guards beside her to open the secret passage. Several guards bowed in response, then stepped forward and forcefully pushed open the stone door. After a dull thud, the dark entrance slowly emerged, like a maw gaping open to devour everything.
A chill permeated the secret passage, the light swallowed by darkness, and bottomless stone steps stretched downward. Yun Hou stepped into it without hesitation. The flames flickered behind her, elongating her tall figure and making her seem even more unbearable.
"Qi Jueyu..." She murmured softly, with a hint of coldness and disdain in her voice that was difficult to conceal, "Do you think you can hide it from me?"
Her previous thoughts changed drastically overnight. Back then, she had thought of supporting him because of his mother's past relationship. But when he refused to accept her offer, she should have understood that Qi Jueyu was definitely more than just a high-ranking monk from Qianqiu Temple...
Unfortunately, the abbot who raised him has passed away. Thinking of this, Queen Yun couldn't help but frowned slightly, feeling a little annoyed.
The air in the secret passage grew increasingly colder, spots of water seeping from the damp walls. The torches illuminated a limited area, and the depths remained dead silent. Yun Hou walked slowly, his eyes sharp as an eagle, searching for every possible trace.
"Your Highness," a guard called out in a low voice, his tone slightly nervous. He pointed to a corner of the secret passage wall, "There's blood here."
Yun Hou turned around and saw, as expected, dark red spots between the cracks in the bluestone. They had dried up, but were still clearly visible. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her tone was cold: "Keep searching. Find him at all costs."
Meanwhile, Qianqiu Temple outside the secret passage remained as silent as ever. Moonlight streamed down upon the ancient temple, and the surrounding bamboo forest rustled. Yunhou stood deep within the secret passage, her eyes etched with a cold light, sharp and merciless. She stared silently at the damp stone wall, as if awaiting a predictable answer.
The guards dispersed, searching carefully along both ends of the secret passage. The sound of their footsteps was particularly clear in the enclosed space. A vigilant guard suddenly paused, his gaze fixed on a piece of bluestone in front of him. The stone was slightly different from the surrounding walls, as if it had been deliberately polished.
"My queen, there's something unusual here." He reported in a low voice.
The Queen raised her hand slightly, signaling him to continue exploring. The guard did as he was told, carefully shifting the protrusions on the stone wall. With a dull sound of shifting stones, another hidden passage suddenly appeared.