Xi'er was the only one by Shen Yue's side.
Although they had only been together for half a year, they saw each other every day. They hadn't exchanged many words, but Xi'er was well-behaved, never causing any trouble.
He was even endearingly innocent.
For instance, Xi'er was busy making snowballs when a maid suddenly announced that His Highness had let him go and even gifted him a considerable sum of gold and silver.
With this money, Xi'er wouldn't have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of his life.
However, he refused to accept it, nor did he even touch it. He merely insisted, "I want to see His Highness."
It was a simple matter for Shen Yue to see him, but if he wanted to see Shen Yue, it would be harder than climbing to heaven.
Moreover, Shen Yue had no desire to see him.
Xi'er was still very young, appearing to be only sixteen or seventeen, innocent and straightforward.
He couldn't understand why Shen Yue no longer wanted him, without any reason, and yearned for an answer.
Perhaps he had been spoiled by Shen Yue's silent affection over the past half-year. He wanted to see Shen Yue, but the guards who had previously shown him respect now blocked his way, preventing him from entering.
It was then that Xi'er understood that Shen Yue truly did not want to see him at all.
Furthermore, he had heard that Shen Yue frequently visited Qingyue Palace and would stay there for an entire night.
Xi'er had heard countless stories about Qingyue Palace during these past six months, tales of His Highness being deeply infatuated with that person, genuinely cherishing him.
Although he would also visit Shen Yue's sleeping quarters at night, they never did anything, not even holding hands. Occasionally, he would touch the hem of Shen Yue's robes.
He didn't ask for much, and that was enough.
But now, Shen Yue no longer needed him. Perhaps she found him an eyesore, or perhaps the one in Qingyue Palace found him an eyesore. Regardless of the reason, it made him feel miserable.
Because it clearly indicated that he likely held no place at all in Shen Yue's heart.
Knowing that Shen Yue was in the study, he went to the study door, disregarding everything, refusing to leave no matter how the guards tried to drive him away.
The pure and enthusiastic youth was always stubborn, like a fiercely burning fire that either consumed others or consumed itself.
The cold wind was biting, feeling like a knife cut against his face. The youth had come in a hurry, not dressed warmly enough. A light snow began to fall, dusting fine snowflakes on his shoulders and hair.
He waited for a long time. Winter days were always shorter, and the sky quickly darkened. His limbs became stiff and numb from the cold. He didn't know how long he had waited, long enough for his eyes to water, sting with dryness, and for his vision to blur as if veiled by a mist. The fear and anxiety in his heart felt like a suffocating, heavy dark curtain.
Candles were lit in the study, casting a warm yellow light through the window.
The youth's eyes turned red, but he continued to stare fixedly.
Inside the study, under the warm yellow light, half of Shen Yue's profile was clearly beautiful. Her eyelashes fluttered, the mole beneath her lower eyelid was conspicuous, her lips were pursed, and she glanced out the window.
"Has he not left yet?" her voice, splendid yet devoid of warmth, carried little emotion.
Fu An expertly ground ink, his fair face inscrutable. "If Your Highness finds him bothersome, I will have him removed immediately."
To say bothersome wasn't quite right.
She was merely a little surprised by the youth's persistence, though she didn't know what he was being so persistent about.
Her brows were faintly drawn. "Never mind, he should leave soon."
Then he didn't.
The sky turned as black as ink, with no moon or stars. The snow grew heavier, and the wind became even more biting.
Shen Yue asked again, and the answer remained the same.
She put down the brush in her hand. The scent of ink from her sleeves was faint. Her dark, moist eyes looked out the window, her expression indifferent and calm.
"Never mind..." she seemed to sigh faintly, finally relenting. "Let him come in."
This was not a wise decision; Shen Yue understood this very well, but inexplicably... her heart softened.
Fu An's fingers, hanging by his side, twitched slightly. His thin lips pressed into a straight line. He hesitated, wanting to speak but ultimately saying nothing, and walked out.
The door opened again, and the youth entered alone. He closed the door, blocking out the cold wind from outside.
The study was very warm. The youth shivered slightly, his face pale.
His eyelashes were coated with frost, and a heavy chill emanated from him. He waited by the door for a moment, letting the snow on his clothes melt before walking over.
Shen Yue did not look at him. Her slender, fair fingers rubbed her temples. Her features were exquisitely beautiful yet cold and merciless. She wore a jade-green robe, exuding nobility and elegance.
She remained silent, her demeanor placid and undisturbed.
The youth who had been clamoring to see her outside now that he saw her in person dared not approach. He stood for a long time, then gathered his courage, knelt by Shen Yue's feet, and cautiously tugged at a corner of her sleeve. His voice was very soft, hoarse, having lost its usual clear and melodious tone.
"Your Highness..."
He truly felt wronged, unable to control his emotions. He felt suffocated and miserable, tears welling in his eyes and flowing down his cheeks.
He clutched the fabric in his hand as if holding the most precious thing in the world, unwilling to let go for even a moment, and pleaded softly.
"Your Highness, did I do something wrong? Was I not obedient enough? Why did you suddenly want to send me away?"
His thin voice was choked with sobs, his heart aching. He genuinely did not know what he had done wrong, feeling utterly lost.
Shen Yue still did not look at him. Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if she hadn't taken his words to heart or heard them.
Indifferent, unfeeling.
This was the impression Shen Yue gave when she had no expression.
The youth was not afraid, for he knew that His Highness was not as she appeared on the surface; she was good, truly good.
But now he was afraid, afraid that Shen Yue truly wouldn't want him anymore.
"Your Highness, I am very well-behaved, and I eat very little..."
The youth's lips were terribly pale, his voice trembling with profound pain. He didn't know how to stay, nor how to make Shen Yue look at him, to elicit any reaction from her.
"Your Highness..."
"Your Highness..."
With each earnest plea, the youth, though young, was remarkably persistent. He refused to leave, despite being driven away. He even abandoned his last shred of dignity, hugging her legs, crying like a three-year-old child, tears falling like scattered pearls, emitting choked sobs like a kitten.
It was pathetic, truly pathetic.
Shen Yue found it noisy and finally lowered her gaze to look at him. Her eyes held no emotion, cold as a clear spring, making one feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.
She still did not speak. Her drooping eyelashes were like butterfly wings poised for flight, dense and long, making the skin beneath her eyes appear even whiter and colder.
She simply watched him, saying nothing, observing with a cold detachment, seemingly unmoved.
Gao Song's tone also chilled. "Then don't come back."
Xia Zhi shivered from his thinly veiled annoyance, nodding mutely.