He knew his actions were shameful. Although the battlefield tolerated trickery, he still felt he had been despicable.
Returning to his tent, he heard news from Zhen Wuguan that their commander seemed to have fallen ill.
His father, the King, was overjoyed, seeing it as an opportune moment, a heaven-sent chance. Yet, only he knew the truth of the matter. His father had praised him unprecedentedly, and he should have been happy, but strangely, he felt no joy at all. Instead, a blockage in his heart made him feel deeply uncomfortable.
That day, due to the ceasefire with the Xingchen Kingdom, he had a rare opportunity. Not long before, he had discovered a hot spring and thought he might go for a wash.
Upon arriving at the spring, his cautious nature detected someone ahead. He couldn't help but wonder how anyone could know about this secluded spot. He concealed himself.
He saw a graceful figure emerge in the center of the spring. He quickly averted his gaze, knowing it was a woman. Even without looking, he could still see her reflection shimmering in the water.
Her skin gleamed in the morning light, like lustrous white pearls radiating their innate brilliance.
He couldn't resist peeking.
"Wu Hen, hand me my clothes," the woman suddenly said.
For some reason, he found her voice strangely familiar.
The woman standing on the bank was undoubtedly her maid. Clothes were sent in her direction. Then, she suddenly leaped into the air and donned her attire.
He saw it then, a face that stunned him with its beauty, a beauty he couldn't describe, only feeling it was the most exquisite he had ever beheld.
Her pure, unadorned face was like a budding lotus flower, breathtakingly beautiful.
Suddenly, her gaze sharpened, and she called out coldly, "Come out."
He then remembered that he had forgotten to conceal himself earlier.
He turned to leave, but she had already pursued him, shouting, "Where do you think you're going?"
His body stiffened. Before he could react, a dart flew from his person. He heard a voice behind him cry out, "Your Highness, what is wrong?"
He turned back to see the woman fall, her lips turning purple. He trembled all over; these were the signs of being poisoned with the Soft Bone Powder.
He didn't know how he had returned to the camp. His mind was filled only with her pure, unadorned face and a pair of clear, limpid eyes.
Later, the Xingchen Kingdom launched another offensive. He went to meet the challenge and discovered that the person facing him was no longer the same one.
He desperately wanted to know what had become of her. If he knew, he subconsciously dared not imagine how he would act.
Even later, he heard that someone had gone to his master for an antidote to the Soft Bone Powder. He knew it must be for her. So, he secretly sent word to his master, asking him to be merciful if anyone sought the antidote.
However, he heard no further news from his master, and his heart was filled with unease. He sometimes wondered if she had encountered someone kind who could cure her, yet he knew only his master possessed such an antidote.
It wasn't until later that he learned his senior disciple had stolen the antidote from their master and fled the sect.
He knew his senior disciple must have done it for her. Therefore, when his master decided to apprehend the traitorous disciple, he secretly passed on information to his senior disciple, hoping only that she could be saved.
Later, he heard no more news of her. However, considering that the maid had addressed her as "Your Highness," he deduced that only the then-unmarried Princess Xingyue could be addressed as such.
From that day on, he began to pay close attention to every move of Princess Xingyue. He learned that she had found a suitable consort, that they lived in harmony and affection.
The budding emotion in his heart was locked away in its deepest recesses, known only to himself.
For many years, no one else had been by his side. Others believed it was for the people of the deceased Prince Xuan's estate, but only he knew the true reason.
Until the day he heard she was dying, he instinctively realized that over the years, she had become ingrained in his heart like a demon, impossible to uproot.
He regretted it. If his father had asked him what he wanted that time, and he had simply asked for her, with her love for the people, she would surely have agreed. He would have treated her well.
How could she have died so young?
He resented the consort, how could he not have treated her well?
Later, he discovered the truth. Members of the royal family were charged with various crimes. It was only when Xue Tianyue ascended the throne that he understood the consort had harbored treacherous intentions.
His heart ached, unsure if it was for his own misfortune or for her poor judgment of character.
She was already gone.
It took him a long time to accept the reality. Then, his father was falsely accused of colluding with the enemy, and the entire Prince Xuan's estate was executed. He realized that to avoid being controlled by others, he had to become strong himself.
Once he ascended to that position, no one would dare to say anything to him. He could avenge her, raze the Xingchen Kingdom, and return a peaceful Xingchen Kingdom to her.
Thinking back now, he still felt a pang of sadness. He had never forgotten her all these years.
He wanted to know everything about her. Could he then get closer to her?
"Regent, what is wrong?" Seeing Qi Yu Yuan lost in thought, Xue Xingyue couldn't help but prompt him.
Qi Yu Yuan snapped back to attention. "It's nothing." He covered his forehead. What was happening to him? Why had he been remembering things about her so frequently lately?
He raised his head and realized that her gaze was remarkably similar to hers back then—clear to the bottom, without a trace of impurity.
"Thank you, Regent. If there's an opportunity, I will surely repay you. Farewell!" Xue Xingyue said.
Qi Yu Yuan nodded. "Go!" Even in his imagination, she was, after all, not her.
"Go!" Xue Xingyue said to Wu Hen and Fan Yan.
"Are you just going to let her leave so willingly?" A voice suddenly cut through the air. Qi Yu Yuan merely frowned but did not make a move.
"It doesn't amount to much here," Qi Yu Yuan said indifferently.
"That may be so. But what if Your Highness knew that person was her?"