Chapter 101: Her Reluctance

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The news of Qu Jun’s assassination outside Guanlin City soon reached Yue Capital... Unsurprisingly, the Winter Moon Pavilion was the first to receive it. During this time, Dong Nuan had been staying at the Winter Moon Pavilion, but everyone believed she was Wei Shao Qianyu. Dong Nuan neither denied nor acknowledged the curious gazes, quietly remaining within the pavilion. Only in the stillness of night would she occasionally recall the moment when Ye Shi Yi came looking for her.

Ye Shi Yi’s first words were: “There’s a mission from the Dark Guard Tower.” Dong Nuan was taken aback; since she had been following Wei Shao Qianyu, she had never received any assignments from the Dark Guard Tower. Ye Shi Yi continued, “Princess Xuan has been cursed with the Eye Captivation Technique. The only way to break it is to kill the princess consort...” He hesitated, his eyes filled with pity and reluctance, “You need to... take her place... and be killed by Princess Xuan.”

Dong Nuan still remembered the hesitance in Ye Shi Yi’s voice and the sympathy in his gaze. How ironic—since becoming a Dark Guard of the War King’s Mansion, she had prepared herself to face danger for her lord even at the cost of her life. Yet in that moment, she felt unwilling.

But once Ye Shi Yi spoke the first word—“mission”—she could refuse no longer. She recalled four years ago, when she was chosen by Wei Shao Qianyu in the Dark Guard Tower. At first, she resisted, for she was the eldest of the female guards and now had to serve as an attendant to a little girl.

Soon, however, Dong Nuan realized that being by Wei Shao Qianyu’s side was not so bad. At least she could approach the War King she had always admired in her heart. She often delivered messages for Wei Shao Qianyu and occasionally he would inquire about her well-being.

Later, Dong Nuan saw her fortune in being with Wei Shao Qianyu, who lived freely and boldly, teaching her to live for herself. Dong Nuan knew well that some things were best kept hidden in the heart, slowly fading with time.

Yet, when she took on Wei Shao Qianyu’s appearance and approached Feng Jinye, she allowed herself a fleeting hope. But that moment killed her spirit utterly—Feng Jinye’s brief look of surprise was quickly replaced by the realization that she was not Wei Shao Qianyu.

In that instant, Dong Nuan felt a pang of relief for Wei Shao Qianyu.

For Dong Nuan, cooking for Feng Jinye daily at Qin Feng Garden was not an act of closeness but a farewell—to part with a feeling that belonged solely to her.

Returning to the present, Dong Nuan rose and set off for Qin Feng Garden.

Within the Twilight Mist Chamber, Wei Shao Qianyu had been waiting for Huangfu Chen these past two days. At last, near sunset, she saw him and stepped forward with a stern question, “You said if I pleased you, you’d help me leave the Twilight Mist Chamber—is that still true?”

Huangfu Chen sneered. Given the tone she spoke to him in, had she ever tried to please him?

“When have you ever tried to please me?” he asked.

“Three days ago, I poured coriander juice for you!” Wei Shao Qianyu said without hesitation.

“Hah...” Huangfu Chen felt his anger rising.

“You always show no emotion in the Twilight Mist Chamber,” Wei Shao Qianyu said calmly. “I make you disgusted, angry, resentful—isn’t that pleasing you?”

“Hmph,” Huangfu Chen sneered but found no retort.

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Then, with a devilish smile, he suddenly pulled Wei Shao Qianyu close and pressed a kiss upon her lips.

Caught off guard, Wei Shao Qianyu pushed him away and immediately wiped her mouth, disdainfully spitting with a “pfft, pfft, pfft.”

Huangfu Chen laughed heartily and said, “I’m pleasing you too—just to show you what pleasing really means.”

Wei Shao Qianyu glared at him fiercely and stepped forward with authority. Huangfu Chen was caught off guard.

Without hesitation, Wei Shao Qianyu grabbed his arm and with a loud thud, executed a perfect shoulder throw, throwing Huangfu Chen to the ground.

Her eyes blazing red, she coldly sneered at him, “There is no longer any affection between us.”

Wei Shao Qianyu had never been treated like this before. A kiss was no great matter, but Huangfu Chen was different.

Huangfu Chen got up leisurely, laughing wildly, “What affection was there between us to begin with?”

Wei Shao Qianyu was silent.

The Huangfu Chen before her now was not the man she had once known. She had been naive, even when he brought her to the Twilight Mist Chamber, she had still considered him a friend.

He had helped her in her most helpless moments—when she was poisoned in the Western Yan Palace, when her face was disfigured, when Feng Qingxuan tried to kill her—Huangfu Chen had saved her each time.

“So be it. There is no affection,” Wei Shao Qianyu said softly, turning away with a face as cold as ice.

Lu Yanran rushed in and was shocked to see Huangfu Chen kiss Wei Shao Qianyu. After Wei Shao Qianyu turned and entered a room, Lu Yanran followed.

“The mission list at the Assassins’ Tower has been updated!” Lu Yanran announced.

Without hesitation, Wei Shao Qianyu headed toward the Assassins’ Tower.

Upon arrival, many assassins had already dispersed. Only a few lingered, hesitating before the mission list.

Wei Shao Qianyu guessed it was a major mission and looked at the list—there, glaring in bold were the five characters: “War King Feng Jinye.”

Her heart stirred, but without hesitation, she stepped forward, using the railing to leap and try to snatch the mission token.

Unexpectedly, Huangfu Chen appeared behind her and was faster, tearing down the token first.

They landed on the ground together. Anger flared in Wei Shao Qianyu’s heart, but her face remained calm. She gave Huangfu Chen a cold glance and turned away, aloof.

Huangfu Chen hesitated, then called out, “I’ll take you out of the chamber.”

Wei Shao Qianyu would not miss any chance to leave the Twilight Mist Chamber. She turned back and replied, “Thank you, Young Master Xie.”

Huangfu Chen frowned, “Let’s go.”

She followed him, pondering his intentions—he planned to assassinate Feng Jinye. After all, he was also the one who exposed the last assassination mission against the War King.

Wei Shao Qianyu’s thoughts turned to Feng Jinye. Almost a month had passed. Forgetting him was impossible; she merely pretended not to think of him.

Unexpectedly, she left the Twilight Mist Chamber so easily.

Walking the streets of Yue Capital, Wei Shao Qianyu hurried with all her might to locate the Twilight Mist Chamber. Unfortunately, she was terrible with directions and Lu Yanran was not permitted to follow.

At least, Wei Shao Qianyu confirmed the Twilight Mist Chamber was situated in the northern part of the city, near the north gate.

After a month, Wei Shao Qianyu had finally returned to Yue Capital.

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Dong Nuan had received news from Winter Moon Pavilion that Qu Jun was assassinated outside Guanlin City and immediately rushed to Qin Feng Garden, only to find Feng Jinye was no longer there. She pressed on without pause toward the War King’s Mansion.

In Yue Capital, Wei Shao Qianyu and Huangfu Chen were also heading toward the War King’s Mansion, soon reaching the western part of the city.

Huangfu Chen suggested Wei Shao Qianyu rest with him at a teahouse near the mansion. Suspicious, she nevertheless knew that if Huangfu Chen could get her out of the Twilight Mist Chamber, there was more to his plan.

Just after taking a sip of tea and setting down the cup, Huangfu Chen called her name: “Wei Shao Qianyu...”

She thought he intended to expose her identity, but looking up, she saw his gaze fixed beyond her, on the War King’s Mansion.

Following his gaze, she realized Huangfu Chen was not addressing her, but the “Wei Shao Qianyu” standing outside the mansion.

Dazed, Wei Shao Qianyu stared at the other woman who looked exactly like her.

She immediately drew her sword to confront the impostor but was stopped by Huangfu Chen.

“Tell me, do you think Feng Jinye loves the skin you wear?” Huangfu Chen smiled lightly as he sipped his tea.

Wei Shao Qianyu turned to look at him, understanding at last the purpose of his taking her out of the Twilight Mist Chamber today.

Dong Nuan entered the War King’s Mansion and went straight to the Listening Wind Tower, where she found Feng Jinye in his study. She knocked and entered.

This was the first time in a month she spoke to Feng Jinye: “My lord, there is news from Winter Moon Pavilion...”

Feng Jinye did not respond.

Dong Nuan continued, “Qu Jun led ten thousand troops outside Guanlin City, declaring that the princess consort and Miss Lu conspired with the Twilight Mist Chamber, accusing the Lu Duke’s Mansion of treason and cutting off all communication to Yue Capital. Three days ago, Qu Jun was assassinated in his tent...”

Feng Jinye showed little reaction, seemingly deep in thought, never once glancing at Dong Nuan.

After a while, he struck the desk and instructed Ye Shi, “Prepare the horses.”

Dong Nuan stood dumbfounded as Feng Jinye rose and walked out of the mansion, coldly ordering, “Follow.”

She stepped after him without hesitation.

Wei Shao Qianyu still watched the War King’s Mansion. She saw Ye Shi preparing the horses, and soon Feng Jinye emerged from the mansion. She quickly averted her gaze but noticed the other “Wei Shao Qianyu” trailing behind Feng Jinye.

Listening carefully to the sounds outside the mansion, Wei Shao Qianyu dared not look—she knew that if she did, Feng Jinye would surely notice her.

Ye Shi’s voice was clear and familiar; she heard him greet, “My lord, princess consort...”

The words “princess consort” stirred Wei Shao Qianyu’s emotions again. She had never imagined that one day Feng Jinye would stand beside another.

Though the woman looked exactly like her, and Feng Jinye might be deceived or manipulated, Wei Shao Qianyu found it hard to accept.

Huangfu Chen smiled faintly, repeating his earlier words, “It seems Feng Jinye truly loves only your skin.”

Outside the War King’s Mansion, Feng Jinye mounted his horse and Dong Nuan followed suit. Feng Jinye turned his horse toward the city gate, and the two rode off together.

Passing the teahouse, Feng Jinye’s heart tugged, and his gaze drifted toward Huangfu Chen and Wei Shao Qianyu.

Inside the teahouse, a few waiters arrived just in time to replace the tea, blocking Feng Jinye’s view.