Even though someone had been demoted they were still favoured by Xiao Yi Chen, it made people crazy with jealousy.
The door to Yilan courtyard wasn't watched over by guards, Yi Yun entered the courtyard very easily, the weather in March was still as chilly as before, a cold breeze blew a few leaves from the branches which drifted down before Yi Yun's feet, it was extremely bleak.
The courtyard was very quiet, so much so that the slight rustle of falling leaves could be heard, the sound of footsteps were echoed in the air, it was so quiet that Yi Yun thought there was no one in the courtyard.
Ling Lan looked around holding a food box: "Mistress, is the prince inside?" How could it be so eerie?
Yi Yun nodded: "You can tell by looking."
Yi Yun's footsteps has just stopped outside the house, inside came Xiao Yi Chen's husky and impatient voice: "Get out!"
Yi Yun paused, the door was open, from her angle, through the layers of muslin curtains and screen, the sunlight illuminated through the window, throwing the shadow of Xiao Yi Chen holding Ji Ling Xue onto the screen, the scene was warm, but it held sadness.
Yi Yun lowered her eyes, there wasn't a maid or guard inside the room, his words were for her.
Ling Lan couldn't stand her mistress being bullied, she opened her mouth: "Prince, it's already been a day and night, you haven't had a drop of water, my imperial concubine deliberately made bird's nest and ginseng congee to supplement your energy, prince you ought to drink a little, you're the master of the residence, if something happens to you, what would be of my imperial princess and everyone else in the residence?"
The same two cold and heartless words were still said to Ling Lan: "Get out!"
He only wanted to stay with Ji Ling Xue, why was there always someone bothering him, just now the housekeeper had come, then Bai Mo and Chi Feng also came to urge him, after that madam Feng came to make a fuss, only now did it become quiet before Yi Yun came.
He didn't have a bad relationship with Yi Yun, he didn't want to get angry at her.
Yi Yun turned to shake her head at Ling Lan, taking the food box from her hands, she waved her hand indicating for her to leave first.
Yi Yun stepped over the threshold, walking to Xiao Yi Chen, seeing his bloodshot eyes as he still held the ice-cold body of Ji Ling Xue, her eyes heated up slightly, she opened her mouth: "If concubine Xue knew of prince's feelings, she wouldn't have decided to abandon prince in such a way."
Xiao Yi Chen moved, his fingers were a little stiff, he moved his neck to look at Yi Yun, suddenly asking: "Yi Yun, did this prince do something wrong?"
Yi Yun was silent, how could she reply to this? No one was wrong, fate was the problem, their positions were not the same, their believes were also different.
Ji Ling Xue had been too strong-headed, if she hadn't smashed up imperial uncle's Deqing restaurant, if she hadn't won the cooking competition, she wouldn't be dead.
Yi Yun knew, Xiao Yi Chen understood these things, imperial uncle wanted to Ji Ling Xue's death to heavily effect Xiao Yi Chen.
Now Ji Ling Xue was only a concubine, a concubine's status was only a little above that of a maid, no one would care, Xiao Yi Chen couldn't seek revenge for Ji Ling Xue.
Yi Yun said: "Prince you did nothing wrong."
Xiao Yi Chen bitterly laughed: "If I didn't do anything wrong, why does everyone close to me leave?"
Yi Yun: "That's because they're not fortunate enough, they cannot accompany prince by your side."
"Not fortunate enough, only you Yi Yun dare to jest with this prince."
Yi Yun bowed: "Prince, when did this concubine jest, the fact is, prince, you loved concubine Xue a lot, if concubine Xue's spirit lingers, she wouldn't be able to bear prince neglecting sleep and forgetting to eat, abandoning yourself to despair." She passed the food box over when she finished speaking, "Eat something first, if you fall ill from not eating or drinking, who will seek revenge for concubine Xue, also, the funeral arrangements for imperial concubine Qing still needs to be managed by prince."
Xiao Yi Chen tiled his head to look at the congee inside the food box, nodding: "This prince understands, you can deal with the matter of imperial concubine Qing, it must be rather grand."
Yi Yun nodded, "That...what about concubine Xue? Her and imperial concubine Qing had a deep sisterly bond, why not both of them be..."
Xiao Yi Chen looked indifferently at Yi Yun, the word "bury" stuck in Yi Yun's throat, she couldn't say it, she changed topics, "This concubine just remembered there's still something to do, prince take your time." She quickly left after speaking.
Standing outside Yilan courtyard, Yi Yun turned to look at the words on the plaque above the door, a faint smile on her lips, she believed in the near future, she would be the one living in this courtyard.
Yi Yun turned, coming across Chi Feng, the two greeted each other, Yi Yun then left quickly.
Chi Feng followed Yi Yun's back with his eyes watching her disappear before he entered the courtyard.
Xiao Yi Chen was still holding Ji Ling Xue motionless, the bowl of bird's nest and ginseng congee was cooling in the food box.
Chi Feng said: "Prince."
Xiao Yi Chen's eyelids moved, asking: "Did you investigate it properly?"
Chi Feng nodded: "There's a spy of the emperor as well as the imperial uncle in the residence, it's been handled cleanly, please be at ease prince, the specifics are still being investigated, very soon there will be an outcome."
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, a grimness flashed in his eyes, his finger lightly stroking Ji Ling Xue's cheek, he uttered: "Xue Er, the person who harmed you, this prince will eliminate them for you!"
Chi Feng looked at Xiao Yi Chen's bloodshot eyes, cupping his hands he said: "Prince, please take good care of yourself!"
Do you want to hold the princess like this until the end of time, if you carry on like this you'll also collapse, how could you revenge the princess?
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, his moved his rather stiff arms, slowly putting Ji Ling Xue onto the bed, his visibly rough hands gently stroked Ji Ling Xue's cold forehead, Xiao Yi Chen lowered his head softly saying: "Xue Er, wait for me, wait for me to return."
He will find someone who can bring her back to live, he didn't want her to die, without his permission, how can she die first?
Xiao Yi Chen got up and left the residence with Chi Feng, leaving An Ge and Mo Xiang behind to look after Ji Ling Xue.
Xiao Yi Chen hurried along on a speedy horse, brandishing a whip he left the city, the horse's hooves stirred up dust, covering his silhouette.
Three days later, Xiao Yi Chen climbed the highest mountain of Dongqi, looking for the huanyang herb which could bring the dead back to life, even though this herb had such a name, he had only seen it in ancient texts, but it was better than having no hope.
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The scorching sun shone from above, the biting cold winds scrapped against the face painfully, Xiao Yi Chen entire body was climbing along the cliff, his fingers inched forward, he could touch the herb in another inch, suddenly with a blow of the wind, a few rocks slid from the cliff directly above Xiao Yi Chen's head, with a bang, blood splattered out.
Xiao Yi Chen didn't seem to feel the pain as he continued to stare at the herb not far from him, his fingers moved slightly forward, the next moment, his fingers grasped the herb, his body tilted, he fell down from the cliff...
Time seemed to pass slowly, Xiao Yi Chen felt something scratch his cheek, he opened his eyes, it was a piece of grass being blown against his cheek, he suddenly sat up looking all around, when he was in a daze, he seemed to have heard Ji Ling Xue call his name by his ear, but there wasn't a shadow around him apart from a few trees.
Xiao Yi Chen gave a bitter laugh, unfolding his right hand, that herb which could bring back the dead laid quietly in his palm, his arm had been cut open when he fell down, blood was dying the herb red, the next moment, Xiao Yi Chen was surprised to see the blood on the herb fade away bit by bit, it was a green leaf at first, now it became a red leaf.
The huanhun herb actually drank human blood to survive!
Xiao Yi Chen tore a corner of his hem, wrapping the blood properly and putting it in his chest, then he got up and headed home.
Three days later, Xiao Yi Chen returned to the residence without stop, he was covered head to toe in grime, his beard covered face was almost unrecognised by the housekeeper.
Housekeeper: "Prince, you've finally returned!"
Xiao Yi Chen hmphed through his nose, he didn't stop.
Yilan courtyard was still as quiet as when he left, An Ge stood at the door greeting him, "Prince!"
Xiao Yi Chen nodded, pushing the door open he entered, the curtains were blown up by the wind, it was a graceful scene, Xiao Yi Chen pushed aside the curtains and walked around the screen, the bedding on the bed had been changed, but there was no trace of Ji Ling Xue.
Xiao Yi Chen turned to look at An Ge who followed him in, "Where is Xue Er?"
An Ge lowered his head, replying: "Princess she...has already been laid to rest!"
"What!" Xiao Yi Chen's eyes were wide, with a palm he sent An Ge flying, An Ge flew through the door and fell into the courtyard, he held his chest spitting out a mouthful of blood.
An Ge slowly got up to kneel on the ground, Xiao Yi Chen had clearly not finished venting his anger, his boot stepped on An Ge's shoulder, pushing An Ge three inches into the ground.
Xiao Yi Chen said: "When this prince left, did I order you to bury Xue Er?"
An Ge: "No."
Xiao Yi Chen: "Who ordered it?"hodl
An Ge said: "It was this subordinate."
Xiao Yi Chen sneered: "Then do you know the outcome for disobeying your master's command?"
An Ge took a bottle from his chest, pulling out the cork, he poured the liquid into his mouth in one go, "This subordinate is willing to die as an apology!"
Xiao Yi Chen: "..."
An Ge placed the bottle down, a mouthful of blood came from his chest, he covered his mouth supressing the blood, "Prince, princess is already dead, it's better to lay her to rest."
Xiao Yi Chen made a fist, the veins on the back of his hand popped up but he didn't say anything, lifting his head he forced the tears back into his eyes.
An Ge's body swayed, his hand supported him on the ground, he raised his head with great effort at Xiao Yi Chen, "Prince...this subordinate will leave first, take care..." He toppled over after speaking, black blood gushed from his mouth, gradually covering the ground in a pool.
Xiao Yi Chen frowned, Ji Ling Xue's subordinate, why was his morality the same as hers, poisoning himself over a disagreement, he wasn't given any opportunity to respond.
"Prince!" Yi Yun's voice came from the door, Xiao Yi Chen looked up, Yi Yun floated in wearing white, all of a sudden she threw herself into his arms, hugging his waist, "Prince, you've returned, do you know how worried I was!"
Xiao Yi Chen pushed Yi Yun away asking: "Ji Ling Xue, where is she buried, when was she buried?"
Yi Yun said: "Three days ago, she was buried at the foot of Guanyin temple, the feng shui master said that was a beautiful and secluded place, it could also allow concubine Xue's soul find peace, let her suffer less in her next life."