Maple red like fire, after frost more gorgeous, dotted people drunk.

  In the dense maple forest, there are layers of fog surrounding it, obstructing visibility, and a blurred scene.

  In the midst of this vast white fog, a little girl in a red dress was running aimlessly, her beautiful face filled with fear and panic.

  "Father, father, where are you? Qing'er won't run around anymore, Qing'er won't be naughty again... Qing Luan, Qing Luan, where are you? I want to go back to the palace, hurry and take me back to the palace..."

  The little girl was about eight or nine years old, with a pair of bright and clear eyes, her beautiful face adorned with tears, already showing the beauty that would captivate the nation in the future.

  Her voice was soft and sweet, exceptionally beautiful, just one listen would make people's hearts soften and feel pity, but in this quiet and empty maple forest, the one who heard her cry for help was a white tiger that went out to hunt for food.

  Here, outside the royal hunting grounds, is a maple forest. At this moment, everyone's attention is focused on her father, who is hunting inside the enclosure, and he thinks that at this moment she is sleeping soundly in the imperial tent inside the enclosure, unaware that she has secretly slipped out with the maid, and even more unaware that she has run out of the enclosure to chase a small deer and got lost in this maple forest.

  The white tiger sees the prey, emits an excited roar, she screams in fright, runs desperately, her red skirt fluttering like a butterfly between the trees, drawing one beautiful arc after another.

  That white tiger was originally the king of beasts, and at this moment, due to hunger, it became even more ferocious. How could a small girl like her escape from it?

  When she was suddenly knocked down by the white tiger, when she thought she was doomed to die, when she had given up all hope and even abandoned crying out and struggling, a young man appeared before her, holding a long sword, like a god descending from heaven.

  He didn't know her identity, but he rescued her from the White Tiger's claws. The process wasn't easy, as he was only a thirteen-year-old boy. By the time the White Tiger finally fell to the ground motionless, he too had collapsed in front of her, covered in wounds.

  Later, her father's men finally arrived to fetch her, and she clung tightly to him, refusing to let go of the unconscious man.

  Later, he was appointed as a royal bodyguard, personally responsible for her safety, and from then on, they were together day and night, accompanying each other for a long time.

  Later on, they got married, was the red glow in the sky a festive color or an endless flow of fresh blood?

  Later, he stood in front of the Wanren Cliff with her, watching as she jumped off the cliff, taking with her a resolute determination like jade shattering, and a beauty like a startled swan. She staked her life on this moment, leaving him to spend the rest of his years unable to forget, never loving anyone again, growing old in vain.

  She died, he lost his heart, who lost, who won, whose fault, who missed.

  She used her life to teach him that for the rest of his life there would be no more love, cold-blooded and heartless.

  Perhaps this is her ultimate revenge.

  I let out a long sigh and closed my eyes.

  I'm not sure if it's because I'm too sensitive or because of that person being Nan Chengyue, but a simple sentence from him has brought up so many thoughts and emotions in me.

  Even at this moment, strolling in the "Maple Forest Evening" of Sanwangfu, the early spring maple leaves are only scattered green, but those scenes of red and white tiger maples, like a scroll unfolding slowly, exceptionally clear presented in my mind.

  I don't know if she hated him in her last moments of life, just as I don't know if he loved her.

  If it's love, how can I bear to see her shattered into pieces before my eyes.

  If it's not for love, then what is the purpose of the hot spring in Yulu Temple and this maple forest that is rarely trodden?

  Suddenly I remembered that my first encounter with him was also in this maple forest, but there was no heroic rescue of the beauty and no lingering regrets.

  He had originally wanted to take my life, but in the end he spared it. Now that I think about it, I dare not confirm whether it was because of my casual remark about the maple forest and white tiger that touched the soft nostalgia left in his heart.

  A faint self-mocking smile involuntarily appeared on the corner of my lips, with a hint of bitterness and helplessness, not that I didn't care.

  "I heard from Poshuang that you are here, it's deep in the night and dew is heavy, I don't know how many more clothes to put on."

  A low, pleasant voice sounded in the darkness, interrupting my thoughts. I was enveloped in a warm hug, and it wasn't until then that I realized how deeply lost in thought I had been, not even noticing his approach.

  I let him hold me, motionless and speechless, having just snapped out of my deep thoughts, and suddenly facing him again, I really didn't know how to react.

  Nan Chengyao suddenly became aware of my abnormality, reached over and grasped my shoulder, then stretched out a hand to lift up my chin, forcing me to look straight into his eyes, asking: "What's wrong? Pusui said that after you returned from the Prime Minister's residence, you came here alone. What happened?"

  I took a deep breath, trying to calm my emotions, but still involuntarily avoided his eyes before speaking: "Nothing's wrong, Your Highness isn't supposed to stay in the palace tonight, why are you back so late?"

  It was an unintentional remark, but he suddenly smiled, his curved and beautiful lips hooked into a seductive arc, exceptionally good-looking.

  His voice was also filled with a smile, echoing in the maple forest: "So you were annoyed by this, so even the jade hairpin I gave you was broken, right?"

  I was taken aback, and as I came to my senses, I straightened up from his embrace, explaining hastily: "It's not like that, it's just that I accidentally..."

  "I'll give you something better."

  The unfinished words were gently pressed against his lips, he smiled faintly and once again pulled me into his arms, for a long time without speaking, quietly strolling aimlessly in the maple forest.

  He didn't speak, and I was also silent until we had almost walked through the entire maple forest. Just as I was about to open my mouth to remind him that it was already very late, his voice sounded again: "Qing'er, you are my queen, the only woman in this world who can stand shoulder to shoulder with me, and the one who will spend the rest of her life with me. So, no matter what happens in the future, I hope you can trust me."

  I stopped in my tracks and stared at him in a daze, unsure if it was because of what he had just said or simply due to the term "Qing'er".

  He called her "Qing'er" or "Qing'er".

  Suddenly, he smiled slightly and spoke to me again: "For example, today I know you must have encountered something in the Prime Minister's mansion. I just don't know if it's because you don't trust my abilities or because you don't think I'll help you, so you didn't plan to tell me."

  I shook my head and said softly: "It's not like that, I just don't know how to start."

  He still smiled and softened his voice: "In front of me, you don't need to worry about anything, whatever you say is fine."

  I raised my eyes to look at him, and under such a close distance, his face was extremely handsome, the curve of his lips was also enchanting, in those dark and mysterious eye sockets, although it couldn't be said to be cold, there was a hint of gentleness, however, the clarity and self-control at the bottom of his eyes were just as they had always been.

  This is perhaps the ultimate goal of that faint fragrance.

  Gently lowering my eyelashes, I forced myself to shake off the sudden sourness in my heart, then raised my eyes and said lightly: "I returned to the Prime Minister's residence today and heard that His Majesty seems to have intentions of marrying Princess Yiyang to my younger brother. Does Your Highness know about this matter?"

  He chuckled and said, "This isn't something I decided on, why does your tone sound like you're scolding me?"

  I slightly lowered my eyelids and remained silent.

  He smiled and said, "What does the princess want me to do?"

  I shook my head gently: "I don't know."

  He smiled lightly: "I now know what it means to be a husband without guilt, and to bear the blame. Since Murong Liu is unwilling to marry the princess, I guarantee that no one will force him, can the queen be satisfied?"

  I suddenly raised my eyes, saw him faintly smiling, his face with a hint of helplessness and a slight headache, although his heart was heavy, he couldn't help but smile slightly: "Your concubine thanks you, Your Highness."

  He has someone to rely on, I know that at least this time, Yan can avoid doing things he doesn't want to do.

  I don't know how long I can protect him, but Wei is such a true and innocent person, yet he was born into an official's family. I only wish that I can extend the time for him to live freely and follow his heart, even if it's just a drop in the bucket.

  Just as I was thinking, Nan Chengyao's arms exerted a slight force again, trapping me in his embrace once more. He lowered his head to look at me, smiling lazily and saying, "This 'thank you' doesn't have any sincerity to it at all. I've told you before, don't call yourself my servant again."

  I closed my eyes and opened them again, and with a calm tone, I said, "Qing'er thanks you, Your Highness."

  He smiled and leaned forward, whispering: "Only one sentence?"

  Lips rubbing against lips, breaths intertwining in a warm and intimate fusion.

  Suddenly, I recalled the words my mother said to me in the Jade Dew Palace that day. She said, "A daughter of the Murong family shouldn't compete with a dead person for favor." Now, it's me who is in the Jade Dew Palace, and from now on, only I will be the one enjoying endless imperial favor.

  I slowly reached out, hooked his neck, and settled all the self-pitying emotions at the bottom of my heart, then closed my eyes and lightly printed on his lips.

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