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墨書 Inktalez
Soon, the agile figure of the Azure Dragon leaped into the room. "General?"
"Has there been any unusual activity in the palace recently?" Night Star asked, eyes closed, slowly regulating his breath, his expression unreadable.
The Azure Dragon paused for a moment and instinctively shook his head. "The brothers up front haven't sent any messages, so there must not be anything significant happening."
After saying this, he noticed the general's unusual expression and realized, "Miss Mo is well in the harem. She has been transcribing scriptures with the Green Lotus Buddha Maiden from Wansheng Temple for three days now, and there hasn't been any movement from the Emperor's side. I dare not speculate on His Majesty's intentions, but..."
"Don't beat around the bush. Speak," Night Star opened his eyes and looked at him. Although his expression was unpredictable, his voice was somewhat tense, fearing he might miss any news about Mo Xier.
The Azure Dragon understood what he meant and quickly said, "Miss Mo is fine; it's just that a message from a carrier pigeon said that the Empress Dowager has been poisoned severely, and the Chief Physicians of the Imperial Medical Institute are at a loss. It was Miss Mo who stepped forward to use her medical skills to save the Empress Dowager."
Upon hearing this, Night Star showed no signs of happiness. That foolish girl! If she wanted to secure her position in the palace, how could she expose herself like this? The best strategy was to keep a low profile.
Not being by her side meant he couldn't protect or care for her at all times. She needed to be fully alert to face those predatory gazes in the palace.
Thinking of this, his hands clenched tightly into fists, causing pain in his palms. It seemed that only this pain could awaken him and remind him not to worry but to trust that woman; her intelligence and rationality were enough to protect herself!
The Azure Dragon understood the general's thoughts, but even someone as lowly positioned as him could see the Emperor's feelings toward Mo Xier. He believed the general must have noticed as well; he just didn't understand why the general would compete with the Emperor over a woman.
It wasn't that he was blindly loyal to the Sovereign or thought Miss Mo unworthy of such actions from the general; it was just that they, as Shadow Guards trained by the Training Institute, had been instilled with the belief that imperial power was supreme since childhood.
He couldn't understand why the general would forsake Wealth and Glory to contend with His Majesty of Nine-Five. Did he not know that competing with the Emperor would lead to no good outcome?
Night Star seemed to sense his thoughts but had no intention of explaining further.
Some things could not be understood without personal experience, just as he had never imagined that one day he would fall deeply in love with a woman of unknown origins—sharp-tongued and lacking in gentleness—becoming utterly entranced.
"How are the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird?" Night Star did not want to delve too deeply into this question, so he asked.
"They have already set off, carrying the token and silver you provided. I instructed them to treat it as a routine task; they will send word when necessary and proceed as needed, without raising any suspicions," Qing Long replied straightforwardly.
Night Star nodded, "You did well. You may leave now. If there is any news from the palace, inform me immediately."
"Yes!" Qing Long turned and vanished in an instant.
Lying back down, he felt as if there were thorns in his back, unable to sleep no matter what.
He thought of that woman fighting alone in the harem, not only under the emperor's watchful eye but also facing hostility from the other concubines. Although she was wise and brave enough, those qualities alone were not enough for her to survive or thrive in the palace.
He could only do his best to complete the tasks assigned by His Majesty and return to her side as soon as possible to protect and care for her.
"Wait for me!" he murmured softly, closing his eyes.
Celestial Palace.
This most magnificent structure stood in the most prestigious area of the city, its crimson walls appearing heavy and desolate under the moonlight.
Everyone had gone to sleep!
Mo Xier still could not tolerate life without an electric blanket. She pulled at the warming pot beneath her feet; it was already cold and offered no warmth. She endured for a moment, wrapping herself tighter in her blanket, yet still struggled against the biting cold.
In the darkness, Green Wisteria's voice suddenly broke the silence: "Can't sleep?"
Mo Xier was startled and then felt a bit embarrassed. "It's a little cold, so I can't sleep. Sorry, did I wake you?"
Green Wisteria said nothing. In the dark room where no light was lit, only the sound of fabric rubbing against itself could be heard. Suddenly, there was the sound of flint striking; a long candle at the head of the bed was lit. The small flame of Candlelight, though dim, brought a touch of warmth to the cold air.
"I can't sleep either, so why don't we talk?" Green Wisteria said as she wrapped herself in a cloak and walked over with a candlestick.
Mo Xier smiled, sat up, wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, and patted the bed. "Come sit here and talk; it's really cold."
Before she came to this place, when she was in college, she loved having candlelit chats with her roommates. They would share their thoughts, discuss breakfast for the next day, talk about the most handsome boy in class, or simply gossip about beauty tips and dieting—topics that girls never seemed to run out of. Laughter was always abundant.
How simple life was back then! There were no compromises, no life-threatening situations, no feelings of isolation, and none of those mundane matters could turn her into a humble and incapable person!
Green Wisteria did not decline the invitation and sat beside her. The two girls snuggled under the covers, finding it fresh and amusing.
"You seem to be really afraid of the cold," Green Wisteria remarked, chuckling at how Mo Xier was wrapped up like a dumpling.
Mo Xier felt a bit embarrassed and sniffed. "Yeah, even though it's already April, I still feel like my hands and feet are icy. Luckily, I warmed my feet before bed; otherwise, it would be even worse. I'm tossing and turning all night; I hope I'm not bothering you."
"It's fine; I can't sleep either," Green Wisteria said as she tucked the quilt around her. She stared at the tassels of the canopy above her head, lost in thought and feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.
"I really envy you," Mo Xier suddenly said with a smile as she lay down. The air was too cold for her to bear.
"Envy me?" Green Wisteria laughed and lay down beside her. The two girls looked into each other's eyes. "You're so beautiful and talented in medicine, wise beyond your years, and even the emperor favors you. How could you possibly envy me?"
It was better not to mention it; just bringing up that topic made Mo Xier feel overwhelmed.
"Everyone says I'm about to fly up to become a phoenix, but who knows the struggles and helplessness I feel inside?"
Mo Xier closed her eyes and then opened them again. "Many times I've thought about how wonderful it would be to live freely like an eagle soaring in the sky or a great tree by the lake.
No one would care about your looks or your family background or whether you're gentle; they would simply love you for being you. How great that would be! Unfortunately, in this world, everyone only cares about what they can't have; who will cherish what is already around them?"
As she finished speaking, a sense of melancholy enveloped her.
In these days and nights, she faced so many different people, regardless of gender. Men gazed at her with desire, while women looked at her with disdain.
Only Night Star, that blockhead, never relied on his looks for advantage. His loyalty and integrity made him more concerned about the mysteries surrounding him, wondering if they would bring danger to the country he was devoted to protecting.
Mo Xier firmly believed that if she had indeed become the so-called Demoness who harmed the people, Night Star would have killed her with a single strike. Yet now she also believed that even if she proved to be that Demoness, the current Night Star would not harm her!
"The Buddha said, life arises from the formless, like illusions manifesting various forms. The heart of an illusion is originally empty; both sin and virtue are empty and have no dwelling." Green Wisteria pursed her lips, looking at her with a sympathetic gaze. "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows. The myriad forms of sentient beings are all empty."
"What is empty, and what is void? I no longer know," Mo Xier murmured. "I only know that in this life, it absolutely cannot be empty!"
She had crossed over like this, both lost and reborn! Since heaven allowed her to live in this body, she would not disappoint fate and would live freely!
"Form is emptiness; emptiness is form! Amitabha!" Green Wisteria comforted her. "To strive is to lose; not to strive is also to lose. But to strive can also be winning; not to strive can also be winning. Everything lies within the heart of man."
"Have you not heard that greed can lead a heart to swallow an elephant?" Mo Xier laughed, looking at her with envy. "You always possess a calming force that seems to shield you from harm. Living simply and purely is wonderful."
Green Wisteria remained silent for a moment before coolly saying, "I am just an orphan; my master picked me up and carefully taught me how to grow up.
My master treated me like his own daughter. When I was little, I often cried in the middle of the night, and my master would come to my room to explain Buddhist verses to me. It’s funny; I was so young yet seemed to understand enough to fall asleep. My master always said this was due to my connection with Buddhism..."
Mo Xier interjected softly, "Are you sure it wasn't the Buddhist verses that bored you into sleep?"
"..." Green Wisteria was momentarily speechless.
"Alright, alright, continue as if I didn't say anything!" Mo Xier stuck out her tongue, forgetting that Green Wisteria was not one of those gossiping girls from the dormitory.
Having been interrupted, Green Wisteria felt some of her unease dissipate: "I just wanted to say that in the past I felt very fortunate. Although I was an orphan, my master's kindness made me feel I was not inferior to many children with both parents.
As I grew up, I read Buddhist scriptures daily and studied Buddhist principles while discussing with wandering monks from various places. They all said I was the foremost in Buddhist teachings at Wansheng Temple for twenty years. Since then, people began calling me the Buddha Girl..."
"If you take the editorial exam, you'll definitely pass with flying colors!" Mo Xier added with a hint of amusement.
"What is an editorial? Is it also a form of Buddhist teaching?" Green Wisteria asked curiously.
"Not quite!" Mo Xier scratched his head. "But both have a similar effect on me, which is that they allow me to meet the esteemed Zhou Gong in an instant!" After saying this, he chuckled to himself.
Green Wisteria was speechless: "I thought you were a serious person, but it seems you're just teasing me."
"Come on, Green Wisteria, don't be angry!" Mo Xier pouted playfully. "Look, look, my mouth is sealed. You should talk; I love to listen!"
Meeting such a like-minded woman was rare in this world. Sharing the same bed today made Mo Xier feel much younger, as if he had forgotten many things!
After being interrupted several times, the words he wanted to say were swallowed back down. Green Wisteria waved her hand: "Actually, I just wanted to say that what seems good at the beginning may not necessarily end well.
On the other hand, even if I start poorly, if I stay grounded and focus on doing good, I can still achieve something worthwhile, right?"
Turning back to see Mo Xier silent and unresponsive, she assumed he wasn't interested in listening and shook her head. "Alright, enough about me; let's talk about you."
"Me?" Mo Xier pointed at his own nose. "My story isn't that dramatic; it can be summed up in four words: utterly tragic! Better not bring it up."
"Don't pretend to be clueless with me." Green Wisteria took his hand and tucked it into the blanket, adjusting the corners for him. "Today, His Majesty nearly clashed with the Empress Dowager because of you. You should tell me what we should do about that."
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