Chapter 1: Past Life
In the cold winter of December, the majestic imperial city stood tall amidst the white snow, with silver frost covering the palace eaves.
As the cold wind blew, snowflakes gently fell.
Looking up, Ji Li saw the towering palaces, with golden dragons coiled at the corners of the eaves, and the red walls and gray tiles reflecting each other, stretching endlessly into the distance.
Everything in the capital remained as it was, gentle yet solemn.
She closed her eyes.
"Lady Rourou, His Majesty is waiting for you." The person behind her urged in a low voice as she stood still.
The eunuch's voice carried a unique tone, which Ji Li had grown accustomed to during her years in the palace.
But at that moment, the urging felt like a death knell -
Today was the day when the Ji family members were to be executed.
With the nest emptied, how could anyone escape unscathed?
"He must want to kill me." She said calmly.
Eunuch Li's expression remained unchanged, "How could that be? His Majesty is thinking of you."
Ji Li lowered her eyes and caught a glimpse of her armor.
Although she had cleaned it, she still felt the lingering scent of blood from the battlefield.
Like the martial skills that the new emperor disliked, revealing her humble origins.
Just like her current situation.
After kneeling for a while, she suddenly stood up, feeling the chill creeping up her feet.
She struggled to maintain her composure.
She remained silent and simply chuckled as she walked forward.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, he abandoned his previous violent tendencies, which were already criticized by the court ministers. Now, his concubine had secretly gone to the front lines in an attempt to clear the rebels.
How would the new emperor treat someone who had made a mistake and remained unrepentant?
Ji Li did not know.
Perhaps she had never truly understood this person.
Her bedside companion for nine years.
The guiding palace maid opened the doors to the hall and bowed before retreating.
As she raised her hand, the hem of her robe brushed past, and she felt an extra chill, as if the wind was piercing her bones.
The hall was incredibly quiet, with only the sound of someone writing at the head of the room.
Ji Li knelt down, respectfully bowed, and said, "I, Ji Li, pay my respects to Your Majesty." The cold armor touched the ground as the crimson doors behind her quickly closed.
"Do you know your crime?" the person above asked calmly.
Listening to the familiar voice, Ji Li felt somewhat numb inside.
He must have made his decision when they brought her back to the capital.
So she gathered her spirits and replied, "I know my crime."
The person above seemed amused by her words, set down his red pen, and walked down the steps.
The sound of his boots treading on the ground echoed, one after another.
By the time Ji Li regained her senses, Xie Yuncheng was already standing in front of her.
He lifted her chin -
"Do you know your crime?" The man exerted some force with his finger, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Feeling Ji Li's unusually low body temperature, Xie Yuncheng was momentarily taken aback.
But it was only for a moment, as these emotions were quickly masked.
"The Ji family is innocent. Even if death is my fate, they must not be implicated." Her gaze held his unwavering, devoid of fear.
Exhaustion gnawed at her. Every syllable she uttered felt like a desperate plea in the face of the emperor's decree.
"You cohabitate with those rough warriors, with intimate relationships...that is indeed a crime."
Upon hearing these words, Ji Li lowered her eyelashes.
She tried to break free, but in the next instant, his grip tightened.
"What? Have I hit the nail on the head?" Xie Yuncheng mocked.
The coldness seemed tangible, as if she were in an ice cellar.
Exhausted, she surrendered and followed his lead.
Seeing her silent, Xie Yuncheng increased the pressure on her face, "The Lady's charm remains undiminished, no wonder the leader of the forbidden army is willing to help you behind the scenes."
Having not eaten for nearly two days, Ji Li felt fortunate at that moment.
Otherwise, hearing such ominous words, she might have vomited on the spot.
"You jest, Your Majesty." She replied weakly.
The frustration in his heart grew wild like weeds, as they gazed at each other, both expressionless.
Xie Yuncheng bent down, silently observing the person in front of him.
He stared at her weakened figure due to lack of food, at her determined expression.
He fixed his gaze on the face that resembled so much his long-lost beloved.
Ji Li sensed his scrutiny but did not lift her eyes. "Your Majesty."
As a person facing death, she spoke with a reckless energy, "At this moment, no one has the mind to play these role-playing games with you."
Xie Yuncheng restrained his emotions and then promptly encircled Ji Li's waist, speaking slowly, "You just said the Ji family is innocent..."
The man exuded a strong scent of ambergris, unavoidable.
Ji Li's eyelashes fluttered slightly, remaining silent for a long time. However, the man in front seemed insistent on receiving a response before continuing.
"...Yes," she said.
Only then did Xie Yuncheng proceed, "I understand."
Ji Li's gaze sharpened, and she immediately lifted her head, "Your Majesty...!"
"But, what difference does it make to know?"
Her remaining words were drowned out, her gaze fixed firmly on Xie Yuncheng.
"Your servant does not understand your meaning."
In the rise and fall of fortune, this was an age-old truth.
But... it should not be the Ji family.
With decades of service on the border, they were a family of loyal ministers for three generations.
However, the person who was cheerful just moments ago seemed to lose interest at this moment. "Enough." Xie Yuncheng's voice was extremely low, almost a whisper, as he abruptly changed the subject, "Regarding your private trip to the front line, do you have anything more to say?"
Ji Li looked up at him, "At this point, whatever you decide to do with me, I have no complaints."
She maintained a low posture, showing no resemblance to her fierce appearance on the battlefield.
"Your Majesty is wise, but I only ask for a thorough investigation into my father's case. He is innocent." She turned her face slightly to the right, trying to appear more like the new emperor's beloved.
Her tone was unprecedentedly submissive and gentle.
Like her title.
The glory of an imperial concubine was bestowed by the emperor, which meant that they were also the emperor's possessions.
They were just appendages, a vassal.
She loathed it but had no choice.
Outside the hall, the cold wind howled, and the Forbidden City seemed to mirror its master, far from the calmness it had moments ago.
Over half an hour had passed, and there was no sound inside the hall.
The palace maids guarding outside remained silent, standing by the closed doors.
As the person on the steps approached closer, a young eunuch tried his luck and spoke up, "Commander Xi, His Majesty is busy. Would you like to come back later?"
Unexpectedly, the person in front of him glanced at him and then walked straight into the hall.
The palace attendants guarding the door had no choice but to step aside, quickly opening the door and lowering themselves even further.
Inside the hall, there had been silence for a long time, with only the footsteps behind gradually becoming clearer.
"I, Xi Che, pay my respects to Your Majesty."
In the man's respectful tone, there was a hint of indifference that caught Ji Li's attention involuntarily.
He exuded a cold demeanor, and as he entered, the surroundings seemed to be tainted with a sense of coldness.
It was the cold and stern atmosphere of the battlefield.
Xie Yuncheng's expression showed a hint of displeasure. "Why have you come at this hour, Excellency? Is there something urgent?"
As soon as the two met eyes, the atmosphere in the hall began to feel somewhat eerie.
Surprisingly, Xie Yuncheng, known for his decisive nature, did not reprimand the other for such an audacious act.
"This is concerning General Ji," Xi Che said in a low voice.
Ji Li was surprised and couldn't help but discreetly raise her head to look.
However, all she could see was the tall figure of the person next to her.
The man was shrouded in a mist, layers upon layers, with a hint of a mole at the corner of his eye.
She couldn't see clearly, but the voice continued.
"Why, are you here now to plead for mercy for your subordinate?"
Xi Che replied, "Of course not."
"He acted impulsively and deserves to be taught a lesson."
"But General Ji has dedicated his life to the military. It does not have to end like this." Xi Che spoke naturally, "To prevent disillusionment among loyal ministers."
The dazzling attire of the Golden Embroidered Scarlet Fish contrasted with the thunderous words he spoke, stirring the hearts of those present.
Ji Li didn't understand why this person would help her, and she didn't know how to react at that moment.
She only felt cold, a bone-chilling cold that seemed to be taking her away at any moment.
Remembering the new emperor's sarcastic remarks and the downfall of her family, her heart felt a void.
She tried to speak, but found her throat filled with a strong sense of bloodlust, making her incredibly thirsty.
The voice was extremely light—
Light enough to summarize her father's entire life and the life of the Ji family in just a few sentences.
Light enough to abruptly stop, as if the impulse to see a loyal minister wronged was just temporary.
Light enough that everything returned to its original state during the conversation.
The new emperor's patience had run out, and after waiting for the person to leave, he changed his demeanor, squatting down and lifting her face.
As he touched her, the calluses on his hand caused a sharp pain.
Ji Li felt a complete lack of strength, merely holding on by sheer willpower.
She recognized this expression, a sign that Xie Yuncheng was angry.
He always seemed to be angry for no reason.
But now, she had no energy to respond.
"You are too crude," he whispered. He seemed to reminisce, "I always felt that you were not like her."
"You always think of the border, as if there is nothing worth cherishing in the capital... Is the border really that great?" he asked, "Despite that, I will not kill you. We have known each other for over a decade, and there is naturally some bond between us."
"But... the Ji family cannot stay." His gaze locked onto her, waiting for a response.
"You are clever, you should know what to do."
The Ji family helped him ascend to the throne, that was what they should be grateful for.
Ji Li remained silent for a few moments, then looked up at him, mustering all her strength to speak, "Your Majesty, you simply believe that I value love more than the interests of the country, hence you try to persuade me with just a few words."
"You have misunderstood, I am not that kind of person."
At the moment of his ascension to the throne, the court was rapidly changing, and both overtly and covertly, he had already become bloodthirsty.
She understood the implication in Xie Yuncheng's words - he wanted to obtain the precious heirloom passed down through generations of the Ji family, adding a touch of intimidation.
But she felt unworthy of herself.
Unworthy of the Ji family.
"I am now the Emperor, and also your husband."
"According to the rules and norms, everything about you should be under my control."
"As long as you speak, I..."
In the struggle for power and profit since ancient times, conflicting interests inevitably lead to confrontation.
The Ji family, once his support, had now become a stumbling block on his path to the throne.
Indulging flatterers recklessly, wasn't this the inevitable outcome?
Ji Li's face was as pale as snow, showing signs of resignation.
She calmly interrupted him and said, "Are you going to spare my life? It sounds nice." She chuckled softly, "But please, Your Majesty, just kill me."
"I beg for death with all my heart, please grant me that wish." With these words, it was as if she had drained all her strength.
Seeing her head lowered again, looking desolate, Xie Yuncheng felt a strange sense of annoyance and raised his hand with restrained force.
It was always like this, always like this.
"Ji Li! Look at me, lift your head!"
"I am your husband! Why won't you give me even a bit of trust?"
"Why are all these people begging for you? Explain yourself! Speak up!" His voice suddenly lowered, tinged with a mysterious charm, "Are you..."
Awaiting judgement as if on the brink of death.
She closed her eyes, not bothering to respond to the remaining words.
She was in the wrong.
The voices around her gradually faded away, memories of her life flashing through her mind like a revolving lantern.
There was her stubborn refusal to marry Xie Yuncheng, her initial unease in the capital imitating high-born women, the tumultuous highs and lows of her married life, and the inexplicable circumstances of her life.
And... all the beauty she had experienced at the border.
In a daze, her body felt lighter and lighter, until it dissipated into nothingness.
She fell in battle, not disappointing as the children of the Ji family.
It was just a shame that this was how she would see her father.
In her final moments of consciousness, the world narrowed to a terrifying close-up. The last thing she saw was the man's crimson eyes, so close she could feel the heat radiating from them.
The pupils were blown wide, like black holes in a sea of red, reflecting a madness that sent shivers down her spine.
But for some reason, Ji Li suddenly recalled the person who had spoken up for the Ji family moments before.
And the red mole at the corner of his eye.
She didn't even get a chance to see his face.
What a pity.