Yan Jueming · chat.title

During the Ruian era, the Emperor was deeply obsessed with cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao, leading to the gradual decay of court discipline and governance. Within the capital, undercurrents surged between two rival factions: one revered the Second Prince, Yan Jueming, while the other upheld the Third Prince, Yan Juexuan, as the legitimate heir. The two factions engaged in overt and covert struggles, as incompatible as fire and water. In June of the thirty-fifth year of Ruian, the Minister's manor was adorned with lanterns and colored banners, with red silk draped over the beams. Everyone was busy preparing for the betrothal banquet of the eldest young mistress, Hua Xianyuan, and the Third Prince, Yan Juexuan. Servants and maids bustled back and forth in a frantic rush, like ants on a hot pan, none of them noticing the bloody conspiracy brewing in the shadows. Deep within the woodshed, Hua Shirui's limbs were tightly bound with coarse hemp rope. A ragged cloth stuffed her mouth, allowing her to make only muffled, whimpering sounds. Her clothes were in tatters, and her skin was covered in purple bruises. Old scars overlapped with new wounds, leaving barely an inch of uninjured skin. "Please show mercy, Eldest Young Mistress! Spare our Fifth Young Mistress... I beg you, have mercy..." Beside her, the maid Cui'er, who was also bound, lay prostrate on the ground. Her hair was disheveled, and tears mixed with dust streamed down her cheeks as she begged in a hoarse voice. Several burly male servants pinned Cui'er down firmly. In the seat of honor, upon a pearwood chair, Hua Xianyuan sat upright with a dignified but cold posture. The silk skirt she wore was a masterpiece woven by Hua Shirui from Jiangnan cloud brocade after staying up for three consecutive nights. Now worn by Hua Xianyuan, it only served to make her expression look even more harsh and cruel. Hua Xianyuan raised a hand to caress the golden hair tassel at her temple. With a casual glance, her eyes swept over to Hua Shirui, filled with contempt as if looking at an insect. "Fifth Sister, if you had known it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place? You knew very well that Brother Juexuan was betrothed to me. Why did you insist on seeking your own death, foolishly trying to cling to the dragon's scales?" With that, she slowly stood up, the tip of her embroidered shoe grinding ruthlessly into the back of Hua Shirui's hand. "You are just like your lowly concubine mother—seductive, scheming blood flows in your veins! Both of you are cheap wretches who seduce your masters!" Every word was like a poisoned steel needle, and the force under her foot increased with her anger. Hua Shirui convulsed with agonizing pain. Fresh blood surged from her wounds, staining the blue bricks beneath her red. "Oh, my lady, be careful not to dirty your soft satin embroidered shoes." Nanny Dong, standing nearby, hurriedly stepped forward to wipe the tip of her shoe with a silk handkerchief, her tone fawning yet laced with disgust. But Hua Xianyuan did not seem satisfied. She suddenly leaned down, pressing close to Hua Shirui's ear, her voice sweet yet cruel: "Do you know why Brother Juexuan has been so slow to come find you?" She let out a soft chuckle, a gleam of smugness flashing in her eyes, "I have already returned all the jade pendants and letters he gave you, and I even forged a heartless farewell letter in your handwriting. He actually believes you abandoned him." She straightened up, looking down at Hua Shirui's paper-pale face, her tone suddenly turning harsh and sharp: "But as long as you live, Brother Juexuan will always have your shadow in his heart! I, Hua Xianyuan, will not tolerate anyone else coveting the man I love!" Before the words even faded, she raised her foot and kicked Hua Shirui hard in the chest. "Someone, come!" Hua Xianyuan turned to smooth her sleeves, her voice freezing cold, "Drag this wench out and drown her in the lotus pond in the backyard! As for this maid, sell her to the lowest-class brothel so she can never redeem herself!" Two male servants immediately stepped forward, hoisting Hua Shirui up like a dead dog and dragging her outside. Two lines of clear tears slid down the corners of Hua Shirui's eyes as despair washed over her like a tidal wave. How she wished that Yan Juexuan would appear at this moment, stepping through the moonlight as he used to, to shield her behind him. But the agonizing pain of her body and the bone-chilling betrayal made even breathing feel like a luxury. "I clearly fought for nothing... Why don't I even have the right to live...?" she cried out silently in her heart. Suddenly, her body felt weightless, and immediately after, icy lake water rushed frantically into her nasal passages. The heavy stone tied to her waist dragged her down continuously, and her consciousness gradually faded in the suffocating agony. "Am I... dead?" Her soul seemed to detach from her physical shell, floating weightlessly in the water. Through the haze, she saw a pure white figure slowly rising from the bottom of the lake. A cinnabar mole on the bridge of the woman's nose was particularly striking. Her features were like a painting, and her white clothes were as pure as snow. She looked less like a water spirit and more like a celestial fairy from the moon. "Are you willing to die just like this?" A voice as clear and resonant as clashing jade sounded directly in her mind, not through her ears. Hua Shirui's chaotic consciousness suddenly cleared, and a towering hatred burned her soul like a raging fire. She was not resigned! Why did she, who kept to herself and fought for nothing, end up like this? Why did Hua Xianyuan get to wear the clothes she wove and enjoy everything that should have belonged to her? "No! I am not resigned!" she roared with the last of her strength, "Immortal Sister, please avenge me! I am willing to pay any price, as long as Hua Xianyuan and everyone who humiliated me pay for their blood debts!" The white-clothed fairy gazed at her, a hint of compassion seemingly flowing in her eyes. She did not open her mouth, yet Hua Shirui heard her voice clearly: "Very well. I shall help you. From this moment on, we form a pact. In this lifetime... I shall take your place." As her voice fell, the fairy transformed into a single petal of a lustrous white lotus, gently drifting down to attach itself to Hua Shirui's cold body resting at the bottom of the lake. "Hua Shirui, your revenge, I will personally claim." A faint scent of lotus diffused in the water, carrying an endless chill... Having ruthlessly disposed of Hua Shirui, Hua Xianyuan concealed the malice in her eyes. She walked gracefully back to the main hall, forcing a gentle smile as she toasted the guests alongside Yan Juexuan. Under the light of the glass lamps, she caught sight of the man beside her tightening his grip on his wine cup. Although his gaze lingered on the clinking cups and bustling crowd, his soul seemed to have already flown far away from this noisy hall. Hua Xianyuan sneered inwardly, certain he was worrying about that wench's safety. Yet, she still had to maintain her virtuous and gentle facade, her fingertips gripping her brocade sleeve so tightly they almost creased it—if only Hua Shirui could have died an even more horrific death to truly satisfy her hatred. "Brother Juexuan, has the wine gone to your head? Are you feeling unwell?" she asked softly, her fingertips brushing lightly against his sleeve. Yan Juexuan had been struggling to find a way to slip away. Hearing this, he felt as if he had been granted a reprieve, wishing only to leave the banquet immediately to seek answers from Hua Shirui. He refused to believe that the woman who had once exchanged vows with him under the moonlight would truly abandon him. "Perhaps I have had a few cups too many and feel a bit fatigued. This Prince shall take a walk in the garden to clear my head and return shortly." With that, he raised his hand to brush her hand away. But as if she had anticipated this, Hua Xianyuan's fingers suddenly tightened: "Brother Juexuan, the hall is full of guests today. Wouldn't leaving at this moment invite gossip?" Seeing this, Madame Lin, the Minister's wife, hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over, the gold hair tassel at her temple trembling slightly as she spoke: "Your Highness, today is the auspicious day of your betrothal to Wanwan. How can you just leave like this?" Yan Juexuan's brow furrowed slightly, his face darkening. He looked at the surrounding guests, then at Hua Xianyuan's eyes—which appeared worried but hid calculating intent—and felt a suffocating tightness in his chest. "If Your Highness finds the main hall too stuffy, why not let Wanwan accompany you for a stroll?" Madame Lin took a step closer, her tone growing warmer. "You will be husband and wife in the future; spending more time together will surely foster your affection." Just as Yan Juexuan was caught in a dilemma, a voice as clear and resonant as clashing jade drifted over from the side seats: "I hear that the lotus flowers in the Wangshu Pond of the Minister's manor are blooming beautifully. Why not take advantage of the moonlight and invite everyone to enjoy them? It would also help my third brother clear his head." Everyone turned toward the source of the voice. They saw a man clad in a dark-patterned brocade robe, his ink-black hair loosely bound by a jade crown. His sharp brows rose toward his temples, and his starlit eyes held a trace of casual amusement. The tear mole at the corner of his eye, however, seemed to hold an undissolvable, gentle sorrow, perfectly tempering his untamed aura. This man was none other than the Second Prince, Yan Jueming, who usually lived in seclusion. Strangely, this prince rarely even attended palace banquets, yet today he had made an exception to attend his third brother's betrothal feast. Hua Xianyuan's face changed drastically, her lips trembling as she found herself speechless. Wangshu Pond? That was exactly where she had just disposed of the body! If they went to the backyard garden now, and someone noticed something amiss, wouldn't all her efforts be in vain? But on second thought, if she did not comply with the Second Prince, it would only make her look guilty. Moreover, she feared Yan Juexuan would use the chance to slip away and search for Hua Shirui, and that wench's disappearance would surely cause a massive uproar. In a flash, she suppressed her panic and forced a smile: "The Second Prince's suggestion is excellent. Brother Juexuan probably hasn't seen the magnificent lotus scenery of Wangshu Pond yet." Seeing that the host agreed, the guests immediately grew enthusiastic, chiming in to join the lotus viewing. Hua Xianyuan, surrounded by the crowd, felt as if every step she took was on the edge of a blade. She kept calculating in her mind: Hua Shirui must have already sunk to the bottom of the lake by now. With her body weighed down by heavy stones, she shouldn't float up easily... Hopefully, Nanny Dong handled the matter cleanly. Yan Juexuan was also weighed down by heavy thoughts. Looking at Hua Xianyuan's swaying figure ahead, he felt that the clamor of the garden was nothing but an eyesore. He only wanted to know: where on earth had Hua Shirui gone? Why did she leave behind that heartless letter? The moonlight, like a veil of gauze, enveloped the quiet backyard garden. By the side of Wangshu Pond, willows swayed gently, and a pond full of lotus flowers unfolded their pink-and-white petals in the evening breeze, reflecting on the shimmering ripples as if the Lunar Palace itself had descended to the mortal realm. Who would have thought that beneath this elegant and beautiful scenery lay a body that still held a trace of warmth. Suddenly, there was a soft splash on the water's surface, and ripples rapidly expanded outward. While everyone was still marveling at the lotus scenery, they saw a pure white figure suddenly leap out of the water! "A ghost!" No one knew who screamed first, but the guests instantly fell into chaos. Hua Xianyuan's pupils shrank, and the blood in her body seemed to freeze instantly—that figure, those plain white clothes... Could it be the vengeful spirit of Hua Shirui coming to claim her life? Fear engulfed her like a tidal wave; her vision went black, and she fainted dead away. But the moment Yan Juexuan clearly saw the woman's face, his heart stopped. Wet black hair clung to her pale cheeks, and water droplets trickled down her chin. The face revealed was clearly that of Hua Shirui, the one he thought of day and night! His mind went completely blank, forgetting where he was. He wanted nothing more than to leap into the pond and hold her. Yet before he could make a move, 'Hua Shirui' stepped through the ripples and swam ashore with an effortless grace. The moonlight fell upon her plain white skirt, casting a hazy, ethereal glow. Yan Juexuan took a startled step back, the wine cup in his hand clattering to the ground—he remembered clearly that Shirui had been terrified of water since childhood and did not know how to swim at all. How could she have such proficient swimming skills? Under the shade of the willows by the pond, Yan Jueming's hand, which was gently swaying a fan, paused slightly. He gazed at the drenched yet clear-eyed woman, the tear mole at the corner of his eye gleaming with a strange luster under the moonlight. Amid the untamed smile on his lips, a trace of curiosity quietly crept in. This Fifth Young Mistress of the Minister's manor seemed rather different from the rumors.