The night deepened, shrouding the room in a silence so complete it felt sacred—a haven for a body desperate for rest. Yet, beneath this fragile stillness, Yu Xiao's heart hammered with growing unease, her mind refusing to surrender to the peace she so desperately craved.
The quarters she called her own, once sealed by a careful spell to keep nightmares at bay, now seemed powerless against the storm of emotion that churned within her.
The friction of her sheets, the faint tingle of energy in her body, and the intricate workings of her own flesh offered little comfort, barely combating the numbness that crept through her limbs.
Without warning, a vision crashed into her mind—jagged and overwhelming.
It was unfamiliar: she found herself amidst a bustling road, surrounded by countless street vendors. Suddenly, a group of men arrived, their black robes glinting with gold collars and elaborate embroidery.
They forced dowries upon the vendors, their cruelty absolute—those who refused were met with violence. Yu Xiao's heart clenched as she saw a child sobbing, a sword pressed mercilessly to the child's throat. Then, in an instant, a surge of energy exploded through the marketplace, chaos erupting all around.
Blood stained the cobblestones as vendors and bystanders scattered in terror, desperate to escape the carnage.
But just as suddenly, that vision withered away, replaced by a new scene. She stood before a vast, awe-inspiring hall—its massive pillars rising like ancient sentinels. A woman in a robe of crimson splendor swept into the grand chamber, where a crowd awaited her in tense anticipation.
The woman's hand glittered with a jade lotus ring—a detail sharp and clear, even as the woman's face remained a shifting blur, maddeningly out of reach.
Without warning, the vision lurched into brutality. The woman raised a cup of wine to her lips and, moments after drinking, crumpled to the floor, her strength draining away. Around her, elders ringed her in a circle, their laughter twisted and cruel.
She crawled helplessly across the cold floor, fingers clutching desperately at a man's ankle. "Why? What did I do to deserve this?" she choked out, blood dripping from her flawless chin, each word trembling with anguish and disbelief.
Then, with chilling finality, a sword plunged into her abdomen. The woman's voice faltered, but she forced out her last words.
"Unexpectedly, it was those I trusted most who orchestrated my ruin. For two centuries, I reigned, safeguarding peace through endless, perilous battles. Yet the price of my devotion is this: to perish at the hands of those blinded by desire, greed, and ambition. If I die today or tomorrow, mark my words—one day, your own nightmares will be the retribution you deserve. Pray that I do not return, for only then will you know victory."
Yu Xiao jolted awake from the nightmare, her consciousness clawing its way back to reality. Ragged breaths tore from her lips, her heart pounding erratically, her entire body shivering with aftershock. Her mouth hung open, desperate for air, as terror lingered in every trembling muscle.
She forced herself upright in bed, limbs heavy and unsteady. Cold sweat beaded at her temples and slicked her brow, dampening her hair. One trembling hand pressed to her chest as she swallowed hard, fighting the weakness and panic that still held her captive.
"Wha...why did I dream such a strange dream?" she muttered, her hand still pressed to her chest as heavy breaths shuddered from her lips.
Moments later, she slipped out of bed and hurried into the meditation chamber, settling herself on the cool floor in search of calm.
"It's just a dream," she whispered, pressing her eyes shut for a moment. A heavy exhale escaped her as she tried to calm her racing heart. She settled into meditation, remaining there in silence until the first light of dawn crept through the window.
The remaining hours slipped by, and sunlight spilled softly into her chamber. When Yu Xiao finally opened her eyes, she found two maidservants standing before her, their faces etched with concern.
"Your Highness? Did you sleep like that?" one of them asked gently.
Yu Xiao hesitated, her lips parting slightly but no words coming out at first.
"We've been standing here for almost an hour, but we didn't dare disturb your rest. Your meditation skills truly amaze us," the other maidservant added, her voice filled with both admiration and concern.
A reluctant smile tugged at Yu Xiao's lips.
"Ah—well, you could say that," she replied, giving a small, shy nod.
"We've prepared something for you—a special breakfast. Please let us serve it while it's still hot."
"All right," Yu Xiao murmured, her answer gentle as she stepped out of the meditation chamber. She moved quickly to the table, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she inspected the breakfast set before her. Turning back to the maidservants, she offered a quiet, sincere, "Thank you. You may leave now."
After that, the maidservants exchanged a quiet glance and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind them with practiced grace. Left alone in the gentle hush, Yu Xiao smoothed her robes and allowed herself a small sigh of relief. She lowered herself to the table and, for the first time in days, truly savored each delicate bite of her meal, letting the warmth settle her nerves.
An hour passed, and with her spirits somewhat lifted, Yu Xiao managed a slow walk through the palace courtyard, the morning light dappling across her path.
Han-Qing and Han-Yun stood waiting beneath the gentle shade of a blossoming magnolia, their faces alight with anticipation and a quiet, genuine joy as soon as they caught sight of her.
As she reached them, Han-Qing stepped forward with careful reverence, presenting a cloth pouch heavy with spirit stones. The weight of his gesture was clear in the way his hands trembled slightly, and pride flickered in his eyes.
"My lady, please accept this," he said softly, bowing his head with respect, his voice tinged with excitement and a trace of nervousness.
Yu Xiao blinked in astonishment, her lips parting in a silent 'o' as she turned over the pouch in her hands, feeling its unexpected weight.
"This—this is too much," she breathed, her voice trembling with surprise and gratitude as she looked from the pouch to Han-Qing and Han-Yun.
"Is there anything you desire, My Lady? Simply say the word, and we will make it happen," Han-Yun added, his eyes shining with earnest devotion.
Yu Xiao waved her hands quickly, a shy smile spreading across her face.
"No, no, that's not necessary," she said in quick succession, her gaze dropping to the pouch of spirit stones in her hands. "Truly, this is more than enough. Please don't trouble yourselves further. I just want to buy what I need and… enjoy my time there. There's really no need to go to any more trouble."
"Who said that was enough?"
A familiar voice rang out, clear and commanding.
Xue Wuya appeared, striding into view with Lan Qingwei trailing closely behind him.
"Young Master," Yu Xiao murmured, quickly lowering herself in a respectful bow.
"There's no need for such formality," Xue Wuya replied, his tone cool and detached.
"Princess Lan Qingwei, I wish you a pleasant day," Yu Xiao greeted warmly, bowing with sincere respect.
But Lan Qingwei offered no response, remaining silent and expressionless.
Xue Wuya stepped forward and gently took Yu Xiao's arm, his palm open as he placed something atop her hand.
"Keep this jade pendant with you," he said in a low, steady voice. "It will protect you from any harm."
Yu Xiao lifted her gaze to Xue Wuya, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you!"
"And also…" Xue Wuya paused, reaching into his sleeve and producing a handful of elixirs. "Take these with you."
Yu Xiao's brows knit together in confusion as she looked at him. "Why?"
"You'll need them," he replied simply. "And take Xuelang Lingzu with you—he knows the best places for you to explore."
A genuine smile blossomed on Yu Xiao's lips. "Alright, thank you again," she said, carefully accepting the elixirs from Xue Wuya's palm and storing them in her spatial ring.
Once more, Xue Wuya stepped closer and gently took both of Yu Xiao's hands in his. His usually composed expression softened, revealing a rare sincerity and concern in his eyes.
"Your Highness, I won't be able to accompany you today," he said quietly, his voice laced with genuine worry. "Please, be careful—and take good care of yourself."
After that, Yu Xiao's eyes darted toward Lan Qingwei. She noticed a scowl darkening Lan Qingwei's expression as she watched Xue Wuya holding Yu Xiao's hands.
At that, Yu Xiao gently withdrew her hands from Xue Wuya's grasp and lowered her head.
"I should take my leave now. Rest assured, I will be responsible for my actions," she said softly, her voice subdued. With that, she turned toward Han-Yun and Han-Qing, who stood waiting behind her.
"You should be careful, My Lady," Han-Yun reminded her gently, while Han-Qing nodded, his smile tinged with unease.
Yu Xiao offered them all a reassuring smile before turning away. In the next moment, she strode toward Xuelang Lingzu, with Xue Wuya following close behind to help her as she ascended onto its back.
One more time, Xue Wuya called out just as she was about to depart.
"Yu Xiao."
Hearing her name spoken by him for the first time, Yu Xiao paused, surprise flickering in her eyes as she slowly turned to face him.
"Whatever may happen, don't set foot in the outer court," Xue Wuya said, his gaze serious and voice edged with warning. "It's dangerous."
She smiled once more, warmth in her eyes as she appreciated his concern.
"I understand. I promise," she replied gently.
A faint smile touched Xue Wuya's lips as he gave her a slight nod.
"Xuelang Lingzu, today I'll be your master. Let's go!" she called out with renewed spirit.
With a single tap on Xuelang Lingzu's back, the white wolf spirit beast surged forward, leaving behind only a swirling mist of snow in their wake.