radicalducati Chapter 334 The Charming Fake Gold 3
Chapter 334 The Charming Fake Gold 3
Han Fei prepared a plate of osmanthus cake every day, but for several days in a row, he was unable to enter that dream of a sea of roses again.
He placed the osmanthus cake sent from the imperial kitchen on his desk.
From warm to cold, and then carefully removed by Li De, day after day.
The unease that had been building up in the depths of her phoenix eyes grew increasingly intense, casting a heavy, oppressive atmosphere over the entire Qianqing Palace.
The palace servants held their breath and moved silently, for fear of disturbing the emperor's mind.
Until this night.
When he stepped into that familiar valley of roses once again.
Her fingertips tightened almost instinctively in her sleeve—there was a warm oil paper package hidden there.
The evening breeze still carries a sweet fragrance, and the splash of red figure on the swing remains.
This time, however, she did not sway as lightly as usual.
Although her skirt was still being tossed about by the wind, her almond-shaped eyes, which were always curved like crescent moons, were now slightly lowered.
She looked like a delicate flower dampened by the rain, exuding a pitiful and wilted aura.
Han Fei unconsciously slowed his pace.
Walking up to the swing, I saw her with her eyelashes lowered.
Her slender white fingers absentmindedly twirled the petals on her knee, completely unaware that he was approaching.
Osmanthus cake.
His voice was calmer than usual, carrying a hint of caution that he himself was unaware of.
He raised his hand and handed her the oil paper package hidden in his sleeve. "I brought this for you."
Liu Yunshu suddenly looked up.
Those almond-shaped eyes, veiled with moisture, seemed like stars suddenly illuminated, bursting forth with brilliance.
She stared blankly at the oil paper package, then slowly raised her eyes to look into his unfathomable phoenix eyes.
Her nose twitched slightly, and her voice was as soft and sweet as melting honey, with a noticeable hint of grievance in it:
"You really came... I thought you would never come again, that you had long forgotten me."
Han Fei's Adam's apple bobbed, and a strange, almost helpless feeling quietly spread through him.
He had never learned how to coax people, and now he looked at her slightly reddened eyes.
I felt that secret itch in my heart surge up again, stronger than ever before.
He hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out and, with a slightly awkward stiffness, gently ruffled the top of her head: "I haven't forgotten."
Liu Yunshu took the oil paper package and untied the rope with slightly trembling fingertips.
The sweet aroma of osmanthus cake mingled with the rich fragrance of rose petals, and she picked up a small piece, carefully putting it into her mouth.
The soft, sweet flavor melted on her tongue, but her eyes reddened even more, on the verge of tears.
"Is it tasty?"
Han Fei asked in a low voice, his gaze falling on the corner of her lips, which had a few crumbs of cake on them, and his throat tightened inexplicably.
Liu Yunshu nodded vigorously, her cheeks puffed out slightly from the pastries, like a little animal that had secretly hidden a pine cone.
She looked up at him with her wet eyes, the red marks at the corners of her eyes still lingering, yet she managed to curve a charmingly innocent smile:
"It's delicious. It's...it's the best taste I can remember."
As soon as she finished speaking, a tear slid down her cheek without warning.
She seemed a little embarrassed, and hurriedly picked up another piece of osmanthus cake, holding it straight to his lips.
"You should try some, it's really sweet..."
Her fingertips, slightly cool, brushed against his cool lips unintentionally.
The touch was as light as a feather brushing against them, yet it made both of them freeze for a moment.
Liu Yunshu's cheeks flushed instantly, and she hurriedly tried to pull her hand back.
However, Han Fei grabbed his wrist.
His palms were warm and dry, and his strength carried an undeniable force, yet he did not hurt her.
He took her hand, brought the osmanthus cake to his lips, and gently took a bite.
"Um,"
He responded softly, his gaze fixed intently on her blushing cheeks.
The usual aloofness in her phoenix eyes had long since vanished, leaving only a deep, dark ink color that seemed to suck her in completely.
"It is indeed very sweet."
"Why are you crying?" he asked, his fingertips unconsciously stroking her slender wrist.
Liu Yunshu lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings.
Tears, like pearls from a broken string, rolled down one by one.
A few drops landed on the back of his hand before he could retract it, warm and damp, scalding him so much that his heart clenched.
"because……"
Her voice had a heavy nasal tone, like cotton soaked in water, soft and sweet.
"I haven't had osmanthus cake in so long..."
She simply gripped the corner of the oil paper package tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
His shoulders hunched slightly, like a small animal that had suffered a great injustice but dared not whimper.
Han Fei's Adam's apple bobbed again, and the grip on her wrist unconsciously loosened and softened.
He looked down at her lips, which were stained with crumbs of cake, and at the corners of her red and moist eyes.
A completely unfamiliar, slightly aching, and throbbing feeling welled up in my heart.
He raised his other hand, his thumb lightly brushing across her cheek to wipe away the dampness.
The touch from his fingertips was delicate and warm, like caressing the finest jade, yet it stirred even deeper ripples in his heart.
"I want to eat it later."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a sense of indulgence and promise that he himself was unaware of.
"I'll bring them all for you. I'll bring them every day."
Liu Yunshu suddenly raised her head, her almond-shaped eyes still glistening with tears, yet they shone with an astonishing brightness.
Like a lake reflecting a sky full of stars, rippling with delightful surprise.
"real?"
Her voice carried a cautious anticipation, with a slight upward inflection at the end.
Like a kitten's paw, gently scratching the softest spot in one's heart.
As Han Fei gazed at her expression, a dark, murky feeling stirred within him, and a deeper desire began to take root.
Seeing that he did not respond immediately, the light in her eyes dimmed quickly, and a hint of self-mocking disappointment flashed across her face.
Then, she gave a forced, relaxed smile and changed the subject:
"Let's not talk about this... I need to finish my osmanthus cake quickly, otherwise I'll have to go back to work when I wake up."
Han Fei's gaze fell on her profile, where she was forcing a smile, and the delicate touch of her cheek skin still lingered on his fingertips.
That gentle warmth now felt like it was burning with fire, making his heart clench.
He suddenly leaned down slightly, his warm breath brushing against her delicate earlobe, carrying the crisp scent of ambergris and the faint sweet fragrance of osmanthus.
"Get to work?"
He repeated it, the last syllable drawn out softly and slowly, yet with an underlying inquiry.
Liu Yunse paused, her fingers holding the osmanthus cake, her eyelids drooped even lower, and her voice softened, full of grievance:
"Um... I have to wash so many clothes. The well water is freezing cold, my hands... my hands are completely frozen."
Han Fei's gaze fell on her hand resting on the swing rope—her fingers were slender and delicate, her skin smooth and fair, showing no signs of labor.
"fool……"
She seemed to see through his confusion, and muttered softly, with a hint of coquettishness.
"Of course, my hands were perfectly fine in my dream..."
"It was different when I woke up. I was soaking in ice water all day, and my fingertips were so cold they were red and purple. It hurt terribly to touch them..."
As she spoke, she unconsciously pouted slightly.
Her full lips were speckled with crumbs of osmanthus cake, shimmering in the moonlight, adding to her delicate and pitiful charm.
Han Fei's gaze froze on her fingertips.
Even though the hand in front of him was perfect, another image uncontrollably appeared in his mind.
These delicate hands, immersed in the icy well water of the dead of winter, became red and swollen from the cold, even turning bluish-purple, and their skin cracked from the cold...
My heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
The sharp, tingling pain instantly spread throughout my body, making even my breathing a little heavier.
"you……"
"I'm waking up again..."
Liu Yunshu's voice grew softer and softer, like a thin veil being torn apart by the evening breeze.
Her fingertips, holding the oil paper package, began to turn transparent, and her almond-shaped eyes, brimming with tears and reluctance, gazed deeply at him.
"Thank you for the osmanthus cake... It's very sweet and delicious... Will you come to see me again next time?"
Han Fei felt a tightness in his throat and almost without thinking, he reached out to grab her wrist.
However, all I managed to grasp with my fingertips was a single, empty, and cool-feeling petal of the rose of Sharon.
He watched helplessly as her figure gradually faded and disappeared amidst the swirling snowflakes.
Only that soft, affectionate "Next time..." lingered like an echo in the silent flower valley.
"meeting."
He addressed the empty, magnificent sea of flowers in a low voice, his tone deep and resolute, as if to be etched into this illusory world.
"I will definitely come."
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
He opened his eyes abruptly and found that the candles in the bedchamber had long since burned out, leaving only deep darkness, while the night outside the window was thick with darkness.
Han Fei sat alone on the edge of the bed, his palms still seemingly retaining the unreal warmth and softness of his dream.
He slowly tightened his fingers, his phoenix eyes surging with unprecedentedly intense emotions, shattering his usual calmness and aloofness.
"Li De".
He called out in a deep voice, his tone filled with barely suppressed urgency and coldness.
Upon hearing the sound, Li De, who had been guarding outside the hall and dared not stray far, quickly pushed open the door and bowed as he entered.
Seeing the emperor's solemn expression and sharp, piercing gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine.
"Your Majesty, this servant is here."
"check."
Han Fei pressed his fingertips heavily against his knee, speaking each word with an unyielding and authoritative air.
"Investigate every lowly palace servant in the laundry department, washing area, and courtyard sweeping area!"
"Looking for someone...someone whose hands may have chilblains from years of immersion in ice water, and who is still young..."
He paused, the image of those tearful almond eyes and shallow dimples flashing before his eyes, and his voice unconsciously lowered.
"A girl with a very sweet smile."
Li De looked up in astonishment, almost doubting that he had misheard.
Searching for such palace maids?
This description is so vague, and so...
This is not something His Majesty would normally care about.
But he dared not question it in the slightest, and quickly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, prostrating himself deeply on the ground.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I will carry it out immediately!"
Watching Li De's hurried retreating figure, Han Fei suddenly stood up, strode to the window, and pushed open the window with a "whoosh".
The biting night wind rushed in, but it did nothing to dispel the churning heat and anger in his heart.
The way she looked so aggrieved as she recounted "spending the whole day soaking in ice water," and the way her hands were covered in chilblains...
These images were like poisonous thorns, piercing his chest and causing him a feeling of suffocation.
An unprecedented mix of rage and pity grew wildly in the darkness.