Snow Empress Reunited, Longing and Attachment!

Qian Chen looked at her.

"Bing'er Sister, you've pushed the matter onto me again."

The Ice Empress gave a soft snort.

"Was I wrong?"

"Look around."

"The girls from Skywater Academy, Dugu Bo's granddaughter, and that catgirl."

The catgirl grabbed Qian Chen's sleeve, her pink cat ears quickly drooping.

She hid behind Qian Chen, revealing only half her face as she looked at the Snow Empress.

The Snow Empress swept her gaze across everyone.

Her eyes lingered on Shui Bing'er for a moment before returning to Qian Chen's face.

"It seems you've been living quite well in Heaven Dou City."

Qian Chen took a jade box from his Soul Tool.

"Snow Sister, this is for you."

The Snow Empress froze slightly.

She reached out and accepted the jade box, gently opening it.

A brilliant golden radiance blossomed from within.

A crystalline Immortal Herb lay quietly inside.

Its petals resembled a tulip, while a soft treasure-like glow flowed along its stem.

A rich medicinal fragrance spread out, and even the energy of heaven and earth around them gathered toward the jade box.

"Aromatic Silk Beauty."

Qian Chen stood before her.

"It can purify your bloodline and make your origin more stable."

"When I saw it at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, I thought it suited you."

The Snow Empress lowered her head to look at the Immortal Herb.

She had not waited for Qian Chen's return for a gift.

But when she learned that, even amid countless Immortal Herbs, Qian Chen had remembered to select the most suitable one for her, warmth welled up in her chest.

"You brought this especially for me?"

"Mm."

The Snow Empress closed the jade box.

She stepped forward, the hem of her white dress falling by Qian Chen's feet.

The distance between them swiftly closed.

Qian Chen could smell the faint, refreshing fragrance of snow orchids in her hair.

The next moment, the Snow Empress lowered her head and lightly kissed his forehead.

Her soft lips lingered for a moment before slowly leaving.

"I like it very much."

Qian Chen touched his forehead.

"As long as Snow Sister likes it."

The Snow Empress watched his movement, tenderness appearing in her eyes.

"I used to kiss you like this too."

"Back then, you weren't even as tall as my shoulder."

"Now, it's different."

Qian Chen raised his eyes to look at her.

"What's different?"

The Snow Empress met his gaze for a moment.

Qian Chen now stood tall and straight, and the childishness had long faded from his features.

Standing before her, he was already slightly taller than she was.

The Snow Empress suddenly realized that the child she had waited to grow up had truly grown up.

"I'll tell you later."

She put away the Aromatic Silk Beauty and reached out to straighten Qian Chen's collar, which the wind had disheveled.

Shui Yue'er watched the two of them, her cheeks slowly puffing up.

"Sister, the Snow Empress kissed Qian Chen."

Shui Bing'er softly responded.

"I saw it."

"Aren't you worried?"

Shui Bing'er held her jade box, her aqua-blue eyes never leaving Qian Chen.

"What use would worrying be?"

Xue Wu came to her side.

"At least let Qian Chen know how you feel."

Shui Bing'er did not answer.

She had originally planned to tell Qian Chen how she felt after returning from Sunset Forest.

But the Snow Empress's appearance had scattered more than half the courage she had just gathered.

The intimacy between the Snow Empress and Qian Chen was not something she could easily intrude upon.

Dugu Yan stood beside the carriage.

She touched her cheek, then looked at the spot on Qian Chen's forehead that had been kissed.

"A gift of an Immortal Herb earns a kiss on the forehead."

"My reward of thanks was clearly the same."

As soon as she finished speaking, Dugu Bo looked over.

"Yanyan, what are you talking about?"

Dugu Yan immediately turned her face away.

"Nothing."

The Ice Empress walked over to Qian Chen.

She raised her hand and wiped Qian Chen's forehead.

"Snow Sister kissed you, and you seem quite happy about it."

Qian Chen caught her fingers.

"Does Bing'er Sister want an Aromatic Silk Beauty too?"

"I have the Snow-Soul Iceheart Grass."

The Ice Empress leaned closer to his shoulder.

"You're not allowed to fob us off with the same thing."

The Snow Empress looked at her.

"You received an Immortal Herb too?"

The Ice Empress immediately took out a jade box.

"Of course."

"Qian Chen gave it to me personally."

She opened the jade box and held the Snow-Soul Iceheart Grass up before the Snow Empress.

The Snow Empress examined it seriously.

"It truly suits you."

The Ice Empress put away the jade box.

"Mine isn't any worse than the Aromatic Silk Beauty."

The Snow Empress gently stroked her head.

"As long as you like it."

Xue Qinghe stood outside the crowd.

She watched the Snow Empress kiss Qian Chen's forehead, then saw the Ice Empress lean against Qian Chen's side, and her chest gradually felt stifled.

Those two had accompanied Qian Chen for many years.

They knew Qian Chen's habits and what he liked.

Yet she could only approach him under Xue Qinghe's identity.

Even if she changed back into Qian Renxue's appearance, in Qian Chen's eyes, she was merely someone he had only known for a short time.

Xue Qinghe lowered her eyes.

She did not step forward to disturb them.

"Qinghe still has official business to handle."

"Everyone, return to the residence and rest first."

Qian Chen turned to look at her.

"Big Brother Xue, aren't you coming in too?"

"No need."

Xue Qinghe adjusted her sleeve.

"You and the Snow Empress have reunited after so long. You should have much to say."

She turned and walked into the Crown Prince's Residence.

Her gold-and-white robes swept over the threshold.

That figure remained upright, yet seemed somewhat lonelier than usual.

Qian Chen watched her leave without immediately withdrawing his gaze.

Spirit Hall.

Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong sat atop the raised platform.

A black-clad attendant knelt below the stairs, holding the intelligence sent back from Heaven Dou City high overhead.

Bibi Dong raised a hand.

The report landed in her palm.

She turned through it page by page, her brows gradually knitting together.

"Renxue met with Qian Chen alone multiple times?"

The black-clad attendant kept his head lowered.

"His Highness the Crown Prince personally invited Qian Chen to stay at the residence."

"When a conflict broke out outside the auction house, His Highness the Crown Prince also took the initiative to stand by Qian Chen's side."

"After Zhao Wuji was killed, His Highness the Crown Prince publicly declared that he would bear the consequences for Qian Chen."

Bibi Dong's fingers stopped on the page.

"She even changed back into women's clothes and met Qian Chen late at night?"

"Yes."

The Papal Palace fell silent.

Bibi Dong already knew that Qian Renxue had developed feelings for Qian Chen.

But she had not expected their relationship to progress so quickly.

Qian Renxue had carried out the Heaven Dou Plan for many years and had never allowed anyone to influence her judgment.

Yet Qian Chen had only entered Heaven Dou City recently, and he had already caused her to make one abnormal move after another.

Bibi Dong closed the report.

"What impressive skills."

"Several Skywater Academy students are also exceptionally close to him."

"Even Dugu Bo's granddaughter has become entangled with him."

She rose to her feet.

Her dark purple dress slowly trailed down the stairs.

"We cannot let him continue influencing Renxue."

From the shadows at one side of the platform, a gray-robed man stepped out.

He was thin, with half of his face covered by a silver mask.

Eighty-ninth-rank Soul Power was restrained within his body, without leaking even the slightest trace.

He came before the stairs and dropped to one knee.

"His Holiness the Pope."

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"Shadow Mantis."

The gray-robed man raised his head.

"Your subordinate is here."

"Go to Heaven Dou City."

Bibi Dong threw the report before him.

"Find an opportunity to kill Qian Chen."

Shadow Mantis lowered his head.

"Understood."

"And one more thing."

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"Renxue must not find out about this."

"Yes."

The gray-robed man retreated into the shadows.

His aura quickly vanished from the Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong looked back at the intelligence report.

Qian Chen's name sat in the center of the page.

She stared at it for a moment before tossing the paper into the candle flame.

The fire swiftly consumed the words.

Crown Prince's Residence.

The night deepened.

Snow Empress moved into the courtyard next to Qian Chen's.

A moon orchid grew in the center of the courtyard.

Its white petals slowly unfurled beneath the moonlight.

Snow Empress sat by the stone table, holding the jade box Qian Chen had given her.

Qian Chen stepped out of the room and draped a snow-white shawl over her shoulders.

"Heaven Dou City isn't cold."

Snow Empress raised a hand and touched the shawl.

"You prepared this for me?"

"This isn't the Far North."

"You should still wear it at night."

Snow Empress looked back at Qian Chen.

"I'm not afraid of the cold."

"I know."

Qian Chen sat down beside her.

"I just thought it suited you."

Snow Empress lowered her gaze to the shawl over her shoulders.

The soft fur brushed against her neck and shoulders, blending with her white dress.

She gathered the shawl around herself without taking it off.

"After leaving the Far North, you learned how to take care of people."

"Couldn't I before?"

"Before, Ice Empress and I were always the ones taking care of you."

Snow Empress turned slightly.

Her silver-white hair slid over her shoulders and spread across the edge of the stone table.

"When you were little, you hated sleeping alone."

"Whenever the blizzards were at their fiercest, you would cling to my arm."

Qian Chen coughed lightly.

"That was a long time ago."

"I remember it very clearly."

Snow Empress raised her jade-like hand and measured above Qian Chen's head.

"You were only this tall back then."

Qian Chen caught her wrist.

"Snow Sister, don't measure anymore."

Snow Empress did not pull her hand away.

She looked at the fingers wrapped around her wrist, then slowly lifted her gaze to his face.

Qian Chen's palm was broad and warm.

That warmth traveled through her skin, making her realize clearly for the first time that the person before her no longer needed her protection at every turn.

Snow Empress slowly rose to her feet.

She walked to Qian Chen, leaving only half a step between them.

Moonlight fell over her silver-white hair.

The shawl slipped from one shoulder, revealing her fair neck and shoulder.

Qian Chen reached out and adjusted the shawl for her.

But Snow Empress caught his hand.

"Qian Chen."

"Hmm?"

"Let me take a good look at you."

She raised her other hand, her fingertips gently brushing over Qian Chen's brow.

At last, her hand rested against the side of his face.

"Eighteen years went by so quickly."

"I thought it would take you much longer to grow up."

Qian Chen looked at her face so close to his.

"What about now?"

"Now..."

Snow Empress did not continue.

Qian Chen's presence was close enough to touch.

She could feel the warmth beneath her palm and see herself clearly in his eyes.

The two gazed silently at each other.

A faint flush spread across Snow Empress's cheeks.

Rather than retreating, she leaned a little closer.

Her silver-white hair fell across Qian Chen's chest.

Their breaths gradually intertwined.

Snow Empress looked at Qian Chen's lips, then quickly lifted her eyes again.

"You really have grown up."

Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the courtyard.

Ice Empress entered with a pillow in her arms.

"Snow Sister, I'm sleeping with you tonight."

As soon as she reached the moon orchid, she saw how close the two were standing.

Ice Empress stopped.

"What are you two doing?"

Snow Empress released Qian Chen's hand.

She sat back down at the stone table, the flush on her face not yet fully gone.

"Nothing."

Ice Empress hugged her pillow as she stepped between them.

"Nothing requires standing that close?"

Qian Chen looked at her.

"Didn't Bing'er Sister go back to her room?"

"I can't sleep."

Ice Empress set the pillow on the stone table.

"I haven't seen Snow Sister in three years. I'm staying with her tonight."

Snow Empress raised a hand and tidied Ice Empress's messy hair.

"Still the same as before."

Ice Empress directly wrapped herself around her arm.

"I just missed you."

Watching the two lean against each other, Qian Chen felt himself relax as well.

But before long, he remembered Xue Qinghe, who had left alone earlier.

Qian Chen stood up.

"I'm heading out for a while."

Ice Empress immediately looked at him.

"Where are you going this late?"

"To find someone."

Ice Empress narrowed her eyes.

"A girl?"

Qian Chen did not deny it.

"I'll be back soon."

Snow Empress watched him for a moment.

"Go."

Qian Chen left the courtyard.

Ice Empress watched his retreating figure.

"He must be going to find Shui Bing'er."

Snow Empress shook her head.

"Not her."

"Then who?"

Snow Empress picked up the jade box from the table.

"Ask him yourself when he comes back."

By the lake.

Qian Renxue sat upon the stone platform where she had met Qian Chen last time.

She had already changed back into her true appearance.

Her pale golden dress clung to her tall figure, its hem spread across the stone surface.

Her brilliant golden hair was unadorned by hairpins, simply draped behind her shoulders.

She lowered her head and looked at the lake.

Her reflection appeared in the water, along with the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes that she had yet to wipe away.

"Snow Empress has been with him for so many years."

"What do I even count for?"

Qian Renxue raised a hand and wiped at the corner of her eye.

She knew she should not care.

But when Snow Empress kissed Qian Chen, her heart still ached terribly.

Footsteps came from behind her.

Qian Renxue immediately turned her head.

"Who is it?"

Qian Chen stepped onto the stone platform.

"It's me."

Qian Renxue froze for a moment.

She quickly wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"Why are you here?"

Qian Renxue stood up, her pale golden skirt slipping over the edge of the stone platform.

She instinctively turned her face aside, unwilling to let Qian Chen see the redness around her eyes.

Qian Chen walked up to her.

"You're in a bad mood?"

Qian Renxue looked up at him.

The lake reflected the moonlight as the night breeze stirred her loose golden hair.

A few strands fell against her cheek, concealing the tears she had not fully wiped away.

Qian Chen reached out and tucked the strands behind her ear.

"Hiding here alone won't make you feel much better."

Qian Renxue's eyes reddened again.

"Weren't you keeping Snow Empress company?"

"She had waited for you for so many years. Now that she had finally come to Heaven Dou City, why didn't you stay by her side?"

Qian Chen looked at her.

"I came here for reasons unrelated to Snow Sister."

Qian Renxue lowered her gaze.

"Then did you come to pity me?"

"No."

"I was only worried about you."

Those few brief words brought all the grievance Qian Renxue had been suppressing in her chest surging forth.

She turned around and looked out over the lake.

"I don't need anyone to worry about me."

"Ever since I was little, I've always been alone."

"No matter what happened, I could handle it myself."

Qian Chen stood beside her.

"If you want to cry, then cry."

Qian Renxue's fingers clenched the hem of her skirt.

"I'm not crying."

"Your eyes are already red."

"It's just windy by the lake."

Qian Chen did not expose her.

He took out a clean handkerchief and held it out before Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue did not take it.

She looked at the handkerchief, but tears still rolled down her cheeks.

Qian Chen raised a hand and wiped away her tear tracks.

The soft fabric brushed past the corner of her eye.

Qian Renxue closed her eyes for a moment.

She had never imagined that she would reveal such a side of herself before someone she had only known for a short time.

Yet with Qian Chen standing beside her, she did not want to keep up her usual composure.

"Qian Chen."

"Hmm?"

"Did I come too late?"