In the dead of night, the courtyard in the prince's mansion where Shangguan Yun once lived was shrouded in darkness.
When Pin Hao returned to the mansion again, his heart was filled with overwhelming grief. Hugging the pear - wood guqin, he choked with sobs in the courtyard.
Wei Dongling looked at the familiar courtyard, her nose stinging and tears welling up. Crown Prince Yun had gone to Xiliang and died for her. This was an indelible pain in her life!
The beloved one was gone, and there would never be such a magnificent man in the world again.
Pin Hao sobbed uncontrollably. He picked up the guqin and groped his way into the house in the dark. Wei Dongling followed closely behind him and gently stepped into Shangguan Yun's bedroom.
Pin Hao handed the guqin to Wei Dongling with tears in his eyes. He fumbled in the dark to find a candle, lit it, and gently placed it on the table. The light of the candle instantly illuminated the spotless room. It seemed that the servants in the prince's mansion had never slackened for a single day, as if they were always waiting for their master to return.
The furnishings in the room remained exactly the same as before. Pin Hao found the copper key and opened the wooden door of the cabinet. He respectfully placed the pear - wood guqin into the matching qin case.
Wei Dongling saw that there were only two things in the large wooden cabinet. One was the qin case, and the other was a scroll.
Pin Hao took out the scroll and handed it to Wei Dongling, gesturing for her to open it.
Wei Dongling took the scroll and carefully unfurled it. The face of the woman in the painting was actually her own!
Wei Dongling stared at Pin Hao in astonishment, unable to understand why the woman in the painting was herself.
Pin Hao said in a low voice with tears streaming down his face, "The first time you came to the prince's mansion to look for him, he casually painted your likeness." It was this very painting that allowed the beggar who witnessed Wei Dongling being kidnapped to recognize her and point out the direction. That was why Crown Prince Yun had rushed to the horse - training ground with his men that night to rescue her.
Wei Dongling stroked the scroll, her eyes filled with hot tears. If she had known this earlier, why had she gone to Xiliang! She had caused Shangguan Yun to be frozen at the bottom of the lake!
Pin Hao was right. It was all her fault!
At that time, Shangguan Yun had traveled all the way to Hanzhong to find her rather than accept the arranged marriage. He had accompanied her in making milk tea and glutinous rice balls! If she had given Shangguan Yun some positive responses back then, he would surely not have ended up like this!
Seeing Wei Dongling in such extreme grief, with tears streaming down her face non - stop, Pin Hao felt a complex mix of emotions. He had never really liked this reckless woman, but what could he do? His master was like a man possessed, risking his life again and again to protect her! Apart from following orders, what else could he do?
He had tried to persuade Crown Prince Yun and even tried to create opportunities for other women, but his master had insisted on his own way, rejecting all the women who showed their affection.
On the night when Princess Qigong, Murong Yunxi, had drugged Shangguan Yun, Pin Hao had single - handedly attacked and injured a group of guards in a fit of anger. If he hadn't stopped them at that time, Crown Prince Yun would probably have been forced to marry Princess Qigong later!
Pin Hao felt extremely regretful. Even if his master had married the princess, it would have been better than losing his life in Xiliang!
Suddenly, the faint sound of a guqin drifted in from outside the house. Wei Dongling was startled, thinking she was hallucinating.
After a while, her eyes widened in surprise. The tune was exactly "Fireworks Fade Easily"!
Pin Hao could hardly believe his ears. His heart was in a panic. He quickly snatched the scroll from Wei Dongling's hand, put it back into the cabinet, locked it, blew out the candle on the table, and rushed out like a gust of wind.
"Pin Hao, come back!" Wei Dongling was anxious and followed him out. She had just noticed that the guqin melody was gentle and sad, but it was definitely not played by Crown Prince Yun!
But Pin Hao ignored Wei Dongling's call and unhesitatingly climbed over the wall to follow the sound of the guqin.
Wei Dongling tapped her toes and grabbed Pin Hao's sleeve.
Pin Hao turned around and shouted angrily, "Let go of me!"
Wei Dongling said in a deep voice, "Pin Hao, listen to me! This is really not Crown Prince Yun playing! It's not him!"
Hearing the faint sound of the guqin not far away, Pin Hao glanced in the direction of the attic. He was still reluctant to give up and wanted to go and find out.
Of course, it wasn't Crown Prince Yun playing! How could he not recognize his master's guqin melody? But for someone to play this tune in the middle of the night meant that this person, like him, was mourning Crown Prince Shangguan Yun bitterly. He should at least go and take a look out of respect!
Wei Dongling said pale - faced, "Then, I'll go back first?" She knew exactly who was playing the tune. As long as Qi Jinxuan was safe, she didn't want to see her again!
Pin Hao stood still without saying a word. Suddenly, the sound of the guqin stopped. A woman's figure emerged from the window of the lit attic. Looking down at Wei Dongling standing on the ground, she sneered coldly, "What? Are you afraid to listen to this tune because it will make you sad? Are you afraid it will constantly remind you that you were the one who killed Crown Prince Yun!"
Wei Dongling stood there pale - faced and silent, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Pin Hao frowned and glanced at the woman on the upper floor. Only then did he recognize her as Qi Jinxuan, who had been kidnapped during the day. Pin Hao snorted with a dark face, "Let's go. Ignore her!"
He could blame Wei Dongling for her mistakes. But he wouldn't allow outsiders who didn't know the whole story to come and blame her recklessly!
Pin Hao was about to drag Wei Dongling away by the sleeve when they heard Qi Jinxuan scolding angrily, "Wei Dongling! You shameless low - class person! Stop right there!" Saying that, supported by her maid, Qi Jinxuan rushed downstairs in a hurry.
Pin Hao originally wanted to take Wei Dongling away. But now, hearing that the usually elegant Miss Qi was scolding like a mad dog, he stood there with a cold face and refused to leave.
Wei Dongling said in a low voice with red eyes, "Pin Hao, forget it. Let's go."
Pin Hao sneered, "What? Aren't you usually very sharp - tongued? Are you getting scared now?"
Wei Dongling sighed silently. Qi Jinxuan was pregnant. How could she argue with her?
Qi Jinxuan walked slowly up to Wei Dongling with her pregnant belly. Staring at her fiercely, she gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "If it weren't for you, Crown Prince Yun wouldn't have died. You shameless whore!"
Pin Hao: ……
Wei Dongling thought: The usually elegant Miss Qi could actually say such vicious words without thinking! Well! She's "improved"!
Seeing that Wei Dongling lowered her head and remained silent, showing no reaction at all, Qi Jinxuan gritted her teeth and scolded, "You fickle and promiscuous low - class slut! You were already engaged to Young Master Yu but still shamelessly seduced Crown Prince Yun! The prince ended up like this all because of you! You're just a shameless fox spirit!"
In Pin Hao's mind, Wei Dongling was indeed responsible for Crown Prince Yun's death. But he couldn't agree with what Qi Jinxuan said about shameless seduction and being a fox spirit. He had seen with his own eyes that Wei Dongling had avoided his master like a snake! Crown Prince Yun had gone to Hanzhong to find her and was finally brought back by her!
Wei Dongling still stood there motionless.
Pin Hao was extremely anxious. "My lady, say something! Are you just going to stand there stupidly and let her scold you? Aren't you usually quite talkative?"