The white snow rustled down from the branches and piled up on the ground. Dark clouds loomed over the Yan Yun Imperial Palace. Only a few streaks of sunlight filtered through the gaps and cast on the window panes below, which were carved with the totem of the Vermilion Bird.
Outside the Cang Hai Pavilion, people were kneeling all over the place. At a glance, they were all the pillars of the state in Yan Yun.
A faint fragrance to refresh the mind was burning inside the room. The silver - haired emperor of Yan Yun sat at the spacious table and picked up a pen to write his instructions on the paper.
Bai Xisong got the permission and walked in from outside. He stopped in front of Feng Tingyun, clasped his fists and bowed. For some reason, he let out a soft sigh.
Feng Tingyun said, "What has troubled our Commander Bai so much?"
"Those old officials outside have been kneeling for three days. It's so cold. If they catch a chill..." Bai Xisong hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Feng Tingyun said calmly, "They chose to kneel on their own. I didn't force them."
Bai Xisong knew the reason why those old officials were kneeling outside. They just wanted the current ruler of Yan Yun to allow a beauty pageant to be held, so that he could take a wife and concubines to enrich the harem.
It had been three years since Feng Tingyun returned to Yan Yun, regained imperial power and took charge of the court affairs.
In these three years, he had been diligent in governance and took care of everything personally. He had stabilized the court situation well. Now the people in Yan Yun lived in peace and the country was prosperous. Everyone knew that they had a good monarch in Yan Yun.
However, there was no one beside this monarch. In these three years, he had never mentioned taking a wife or concubine, nor had he ever favored any maid in the harem. This really worried the ministers.
Some time ago, the ministers brought up the matter of establishing a queen again. They even presented the picture albums and lists of the beautiful and age - appropriate women in Yan Yun, but all were rejected by him.
"I don't need anyone by my side. Being my woman is just like living as a widow. It's unfair to those women. Don't mention this matter again in the future."
Naturally, the court officials didn't agree. They spontaneously knelt outside the Cang Hai Pavilion to force Feng Tingyun to change his mind.
But Feng Tingyun was not the kind of person who would easily compromise. No matter how long they knelt, they couldn't shake his decision.
Actually, Bai Xisong also hoped that there would be a sweetheart beside their ruler to talk to him and help him. But he knew this monarch too well. When he heard what Feng Tingyun said, he knew there was no room for negotiation. He could only say,
"I understand."
"By the way, I received a message sent back by Shen Jiang."
Only then did Feng Tingyun's expression loosen. He put down the pen in his hand, raised his head and reached out his hand in the direction of Bai Xisong.
Bai Xisong handed the letter to him. Feng Tingyun opened it and gently stroked the letter with his fingers. The corners of his lips lifted slightly and a smile appeared on his face.
In the letter, Shen Jiang told him that Princess Chang Huan and the heir of Prince Ning left the capital to travel to the border and then would come to Yan Yun and head for the imperial capital to visit him. They called it "returning to their mother's home" in a nice way.
It was really kind of that girl to still miss him after getting married and come to see him. That was good.
He told Bai Xisong the content of the letter. Knowing that Song Yihuan and Ji Lingchuan would arrive in Yan Yun soon, Bai Xisong was also very happy. He clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. At that time, I will personally lead people to the border to welcome the princess and the son - in - law back to the imperial capital."
The news that Song Yihuan and Ji Lingchuan were coming swept away the haze on Feng Tingyun's face. Even when he went to sleep at night, the corners of his lips were still upturned.
But after falling asleep, he had a dream again.
"Senior brother, my name is Xi Min. You can call me Xiao Min'er."
"Senior brother, look quickly. Do I look good wearing this? Oh, I forgot you can't see. I'm sorry."
"Senior brother, I'm in so much pain. I'm really in so much pain—"
One after another, the calls echoed in his ears. The long - lost address made it hard for him to break free. He was deeply trapped in the nightmare.
"Xi Min, Min'er..." he murmured softly. He gently raised his fingers as if trying to catch something, but in vain.
Suddenly waking up, Feng Tingyun sat on the edge of the bed without moving for a long time. His silver - white hair was loose behind his head, making his skin look even paler like snow. It also made him look more lonely.
He stood up and walked barefoot out of the bedroom. When the palace servants saw that he was only wearing a very thin robe and no shoes, they were so scared that they quickly knelt down to plead for forgiveness. He gently waved his hand to signal them not to follow and then walked forward alone.
Step by step, he climbed up the Que You Platform. The flying snow fell on his body one after another. The wind blew up his hair and clothes. His thin back looked as if it was about to drift away with the wind.
There were twelve bronze chime bells on the Que You Platform in the Yan Yun Imperial Palace. They were painted with all kinds of sparrow spirits. It was said that if you rang the twelve chime bells at the same time, you could communicate with the spirits. But Feng Tingyun had never tried it and didn't know whether this rumor was true or false.
Standing on the Que You Platform, he took out twelve beads and shot them at the twelve chime bells on both sides at the same time. The chime bells made a long and dull sound, intertwining together, just like the low chant of the spirits.
Feng Tingyun tilted his head slightly, "looked" at the sky and murmured softly,
"Xiao Min'er, I miss you."
No one knew whether it really worked or not. The wind on the Que You Platform became gentle, just like a pair of soft hands gently caressing Feng Tingyun's cheeks and hair.
He raised his hand. The wind passed through his fingers, just like holding hands with him.
An indescribable emotion welled up in his chest. A glint of tears welled up in Feng Tingyun's unfocused eyes. The longing that had been hidden deep in his heart grew like wild grass, tightly twining around his heart.
The sound of the chime bells gradually stopped, and the wind on the Que You Platform also dissipated. Feng Tingyun felt lost. Then he took out the beads again and imitated what he had just done, ringing the twelve chime bells at the same time. However, this time, the Que You Platform was completely silent. Not a single gust of wind blew by his side.
He tried several times. It was not until Bai Xisong's voice came from behind that Feng Tingyun stopped.
"Your Majesty, it's windy outside. Be careful not to catch a cold."
At some point, there were many people around the Que You Platform, including Bai Xisong, the guards of Yan Yun and the palace servants who served by his side.
Waking up from the dream abruptly, he tilted his head slightly and nodded gently at Bai Xisong, "Let's go back."
The palace servants and eunuchs quickly stepped forward with cloaks and shoes to wrap him up. Bai Xisong led people to escort him back to the bedroom.
Watching Feng Tingyun sit down on the edge of the bed indifferently, Bai Xisong finally couldn't hold back. He said, "Your Majesty, did something happen last night? It's the first time I've seen—"
It was the first time he had seen such a sorrowful expression on their king's face.
As if he had seen through Bai Xisong's mind, Feng Tingyun dismissed the other eunuchs and palace servants, leaving only Bai Xisong. He smiled and said,
"Commander Bai, sit down and talk to me."
Bai Xisong responded and sat down on the seat opposite him.
"I'll tell you a story. After hearing this story, you'll know why I don't plan to take a wife or concubine."