A Shocking Dream

But the slightly trembling ending of her voice still betrayed the panic and reluctance beneath her forced composure. "May your journey be smooth and your return soon," she added, seemingly offering a blessing to Qin Rongchen, but also a bit of comfort to herself. Only by hoping for his safe return could they perhaps mend their shattered relationship and regain the joy of family.

Qin Rongchen bowed deeply, remaining still for a long moment. His straight back seemed to bear a heavy weight. "I will live up to your Majesty's promise." His tone was steady, unwavering. Only the slightly clenched fists hidden beneath his sleeves betrayed his inner turmoil. Rising, he said nothing more, turning and steadily walking toward the palace gate. Every step seemed to tread on Kou Jing's heartstrings, causing them to tremble.

Kou Jing watched the slender figure gradually disappear into the distance. When the slender figure completely disappeared outside the palace gate, Kou Jing collapsed on the phoenix couch as if exhausted. Tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down, wetting the pillowcase embroidered with intricate patterns.

She slowly stood up, walked to the window, looked at the old tree in the courtyard where she and Qin Rongchen had once admired the blooming and falling flowers, and murmured: "I hope you will return safely, and don't let me, an old woman, send off a young man..." The wind whimpered, blowing away the soft whispers.

From the moment Qin Rongchen was born, the thread of fate was firmly grasped in the palm of Queen Mother Kou Jing's hand, woven into an invisible yet tough net that trapped him tightly.

In his cradle, still unaware of the world, Kou Jing gazed at his tender little face, her heart filled with the tender love of a new mother, yet also quietly a strong desire for control. She was determined not to let this child repeat her own mistakes, forced into the palace, or be blinded by the turmoil of the outside world, ruining his future. So, from a young age, she established a rule: Qin Rongchen was not allowed to have contact with any girls except the honest, obedient palace maids.

When Qin Rongchen was a child, he was playing in the Imperial Garden when he happened to see the daughter of a minister who had accidentally left her handkerchief behind. The little girl approached with a smile, timidly trying to get the handkerchief back. He had just reached out his hand curiously, but before he could touch the handkerchief, the accompanying nanny rushed forward as if facing a great enemy. She separated the two of them with a stern look on her face, hurriedly pulling Qin Rongchen away, leaving the little girl standing there with a face full of grievance and surprise, tears in her eyes. Qin Rongchen turned around confusedly, full of doubts, but in return, she was sternly scolded by the nanny: "My little prince, don't talk to strange women. The Queen Mother will definitely blame you if she finds out!"

When he was a little older, Qin Rongchen entered the Imperial College. His classmates occasionally chatted during breaks and mentioned interesting stories about his sisters. He could only sit quietly in the corner, unable to say a word.

Once, a rash young man pulled him aside and insisted on sharing the cute and innocent look of his younger sister on her birthday. Qin Rongchen had just revealed a hint of longing when he was noticed by the sharp-eyed servant. Not long after, the eunuch sent by Kou Jing arrived with a stern face, escorted him back to the mansion, and solemnly warned the teachers of the Imperial College to pay close attention to everyone's words and actions and not to lead the little prince astray.

The young Qin Rongchen was out riding. The spring sun was shining brightly, and the streets and alleys were ablaze with flowers. As he reined in his horse and slowed down, he happened to pass a group of young girls, laughing and talking. Their silvery laughter seemed to have a magical power, attracting his attention unconsciously. The moment their eyes met, the girls blushed shyly and moved away.

But before he could react, the guards in his house surrounded him like a dark cloud, dispersing the crowd and escorting him back to the palace. Qin Rongchen was filled with resentment, but when he returned to the palace and faced Kou Jing's unquestionable gaze, he had to swallow the complaints that were on the tip of his tongue, leaving only a rebellious spirit growing.

Until his youth, Qin Rongchen rushed to the smoke-filled battlefield, originally with a passion to defend his country, but he did not expect to meet the fateful female general Lin Bingshuang of the Snow Country among the golden weapons and iron horses.

Lin Bingshuang galloped before the battle, clad in silver armor, her white robe billowing, the icy gleam of her spear in her hand. Her daring and resoluteness in killing the enemy, and the tenderness with which she gazed upon her fellow soldiers during her respite, were deeply imprinted upon Qin Rongchen's heart. During lulls in the flames of war, the two men chanced upon military strategy and shared their aspirations, a love quietly blossoming. Unwittingly, love blossomed amidst the glare of swords and spears, becoming inseparable, completely oblivious to the chasm of status that separated their two nations.

Truth will eventually come to light. When Kou Jing learned of this, it was like a thunderbolt. She had devoted her entire life to protecting Qin Rongchen, treating him like a precious treasure, forbidding anyone else to covet him. In her eyes, Qin Rongchen was a rare treasure, meticulously crafted and untainted by dust. How could he be so easily touched by a woman from another country? In an instant, the aloof, detached and noble demeanor she had maintained for years shattered to the ground, leaving only a heart filled with anger and resentment at being offended.

"I will never allow this!" Kou Jing gritted her teeth, murderous intent in her eyes. With a wave of her long sleeve, the wheels of political intrigue began to turn. In the court, she eloquently urged the late emperor to send troops to attack the Snow Nation, citing its hidden ambitions and the frequent frictions on the border. Her words piled up a mountain of false charges, and the late emperor was persuaded, and war broke out.

The Snow Nation fought desperately as the army approached, but the scheming and overwhelming force were no match. Within months, the royal city fell. Unsatisfied, Kou Jing ordered Lin Bingshuang's parents captured and hung atop the city walls, subject to public scrutiny and gossip. Lin Bingshuang led the remaining troops back, and upon seeing the plight of her parents on the tower, she was overcome with grief, tears streaming down her face, yet she was powerless to save the situation.

Qin Rongchen hurried back upon hearing the tragic news, only to be greeted by the devastation and despair of his beloved. He rushed straight to the palace, his eyes wide with anger as he demanded of Kou Jing, "Why are you so cruel? How could you do anything so unscrupulous?" Kou Jing sat upright on the phoenix couch, her expression stern and unrepentant, "Everything I do is for your own good. I cannot keep this woman. She will ruin you, your future, and all my years of hard work!" The mother and son faced off, the pressure in the palace plummeting to freezing point. Gone was the warmth of the past, only a chasm of hatred and resentment stretched between them, a bottomless chasm that seemed poised to devour even the ties of blood and family.

Later, Lin Bingshuang died, on that bottomless cliff. Her eyes, etched with endless sorrow and resentment, were like the end of a fleeting dream. Qin Rongchen's mournful roars pierced the sky, but he could never bring back a single breath of his beloved. In that moment, his soul felt as if it had been forcibly split in half, leaving only a broken heart.

Upon hearing the news, Kou Jing breathed a sigh of relief, convinced that as long as the man died, this absurd and evil fate would be completely severed. Qin Rongchen had simply lost his mind for a moment, and sooner or later he would be able to walk out of this quagmire and return to the normal path she had planned. After all, in her eyes, Lin Bingshuang was just an untimely episode in her son's life. Now that the song was over and the people had parted ways, everything would return to normal.