A Shocking Dream

Imperial Physician Zhang quickly stood up, walked to Qin Ruoyu's bedside, and carefully examined his pulse. After a moment, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Prince is fine now. He only needs some time to recuperate and recover."

The Queen Mother and the Empress were relieved after hearing this. "That's good, that's good. You must take good care of the Crown Prince. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible," the Queen Mother said solemnly.

Imperial Physician Zhang nodded quickly, "As you command."

News of the Crown Prince's return spread like wildfire throughout the capital. People were buzzing with discussion about this bizarre incident. After disappearing for half a month, the Crown Prince suddenly appeared unconscious in the Imperial Gardens—it was truly bizarre. Many were puzzled, and various speculations spread throughout the streets and alleys.

Some suspected the prince had escaped after being kidnapped, others felt a mysterious force was behind his actions, and still others speculated about a hidden conspiracy. Even more puzzling was the fact that the prince had been unaware of his whereabouts for half a month, yet the emperor did not investigate the matter further, simply assigning more personnel to protect him at all times.

The emperor's reaction left everyone baffled. Some ministers privately speculated that the emperor's action must have deeper meaning. Did the emperor already know the reason but was unwilling to disclose it? Or was there some more complex consideration?

In every corner of the capital, people were watching closely to see what was happening to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, upon regaining consciousness, fell into deep thought. He tried to recall what had happened during his absence, but only vague fragments remained. He had no idea why he had appeared in the Imperial Garden, nor did he know the identity of the mysterious woman who had saved him.

In the palace, the prince was always surrounded by guards. This tense atmosphere made the entire palace filled with a sense of oppression.

For half a month, Qin Ruoyu remained in the palace, his presence closely guarded. The maids and eunuchs waited cautiously on him, while the guards remained vigilant, their eyes fixed on everything around them. This overprotection left Qin Ruoyu feeling somewhat oppressed. He longed for freedom, to leave the palace to find his uncle, Qin Rongchen, and unravel the mystery that had lingered in his heart.

All the questions puzzled him. Who was that mysterious woman? What was her relationship to the emperor's uncle? Why did he have his uncle's jade pendant in her possession? Furthermore, he couldn't find any clues about the people who had hunted him down, leaving no trace. Qin Ruoyu even doubted the ability of the people in the palace to handle affairs.

He sat in his study, a book in his hands, but he had no intention of reading. His mind had already drifted outside the palace, to that unknown world. He knew he couldn't stay trapped in the palace like this forever; he had to find a way out.

Qin Ruoyu stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside. The blue sky, white clouds, and bright sunshine could not dispel the haze in his heart. He decided that he must find an opportunity to leave the palace as soon as possible.

The year was almost over, and the entire capital was filled with a festive atmosphere. The emperor's 30th birthday happened to fall before the New Year, so a grand birthday banquet was held. The impending marriage of Crown Prince Qin Ruoyu also became the focus of everyone's attention.

The purpose of this grand banquet was to select a suitable daughter from the families of third-rank officials to become the Crown Princess. However, the officials knew full well that the Crown Princess position would inevitably go to the Kou family, the mother of the Empress Dowager. The so-called selection was merely a formality, meant to highlight the Kou family's daughter, Kou Yurou, the so-called most beautiful woman in the capital. Although it was merely a formality, the officials would instruct their daughters to dress for the occasion. Since the Crown Princess position was out of the question, a Liangdi or something similar would be fine; perhaps she would even have a different status when the Crown Prince ascended the throne. After all, every emperor had three harems, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines.

Amidst this bustling atmosphere, Qin Ruoyu was filled with worry. He had previously sent his men to investigate Qiuluo Mountain's location, only to learn that it had been abandoned ten years prior and was now a vast, ancient forest. Qin Ruoyu was startled. Could everything he had seen be fake? But the jade pendant in his hand was so real, it proved to be true.

He clutched the jade pendant tightly, lost in thought. How many secrets were hidden in that mysterious place and that mysterious woman? Qin Ruoyu knew he had to find the answers. He couldn't let these mysteries continue to bother him.

"Come here, prepare the horses. I'm leaving the palace for Hanmei Villa." Qin Ruoyu's voice was firm and decisive. His eyes revealed a hint of eagerness and anticipation, as if Hanmei Villa held the answers he was desperately looking for.

"Yes." The guards moved quickly, and soon a tall, strong horse was led to Qin Ruoyu. Qin Ruoyu climbed onto the horse, his posture swift and agile. He gripped the reins tightly, his eyes fixed on the distance.

The sound of horse hooves echoed across the cobblestone streets of the Imperial Palace, shattering the tranquility. Qin Ruoyu's mind raced. He had no idea what surprises or challenges Hanmei Villa would bring him, but he knew he had to go there in search of clues. The mysterious woman, the jade pendant, and the mystery of Qiuluo Mountain all drew him forward.

As his horse galloped, Qin Ruoyu drifted further and further away from the Imperial Palace, drawing closer and closer to Hanmei Villa. His heart was filled with curiosity about the unknown and a thirst for truth, hoping to find the key to solving the mystery at Hanmei Villa. Behind him, the towering buildings of the Imperial Palace receded, as if bearing witness to his courage and determination.

Hanmei Villa, quietly standing amidst a tranquil landscape of mountains and waters, was the residence of the Sage King Qin Rongchen.

Qin Rongchen, the Sage King, was Qin Ruoyu's ninth uncle, seven years his junior. At the age of seventeen, Qin Rongchen made a shocking decision—he renounced his power and status, willingly accepting the life of a commoner. He was the first prince since the founding of the Great Qi Empire to do so. The then-Empress disapproved of this move, believing Qin Rongchen possessed extraordinary talent and status, and should not give it up so easily. However, despite their disapproval, Qin Rongchen resolutely moved from the capital and built Hanmei Villa eighty miles away.

From then on, Qin Rongchen turned his back on the world, his spirits slumped, and he spent his days drinking alone in the backyard. His once high-spirited self was now shrouded in loneliness. Seeing him like this, the emperor simply left him alone, believing that a forced melon is not sweet. The empress repeatedly visited him, but each time Qin Rongchen showed up, she left in frustration. Each rebuff filled the empress with worry and frustration, yet she felt helpless.

Hanmei Villa seemed to have become a safe haven for Qin Rongchen to escape from reality. Here, he immersed himself in his own world, isolated from the outside world.

As for why Qin Rongchen had become like this, no one knew what he had experienced. Some said he had become depressed because of the death of his beloved; others speculated that he had suffered a severe blow in the political struggle; still others believed that he was tired of the intrigues of the palace. Among these various opinions, they were all just speculations. The specific reason was known only to the Sage King himself.

The Empress once sent three exceptional women to the manor, hoping to have them accompany Qin Rongchen and ease his worries. However, all three women were terrified, their faces pale and their eyes glazed over. They were eventually taken away in a frenzy. Since then, no one dared approach Hanmei Villa. However, these were just rumors; many officials, even the true Sage King, had never seen him.

Hanmei Villa seemed shrouded in a veil of mystery, making it a daunting prospect. Qin Rongchen's story spread like wildfire, and Qin Ruoyu's journey to Hanmei Villa was filled with trepidation. He didn't know what kind of uncle he would face, nor did he know if he could offer any clues about the mysterious woman and the jade pendant. But he knew he must bravely explore, to uncover the mysteries and find the truth.

At the hour of Xu, Hanmei Villa was shrouded in a hushed night. The front yard was pitch black, as if swallowed by darkness, with only a candle burning in a room in the backyard, emitting a faint glow. A sage king, living in such a shabby place, would be ridiculed for preferring beauty to power if word got out.

Inside, the flickering candlelight, like a restless heart, struggled to illuminate the painting of a beautiful woman. The woman in the painting had no facial features, but Qin Rongchen stood quietly before it, gazing at her with an infatuated gaze. His eyes were filled with longing and yearning, as if he could see through the painting every detail of their past.

He slowly raised his wine glass, the delicate glass gleaming faintly in the candlelight. Qin Rongchen brought the glass to his lips and drank it all in one gulp. The spicy wine flowed down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the fire of longing in his heart. The wine entered his heart, turning into tears of longing. In this silent night, his heart was filled with only the woman in the painting.

This was the fifth year he had waited for her. Five years, long and agonizing. Every sunrise and sunset, he spent in longing. In the first rays of morning sun, he would recall the times they had walked together, and in the fading light of evening, he would miss her smile. He didn't know how many more five years he had left to wait, but he knew only that he had no choice but to wait.

He once gave up power and status for the love in his heart. Once, he stood at the pinnacle of power, yet felt no true joy. It wasn't until he met her that his world became vibrant and colorful. However, fate, in a cruel twist of fate, separated them. Now, guarding this painting, guarding the obsession in his heart, he spent long, lonely nights in Hanmei Villa.

Outside the window, a cold wind blew, and plum blossoms fluttered down. The pure white petals danced in the air like snowflakes, gently landing on the ground. Qin Rongchen gazed at the night outside the window, his heart filled with loneliness and helplessness. He didn't know if his wait would bear fruit, but he was willing to wait until she appeared before him again. In this quiet night, Qin Rongchen's heart was filled with only the woman in the painting and her unspeakable affection. He seemed to be isolated from the whole world, immersed in his own memories and longing, waiting for the person who might never come.

Suddenly, a breeze blew through the room, bringing a slight chill. Qin Rongchen keenly noticed this subtle change and instantly extinguished the candle, leaving the room in complete darkness. In the darkness, everything seemed to have fallen silent, with only the man's gentle breathing echoing in the air.

Outside, a figure in black leaned against the door and whispered, "My young master told me to tell the prince that the crown prince is on his way. I estimate he'll be there in about half an hour." Though the voice was soft, it reached Qin Rongchen's ears clearly. Qin Rongchen was slightly startled, knowing what this news meant. The crown prince's arrival might disrupt the peace he had enjoyed for the past five years.

The black-clad figure leaped over the wall and departed, his movements light and nimble, like a ghost in the night. Qin Rongchen touched the stubble on his face, feeling the roughness of the touch. Five years had passed, and he was no longer the high-spirited prince he once was. Time had left its mark on his face. He slowly walked into the darkness, his mind racing with thoughts. Why had the Crown Prince suddenly arrived? How should he face this nephew? Countless questions swirled in his mind, and he could only wait in the darkness for the Crown Prince's arrival, for another twist in fate.

At the beginning of the night, Hanmei Villa was shrouded in a deep darkness. Qin Ruoyu stood outside the villa gate, quietly looking at the pitch-black interior. A cold breeze blew gently, causing the corners of his clothes to flutter slightly, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.

What had happened to his uncle, the Emperor, that he was willing to give up wealth and power to live here? This question kept popping up in Qin Ruoyu's mind. In his memory, his uncle, Qin Rongchen, was once so high-spirited and brilliant. However, now he had chosen to live in seclusion in Hanmei Villa, away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

Qin Ruoyu stared at the tightly closed manor door, as if he could see the lonely figure of his uncle through the heavy panels. He wondered how his uncle had spent the past five years, whether he was suffering in longing or finding solace in memories. He only knew that his uncle's choice must have had profound reasons.

The moonlight shone on Qin Ruoyu, adding a touch of coolness to his air. He took a deep breath, slowly walked forward, and gently knocked on the door. The crisp knock sounded particularly loud in the silent night, as if questioning the emperor's uncle's inner world. Qin Ruoyu waited for a response, his heart filled with anticipation and anxiety. He didn't know what impact his arrival would have on the emperor's uncle, nor did he know if he could get the answers he wanted from him. But he knew that he had to face the emperor's uncle bravely and solve the mystery in his heart.