A Shocking Dream

But Kou Yurou sensed a hint of reluctance in Qin Ruoyu's tone. He didn't dare express his feelings easily, not going against the palace's rules and the expectations of his elders. Perhaps he was struggling with frustration, but he couldn't bring himself to express it.

Kou Yurou sighed softly, unsure how to interpret Qin Ruoyu's words. All she knew was that she was completely captivated by his feelings. In this palace filled with intrigue and strife, she was willing to sacrifice everything for him. But she also understood that her own path to love was destined to be filled with ups and downs and challenges.

Sunlight streamed through the palace courtyard, but it couldn't warm Kou Yurou's bewildered heart. She slowly turned and headed towards the Empress Dowager's palace to report. During these long years in the palace, she would continue to wait for Qin Ruoyu's answer, for their love to blossom and bear fruit. And Qin Ruoyu's words would linger in her mind, a question that would remain forever.

She walked slowly forward, her thoughts swirling. Suddenly, looking up, she spotted a carrier pigeon flying through the sky. Its silhouette stood out against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds, its flight path seemingly following a certain pattern. Yuanyuan's eyes lit up, and a strange sense of familiarity welled up in her heart.

She immediately realized it was guiding her. Yuanyuan's heartbeat quickened involuntarily. She stared intently at the carrier bird, afraid to miss a single detail. The bird circled several times in the air before taking off in one direction. Yuanyuan followed the bird's direction without hesitation, quickening her pace.

She didn't know who sent the messenger bird, nor what awaited her ahead. But in this unfamiliar capital, the messenger bird seemed to be her only guide, bringing her a glimmer of hope and courage.

Yuanyuan wandered the streets, her eyes always following the carrier bird. Her heart was filled with curiosity and anticipation, yet also a hint of caution. On this journey filled with uncertainty, she had to remain alert to prepare for any dangers that might arise.

Following the carrier bird's lead, Yuanyuan gradually drifted away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Her steps were light but firm, her heart filled with curiosity yet a hint of caution. The surroundings grew increasingly quiet, as if the only sounds in the world were her footsteps and breathing.

The street gradually narrowed, and finally, Yuanyuan came to a dead end. She stopped, looking at the road ahead that led nowhere, and a trace of doubt welled up in her heart. She looked up at the sky, but the carrier pigeon had already left, leaving only an empty blue sky.

Yuanyuan's gaze fell upon the dead end again. It pointed her in the direction of this place, but what exactly was there? She began to carefully observe her surroundings. The walls were old and mottled, and there were a few fallen leaves and dust on the ground. It seemed that no one had been here for a long time.

Yuanyuan bit her lip lightly, pondering her next move. The carrier bird's guidance wouldn't be without reason; there had to be something special about this place. She slowly approached the wall, gently touching the rough surface with her hand, trying to find some clue.

However, there was nothing unusual on the wall. Yuanyuan squatted down again and checked the ground, but still found nothing useful. She stood up, her doubts growing even stronger.

Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it a faint scent. Yuanyuan keenly caught this scent, closed her eyes, and carefully felt it. This breath seemed to contain a mysterious power, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickened a few beats.

Yuanyuan opened her eyes, her gaze revealing determination and perseverance. She decided to continue searching for clues here, because she believed that the guidance of the carrier pigeon must have its reason.

She looked around again. The dead end was silent, with only her soft breathing echoing in the air. Yuanyuan began to observe every corner more carefully. She squatted down and gently brushed away the fallen leaves, looking for any hidden signs. However, she found nothing except dirt and some small stones.

She stood up, walked over to the wall, and gently tapped it, listening for any hollows. But the wall only made a dull sound, nothing unusual. Yuanyuan's brow furrowed slightly, a sense of doubt forming in her mind. Was her judgment wrong? Wasn't this the place the carrier bird had been guiding her to?

But she quickly dismissed the idea. She trusted her intuition. A carrier bird wouldn't have led her here for no reason. There must be some clue she hadn't discovered yet.

Yuanyuan took a deep breath and calmed herself. She began to recall the carrier bird's flight path and the timing of its appearance, trying to find some clues. Suddenly, she thought of something. The carrier bird seemed to hover in the air as it flew over here. Could this action have some special meaning?

Yuanyuan raised her head and gazed toward the sky again, as if searching for the carrier bird. Though the bird had departed, the mystery it left behind rekindled her resolve. She decided to approach this dead end from a different angle, perhaps finding something new.

She reached the end of the alley, turned around, leaned against the wall, and slowly moved to the side. When she reached a certain point, she suddenly felt a breeze brushing against her face. The breeze was very faint, but it seemed particularly abrupt in this closed dead end.

Yuanyuan's heart stirred. She looked in the direction of the breeze and found a small crack in the wall. It was very narrow and impossible to see without careful observation. She walked closer to the crack and gently touched the edge with her hand, feeling a weak air flow out.

Yuanyuan's eyes lit up. She knew she had found a clue. There must be some secret hidden behind this gap. She began to think about how to open it, or find a way to get inside.

Yuanyuan stared at the crack in the wall, a surge of curiosity welling up in her heart. She tried to pry at the edge of the crack with her fingers, but found that she couldn't expand it at all. She searched around for something useful, but there was nothing in the dead end except some rubble and fallen leaves.

As she was lost in thought, a ray of sunlight filtered through the branches overhead, illuminating the crack, casting a faint light. Yuanyuan peered closely and noticed some strange patterns along the edge of the crack. Leaning in for a closer look, she realized they resembled ancient symbols. Although she couldn't decipher their meaning, her intuition told her they must be related to the guidance of the carrier pigeons.

Yuanyuan stretched out her finger and gently traced the symbols, trying to find some clue. Suddenly, she felt the symbols beneath her finger move slightly, as if a mysterious force was responding to her touch. Startled, she quickly retracted her finger, but the force remained, as if beckoning her.