A Shocking Dream

Everything Qin Ruoyu had said about Lin Bingshuang kept replaying in his mind. That cold, weathered figure, that carefree look in her eyes, that lonely, helpless white hair fluttering in the wind—the image pierced his heart like a sharp thorn. He couldn't imagine the pain and suffering Lin Bingshuang had endured over the years.

Qin Rongchen opened his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. His body trembled slightly, and his heart was filled with regret and self-blame. If he had been more determined to protect her, if he had discovered her existence earlier, perhaps nothing would have turned out like this.

He just stood there blankly, as if time had stood still at this moment. The tranquility of Hanmei Villa formed a sharp contrast with the turmoil in his heart.

He couldn't imagine what kind of pain she had gone through over the years to become like this. Qin Rongchen's hands trembled slightly, his heart filled with guilt and regret. If it weren't for his choices back then, if he had been more determined to protect her, perhaps she wouldn't be like this now.

He felt like a sinner, a sinner who had destroyed a beautiful love with his own hands. He hated his weakness, his hesitation, and his failure to be by her side when she needed him most. Qin Rongchen stood there blankly, his eyes empty and lost. He didn't know how to face this cruel reality, nor did he know how to find the woman he had hurt so deeply. And in Hanmei Villa, his heart was plunged into endless struggle and pain, as if he was being weighed down by a heavy mountain, unable to breathe.

Qin Rongchen's mind was completely blank, and he had no idea how to clear his mind and organize his thoughts. The breeze at Hanmei Villa was still blowing gently, and the plum blossoms were falling like snow, but this beautiful scenery had lost its color in Qin Rongchen's eyes.

His eyes were glazed over, as if his soul had been torn from his body. Qin Ruoyu's words were like a storm, stirring up a turbulent wave in his heart, completely turning his original world upside down. Lin Bingshuang's figure kept appearing in his mind, her white hair stinging his eyes, making his heart feel like it was being gnawed by thousands of ants.

Qin Rongchen tried to think, to make sense of this chaotic situation, but his mind seemed to be stuck in a quagmire, every thought entangled with endless pain and regret. He didn't know how to face this sudden truth, nor did he know how to find the woman he had deeply hurt.

He paced slowly, his steps heavy and chaotic. His hands sometimes clenched, sometimes unclenched, revealing his deep inner uneasiness. Qin Rongchen tried to recall his past with Lin Bingshuang, trying to find a clue, a glimmer of hope that would allow him to find her.

However, those memories were like sharp blades, constantly piercing his heart. He remembered their laughter and tears, their vows and promises, but now, all of this seemed to have turned into a cruel dream.

Qin Ruoyu looked at Qin Rongchen, who was still in a state of confusion. His dissatisfaction grew stronger, and he still blamed Qin Rongchen in his tone: "Uncle, Lin Bingshuang's hair turned white overnight due to suffering, but you, on the other hand, why do you like Yunshuang?"

Qin Ruoyu's eyes were filled with questioning and confusion. He really couldn't understand the emperor's uncle's emotional change. In his opinion, Lin Bingshuang had paid so much for the emperor's uncle and suffered so much pain, but the emperor's uncle seemed to have easily transferred his feelings to Yun Shuang.

The atmosphere in Hanmei Villa suddenly became tense. Qin Rongchen suddenly grabbed Qin Ruoyu by the collar, his eyes burning with anxiety. The pressure of his height and the terrifying look in the emperor's uncle's eyes made Qin Ruoyu a little scared.

"Where was the last time you saw Lin Bingshuang? Tell me quickly!" Qin Rongchen's voice was full of strong oppression, as if he couldn't wait to find Lin Bingshuang's trace.

Qin Ruoyu trembled slightly as he tried to calm himself. "Uncle, calm down. The last time I saw her was at Qiuluo Mountain. The man playing the flute to drive away snakes on the mountaintop was Yuanyuan's great-uncle, Lin Bingshuang. You were there, too, but... she knew you were there and didn't intend to see you." Qin Ruoyu said, trying to loosen Qin Rongchen's grip on his collar.

Qin Rongchen's eyes flashed with pain and loss. He couldn't imagine that Lin Bingshuang was so determined and unwilling to see him. His heart was filled with regret and self-blame. He knew that he had hurt her deeply.

Qin Rongchen slowly loosened his grip, his body swaying as if he had lost his support. He turned around, his back to Qin Ruoyu, and remained silent.

Qin Ruoyu looked at the emperor's uncle's back, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that the emotional entanglement between the emperor's uncle and Lin Bingshuang was very complicated and could not be resolved in a short time.

"Uncle, maybe we should give her some time. She may not be able to face you now." Qin Ruoyu said softly.

Qin Rongchen's eyes revealed deep disappointment. He looked into the distance outside Hanmei Villa, his heart filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

At Hanmei Villa, silence enveloped everything like a thick veil. A moment later, Qin Rongchen asked, "Where is Yuanyuan?" His voice was low and urgent, his eyes revealing a firm determination. He knew Yuanyuan must know something, and perhaps she could provide clues about Lin Bingshuang.

"Uncle, don't be impulsive. Yuanyuan is just a child." Qin Ruoyu thought the uncle was going to do something to her and hurriedly stopped him. His face was full of worry, afraid that the uncle would make the wrong decision under impulse.

Qin Rongchen frowned slightly, "I won't hurt her, I just want to know some information from her." There was a hint of helplessness and anxiety in his tone.

Qin Ruoyu looked at the expression on his uncle's face and felt a little relieved.

The atmosphere at Hanmei Villa was heavy and oppressive. Qin Ruoyu looked at his uncle, Qin Rongchen, and said seriously, "Uncle, we should calmly consider a solution and not act rashly. I don't even know where she is right now." Qin Ruoyu lowered his eyes slightly, not intending to reveal Yuanyuan's whereabouts. He had many concerns. On the one hand, he worried that his uncle, in his haste, might do something inappropriate and scare Yuanyuan. On the other hand, he was unsure whether Yuanyuan truly knew everything about Lin Bingshuang and didn't want to rashly involve her in this complicated emotional entanglement.

Qin Rongchen's brow furrowed, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, but he also understood that Qin Ruoyu's concerns were not unfounded. He sighed softly, "Ruoyu, I know you're thinking about the overall situation. But I'm truly anxious and want to find Lin Bingshuang as soon as possible." His tone was filled with deep helplessness and anxiety, and his hands were clenched tightly into fists, revealing his inner uneasiness.