A Shocking Dream

Qin Rongchen, I've been hiding from you because I was afraid to face the past. But now I understand that we're both living in the same world, so how could we possibly never see each other? Now that I've decided to come see you, how could I possibly want to hurt you?

"I won't let go. I will never let you go in my life." Qin Rongchen hugged her tightly, with increasing strength, as if he was afraid that she would disappear from his arms in the next second.

Since Lin Bingshuang was born, her father has instilled in her the philosophy of defending her country. Her father, a great general of the Snow Nation, had a son in his old age, leaving her as his only daughter. To ensure that Lin Bingshuang would inherit his legacy, her father cruelly sent her to a military camp for training and upbringing.

Lin Bingshuang still remembers her first days in the military camp, a time of endless hardship and suffering. Every day, before dawn, she was awakened by the sound of a bugle call, her small body shivering in the chilly wind. She ran and drilled alongside the tall, muscular soldiers, often breathless with exhaustion, yet never slacking off. On the training grounds, she wielded a spear taller than herself, falling repeatedly and getting back up again and again. Her palms were thick with calluses, and her body was covered in scars of all sizes.

In the military camp, she didn't enjoy the happiness and care her peers deserved. She watched other children coquettishly embraced in their parents' arms, her heart filled with envy and bitterness. But she knew she couldn't be weak or retreat. She had to become strong, to become an excellent soldier, just as her father expected, and to defend her country.

Lin Bingshuang was tall and superior, and she was already sixteen years old when she met Qin Rongchen.

"Shuang'er, I'm sorry..." Qin Rongchen's sincere apology instantly calmed the already angry Lin Bingshuang. Although what happened back then was related to him, it wasn't entirely his fault.

Lin Bingshuang remained silent, quietly letting Qin Rongchen hold her. She knew in her heart that he was only doing it for her own good, what bad intentions could he have?

"Hurry up, if anything happens to the saint, both you and I will lose our heads." The guards came and stood just across the wall.

"Let me go, do you want those people to die for me?"

"They don't deserve it." Although Qin Rongchen was reluctant, he still let her go.

Lin Bingshuang then realized that even with the dim candlelight, she could clearly see that Qin Rongchen's eyes were red, and there were traces of tears on his face.

"I..." Lin Bingshuang hesitated, not knowing what to say. Her mind was in turmoil. She avoided his gaze, lowering her head as her thoughts raced. It was then that she realized she had found a jade pendant around her waist. It was the same one she had given Qin Ruoyu that day. She had first seen it, so she'd taken it from Qin Rongchen. After so many twists and turns, it had finally returned to her. A wave of emotion welled up in her heart. It seemed as if fate always brought them together, even without her realizing it.

"Since this jade pendant is yours, I can't give it back. I don't care if you're Yun Shuang, the Holy Maiden of the Cloud Nation, or Lin Bingshuang, the former General of the Snow Nation. As long as you're me, Qin Rongchen, you'll be my woman for life." Qin Rongchen said, raising his hand to gently pinch her cheek through her veil before turning and walking away into the darkness. Lin Bingshuang watched him depart, a mixture of emotions welling up in her. She felt a warmth touched by his deep affection, yet also a sense of worry and uncertainty about the future.

Lin Bingshuang walked towards the palace gate, relying on her memory. As soon as she saw Qin Rongchen's face, all her emotions were washed away by him, even the hatred vanished in an instant. She secretly asked herself, could she really let go of the past so easily? But her heart was involuntarily drawn to him.

Hanmei Villa.

"Your Highness, Prime Minister Su has been waiting for you for a long time." Butler Chen said when Qin Rongchen stepped into the villa.

"I understand." Qin Rongchen was different today. Even Butler Chen couldn't help but look at him twice. The prince from a few years ago seemed to have returned.

In the room, Su Yijing took the painting and examined it carefully. No matter how he imagined the face in his mind, he felt that it was not worthy of this figure. Qin Rongchen walked into the room, picked up a piece of paper and pen, snatched the painting away, and painted the woman's face in front of Su Yijing's surprised expression. When Qin Rongchen finished, Su Yijing was shocked. There is such a beautiful woman in this world. Wait, he stretched out his hand to cover half of the woman's face. These eyes... She turned out to be... This is too coincidental. This sudden change made Su Yijing unable to accept it for a while. How could this be...

"No one can match her beauty, only herself." Qin Rongchen hung up the painting.

"So you recognized her from the start?"

Qin Rongchen nodded in agreement. Lin Bingshuang was the Holy Maiden of the Cloud Nation. From the Snow Nation's Great General to the Holy Maiden of the Cloud Nation, this woman was even more enigmatic than he had imagined. Interestingly, Su Yijing looked at the painting. The outside world said Lin Bingshuang was extremely ugly, and he had once wondered how Qin Rongchen, with his taste, could have set his sights on her. Now that he saw her true face, it was no wonder that other women hadn't caught Qin Rongchen's eye; it turned out she had always been very secretive.

"What? You don't want to explain to me?" Su Yijing said when he saw Qin Rongchen remained silent and just stared at the painting.

"What's there to explain? Honestly, I'm not surprised that she's the Holy Maiden of the Cloud Nation."

"Why? She went from being a general of the Snow Country to a saint of the Cloud Country, spanning two countries and possessing a distinguished status. The woman you like really makes me curious."

"Nothing to be curious about." Qin Rongchen had been suspicious since he heard the news that the Holy Maiden of the Yun Kingdom had come to the capital. He even went to the Jinyu Courtyard to investigate, but unfortunately, the Jinyu Courtyard was heavily guarded and he couldn't show up, so he had to give up.

After Qin Rongchen said this, Su Yijing immediately understood. No wonder he was so infatuated with this woman, she was indeed extraordinary.

For three days, Lin Bingshuang, under the pretext of feeling unwell, stayed indoors. She refused to see anyone, not even Qin Rongchen. But under the same sky, they would eventually meet again.

The Saint's ability to conjure objects from thin air spread like wildfire throughout the capital. The Empress Dowager, ill and unable to attend the banquet, was deeply regretful, unable to witness the miraculous spectacle. Knowing that plum blossoms were not native to the Yun Kingdom, the Empress invited Lin Bingshuang to the palace for several consecutive days to admire them. Initially, Lin Bingshuang refused on several occasions, citing illness as a pretext, but as time went on, she found it difficult to refuse any longer and decided, "Since I can't avoid it, why not go?"

After arriving, I discovered that the Empress had invited many of the ministers' wives, seemingly wanting them all to witness the rumored Saint. The vast plum garden was filled with laughter and joy, as people chased each other and had a blast.

As the palace attendant led Lin Bingshuang, veiled in white, toward the palace, everyone turned their gaze, their gazes gazing at her from head to toe. Why was she wearing so little? Although it hadn't snowed today in the winter months of Daqi, it was still unusually cold. Everyone else had donned thick coats and cloaks, but Lin Bingshuang wore a thin dress. Lin Bingshuang's figure was exceptional, making her stand out from the crowd like a crane among chickens.

"Your Majesty is polite." Lin Bingshuang bowed and saluted. She only saluted according to the etiquette of the Yun Kingdom. After all, she was not from Daqi and she did not kneel down to worship at every turn.

"Saint, there's no need to be so polite. I'm truly honored that you've agreed to come to the garden to admire the flowers." Empress Kou Lanzhi looked up at her. She had been far away that day and couldn't see her clearly, but now that she saw her, she was indeed aloof and detached, with an extraordinary temperament.

"It's Yunshuang's great honor to be invited by the Queen to see this beautiful scenery." What an honor! If you hadn't invited me for several days in a row and I hadn't been able to refuse, who would want to come? Lin Bingshuang complained madly in her heart.

"Come here, bring my fox fur cloak to the Saint. It's so cold, and the Saint is wearing so little. It would be bad if she caught a cold."

"No need, thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I have never been afraid of the cold since I was a child, so this temperature is nothing to me." Everyone was surprised, but then they changed their minds and thought that since he only ate nectar flower stamens all year round, he must be different from ordinary people.

"The Saint has truly impressed me. Now that you're here, let's enjoy the plum blossoms." The Queen felt like she was being despised. Forget it, she was a Saint, how could she be interested in her fox fur.

"The Queen Mother has arrived." Just as the crowd dispersed, the Queen Mother arrived.

"See the Queen Mother."

"Greetings, Mother." Kou Lanzhi bowed and knelt with everyone else, saying in unison. Lin Bingshuang bowed but did not kneel. Her actions were clearly seen by Kou Jing in the crowd.

"Everyone, please get up. I just happened to pass by and saw the plum blossoms blooming here, so I came to see them. I didn't expect everyone to appreciate the plum blossoms here. I hope I didn't disturb your enjoyment." He said he was just passing by, but in fact, the queen sent someone to inform him that the saint was coming, so he hurried over.

"What are you talking about, Mother? We are naturally happy that you can appreciate the plum blossoms with us." Kou Lanzhi stood up with the others and said. Kou Lanzhi and Kou Jing were aunt and niece, and there was no grudge between them.

"I believe this is the Holy Maiden of the Yun Nation who has caused such a sensation in my capital. Come forward and let me see her." Although Lin Bingshuang was reluctant, she still walked over and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, you are polite."

"Hmm..." The Queen Mother looked at her, as if she was satisfied with something, and said, "The Saint's eyes are so beautiful, bright and clear, really moving. Why are you covering your face?" Kou Jing had never seen Lin Bingshuang and was not familiar with her.