Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

The night of New Year's Eve is like a huge black silk ribbon, heavily pressing down on all things in the world.

At this moment, Ling Yan was wearing a plain white brocade robe, the hem of which fluttered gently in the cold wind.

She moved with light, graceful steps, steadily carrying a carved wine jar in her hands, and slowly climbed the wooden ladder to the roof.

It was a night without stars, only the high-hanging moon casting its cool, clear light.

The moonlight, like a thin veil, gently covered the tiles and reflected Lingyan's somewhat lonely figure.

Lingyan gently sat down on a slightly protruding spot on the roof ridge, the surrounding tiles making a soft creaking sound.

She then carefully placed the wine jar beside her, and with her slender fingers, gently brushed away the strands of hair that had been ruffled by the night breeze.

Then she turned slightly to the side and took out an exquisite wine cup from her bosom.

The wine cup shimmered with a warm luster under the moonlight, as if it too were telling of the loneliness of the night.

She then uncorked the wine jar, and instantly, a rich and mellow aroma of wine filled the air, mingling with the cool night air.

Then she lifted the wine jar and slowly poured the wine into the wine cup. The wine flowed in the moonlight like a flowing silver thread.

Then Lingyan picked up the wine cup, brought it close to her lips, and tilted her head back slightly.

The moment the drink enters the mouth, the spicy flavor instantly spreads across the tongue, then slides down the throat, burning all the way.

Seemingly a little unaccustomed, she frowned slightly, then relaxed.

The night breeze blew by, lifting her hair and brushing a few strands against her cheek.

She looked up at the bright moon.

The moonlight shone on her face, outlining her delicate yet somewhat melancholic features.

The moonlight reflected in her eyes, and in those eyes, there was longing and loneliness.

He couldn't help but murmur to himself, "On festive occasions, one misses their loved ones even more."

My thoughts, like wild horses, galloped freely.

She thought of Yunmeng, that woman as warm as the spring sun.

Yunmeng's smile seemed to be right before my eyes, and her silvery laughter seemed to still echo in my ears.

The bustling prosperity of Dazhao slowly surfaced in her mind.

The market was bustling with people, the cries of vendors rose and fell, and colorful lanterns hung throughout the streets and alleys.

The images of Xiao Muyao and his four companions flashed through her mind one by one.

She missed the sense of security and joy she felt when they were by her side.

She also missed her girlfriends; she longed for the times they spent chatting and laughing together.

Like flowers blooming in spring, fragrant and beautiful.

These memories are like dazzling pearls, embedded deep in her mind.

Thinking of this, Lingyan picked up her wine bowl, looked up at the moon, and whispered, "Today is New Year's Eve, I wish you all well."

After saying that, she drank the wine in her glass in one gulp.

The spicy liquor slid down her throat, but it couldn't warm the longing in her heart.

The night wind blew by, ruffling her hair, but she seemed oblivious, simply sitting there quietly, lost in endless longing.

In the distance, the occasional sound of firecrackers could be heard, a joyous celebration of family reunions.

And she, on this cold rooftop, guarded the deep longing in her heart, keeping the bright moon as her companion.

After an unknown amount of time, the wine jar was empty.

Lingyan's cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes became increasingly unfocused.

On this Lunar New Year's Eve, a time for family reunion, her loneliness spread like the endless darkness.

Only the cold moonlight was her sole source of light.

...............

Meanwhile, the Northern Li Imperial Palace is holding a New Year's Eve banquet.

The city lights were dazzling, and the music was melodious.

The Northern King wore a black brocade robe with dark gold python patterns embroidered on the hem, which shimmered with a majestic light under the lamplight.

Palace servants moved about among the guests, and tables were laden with delicacies.

The dancers moved gracefully, their long sleeves flowing as they danced, while the courtiers chatted and exchanged greetings and blessings.

King Bei Li sat on his high throne, but seemed somewhat distracted.

The hustle and bustle around him seemed to be veiled by a thin layer of gauze, unable to truly touch his heart.

Halfway through the palace banquet, his gaze kept drifting into the distance, and a figure appeared in his mind—Ling Yan.

Finally, the palace banquet drew to a close amidst congratulations.

Ignoring the astonished looks of his attendants, King Bei Li hurriedly left that bustling and lively place.

He didn't know why he was walking towards Ling Yan's residence; his steps seemed to have a mind of their own.

His heart also inexplicably quickened, and an unprecedented urgency spread through his heart.

When he finally approached the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar courtyard, he looked up and saw the Lingyan Pavilion on the roof.

The moonlight, like water, shone on her, outlining her thin and lonely figure.

She sat there quietly, holding a wine cup in her hand, her eyes gazing into the distance, revealing endless loneliness and sorrow.

When King Beili saw this scene, his heart clenched violently, and he felt so pained that he could hardly breathe.

He had never seen Ling Yan like this before. In the past, she was either stubborn, indifferent, or dealing with him with a faint smile.

At this moment, she seemed like a wounded lone goose, so fragile and vulnerable that it broke one's heart.

He stood in the courtyard, his feet seemingly nailed to the ground, unable to move.

Despite the cold wind blowing, he felt no chill at all, his gaze fixed on the woman on the roof.

At the same time, countless questions welled up in my mind.

Why did he come here? Why does seeing her like this cause him such heartache?

This feeling was both so unfamiliar and so intense to him.

King Li of the North then took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

His hands unconsciously clenched, his knuckles turning slightly white.

He wanted to go forward, but he was afraid of breaking the tranquility and disturbing her.

So he stood there quietly, bathed in the cool moonlight along with the smoke rising from the rooftop.

My inner emotions surged like a tidal wave, yet I didn't know how to express them.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, with only his rapid heartbeat and the occasional soft sound of Lingyan drinking echoing in the quiet night.

After a long while, King Bei Li slowly took a step forward.

He walked very lightly, as if afraid of making the slightest sound.

He looked up at Ling Yan, his eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions.

There was pity, there was doubt, and there was a hint of tenderness that even he himself was unaware of.

Then he walked towards her step by step.

Each step felt like it carried a thousand pounds of weight, and his heart beat faster and faster with each step.

At this moment, Lingyan also spotted the figure of the Northern King.

But her gaze merely swept lightly over the Northern King.

His gaze was like a calm lake, without the slightest ripple, and he quickly looked away.

His appearance was like an insignificant falling leaf, failing to stir even the slightest ripple in her heart.

Seeing this, the Northern King felt a little uncomfortable. He then lightly touched the ground with his feet and used his lightness skill to leap up.

His clothes fluttered in the night wind, like a nimble night hawk, and he landed on the roof in an instant.

His movements were light and fluid, without the slightest hesitation, and the tiles made only a very slight sound when they landed.