Chapter 124

Chapter 124: Delicately Painted Crimson Beauty Dances in the wind (Part 1)

"We'll depart in three days." Cheng Tian Bi smiled slightly. Although his complexion wasn't great, he had regained 

his spirits. He said to Si Cang Qing, "After paying respects to Mother Consort, we'll return immediately."

The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the day for the grand ceremony to worship Heaven; he couldn't be 

absent.

Si Cang Qing nodded slightly, "Mm."

Watching the receding figure disappear into the corridor, Si Cang Qing withdrew his gaze, lowering his eyes, 

deep in thought.

"Master, what are you thinking about?"

Hearing this, Si Cang Qing looked up at the smiling person beside him, casually pulling him close, and asked 

softly, "Lan, do you want to return to Zhaoyang City to pay respects to your family?"

Slightly taken aback, Feng Lan then said softly, "Next year." The war had just ended, and the former Hongcheng 

territory had just been incorporated into Canghuan's territory. There were still many things to handle within 

the Dongying Tower; he couldn't leave now.

Looking down into the clear light in the man's eyes, Si Cang Qing gently kissed his eye and whispered, "Qiu's 

spies have found the Lan family's graves. They've just been renovated; go and see them."

The search for the Lan family's graves had actually been arranged long ago, but because so many years had 

passed, and the officials at the time had buried them haphazardly, it had taken some effort. Since Si Cang Qing 

had entrusted this matter to Qiu Ping Tian alone, even Feng Lan was unaware of it.

Hearing Si Cang Qing's words, Feng Lan exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"

"Yes."

However, after a moment, the joy on Feng Lan's face faded slightly. He hesitated for a moment before saying, 

"Master, you're not just teasing me, are you?" Thinking of Mu Lianxiang's tomb, a small suspicion arose in his 

heart, worrying that this was a deliberate arrangement by Si Cang Qing to appease him.

Looking calmly at the doubt in the other's eyes, Si Cang Qing said casually, "I, Si Cang Qing, never lie."

Unexpectedly, Feng Lan chuckled upon hearing this. "Where has Master never lied? This very statement is a lie." 

He paused, then continued, "Master has lied at least three times."

Si Cang Qing raised an eyebrow slightly.

But then Feng Lan explained with a smile, "You lied once to Tian Bi and once to Tian Yang, and then you said 

you never lie—that's the third time."

A lie? Si Cang Qing didn't argue. None of that mattered. The answer he painstakingly obtained might not even 

be the truth. He only cared about those who concerned him. Whether Mu Lianxiang was used as a medicinal 

ingredient or reduced to ashes… he felt nothing in his heart.

However, Mu Lianxiang was Bi and Yang's mother.

The dead are completely gone from this world. Why let her ruin those two? Therefore, Si Cang Qing had 

Dongyinglou quickly arranged a grave for Mu Lianxiang and a few "insiders."

He said it was the truth, and that was it.

"Master," Feng Lan stopped laughing, kissed Si Cang Qing on the lips, her face slightly flushed, and said, 

"I believe you." Putting his arm around the other's shoulder, he said, "But the matter of paying respects can wait. 

If Father knew in the afterlife, seeing such a prosperous scene, he would surely be at peace."

"When things aren't so busy at court," Feng Lan whispered, "would Master accompany me back to Jiangdong 

Prefecture to pay respects to my family together?"

"Alright."

Si Cang Qing didn't hesitate; whatever this person wished for, he was willing to help fulfill it.

"Thank you, Master..." Feng Lan smiled, his eyes crinkling with joy, and thanked him happily.

Si Cang Qing simply gazed silently at the man's smiling face until it flushed crimson, then he gently kissed that 

faint blush.

Submissively tilting his head back, Feng Lan surrendered himself completely, murmuring, "Master... um..." 

Feeling the man's fingers slip inside his clothes, he involuntarily closed his eyes tightly, his whole body tensing 

and trembling slightly.

"Your Majesty, Minister Mo requests an audience!"

A guard's voice suddenly came from outside the door. Feng Lan hurriedly pushed away the person pressing 

down on him, frantically adjusting his clothes, and turned to see Si Cang Qing sitting motionless on the couch, 

his brows slightly furrowed.

Still flushed, Feng Lan tidied Si Cang Qing's appearance and said, "Master, it seems the Fourteenth has something 

important to report."

"Master," Mo Zhiyan rushed in, not even having time to kneel, and said urgently, "Cheng Tian Yi was 

assassinated in the Heavenly Prison and is dead!"

Assassination?

Si Cang Qing immediately stood up and said coldly, "Who did this?" He walked outside as he spoke. 

Cheng Tian Yi was cunning, and many forces still remained outside, yet he was assassinated at this time; it was 

truly strange.

"The assassin infiltrated the guards. He was quite skilled in martial arts and has been captured by my men. He 

claimed to be from Hongcheng and had been persecuted by Cheng Tian Yi, always seeking revenge..."

Infiltrated the guards? Si Cang Qing's eyes turned icy. He knew very well how tight the defenses of the Canghuan 

Prison were.

Mo Zhiyan reported the situation in detail along the way. Upon entering the prison, Si Cang Qing heard 

Mu Lianyu's hysterical screams and saw two corpses laid out before him.

Seeing this, Mo Zhiyan was shocked and exclaimed, "How did the assassin die?"

The guards were all flustered. "Your Majesty, please forgive us, we don't know why... but as soon as the Minister 

left, this man vomited black blood and died instantly!"

Hearing their words, Si Cang Qing remained silent, staring at the corpses on the ground.

◇Cang◇Huan◇Seven◇Palaces◇

"His tendons and veins were severed, his tongue was pulled out, and there was a birthmark on his back—

all these indicate that the deceased was indeed Cheng Tian Yi. It couldn't possibly be an imposter."

Hearing the examiner's conclusion, Si Cang Qing merely nodded slightly and said coldly, "An assassin infiltrated 

this prison, and you were completely unaware… Mo Zhiyan, you don't need me to tell you what to do!"

"This subordinate has failed in his duty and is willing to accept punishment!"

Glancing indifferently at the terrified crowd, Si Cang Qing didn't ask any further questions and left the prison.

"Lan, what has Mo Qingjue been up to lately?"

"Reporting to Master, everything is normal," Feng Lan said solemnly. "Does Master feel that Cheng Tian Yi's 

death is somewhat suspicious?"

Si Cang Qing nodded but didn't explain. Actually, what was suspicious wasn't Cheng Tian Yi's death. It was… 

he felt that everything was too coincidental, to the point that he even suspected the person who died wasn't 

Cheng Tian Yi!

Gazing intently at Cheng Tian Yang, who sat quietly there, Si Cang Qing spoke, "Lan, gather the experts from 

Dongying Tower and secretly detain Mo Qingjue."

"Yes, Master!"

Feng Lan received the order and left.

"Your Majesty..." Cheng Tian Yang smiled as he approached Si Cang Qing, speaking softly, "Why are you staring 

at me like that?"

Si Cang Qing simply shook his head. Seeing the man's smile, the faint worry in his heart subsided. 

Cheng Tian Yang, after all, had experienced too much; he wouldn't lose his composure over such a small matter.

"Heh, don't worry!" Cheng Tian Yang raised his arm and wrapped it around Si Cang Qing's waist, tilting his head 

slightly. "After all these years, I don't really feel much anymore. Anyway, the Hongcheng Royal Family is gone. 

A man like Cheng Tian Yi isn't worth the trouble."

"Mm." Si Cang Qing responded softly, returning the embrace to his waist, and leaned down to lightly kiss the 

man's brow.

His body stiffened slightly before relaxing and leaning into Si Cang Qing's embrace. Cheng Tian Yang whispered 

in his ear, "Your Majesty, can you grant me a request?"

"Speak."

"Tomorrow I'm returning to Hongdu with my brother," Cheng Tian Yang said, seemingly smiling. "Now...the deal 

between Your Majesty and me is completely over, and I...shouldn't stay here any longer."

"After paying respects to Mother, I'll stay in Hongdu."

Si Cang Qing was slightly taken aback by this sudden mention, then slightly increased the distance between them, 

carefully observing the other's smiling face.

“Without Your Majesty, my mother’s last wish would never have been fulfilled.” Cheng Tian Yang smiled calmly. 

“Unfortunately, I have nothing to offer Your Majesty as a keepsake, so…”

“On this parting night, would Your Majesty consider staying at Tianluan Palace?”

Si Cang Qing listened silently to his words, watching the smile on his face gradually fade, and then asked in a low 

voice, “Are you leaving?”

“Your Majesty,” Cheng Tian Yang’s lips curved slightly, his eyes shimmering, “Tianyang is not a native of this 

place, so how can I speak of leaving? It’s merely… returning.” He then deliberately widened his eyes, feigning 

annoyance, “Is Your Majesty so petty as to refuse even such a small matter?”

Si Cang Qing remained silent.

Cheng Tian Yang also fell silent, and for a moment, the hall was unusually quiet, the atmosphere unsettlingly 

oppressive.

“Very well.”

Just as Cheng Tian Yang thought he'd receive no answer, Si Cang Qing suddenly agreed. This momentarily 

stunned him. After a brief pause, he gave a faint, dazed smile before swiftly kissing the other's lips and turning to 

leave.

“Your Majesty, I'll wait for you in Tianluan Palace!”

The figure had already vanished, yet the voice lingered long in his ears. Si Cang Qing slowly lowered his gaze, 

his eyes unconsciously settling on the intricate patterns winding across the felt carpet—twisting and turning, much 

like the twists and turns of human thoughts.

Not leaving, but merely returning... was it?

Night was waning.

Within Tianluan Palace, lights shone brightly.

Si Cang Qing sat quietly on the couch, his cold gaze fixed on the slightly cowering young eunuch Qingyan. 

“Where is Yang?”

Qingyan whispered, “Your Highness is in the rear hall. He only instructed this servant to wait here and relay 

your message to wait here—no, not to enter... This servant truly does not know what Your Highness is doing.”

Upon hearing this, Si Cang Qing waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to withdraw. He casually picked up 

the tea before him and began to drink. But as he waited, the person did not emerge. His brows furrowed slightly, 

and he rose to investigate.

Just then, a sudden, impassioned drumbeat erupted from behind the screen.

Startled, Si Cang Qing froze in place, watching as a crimson figure fluttered gracefully before him. In the center 

of the vast, empty hall, a man clad in red danced with abandon—turning, bending, his sleeves billowing wildly, 

his hair flying freely.

His crimson gauze robe half-concealed, half-revealed. Occasionally, a dip of his waist offered glimpses of 

jade-like skin; or a sudden glance over his shoulder, a faint smile as seductive as silk.

And then there was the crisp tinkling of bells at his ears, delicate and fragmented, like a clear stream flowing 

through the depths of one's heart. Suddenly, Chengtian Yang flung out her sleeves, striking the curtain, and a 

surge of passionate drumbeats followed, stirring the blood to boil.

This dance—though seductive, it held moments of refreshing clarity; though exquisite, it carried a hint of sorrow.

The Pinnacle beauty.

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