"Drip... drip... drip..." The sound of water droplets echoed crisply in my ears. I opened my eyes and found myself in a pitch-black night, surrounded by a hazy environment. Where was I? The shadows of dark grey trees rustled with the gentle breeze. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a large expanse of dense pine forest. I unconsciously took a step forward, feeling the heaviness in my legs and the splashing sound as water was displaced. When I looked down, I realized that I was standing in water. I slightly parted my lips, unable to comprehend the situation.

I bit my lower lip and decided to get out of the water first. As I lifted my foot, a pair of strong arms suddenly reached out from behind and encircled me, holding me tightly against a solid chest.

"Ah... ah... ah..." Caught off guard, I let out a series of startled screams. I couldn't help but wonder if it was one of those things. Just thinking about it made my hair stand on end, and the contact between our bodies made me feel a slight warmth from behind. I became aware that it was a man. The realization that our skins were touching sent a shiver down my spine. I immediately tried to break free, but the person behind me held me tightly.

"Let go of me! Can't you hear me?" I struggled with all my might. Oh god, how did I end up here? Entangled with a man like this, what on earth was happening?

"How should I deal with you? How should I deal with you?" A deep and steady voice murmured, momentarily causing me to pause in my struggles. Did he know me? I turned around to get a clear look at who he was, but the scenery around me suddenly changed. I was standing on a higher platform, looking at a couple embracing not far away. A couple? Why did I assume they were a couple?

Watching them happily converse and seeing the woman's laughter, delicately nestled in the man's embrace, why did I feel uncomfortable? It felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I clutched at my chest, feeling weak, and fell to my knees. The world spun around me.

"How dare you compete with me for a man? You're just a pawn to him, I am his true wife." The woman's voice rang clearly in my ears. That phrase, "you're just a pawn," shattered me. It wasn't true, it couldn't be true.

"No, he wouldn't treat me like this." Tears streamed down my face, my pride crumbling. My self-esteem trampled upon, it hurt... it hurt so much.

"Your Highness..."

"It hurts, it's not true." I closed my eyes and shook my head, mumbling to myself.

"Your Highness, wake up." Qinglian saw my distressed state and softly called out, "It hurts." With her eyes closed, it seemed like she was trapped in a nightmare.

"Ugh... it hurts..." Feeling someone gently shaking me, I gradually opened my eyes and looked at Qinglian, who had a worried expression on her face.

"Mmm... what time is it?" I shook my head, sitting up from the bed. Qinglian quickly supported me, saying, "Your Highness, it's already the fifth watch of the night."

"Your Highness, should I summon the imperial physician?" Qinglian looked at my somewhat pale face, her concern evident.

"No need, go fetch some books for me." I said wearily, trying to recall the scenes from my dream, but they remained elusive. Only the overwhelming pain lingered, penetrating my heart. Why was I like this every night?

Qinglian wisely left when she saw my fatigued expression, and returned with my favorite military strategy books. It was strange that I seemed to have knowledge about many things. What intrigued me the most was the art of military deployment and tactics. Most of the books I read were of this nature.

"You may rest now," I took the books from Qinglian's hands, waving her off.

"Yes, Your Highness." Qinglian curtsied and left, but before she departed, she let out a barely audible sigh. In the past six months, as Your Highness's health gradually improved, the nightmares persisted every night. The imperial physicians had prescribed numerous calming remedies, but none had been effective. It was a miracle that His Majesty hadn't ordered those physicians to be executed.

Under the dim yellow light, I quietly flipped through the books in my hands. My mind couldn't settle, and I furrowed my delicate brows. I looked up and glanced around the room, setting aside the books. I got out of bed, barefoot on the carpet. It felt incredibly soft and comfortable. Bowl-sized night pearls were placed in each of the four corners, casting a faint glow that illuminated every corner of the sleeping chamber. Several valuable landscape paintings adorned the walls, and a few antiques were arranged artfully on the shelves. However, there was a conspicuous absence of glistening gold and silver artifacts. It was evident that the owner of this place possessed refined tastes. Standing alone in the opulent palace, living a life of luxury, was this really how I would spend my entire life?

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Perhaps I was too greedy. I possessed the deep affection of a monarch and sought the elusive wealth and luxury, which he would spare no effort to provide for me. What else could I possibly desire?

I draped a soft, snow-white silk robe over my body, letting the long hem trail behind me. But it felt strangely constricting. Why? I walked gently towards the window and gazed at the crescent moon emitting a soft halo in the dark night. My mood had calmed considerably. Unsolvable? I didn't understand.

Just as I was engrossed in my thoughts, a nimble figure darted into the room. Approaching Qinglian, who was sleeping by the door, they lightly tapped her and swiftly approached me near the window.A cold dagger silently approached me, and when I felt a sense of danger, the dagger was already against my neck. A chilling voice sounded, "Where is the Snow Fragrance Pill?"

So, it was a thief who came for the medicine. The Snow Fragrance Pill was a sacred medicine unique to the Kingdom of Beichen. This person must be taking it to save someone's life. I calmly gestured towards the cabinet beside the bed.

"Let's go," the person behind me lightly pushed me, urging me to cooperate. The dagger on my neck gleamed coldly under the moonlight, indicating its sharpness.

I couldn't see the person behind me, but I sensed the aura of death emanating from them. "You killed him," their voice remained devoid of emotion, as if saying, "You slaughtered a beast."

"It's none of your concern, let's go." The icy dagger left a shallow cut on my neck, and I obediently moved towards the bed, pretending to comply with the person behind me.

"Hand it over." The man grew impatient, urging me to give him the Snow Fragrance Pill. I obediently bent down and opened the cabinet, retrieving the Snow Fragrance Pill that I had been taking for over three years. Just as I was about to straighten up, I suddenly felt a chill from behind. I tried to turn around, but my neck stung. Furrowing my brows, I cursed silently, "Damn it." Darkness covered my vision, and I lost consciousness weakly.

The man swiftly caught the falling pill from my hand, using his other hand to support my waist, preventing me from falling to the ground. Suddenly, his gaze froze. He brushed away the green strands of hair that partially covered my face and stared intently. His gaze held disbelief, and he looked at the peony tattoo on my forehead, furrowing his brows.

Finally, the man placed the pill in his pocket and carried me, who was unconscious, in his arms. Silently, he left, only to be interrupted by approaching voices. After weighing the situation, the man resolutely laid me down on the bed. After taking one last deep look, he quickly disappeared.

As Beichen Xiao stepped into the Jingyue Palace, he sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly entered the sleeping chamber. Seeing me peacefully sleeping on the bed, his anxious heart finally settled. Who would be so bold as to infiltrate the forbidden palace at night? His stern eyebrows furrowed. Could it be him? If that was the case...

Beichen Xiao looked deeply at me, who was in a dream, recalling our encounter three and a half years ago. She was dressed as a man, exuding the scent of alcohol as she drank at a small tavern. She muttered nonsensical words from time to time, but was taken away by a man in a green robe. Out of curiosity, Beichen Xiao secretly followed them and witnessed her recovery from her drunken state, her aloofness radiating a chilling aura that was completely different from the previous moment. At that moment, the thought of killing her entered his mind. She was an unwelcome person, but little did he expect her to be a woman. The formidable general who shook the northern lands and became renowned in the four countries was a woman. For a brief moment, he felt an indescribable sense of unease—it was a woman.

The woman, bathed in moonlight, was as ethereal and untainted as ever, devoid of worldly dust. Her fierce gaze transformed into an intense affection, as if the man from before and the woman now were not the same person.

Watching her slowly disappear into the water, his heart was left behind in that moment. Since then, he secretly followed her, witnessing her pain, her suffering, and even her close brushes with death.

Now, thinking back, it was frightening. He was always a step too late on two occasions, and she disappeared from his life, vanished from his world.

Caressing her face delicately, like a finely carved jade. "What should I do with you..." For more than three years, the entire Kingdom of Beichen, and even other countries, knew that he had a beauty, lavishing her with favor. But they didn't know that he had never shown her favor even for a day. He couldn't embrace her fully when there was still another person residing in her heart.

Unaware of his deep affection for me in my slumber, how fervent and intense it was. If only I could accept this happiness of being loved instead of loving someone, perhaps the outcome would be different.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence in the Xifeng Palace." A eunuch, trusted by the Empress Dowager, stood respectfully outside the sleeping chamber, delivering the message.

"I understand," Beichen Xiao replied indifferently. After the tall figure left the bedside, he adjusted his imperial robe and walked out of the sleeping chamber.

The eunuch, waiting outside, immediately knelt down upon seeing the Emperor.

"Prepare the carriage to Xifeng Palace," Beichen Xiao stated expressionlessly.

Qiao Zhengming followed Beichen Xiao out of the Jingyue Palace, observing his friend's figure. Helplessness filled his mind as he thought that the greatest obstacle seemed to be...