Chapter 4

"这女人会武功！"

Ning Chen was greatly alarmed. Thugs aren't scary; what's scary is when a thug is educated. Now, this educated female thug could even use martial arts—how could he live in peace?

In the moment he turned around, his collar was grabbed by Qingning, and he found himself unable to take a step.

"Let's talk it out, a gentleman uses words, not hands," Ning Chen pleaded, as soft as he could be.

"I'm not a gentleman, I'm just a small woman."

Qingning didn't buy this at all, dragging Ning Chen toward the back garden.

"You're settling personal scores," Ning Chen struggled and accused.

"We just met, how could there be personal scores?" Qingning wouldn't let Ning Chen's "big hat" be placed on her, and she huffed.

"That's right, we have no grudges."

Ning Chen was taken aback, realizing that he and Qingning had no past grievances. Why should he be afraid?

"Big sister, can you let me go? I'm a bit dizzy."

Ning Chen pleaded, having been dragged by Qingning for so long, he felt his breathing was not smooth, and stars were everywhere.

However, when Qingning heard "big sister," she felt her qi surge through her meridians. If not for the influence of Changsun, she would have slapped this guy to death.

Ning Chen didn't understand why; it was just a title. He was not yet sixteen, so calling Qingning "big sister" wasn't excessive.

Ning Chen felt even dizzier. No, this was the rhythm of being strangled to death.

"Big sister."

"Don't call me big sister," Qingning was almost driven mad, her eyebrows furrowed, and she gritted her teeth.

"Then what should I call you?"

"Qingning."

"Qingning? Quickly let me go, or next year at Qingming Festival, you'll have to burn paper for me."

"Hmm?" Qingning turned around and saw Ning Chen's face flushed red, and she was startled. She immediately let go of him.

"Cough, cough."

Ning Chen coughed violently, then took several deep breaths. Soon, the dizziness subsided, and he felt the world was beautiful again.

Ning Chen wasn't a fool; he realized the problem was just a title. Women, indeed, are irrational creatures.

"Big sister Qingning."

Of course, men are also creatures who love to suffer, especially Ning Chen. Just a moment ago, he was almost strangled to death by Qingning, but now he was smiling and trying to build a relationship.

As the saying goes, a hand doesn't hit a smiling face. Although Qingning didn't want to forgive Ning Chen, she had no reason to act, so she could only suppress her anger.

"You should rest for a couple of days. Once you recover, I'll arrange something for you." Qingning hesitated slightly and added, "The palace isn't peaceful these days, don't wander around."

"Thank you, Big sister Qingning." Ning Chen smiled, showing his gratitude. This lady looked fierce but was actually kind.

His future strategy was clear: Qingning was good, the Empress was bad, and the Empress couldn't be provoked. From now on, he would curry favor with Qingning, avoid the Empress, and run away when he saw the Empress.

Ning Chen's room was near the back garden of Weiyang Palace, far from the Empress's quarters. Weiyang Palace had the fewest maids and eunuchs among the imperial concubines, as Changsun and Qingning both disliked too much noise.

Thus, Ning Chen was quite lucky. He met Changsun because of a single coin and found temporary peace in this turbulent palace.

Ning Chen returned to his room, looking out the window at the sky, motionless, silent, and speechless.

Only when he calmed down did he realize that the sky outside was different from his hometown.

The world was vast, but it was just a big dream.

"What are you thinking about?"

At some point, a beautiful figure appeared behind him. Ning Chen came to his senses and realized it was already dark outside.

"When did you come?" Ning Chen asked, surprised.

"I've been here for a while, but you didn't notice," Mu Chengxue answered.

"Is that so? I was careless." Ning Chen smiled wryly, the sadness in his eyes fleeting. Since she was here, he shouldn't wallow in self-pity, which would only add to his sorrow.

"I don't even know your name yet." Ning Chen gathered his thoughts and smiled.

"Mu Chengxue."

"Morning like green silk, evening like snow, what a sad name." Ning Chen sighed softly.

"Just a name, what about you?" Mu Chengxue countered.

"Ning Chen."

They fell silent, as if there was nothing more to say. Two people who shouldn't have met were brought together by a strange fate. Apart from their names, there was nothing else they needed to know about each other.

"Why did you try to assassinate the Emperor?" After a long silence, Ning Chen broke it, asking softly.

Mu Chengxue didn't answer immediately. She walked to the window and looked at the moon outside. After a long time, she softly said, "To repay a debt."

"They say the hardest thing to repay is a debt of love, indeed."

Ning Chen didn't press further. Relationships have different depths. Although he and Mu Chengxue had shared hardships, their friendship was limited. Asking more would be futile.

"You saved me, so Mu Chengxue owes you a favor."

Repaying a debt only to owe another, Mu Chengxue looked at the sky and wondered when she could be free from such debts.

"You also helped me, so we're even."

Seeing Mu Chengxue's weary heart, Ning Chen didn't want to burden her further. The weight of favors was too heavy.

"Ha," Mu Chengxue laughed softly, like a peony blooming in the night, beautiful and breathtaking.

Ning Chen glanced at the woman beside him, a deep appreciation flashing in his eyes.

"For the next few days, stay here. If there's a chance, we'll find a way to get you out of the palace."

Ning Chen instructed. As he spoke, he noticed a trace of blood on Mu Chengxue's clothes and hair. He thought for a moment and continued, "There are new clothes in the cabinet. You can freshen up. I'll go out."

With that, Ning Chen walked out, leaving the room to Mu Chengxue.

Watching his departing figure, a faint warmth rose in Mu Chengxue's heart. It turned out that favors could bring warmth, not just the burden of debt.

Bored, Ning Chen walked to the back garden. Seeing no one around, he stretched his legs. His wound was still solid and not too painful. He carefully climbed up the roof along a maple tree and lay down on the tiles, counting the stars.

"One, two, three..."

"One hundred twenty-five, one hundred twenty, one hundred twenty-seven..."

"One thousand one hundred ninety-seven, one thousand one hundred ninety-eight, one thousand one hundred ninety-nine..."

Ning Chen was engrossed in counting, unaware that Qingning was lying on the bed in the room below, clenching her teeth and fists.

Qingning, skilled in martial arts, was highly sensitive to her surroundings. She had noticed Ning Chen climbing the wall but was curious about what he was doing, so she didn't stop him. When she realized he was just counting stars, she let him be.

Who would have thought he would get so addicted to counting, reaching over a thousand, with no sign of stopping.

Qingning, furious, put on her clothes, walked to the front of the house, and leaped onto the roof. Her eyes glared at the culprit who disturbed her sleep.

The sudden appearance startled Ning Chen. When he saw it was Qingning, he relaxed and smiled, "Big sister Qingning, can't sleep and came up to look at the stars?"

Ning Chen didn't know the room below was Qingning's, thinking it was a coincidence.

"Do you feel comfortable lying there?" Qingning asked through gritted teeth, her beautiful eyes flashing dangerously, ready to throw Ning Chen off the roof.

"Pretty good, just a bit cold," Ning Chen answered honestly, not sensing the danger in her words.

"Do you need me to get you a blanket?"

Hearing Ning Chen's "shameless" response, Qingning's anger flared up again. She opened her lips and said in a deep voice.

"No, hmm?"

As he spoke, Ning Chen sensed the tension and looked at Qingning, his heart sinking.

Not good, she's angry.

"Big sister Qingning, please sit."

Ning Chen stood up and smiled, helping Qingning sit down.

"Big sister Qingning, you must be tired. Let me massage your legs."

"No."

"Your back?"

"No."

"Your shoulders?"

"No."

Seeing Qingning's stubbornness, Ning Chen's sense of danger grew stronger. He asked cautiously, "Big sister Qingning, it's so late, why aren't you sleeping?"

Wait, Ning Chen suddenly noticed that Qingning's clothes were different from those she wore during the day, clearly just changed. Realizing the room below was hers, he wanted to slap himself.

He really shouldn't have come up here. Even drinking cold water could cause trouble. This was clearly Qingning's territory, and he hadn't thought about it until now.

Qingning kept telling herself to be patient. She found Ning Chen to be truly extraordinary. In less than a day, he had already provoked her twice to the point of wanting to kill him.

"Hmm?"

Just as Qingning was about to confront him, she heard Ning Chen's "hmm" and followed his gaze.

In the starry sky, a blood-red star shone with a terrifying light. Not far from it, another red star was dim, easily overlooked.

"What is it?" Qingning asked, confused.

"That blood-red star is called Antares, and the dim red star next to it is Mars, also known as the Red Star. These two stars meet only once every fifteen years, which is very rare. If I'm not mistaken, they will meet in two days at most." Ning Chen was amazed to see this legendary conjunction, feeling quite lucky.

Qingning's eyes finally noticed the dim red star. She grabbed Ning Chen's arm and asked anxiously, "Is what you said true?"

Ning Chen, in pain from Qingning's grip, winced, "Big sister Qingning, it hurts."

Qingning realized her mistake and quickly let go but still pressed, "Answer me quickly. Is what you said true? Will these two stars really meet?"

Ning Chen rubbed his arm and nodded, "Yes, it's almost certain, and it might happen tomorrow."

"Oh no."

Qingning's expression changed drastically. She stood up and rushed to Changsun's residence.

"Strange."

Ning Chen shook his head, puzzled, stood up, dusted off his pants, and went back to sleep...