Chapter 4: Fleeting Snow Asks About Affections 2

This kind of behavior, though inappropriate, he is the Emperor; who dares to gossip Qi Lin speechlessly looks at Feng Changqing. Why does she recall that scene where Lu Dongbin flirted with the Peony Fairy

After Feng Changqing brings the Jade Maiden onto the altar, the High Priest steps forward and says, "Please welcome His Majesty and the Jade Maiden to worship the Phoenix God, for peace and prosperity in our dynasty."

The following is a simple ceremony of offering incense and paying respects. Qi Lin had thought it would end here, but after the ceremony, apart from the High Priest and the Jade Maiden, everyone else started coming down. A man wearing a silver mask then carried an ivory vessel up to the altar; upon closer inspection, this vessel contained a white plum blossom bud that has yet to bloom, along with a green lump on a tray. Four other masked men then place an ivory bed onto the altar. Apart from the masked men, everyone else withdrew.

Then, a eunuch approached with a vessel. The Grand Priest said something to the cup and gestured a few times before handing it to Jade Beauty (玉女).

Even if she wasn't Jade Beauty, Qí Lín felt that whatever was in the cup shouldn't be consumed. However, after looking into the distance, Jade Beauty seemed to come to terms with something and picked up the cup.

Right when everyone thought she would drink it, Jade Beauty unexpectedly tipped the cup back with her hand. The eunuch beside her didn't know how to react and could only look towards Feng Changqiang. People in the audience gasped in surprise and pointed at Jade Beauty one after another.

After discarding the cup, without hesitation, Jade Beauty removed her veil, revealing a delicate face completely. However, the people below covered their eyes and lowered their heads not wanting to look. Jade Beauty scanned around and only saw Bù Yáo, Qí Lín, and the wooden-headed man beside Qí Lín still looking up. The other person who hadn't looked away was the Emperor seated high above.

Qilin looked at the jade woman on the altar, dressed in a white floral halter top and draped in a white gauze robe. Her skin was as fair and translucent as snow, with her long hair cascading over her shoulders without any additional decorations except for numerous flowers adorning her attire. The red and white blooms highlighted her pale, clear face perfectly, while yellow ribbons wrapped around her body accentuated her striking allure. Yet, in the eyes of this incomparable beauty shone a profound sense of melancholy and resentment.

She raised her hand to cover her heart, smiling contentedly before looking up and meeting Qilin's clean black pupils directly.

Qilin was slightly taken aback; the woman’s gaze towards her was filled with a sense of release. What would happen next Qilin had an ominous premonition. She had just heard that the previous Heavenly Queen, the Celestial Flower Fairy, was to perform the ritual today. The Celestial Flower Fairy from the last term was Xiao Zhirou, who became Prince ZiYin's consort. Could it be then that this woman is Xiao Zhirou

Thinking about it, Qilin glanced at the golden-masked man; if this were true, wouldn't ZiYin show some reaction

When she looked back again, Jade Maiden was already lying on the white jade bier.

Zhiliin then saw the silver-masked man place the white plum vessel next to a lotus pedestal beside the white jade bed and pick up that green object. Zhiliin could now see clearly that it was a vine she often encountered when at White Tiger Mountain; the vine was thin, soft, and hollow. Could this be a blood sacrifice

Zhiliin drew in her breath as she watched the silver-masked man take Jade Maiden's hand, gently lifting up her sleeve. The fair white hand looked very limp there, but the man had no intention of being tender with it. He stabbed the vine into the woman’s arm and, despite the pain, she did not move at all, as if she was feeling nothing. Then he placed the other end of the vine on top of the white plum in the white jade bed before stepping back to one side.

The blood flowed like a little snake looking for an escape route on the white plum, coiling around the white jade body and eventually stopping at its base.親就是太後，而那兩個兒子則是鳳長卿和另一個皇子白千燁。從鳳長卿口中聽到的故事，她看到了他對白千燁的不甘心、嫉妒與憎恨，以及對母親的思念之情。但從阿飄口中說出這個故事時，齊琳看到的是一個母親對孩子深深的自責以及兩個孩子對母親深沉的愛。當然也看見了白千燁的痛苦。原來是這樣嗎？"你知道該如何做了嗎？”阿飄依舊帶著微笑看著齊琳，以為會在她眼中找到一絲同情，但是隻看到平靜與寧靜。不知是燭光的原因還是其他原因...