At the end of the ninth year of Yongzheng, heavy snow covered Lianzhou in a vast expanse of white.
In the freezing cold, Nan Xueyin braved the biting wind and snow, making her arduous journey back to Prince Duan's Estate.
She had just completed a mission, and by rights, she could have rested for a while and waited for the blizzard to die down before returning to report. However, Prince Duan was running a high fever that would not break, and she could not set her mind at ease.
When she reached the outer gate, however, Nan Xueyin was intercepted.
"You'd better not go in, Milady. Lady Hua is already inside tending to him."
"Lady Hua" referred to Nan Xueyin's cousin, Hua Lianying, who had come to depend on her at the beginning of the year and had since become Prince Duan's favorite woman.
"It's not that Lady Hua insisted on coming, really. It's just that the Prince has been delirious and keeps murmuring Lady Hua's pet name."
Nan Xueyin's brows and eyes were cool and detached. A thin layer of snow had settled upon her dense, crow-black lashes, and with a slight blink, the crushed snow fluttered down.
"The medicine is here!"
The Prince's personal valet, Wuzhui, strode over. He was well-acquainted with Nan Xueyin and smiled naturally, "My lady, you go in and serve it!"
Nan Xueyin had no wish to take it, but Wuzhui simply shoved the medicine bowl right into her hands.
With a helpless sigh, she caught the bowl, furrowed her brow, and looked toward Yunqi, the young maid standing outside the doorway, intending to pass the task off to her.
At that moment, the door stood half ajar, revealing a delicate, jade-white face.
"Sister is back."
Hua Lianying smiled, her voice as soft and melodious as a nightingale in the forest. "I knew you were worried about the Prince. Even if it were raining daggers from the sky, you'd surely rush back."
She stepped forward. "Give the medicine to me. I'll wait on the Prince and help him drink it."
Nan Xueyin let out a measured hum and handed the bowl over.
Hua Lianying raised her hands to take it. Clearly, she had already gripped the rim of the bowl when she suddenly let out a soft cry, loosened her left hand, and spilled the scalding medicinal broth all over Nan Xueyin's hands.
This was medicine that had just been brewed, and it instantly scalded her skin, leaving a striking patch of red.
The white porcelain bowl shattered on the ground as well, and deep brown medicinal broth splashed everywhere, staining a large, wretched patch across the hem of Nan Xueyin's skirt.
Nan Xueyin's brow twitched.
Hua Lianying's features crumpled into a ball, wearing an aggrieved and pitiful expression. "I didn't mean to. It was just too hot, and I couldn't hold onto it... Sister, why don't... why don't you go brew a new bowl of medicine?"
Her watery eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at Nan Xueyin.
Unlike Hua Lianying, whose beauty was that of a delicate and charming maiden from an ordinary family, Nan Xueyin's facial contours were bold and striking, like heavily blossoming multi-petaled flowers—beautiful to the point of possessing an aggressive edge. Yet she never liked to smile, which sharply diminished her flamboyant allure, leaving only the chilling, blade-like sharpness in her brows and eyes.
At that moment, Nan Xueyin merely looked down at her from above, causing Hua Lianying's heart to constrict instantly. She lowered her head, her voice trailing off weakly, "I—it's mainly because... the Prince keeps murmuring my name, he..."
Nan Xueyin suddenly let out a laugh.
The laugh was soft, yet it sounded abrupt and abnormal, carrying a bone-chilling intimidation.
Hua Lianying's breathing stalled, her scalp tingling, and she did not dare raise her head.
Unexpectedly, Nan Xueyin said nothing more, turned around, and left.
Heading to the small kitchen next door to put the medicine on to brew, she sat down, raised both hands, and watched the burns fade at a speed visible to the naked eye, not a shred of emotion in the depths of her gaze.
Since childhood, her constitution had differed from ordinary people; no matter what kind of injury she suffered, she always healed remarkably fast.
Prince Duan had taken her in from the streets, and soon discovered her special constitution. Staring at her for a long time back then, he had suddenly remarked, "You really are well-suited to be an assassin."
And so, she became an assassin.
Over the years, she had licked blood from the blade's edge, experiencing countless brushes with life and death, and suffering innumerable blade and sword wounds. Every single time, she had simply watched her wounds gradually heal, just as she did today.
She was always quiet and sparing with words, to the point that Prince Duan had forgotten that no matter how fast it healed, a wound still hurt.
More than an hour later, the medicine was ready, and Nan Xueyin carried it into the room.
The space outside the door was empty, but a narrow gap was left in the doorway. Nan Xueyin heard Hua Lianying's soft voice: "Sister will be back soon; she's probably right outside."
Prince Duan Xiao Mingyu had regained some consciousness, though his voice remained hoarse. "Don't mention her. It irritates me."
Nan Xueyin stopped outside the door and lowered her head.
Whatever Xiao Mingyu did inside, Hua Lianying let out a shy, delicate gasp. "Prince, you're still ill. You should drink your medicine; how can you..."
Xiao Mingyu replied, "A minor illness. Behave yourself, lest you start crying again when things get rough later."
"Prince..."
Hua Lianying pouted playfully, the tail of her voice winding through countless turns, as if a tiny hook were plucking at one's heartstrings.
Nan Xueyin knew that Xiao Mingyu loved it most when women acted this way.
And indeed, his interest was thoroughly piqued.
"Lady Nan!"
Yunqi returned carrying water and called out.
The sound reached inside the room, and Hua Lianying gasped softly, "Prince, Prince, Sister is back."
Xiao Mingyu paused, his tone turning somewhat impatient. "Make her wait outside!"
In a moment of profound silence, Nan Xueyin suddenly spoke: "It's snowing."
She hated the cold.
Of all people, Xiao Mingyu knew this better than anyone.
Years ago, he had once laughed and teased: "How about I think of a way to cross winter out of the four seasons for you, so you'll be spared this suffering every year?"
Yet at this very moment, Xiao Mingyu only said coldly, "I said, wait outside. That is an order."
Nan Xueyin's expression went blank for a fraction of a second.
Her life had been saved by Xiao Mingyu.
At the age of ten, covered in filth, she had ravenously devoured the meat pie he handed her, wiped the corners of her mouth, and made a solemn vow: "The noble lord saved me. From now on, no matter what you ask me to do, I will surely accomplish it. I swear it. I must repay the grace of saving my life."
Since he said waiting outside was an order, then no matter what, Nan Xueyin could only obey.
She quieted entirely, holding the bowl of medicine as she stood outside the door.
Over the years, she had remained constantly by Xiao Mingyu's side.
Prince Duan was of noble birth, romantic and fickle, blessed with a handsome exterior. For many years, the women around him had never ceased—whether they were young ladies from prestigious official families or courtesans from the pleasure houses. Whichever one caught his eye, he would keep by his side for a period of time, and once he grew tired of them, he would bestow upon them a large sum of wealth or irresistible favors, parting ways with them on good terms.
Women were replaced one after another, yet the only constant by Xiao Mingyu's side was Nan Xueyin.
Her identity as an assassin was never made public; it was only given out that she was an orphan girl raised by Xiao Mingyu as a younger sister.
Some said that Xiao Mingyu was perhaps waiting for Nan Xueyin to grow up, and that once she reached a marriageable age, he would settle down and marry her.
Nan Xueyin had originally not believed this rumor.
Until that day when Xiao Mingyu drank heavily to the point of intoxication, wearing a cold face and scolding or driving away anyone who came close.
At their wit's end, the subordinates had no choice but to seek help from Nan Xueyin.
Nan Xueyin had only meant to give it a try. To her surprise, when she went over, Xiao Mingyu broke all precedent by not flying into a rage; instead, he smiled.
He beckoned to her and said softly, "Yinyin, come here."
Nan Xueyin stepped forward as told.
Xiao Mingyu stared at her for a long time before asking out of nowhere, "You like me, don't you?"
Nan Xueyin was startled.
How could she not like him? Her very life, everything she currently possessed—it was all given by him.
Only...
Xiao Mingyu suddenly leaned in toward her.
Nan Xueyin instinctively moved to dodge, but Xiao Mingyu frowned. "You are not allowed to dodge. That is an order."
Nan Xueyin stood frozen in place.
Xiao Mingyu drew closer and closer, his lips mere inches from hers. His robes were suffused with a rich agarwood scent, mixed with the mellow aroma of wine, enveloping Nan Xueyin and leaving her somewhat dazed and hazy.
She had never experienced anything like this before, but she knew what would happen next; she had seen Xiao Mingyu press women against daybeds for deep kisses.
At this, the tips of her ears burned, her heart thudded like a war drum, and she slowly closed her eyes.
The anticipated kiss never came. Instead, her shoulder suddenly grew heavy.
Nan Xueyin opened her eyes to find that Xiao Mingyu had drunk too heavily and fallen asleep with his head resting on her shoulder.
She stood frozen in place, dazed for a long time, before finally recovering her wits and carrying Xiao Mingyu back to his room.
Without undressing, she tended to Xiao Mingyu throughout the entire night, returning to her own room to rest only when dawn was just breaking the next day.
She had a very pleasant dream, one in which the prodigal son finally returned, and lovers were eventually united.
When she woke up again, Wuzhui told her, "Lady Nan, your cousin has come to see you. Right now, she's in the Prince's courtyard."
When Nan Xueyin tracked them down, from afar she saw Xiao Mingyu sitting on the daybed, talking with Hua Lianying.
Hua Lianying knelt before him, lowering her head slightly to reveal a slender, flawless expanse of neck.
Hearing whatever reply Hua Lianying gave, Xiao Mingyu burst out laughing, reached out, and pulled her up from the ground.
At that moment, Nan Xueyin had a strong intuition that that dream might never come true again.