• This particular chapter appeared in episode 32 in the drama. Before we get into the translation, there are a few points we have to go over. 1. The Emperor in the novel is a real sleazeball all around but especially when it comes to women. I mean…the icky sort of sleazeball who thinks just because he is the emperor, every woman should welcome his advances. 2. As a total jerk, the Emperor didn’t love Ning Yi’s mother at all. The only reason Ning Yi’s mother had a special meaning to the Emperor was because the first time he met her, she fell right into his arms from the sky (yap, you read that right) while prophesying (she actually sang it). No one knows what the prophecy said but it was obviously something the emperor is very wary of. (Ning Yi’s mother was the sacred priestess of a mysterious tribe that has since then been wiped out.)
  • Like in the drama, Zhi Wei runs into Ning Yi at his mother’s previous dwelling. Zhi Wei accidentally discovers a hidden passage behind a crystal figure of a woman. Realizing the crystal figure’s identity when Ning Yi breaks down in tears at the sight of it, Zhi Wei watches in silence as Ning Yi’s initial joy of seeing his mother’s likeness turns to fury when he belatedly registers the disgustingly suggestive posture of the crystal figure.  In a rage, Ning Yi smashes the crystal figure until it shatters into pieces. (The Emperor is obviously the one who had the crystal figure made…like I said, he is a real sleazeball.)

Standing in the utterly silent underground passage, the only sound Zhi Wei would hear is the sound of her own breathing. Her heart filled with unease by the deafening silence and the extreme paleness of his face, Zhi Wei couldn’t help but walks forward, wanting to do something. However, the moment she reaches Ning Yi, he suddenly falls unconscious.

Amidst the pouring rain and the raging thunder, Zhi Wei struggles with much difficulty as she carries Ning Yi on her back, carefully treading on the moss covered path. Instantly drenched the moment she took a step out of the underground passage, Zhi Wei wipes the dripping water off her face as she curses herself. Why did she run into the underground passage to avoid the rain? All that work for nothing when she was destined to get drenched anyway. And what’s up with Ning Yi?! What happened to his perpetual calm? He has to go crazy today of all days? Guess he still has a lot to learn from her!

Blinded by the fierce rain, Zhi Wei almost had to rely completely by touch as she puts her hand to the wall to figure out which way to go. After what seemed like forever, covering only a small distance, Zhi Wei finally makes it to an abandoned palace area that despite looking old, the place is still clean and dry.

Zhi Wei didn’t dump Ning Yi on the bed right away. He is completely drenched as well, so he would’ve ended up just laying in a water puddle. Setting Ning Yi on a chair, Zhi Wei wraps him from head to toe with a blanket then took his pulse.

Frowning, Zhi Wei quickly realizes that Ning Yi’s condition wasn’t as simple as getting rained on or overwhelmed with emotion. Ning Yi’s body has obviously been harboring an old malady and it is about to get much worse if she doesn’t figure out a way to protect him from the cold first.

Standing in the dark room, Zhi Wei raised her face to the ceiling, thought for a moment before finally closing her eyes.

Reaching under the blanket, Zhi Wei resolutely begins to undress Ning Yi.

Long robe, belt, outer garment, inner garment, pants, underwear…

Initially, Zhi Wei’s movement was brisk but it soon slowed down as her ears turn bright pink yet her hand never stopped.

A small pile of wet clothing quickly appeared on the ground. Judging by the size, the clothes that should’ve been off, are off…and the ones that should not have been off…are also off.

While pulling her hand out underneath the blanket, Zhi Wei suddenly stopped when her fingers felt a bump. Tracing the bump with her fingers, Zhi Wei is certain that it is a scar, a very ghastly one at that.

This was probably the old malady that caused him to fall unconscious. But, how would a prince sustain such a severe injury?

Slowly feeling the bump again, the scar is long, wide and jugged. Making it easy for Zhi Wei to imagine how dreadful it must have been.

Remembering the rumor about him in the Capital…an almost fatal illness at the age of seven, undergoing a drastic change of personality after… what if it wasn’t an illness but a wound?

Belatedly remembering what she is doing when her finger reached his smooth skin, a red faced Zhi Wei promptly pulls her hand back, trying to not let her imagination go wild.

Trying to distract herself to think about anything but what she is doing, Zhi Wei savagely dried Ning Yi’s whole body with a towel. Replacing the wet blanket on Ning Yi with a dry one, Zhi Wei picks Ning Yi up and deposits him on the bed.

Using the blanket to forcefully rub a still unconscious Ning Yi’s body all over to encourage his blood circulation, Zhi Wei is soon rewarded to see the grey in his face fading away. Sweaty after all her hard work, Zhi Wei fumes as she stares at the man who is sleeping in comfort. With great jealousy, Zhi Wei pats Ning Yi’s face none too gently and mutters “Having a nice dream are we?!”

Feeling vindicated, Zhi Wei decides that she should use the chance to beat Ning Yi a few more times…after all, she might not get another chance.

Searching around the room for anything to start a fire, Zhi Wei couldn’t help but admire the room full of exquisite furniture and decorations. Dragging a fire basin from underneath the bed, Zhi Wei starts a fire then turns her attention to drying and brushing Ning Yi’s hair.

Waking up just as Zhi Wei is leaning over him gently brushing his hair away from his forehead, Ning Yi felt like he has been trapped in a dark abyss struggling to find an escape from the perpetual cold and stormy world. When he was finally able to open his eyes, the only thing he saw was a delicate hand brushing across. Raising his eyes, Ning Yi could see the corner of a dainty chin and soft pink lips that seem to glow brightly in a world that is otherwise completely grey.

Under the faint glow of the fire that warms him right to the bone, the dark and cold endless torment just now seemed to all be a dream.

Or, is this the dream now?

His vision a bit blurry as the hand above is still moving around busily, Ning Yi looks around in a daze. Everything feels so familiar. He seems to remember that years ago, there is such a place with such a person who had gently and carefully tended to him.

His heart instantly filled with overwhelming joy.

Has everything that was lost, finally back?

Letting out a soft moan, he grabs the hand, pressed his face gently against it.

“Mother…”

The hand felt warm against his cool face, a warmth that spread through his whole body.

Her body freezes in mid-motion, Zhi Wei stares at the hand that is in Ning Yi’s grasp and couldn’t decide if she should pull her hand away or just let Ning Yi be. The guy is obviously not completely awake yet so if she abruptly pulls her hand away, she risks waking him up and have him so embarrassed that he gets mad. But…if she leaves her hand, then is him going to get even madder when he eventually wakes up?

Jerking awake when Zhi Wei’s hand quiver ever so slightly, Ning Yi’s eyes that were dazed a moment ago instantly come back to focus. Narrowing his eyes when he sees who is in front of him, Ning Yi lets go of her hand and demands “Why are you here?”

There wasn’t any embarrassment on his face, just an instant recovery of his usual sharpness and serene composure. Once the confusion in his eyes was gone, the perpetual caution and alertness came rushing back.

Wiping her fingers on her skirt, Zhi Wei turns away to dry Ning Yi’s clothes over the fire and says with a smile “I came in to avoid the rain. It was unintentional.”

 

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