The Imperial College's

Eps. 33: First Winter

A few days after the arrest and release of the teak forest workers, Huang Yunxi's disheveled face has yet to show any signs of improving. All day long, the girl was just pondering near the window of the Royal Academy Dormitory. In that place, he lived alone. The other students had already returned to their respective homes because the winter break had already arrived.

Huang Yunxi had yet to return to Liuli Palace. His feelings were still firmly entrenched in this place, where he passed through his colorful days. This winter looks like it will be very long.

For him who accidentally dragged the flow in various cases, his life is no longer the same as it used to be. He had already died once and had freed strangers without his father's knowledge. If he could not keep his life well, Huang Yunxi would return dead without being able to return.

Last night, the system came to him through a dream. He said that Huang Yunxi's life was reduced by half because the girl had freed her father's royal enemy without her knowledge. The act did have a very big risk, so instead he had to pay it with half his life.

The statement made Huang Yunxi even more moody. His heart was no longer calm as usual. A few days ago while in the prison of Yindai Pavilion, he was already unhappy that those people were sneak enemies of the kingdom.

Huang Yunxi did not hate them, she only hated when they were treated cruelly when they were caught one day. To prevent this, he first released them out of the capital Dong Hua.

Despite having to pay a heavy price, at least that was all he could do for them. At least those people can still survive out there without having to worry about being chased by the kingdom. Now all Huang Yunxi had to deal with was her own father's anger when he found out that his daughter had escaped the royal enemy on purpose.

In the window of his room, he stared at the overcast sky. The snow has come back. The usually bright and noisy courtyard of the Royal Academy now looked gloomy and desolate. This place turned out like an empty prison where the nobles were locked up, without any servants and other people. Quiet, just lonely.

His heart was a little relieved when he got the information that a smuggling ledger had been obtained. The book is now in the hands of Yuwen Rong and is kept in a secret place. Yuwen Rong also found some other evil clues and asked Yuwen Yue to come help him until the man was very busy all day. The man no longer met Huang Yunxi and asked her the news lately.

“Why are you guys mocking me?”

Huang Yunxi cursed the state of nature that made his day even more bleak. He hated it so much at this kind of sad atmosphere. What the fuck? His life was half, but the situation instead made him like a pitiful pawn? Huang Yunxi was really upset!

The girl closed the window until the wood creaked. Before the window was completely shut, a burly hand held it. Huang Yunxi let out a scream, then sighed as she knew who the burly hand belonged to. He reopened his window, letting the fine snowflakes into his room as he wished to see a young man coming from behind the window.

“Lain times, make out while walking. I almost thought you were a ghost!”

The young man before him smiled slightly.

“Why did you open the window on such a cold day?”

“To improve mood.”

“Since you let them go, your face hasn't looked better.”

“Not really.”

“What are you worried about?”

Huang Yunxi looked at Yuwen Yue eyes deeply. Those clear eyes that were sharp like an eagle were looking at him gently. For some time now, Huang Yunxi felt that the man was not entirely annoying. In some moments, she felt that Yuwen Yue was so considerate and affectionate despite her unusual ways.

If the man knew that he was not living in a completely safe state, would he be sad? Had Yuwen Yue known that she and this world were just a ‘task’ Huang Yunxi had to complete, would that man have been angry and strangled her to death? If the man knew that he was going to leave, would the man come looking for him?

“Teacher, because you're so worried about me, do you want to help me improve my mood?”

“Oh? How to?”

“Cute me!”

Huang Yunxi unpacked the contents of her wardrobe. The set of ski equipment he had hidden away was taken out, then he handed it to Yuwen Yue. Winter is annoying, but it can turn out to be fun if he makes it fun. This is the first winter for him in this world, it should not be wasted!

Since the Twins Fang had already returned to the House of Duke Fu and must have been difficult to get out of, Huang Yunxi decided to play with Yuwen Yue. Coincidentally, the ptia had come to comfort him. With modern sets of ski equipment, this winter will not be too monotonous.

The girl asked Yuwen Yue to show a place where the snow was a bit thick and the terrain was dropping. It was a bit strange indeed, but Yuwen Yue still did it. The man brought Huang Yunxi to the back of the Royal Academy. There, the snow is thicker and slightly decreased. The snow has mostly hardened so it does not cause a sinking effect when stepped on.

“Teacher, wear this!”

“What do you want to do?”

“Ssurfing on snow!”

The girl guided Yuwen Yue in a ski uniform. Thick jacket, head, shoes, until the sliding tool is well installed. He showed me how to do the sport, then asked Yuwen Yue to imitate it. Their feet slid over the snow piles towards the bottom.

The sensation is incredible. Yuwen Yue was like surfing on a cloud. The snow is so soft as cotton. He fell many times because he could not maintain balance. Huang Yunxi laughed at him many times. A burly man was not even able to keep his balance on the slippery ice.

“Yunxi, this strange tool is very slippery!”

“Use the stick you have in both your hands to control it!”

While continuing to glide, Huang Yunxi all taught Yuwen Yue. But because Yuwen Yue's clothes were very long and heavy, the snow stuck to his body to make his weight increase. The former foot slide of Yuwen Yue left quite a deep trace. The end of his clothes was also wet.

Yuwen Yue did not care about her wet clothes. If previously he was a lover of cleanliness and neatness to pay attention to the entire appearance and always pay attention to every dress he wears, making sure it remains neat and clean, this time not.

As long as the girl in front of his eyes smiled, he would no longer need anything. Even if he had to plunge into the mud, he would volunteer to do so as long as Huang Yunxi could improve his mood. The few days that were passed felt heavy and exhausting. Why did Huang Yunxi continue to be moody since returning home from the Yindai Pavilion, no one knew other than the girl herself.

He received a report from the Royal Academy's servants that Princess Xiyue had not come home to enjoy the winter break and was still staying in the dormitory. The maid said that her Princess Xiyue was often pensive by the window all day. There was no smile on his face. When asked, he only answered. Yuwen Yue could not meet him because at that moment he was very busy with his affairs.

Today when he saw for himself the dormitory of the Royal Academy, Yuwen Yue knew that what the servant said was true. Near the window, he saw the girl pensively enjoying the winter with a blank look. His heart suddenly hurt. The desire to comfort him instantly arose.

Seeing him smile back, the winter in Yuwen Yue's heart instantly melted. Huang Yunxi was more suited to her usual character, not suited to be a dimwit. Yuwen Yue felt happy even though she had to make so many exceptions. Later in the future, he would make the girl smile more often.

“What is your mood now improving?” he asked as they rested in a hut under the hill.

“Yes. Thanks to you,” replied Huang Yunxi.

Yuwen Yue stared at the slowly falling snow.

“Although I don't want to say it, but I admit this may be the best winter I've ever had,” Huang Yunxi said. His outstretched hand caught the ice grains from the sky until it landed on his palm.

“What is the palace that bad?”

“Not. That's not what makes me not want to go home. People say the palace is a cruel place. There are hundreds of people who struggle to live there every day. The palace is also the most desirable place for women because if they can live there, then they will be spoiled with wealth and honor. But, there is a price they have to pay with expensive.”

“What is it?”

“Freedom. They transformed into birds in a cage.”

“Your words make sense too.”

“Not make sense anymore. This is the truth that you cover yourself.”

Snow is falling more and more. The air is getting cold. Wind blows. Huang Yunxi tightened her robe.

“Teacher, you don't want to ask where I got all these weird things?” huang Yunxi asked back. His face turned serious.

“What should I ask?”

“I'm sure you're very curious about me. I thought you had a lot of questions in your heart.”

“If it is true I have many questions, are you willing to answer them?”

“Sure.”

“Honestly?”

“Will I work on.”

Yuwen Yue took a breath. Is this the right time to ask? He's been holding back for too long. Now the opportunity just comes. But the atmosphere is not very supportive. Yuwen Yue was afraid that Huang Yunxi's mood was deteriorating again. However, he would lose his chance if he did not ask.

“Teacher, say.”

Yuwen Yue was still silent.

Huang Yunxi looked at the man gently. He knew there was a lot of doubt in Yuwen Yue's heart. Huang Yunxi had to answer her doubts so that the man would not be curious anymore. He did not want Yuwen Yue to hide anything from him. If Yuwen Yue asked the truth of who he really was, Huang Yunxi would answer honestly.

“Do you... like me?”