The Imperial College's

Eps. 34: Melting Ice

“What are you...love me?”

Yuwen Yue's breathing was choked when he said that.

However, the person he asked was almost asphyxiated as he did not expect that the man beside him would say so. Time is like stopping but their heart rate is even racing fast. The falling snow was like it stopped falling, its grains floating in the air. The wind that was originally spinning had somehow disappeared to where.

Huang Yunxi looked at Yuwen Yue eyes deeply. Whatisthis? What is this passionate feeling? Why was his heart beating faster, even faster than when he played games in the final round? Why does time stop turning?

“Huang Yunxi, do you like me?” Yuwen Yue repeated his question.

Huang Yunxi was still stunned. Her beautiful face was swept away by the soft, cold snowflakes. It took him a few minutes so that he could digest all of Yuwen Yue's questions and look for the answers. In this first winter, did he get a confession of love?

“No.”

There was a disappointed look when the girl answered him briefly. Why is there pain? Clearly Yuwen Yue had already prepared herself. In fact, rejection still hurts no matter how hard he holds it. Twice asking, one short answer made his whole heart like a ravish.

“Why?”

“What likes need a reason?”

“Not, I mean, why would you marry me if you didn't like me?”

Huang Yunxi knew that the rejection she uttered would make the man beside her ask back. He himself did not know why the answer was like that. Huang Yunxi said under her instinctual control as a woman. His heart did not want to say ‘not’, but his brain instead acted the opposite.

“Then, Master, I will ask you. Do you like me?”

Yuwen Yue seemed to think for a moment.

“Ya.”

“What do you like about me?”

“Entah.”

“You acknowledge your feelings but have no reason why they grow in your heart.”

“Then have you ever liked someone?”

Huang Yunxi shook her head.

“If Teacher wants to teach me what it's like to like someone, tell me what it's like, maybe I can tell if I like you or not. I also wanted to ask why a man who is usually cold beyond ice like you likes a woman like me. In fact, there are so many talented girls here who are prettier and more elegant than me. They are more moral and more dignified.”

Yuwen Yue changed her sitting position. He held onto Huang Yunxi's shoulder, facing his body forward until the two sat face to face. The deep gaze of his eyes pierced Huang Yunxi's heart, making his heart beat faster than it did a few seconds ago.

The man's hand held Huang Yunxi's pointed chin, then moved upwards. His thumb rubbed gently the lower lip of Huang Yunxi who was pink like a pomegranate. With a little energy, he raised Huang Yunxi's head until now their eyes met each other. The rays of the two pairs of eyes penetrated into each other's heart, broadcasting a feeling that was so tempestuous.

Huang Yunxi closed her eyes when Yuwen Yue's thin lips touched her thin lips. The air was so cold, yet the warmth brought from the meeting crept into the heart, defeating the snowfall that had not stopped falling since. Like being hit by an electric shock, Huang Yunxi and Yuwen Yue's entire body had a tremor with each other. The fine feathers that grew on the hands, feet and shoulders were both even shocked to the point of standing up.

Not only Huang Yunxi, Yuwen Yue's eyes also closed. It was as if he was swimming in the ocean, searching for something so precious that no one else had ever found. His lips clenched at Huang Yunxi's lips, passive yet giving off an extremely overwhelming sensation.

“Do you really want to learn?” asked Yuwen Yue softly.

Huang Yunxi touched her lips with a finger. His feelings are so mixed. He was in a semi-conscious state. The moment Yuwen Yue kissed him, his body felt floating in the air, flying along with the gusts of wind and flapping of bird wings in winter. Huang Yunxi looked back at Yuwen Yue, trying to find a gap and find out if the man was earnest or just lying.

“Really?” asked Yuwen Yue again.

“Sweet,” says Huang Yunxi slowly.

“What are you talking about?”

Huang Yunxi's hand grabbed onto Yuwen Yue's back head, making their close faces almost stick. The girl could no longer control herself. He kissed Yuwen Yue's lips, applying pressure on her until the warmth that had disappeared a moment ago returned again.

The eyes of the pair of humans were again closed. The sensation that felt was much more overwhelming than before. They retaliate and look for each other. Snow is still coming down. The air was still cold as usual. In the midst of their mutual admiration, Yuwen Yue tightened her robe to Huang Yunxi's body, dispelling the cold so as not to pierce the girl's skin too much.

***

Dong Hua Palace, same snow season.

Emperor Huang Yun Yi stared at the corpse, which had just been taken down by a rope that had snared his neck. The scar extends down the ear, indicating that the figure is actually doing all of that of his own free will.

Not far from the figure, several palace guards stood up while trying to investigate. One maid appeared to be sobbing beside the corpse, crying for the departure of the figure she had served for almost half her life.

Her beautiful clothes, her beautiful face, her black and long hair now had no aura anymore. Only a bloodless face remained with pale lips clenched. Emperor Huang Yun Yi sighed once before actually declaring that the figure had died.

Concubine Di, the mad concubine had died hanging herself using a rope from a bed-covering cloth. He was found to have been killed by his servant a moment ago.  The items in his palace were all spoiled, as they were deliberately destroyed before the owner met the king of hell.

The waiter immediately shouted out to the guard while crying. The news then reached the ears of Emperor Huang Yun Yi and he came shortly after. Sure enough, his Great Concubine was found hanging near a marble pillar. The emperor was surprised, but tried to calm down so that his subordinates would not panic.

“Your Majesty, his death was about two hours ago,” the investigating officer said.

“What really killed himself?”

“Yes, Your Honor. On his body there was absolutely no trace of violence or coercion.”

Emperor Huang Yun Yi sighed again. Previously, he had deliberately locked up Consort Di for not wanting the woman to be ridiculed and insulted by another concubine. He knew that Consort Di had enemies here and there because of his own actions. Unexpectedly, his madness had actually made him have the courage to end life in this way.

Now, there were no more intelligent women living by his side. After the death of the First Queen, Emperor Huang Yun Yi could only be accompanied by Consort Di. The other concubines were just his sleep maids. The reason why he did not raise her to become the new queen and empress was because Emperor Huang Yun Yi did not intend to do so.

“Your Highness, what need to do further investigation?” ask the investigation officer.

Emperor Huang Yun Yi shook his head.

“Pukulkan gendang, announce that Grand Concubine has died.”

After saying the decree, Emperor Huang Yun Yi then left.