Chapter 39: Blood-Stained Mountains and Rivers

  Leng Xueyu's eyes, which were as clear as a hundred li of autumn water, had a slight curve to her mouth that was very attractive, and seemed to be accompanied by a doting expression, making her feel quite bewildered.

  The fiery red dress fluttered in the wind, shining like gold under the sunlight, dazzling the eyes. The watery gaze gradually lost its luster, replaced by an aura of invincibility that no one could match, with a hint of wildness and evil charm.

  His ink-colored pupils swept across with the same domineering aura, and his red brocade robe, with a jade belt inlaid with gems around his waist, fully presented his noble, elegant, and disdainful temperament. His high-bundled hair fluttered in the wind, and the few loose strands on his forehead brushed against his cheek, tickling him, half-covering his ink pupils, and bringing out his sensual side.

  Can't help but say, even if you can't see the face under the mask of Baili Chuyan, Leng Xueyu was also shocked. This man's appearance is probably not inferior to that of the red-clothed man met by Fenglin Ye that day.

  "Fourth Princess, the Blood King said it right, I've always liked to paint with blood, I don't know if you dare or not dare to continue challenging." She withdrew her gaze, in Cold Ziyue's memory, there was no such person as the Blood King. In the past when she entered and exited the imperial palace, she vaguely heard old palace people mention the former Empress Chu, occasionally also mentioning the Blood King Baili Chenyuan.

  He should have been the favored prince, born with noble blood and destined to be the next heir of the Qi Yue imperial family; but because at his birth the entire palace was filled with a bloody red glow, layer upon layer, blocking out the sunlight and clouds, he was deemed an inauspicious person.

  Former Empress Chu killed herself in her own palace, and the newly born Baili Shuangyuan was also supposed to be drowned. Fortunately, thanks to a word from Master Zhiheng, his life was saved. From then on, he was far away from the imperial city, not allowed to be summoned, and never returned to the capital.

  A vague memory gradually floated into Leng Xue's mind, her heart ached sharply, and surprisingly, it was because of Bai Li Chen Xuan.

  Her gaze fell once again on the face under the exquisite mask, and Leng Xueying felt that a soft spot in her heart had collapsed, irretrievable.

  In her past life, she felt unfortunate, having a family but lacking care and love.

  But little did she know, there were people in this world who were lonelier than her and needed more care and love from others.

  "You——" Bei Tang Xin'er pointed at Leng Zhiyue, her small face turning alternately pale and red, looking quite amusing.

  "You only need to answer me, dare or not." Her patience was limited, and she didn't have the leisure to play games with just anyone.

  "What is it that this princess dares not do." From a young age, she had been learning to paint under the strict demands of her mother, and although she was not skilled in other arts, when it came to painting, Beitang Xiner believed that she would not lose to anyone.

  Among the five countries, her painting skills are known throughout the world, and no one dares to challenge her.

  With this, she also has the confidence to walk horizontally in the palace. Her father emperor favors her, partly because of her mother queen, and partly because she can bring glory to Beihancheng with her own skills at the Linglong banquet.

  If she wins against Leng Ziyue today, the chips in her hands will be even more abundant.

  "Since you dare, let's draw lots to decide who goes first." The two people competing at the same time wasn't interesting, Leng Ziyue wanted to kill the chicken to warn the monkey.

  The Moon Emperor stroked his beard and beckoned with his hand, saying: "Liu Gonggong, prepare the bamboo slips."

  He wanted to see what tricks Tong Xueyu had up her sleeve.

  "Yes." Liu Gonggong efficiently prepared the bamboo slips, walked up to the two women with both hands holding them out, and said in a sharp voice: "Fourth Princess, Miss Leng, whoever draws the longer slip will have priority. Please, ladies."

  Bei Tang Xin'er's eyes reddened as she glared fiercely at Leng Ziyue, snatching a short strip of paper from Liu Gonggong and storming off with a flourish of her sleeve.

  The slender fingers, as white and delicate as scallions, picked up the remaining bamboo skewer. The clear and cold eyes blinked, and the gaze turned to the Regent of Beihanguo, Situ Wushuang. The pink lips opened lightly, saying: "Regent, I said earlier that I wanted to use blood to paint, may I borrow something from you?"

  Situ Wushuang slightly raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice, "What do you want to borrow?"

  "The Fourth Princess of Beihanguo." With her blood as paint, wouldn't that be more to her liking? Beitang Xiner will either kill you today or have you deposed.

  "She is your opponent, but didn't you know that your painting is the first and unmatched?" Situ Wushuang lowered his eyes, he knew that Leng Ziyue was not simple, but he also knew that if she still wanted to be with Ling Wang Zhang Xiao now, as long as she said a word, Yue Di wouldn't have any reason to disagree.

  She has half of the blood of the hidden clan.

  "Haha, since Miss is going to use her own blood to paint, isn't the answer obvious enough?" Is she being arrogant? Is she being overbearing?

  Leng Xue's gaze suddenly turned sharp and swept across everyone sitting in the scene, who wasn't here to mock her. She was weak, they bullied her, but from today on, she would show them a good time.

  With her having such capital, who can do anything about it?

  "Alright, I believe you." The regent king nodded slightly and added, "Don't harm her life."

  Leng Xueyu pursed her lips and said, "This young lady has no intention of letting her die so beautifully."

  The crisp, silvery sound dissipated in the wind, and the Imperial Garden became unusually quiet after noon. Everyone held their breath as they watched the cold, queen-like Zhi Yue and the ruthless Regent King discussing the life and death of a princess as if they were talking about the weather.

  On the central stage outside Hui Xiang Pavilion, a snow-white rice paper for painting has been prepared, waiting for Leng Zuo to start painting.

  "This young lady likes to paint on thin silk, exchanging it for four pieces of the same color silk, placing them one by one around the stage, forming a circle, move a little faster." At the same time, a fiery red cloud sleeve flew quickly and wrapped around Beidong Xiner's waist with a red silk like a fire dragon, lightly pulling, only to see Leng Ziyue rising into the air, fiercely throwing Beidong Xiner to the center of the stage.

  In an instant, the breathing of the entire audience became lighter than the wind, and the shallow sound was already inaudible. The civil and military officials plucked up their courage to open their eyes wide and stared tightly at the stage surrounded by thin gauze. They had never seen anyone who could paint on the light gauze before.

  Spoiled rich girls, those with a bit more courage could barely maintain their composure, occasionally glancing up, while the timid ones had to tightly close their eyes and remain still.

  "What are you going to do?" Beitang Xiner was furious with the Regent King, just because of his one sentence, he sent her onto this stage, determining her life and death, how could she be willing.

  He struggled to get up from the ground, glaring furiously at Leng Xueyu.

  "On the Vermilion Bird Platform, you still remember how you bullied me, don't you? Not avenging a grudge is foolish, but fortunately, I'm not foolish. So, just enjoy it for now." Cold Ziyue wasn't afraid of North Tang Xiner making a move to kill her either; that way, the blood color in her painting would become even more natural. She slightly curled up her red lips and sneered: "Rest assured, I won't kill you; I'll just make you wish you were dead."

  What can be solved by death is no longer a suffering.

  "I'll kill you." As soon as the words were spoken, Beidong Xiner rushed towards Leng Ziyue at the fastest speed, with a dagger in her hand that shone with a cold light, extremely sharp.

  The red sleeves fluttered, like countless fire dragons swimming in the white gauze, with a speed as fast as lightning, flashing by in an instant, accompanied by a silver light that swept across, only to hear a series of high-pitched screams echoing through the nine heavens, sending chills down one's spine, making one want to flee the scene without hesitation.

  At this moment, a melodious flute sound timely rose, matching the splashing blood on the stage, depicting one after another hazy scenery.

  Leng Xue's clear and cold eyes flashed with a hint of smile, she liked this flute sound, the ups and downs seemed to grasp her movements accurately, as if knowing her mind.

  That slender figure in the gauze rotated, Bei Tang Xin'er changed with her movements, each wound carved on her body had a different angle, making her blood irregularly splashing on the gauze, leaving the effect she wanted to create.

  The crimson blood beads fell on the thin gauze like raindrops, layer upon layer, a magnificent sight.

  With a swing of his sleeve, Beidong Xiner's body was like a kite with its string cut off, thrown out and heavily slammed to the ground, spitting out all the blood that had been pressed against her chest, staining a patch of ground red.

  Her long sleeves dipped into the inkwell, and the thick black ink flew onto the silk gauze with her movements, layer by layer, dot by dot, without a hint of chaos, every stroke was in her mind.

  A mixture of blood and ink, with bright colors and a peculiar smell, attracts one butterfly after another, more attractive to their sense of smell than adding spices to the ink.

  The flute sound slowly faded away, leaving a perfect mark on the painting.

  Leng Xueyu wore a fiery red dress, landing on the stage with a wide sleeve and a majestic demeanor. Her soft hair, like silk, reflected dazzling light in the sunlight, with a simple yet elegant pearl hairpin inserted at an angle, her eyebrows slightly raised, and her bright eyes revealing a proud and disdainful attitude.

  "The rivers and mountains are stained with blood, indeed unparalleled in the world." Baili Chunxuan applauded and exclaimed, watching her flying figure on the stage, he knew that her painting skills were not ordinary, but he didn't know that her seemingly chaotic brushstrokes could actually paint such a magnificent and atmospheric picture.

  Especially the four big characters on the right side 'blood stained rivers and mountains', he can't bear to part with it.