102 A Rose Of White

"Everything? Anything you want?"

Hongyue clapped her hands happily in response, "Why everything!"

A giggle of delight accompanied her cheerful statement.

There was a tingling taste of defeat that made its way into the heart of the third miss. How innocent— almost to the point where it was irritating to both the eyes and ears.

Lan'er couldn't help but smile weakly, "Then, what if you said you wanted to go home. Do you think you would be allowed to?"

There was a short pause.

Hongyue pouted as she played with her fingers, "I never thought about it."

Never thought about it?

She never thought about it?

But how could someone never think about going home after such a traumatic event? Why would anyone stay at a place where they almost got injured once already?

"There's no need to. I can have all the fun I want here. I don't need to leave," Hongyue continued.

Lan'er was appalled.

Hongyue was brainwashed.

No wonder.

She glanced around the room, scanning for signs that a possible audience was peeking into their conversation. Biting her lips in worry, she suddenly changed the topic.

"Yue'er, it's such a pleasant day today. Why don't we go out for a walk?"

Hongyue tilted her head, "Mhm, okay! I haven't been outside yet."

Jumping off of the bed, she carelessly rushed to the doorway. Her garments were loose and messy as she peeked out from the entrance. Hongyue pouted as the sunlight shined right into her eyes. Lan'er couldn't help keep a smile from building on her face as she watched the small antics from her elder sister.

Getting up from her seat, Lan'er made her way to Hongyue. The two exited the room and stepped onto the stone pathway in the courtyard.

Hongyue smiled at the view before her.

The emperor put in a lot of effort into keeping her in a little cage. Around the courtyard were flowers in every shape and size, all in the color red. How would she dare to step outside when she was traumatized by a burning garden just a week before?

Her eyes fell to the walkway. There was an abundance of fresh red roses.

Since he put in so much effort, Hongyue might as well acknowledge it.

A sob suddenly came whimpering from her throat.

"Hongyue! What happened?"

"R-red... fire-"

Hongyue stumbled back. Her eyes widened with fear. Lan'er frowned and hurriedly moved to cover Hongyue's eyes, "There's nothing. The fire isn't here. We're safe."

"B-but everything is burning up. I can even feel it."

Lan'er could feel her emotions turning at this answer; a burning sensation crept into her eyes. Keeping back her feelings, she chewed her lip in frustration. With a gentle hand still on Hongyue's eyes, she inaudibly murmured a spell while waving the other.

Slowly but surely, the flowers around seemed to lose their striking red color. Soon, the petals were only left with a pale white appearance.

Lan'er withdrew her hand from Hongyue's eyes, and Hongyue was stunned by the lifeless scenery.

"White... it's all white..."

Lan'er smiled tiredly, "It's not as scary anymore, right?"

"Not scary...," Hongyue seemed distracted, "If... if Sister Lan was here with me on that day, would you have saved me?"

That day?

Hongyue turned around, with a strange expression.

"Would you have jumped into the fire to save me?"

Lan'er stared at Hongyue. There was something odd about her sister. However, Lan'er couldn't put her finger on it, "I would."

"How strange. I'm useless. Why would you?"

"Because you are my sister."

"Just because of that?"

Lan'er paused, "Yes."

"Will you always?"

"Always."

Hongyue stared, "Then... is that a promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

Swooping down, Hongyue gently reached her hand and stroked a pure white rose within her sight. Picking the flower, she gently swirled the stem of the rose around with her fingers. Lifting it to her nose, she seemed to be admiring the smell. However, Hongyue's eyes were intensely focused on the whiteness of the rose.

Such a pure color was untainted by any influences.

It was blank.

Since Lan'er was prepared to be so loyal, Hongyue didn't want to judge her by the circumstances of the past. Perhaps it was out of Hongyue's own selfish desire to have a sister or maybe it was a slight sympathy she had to the guilt in her third sister's heart for the one that left.

The one that left... would she be happy to know of this?

Hongyue shook her head.

Since they were working to the same goal, for now, Hongyue was willing to draw out some lines.

Pausing, she looked up at Lan'er.

"Third Sister, for you!"

Hongyue reached out and gently arranged the white rose neatly into her third sister's hair. Lan'er was surprised but also charmed by the small gesture. As she arranged the decoration, from the corner of her eye, Hongyue happened to spot a figure behind Lan'er.

ChunHua.

Of course, Hongyue already noticed there was another presence with them, but to see ChunHua was something out of her predictions.

"Oh, Second Sister is here as well?"

Lan'er wanted to stop Hongyue, but soon she paused.

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While they were both in the carriage, when ChunHua was asked about the reason for her coming to see Hongyue, Lan'er was not given an answer. ChunHua was unusually quiet and simply stated that she wanted to see Hongyue.

Lan'er had heard something had happened at home. However, since her father had rushed her with this mission of bringing Hongyue home, she hadn't had the time to investigate. Every servant seemed to be tightlipped about the second madam.

Seeing that ChunHua changed so much, it might have been due to the suffocating atmosphere at home. With that, Lan'er let her be with an indirect threat if she even tried to harm Hongyue. To her surprise, ChunHua merely nodded as if she was distracted.

Hongyue withdrew her hand from the rose as she took a step toward ChunHua like she detected something so extraordinary she wasn't going to let it go. Her eyes were intensely focused, and there was no change in expression on her face.

Each step caused the pounding of ChunHua's heart to echo more resonant.

Stay still.

Stay still. There's nothing this eldest sister of hers could do with her third sister present.

There's nothing to fear.

However, contrary to her inner thoughts, she panicked, and she couldn't help but take half a step back. Her eyes dart nervously to Hongyue's fingers.

Hongyue smiled brilliantly as she tugged the end of ChunHua's sleeve, "Did you come because you were worried about me?"

ChunHua felt like she couldn't move. Hongyue's eyes were dark and dangerous, unlike her curious smile.

"I-"

Hongyue dropped her smile, and her eyes seemed to glow dangerously as she tilted her head.

"But that's weird. You never cared for me before, what changed?"