Chapter 169: Entering Dreams

She intended to read the letters, yet when the three letters lay before her, Lan Wu hesitated to open and glance at them.

She was still pondering the dream she had just experienced—how incredibly vivid it was, as if she had been standing right there watching Chu Mingheng ride toward her from the other end of the road.

But neither in her previous life nor in this one had she ever seen Chu Mingheng riding a horse at full gallop. Moreover, that road was clearly outside the palace.

It was raining from the sky—why would he be riding alone? Logically, he should have had many guards with him.

Did this dream come without reason?

Lan Wu pondered carefully, feeling somewhat uncertain.

She remembered that after New Year’s Eve, Chu Mingheng from her previous life had said something to her.

He said—he had hurried as fast as he could…

But a dream alone couldn’t prove anything.

Lan Wu shook her head, reached out to open the letter in her hand, and carefully read what Chu Mingheng had written to her.

Everything described in the letter was quite ordinary. Chu Mingheng had even noted the date, saying he would come to fetch her once the three-month period was over.

After reading the letter, Lan Wu finally opened the one Luo Yun had sent her.

The letter mentioned that Chu Mingheng had caught a cold, but by the time she wrote it, he had already recovered. Other than that, there was nothing unusual.

The wooden box containing the letters was placed on the table. Lan Wu had placed a divider in the middle to separate the letters from the two individuals.

After putting away the letters, she began to write her replies at the desk.

But what should she write about?

She had just arrived at Changyong Mountain and hadn’t yet ventured outside. What fresh news could she share with Chu Mingheng?

Contemplating the dream she had just experienced, Lan Wu wrote about its contents in her letter, asking Chu Mingheng if he had any recollection of it.

The two letters were written more quickly than the last time. Meanwhile, the prepared hot water was delivered to the side chamber.

These ten days weren’t spent traveling every single moment; there had to be places to rest. Along the way, there were also designated inns for lodging, but Lan Wu’s last bath had been three days ago.

She valued cleanliness, so as soon as she arrived at Changyong Mountain, she expressed her desire to bathe and had someone prepare hot water. After finally enjoying a refreshing bath, Lan Wu changed into fresh clothes and asked Lian Xi what time it was.

“Your Highness, it’s exactly the hour of Shen,” Lian Xi replied, calling in two palace maids to help dry her hair, fearing she might catch a chill.

Lan Wu nodded and looked out the window.

They had arrived in the afternoon, after which she had taken a nap. Now it was exactly the hour of Shen.

“Where is Princess Yizhen staying?” Lan Wu suddenly remembered that Yizhen wasn’t staying in the same hall as her.

“Your Highness, Her Highness the Princess is staying at Fangchi Hall in the West Garden,” Lian Xi replied. True to her nature, she guessed Lan Wu’s intentions from this single question. “Does Your Highness wish to take a stroll around the courtyard later?”

Lan Wu chuckled. “I’ve never been here before. Later, have someone lead the way so I can look around.”

“Yes, Your Highness. This servant will make the arrangements immediately,” Lian Xi said before withdrawing.

After the palace maids dried her hair and helped her change into another set of clothes, Lan Wu took a moment to carefully examine the main hall.

It was serene, elegant, yet somewhat empty and lacking in liveliness.

Fortunately, the palace maids had been busy moving things in the afternoon, adding a touch of vitality to the place. Otherwise, Lan Wu would have felt quite uncomfortable staying here.

The mountain was colder than the foothills, but there was no snow here. Lan Wu knew that the sacrificial site for the new emperor’s enthronement wasn’t in this direction but on another mountain peak, higher up, with a long flight of steps.

It is said that each new emperor, upon ascending the throne, must climb those high, numerous steps alone. If they stumble or pause midway, it is considered an ill omen.

Unfortunately, she did not witness Chu Mingheng’s ascension ceremony. At that time, she had never even met Chu Mingheng and was still in the Music Bureau, constantly being watched as she practiced dancing.

“Your Highness, please put on your cloak. It’s very cold outside,” Lian Qiao said, bringing over a white fur-lined cloak.

Lan Wu nodded and draped it over herself.

Leaving the main hall where she resided, the surrounding halls were all empty, with no one living in them. Fortunately, there were still many palace attendants nearby, so it did not feel too desolate.

However, Lan Wu only saw imperial guards stationed at the entrance of the hall, not as many soldiers as when she had arrived.

“Your Highness, the villa cannot accommodate too many people. The remaining soldiers are stationed outside the villa, patrolling daily. As for their lodging, there is another estate halfway up the mountain, specifically designated for them to stay.”

Listening to these words, Lan Wu continued walking forward when suddenly, she heard the sound of a bell.

The sound seemed to come from a great distance, yet it remained clear as it reached her ears.

Lan Wu instinctively looked toward the distance.

“That must be Wuji Temple ringing its bell.”

The palace attendant leading the way respectfully confirmed, “Yes, Wuji Temple rings its bell daily. But rest assured, Your Highness, you will not hear the bell while resting in the hall.”

Lan Wu asked further, “Does it take two quarters of an hour to travel from the villa to Wuji Temple?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Taking a carriage northward, it takes approximately two quarters of an hour to reach Wuji Temple.”

At night, Lan Wu leaned gently against the couch, reading a book. The surroundings were excessively quiet, yet this silence did not frighten her. Instead, her heart gradually settled into tranquility.

Unconsciously, she drifted into sleep.

In her dream, the sound of the bell rang once more.

Lan Wu felt as though she had transformed into a cloud, her body weightless, her feet unable to find solid ground. With a light leap, she could soar into the air.

She did not know where she was, only that everything around her was a vast expanse of white, with no sound to be heard.

Until the bell rang, as if right beside her ear, instantly grounding her. The surrounding white mist gradually dissipated, and the scene before her eyes grew clear.

Inside the familiar hall, it was now empty.

A gentle breeze stirred the golden bells hanging on her bed curtains, producing a series of pleasant chimes.

Lan Wu approached to look at the golden bells and suddenly realized—in this lifetime, she had never hung golden bells.

So this was… Yilan Hall from her previous life.

As if revisiting a familiar place, she walked slowly across the Palace Carpet, from the Inner Palace to the outer hall, but abruptly stopped at the threshold.

There was someone in the hall.

That person, with disheveled hair and wearing only thin clothing, had his back turned to her. A section of his exposed wrist appeared excessively pale.

But that hand was one Lan Wu recognized all too well.

It was Chu Mingheng’s hand.

Scattered beside him were several wine jugs, clearly indicating he had drunk a great deal.

Lan Wu stared in a daze, then took a step forward and hurried to Chu Mingheng’s side. As she called out to him, she reached to grab the cup of wine he was about to pour into his mouth.

Yet, her hand passed through his like a phantom.