Chapter 268 – Gaining Trust, Deepening Chaos, and Relocating to Cloudpeak Province - Part 2
Half a month later, early spring arrived.
Within the city stronghold of the Holy Tree Temple, flowers of every variety were blooming in abundance, so vibrant and diverse that walking among them felt like entering a mysterious forest.
Normally, it would have been a perfect time for the top clans of the Holy Tree Temple to enjoy the blooms, but the ongoing turmoil—plus the Guo Clan’s downfall and the Liu Clan’s betrayal—left few people in the mood for flower-viewing.
One day, Li Yuan personally readied a carriage at his estate. As Jing Shuixiang emerged, he found himself briefly entranced by her look. Petite by nature, she was wrapped in a flowing black gown—elegant and slightly enigmatic.
The collar was cut just wide enough to reveal a hint of pale skin and the edge of her collarbone. A cluster of pink mimosa blossoms adorned the neckline, lending an unexpected air of purity to the otherwise somber outfit.
A black, veiled hat shadowed her eyes, making them glimmer like distant stars in a fog. Li Yuan reached out to take her hand and help her onto the carriage, still a bit surprised by her new style. He rarely saw a woman dress entirely in black. especially not his own wife. For a moment, it almost made her feel like a stranger.
Sensing his gaze, Jing Shuixiang lowered her head. “I’m sorry, I can change into something else if you don’t like it...”
Li Yuan kept her hand in his. “No need. It looks beautiful.”
Her eyes went wide. “Really?”
“Of course,” Li Yuan answered.
At that, Jing Shuixiang climbed carefully into the carriage. At first, she insisted on sitting up front to drive, staying right by Li Yuan’s side, but with his gentle urging, she retreated inside the carriage.
Li Yuan guided the carriage toward the Gu Clan’s territory. He had heard that his son, Ping’an, had returned the day before. Getting into the Gu Clan’s grounds posed no difficulty, yet the atmosphere there was somber.