The afterglow of the setting sun dyed Dawnbridge in the capital red, with golden light interweaving with snow, reflecting a scene of peace. Avril and Lucian strolled along the bridge side by side, surrounded by newly laid white pine scented carpets. The water flowing beneath the bridge gurgled, as if playing a celebratory melody for their steps."Your Highness," Lucian said softly, watching the children by the bridge laughing and chasing each other, "the Post-Snow Light Years have just begun, yet there are already countless joyous voices. Did you ever think this moment would come so quickly?"Avril turned back, her gaze gentle: "After breaking through the hidden currents and rifts, I realized that there is already a warm flame in the people's hearts. It can unite everyone's will more effectively than any royal decree."
The Path of Return to Faith
The next day, she stepped into the Sanctuary Square to welcome several new-school clergymen and "Heavenly Fire Scholars" who had come together. They would jointly propose the establishment of the "Academy of Heaven-Earth Dialogue," aiming to parallel religious faith with scientific rationality and promote dual enlightenment of the mind and beliefs.Avril ascended the altar, her voice shining as brightly as the candlelight: "The 'Academy of Heaven-Earth Dialogue' will be a lighthouse of the new era, leading our people towards a broader future in the resonance of reason and faith." The audience burst into thunderous applause, and the clergymen and scholars bowed in unison.
The First Appearance of Shadow
Although the celebration was grand, Lucian found a hidden worry in the secret report: in the deep forest of the "Snowbird Garden" in the western suburbs, there were whispers of a secret religion, predicting the "reignition of the Red Moon" and planning to restart the lost bone-splitting ritual on the night of the coming month.He reported the news to Avril, and her eyebrows sank slightly: "Behind every ray of light, there are shadows peeping. But even if the bone-splitting ritual starts again, we should use silver light and sacred blood to break the illusions of the other shore."
The Night of Snowbird Garden
When the moonlight once again shone on the snow, Avril and Lucian sneaked into Snowbird Garden overnight. All the birds in the garden had flown away, leaving only a few old bird sculptures in the low forest. Black-robed secret surrounded the altar, chanting incantations in a low voice, with the bone-splitting fragments in their hands reflecting the cold light of the silver moon.Lucian quietly ordered the shadow guards to outflank them, and Avril's scepter lit up, interrupting the incantations. The secret waved their daggers in horror, Lucian and the shadow guards quickly cut off their blades, Avril stepped into the center, threw the bone-splitting fragments into the sacred fire basin, and the incantations turned to ashes.
The Warmth of Return
When the first ray of dawn passed through the pine forest, they had returned to the imperial garden. Avril stood in front of the spring, her white robe and snow-like hair shining in the light. Lucian approached and handed her a cup of osmanthus-scented warm tea: "After experiencing bone-splitting and rifts, would you like to stop thinking at this moment and enjoy a moment of peace?"She took a sip of the warm tea, with a smile in her eyes: "With you by my side, neither cold nights nor bone-splitting can disturb my heart."
The Whisper of Snow and Rain
As night fell, snow and rain intermingled under the pear tree in the imperial garden. Lucian led her into the pavilion, took off her silver light shawl, and held her in his arms. She hugged his neck back and whispered: "The wind and snow are rising again, and I am willing to dance with you in this afterglow."He kissed her lips gently, his fingertips unfastening the silver clasp at the hem of her clothes. Snow, rain and candlelight interwove, silk slipped, and skin blended. His kiss was like snow falling on the plum forest, warm and long; her low gasp was like spring water surging, tender and fiery.In the whisper of wind, snow, rain and dew, their hearts intertwined again, offering the deepest covenant for this eighty-first chapter - no matter how many rifts or storms lie ahead, silver light and sacred blood, trust and love will shine together, illuminating every dawn for Lachlian.