After I transmigrated, the cold king clung to me every day.

Chapter 212 "You chose this path yourself, and you have to walk it to the end, no matter how di

Murong Han stood rooted to the spot, as if frozen in place, his gaze fixed on the distance, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding hustle and bustle.

His brows were furrowed, and the space between his eyebrows was deeply sunken, forming several furrows, as if he wanted to use these furrowed brows to firmly lock away all the confusion and entanglement in his heart.

His eyes held a mixture of confusion and determination. The scene of his encounter with the mysterious woman replayed repeatedly in his mind, as he tried to glean more clues from the gaps in his memory and find the answer that lingered in his heart.

Just as Murong Han was lost in his own thoughts, Xue Xiang happened to pass by.

She caught sight of that familiar figure at a glance, and a strange sense of warmth welled up inside her. She subconsciously quickened her pace to get closer.

When she was just a few steps away from Murong Han, Xue Xiang stopped, her voice as soft as a spring breeze, as if afraid of disturbing the person in front of her: "Cousin~"

Murong Han snapped back to his senses, his body trembling slightly as he quickly turned around. When his gaze met Xue Xiang's eyes, his expression softened instantly, and he softly replied, "Xiang'er?"

Xue Xiang took a few steps closer and asked with concern, "Cousin, what are you thinking about here? You're standing here without moving. Is something wrong?"

Murong Han looked at Xue Xiang, opened his mouth as if to say something, but swallowed the words back. His brows remained furrowed, his eyes filled with struggle and hesitation. In the end, he said nothing, simply turned and walked straight ahead.

Xue Xiang was stunned for a moment, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, but she quickly followed, closely behind Murong Han, her eyes full of worry and concern.

The two remained silent throughout the journey, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing on the stone path, conveying the tranquility and complexity of their moment.

On the bustling street, Murong Han and Xue Xiang walked side by side. People came and went, and the atmosphere was lively. However, a heavy silence permeated the two of them.

Finally, Xue Xiang broke the suffocating silence. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze cautiously landing on Murong Han's face, and asked softly, "Cousin, is something on your mind?"

Murong Han seemed not to hear, but his brows furrowed more and more, his eyes fixed on the front, and his feet moved mechanically, as if he were trapped in some kind of quagmire of thoughts that he could not get out of.

Seeing his continued silence, Xue Xiang felt a pang of sorrow and was lost in her memories. She lowered her gaze, her eyes dimming, her long eyelashes trembling. After a long while, she sighed softly, her voice choked with emotion, and said, "I was cruelly abandoned by my biological parents when I was young, and it was my aunt who took me in out of compassion. But fate is cruel; my aunt also passed away early. In those years, it was just my brother and me, relying on each other, struggling to survive in this world. From childhood to adulthood, I suffered a lot of bullying, and whenever I was in trouble, you were always the first to stand up for me. I used to confide in you without reservation, no matter how small my feelings were." She paused, her eyes reddening, tears welling up.

"Later, I married the Fourth Prince as I wished, thinking it would be the beginning of my happy life, the home I had always dreamed of." Xue Xiang's voice trembled more and more, and she could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears welled up in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. "But after the marriage, everything changed. He became more and more indifferent to me, leaving me alone in my room day and night. I... all my expectations have vanished." She raised her hand to cover her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly, crying her heart out.

Upon hearing this, Murong Han felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart, as if he had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

He stopped, slowly turned around, and looked at the heartbroken Xue Xiang with eyes full of tenderness.

He raised his hand and gently placed it on Xue Xiang's shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort. However, after a moment, he sighed helplessly, his voice filled with powerlessness and regret: "Xiang'er, you chose this path yourself. You insisted on marrying into the royal family, pursuing that so-called wealth and status. Now that you've made your choice, you can only grit your teeth and keep going. Marriage is like drinking water; only you know whether it's hot or cold. Some bitterness can only be swallowed alone."

After saying that, Murong Han released his hand, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes. He turned his head away and continued walking straight ahead.

Xue Xiang stood frozen in place, tears streaming down her face. She bit her lower lip so hard it turned white, and her hands clenched her sleeves tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

She slowly closed her eyes, her face filled with grief and regret. At that moment, the surrounding noise seemed to have faded away, leaving only the endless pain spreading in her heart.

Murong Han walked forward with heavy steps, the bustling scene on the street appearing as nothing more than a blurry illusion to him. His heart was a jumble of emotions, a mixture of feelings churning within him.

From childhood, he had cared for Xue Xiang deeply, watching her grow up. He had witnessed all the suffering she endured, and it pained him deeply. Now, hearing about her tragic experiences after marriage, how could he not feel heartache? But this heartache seemed so powerless in the face of reality.

Now, Xue Xiang's matter weighed heavily on his mind like a stone. And his own affairs were equally tangled and unresolved—

The image of the mysterious woman lingered in his mind. Every night, her dreamlike face would intrude into his dreams. Upon waking, he was filled with melancholy and doubt, yet he could never find the answer.

These two matters were intertwined in a complex way, leaving him feeling unprecedentedly lost and tormented, as if he were in a fog, unable to find his way.

He knew Xue Xiang's temperament well: stubborn and persistent, once she set her mind on a path, she would go all the way. Since she had resolutely chosen to marry into the Fourth Prince's household, no matter how difficult the path, she had to take responsibility for her choice. However, this sense of responsibility seemed so flimsy in the face of harsh reality.

He himself was tormented by nightmares every day. Who exactly was that mysterious woman? What did her appearance mean? Countless nights, he chased after her figure in his dreams, but could never reach her.

This mystery, like a ghost, followed him closely, plunging his life into chaos. A bitter feeling welled up in Murong Han's heart. In this vast world, he was like a lost boat, adrift and uncertain, not knowing where his home was.