Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Stars fell west of the eaves, the sun rose from the eastern fence.
Unbeknownst to her, she had been sitting for an entire night.
The daffodil-colored dawn light flowed over her body as she slowly lowered her gaze.
A gentle breeze ruffled a pond of green water, ripples spreading outwards from the center of the waves, confusing the reflection in circles. In the water, her brows and eyes were already fragmented, only the flower bud on her forehead was perfectly reflected.
Its charm surpasses a clear breeze and a moonlit night, its shadow sinks in the fine mist and the dawn-kissed sky.
This flower is also called ‘Under the Moon’, where a beauty comes. Is all this a coincidence, or the arrangement of fate?
The white bud on her forehead trembled slightly in the wind, the image dreamlike and ethereal, filling her with a sense of bewilderment.
She didn’t know how long it had been when a deep call drifted from the cool morning breeze.
“Yun’er.”
Startled, she slowly turned around.
Figures appeared in the water pavilion, a monk and a scholar smiling lightly against the light.
“Can’t even recognize your master after just one year?”
“...” She opened her lips silently.
“Entering uninvited, this old monk is impolite.”
Her lips trembled slightly, and her eyes welled up with moisture.
“Yun’er?”
“Master...”
Looking at his beloved disciple kneeling on the ground, Feng Huaijin frowned slightly and asked, “Yun’er, what are you doing?”
“This disciple has something to ask of Master.”
“Get up first, then speak.”
Choking back tears, she raised her head: “Master...”
His gaze fell on her forehead, and Feng Huaijin’s heart trembled with a start, vaguely returning to that year...
“What?” He stared fixedly at his son, who remained kneeling.
“Please, Father, grant my wish.”
“To watch you commit suicide, and then dig out your heart and liver—how can a father grant such a thing!” He, who rarely got angry, couldn’t help but raise his voice.
“Father.”
He turned his face away, ignoring him.
“Weiyang has been poisoned by Ephemeral Flower.”
He suddenly lowered his eyes.
“This was the condition for leaving Xuan Palace. To be with your son, despite knowing this was a potent poison, Yang’er still drank it. Ephemeral Flower is a secret medicine used by Xuan Palace to punish traitors. The Palace Master of Xuan Palace secretly told your son that this poison is not without a cure; the antidote is the heart and liver of a loved one.”
No wonder this child would beg him so, Feng Huaijin was silent.
“In the end, whether it can be cured or not, the poisoned person will suffer excruciating pain.”
“Knowing this, how can you let Weiyang take the antidote?”
“Father.”
Feng Huaijin still stared, filled with both sorrow and pity.
“Yang’er is pregnant.”
What...
“Your child cannot watch his wife and child die tragically without doing anything. Please, Father, grant my wish.”
He remained silent for a long time, looking at his son bowing deeply.
“Please, Father, grant my wish.”
Each plea was soft, so soft that he couldn’t refuse.
And then, and then, he lost his only son, and his daughter-in-law, upon learning the truth, suddenly went mad. Insane, neither human nor ghost, she would cry one moment and laugh the next, searching everywhere in the mountains. It wasn’t until one day she found Mo Bai’s grave that she quieted down. She would sit there regardless of wind or rain, quietly holding her gradually protruding belly, softly singing lullabies.
“Father,” she finally spoke after childbirth.
Taking the kitten-like infant, Feng Huaijin’s throat felt a little choked.
“Are you named Wuyu?” Weiyang looked at the boy beside him, revealing a loving smile.
“Yes,” the amber eyes blinked and blinked.
“Will you help me take care of her?”
Touching the infant’s tofu-soft, delicate cheek, the boy smiled, showing his teeth: “Mm!”
“The child’s name is Lianyian; Mo Bai named her.” Looking at her sleeping daughter, Weiyang’s tenderness lingered. “Father, please hold her tight.”
Of course, he would hold her very steadily and tightly, for this was his son’s life.
But only later did he realize that this child was not only Mo Bai’s life, but also Weiyang’s.
The day after childbirth, Wuyu found her in the mountains. Fresh blood stained the spring grass on the grave...
“Master.”
A gentle voice pulled him out of his memories.
Her slender body bowed deeply: “Please, Master, grant my wish.”
Insects buzzed under the shade, a slight south wind blew, stirring old emotions and memories. He paused, a faint sound of Su Shang echoing in his ears.
Fleeting years, fleeting years, the beauty unchanged, but white hair new.
“Please, Master, grant my wish.”
The eaves of the roof peaked high, and the distant, lingering sound of bells drifted on the wind...
________________________________________
On the sixteenth day of the sixth month, King Long passed away, ceding the throne to his ninth son. That night, Marquis Lie drank poison, and Marquis Rong committed suicide.
Eighteen officials were tried in the Imperial Cabinet. Former Minister of Works Tan Qisong, Minister of Revenue Nian Youfu, Vice Minister of Works Zhu Tinggui, Marquis of Zhenguo Qiu Jingtang, and heir Qiu Qiming were found guilty of rebellion and regicide, and were beheaded according to law. Over a hundred people from the Rong and Lie factions were imprisoned. The Qiu clan of Jinyang and the Huang clan of Ruping, who raised troops to usurp the throne and conspired to assassinate the monarch, were punished by the extermination of their nine generations.
On the nineteenth, the new ruler’s first decree stated that General Fubo Han Yuesha’s original name was Han Yuexiao, and he was the son of the former General of Youzhen State, Han Baiqing. Xiao was loyal to the ruler and achieved many extraordinary feats, thus he was specially granted an iron certificate with a vermilion inscription, inheriting the title of First Rank Marquis Dingguo. According to the late King’s dying wish, the new ruler would marry the Marquis Dingguo’s younger sister on the twenty-ninth of the sixth month.
As soon as the imperial decree was issued, the world was in an uproar. People said that the Han Baiqing lineage would not be cut off, and the Han clan of Jiaocheng was bathed in glory.
However, was it Han, or Qiu?
Lines of ink characters jumped on the paper. Listening to the distant sounds, Zhang Mi was slightly stunned.
Finally, it rang.
“Dong... Dong...”
Time stood still at this moment, the vast chime reverberating. The clear blue sky was cloudless, and the morning sun, with its supreme enchanting gaze, looked down upon the earth.
In the boundless azure sky, the clear breeze was free, and that prince finally had his wish.
With an almost imperceptible sigh, Zhang Mi lowered his face, his thick, beautiful lashes casting shadows. With a slight flick of his wrist, the ink-laden brush wrote a line of text.
On the twenty-third day of the sixth month, the fifth King of Qing ascended the throne, personal name Yiran.
Suddenly, a silver light flashed in the corner of his eye. His beautiful eyes widened in surprise; a wolf’s howl rolled across the paper, leaving a thick ink stain.
“Your Excellency!”
He rushed into the beaded curtain, the sound of colliding jade like rain falling on a river, tinkling and spreading.
Seeing a handful of cut hair on the ground, he rushed over and snatched the scissors: “Your Excellency...” Looking at the broken hair over her forehead, his eyes showed pain. “If Your Excellency doesn’t wish it, Zhang Mi can help you leave.”
Although the General’s residence was being monitored, as long as it was what His Excellency wanted, he would even risk his life; as long as... as long as His Excellency was happy.
Yes, as long as she was happy.
Just as he was thinking this, his brow was gently flicked. After a moment of surprise, he looked up. The person was bathed in the morning light, dressed in simple green, with an unadorned face and eyes like water, possessing a unique leisurely charm.
“Does it look good?” She pushed her bangs aside.
“A little strange...” One’s body and hair are gifts from one’s parents. This was the first time he had seen such a strange hairstyle.
She smiled indifferently, placing a huasheng ornament on her forehead. The crescent-shaped forehead ornament pressed down on her bangs, making it difficult even for the clear breeze to glimpse the secret beneath her hair.
Fortunately, he had overthought it.
Releasing his tightly clenched fists, Zhang Mi breathed a sigh of relief.
“Mi’er.”
“Your Excellency.”
Yuexia looked at him quietly, her eyes clear and captivating.
“Your Excellency...” His cheeks flushed slightly; he awkwardly averted his gaze.
“Mi’er,” she began cautiously, “do you want to know about your origins?”
He froze, his eyes fixed only on the slightly moving beaded curtain.
“The day after I returned from the palace, I received a letter.”
The jade-colored curtain beads swayed gently, rippling outwards, circle after circle, reaching the depths of his heart.
“This letter was written by a lady.” Taking out the perfumed letter, Yuexia softened her tone, “Mi’er, do you want to see it?”
His breathing stopped; he stood rigid. The dazzling sunlight poured down, leaving him nowhere to hide.
“Mi’er?”
This question was gentle with a hint of expectation. Normally, what His Excellency wished for was his hope. But this time, he couldn’t agree. Fate could be changed, names could be changed, but the humiliation he carried was like a brand; even if he scraped his skin raw, he couldn’t eradicate it, and all this misfortune stemmed from his origins.
Three taels, he was sold for three taels. In his parents’ eyes, he was only worth three taels.
His trembling eyes welled up with moisture. Zhang Mi clenched his fist, not even noticing that the scissors had cut his palm.
He was an unwanted child, unwanted... unwanted... until...
“Mi’er?”
It wasn’t until this warm voice appeared in his life that he realized he wasn’t an animal after all, that he could actually live in the sunlight.
“Actually, your mother is...”
“Your Excellency!” He suddenly raised his voice, breaking the late summer stillness.
Breathing deeply and unevenly, he glared at the shadow beneath his feet, fiercely, full of hatred.
Sighing silently, Yuexia took a step closer with the letter. Like a wounded young animal, Zhang Mi retreated in terror.
One step forward, one step back, one step forward...
Until he could retreat no further, he stood pressed against the wall, his lips trembling slightly.
“Your mother actually loved you very much, she...”
Liar... liar!
In an instant, reason vanished without a trace. Closing his eyes, he pushed Yuexia away and ran into the distance.
“Mi’er...”
Falling blossoms and drifting catkins, vast and boundless. Where does duckweed drift from? The wind stirred gentle ripples; pond duckweed was stained with rain, green shallowly pursuing the waves.
“Dong... Dong...”
The bell’s chime, like waves, faded into the distance, gradually disappearing into the bloody setting sun.
The courtyard was unusually quiet, devoid of any human breath. The sun set in the west, lengthening the shadow of the person by the couch.
Watching with a half-smile, his peach blossom eyes were enchanting.
The beauty on the bamboo couch slept peacefully. A book lay by her hand, its blue cover imprinted with two regular script characters.
You Shi (History of You)
He frowned slightly, then picked up the book, turning to the page with the flower bookmark.
Still can’t forget?
Her distant mountain-like brows furrowed slightly, then suddenly unfurrowed.
Precisely because of this, he was able to find her. Her obsession, her weakness, fortunately, he had grasped them.
His bright yellow dragon robe fluttered gently in the wind, its vibrant color stunning against the setting sun.
From the sight of the palace attendants and ministers kneeling everywhere, it wasn’t hard to know how rebellious it was for him to leave the palace on the day of his enthronement. But he couldn’t suppress the urge to see her, how much he wanted to. So much that his heart itched unbearably, so much that he felt a restless impulse. So much that he himself was astonished, realizing he had already deeply embedded her in his heart.
Love?
His eyes slightly glazed, Ling Yiran smiled like a spring breeze. Gazing at that peaceful sleeping face, he couldn’t help but lean down, his eyes fixed only on those two cherry-colored lips. Like a young, inexperienced boy tasting love for the first time, his heart pounded wildly. His breath was so close; he was about to kiss her. Suddenly, the breath beneath his nose shifted slightly, like a gust of wind, and his embrace instantly became empty.
His pupils darkened, and he instantly understood: she had been guarding against him all along.
The twilight haze was as thick and unresolvable as mist. Though they were clearly not far apart, gazing at them, the distance seemed infinite. The bamboo couch divided their moods into two ends, one bright, one sorrowful.
After a while, he was the first to speak: “Qingqing, do you know why I came?”
“Afraid I’ll leave.”
“Can you leave?”
Indeed, all of this was Yunzhi’s idea, and she had figured it out.
“Qingqing, you should understand,” Ling Yiran softened his tone, “All of this was destined ten years ago.”
He reached out to brush her bangs, but Yuexia suddenly stepped back, dodging his hand.
“I’m married.”
His beautiful eyes suddenly darkened. He leaned forward oppressively, his handsome face subtly showing anger: “Besides me, who else can you marry?”
“Yunzhi, you understand,” she replied lightly.
________________________________________
“So what?” He frowned slightly, a cold, bitter smile spreading across his face. “Now that it’s come to this, Qingqing, I won’t hide it from you: Mianzhou’s siege has been lifted.”
Joy burst in her eyes, and she smiled with delight.
“By using wealth to suppress Jing and water to control Yi, the combined siege of the two nations was broken without a single soldier or casualty. Ye Jinglan is indeed not weak,” he glanced sideways, a mocking smile on his face. “Today, for the grand ceremony, Mianzhou has also sent envoys. What do you think will happen? Hmm?”
Her eyes were as clear as water, her cherry lips slightly curved, like a spring flower unfolding its fragrance, with a meaning that could only be understood, not articulated.
Ling Yiran’s face turned cold, a greenish tinge appearing.
He did not like to see such a smile, and he never wanted to see it again.
“Qingqing,” he warned through gritted teeth.
The smile on her lips instantly vanished. She looked at him quietly, her eyes holding an emotion that was neither resentment nor pity.
“What are you thinking?” Annoyed by her gaze, Ling Yiran spoke impatiently.
“I’m thinking, even if Xiuyuan traded Mianzhou for me, Yunzhi still wouldn’t agree.”
“Oh? Why?” His mood suddenly brightened.
“Because Yunzhi is just that kind of person, ah.” Her moon-like eyebrows were already drawn, her cloud-like hair newly combed. A lonely, cold beauty enveloped her, and her eyes were as clear and pure as jade ice. “Divine Kun will be mine sooner or later, so why would anyone need to concede it?”
“Han Yuexia!” A terrifying emotion burst in his eyes, and he laughed sharply, “Good, good!”
How many people under heaven could understand him? How many!
A man-eating tiger was hidden in his heart, wanting to devour her whole. He suppressed his overexcited emotions, veins bulging on the fists in his sleeves. “You can’t escape, Qingqing, you can’t escape.”
“Yes, Han Yuexia can’t escape.”
A light sigh drifted away with the wind. In his ecstasy, he couldn’t detect the profound implications of her words.
Her one and only calculation in life.
I’m sorry, Yunzhi.
________________________________________
The slanting moon’s dream was broken, the ephemeral flower bloomed at night, and the boundless azure sky was bathed in icy, shimmering moonlight.
“Your Excellency.”
Half-leaning against the railing, she did not respond.
“Your Excellency, it’s late.” His thick lashes were half-closed, a thin mist seemingly surrounding him. Zhang Mi walked gently, carefully placing a cloak over her. “Mi’er.”
“Hm,” he responded with a slight bow, still a bit awkward, perhaps remembering their earlier conversation.
Slowly, she raised her clear face, her dark eyes like a deep pool reflecting shimmering light: “Where does the path lie?”
The moon in the sky, the moon in the water—what entered her eyes was that waning crescent. Her eyes could not hide a faint sorrow; she raised her lips in a lonely smile. This smile, like the gentle settling of autumn waters, made his chest ache. “Regardless of whether there’s a path or not, Zhang Mi will accompany Your Excellency all the way.”
He spoke with determination, but saw Yuexia gently shake her head.
A sudden panic seized his heart, and he said anxiously, “Your Excellency’s path is Zhang Mi’s path, even if...” His eyes swept over his crotch, and he suddenly clenched his fists. “Zhang Mi does not regret.”
Yuexia’s beautiful eyes were as clear as water, transparently reflecting his flustered expression. “Mi’er,” her voice was like a gentle breeze on the face, “Your future is not me.” After a long gaze, she spoke word by word.
He stared in disbelief, his pupils becoming increasingly hollow and lifeless.
“You’re going to be abandoned again, Mi’er, that’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it?”
His diamond-shaped lips slightly parted, and a look of dejection appeared around his eyes and brows.
“Silly boy.” Reaching out, she ruffled his soft hair. Yuexia said softly, “It’s not that I don’t want Mi’er, but rather that Mi’er has found his own path; we are simply different.”
“No...”
Smiling noncommittally, she gazed at the water and murmured, “Historians are like miscellaneous scholars. With mountains and rivers on their desk and valleys in their chest, their singular perspective encompasses the world, recording countless works through the ages.”
His bewildered eyes regained focus, and Zhang Mi stood stunned.
“I’m sorry, I was just curious. Mi’er writes so diligently, that booklet must be very meaningful.”
“It’s nothing...” He awkwardly averted his gaze, his disguise showing a faint blush.
“That’s Mi’er’s path, you’ve already chosen it, haven’t you?”
Did he still have a path?
Touching the calluses on his middle finger from holding the brush, his ink-painted eyebrows furrowed repeatedly.
For him, that was just a dream.
“Clap!” A clear sound suddenly broke the quiet night. Startled, he abruptly looked up.
“Clap! Clap! Clap!” The claps grew louder. The person before him gazed intently at him, their eyes holding an unyielding determination. “Are you afraid?”
He blinked foolishly, uncomprehending.
“To make a strong beat, one’s hands must strike hard.” She spread her hands, revealing red palms. “Life is the same. Pain, are you afraid of it?”
“You’ve endured even the most tragic pasts. What if you stumble while walking your own path? The more it hurts, the stronger you become. When you rise again, you’re not far from your dream.” Though seemingly eclipsing the moon with her beauty, her eyes still shimmered with moon-like water. “Mi’er, never give up on yourself, never.”
Hope rose in his heart, and the furrow in Zhang Mi’s brows gradually smoothed.
But what about His Excellency? Was he to abandon His Excellency? In such a cold palace, how could one endure alone?
“I want to walk this path with Your Excellency.”
“Mi’er!”
“The path, I have already chosen.”
Facing her questioning gaze, Zhang Mi hurriedly turned around. Clear melodies and midnight songs, the summer wind carried a bitter taste. He walked straight ahead, treading on the moonlight.
“You heard it, didn’t you, Mi’er, my conversation with the new King.”
His steps faltered, and he paused.
“Since you’ve chosen, how about I tell you a story, okay?”
About ten feet apart, he slowly turned around.
“There once was a girl, no, it should be said a beauty.” Gazing at the pool of moonlight, she softly parted her lips. “At sixteen, she married, to a very prominent Hua clan locally. She originally thought happiness was within reach, but the moment the red veil was lifted, she vaguely knew everything would turn to naught. Married to a heartless man, she tearfully mourned her parents. When she thought she couldn’t endure any longer, a new life gave her hope.”
His eyebrows twitched slightly; he remained rooted to the spot.
“There was no longer any reason to give up, she thought, enduring in silence. Finally, on a winter night, the child was born. It was a very beautiful child, her only possession. But before she could even nurse her own child, the child was snatched away. Her husband was a profligate gambler, who, after squandering the family fortune, actually sold her to a brothel in a distant place. Zhangtai Willow, Yan Honglou—how many times she wanted to die. But as soon as she thought of her child, no matter how unbearable, she could endure it. Just one glimpse, just one, she only wanted to hold him one more time.”
A strange bitterness filled his heart. He instinctively wanted to flee but couldn’t move his feet. He listened quietly.
“Two years later, a mysterious guest redeemed her and brought her to Yundu.
‘Do you want to live?’ Her new master asked her.
‘Yes.’ She answered seriously. For her child, she had to live.
‘Then from now on, the master’s path is your path.’
Thus, her tomorrow was decided. After rigorous training, she was given to Ling Yue, the then Prince of Pingnan.”
Prince of Pingnan... His chest trembled slightly, and he stared in disbelief.
“At that time, the King had just ascended the throne. In order to suppress the flourishing Hua clan, he had to win over his powerful half-brother, who commanded a large army. And that beauty was the King’s ceremonial tool. Beneath a woman’s charms, a hero’s spirit falters. Soon, she became Prince Pingnan’s favored concubine. Mi’er, have you noticed?” She turned her eyes and chuckled softly, “Such similar methods, truly father and son, ah.”
Indeed, it was a matter from the late King’s era, so that woman was...
“Walking someone else’s path can also bring a new life. She began to pursue that dream. Searching, searching, whenever she found a similar child, those children would always die unexpectedly. Why? At the time, she didn’t know. It wasn’t until much, much later that she realized a chess piece couldn’t have dreams. Prince Pingnan died amidst rouge and perfume. She became the King’s gentle weapon. From initial clear investigations to later secret inquiries, she never gave up searching.”
“The plum blossoms had passed, the red leaves had no certainty. One day, she finally waited, for that boy with the blood mole on his ear.”
Suddenly, he covered his ears, as if to deny something.
“That was her child.”
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
“What she didn’t expect was that her child had actually followed in her footsteps. Unable to bear it any longer, she found the boy’s then-master, the Left Prime Minister, during a palace banquet. Mi’er, do you know what conditions she offered?”
No, he didn’t want to hear it. He had heard prices like that countless times. What difference did it make how high it was? It was no different from the initial three taels, no!
“For her child, she was willing to betray her master.”
His heart stopped. Her words clearly entered his ears.
“Betraying that person meant sacrificing her life. She understood, but she still did it. However, the Left Prime Minister didn’t know her motive at the time, so he refused.”
His nose felt a little sore, he didn’t know for whom. That woman, or that Excellency.
“The Left Prime Minister truly seemed like a good person, her maternal intuition told her. But before she could catch her breath, that Left Prime Minister died prematurely. At this point, her master was at the end of his rope, a tool used by the King. When the King died, the tool would be destroyed. Because she knew too many secrets.”
“So, she couldn’t be kept alive.”
The sourness climbed from his nasal cavity upwards, impacting his eyes like a tide, surging more and more violently, making him gasp for breath.
“The secret medicine was given, and the only thing she could do was find a shelter for her child. So, she thought of someone. A year ago, this person had granted her a wish, and a year later, this person was about to enter the inner palace. So she sealed her last wish in a letter.”
A clear breeze painted the small pond, ripples spreading one after another, endlessly.
His steps were slow, the light-colored silk skirt approaching gently. He raised his head inch by inch, his gaze falling on the perfumed letter paper.
“Please, Miss, take care of him for me. He doesn’t need silk clothes or luxurious food, just safety. Please tell him, there are many paths he can take, just not someone else’s. As for me, please never mention me to him. To learn the truth only to have lost it would be another abandonment for him. Rather than that, I’d rather be abandoned by him; let him believe he never had a mother. Yuanwan, final words.”
Tonight’s moonlight was too beautiful. In an instant, the moonlight filled his eyes, and then flowed out quietly, quietly, cooling his cheeks.
Gently, he took the letter, as if holding a fresh, living heart.
He dared not acknowledge, could not acknowledge, preferring to be hated by him forever. This was his... his...
“This is your mother.”
He lowered his face, the white mist before his eyes gradually thickening, obscuring the night, obscuring the crescent moon. Bitterness fermented and rose, spreading thickly in his heart and chest.
“Walk your own path, Mi’er.”
His eyes were misty with tears. He looked up, only to see a blurred image gradually approaching.
“If you still wish to meet me again.”
Your Excellency...
Her eyebrows were gently curved at the tips. This moon hung, suspended, seemingly never taking root.
________________________________________
Three days later, Beiluo Slope outside Yun Capital.
The sunlight was somewhat faint, perhaps due to it being late summer. It was unclear whether the creature resting on the leaf tip was a moth or a butterfly; as soon as there was any sign of human presence in the grass, it fluttered its wings and flew tremblingly towards the depths of the forest. The official graveyard, which had been bustling for several months, was unusually quiet on this day, this morning.
“A-Lyu, it’s me.”
“Brother Lyu, Your Excellency has come to see you.”
“Are you well after our farewell in the Yellow Springs?”
“Your Excellency...”
“A-Lyu.” She stroked the words on the gravestone. “I’m sorry to have you lie here under Feng Yunqing’s name.” She lowered her gaze and murmured gently, “A-Lyu, I finally understand why you were unwilling to return to life that day.”
Though there was no wind, the bushes behind her rustled softly. A flicker of understanding crossed her eyes, and she murmured, “All day gathering green, not even a handful. How many times has the spring breeze saddened the emerald.” A startled bird suddenly rose from the woods, and a green leaf slowly drifted down from above her head. “Too tired, so you gave up, is that it, A-Lyu?” Her voice seemed light, yet it was clearly audible.
This gust of wind, an unknown response, passed heavily through the emerald tassels of grass, leaving only a sigh.
“Only through experience can one truly understand. A-Lyu, you must be laughing at me. Very foolish, aren’t I?” She laughed self-deprecatingly. “Human hearts are varied. What you gave up, let this foolish person persist in.”
Taking out a white flask, she raised a cup to pour a libation, but saw that the green stone monument was already soaked with faint water marks, and a subtle scent of wine wafted towards her.
“Pengshan Dew,” Zhang Mi murmured, “It’s Brother Lyu’s favorite.”
Had someone been here before them?
He looked around. The morning sun cast coin-sized shadows through the dense tree canopy. They must have left already, he slowly withdrew his gaze.
“Mi’er, you were there when A-Lyu passed away, weren’t you?”
The question was somewhat abrupt. He nodded in confusion.
“What did he say then?”
Perhaps the wind was strong, as the tree branches trembled even more noticeably.
“Brother Lyu said...” he struggled to recall that chilling night, “Give him happiness.”
Though he didn’t know who “him” referred to, Brother Lyu had used all his strength, no, all his life, to utter that sentence. That look in his eyes, resolute yet sorrowful, he would never forget it.
Light and shadow swayed like waves beneath the tree. Yuexia glanced lightly, “Will that person truly be happy, A-Lyu?” She looked pointedly at the tombstone. “What do you think his mood was when he offered this pot of Pengshan Dew?”
Her voice was faint, causing one to toss and turn.
“Only utter desolation.”
With a sigh, a few “raindrops” unexpectedly appeared beneath the tree.
“A-Lyu, the new King has ascended the throne. He is utterly ruthless; most of the court officials have been purged. For the past month, this graveyard has been crowded, but today it’s eerily quiet. Why?”
Upon her reminder, Zhang Mi finally noticed something amiss. He glanced around, his gaze finally resting on the slender back figure before the tomb.
How could that person be at ease letting His Excellency go out alone? So that’s it, that’s it.
“You guessed it, A-Lyu,” she slowly, very slowly, curved her lips into a smile. “But can you guess who’s in the tree?” She gazed fixedly, not paying any attention to the rustling sounds in the branches. “I just wanted to talk to you. Can he understand this feeling?”
A hoarse male voice came from the shadows: “Chengbì is waiting outside the garden.”
“Sect Master!” Disapproving hushed calls came from all directions; for a moment, the forest was filled with the chirping of birds.
“Withdraw,” the male voice said deeply again.
Not long after, the wind gradually ceased, and wispy, cloud-like streaks drifted across the clear blue sky.
Releasing her tense emotions, she spoke casually, “A-Lyu, before you, Mi’er went to sweep another grave. Don’t be upset, he’s definitely not disloyal. For the details, let Mi’er tell you himself.” She looked at him with a pleased, faint smile.
“...” His murmuring was like the buzz of a mosquito. After rattling it all off, he looked up and saw Yuexia’s raised eyebrow. He paused, then raised his voice again, “Yesterday, I went to see my mother. Your Excellency said she was very beautiful, and also that I shouldn’t feel inferior about my appearance, because it was all given by my mother. If I disliked myself, it would be like disliking my mother. Brother Lyu, if you see her in the afterlife, please say something for me.” His nostrils stung slightly, and his voice was a little hoarse. “Mother, I don’t hate you, I...” Stubbornly wiping away tears, he bit his lower lip, trembling and unable to speak further.
“Mi’er is just hating himself, but one day he will come to terms with it. I believe he will definitely move past it.”
Your Excellency...
Her hair was affectionately ruffled, and her voice was like a clear, flowing spring, cooling his heart.
“Mi’er is about to set off for Nanshan to study under Great Master Cheng. We’ve all found our futures. Are you happy, A-Lyu?” Gently, she poured fragrant wine over the tombstone, and the rich aroma instantly filled the air. “This last cup is for you. Drink the Meng Po soup and depart without worries. A-Lyu, may you be happy in your next life.”
“Brother Lyu, take care.”
Late summer was at its peak; the distant mountain mists were a deep indigo-green. Reaching the crossroads, they could no longer avoid bidding farewell.
She took out a jade token and tied the red string around his neck: “I’ve deposited all the salary remaining from my time as an official and the silver from selling the Prime Minister’s residence into the Ju Bao Zhai. When you need it, use this jade token to withdraw it.”
“Your Excellency!”
“You’re my younger brother, take this money. Besides, someone said they want to support me.” She curved her eyebrows, and for a moment, the essence of spring filled the late summer air. “Have you kept your household register and travel expenses safe?”
“Mm.” He stared anxiously at Yuexia, afraid she would leave the next moment.
“Did you remember your mother’s words clearly?”
“Mm.” He touched his chest; the letter was still close to his body, its earnest words never forgotten for a moment.
“Set off, Mi’er.” She placed the horse’s reins into his palm.
Mounting the horse, he still clutched her sleeve: “Your Excellency!”
Prying open his tightly clasped fingers, Yuexia leaned close and whispered, “Along this journey, no matter what you hear or see, do not look back. If you do, then I will not see you again.” She stared intently, speaking with rare forcefulness, “Mi’er, promise me.”
Your Excellency...
“Mi’er!”
“Zhang Mi promises Your Excellency, I will never look back from this journey,” he said submissively, then suddenly added, “Your Excellency must come find me.”
“Mm, I will not break my promise,” she said with a clear voice, the beautiful line of her lips curving slightly. “Mi’er, look, what’s that?”
He looked up; the sky was clear, the water a translucent green, and the azure mist rose like smoke. Sunlight quietly dappled the ink-wash landscape, shifting and flowing in charming, scattered patterns.
The road ahead, so brilliant.
As he was reveling in the sight, he heard a sharp crack of a whip, and the steed beneath him neighed and galloped away.
“Your Excellency!” The unexpected departure startled him. He turned his head for another look.
Her white robes fluttered like flowing wind and returning snow, as graceful as a clear spring from a distant mountain. She smiled without reservation, her smile like the beautiful moon glow in the sky, possessing a calming charm.
His emotions settled. He waved to the receding figure, then turned away.
Swallows scattered across the four seas, there will be a time for tomorrow.
The path is right beneath his feet.
“Hah!”
Google Sites
Report abuse