Chapter 159: 159 Epilogue (5)

◎Luo Wanwan X Yan Jinglou◎

Luo Wanwan only secretly played for a while, and when she returned, she caught a cold.

The Luo family’s security was strict, and it didn’t take much investigation to catch Yan Jinglou. The moment General Luo thought about his daughter having been involved with an unknown wild boy for a month, his face turned ashen with fury.

Luo Wanwan refused to explain the reason. Xiaoman couldn’t withstand the mistress’s interrogation and recounted the entire incident from beginning to end.

Yan Jinglou was currently imprisoned by Luo Suizhi. She naturally couldn’t let him be wrongly accused, so she told her father and brother about Yan Jinglou saving them yesterday and pleaded with them to let Yan Jinglou stay by her side as her personal guard.

Her father and brother had always doted on her. After much pleading and crying, they reluctantly agreed. Thus, Yan Jinglou found a foothold in the Luo family.

Luo Wanwan had ten classes a month. When the teacher lectured, Wanwan would also have Xiaoman and Yan Jinglou follow along. Xiaoman was somewhat better, as she had been with her for two years and had some foundation; Yan Jinglou, however, was completely illiterate and couldn’t keep up. Luo Wanwan would then take time to teach him to read and write. Fortunately, he was intelligent and could learn in just one sitting.

He first learned to write “Luo Wanzhi,” and finally learned to write “Yan Jinglou.” The entire page was filled with their two names.

Wanwan loved having Yan Jinglou play with her, but she also didn’t want his talent to go to waste. Whenever she had free time, she would playfully coax Luo Suizhi into sending Yan Jinglou to the military camp to learn martial arts. This reduced the time they spent together.

However, Yan Jinglou wasn’t one to stay put. He would always sneak back at night to find her. Knowing Wanwan was bored in her courtyard, he would secretly take her out to the streets, unbeknownst to the Luo family.

Both the Luo family and the military camp gave monthly allowances, not much, totaling around three hundred copper coins. Yan Jinglou never kept any for himself; he gave it all to her every time he received it. He bought jewelry for Wanwan, bought her favorite fermented glutinous rice balls, or asked people in the military camp to bring back rare storybooks from far away.

Actually, Wanwan didn’t lack these things, and Yan Jinglou knew it, but he wanted to give her his all and treat her well.

One spring came, and one spring passed. Wanwan was already fourteen.

Having grown older, Wanwan had curbed her childish, playful nature. Coupled with her prolonged illness, her personality had become somewhat gentle, making her appear more like a noble young lady compared to her childhood self.

Mortal women generally married early. People in the capital all wanted to cling to the Luo family, a powerful force. Suitors almost trampled their doorstep daily. Lady Luo had thought about finding a good match for her daughter, but the two men in the family strongly opposed it. Considering her daughter’s health, she sighed and sent all the suitors away.

Xiaoman was curious and asked if she had someone in mind. Wanwan shook her head, looking up at the spring branches outside without speaking.

By winter, Wanwan’s health worsened. A fourteen-year-old girl should have been vibrant and delicate, but she was frail and sickly, her face paler than snow.

Her father wouldn’t let her leave the house, and Yan Jinglou had gone to war with her brother, so he probably wouldn’t return this winter either. Her only daily amusement was listening to Xiaoman tell stories, but after a while, she grew tired of them. Being cooped up in the mansion for so long was stifling.

Wanwan slightly opened a window. The cold wind was biting. She had no desire to admire the snowy courtyard. Just as she was about to close the window, a light caught her eye: two plump, adorable fire rabbits hopped into view.

Her fingers paused.

The two rabbits played on the windowsill. Wanwan’s eyelashes fluttered, and she looked up. The boy stood beneath the willow tree, heavy with snow. Half a year had passed since she last saw him; he was much taller and sturdier. His crimson armor made him look even more youthful and imposing.

He smiled, pointing at the window. Luo Wanwan looked, and saw the fire rabbits dissipate, forming two words—

[Come out.]

Wanwan tilted her head and called to Xiaoman, “Bring me my cloak.”

Xiaoman was displeased. “It’s freezing outside, Young Lady, you should still—”

Luo Wanwan didn’t let her finish, running out on her own. Xiaoman, helpless, could only grab the cloak and chase after her.

However, she never reached that cloak. The moment she pushed open the door, the biting cold wind receded. She saw the winter snow melting, branches blossoming; she saw the courtyard filled with spring, and the boy standing beneath the dense willow tree, smiling.

Luo Wanwan initially thought it was an illusion, a dream. Yet, a fragrant scent filled the air, and a warmth enveloped her, making her feel no coldness at all.

Xiaoman, who followed behind, was also stunned. She looked at Yan Jinglou but found that the boy’s eyes held only Wanwan.

“How did you do that?”

“I won’t tell you.” Yan Jinglou was much taller than her. He bent down to look at her, and seeing her chin was sharp and she was pitifully thin, his heart ached. “Hold out your hand.”

Luo Wanwan obediently held out her hand again.

He dropped a seed into her hand. “This is a Unfading Flower. Just find a vase and plant it.” He paused. “When it blooms next year, you’ll be well.”

Luo Wanwan held the seed, smiling foolishly.

Yan Jinglou secretly whisked her away again, taking her to a temple fair, buying small treats, and even going to the mountains to watch shooting stars. He said that he had encountered an immortal during this campaign and learned some spells. In the future, besides the fire rabbits, he could conjure many other things. He could also take her out, and she wouldn’t feel cold.

Wanwan had never been outside before and pestered him all night, asking about things outside.

That night was quite enjoyable. The consequence was that her father found out, punished Yan Jinglou, and put her under house arrest for ten days. However, neither of them took it to heart. As usual, whenever he had free time, Yan Jinglou would secretly take her out.

Perhaps due to her cheerful mood, her health also improved greatly. The Luo family, seeing this, simply turned a blind eye.

Another two years passed. Yan Jinglou accompanied Luo Suizhi on southern and northern campaigns. His skills became increasingly agile, and his spiritual power also advanced.

Outside Xiaozhong Mountain, there were always cultivators or immortals descending from the mountains for training. Whenever Yan Jinglou had free time, he would seek guidance or secretly learn from them. One day, his spiritual abode opened wide, and he glimpsed a never-before-seen sight, knowing then that he was no longer an ordinary mortal.

Yan Jinglou never kept anything from Luo Wanwan; he would tell her all of this.

When he spoke of these things, he was spirited, his eyes full of yearning. Wanwan asked, “With your qualifications, an immortal mountain will surely accept you as a disciple. When spring comes, go to the immortal mountain to seek apprenticeship and learn arts.”

Yan Jinglou shook his head.

“Why?”

“Don’t want to.”

“Why don’t you want to?”

“Just don’t want to.”

Luo Wanwan didn’t press further, but she knew in her heart that he simply couldn’t let her go.

Actually, Wanwan also had many things she couldn’t let go of: she could see the increasingly shaky dynasty; discern the worry in her father’s and brother’s eyes; and witness her mother’s grief whenever the doctor came to visit.

She couldn’t let go of her family, her loved ones, and she couldn’t let go of Yan Jinglou.

But what could she do?

Her health was worsening. She was sensitive to cold, ate little, and often woke up coughing in the middle of the night. The medicine she drank grew increasingly bitter.

Wanwan had few wishes in this life. She only wished for a long life. As long as she lived a long life, everything would be fine.

Before autumn, the Unfading Flower that Yan Jinglou had given her two years ago suddenly bloomed. That tiny bit of color filled her with ecstasy. For the first time, Wanwan secretly went to the military camp to find Yan Jinglou, hiding it from everyone.

“A’Yan, look, it’s blooming.”

She had carefully protected the flower and leaves all the way. Luo Wanwan looked up at him, her pale cheeks flushed with two patches of cherry red, appearing a bit more lively.

“I can get better now.”

Yan Jinglou was stunned.

Luo Wanwan took his hand and gave him the flower. “A’Yan, go to the immortal mountain. When you finish your studies, maybe you can find a spiritual medicine to make me better.”

Yan Jinglou held the flower, his gaze lowered, saying nothing, his thoughts deep.

“A’Yan?” Wanwan’s gaze was puzzled.

The flower swayed in his palm, tiny and fragile; a slight breeze could knock it over. He took a deep breath, as if making up his mind, staring intently at Luo Wanwan. “Wanwan, I...”

“Young Lady.”

His words were cut short. It was Xiaoman. Presumably, her family had discovered her absence and sent someone to bring her back.

“I’m going back,” Luo Wanwan said. “A’Yan, I only wish for your happiness.”

She turned and left, getting into the carriage.

Yan Jinglou watched the carriage disappear into the distance, his unspoken words lodged in his heart. A void suddenly opened within him.

Ever since that Unfading Flower bloomed, Luo Wanwan’s health indeed improved. Yan Jinglou also agreed to go to Guixu for study, so Wanwan accompanied him for one last Mid-Autumn Festival.

Perhaps caught in the moment, she secretly took a sip of his wine while he wasn’t looking. After drinking it, she became drunk and said she wanted to release a wish lantern. Yan Jinglou indulged her and let her write.

“Autumn moon, oh autumn moon, distant Moon Palace and the Milky Way, a cup of fine wine to pray for my heart’s desires...”

“First wish, may the immortal path be long, and may we meet again this evening; Second wish, may our hearts know each other, year after year... longing for each other.”

He froze, looking at her in disbelief.

She was asleep on the table, her breathing light and soft, her fingers still clutching the cup.

Yan Jinglou suddenly wanted to kiss her. However, that was a petty act, so he reined himself in, placed the written paper into the lantern, cast a spell, and let it float away with the wind.

The next day, Luo Wanwan saw him off from Xiaozhong Mountain. She only accompanied him to the intersection, handing him his travel bag. At their farewell, they looked at each other in silence, unsure what to say.

Yan Jinglou watched her for a long time, then finally uttered, “I’ll be back.”

Luo Wanwan said, “I’ll be right here, not going anywhere.”

He still didn’t leave. His mind was anxious. After a long while, seeing the sky turn gloomy, knowing he couldn’t delay much longer, he gritted his teeth and bravely said, “I want to hug you.”

Luo Wanwan hadn’t expected him to say only that after such a long time, and she chuckled.

Yan Jinglou’s ears turned red from being laughed at. Without another word, he turned to leave, but at that moment, Luo Wanwan hugged him.

Yan Jinglou was stunned for a long time before he turned and hugged her back.

She was very thin, frail, with no warmth in her body. Yan Jinglou wanted to hold her tighter, but he was afraid of hurting her.

His heart ached; he was reluctant to let go.

As the rain began to fall, tears fell from his eyes too.

“Wanwan...”

“Hm.”

“Wanwan...”

“Hm.”

He was reluctant to call her name, and each time he did, she responded.

“I’ll be back. I’ll take you to see Chang’an.”

Luo Wanwan said, “Okay.”

“I’ll also seek spiritual medicine and make you gradually get better.”

Luo Wanwan said again, “Okay.”

He released her and left.

Luo Wanwan stood in the rain, watching the boy’s figure gradually consumed by the rain and mist, before slowly turning around.

Before getting into the sedan chair, she looked once more in that direction. The rain separated two worlds; it was a place she could never leave.

The sedan chair swayed, and she closed her eyes, feeling drowsy. In a trance, it seemed as if she had returned to many years ago, hearing him chase after her, calling “Wanwan.”

Wanwan ultimately did not wait for his return. Her fragile body succumbed to illness, and as winter arrived, she perished with the wind and snow.

The Unfading Flower placed by Yan Jinglou’s window eventually withered as well.