Chapter 75: Return

Yun Qing did not look at the astonishment in Zihua’s eyes; what she pondered was whether someone as gentle as Qi Chuxue could accept such an outcome. After struggling internally for a long time, she finally yielded to Zihua’s proposal of staking everything on a single gamble. So be it, since it is a gamble, there is no need to hesitate so much. Whatever bitter fruit may come in the future, she would accept it all.

Taking a deep breath, Yun Qing said, “It isn’t difficult to wake Chuxue; all we need to do is make her forget her past. As you said, her choice to slumber was but a means of self-protection, an escape from reality. If she forgets what has happened, she can awaken immediately. And should she need to remember in the future, the best way is to temporarily seal that part of her memory, so that when fate allows, it will naturally be restored.”

“If that is so, how will we explain the fall of the Qi Kingdom to her?”

“There is no need to worry about that; I will erase her former identity. When I enter her chambers, you are to stand guard outside—do not let anyone in, not even the emperor himself. There is risk in this; are you willing to try?”

Seeing Zihua nod solemnly, Yun Qing turned and entered Chuxue’s room. Previously, in order to strengthen her connection with the Soul Lamp of Qingli and to better fuse with its power and quicken her cultivation, Yun Qing had practiced many arts related to the soul. Thus, even without the Soul Lamp at hand, this matter was not too difficult for her.

Yun Qing pressed her right forefinger lightly to Chuxue’s brow. A luminous green glow, identical to that of the Soul Lamp, slowly flowed from her fingertip into Chuxue’s forehead, tracing the lines of her face and disappearing into her hair. At the same time, a shining white light crept up Yun Qing’s fingers, winding to her wrist. After about the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn, Yun Qing withdrew her hand, transforming the white light twined about her fingers and palm into a single talisman.

With a soft sigh, Yun Qing touched her left thumb to her forefinger, conjuring a blue flame to burn the talisman away. She murmured, “When you remember, that will depend on fate between you two.”

After confirming everything was well, Yun Qing left the room and nodded to Zihua. As Zihua smiled in relief, Yun Qing explained, “Though I’ve made Chuxue forget her past for now, when she will remember remains uncertain. Perhaps she will recall everything before the emperor frees himself from the binding of Lovesickness, or perhaps she will never remember it in this lifetime. I have not altered the memories of how she and the emperor came to know each other, only changed her status to that of an ordinary official’s daughter. Make sure she knows this before the emperor visits her, and of course, inform the former crown prince as well. Should Chuxue ever recall the truth, just lay the blame on me. By that time, I will likely no longer be here, so there is no need to worry.”

Zihua nodded in understanding.

The next morning, Chuxue indeed awoke. The confusion in her eyes lasted only a moment before clearing, though her stiff limbs caused her some discomfort. Zihua explained matters simply, then brought her some congee and light fare, just as before, advising her to start with something easy to digest.

News of Chuxue’s awakening did not spread beyond the Snowfall Palace, yet the emperor still arrived soon after court concluded. At that time, Chuxue was left in the garden, while Zihua succinctly explained the situation to the emperor.

In that moment, Yun Qing saw only a fleeting ripple in his eyes, no trace of delight. Her heart sank. She could not help but wonder if she had overestimated the emperor—no matter how powerful, he was but a mortal. How could he break free from the combined enchantment of the Soul Lamp and the White Night? But what was done was done; there was no longer any chance to regret or change it.

Yun Qing, together with Zihua, followed the emperor to the garden to find Chuxue. At the sight of him, Chuxue froze for a moment, then, as realization dawned, she rushed into his arms. The emperor stiffly received her, as though unprepared to accept a Chuxue who could run and leap. He forced a smile, his expression unnatural.

The emperor did not linger at the Snowfall Palace and soon departed. Thus, news of Chuxue’s awakening quickly spread. Before long, the empress arrived with several other consorts. Fortunately, without the burden of troublesome memories, Chuxue coped well enough.

That afternoon, the former crown prince of Qi also hurried over upon hearing the news. Zihua explained as Yun Qing had instructed, and he accepted it more readily than the emperor, soon adapting to Chuxue’s new identity.

Perhaps he was simply happier for Chuxue’s recovery. Watching the two converse and laugh together, Yun Qing thought as much.

Yun Qing had planned to leave at once, but was persuaded to stay by Zihua.

“Why not stay a few more days? I believe His Majesty and my lady will eventually be well.”

Facing Zihua’s hopeful smile, Yun Qing swallowed the words she had not spoken. The reason she wished to leave so quickly was that she feared witnessing the continued estrangement between the two; after all, she had never seen anyone break free from the bonds of lovesickness.

Looking at Zihua, Yun Qing could only nod in resignation.

That evening, the emperor returned, his manner more at ease than in the morning, though his smile remained faint. Under Zihua’s gentle urging, Yun Qing relaxed—after all, the emperor had never been one to smile easily. Even when first meeting Chuxue, he had already been an emperor adept at hiding his feelings; now, that had changed little.

The emperor did not spend the night at Snowfall Palace, instead returning to his study. The first day passed thus. Zihua was noticeably happier than Yun Qing, saying, “Miss Mingyue, it’s already good enough that my lady is well. This was never a matter to be solved in a day; I believe all will be well in the end.”

In the days that followed, the emperor lingered longer at Snowfall Palace, yet his demeanor and gaze remained unchanged. For this, Zihua could only reassure Chuxue by attributing it to the emperor’s preoccupation with state affairs.

After staying for about half a month, Yun Qing finally left the imperial palace of Que. To avoid a repeat of last time, she left a letter for Zihua. The fate of the emperor and Chuxue was now beyond her ability to alter; since that was so, it was better to depart. Perhaps, someday, she would hear tales of them from the common folk.

Late at night, with the moon high and silent, Yun Qing alighted lightly atop the city wall. She cast one last glance back at the imperial city, then slipped outside and walked away alone.

Heading south, Yun Qing hesitated for several days upon reaching the vast Chu River, but eventually chose to travel by boat. Though she still felt dizzy, her current body was much sturdier than before. When it was unbearable, she could adjust her condition with spells, and so the journey was not as arduous as her last. For the first time, Yun Qing beheld the majestic grandeur of the Chu River, the endless waters stretching as far as the eye could see, broken only by the occasional passing boat and distant blue mountains shrouded in mist.

Amidst the vast, desolate expanse, she was overwhelmed by the sense of heaven and earth’s eternity. Compared to the unchanging mountains and rivers, what in this world truly endures? All the tangled threads of love and hatred, as time goes by, eventually dissipate like mist. Yet, it is easy to say this as a bystander; when it comes to oneself, it is hard to let go.

Just as for her—it was not so simple to forget all that had happened in her homeland.

Shaking her head, Yun Qing dismissed these thoughts and stretched her arms wide, letting the river breeze wash over her.

After crossing the Chu River, she soon entered the borders of Luo. At present, the emperor of Que was consolidating his hold on the northern territories, and relations with Luo were amicable, so the border was not as strictly guarded as elsewhere. The two countries even traded frequently. Yun Qing lingered for a few days, bought some rare trinkets, and continued southward, traveling nearly three months before reaching the former boundary of Qi and Luo.

Now, all the lands that had been Qi within Luo’s domain belonged to Yizhou, which had become the largest province in Luo. Most of Yizhou’s people still maintained their old customs, and the officials sent by the Luo emperor were mostly idle, never forcing the people to adopt Luo’s ways. As a result, though life was not as prosperous as north of the Chu River, it was no worse than before.

Yun Qing stayed in Yizhou for about half a month, hoping to hear some news of Chuxue, but left without hearing a single rumor. Departing Yizhou, she headed straight for Yinzhou, desiring to see the House of Yearning one last time. Though it held much pain for her, it had also occupied a significant part of her life and could not be easily forgotten.

By the time she entered Yinzhou, Yun Qing no longer counted the days. Passing by the Yi family’s estate in the south of the city, she glanced inside—the vast courtyard was empty, not a soul in sight. Of the three who had once dwelled there, two had returned to the Celestial Realm, and the other had presumably gone back to the Hall of Mortal Transience. Since then, the Yi family had grown ever more mysterious, becoming almost a legend in Yinzhou, until one year, another family bearing the Yi name moved in.

Mingyue pushed open the door of the House of Yearning. It had been a long time, and dust had gathered thickly inside. As soon as she opened it, dust rushed to greet her, forcing Yun Qing to retreat a few steps and cover her nose. Gazing up, she seemed to see again the slender figure of Qin Shi, cloth in hand, quietly polishing the signboard.