Chapter Fifty-nine: Farewell

After tossing out those words, Feng Xiaoli rushed forward without looking back, hoisted Yue Wanqing onto the saddle, climbed onto the horse herself, and hastily declared to the ever-loyal Luo Yu, “Luo Yu, I won’t bother with you anymore. Hire a carriage and follow along to find your lady yourself!”

Feng Xiaoli spat out her words in a tumble and vanished in an instant. Luo Yu was left sweating—Miss, you didn’t even say where you’re going, how am I supposed to follow!

At the residence of the Left Prime Minister, amidst the chaos of guards and the secret sentinels who had rushed over, Yan Xi watched as Feng Xiaoli truly departed, refusing to linger. With a leap, he disappeared from everyone’s sight.

The Left Prime Minister was so furious he could not speak. Pointing at the secret sentinels who had failed to catch Yan Xi and Feng Xiaoli and could not even safeguard Yue Wanqing, he spat out, “The Prime Minister’s residence has raised you all for nothing! So many of you, yet you can’t catch two mere people. Useless, all of you!”

With a thud, the secret sentinels dropped to their knees. As sentinels, they possessed a certain pride and awareness; they would not beg for mercy, but only through kneeling could they hope to quell their master’s wrath.

“Useless!” The Prime Minister stroked his long beard and barked, “Someone, prepare the sedan—we’re heading to Prince Chun’s residence!”

==

Feng Xiaoli took Yue Wanqing out of the city, arriving at the famed Farewell Pavilion beyond the outskirts. She had learned from Prince Chun that Xiang Lian would depart from the prison, passing by this very pavilion. It would be inconvenient to say farewell in the palace, with too many eyes watching.

The surroundings of the Farewell Pavilion were uniquely picturesque, covered in wildflowers and unknown grasses. Feng Xiaoli herself had not known of this place until a few days ago, when Zi Lin brought her here on their return to Huaijing from Misty Snow Mountain. She had thought then that if fate allowed, she would visit again. Unexpectedly, that second visit was today, with Xiang Lian as the one to meet.

Yue Wanqing was uncomfortable, having been hastily placed on horseback. She blinked open her eyes, dazed by the changing scenery, thinking herself dreaming, and called out vaguely, “Luo Yu, what time is it? Pour me a glass of water, will you?”

Feng Xiaoli slapped Yue Wanqing on the hip, prompting a startled shriek. With no pity in her heart, Feng Xiaoli saw that Yue still refused to open her eyes, so she slapped her several more times, causing Yue to cry out repeatedly.

“Luo Yu, what are you doing?”

The first few strikes were light, but then Feng Xiaoli suddenly used force, landing a sharp smack on Yue’s hip and spoke clearly, “Open your eyes and see who I am!”

“Who?” Yue Wanqing murmured, then suddenly opened her eyes, only to be greeted by Feng Xiaoli’s fierce, banshee-like glare, and she was startled.

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“Yue Wanqing, I don’t care about you—open your eyes this instant! If you don’t, I won’t hesitate to slap you a few more times. I’m still angry from your father’s attitude, and since you’re his daughter, you can suffer for him!” She raised her hand as if to strike Yue again.

Yue Wanqing, weak and unable to endure Feng Xiaoli’s blows, was still sprawled over the saddle. With a roll, she tumbled to the ground, the pain searing through her limbs and waist, piercing and intense.

“What’s happening?” Yue Wanqing struggled to rise.

“What’s happening? I’d like to ask you! When I brought you out, your father looked at me as though he wished to kill me. I risked my life to get you out, and you don’t even thank me?” Feng Xiaoli boasted, as if it was all her doing. She never considered that without Yan Xi’s help, she could not have succeeded so easily.

“Where are we, and why did you bring me here, Ah Li?” She dusted off the grime from her fall; though not a stickler for cleanliness, she still preferred to be neat.

Feng Xiaoli’s gaze darkened. “This is the Farewell Pavilion—” she began, but before she could finish, the sound of approaching hooves could be heard from afar.

Yue Wanqing glanced at Feng Xiaoli suspiciously, unsure what scheme she was plotting.

From the distance, riders approached. One burly man on horseback brandished a flag bearing the emblem of Tianshang. Even if she didn’t understand Feng Xiaoli’s words, the sight made it clear: Xiang Lian was among them.

She had only recently recovered from a grave illness. The scene before her stirred old wounds, and her face paled; without rouge, she appeared even more delicate and pitiful. She blinked, hiding herself in the pavilion. Feng Xiaoli was baffled—after all the trouble bringing her out, was she just going to hide?

“If you don’t come out now, Xiang Lian will soon be gone!” Feng Xiaoli urged anxiously.

Yue Wanqing, how can you not understand my purpose in bringing you here? It was so the two of you could meet once more, for who knows when, if ever, you’ll see each other again. Perhaps never in this lifetime.

Don’t you understand, Wanqing? Once she enters Tianshang’s borders, life will be hard for her.

“Ah Li!” Yue Wanqing said sorrowfully, “Everything was made clear that day. Meeting again would only worsen the pain; it’s better not to see her.” Her words were soft, drifting like a feather, leaving no trace behind.

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She truly did not wish to see Xiang Lian again. Everything had been said, and what could not be spoken would forever remain buried in her heart. She only hoped Xiang Lian would live a safe, uneventful life.

Thinking of this, she mocked herself. What was she hoping for? Such thoughts were meaningless—she must be mad to entertain them.

Xiang Lian, Xiang Lian, your name seems destined for pity. Your world is fated to be one of a hostage. Now, at last, you realize your wish, returning to your homeland, able to look upon the country that once abandoned you, to see it with your own eyes, so you will have no regrets.

Do you know? You are truly foolish! Yet you have done what you always wanted, finally taking your fate into your own hands. Though I cannot help but feel it’s not worth it, Xiang Lian, Xiang Lian, what am I to do with you?

The carriage sped past the Farewell Pavilion, dust swirling. Feng Xiaoli did not hide, staring blankly at the approaching carriage. She knew Xiang Lian must be inside. The envoys from Tianshang glanced briefly at Feng Xiaoli before looking away.

As the carriage raced past, the curtain was gently lifted, revealing a face well-known to both Feng Xiaoli and Yue Wanqing. With rose-red lips, she softly spoke, “Wanqing, farewell. Ah Li, farewell. Huaijing, farewell.”

With that, everything was cast aside.

Everything would remain in the past.

End of Volume One

－－－－－－Postscript－－－－－－

Volume One is finished!

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