Chapter 23

Chapter Summary: Dreaming.

After Xie Xuan finished dressing, Li Wei helped him tidy up, saying as she did so, "This dark blue one looks quite smart, but it feels like something's missing. How about you try on this dark purple one?"

Li Wei suggested, reaching for Dai Zi's spring dress. Xie Xuan sensed something was amiss, paused in taking off the dress, and asked, "Mother, is this really the dress you prepared for me to go to Wanjiang Mountain?"

Normally, Li Wei wouldn't let him try on clothes multiple times. When she heard Xie Xuan ask this, Li Wei's expression became slightly embarrassed. She explained her meaning: "Today, Lord Zheng is being promoted back to the capital. He's hosting a banquet tonight, inviting his colleagues from the court to join him. I was thinking that since you're now an official in the court, and today is your day off, it would be good for you to go with your father and broaden your horizons."

"Mother, your child..." Xie Xuan was interrupted by Li Wei halfway through his sentence.

“Xuan’er, you are not young anymore. We are now in the capital, not on the frontier. It’s not good to continue to indulge in your own desires.”

Xie Xuan paused for a moment, then replied hesitantly, "I understand. I will go to the banquet with Father tonight."

“Okay,” Li Wei replied with a smile, then added, “Try this dark purple one.”

Xie Xuan reached out and took it, putting it on. Li Wei looked Xie Xuan up and down with satisfaction and said, "The dark purple color makes you look noble. You should wear this one."

"Okay," Xie Xuan nodded in response.

After trying on the clothes, Li Wei came out of the room. The old nanny next to her asked Li Wei with some curiosity, "Didn't Madam originally not plan to let the young master go to the banquet? Why did she suddenly change her mind?"

"I didn't want him to attend the banquet because I was afraid he was young and impetuous and didn't understand the rules of the court. I was worried he might offend someone. But then I thought, it's not a good idea to always protect him. He's grown up now and should go out and interact with officials in the court. Besides, the Zheng family's banquet will definitely invite noble ladies from famous families in the capital. Xuan'er is currently working at the Cining Palace and doesn't have many opportunities. It would be even better if a marriage could be formed tonight."

As Li Wei spoke, she glanced at the direction of Xie Xuan's room and sighed softly, "Actually, it's not that I necessarily want to marry a noblewoman. As long as Xuan'er likes someone gentle, beautiful, and decent, that's fine."

"Yes, the young master will understand the lady's good intentions one day," the nanny replied from the side.

"Is Young Master really going to the banquet?" Xie Yi asked after Li Wei left.

"Since Mother has said so, and I will be going with Father, there's no way I can escape," Xie Xuan replied.

Xie Yi thought about it again and realized that it made sense.

After seeing Zheng Leqing off, it was time for lunch. Ever since seeing Zheng Leqing, Yu Jing had been even more troubled and didn't enjoy her lunch.

After seeing Zheng Leqing off, Yu Jing inexplicably felt extremely flustered. When flustered, she was prone to overthinking.

Zheng Leqing has left the palace, and Xie Xuan is also on leave today. They're both outside the palace, so they won't run into each other, will they? They're bound by a love tribulation; they won't fall in love at first sight, will they?

Just as Yu Jing was thinking of this, she was drinking meatball soup and was startled, spilling a lot of soup from her spoon.

Seeing this, Xiaoting quickly took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to Yu Jing to wipe up the spilled soup. Yu Jing didn't care about that and put the spoon back into the bowl.

“Ayu.”

"Yes, sir." Ayu was standing nearby, instructing the palace maids to fetch new clothes. As soon as she heard Yu Jing call her, she quickly responded.

As Yu Jing was pondering how to begin, A Yu understood what Yu Jing meant and leaned closer to him.

"Arrange for some people to keep an eye on Xie Xuan," Yu Jing said, pausing for a moment. "No matter what happens, report back to me."

Ayu was taken aback, her eyes filled with confusion. Although she was puzzled, she dared not ask anything and replied in a low voice, "Yes, this servant will go right away."

"Oh, right."

Just as Ayu was about to turn and leave, Yu Jing called out to her: "This matter must not be known to anyone else."

"This servant understands." Ayu nodded and then walked out.

Watching Ayu's retreating figure, Yu Jing felt slightly relieved. Xiao Ting continued to wipe the soup splashed on Yu Jing's sleeves. Yu Jing withdrew her hands slightly and said, "Don't bother, just change your clothes. I don't have much of an appetite, so please leave."

"Yes," Xiaoting replied, putting away her handkerchief.

Sensing that Yu Jing was not in a good mood, they packed their things very quietly. Soon, a palace maid brought in clean clothes, and Xiao Ting helped Yu Jing change. Just as she was about to put on her outer robe, Yu Jing reached out to stop her.

"No need to wear it. I'm going to lie down on the couch for a while. You may all leave."

"Yes," Xiao Ting replied, leading the people in the hall to withdraw.

Yu Jing didn't sleep well last night and had many thoughts, so he felt very tired. The rain outside had been falling all day and the palace was very dark. Yu Jing lay on the couch, listening to the pitter-patter of the rain outside, and soon his eyelids drooped.

It was very dark around her, so dark that she couldn't see her surroundings for a moment. After a while, when she opened her eyes again, she saw vast fields of blood-red spider lilies. They looked like blood, a glaring red, and emitted a faint, sweet, fishy smell.

The River of Oblivion flows ceaselessly, filled with vengeful spirits who are unable to reincarnate due to their obsessions. The Bridge of Helplessness spans the river, and Meng Po stands under the teahouse at the bridgehead, brewing Meng Po soup.

Yu Jing had been to the underworld before, but this time it was very strange. In the past, the Bridge of Helplessness was always full of spirits waiting to be reincarnated, but this time, it was eerily quiet.

Yu Jing felt a pang of anxiety and ran towards the teahouse. Only when she saw Meng Po did she breathe a sigh of relief.

"Aunt Meng Po".

Meng Po looked up at Yu Jing.

"Why are there so few souls crossing the River of Oblivion today?" Yu Jing had barely finished speaking when he saw Meng Po point in the direction of the Bridge of Helplessness, smiling without saying a word.

The River of Oblivion is wide and vast, stretching as far as the eye can see, and so is the Bridge of Helplessness. Yu Jing, filled with doubt, pointed towards the Bridge of Helplessness. Before Yu Jing could speak, Meng Po nodded.

Yu Jing hesitated for a moment, glancing at Meng Po, then at the Bridge of Helplessness, before stepping onto it. In the distance, she saw a figure from behind—a young man dressed in a dark robe with pine and bamboo patterns. He was tall and straight, his long, ink-black hair half-tied and half-loose, adorned with a thousand-year-old jade hairpin. Yu Jing looked closer, then stopped. A name suddenly popped into her mind.

Xie Xuan.

Just as the name Xie Xuan flashed through Yu Jing's mind, the man turned around. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, with slightly upturned corners—it was indeed Xie Xuan, yet he looked somewhat different. Unlike the arrogant and flamboyant youth, he exuded a composed and dignified air in every gesture.

Only when Yu Jing thought of the thousand-year-old bone jade pinned to his headdress did he realize that he was the Heavenly Emperor.

Yu Jing suddenly opened her eyes, breathing heavily. Before her were the familiar green curtains of the mountainside, and in her ears was the hazy sound of rain outside. If she listened carefully, she could also hear the thumping of her heart, and the air was filled with the delicate fragrance of moon unicorn. After a while, Yu Jing gently patted her chest. It was just a dream.

"Is the young master ready?" Xie Yi asked as he entered the room.

Xie Xuan was fastening his belt; the dark purple floral pattern wasn't particularly bright, but it wasn't dull either. The color looked very noble, and Xie Xuan, dressed like this, truly resembled a young master from a noble family. Xie Yi went over and casually picked up a jade pendant hanging on the shelf to put it on Xie Xuan.

"Let's go." After putting on his jade pendant, Xie Xuan stepped outside.

The rain was still falling, but it had lessened compared to before. When Xie Xuan arrived at the main hall, Xie Jin was already waiting there. Upon seeing Xie Xuan come out, she said, "You've arrived."

"Father," Xie Xuan called out.

"Let's go," Xie Jin said, and Xie Xuan followed her out.

At this moment, in a teahouse outside the General's Mansion, two people sat by the window, discussing the carriages parked in front of the mansion.

"Hey, General Xie, where are you headed?"

“Where else could we go? The Zheng family is hosting a banquet tonight, so we must be going there,” another person replied, taking a sip of tea.

"Hey hey hey! Xie Xuan!" the man exclaimed excitedly.

The person holding the teacup put it down, squinted, and looked through the rain curtain. Xie Xuan was following behind Xie Jin, wearing a dark purple spring robe. It seemed that he was going to the banquet with Xie Jin.

"Take your men and follow him. I'll go back and report to my master," the man said, standing up.

When the news reached the palace, Yu Jing was about to have her dinner. Upon receiving the news, A Yu dared not delay and quickly walked to Yu Jing's side to whisper to her.

"Your Majesty, news from outside the palace indicates that Lord Xie and General Xie have gone to the Zheng residence for a banquet."

After Ayu finished speaking, Yu Jing was stunned for a moment, then asked in return, "Where to?"

"The Zheng residence," Ayu replied hesitantly. Seeing that Yu Jing's brows were noticeably furrowed and her expression slightly grave, she dared not speak further.

Yu Jing felt a headache coming on. Despite all her precautions, she couldn't stop it. She reached up and pressed the corner of her eye, then said softly, "I have no appetite. Take everything away."

"Yes." The palace maids cleared away everything and then all withdrew.

Yu Jing was extremely uneasy inside the hall. She tried to calm herself down, but she couldn't help but let her mind wander.

Waiting inside the palace like this isn't a solution. Thinking of this, Yu Jing suddenly remembered someone. Rather than waiting to be killed, it's better to take the initiative.

Perhaps because of the rain, it was already quite dark outside, and the rain was still falling. There were many candles lit inside the hall, making it very bright.

"Night Wanderer!" Yu Jing called out softly.

The hall was quiet, without the slightest sound.

Undeterred, Yu Jing called out again, "Night Wanderer!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was startled by the person who suddenly appeared in front of him, took a big step back, and subconsciously patted his chest.

"What business does Fairy Yu Jing have with me?" Night Wanderer asked.

"Can you do me a favor?" Yu Jing asked tentatively.

The Night Wanderer looked at Yu Jing but didn't respond. Yu Jing continued, "I can't use magic, but you can!"

"What does Fairy Yu Jing want to do?"

"I want to go to the Zheng residence."