Chapter 72

These are special times. Mu Helian must have told him something. When Qingyun found Lin Wanjun, she was extremely busy. Her small, red face was covered in sweat, and she was panting heavily. She deftly threw a small twig aside.

After looking around and finding that the trees were all in good condition, Qingyun smiled and looked at the other person, saying solemnly, "You've worked hard these past few days."

Lin Wanjun wiped the sweat from her hands with a handkerchief, smiled upon hearing this, and replied with her eyes lowered, "I've done my best."

"The new medicine you prepared is almost finished." After saying that, she added, as if remembering something.

After listening, Qingyun nodded thoughtfully, saying there was no rush. The shadows of the trees swayed, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and the two stood side by side in the shade. Lin Wanjun glanced at Qingyun, whose gaze had already drifted into the distance. She stared intently at him, her heart filled with mixed emotions, the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat.

It's like wanting to say everything, yet being unable to say anything at all.

How many years would it take to stand side by side with her? If it were Lin Wanjun at the beginning, she would have thought it might be a lifetime, but now she has done it. She only took three years.

So, Qingyun, have you noticed me yet?

Qingyun, who had just come to her senses, happened to meet Lin Wanjun's complicated gaze. She pointed to the sky and said, "The weather is really nice today." Although autumn is a season that easily makes people sad, there are always some emotions that inexplicably well up in one's heart, just like now.

Before leaving, Lin Wanjun had an extra item in her hand. Upon closer inspection, she discovered it was a hairpin with a jade lotus carved on it.

"A thank-you gift." Qingyun said, not waiting for Lin Wanjun's reply. Even though Song Junwu wasn't fully recovered, she no longer needed the monitoring device, so she removed it and had his personal attendant take care of him. She would come back if any emergencies arose.

She's currently running between two places, but thankfully there's no need to worry about the sand dunes. Mu Helian will return once Song Junwu recovers, and everything is proceeding smoothly.

Today is a full moon, so bright that it can illuminate even the smallest weeds on the ground. The moonlight shines into the woman's eyes, and Song Chaoyun is seen frowning, staring intently at the moon. Naturally, she is concerned about news from the capital and how her father is doing.

She wrote down all sorts of situations on letters every day and sent them back by carrier pigeon, but her father never replied.

Qingyun didn't know how long the battle against the plague lasted, only that she had been in a daze for a month, suffering from severe tinnitus and frequent throbbing pain in her ear canals. Fortunately, the situation was brought under control, and the number of deaths and injuries was not high. However, the woman who had gone to gather reeds with her that day did not survive, and Qingyun attended her funeral.

Qingyun couldn't bear to look at dead people. Even when her father passed away, just a few hours later, she never saw that familiar face again. Because at the moment of death, there are no feelings, not even the capacity for emotions to surface.

When you think of someone, the first things that come to mind are touch, hugs, handshakes, cheeks pressed together. The thought of never being able to touch or hear them again brings a long-suppressed feeling that spreads through your heart, eventually coalescing into a massive wave of sorrow that overwhelms you, leaving you unable to control yourself.

She didn't dare to see her father back then, and was even called cold-blooded. But she didn't dare to touch him, afraid that the hand she held would no longer be the warm one she remembered, but rather cold and stiff. She feared that his unique, comforting scent would become lifeless, and even more afraid that it might be mixed with an indescribable stench.

"I don't want to ruin such beautiful memories. I don't want to think of my father when he passed away. That unpleasant and shocking smell is my last memory of him. Even if I don't remember him, I'm still afraid."

This was the last thing Qingyun wrote in her diary; she never wrote anything like it again.

Fallen leaves swirled in the air along with the shimmering white paper money. That smile seemed still vivid in her mind's eye. She looked up at the sun, which was partially obscured by the trees. The sunlight shone on Qingyun's face, and she squinted slightly. At that moment, the autumn wind brushed against her face once more.

The sounds of music playing in front of her made the song "Farewell" come to mind.

"Outside the long pavilion, along the ancient road"

Fragrant grasses stretch to the horizon

The evening breeze caresses the willows, and the sound of a flute fades away…

The scene at this moment is just like the last scene of "My Memories of Old Beijing": red leaves covering the mountains, Yingzi parting ways with Song Ma, and her father's solitary tombstone.

"Let's go back," Mu Helian said, standing to the side and following her gaze.

Qingyun nodded, but Mu Helian was quite worried about her. After all, Qingyun's eyes were dark and her complexion didn't look good. She looked exhausted.

"Take a good rest. Everyone's helping with the finishing touches. You've spent a lot of time just preparing the medicine," Mu Helian couldn't help but say.

As they were talking, Qingyun rubbed her eyes and yawned, the bloodshot veins in her eyes impossible to hide. "I know, I'm going back to get some sleep."

"Do you think I'm dead?" The moment the words left his mouth, the sound of the celadon shattering rang out.

Song Chaohua frowned and lowered her eyes, but she just stood quietly to the side without saying a word. Even Song Chaoli, who was usually laughing and joking, had a cold and stern demeanor and suppressed her smile.

Song Chaoyun paced back and forth, her chest heaving. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed her urge to explode, and patiently continued to ask, "What else did you say?" Her voice was icy. The person who reported immediately rattled off the details like a jingle.

To cross the river and then destroy the bridge is truly despicable.

She dismissed the servants and sat alone, sulking.

"In that case, what are your plans, elder sister?"

Seeing this, Song Chaohua remained calm and composed.

Song Chaoyun felt as if she had a fishbone stuck in her throat, as if she had a pot of excrement on her head. It was true that she went to save the sick, but everyone knew perfectly well that Qingyun had made great contributions to this matter. Why should she accept this award and take the credit for someone else?

“If you ask me, Father, you’re being too sensitive,” Song Chaoli chimed in.

"I have my own way of handling this, but he's pressing me hard for his marriage." As he spoke, he lowered his head, placed his hand on his forehead, gently rubbed his temples, and frowned in thought.

These words silenced everyone present. Since the King couldn't kill Qingyun, he could only use this incident to annoy people.

"Isn't there any room for maneuver?" Song Chaohua glanced at the other person. "Qingyun has won back many people's hearts in this incident. We might as well make a fuss about it. Father didn't kill her simply because he didn't want to incite public anger. But if we release the news that she wants to commit suicide, it's hard to guarantee that the people's hearts won't turn to her now."

"What does Second Sister mean?" Song Chaoli took a while to realize the meaning behind her words. "What's the use of the people of Muyun City being angry? The mountains are high and the emperor is far away. Even if we shout ourselves hoarse, Father may not take it seriously."

Song Chaoyun had only been listening, but after being reminded of this, she realized there was indeed room for maneuver. She pondered for a moment, then murmured, "What if we let Qingyun go and plead her case herself..."

“Although this place is a remote and impoverished area compared to Kyoto, it has the most merchants and traders, so there’s no need to worry about information not getting out,” Song Chaohua replied, glancing sideways at Song Chaoli standing beside him.

After saying that, she turned her gaze back to Song Chaohua, "You've been trying so hard to deal with Father, but you're always hesitant and timid. Why not let Qingyun try it out on her own?" If we're talking about whether she's qualified to challenge him, isn't she the most suitable one? "I'm just afraid she won't dare to."

At this moment, Qingyun was sprawled out in her tiny home, no bigger than a toilet, sleeping soundly. She was having an extremely comfortable sleep, so comfortable that her breath was sending oxygen directly to the very back of her lungs, almost like she was intoxicated by oxygen.

She slept for a day and a night, only getting up once to eat some instant noodles, then letting the system collect the junk files before lying back down in a daze.

When was she woken up? It was because of the commotion outside, with people constantly knocking on the door. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought someone had come to take her away. Still half-asleep, she hurriedly took off her thick thermal socks and stuffed them under the covers, then shuffled to the door in her cold, worn-out cloth shoes.

"Uh..." Seeing this scene, I was instantly wide awake, much more alert. Looking at the sea of ​​heads, it was impossible not to panic. Did they think I was some kind of monster because they noticed all those needles and syringes? In short, in just a few seconds, I had imagined every single bad thing that could happen.

"I...I am..." He was about to speak, carefully choosing his words, when he was stopped by the woman in the lead. She recognized this person; it was Aunt He.

"We understand your difficulties, but don't be so pessimistic!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a bunch of people behind her echoed her words, leaving Qingyun completely bewildered.

Until I caught the key words amidst the chaotic chatter: suicide? Forced marriage? And so on! How did they know?!

"Don't worry, you risked your life to save everyone, we will definitely stand up for you. The emperor can't use his power to force a respectable woman like you!"

"right!"

The people behind them echoed again, their momentum making it seem as if they were about to revolt.

I've been so tired these past few days, and nobody's mentioned it, so I'd completely forgotten about it.

Seeing this scene, she only glanced at it once in her mind before acting on her impulse, suddenly covering her face and crying dramatically, expressing the bitterness in her heart.

Although everyone was puzzled as to why Qingyun wouldn't accept such a huge offer, upon hearing that she was willing to commit suicide to avoid marriage, they figured that she probably already had a suitable husband in mind and would certainly not want to do such a thing. Fearing that she might do something foolish now, they all came over to check if she was alright.

One should not forget kindness. Qingyun is my savior. I don't care what my benefactor does, but if my benefactor is bullied, I will definitely stand up for him and vent his anger. "Everything in this world is reasonable, even the government is not unreasonable. If you are unwilling, do you think they will force you?"

What a coincidence, they're deliberately trying to force me!

"If you were truly afraid that you would outshine him, how could you be a ruler with such a heart!"

Girl, you really dare to speak your mind. Even while Qingyun was faking tears, he didn't forget to give her a thumbs up in his heart.