Chapter 176
Yin Qiu opened the window anyway. The smell in the room was like a howling wind. The disciples under the corridor sat up in a flash, grabbed their medicinal herbs and tools, and fled as fast as the wind could carry them, without even looking back.
A basin of clean water was placed under the window. Yin Qiu immersed her hands in it and carefully washed the bracelet, rubbing off the ointment from the black rope and bird feathers little by little. She changed the water several times before she could completely wash away the smell.
The room gradually filled with fragrance, which was refreshing and delightful.
Meng Jing poured the brewed medicine into a porcelain plate, then used a small bamboo fan to cool it down. Seeing Yin Qiu holding the bracelet and leaning against the window in a daze, he asked, "Are you done washing?"
Yin Qiu gave a soft "hmm".
Meng Jing fanned herself quickly, unable to hide her joy. Ever since she discovered the gold bead was missing, she had been sweating with excitement, and had even burned her hands several times while stirring. She was still unable to calm down.
But Yin Qiu showed no reaction.
The warm sunlight shone down, bathing Yin Qiu in a soft, golden glow. Her disciple's robes were clean and soft, white and untouched by dust. She seemed like a wisp of mist about to dissipate, giving people a sense of fragility that was hard to pinpoint.
Meng Jing slowed down and looked at Yin Qiu, saying, "Are you unhappy?"
Yin Qiu tilted her head in the warm sunlight and met Meng Jing's gaze. She wiped the water stains on her bracelet with a handkerchief, paused for a moment and said, "This time for my birthday, I received two unforgettable birthday gifts." Her knuckles were white as she gripped the handkerchief, but it seemed like she wasn't using any force. "One was Senior Sister Lu's earrings, and the other was Senior Sister Ye's bracelet."
Meng Jing tested the temperature of the medicine with her fingertip and said calmly, "Senior Sister Lu cares about you, and Senior Sister Ye owes you something."
Yin Qiu remained silent for a moment, overwhelmed with emotion, and said, "She ruined the Shen family, ruined the Ruyi Sect, she made me homeless, lose all my relatives, and never see my parents again. Then, before she died, she wanted to take me with her, but she left me the antidote. This person..."
“This person may still have a conscience, but she is still an evil person,” Meng Jing said calmly. “A single antidote cannot undo all the sins she has committed.”
Yin Qiu seemed to be deep in thought.
“Even without her, your father would still seek revenge, and the Ziwei Sect would still deal with the Ruyi Sect,” Meng Jing continued. “But her appearance not only accelerated everything that could have happened, but also created more things that would not have happened… For example, the deaths of my parents were caused by her. She is the beginning of all the storms and the root of all the misfortunes. Such a person is not worth your grief.”
Yin Qiu said, "I'm not heartbroken, nor will I forgive easily because of this." She didn't know how to describe her feelings, "I'm just... a little complicated."
Meng Jing put on sheepskin gloves, rolled the cooled medicine into pills, and put them into a porcelain bottle. She said, "If you had died in the Fengkou River that day, this antidote would have been useless. Besides, she didn't tell you beforehand that the golden pearl was the antidote. If it weren't for the accident just now, we probably wouldn't have known the antidote was in our hands even after you were poisoned. Her actions weren't out of genuine desire to save you, but rather to comfort and console herself." As she spoke, she picked up the medicine bottle and slowly walked towards Yin Qiu. "Because she knows she is guilty, because she believes she can survive."
Yin Qiu remained silent for a long time before finally exhaling and saying, "You are right."
“So don’t let this affect your mood. She’s dead, but you’re still alive,” Meng Jing said without asking Yin Qiu’s opinion. He took the bracelet from her hand and threw it far into the stove. “Since you said you didn’t want to hate anyone, then forget about these things. There’s no need to keep this.”
A small flame quickly ignited in the stove, and a plume of smoke carrying a burnt smell rose up.
Looking at the wisp of smoke, Yin Qiu said from the bottom of her heart, "Sometimes, I really envy you for being able to live so clearly. I'm not as good as you in this respect; I'm too easily troubled by trivial matters."
“You’re just too kind. You only remember the good things about someone and don’t want to think about the bad things,” Meng Jing said. “But everything has its limits. Being too kind isn’t a good thing either. However, if you can be more open-minded, it’s commendable to continue being kind. Being clear-headed also has its downsides. You don’t need to envy me.”
Yin Qiu shifted her gaze to her face.
Meng Jing smiled and said, "Living too consciously can be painful, but I want to be painfully conscious rather than blindly joyful. You can sleep soundly all night, but I can only suffer from sleepless nights. So actually, I should envy you. I can turn into a bad person at any time, but you are destined to be a good person."
Yin Qiu listened quietly to her words and asked, "Then when would you choose to be a bad person?"
Meng Jing handed the medicine bottle to Yin Qiu and said, "When I'm not thinking clearly."
Yin Qiu laughed: "Then I hope that your clarity of mind can last as long as my kindness."
“Then we can have a competition to see who can last longer,” Meng Jing said. “Maybe many years from now, we will both be unrecognizable. When we meet again then, I hope you can still accept me, and I can still accept you.”
Upon hearing this, Yin Qiu felt a strange mix of emotions. She asked, slightly puzzled, "See you again then... it sounds like we're parting ways. Where are you going?"
Bathed in the daylight, Meng Jing's perpetually sickly face appeared even more pale than usual. From the moment she began staying at the medical pavilion to care for Lu Huaiwei, to the moment she single-mindedly devoted herself to developing an antidote for Yin Qiu, she hadn't had a single good night's sleep or a proper meal. Now that Lu Huaiwei had finally awakened and the antidote for Yin Qiu was secured, Meng Jing's two taut strings simultaneously relaxed, and the worries and exhaustion she had deliberately suppressed surged forth, threatening to overwhelm her.
But Meng Jing held back. She leaned against the window and stood with Yin Qiu in the warm sunlight, saying, "It's not that I'm going anywhere, it's you."
Yin Qiu stared at Meng Jing's face, which was almost transparent in the light, and asked, "Me?"
“That’s right,” Meng Jing said. “I always have a feeling that maybe one day you will leave Yunhua Palace with your martial uncle and go to live somewhere else.”
Yin Qiu was a little surprised that she would have such a thought: "Why would you think that?"
Meng Jing closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time before whispering, "I don't know."
She leaned against the windowsill, her hands folded behind her head, a faint smile playing on her tightly pressed lips. From this angle, Meng Jing made Yin Qiu momentarily forget her men's clothing; all she could see was her porcelain-like skin, her long, smooth, black hair, her trembling eyelashes, and her gentle and fragile nature that she rarely revealed.
The two people seemed very close, yet they were also seemingly far apart.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" After a brief silence, Yin Qiu looked at Meng Jing and asked softly, "What do you want to tell me?"
Meng Jing looked up at her, his eyes filled with exhaustion: "I..." At that moment, she was suddenly overcome with sorrow, her chest filled with bitterness, "I want to tell you..."
Seeing her hesitation, Yin Qiu pressed further, "What is it?"
Meng Jing clenched his fist, his hand hidden in his sleeve. He stared at Yin Qiu for a long time before looking away and regaining his composure. "What I want to say is, your poison has clearly been cured, so why didn't you tell me?"
Yin Qiu was taken aback.
Meng Jing rested her chin on her arm, a gesture that made her appear even more like a young lady. Looking straight ahead, she said, "I didn't realize it before, but now I see something's wrong. That unpleasant medicinal smell could activate the Gu worms in your body, yet you've been in the room with me for so long without any reaction. That means your poison has already been neutralized, right?"
Yin Qiu sighed: "It's not that I intentionally wanted to hide it from you."
Meng Jing asked, "Is it your martial uncle?"
Yin Qiu frowned, but still didn't tell her the truth, stammering, "Yes..."
"Then why are you still chatting with me?" Meng Jing straightened up. "Aren't you going to find your martial uncle?"
Yin Qiu stood still.
Meng Jing glanced at her twice, then walked to the door, opened it, and said, "Go."
Yin Qiu frowned and stepped out the door. She turned back, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopped herself.
Meng Jing gripped the door frame tightly, trying her best to appear normal. Her ears were ringing and her head was buzzing. She wanted to go back to her room and sleep immediately, but she didn't want to show weakness in front of Yin Qiu.
She silently endured her inner turmoil during this delicate moment.
"You look terrible, are you feeling unwell?" Yin Qiu reached out to help Meng Jing, but as soon as she touched Meng Jing's sleeve, he recoiled as if he had been electrocuted.
"I'm fine," Meng Jing said hoarsely, struggling to stay awake. "Go quickly, I need to report this to my master as soon as possible."
Yin Qiu's hand froze in mid-air for a long while before she withdrew it. She took a few steps back, and after thinking it over again, she asked, "Don't you have anything else to say to me?"
"That's all." Meng Jing shook his head.
Yin Qiu was about to ask more questions when Meng Jing slammed the door shut. She pressed her forehead against the door, and where Yin Qiu couldn't see, a look of pain finally appeared on her face. Meng Jing said, "The alchemy room still needs cleaning. If you don't leave, I'm going to make you do the work."
Holding the medicine bottle, Yin Qiu stood outside the door for a moment. She responded in her usual tone, and as she was about to step down the steps, she turned to the side and said, "Meng Jing, I can't say for sure what will happen in the future. Perhaps my uncle and I will go to other places in the future, but we will never leave Yunhua Palace. You are my good friend. No matter where I am, I will remember you and never forget you."
Meng Jing turned around and slid down against the door.
Stop talking...
She buried her face in her skirt.
“Thank you for your hard work and dedication these past few days,” Yin Qiu smiled. “Although you don’t know kung fu, you can still protect many people. You have your own value. You can stand tall in front of everyone. No one can look down on you, and you don’t need to fear anyone. You are no worse than anyone in the palace.”
Meng Jing sat there in a daze, taking out the purse she had treasured for many years from her sleeve pocket. She didn't reply; she just looked at the purse and silently shed tears.
Only when Yin Qiu's footsteps faded into the distance did Meng Jing stand up, leaning against the wall. She walked to the window and gazed at Yin Qiu from afar, her vision blurred by tears. Yin Qiu's figure became a hazy halo, which quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Unconsciously, her fingertips caressed the purse, where the fabric was worn and many of the embroidery threads had broken.
Meng Jing stood alone by the window, lost in thought. After a long while, she raised her arm to wipe her eyes, then walked briskly to the fireplace and threw the old purse into it without a second thought.
·
Man Jiangxue held a pair of scissors and focused intently on trimming the Podocarpus macrophyllus on the table.
Xie Yijun stood beside her and said, "Preparations for Wan Shu's enthronement ceremony have been underway for the past few days, but she still seems reluctant. With Zhi Lan's death, Mingguang Hall is lacking a pillar of support. Since I became the sect leader, I've been busy with affairs every day, and none of my disciples have been outstanding. It's my fault for not teaching them properly. Wan Shu is still lacking in experience, and I need to find someone else to assist her. Do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"
After a moment's thought, Man Jiangxue said, "I think Bai Ling is quite good. She knows the rules, understands the bigger picture, is brave and resourceful, and her swordsmanship is decent. She has also been performing very well lately. What do you think of her?"
“Bai Ling…” Xie Yijun fiddled with her prayer beads and pondered, “This child wasn’t particularly outstanding before, and I didn’t pay much attention to her. But this year I’ve come to appreciate her a bit more. However, she is the eldest disciple of Liuli Peak. If I were to ask for her, Elder Wu would probably be reluctant to part with her.”
Man Jiangxue said, "Then let Wu Huifeng draft a list, and you can choose whichever you like."
Xie Yijun picked up the branches and leaves that Man Jiangxue had cut and said, "I don't know every disciple in the palace. They are all close to you, which is why I asked you to recommend me. Why did you recommend them to Wu Hui Peak?"
"That's strange. Why is it that the disciples in charge of Wu Hui Peak are being transferred? What's wrong with letting them do this?" Man Jiangxue had made a mess of the Podocarpus macrophyllus. "Admittedly, I don't know many people. I only have eyes for Xiao Qiu. I don't know anyone else."
Xie Yijun glanced at her and said, "Yin Qiu... I'm quite satisfied with Yin Qiu."
Man Jiangxue paused, then looked up at her.
Xie Yijun said, "What kind of eyes do you have? People strive for higher positions, and water flows downhill. It's a real waste for such a promising talent like Yin Qiu to stay on Jingyue Peak. If she's willing to come to Mingguang Hall, I'll let her be the senior disciple of the palace gate. Besides, since Wan Shu has become the young sect leader, we'll have to choose another chief disciple. There will definitely be a sword competition then, and if Yin Qiu can win, she can be the chief disciple as well."
“What do you mean she’s been wronged staying at Jingyue Peak?” Man Jiangxue said. “Did I mistreat her or bully her?”
Xie Yijun chuckled, "She clearly has such good skills, yet she spends all her time by your side serving you tea and water. Isn't that a grievance?" She paused, then continued, "Besides, Wan Shu has such a bad temper. Not many people can stand her. Yin Qiu is gentle and knows her well, so she can speak frankly about many things. If it were anyone else, who would dare to speak ill of Wan Shu in front of her? There are very few people in the palace who aren't afraid of her. In my opinion, it would be most suitable for Yin Qiu to assist Wan Shu."
“Now I’m the one serving her tea and water,” Man Jiangxue said. “You’re not going to let Elder Wu give up Bai Ling, but you want me to give up Xiao Qiu? I won’t do that.”
Xie Yijun said, "What are you trying to do by clinging to Yin Qiu? Your Jingyue Peak is so peaceful, but my place is in complete chaos. If all else fails, lend me her for a few days, and I'll return her to you once the evening document arrives."
Man Jiangxue said, "It's not like it's an object, and it's not like it's something that's borrowed and returned. I don't agree to this."
Xie Yijun had already experienced Man Jiangxue's stubbornness firsthand; outsiders might not understand, but she knew it all too well. Xie Yijun said angrily, "You don't get to decide! Go and call Yin Qiu here; I want to ask her what she wants—stop it now! You've ruined this perfectly good bonsai; bring me the shears!"
Man Jiangxue lazily tossed aside the scissors, about to retort, when a flash of light appeared on the ground, and Yin Qiu happened to step through the door. Xie Yijun immediately called out, "You've come at the right time! Yin Qiu, come here quickly, I have something to discuss with you."
Yin Qiu put the medicine bottle into her sleeve pocket and walked over to Man Jiangxue, stopping beside her: "What is it?"
Seeing that she was sticking close to Man Jiangxue and not coming towards her, Xie Yijun felt a lump in her throat and said, "Your Senior Sister Ji is about to ascend the throne and needs someone to assist her. After thinking it over, I still think you are the most suitable to come to Mingguang Hall to help her familiarize herself with the affairs. But Jiangxue is determined not to budge. So tell me yourself, what do you think about this?"
Manjiangxue, seemingly unconcerned, picked up the scissors again and continued to carelessly destroy the potted Podocarpus macrophyllus.
Yin Qiu glanced at her and replied, "Isn't Senior Sister Lu awake? Her injuries haven't healed yet, so she definitely won't be able to leave the palace for a while. In that case, she can help Senior Sister Ji out during this time. Besides, the two of them have always been close friends. Compared to me, Senior Sister Lu is more suitable, isn't she?"
Xie Yijun said, "How can Huaiwei be overworked? She's still sick and needs rest." She had considered Lu Huaiwei, but Lu Huaiwei was just too good at taking care of people, habitually handling everything herself. She was especially indulgent towards Ji Wanshu, showing her constant care and concern despite being younger than her, as if Lu Huaiwei were the senior. With Lu Huaiwei around, Ji Wanshu would likely become a hands-off manager, which wouldn't do.
Yin Qiu thought for a moment and then said, "Then... what about Bai Ling? She is the most reliable among her peers. Even her senior uncle trusts her quite a bit. Didn't the sect leader praise her a few days ago? Why don't we let Bai Ling enter the Mingguang Hall? I believe she would be very willing."
Xie Yijun's expression darkened after being repeatedly rejected: "I'm asking you directly, don't drag others into this. I'm asking you whether you're willing or not?"
“I…” Yin Qiu stood straight, glancing at Man Jiangxue’s reaction out of the corner of her eye, “I will listen to my martial uncle.”
Upon hearing this, Man Jiangxue slightly curled the corners of her mouth.
"You only listen to her, not me. What am I as the sect leader then?" Xie Yijun looked at Man Jiangxue and said angrily, "She is answering you based on your expression. Why can't you agree? If you are really worried, you can move to Mingguang Palace. You can see each other every day, and nothing will happen!"
After thinking for a moment, Man Jiangxue felt that the suggestion was not bad. Xie Yijun was short of an assistant. Ji Wanshu could not do her things. Yin Qiu was indeed very suitable to fill Ye Zhilan's vacancy. However, in the current critical period, Yin Qiu could not be too far away from her. Moreover, she should not ignore such things that were beneficial to the palace for personal gain. So, she could only follow Yin Qiu wherever she went.
Then Man Jiangxue spoke up: "Since you've put it that way..."
Before she could finish speaking, she felt a slight pain in her lower back—Yin Qiu had pinched her without her noticing.
“Then I will go to Liuli Peak myself,” Man Jiangxue changed her words quite naturally, “I will go and get Bai Ling for you.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
