Homeward Journey
Chapter 40: Homecoming
Spring of the first year of Chengtian.
The aura of the new dynasty was already evident. Xie Wuqi, with his iron fist and decisive force, quickly stabilized the government, eradicated long-standing abuses, secured border security, and gradually restored people's livelihoods. The plaque at Prince Jing's mansion had long since been replaced with the gilded "Chen Yue Mansion," becoming a unique and aloof place in the capital. Its doors were bustling with visitors seeking advice on art and medicine, yet no one dared to treat its owner as an ordinary court lady or concubine.
Xu Xianyue became a veritable "Madam Chenyue." The engineering and medical schools she established began to take shape, systematically organizing improved weaving techniques and innovative medical knowledge, imparting them to talented individuals of all genders. She remained aloof and reserved, but each of her instructions was clear and effective, gradually earning genuine respect within the court and beyond, beyond the mere favor of the emperor.
She and Xie Wuqi formed a delicate yet stable balance. He handled his government affairs, while she delved into her craft. Their disagreements occasionally crossed paths on matters of national policy concerning the people's livelihood and her craft, and when they disagreed, they would even argue before the court. Xie Wuqi's face would sometimes turn livid with her anger, but he never truly used his imperial power to overpower her. Initially horrified, the court officials gradually grew accustomed to her, privately debating that Madam Chenyue was perhaps even more of a headache for His Majesty than the censors at the Censorate, yet also... something that made His Majesty different.
In the dead of night, Xie Wuqi would arrive under the moonlight, unaccompanied by an entourage, like an ordinary visitor. Sometimes he would simply watch her craft velvet flowers, sometimes he would bring her exotic materials newly discovered from various places. Occasionally, he would cast aside his imperial dignity and lean against the doorframe of her studio, a trace of fatigue in his eyes, chatting with her about the difficulties he faced at court or the interesting stories he had received from the border.
There was little talk of romance between them, more of a tacit understanding and understanding gained from fighting side by side. He gave her the stage and respect she desired, and she, in her own way, became the most unique and indispensable part of his landscape painting.
Xu Xianyue thought that life would continue like this forever. In this unfamiliar time and space, she seemed to have finally found a way to settle her soul. Together with a man who understood her and was willing to tolerate all her edges and corners, they protected this world they had helped to shape with their own hands.
Until that day.
She was making the final rhythmic adjustments to a "Starry Night Orchid" that had been blended with newly discovered fluorescent mineral powder, trying to make it emit a soft, lasting glow in the darkness. Just as the last vein of the petal took shape at her fingertips—
【bite--】
An extremely crisp, emotionless electronic prompt tone suddenly sounded deep in her mind.
[It has been detected that the compatibility between the host 'Xu Xianyue's' soul and this plane has reached a critical stable value.]
[The intangible cultural heritage core skill, 'Velvet Flower Craftsmanship', has reached the milestone of 'Establishing a School' in this plane.]
[Main survival mission judgment: Exceeded completion.]
[System energy replenished, space-time coordinates recalibrated.]
[Host, please choose: A. Permanently stay in this plane. B. Initiate the return program and return to the original world (the time anchor point is locked at the moment of falling into the water).]
【Selection countdown: 23:59:59】
Xu Xianyue froze, and the nearly finished Starry Night Orchid at his fingertips fell lightly onto the workbench with a "pop".
Back.
This "system" that had been silent since it had thrown her here, almost making her think it was just a near-death hallucination, actually returned just when she was about to integrate into this world. And, it gave her a chance... to go back.
Back... to the present day. Back to the time before the accidental fall into the water, back to everything she was familiar with, back to her unfinished intangible cultural heritage inheritance.
The huge impact made her speechless for a moment, and her heart was in turmoil, as if she had been thrown into a cold pond with a huge rock.
That night, Xie Wuqi arrived once again, stepping onto the moon. He seemed in a good mood, a relaxed expression on his face. In his hand, he held a scroll of tribute he had just received from Jiangnan, listing numerous rare silk threads and dyes.
He walked into the studio, but saw that Xu Xianyue was not busy under the lamp as usual, but standing quietly in front of the window, looking at the bright moon in the courtyard. His back looked a little thin and... distant under the clear light.
"Xianyue?" He keenly noticed her unusual silence, put down the list and walked behind her.
Xu Xianyue turned around slowly, with no expression on her face, still looking cold and aloof, but Xie Wuqi saw an extremely complex emotion in her eyes that he had never seen before, like a struggle, and like... a farewell.
"Xie Wuqi," she began, her voice soft but scratching his heart like a feather, with an unmistakable seriousness, "Have I ever told you that I might... leave at any time?"
Xie Wuqi's heart sank suddenly, and the familiar panic that almost swallowed him instantly grabbed him! He almost subconsciously reached out and wanted to grab her, just like every time she mentioned leaving.
But this time, his hand stopped in mid-air.
He looked into her calm eyes, which contained no temptation or threat, only a quiet composure, as if she had already made some important decision.
He suddenly remembered that a long time ago, on that night in Prince Jing's Mansion filled with the smell of medicine and blood, she had said something similar. At that time, he was furious and panicked, and he was willing to use the most paranoid way to keep her.
But now...
He looked at the hard work she had put into the Engineering and Medical Schools over the past few months, saw the light in her eyes as she improved her skills, and saw the indelible mark she had left on this land.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and slowly lowered his hand. When he spoke again, his voice was slightly hoarse, yet unusually calm:
"I know."
Xu Xianyue was slightly stunned.
Xie Wuqi looked at her, his lips curled up in a faint arc, yet one that carried relief and a certain heavy power. "From the first time you said it, I knew it. You weren't joking, nor were you playing hard to get. You, Xu Xianyue, have never belonged to anywhere or to anyone."
He took a step forward, his gaze as deep as the night, but no longer holding the force of a captive. Instead, it embraced the bright moon like the night sky. "This land, this palace, even me... may all be just a stop on your long journey. If you want to leave, I... cannot stop you."
His frankness, on the contrary, loosened the taut string in Xu Xianyue's heart quietly, and what followed was an even more turbulent reluctance and sadness that even she herself had not expected.
She looked at him, the man who had shared life and death with her, who had fiercely confronted her, and who had also given her the utmost tolerance and respect. In this era that did not belong to her, he was her most profound bond.
"The system... gave me a choice," she whispered. This was the first, and last, time she revealed to him the existence beyond this world's cognition. "I can go back, back to where I came from."
Xie Wuqi's pupils shrank slightly, but he didn't ask what the "system" was, nor did he ask where she came from. He just looked at her quietly, waiting for her final decision.
Xu Xianyue raised her hand and gently stroked his chiseled cheek, her fingertips cold. This action carried a tenderness she had never felt before.
"Xie Wuqi," she said, looking at her reflection in his eyes, each word clear and distinct, "I must go back."
There are her unfinished responsibilities, the world she is familiar with, and the path she took.
"But before I leave, there's something I want to tell you."
She paused, and in her cold eyes, it seemed as if ice and snow had melted, rippling out an extremely faint but extremely real ripple.
"I don't regret meeting you."
This wasn't a lingering love story, but it carried more weight than any vow. It was the most frank and sincere confession Xu Xianyue could offer.
Xie Wuqi suddenly closed his eyes, his Adam's apple rolling violently. When he opened them again, his phoenix eyes were filled with a deep, almost drowning, complex emotion: pain, reluctance, relief, and even more pride for her.
"Okay." He responded in a hoarse voice. It was just one word, but it seemed as if he had used up all his strength.
He stretched out his hand, not to stop her, but to gently hold her slightly cold hand, and then slowly let go.
"Go ahead."
Xu Xianyue gave him one last, deep look, as if she wanted to carve his appearance into the depths of her soul. Then, without hesitation, she turned and walked towards the depths of the studio, towards that ethereal homeward path that only she could perceive.
No looking back.
The moment her figure completely disappeared into the darkness, the cold electronic voice in her mind rang out again:
[Host selects confirmation. Return process initiated…3…2…1…]
Xie Wuqi stood there alone for a long, long time. Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a shadow on his dark robe, outlining his lonely yet tall figure.
He opened his palm, and in it lay the unfinished "Starry Night Orchid" that she had dropped during the day. He carefully placed it into the brocade pouch close to his body, as if holding a rare treasure.
Then, he turned around, walked out of Chenyue Mansion, walked out of the courtyard shrouded in clear light, and reintegrated into the boundless night and vast landscape that belonged to Emperor Xie Wuqi.
He knew she was gone.
Just like the unreachable moon in the sky, its light spreads over the mountains and rivers, but never stops for people.
But he also knew that she had been there.
In his life, and in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he left behind an indelible legend that belonged only to "Lady Chen Yue".
That's enough.
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