Chapter 164 For You, Heaven's Decree Grants Snow Across a Thousand Mountains, Forbidden to Grow Old Together, Only for You...
In February of the twenty-third year of the Jiahe reign, the emperor's eldest daughter, Wei Yihua, was honored with the title of military supervisor and accompanied General Gu Baifeng on a campaign against the Di and Rong tribes.
On the day the army set off, the sky was cloudless, but a long wind came from afar, making the banners flutter and seem as if a grand procession was seeing them off.
At that time, the people of Yanjing lined the streets, witnessing only the magnificent royal procession and the disciplined military bearing. The eldest princess, renowned for her virtue but long residing deep within the palace, rode atop a magnificent steed, clad in silver armor, her beauty unparalleled.
The sunlight, like quicksilver, streamed down her young shoulders, mingling with the cold gleam of her armor to create a breathtakingly brilliant effect.
People on both sides of the road whispered among themselves, some praising, some doubting, some curious, while most were just joining in the fun without really understanding.
No one could foresee how posterity would celebrate the beginning of this legend.
Centuries later, historians often used the phrase "the phoenix's cry in the wilderness, its sound shaking the heavens" to describe this event. This was not only because it was rare for the princess to personally attend the battle, but also because this day was like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, the ripples that spread out became towering waves, reshaping the landscape for the next few hundred years.
Historical records state: "The expedition of the emperor's daughter, Yihua, not only relieved the immediate crisis on the border, but also set a precedent for women to participate in military and political affairs and wield real power. As a result, the old system gradually loosened, and the fate of the emperor was also changed. Looking at the future of her life, it was all based on her resolute northward journey on this day."
Meanwhile, a thousand miles away from the capital, in the south, the grasses are turning green and spring is arriving in the Yingchuan River.
Inside the Zijin Temple, the young boy looked at the tightly closed door not far away, his black eyes darting around, then glanced discreetly at Hua Si Ren, who was sitting under the eaves pruning the branches.
"Snip, snip," the iron shears were very sharp, and in just a few strokes, a pot of budding flower seedlings was shaved bald.
The boy looked at the potted plant that had died tragically at the hands of Hua Si, and secretly groaned in his heart.
My dear sir, this is the seventeenth camellia she has ruined in the last three days!
The young boy cautiously approached and said, "Venerable Flower, the flowers are almost finished being tended. Shall we go for a stroll in the front yard?"
Hua Siren squatted under the eaves, surrounded by withered flowers and fallen leaves, her rouge-colored skirt also spread out on the ground.
Upon suddenly hearing the boy speak, she looked bewildered, as if she had just come to her senses. The iron scissors in her hand also became still and stopped opening and closing wildly.
“I’m not going.” Hua Siren lowered her head, her voice clear and melodious. “I see there are still quite a few flowers in this yard waiting for me to prune, so I’ll let Xiao Wu and the others handle it in the front yard.”
Little boy: "......." You weren't really thinking about this flower at all, were you?!
He didn't dare say it in the end and silently swallowed his words.
He could see clearly that Venerable Flower didn't actually want to stay here to cut flowers; she just wanted to wait in the backyard so that she could see Venerable Autumn as soon as he came out.
Venerable Qiu has been in seclusion for several days. Five days ago, Qiu Wuzhu began to abstain from water and food, and did not touch any of the food, vegetables, fruits and dew sent by the people in the temple. In less than half a day, the temple gates were tightly closed, and he no longer saw anyone.
It is said that Venerable Qiu was divining an important divination, and for this divination, she refused to have any guests and stayed alone for three whole days.
The young boy was also very curious. Just how difficult was it to divine? Even Venerable Qiu, whose divination skills were unparalleled in the world, needed to go through such a arduous process to prepare.
The Qiu Wuzhu he knew had reached the level of a demigod. Though her physical body was mortal, she was almost omniscient. Nothing in the world could escape her divine eyes. What others needed to divine with divination, Qiu Wuzhu could know with a glance. Anything worthy of her mere gesture was a major matter. He hadn't seen Qiu Wuzhu perform divination in a long time.
As the young boy pondered, Hua Siren, who was sitting on the ground pruning flower branches, paused and stopped moving.
In a split second, the boy seemed to sense something and immediately turned around to look.
In early spring, the apricot blossoms are full of buds, like clouds covering the sky, densely pressing down on the branches.
Qiu Wuzhu, dressed in a light-colored dress, stood by the door. It was unclear when she had opened the tightly closed door, or how long she had been standing under that tree. She appeared quiet and lifeless.
The boy glanced at Qiu Wuzhu's face, felt a chill, and instinctively lowered his head to avoid direct eye contact.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Hua Siren had already walked over quickly.
"No Zhu!"
The young boy couldn't see Hua Siren's expression; he could only hear a soft inhale, followed by Hua Zunzhe's incredulous voice, as if she had seen something unbelievable through Qiu Wuzhu's face, "You...."
“A-Si,” Qiu Wuzhu interrupted her.
Venerable Qiu's tone was always detached and aloof, even when speaking words of comfort, he was devoid of human warmth or emotion. "There's no need to worry. I always know my own situation."
"The time has come. Thank you for coming to Yingchuan to see me, but you should also set off back to Jinling."
Hua Siren was silent for a moment, then asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Wu Zhu, are you leaving?"
Hearing her call, Qiu Wuzhu stopped in his tracks.
The woman, dressed in a mica-colored long robe, had empty sleeves and stood alone, her slender figure appearing as if a gust of wind would cause her to vanish.
Qiu Wuzhu didn't turn around, but responded faintly, "Mm."
Where to?
"Yanjing".
Hua Siren looked at her and said softly, "Why did you leave?"
"Collect a debt, save a life," Qiu Wuzhu said.
The boy stared blankly, gradually becoming completely dumbfounded during the conversation, his ears ringing. Hua Siren, however, remained silent. She had always known Qiu Wuzhu's stubbornness and knew that any attempt to persuade or dissuade him now would be futile.
The journey from Yingchuan to Yanjing was long. She overheard Qiu Wuzhu telling the boy something, her brows furrowed with tranquility.
Hua Siren stood there watching her old friend go until that mica-colored figure disappeared into the forest mist below the mountain.
......
On the city wall, Yue Yining also watched Wei Yihua's figure disappear into the distance, until the dark, dense army became a long line on the horizon, separated by mountains and hills.
Yue Yining stood on the city tower against the wind for most of the day, from dawn to noon, without feeling bitter or tired. On the contrary, he was unusually filled with lofty ambitions.
Gu Baifeng led his troops on an expedition, with Wei Yihua accompanying him as his deputy. The entire Xiuzhu Guard was incorporated into the army as an elite force and headed to the border.
As a member of the Embroidered Crimson Guard, Fu Yao was torn for two nights, unable to sit or lie still.
The night before her departure, Fu Yao came to see Yue Yining, looking at her hesitantly and expectantly: "...Does Miss want me to go?"
Yue Yining noticed her hesitation and said with a smile, "Of course I hope so."
"Yaoyao, don't you have the confidence to defeat the Di Rong cavalry?"
Fu Yao pouted, "...Of course it's not because of that. I just feel that if I go too, Miss will have no one to serve her."
Yue Yining: "There are so many maids in the princess's residence, there will always be someone to serve me."
"How can that be the same? I know Miss the most! Miss doesn't even need to say a word, I know what she wants, can they do that?"
The proud and self-satisfied little maid was so adorable that Yue Yining couldn't help but laugh out loud.
“I’m afraid that if something happens to me, I’ll never see you again, Miss, since we’re suddenly going to such a far place to fight.” Fu Yao put away her fierce expression and leaned over the bed, wrapping her arms around Yue Yining’s waist tightly. Her voice was muffled as she said, “I’m not afraid of death, but I can’t bear to leave you, Miss.”
The hands that caressed her shoulders were so gentle, and this gentleness made her more and more infatuated and weaker.
How could she bear to leave her mistress alone?
"Don't worry. I've told your fortune. You'll be safe and sound, and you'll return safely." Yue Yining's gentle voice lingered in her ears. "If you encounter any difficulties, just remember what your young lady said. Your young lady is a world-renowned divination master, and my predictions are never wrong. Don't be afraid, Heaven will protect you."
"Furthermore, you have practiced martial arts since childhood, possess extraordinary talent, unparalleled martial arts skills, and a loyal and courageous heart. Now that you have the opportunity, how can you not go and make a name for yourself?" Yue Yining tapped her little maid's nose and smiled, "Go, that's how you live up to the name I gave you."
In the darkness, Fu Yao vaguely felt a stinging sensation on the tip of her nose where Yue Yining's fingers had brushed against it. She suppressed the stinging sensation that made her features wrinkle, and unconsciously tightened her grip on Yue Yining's hand, nodding emphatically.
As the army was about to depart, Yue Yining saw Fu Yao, dressed in armor, waving frantically at her from below, her eyes brimming with tears.
Yue Yining waved to her as well.
The sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses gradually faded into the distance, and the dark line on the horizon could no longer be seen.
As Yue Yining prepared to leave the city tower, her maid Nonghe hurried over, hesitating to speak: "Lord Yue..."
Nonghe had barely begun speaking when Yue Yining seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up.
The city wall cast deep shadows, and a man in a dark spring robe stepped out from around the corner at a leisurely pace. His body shimmered with jade-like light, which dispelled the darkness surrounding him.
Xie Qingyu stamped her foot. He stood there, a few feet away from her, gazing silently in her direction, his expression unreadable.
“…Nonghe.” Yue Yining turned her head and said, “Take the others and wait for me at the foot of the city wall. I’ll say a few words to Lord Xie and then go down.”
"yes."
Nonghe responded. Sensing that something was amiss, she didn't dare linger and quickly left with her entourage.
Yue Yining watched her leave before turning her gaze to Xie Qingyu, who was walking towards her.
His face was serene, like a frozen moat. As Yue Yining approached, she could slowly see something unusual in his eyes; the river suppressed beneath the thin ice had awakened, a surging spring flood.
"Miss," he called to her first.
Yue Yining understood immediately, and looked at him with a slight smile, "Why did it take you so long to come find me?"
She thought that after reading the betrothal letter, he wouldn't be able to wait a moment longer and would immediately come to visit her.
When questioned, Xie Qingyu paused for a moment and said in a low voice, "I was supposed to come on that day."
"However, rumors are circulating throughout the court and among the people that the Princess has been appointed as the military supervisor and will be going to war with the army in two days. I imagine you must be very busy, and if you still have time to see me, it will only make you more tired. It would be better to wait until the army leaves the capital before I come to see you."
Actually, it was because he was in a state of confusion and didn't know how to face her.
He said softly, "...When did Miss find out?"
"Know what?" Yue Yining laughed. "Know that you are not Xie Qingyu? Know that you come from thousands of years in the future? Or know that I will die in prison and be executed for failing in the struggle for the throne? Or—"
Yue Yining was unable to finish speaking.
Those words were like a switch that couldn't be touched. In the blink of an eye, Xie Qingyu's figure suddenly approached, and he almost lost control as he pulled her tightly into his arms.
Two arms were wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly, and her chest, pressed against hers, heaved violently, whether from fear or lingering dread.
"No!" he said hoarsely, his voice trembling and dropping low, "...No."
"With me here this time, I will never... I will never let Miss be killed by them again."
He held Yue Yining tightly, half of her ear pressed against his neck.
This time, she clearly heard the trembling gasp and was startled.
“…Yes, you’re right,” Yue Yining said softly. “How could I die so easily?”
She buried half her face in his shoulder, so when she smiled, only her slightly curved eyes were visible. "I've never understood who did the first case of poisoning the imperial heir. I wondered who hated the Fourth Prince so much that they tried to kill him so early. It turns out it was you."
Before the struggle for the throne had progressed to such an intense stage, Wei Jing had been assassinated several times.
Logically, the most likely culprits would be those who support the Third Prince, but neither Wei Yihua nor she had ever considered such a ruthless act. Their thorough investigation yielded nothing. At that time, the Seventh Prince had not yet joined the scheme, and besides them, no one else had any reason to poison the Fourth Prince.
It was him.
Xie Qingyu didn't know what was wrong with him. He was holding her, she was safe and sound, her voice was gentle in his ear, and he had made countless mental preparations before coming. But when he actually confessed to her, his emotions became more and more turbulent and he couldn't calm down.
He closed his eyes and said hoarsely, "...I did it."
"It seems you've done a lot for me without my knowledge." Yue Yining reached out and patted his shoulder. If outsiders were watching, they would think she was practically hugging him from behind. "Do you think that by killing the Fourth Prince, I won't be wrongfully imprisoned for supporting the Third Prince anymore?"
"yes."
“I guessed that was the case too,” Yue Yining said. “You’ve been very good to me, but when it comes to the struggle for the throne and matters of officialdom, you’re unwilling to help me in the slightest. Instead, you’ve been working against me and plotting against me in secret. You’re really a contradiction. Even I often couldn’t understand your actions. But now I finally understand. The reason you can’t stand by my side is because if you support me, you’ll have to watch me walk towards my death.”
"yes."
"You chose the Seventh Prince for my sake. If the Fourth Prince were alive, perhaps he would one day usurp the throne, or perhaps he was truly destined by Heaven. In any case, it was unavoidable. If that were the case, you could not defy fate, but at least you could protect me and prevent me from becoming the sacrifice for the right to the throne."
"......yes."
"I thought you wouldn't admit it so quickly." Her soft laughter brushed against his ear. "You used to take advantage of my guilt at first, but now you're afraid I'll feel guilty because of you?"
“Hmm,” Xie Qingyu said, “I’m afraid Miss will be unhappy and give up on me because of that.”
Yue Yining reached out to touch his eyes. He wasn't crying, but the skin she touched was burning hot, so those beautiful eyes must be red and he was about to cry.
"You went to great lengths for me without my knowledge," Yue Yining's voice softened. "With so many methods, why didn't you advise me to stop supporting the Third Prince?"
“I know Miss won’t listen to me,” Xie Qingyu said. “I have my principles, and you have yours.”
What is your insistence?
"...I want you to live." Xie Qingyu hugged her even tighter. "To escape your destined fate, to escape your destined life and death. I want you to live."
He didn't believe in ghosts or gods, nor in the will of Heaven, because they said his young lady would die by fate. He didn't believe in fate, and even less in those high and mighty gods, even if they were gilded and revered by thousands.
He has a wish, but he does not intend to rely on the gods to fulfill it for him.
Everyone wanted her dead, but he insisted on keeping her alive.
Yue Yining looked up at the sky and suddenly felt her eyes getting warm.
She sniffled, her heart aching, then smiled again: "Thank you. Your words are enough."
In this life, everything we receive is a gift. Regardless of the outcome, she will remember that someone loved her deeply, did so much for her, and wished for her to live on, to live a long and healthy life, even more than she herself did. She will always remember this, and she will be eternally grateful.
"...Before receiving Miss's handwritten betrothal letter, I was filled with anxiety. I couldn't understand why I, who had nothing of value, deserved Miss's favor. If one day I lost Miss, how would I live?"
"Why did the young lady accept me? Why did she choose me in particular?"
The voice of the person in his arms trembled slightly; though it was a question, it was already choked with sobs. Yue Yining patted his shoulder, his thoughts drifting away, murmuring to himself, "Why did I choose you...?"
She thought it was probably because that night, she finally figured out his fate.
She was utterly bewildered at that moment. She had considered a million possibilities, but none of them came to pass.
Inside Xie Qingyu's body is a soul from thousands of years in the future.
Suddenly, she understood everything. She realized why he was so intelligent, shrewd, and cunning; why he was selfless yet adept at court intrigue, full of contradictions that even she couldn't see through; and why he had such a unique obsession with her, why he was so deeply in love with her and couldn't forget her.
Memories keep retracing their steps, returning to the past, from the first encounter, from that tear shed for her.
The words came true.
Following the will of Heaven, I unexpectedly found myself a being beyond this world; defying fate, I became the person destined for it.
Heaven, though it could calculate everything perfectly, had itself given her an irreparable rift.
So much so that when Yue Yining later consulted the divination to determine her compatibility with Xie Qingyu and saw that they were destined to be together but not to stay together, she could no longer bear it and wrote a poem in a fit of anger.
Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest, each beat stronger than the last, like a deafening drumbeat.
She had heard enough of the doctrines of fate in her life.
Heaven says she can't do it; she can't save this dynasty on the verge of collapse, nor can she save the people struggling in the world. She will only lose her life in vain. Heaven says they are not a good match; she and Xie Qingyu are strangers to each other, with no past life and no present life. Forcing it will only lead to her suffering the consequences.
She will no longer believe the nonsense that the Heavenly Dao says.
She insisted on doing it.
She will spend her whole life proving it.
“Because it’s you,” Yue Yining said. “Xie Qingyu, we were never supposed to meet each other. If it were an inexplicable accident, you would have died a thousand years later, and I would have rested a thousand years ago. We would never have crossed paths in our lives. But now we have met. That means that destiny can be broken, and the so-called laws of heaven are not without flaws.”
"So you asked me why I chose you, because it was meant to be this way. You could go back in time to change my fate, and I can fall in love with you without hesitation."
"Xie Qingyu, all I want is you, no one else. No one but you will do."
The clouds suddenly parted, and the sun shone brightly, pouring down upon the world.
Yue Yining instinctively closed her eyes. She felt Xie Qingyu lower his head, the faint scent of orchids lingering around her nose. He gently kissed her temple, hot tears welling up in his eyes.
She opened her eyes to the light and found that although he was crying, he was smiling.
The eyes she remembered were brimming with tears, shimmering in the sunlight.
“...Me too.” He spoke in a hoarse voice, as if making a vow, “I will serve you with all my heart and soul, only for you, Miss.”
Yue Yining smiled and reached out to hug him back. Their hearts, separated by layers of spring silk, were tightly intertwined.
Heaven decreed that snow should cover a thousand mountains, forbidding white hair only for you.
[Volume 3 - The Bright Moon Finally Unites with Jade Hearts - The End]
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Author's Note: Volume 3!! It's finally finished!!
Because I like to divide the volumes according to the plot stages, the third volume is the longest, which is a bit disproportionate to the length of the first and second volumes, haha... [melted]
Next, I'll finish Volume 4, and then the main text will be complete!
This chapter actually hinted at it. As soon as the news of the Eldest Princess being appointed as the military supervisor came out, Yu Yu guessed that Ning Ning's true supporter was the Eldest Princess.
After the two confess their feelings for each other, Yu Yu will also support the Princess alongside Ning Ning. The two will no longer be on opposing sides and will begin fighting side by side! (These details will be explained at the beginning of Volume 4.)
Yu Yu is gone, but someone else will take on the role of the "villain" who is Ning Ning's antagonist in the story in Volume 4.
The unwritten scenes will be added in volume four! Like red ribbon bondage, an open-air bath, Yu Yu's jealousy, etc. [Please!]
Volume 4 will also reveal many foreshadowing elements and complete the depiction of Ningning's arc light. If all goes well, I can finish it in a month. I'll do my best! [Sprinkling flowers]
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