Chapter 184 Rewinding to the Present World: If it can be done, it must be done. ...
The following year, after the Spring Festival, the National Academy of History released the archaeological report on the tomb of Princess Wei Yihua, who lived at the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty, which sparked a new wave of discussion online.
Princess Wei Yihua displayed exceptional talent from a young age, possessing lofty aspirations and renowned for her talent throughout the capital. She was intelligent, insightful, loyal, and resolute, and her poems and prose were of superior quality, captivating the world.
After coming of age, she participated in the struggle for the throne between the two princes at the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty. She had outstanding insight and a heart for saving the world and bringing peace to the people. She was the most outstanding strategist in the Fourth Prince's camp.
People are talking about this new, little-known historical figure, curiously reading her epitaph, learning about her life and story, shedding tears or sighing.
As Wei Yihua's burial objects and historical documents were analyzed, it was discovered that this princess had also mentioned the name Yue Yining on several occasions.
Immediately, a flood of speculations arose about this unknown female Taoist master, with many different opinions.
Spring 2027 arrived amidst such clamor.
Xie Yunying continued to shuttle between school and home, occasionally visiting Chen Yiran at the research institute. During a break in her busy schedule one day, she looked up and realized it was now April 10th, 2027.
A full year has passed since she returned to reality from the world of "Yining".
Time has passed, and her heart has been completely transformed.
Xie Yunying first noticed the change in herself when she was able to join in the conversation in the group chat.
Wan Tongtong was quite surprised because it was the first time Xie Yunying had not been playing the straight man, but had seriously discussed historical content with everyone, and had even offered some insightful opinions, so she praised her generously.
Xie Yunying thought Wan Tongtong was just encouraging her, her clumsy junior. It wasn't until Wei Bangyuan told her that she felt she had made a lot of progress in the past year, which surprised her as a teacher, that she vaguely realized that she had really changed.
My heart was full, heavy, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds. Yet my steps became light, so fast I wanted to run. The faster I ran, the faster I ran, my pulse pounding in my throat, as if I wanted to break free from the shackles of my flesh and blood and leap into the endless world. It felt as if a gust of wind had entered my body.
The wind was biting her, but she never thought of stopping.
In recent years, feminist thought has flourished and gained considerable popularity on the Chinese internet.
This resurfaced history of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty introduces people to a group of outstanding beauties, like a magnificent harmony spanning a thousand years, which coincides with the soaring tone of anti-traditional gender narratives.
Whether it's the deepening of related issues or the enhancement of women's confidence, both will further reshape the public's perspective and social concepts in the new era, gradually shaking the long-standing solidified gender power-discourse structure and historical traditions.
The brilliance of our predecessors illuminates the past and present.
The will of Yue Yining, the female celestial master who is the focus of the discussion, has long been lost. The cenotaph that Princess Wei Yihua built for her is also hard to find. The silk book, which has been preserved for thousands of years, has not been properly preserved and is very likely to have been soaked in water with mixed components. Even if the original artifact can be found, its handwriting will most likely be impossible to restore.
The truth of history has been revealed, but the most essential part is missing, leaving all those who have been following this matter with a sense of regret.
Even Xie Yunying herself felt that she might never see Yue Yining's suicide note made public in her lifetime.
However, even fate may have its biases.
In late spring, a highly classified and important cultural relic was urgently sent from a provincial museum in the southeast region to the National Academy of History in the capital, Beijing, where it was received by Professor Chen Yiran's team.
The artifact is a jade box that appears to be severely worn. It was not obtained through archaeological excavation, but was found by a local farmer while digging for bamboo shoots in a remote, uninhabited mountain.
The farmer put the jade box in his basket and took it home, intending to sell it at a jade shop in town. However, a college student who happened to be visiting his neighbor during the May Day holiday heard that the elderly man in the neighbor's house had found treasure while digging for bamboo shoots in the mountains. Out of curiosity, he went over to take a look and discovered that the characters engraved on the bottom of the box were ancient script.
The college student had a gut feeling that the jade box was unusual, so he suggested that the old man take it to the town's cultural and tourism office to ask if it was a historical artifact.
In many rural areas, the cultural and tourism offices are grassroots departments responsible for connecting with, identifying, and reporting cultural relics and folk artifacts that may appear in the area. They also undertake the function of publicizing cultural relic protection to the public.
The old man was a retired soldier. Upon hearing that it might belong to the state, he dared not keep it for himself and took the jade box to town the next day.
It was such a coincidence. That day, a young member of the Provincial Institute of Archaeology happened to be in the vicinity, finishing up a regional cultural relics survey, and was temporarily handing over data at the town's cultural and tourism office.
When the old man took out the jade box wrapped in red cloth, the eyes of the archaeologists who were drinking tea lit up.
Although the jade box was severely worn, its ancient and simple design suggested it was not made with modern techniques. After initial observation and assessment, the archaeological team members immediately explained the situation to the elderly man and the office director, registered it according to the prescribed procedures, and then personally escorted the jade box back to the provincial museum.
Archaeological experts from the provincial museum conducted further cleaning and testing on the jade box. The jade was determined to be celadon, and the box employed a mortise and tenon structure unique to tombs from the mid-to-late Eastern Yuan dynasty, ensuring excellent airtightness.
Even more surprisingly, after carefully opening the jade box, the experts discovered that although the exterior of the jade box had been weathered, its interior, due to its excellent physical stability, avoided drastic temperature differences and moisture penetration, thus forming a near-perfect microenvironment. As a result, the silk book stored in the jade box did not suffer serious damage even after thousands of years.
Although the silk scroll in the jade box has common problems with cultural relics, such as fiber aging, creases and breaks, and oxidized and faded ink, the contents are well preserved and the text is still faintly discernible.
Experts from the provincial academy quickly conducted a preliminary interpretation of the silk manuscript and determined it to be an important historical artifact from the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty. They then expedited its delivery to Beijing. Once there, the artifact was handed over to Professor Chen Yiran's team, who specializes in historical research on the three major tomb complexes from the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty, for further restoration and historical research.
By the time Xie Yunying learned of all this, Chen Yiran's team had already completed the high-precision scanning and interpretation of the silk manuscript in the jade box.
That day, Chen Yiran only sent her one sentence: "Yunying, Yue Yining's suicide note has been found."
Attached to the email was an encrypted document.
Xie Yunying opened the document and read Yue Yining's suicide note word by word.
The sky outside the window changed from bright to dark, sliding into a deep blue. She heard the roar of the range hood coming from the kitchen, and looking at the glaring fluorescent light on the screen, she realized with a start that her face was already covered in tears.
For several days in a daze, Xie Yunying felt as if most of her soul had been drained away, leaving only stagnation and emptiness. Something was stuck in her throat, as if she had a thousand words she couldn't say, like standing in a boundless, desolate snowfield, not knowing where she came from or where she was going, only looking around blankly.
Two months later, the National Academy of History officially announced the research results on Yue Yining's will, and stated that all cultural relics unearthed from the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty to the present will be exhibited in the form of a large-scale special exhibition at the National Museum.
At that time, people all over the country will be able to view and appreciate these historical relics up close.
This major special exhibition will bring a perfect end to this archaeological restoration study that has lasted for more than a year.
On the first day of the exhibition, Xie Yunying arrived at the National Museum of China early.
Despite it being a weekday, the area outside the special exhibition hall was already packed with people, demonstrating the public's enthusiasm.
The exhibition hall is ingeniously designed, with dim lighting creating an atmosphere of historical exploration. Then, the view suddenly opens up, revealing the achievements of the three empresses through massive paintings, arrays of artifacts, and multimedia interactive technology, creating a magnificent spectacle. The winding and circuitous exhibition route metaphorically represents the intricate complexities and mysteries surrounding historical truth.
As visitors gradually walk into the deepest part of the exhibition hall, the lights suddenly brighten. Once people stand in the center of the hall, they will find that the light above their heads slowly recedes, returning to a stable, soft, and tranquil atmosphere, as if the dust has settled.
Xie Yunying bypassed the bustling crowd and headed straight for the deepest part of the exhibition hall. It was still early, and there were only a few visitors in the hall. She brushed past countless people before finally standing in front of a glass display case in a corner.
The noise gradually faded away.
Xie Yunying's breathing calmed down, becoming almost inaudible. She stared at the cultural relic displayed in the center, unconsciously holding her breath.
The pale yellow silk book was carefully unfolded, resting on a dark velvet cushion, and lay quietly in a sealed glass case. Soft, round overhead light fell, illuminating every inch of the fibers that had endured a thousand years.
It is plain and unassuming, yet it embodies the brilliance of an entire era of rouge.
Xie Yunying looked up at the huge display panel behind the artifact, where rows of carefully arranged modern characters revealed the thousand-year-old sealed will to the world:
"Yue Yi Ning was born into poverty and lost his father at the age of four. He then wandered the streets and relied on the kindness of others for food. Fortunately, he survived until the age of eight. The Venerable Qiu Wu Zhu recognized his talent and took him up the mountain to teach him with great care. His kindness was as heavy as Mount Tai. For seven years, he imparted all his knowledge of the five arts of Xuanmen and also raised and taught him with utmost care, like a father and mother."
"At the age of fourteen, I first tried divination with tortoise shell and was able to glimpse the fate of the nation. I learned that five years later, the Crown Prince would die suddenly, and the fourth prince, Wei Jing, would ascend the throne for ten years before the dynasty would end. The land would be overthrown, the Eastern Yuan would perish, chaos would reign, and the people would suffer. I repeatedly asked the Heavenly Way: Where is the way to break this deadlock? The Heavenly Way said: It depends on only one person, namely yourself."
"So, at the age of coming of age, I left my master's school, ventured into the mortal world, and traveled the world. At sixteen, I traveled to Luoshui, where I met Fu Yao, who had lost her mother due to famine. I took her in as my personal maid and she accompanied me. For the next four years, I traveled all over the world and witnessed the hardships of the people, the desires of the people, and the accumulation of illnesses and ailments. Thus, I honed my skills and forged a loyal heart."
At the age of twenty, he entered the capital to serve as an official, assisting the third prince Wei Ye in seizing the throne. He was a strategist who devoted himself to planning day and night.
"Having spent two years in officialdom, traversing both the inner and outer courts, I have gained a keen insight into the ills of the political situation. The problem lies in the deeply entrenched power of the aristocratic families, who leech off the dynasty and are virtually unshakeable. The imperial heir is weak and incompetent. If Wei Ye were to ascend the throne, he would be caught between two factions of veteran officials, making his path extremely difficult. If Wei Jing were to ascend the throne, it would inevitably lead to a regency by the aristocratic families, with powerful ministers dividing the throne among themselves. Public resentment would boil over and become uncontrollable, and the decline of the nation would be inevitable. I am powerless to reverse the situation, unable to reshape the court or eradicate the deep-seated problems. The deadlock is already in place."
"At the age of twenty-two, I consulted the oracle again, and Heaven revealed to me the final outcome, which was exactly as I had expected."
"I am already at the end of my rope, and all I am doing is a last-ditch effort."
"Heaven deceived me, making me as weak as an ant, granting me a faint and unattainable hope, but not telling me that I alone could not support the heavens; yet it did not lie to me either, for I, who possess the most profound arts in the world, am indeed the key to breaking the deadlock. It is extremely clever, and what it says is true, but it has not told the whole truth either."
"I fell into its trap; ultimately, I was outmatched and made a fatal mistake."
"But I refuse to accept my fate."
"Since Heaven sees through my heart and controls even my plans and desires, then I will deceive myself."
"I will calculate my own life and death, the fate of others, and the oversights of Heaven. Heaven and Earth will be my compass, and I will cast my final divination."
"After I die in prison, this letter will surely be given to my maid, Fu Yao. Do not grieve for my death. I have been gambling with fate in order to find a glimmer of hope. My lifespan of fifty years has already passed, and after two divinations, I only have seven years left in my hundred-year life. Even if I survive, I will not live to see the day my scheme is realized. Even if Wei Jing lets me go, the others are still eyeing me covetously. In my current situation, I am all alone and surrounded by enemies. I cannot leave this vast city of Yanjing. If I fall into the hands of powerful families and become a puppet to live my life, I would rather die quickly."
"Ten years later, chaos will befall us, but I have found a way out for all the people of the world."
"Over the past two years, I have been constantly calculating the situation at the end of this chaotic era. If the vast land of Dongyuan is divided into three kingdoms and they stand in a state of balance, then a century of peace and prosperity can be expected."
"I could have predicted the candidates to be the rulers of the Three Kingdoms long ago."
"The first is Jin Lingxi, the daughter of the Jin family of Suyang. She was born into a wealthy and noble family and was born with a destiny of great wealth and power. She was destined to control the wealth of a region, but she was controlled by her father's power and suffered greatly. Her father was greedy and vicious. If he lived a long and healthy life, he would surely deplete her good fortune. If Jin Lingxi could not make great strides before the age of thirty, her ambition would be completely worn away, and she would be buried in the earth, never to see the light of day again."
"Therefore, I secretly provided assistance under the guise of others, helping her to kill her father, seize power in the Jin family, and revitalize trade in the Suyang region. In this way, ten years later, she will be able to establish a nation based on the abundant wealth and prosperous trade of the Suyang region, becoming the ruler of the first country."
"I have also divined that there is a once-in-a-century talent for physiognomy in Suyang, a farmer's daughter named Li Daimei. The Li family favors sons over daughters and has cut off her path to education. If no one intervenes, this talented physiognomist will perish. I feel pity for her and have secretly sent someone to provide her with silver to support her studies. After several years, she will pass the civil service examination, enter officialdom, and become a capable minister who can assist the Jin family in establishing the country. Her gloomy fate will be completely dispelled, and she will shine brightly."
"The second is He Chan, the daughter of a butcher from Qinghuai, a reincarnation of a legendary general, an unparalleled hero. Her destiny is to unite people's hearts, and her nature is resilient and steady. However, due to her youthful folly in judging people, she mistakenly allied herself with Huang Zhuo, which led to her imprisonment and the destruction of her achievements. Without the help of others, her star will fade away. Therefore, I used others to provide her with troops, provisions, maps, and strategies to help her eliminate spies, make a comeback, and accumulate fame and power."
"If she is safe, the talented people gathered around her, such as General Jiang Feiyan and the divine physician Jiang Chiyin, will also escape death, their fortunes will turn around, and their lives will become increasingly prosperous. Ten years later, they can gather the strength of the masses, lead the rebel army to capture the capital of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty, overthrow the old dynasty, and establish a country with thousands of troops as their foundation, becoming the ruler of the second country."
"Thirdly, there is Princess Wei Yihua of Yanjing, who is skilled in both literature and martial arts, has outstanding talent, a heart for saving the world and bringing peace to the people, and is also destined to be the crown prince, making her the best candidate for heir. It is a pity that she and I are irreconcilable enemies, and although there is a grudge, it is only due to a misunderstanding. After my death, I will give this will to her, and all past grievances will be resolved."
"After the fall of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty, the eldest princess is the only legitimate bloodline, possessing both talent and prestige. If she were to establish a new country and become emperor, she could pacify the local populace, recruit former officials of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty, and become the ruler of the third country. As for the female officials such as Zhou Congyi, Shen Liude, and Qiu Yuebai, they are all pillars of society and can help her achieve great things, thus establishing a tripartite balance of power."
"The way of Heaven cannot be defied alone, so we gather the strength of several heroines from all over the world and work together with one heart."
"Know that the world does not belong to the supreme ruler alone, but to all the people of the nine provinces. By going against the opportunity of the pivot, we can change the fate of all living beings and alter their destiny. Then the way of heaven can be overturned and the universe will be reversed—this is my strategy to break the deadlock: let all the people of the world form the power of the world."
"If I succeed, I can die with a smile on my face; if I fail, I will have no regrets."
"Before I went to prison, I consulted a divination master and realized that I could foresee my master's fate. The divination indicated that she had passed away several months ago."
"After much thought, I believe that after I die, only Fu Yao will likely weep for me. Please do not let me hurt your eyes. I have changed the fate of too many people, and the consequences are heavy. My lifespan is coming to an end, and it is inevitable that I will live out my remaining years. Dying like this will be a relief for me, and also my final destination."
"I have already secured a safe haven for you. After I die, give this will to Wei Yihua and instruct her to accumulate strength over the next ten years, plan carefully before acting. Afterward, you can seek refuge with Censor Zhou Congyi, who will treat you well and ensure your safety for the rest of your life."
"There was a time when I complained to God, why did He choose me to save the world? Why did everyone else live while I died a miserable death? All I wanted was ordinary joy, why could I never attain it in my entire life? This world has always been so unfair to me."
"I believe that I harbor much resentment and dissatisfaction towards this so-called fate. Others see me as resolute and determined, but only I know that my heart is tossing and turning, filled with doubt and indecision."
"Only when I put pen to paper this suicide note did I realize that my heart was pure and free of bitterness and resentment."
"From the age of fifteen, when I left my master's school and went down the mountain alone, to the age of twenty-two, when I exchanged half of my life for a glimmer of hope, it was always something I did willingly."
"No one has ever made demands of me, nor has Heaven ever forced me. It is just that I am weak-willed, afraid of death, and content with mediocrity. I do not like power or status, so I have lived my life in this way, and it is inevitable that I have regrets."
"Now, looking back on these twenty-three years, all my actions have been in accordance with my heart, and I have no regrets. My life has been enlightened and clear-headed, how can it not be considered a fulfillment of my wishes? My pure heart has been rewarded, and I will have no regrets even in death."
"Those who love me, why grieve for my life, so fleeting as a mayfly? Why weep for my tombstone, where no one stands and my bones lie exposed in the wilderness? Why pity me, for I am not recorded in history and unknown to the world?"
"But I see people living in peace and prosperity, thousands of golden waves of rice, a century of peace and prosperity, all of which are for my name."
People come and go among the transparent glass display cases. At the juncture of day and night, countless people stand still for a moment before moving forward. Regardless of the weight and significance of history, people are all in a hurry, stingy with deep feelings.
Among the countless intertwined and flowing figures, Xie Yunying stood motionless in front of the display board of Yue Yining's suicide note, appearing out of place.
Passersby occasionally glance at her, their gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds before turning into astonishment and surprise, and then moving on.
Until a woman came along with a child.
The young child saw Xie Yunying, suddenly spat out the lollipop in his mouth, and said in a clear, childish voice, "Mommy, why is that older sister crying?"
The child's voice was very loud, attracting the attention of many passersby.
The woman looked panicked and quickly covered the child's mouth. She stole a glance at Xie Yunying, then hurriedly pulled the child away while scolding in a low voice, "...Mom already told you, you can't talk loudly in a museum, it's very impolite!"
The few passersby who had stopped gradually dispersed.
Xie Yunying came to her senses, raised her hand to wipe her face, her tears were cold, yet still flowed uncontrollably.
Even though she had already read it once and knew every word and phrase by heart, and could recite it silently with her eyes closed, she still cried uncontrollably in this huge exhibition hall.
The world's stinginess with deep affection makes her seem so abrupt and strange.
Xie Yunying retreated to the wall, leaning against it and sobbing, taking out tissues from her bag to wipe her tears.
Just then, an electronic voice that was etched into her very bones suddenly rang in her mind. So sudden and without warning, it made her abruptly stop wiping away her tears.
The electronic voice signaling the data loading ended, and the familiar system voice called out to her again: "—Host, it's me!"
Xie Yunying looked up in surprise, her eyes still red.
She murmured, "...System?"
"Is it you?" After receiving an affirmative answer, Xie Yunying suddenly stood up straight, her face becoming excited. "It really is you!"
System: "Host, it's been a long time."
"Why did you leave without saying a word? And you were gone for over a year! Do you know how confused I was when I woke up and found myself back in the real world?!"
The system's voice sounded a little guilty: "The teleportation was too hasty and there was a slight accident. Later I realized that I had teleported you back to the real world, so I just went with the flow. Anyway, you're quite happy in the real world, aren't you?"
Xie Yunying: "......."
Xie Yunying said, enunciating each word clearly: "This is not a reason why you haven't come to see me."
The system explained: "I was temporarily assigned other work and forgot that there is a difference in the flow of time between the two places, so I was unable to contact the host in time... Ahem, in short, I am here to find the host to restart the transmigration mission."
Xie Yunying was stunned: "Restart the transmigration mission?"
"Yes, host. The Transcendent Bureau has detected that the situation in the 'Yining' dimension has nearly stabilized. We can teleport you back to the original mission world to continue the unfinished mission."
The system said, "Because I made a major mistake and sent the host directly back to the real world, the contract we signed earlier became invalid. We must sign a new one before I have the authority to extract the host's soul."
Xie Yunying stood there silently for a long time until the system heard her softly reply, "Understood. Then sign it."
"..." After hesitating for a long time, the system finally spoke, "Actually, the host can also choose not to sign a contract with me."
Xie Yunying was still waiting for the system's next move when she suddenly heard this sentence and was stunned: "...What do you mean?"
"That means that because the previous contract has expired, you are now free, host." The system's electronic voice flowed through your mind. "If you choose not to sign a second contract with me, you will not have to return to the world of 'Yining' or complete the previous missions."
"I've read the host log that the main system sent me. You seem to really enjoy life in the real world, right? Your parents, your friends, your studies, everything you're familiar with is here. If you want, you can stay in the real world and not have to go back to that unfamiliar era to suffer."
The system added, "Of course, if the host is willing to return to the mission world, I will also send the host home as agreed after the mission is completed."
Two completely different choices were thus presented to Xie Yunying.
My heart suddenly slowed down, but I could still clearly hear my pulse.
"...If I choose not to do the mission," Xie Yunying said, lowering her eyes, "what will happen to that world?"
System: "Nothing will happen. The host's identity is just an ordinary young lady from a noble family. She is not a key character in the world of 'Yining'. Even if 'Xie Yunying' falls into a deep sleep and never wakes up, it will not affect the main storyline."
Compared to that group of powerful and influential figures, Xie Yunying was indeed just an ordinary passerby. She was inconspicuous, and even if she suddenly died one day, it would not disturb the world; and even if she lived well, she could not shake the complex and intricate situation.
It was precisely at this moment that Xie Yunying thought of many people.
She thought of Xie Qingyu, who had not yet read Yue Yining's last words in the book. He still believed Yue Yining's last words in the book to be true, thinking that Yue Yining had really regretted entering the court as an official.
She remembered Yue Yining, who was beset by internal and external troubles and attacked from all sides when she left. Yue Yining would not hesitate to shield her from rotten eggs and gently wipe away her tears. If she were to return to Yue Yining's side now, she would definitely be able to help her in some way.
She thought of Yuan Nanjie, whose body was actually inhabited by the soul of the deceased crown prince, that pitiful, old-fashioned man whose background she had entangled with, whose heart and eyes were filled with her, and who would always blush quietly when facing her. Even if no one in that world needed her, he must still be waiting for her; he absolutely could not live without her.
The system was still waiting for Xie Yunying's reply when it saw Xie Yunying crying.
The petite girl stood quietly in the corner of the exhibition hall, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed with unstoppable force, as if she wouldn't stop until she broke through the floor.
The system had never seen Xie Yunying like this before, and it was almost scared to death: "Host! What's wrong! Why are you crying?!"
“…System,” Xie Yunying said hoarsely, “How can I not go back?”
How could she continue to live comfortably in this world and enjoy a peaceful happiness after learning the whole truth?
Xie Yunying's vision was blurry, but her heart was filled with an unprecedented clarity and boundless light.
That unforgettable period in her life has completely reshaped her.
She walked through the torrential rain, and thus, she was no longer the Xie Yunying of the past.
The system was silent for a while, then said, "I know what the host has been through this past year, and I can understand the host's feelings."
"However, from a rational perspective, I believe that even if the host goes back, he may not actually be able to do anything for Yue Yining. Anything that is possible is just a possibility; there are simply too many factors that determine the success of something, making it very difficult to truly accomplish..."
Xie Yunying: "But I have to at least try. If I can do something for them, I can't not do it."
As she said this, Xie Yunying's eyes were still red-rimmed, but a strikingly bright light welled up in her eyes, making it hard to look directly at her and touching one's heart.
Like a lost traveler finding a lighthouse, she was no longer confused. The blank of hesitation was filled with a definite answer, and the snow melted into early spring.
The system's electronic sound fluctuated for a moment, then fell silent.
“…I understand,” the system said. “Then, I respect the host’s choice.”
"Please sign the second transmigration contract, host."
The moment Xie Yunying put down her pen, she felt a sudden lightness throughout her body.
Xie Yunying was also experiencing the process of her soul being extracted into a new world for the first time with full consciousness.
Everything seemed to have been paused; all her senses felt as if they were being stuffed into a solid box, and she could no longer hear her own breath or heartbeat. Suddenly, all memories, time, and space turned into a semi-solid liquid, flowing backward from her body, and time was reversed.
Xie Yunying opened her eyes wide, as if she were in an endless universe, passing through door after door, and the scenery flowing past her each time was completely different.
She didn't know how much time had passed before she finally saw Yue Yining.
The crying, hungry baby reached out and grasped her mother's finger. In the warm wooden house, a towel woven with a small flower was wrapped around the edge of the swaddling clothes. The Yue father and mother looked at their lovely daughter and couldn't help but smile. The baby stared wide-eyed with curiosity, her pair of deep grape-colored black eyes darting around.
The flames of war ripped apart the peaceful and ordinary days of happiness. Four-year-old Yue Yining lost her last remaining loved one on a blizzard. The young child clung to her frozen, lifeless mother's body, wailing and kneeling by the bed, repeatedly pounding her head on the straw mat, begging God to return her mother to her. This was the only time she prayed to the gods, the price being the innocence of the rest of her life. She knelt until sunrise when the snow melted, until even her tears had dried up.
Willow branches swayed like smoke, and a pair of tightly clasped hands swept past. A filthy beggar boy, his hand held by a woman who looked like a fairy from a painting, stared blankly at her retreating figure. Eight-year-old Yue Yining followed the person who would soon become her master to the Zijin Temple in Yingchuan. Amidst the envious gazes of others, she emerged from the turbulent first half of her life and gained family who were like father and mother to her.
Snow fell outside the west window, and a crescent moon hung high in the sky on New Year's Day. A child with a flushed face struggled to close a door that was taller than herself. After closing it, she scurried back into her master's bed. Nine-year-old Yue Yining was like a warm, cozy fireplace, while her master was like a handful of lilac snow, pure, aloof, and devoid of human warmth. He seemed cold by nature, yet he would pat her back to lull her to sleep and sing her songs he didn't like at all.
Fourteen-year-old Yue Yining had her first big argument with her master, neither of them willing to back down. The usually bustling Zijin Temple was unusually quiet for many days. Yue Yining nestled in her room, resting her head on her arm, gazing out the window at the pine forest and bamboo grove. On the table lay a piece of tortoise shell, cracked from the fire, with beautiful rose-shaped patterns growing on its back—the fangs of fate were beginning to emerge.
Fifteen-year-old Yue Yining had undergone her coming-of-age ceremony and decided to descend the mountain the next day. Before leaving, her master told her that once she stepped through this gate, she would no longer be Qiu Wuzhu's disciple. Yue Yining simply kowtowed nine times to her master. The stone steps in front of the mountain gate were uneven, and she broke her skin after just a couple of kowtows. Bright red blood seeped from her forehead, gradually blurring her vision.
After descending the mountain, Yue Yining encountered famine and met Liu Siniang, who was four years younger than her. Young Liu Siniang was starving and very thin, looking pitiful. Seeing that Yue Yining was well-dressed, she secretly followed her. When Yue Yining noticed her, she timidly came out and asked if she could have some food. Yue Yining thought she was begging for food for herself, but Liu Siniang said that her mother was about to starve to death.
Yue Yining followed Liu Siniang home. Liu Siniang's mother was lying on a thin straw mat, already dead. She hadn't lived to see the life-saving food.
Yue Yining asked Liu Siniang, "Where did your father go? What about your other siblings?" Liu Siniang replied, "My father left with my younger brother, and my three older sisters were sold. Only my mother and I are left to depend on each other." Yue Yining then asked, "What is your mother's surname?" Liu Siniang thought for a while before saying, "Fu."
Yue Yining patted Liu Siniang's head and asked her if she wanted to go with her. Liu Siniang grabbed her clothes and held them tightly. The tears she hadn't shed when she learned of her mother's death finally fell.
Yue Yining said, "I won't call you Liu Si Niang anymore, it doesn't sound good. Your mother's surname is Fu, so how about I give you a new name? Let's call you Fu Yao, Fuyao, meaning 'soaring straight up to ninety thousand miles.'"
Eleven-year-old Fu Yao lost her mother but met the young lady who treated her best in her life; while Yue Yining, who went down the mountain alone to make his way in the world, also gained a loyal and devoted maid who was more like family in the first year after leaving his loved ones.
The two traveled all over the country, turning mountains and rivers into mud balls under their feet and rivers and seas into puddles after rain. They saw countless ordinary faces, some crying and some laughing, until the wind, frost, rain and snow tempered them and they embraced all aspects of human life.
Finally, the two arrived at Jinling, not far from Yanjing City. The young female Taoist priest bought a wooden house she liked in a nearby town and settled down in the mountains with her maid.
Spring comes and autumn goes, winter is warm and summer is cool. The wind murmurs through the green trees. Yue Yining, who is about to turn twenty, sits in the courtyard of Jiulian Town. A cup of tea is placed beside her. She is dressed in a spring dress. Her profile is beautiful and elegant. The wind blows through her green sleeves and flowers fall in the quiet courtyard.
Yue Yining looked up at the sky above. In the warm sunlight, Xie Yunying could see her eyes clearly.
She gazed at the vast sky where clouds drifted and the distant, unfathomable end of fate lay, her eyes radiating a calm and gentle light.
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Author's Note: Starting from chapter 12, I misled everyone, including the male lead's author, with a final message at the end... Anyway, the truth has finally come out.
As for her regret, it wasn't a lie. Regret was real, and so was the lack of regret—that's Ningning for you. If she could, she would choose a peaceful, quiet, and happy life; but if the world needed her, she would also face death without hesitation.
When feudal relations of production hinder the development of productive forces, they may be adjusted through violent revolution or reform, but without changing the feudal nature, they will still form a "periodic cycle".
Yue Yining saw this inevitable development clearly; this was the fundamental reason why the so-called Way of Heaven is invincible.
Even though the dynasty was destined to perish, through her strategic planning and tactical maneuvering, she was able to shift the dynasty from a violent collapse to a more gradual transition. She effectively prevented the war and strife from escalating, thus saving countless lives and allowing the people to live in peace and prosperity, ushering in a century of peace and prosperity.
In fact, Ningning is a simple practitioner of Marxist theory.
In conclusion, she is by no means a failed strategist. After eleven months of serialization, I can finally say this with a clear conscience.
The character Yue Yining is the soul of this book; anyone who reads this part will remember her deeply.
ps:
I'm begging you... This update is late, so please send thirty red envelopes to the comments section of this chapter [shy]. Don't be angry with me, my darlings [please]
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