I will never fail you
Vertical day
Early in the morning, Qi Yuning woke everyone up and gathered them in the courtyard.
The town is slowly becoming more populated. Although there aren't many shops open for business, it's much more lively than before, and doesn't feel like a ghost town anymore.
At the end of the street, Pei Qinzhou took advantage of the crowd's inattention and pulled Wen Zhibai into a small alley.
"what you do?"
Pei Qinzhou said with a slightly aggrieved tone, "They will take your attention away from me, and I don't want that."
He took her hand, waved it in front of his eyes, and led her to another long street: "This is the road I only want to walk with you."
Wen Zhibai lowered his head, laughing at his unchanging childishness, and feeling grateful for this rare happiness.
She gazed at Pei Qinzhou's retreating figure, and in a daze, she recalled the slender young man she had first met. He was now taller and had much broader shoulders than before.
But it seems that no matter how many years have passed, Pei Qinzhou will always have the most innocent and carefree side in front of her.
Or perhaps, as Pei Qinzhou said, he can now be her support, and she can rely on him wholeheartedly.
"What's wrong?" Pei Qinzhou turned around, the sunlight gilding his profile and shining into the tenderness in his eyes that he only showed to her.
She smiled brightly, opened his tightly clasped hand, and then intertwined her fingers: "It's nothing, I just feel like I really need you."
At a certain corner, four figures were huddled together.
Xie An excitedly pointed into the distance: "The adults are over there!" Just as he was about to rush out, he was grabbed by Qi Yuning and Xia Chengen at the same time.
"Don't go over there!" the two said in unison.
Guangxi sighed and rubbed her forehead: "Xie An, are you tired of living such a comfortable life?"
"Where do we go now?" Xie An realized what was happening and scratched his head sheepishly.
Xia Chengen naturally turned to Qi Yuning: "Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
"Hmm...Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince, so please make the decision."
"Didn't I just hear there's a lantern-lighting ceremony tonight?" Xia Chengen's gaze swept over the red string swaying in her hair. "Why don't we buy some things first and find a restaurant to wait?"
The so-called lantern-lighting ceremony in Liangchuan is to commemorate those who lost their lives in the drought and war. When the new year arrives, the survivors will hold Kongming lanterns and set them off on the Kudu Bridge.
At dusk, the six people reunited at the small restaurant.
The shop was simple, but the laughter under the setting sun was enough to dispel the chill.
As night falls, thousands of Kongming lanterns rise from the Kudu Bridge.
"It's much more lively now than during the day," Wen Zhibai said, looking out the window.
“Yes, the Lantern Recitation Ceremony is about to begin,” Qi Yining replied. “We’ll stroll along West Street, and that’s where the Kudu Bridge is.”
The street was crowded with people, and Wen Zhibai caught a glimpse of a carpenter's shop through the gaps in the crowd. She walked over and handed Pei Qinzhou's cracked wooden pendant to the craftsman.
After she finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd, she discovered that Pei Qinzhou was gone. The group had been separated.
They both searched for each other without prior arrangement, and fortunately, after several twists and turns, they finally made their eyes meet through the crowd.
It seemed that at this moment, a red thread was drawing the two of them closer to each other.
...
Families carried Kongming lanterns and walked towards the Kudu Bridge.
Looking at the elderly couple with white hair supporting each other in the sea of lights, Wen Zhibai's eyes welled up with tears.
"There aren't many young people left in Liangchuan..." Her voice choked slightly as she thought of the elderly burying their children.
Pei Qinzhou gently pulled her closer, saying, "As long as we care about each other, we will definitely meet again."
The crowd stood on the Bitter Crossing Bridge, watching the lanterns fly towards the moon.
A thousand lanterns illuminate the spirits of the dead in January, while a gentle breeze carries thoughts of sorrow as the living endure hardship.
Xia Chengen: "I only wish to live up to the expectations of the people and for our vast land to remain peaceful and prosperous."
"Qi Yuning shares the same wish as Your Highness: that all her skills will have nowhere left to be used."
"Xu Wanmin will no longer be wandering, and reunion will no longer be separation." Countless Kongming lanterns were reflected in Wen Zhibai's eyes, but Pei Qinzhou only had eyes for her.
The yard was piled high with fireworks and firecrackers, and the kitchen was hung with corn and cured meat.
Several people gathered together to drink the wine they had bought, becoming quite tipsy.
Xia Chengen rested his forehead on his hand, his eyes already somewhat glazed: "Young General Qi."
He spoke, his voice lower than usual due to drunkenness.
Qi Yining looked up at the sound, her cheeks flushed: "Your Highness?" She put down her chopsticks, tried to sit up straight, and her fist-clasping movements were a little unsteady. "What...do you need?"
"This cup is toast to General Qi, to help pacify Liangchuan!"
Qi Yuning waved her hand drunkenly, her cheeks flushed: "For the peace of the world... is Yuning's wish..."
"Then, General Qi, are you willing... to pacify the world with me?"
She blinked, grinned foolishly, and raised her fist. Xia Chengen understood what she meant and clenched his fist to touch hers.
"I will do anything!"
"It's a deal!"
He wanted to say something more, but then he saw Qi Yuning put down her wine glass, her head nodding slightly. Finally, unable to resist the effects of the alcohol, she mumbled, "This humble general... needs to rest for a while..." and then slowly slumped onto the table, her breathing becoming even and long.
Xia Chengen looked at her peaceful sleeping face, which was completely different from the female general in red robes and riding a spirited horse who commanded the world.
He instinctively reached out to brush away the stray hairs that had fallen across her cheek, but as soon as his fingertips lifted, a strong wave of dizziness swept over him.
Xie An and Guangxi exchanged a few punches before collapsing one after the other.
Pei Qinzhou rested his chin on his hand, staring at Wen Zhibai, whose face was slightly flushed: "What should I do? I think I'm drunk too..."
She sighed helplessly, "Then you sit here obediently for now, I'll drag them back to the room first."
The lanterns under the eaves illuminated the entrance.
After Wen Zhibai escorted Qi Yuning back to her room, he found that the people at the dining table in the courtyard had disappeared, leaving only a few overturned wine glasses.
Suddenly, her shoulders slumped slightly.
“I’m jealous…and you don’t even care about me.” General Pei, who is usually cold and serious, changed his demeanor in front of her at this moment.
She chuckled to herself, "I knew you weren't drunk."
"Although I'm not drunk, I don't want to be sober."
She turned around, her smile fading, and, emboldened by the alcohol, poured out all her feelings:
“Pei Qinzhou, I am hesitant and foolish. There are some things I don’t know how to choose. I’m not sure about right and wrong. My strength is too weak, but there are too many things I want to protect. I can’t even understand why I’m so conflicted. I’m not brave or strong, but I have no other choice.”
Wen Zhibai's eyes glistened with tears. She had repeatedly told herself that she could only cross the river by sailing alone.
But now she is still in love.
“I will support you as long as you want to do it. Go and protect what you want to protect, and I will protect you.” His eyelashes trembled slightly: “In the absence of your own awareness, it also becomes the reason for my existence.”
Pei Qinzhou reached out and patted her head: "Even if you don't remember me, it doesn't matter. Fall in love with me... don't hesitate."
Thank you for staying by my side during the most beautiful years of my life.
A cold wind howled, and snowflakes fell.
"It's snowing again." Wen Zhibai walked down the steps, reached out and caught a cold snowflake, which gently landed in her palm.
Pei Qinzhou walked towards her, wrapped his arms around her from behind, took her hand that had caught the snow, and breathed warmly into her ear: "My dear, you've also fallen into my palm."
"Wait..." Wen Zhibai staggered slightly and fell into his arms.
"careful."
She buried her head in his chest: "This time, I think I'm really drunk."
Pei Qinzhou picked her up horizontally and said, "Yes, I'll carry you back."
On the way back to the room, Wen Zhibai, still half asleep, pressed her face against his neck and whispered, "You're so warm..."
He paused slightly and pulled her closer.
She had just placed Wen Zhibai on the bed, but she didn't let go of the hand that was hooked around his neck.
He smiled, squatted down, and moved her hand to the side of his face: "Hmm?"
Wen Zhibai pinched his cheek: "Do you miss me?"
I miss you, I miss you so much.
She slowly leaned closer, and just as their lips were about to touch, her body went limp, and she fell asleep.
Pei Qinzhou tucked her in, blew out the candle, and gazed at her sleeping face in the darkness: "I've waited so long for this moment."
He stood silently by his side.
Suddenly, Pei Qinzhou's body swayed almost imperceptibly.
An unpredictable, excruciating pain exploded from the depths of my heart.
He steadied himself by holding onto the bedpost. Once the dizziness subsided, he opened his palm and, in the moonlight streaming in from the window, saw a glaring dark red mark on it.
It's blood.
He stared at the bloodstains on his palm, his eyes as deep and dark as night.
"Finally...it's here."
He whispered silently, his fingertips curling as he tightly gripped the dark red hue.
Forcibly reversing the cycle of reincarnation, and reversing life and death.
The retribution of Heaven's will never be absent.
He never expected that this price would come at this moment—when she finally returned to his side.
---
Inside the Shangjing Imperial Palace, the Emperor slammed Xia Chengen's letter of apology onto the table: "What a Crown Prince! I ordered him to pacify Liangchuan, and he dares to deceive the Emperor!"
Eunuch Wang knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. His Highness was forced by circumstances. Now that Naqi has been defeated, our army's prestige has spread far and wide..."
"It's not just him!" the Emperor roared. "And then there are Wen Zhibai and Qi Yuning, perfectly respectable noble ladies of the capital, who dared to defy my will and run off to Liangchuan! Now the entire court is waiting to see how I will deal with them. To punish them would chill the hearts of the soldiers and civilians; to reward them would damage the Emperor's dignity... Wang Shuhuai, what do you say I should do?"
"I dare not presume to know the Emperor's will."
"You are innocent, but please speak freely."
"...Your Majesty, isn't there still that advisor Pei by the Crown Prince's side? Once Your Highness returns to the capital, they will surely have their own explanation. As for those civil officials...they've only been thinking things over."
"Then I'll wait for their explanation! If they can't fill these holes, don't blame me for being ruthless!" The Emperor picked up his teacup and took a sip. "In a few days, the Gao and Wen families will be married, and the Emperor will bestow upon them one hundred taels of gold and two jade ruyi scepters."
"yes."
The Gao family was the prime minister, and the emperor's reward was an implication—they knew how to maintain stability in the court.
Since being confined to her home, Qin Yanzhen has been kneeling and chanting before the Buddha every day, counting down the days until her daughter's wedding—this is her last chance to turn things around.
The Gao family needs a woman to carry on the family line, Qin Yanzhen needs a chance to turn her life around, and He Junyi wants to push his younger sister to the position of Crown Princess.
Each takes what they need, and together they set up this scheme.
"Is Miss still on a hunger strike?" Qin Yanzhen knelt on the prayer mat, her fingertips twirling the prayer beads.
"Reporting to Madam, Miss seems to have come to her senses these past few days and has started eating again."
"It's good that you've figured it out. Tell her that I will see her the day before her wedding."
Wen Lingchen's mind is now entirely focused on his newly adopted child, which has completely disillusioned Qin Yanzhen. Wen Fushi has become a discarded pawn; now, only Wen Xian remains as a viable option.
Since he is so heartless and ungrateful, don't blame her for dragging everyone down with her to eternal damnation.
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