Chapter 93 Washing Branch Rain [Final Chapter] We Reunite...
“Father, if I ask myself honestly, I really hate you.”
She had once wanted to go with her mother and uncle.
If only we could go back to two years ago.
She knew everything. Her father never wanted her to be born. He made her mother suffer and live a life of constant torment. In the end, even her unborn life was taken away.
He committed too many sins and has wronged everyone around him.
Therefore, when she heard the news of his death, she was not greatly disturbed, nor was she afraid of the future. Life is life, and death is death; it's just a matter of opening and closing one's eyes.
When she heard that he was still alive and saw him appear in front of her, she was not shocked at all, after all, his methods were beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Perhaps she was the one who understood him best in this world.
"I know you hate me." Pei Xiaoyun returned once again from the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, having shed her magnificent clothes and abandoned her dazzling throne. Now, standing in the palace, she was just an ordinary person.
A young man in a wide-sleeved blue robe, plain clothes and belt, with a pale and sparse face, and covered in wounds.
Having faced life and death again, the sharpness in his eyes faded, and his features became clear and bright. This magnificent Weiyang Palace seemed to be pushing him out, declaring that he did not belong here.
Power and status were his obsessions for the first half of his life, and because of these obsessions, he missed out on many genuine relationships and hurt many people.
Everyone hates him, and he can only try his best to make amends.
He risked his life to save Mingying, leaving this vast land to Pei Yu'an, and then tormented the rest of his life with his injuries.
I don't know if this is enough.
But he couldn't die; he had to seek that sliver of hope. If he died, there would be no chance for him to be with her again.
Looking at Pei Yu'an's red eyes, he said with a sigh of relief, "I will hand over this throne to you."
"Are you really willing to give it up? Isn't power what you cherish most?" Pei Yu'an sneered.
Pei Xiaoyun remained silent, not out of reluctance, but out of a sense of relief and ease.
In the past, he always told Mingying that if she went back with him, he would give her the supreme position of empress.
Now he thinks that perhaps he should go with her.
He was abandoned by everyone and had no home.
The former Duke's mansion is now deserted, and the imperial palace is unfathomable. Only she can offer him a sliver of warmth.
He spent half his life trying to understand: wherever she was, that was his home.
He had to abandon everything from the past, completely eradicate the shadows that had caused her pain, and destroy everything he had painstakingly acquired, in order to gain a chance for a fresh start.
It's not that we've lost everything, but rather that we've regained what we lost.
"I was injured and returned to the capital when I was attacked by assassins. They killed me with every move. Was that your doing?" He didn't answer her. Instead, he asked her something else in the most ordinary tone. "Don't tell me that you did it all for her and just wanted to avenge her."
Pei Yu'an sent assassins to kill her, and they all used deadly methods. She even boasted that her schemes were unparalleled, but little did she know that he had already seen through her plan.
But he didn't hate her.
He came up with his hands covered in blood; anyone in this world who wanted to kill him deserved it.
Moreover, she shares the same blood as him; she is whoever he is.
At the same time, he was also glad that she was Mingying's daughter and had some of her temperament, so she would not repeat his mistakes.
Pei Yu'an was suddenly startled, a chill ran through his fingertips, and the tears that had been hanging at the corners of his eyes were gone.
Pei Xiaoyun took in her expression and sneered with his hands behind his back: "I've tasted the power myself, and it's not what I want. I've left you a relatively enlightened world. What happens next is up to you to write your own history and add to your good name."
He did not pursue her wrongdoing.
When she targeted him, she must have guessed that he would choose to fake his death and change his identity, so some things should not be investigated too deeply.
That's why she dared to do that kind of thing.
He also knew that she did have feelings for Mingying, but she wanted that position more than living a life in an ordinary entertainment venue.
This is his good daughter!
Pei Yu'an bit his lip, clenching his fist inch by inch, feeling embarrassed that his scheme had been exposed, and all he could hear was his voice.
She really wanted him dead; his death would be better for everyone!
Pei Xiaoyun ignored her reaction and wouldn't hold her mistakes against her. He gave her what she wanted, which was enough to compensate her.
He said, "Do you think that by killing me and secretly currying favor with my people, you can secure your throne?"
"Just because I'm a woman?" Pei Yu'an retorted, "So I can't?"
Because she was a woman, there was much discussion in the court; because she was a woman, her father, the emperor, did not trust her to do a good job.
Pei Xiaoyun shook her head: "What does it matter if you are a girl? If you were a man, you would surely be famous and renowned. If you were a woman, you would surpass all the men in the world in the future."
In an instant, the Weiyang Palace became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
This was the first time since she was three years old that Pei Yu'an had looked at him so carefully, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.
She always thought he didn't value her, and that he, like the others, believed she couldn't do it.
Is that how he sees her...?
“You can’t hold your position because your skills are still too immature and inexperienced,” Pei Xiaoyun said to her. “I will not leave the capital for the next three years. I will personally teach you how to secure this position.”
He would first eliminate the treacherous officials who were stirring up trouble in the court. The ministers he left behind would do their best to assist her and first help her to ascend the throne. Then, he would stay in the palace as an advisor and teach her the ways of establishing a country.
He could only leave the palace with peace of mind once the political situation stabilized.
Pei Yu'an listened to his words and felt a tremor in her heart. She sincerely felt that if she wanted to reach his position and have his methods, she was far from being able to do so and needed to learn much more.
She spoke in a deep voice, enunciating each word clearly: "Please teach me, Father."
—
The rain has been falling steadily for half a month.
When Mingying left the capital, it was already late spring of the following year.
On this day, spring rain fell along the river, and a hazy mist enveloped the imperial city.
She sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain to peek out; the rain had soaked her spring dress.
“Aying, if we go to Jiangnan, we might still be able to make it in time for Qingming Festival.” Inside the carriage, Shen Mingshu was dressed in plain clothes, his face serene.
He resigned from his official post, laid down his sword and armor, and appeared handsome and refreshed.
In a peaceful and prosperous world, no one wants to gallop through the yellow sands.
Those who establish peace should also enjoy it.
“Yes.” Mingying raised the corners of her mouth slightly. “On Qingming Festival, which happens to be Father’s birthday, we should buy two jugs of good wine.”
After years of going around in circles and hiding, the siblings can finally return to Yangzhou openly to pay respects to their parents.
They were originally supposed to return to Yangzhou last year, but after Pei Yu'an took office, they were always worried about him.
So she went into hiding in the capital, while her brother served as an official in the court, doing his best to eliminate treacherous officials for the new emperor and assisting her for a year.
Within a year, the court and the country were peaceful and orderly, and the new emperor had many supporters.
Pei Yu'an established new systems and eliminated corrupt practices, displaying the demeanor of a monarch as well as the temperament and methods of Pei Xiaoyun.
Her worries were unnecessary.
It turned out the time had come long ago; by the time she realized it, it was already the end of spring, not too late.
The journey is long and arduous, but we can still enjoy a stretch of springtime.
Looking back at the majestic imperial city and bustling capital, she suddenly remembered that six years ago, when she first came to the capital, she was dressed in thin clothes and awkwardly followed Pei Xiaoyun, who stuffed her into a small courtyard.
Now, she stands tall and proud under the sunlight, truly stepping out of the city.
The carriage was traveling in the opposite direction from the imperial city. She sat inside, reaching out her hand to catch the vibrant raindrops falling from the sky.
From the high platform atop the city wall, one can enjoy a panoramic view.
Pei Yu'an withdrew his hand, his palm wet from the rain.
She watched her carriage leave the city, disappearing into the Willow Pavilion Ancient Road, leaving only deep and shallow ruts.
This time, she's really gone.
Pei Xiaoyun's gaze followed the carriage the whole time. Even though Qingshan hid the carriage, he could still imagine her every smile and every move through the obstruction.
Will you miss her? Will you remember her?
He asked Pei Yu'an, who was standing beside him.
She was the daughter Mingying had risked her life to give birth to. He didn't want her to grow up day by day, only seeing power and having no affection for her family, and even forgetting how good her mother had been to her.
"No matter how many years pass, she will always be my mother, and I will never forget that." Pei Yu'an also looked out at the distant plains, her eyes glistening with tears. "As long as I live, I will protect her no matter where she is."
Pei Xiaoyun nodded.
She could kill him, she could hate him, but she couldn't forget Mingying.
The rain grew heavier, causing the umbrella in his hand to tilt and sway.
As he gripped the umbrella handle tightly, his brow furrowed suddenly, and a searing pain spread from his heart throughout his body, causing him to hunch over.
Pei Yu'an knew that there was no cure for his poisoning and asked, "Should we return to the palace first?"
The carriage wheels stepped into a puddle, and Mingying shuddered. A sudden, sharp pain shot through her chest, and she let out a soft moan.
Shen Mingshu said anxiously, "Aying, what's wrong? Let me stop the carriage first!"
"No need." Pei Xiaoyun leaned against the stone wall, panting a few times. "I'll just stand here and take a look."
They will both be poisoned at the same time. I wonder if she is in pain, and whether she has taken any medicine?
He stared at the tracks left by the carriage, unable to look away for a long time.
"Brother, I'm fine." Mingying's lips were half pale. She hurriedly took out the medicine bottle He Lianqing had given her from her sleeve, poured out a pill and swallowed it. The pain gradually subsided, and her mind became much clearer.
He Lianqing remained in the Northwest, and she had not seen him since they parted a year ago.
Before parting, he gave her all the medicine he had prepared, instructing her to take one pill every month when the poison flared up, and to take it for a year or two, so that perhaps the poison could be gradually neutralized.
She always remembered to carry the medicine bottle with her.
She wanted to get rid of this torment as soon as possible and live a peaceful life.
On the city wall, Pei Xiaoyun's arms, which were supporting him against the stone wall, bulged with terrifying blue veins. His heart felt as if it had been ripped out alive, or as if it had been driven in hard by nails.
This is what it feels like to be worse than dead, and it's the punishment he left for himself.
Each time he survived, he felt incredibly grateful to be alive.
The chaos before his eyes slowly dissipated, and a few glimmers of light returned to his pupils. He weakly said to Pei Yu'an, "I should go now. You have done well this past year."
Pei Yu'an's expression was unreadable: "Didn't you say three years?"
Pei Xiaoyun coughed twice, her smile pale: "If I don't leave now, I'm afraid my days are numbered."
The poison will shorten his lifespan, and he himself is not sure how many more years he can live.
Therefore, he wanted to go find her as soon as possible while he was still alive.
He should relinquish all power and leave.
—
In the third month after returning to Yangzhou, Mingying and her brother went to great lengths and used their connections to finally redeem the land deed of their old family house.
After the house was confiscated, the land deeds were taken away by the government. A few years later, the government reissued the land deeds, and the house changed hands several times.
Perhaps it was fate that none of the three owners who bought the house ever lived there, for various reasons.
The last businessman who bought the house even sent his servants in to do some simple maintenance.
Mingying pushed open the courtyard gate. The furnishings in the courtyard had hardly been moved, and everywhere was filled with memories of her childhood. In that instant, a sharp pang of sadness filled her nose, and tears fell drop by drop.
She finally got home.
She survived, found her brother, and returned to her home.
All the hardships and setbacks are worthwhile.
They moved back into their old home and spent several days setting it up and tidying it up.
As usual, she kept many flowers on the courtyard wall and windowsill, just like when her mother was alive. The courtyard was full of colorful flowers and fragrance.
Once things settle down, you still have to worry about basic necessities like food and fuel.
Shen Mingshu found a job drawing up weapon blueprints at a crossbow foundry.
The crossbow foundries in Yangzhou were all under the jurisdiction of the local government. The weapons they forged had to be submitted to the Ministry of War. If they passed inspection, they would be used directly as military equipment. No carelessness was allowed.
Having fought for several years, he had a thorough understanding of the structure of the army's weapons. His drawings of bows, arrows, and spears were meticulous and flawless, earning him the respect and praise of the Yangzhou prefect.
He only claimed to have worked as a clerk in the Defense Bureau in the capital, and no one knew that he was the ever-victorious general in the mouths of the people in the Northwest.
Even after leaving the battlefield, he still cared deeply about it.
Stepping out of the house, two rows of willow trees lined the river, which was called the Bali River. The riverbanks were lined with cosmetic shops, bustling with customers.
With his surplus funds, Mingying opened an incense shop on the street by the river. Although many customers came to buy incense, his business was inevitably taken away by the shops next door, and his customer flow was far less than that in Suzhou and the Northwest.
Shen Yao stayed in Elifang in the Northwest. Last month, a letter came saying that she had gotten married and had a daughter, and was now living a good life.
Mingying's best friend now is Yunhui, the female apprentice of the old doctor from Ji'an Hall across the street.
Yunhui was an orphan who had relied on an old monk from Xuankong Temple who had some medical knowledge. The old monk was very fond of studying antidotes to witchcraft and strange poisons. Gradually, Yunhui was influenced by him and would always be the first to rush over to anyone who was poisoned.
After the old monk passed away, Xuankong Temple also disbanded. Yunhui had no choice but to come to Ji'an Hall and become an apprentice of a doctor, learning medical skills from him.
Whenever Mingying had a headache or fever, she would go to Ji'an Hall to get medicine. Over time, she became acquainted with Yunhui.
Yunhui was cheerful and often went to Mingying's shop to play.
When she arrived that day, she was holding a medical book left to her by an old monk, a book on curing witchcraft and strange poisons.
After a busy day, Mingying finally had some free time and sat down to have a sip of tea.
When Yunhui arrived, she saw that there were no customers in the shop, but then she noticed that the incense shop next door was packed with customers. She pouted and complained, "Sigh, I think the incense you make is the best. It's a pity that everyone in Balihe is a competitor, and they've taken all my business. Tell me, why didn't you open your shop on Xiaoxi Street? That's where incense shops are in short supply."
Mingying listened to her rambling for a while, then smiled and said, "I don't ask to get rich through business. I just want to have something to look forward to every morning when I wake up."
“Besides—” she leaned closer to Yunhui and whispered in her ear, “How do you know I don’t have business? I’m short of spices and can’t make sachets, that’s why those customers go to Lanxiangfang.”
"I knew it!" Yunhui clapped her hands, put the medical book on the table, and first tilted her head back to drink a cup of tea.
Mingying looked at the book with its yellowed cover and asked her, "Is this the medical book you're supposed to memorize?"
Yun Hui shook her head, her eyes dimming. "The old monk passed it down to me, and he died the very night he gave it to me."
Mingying remained silent, no longer mentioning her past. She gently touched the book cover, picked it up, and began to read.
The writing inside has become somewhat blurred, but it can be seen that it records methods of detoxification.
“I miss him, so I took it out to look at it, but I can’t look at it in Ji’an Hall. If Master sees it, he will definitely burn it. So I can only bring it here to look at it.”
Mingying asked in confusion, "They're all medical books, why won't your master let you read them?"
She had learned to identify medicinal herbs from He Lianqing and knew at least a few. This was indeed a medical book.
“This is different.” Yun Hui looked at the book in Ming Ying’s hand with a melancholy and dejected expression. “Look closely, this book contains the old monk’s notes on how to cure all kinds of witchcraft and strange poisons.”
Following her words, Mingying flipped through a few more pages and indeed found some names of poisons from the former Wuhuan Kingdom.
“My master said that now that the Wuhuan have been destroyed, I am not allowed to look at such low-class things. It is true that the Wuhuan people are all dead, but I feel that whether it is the imperial physicians in the palace or the itinerant doctors in the world, whether it is treating illnesses or detoxifying, aren’t they all practicing medicine to save lives?”
Mingying's eyes were solemn as she pressed her fingertips on the pages of the book. "In the past, when the imperial court fought a great battle against the Wuhuan, many soldiers were poisoned by strange poisons. It was only when doctors from all directions gathered together that they were able to devise an antidote. If your master had been in the Northwest back then, countless people would have called him a quack doctor."
In today's peaceful world, with people living in stability, most doctors usually only treat minor ailments like headaches and fevers.
Because those who came before them had helped them overcome greater suffering, people like Yunhui's master had the opportunity to spout nonsense.
Upon hearing this, Yunhui's eyes lit up, feeling that she had found a kindred spirit.
“Your master will definitely ruin your future.” Mingying felt indignant for her. “I have a more suitable candidate. If you become his disciple, you will definitely have a bright future.”
Is the person you're talking about a highly skilled doctor?
Mingying replied without hesitation: "He is the most skilled doctor in the world."
Yunhui was quite tempted by what she heard; she wished it were really true.
The master of Ji'an Hall was pedantic and rigid, passing on all his skills to his senior apprentice, only letting her run errands, prepare medicine, and do odd jobs. Following such a person, one could see the end of the road ahead.
However, she was still unsure whether to leave Ji'an Hall, so she put the matter aside for the time being.
Seeing that she didn't intend to ask any more questions, Mingying remained silent.
She read a few pages of the medical book that Yunhui's former master had left her. The detoxification methods recorded there were all very useful. When she turned to the last page, the first title was clearly written as "Twin Gu".
Her pupils contracted, and her fingertips, which were twisting the paper, trembled.
Continuing to browse, the next few lines still describe the solution, starting with several rare medicinal herbs. Further down, a line of medicinal guides is added, circled three times in red ink, indicating that the medicinal guides are extremely important.
As if guided, her eyes caught each word:
The antidote involves two people, both infected with the poison, exchanging blood from their heart vessels to mix with the medicine. Each time the poison takes effect, a blood sample is taken.
The more Mingying looked at it, the more rapid her breathing became. Her vision blurred, her fingers went weak, and the medical book almost fell to the ground, but she managed to catch it with both hands.
Do we need to take the other person's blood as a medicinal ingredient?
"What's wrong with you?" Yunhui noticed that something was wrong with her expression.
Mingying opened the medical book again, turned to the last page, pointed to the line of text and showed it to her, her voice heavy: "Yunhui, come and see, is the method for curing the twin Gu mentioned here true?"
Yunhui glanced at it; she had read this page before. She immediately confirmed, "It's true. I was young back then, and I saw with my own eyes the old monk remove the curse from a young couple by asking them to take each other's blood."
Mingying opened her mouth and breathed out slightly, her ears ringing, and she could no longer hear what she was saying.
The medicinal ingredient was indeed the other person's blood...
What if one party doesn't receive the antidote containing the other's blood?
"What if... one person refuses to take the antidote?" Her breathing was disordered, and her voice changed.
When she woke up that year, she was completely unharmed, so Pei Xiaoyun couldn't have taken her blood.
That's why He Lianqing said that ordinary antidotes were useless against him.
No, he didn't bring the antidote at all.
Yunhui replied, "I can't hold on. The old monk said I'll die."
In that instant, it felt as if a club had struck down from the sky, causing Mingying to feel pain deep within her bones.
She could still imagine how she was tormented by the first time the poison took effect, and how he was suffering on the battlefield. She recovered after taking the medicine, but could he endure it?
My brother said that he fell off a cliff because he was poisoned and the enemy took advantage of his vulnerability, and his body was never found.
She didn't know when Yunhui left.
As dusk settled, a cold wind swept in from outside, making her shiver.
She clenched her fists, her eyes reddened, and before she knew it, half of her face was wet with tears.
Did he think that by keeping it a secret from her and risking his life to save her, she would forgive him?! He was only deceiving her; even on his deathbed, he was still deceiving her!
She hated his arrogance and self-righteousness, and she hated how he always had everything firmly in his grasp, controlling all the outcomes from a superior position.
Why should I?!
Warm tears fell onto the back of her hand. She looked down at them, and the tears were not tears, but rather drops of crimson blood.
That night, she drifted off to sleep and closed her eyes.
In the chaotic and hazy dream, there was Pei Xiaoyun's figure. He was no longer the incomparably majestic emperor; he was only dressed in plain clothes, chasing after her.
She wouldn't leave no matter how hard she tried to get rid of him, and even when she yelled at him, he ignored her and followed her everywhere.
At dawn, the outside was shrouded in mist and rain, and the light was very dim.
She felt waves of spasmodic pain in her chest, and when she opened her eyes, she found that the pillow beneath her was completely wet.
Her face was deathly pale, her whole body was trembling uncontrollably, and she was curled up in the corner of the bed.
His hand involuntarily reached under the pillow, pulled out the glossy medicine bottle, uncorked it, and found that there was only one pill inside.
Looking at the white pill, a sudden surge of emotion welled up in her eyes, her brow twitched, and waves of pain washed over her. She closed her eyes, held her breath, and forcefully flung the bottle away.
It was as if she was telling him to get lost, that she didn't want to see him!
The porcelain bottle shattered on the ground, breaking into pieces with a deafening crash, and the last pill vanished without a trace...
Her head felt like it was about to explode, and heavy shackles bound her limbs, pulling them in different directions as if to split her whole body apart.
Tears streamed down her face.
Did he endure it like this back then?
Night replaced day, and she huddled in one spot, feeling as if she were floating in the clouds. Her wet hair clung to her forehead, making her look like a wounded young animal, the pain finally subsiding.
She could make out the outline of the curtains and hear the endless sound of rain outside the window...
—
He Lianqing was always very skilled in medicine, and once the medicine was used up, her poison was indeed cured.
In the months that followed, the pain never returned suddenly.
She wrote a letter to the Northwest, inquiring in detail about what happened back then, and also mentioned Yunhui briefly in the letter.
A month later, He Lianqing's reply arrived in her hands.
She opened the envelope, and as she looked at it, a lump formed in her throat.
Perhaps because Pei Xiaoyun was already dead and so much time had passed, He Lianqing didn't want to hide it from her and told her the whole story.
She sat by the window in the shop, clutching the letter, and gave a cold, sneer.
Pei Xiaoyun is a hateful and despicable person!
The waters of the Bali River ripple gently. At this time of year, a small boat drifts in the spring breeze, flowers bloom on the shore, and wine fills the cup. (1)
Painted boats and misty bridges attract tourists who come in high spirits.
Suddenly, on a small boat, the figure of a man in blue robes appeared and disappeared, obscured by tender willow branches, with only half of his outline clearly visible.
Mingying gasped for breath, dropped the letter, lifted her skirt and ran out of the incense shop. She stopped on the shore and looked into the distance, but the person had vanished without a trace.
Who was that just now? Her heart pounded wildly.
Yunhui was looking for her when she saw her standing on the shore looking lost and dejected. She said to her, "Aying, what's wrong? You look so pale."
Mingying took a few deep breaths of fresh air and gave a wry smile: "My eyes are playing tricks on me, I've mistaken you for someone else."
He's dead, how could it be him?
Yunhui had something on her mind. When the two returned to the incense shop, she spoke frankly: "I had a big argument with my master, and he kicked me out, which suited me just fine. That doctor you mentioned last time, the one who is the most skilled doctor in the world, can he take me as his apprentice?"
Mingying thought of He Lianqing's reply and nodded to her: "I have already spoken to him. Now that the world is at peace, you can go all the way to the northwest. There is a clinic in Langzhou. When you get there, tell him that you are looking for Doctor He Lianqing and want to become his apprentice. He will definitely accept you."
Yunhui shed a few tears. She never expected that her casual remark that day would be taken to heart. The two talked for a while longer.
On the morning of the third day, Yangzhou was shrouded in a gentle breeze and drizzle, and boats glided across the ferry crossing.
Mingying came to see Yunhui off as promised.
Yunhui boarded the boat. She was short in stature, carrying a plain-colored bundle on her back, and all that remained was her stubbornness and unwillingness.
The boat drifted slowly, leaving only a speck in the middle of the river.
All rivers flow through the land, and everyone in the world has the right to pursue what they desire.
After seeing Yunhui off, the rain poured down harder and harder.
Mingying returned in the rain, stepped onto the stone bridge, and was hit by a biting cold wind. She lost her grip on her umbrella and it was blown into the river.
She sighed in disappointment and had no choice but to go down the bridge, flag down a small boat on the shore, and pay the boatman five coins.
"Please wait for me to return to Balihe."
"Hey! Hold on tight, girl."
Mingying sat in the cabin, watching the rain fall gently across the river. The spring rain was like an endless stream of sorrow.
Seeing the familiar taverns and painted buildings along the way, a ripple of emotion spread through her heart. She had been here before, many years ago.
The awning boat swayed gently and suddenly stopped at a shore.
Just as she was about to ask what was going on, the boatman shouted, "Miss, a young gentleman is traveling with you. The rain is too heavy, so may I give him a ride?"
Her voice, clear and crisp from the rain, said, "Let him board the boat."
They were both seeking shelter from the rain, and since they were going the same way, she couldn't refuse.
A moment later, the simple boat curtain opened and closed, and rainwater, carried by the wind, swept in, its cold specks hitting her eyelids.
She blinked, meeting a pair of clear, deep eyes.
Her blood ran cold, she clenched her fists tightly, and tears streamed down her face: "You're still alive?"
Pei Xiaoyun gazed intently at her, his pupils reflecting a calm madness born from the experience of weathering countless storms.
As the boat passed a school, the clear, melodious voices of children reciting their lessons pierced through the windows.
“A heart full of spring sorrow awaits wine to wash it away; a boat rocks on the river, and a curtain beckons from the tower…” (2)
Just like back then, they sailed across this river, and he taught her the poems.
Their eyes met and intertwined once more, and the world seemed to stand still.
All these years, they still remember; neither side has forgotten.
Pei Xiaoyun smiled at her, the rain pattering against her, and only she could hear his words: "Mingying is long gone, and Pei Xiaoyun died a year ago. Let's start over."
Mingying wanted to refuse him, but she seemed unable to speak.
So many tears, so much hatred, were all washed away and extinguished by this rain.
On the shore, a girl with an umbrella leisurely admired the flowers, while a man soaked to the bone ran for shelter from the rain.
The Wu dialect is soft and sweet, and many people spend their entire lives seeking nothing more than the daily routines of city life.
In this world, people come and go in a hurry, and all those who are infatuated with each other are but a fleeting moment in the mortal world.
(End of text)
-----------------------
The author says: (1) “A single oar in the spring breeze, a single leaf-shaped boat...flowers fill the islet, wine fills the cup” is from Li Yu’s “The Fisherman”.
(2) "A heart full of spring sorrow awaits wine to wash it away. The boat rocks on the river. The curtain beckons from the tower..." This is from Jiang Jie's "A Spray of Plum Blossoms - Passing Wujiang by Boat"
I'm a little late today because I'm writing this long chapter. The main story ends here, which is a happy ending with infinite possibilities. There will be side stories and sequels. Please allow me to rest for a few days before updating again~ Please support me after the story is finished!
I usually do a sentimental ending to each book, but it feels like I just did it with the last one this year, like it was just yesterday [laughs]. I'll keep it short [pity]. This book's performance met my expectations, but there are still many shortcomings. I'll work harder to improve it in the next one! Believe me! I will do better!
My next book will be a time-travel romance with a melodramatic twist, still following the old formula of forceful acquisition and pursuit [doge emoji]. Please add "I Won't Be My Deceased Husband's Brother's Concubine" to your favorites [kiss emoji][kiss emoji]
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