News reached Bolin of what happened to Ying Yue. Unable to accept reality, Bolin soon fell into a depression. Still blaming himself for sending Ying Yue back to die. Bolin would spend his days locked away inside his tent, slowly wasting away. Even Ren, his loyal friend could not get him to snap out of it. Fearing Bolin would die if he continued acting like this, Ren decides to notify the emperor to issue a decree to send the troops and everyone home. After receiving the emperor's decree, Ren decided to pay Bolin a much-needed visit.
"Bolin, it's me."
"What do you want Ren? I'm not in the mood to talk."
"You have to snap out of it. Ying Yue died for this country and you're going to act like this?"
"Be quiet! I believe in her.... she's still alive...I just know it."
Ren had enough and walked up to Bolin, who was sitting slouched on his chair and table with a cup of wine. Rather than a slap, Ren knocked Bolin off his chair. Falling to the ground; Bolin made no sound even after getting punched.
"Bolin! It's been three months! Three whole months! You have to accept that she's not coming back, you have to stop acting like this!"
"It's all my fault. Ren...I shouldn't have sent her home."
Starting to pity the crying Bolin, Ren takes out his right hand and pulls Bolin back up. Moving back to the table and chair, Ren pours himself a shot of wine. Ren reaches into his sash and pulls out the decree from the emperor.
"Bolin, we are returning to Xin's capital in two days."
"What? What are you talking about?"
Ren hands Bolin the emperor's royal decree. Showing little to no emotion; Bolin lightly nods his head and agrees. Now that Ying Yue was gone, he knew he was most likely going to be appointed as the new imperial general.
"Sigh, Ren let the men know. Have them start packing, we are going to be heading home in two days."
"Yes sir!"
Ren bids Bolin farewell and exits the tent to fulfill his task. Bolin silently watches as Ren exits the tent. Once Ren was out of sight, Bolin slowly walked to his bed and laid down. Slowly closing his eyes, he could only now reminisce about the time he spent with Ying Yue. Whether it was training together, or out on the battlefield. Stuck with only memories now, Bolin cries himself to sleep.
Two days flew by like nothing, everything was packed and ready to go. Bolin finally shaves off his mustache that he let grew for the past three months. With a heavy heart Bolin says goodbye to the northern border. Ren cracking a small smile, slowly creeps next to Bolin with his horse.
"You look better, what happened?"
"Sigh...I guess I just realized she wouldn't want me to blame myself. Her last letter to me was to help take care of her mother. I can't die just yet."
Going back to the capital was no small task. Enduring the long days and restless nights, was never easy nor fun. Bolin and his troop finally made it back to the capital after twenty days of traveling. Being home had never felt so lonely. Bolin was always used to seeing Ying Yue greeting him. Breaking into a small smile, Bolin holds back his tears. With Ren and his troops still behind him, Bolin strutted down the city street with dignity. Slowly reaching the palace gates, Bolin ushers Ren to stay with the troops. Walking down the halls and corridors that were all too similar and nostalgic, Bolin finally reaches the throne room. Bolin is then greeted by the emperor and his ministers. Getting down on one knee, with his hands clasped together into a fist, Bolin greeted the emperor.
"Greetings your majesty."
"Ah, Bolin. You may rise."
"Thank you, your majesty. Is there a reason you asked for us to return already?"
"I have called for you to come home as there has been recent sightings of Hong Chen and some of his men near the capital."
"What? That's not possible! They should've left to the mountains three months ago!"
"Sigh, I am assuming it's due to the recent shortage in food. It's been four months since we lost general Ying Yue, but we've yet to get any rain. Don't you find that odd?"
"I'm sorry your majesty, but I don't understand what you're getting at."
The emperor gestures for everyone to leave the room, except Bolin. Standing up from his throne, the emperor makes his ways down the steps and gets closer to Bolin. With only three feet between them now. The emperor looks to Bolin with a serious face.
"Bolin, according to how things went in the past. It only took a few weeks for crops to grow again and rain to fall. It's been well over four months and nothing's changed!"
"What? That's not possible! You all saw the girls jump into the portal! You all saw them return, but Ying Yue! Everything has gone according to the legend, so why are you telling me now that nothing's changed?!"
"Sigh...soon the people in the capital will realize it. I've been able to silence the smaller town surrounding the capital, but not for long. Now Hong Chen has been spotted again, and my greatest general is gone."
The emperor motions for a servant to enter the room. With him, he carried a royal decree from the emperor. Bolin sees the decree and quickly falls to his knee and accepts the decree.
"Bolin, I am appointing you as the new imperial general. I will let you handle the situation with Hong Chen."
"Yes, your majesty."
"Good, I'm counting on you. You may leave."
Bolin bids the emperor farewell and exits the throne room. Making his way back to Ren and his troops. Bolin informs every one of Hong Chen and about him becoming the new imperial general.
"Men beware, there's been sightings of Hong Chen near the capital. Everyone must be on their guards. In two days, I will be selecting a few of you to head out, until then everyone's dismissed."
Once everyone was out of sight, Bolin hopped back onto his horse and made his way to Ying Yue's home. Still drenched in sweat and with his dirty armor on, Bolin makes a stop at the Ying Yue's home. As Bolin got off his horse, he handed the reins to a guard. On his way to pay Ying Yue's mother a visit, he is stopped by someone calling out to him.
"Bolin?"
"Ah! Greetings Marquis!"
"Good to see you back in the city, did you just come back today?"
"Yes, just now."
As Ying Yue's father and Bolin were talking, Bolin spots Jia Li walking in the halls near the main entrance. Baffled at why she was here when she's married. Bolin couldn't help but ask.
"Marquis, isn't Jia Li married? Why is she here? Is the crown prince also here?"
"Sigh...I'm afraid not. Ever since we lost Ying Yue, the crown prince hasn't been the same. Jia Li has been here for a month already and will only go back if the crown prince comes for her, but he hasn't even paid her a visit."
"That is worrisome. I'm assuming she doesn't want to talk about it either."
"I've tried asking already, but Jia Li is stubborn and won't tell me. She's reaching the heavy stages in her pregnancy too. Sigh, all this is just giving me a headache. Ah! I've kept you here long enough, I'm sure you came to visit Ying Yue's mother."
"Yes, I'll be on my way then, I will find another time to come chat with you marquis."
Bolin bids Ying Yue's father farewell and makes his way to where Ying Yue's mother resided. As Bolin got closer to the residence, he noticed how unkempt it was. It was an old building, but it was never this dirty looking. Bolin then spots Chunhua leaving the bedroom of Ying Yue's mother. Wondering what was going on, Bolin stops Chunhua and asked her what was going on.
"Chunhua, is there something wrong with madam Bai Shun? Why is the place so dirty?"
"Bolin, it's you. Ever since we lost Ying Yue, madam Bai Shun has never been the same. The doctors don't know how to help her anymore. It's like she lost her mind. The marquis won't let me stay here to help the madam. I try coming during my breaks as much as possible, but it's like they've given up on her and just wants her to die quick."
"No.....oh no. I can't face Ying Yue in the afterlife if something happens to madam Bai Shun!"
Running his hand through his now disheveled hair, Bolin groans in pain. Thinking about everything was just giving him a headache. After taking a deep breath, Bolin asks Chunhua to let him in to see Ying Yue's mother.
"Chunhua, I have to see madam Bai Shun. Can you let me in?"
"Of course, I'm sure she'll be happy to see you. Give me a moment."
Bolin stood in the court yard as he waited for Chunhua to return. After seeing her motion him to enter the bedroom, Bolin walks into a room full of incense. Ying Yue's mother had never looked so thin and pale. Bolin quickly walks to her side.
"Madam Bai Shun! It's me Bolin! I'm back!"
"Bolin? Ah, it's good to see you. Ying Yue would've been happy to see you too."
"How are you feeling? Now that I'm back, I'll take care of you."
"Hehe thank you Bolin, but I am not long for this world. I've been abandoned and lost my only reason for living. Sniff...Sniff...there is nothing left to keep me going."
"Don't say that. I won't be able to ever face Ying Yue if something happened to you!"
With tears welling up in his eyes, Bolin could only curse his wretched life. After a moment of silence Bolin hears a knock on the door. Quickly wiping his tears away, he ushers for Chunhua to open the door.
"Knock Knock"
In came walking Zhi Ruo, with a basket of snacks and fruits. Unsure of who she was, Bolin questions Zhi Ruo on her intentions.
"Who are you?"
"I believe that's my question to you, stranger! Chunhua, who is this man?"
"Zhi Ruo this is general Bolin, he was a good friend of Ying Yue and her right-hand man. Now, Bolin this is Zhi Ruo, she's a friend Ying Yue made while you were deployed. She was with her during her last moments. She's been coming three times a week for the past four months."
The moment Bolin heard Chunhua say Zhi Ruo was with Ying Yue in the dragon kingdom, he could barely contain himself. Quickly walking to Zhi Ruo, Bolin grabs Zhi Ruo's right hand without thinking. Zhi Ruo blushed from the unexpected turn of events, she quickly shakes her hand free and drew some distance between them. Clearing her throat, she introduces herself.
"Pleasure to meet you Bolin, my name is Zhi Ruo. I am the daughter of duke Dong."
"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to grab you like that. I'm Bolin, a childhood friend of Ying Yue. My father is the prime minister."
"Prime minister? Why are you a general then? I was sure he didn't like having his sons in wars."
"Ah. It's cause I'm the third son. So, my father was more lenient. My mother's also a concubine so there's really nothing for me to inherit."
"I see.... you look like you want to hear of what happened to us in the dragon kingdom."
"Yes, if it's alright with you, why don't you accompany me to the garden pavilion? I'm sure we don't want to disturb madam Bai Shun. That is of course if you are all right, being with a man alone. Seeing as you don't have a maid with you."
"Well, I wasn't planning to stay long today so I came by myself. Since you look like you need the details and story of what happened, I will accompany you."
Zhi Ruo quickly drops the basket of snack and fruits onto the table. She slowly walked over to where madam Bai Shun was laying. Grabbing hold of her hands, Zhi Ruo greets Ying Yue's mother.
"Madam Bai Shun. It's me, I've come to visit you again. I'm sorry I will be cutting our time today short, but I'll be back tomorrow."
"Heh, that's alright Zhi Ruo. Thank you for coming so often."
Bolin and Zhi Ruo both made their way out of the bedroom and headed to the garden behind the main building. Walking in silence, Zhi Ruo couldn't help, but feel like it was a date. Blushing from the idea, she couldn't look at Bolin, until they reached the pavilion. It was a beautiful white pavilion. Surrounded by flowers and the beautiful scenery, it could almost rival the palace garden.
"Zhi Ruo was it? Can you tell me everything you know about Ying Yue? I have a feeling you also know what's going on between the crown prince and Jia Li too."
"It will be a long story, but if you want to know. I will tell you everything."
Zhi Ruo ended up spending the next three hours telling Bolin of everything. Everything about how Jia Li stole the crown prince. She told Bolin of what happened in the dragon kingdom, feeling like she could trust Bolin, she held nothing back.
Meanwhile Bolin listened in silence. Clenching his fist when he heard of how much Ying Yue suffered. Feeling angry with himself for never noticing how much Ying Yue was suffering in silence.
"Zhi Ruo, thank you for taking care of Ying Yue's mother. Thank you for telling me everything. I was with her the most and I had no idea how much she was suffering."
"Don't blame yourself Bolin. Ying Yue was a strong woman, there's no way she would've showed it to you. She wanted you to remember her as a strong woman."
Breaking into a smile, Zhi Ruo was trying her best to comfort the sad Bolin. Before Zhi Ruo realized it, she had placed her right hand over Bolin's. Bolin unsure of what to do; remained silent. Bolin unable to hide his embarrassment, clears his throat to see if Zhi Ruo would notice.
"Ahem."
"Hm? Oh, my goodness! Please think nothing of it. I wouldn't be so bold as to make a move on you."
Blushing from her face to her ears. Bolin couldn't help, but find the flustered Zhi Ruo rather cute. The day was nearly over now. With the sun setting over the horizon, Bolin was ready to call it a day. Slowly walking Zhi Ruo back to her carriage, Bolin also goes to retrieve his horse. Bidding each other farewell, with Zhi Ruo leaving in the other direction.
"Thank you again, and please keep in touch Zhi Ruo."
"The pleasure is all mine, take care Bolin."