The startup sound rang, and following Su Qianxun's memory, Qianxun clumsily opened the Baidu browser and typed "Emperor of the Xia Dynasty, Huo Tianzun" in pinyin.
Information about that person quickly popped up.
Her fingertips trembling, Qianxun took a deep breath before clicking on the first entry.
"Emperor Xia, Huo Tianzun, styled Yanzhi (May 4, 1016 – December 9, 1065), was the second Emperor of the Xia Dynasty. Archaeologists and scholars hailed him as the 'once-in-a-millennium Emperor,' a renowned politician, strategist, and commander of ancient Huaxia. During his reign, Huaxia's territory expanded twofold... Historical records show after ascending the throne, Emperor Xia had a Favored Concubine named Qianxun, who disappeared while he personally led troops in combat. To find her, Emperor Xia spared no effort and launched close to a thousand wars, great and small. Ultimately, he died of excessive grief and fatigue, aged forty-nine..."
After reading this, Qianxun's tears couldn't help but fall pitter-patter onto the keyboard.
When she was sealed, he was only twenty-nine. Did he really only live for another twenty years?
She remembered once purposely asking him what he would do if she vanished one day.
At that time, he replied, "I would traverse mountains and rivers, search the whole world, just to find you."
He had done so, but he never knew that he would never find her.
She simply couldn't imagine how desperate he had been when he died.
...
"Yanzhi..." Qianxun stared blankly at the lines of text on the computer, murmuring the imperial title that had been separated from her by a thousand years.
She was originally a Nine-tailed Fox but was injured during her heavenly tribulation, and was saved by the Emperor who was out hunting in autumn.
When she recovered, knowing full well she was a Demon Spirit, he still doted on her deeply and never stepped into the harem again, favoring only her.
They say emperors since ancient times are fickle, and those of royal blood the most ruthless, yet his feelings for her were profound. Otherwise, she—a cunning fox spirit with many tricks up her sleeve—would never have truly fallen for him.
...
As Qianxun reminisced while looking at the computer, a knock on the door sounded, "Qianxun, come and have some noodles."
Startled back to reality, Qianxun quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and replied, "Coming!"
Then, she tidied herself up in the mirror, her eyes slightly red, and stepped out of the room.
Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, Su Qing immediately tensed up and reproached herself, "Qianxun, why are you crying again? It's all my fault for not protecting you well."
Hearing this, Qianxun shook her head at her, "Mom, I'm fine. I just regret not telling the teacher sooner. Otherwise, I wouldn't be like this now."
Having said that, Qianxun approached the sofa and began to eat her noodles listlessly.
Seeing this, Su Qing sat to the side, her gaze filled with guilt as she watched her, "If there's anything troubling you in the future, don't keep it to yourself. I would risk my life to protect you to the best of my ability!"
What she didn't realize was that soon, all her words would become a joke.
"I understand, thank you, Mom." Qianxun gave Su Qing a trusting smile.
Seeing this, Su Qing finally felt relieved, "Alright, eat your noodles."
"Yes."
...
After dinner, Qianxun said to Su Qing, "Mom, I'm going back to my room to review my coursework."
Seeing her regaining her spirits and focusing on studying, Su Qing quickly replied, "Ah, off you go then!"
Qianxun nodded her head, then re-entered her room.