Today, as usual, I headed to the Nuwa Temple. With some free time on her hands, Liyan took me to the Peach Blossom Valley, where we entered the realm of illusion to read ancient texts. The peach blossoms in the valley were in full bloom, and Liyan sat gracefully under a tree in her flowing white robes. Petals fell gently around her, creating a picture of a celestial beauty that left me staring in awe.
"Xiao Xie, why aren't you focusing on the book? Is there a flower on my face?" Liyan teased softly.
"Liyan-jiejie, you don't understand—I'm actually deep in thought about the book's content," I fibbed with a straight face.
"You're getting better at lying with a serious expression," she said, suppressing a laugh.
"Oh, I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," I replied, waving my hand dismissively and returning to my book. Liyan chuckled, took a sip of tea, and hesitated before asking, "Xiao Xie, why are you avoiding the Crown Prince?"
"I'm not!" I denied it, flustered.
"Good," she sighed. "That boy still sees you as Wan'er and won't listen to reason. Avoiding him only makes it harder for him."
I didn't respond. Liyan shook her head and continued, "The prince is a few years older than Wan'er and long past the age for marriage. Yet, he remains deeply devoted to her and refuses to marry another noblewoman. When Wan'er was little, she would clamor about marrying him, saying she couldn't bear for him to use his birthday wishes every year to pray for the Emperor not to force him into another marriage."
Liyan smiled bitterly, her eyes growing moist. "My brother and sister-in-law adored Wan'er, preparing her dowry early and waiting for her to turn sixteen so they could wed her. But that playful girl, she was too restless. The wedding day passed over a year ago, and she still hasn't returned."
"Liyan-jiejie, don't lose hope. She'll find a way back," I said, my heart aching as I gently patted her shoulder.
"You don't need to comfort me. I know Wan'er won't come back." Liyan looked up, trying to stop her tears, but they fell nonetheless. "I was there when she left. My brother and I used every ounce of our strength to save her, but her vitality slipped through our fingers. She cried, apologizing to us, saying she wanted to see her Xiao Yi-ge…"
"They were so deeply in love. Why couldn't heaven give them a little more time?" Liyan's voice grew more sorrowful. "Xiao Xie, we know you're not Wan'er, but could you do me a favor? When you can, visit the Crown Prince and offer him some solace. Wan'er's greatest regret is leaving him behind, and I can't bear to think of her being troubled even in the afterlife…"
"Liyan-jiejie, I can't. I can't stay here. Once my mission is complete, I must leave," I said softly, clutching my hands tightly. "I don't want Brother Xiao Yi to experience the pain of losing me after finding me. That would be too cruel."
"Gather roses while you may, for time waits for no one," Liyan gently unfolded my clenched hand and said tenderly, "Xiao Xie, life is fleeting. If you lock yourself away out of fear of loss, what's the point of living? Think about it carefully…"
Perhaps she was right. I nodded, and Liyan sighed deeply before leaving quietly. The peach blossoms continued to fall, a beautiful sight, yet my heart was filled with melancholy.
What's wrong with me? I'm just a passerby—why does my heart ache? Frustrated, I covered my face.
I never did go looking for Xiao Yi. A month passed, and we still hadn't found a way to break the formation. Every day, Xiao Zhi trained with me for two or three hours, and his health improved significantly. But I knew my cultivation would eventually be overwhelmed by the domineering nature of the Tongshang Formation. The one who cast it was unfathomably powerful, and this calm felt like the prelude to a storm, filling me with unease.
Xiao Zhi, noticing my frequent outings, insisted on following me today. Not wanting him to discover the secret of the Twin-Life Technique, I took him shopping instead.
The bustling streets of the capital were lively, filled with merchants from all over. Shops showcased dazzling wares, and street vendors displayed their handmade goods, cosmetics, and, of course, delicious snacks that made my mouth water. Amidst the colorful crowd, Xiao Zhi seemed to relax and enjoy the lively atmosphere.
At the northeastern square, a performer was putting on a show. Xiao Zhi and Zhong Qianying stopped to watch, but my attention was drawn to a sugar-coated hawthorn vendor nearby.
I approached the vendor and asked for the largest skewer. Just as I reached for my money, I realized I had forgotten to bring any. Embarrassed, I returned the skewer, only to turn around and bump into Xiao Zhi.
Stepping back, Xiao Zhi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you want it?"
"Yes!" I nodded eagerly, looking at him expectantly. Xiao Zhi chuckled, took out a gold ingot, and handed it to the vendor. "I'll take them all."
"Th-thank you, sir!" The vendor dropped to his knees, overjoyed, and handed me all his sugar skewers.
"Thanks, Xiao Zhi!" My face lit up as I slung the vendor's stick, adorned with the skewers, over my shoulder. "I've always wanted to buy a whole stick of sugar skewers and stroll around, handing them out to people I like. But I didn't have the money, and my master forbade me from using illusions to create it. Illusions eventually fade, and if poor people ended up with false money, it'd be a sin."
"Then I'll take care of all your sugar skewers from now on," Xiao Zhi said, firm but gentle.
"Deal! Thank you!" I beamed, handing skewers to Xiao Zhi and Zhong Qianying.
Xiao Zhi took both, saying, "But no matter who you like, you can only give these skewers to me."
"Not even Zhong Qianying?" I asked, puzzled. "Besides, I thought you didn't like sweet and sour things."
"He can have the one I give him, but you can only give them to me," Xiao Zhi said decisively.
"Fine, fine, you're the boss," I replied, grinning as I took a bite of a skewer. Xiao Zhi handed one to Zhong Qianying and instructed him to book a room at Haiyan Pavilion for dinner.
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness," Zhong Qianying replied with a smile before leaving.
As I walked with my sugar skewers, I spotted Mo Mei, Mo Lan, Mo Ju, and Mo Zhu coming out of a shop. They were carrying baskets filled with incense sticks, seemingly heading for a prayer. I caught up to greet them, and they burst into laughter.
"Miss Wuxie, are you selling sugar skewers now?" Mo Ju joked.
"No, no, Xiao Zhi bought them for me," I replied, pointing at Xiao Zhi. He stepped back to avoid the skewers and shot me a glance. "Can't you carry your precious sticks properly?"
"Sorry!" I straightened the stick. The four women, recognizing Xiao Zhi, began to bow, but he stopped them.
"No need to draw attention. I'm traveling incognito," he said.
"Yes, sir," they replied.
"Are you going to pray?" I asked, pointing to the incense in their baskets.
"Yes, we're heading to the Chenghuang Temple on the outskirts of town to burn incense and pray for the prince's health," Mo Ju replied.
"Don't you worship the Goddess Nuwa? Why the Chenghuang Temple?" I asked, puzzled.
"They're all deities. The more prayers, the better," Mo Lan explained gently. "His Highness led troops to Sichuan for disaster relief a month ago. Since we're idle at the manor, we thought we'd pray for his safety."
"A month ago?" I was startled and glanced at Xiao Zhi, who seemed equally surprised.
I had bumped into Xiao Yi outside Yiqing Courtyard a month ago, but he only greeted me briefly and mentioned nothing about disaster relief. I hurriedly asked, "What kind of disaster? Is it serious?"
"It's a drought, very severe, and there's also an epidemic…" A young girl, unfamiliar to me, said worriedly. But she stopped midway under Mo Mei's warning glance.
"Miss Wuxie, don't worry too much. The Crown Prince is blessed by the heavens. We must hurry now. Please excuse us," the women said, fearing they'd said too much, and quickly left after bowing.
Xiao Zhi grew more suspicious, frowning. "A month ago, we did hear of a drought in Sichuan, but no mention of an epidemic. Father sent the Northern General with considerable supplies for disaster relief, and they should have only just arrived. How did they already know about an epidemic?"