While the situation on one side was turbulent with dangers and murderous intent lurking everywhere, the wilderness mountains of Shangjing on the other side still maintained a tranquil and peaceful appearance of quiet years.

Since May, Qi Ying had suffered several more episodes of addiction withdrawal, each one extremely dangerous, but each time he gritted his teeth and persevered through them. He was a man of his word – since giving Shen Xiling his promise, he truly had not taken any more stones, and had even had Qing Zhu burn all the remaining Five Stone Powder to ash.

Every time Shen Xiling watched him desperately resist the withdrawal symptoms, her heart ached like it was being twisted by a knife. But she didn’t want to cry in front of him, so each time she would wait until he fell asleep before secretly going out to calm her emotions.

She thought he didn’t know about this, but unexpectedly one day when she thought he was asleep and just got up to go out, her wrist was pulled back by him and she was drawn back into his embrace.

She was startled and looked up at him from his arms, asking: “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

He was indeed very tired. When she asked, he didn’t even have the energy to lift his eyes, only reaching out to smooth her hair. His voice was quite hoarse as he said: “I’m sleeping, so you can go out and cry?”

Shen Xiling was speechless.

He… knew everything all along.

Yes, he was always very attentive to her, even knowing when her monthly cycles came. Sometimes she would forget herself, but he still remembered, taking care of her in every detail.

He must have long since discovered her secretly going out to cry, which was why today he forced himself to stay awake, dividing his attention to comfort her.

This person…

Shen Xiling didn’t know what to say.

His breath was warm, and the arms holding her were also warm. Those beautiful phoenix eyes opened, and he looked weary but gentle.

“Don’t go out,” he gently patted her back. “If you must cry, cry here with me.”

Shen Xiling was both touched and amused by these words. She lightly pushed him and said: “Nonsense… I wasn’t crying.”

He smiled, lowered his head to kiss her forehead, and said: “Good, you weren’t crying – let’s sleep.”

Shen Xiling looked at him for a while, thought about it, and still listened to his words. She went out to tidy up briefly, returned shortly after, got into bed and snuggled with him.

A peaceful night’s sleep.

Apart from Qi Ying’s occasional withdrawal episodes, everything else was pleasing.

By mid-May, the summer atmosphere in the northern lands had become increasingly intense. The mountains were filled with cicada songs, and the birds had become more lively. The sun was bright red – if this were in Jiangzuo, it would certainly be unbearably hot. In past years at this time, both Huaijin Courtyard and Woyu Courtyard would have ice blocks placed in their rooms. But the mountains of Shangjing were much cooler, with refreshing breezes often caressing their faces, bringing gentle coolness – truly the most pleasant weather.

Shen Xiling knew that Qi Ying quite liked summer, because he loved lotus flowers, and this season was precisely when lotuses bloomed at their finest. Unfortunately, they were now trapped in this dilapidated mountain wilderness dwelling, missing the chance to appreciate the sight of clear round water surfaces with lotus leaves dancing one by one in the wind.

Besides this, Shen Xiling could also sense subtle changes in Qi Ying.

He had always been unfathomable, never showing joy or anger on his face, making it impossible for people to glimpse his inner thoughts. But Shen Xiling had been with him for a long time and had understood him well since childhood. She could vaguely perceive how he differed from usual lately – though he still made kites for her, chatted and joked with her, and fed her loquats as before, he would occasionally become slightly lost in thought. Shen Xiling knew this was how he looked when deep in contemplation.

She had a vague feeling that something he had been waiting for a long time was about to happen.

And her premonition was not wrong.

On a certain summer night after rain, with mist permeating the mountains, just when the clouds and fog were at their thickest, this mountain dwelling received two distinguished guests, both of whom Shen Xiling recognized.

One was Gu Juhan.

The other… was the Crown Prince of Great Wei.

For two people of such noble status to visit in the dead of night was truly hard not to arouse many thoughts. Shen Xiling felt alert, while Qi Ying remained calm and composed.

He seemed to have long anticipated their arrival.

Qi Ying noticed Shen Xiling’s tension and smiled reassuringly at her, saying: “It’s fine. I’ll speak privately with His Highness for a moment – nothing will happen.”

Shen Xiling was also very intelligent. Seeing Qi Ying’s attitude, she naturally could deduce that he had private dealings with the Great Wei Crown Prince early on. Perhaps today’s visit was even at his invitation.

Her heart settled, so she nodded at him, then looked toward Gu Juhan standing behind the Crown Prince. He was looking at her, much thinner than he had been over a month ago. His features were hidden in the clouds and mist, appearing somewhat forlorn.

Shen Xiling pressed her lips together, then looked up at Qi Ying again, saying: “Then you speak with His Highness in the room. I’ll also chat with the General for a few moments.”

Hearing this, Qi Ying also glanced at Gu Juhan. Across the night mist, the two men nodded at each other.

He looked back at Shen Xiling, his voice gentle: “Go ahead.”

He paused, then Shen Xiling heard him add another sentence.

“Bid a proper farewell.”

Night mist pervaded, the Milky Way was brilliant.

Because it had just rained that day, the mountain paths were inevitably muddy, with some stones grown over with moss, making them even more slippery. When Shen Xiling and Gu Juhan walked together in the mountains, Gu Juhan habitually paid attention to her movements, constantly guarding against her falling.

It was an invisible form of attention that Shen Xiling could feel. At the same time, she suddenly realized that Gu Juhan had always watched her this way before, only she had taken it as care between friends and hadn’t thought of anything else. Looking back now… she had really been too dense and foolish.

But this couldn’t really be blamed on Shen Xiling – after all, those in the situation are often blind to it. When she and Gu Juhan lived under the same roof, she was indeed oblivious to all this. Only now that they had been separated for some time did many old confusions slowly dissipate, finally allowing her to know some belated truths.

With such a background, this private moment inevitably felt very awkward. Even the wonderful moonlight and mist in the mountains couldn’t make up for it, and Gu Juhan’s continued silent attention made her feel like she had thorns on her back.

Shen Xiling remained silent for a long time before finally thinking of something to say: “…I’m sorry.”

Her voice was very low, carrying sincere remorse. Gu Juhan heard but didn’t immediately respond. After a while, he asked: “Why are you apologizing to me?”

Shen Xiling lowered her head slightly and answered: “At that time… I was so panicked that I threatened you with that account book. Looking back now, it was truly foolish. The General treated me so well, yet I was ungrateful.”

She pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, then explained: “But actually, I never really intended to expose Jusheng and Juyuan’s affairs. At the time I was just…”

She didn’t continue, but Gu Juhan already understood what she wanted to say.

She wanted to explain that she hadn’t truly been heartless enough to betray the Gu family – she had just used them as bargaining chips in her negotiations with him.

Gu Juhan believed this explanation. Rather, he had always believed in her, perhaps related to their first meeting – when she had been willing to sacrifice herself to save a beggar child she’d never met. From then on, he had understood her nature: she was purely kind yet stubborn.

Though he believed her, this explanation couldn’t erase the pain in his heart – she could do anything for Qi Jingchen, even just to see him once she could unhesitatingly stand opposite to him. As long as this didn’t change, the wounds in his heart couldn’t heal.

Debating these matters now was quite pointless, and Shen Xiling probably knew this too, so she didn’t dwell much on this topic. She fell silent, then said: “Besides this… I must also thank the General.”

Gu Juhan walked beside her, reaching out when she wasn’t paying attention to brush away a branch that almost caught her temple hair, asking: “Thank me for what?”

Shen Xiling didn’t notice his gesture of brushing away the branch, and her expression seemed to fall into some memories.

Her tone was quite gentle: “For many things… The General has always taken good care of me all these years. I’ve always been very grateful.”

Here she looked up at him. Even with the night fog, her beautiful face could still be seen clearly by him. The mist even made her appear more beautiful, like the stunningly beautiful female demons described in story books and opera scripts.

“And his affairs,” she added. “Originally I was mistaken, thinking you were enemies rather than friends. Now it seems the General helped him greatly. This is life-saving kindness.”

She was thanking him on Qi Ying’s behalf.

Shen Xiling had been very sensitive since childhood. Now that she was grown, her childhood timidity had completely faded, leaving only keen perception.

Even though Qi Ying had never told her explicitly, she could already sense that Gu Juhan was on the same side as him in this matter. He must have secretly helped them greatly – besides helping her meet Qi Ying and stay in these wilderness mountains, he had also assisted Qi Ying with other things. Take today’s visiting Crown Prince, for instance – how could he suddenly become involved with Qi Ying? There must have been Gu Juhan’s mediation involved.

Shen Xiling didn’t care what these men were ultimately planning, nor did she mind what kind of benefit exchanges existed between them. She only needed to know that Gu Juhan was someone who provided timely help to Qi Ying – just this point alone was enough to make her deeply grateful to him.

The more sincere Shen Xiling’s gratitude was at this moment, the heavier the helplessness in Gu Juhan’s heart became.

Since she had given him the divorce letter she’d written on Qi Ying’s behalf, they had been separated for over a month. Every single day during this period had been difficult for him – partly because of political affairs, but more because of her.

Yet she seemed to be doing very well. Even though everything in the mountains was so simple, she was still happy and cheerful. Her complexion was countless times better than when she had been at the Duke’s mansion, looking serene and blissful.

…Does being by his side make you so happy? Even while facing unknown dangers, you don’t mind?

I could give you a more stable life… wouldn’t you turn back?

These questions really didn’t need to be asked aloud – even just thinking them in his heart seemed delusional. She looked so joyful beside that man. Even just their eye contact gave off an atmosphere of tenderness that no one could intrude upon.

So be it.

Gu Juhan coughed and maintained his composure, saying: “If it’s about his affairs, you needn’t thank me. Between nations, it’s always about interests, not sentiment. If he can gain His Highness’s trust, that’s his own ability and has nothing to do with me.”

Shen Xiling knew this was just an excuse – Qi Ying was a foreign minister from another country. Without Gu Juhan’s connections, how could he have contact with the Great Wei Crown Prince? Gu Juhan must have exerted considerable effort in the middle. But seeing that he seemed unwilling to accept such gratitude at this moment, Shen Xiling didn’t go against his wishes and just agreed with his words.

The two continued walking in the mountains, night mist surrounding them. That ethereal atmosphere made them appear distant from each other even while walking side by side. Gu Juhan knew that once tonight’s conversation between Qi Ying and His Highness concluded, their departure from Shangjing would be very near.

She was about to leave.

Perhaps this time and place would be his last chance to be so close to her.

People inevitably feel melancholy when they realize something is “the last time.” Gu Juhan was the same, but unfortunately he couldn’t express it like others, because he was the only one feeling melancholy about this separation. If his sadness were discovered, the situation would inevitably become awkward.

He carefully controlled his emotions and said to Shen Xiling: “Congratulations on achieving your long-cherished wish.”

Shen Xiling was stunned upon hearing this, not knowing how to respond. Before she could react, she heard him continue: “In the future, when you return to his side, I imagine everything will be as you desire, and you’ll never face any more disappointments… I wish you both a long and lasting relationship, growing old together, with a house full of children and grandchildren.”

He spoke very calmly and sounded sincere, but for some reason Shen Xiling felt a sourness in her heart, along with even more guilt.

She had failed his deep affection and had even hurt him openly at one point, yet he had always treated her well.

Shen Xiling truly wanted to make amends, but since ancient times emotional debts have been hard to repay. Before meeting him, she had already met Qi Ying first, already fallen wholeheartedly in love with him first, already experienced so many hardships and sweetness with him first… She really had no way to love another person. All her joys, sorrows, worries, and fears had been exhausted on that person, and even her very life bore traces of that person.

She could only fail Gu Juhan.

She felt extremely guilty, so much so that she secretly clenched her fingers like when she was small, tongue-tied and not knowing what to reply. But Gu Juhan didn’t need her reply.

Just like love itself – he didn’t need her reply and could still love her alone for a very long time.

So be it.

This was already very good.

She would fulfill her cherished wish, and he would just watch from afar as she found happiness. She had always been an unexpected joy for him – now, he was simply returning her.

Nothing worth being sad about.

They estimated the time and felt it was about time to return, so they turned back together. Gu Juhan continued to protect her at every moment just as he had on the way there. Later, seeing that her embroidered shoes had gotten muddy, he bent down to wipe them clean for her.

Shen Xiling wanted to dodge in panic but felt that would make the scene too unseemly, so she had to steel herself and accept this kindness, watching as Gu Juhan used his sleeve to wipe the mud from her shoe surface, dirtying his sleeve in the process.

She felt even more uncomfortable.

At this moment Gu Juhan straightened up, very close to her. His frame was already tall and imposing, and once he drew near he seemed even more intimidating, making one feel somewhat overwhelmed. Yet his voice was very gentle, with the refined elegance Shen Xiling had always known.

“This is probably the last time I’ll take care of you,” his voice contained faint sentiment and tenderness. “In the future… take good care of yourself.”

He was a military officer who rarely spoke beautiful words. Even in the past five years when he had to go to battlefields, he had never said much when leaving home, rarely even bidding her a proper farewell.

But now he was saying goodbye to her, perhaps because he knew that after she left with Qi Ying this time, she would never return.

Shen Xiling also felt… they would hardly meet again.

She became somewhat choked up, her emotions too complex to untangle – though she held no romantic feelings for Gu Juhan, they had indeed accompanied each other for five years, and these five years had been very difficult times for both of them.

She had come to see him as her most intimate friend, even as an elder brother, as family.

At this moment Gu Juhan had already walked several steps away. Though the distance wasn’t far, because of the intervening clouds and mist, he seemed to already stand at the edge of the world, appearing extremely ethereal.

The feeling of parting suddenly became real. Shen Xiling’s heart was momentarily filled with the sorrow of separation. She couldn’t help calling out to his retreating figure.

“Wenruo.”

Just this one calling of his name – besides this she didn’t know what else to say. Gu Juhan seemed to understand her predicament, so he only stopped his steps without turning back.

He was still taking care of her… even at this final moment.

Author’s Note: I counted yesterday and realized that the fourth volume – not including this Clouds and Mist chapter – only has about four chapters left (Clouds and Mist still needs one more update). Then the fifth volume epilogue is very short, probably just three chapters. Counting it this way, I truly have the sense that we’re approaching the end.

Since we’re talking about the ending, it’s inevitable to start saying goodbye to some characters – today’s scene should be the last major scene between General Gu and Wenwen. He might be mentioned later, but there probably won’t be dedicated scenes for him anymore. So I want to ramble a bit at this moment.

I personally really love the character Gu Wenruo. Even though his scenes aren’t actually that many, in my heart this is a brilliant and shining image. I especially like writing him in contrast with Lord Xiao Qi. These two have great similarities but also maintain differences in some key places. At the same time, I don’t want to see Gu Wenruo merely as a foil to Qi Jingchen – he has his own precious character, his uniqueness. In my personal understanding, he is a truly gentle and sincere person, perhaps even closer to the word “gentleman” than Qi Ying.

The feelings between him and Wenwen never truly developed, perhaps because the starting point of their fate was problematic, destining them to become friends, to become family, but unable to become lovers. He seems to never have truly entered deeply into this story, but the ten years of winds and clouds rising across the great lands could only reach their final conclusion because of Gu Wenruo’s presence; Wenwen and Lord Xiao Qi’s ten years of joys, sorrows, separations and reunions could only achieve their final fulfillment because of Gu Wenruo’s presence.

His name Juhan means “residing in high but lonely places”; his courtesy name Wenruo means “heart sincere and warm” – to occupy high and lonely positions while harboring a warm heart is perhaps the most difficult thing in this world, yet he achieved it with apparent ease.

I’ll be the first to cheer that General Gu is eternally divine. In the endless years and boundless mountains and rivers ahead, you will surely find your own beloved and cherished one – not remaining in others’ stories, but having your own happy and complete story.