Qing’er giggled and said, “I think Miss Cheng has spring stirring in her heart, hasn’t she?”

“Qing’er, don’t talk nonsense,” Qin Zhiyan said sternly.

Cheng Xiao smiled and said, “It’s nothing really. Among all the women under heaven, who knows how many are infatuated with the Longevity Prince? I’m just thinking about it, that’s all. Besides, I genuinely want to know what kind of person could single-handedly slay a hundred thousand people without getting a drop of blood on themselves.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the group exchanged knowing smiles. Though this Miss Cheng Xiao was just an ordinary kitchen lady, her straightforward personality made her a rare type of woman.

“By the way, Young Master still hasn’t said where you’re going.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled and said, “There’s no fixed destination. Just wandering around casually, staying wherever the scenery is beautiful, and when we get tired of a place, we’ll change to another. Just traveling around.”

Cheng Xiao laughed, “Young Master really knows how to enjoy life. Since you don’t have anywhere particular to go anyway, why not stay in Pengyang for a few more days? In a few days, it’ll be Pengyang’s Wine God Festival—it’s quite lively.”

“Wine God Festival?”

“That’s right. Fanggui Wine God, Zhilan Fine Brew—it’s Fairy Fanggui’s birthday, which is the Wine God Festival. The government will organize it then, with dragon boat races, lantern shows, riddle guessing, wine songs—very festive.”

“Is that so?” Qin Zhiyan was slightly startled, his fingers caressing the copper pot, his smile faint as he said softly, “In that case, let’s stay a few more days.”

Cheng Xiao beamed with delight, saying, “That’s wonderful! I’ll go arrange guest rooms for Young Master right now.”

Qing’er smiled and said, “Miss Cheng, this is how you attract customers to stay at the inn, isn’t it? What a shrewd businesswoman.”

Cheng Xiao wasn’t annoyed at all, playfully made a face, and turned to leave.

Qin Zhiyan looked at the copper pot and suddenly smiled faintly, saying softly, “I never expected to taste this flavor again.”

That very evening, Qin Zhiyan moved into the superior room that Cheng Xiao had arranged for him. The room was very clean, and most importantly, it was very warm—almost stifling. Presumably, Cheng Xiao’s father was also well-versed in medicine, noticed his illness, and gave instructions accordingly.

News of the Chu Emperor taking an empress had reached them two days ago. Lian Zhou and the others had been carefully guarding against it, fearing he might be saddened to hear it, but he had heard it anyway.

There wasn’t much deep sorrow, as this was what he had always hoped for. The Great Emperor of Southern Chu had dismissed his harem and willfully arranged marriages as he pleased. Fortunately, he didn’t have many consorts, or who knows what chaos might have ensued. Even so, this brought stormy winds to Southern Chu’s court. If not for Chu Li’s current dominance over Southern Chu, with no one daring to directly challenge his authority, it would likely have caused another upheaval.

Chu Li’s feelings for Zhuang Qingxia were known throughout the world. If the previous battle at White Deer Plains could still be disguised as the Xichuan hunt, then leading troops to Great Qin to support his old enemy Qin Zhiyan’s comeback left no room for excuses. Fortunately, before departing, he had instructed Zhixiang to form an alliance with Southern Chu, saving face for Chu Li while bringing substantial benefits to both nations. Otherwise, who knows how Southern Chu’s ministers would have attacked their emperor.

Chu Li was brilliant and strategic—he would surely handle these minor disputes with ease. But Qin Zhiyan still couldn’t help giving that instruction, being quite meddlesome, not even knowing what purpose it served. Perhaps it was for redemption, or perhaps for repayment. Redemption for the sin of stealing away a beloved, repayment for the trust placed in him before death.

Taking off his outer robe and drinking the medicine Bi’er had just brought, Qin Zhiyan sat wearily on the bed. The moment he sat down, his brow furrowed involuntarily. Reaching into the bedding, he pulled out several large water pouches, each somewhat hot to the touch, obviously filled with hot water. The bedding had therefore become warm and cozy, very comfortable to sit on.

The corner of his mouth smiled unconsciously, and his heart felt somewhat grateful to that thoughtful woman.

He still remembered when he was at the Longevity Prince’s mansion—every night before sleep, Yima’er would always slip into the bedding ahead of him, and only after warming it up would she let him enter. Her body was so small, yet always so warm. Every night when the poison attacks made him feel bone-chillingly cold, he could reach out and embrace her, then safely endure through it.

Those rare peaceful days, when recalled now, seemed almost like a dream—so unreal, yet so beautiful.

Early the next morning, Qin Zhiyan rose early, feeling quite well. He found several books in the bedroom and settled into a soft chair to read them carefully.

It had been a long time since he had read so relaxingly and leisurely. Having left Xianyang, he seemed to have also set down the heavy burdens that once weighed on his heart, and even his spirit gradually became more at ease.

The master of this house must have been someone who loved traveling in his youth—most of the books in the room were travel journals. Qin Zhiyan came across a Division 9 – Chapter recording the customs and cultures of some overseas nations, which were remarkably similar to what Qingxia had told him. This piqued his interest, and he began reading carefully.

After an unknown amount of time, the door creaked open. Cheng Xiao entered carrying a large tray, smiling as she said, “Not eating breakfast and just reading books—that’s really a bad habit.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled and put down his scroll, saying, “Miss Cheng.”

“Eat, eat. I’m planning to take your two little maidservants out shopping. They asked me to come ask if that’s all right with you.”

Qin Zhiyan laughed, “As long as you don’t sell them, you can go wherever you want.”

“Hehe,” Cheng Xiao laughed heartily, “So clever—you guessed it right away.”

Just as she was about to turn and leave, she suddenly turned back and said, “Behind here is my family’s back courtyard. I figure you wouldn’t want to go shopping with women, so go out and have some fun yourself. Don’t stay cooped up in your room all the time.”

Qin Zhiyan nodded with a smile, watching Cheng Xiao leave.

The food on the table was very fragrant, carrying a sweet aroma. On the entire large tray, there was only one large cover. Qin Zhiyan curiously lifted the cover, and his heart immediately jumped.

He couldn’t help but slowly stand up, looking at those red and green, seemingly sweet and delicious pastries. He picked up chopsticks, gently touched one, and put it in his mouth.

It melted upon entry, sweet and delicious—a flavor he had never tasted before.

Remembering what Cheng Xiao had just said, Qin Zhiyan turned and opened the door, slowly walking out.

The back courtyard of Cloud-Like Tower was obviously not as noisy as the front courtyard—it was quiet and elegant, everywhere revealing the master’s thoughtfulness. Artificial mountains and strange rocks, orchids and flourishing flowers—the further forward he walked, the more beautiful the scenery became. Exquisite and delicate, with small bridges and flowing water, at the far end of the courtyard was actually a bamboo grove.

Faint flute music suddenly drifted over, melodious and gentle, distant and serene. Qin Zhiyan’s eyes slightly narrowed as he followed the sound, walking forward continuously. Green bamboo stretched endlessly, and finally a stone table and chairs appeared before him. A woman in green robes with hair like a waterfall and a graceful figure stood with her back to him in the bamboo forest, her hands like snow, her robes fluttering, melodiously playing a bamboo flute.

Qin Zhiyan’s breathing immediately froze. A smile, impossible to conceal any longer, appeared at the corners of his lips. His robes fluttering, his eyes clear and bright, his voice mellow, just like when they first met, he softly called, “Yima’er.”

The flute music paused. The woman, with a face like snow and eyes like stars, slowly turned around. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, falling on her face, leaving dappled light and shadow—indescribably bright and captivating.

As if a thousand years, ten thousand years had passed, those water-like eyes gazed softly at one place, and could no longer be separated.

Qin Zhiyan, I will stay with you forever. No matter what person or what matter, nothing can ever separate us again.

Qin Zhiyan, if you die, I have no home, nowhere to go. What should I do?

Qin Zhiyan, are those things really so important to you? Isn’t it good that I accompany you?

Qin Zhiyan, Qin Zhiyan, imperial ambitions turn to emptiness in the blink of an eye, halls full of gold and jade cannot be taken away. How about instead we become an immortal couple, spending a hundred years in the martial world?

Do you understand?

The sunlight of that day was the most brilliant sunlight Qin Zhiyan had ever seen in his entire life. It was so gentle, so beautiful, so full of hope for life.

He told himself, just be selfish once, even if only for a month, a day, an hour. He had lived too tiredly his entire life—just let him close his eyes, indulge himself, and live selfishly once. Everything else, he wouldn’t think about anymore.

This sleep, Qin Zhiyan slept very soundly. He was even somewhat reluctant to wake up. In his dream, he seemed to have returned to the side hall of the western six palaces in Taihe Palace, everywhere filled with broken tiles and withered weeds. He was still that very short child who couldn’t see outside the palace walls even when climbing trees. But he wasn’t afraid at all. He saw the dark, long corridors of the imperial mausoleum, the lonely, desolate deep palace, his parents’ indifferent and disgusted faces, his younger brother’s back receiving whippings for him, the rolling yellow sand of the frontier and warriors’ armor soaked with sweat and blood, and he also saw her—wearing pale blue robes, standing in a grove of green bamboo, holding a bamboo flute, gazing at him with gentle eyes.

It turned out his life had been so long. He had experienced loneliness, suffered abandonment, gained power, and endured setbacks, but ultimately, heaven had still been kind to him. She was like a ray of sunlight, shining into his dark life. She always said he was the final refuge of her life, not knowing that it had always been she who supported him in walking strongly to this day.

He was still so young, yet at this moment, recalling his entire life, it felt as though so much time had already passed. Those long journeys seemed endless at a glance. He had stumbled and staggered along the way, and when there was no path, he dug with his fingers, gnawed with his teeth, finally reaching the end of life. Looking back, everything was filled with exhaustion and hardship. Finally ready to fall, yet still filled with deep reluctance. No matter how many schemes and strategies he possessed, he ultimately could not turn things around. He was very tired—whether this body full of wounds or that aged heart, both wanted to rest properly.