Ziqing never mentioned any names directly, phrasing her question about Jun Beiyue’s condition in the most veiled terms possible. Physician Gu had written clearly in his letter that Jun Beiyue’s collapse had been followed by a deviation of qi that left him entirely without consciousness — it was still uncertain whether he would ever wake.
Now, however, his internal energy had recovered, and his fingers had already begun to move — which meant some awareness remained, only it was unclear when he might wake!
Physician Gu’s skill and that of Physician Hua of the Gu Clan were both exceptional, but when it came to pharmacology, they naturally fell short of the Chieftain of the Medicine Clan. Ziqing had long wished to consult him, and today was exactly the opportunity.
“This kind of condition is exceedingly rare,” the chieftain said, stroking his long beard, brow furrowed in thought.
“Chieftain, he can wake up — that’s certain, isn’t it?” Ziqing asked quickly. She needed a completely definite answer.
“Naturally, only…” the chieftain hesitated.
“Will it take long?” Ziqing pressed again.
“That’s hard to say. As you know, some people who fall into such a state stay that way for life — conscious within, yet never able to wake,” the chieftain said flatly.
Ziqing’s face went pale, and she murmured, “What difference is there, then, between that and never waking at all?”
“There is a difference — this can be cured,” the chieftain said, smiling.
Ziqing was stunned, unable to get any words out. A complicated look flickered across the chieftain’s eyes as he said quietly, “Princess Consort of Yao, tell me honestly — is this person… Prince Yao himself?”
“Chieftain, you misunderstand. It isn’t the prince — the prince has already recovered and is currently convalescing,” Ziqing said flatly, silently cursing herself for her impulsiveness, yet at the same time desperate to know what the chieftain meant by “can be cured.”
The chieftain, however, didn’t press the matter further. Instead he produced a pill and said quietly, “Princess Consort, this medicine is called Spirit’s Return. It can rouse someone from unconsciousness — but… while it can wake the spirit, it also harms it. The aftereffects are severe — unbearable headaches, or even madness and dementia — often far more agonizing than never waking at all. Unless there is truly no other choice, it’s best not to use it.”
Ziqing stared blankly at the pill for a long moment, unable to bring herself to take it.
The chieftain hesitated, then rose to leave, but turned back once more. “Princess Consort, though Nanzhao keeps its doors closed to the outside world and information here is scarce, old men like myself do pay close attention to Great Zhou — after all, Great Zhou truly is Nanzhao’s northern gateway.”
With that he turned and departed. Ziqing stood frozen, knowing full well that the chieftain’s words held nothing but truth.
Without Great Zhou guarding the southern border pass, countless people could come and go as they pleased. Great Zhou was the first barrier standing between the outside world and Nanzhao!
The sea route, after all, had its limits — not a single kingdom on the Longyuan Continent yet possessed a fully equipped navy.
Great Zhou was Nanzhao’s first line of defense.
Which meant Jun Beiyue himself was that very first barrier!
The chieftain understood it well — Jun Beiyue could not simply sleep forever. He had to wake, even if only to sit as a figurehead within the Yao Prince’s estate — he had to be there!
No matter how noble her own status, no matter how much power she held in her own hands, she was still not a man, still not of Great Zhou’s imperial bloodline, and could never inherit the throne.
And Great Zhou had no shortage of imperial princes!
Ziqing glanced once more at the pill on the table, hesitated a moment, then finally put it away…
Having drunk heavily the night before, most people didn’t wake until nearly midday. After the noon meal, they set off back to the royal city.
The return journey, traveling downstream, was far faster than the trip out had been.
They arrived at the royal city in the afternoon. From the city gates onward, the crowds stretched further than the eye could see — the people of Nanzhao’s endless enthusiasm for the sacred water was something Ziqing and her companions would never quite understand!
On the parade carriage carrying the sacred water, the King of Nanzhao and Consort Qin waved happily to their people, smiling all the while.
The crowd naturally parted to make way as the carriage rolled slowly forward. The King of Nanzhao and Consort Qin began splashing water on the people, and at once everyone surged forward eagerly, though none dared cross the marked boundary line.
Ziqing watched silently from within her own carriage. No matter how lively things were around her, her thoughts remained entirely on Liuxian Island — she was quite certain she wouldn’t be needing that pill tucked in her sleeve after all. Perhaps by the time she returned home, even better news would be waiting.
Not until nightfall did the first day of the festival finally come to an end. The entire royal city of Nanzhao would celebrate for three days and three nights straight. Ziqing was already eager to head home, but she had no choice but to wait it out.
Unlike Ziqing, Yelü Qianqian wished the festival could go on forever — at least then she wouldn’t have to be summoned back by her father the emperor, and wouldn’t have to spend every day asking around after Situ Haonan’s whereabouts.
The three days hadn’t even ended before she was already growing reluctant to leave.
And yet, three days passed quickly enough in the end.
The King of Nanzhao personally saw all the envoys off at the city gates. Ziqing headed north, returning through Great Zhou’s southern gate, while Xuanyuan Zhaoxi, just as she had come, took the sea route northeast. Yelü Qianqian likewise went by sea, heading northwest.
Chu Feiyan, seeming to have forgotten Yelü Qianqian’s earlier warning before the Earth King’s shrine, though she hadn’t traveled together with her, still had the attending envoy arrange passage by the same sea route.
Everyone had already said their farewells, leaving only Chu Feiyan still being held back by Consort Qin, who seemed to be saying something at length — the two of them looked for all the world like close sisters.
Throughout the trip, with Consort Qin’s “attentive care,” Chu Feiyan hadn’t caused Ziqing any more trouble since the incident at the music competition.
Xuanyuan Zhaoxi took her leave and departed first. Yelü Qianqian stubbornly clung to Situ Haonan, pouting with her cheeks puffed out, tears welling in her eyes, refusing to say a single word no matter what.
Situ Haonan seemed to have plenty of experience with this, letting her stare at him in silence, saying nothing himself either.
Ziqing, conveniently having an excuse to linger, sat in her carriage watching Chu Feiyan. After a good while, Consort Qin finally released her with visible reluctance.
“King of Nanzhao, thank you for your warm hospitality these past few days. Having received the blessing of Nanzhao’s sacred water, Feiyan will never forget this in her lifetime! On behalf of my father the emperor, Feiyan sincerely invites Your Majesty and Consort Qin to visit Western Chu whenever you have the leisure.” Chu Feiyan spoke with great courtesy, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief — she could finally be rid of Consort Qin. That a woman could win such lavish favor from the King of Nanzhao made her no easy person to deal with.
To her surprise, the King of Nanzhao didn’t respond at all — instead, he took water handed to him by a servant and gently splashed it over her!
What sort of etiquette was this? None of the others had received such treatment when saying their farewells. Puzzled, Chu Feiyan looked up, only to freeze the instant she met the King’s unmistakably admiring gaze.
“Your Majesty, you kept some of the sacred water!” Consort Qin exclaimed at once in a sweet, girlish voice, clearly displeased.
This was the sacred water!
Chu Feiyan’s face went instantly white, a wave of revulsion rising in her chest!
As an envoy, she had already received the King’s blessing with the sacred water at Mingjing Lake. She knew full well that during the water-splashing festival within the royal city, when a man and woman splashed water on one another, it was a gesture of romantic intent!
Put plainly — it was a proposal!
The King of Nanzhao was proposing to her again, in public, no less!
Chu Feiyan gritted her teeth and endured it, averting her eyes from the King’s lascivious gaze, pretending not to understand his meaning. “King of Nanzhao, Consort Qin — I take my leave!”
She swore to herself she would settle this score with Han Ziqing one day. She swore she would never set foot in Nanzhao again!
“Until we meet… again,” the King of Nanzhao said, his tone heavy with meaning. He was merely expressing his intentions, not forcing the matter — just as with Nanzhao’s water-splashing custom, if the Princess Imperial were ever so inclined, there would surely be a response in time.
Chu Feiyan gave a curt nod, not even daring to glance at Consort Qin again, and fled to her carriage in obvious distress, hurrying away at once.
Inside her own carriage, Ziqing laughed like a mischievous little girl — anyone who didn’t know her might have genuinely mistaken her for a girl of sixteen or seventeen.
Thoroughly satisfied, she called out cheerfully to Situ Haonan, “Situ, I’m heading off first — he’ll catch up later!”
With that, she waved to Yelü Qianqian and departed…