“Would you like to stay with me?”
“If I stay with you, can I live in this beautiful place?” Saman asked blankly.
“That’s up to His Majesty!” Huang Beishuang smiled.
Na Zhan turned to look, smiling, “What can you do? I don’t want useless people!” He seemed to be in a good mood, teasing the child. Hearing this, Saman thought if he performed well, he could live in this heavenly place. He quickly knelt and said, “Your Majesty, my name is Saman. I can sing!” After days of proper care, his voice had regained its former clarity.
“Oh?” Na Zhan laughed heartily, and the civil and military officials below also laughed, “Then sing something for us to hear!”
So, young Saman began to sing loudly in the great hall of Guanghan Palace the song of calamity that Grandma had taught him. Although he didn’t understand its meaning, his childish voice deeply moved Huang Beishuang’s heart.
Heavenly God! Heavenly God!
Why do you laugh without ceasing?
Yellow sands move, blood and tears flow,
Gray-haired dogs of the mortal world,
Still seeking gruel in their dreams.
Earthly Ghost! Earthly Ghost!
Why do you weep without end?
Cold winds embrace, bloody rain falls,
Skeletal scenes of the human realm,
Awake, still mending tattered clothes.
The calamity is nigh,
The fate is sealed!
Clinging to a lowly life,
Waiting for gods and ghosts to claim!
Who are these gods and ghosts?
Ask the nobles in the jeweled hall!
Who doesn’t kneel thrice?
That’s who they are!
The child sang passionately, but the faces of those in the hall grew increasingly grim. They dared not interrupt, only lowering their heads, wishing they could dig a hole and crawl in. Only Huang Beishuang turned her head, looking deeply at Na Zhan.
Who doesn’t kneel thrice? Of course, it’s the King! The song, in its conclusion, blatantly compared the King to gods and ghosts!
The King orders the troops, the soldiers fight the battles, and the people make the sacrifices. Who, then, is innocent?
The youth’s song echoed throughout the afternoon in Na Zhan’s silence and Huang Beishuang’s gaze, until his voice grew hoarse.
As night fell, Yepei arranged for Saman to stay in the guards’ quarters of Guanying Palace, training with Lian Huan. For him, this was probably the best reward for his gratitude. At least when he was struggling to survive among the refugees, he never imagined he’d have such a day.
Fate often lies in the incomprehensible.
At this time, Huang Beishuang stood by the window, her face full of worry. After a long while, a shadow flew to the window, leaning against the tree shadow, holding their breath, “Na Xiu! Why have you summoned me?”
Huang Beishuang frowned, seeming to struggle for a long time before softly saying, “Jiang Lei! Stop Zhan Bie, don’t let him leave the border!”
Jiang Lei didn’t ask questions, disappearing instantly.
“Frost Consort!” Suddenly, Yepei appeared behind her, startling Huang Beishuang.
Yepei walked over and gently closed the window, “It’s cold, don’t catch a chill.”
Huang Beishuang ran to the bed and sat down, wrapping herself in the blanket, looking somewhat helpless. Yepei beckoned Ran Ping and Dao Qiu to bring hot water to wash her.
The three didn’t ask anything, but Huang Beishuang herself seemed like a frightened bird, her body curled up in the blanket, only her cold feet exposed. After a long time, she expressed her unease, “His Majesty deliberately provoked Zhan Bie. Once he leaves the border, Zhan Bie will surely try to assassinate Qing Yun!”
Hearing this, the three had complex expressions. Yepei said, “Frost Consort, doing this not only breaks your tacit understanding with His Majesty but also won’t please Lord Qing. Why bother?”
Huang Beishuang buried her head in the blanket, troubled, “In a situation where I can, am I still not allowed to follow my heart?”
Yepei smiled, “Frost Consort, what you feel for Lord Qing isn’t love. You spent too little time together, you barely know each other. In this servant’s opinion, it was merely a brief passion.”
Huang Beishuang raised her head at these words, “Not love?”
Yepei continued, “Loving someone yet leaving them is a sin that will forever make you unhappy. Look at yourself – despite having countless reasons, didn’t you leave quite freely? Even if you can’t forget, it hasn’t made your life unbearable, has it? Can this be called love?”
Huang Beishuang was left speechless. She looked at the white bedding, suddenly remembering that brief sweet night. Wasn’t that love? She touched the blooming lotus on her arm, which still burned like fire. Wasn’t that love?
“We’ll take our leave now. Rest well, Frost Consort!” After finishing washing her, Yepei and the others withdrew.
“Yepei!” Huang Beishuang raised her head, calling her back, her eyes no longer confused, “It doesn’t matter if it’s not love. You can say whatever you like, but there’s one thing that can’t be changed. Qing Yun is the only man in this world who can sleep in my bed!”
If what I feel for you isn’t love, then I’ll never know love in this life!
Qing Yun! Do you know my contradictions?
I’ve long heard that the world is full of calamities, all results of the turning wheel of fate.
If this period with you will eventually destroy me,
I truly hope that day comes soon, so I won’t be so confused thinking of you.