If born in darkness, desire is that raging fire, burning away the fallen!
If born in light, desire is that drop of blood, staining the pure!
In this life, only the battle flag knows my intent,
In this existence, only the netherworld understands my heart!
Never knowing regret! Never retreating!
Yunpei, for the first time since closing its borders, opened its gates wide to welcome back a valiant general who had fought on the battlefield for over a decade—Great General Wu Jihai! Returning without losing a single soldier, they were still that long procession, crossing the desert, carrying an ornate but empty palanquin. Beside it, eleven people walked in chains—Lian Huanye, Pei, and the others.
Wu Jihai had cursed them vehemently along the way, but fearing they might take their own lives in vain pursuit, he had no choice but to shackle them and forcibly bring them back. He owed the Queen too much; at the very least, he couldn’t let her people die so meaninglessly.
Na Zhan, seated on the throne in the Moon Palace’s great hall, watched Wu Jihai’s safe return with a surge of emotions—shock and gratitude. His Queen had not only not disappointed him, she had done more, even preserving a general who could intimidate all quarters. In these tumultuous times, she still hadn’t failed him in the slightest!
“Great General!” Na Zhan looked at Wu Jihai, his heart a mix of emotions.
“Your Majesty! The Queen, she…” Wu Jihai’s face was full of remorse, unable to continue for a long while.
Na Zhan leaned back, looking at the eleven people locked to one side, who had come as part of Huang Beishuang’s dowry. After a long while of contemplation, he said calmly, “Guang Zhaoyun! Read them the letter we received from Tiandu this morning!”
Guang Zhaoyun stepped forward and read word for word:
“To the Lord of Yunpei’s Moon Palace: The world is divided and ruled, with Jingting in the north and King Zhan in the south, establishing outstanding lands. When competing, we stand as equals; when in harmony, we sit as equals! Regarding the matter of your lost Queen, our nation’s Emperor is filled with compassion and deeply regrets it. He wept for three days, considering King Zhan a close friend, yet still unable to find peace. He commanded me to write this letter, offering three words of comfort: What’s lost cannot be regained, futile to dwell on, focus on governing! May Your Majesty understand our Emperor’s true intentions. We wish Your Majesty good health and boundless longevity!”
He read each word clearly, especially emphasizing “lost Queen,” which almost shocked Ye Pei, Lian Huan, and the others to the ground.
“Na Xiu!” Lian Huan’s anger was now uncontrollable. With a violent shake, he broke free from his shackles, drew his long sword, and pointed it directly at King Na Zhan. “It’s all because of you, using Na Xiu as bait!” Excessive rage burned in the hearts of these eleven people, their eyes as empty and lifeless as if they had lost all hope. Even Wu Jihai was stunned at this moment, unable to react.
“How dare you!” Guang Zhaoyun shouted, and several guards rushed forward to subdue them.
Na Zhan sat on his throne, looking down at these eleven people. He guessed there were probably more than just these eleven; who knew where else the calculating Huang Beishuang had planted her hidden agents.
“I’ve heard that in E’na Qi, the highest position should be E Xiu, right? However, you seem more loyal to Na Xiu! Hmph! You don’t even show respect to me!” Na Zhan looked at them and chuckled softly.
Although subdued, Lian Huan still gripped his sword. All eleven remained silent, showing a complete lack of will to live.
Na Zhan looked at them for a long time before saying calmly, “Very well, I’ll spare you from the death penalty! I shall repay evil with kindness. I’ll send you eleven as envoys to Tiandu during this ceasefire to bring back Queen Guan Ying’s remains and bury them in our nation’s founding mausoleum. Are you willing?”
Hearing this, Lian Huan and the others exchanged glances before kneeling together and replying, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Na Zhan smiled, changing his posture, his eyes revealing an unfathomable darkness. “However, if by chance… my Queen has fortunately survived and still lives in this world, I hope you can bring her back to me!”
These words clearly showed that he didn’t believe Huang Beishuang was dead. Therefore, he wanted to recall her loyalty. As he spoke, Na Zhan took out a brocade pouch from his bosom—it contained soil from Huang Beishuang’s homeland, which she had given him on their wedding day. He had a maid pass the pouch to Ye Pei, saying calmly, “Go see her. Take this pouch with you!”
The eleven bowed slightly as a gesture of respect and quietly withdrew.
At Guan Ying Palace, only Shaman remained, diligently studying every day. Sitting in the courtyard, he heard a commotion and turned to see Ye Pei and the others returning in disarray. “Sister is back!” he exclaimed excitedly, running over and grabbing Dao Qiu’s hand. “Where’s Queen Guan Ying? Where is she? Quick, look! Her horse-untying tree has bloomed and hasn’t wilted for so long! When the wind blows, it’s as beautiful as snow!”
Ye Pei looked up, staring blankly at the colorful horse-untying tree, suddenly bursting into tears…
“When the flowers bloom, you will know!”
…
Thinking of this, she cried even more sorrowfully. The others looked at her, seeming to understand somewhat, yet not fully comprehending.
“I don’t know if I should go!” After crying for a while, Ye Pei finally calmed down a bit. Walking to a horse-untying tree, she stroked its grayish-yellow trunk, speaking brokenly through her sobs, “If Na Xiu is really in Tiandu, then she’s fulfilled her wish to be with Lord Qing, hasn’t she? Let’s just consider her dead!”
“Ye Pei!” Lian Huan was shocked by her words. He rushed forward to embrace her, shouting, “What nonsense are you talking? Don’t you know Na Xiu’s temperament? Even if you want to consider her dead, she won’t allow it!”
“But…” Ye Pei lowered her head. “For a woman… being by her lover’s side is such a happy thing, don’t you know? Should we go bring her back to this lonely horse-untying tree? Bring her back to continue playing the cold flute on the Moon-Embracing Pavilion. Haven’t you seen enough of Na Xiu’s self-destructive stubbornness?” Her words were full of grief, her small fists raining down like raindrops, still unable to vent the dissatisfaction in her heart.
Lian Huan looked at her. At this moment, even this rough and rugged man couldn’t remain calm. He held Ye Pei tightly as the eleven stood under the horse-untying tree, enveloped in a profound sense of loneliness.