Qingyun brought Huang Beishuang back to the former homeland of E’naqi. Now, that place was nurturing another slave ethnic group.
Standing in the wind, she gazed at the vast expanse of parched land, lost in thought. In her memory flashed the countless rituals once held here, the yellow soil she had picked up before her wedding day, her mother’s words, her brother’s admonitions…
Now, having come such a long way, she could never have imagined then that one day, when she returned, E’naqi would have resolutely abandoned this place!
Why are people never satisfied?
Qingyun embraced her tightly from behind, his thin lips pressed against her face as if to impart some warmth to her cold skin. Unexpectedly, he tasted salty tears. He turned her body around, his gaze full of tenderness, “Do you find it difficult?”
Huang Beishuang shook her head, “Not difficult. Just foolish!”
Qingyun smiled, “How big can the biggest problem be? When I achieve victory, I’ll tell you. Then, I’ll fulfill all your wishes!”
Huang Beishuang smiled faintly, “In E’naqi, every girl makes a wish to the heavens on her wedding day and sings for her husband… So, many girls start preparing their wedding songs when they meet their true love!”
Qingyun nodded, “What about you? Can you sing?”
“Greedy! My husband is King Nazhan of Yunpei!” Huang Beishuang replied.
“Oh? Did you sing for him then?” Qingyun frowned, a bit displeased.
Huang Beishuang shook her head, “He has never heard me sing!”
After saying this, she turned around, her back pressed against Qingyun’s chest, looking at what was no longer her homeland. With an indecipherable melancholy, she began to sing her love song. It was very short, but very genuine, as genuine as an ordinary woman…
In the beauty of flowers and bright moon, I smile at my love,
Three bows to the heavens, I make three wishes:
First, I wish my husband a long life,
Second, I wish my husband to know my heart,
Third, I wish only to wait for swallows to fly in pairs,
To drink the bitterness of life together with you!
Chapter 15: The Tide of Fallen Dreams
The crescent moon rises to the ninth heaven, leaving a cool white shadow for the mortal world…
In the desolate desert, sand dances like silk. Even if people have boundless love, here it’s nothing more than a fleeting romance. On the yellow earth, no footprints of passionate entanglement can be engraved. With time, it will eventually erase everything, leaving only endless desolate dunes and unceasing waves of drought for the world.
Although these words sound sad, they are also irresistible…
However, what is the greatest characteristic that distinguishes humans from other living beings?
Apart from instinct, those who can dream are human.
…
Kneeling before Qingyun were Lianhuang, Yepei, and eleven others he had met a few times before. He just sat on the throne, looking down at them. In the great hall of the Ice Thorn Palace, the nobles and generals were silent, their minds full of speculation.
After a while, Lianhuang raised his head and reiterated word by word, “Regardless of life or death, please, Your Majesty, let us see Naoxiu one last time!”
Now these thirteen people looked haggard and travel-worn, apparently having rushed here for days, eating and sleeping in the open without proper care. They used the name Naoxiu in front of him, rather than Queen Guanying, their intentions obvious.
“She’s dead!” Qingyun replied coldly, though inwardly he was thinking that Nazhan had indeed played this move.
Hearing this, Lianhuang pressed his dark lips together before saying, “Then, please, Your Majesty, return Queen Guanying’s remains! Without seeing her body, we will never give up!” After speaking, the thirteen prostrated themselves in a grand gesture, showing their resolute will.
Qingyun thought for a moment, then turned his head and gave a look to Miaojing standing beside him. Miaojing nodded and turned to carry out the order.
“The thirty-day truce is almost over, and your country’s King Zhan… still has time to seek out those from the past?” Qingyun said with a hint of mockery, smiling faintly, “Such a great nation, is there nothing else to do?”
At this moment, Lianhuang and the others were no longer focused on the court. Everyone’s ears were pricked up, listening carefully to the footsteps outside the hall. Soon enough, they got their answer. A black walnut wood coffin was carried in by four people and eerily placed in the center of the silent great hall. Miaojing stood to the side and nodded to Lianhuang, saying, “Take it away!”
Lianhuang and Yepei exchanged glances, their hands tightening before tremblingly reaching for the edge of the wooden coffin. Perhaps still harboring doubts, they hesitated for a long time before finally gently pushing open a corner and looking inside…
“It’s empty!” Yepei exclaimed, both surprised and delighted, “Where’s Naoxiu!” The question burst out, inevitably impolite.
Qingyun looked at them and simply said, “You can go back and report now, taking this coffin with you.” These words left no room for discussion as if he couldn’t wait for these eight guards and three maids to disappear immediately. After all, they were the ones Huang Beishuang had risked her life to win back from Ruowen, and it was hard to say what trouble they might bring him.
He had thought it would take some effort to drive them away, but surprisingly, Lianhuang nodded. The thirteen of them thanked him in unison before obediently carrying the coffin out, without further struggle or questioning. Their figures gradually receded into the distance.
In the great hall, silence fell, suddenly feeling somewhat eerie…
That night, in the deepest part of the Ice Thorn Palace, the moon could still be seen emerging from the clouds.
King Jingxuan sat by the table with a chessboard in front of him. Across the board sat a beautiful woman. Her delicate brows were furrowed, her expression frustrated. Qingyun smiled, teasing, “They say you’re clever, but your chess is not worth watching. Look, I’ve already given you a seven-piece advantage, and you still end up like this?” His tone was affectionate as he spoke, removing two more pieces to clear the way.
Huang Beishuang sighed and smiled, “Though I’m not skilled at chess, I’m certainly not a novice. Yet I never imagined that facing the King as an opponent would result in such crushing defeats every game. You mustn’t laugh at me anymore!”
Qingyun raised an eyebrow, “Did you lose to Nazhan?”
Huang Beishuang nodded, her face slightly flushed.