She wept bitterly, unable to understand how Ruo Wen could be so cold-blooded. If he didn’t love her, couldn’t he at least love his flesh and blood? He didn’t even come to see the child once.
In truth, born into a political noble family, how could she know about the saying that circulated among the bandits:
“If I have a daughter, it’s my shame, for she will one day be defiled; if I have a son, he’s my enemy, for he will one day compete with me. So it’s best not to have children at all, and even if you do, don’t acknowledge them. This way, when that day comes, enemies are enemies, women are women, and I remain myself, I remain myself!”
What ordinary people consider happiness, these crazy bandits see as trouble, even a trap. They don’t bother with such things. They don’t yearn for longevity, nor do they care about national prosperity. They never consider the concept of karma, and if you call them simple-minded, it’s because they’re willing to make that exchange.
Personal happiness is one’s own, and personal suffering is one’s concern.
Such determination is something Ge Xinwei might never understand in her lifetime.
Dreams fall at sunrise, and the tide comes at dawn…
Qing Yun’s bedchamber was unusually messy, with tattered clothes strewn about and the air heavy with the scent of alcohol. After their passionate encounter, his anger subsided slightly. He lowered his head to plant a few kisses on Huang Beishuang’s sweat-dampened back before finally speaking, “What do you want?”
Huang Beishuang, her body aching all over, lay at the edge of the bed, breathing deeply to regain her composure.
“Trust me this once, will you? If I leave Tiandu, I absolutely won’t return to Yunpei!” She closed her eyes and replied, “Qing Yun, no matter where I go, I’ll always come back to you in the end.”
“Tomorrow morning, Tiandu will send out troops. I want to take you with me!” Qing Yun’s eyes turned cold, his hands gripping her tightly.
“I’ll only hinder you!” She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Listen to me this once! Please?”
Hearing this, Qing Yun sat up, his hand still caressing her back. Her exposed skin had started to cool, so he pulled up the blanket. His expression was complex.
Huang Beishuang gritted her teeth, fighting fatigue as she also sat up. She looked at him carefully. He was sitting there with clenched fists, looking troubled. Even in his anger, he hadn’t truly hurt her, which made her regret her earlier actions even more.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to leave you like this, but if I had talked to you properly, you definitely wouldn’t have agreed!” As she spoke, she moved to his side and embraced him. His head rested against her chest, listening to her calm heartbeat. “Qing Yun, if I stay by your side, Na Zhan will never give up. Once the news leaks, your balanced position in the war will be broken. That’s one reason. Secondly, Ruo Wen… is not to be underestimated now. Qing Yun, who in this world wants to stay by your side more than I do? But as things stand now, I’m also the person most detrimental to you!”
Her hands gently caressed him, her fingers lingering on his face, tracing his features.
After a long while, Qing Yun closed his eyes briefly before finally responding: “If I win this battle, come find me. If I lose, return to Na Zhan’s side!”
Hearing this, Huang Beishuang smiled and touched his lips with her finger. “You agree?”
Qing Yun turned his head to look into her eyes, slowly and reluctantly nodding. “Leaving you alone in Tiandu is also dangerous, and taking you to war would likely cause Na Zhan to repeat his old tactics… You can go but stay away from the war. On the day of my victory, I’ll come for you!”
After he finished speaking, Huang Beishuang walked to the window, pushed open the shutters, and called out to the courtyard, “Hong!”
The seven-colored Bird-of-Paradise responded immediately, perching on her finger.
“This is Hong, my King Bird-of-Paradise!” She brought it before Qing Yun. “Look, its tail feathers have three colors, and its chest and wings are different colors too…”
Qing Yun watched silently, waiting for her to continue.
Huang Beishuang flicked her hand, and Hong immediately flew away. She turned back with a smile, “Qing Yun, I’ve sung the marriage song for you and shared the unity wine with you. So, no matter what I do, I will never harm your interests. No matter where I go, whether you win or lose, whether you come for me or not, I will return. And then, I’ll never leave again. I swear!”
Hearing this, Qing Yun was overjoyed, but given his temperament, he was reluctant to show it too much. He put on a half-smiling expression that deeply moved Huang Beishuang. She held him tightly, “In my dreams, I never left you for a moment. When the dawn tide came to wake me from my beautiful dream, I was always so grateful to open my eyes and find you still by my side…” She pressed her face against his, her soft voice expressing the happiness deep in her heart.
Qing Yun pulled her into his arms with a slight effort. She was like a pearl, radiating captivating brilliance. He gently covered her lips with his, a kiss like a vow, both tender and sweet, lost in an inescapable intoxication.
“I love you, I will come for you!” he promised, holding her.
The Bird-of-Paradise loves only once in its lifetime, a love unto death.
To ask whether one believes or not is already too redundant…
The Jiema trees in Guanghan Palace finally began to wither, their white petals covering the courtyard, gradually merging with the yellow earth. The desolate Guanying Palace no longer held the vitality of the day of the grand investiture ceremony. Yet in such a place, the young shaman Saman still lived as if in a dream. He studied diligently every day, mastering both literary and martial arts. Surprisingly, his dedication even earned the admiration of many young princes, who often came to make a ruckus at Guanying Palace.
However, from the day the last Jiema tree flower fell, Na Zhan, the master of Guanghan Palace, never again came to Guanying Palace.
With only five days left until the thirty-day truce agreement expired, the Huangtian Kuangbing troops were poised at Ruoshui, while tens of thousands of Tiandu’s army were about to advance. At this point, even if he was unwilling, Na Zhan could not stop the inevitable.
It had been seven days since he sent the ten officers and three maids to Tiandu, yet there was still no news. Spies sent to investigate reported that there was no trace of the beauty in Tiandu, and all thirteen envoys had disappeared.
Huang Beishuang had slipped through his fingers in the blink of an eye.
Thinking of this, Na Zhan smiled bitterly. Those who could step onto this historical stage were no ordinary individuals.
By the emerald shore where fine grass lingers, a wisp of dream changes with the tide!
She was no longer a chess piece in his hand,
Yet she remained his wife in name,
As the bloody battle approached, she vanished into thin air,
Truly abandoning this beautiful Jiema tree…
And beneath the tree, all were riddles!
The seven-colored Bird-of-Paradise soared across the sky, its brilliant colors rivaling the vibrant clouds.
Lian Huan and the other twelve rode horses behind Huang Beishuang, stopping to rest only when they reached the next hill. Facing the sunset glow, they gazed back at Tiandu.
“Lady Na, have you decided where we’re going?” Ye Pei asked curiously.
Huang Beishuang looked at the distant Tiandu outer city, now a thin, long shadow, and smiled, “I’ve already decided. We’re going to Fentian!”
“Fentian?” Dao Qiu nearly fell off his horse, his eyes wide open, thinking he had misheard.
“Yes!” Huang Beishuang nodded firmly. “In this situation, I’m afraid no one but Qing Yun would think I’d go to Fentian. I want to find a way to restrain Ruo Wen there!”
The thirteen were shocked by her words, and filled with doubts and questions.