Standing outside the door, Song Shihuan felt a mix of apprehension and nostalgia.
During the time after her master went missing, she would often cry secretly at night. As Granny's cough grew heavier, she resented her master for abandoning her and Granny.
But it turned out her master had gone alone to the perilous Tianshan Mountains to find the life-saving snow lotus for Granny.
After being unconscious for nearly a decade, the first words he uttered upon waking were her name.
Thinking of the stories her Imperial Grandfather had told about the Qingyun Realm, Song Shihuan's eyes reddened. No wonder the old man always said she made his heart ache—it was because his heart meridian had been damaged all along.
In an instant, Song Shihuan felt an ache throughout her entire body.
In her past life, when her master woke and learned of her death, was he utterly heartbroken?
"Little Junior Sister, Master has missed you for a long time."
With a creak, the old man inside the room seemed to sense something and instinctively looked towards the door. Upon seeing Song Shihuan, he froze.
"Master."
Song Shihuan strode to the bedside and kowtowed three times.
"Qingchi, help me up."
The old man, sitting on the bed, beckoned to the young girl, his cloudy eyes also welling with tears.
"Good child, it's enough that you're alive. It's enough that you're alive."
The moment he woke, his greatest fear had been hearing news of A'Huan's death.
"Come here, all of you. This is the granddaughter I adopted during my travels in recent years. She is your junior sister."
The old man addressed several young men, "A'Huan, these are all your senior brothers."
The previous generation of the Qingyun Sect had perished or been injured in that great war. When he left the Qingyun Realm, the eldest, Qingling, was only eighteen, yet he had shouldered the entire Qingyun Sect alone.
With the old man's words, the group immediately swarmed around Song Shihuan again, all eager to talk to this excessively adorable junior sister.
The old man watched from the side, smiling.
While also wiping away tears.
From this single meeting, he could tell that Great Qi had not mistreated A'Huan in terms of food, clothing, shelter, or travel.
As for other matters, A'Huan would speak of them when she was ready.
Thinking of the rumors outside, the old man narrowed his eyes, suspecting things were not as simple as they seemed on the surface.
......
Song Shihuan had always considered herself a child with weak bonds of sibling and family affection.
Now, looking at the faces before her, each eagerly awaiting her to call them 'senior brother,' Song Shihuan felt a strange and wonderful sensation in her heart.
"Enough, all of you, go investigate who has been slandering A'Huan the most fiercely. Make a list for settling accounts."
"Master is right," Qingling said, adopting a serious expression. "Although our Qingyun Sect does not interfere with the affairs of various kingdoms, now that they've slandered our junior sister, we must show them the means of our Qingyun Sect."
The group swiftly left the room, their demeanor one of sworn determination to avenge Song Shihuan.
Seeing this, Song Shihuan pursed her lips and sat down by the bed. "Master, Father treats me very, very well."
"He even specially went to Granny's grave to speak with her, thanking her for raising me."
"This recent incident was my idea. Father was also very saddened that I was being slandered."
Song Shihuan grasped the old man's hand. "Master, please don't be angry with Father."
After a long while, the old man sighed and pulled Song Shihuan into his embrace. He was very thin, so thin that Song Shihuan could feel his bones pressing against her.
"It was my fault, leaving A'Huan alone in Great Qi, letting her suffer so much."
"Master, I suffered a great deal."
Song Shihuan looked up at the old man. She was raised by her master; from major skills like martial arts and formations to minor details like character and rules, everything was taught to her bit by bit by her master.
"Song Ling abandoned me. Song Yanzheng and others repeatedly tried to poison and harm me. At first, I was foolish enough to think everyone in the world was as good as you, so I suffered greatly."
Song Shihuan knew that the more she said she hadn't suffered, the sadder her master would feel.
"Don't be afraid. Master will avenge you."
"They're already dead. They all died by my schemes."
"Not enough," the old man gently stroked Song Shihuan's face. "Silly child, far from enough."
"Tell Master in detail about what happened in Great Qi, alright?"
Song Shihuan nodded vigorously.
......
The Eastern Palace.
Looking at the completely untouched lunch, Liuxi was so worried he felt he was losing hair.
To make matters worse, Young Master Shen was not in the capital at this time. Having no other recourse, Liuxi summoned Cheng Guang.
This man had a devious mind, so he surely had plenty of cunning ideas.
"Your Highness, are you troubled by the current situation?" Cheng Guang asked, looking bewildered. "We have already assessed the court's situation. Those who need dealing with are being handled according to plan. Everything is proceeding as scheduled."
"A'Huan might be taken away."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Guang's eyes widened. What? The most valuable treasure of the Eastern Palace was going to be taken?
After Song Yu finished explaining about the Qingyun Sect, Cheng Guang fell silent.
"Your Highness, no matter what, the Princess cannot leave Great Qi. If we lose the Princess..."
Both you and His Majesty would go mad...
"But I don't want to force A'Huan to do anything she dislikes."
Song Yu felt terribly conflicted, torn between his reluctance to part with A'Huan and his unwillingness to cause her distress.
Cheng Guang imagined the days without the Princess and shuddered. Absolutely not.
"Your Highness, why not sit down and negotiate with the Qingyun Sect? It's all for the Princess's sake. Wouldn't it be better to join forces against Prince Heng? The Princess could then take turns residing in both places."
Song Yu sent Cheng Guang away.
He shut himself in his study.
The sky gradually darkened. The sweet voice that usually filled his ears was gone, replaced by endless silence and chill.
Song Yu even began to wonder: if he took up a blade now, killed Prince Heng, and became universally condemned, would A'Huan rush back to advise him?
Just as Song Yu was starting to select a blade,
a knock sounded at the door.
"Didn't I say I have no appetite for a meal?"
Song Yu thought it was Liuxi.
But the door opened anyway. Just as Song Yu frowned, about to reprimand the intruder, he saw the face he had missed intensely all day.
"A'Huan?"
Song Shihuan bounded in lightly and threw herself towards him. "Father, I'm back!"
"You... you're not leaving with your master?"
"Master said he'll stay in the capital for a while first, to avenge me."
Song Shihuan smiled, revealing two dimples. "But Master is very angry. He asks you to relay three demands to Imperial Grandfather. If they are not agreed to, he will take me away immediately."
"What demands?" Song Yu asked eagerly.
"First, the bodies of Song Ling and his family are to be handed over to the Qingyun Sect for full disposal."
"Second, Prince Heng's body, once the matter is concluded, will also go to the Qingyun Sect."
Master said that even death would not quell the hatred in his heart.
"Third, the court officials who slandered me this time will be taught a lesson by the Qingyun Sect."
"I will speak to your Imperial Grandfather tomorrow." Song Yu was even somewhat stunned upon hearing this.
The three matters were stated, but what about the bad news?
At that moment, Song Shihuan gently tugged at Song Yu's sleeve and looked up at him with eyes like dewy apricots:
"No matter what, I will never be separated from you, Father."
