When the words "last wish" were spoken, one could hear a slight tremor in them.
Liu Su naturally disliked the term, but her heart ached, and she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal. She could only hide the paleness in her expression and ask, "What does Your Majesty intend to do about the restrictions on the One Leaf Alliance?"
Shen Jian's gaze fell indifferently, and he said coldly, "Cut the weeds and wipe them out."
"Yes," Liu Su replied calmly, bowing respectfully before slowly withdrawing. This outcome was entirely within his expectations, hence his gentle expression remained unchanged, as if he had just heard a kill order. Although the One Leaf Alliance had indeed helped Shen Jian ascend the throne, those who "overshadow their lord" had never met a good end in history. Qing Chen was destined for the same fate.
Two tigers cannot share one mountain, let alone a country and a vast land...
Amidst the soft chirping of birds, Hall darted out of the woods and flew away, creating a commotion. Patrol soldiers roamed the imperial corridors, displaying the majesty of the royal family. Yet, in the Shengxiao Valley, a thousand miles from Luoyang, the hidden killing intent remained unseen. Only when Zhuang Su awoke to find everything familiar did she gasp in surprise.
Zhuang Su's first reaction was to touch the mask on her face. The touch brought her a slight sense of relief as she felt the coolness of the metal. Then she noticed the ambiguous gaze around her. Looking up, she saw Qing Chen leaning against the railing, staring intently at her.
Suppressing her fear, Zhuang Su glanced at a small table beside the bed and saw a brush and ink on it, clearly prepared for her. She couldn't help but steal a look at Qing Chen, bit her lip, and picked up the brush and ink to write: "Why am I here?"
Qingchen's gaze swept over you indifferently, a vague smile playing on her lips: "I was afraid you would be in danger if I left you here, so I brought you here."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Su continued writing: "What is the current situation at Black Wind Stronghold?"
Qingchen naturally knew that she was actually asking about Sai Huatuo, so she casually leaned against the window and said, "The court didn't really attack that day. The smoke was just a bluff. You don't need to worry about the people from Xueyi Manor."
Zhuang Su nodded, and this answer put her at ease, so she didn't write anything more.
Qingchen appeared in front of her in the blink of an eye, her slender fingers gently lifting her chin, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes: "Why are you so afraid of people seeing your face?"
Zhuang Su was terrified and struggled a few times to break free from his grasp, but to no avail. Qing Chen's lips pursed slightly, and he reached out as if to take her mask. Zhuang Su struggled even more frantically in her panic, but she could only watch as that hand slowly approached. She closed her eyes resignedly, but suddenly everything around her fell silent, and there was no more movement.
Gradually, she felt a slight tremor in the hand that was pinching her chin. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw that Qingchen was smiling.
Qingchen smiled, seemingly overjoyed, his overly natural smile making his appearance even more alluring. His peach-blossom eyes were slightly upturned, and as he laughed more, a few soft coughs escaped his lips.
Zhuang Su realized that he had been tricked again.
She bit her lip slightly, a hint of displeasure in her eyes, yet seeing Qingchen's smile made her feel somewhat dazed. She vaguely felt that he had never smiled so unabashedly in front of her before. Was it because the current "Liyin" wasn't "Zhuangsu" that he could treat her so casually?
Zhuang Su saw him cough lightly, so she picked up her pen and wrote again: "The Alliance Leader needs to recuperate."
Qingchen seemed not to notice what she had written. She simply caught her breath and said, "You saved me. How should I repay you?"
Zhuang Su naturally knew that he was deliberately ignoring her, so she was not angry. Instead, she calmly wrote: "I am a doctor. If the leader really wants to repay me, he should become my patient."
Qingchen seemed to sense Zhuang Su's stubbornness and smiled knowingly: "How do you want me to act as a patient?"
Zhuang Su glanced at him, still calm and collected: "Every day I write a prescription and have someone brew the medicine. Since the Alliance Leader doesn't dislike the smell of medicine, please take all of these medicines."
Upon seeing these words, Qingchen couldn't help but give her a deep look: "Liyin, how do you know—that I don't dislike the smell of medicine?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Su realized he had misspoke and hurriedly added, "Medicine is something only children would dislike. The Alliance Leader is an adult; would he possibly act like a child?"
Qingchen couldn't help but laugh, "What a clever Liyin! Even though you can't speak, you're still so quick-witted. Alright, I'll take all the medicine you prescribed, is that alright?"
Zhuang Su was surprised that he agreed so readily. However, when she looked at him with a probing gaze, Qing Chen turned around nonchalantly and walked gracefully outside, casually saying, "You can rest here for now. If you want to go anywhere, just tell the servants outside, and they will show you the way."
The door creaked shut, and Zhuang Su watched him leave, a mix of emotions welling up inside her. She looked up slightly at the familiar room, and finally let out a soft sigh. She had never imagined that she would ever visit Shengxiao Valley as a "guest."
Qingchen walked away from outside the door without looking back. As he stepped out of the courtyard, his lips parted slightly, and he called out, "Li Jiu."
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure appeared from the side, standing respectfully to the side without saying a word.
Qingchen glanced at him indifferently, a half-smile on her face, and said, "You seem to really enjoy following me around lately?"
Li Jiu pretended not to notice the sarcasm in his words and respectfully said, "Alliance Leader, this Miss Li Yin—after all, comes from the underworld."
He spoke subtly, but Qingchen understood the meaning behind his words and waved her hand, saying, "I have my own plans."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed across Li Jiu's face.
Qingchen's gaze fell on the distance, a deep look amidst the green shadows: "Have people keep a close eye on her. If there's anything unusual, then—kill her."
"Yes, sir." Upon hearing this, Li Jiu finally felt a weight lifted from his heart. After a pause, he added, "I have another matter to discuss."
"explain."
Li Jiu asked, "When does the Alliance Leader plan to take action against the underworld?"
Qingchen withdrew his gaze, and after a moment's thought, a hint of murderous intent gradually crept into his voice: "I don't need to take action against the underworld. I just need to wipe out Black Wind Stronghold and make Rakshasa pay for his blood debt."
“But… I fear the court might make some moves.” Li Jiu hesitated, his worry evident. “Alliance Leader, although Shen Jian became emperor with our help, he has gradually consolidated his power over this period of time. I fear…”
"It's only a matter of time before he makes a move." Qingchen sighed softly, then turned and casually walked away, flicking her long sleeves. "But I don't want to think about that for now."
Li Jiu was speechless at his final words. Although he knew that being overly cautious when undertaking important tasks was indeed inappropriate, it was always necessary to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances. At that moment, Qingchen's retreating figure caught his eye, causing him a moment of disorientation. He vaguely felt that this person had changed so much since returning from Black Wind Stronghold. So much so that even he, who had watched him grow up, felt a vague sense of unfamiliarity.
However, if asked to pinpoint exactly what had changed about Qingchen, Li Jiu couldn't quite put his finger on it. Sometimes, though he stood right in front of him, speaking to him, the man seemed incredibly distant, as if they were worlds apart.
Li Jiu turned around and snapped his fingers, instantly revealing several people behind him. His expression darkened, and he coldly ordered, "Keep an eye on the girl living here. If she does anything unusual, come and tell me immediately."
"Yes." The men accepted the order, and in the blink of an eye, several shadows flashed by and disappeared without a trace.
Li Jiu's gaze swept indifferently across the room before he turned and left.
For a moment, the surroundings fell silent, a touch of desolation lingering in the breeze. There was no more conversation, only the distant bamboo shadows swaying gently in the wind, a sense of sparseness and desolation tinged with a hint of barrenness.
When Zhuang Su looked out the window, all she felt was desolation. This was where she had grown up, and it was in this place that she had met so many people and experienced so many things. Now, those people were no longer here. Shen Jian was gone, Liu Su was gone, and when she returned, Qing Chen was still the one who brought her here, but apart from her and him, she could see no one else.
They have long since left Luoyang, far beyond sight, and will never return.
Zhuang Su's eyelashes fluttered slightly. She turned and pushed open the door, feeling an emptiness inside her. She wanted to go outside for a stroll. As soon as she opened the door, the wind blew her hair into disarray. She tucked her hair behind her ear, stepped out, and onto the pebbly path.
She didn't bother asking the servants, after all, she knew everything here far better than anyone else. Zhuang Su didn't care that someone was following her, and just kept looking at the surrounding scenery as she walked. Before she knew it, she was approaching the Purple Bamboo Cottage where Liu Su used to live.
Chapter 34 Suspicion and Empathy (Part 2)
Zhuang Su felt a pang of nostalgia for the past, so seeing such a familiar place for the first time stirred a sense of longing in her. Feeling uncomfortable with the people behind her calling her name, she waved her hands a few times, essentially telling them to go back.
Those people exchanged meaningful glances, said nothing more, and respectfully withdrew. Zhuang Su watched them leave from afar, then slowly strolled towards the small pavilion, lifting the hem of her skirt as she approached.
The surrounding area was still lush bamboo forest, but because no one had taken care of it, the trees had become excessively dense, vaguely obscuring the corridor and winding their way in, partially blocking the view.
Liu Su was always a person who liked cleanliness, and Zhuang Su frowned slightly when she saw the state of the place, yet a sense of desolation rose in her heart. She naturally knew that some things, once gone, could never be recovered, but she still felt a little sad when she thought about it occasionally.
Zhuang Su pushed open the door and entered the room. The place, long uninhabited, was slightly dusty from the emptiness. She gently raised her hand to shield her face from the onrushing dust, then looked up, her attention falling on the bookshelf. It naturally held many ancient musical scores and lyrics, which she and Liu Su had loved to discuss when they studied here.
Zhuang Su walked over and casually picked up a few books, flipping through them absentmindedly, her deep gaze gradually darkening. These were all familiar titles, evoking a sense of nostalgia in them. Zhuang Su turned back and rummaged through the bookshelf again, but apart from these old books, she couldn't find the yellow-wood-carved booklet. Zhuang Su couldn't help but wonder; all the lyrics she had written had been recorded by Liu Su in a booklet, and she couldn't understand how it had disappeared.
She was patiently searching when she suddenly touched something. Suddenly, the bookshelf creaked, and a hidden compartment that hadn't been seen before inexplicably appeared. Zhuang Su couldn't help but look up at the spot she had just touched. She vaguely remembered flipping through books like this before, and never having seen any mechanism.
The contents were in a box. Zhuang Su reached out and took a look. When he opened it, he noticed the two bold, flamboyant characters "Yi Ye" on the small note. His surprise deepened.
Legend has it that the One Leaf Alliance possesses a book called "One Leaf Notes," which records various major events that occur within the alliance and is considered the most authentic historical record of the One Leaf Alliance. Zhuang Su was unsure whether the book in his hand was genuine, but out of curiosity, he paused slightly and couldn't help but open it.
The various events recorded in the notes stretch back hundreds of years, from the founding of the One Leaf Alliance. If not for seeing it today, Zhuang Su would never have realized that the place he was in had such a long history. Now, after reading "One Leaf Notes," Zhuang Su understands that so many things in the world are actually based on hearsay and misinformation.
Zhuang Su's gaze fell lightly on it. She was casually flipping through it when something suddenly caught her eye, and she paused, her expression gradually becoming serious.
Before this, she had only heard about Qingyuan from others.
The records about Qing Yuan in "A Leaf's Little Notes" spanned dozens of pages, yet Zhuang Su's attention was only drawn to the last part. It read: "Ye Qing once intended to pass the leadership to Ye Chen, but Ye Chen refused. Later, she fell in love with Shao Yu, a member of the underworld, and was besieged by both the righteous and the wicked. To protect Ye Qing's life, Ye Chen deliberately 'usurped' her power and, before the two factions could act, banished Ye Qing from the One Leaf Alliance, hoping to keep her out of the public eye. However, the plot was exposed, and Ye Qing was hunted down at Qinglu Mountain. Ye Chen disregarded his status and went alone to protect her, sacrificing his life. However, he was poisoned and fell off a cliff with Ye Qing. More than half a month later, Ye Chen returned alone, but Ye Qing was nowhere to be found, so he said she was dead..."
Zhuang Su felt each word resonate deeply within her heart. Outsiders all said that Qing Chen had gone to great lengths to seize the coveted position of Alliance Leader, even going so far as to expel Qing Yuan from the country. She never imagined the truth was like this. A sense of oppression settled over Zhuang Su. She couldn't help but wonder why this man would rather endure the world's misunderstanding than utter a single word. Was he simply too infatuated, or too foolish…?
Zhuang Su blankly put "A Leafy Note" back, glancing at it and noticing a box beside it. She lowered her eyes, no longer interested in exploring it. She was truly exhausted. The deeper she delved, the more she learned things she didn't want to know. She was sinking deeper and deeper, and yet… she should have been completely detached from the Yi Ye Alliance by now.
Zhuang Su pushed the hidden compartment back, letting out a soft sigh. Her mind was still filled with the words she had just seen, haunting her. She walked slowly and blankly out of the room, not noticing the person outside, and nearly bumped into them. When Zhuang Su looked up, she saw Qing Chen staring intently at her. Perhaps because she was also thinking of him, she was also stunned when she met his gaze, momentarily unable to react.
"Why not take a look at something else?" Qingchen's voice rose from above, sounding somewhat cold, yet his lips were slightly pursed, maintaining his usual ambiguous smile. "I thought you would be very interested."
Zhuang Su gradually reacted upon hearing this, and her expression darkened as she looked at Qing Chen. He had been following her. Zhuang Su felt slightly uncomfortable, but seeing his expression, she lowered her eyes slightly and bit her lip, unable to refute him.
That's right. She was indeed "sneaking around," "acting furtively." She did indeed read the One Leaf Alliance's private "One Leaf Notes" without permission. She is now, indeed—a person from the underworld…
When Zhuang Su looked up again, her eyes were clear. Facing Qing Chen's cold gaze, the corners of her lips curved slightly, forming a warm smile.
She suddenly understood why this person always liked to get drunk. It wasn't about getting drunk for the sake of getting drunk; on the contrary, it was precisely to avoid getting drunk that he drank so heartily. She felt sad for him, but even more so, she felt heartache.
It was her mother who had wronged this man. She hadn't wanted to be a substitute, but she gradually realized that she too had unknowingly become a moth drawn to the flame, recklessly and foolishly.
Zhuang Su vaguely remembered that a long, long time ago, Murong Shi had said she hoped she would never leave Qing Chen. At that time, she was just a substitute. So what about now? Perhaps Qing Chen hadn't noticed, but after reading "A Leaf's Notes," she suddenly realized how similar this person's words and actions were to those of then, yet they were completely different.
Back then, he could push Qingyuan away completely, but now, he can't let go of her completely. He's always maintained a distance, sometimes close, sometimes distant, and ultimately, he still can't completely let her out of his sight.
.
Does Qingchen love her? She doesn't know. However, judging from his current attitude towards the underworld, Qingchen has always cared about her.
Zhuang Su had never realized she was so easily satisfied, perhaps largely because she discovered that her own mother was the one who had wronged her. Qing Chen hadn't killed her parents; it turned out there was no enmity between them.
He himself was unwilling to explain to her. And she never gave him a chance to explain. Now, by chance, she has seen everything clearly, and Zhuang Su feels somewhat remorseful.
Now that Qingchen doesn't trust the "Liyin" in front of her, Zhuangsu feels bitter, yet she also believes it's her own fault, that she deserves it...
Zhuang Su slowly lowered her head and calmly walked past Qing Chen. She didn't look at him again, but bit her lip slightly and gradually walked away. Behind her, that person's gaze lingered, filled with probing and deep intent, yet she seemed oblivious to the atmosphere.
In truth, a hint of sadness always lingered in Qingchen's eyes. Though he smiled, he couldn't muster the carefree spirit of the past. He had changed; he had become acutely aware of everything, and exceptionally attentive to shifts in the situation. Zhuang Su knew that his change might be because of her, or perhaps, this was simply the demeanor he had always possessed.
Although he sometimes felt uneasy, Zhuang Su vaguely felt that this kind of tranquility was perhaps much better than that of the drunkard who nestled alone in the bamboo grove. Even though it would make him more tired and more lonely…
A slight, bitter smile finally appeared on Zhuang Su's lips, but she knew she shouldn't stay here after all. She should return to Xueyi Manor and continue being her "little disciple." She wasn't the kind of woman who clung on desperately. If everyone ultimately needed to have their own life before they could fulfill others' needs, she was happy to do so.
Anyway... even if she stayed here, she would probably just be an "undercover agent for the underworld." In Qingchen's eyes, this whole affair now seems like a premeditated scheme.
As Zhuang Su's departing figure fell into Qingchen's eyes, she slowly savored the memory, a vague sense of familiarity lingering within her. Something flashed through Qingchen's mind, but before she could grasp it, it was too late.
As Li Jiu approached, he noticed the man's slight daze and asked, "Alliance Leader, she read 'A Leafy Note,' didn't she? What are your plans? Should we kill her?"
When Qingchen came to her senses, she heard him say this, paused for a moment, and said, "Let her go back."
Li Jiu frowned: "But..."
Qingchen's gaze swept lightly over the handwritten notes in the ancient manual, and he said casually, "There's nothing of great importance written on it." As soon as he finished speaking, he moved, already far away. A gust of wind blew, and he walked slowly, gradually disappearing into the distance.
Li Jiu couldn't help but glance at the hidden compartment.
Besides the "A Leafy Note," there was another box in the drawer. The box was actually empty, but if Fang Caizhensu were to open it, the silver needles inside would shoot out, instantly sealing all her meridians and killing her instantly.
Shaking his head, Li Jiu carefully put away "A Small Note on a Leaf" and left.
There was no one left in the Purple Bamboo Cottage; once the surroundings quieted down, a desolate atmosphere returned.
Chapter 35 Do Not Part Again (Part 1)