Небо над реками и озерами очень чистое

Глава 85

"Given her status, she could have married you legitimately, so why did she refuse?"

"I don't know." A bitter expression welled up between his brows. "Her thoughts are too hard to fathom. She keeps trying to escape. I'm already exhausted just trying to catch her."

Looking at his expression, Jiuwei felt a vague sense of sympathy. "Perhaps she doesn't like you at all. I've never found anything in her mind that could be called emotion."

“I don’t think so. When she’s in my arms, I can be sure she doesn’t reject me and may even like my closeness, but once we’re apart…” He shook his head in frustration. “Never expect to hear the truth from her.”

“Maybe you should tie her to the bed.” Jiuwei suddenly grinned mischievously, teasingly. “Women are most honest at that moment. With the right technique, you can hear whatever you want.”

He laughed too, a very forlorn laugh. "Actually, I'm exhausted. I don't know what to do with her. She doesn't give me any chance at all. I'm at my wit's end."

"Who told you to fall in love with such a troublesome woman?" Jiuwei muttered, then turned to pour him a drink.

"If only I didn't love her." He sighed, admitting his helplessness. "I really wish she wasn't so stubborn, that she would be obedient and stay by my side. I would agree to anything she wanted... But she didn't want anything, nothing but leaving."

In that long pursuit, he poured so much emotion into it, like a moth drawn to a flame, completely reckless. Yet she only left behind a silhouette, an unchanging distance, ethereal and distant, like mountains hidden in the mist, forever out of reach. Even the occasional tenderness became a dreamlike surprise.

The wine was slowly emptied, and the person, lost in their own thoughts, became drunk.

Looking at the person who was so drunk that he had lost consciousness, Jiuwei sighed silently.

Even after all this time, he is still infatuated with a woman. His long-lasting love is like a burning fire that has never died out over the years. Jia Ye Jia Ye, how could you bear to do this?

Author's Note: Everyone guessed the details about the Daughter's Red wine... Hehe, the wine and jade naturally have their origins, which will be explained later.

Kaga's reaction... was indeed a bit strange.

However, there's a reason for it; don't be angry at her weakness, some things are beyond her control.

Please be patient, everyone, the answer will be available soon.

Uh... I haven't been updating or leaving comments as much lately. I'll try to make the conflict more intense... T_T

Mantra

When the sun was high in the sky, a man in brocade robes appeared in front of the king's palace.

The courteous request to see the emperor, swaying gracefully, exuded an air of authority that commanded respect.

"Please inform Miss Jun that my old friend Jiuwei is waiting for me."

Since Jia Ye had already changed courtyards and even Shu Ying couldn't find him, he had no choice but to ask for an audience through proper channels. Soon, a report came, and a servant respectfully invited him in. In a quiet courtyard in the royal palace, he met the person waiting.

Even after hearing Bi Jun mention Jia Ye's appearance, he was still momentarily stunned.

"Several years have passed since we last met, and the changes in Xue Shi are truly astonishing. I was worried that I would be left behind by a thousand miles away."

Jia Ye gently ushered the guest in, and Shuang Jing served tea and fruit before retreating, leaving the two alone to talk. Jiu Wei subtly surveyed the surroundings; the seemingly empty courtyard was actually heavily guarded by several hidden guards. This heavy security was unlike Jia Ye's usual style, and it must have been Jun Sui Yu's arrangement.

…With her martial arts skills, she didn't need such tight defenses at all. Was it for protection or…?

While he was still pondering this, Jia Ye spoke.

"It's not easy for an old friend to come to Jiangnan, so I should do my best to be a good host." She smiled slightly as she spoke, "Especially since he is the new religious king of Tianshan, how could I dare to be negligent?"

"Not at all, I must say it's all thanks to Envoy Xue." He sipped his tea, gazing at the woman whose face was as white as snow.

"Now that you've arrived in Jiangnan, the Western Regions must be pacified. I should congratulate you." Long eyelashes blinked casually, showing little fear.

"It was just a lucky escape from death," Jiuwei said with a self-deprecating laugh. "I was quite surprised to hear that Envoy Xue had entered the King's Palace as soon as I arrived here."

"A coincidence, a stroke of luck," Jia Ye said, revealing no trace of his true feelings. "I wonder if the Pope's visit... is merely an inquiry?"

“I’m a little curious,” Jiuwei admitted with a faint smile. “It’s simply unbelievable how the daughter of the King’s Mansion arrived in Tianshan nineteen years ago.”

The man suddenly revealed the truth, and Jia Ye remained silent for a long time before suddenly smiling.

"Since the prince of Shule can transform into a moon envoy and even ascend the jade throne, what's so strange about me going to Tianshan? Isn't it all just fate playing tricks on us?"

She didn't shy away from the truth and directly admitted it, which surprised him somewhat.

"You really are Jun Ruoxia's daughter."

"So what if it is?" She picked up the teacup and slowly skimmed off the foam, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

“Why are you avoiding Shuying? You can’t be unaware of his feelings. It was one thing four years ago, but now, with your family background, you can rival the Xie family. Besides, Jun Suiyu… seems to value you quite a bit.” Jiuwei paused deliberately before continuing, “Or are you just playing with him? I’m not Shuying, so you don’t need to hide anything. We’ve been colleagues for years, and I can tell the difference between truth and lies.”

"So the King has come to inquire about such trivial matters," Jia Ye said with a light sneer. "I dare not accept such praise."

“After all, we’re friends.” Jiuwei replied with a nonchalant smile. “We’ve known each other for many years. Seeing him so heartbroken and miserable over a woman, I couldn’t bear to stand by and do nothing.”

"You're a very loyal friend."

"There's nothing I can do. He's too caught up in the situation to help, so I, as an outsider, have to step in and see what's going on." Only he could ask that question; Silver Swan and Jade Falcon wouldn't have dared to.

Jia Ye didn't speak.

"What are you thinking? Even if it's murder, it should be done quickly." Staring coldly at the indifferent, plain-faced woman, she was determined to get to the bottom of things for her best friend.

The air was deathly still, and the silence lingered for a long time before she suddenly gave her answer.

"I... won't live much longer."

Jiuwei was stunned, never having considered such a reason.

She didn't look at his face; her gaze was fixed on a point in the void, as if she had returned to four years ago.

The elderly man with white hair examined the patient for a long time, almost breaking off several strands of his white beard. He let go of her hand and remained silent for a long time, then raised his eyes to signal Jun Suiyu.

"No need to change locations, let's talk here." Having roughly guessed that things were going badly, the girl forced a smile. "Life and death are predestined, there's nothing to worry about."

The elderly doctor was slightly surprised. He looked at Jun Suiyu beside him and saw that the other party was nodding with a frown before he spoke.

“The young lady’s condition is truly rare in my life. The flower poison in her body is not so bad; although removing the poison is difficult, it won’t endanger her life. But…” After hesitating for a moment, the old man sighed. “The martial arts she practices are too domineering and extremely harmful. Now, the cold has penetrated all her meridians, and she is on the verge of death. Within a few years, her meridians will surely be severed, and she will die from her injuries…”

The girl had no expression, while the man's face turned pale, and it took him a while to speak.

"May I ask if the divine physician has a remedy?"

“It’s difficult…” The old man gestured to the young servant to put away the medicine pouch. “If we abandon martial arts and treat him with acupuncture and medicine, he can prolong his life by a few more years.”

The girl suddenly asked, "At the current rate, how much longer?"

"In less than seven years..." the old man sighed regretfully. "If he were to recklessly use his martial arts again, the time would be even shorter."

"Swish!"

“I can’t do it.” His dark, cold eyes were extremely resolute. “I’d rather die immediately than have my martial arts crippled.”

"Keeping it will only harm you," the man pleaded after the doctor left. "The power of the King's Palace is more than enough to ensure your peace of mind."

"What good would it do to give it up? It would just be a matter of clinging to life." Her beautiful face was unusually calm. "I knew this day would come; I'm already grateful to have lived this long."

"Don't say that, there's still a chance, there will definitely be a way."

“Life and death are common occurrences; it makes little difference whether it happens sooner or later.” Ignoring his earnest advice, she insisted on her own opinion. “You promised that I would decide for myself.”

Yes, he did promise.

These were the conditions under which she agreed to postpone medical treatment.

But how could he just stand by and watch her walk down a path of no return?

“Pianxian…” No matter what I said, I couldn’t persuade her. Her stubbornness was driving me crazy. “You can do whatever you want in the King’s Palace. You don’t have to do it yourself. Whether it’s killing or taking revenge, just give the order and someone will take care of it properly. You suffered because of the mistakes of the past. Now you don’t have to bear it alone. Go home.”

She smiled faintly.

The caring eyes, warm and anxious, reminded her of another person who treated her with utmost sincerity.

Occasionally, some memories are nice, but they're all in the past. Life is mostly tedious and dull; living that long is quite uninteresting, especially when you're weak and powerless, dependent on others.

“Fate has taken me from Jiangnan to Tianshan, from Tianshan to Xijing, and here I am under your protection… It can also make me grovel at your feet once more. I don’t know what the future holds, so I’d rather retain this strength, at least I still have a choice.”

Looking into her heartbroken eyes, she spoke very earnestly.

"This is my fate, and I want to... please let me make my own decision."

"The technique I practiced was one that was extremely damaging to my meridians. Back then, I was willing to go to any lengths to kill the King of the Sect, so... it didn't really matter..." No one had ever practiced the secret technique to that extent. Even her mother was unaware of the price. She only realized four years ago that the effect of gaining superhuman strength was so short.

"You... are you serious?" He couldn't believe it; he couldn't imagine that this woman would be on the verge of death. Upon closer inspection, her complexion was actually better than when she was in Tianshan, only her eyes had lost their sharpness, and there was a hint of weary emptiness in them.

Sensing his suspicion, she generously extended her hand.

"Find out for yourself."

Jiuwei suspiciously pressed her hand against the slender wrist, still teasing. "I'm not a famous doctor, it would be a waste of my time to examine you... How come you..." Her voice suddenly stopped, too shocked to speak.

She withdrew her hand, weary and helpless, too lazy to force a fake smile anymore. "You understand? I'm just an empty shell now."

He was speechless for a while.

“Anyway, time is running out, and revealing the truth will only cause more trouble… I might as well take pity on him and let him go, so as not to end up harming someone else…” Her long eyelashes trembled, and she picked up her tea and took another sip.

"Why are you willing to tell me when you've been so adamant about not saying?" Jiuwei asked, slightly confused as she managed to regain her senses.

She gazed into the distance, where the vitality of spring permeated every corner of the courtyard, with buds bursting forth everywhere, their tender yellow and light green leaves spreading freely, swaying in the warming breeze.

“Because you hate me.” He turned his dark eyes and glanced at me indifferently. “Besides, you value him more than anyone else and want him to be happy, so you will definitely keep it a secret.”

Jiuwei could only manage a bitter smile. "I regret asking now."

"But I want to say something," she murmured absently. "It's so hard to keep it all bottled up inside."

“I thought I could just hide for a few years and die, since he'd eventually marry another noblewoman and forget about me. Who knew he'd find me here…” Her slender white fingers touched her forehead, her soft words almost trance-like. “I should have said something harsher to make him give up completely, but looking at him… I couldn’t say it… I couldn’t say anything… He’s such a fool…”

Seeing the other person's unusually chaotic state, and recalling the drunken man from yesterday, Jiuwei couldn't help but sigh.

“I know he’s good to you, and now I understand how you treat him.”

"What about him...?" She unconsciously bit her lip, her cherry lips turning pale. "I haven't been good to him at all, I don't understand what he sees in me..."

“I do hate you.” Recalling her past impressions, Jiuwei admitted frankly. “You are too cold and too smart, ruthless to yourself, and have no weaknesses or loopholes to exploit. Being your enemy would be a headache; you are not like a woman at all.”

"I thought you were just using him, but I never expected... you would risk going to Shanshan. You even freed his internal energy from its restraints, and he still doesn't know how you did it."

“Zi Su once told me that you brought seven people from the death row, and I later learned that they were used to test needles, all for him…”

"You never told him."

Jia Ye remained silent.

“Because that fool would feel guilty; he’s not like us.” Jiu smiled and sighed, thinking that she would probably do the same thing if she were in his shoes. “You… are worthy of his feelings over the years.”