The Final Chapter
This night was both short and long. The summer nights in the capital were as tranquil as usual. Soon after, the morning twilight broke, and the red sun pierced through the deep blue sky, dyeing the distant mountains and clouds in a uniform color.
Diligent vendors began to drag their carts and horses out. Women carrying baskets woke up early to buy fresh vegetables. Street sweepers waved their brooms, walking from one end of the street to the other. Life continued in an orderly manner.
Inside the Ye residence, it was exceptionally quiet. The excitement of last night had already dissipated. The tables, chairs, and dishes in disarray had been cleaned up by the early-rising maidservants. The remaining red silk fluttered in the summer breeze, and the lanterns hung quietly on the treetops, their candles long melted into wax tears.
Shadows of flowers intertwined, insects chirped in bursts, and a rich fragrance drifted into the spring pavilion with red windows. The candles on the table had long burned out. A finely carved bed was covered with a gauze curtain, from which a delicate lotus-white wrist extended softly.
The chirping of insects grew louder. The wrist moved slightly, slowly retracting behind the curtain. Two women’s bodies intertwined, lying under a soft brocade quilt, revealing smooth shoulders, creating an enchanting and fragrant scene.
Ci Ke’s eyes regained clarity, and the memories of last night were vivid. She secretly pulled up the quilt, peeked inside, and her fair face blushed.
Ye Youqing was still asleep, her serene and beautiful sleeping face framed by disheveled cloud-like hair. She lay on her side with her back to Ci Ke, her white lotus arm resting on her chest, gently rising and falling.
Ci Ke, taking advantage of the morning light, reached for her top and silently wrapped herself, covering the marks on her body that made her shy. However, as soon as she moved, the soreness in her body became evident, especially in her waist, which felt as heavy as if filled with lead.
Ci Ke had no choice but to lie down again, secretly placing her hand around the woman’s waist, her cheek pressed against the smooth back, involuntarily curling her lips.
Ye Youqing also woke up. She blinked her eyes, turned over, and naturally kissed Ci Ke on the forehead. “Is your body feeling uncomfortable?”
Her voice, just awakened, carried an indescribable laziness, making Ci Ke’s heartstrings flutter. Then, the hands hidden under the quilt stroked Ci Ke’s waist, gently massaging her.
Ci Ke shook her head and softly said, “Last night…”
“Last night was wonderful,” Ye Youqing said with a smile. “You were extremely beautiful.”
Ci Ke coughed, moving forward to bury her face in Ye Youqing’s neck, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. “My eyes are all swollen. How can you say I’m beautiful?”
“You weren’t gentle either. How am I supposed to see anyone today…” Ci Ke half-complained and half-pouted.
“I didn’t know how gentle I was,” Ye Youqing said helplessly. She reached out to embrace Ci Ke’s slender and soft body, patting her smooth back. “Why, are you feeling uncomfortable?”
Ci Ke blushed from her face to the roots of her neck. She nestled in Ye Youqing’s arms, murmuring for a while before barely audible saying, “It was extremely comfortable.”
Hearing this, Ye Youqing’s eyes naturally curved into a smile. She didn’t know how to pamper her to satisfaction, so she lowered her head and kissed her a few more times. Ci Ke’s eyes became enchanting, and she reached out to stop Ye Youqing.
“Ye Youqing,” Ci Ke said, “I’m extremely tired.”
Ye Youqing stopped her kisses, held her and lay down for a while. The quilt was warm, and neither of them wanted to get up.
After an unknown period, Ci Ke spoke again: “You said before that after we get married, we would go to Jiangning Prefecture. Is that true?”
“If you are willing,” Ye Youqing said warmly.
“As long as I’m with you, I am willing to go anywhere.” Ci Ke played with a strand of Ye Youqing’s hair, closed her eyes contentedly, lay for a while in comfort, and then dozed off.
Nothing could be more joyful than the current situation: no worries, with your beloved by your side, and a clear path ahead with companionship, it is the greatest blessing in the world.
The wedding that caused a sensation throughout Bianjing and the surrounding towns finally ended. Some people envied, some doubted, but no matter what, as days passed, this wedding would eventually become a legendary tale talked about in storybooks.
Three days after the wedding, Ye Youqing bid farewell to her mother and set off for Jiangnan with Ci Ke and others. She originally wanted to bring Zhao Qingrou along, but Zhao Qingrou, having lived in the capital all her life, was accustomed to it and declined Ye Youqing’s offer, staying in Bianjing.
In her words, birds must fly when they grow up, and without her restraint, they can fly higher and farther.
On the day of their departure, they did not attract attention but left the city gates in a wagon disguised as a merchant caravan. The tall and majestic city walls of Bianjing gradually were obscured by lush trees and finally disappeared behind the jade-like mountains.
A fast horse came galloping from behind, stopping Ye Youqing’s wagon. A person dismounted and, bowing to Ye Youqing, presented a golden token.
“Miss Ye, this is sent by the Emperor himself, and it must be handed to you personally,” the person said without looking directly at her.
Ye Youqing exchanged a glance with Ci Ke, took the token with both hands, and carefully examined it, her body trembling.
“This is…” Ye Youqing murmured.
“This is a golden token bestowed by the Emperor. Seeing it is like seeing the Emperor himself. The Emperor said this is the only thing he can do for Miss Ye,” the person said in a low voice.
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Ci Ke held Ye Youqing’s hand. Ye Youqing stared at the token for a while before tucking it into her sleeve and softly saying, “Please convey my thanks to His Majesty.”
The person nodded, then rode away, the horse’s hooves kicking up swirling dust, disappearing into a patch of greenery.
Ma Xiao, the driver of the cart, turned back and asked, “Miss, shall we go?”
Ye Youqing responded with a hum, and together with Ci Ke, sat back in the cart. She lifted the curtain and looked back, watching the scenery grow distant and be replaced by new flowers and trees. Finally, she let down the curtain, only to be suddenly kissed by Ci Ke.
The girl smiled slyly and adorably, causing Ye Youqing to smile as well, the fleeting melancholy in her heart completely dissipating.
As long as she is here, the days ahead, no matter how long, will surely be filled with joy.
One month later.
The peak of summer in the south is the most intense. The world seems like a furnace, with the sun relentlessly baking the earth. The flowers and grasses on the streets have wilted leaves, drooping limply, waiting for a breeze that seems never to come.
The Huai River has recently calmed from its turbulent waves and now flows peacefully. The sound of the pipa from the musicians across the river, accompanied by soft Wu dialect tunes, faintly drifts over the water.
On such a scorching day, there are not many people on the streets. Everyone is crowded into the wine shops and taverns to avoid the sun.
Shops line the banks of the Huai River, with many wine houses and music halls, most of which are quiet. Occasionally, the sound of storytelling can be heard, gentle and elegant. But there are exceptions, such as the most central shop, with its red doors wide open and a new, grand plaque. At the entrance, vibrant flowers are displayed, ostentatious and eye-catching, not very refined.
Inside, the music is lively and mixed with the sound of gongs and drums. Passersby frequently stop to look, peeking through the open doors and wondering when this peculiar shop appeared.
The interior is boldly decorated. The wooden tables and chairs are painted bright red and arranged around a half-height stage in the center. The stage is covered with red cloth and adorned with fresh flowers. Behind the stage, a circle of wooden cabinets separates it from the rest of the room, and various musical instruments are placed on the cabinets. Musicians are tuning their instruments, producing intermittent music.
The place is very spacious, with the tables and chairs set to the sides, leaving an open space in the middle, the purpose of which is unclear. On one side of the hall, there is a long row of wooden cabinets filled with wine jugs and cups. High stools are placed beside the cabinets, spaced two people wide, for patrons to sit and drink.
Every available surface in the shop is adorned with candlesticks, waiting for evening to come when the place will be brightly lit.
A cool and elegant woman dressed in dark blue brocade is sitting on a high stool, drinking fruit wine with a satisfied expression.
“Xiaoqing, does this place really only open after nightfall?” Shi Li asked, striding over with long legs, holding a broom in her hand, which she threw aside before sitting next to Ye Youqing.
She seemed hesitant to speak, looking back at the strange decor, before saying, “Are you sure this… tavern will attract customers?”
“Maybe,” Ye Youqing replied with a smile. “There will be famous dancers leading the dance here at night. Besides, Jiangning Prefecture is even more open-minded than Bianjing. There are night markets here, so there will be no shortage of people wandering around.”
“I even asked Pei Ning to spend money hiring some people to pose as customers. Once this place gets lively, it will naturally attract merchants and common folk,” Ye Youqing said lazily.
Shi Li nodded. She had never seen such a bold tavern before, and it was quite an eye-opener.
“Thank you for finding renowned doctors to treat Ziqiu these days. She has recovered physically. Although she hasn’t regained all her memories, she’s no longer afraid of people,” Shi Li said earnestly.
“She is my aunt now, after all. Isn’t this what I should do?” Ye Youqing said with a smile, a hint of teasing in her eyes. “But I don’t know whether to call her ‘Aunt’ or ‘Master’s Wife.'”
Shi Li’s ears rarely turned red. After a while, she said, “Stop talking nonsense. I’m just taking care of her now, with her…”
“Just taking care?” Ye Youqing raised an eyebrow.
Shi Li’s light-colored eyes flickered twice before she lowered her head and chuckled softly. “Her memories only go back to the past, so she still treats me like her lover. After a long time, even I feel a bit confused. But I fear that if she ever regains her memories, will she still…”
“She loves you very much,” Ye Youqing said, placing her hand on Shi Li’s shoulder. “I know that you have never really given up on her; you just hid your feelings.”
“Now, there is nothing that can stand in your way anymore, so what is there to fear?” Ye Youqing finished and jumped off the high stool, smiling. “Ci Ke has arranged to meet me at the dock at dusk. It’s getting late, and I need to go back and change into a nice dress.”
Watching Ye Youqing leave cheerfully, the frown on Shi Li’s brow slowly relaxed. She brushed back her hair, turned golden by the sunlight, and lazily leaned against the counter, looking out at the sunlight.
Dusk softened everything. The Huai River shimmered with golden light, rippling with the waves. The houses on both sides were tinged with orange-red, with cooking smoke curling up into the clouds, and the aroma of food filling the air.
A woman in a lotus-pink gauze dress sat on a stone bench at the dock. The breeze lifted her skirt and sleeves, making them flutter like clouds. She had styled her hair in a side bun, making her look more mature. The golden tassels on her hairpin dangled behind her ears, tinkling softly and swaying gracefully.
Beside her was another woman in red, older than her, who was none other than Zhou Ziqiu, brought out for some fresh air. She wore no makeup, but her skin was delicate and fair, her lips full, her eyebrows dark without any need for enhancement, and her phoenix eyes lowered. She leaned on Ci Ke’s arm, resting her head on her shoulder, eyes closed in repose.
If you looked closely, you could see fine lines at the corners of her eyes, but they did not detract from her beauty.
“Aunt, look at this dusk, how beautiful it is.”
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Ci Ke gently rocked her body to soothe her, lightly patting her, while the clear water stretched out before them, shrouded in mist. Fishermen rowed their boats home, singing melodious tunes.
In the peaceful and prosperous Jiangnan, even the mountains and waters are gentle.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, footsteps stopped behind her, startling Zhou Ziqiu awake. Zhou Ziqiu turned her head and, upon seeing who it was, beamed with a radiant smile. She left Ci Ke and rushed into Shi Li’s arms.
“Xiaoshi, why did you take so long to come and get me?” Zhou Ziqiu looked up and said, her expression youthful and charming. On her mature face, it did not seem out of place but rather added a touch of pure liveliness.
Following behind Shi Li, Ye Youqing blinked at Ci Ke. The two exchanged glances and then lowered their eyes, both looking away.
Shi Li’s face turned slightly red. She took Zhou Ziqiu’s hand and gently soothed her, “I was helping Xiaoqing manage the shop today, so I was late in finding you. Ci Ke was with you, though.”
“Xiaoqing, I’ll take her back first. You two take your time to chat. Thanks for your hard work today, Ci Ke,” Shi Li said, smiling apologetically at Ye Youqing before turning to leave the dock. Zhou Ziqiu clung to her, not letting go, and from a distance, they seemed inseparable.
After they had walked away, Ye Youqing finally spoke, “Why did you ask me to meet here, so mysteriously?”
Ci Ke, with a smile as bright as a flower, lifted her chin and hooked Ye Youqing’s belt, pulling her towards the water. Then she waved to a boat moored nearby and called out cheerfully, “Uncle Cui!”
As soon as she finished speaking, a black canopy boat untied its rope and floated over. An old man stood on the boat, smiling at Ci Ke, “Girl, are you planning to row the boat yourself? Be careful not to fall into the river; it’s hard to fish you out!”
“Don’t worry,” Ci Ke said, pulling Ye Youqing along. When the boat reached the shore, she gave Ye Youqing a push onto it.
Before Ye Youqing could understand what was happening, she saw Ci Ke already wielding a paddle, bidding farewell to the old man on the shore.
Ye Youqing quickly held onto the side of the boat, swaying with the waves. “Ci Ke, you’re not planning to row all the way back to Bianjing, are you?”
Ci Ke gave her a sidelong glance. “You’ll find out soon enough. Just stay put and don’t move.”
Ye Youqing kept quiet.
After about half the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the two of them were already drifting on the river. As the dock grew farther and farther away, Ye Youqing finally gave up on getting back to the shore, plopping down inside the black canopy. A delightful aroma wafted, causing her stomach to growl.
Inside, a bamboo table was set up, and the small table was filled with steaming hot dishes. Judging by the craftsmanship, it seemed that Ci Ke had made them herself.
At this moment, Ci Ke put down the paddle and walked inside, sitting across from Ye Youqing and handed her a bowl and chopsticks.
“After all that trouble to get me on the boat, just for dinner?” Ye Youqing said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, but she had no choice and accepted the bowl and chopsticks, picking up a bite. The green vegetables were crisp, melting into juice upon touching her teeth.
“Are you unhappy dining alone with me?” Ci Ke asked, raising her eyes.
“Happy, of course I’m happy,” Ye Youqing replied, smiling broadly.
Gradually, the golden reflections on the river disappeared, and the sky darkened. The world was cloaked in a faint shade of dark blue, serene and peaceful. The sound of the water lapping against the boat echoed, while the bustling market on both sides was brightly lit, filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
After finishing the meal, Ye Youqing was pulled to the bow of the boat by Ci Ke. They sat together on the small boat, drifting past the bustling scenes on both sides.
The sound of geese echoed far across the Huai River, the bright moon rose in the east, and the river shimmered with reflections. Ci Ke rested her head on Ye Youqing’s shoulder, smiling involuntarily.
“What are you smiling about?” Ye Youqing tilted her chin up and planted a kiss on her lips. She loved kissing Ci Ke, whose sweet cherry lips always carried a fragrance, soft and springy, never enough to kiss.
Ci Ke returned the kiss. The wind had taken away the day’s heat but couldn’t dissipate the warmth between them.
Only after their breaths became erratic did they separate, snuggling together as they watched the vast river that seemed to lead nowhere.
“I love this feeling, as if there’s no one else in the world but us,” Ci Ke said softly. “These days have been the happiest of my life, Ye Youqing. Sometimes I wonder how many good deeds I must have done in my past life to meet such joy in this one.”
Looking at her sparkling eyes, Ye Youqing said, “Perhaps you didn’t do any good deeds at all. Our meeting might simply be because I was waiting for you.”
Hearing this, a delicate smile spread across Ci Ke’s lips. “Then what about the next life? Will you wait for me?”
“The next life…” Ye Youqing pretended to ponder, and just as Ci Ke’s lips began to pout, she couldn’t help but speak, “If I’m a star, I’ll wait for you by the starry river. If I’m a bird, I’ll wait for you in the mountain breezes.”
“In the next life, you won’t be human?” Ci Ke frowned.
“If I am human, then I’ll wait for you here,” Ye Youqing said, lowering her head.
Ci Ke blushed, her mouth unable to close. She could only reach out to pinch her cheek and leaned back onto Ye Youqing’s shoulder.
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The water splashed against the shore, making a rustling sound. The voices of the two women could be faintly heard, but were quickly dispersed by the wind.
“Ci Ke.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you think it’s much quieter around?”
“It seems so…”
“If we keep drifting, we’ll end up in the Pacific Ocean.”
“…”
In the distance, musicians were still singing, their voices floating across the Huai River. A pale moon hung in the sky, which looked as clear as water.
The song said: “You say the flowers are beautiful, the moon is full, and people will last long; after passing through a thousand mountains, this affection remains.”
————End of the Main Text————
LP: The main part of the novel is now complete!
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There’s still 8 extra chapters, stay tuned~ (ㅅ´ ˘ `)