Volume One: Turmoil in Yan-Yun Chapter Fifty-One: As If We Had Just Met (Part Three)

How does a heart die?
When it stops beating, that is death; when all attachments vanish, that is also death.
The former is easy, the latter hard.
Feng Qi remained silent for a long time.
Murong Xue watched him from the side, her expression growing more and more mocking.
Is he silent out of guilt? she wondered quietly to herself.
“I have known Xing’er for a very long time,” Feng Qi finally spoke. “When I was six, my second brother’s Ten Severances first flared up. Seeking Sanmu’s help, Mother led a small group from Yanbei, traveled from Shuntian along the Nai Xi River, merged into the Qianling River, drifting all the way to the East Sea, and finally arriving at the Palace of Moving Flowers.”
“We sought their arts for half a month without success. Mother, anxious and worried, fell gravely ill. Uncle Mo, weighing the options, was forced to decide to return north.”
“Just then, the Bloodshed Pavilion launched an attack. Four Star-Cutting assassins struck with deadly force, and beside Mother, only Uncle Mo remained capable… It was clearly a fatal trap.”
Murong Xue was unsure why Feng Qi brought up these old events, but she didn’t interrupt him.
Every outcome has its cause; nothing is exempt. It seemed this cycle began with the previous generation.
“Four Star-Cutting assassins surrounded Mother. To be honest, I’ve never understood how she survived, but I know that when Mother returned to Yanbei, only Uncle Mo was left by her side.”
“There weren’t many companions. Among them was Xing’er’s mother.”
“Mother never told me what happened on the journey from Jiangnan to Yanbei. She only said to treat Xing’er well, as if the Yanbei Royal Mansion owed the Luo family a debt.”
“She rarely entrusted me with much. This was her first request.”
“Not long after, Xing’er was sent to the Yanbei Mansion, personally taught by Mother, cared for in every detail… My younger brother was still childish then, secretly jealous, saying Mother favored Xing’er far more than him.”
“I didn’t mind. First, Mother had specifically told me; second, I am the heir of Yanbei, precocious, learned to ride at four, and even before that, I understood the weight of responsibility on my shoulders—had no time for such trivial concerns; third, Xing’er was exceptionally sensible, optimistic and lively, easy to get along with.”
“The first time I read the Volume of Heaven’s Heart, there were many things I didn’t understand. Unable to sleep, I wandered about. I saw Xing’er, curled up under the moonlight, kneeling by the Tang Flower Pond, utterly silent. I watched her for a long time, then realized she was crying.”
At this point, Feng Qi paused. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have approached her then.”
He did not continue, but Murong Xue already understood.
Opera springs from life, and life is often more dramatic than any play.
Love, even when its origins are unknown, can be deep as the sea. What if one knows exactly where it began?

Because the origin is known, love becomes even harder to restrain.
In another place, she herself could find no solution to this dilemma.
“You could marry her,” Murong Xue suddenly suggested, earning nothing but a glare from Feng Qi.
“What’s wrong? Do you look down on Luo Xing?” she snapped in irritation.
Feng Qi shook his head. “No, I simply rejected that proposal calmly.”
Murong Xue asked, “Why?”
Feng Qi answered seriously, “Because that is not my true wish. No matter how it might please Mother, Xing’er, or Yanbei, I refuse.”
He paused, then added, “I will not marry you either, largely for the same reason.”
Murong Xue sneered, “How noble you sound. But in the end, isn’t it all just desire?”
Feng Qi made no attempt to explain.
He and the Saintess had known each other since childhood, shared hardships and rivalries—why should he tell others?
His silence made Murong Xue think he was tacitly admitting it, and her opinion of him worsened further.
“By the way, how did you know what I said? I spoke firmly, but few could hear, and even fewer could confirm I was the Yanbei heir,” Feng Qi asked.
“Why else? The man standing beside you at the time was the Young Pavilion Master of the Carefree Pavilion, nicknamed ‘The Storyteller’,” Murong Xue replied coldly. “No sooner had you finished speaking than he spread the word. With Carefree Pavilion’s influence, it’s probably all over the realm by now.”
“I thought the Young Pavilion Master was elusive and rarely seen. How can you be sure it was him?”
Murong Xue shot him another glare, snorted, and turned away.
After she left, Feng Qi watched the flickering candlelight on the table, calculated the time, then his expression shifted and he called coldly, “Come out.”
A soft laugh sounded, and someone emerged from the inner chamber, passing Feng Qi and sitting directly across from him.
Only then did Feng Qi see the person’s face, and he was momentarily stunned.
The man smiled lightly, “It’s been an hour. How is the heir of Yanbei?”
Feng Qi sighed silently in his heart, stood up to offer a salute.
The man waved his hand, still smiling, “Wait, this isn’t the Eastern Palace, and you’re not yet on the official register. No need for formalities.”

So this was the current Crown Prince, Du Gu Zhe.
Feng Qi considered, then said, “You are the ruler; your commands must be obeyed.”
Du Gu Zhe said, “I overheard a bit. You don’t wish to marry Sister Xue?”
Feng Qi replied, “Do not listen to what is inappropriate, Your Highness…”
Du Gu Zhe laughed, “My fault, anyway this isn’t my concern.”
Suddenly his gaze sharpened, locking onto Feng Qi as if trying to see through him, “Let me ask another thing… How did Fourth Brother die?”
Feng Qi replied, “The Yanbei Mansion’s memorial was sent to the capital long ago. From Wuyang to Jizhou, there are several top-tier Carefree Pavilion branches. Why ask me, Your Highness?”
Du Gu Zhe said, “The Sandstorm Formation can withstand those at the Path-Union level. Fourth Brother should have been absolutely safe within it.”
Feng Qi answered, “Path-Union experts are elusive. Your Highness’s shadow guards possess half their power; they too should have been absolutely safe.”
Du Gu Zhe paused, then fell silent for a long while.
Feng Qi noticed the faint moisture in his eyes and discreetly lowered his head.
Lowering his head without a trace—yet, how could the Crown Prince not notice?
He forced himself to compose his emotions, “No need for that. I have other important matters in this visit.”
Feng Qi kept his head down, “Please speak, Your Highness.”
Du Gu Zhe said, “In the last family letter Fourth Brother sent me, he recounted his final conversation with you. I would like to hear it from you.”
The Fourth Prince had not stayed long in Yanbei, but they had talked extensively.
Though not close, they had spoken candidly.
One such topic was the changing times.
…
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