Chapter 194 – Dissolution
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That night, neither of them slept soundly, fearing that if they closed their eyes, this miraculous fortune would vanish like a bubble, bursting apart.
No matter what, Zhiwei was currently in the capital and was staying at Huanyi building.
Even though Huai Wang was under house arrest and unaware of Zhiwei’s existence, to avoid unnecessary worries, someone had to return to the capital immediately.
Since leaving Dingling Hill, they had been fleeing in haste. Fortunately, their personal belongings were still intact. After finding the Shimao County magistrate and having them escort them back to Dingling Hill, they could notify the provincial capital.
With fast horses and urgency, they could return to the capital in just a few days.
“Don’t worry about Zhiwei. I’ll send a quick message back to ensure Zhiwei is moved to another location for safekeeping.”
“I’m going to Jinan Prefecture. Jiuan mentioned that Huai Wang is recruiting slave soldiers. I’ll figure something out.”
Liu Zhongming carefully adjusted his clothes and brought a white gauze hat over.
“After you return, keeping the Emperor stable is the top priority. A mere house arrest won’t stop Mu Jingyan; he’s sure to make some moves behind the scenes.”
“Before leaving the capital, my father and aunt promised to take care of Sister. Lan Er is in the midst of a controversy. I doubt he’ll dare to target Lijing Palace, but there’s always the possibility of other matters.”
“If you need assistance, you can approach either of them. I don’t know if Jingchen has returned, but for now, it’s best to let him lie low.”
As he slightly raised his head, Qu Chenzhou felt the tug of the hat’s cord on his chin, as if doing so intentionally.
“Zhongming, is it true that Jiang Xingzhi is really dead?”
Liu Zhongming’s hand paused for a moment. “When you paved the way for him initially, you should have known.”
Perhaps the hat’s string was tied a bit tightly, as Qu Chenzhou gave it a tug, slowly exhaling.
“This is what Jiang Xingzhi desired.”
“Jiang Xingzhi had great insight to seek you out,” Liu Zhongming sighed lightly. “Because you both belong to the same kind, right?”
He lifted Qu Chenzhou’s leg and placed him on the desk, lifting the white veil.
“Chenzhou, do you remember the night when I fell from the suspension bridge…?”
Qu Chenzhou swiftly covered his mouth, understanding what he wanted to say. After a moment of silence, he softly spoke, “I won’t leave you alone like that again.”
Liu Zhongming let out a sigh of relief. “You little trickster. If you break your promise again, I’ll go back to the Yellow Springs and swap you back. You’ll experience that feeling too.”
“I won’t…”
“Then can you…” he pushed his luck, “Can you tell me everything? Can you not… bear everything by yourself, okay?”
Qu Chenzhou nodded slightly.
This time, Liu Zhongming didn’t immediately respond to him. He stared at him, blinking incessantly, as if waiting for him to say something.
He pursed his lips. “Zhongming, the wooden spirit… you haven’t given it to me yet.”
Liu Zhongming finally smiled and reached into his pocket. “I thought you were plannng to head back to the capital directly.”
Before leaving the previous town, he had obtained the wooden spirit, and the little fox had given it to him without asking any questions.
Given their relationship in the eyes of outsiders, they couldn’t return to the capital together. Whoever had the wooden spirit would take credit for it.
In fact, they both understood that it was best to let Qu Chenzhou take another step forward. But if he didn’t ask, Qu Chenzhou wouldn’t say anything, implying that he had taken the “credit.”
The little fox still hadn’t learned the meaning of “candid.”
The wooden spirit, once sprawled in his palm, was no longer irregular in shape. It had transformed into a delicate jade pendant, with a jade bell hanging from a protrusion on the side. Shaking it produced a clear jingle.
Qu Chenzhou’s fingertip touched the jade pendant, his eyes reddened, then he withdrew his hand.
“I consulted An Ning and he guided me in carving it. Don’t worry about damaging the wooden spirit. Look, the jade color inside seems like the essence itself.”
The jade pendant was placed in his hand, finger by finger unfurling to cradle the wooden spirit warmly in his palm.
“Chenzhou, you take this to the Emperor first. Someday, I’ll get it back for you.”
“Zhongming, actually, I haven’t figured out…”
A sentence that blurted out was abruptly interrupted by Qu Chenzhou himself. He tucked the wooden spirit into his robe, let the veil drop, and hastily waved his hand before swiftly leaving the room.
Liu Zhongming knew what that sentence meant.
—Actually, I haven’t figured out who you really are.
He had been puzzled by this for a long time in his previous life as well.
The memories of his past life were incomplete, leaving behind only the most painful parts. But he couldn’t bring himself to cruelly separate that person from himself and thus evade his guilt towards the little fox.
That was a trust given to him by his past self, entrusting the heavily scarred Qu Chenzhou to him. He wanted to give the little fox a lifetime of kindness and compensation.
He had been just as lost, wondering which person the little fox longed for and remembered.
But when he and Qu Chenzhou fled together on the suspension bridge, all those uncertainties were blown away by the mountain breeze.
At that moment, he only thought about how wonderful it would be if he could be with the little fox forever and ever. He was willing to give up everything.
Regardless of what had happened in the past, he only wanted to be together forever in the future.
Living in the present meant living in the present.
As the suspension bridge collapsed beneath their feet, the only thought in his mind was that he hadn’t fulfilled all the promises he made to the little fox.
Who he was didn’t matter that much anymore.
He had already come to terms with everything on his side, and he was just waiting for the moment when Qu Chenzhou would come to his senses.
The partially closed door was pushed by the wind, and it knocked against the doorframe. The sound made the room seem even more desolate, so empty that his heart pounded in panic.
They had finally come together… only to be separated again.
Liu Zhongming suddenly rushed out the door. Just as he had left for only a moment, the fear crept up again from his feet, as if they were about to part forever in the next moment, as if they would never be able to meet again.
He sprinted along the corridor to the stairs and saw someone rushing back breathlessly. They were stepping up a staircase from below, leaving behind a white veil hat.
They were only a few steps apart, yet it felt like they had rushed from faraway mountains and seas to meet. Their longing surged like a tide, and their eyes reddened in an instant.
Having already crossed the boundary between life and death from their past lives, there were still countless obstacles ahead.
Only this moment of tranquility was theirs. What else should they be cautious and hesitant about?
“Zhongming.”
Qu Chenzhou took a step upward, his gaze no longer piercing through Liu Zhongming, but falling into emptiness.
They were meant for each other, in any time or space.
“Zhongming!”
Their fingertips touched, and then a warm, living body threw itself into his arms.
Liu Zhongming was seated on the steps, spreading his arms and legs to encircle the person entirely. He had just tenderly kissed Qu Chenzhou’s forehead when a pair of slender hands pressed against the back of his head, pushing him down with force.
“Little Fox…” Cheeks dampened, he wasn’t sure whose tears it was that flowed, now smeared between the two of them. “Chenzhou.”
His little fox had come back.
The last stretch of ice and snow between them had finally melted away completely.
“Zhongming, I waited for you to come back,” Qu Chenzhou bit his lip, openly sobbing, “You came back earlier this time, don’t make me wait too long.”
***
“Your Majesty!”
Someone cried out sharply, stumbling up the steps of Qingxin Residence. Disoriented, they trod on their palace skirt and fell to the ground, then raised their head and cried out again.
“Your Majesty! Has Qu Sitian already returned? He’s back! I implore you to see me! Your humble subject!”
A palace maid by the side supported her and spoke softly, “Your Highness, Qu Sitian hasn’t returned yet. His Majesty is resting inside. Please take care of your health.”
“Why hasn’t he returned yet?”
The Empress’s face was pale and streaked with tears, lacking the grace and composure of her usual self. She seemed to be muttering to herself, almost as if she had gone mad.
“Didn’t they say he sent a quick report, saying he would be back soon? Why hasn’t he come back? If he doesn’t come back, will His Majesty refuse to see me? He wants to harm me! He wants to harm Zhao Er!”
The door to Qingxin Residence creaked open, and Yu Dexi emerged from inside, bowing to her. “Your Highness, His Majesty is troubled today and has already retired. Please come back another day.”
“Yu Gonggong!” The Empress, with tear-streaked cheeks, grabbed Yu Dexi’s sleeve. “Why won’t His Majesty see me? What did Qu Chenzhou say? He’s a monster! It must be him who bewitched Zhao Er! He’s certainly the one who bewitched the Empress Dowager!”
Then she panickedly shook her head. “No, that’s not right! Zhao Er wouldn’t be bewitched by him! That’s right! He bewitched the Empress Dowager!”
“Your Majesty!” she called out loudly again, pushing Yu Dexi aside and trying to rush into the room. “You must believe in Zhao Er! He definitely wouldn’t do such a thing! Someone is trying to harm him! He’s simple-minded and couldn’t have done it! It’s Qu Chenzhou who bewitched the Empress Dowager!”
Yu Dexi hurriedly caught up, supporting her. “Your Highness, His Majesty is still resting. We’ll plan everything once he awakens. Someone, escort Her Majesty back to her palace.”
The Empress swept aside the palace maids on both sides and before she could cry out again, a voice echoed from outside the palace gates, “Qu Sitian requests an audience!”
Yu Dexi no longer cared about the Empress and hurriedly shouted, “The Emperor has decreed that Qu Sitian return to the palace and present himself for an immediate audience!”
Amidst the gaze of everyone present, a slender figure walked forward gracefully and composedly. With perfect bearing, he approached and paid his respects.
“I, Qu Chenzhou, pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress and to Yu Gonggong. It’s been a while.”
The Empress, without any regard for decorum, grabbed hold of him, “Qu Sitian! You’ve finally returned! You must tell His Majesty that Zhao Er is innocent! Let me see the Emperor!”
This time, even Yu Dexi was not polite anymore. He signaled for the people around to support the Empress before turning to Qu Chenzhou with a bow, “Qu Sitian, please follow me. His Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time.”
As the Empress’s heart-rending cries grew distant, Qu Chenzhou appeared as if he hadn’t heard anything, wearing a polite, faint smile as he entered, kneeling just outside the beaded curtain. “I, your humble subject, kowtow to the Emperor and wish His Majesty a long and prosperous life. May the world enjoy peace and tranquility.”
The room was filled with a strong scent of ambergris incense. The old man’s breathing, accompanied by a slight phlegmy sound, paused for a moment before he spoke through the beaded curtains.
“Why is it just you alone? Where are Zhongming and Ding Lekang?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, we went to Dingling Hill as per Your Majesty’s instructions and found this object.”
He presented the jade wooden spirit with both hands, watching as Yu Dexi turned and entered the room before speaking softly.
“However, we encountered an inexplicable incident… General Ding tragically lost his life, and the Shizi fell off a cliff with his fate unknown. I dared not linger and had to return to the capital alone.”
From inside, the person coughed a few times before calling him, “Chenzhou, come in.”
Yu Dexi had already placed chairs and stools for him inside, positioned near Emperor Yu’s bed.
Qu Chenzhou sat down, his trembling hands reaching out to hold the one extended toward him. He realized that in just over a month, the old man’s hands had become considerably withered.
“Your Majesty…” His voice trembled slightly, “It’s my fault. I should have returned earlier.”
Emperor Yu squinted, not looking at him directly. “Tell me, what happened? Why was it so dangerous?”
Qu Chenzhou collected his thoughts and began recounting the relevant parts.
Starting from when he first heard about the local legends of the demon tree at Dingling Hill, to deciding to try their luck at Chengsong Ridge.
Then, encountering two strange individuals on the ridge, and when they descended without any success, several individuals including Ding Lekang were devoured by the demon tree. Only he and the Shizi managed to escape in the chaos.
Continuing on to the late-night chase by the demon tree, and the Shizi’s accidental fall off the cliff. He recounted how he ignited the demon tree using fire oil, and how, in the nick of time, he received assistance from the two strange people, managing to escape the danger and obtaining the wooden spirit of the demon tree.
Emperor Yu mostly remained calm, only interjecting when they discussed how the demon tree could move and pursue people. He became more attentive when they mentioned the miraculous vitality of the wooden spirit.
Finally, his cloudy eyes brightened. “Who were those two people?”
“I don’t know. They were very kind to me, claiming that we were connected by fate from a past life. They also gave me a gift.”
A butterfly flew out from Qu Chenzhou’s sleeve. It had a plain color, and the clear grain of wood was visible on its wings. However, due to its extreme thinness, it fluttered about as lightly as a thin piece of gauze.
Emperor Yu couldn’t help but reach out to touch it. He saw the wooden butterfly land on Qu Chenzhou’s fingertip, but it disintegrated into seven or eight pieces when Qu Chenzhou rolled it between his fingers. Before he could react in surprise, the scattered pieces reassembled, the butterfly came back to life, danced in the air for two rounds, and flew into Qu Chenzhou’s sleeve.
Finally, Emperor Yu believed it.
“And this…” He trembled as he touched the seemingly ordinary jade pendant in his hand, “This is really…?”
“It’s the spirit of the tree demon, the essence of its vitality. Those two people said that if it’s worn close to the body, it can ward off malevolent spirits and cure various illnesses.”
Emperor Yu sat up, repeatedly instructing Yu Dexi to prepare pure water and withered branches. With a long exhale, he finally expelled a heavy breath from his chest.
“Chenzhou, you’ve returned well, you’ve returned well,” he was exceedingly delighted, completely changing his demeanor from just now. “Hurry, cast a divination for me! How is my fortune in recent days?”
Everyone in the room sensibly withdrew, leaving only Qu Chenzhou to lift his gaze.
“Your Majesty, has something happened in the palace? Earlier, the Empress…”
“I want you to divine for me!” Emperor Yu rudely interrupted him, “Why do you ask so many questions?”
“This official understands my mistake.”
Qu Chenzhou kneeled down, slightly tilting his head upward, his voice gentle.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. The long-standing problem that weighed on Your Majesty’s heart can now be resolved.”
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