Xiao Yunting began to restore the empire.
He established no harem, appointed no consorts. Beside him were only eunuchs, not even palace maids served in his quarters.
Sometimes the Crown Prince Consort couldn’t help but feel his life was too bitter, and she would gently try to persuade him: “Life is too long, Yunting. You should find someone to keep you company. I’ll die one day, after all.”
But Xiao Yunting firmly shook his head: “I don’t need anyone else. Just thinking that the day I die, I’ll get to see her again, that’s enough to make every day bearable.”
People are weak to temptation.
He trusted his own willpower, but he would never put it to the test.
If he took a consort or let palace maids stay by his side, who could guarantee there wouldn’t be a single moment of weakness?
He already had something he wanted to do. He wouldn’t allow the slightest possibility to jeopardize it.
All the flowers in the world were colorless to him, because his azalea had already withered.
And so, Qi Yuan accompanied Xiao Yunting through the long span of his life.
He employed capable ministers and brave generals, repelled Japanese pirates, resisted the Oirats in the north, and even marched as far as the Yuezhi region, where he modeled after the former dynasty and established the Anxi Protectorate.
As for the rebellious Yunnan, he chose to implement the gaitu guiliu policy, gradually replacing native chieftains with imperial officials, stripping the tusi of their power and returning control to the court.
He also lifted restrictions on slaves, allowing them to study, to sit for imperial exams.
Even Annan Wang was captured and brought to the capital as a prisoner.
He truly did everything a good emperor could do.
Then he abdicated the throne to his youngest brother and went to Longhu Mountain.
Before departing, he held Qi Yuan’s ashes in his hands and solemnly bowed to the ancestral tablets at the Imperial Temple.
He had done right by his ancestors, and by the people of the realm. Now, he would fulfill his promise, he would go see his Yuanyuan.
Celestial Master Zhang was already 137 years old. Though aged in appearance, he remained spirited, perhaps even more energetic than Xiao Yunting.
When he saw Xiao Yunting appear before him holding the urn of Qi Yuan’s ashes, even Celestial Master Zhang, who had long seen through the affairs of the world, could not help but let out a long, heavy sigh. He tapped Xiao Yunting’s forehead just as he had decades ago and scolded him: “You foolish child!”
Truly a foolish child. No wonder Emperor Yongchang had liked him so much.
Xiao Yunting said nothing, simply bowed deeply to the Celestial Master.
Celestial Master Zhang led him to the secret realm of the Celestial Sect, and then, facing the jade seal left behind by the ascended Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, spoke in a deep voice: “Xiao Yunting, listen carefully. Any secret art that defies Heaven’s will requires a tremendous price, and carries unforeseen risks. Do you understand?!”
Qi Yuan could barely hold onto the Tiger Fang in her hand, it was beginning to tremble faintly.
Was it mourning for its master?
She was not someone prone to hesitation, but in this moment, she instinctively shook her head.
No, Xiao Yunting. Don’t do this.
I already know you love me.
I already know what you’ve sacrificed.
Xiao Yunting gave a heavy kowtow to the Celestial Jade Seal, his expression unwavering: “I understand. I am willing!”
“Good!” Celestial Master Zhang gripped his hand tightly, staring at him without blinking. “I need you to understand, you will pay with your life. I need all the blood from your heart!”
Xiao Yunting responded without changing expression: “Yes.”
Qi Yuan could no longer breathe.
Celestial Master Zhang closed his eyes and added gravely: “And you must understand, even if you pay such a terrible price, the result is still uncertain. She may be reborn… but in a world where you no longer exist.”
“It’s also possible,” Celestial Master Zhang said, “that she’ll be reborn at the very start of her life, while you die in that catastrophe on Mount Mao.”
“Even if everything goes smoothly, and she is reborn, and you survive, you may still have to pay the price of a shortened life.”
“It’s even possible that after her rebirth, she has a completely different fate and sees you as her enemy. And your enemies might also be reborn.”
To pluck the stars with bare hands, never again to meet me.
Celestial Master Zhang looked at him with pity. “Even so… do you still want to go through with it?”
When a person has an obsession, it gives birth to endless courage.
Xiao Yunting pulled open his robes, baring his chest, and lifted his face to look at his master with clear and steady eyes: “Master, thank you for giving me a life. I know you told me to become emperor and accumulate merit because you wanted me to live, to live a little longer.”
“I listened to you. I lived a long time. I cared for the people. I saw my mother off. I buried my teacher. Now I have nothing left holding me back. Whatever the result is, I accept it. Please… grant me this.”
Celestial Master Zhang, a man like him, could not stop the tears from flowing down his weathered face.
This last disciple of his, was no different than a grandson to him.
And now, he had to personally send him off.
He closed his eyes, and without hesitation, drew the Celestial Master’s treasured sword from the wall and drove it straight into Xiao Yunting’s chest.
Qi Yuan cried out in horror: “No!”
The Tiger Fang turned red-hot, and in that instant, exploded with blinding light, engulfing her completely.
She felt as if countless ants were biting and tearing at her chest, then lost all consciousness.
When she woke again, the first thing she saw was the swollen, tear-filled eyes of the old Madam Qi, and the tear-streaked face of the Second Madam.
And beside her, was an even more familiar person.
Imperial Physician Hu had completely turned into a wild-haired beggar.
He was tugging at his own hair in despair, muttering frantically, “This doesn’t make sense! This doesn’t make sense! I, I tried everything! Her vitals were stable, she could drink water and take in broth, how could she still not wake up?! How could she not wake up?!”
This was just too much!
Why was everything about Miss Qi always such a nightmare?!
And then there was Lai Chenglong, that little brat, who had locked up all the doctors and said if they couldn’t cure Qi Yuan, they’d be buried with her!
Buried alive?! BURIED ALIVE?!
Might as well all just die already!
It might make sense to be buried with the Emperor, but being buried with a marquis’ daughter?! What a joke!
As he was spiraling into madness, he suddenly heard a voice, so faint it was almost inaudible, ask:
“How long… did I sleep?”
…?
Physician Hu thought he was hallucinating. He rubbed his bird’s-nest of a head.
But when he turned around, he came face-to-face with Qi Yuan’s bright, open eyes.
He immediately fell flat on his backside and let out a wail:
“Heavens above!!”
Holy cr*p!
She’s awake, she’s finally awake!!!!!!
He couldn’t hold it in and shouted: “She’s awake! She’s awake! She’s come back!”
Old Madam Qi, who had just been shouting at a fortune-teller to stop preparing funeral robes, had been sobbing: “Nonsense! My Yuanyuan will live a long, long life. She won’t die!”
Hearing that shout, she immediately turned around, and met Qi Yuan’s open eyes.
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