The low fever caused by excessive drinking subsided within two days, and Xin Mei was back to her lively self. Meanwhile, Lu Qianqiao seemed to have finished all necessary arrangements. That day, he led her on their journey away from the Imperial Mausoleum.
A long line of demons came to see them off. While Si Lan was expressing his reluctance and swearing loyalty to Lu Qianqiao—vowing to guard the Imperial Mausoleum in his stead—Xin Mei dodged Tao Guoguo’s disdainful glare and gave a thumbs-up to Ying Lian, who was peeking from behind a tree, before sneaking off to the back to get Zhao Guanren’s autograph.
Tears of emotion welled up in Zhao Guanren’s eyes as he signed his name over a dozen times on the handkerchief Xin Mei handed him, sighing, “As expected of the Celestial Maiden destined for the General! Such discerning taste!”
Xin Mei was stunned. “What Celestial Maiden?”
Zhao Guanren looked even more shocked. “You don’t know? The Mirror of United Hearts—a divine relic—reflected both of you! That mirror is eerie; it only shows couples bound by fate, and no one else. Didn’t it reflect the two of you the other day? If you don’t believe me, check again next time you return!”
Xin Mei’s jaw dropped, and it took her a while to close it again. She was deeply skeptical. “That mirror must be fake, right?”
“H-How could a t-treasure from the Imperial Mausoleum be f-fake?!” Zhao Guanren stammered in agitation.
“Time to go.”
Lu Qianqiao finally managed to tear himself away from the clingy, sentimental demons and turned to look their way.
Xin Mei tugged discreetly at Zhao Guanren’s sleeve. “By the way, who’s the master craftsman behind the dolls? Uncle, could you get me a few of his signatures? I’ll collect them when I return.”
Zhao Guanren gave a sly grin. “That person… is far yet near. If the young lady pays close attention, she’ll surely figure it out.”
…That was as good as saying nothing.
Xin Mei walked over to Lu Qianqiao, watching as he fitted the bridle onto Fierce Cloud Colt.
Fierce Cloud Colt was his own Spirit beast—or rather, his mount. The Sinister Clan had raised all kinds of fine steeds, the noblest being the snow-white dragon horses that could traverse ten thousand miles in a day, riding clouds and taming winds with ease. Yet compared to Fierce Cloud Colt before her, even those lacked its untamed spirit and arrogance.
The finest Spirit beasts were always the most unruly and willful.
Xin Mei observed Fierce Cloud Colt’s aloof and haughty demeanor, thinking how much it resembled its master. Rumor had it that officials like him—demoted to guard the Imperial Mausoleum—were effectively under house arrest, forbidden to leave unless the emperor decreed otherwise. Yet he seemed to come and go as he pleased, completely unbound. In a way, Lu Qianqiao was just as formidable and headstrong.
She leaned in, tilting her head into his line of sight, and asked, “Zhao Guanren said the Mirror of United Hearts reflected us, meaning we’re fated to be together. Is that true?”
Lu Qianqiao’s hand jerked, and the half-fastened bridle slipped to the ground.
“Is it true?” She pressed, her expression serious.
He deliberately turned his face away, avoiding her straightforward gaze as he quickly picked up the bridle and resumed fastening it. Yet the tips of his ears gradually reddened.
“…Fake.” His reply was icy.
Xin Mei sidled closer, studying his expression to gauge the truth of his words. He turned his back to her, adjusting Fierce Cloud Colt’s saddle.
She let out a relieved sigh. “I knew it was fake… There’s no way I’d marry you.”Lu Qianqiao flipped onto the horse's back without a word, suddenly grabbing the back of her collar and tossing her in front of him. Her knee hit the iron ring of the bridle, bringing tears to her eyes from the pain. "You... you definitely did that on purpose..."
"Shut up." He tugged the reins, and the Fierce Cloud Colt let out a long neigh, flames sprouting beneath its hooves as it leaped into the clouds, riding the wind.
Xin Mei rubbed her knee and looked up at his expressionless face. Today, his poker face seemed especially severe—his eyes were fixed unwaveringly ahead. Was he angry?
After some thought, she asked, "Lu Qianqiao, are you in a bad mood?"
No answer.
"Is it because I said I’d absolutely never marry you earlier?"
Still no answer.
"Or are you worried we won’t find Lord Meishan and won’t be able to ask about the War Ghost Clan?"
He remained silent, stubbornly playing mute with a stiff face.
"Actually, you really shouldn’t overthink these things. As the saying goes, 'The wicked live a thousand years.' You imprisoned me, stole my Qiu Yue, and bullied me whenever you felt like it—you’ve done so many bad things, so you’ll definitely live a thousand years."
His eyebrow finally twitched.
"My dad always said there’s nothing in this world that’s absolutely irreversible. So even though my fate says I’ll bring misfortune to my husband, he still believes I’ll get married someday. And even though you’ve done all those bad things, I don’t want you to die. Everyone in the Imperial Mausoleum probably hopes you’ll live a long life too, right? You’ve got to stay optimistic about life."
Lu Qianqiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He glanced at her face—so earnest, racking her brain for words to comfort him. Yet her words always managed to infuriate him one moment and soothe him the next, leaving him at a loss.
"Oh, right! Zhao Guanren said the craftsman who made the puppets is 'far away in the horizon yet right before your eyes.' Do you know who that is?"
Her train of thought always shifted so quickly, suddenly jumping to the topic of the puppets.
Lu Qianqiao coughed lightly, deliberately turning his head to gaze at the distant, misty clouds, his voice perfectly calm. "Mm. I made them in my spare time."
Xin Mei nearly toppled off the horse. He swiftly caught her by the waist, only for her to cling tightly to his arm, her expression shifting from shock to delight, then to ecstasy, and finally settling into fiery admiration.
"Really?" she asked in a hushed voice.
He continued staring calmly at the clouds. "Mm."
Xin Mei trembled as she opened her bundle and began rummaging through it. After a while, she pulled out a stack of brand-new, neatly folded handkerchiefs, holding them up to him with shining eyes. "Then... c-could you sign them for me...?"
His ears burned as he yanked her upright. "Sit properly. Don’t fall off."
"Signatures..."
"Shut up."
"Then let’s talk about your creative process and inspiration when making the puppets!"
"......"
The strong wind scattered her chattering, soft-spoken words. Lu Qianqiao brushed his wind-tousled hair aside, avoiding her adoring gaze. For some reason, a long-lost sense of ease settled over him—his mood really had improved.
On the eighteenth day of the fourth month, rain fell at the foot of White Head Mountain. Meishan Jun, cooped up in Meishan Residence, was thoroughly bored. Though Fu Jiuyun had somehow procured a set of bucket-sized glass wine vessels a few days prior and generously gifted them to him, without Fu Jiuyun’s company and with Zhen Hongsheng the fox rarely venturing out, drinking alone from a bucket-sized cup was far from enjoyable.According to the Spirit Guards, a crucian carp in the pond was about to gain sentience in the next few days. Bored out of his mind, he grabbed his treasured pure blue glass bucket goblet and headed to the pondside to observe.
He hadn’t taken more than a few sips when the gatekeeping Spirit Guard came running toward him in a panic, shouting, “Trouble! There are two troublemakers outside! They refuse to bathe and change clothes—they’re blocking the entrance!”
Meishan Jun was furious. He set down his goblet and stormed off.
His Meishan Residence was the purest and most spiritually rich place in White Head Mountain. Anyone from the outside world who wished to visit, even the Emperor himself, had to bathe and change in the hot springs at the front before entering the main gate. Who on earth had the audacity to defy the rules?
The Spirit Guard followed behind him, stammering, “It’s a man and a woman. The girl is quite young, called Xin Mei…”
Meishan Jun froze in his tracks.
The name Xin Mei seemed to strike the most tender and vulnerable spot in his heart, sending ripples through him. For some reason, his heart began to flutter wildly, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
“Idiots! Why didn’t you bring her in immediately? Who cares about bathing and changing?!” he roared in agitation.
The Spirit Guard continued, “The man looks to be in his twenties, fierce and intimidating. He calls himself Lu Qianqiao.”
Meishan Jun shuddered.
Feeling uneasy, he trudged nervously toward the gate. Outside, the wooden bridge was adorned with vibrant red and white blossoms in full bloom. Xin Mei, dressed in a well-fitted pale blue silk dress, leaned against the railing, watching fish blow bubbles in the water.
It was such a picturesque scene that Meishan Jun’s heart instantly melted.
But when he turned his head and saw Lu Qianqiao standing there, holding the reins of a fiery-red horse and staring at him expressionlessly, his fragile little heart plummeted again.
“Everyone who comes to Meishan Residence must bathe and change… It’s an old rule…” he muttered weakly, lacking conviction.
Lu Qianqiao frowned slightly, about to reluctantly comply with the household rules, when Meishan Jun immediately took a step back, his voice even quieter. “Of course… breaking the rules isn’t that big of a deal…”
How pathetic. The gatekeeping Spirit Guard couldn’t bear to watch and turned away.
Dejected, Meishan Jun led them inside, only to suddenly feel someone tug at his sleeve. Xin Mei leaned in with a bright smile, studying him. “Lord Meishan, you’ve lost weight again since I last saw you. Have you been eating properly?”
He coughed, unsure whether to explain that immortals rarely gained weight from eating, when she added, “Drinking every day isn’t good for you. How about I cook a nice meal for you tonight?”
His eyes instantly lit up. “Y-you can cook?”
She nodded. “It’s my first time visiting your home, and I didn’t bring a gift. Cooking a meal will have to do.”
What a virtuous and gentle girl. Meishan Jun gazed at her dreamily, floating all the way back to the main hall without his feet touching the ground.
OpenNovel