Chapter 752

Liu Guiyan put down the scissors, was dazed for a moment, then picked up another old shirt, which still retained the familiar clean and bitter scent.

From the day I first met you, you have always smelled like this.

A tenderness spread across her face.

That was decades ago.

Back then I was young, and for you I devoted myself to finding a way to bring the dead back to life.

All that pondering made decades slip by in a flash.

Although, your body was like a paper lantern riddled with holes.

For most of my life, wherever you leaked I would patch it; when the wind blew I would shield you from it; when the rain came I would shelter you from it.

Each extra day you lived made me feel that I, too, was still alive.

But a paper lantern is ultimately made of paper, and this day inevitably came.

The gentleness on Liu Guiyan's face vanished; she grabbed the scissors, aimed at the front of the robe, and cut down hard.

One swipe cut off a large piece; on the second swipe she suddenly stopped, as if the blade had hit something.

Liu Guiyan furrowed her brows, fiddled with it, slipped her hand between the two layers of the robe, and pulled out what was inside.

It was a letter.

Her hand trembled slightly; this is your clothing—did you leave a letter for me?

She hastily pulled out the paper inside and brought it close to the candlelight.

As the first line of characters came into view, her tears welled up.

"Guiyan, my wife. When you see this letter, I will likely already be gone from this world."

"I have been married to you for dozens of years, I know your temperament well; after I am gone, you will surely tear this robe to pieces to vent your resentment, so I leave this letter here."

Liu Guiyan wiped away a tear and continued reading.

"Guiyan, in this life I have wanted to do too much, yet accomplished too little."

"In my youth I blamed heaven and man, hating that this frail body held me back; only after meeting you did I realize heaven had not treated me poorly."

"But now I regret it—I should not have dragged you into this mess."

"You have exhausted your heart and blood for me, your temples have turned white, your face has grown lined."

"Yet I have never been able to accompany you back to Jiangnan to spend a few peaceful days."

"You should blame me—for knowing I am short‑lived, knowing that following me would bring you endless suffering, yet still being unwilling to leave you."

"You are the only warmth I have in this world; I cannot bear to part with you."

"Guiyan, I have failed you."

Liu Guiyan covered her mouth, tears streaming down, spilling from between her fingers: "Cheng Lang..."

She choked out a call, but the room was empty, no one answering.

"You have spent your whole life living for me; your medical skill, your years, have all been consumed by me."

"Now I have decided to give up my life, with only one wish: you have wasted most of your life for me; may your remaining years be lived for yourself."

"I have spent my life managing Netherworld Peak with my brother, never imagining that in Da Xia and the Fierce Kingdom our efforts would fall short by just a hair."

"My death is due to the Gu Worm, not for him; do not direct your anger at me."

"After my death, Netherworld Peak will fall into temporary silence, awaiting the right time."

Liu Guiyan clutched the letter, shaking with sobs.

At the end of the letter, the handwriting had become clearly hurried, as if written in haste:

"They will surely not let you go; you must leave Jingcheng at once, without any delay."

"If you are determined to take revenge, go to Japan; that way you can survive in this world without me."

"Seek out Teng Yuan Liangxin; he will surely lend you a hand."

"Guiyan, you are stubborn and never readily believe others."

"But if you still cherish our decades of affection, then promise me."

"No matter what, even if it is to avenge me, you must definitely stay alive."

"Do not speak lightly of life and death; your constitution is sound—you could easily live another few decades."

"Rest assured, on the road to the Yellow Springs I will not go alone; I will wait for you to come and reunite with me."

"Cheng Jing, final words."

Liu Guiyan held the letter, tears pouring forth like a spring.

When did he write this letter? Was it before going to Zichen Hall?

He knew what I would do, so he pointed out the road ahead for me, giving my heart something to hold onto so I wouldn't follow him.

He had thought of it for me long ago.

"You even arranged the path after death for me," she murmured, "Cheng Lang, how can I let you go?"

Cheng Jing, Cheng Lang.

She whispered this name in her heart countless times, each utterance feeling like a knife gouged into her chest.

She carefully folded the letter and gently slipped it into her bosom.

Then she rose, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

The laughter from outside surged in at once.

Fireworks rose into the sky, and the dazzling light reflected on her face.

She gazed at the horizon and murmured, "East Sea."

A few days later, the new plaque on the gate of Ning Prince's Mansion was rehung, and the mansion was also fully tidied.

The whole family finally returned from the Palace to their own mansion.

That evening, a family reunion feast.

Lady Xia sat at the head of the table, twirling a string of agarwood beads in her hand, smiling until her eyes were narrowed into slits.

Cheng Ru'an and Consort Yun sat side by side, speaking softly about personal matters.

Gongsun Yue sat quietly beside Tuan Tuan, smiling as he kept petting the little Xiao Feifei in his lap.

Tuan Tuan tapped Xiao Feifei's head: "Why are you so naughty! You scared Snowy that it almost flew off the rack!"

"Snowy was a gift from Third Brother; you must not scare it again, got it?"

Xiao Feifei lowered its head, let out two whimpering sounds, looking extremely aggrieved.

"Alright, I won't blame you!" Tuan Tuan laughed, glanced at the steaming dishes on the table: "In a bit I'll feed you some meat."

Xiao Yuanhang entered together with his three sons and Bai Buluo.

He paid his respects to Lady Xia and sat beside Tuan Tuan.

Scanning everyone, he couldn't help but curl the corner of his mouth; this was his home, all his family were present, Tuan Tuan, round and whole.

He had fought wars half his life; wasn't it all for this very moment?

Bai Buluo lifted his cup and drank: "This wine is truly not as strong as the one from our Kucha."

"Dada, hurry and eat your vegetables!" Tuan Tuan placed a piece of meat into his bowl: "It's made by my mother, it's delicious!"

Bai Buluo immediately pinched the meat and put it in his mouth: "My little girl still thinks of Dada!"

He cast a sideways glance at Xiao Yuanhang, looking smug.

Xiao Yuanhang helplessly placed his hand on his forehead.

Tuan Tuan again placed a piece of meat into Father's bowl: "Father, you eat too!"

"Alright," Xiao Yuanhang picked up his chopsticks, put them in his mouth, and shot a glance back at Bai Buluo, "Indeed not bad."

"Right!" Tuan Tuan proudly shook her little head, "The imperial meals we eat daily in the secret chamber can't compare to Mother's cooking!"

Cheng Ru'an was overjoyed by her daughter's praise: "Tuan Tuan really is the best at speaking!"

The three brothers kept adding dishes to the small bowls of Tuan Tuan and Gongsun Yue.

The two little ones ate until their cheeks were puffed, and kept feeding Xiao Feifei at its mouth.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi smiled as they looked at their own miss, raising their cups to clink.

Cheng Ru'an looked at the bustling scene of the table, her eyes slightly reddening.

Consort Yun quietly handed her a handkerchief: "Aren't they all back now?"

Cheng Ru'an took it, wiping the corner of her eye.

"Mother, what's wrong with you?" Tuan Tuan, sharp‑eyed, immediately saw.

"It's nothing, Mother is happy."

"When you're happy you should smile!" Tuan Tuan slid down from the chair, pattered over, stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss on her face, "Smile like this!"

Cheng Ru'an burst into laughter, scooping her into her arms and hugging her for a while.

When the meal was nearly finished, Xiao Feifei lay sprawled on Gongsun Yue's leg, its tail tip wagging, looking fully satisfied.

Tuan Tuan poked its little belly, shook her head: "In a bit I'll have to chase you again! Xiao Feifei, can't you eat a little less?"

Xiao Ningyuan looked at the two little ones: "Isn't it because you two fed them!"

Gongsun Yue and Tuan Tuan exchanged glances and burst into giggles.

Xiao Ningxun set down his chopsticks: "Father, Cheng Jing is dead, the Palace's thorough investigation uncovered some eunuchs and Imperial Guard, removing many hidden strongholds."

"They are leaderless," Xiao Ningyuan said, "The Ministry of Justice is intensifying the interrogation of those people."

"As long as we follow the trail and continue to hunt down the remnants, uprooting them completely shouldn't take long."

"But there is one person who still hasn't been heard from," Xiao Ningchen said gravely, "Liu Guiyan."

Xiao Yuanhang nodded: "This person is adept at using poison and is Cheng Jing's widow; we must capture her quickly, without slack, otherwise the trouble will be endless."

The three brothers answered in unison: "Yes."

"Father!" Tuan Tuan tugged at her father's sleeve: "Tomorrow I will enter the Palace!"

"Alright!" Xiao Yuanhang patted his daughter's little head, "Now you're a princess, you can go if you wish!"

Tuan Tuan counted on her fingers: "I want to go see Eleven and Twelve!"

"Also the Empress, Consort Rong, and Noble Consort De, and… right, also Snow Tuan!"

"You, truly are busier than His Majesty," Cheng Ru'an said with a laugh, flicking her nose.

The next day, the morning court.

After the officials bowed, Eunuch Cheng shouted loudly: "Xuan, Prince Cheng An of the Goryeo royal clan, Prince Wang Jingzhao, appear before us—!"