Chapter 116: Unwavering Until Death

I saw Cheng You, dressed in dark‑blue warrior garb, walking toward me step by step, his face bearing an unusually bright smile; he even reached me, bowed, and loudly said, "I, the rear guard, present myself before the Empress. The rescue arrived late, caused the Empress to be startled; I deserve ten thousand deaths!"

I saw the teasing smile at the corner of his mouth, felt the Qi Kingdom soldiers around me staring like needles, and felt Qi Ran's hand tighten slightly, almost making me want to snap him up.

Gritting my teeth, I endured! I lowered my head, bitterly saying, "No need! How is Wei Lingfeng over there?"

Cheng You laughed in a way that begged to be slapped, straightened up, and still with a respectful face said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has already retaken Mao Chang and Yin Yi. The Yin Yao coalition led by Fu Junmo has suffered heavy losses and has now withdrawn to Yin Chuan Feng Lan City. Their commanders are at odds, the troops are demoralized; I believe the city's fall is imminent."

I nodded, as I understood Wei Lingfeng's plan to some extent. He lured Fu Junmo into a duel, sacrificing a portion of Xin Yuan soldiers, using a feigned defeat at the front to retreat, covering the Heaven‑Armor Elite Troops mixed among them as they withdrew behind Yin Yi City, then around Mao Chang, coordinating with the Yi Nation soldiers that Wen Ruobin had already withdrawn there, capturing the city overnight. At the same time, Wei Lingfeng personally held Fu Junmo's main force at Xin Yuan City, taking advantage of the city's interior emptiness; the waterways I had opened, the civilians welcomed and cooperated, inside and out, they seized Yin Yi in one stroke. After Yin Yi fell, he ordered people to light beacon fires behind the city; upon seeing this, Fu Junmo would inevitably rush to aid, and the long‑awaited Heaven‑Armor Elite Troops dragged them into a trap, delivering a crushing blow.

But… the corner of my mouth twitched, I glared fiercely at Cheng You, gritting my teeth, "Cheng You, you could have taken the city long ago; why did you delay until now?"

Cheng You's face showed no flush, his heart didn't race, he smiled naturally, deliberately trying to anger me: "The Emperor said we must keep the Empress safe, never endanger her life. Therefore I have always strictly followed the Emperor's orders. Isn't the Empress safe and sound now? In fact, I should thank the Empress for sparing me the loss of capturing these elite soldiers."

Damn it, still a rescue! I'd rather you just collect the corpses! Cheng You, remember, I—

Qi Ran, smiling, scooped the enraged, sword‑wielding me into his arms, glanced at the cold‑faced Bu Sha, couldn't help a slight lift of his mouth, his voice strained and painful: "Ahem—forget it, Bing Yi, let's treat it as training our martial skills. Moreover… ahem… you're still not his match!"

The sky was azure, the water a clear blue. The three of us, including Cheng You, followed a tributary of the Huai River toward Mao Chang, to rendezvous with Wei Lingfeng and Wen Ruobin. This battle was truly a splendid victory, whether for Fu Junmo and Yin Ziheng, or in the fight against Xiao Yifei.

Yin Yi and Mao Chang's ridge lie in a steppe valley; here weeds grow thick, there is no bird song or floral scent, yet on the edge of a battlefield shrouded in smoke and fire it is a rare place that clears the mind.

A group of a dozen‑plus riders approached from ahead; from a distance, the leader wore moon‑white brocade, his hair bound with golden rings, his face handsome beyond compare—it was Wei Lingfeng himself arriving.

I was slightly stunned, watching him ride leisurely under the sun, his bearing noble and elegant yet imposing. Though his figure was still somewhat slender, it shed any signs of decay; his whole body radiated a brilliance even brighter than the sunlight, dazzling the eyes.

Seeing me, or perhaps seeing me unharmed, pure joy lit his eyes; he swung his long whip, the motion so graceful it was breath‑taking, and charged toward us.

When only a few dozen steps remained, he pulled the reins to halt, leapt down lightly, and walked toward me.

I smiled, about to greet him, when my shoulders were suddenly gently grasped by a pair of hands; I staggered, turned my head sideways, and met Qi Ran's solemn, austere face.

He stared at me quietly, his expression calm and dim, a flicker of nervous unease flashing in his blue eyes before vanishing. He spoke, his voice flowing softly like melting ice, "Bing Yi, I no longer wish to doubt and shake our relationship as before, but you still owe me an explanation."

My whole body trembled, I stared blankly at the blue‑clad, black‑haired man before me. He was no longer the perfectly clear figure I first met, yet he had truly grown and transformed; after so many trials, he had matured from a naive boy into a restrained, radiant youth.

Qi Ran, do you know? In that world, I have so many words hidden in my heart that I want to say, yet cannot…

Qi Ran, do you know? When I realized I might never return, how regretful I was, that I had never clearly expressed my feelings for you.

Qi Ran…

My shoulder ached slightly; I looked up to see Qi Ran's tense face, his flickering eyes, his slightly trembling hand, and I couldn't help feeling a soft ache in my heart.

I slowly reached out, brushing his jade‑like face, my voice deep and choked, saying, "Fool, I love you!"

His body shivered, the tremor not violent but seeming to stir his entire soul. After a long, prolonged silence, he suddenly released his hand, stared blankly at me, and whispered, "Say it again."

I smiled, a smile dazzlingly beautiful, clear and serene. I stepped back, my gaze falling on him, yet the corner of my eye caught everyone, including Wei Lingfeng's pallid complexion.

I gave a faint smile, my heart aching a little, yet unusually calm and tranquil. The fatigue, pain, wandering sorrow in my heart seemed to vanish in an instant, leaving only the blue‑clad, black‑haired youth before me.

I focused intently on him, directing all my gaze and heart toward him, then spoke. My voice was neither light nor heavy, neither suppressed nor loud, yet everyone could hear it clearly.

"Xiao Qiran, I love you, unwavering until death!"

Qi Ran, did you hear? This is my confession to you. Though it came so late, it is a feeling I have never once wavered— I love you, unwavering until death!

Qi Ran gently laughed, that smile I even yearned for in my dreams, hoping it would return to his face.

He released the hand clasped around my arm, suddenly stepped back, and knelt on one knee before everyone.

Sunlight fell on his ink‑black hair, on the silver cords binding it, on his crystal‑clear, flawless face, scattering tiny brilliant glimmers.

He raised his left hand, palm up, and slowly spread it before me. The jade‑like palm cradled a silver‑gleaming platinum ring, one of the rings I had given Xin Luo to entrust to him.

He kept his hand steady, unmoving, then lifted his head, gazing at me with a solemn seriousness as if performing the world's most significant ceremony, facing the most precious treasure.

He smiled, his smile like the first glow of moonlight—soft, warm, yet unexpectedly pure and clear. He said, his voice gentle and careful as if cradling fragile porcelain, yet resolute as if swearing a solemn oath.

"Shui Bing Yi, I ask you to marry me, Xiao Qiran, as my wife. In this life and the next I will love and protect only you; this love will not change, this resolve will not waver!"

I stared at him, at the ring in his palm, my eyes hot and wet as if about to spill water. I stepped closer, voice trembling, and asked, "Why… do you know?" Why do you know the modern way of proposing?

Qi Ran kept his left hand steady on the ring, while his right hand pulled a silver phone from his pocket, flicked the flip open, deftly pressed a few keys, then held the reflective screen toward me, raising it high.

A light, melodic tune poured out—

The setting was lavish, arranged for a trial wedding dress.

…

Will you have prepared flowers and a dress for the proposal?

Is the ring placed on the ring finger? Do you not fully understand?

Not yet married.

Like emulating classic protagonists kneeling at my feet.

Continue to fantasize— is this called happiness?

…

Will the vow be proof it can endure?

Through life, old age, illness, poverty, and the road, we will watch the stars together.

…

Qi Ran shyly smiled, a few awkward pink flushes on his jade‑white face, "Um… the language is strange. I only learned it after listening for a long time."

"Bing Yi…" Amid the lingering song, he said, "Will you marry me?"

I nodded, tears sliding down my cheeks, landing at the corner of my mouth without bitterness. Still not enough, I pressed two hard times.

Qi Ran's eyes flashed as if holding the world's happiness, his smile like that of a pure child, making me want to cry again.

He set the phone down, gently took my hand, his warm‑cool breath enveloping my whole body, and the ring slowly slipped onto my ring finger.

My body was suddenly drawn into that familiar warm embrace, held tight, tightly, his voice trembling with joy and affection, repeatedly whispering in my ear, "We will never part again!"

I curled up in Qi Ran's arms, closed my eyes, and let out a deep, relaxed sigh.

If the heart has ever hurt, this pain is the only one. Even knowing it would hurt you, I still want you to see it with your eyes, hear it with your ears. Because I no longer wish to deceive you, nor let you wait hopelessly. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Wei Lingfeng. Did you see? This is my choice, the choice my heart has made.

It took less than half an hour to reach Mao Chang City; along the way Qi Ran held my hand tightly, but the journey was silent and dead, no one spoke. I couldn't see Wei Lingfeng's face, nor did I want to.

The city gates opened slowly; the soldiers at the gate knelt respectfully before Wei Lingfeng. When their gazes fell on me, they all rejoiced and blurted, "Empress, you have returned safely?"

My heart trembled, yet I still clenched the hand at my side, forced a smile and said, "I'm sorry, brother, you've mistaken me for someone else."

The soldier looked bewildered at me and Qi Ran beside me, then glanced at the expressionless Wei Lingfeng nearby, awkwardly scratched his head and laughed. We ignored him and hurried into the city.

When only Qi Ran and I remained in the corridor, he gently soothed the worry on my brow and said softly, "Don't worry, I'll take care of big brother's matter."

"Hmm," I nodded blankly, letting him lead me into a quiet study, while my mind was a tangle of countless thoughts—modern, ancient, Wei Lingfeng's, Xin Luo's… all jumbled together.

"How did you get Xiao Yifei to let you go?"

I let out an "oh," and answered absentmindedly, "I said I was carrying your child."

The steps dragging me toward the bedside suddenly halted, and Qi Ran turned back, looking at me in disbelief, "How did you make him believe it?"

My mind snapped awake, and looking into his bright eyes, I briefly felt cowardly enough to slip from his grasp and run. Yet, thinking again, this matter has been a throat‑piercing knot in my heart; even if I don't speak now, I must tell him someday.

"Bing Yi?" Qi Ran's eyes flashed with doubt as he stepped closer, gently wrapped his arm around my waist, his voice gentle yet wary, "Are you hiding something from me?"

"I… I took the mother‑and‑child herb." I swallowed hard, stepped back, and hurried, "So even Xiao Yifei was deceived."

"So it was the mother‑and‑child herb." Qi Ran exhaled, a look of pain and pity crossing his eyes, gently brushed my hair, and as he turned, his expression suddenly changed.

"Mother‑and‑child herb? You say mother‑and‑child herb?!" Qi Ran abruptly tightened his arm, pinning me in his embrace; his icy‑blue eyes flashed with a fierce light, his shocked, dangerous expression as if to swallow me whole, "Doesn't the mother‑and‑child herb only affect women who have been pregnant?!" One year ago, at Lingyun General Hospital.

Uncle Liu sighed, raised his hand to signal me to calm down, then said slowly, "Bing Yi, this is exactly what I wanted to tell you. A few days ago, your full‑body examination results came back, confirming that you… are about a month and a half pregnant."

"What?!" I widened my eyes in disbelief, staring at him; only after he nodded did I slowly lower my head to my flat belly. An indescribable excitement, a strange surge of emotion rose, making me almost want to cry.

"Bing Yi, if you truly don't want this child, I can help you abort it. But…"

"I want him!" I jerked my head up, almost shouting, "How could I possibly not want him?!" He is the testament to my love with Qi Ran! Even though we are separated by two worlds, someone still bears witness to our love.

I saw Uncle Liu's startled expression, couldn't help but smile lightly, and said earnestly, "I love the child's father very much. So Uncle Liu, rest assured."

Uncle Liu exhaled, smiling with relief, "Since you're willing to keep him, that's wonderful. I was just about to say this child may be the only hope to save your father! His bone marrow might be a better match than yours."

Could this child save my father? That's great… I let out a long sigh…

——I can only wear the clothes you wore when you came, bring the things you brought, nothing else can be taken, or rather, cannot be taken away…

A buzzing exploded in my mind, Shui Yu Tianze's words echoing in my ears repeatedly. After a long while, I asked blankly, "Uncle Liu, must I give birth to him here?"

Uncle Liu was startled, asking puzzled, "If not here, which hospital do you want to go to?"

I suddenly choked, tears in my eyes, filled with pleading and hope, "Uncle Liu, could you… could you try my bone marrow? I really don't want to leave him here alone!"

Though Uncle Liu wore a puzzled expression, seeing my mournful look softened him, and he sighed, "Bing Yi, you must know that bone‑marrow donation carries risks; before surgery both donor and recipient must be in optimal health. Even if your marrow matches, the prerequisite is to abort or give birth to this child first!"

The prerequisite is… abort or give birth to this child…

All the strength in my body, all hope, seemed suddenly drained; I hunched my knees and curled back into the chair, for a long, long time, finally unable to stop burying my head between my knees, silently weeping.

Qi Ran, Qi Ran, what should I do? I don't want to abandon our child; I don't want him to never even see his own father, but… but that person is my father! How could I not save him, how could I not rescue him?!

Qi Ran, please tell me, what exactly… should I do?

Nine months later, at the Shui Family Residence.

"Bing Yi, have you really decided?" Xiao Yu cradled a tiny infant, her face full of dread and unease, "Can you really bear to abandon him?"

I pressed my lips together, the index finger gently tracing the infant's slightly pink, cream‑like cheek. Though a baby under a month old usually shows no features, he was astonishingly beautiful, so beautiful that even a cold brother, upon seeing him, couldn't help softening his expression, fearing to startle him.

Even now, it's hard to tell how much he resembles Qi Ran. Yet those ice‑blue eyes that captivate the soul as soon as they open inherit the traits left by his father's blood‑poison mutation.

I gently took him from Xiao Yu's arms; his soft, fragrant little body seemed to sense a familiar scent, grinning as he crawled into my embrace. From his cherry‑blossom‑soft mouth came a peculiar, crystal‑clear murmur.

I can't bear to let go… what can I do? I gently held him tighter, letting his ivory‑like little hand tug at my hair playfully. It's not that I haven't thought of staying, but renouncing my oath makes it impossible to abandon that scarred boy. It's not that I haven't thought of taking him away, yet even a one‑in‑ten‑thousand chance of harming him I cannot risk. Moreover, the chance of escaping through the time‑space tunnel unharmed is only one in a hundred million.

"Xiao Yu, from now on I'll entrust his care to you." I leaned down gently, pressing my face against the infant's smooth cheek. He couldn't help but stick out his tongue to lick my face, making it wet, and burst into giggles.

Xiao Yu's eyes flashed with sympathy and pity, and after a moment she asked, "What's his surname?"

"His surname is Xiao." I straightened up, smiling faintly, "The Xiao of 'the boundless falling leaves rustle.'"

"Xiao Yu, when he grows up, please tell him everything you know. Whether he later resents me or ignores me, he has the right to know his whole story."

Xiao Yu nodded solemnly, "Bing Ye and I will treat him as our own son."

"Hmm." I smiled, "I've never doubted that. Xiao Yu, perhaps in the future—I'm saying perhaps he'll be very different—but at least please treat him as any ordinary person would."

"I know, I know." Xiao Yu choked, nodding repeatedly.

"Xiao Yu, the name… let you choose it for him," I said.

Hearing Xiao Yu's sobbing, after a long while she gently said, "Call him Bing Shuo, Xiao Bing Shuo."

"Bing Shuo… Shuo? Like a newborn sun." I began to cry, tears dripping onto the infant—Bing Shuo's thin clothes and soft hair. I said, "Xiao Yu, thank you."

Xiao Yu suddenly hugged me, burying her head in my neck while sobbing; Bing Shuo, irritated by the suddenly cramped space, kicked his little feet.

"Bing Yi, I can't bear to let you go, I can't bear it!"

I silently embraced her, sobbing softly, whispering, "Me too, I really can't bear you."

Everyone must bear responsibility for their actions; everyone must face the consequences of their mistakes. I repeatedly hesitated and fled in matters of the heart, wavering without progress, and finally brought about today's situation.

Now I am tasting the bitter fruit of my past arrogance. The pain is not heart‑wrenching or earth‑shattering, yet each cut etches deep into my heart and marrow, like a maggot in bone, never to be removed. This torment, mingling joy and sorrow, blended with longing and guilt, will forever lock me for a lifetime.

"Enough, Bing Yi." Qi Ran held my trembling self tightly, saying in an equally trembling voice, "It's not just your fault, I"

He paused, inhaled deeply, squeezing my hand tighter, and continued, "Back then, driven by a moment of anger, I unleashed the Zonggu Extinction, causing countless wives to be separated from their children, families shattered, lives destroyed. Heaven's punishment of this magnitude is already merciful. At least, he can live happily in that world, right?"

I nodded forcefully, burying my face deep in his embrace, silently saying word by word, "Qi Ran, we won't have any more children, okay?"

I felt his body shiver against mine, yet he said nothing.

I held him tighter, continuing, "I don't want anyone to replace Bing Shuo's place, even if he might not acknowledge me as his mother or you as his father."

Just like I told Shui Yu Tianze, though I bear no hatred, I can never see him as a father. How laughable! In an instant, that same resolute pain fell upon me.

I pressed my lips together, my voice low yet resolute: "Even if there are other children, none will ever be that one. Qi Ran, this is what we owe him."

"Alright, I promise you." Qi Ran spoke softly, lowering his head to kiss away the tears on my face, holding me tightly, his voice hoarse, "Leaving your beloved family, even your own child, to keep you by my side. I don't regret it, but Bing Yi, this is also my debt to you. However…" His cool fingers pressed against my chin, forcing me to look up, "Promise me. If by accident… you must not easily abandon him."

I nodded, lunged into his arms, clutching tightly. I felt his embrace so forceful it seemed to want to merge me into his body, and his repeated whispers in my ear: "Bing Yi, I love you! I love you!"… Tears soaked his collar and my hair.

After enduring countless storms, separations, deaths, and reunions, after heartache after heartache, love and despair again and again, we finally ended up together.

Heartache sparked longing, despair forged hope. Qi Ran, we will never part again!

(End of Chapter)