Chapter 3

Epilogue · The Blooming Flowers on the Path (Complete)

Wen Qingyu turned slowly, looking at Yan Daiqing approaching with the juan sect, his expression unchanged, his face full of sincere confusion: "Your Majesty? Isn't Your Majesty inside, reviewing the juan sect?"

Yan Daiqing, holding the juan sect, said: "I just went there, but didn't see him."

"Were you here, and didn't see Your Majesty at all?"

Wen Qingyu said: "No."

Yan Daiqing frowned suspiciously: "Truly not?"

Wen Qingyu answered openly:

"Of course not. Do you really not trust me?"

Yan Daiqing looked into Wen Qingyu's open eyes, then let out a cold, mocking laugh:

"Of course I don't trust you! If you really hadn't seen Your Majesty, you'd have claimed you did, and spun some elaborate lie—but now you're so certain, so honest, saying you didn't see him."

"That's the real problem!"

"Tell me, where did Your Majesty go?!"

Wen Qingyu's temple twitched; he stared at this friend who knew him too well, and simply said: "I don't know."

Yan Daiqing flew into a rage, swinging the juan sect like a club, shouting: "Your Majesty has state affairs to handle today, and tomorrow is the wedding! Where did he go, and what are you hiding?!"

The Left Chancellor resorted to brute force interrogation.

After a brief struggle, Wen Qingyu realized that Bo Jun, Fang Ziqiao, Zhou Pinglu, and others had all arrived upon hearing the commotion. After carefully weighing the odds, he decisively gave a brief account: "It was the Changfeng Lady and Your Majesty who went out together."

Everyone exchanged glances.

Yan Daiqing's expression softened: "If the Changfeng Lady invited Your Majesty out, it's perfectly reasonable. Why didn't you say so sooner?"

Wen Qingyu, his left eye socket black and purple, remained expressionless:

"You didn't give me a chance to speak."

Yan Daiqing rubbed his own right eye socket and sneered:

"As if you'd answer honestly without force."

Wen Lingjun said: "The remaining state affairs are merely trivial matters—these don't require Your Majesty's attention. But tomorrow is the wedding, the sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, the audience of all officials, the joy of the four seas—what if Your Majesty is absent?"

This gentle gentleman spoke calmly, yet his eyes fixed on Wen Qingyu.

The first great event after the founding of the Great Qin.

The Emperor and Empress's wedding.

Officials from all directions have come; sacrifices to Heaven and Earth; the people rejoice.

Yet both Emperor and Empress are gone.

What's left to celebrate?

Merely imagining this sent a cold sweat down the backs of these warlords and schemers. All eyes turned to Wen Qingyu, who smiled faintly, confident: "Your Majesty will return on time."

"If he doesn't…"

Wen Lingjun, Fang Ziqiao, and others exchanged glances and asked:

"If he doesn't, then what?"

Wen Qingyu straightened his chest, lifted his head, exuding the calm dignity of a renowned scholar, and said without haste:

"I, Yan Daiqing of Jiangnan, shall bear full responsibility!"

For a moment, no one realized what was wrong.

Only after three breaths did Yan Daiqing erupt in fury:

"Wen Qingyu!!!"

"You son of a bitch!!!"

He swung his fists again, beating him once more; the strategist group descended into its usual internal chaos. Wen Qingyu, watching from afar, wore a satisfied smile.

My Lord. My Lady.

Your servant has done his best.

Wen Qingyu was dragged away.

"Tomorrow is Your Majesty's wedding—don't hit his face!"

……………………

Li Guanyi changed clothes, swapping his crimson robe embroidered with Fire Qilin for a gray-blue traveling martialist outfit, tying his hair with a jade hairpin, and slipped out with Xue Shuangtao. As they left, faint laughter still drifted from behind.

"Hahaha, drink, drink!"

"Fan Qing, how can you collapse already?!"

Li Guanyi grimaced—he recognized Yue Qianfeng's voice. The old brother was in high spirits today, utterly exhilarated. Li Guanyi held his breath, slowed his movements, and whispered: "We mustn't be discovered."

"If the Yue Marshal and the others notice, we won't escape."

Xue Shuangtao smiled lightly.

Li Guanyi's Wu Gong was already supreme; he easily slipped past Jiangnan, leaving the noise, laughter, and drinking behind. All that remained were willows swaying in the spring breeze, and the gentle murmur of flowing water. Their expressions grew calm as they followed the current.

Li Guanyi said: "So, Young Lady, where would you like to go?"

Xue Shuangtao wore a faint smile.

Escaping from the grand ceremony that seemed to encompass the entire world carried an indescribable thrill. Her cheeks flushed slightly; she exhaled slowly and said: "I don't know."

Li Guanyi laughed: "A perfect 'I don't know.'"

He thought for a moment: "Then let's just wander everywhere."

Li Guanyi whistled.

The divine aura of his Wu Gong surged into the sky; clouds churned violently. Suddenly, a long cry of a falcon pierced the air—a golden streak tore through the clouds like a wave splitting, and a golden divine eagle appeared in the heavens.

The auspicious beast of the grasslands lowered its head, its eyes fixed on the Qin Huang. Li Guanyi laughed aloud: "Auspicious Beast, I borrow your speed today—thank you for your service."

The Divine Eagle rolled its eyes.

It no longer carried the defiant arrogance it had when first meeting Qin Huang.

The proud auspicious beast of the grasslands.

After that warm and friendly exchange with the Ancient Crimson Dragon.

It had never repeated its old habits again.

Li Guanyi wrapped his arm around Xue Shuangtao's waist, lightly stepped on the ground, and his internal Qi circled around them, faintly forming a flowing wind that lifted them up, carrying them aloft—in an instant, they landed on the Divine Eagle's back.

The auspicious beast spiraled in the wind, then flapped its wings once and flew off into the distance.

Since the Young Lady had not said where she wished to go, Li Guanyi decided instead to follow his youthful longing: head to Saibei's frozen extremes, to see the Changfeng winds swirl, the Bai Xue stretch white, and spring linger still.

Go to the highest sacred mountain in the Western Regions, to see where Qin Huang once led his army to break the city and cast the cauldron.

He reached out his hand to touch that vast, ancient, crudely shaped Western Regions cauldron.

Then, at the border between grassland and Western Regions, he saw the desert like a long river, the red sun sinking, churning the clouds into boiling steam; after sunset, a bright moon illuminated all around, making the entire desert shimmer with a faint, cold silver glow.

Until finally.

Riding the Divine Eagle, they skimmed across the sea of clouds in the sky, watched the great sun rise, its rosy light surging in magnificent splendor—in a single day, they nearly surveyed all the splendors of the world. Xue Shuangtao's spirit had been excellent, but now she was slightly weary.

Li Guanyi smiled lightly: "Then let's go back and take a look."

With a flick of his mind, the Divine Eagle sensed Li Guanyi's intent, folded its wings, and shot downward like an arrow, tearing through the cloud sea; when it stabilized, they could already see the gates of Yicheng.

The flying eagle could not simply descend openly from the sky—such a massive auspicious beast, terrifying in appearance, would surely frighten the common folk. They landed on a hill outside the city, then stepped down and walked leisurely into Yicheng.

Yicheng was still far from the original Eighteen Southern Provinces.

Today's wedding rites were naturally held in the south, and many of the Xue family had already arrived at their villa in the south, waiting; here, there was no need to worry about encountering familiar faces. Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao strolled forward.

The young woman in green robes smiled softly as she walked along the road.

Li Guanyi asked: "What are you laughing at?"

Xue Shuangtao said: "You should ask what I'm thinking, not what I'm laughing at."

Li Guanyi smiled: "Then, Young Lady, what are you thinking?"

Xue Shuangtao clasped her hands behind her back, her fingers pale and slender, lightly brushing over the green branches hanging beside the path: "I was thinking of over ten years ago, when Brother Yue and the others tried to rescue Marshal Yue and needed Grandpa to enter the city."

"Brother Yue gathered many escaped convicts and forced them to storm the city defenses."

"That was when Master Wenzhong was accepting inner-disciples; all the young nobles from nearby families were gathered here for literary and martial contests—but back then, though many nobles boasted of both literary and martial excellence, only you dared to step forward."

"Back then, you hadn't even entered the realm yet, yet you had such courage."

Li Guanyi said: "Xue Lao and Brother Yue treated me very well. Since I knew their conflict was merely a misunderstanding, with no reason to be enemies, I couldn't just watch them kill each other."

Xue Shuangtao laughed: "You always have your reasons."

"And last time…"

The spring light was faint, just at dawn.

Common folk from villages outside the city were traveling toward Yicheng, their feet brushing dew-damp grass, the air cool; the woman in green robes and the blue-clad wandering swordsman walked side by side, chatting about their youth.

Entering the city, the woman suddenly felt inspired and laughed: "It was right here that the other noble young ladies invited me to a women's literary gathering—but you, you just grabbed my hand and dragged me away."

"I remember there was a small market then, with merchants selling Western Regions jujubes, children, artisans, and performers—ah, since that day, over ten years have passed, and I've never seen such a lively market again, nor drunk such delicious hot soup."

Li Guanyi smiled: "If you miss those days, then today we'll go see them again."

The two walked slowly, idly, like an ordinary pair of wandering martial heroes.

They went to the tree's side; though no rain had fallen, there was still a small market—a spontaneous fair held by the people. Since the founding of the Great Qin, such matters were not harshly suppressed, but encouraged as long as order was maintained.

Today was not one of the major market days—the first or fifteenth of the month—but an ordinary market.

There were only a dozen stalls, mostly selling trinkets and everyday tools—but even on an ordinary day in Yicheng, this market featured specialties from the north, the Western Regions, the southwest, and beyond.

Leather from the Western Regions and grasslands, brocade from the southwest.

Pottery from the central northern lands.

And other fine trinkets from various places, different teas from all regions—upon listening to conversations, they learned a caravan had arrived in Yicheng, bringing all these foreign specialties.

Today, the caravan leader was selling here himself.

Li Guanyi looked at a buffalo-horn comb, polished smooth, with excellent texture, and was about to ask the caravan leader—when he froze slightly. Beside the largest stall sat a young man, cross-legged; his face was not particularly handsome, but carried a firm, familiar air.

He wore a brown martial suit, iron bracers, and at his waist hung two swords. He was young, barely in his early twenties, and his Wu Gong had already reached the Third Heaven—remarkable for a wandering swordsman at such an age.

"Guest, would you like to buy this comb? Made by nomads of the Western Regions, with ancient craftsmanship, uniquely effective against dandruff—if you'd like it…"

The caravan leader spoke cheerfully, then also froze slightly.

The young man blinked, looked at Li Guanyi, then at the woman in green robes—and leapt up as if a Mohist mechanism had been triggered beneath him, blurting out: "Master Li! Shopkeeper Xue?!!"

Xue Shuangtao recognized the young man too.

He was the son of the traveling merchants she'd met before her journey to the Imperial Academy, when she'd gone as promised—she smiled: "Is it… Little Stone?"

Shi Yisong, as a boy, had traveled with his father as a merchant. Back then, he first met Li Guanyi, who was accompanying Sword Madman to Zhongzhou; later, after parting ways and leaving Zhongzhou, he encountered the Xue family's caravan heading toward Zhongzhou, forming good ties with both Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao.

Now reunited, Shi Yisong was delighted: "It's really you two! Hahaha, I thought I'd never see you again! Come, come, sit down!"

Shi Yisong rose and brought two stools, then called over someone from the caravan selling snacks, arranging them on oiled paper spread out on the table.

They chatted about the past, recounting old stories.

While chatting, Shi Yisong briefly recounted his own journey: hardship during the war years, barely surviving; now that the world was unified, he used his Wu Gong to resume the merchant path. With no wars anywhere, he was even more successful than his father's generation.

He asked whether the old man who had once briefly guided his sword technique was still well.

He learned the green-robed elder had passed away, and his face darkened: "My Wu Gong was all taught by that elder and Master Li. Back then, I didn't realize how significant it was—but as I trained and grew stronger, I came to understand just how great a fortune that was."

"The elder has passed. I should burn incense for him."

He looked again at Xue Shuangtao and Li Guanyi, puzzled: "What are you two…"

His gaze swept over them, then a faint, knowing smile appeared:

"Back then, Shopkeeper Xue led the caravan to find Master Li."

Looking back now, over these past ten years, Miss Xue's caravan has finally caught up with Brother Li.

Xue Shuangtao blinked in surprise, about to say something more.

Li Guanyi gently grasped the woman's wrist, smiling, and said:

"Yes."

Shi Yisong laughed loudly; though he was barely of age, he had traveled through the chaos of war and carried the bold spirit of a wandering swordsman, drinking freely at this humble stall, when suddenly he remembered something, drew the two swords at his waist, and placed them on the table.

One was a wooden sword, carved with the character "Li."

The other was a fine blade forged with masterful craftsmanship, engraved with the character "Xue."

Shi Yisong smiled and said, "These two swords were given to me by the two of you when I was young. Now, after more than ten years apart, meeting you again—I offer these swords as my gift."

"Back then, Miss Xue never met Brother Li."

"Today, you two have come together."

"Even our caravan folk feel joy and exhilaration—only today, seeing old friends again, do I realize the tales of peace and prosperity were no empty words after all these years of chaos."

Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao exchanged a glance.

Each took one of the swords.

Li Guanyi held the fine steel sword engraved with "Xue," gifted by the young shopkeeper of long ago.

Xue Shuangtao took the willowwood sword carved with "Li," crafted by the wandering Daoist Priest of that time.

Over ten years of river mist and night rain, it felt as if they had received back from their old friend the gifts they once exchanged. Shi Yisong rose, drank, smiled, then clasped his hands and bowed deeply, laughing heartily: "Today, I toast to old friends!"

"Brother Li, Lady Li—may your love run deep as the sea, may you be united for a hundred years!"

"Next time we meet, I hope to see your children."

"And I hope by then my Wu Gong has improved enough that I can carve another wooden sword to give—nothing grand, just a keepsake of old friendship."

A round of fine wine.

Old friends of the Jianghu, met by chance, parted with ease.

Xue Shuangtao drank the wine.

It was but thin Jianghu liquor, yet wine does not intoxicate—the heart does.

Suddenly, the thoughts of youth returned; she climbed the tree, and as the wind scattered the clouds above, she spread her arms, her blue robe fluttering like a childhood kite, standing on slender branches, turning to look down at the young man below.

"Hey, Li Guanyi."

And so, the young Lady called out:

"When will you marry me?"

And the young herbalist looked up, solemn and earnest:

"Today is perfect."

Xue Shuangtao smiled lightly—not because rain had made the ground slippery, but because she spread her arms and leapt down, her blue robe fluttering like a butterfly, and Li Guanyi opened his arms and caught her in his embrace.

Their hairtips brushed against each other.

It was cheek-to-cheek closeness.

The woman smiled, gently kissed his temple, her breath sweet as orchid:

"Husband."

Li Guanyi held the woman, his expression tender, but Xue Shuangtao, as if suddenly awakened by the beauty of the moment, said: "... The hour is late—we must return to the palace. Is it already too late?"

Li Guanyi smiled faintly. "It won't be too late."

Xue Shuangtao tilted her head.

Li Guanyi said: "Back then, there was another 'old friend' who owed me a promise."

Li Guanyi swept his sleeve, and a sword appeared in his hand. Chi Xiao roared several times, transforming into a streak of crimson-gold light that shot toward the sky, shaking the four directions, and faintly, the sound of a dragon's roar began to rise.

……………………

Qin Palace—

Lanterns blazed brightly; everywhere buzzed with festivity. Court ministers and heroes of the age had gathered here—not merely a reunion, but to celebrate Your Majesty's wedding, to honor the imperial consort's betrothal.

All rites and ceremonies were prepared.

Solemn and dignified, it was the grandest event since the founding of the dynasty.

Guests sat in order, all mighty lords; treasures arrayed, imperial protocol complete, bells rang, cauldrons steamed, the solemn, majestic sound resounded—yet the Shi Guan stood beside, the Ritual Officer solemn, but—but!

Your Majesty is gone!

Nan Hanwen suddenly understood how Qu Hanxiu must have felt, the day he witnessed Your Majesty declare that all under heaven must die.

Now, his stomach felt as if trampled by a Shitie Beast—nearly convulsing.

Where is Your Majesty?!

Your Majesty, all heroes of the realm, lords from all directions, are here.

You cannot let this entire empire become a farce.

Master Qu.

Am I doomed to eternal infamy?

After arguing with the Ministry of Rites, Your Majesty decided the wedding rites would proceed in the order of when you first met each of them—but the very first one has already gone this wrong—what of the rest? Do we even need any more?

Might as well jump into the lake now!

Nan Hanwen wore a smile.

He appeared calm, but his mind had wandered off long ago.

General Yue Qianfeng nearly widened his eyes, shaking Xue Changqing so hard he nearly vomited: "Where's your sister? Your sister's gone, and Your Majesty's gone too? Where did they go?!"

"Eloped?!"

Xue Changqing stared blankly.

It felt like being back in his younger days—when his older sister ran off to play and he was left being questioned by his grandfather.

Why are you here again?

Hm? Why did I say "again"?

Just as the entire court and all of Jiangnan were about to descend into chaos, a sudden peal of thunder cracked across the sky. Everyone instinctively looked up, watching as the clouds churned and layers upon layers of vermilion-gold cloud-aurora rolled and scattered apart.

An enormous divine dragon drifted slowly through the air.

The Primeval Taigu Chilong gazed down at the mortal world's splendor, saw that everyone seemed to be waiting for him, and felt a deep, comforting satisfaction.

Look, look!

This is what an auspicious omen looks like!

THIS is what an auspicious omen looks like!

But just as he was about to show off, the two figures above his head landed without the slightest bit of cooperation. The crowd fell silent, watching as the Qin Emperor and his Empress descended riding the dragon. Xue Changqing, whose head had been clamped under General Yue Qianfeng's elbow, felt as though he had been thrown back to his youth.

Li Guanyi held Xue Shuangtao's hand, beneath the gaze of all the officials and heroes.

Step by step, he stepped down through the empty air.

All directions fell silent—even the ceremonial music stopped. Li Guanyi's gaze swept across all of them. Nan Hanwen wanted to urge Qin Huang to change into robes more befitting the occasion, but Qin Huang looked around and laughed: "What I say is the ritual. What I say is the law."

"Why use the rites of past lords to bind the people of today?"

He pulled the woman forward and declared in a clear voice: "Today, Li Guanyi, with the rites of the Xuan Gui and Cang Bi, with the pure sacrifices and millet offerings, announces to Heaven and Earth, to the altars of soil and grain—today I, having received the Mandate of Heaven, shall rule all under heaven; following the hearts of the people, I shall nurture all the common folk."

"An auspicious day has been chosen; there shall be a grand wedding."

"May sun and moon illuminate virtue, and the oath to Shanhe endure forever."

"May the hearts of the people bestow their blessing, and the auspiciousness of the realm be prolonged without end."

Li Guanyi recited the lines the Ministry of Rites officials had drafted for him, but found them utterly dull—utterly, utterly dull. His voice paused for a moment. His eyes swept across the familiar faces ahead—old friends, companions, brothers-in-arms—and then rested on the woman beside him, the girl who had been by his side since they were thirteen, childhood sweethearts. He smiled.

What need is there for any pretense or pretty words?

He flung all that nonsense to the back of his mind and simply swept the Young Lady into his arms in one motion.

He declared in a loud voice:

"Today, Li Guanyi takes Xue Shuangtao to be his wife!"

"Everyone, drink!"

"Let's see today who can drink me under the table!"

Nan Hanwen raised a hand to cover his forehead. Yue Qianfeng grinned. Yue Pengwu smiled helplessly.

The soldiers of the Fire Qilin Army felt as though they were seeing once more that young lad from beyond the Northern Pass.

After a moment of dead silence—

An earth-shattering cheer surged up to the very vault of heaven, and the lantern-lit revelry blazed on into endless day.

Today is an auspicious hour.

Fitting that from this day forth, we shall forever surpass what came before.

Great fortune! Great fortune!

?? Keeps the promise, pulls an all-nighter.

? Your electronic appetizers are served.

? Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

? May today's deeds forever surpass the past!!!

? There are other side stories too—they'll be updated slowly (peacefully)