Huang Bei Shuang gritted her teeth, fighting her exhaustion, and sat up as well. She studied him carefully. His fists were clenched, his face filled with frustration. Even in his anger, he had not truly hurt her, which made her regret her earlier actions even more.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave you like this, but if I had asked properly, you would never have agreed!” As she spoke, she walked to his side, wrapping her arms around him. His head rested against her chest, and he could hear the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. “Qing Yun, if I stay by your side, the war will never end. If word gets out, the delicate balance of the battlefield will be broken—that’s one issue. And Ruo Wen… right now, he’s not to be underestimated. Qing Yun, who else but me wishes to stay by your side more than anyone? But now, I am also the person who poses the greatest threat to you.” Her hands gently caressed him, her fingers tracing the contours of his face.
After a long silence, Qing Yun closed his eyes for a moment and finally responded, “If I win this war, come find me. If I lose… go back to Zhan.”
Huang Bei Shuang smiled at this, her fingers pressing lightly on his lips. “So you’ve agreed?”
Qing Yun turned his head, looking into her eyes. Slowly, reluctantly, he nodded. “Leaving you alone in Tian Du is dangerous. But if I take you to the battlefield, Zhan will likely stir up the same old troubles… You can go, but stay away from the battle. When I’m victorious, I’ll come for you.”
With that, Huang Bei Shuang turned and walked to the window, pushing it open. She called into the courtyard, “Hong!”
The seven-colored paradise bird responded, flying to perch on her finger.
“This is Hong, my king’s paradise bird!” She extended it toward Qing Yun. “Look, its tail feathers have three different colors, and its chest and wings are different too...”
Qing Yun watched her silently, waiting for her to continue.
Huang Bei Shuang flicked her hand, and Hong immediately took off into the air again. She turned back to Qing Yun with a smile. “Qing Yun, I’ve sung the wedding song for you, and I’ve shared Tonggui wine with you. So, no matter what I do, I will never harm your interests. No matter where I go, whether you win or lose, whether you come for me or not, I will return to you. And then, I will never leave again—I swear it!”
Hearing this, Qing Yun was secretly overjoyed, though his pride prevented him from showing it fully. He put on a faint smile, which, in Huang Bei Shuang’s eyes, moved her deeply. She wrapped her arms tightly around his back. “In my dreams, I’ve never left you for even a moment. When the morning tide wakes me from my beautiful dream, I’m always so relieved to open my eyes and find you still by my side…” She pressed her face against his, her soft voice expressing the deep happiness she felt within her heart.
Qing Yun pulled her into his embrace with a little more force, and she, like a precious pearl, radiated an irresistible charm. He lowered his lips to hers, sealing her with a kiss, as gentle and sweet as a promise, and one from which neither of them could pull away.
“I love you, and I will come for you,” he vowed as he held her close.
The paradise bird loves only once in its life, committing to its mate in both life and death.
To question that, to doubt it—such questions were unnecessary…
In Guang Han Palace, the Zelkova trees were finally shedding their blossoms, white petals covering the courtyard and blending into the yellow earth. The once-vibrant Guan Ying Palace, which had witnessed the grand conferral ceremony, now stood desolate. And yet, the young shaman continued to live as if in a dream. Every day, he studied diligently, mastering both literature and martial arts. Surprisingly, his fervor attracted the admiration of several young princes, who often came to Guan Ying Palace to stir up trouble.
0 Comments