127 Revisiting the Old Haunt

I sat alone on the back hill of the Fantian Pavilion for a long time, having instructed everyone not to disturb me. Li Yexuan and I have both become mere passersby in each other’s lives, haven't we? I admit that I miss him immensely. The scenery before me remains the same; only yesterday, a father and his child were here, laughing and chatting, yet now I am left to contemplate the view in solitude.

My daughter has a habit of napping in the afternoon, and Afu is always there to watch over her. I sent for Aling.

"Princess, did you call for me?"

"Accompany me down the mountain."

Dressed in simple attire, without my mask, I headed down the mountain with Aling.

"Princess, should we bring the Four Envoys or the Twelve Slayers?" She kept stealing glances at me, fearing that a sudden outburst of mine might bring trouble upon her. It made me reflect on whether I have been too cold in my daily life, causing them all to fear me and walk on eggshells, constantly guessing my intentions. Is such a way of living not exhausting?

"No need, we shall return shortly."

"Yes."

Aling and Afu are no longer frail maidens; over the past five years, I have had them undergo rigorous training, and they possess some proficiency in combat. I, however, the Pavilion Master, have no martial arts skills whatsoever, possessing only a fragrance that has already been squandered away.

I have walked this path down the mountain countless times, yet it feels as indifferent as ever.

In the carriage, I closed my eyes to rest, too lazy to even lift the curtains. The scenes outside had nothing to do with me.

"Princess, we have arrived at Jinyu Workshop."

"Let us descend."

Aling helped me out of the carriage. Jinyu Workshop remained unchanged, as if time had left no mark upon it at all.

"What would you like, honored guest? Feel free to browse..."

"Qingyi..." He has matured significantly since I last saw him. I observed him for a moment before I was certain it was him.

"You are... Miss Mu..."

"Indeed."

Qingyi ran inside in excitement, shouting that the owner had returned. I shook my head and stepped into Jinyu Workshop with a smile.

I walked straight to the back courtyard. It was identical to how it was years ago—not a single thing had changed. It was hard to believe.

Qingyi brought everyone out to see me.

"Uncle Jin, Aunt Jin, Jinhu..." I greeted them with a smile, along with the four clerks of the "Qing" generation. The rest, however, were unfamiliar faces.

"Miss Mu..." They were quite startled by my appearance.

"Where are the clerks of the 'Qing' generation?"

"One remains... the others have all married," Aunt Jin said, her eyes fixed on me. One of them had poisoned me back then; I suppose the others were implicated as well.

"That is fine. Is everyone doing well?"

"Yes, all is well." Aunt Jin stepped forward, wanting to embrace me, but was blocked by Aling.

"Stand back." I never realized that the usually quiet Aling could be so imposing. She frightened Uncle Jin’s family quite a bit.

"Aling, it is fine. They were my subordinates in the past."

"Yes, Pavilion Master." She retreated to my side but remained close, preventing others from approaching.

"Tell the staff to return to their work. Aunt Jin, just accompany me for a walk."

"Very well."

In the back courtyard, only Aunt Jin, Aling, and I remained.

"Miss, we had no word from you all those years, and everyone here at Jinyu Workshop was worried. Fortunately, the Prince..." Suddenly realizing something, Aunt Jin fell silent.

"I had my own difficulties back then. As long as he arranged for you to be well-cared for, that is enough."

"Miss, the Prince stays in your old room. Whenever he comes, he stays for days and forbids anyone from disturbing him."

"Let him be."

Aunt Jin led me through the entire workshop, recounting what had happened during the years I was away and what changes had been made. I listened intently. To say there is no emotion would be a lie. After founding Jinyu Workshop, I thought I had succeeded on my own, only to learn later that Li Yexuan had been pulling strings behind the scenes.

"Aunt Jin is old and does not understand the affairs of you young people, but all these years, the Prince's longing for you has been plain for even a servant like me to see. If you are willing, Miss, just go and see him." Having said this, Aunt Jin took her leave.

I stood there, looking at the scenery.

"Princess, I do not know if I should say this," Aling said from my left.

"Speak."

"If you wish to see the Prince, then go. Regardless of what happens later, you never say a word, yet the sadness is written all over your face."

Aling’s words made me wonder if my emotions were too easily read.

"Perhaps."

My hesitant footsteps became firm as I walked toward the old room. Since I am already here, what harm could one meeting do? I failed to realize that being headstrong is not always a good thing.

Upon reaching the door, I grew timid. With only a door between us, should I really push it open to see him?

"Princess, go in. I shall stand guard here."

"Perhaps not... he likely has no need for me anymore..."

Before I could finish, a crashing sound came from inside. I pushed the door open and entered.

The room reeked of alcohol. Only then did I notice Li Yexuan sitting there calmly, sipping the remaining wine. Apart from a flushed complexion, he appeared completely unchanged.

Aling closed the door from the outside. Ignoring the burning gaze Li Yexuan cast upon me, I bent down to pick up his discarded outer robe. He was sitting there in only his undergarments, clearly having been resting here for some time.

Just like years ago, I draped the robe over his shoulders. As I reached to fasten it, my hand was suddenly grabbed, and I instantly realized what was happening.

I was swept off my feet and placed onto the bed.

"Li Yexuan, let me go..."

"Do not reject me, Ziyun..."

My outer garment was torn open, and Li Yexuan, as if having lost his sanity, rained down a torrent of kisses.

"Let me go!"

*Slap!* I struck him across the face. Li Yexuan froze, and I managed to break free from his grasp, curling up into a corner.

"Li Yexuan, what madness is this..."

I expected a storm to follow, but to my surprise, Li Yexuan fainted. My slap could not have been that heavy.

"Li Yexuan, stop pretending." I kicked him a few times, but he remained motionless, slumped over me. He was too heavy for me to move, so I had to call Aling in from outside.

Aling was startled when she entered. She shut the door, pulled Li Yexuan away, and looked at me, my hair disheveled and my clothes in disarray, with a look of confusion.

"See if there are any clothes left here. Bring me a set, quickly." As I spoke, I checked on Li Yexuan. There seemed to be no major issues, but his clothes were slightly open. When I pulled them aside, the alcohol spots on his body shocked me—there were so many.

Aling quickly brought a set of my old men's clothing, and I changed into them immediately.

"Princess, what is this?" Aling pointed to a strange red mark on my arm.

"I do not know. It must be a birthmark; I have had it since I was a child."

The old clothes were a bit loose, but I did not pay it much mind. I tore a jade pendant from Li Yexuan’s waist and gave it to Aling.

"First, find the people from Jinyu Workshop and order them to close the shop and stand guard. No one is allowed to enter without my command. Then go to Yonghe Bank, find a man named Kong Yuelin immediately, and tell him Li Yexuan is severely intoxicated. If he cannot come at once, find a reliable doctor. Be quick."

"Yes."

Aling ran out, and I remained at the bedside.

Li Yexuan was in a worse state than I had ever seen him. I searched the entire room and his person, but could not find his usual medicine. I tried wiping him with water, but in his drunken stupor, he kept calling my name.

"Ziyun... I'm sorry... Ziyun, please listen to my explanation."

In that moment, I felt my hatred dissolve. Regardless of how he might have used me back then, this proved at least that he cherished me, which was a small comfort for the risks I took to give birth to Mu Feng.

Aling was efficient, and Kong Yuelin arrived shortly after, likely having used his lightness skills to travel.

"So it really was you who returned, Mu Fan."

"My name is not Mu Fan. I am Huangfu Ziyun."

Kong Yuelin said this the moment he saw me, then rushed to examine Li Yexuan.

"Aling, stand guard outside." I turned to follow him in.

Kong Yuelin examined Li Yexuan, his brow furrowed.

"What is it? How is he?"

Kong Yuelin fed Li Yexuan a pill.

"He told me about what happened that day. It was after drinking. Over these years, while you were gone, he drank almost every night. Aside from assisting the Emperor in the palace, he would run here. He rarely returned to the Prince’s Mansion. When I asked him why, he said he was afraid that while drunk, he might mistake other women for you, and that when you returned, you would never forgive him."

"Is he out of danger?" I changed the subject, though Kong Yuelin acted as if he had not heard.

"I do not know if he will wake up."

"What do you mean? Is it not just an alcohol allergy? What do you mean by 'I do not know if he will wake up'?"

"This medicine may no longer be very effective for him."

I understood instantly; after all these years, he must have developed a tolerance.

"What about the Little Lingzhi?" I took out the jade bottle I carried with me. Gu Teng had told me it was a miraculous medicine that could alleviate many symptoms.

"This medicine is extremely precious. Are you sure you want to use it on him?"

"Use it."

Kong Yuelin fed Li Yexuan a piece of the Lingzhi.

"With the Little Lingzhi, he will be fine after a sleep."

I took the jade bottle from Kong Yuelin’s hand. Our fingers brushed, and I quickly pulled back.

"Why are your hands so cold? Are you hiding something from us?"

"There is nothing to hide. I was just startled by Li Yexuan, that is all."

"The Little Lingzhi is so rare, yet you carry it with you. Even when you saved the Emperor last time, you brought out a whole bottle."

"You know I am the Master of the Fantian Pavilion now, and I have no martial arts. Is it not natural to keep some life-saving medicine on me?"

Kong Yuelin said nothing, accepting my explanation.