Chapter Ninety-Four: What Is Longing

The night lay black and veiled in mist, wavering in the candlelight like something half concealed.

In the study, only a single lantern was lit, leaving the vast room in a dim haze. The Empress Dowager sat in a chair, watching the figure standing not far away, her kindly face marked with a trace of curiosity.

“Then you are the Empress Dowager of this country. It seems this matter will require your help after all.”

The man stood at the border between light and shadow, dressed in a white robe that made him seem especially striking.

His voice was soft and measured, like petals drifting slowly to the ground, so beautiful that one could bear to wake him.

“You are quite bold. The relation between our two states is far from good at present, and yet you, a minister of the State of Dance, have come all the way to me. Just what are you plotting?” The Empress Dowager studied him closely, wariness flickering in her heart.

“Did I not just tell you? If we are to save our sovereign, your assistance is indispensable.” The man spoke without hurry, his voice neither wholly male nor female, yet refined and educated.

“What a joke. I am the Empress Dowager of the State of Jis. Why should I help you in the State of Dance? Now that you have been exposed, why should I wade into these muddy waters?” She gave a cold laugh, feeling more and more that this visitor had come with ill intent. She would have to keep a careful watch.

The man did not move. With his thin lips, he softly spoke: “Everyone knows that the Empress Dowager is on our side. Of course you can help with this matter.”

“Impudent!” she snapped sharply.

“Please keep your voice down. If you draw the guards here, then things will truly become impossible to explain.” His tone seemed to carry a hint of amusement, as though he put no weight at all on her rebuke.

The Empress Dowager glared at him, her face dark with anger. What he said was true, but she was the Empress Dowager; no one had dared threaten her like this for a long time. Truly detestable.

“Have you considered it? Cooperating with us will bring you no loss. But if the Empress Dowager intends to turn a blind eye or simply watch from the sidelines, then we will not let matters rest so easily.”

The white-clad man still spoke in a low, gentle voice, without the slightest hint of menace, yet every word made one grit one’s teeth with fury.

“You mean that if I do not interfere in your affairs, you will expose my alliance with the Dance sovereign?” The Empress Dowager suppressed her anger little by little. She had come this far over so many years; what storms had she not seen?

“That is not quite correct. Since we are in a partnership, it ought to continue long and well. Otherwise, it is betrayal.” The white-clad man shook his head. His features were indistinct, just like the lamplight—bright, yet impossible to see clearly.

“Who exactly are you, to dare speak to me in such a manner? Do not forget that this is the State of Jis.” In the end, she was the Empress Dowager; how could she permit such insolence before her?

The white-clad man was not angered. Instead, he said, “It is my fault, Lady Dowager. I hope you will not take offense. Still, you ought to understand that when you first agreed to cooperate with us, it was to walk with wolves. You are a clever woman. You should know what choice must be made.”

His words struck straight to the heart. Though they displeased her greatly, they were indeed true. She had long known that things with the State of Dance would never end there.

“This matter requires further thought. Come back in a few days.” In the end, the Empress Dowager yielded. She could not truly stand apart from this affair.

“Very well. I shall await your good news.” The man bowed to her, then vanished without a trace.

Once he was gone, the Empress Dowager could no longer bear herself upright. She slumped into the chair, confusion spreading across her face. She did not know whether the choice she had made all those years ago had been right or wrong; by her calculations, things should not have turned out this way. Yet Jis Wuqing’s sudden move against Zuoqiu Liye had caught her utterly unprepared.

“Your Grace, is this truly all right?” Eunuch Cloud entered from outside.

He had been keeping watch at the door just now, to make sure no one was eavesdropping, so he had heard every word of their conversation. The Empress Dowager’s position was now very poor; if the people of the State of Dance had her by the throat, she would likely be forced to do their bidding.

“What is there to be wrong about it? It would be best if Zuoqiu Liye were rescued. Otherwise, if he were to expose me, that would be the real disaster.” The Empress Dowager rubbed at her temples, the weariness on her face fading away.

She could not fall yet. If she did, who would repay the hatred in her stead?

“Tell me first how things stand on Jis Wuqing’s side.”

After gathering her thoughts, she forced herself to steady again.

“Reporting to Your Grace, I hear that everything on the sovereign’s side is as usual. After court, he simply discussed state affairs in the study with his ministers. There does not seem to be anything unusual.” Eunuch Cloud answered. In truth, he was puzzled as well.

By rights, with the empress consort now afflicted by poison, and considering the sovereign’s deep favor toward her, how could he not be anxious and distraught? Yet instead he was in the study, reviewing memorials and discussing state affairs with his ministers?

“Is that so? Then I truly cannot tell whether this good son of mine is genuinely cold-blooded and heartless, or whether he is secretly in a panic and simply hiding it too well.” At this, the Empress Dowager let out a cold snort. Even she could not quite read Jis Wuqing’s temperament for the moment.

“Perhaps he is seeking a solution in secret. After all, at this point the war between the State of Jis and the State of Dance is about to erupt. The sovereign surely would not abandon the country for the sake of one woman.” Eunuch Cloud analyzed.

Abandon national affairs for the sake of a woman?

“I only hope Jis Wuqing can be like his father. After all, was his father not a man of terrifying calm? Even when Concubine Hua once had a blade at her throat, he said nothing. I do hope his son is also someone who knows the weight of major and minor matters alike.” There was no hiding the mockery in the Empress Dowager’s voice.

“This...” Eunuch Cloud found himself at a loss.

This was, after all, one of the palace’s old secrets. As for Concubine Hua, she had indeed once been the most dazzling figure in the harem, the very model of exclusive imperial favor. Regrettably, beauty is a calamity; in the end, she met no good fate and was sent out of the palace.

Such was the destiny of those in the inner court. Favored or unfavored, few met a happy end.

Hope Crane Villa.

The mountains were hushed and dim. Bright lanterns hung from the villa, and she stood in the corridor, facing some distant direction.

“Why is Xue’er still awake? Your health is poor; you should rest earlier.” Autumn Flower, covering a yawn with her hand, appeared behind her. Looking at Blood Snow’s straight figure, slender yet somehow full of a force that made it impossible to look away, she could understand why her Wuqing was so deeply devoted.

A woman like this was one even she liked.

“The mountain air feels different. I’ll stand here a while longer.” Blood Snow shook her head. Her long hair hung loose over her shoulders, and over her thin garment she had thrown a warm fox-fur cloak, so she felt no chill. Besides, with the poison in her body now, she did not feel cold at all.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been looking toward that direction all along. Are you thinking of Wuqing?” Autumn Flower moved to her side and glanced toward the way Blood Snow was facing.

That was precisely the entrance and exit of the villa.

“I do not know. I only feel somehow hollow inside.” There was a sense of being seen through. She had tried so hard to hide the small thoughts in her heart, only to discover what it felt like to be understood.

“Maidenly longing, that’s all. Your mother has been through it all before; there’s nothing I don’t understand. Don’t be shy.” Autumn Flower said this with ill intent, showing not the slightest trace of embarrassment.

“Miss, what exactly do you understand? Don’t mislead Xue’er.” Wu Ma Chou suddenly appeared and stood with them. His expression was cool, the hard lines of his face as weighty as snow.

“What business is it of yours, old Wu Ma?” Autumn Flower snorted and even rolled her eyes at him.

Blood Snow listened to their exchange and a smile curved her lips. These two truly were... whenever they came together, they would inevitably bicker. But Uncle Wu Ma had always been a rather indifferent man; only in front of her mother did he show such a childish side.

“Fine. Since you managed to make Xue’er laugh, I will not bother quarreling with you.” In the end, Autumn Flower magnanimously ended their argument.

“You are the one who is laughing, clearly.” Wu Ma Chou replied unhurriedly.

“You... Xue’er, tell me then, who was I laughing at just now?” Autumn Flower grew even more intent. If she kept letting old Wu Ma get the upper hand, where would her dignity remain?

“Miss, don’t make things difficult for Xue’er. Even if Xue’er was laughing at me just now, so be it.” Wu Ma Chou looked the picture of generosity and righteousness.

“...” Autumn Flower was choked into utter silence.

Listening to their banter, she suddenly missed Jis Wuqing terribly—the Jis Wuqing who would bicker with her too, her Ziqing...

“Mother, do you know where Jis Wuqing has gone?” After a moment’s thought, she still asked.

She had to know where he was now.

“He? Why, he is in the palace, of course.” Autumn Flower’s eyes flickered.

“Is that so?”

“All right, I’m off to sleep now. Xue’er, you should sleep early too.” With that, Autumn Flower vanished at once.

Though Xue’er could not see, and thus could not witness the evasive expression on her face, she was still somewhat guilty. If she accidentally revealed Wuqing’s whereabouts, would her sin not be enormous?

Thus, only Blood Snow and Wu Ma Chou remained standing there.

“Xue’er, I know this is not the answer you wanted to hear. Still, stay here in peace. Within half a month, Wuqing will come back to fetch you.” Wu Ma Chou comforted her with the gentle patience of an elder.

“But my heart remains uneasy, Uncle Wu Ma.” She frowned, unease in her voice.

Only, half a month?

You are tired as well; you have suffered these past days. But it does not matter, Blood. I have already found a way to solve this. Though the time is only half a month, it will be enough.

It was as though, while half asleep, Jis Wuqing had once whispered such words by her ear.

“I can only tell you this much about Crow Mountain.” Seeing her brows remain difficult to smooth, Wu Ma Chou could not help but speak. “Do you feel more settled now?”

“Thank you, Uncle Wu Ma. I will go rest now.” She nodded.

Crow Mountain?

It would be that place after all...

As the name suggests, Crow Mountain was an eerie place. Year after year, mist and clouds shrouded it, and at a glance it was always a gray and murky expanse, as though wrapped in some undispersed malevolence. The mountain lay in a desolate region, with no human habitation for miles around.

Yet within it grew a rare spiritual herb, the Soul-Severing Herb.

Although the mountain offered this spiritual plant as bait, no one dared act rashly. It was said that many had once tried to enter the mountain, but none had ever returned, and thus Crow Mountain became a place of ghosts and evil that filled all who heard of it with dread.