The moonlight coated his handsome face in a layer of silver radiance, reflecting in his astonishingly bright eyes.
Facing an old acquaintance at this moment, he reined in his playboy demeanor. He was no longer the grandson highly regarded by Mr. Pei, but the untamed, illustrious Poetry and Sword Dual Master from four hundred years ago.
"So it’s Young Master Pei." Xie Qingshi didn’t look surprised. His features were elegant and refined. "Are you traveling late at night just to seek me out in this remote place? Are you afraid I might do something here in Jianghuai?"
"Remote, perhaps, but the scenery is excellent." Pei Xuan clasped his hands behind his back and came to a stop beside him. "What? Xie Qingshi is allowed to look, but I am not?"
"This is Jianghuai. How could there be anywhere off-limits to Pei Xuan?" Xie Qingshi’s gaze returned to the vast ocean. "How fortunate. Jiuzhou still stands today, and you and I actually have the chance to witness this world four hundred years in the future with our own eyes."
Pei Xuan said nothing.
After a very, very long silence, he said softly, "But she is no longer here."
Xie Qingshi’s body abruptly stiffened. His gaze turned instantly sharp, like a blade drawn from its sheath.
"The very moment I opened my eyes and looked at this future era, my first thought wasn’t that I had actually come back to life, but rather..." Pei Xuan chuckled softly. "...had she come too?"
Xie Qingshi closed his eyes, his voice equally low. "Just as I thought. You had the same idea."
"How could I not? Without her, I, Pei Xuan, am nothing but... Hmph." Pei Xuan stood facing the wind, his expression growing even more distant. "I’ve visited many places and seen many people, yet I haven’t found a single trace of her. Even so, I refuse to admit that she truly hasn’t returned."
Xie Qingshi’s fingers slowly curled into a tight fist. Although his features—as serene as snow-capped distant mountains—remained calm, a storm was brewing deep within his eyes.
"It seems you haven’t found her either." Pei Xuan raised an eyebrow, speaking at a leisurely pace. "That makes me a little less jealous."
Hearing this, Xie Qingshi raised his hand, covering his eyes with his palm. His voice betrayed neither joy nor anger, though it carried a trace of coldness. "Pei Xuan, what exactly are you dissatisfied with? You have always been far luckier than me. At the very least, you have seen Your Majesty’s face, whereas I..."
"I almost forgot. You used to be blind." Pei Xuan seemed to let out a light laugh, enunciating each word slowly. "What a pity. This is a society governed by law now. Killing you would be illegal."
Xie Qingshi’s gaze remained unwavering as he calmly met the man’s eyes. "Four hundred years later, no one can clearly say whether you, Pei Xuan, are simply too arrogant or truly insane."
"Hahahaha! Xie Qingshi, just consider me a madman, then." Pei Xuan suddenly burst into loud laughter. "To think that you and I, who never got along in the previous dynasty, have now become the only old acquaintances who can hold a conversation."
When his laughter subsided, he returned to his languid demeanor. "Never mind. With her gone, what is there for us to fight over?"
"Rest assured. Once the concert ends, I will leave Jianghuai." Xie Qingshi was noncommittal. "You said it yourself. With Your Majesty gone, why must you treat me like a sworn enemy?"
"Then I shall look forward to Young Master Qing Shi’s concert being a resounding success." Pei Xuan turned to leave, then paused, his tone ambiguous. "When the time comes, I will be there."
The night deepened, and the last bright light went out. The dark undercurrents of the sea tide looked exactly like dark blood.
Xie Qingshi remained standing where he was, as if by simply gazing forever toward the sunrise, he could wait until the Sovereign he followed reappeared.
"It doesn’t matter," Xie Qingshi suddenly spoke. "I can afford to wait."
It sounded as if he were speaking to himself, yet also like a promise made to someone unseen.
Daylight broke brightly as day descended once more.
Shi Changying was still somewhat unaccustomed to opening her eyes and not seeing her personal female official. Leaning against the headboard, she squinted at the perfect morning sun outside the window, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.
"Changying, are you awake?" Ming Chengli knocked on the door. "We agreed yesterday that you’re reporting to Jianghuai High School today. You can’t back out now."
Shi Changying gave a lazy response. Retracting her gaze, she slowly got out of bed to wash up, changed her clothes, and headed out.
"Mhm, your complexion looks much better." Ming Chengli studied her. "But we still need to go to the hospital for a follow-up check in a couple of days. Your fever came on so suddenly this time; we absolutely cannot let it leave any lasting effects."
When Shi Changying arrived at the dining room, the several chefs present couldn’t help but take a step back upon seeing her. Sure enough, the breakfast they had spent two hours preparing all ended up in Shi Changying’s stomach alone. The trauma from the previous night enveloped them once again.
It wasn’t until Shi Changying left with Ming Chengli that the chefs quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"This newly returned Miss Changying sure eats a lot. At least she isn’t a picky eater, though."
"Sigh, living in a village before, what good food could she have possibly had? She probably ate worse than the dog kept by the young miss."
"Even so, with the way she eats, who can stand it?"
They grumbled a few more complaints before continuing to prepare breakfast for the rest of the Xu family.
A car horn sounded outside. Housekeeper Xu went to open the door and said in pleasant surprise, "Miss Zhao Yu, why have you come over so early? The Old Sir and Old Madam just finished breakfast."
Xu Zhao Yu smiled. "I’m here regarding Changying’s schooling."
Housekeeper Xu gaped in surprise. "How did such a matter end up troubling you?"
"Zhao Yu?" Old Madam Xu heard the commotion from the sofa and beamed happily. "Come here quickly."
She and Old Sir Xu only had this one daughter, Xu Zhao Yu. Whatever she wanted, they would give it to her.
"Mom, I came this early for Changying. I heard Sway International rejected her. I have some connections with Principal An, so let me go have a word with him," Xu Zhao Yu said softly. "Isn’t Changying already eighteen? This is a crucial time. She absolutely cannot afford to fall behind in her studies."
Old Madam Xu didn’t have the slightest bit of goodwill toward Shi Changying. She slammed her teacup heavily onto the coffee table. "You’re kind-hearted, but what if she doesn’t appreciate it at all? You shouldn’t just recklessly hand out your kindness to others. You need to understand the principle that a great favor can breed great resentment!"
"Mom, both Chengli and Changying are my family." Xu Zhao Yu’s voice lowered. "I... also owe them quite a lot, and I don’t know how to make up for it."
The anger Old Madam Xu had just suppressed flared up again. "Listen to me, just stay out of this matter. If she was rejected by Sway International, it’s her own failure. What does that have to do with you?"
Xu Zhao Yu hesitated, swallowing her words.
"How come Zhao Yu is here even earlier than me today?" Xu Yunfan’s hearty voice rang out from outside the door. He strode in and, seeing Xu Zhao Yu frowning, couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong? Who upset you this time? Tell me, I’ll teach them a lesson for you."
"Yun Fan, please persuade Mom." Xu Zhao Yu helplessly recounted what had happened. "Although Changying’s temper isn’t the best, why hold a grudge against a child? Her schooling is what’s important."
"Huh?" Xu Yunfan was completely baffled. "Mom, didn’t you tell Zhao Yu that Chengli already took his daughter to report to Jianghuai High School?"