The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 69

Murong Jingxuan sat in front of Yingshuang yard's window, staring blankly at the red spider lilies at the door. He'd never thought that he would see that kind of fiery red spider lilies here.

He once saw in a book: Red Spider Lily*, the soul guiding flower of Hell.

(*TN: Some background info: The book he refers to is most likely the 'Lotus Sutra', which describes it as an ominous flower that grows in the underworld that guides the dead into their next reincarnation. The Chinese name of the red spider lily literally translates to 'flower of the other shore', which refers to the other shore of the Sanzu River.)

It usually only grows in the underworld, on the riverbanks of the Sanzu River, the guiding flower of the Forgotten River shores. It's rumored that the flower's fragrance had magical powers, able to awaken the memories of a deceased's previous life. And because it was red like fire, it was praised as the 'Blazing Path'. And it was also the only scenery and color of that long long path to the afterlife.

And unexpectedly, he was able to see this red colored spider lily here.

Murong Jingxuan gazed at the scenery before him, happily smiling.

Su Qingyan's room was also a bit different than what he had imagined. In the previous times he's visited, he never had the chance to properly observe this room. Looking at it now, the simple arrangements was rather similar to his taste.

He walked up to her desk and saw the calligraphy on top. He could even imagine that serious look of hers.

'Red sleeves adds fragrance*', wasn't that precisely the life he always yearned for?

(*TN: This comes from a line of poetry from the Song Dynasty, it refers to the image of a scholar studying with a young and beautiful woman accompanying his side.)

It's a shame that kind of life was still too far from him.

Donghe right now was also in an anxious period. In the imperial court, every influential clan were watching closely, like a tiger watching its prey. Outside the courts, they were also view by Nanchen as a thorn in the eye. It really is an 'internal troubles and outside aggression' situation.

Murong Jingxuan knew very well that if it wasn't for Su Yun defending Qinzhou year round, Qinzhou would have already fallen into the hands of Nanchen.

But it's a pity the current Emperor of Nanchen has drowned himself wine and women, not focusing on his duties. And his Crown Prince, Weisheng Minning, was only the Crown Prince in name, empty of power. This was most likely closely related to his mother, Qilian Qingyan's, passing.

Worn out from the journey and in addition to having experienced something frightening, everyone all returned to their own residences once they got back to the Su manor. Su Jiashi didn't urge Su Qingyan to stay either.

Watching Su Jiashi's figure in the distance, perhaps Su Jiashi believed in abbot Lingyang, but whether she believed her or not, she didn't know. However, now, everything is already not of importance anymore, because everything was already unable to be changed.

Qingyan returned to her yard with Qingdai and Chishao. When the other four girls saw Qingyan, they welcomed her with a smile. Qingyan right now only wanted to lay down on her own bed.

At that place, she simply couldn't differentiate between night and day and could only rest for bit when she felt tired. Yet, she never thought that she'd end up staying at that place for as long as five days.

But she knew when she made the first jade flute, under the assistant of Weisheng Junmo and Yunhen, it also took them an entire month. But now, she only needed five days.

When Qingyan returned to her yard and pushed opened the door, she just saw Murong Jingxuan sitting there. She looked to the person before her and smiled, sounding her clear voice, "Zizhu, how come you didn't even notice a thief coming into the room?"

When Zizhu heard this, she was already standing behind Qingyan. And at a glance, she saw Murong Jingxuan's figure.

"Beautiful, you've finally returned." Murong Jingxuan looked up and met Qingyan's eyes with a smile, "I missed you very much."

"Didn't I already say, Yan'er isn't considered some beauty, if you want a beauty, then Shizi should go find Su Qingyuan and Su Qingwen. Why bother coming to my yard?" Qingyan said as she picked up the cup of tea on the table and began to drink it. She turned to look at the people gathered outside the door, signaling them it was okay to withdraw.

Zizhu tactfully retreated and even closed the door while she was at it.

Seeing those servant girls retreating, Murong Jingxuan, with a single sidestep, got pass the table and directly pulled Su Qingyan into his embrace, "Gone that many days, did you miss me?"

Qingyan leaned into his embrace and smiled, "For the most part, no."

Murong Jingxuan looked at her in his arms and felt her warmth coming through, "I expected as much, you little liar."

"Jingxuan, I obtained a piece of blood jade from Yunhen Priest." Qingyan said as she brought out the flute, "That tune, [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix], is performed using this flute."

Murong Jingxuan looked at the delicate jade flute and rested his head on her shoulders, "Yan'er, do the things you want to do."

He then recalled the matter Fengshuang reported to him earlier and asked in a inquisitive manner, "The people Ning Siyao sent were a bunch of mountain bandits?"

"I didn't look into their identities, but from the looks of it, they shouldn't be anyone good. Do you think the people Ning Siyao finds would be some saint? That would really let me open my eyes." Qingyan said sarcastically. "They were just a bunch of outcasted ruffians."

"As long as you're fine. I just knew you wouldn't be at a disadvantage." Murong Jingxuan gazed at the jade flute in her hand and took hold of it, "Do you only know how to play [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix]?"

Su Qingyan looked to him and nodded, "If it's the jade flute, I certainly do only know how to play that one piece."

Recalling what Xuanxin Priest said before, Murong Jingxuan asked, "Yan'er, are you acquainted with Xuanxin Priest?"

Xuanxin? When Qingyan heard this name, she furrowed her brows, shaking her head to indicate that she didn't know this person. "Who is he? I don't know this person."

Thinking back, he remember that Xuanxin had changed his name and identity before. Murong Jingxuan spoke, suddenly realizing this, "Perhaps you don't recognize 'Xuanxin', but I think the name Yunxin should definitely be very familiar to you."

Yunxin? Qingyan looked to Murong Jingxuan with her eyes widened. If her assumptions were right, Yunxin should've had both his legs crippled, how could he have appeared here?

"He's in Donghe right now and is the old Emperor's trusted Imperial Astronomer. Although he was also recommended by the Imperial Consort. You should also know that the current Emperors very much adores the Imperial Consort, even though she never acknowledges him."

Donghe's Imperial Consort, Qilian Yuran, was Qilian Qingyan's blood related paternal aunt. And for Qilian Yuran, Qilian Qingyan was her one and only legitimate niece. And in Qilian Qingyan's youth, the one she liked the most was precisely, Qilian Yuran, this aunt of hers.

"Her temper is still like that of the past." Qingyan helplessly shook her head when she thought of that personality of Qilian Yuran's. "Although it shouldn't be said like this, the shock of Xianyi Empress's death really affected her greatly after all."

"Yan'er, say, are you Qilian Qingyan or Su Qingyan?" Murong Jingxuan looked to her and asked in a serious tone.

Su Qingyan looked to him and shook her head, "I'm not sure, sometimes I feel I'm Su Qingyan, and other times I feel I'm Qilian Qingyan. Perhaps it's because we've both had similar experiences."

"Yan'er, I heard from the Fourth Prince, Chunyuan Princess made Hongjia Emperor let Su Yun return home in advance. I suppose before Su Yun returns, Ning Siyao is going to make her move again. You must be careful." Murong Jingxuan thought of those people he'd met previously and still warned Qingyan in all seriousness.

Qingyan looked to him and nodded, "The talent conference has concluded, and the trip to Ganyun Temple has already ended too. Naturally, Ning Siyao will try to think of other ways to deal with me." Qingyan said as the corner of her mouth curled up.

"After all, they still have a pawn they haven't used yet. How could they easily give up on this golden opportunity?"