There is no white jade in my arms.
The beauty is gone, not knowing where, and there is no lingering fragrance left in this humble abode.
“Lady?”
Half-awake, a strange sense of loss welled up inside him, as if something precious was slipping away—he reached out, only to grasp a patch of cold emptiness.
He slowly opened his eyes, still feeling the discomfort and drowsiness of just waking, but Xu Ping’an had no time for such things now.
He turned to his side. The girl who usually clung to him like an octopus was, astonishingly, already up early today.
“How strange… Is Lady not sleeping in today? Lady… Qingliu?”
He called out twice, but there was no answer. When he touched the bedding, apart from where he had lain, the rest was ice-cold.
Something’s not right!
If someone had just been sleeping here, at the very least, the bedding would retain some trace of warmth.
Moreover… the faint scent that always lingered from Lady was gone from the air.
Pei Qingxuan was born with Innate Alluring Bones.
After losing her maidenhood, her body would unconsciously emit a unique fragrance, wafting for several miles and stirring the hearts of men.
This was a trait of the Innate Alluring Bones.
Ever since Xu Ping’an had hung a Xiuxiang Ball on her, that strange fragrance had been subdued, turned into a faint, delicate scent.
In the past, wherever Pei Qingxuan went, that scent would follow.
But today, the smell in the room was clearly wrong.
Apart from the lingering chill, there was almost no trace of that delicate fragrance.
“Lady!?”
Ignoring everything else, a sudden sense of foreboding gripped Xu Ping’an.
He hurriedly got out of bed, not even bothering to change clothes, threw on a Changshan, slipped on his cloth shoes—heels crushed underfoot—and rushed out to the courtyard.
He first checked by the fish pond and the Medicine Garden, but saw none of that familiar figure. The unease in Xu Ping’an’s heart only grew.
He turned and headed straight for the Stable in the rear yard. Pushing open the wooden door, he saw Mumu still sleeping inside; clearly, no one else had been there.
He then dashed out of the courtyard to check the Chai Room nearby—still, no one.
“Lady… Qingxuan?” “Mister, what’s wrong?” Xiao Jing’er emerged to empty the night pot.
Xu Ping’an’s face was grave; his long hair unkempt, hanging loosely behind him, only a Changshan thrown over his cotton nightwear. His cloth shoes were flattened, even the uppers folded down.
Normally, Mister was always tidy and composed. In all the days Xiao Jing’er had served, this was the first time she’d seen Xu Ping’an so disheveled.
“Did you see Qingxuan?” “Sister Qingxuan? I haven’t seen her.”
Xu Ping’an took a deep breath, the world spinning around him. He’d anticipated this day might come, but he hadn’t expected it would be so soon.
“How could she leave without a word? Why so suddenly?”
At this moment, even if he didn’t want to believe it, that clingy Pei Qingxuan was nowhere to be found this morning.
His heart ached like it had been stabbed. Xu Ping’an had to take another deep breath to steady himself.
Just then, Li Yuer emerged from the West Chamber in the main house, only an outer robe on, her hair still uncombed, anxiety written all over her face as she looked at Xu Ping’an.
“Mister, has something happened to Sister Qingxuan?”
She had heard Xu Ping’an calling Pei Qingxuan from early morning, his voice hoarse.
Seeing Xu Ping’an so dazed and lost, Li Yuer felt her heart ache, wanting nothing more than to hug him and offer comfort.
But Li Yuer remained calm, immediately turning to the two who had just come out of the Western Wing Room.
“Zhou Liang, take the east road and ride fast—see if anyone left. Old Zhao, check along the west road and go to the County Town to see if Sister Qingxuan went there.”
“Xiao Jing’er, check the backyard for any footprints.”
“Mister, don’t be too anxious. Maybe Sister Qingxuan had a sudden whim and went into the mountains to pick wild fruits.”
Though she didn’t believe it herself, Li Yuer wanted to comfort Xu Ping’an as she saw his state.
Hearing Li Yuer’s orders, the others were about to set out when Xu Ping’an suddenly spoke.
“No need…”
“Mister?”
Li Yuer looked at Xu Ping’an, who bowed his head and forced a bitter smile. Unable to help herself, she stepped forward, took his hand, and tried to give him some warmth.
Xu Ping’an shook his head.
“No need to look for her. She probably… won’t be coming back.”
…
Li Yuer bit her lip and followed after him.
At the doorway, recalling Xu Ping’an’s devastated look, her worry deepened. Without a word, she carefully pushed open the door.
She saw Xu Ping’an standing dazed before his desk. Li Yuer lightened her footsteps, came up behind him, bit her lip, then summoned her courage and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
“Mister, don’t be sad. Perhaps Sister Qingxuan had no other choice…”
Xu Ping’an gazed at the unfamiliar handwriting on the desk.
Since Pei Qingxuan had come, she had never written a single word.
Yet, despite that, there was something in the lines that felt exactly like Pei Qingxuan.
Every stroke like a blade, every dot like a peach blossom, flowing with grace and sharpness.
Yes… this handwriting belonged to the first Pei Qingxuan he had met—the one who had not lost her memory, the one who nearly tried to kill him.
She had regained her memories.
When did she regain them?
Why, after regaining her memories, did she keep silent about it?
His hand lightly brushed the words; the ink was already dry.
This meant she had left at least an hour or two ago.
“What’s that…?”
Noticing Xu Ping’an’s gaze, Li Yuer followed it and saw the Letter on the table.
Seeing the sharp, powerful script, she unconsciously read it out.
“Husband… reading this is as if meeting you in person.
Our fate is at an end.
After today’s parting, perhaps we shall never meet again.
Don’t look for me.
If fate allows, should we meet again one day, I only ask that you not blame me for leaving without a word. If we have feelings… let us renew them in another life. If not, let this be a dream, a chance encounter upon drifting waters.
Pei Qingxuan.”
Li Yuer looked at Xu Ping’an, an involuntary bitter smile rising to her lips.
“Sister Qingxuan… This move is too cruel. I fear Xu Ping’an will never forget you in this life.”
“Miss Yuer.”
“Mister?”
“How many Xianjia Sects are there in Great Qi?”
“If we don’t count the Demonic Sect, there are eighty or ninety.”
“And among them, which are adept with the sword?”
“That… is hard to answer. I’ve never really paid attention, but if Mister wishes to know, I’ll send someone to investigate right away.”
“Alright, I’ll trouble you with that.”
Xu Ping’an kept his eyes fixed on the Letter on the desk.
“Go on, get busy. I’d like some time alone.”
“Mister… will you truly be alright?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry.” At his words, Li Yuer released her hold.
Xu Ping’an stared blankly at the Letter for a long while, paying no attention to anything else around him, simply standing there.
And however long he stood there, Li Yuer stood by as well.
…
Daylight shone bright. The Sun Star rose in the east as usual, oblivious to the loves and hates of this world.
“Hss~ hoo….”
Taking a deep breath, Xu Ping’an finally regained his senses. His legs were so numb from standing that he nearly stumbled as he turned—only to be surprised to find someone still standing beside him.
“Miss Yuer, you…”
“I wanted to keep Mister company.”
Before he could finish, Li Yuer smiled faintly.
Though her smile was a little pale.
“I’m fine, Miss Yuer. Your health can’t support you staying up like this. You should go back and rest.”
“Mister… Yuer knows this is a bit presumptuous, but could you stop calling me ‘Miss’ after my name?”
“You…”
Seeing the determination in Li Yuer’s eyes, Xu Ping’an sighed helplessly.
Ah!
A troublesome fate, indeed.
It was only the spring of April, yet he seemed to have attracted Peach Blossom Luck—beauties gathering at his side one after another.
No, rather than Peach Blossom Luck, it was more like a Peach Blossom Calamity.
At least if it was only Peach Blossom Luck, he wouldn’t feel so heartbroken.
He picked up the Letter. Though its words were so resolute, Xu Ping’an could still sense the lingering affection within.
If Pei Qingxuan truly disliked him, truly did not want this bond, why would she go to such lengths to leave this Letter?
Most importantly, she had left herself a path to return.
That was enough to prove her feelings remained.
But the question was, what matter was so grave that she couldn’t bring herself to speak, and chose to face it alone?
Was he the type to shy from trouble?
Xu Ping’an sat at his desk, tapping his fingers on the tabletop.
Oh, Pei Qingxuan, it seems his constant indulgence had made her bolder.
She even dared to leave without a word.
Just wait. If he found her, no matter her status or who she was—
He would surely assert his Fugang!
If Pei Qingxuan truly did not care for this bond, then her departure would make sense.
But the tone between the lines of this Letter showed she still yearned for it.
And that… made Xu Ping’an all the more uneasy.
If she still longed for this bond, then she had already accepted the marriage between them.
And in his eyes, this marriage was never about ‘birds flying separate ways’—but about enduring hardship together, standing side by side through thick and thin, living and dying as one, the closest of companions.
Parents grow old, children grow up.
Only husband and wife support each other to the end.
Of course, while this should be the ideal, most couples still end up as ‘birds flying their separate ways.’
Yet, since Pei Qingxuan was still attached to this bond—
He… could not possibly let it go.