Chapter 071: Entering the Imperial Capital

After passing through the borders of Tang Prefecture and traversing Apricot Blossom Village, one could head straight into the Imperial Capital.

It was late summer now, with a hint of autumn in the air. The myriad flowers of Apricot Blossom Village had already faded, yet traces of melon and fruit fragrance still lingered. The last time she came, the village was shrouded in deathly silence, the plague having drained all vitality from it. Now, months later, though the scent of flowers had vanished, the aroma of fruit remained, filling the heart with joy and stirring many emotions.

Snowze landed lightly, put away her ice needles, and donned her veil once more.

The capital was near. Rumor had it the city was exceptionally prosperous—sleeves raised like clouds, sweat pouring like rain, bustling streets teeming with throngs and endless streams of carriages. With so many people and so many eyes, Snowze dared not reveal her true face.

Before she left the mountains, her master had given her a pill that would conceal her ethereal beauty and diminish her otherworldly charm, but the veil still seemed the safer choice. Beyond that, she carried the Nine Orders Pearl to further obscure her identity and aura. She wished to remain hidden until her task was done, revealing herself only upon success.

After savoring the picturesque scenery of Apricot Blossom Village, Snowze finally felt at ease to depart. She had barely stepped out of the village onto the road when someone called out to her.

“Pretty sister!”

Snowze had no desire to respond, nor to involve herself with mortals. Yet, glancing around and seeing no one else, she knew the call was meant for her.

She paused, touching her veil in puzzlement. Even veiled, she was called pretty sister? Were mortal children always so sweet-tongued?

“Pretty sister, I’m over here!”

She looked around again, still seeing no one, but sensing the child was close by. Following the sound, she saw the child perched in a tree behind her, head peeking out from behind the leaves.

“Whose child are you, climbing to the treetop alone?”

“It’s me, Feng Nuan! I’m Feng Nuan!”

Snowze recognized her at a glance, but, constrained by circumstance, could not acknowledge her openly. Yet, with Feng Nuan claiming to know her, Snowze could not feign ignorance.

“Feng Nuan, why are you up in the tree? Come down at once!”

“Sister, I’m waiting here for my brother. From up here, I can see far, and no one bothers me. Why are you here? Are you heading to the palace?”

Snowze hesitated, unsure how to reply. “I’m headed to the Imperial Capital—I have a mission.”

“A mission? Then why isn’t Sister Lianzi with you this time?” Feng Nuan glanced about, seeing no sign of Lianzi, her expression tinged with displeasure.

Recalling Lianzi’s instructions, Snowze replied softly, “She’s on a more important mission and cannot leave the mountain to visit you for now. You must take good care of yourself.”

“I see,” Feng Nuan mused. “Then she won’t see my brother, nor have anything to remember him by. What should I do?”

Snowze regarded her in surprise and suspicion. Did this little girl understand matters of the heart? Even she herself was unsure what transpired between Lianzi and Feng Xing!

Feng Nuan looked at Snowze with hopeful eyes and asked sweetly, “Sister, if you see my brother, could you pass on a message for me?”

Unable to resist Feng Nuan’s gentle plea, Snowze nodded lightly. “I can help you, but you must come down and go home soon.”

“All right, sister! If you see my brother, tell him his little sister is waiting at home for him to celebrate the Ghost Festival together!”

“The Ghost Festival?”

Feng Nuan nodded. “It’s been a long time since I’ve burned incense and paper for our parents with my brother. He used to be stationed at the border, serving as a great general. Now that he’s finally returned and is so close to home, he still rarely comes back!”

Snowze pondered a moment, then comforted her, “Your brother is busy protecting the country; naturally, he has little time. You must be good and understanding. I’m sure he misses you too and will visit when he can.”

“Yes, I know! Aunt Zhang also said my brother is busy, that things in the palace are complicated, and rules are strict. But my brother is so outstanding—the emperor should grant him leave, shouldn’t he?”

“Well… he probably will. Be patient at home. The Ghost Festival is still half a month away; there’s no rush.”

“Thank you, sister!”

Snowze smiled and turned to leave.

The road ahead, though broad, was overgrown with grass, and the roadside weeds stood as tall as a person.

As she walked, Snowze found the path oddly familiar. “This road… have I walked it before? How strange that I remember it. How delightful!”

Though Apricot Blossom Village lay close to the capital, it was but a remote hamlet, home to a few dozen families. Not a thoroughfare for the military nor a frequented road—hence, its desolation and solitude.

“In such a forsaken place, it’s no wonder Feng Xing cannot come home. This isn’t even an official road. Though blessed with beautiful scenery, few can linger to appreciate it…”

The village’s charm and tranquil air seemed to bind many hearts with unfulfilled wishes. Yet, in all the Central Plains, how many places truly offer peace?

Before long, Snowze reached the heart of Beihua Kingdom. Gazing at the towering city walls, listening to the cacophony of the marketplace, and sensing the thriving atmosphere, she understood why Beihua’s governance was hailed as peerless.

Its vast territory surpassed the combined lands of other states, and its culture and economy flourished, making it the most renowned seat of power among mortals.

At the city gates, she queued for inspection, entered with her official document, and even received some helpful directions.

Within the gates, the prosperous scene amazed her. Though she had seen the unparalleled landscapes of Kunlun and Tianshan, this worldly spectacle was captivating in its own right.

All sorts of buildings, shops, crowds, and costumes transformed the place into a vivid, dynamic world. Was this the Imperial Capital?

Glancing at the attire of the people around her, Snowze realized her own dress was different—at a glance, it was clear she did not belong to any common sect or household. There was an effortless grace and elegance about her.

But she had done her best, choosing the plainest, most unassuming clothing. Her mind was set on her mission, with no room for other concerns.

She walked for some time, still unable to locate the palace gates. At last, she decided to resort to magic.

Just as she sought a secluded spot to cast her spell, a strangely dressed woman caught her hand.

“Snowze!”

Startled, Snowze stared at the flamboyantly dressed woman before her. The woman’s eyes sparkled with delight, her whole expression alive with excitement. Her peculiar outfit accentuated her petite figure, drawing every eye.

“Miss Qu!”

Ling’er nodded, twisting about as she chattered merrily with Snowze.

As Snowze listened, she glanced around—for she sensed another pair of eyes fixed on her.

Yu Qixian stood two meters away, frozen, awkwardly holding a skewer of candied fruit with nowhere to hide it. Unable to keep up with Ling’er’s pace, he had followed slowly, and now, confronted by a certain lady, he seemed utterly flustered.

“She… she’s here!” Yu Qixian screamed inwardly, his gaze glued to her, his expression as gentle as a maiden’s.

The woman beside Ling’er wore pale, simple robes—a plain gauze skirt, ethereal as drifting clouds, with only a touch of green on the outer layer. The cuffs and hem were embroidered with delicate floral patterns, understated yet elegant, neither gaudy nor plain. Her face was hidden behind a thin white veil, but the veil and the pear blossom jade in her hair revealed her identity. Yu Qixian knew it was the woman he had met once beneath the pear tree—she who had haunted his thoughts ever since.

Snowze recognized Yu Qixian as well. His look of shock and delight mirrored that moment beneath the pear blossoms, reminding her again of her earlier indiscretion, and she silently admonished herself for her carelessness.

“You’re headed to the Northern Glory Palace too? It seems I’ve lost already!”

“What do you mean?”

Ling’er fiddled with her dozens of small braids, sighing with a hint of distress. “I guessed you might come, but still wanted to compete. If you weren’t here, I would surely have claimed the golden crown and shown Beihua the splendor of Pingliang!”

“Pingliang? You’re from the Kingdom of Pingliang?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Ling’er sighed, then noticed Yu Qixian still standing there, dazed. She called out, “Hey, are you coming or not? Or are you too shy?”