Guardian of the Heart

Chapter 8: The Four Great Masters of the Imperial Court

After the Mu Daoist left, Zhu Yuandi remained alone in the gradually quieting tavern. She sat by the window, gazing at the night scene of Hangzhou. The stars twinkled, as if telling an ancient and distant story. Her heart, however, felt like a deep and still pool, calm on the surface but filled with layers of thoughts.

Early the next morning, Zhu Yuandi embarked on her journey back to the capital. The morning was damp, with the unique scent of Hangzhou's lake lingering in the air. The streets were bustling with hurried passersby, each seemingly having their own destination and story.

Sitting in the carriage, Zhu Yuandi quietly watched the scenery outside. The carriage passed through bustling markets and tranquil bamboo groves before finally heading onto the main road to the capital. Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night in the tavern, to the deep eyes of the Mu Daoist, and the carefree smile of Lu Xiaofeng. She felt as if she had just woken from a dream, everything so unreal yet so real.

As the capital drew closer, Zhu Yuandi felt an indescribable melancholy. She knew that once she returned to the capital, she would again be immersed in a world filled with palace intrigues and family conflicts. But in her heart, there remained a longing for distant places and a yearning for freedom.

With the wheels turning steadily, Zhu Yuandi leaned against the window, her eyes filled with deep contemplation. She believed that true freedom might not necessarily come from the external world but might be hidden in her own heart. As long as one's heart is steadfast, one is free.

The carriage finally entered the city gates of the capital. The wheels rolled over the stone-paved roads, producing a dull echo. The sky over the capital was gray, mirroring Zhu Yuandi's emotions. Her carriage moved slowly through the bustling streets, surrounded by hurried pedestrians and lively street sounds. Yet she felt as if she was in a dream, far removed from the earthly world. Her thoughts were filled with the words and image of the Mu Daoist, memories carefully stored in her heart like delicate watercolor paintings.

The carriage passed through the streets and alleys of the capital. The willows by the roadside swayed gently in the wind, as if whispering secrets. Zhu Yuandi gazed at the familiar yet unfamiliar scenes through the window, a faint sadness in her heart. She knew that once she returned to this magnificent place, she would again face countless troubles and constraints.

The carriage finally stopped in front of her residence. As she stepped out, Zhu Yuandi took a deep breath, as if to inhale the entire essence of the capital. She knew that although she lived in this bustling city, her heart had already flown to distant places.

She walked slowly into the residence, the heavy doors closing behind her, severing some connection with the outside world. But she understood that no matter where she was, her pursuit of freedom would never extinguish.

In the courtyard, the shadows of the parasol trees swayed, and the sunlight cast dappled patterns on the stone-paved ground. Zhu Yuandi stood by the window of her residence, holding a freshly brewed cup of tea. Her gaze seemed to penetrate the intricate eaves and the city's prosperity, reaching far beyond.

The sky over the capital seemed covered in dust, the gray clouds hanging low, even dimming the sunlight. The wind outside, carrying faint willow fluff, brushed gently against her cheek like a kiss from an old era. Each time the wind blew, her heart trembled slightly.

In this quiet yet hollow world, Zhu Yuandi's thoughts drifted far away, to the path she and the Mu Daoist had walked together, the river caressed by morning mist. By that river, they had watched the sunset and listened to the birds singing. Now, everything seemed like a distant dream, blurred and unreachable.

Her residence, grand and luxurious, inevitably felt empty and cold. Every corner, every piece of furniture, was imbued with royal elegance but also loneliness. In this magnificent cage, she existed proudly yet alone, like a doll forgotten by time.