Moonlit Hearts

Chapter 28: Echoes of the Heart

Slowly, Wangji emerged, his vision still a bit blurry. Panic surged through him as he tried to sit up, but then he realized he was in a bed. This meant that Su Minshan had either left or died. Relief followed, and he closed his eyes, losing consciousness once more.

The second time he woke, his vision was clear, allowing him to sit up and look around.

The bed sheets bore the Cloud Recesses emblem, the famous Gusu Lan Clan one. His hair was undone, and he was in his room in the Jingshi.

"Didn't Odin forbid me from coming here again? Was he the one who saved us?" The questions flashed through his mind. He stood up, searching for Sizhui but his reflection in the mirror stopped him. Aside from his undone hair and the absence of the blue gentians that usually adorned it, his forehead ribbon was in place, though he remembered not wearing it. His Gusu Lan Clan clothes were neatly folded on a chair next to the mirror. He dressed quietly and exited the room through the open door eager to understand the situation.

The living room of the Jingshi was silent. Two dishes sat on the table, untouched. Soft, nearly imperceptible cries came from Sizhui's room. Was his son crying? He slowly made his way towards the sounds. Someone was shushing while a child sobbed. Wangji felt a strange sense of familiarity. He tried to push the door open, only to realize his hand passed through it. Was he a ghost? What was happening?

"Shh, A-Yuan, it will be fine," a voice—his voice—said.

Curious, Wangji decided to go through the door, deciding to ponder the reason for his newfound ability later. The scene before him was painfully familiar. A younger Wangji, his back still covered in blood from being whipped, cradled a crying A-Yuan. It was the second night after they had returned to the Jingshi. A-Yuan was still terrified of abandonment, waking up crying and screaming. In his rush to comfort him, Wangji had reopened his wounds. Seeing how his younger self soothed Sizhui, how much his humming and rocking had meant to the boy, brought tears to his eyes.

Just as he wondered why he was seeing this, the scene began to change before him. Another memory formed, this one from before A-Yuan. Wei Ying was brushing Wangji's hair, talking animatedly about his recent night hunt with some disciples, while younger Wangji listened. After oiling his hair and placing the blue gentians back in it, Wei Ying sat down next to Wangji, taking his hand in his own.

Wangji walked closer, facing the couple. Young Wangji kissed Wei Ying's cheek and whispered his love. Wangji smiled—they truly looked like teens in love, without a care in the world. Wei Ying grinned brightly before playfully tackling younger Wangji, pushing him onto his back. Just as he was being kissed, the scene blurred once more.

When it cleared again, it was another scene with A-Yuan. This time, the child was a bit older and Wangji had healed. Young Wangji was teaching him music near the rabbits, but A-Yuan was more interested in the rabbits than in the guqin. However, both Wangji and his younger self could see how hard A-Yuan was trying to stay focused, still scared that if he didn't meet Wangji's expectations, he would be left alone once more. When his younger self finally gave him permission to run with the rabbits, A-Yuan didn't hesitate, chasing the fluffy creatures in pure delight.

Both he and his younger self watched the child with love and adoration in their eyes. Wangji's heart swelled as he saw the pure, unguarded joy on A-Yuan's face. He remembered the patience it took to assure the boy that he was loved unconditionally, and seeing this memory filled him with pride and tenderness.

"You have many happy and sorrowful memories, dear God of the Moon," a voice said, jolting Wangji out of his reverie. He turned to find Mianmian standing there, a soft smile on her lips.

"I should have known," he simply said.

"What?" she asked, smiling wider. "You're the one who entered my realm without permission," she said.