Fortune Across the World

Chapter 86: The Fleeting Goodbye (Part One)

Master Wang frowned, covering his nose with his hand as he gestured for his men to quickly remove the two bodies. He then turned to approach Ding Qiyu and Lu Weixi.

Master Wang held a significant position, and Weixi had met him previously during the investigation into her attempted assassination. As he approached, Weixi stepped out from Qiyu's embrace and bowed respectfully to the elder. Master Wang quickly stopped her, "No need for formalities, dear niece!" He dared not be disrespectful towards the beloved daughter of the great general. Turning to Qiyu, he asked, "Young man, how did you discover Miss Wu's body here?" His tone was courteous and polite, having noticed the close interaction between Weixi and Qiyu.

Qiyu returned the gesture and explained, "Someone spotted ghost lights, which typically appear where there are remains. It seemed suspicious to me, so I investigated and discovered the body after digging a bit..."

Master Wang nodded thoughtfully, considering her explanation.

At that moment, a soldier approached, presenting an object as he reported, "Sir, we found this in the victim's hand."

The three turned their attention to see the soldier holding a jade pendant wrapped in white cloth. The round white jade was carved with a leaping fish design, its red string broken, likely torn from someone during the struggle.

Weixi found the pendant vaguely familiar but couldn't recall where she had seen it before.

Master Wang examined the pendant and ordered, "This is an important clue, keep it safe!" He turned back to Qiyu and Weixi, saying, "We owe today’s success in finding the body to you both, otherwise I wouldn’t know how to report to the emperor." Despite his words, his mind was troubled. Having already reported the possibility of hauntings and conducted numerous exorcisms, the discovery of Miss Wu's body contradicted his previous actions, proving them absurd. With witnesses present who weren't easy to dismiss, his only option was to swiftly find the murderer to redeem himself.

After a few more questions for clarification, Master Wang finally allowed Qiyu to leave. Qiyu escorted Weixi back to her courtyard, then wandered aimlessly through the academy, feeling downcast. Her thoughts drifted homeward, worrying if Lian'er and her mother had heard about the recent events at the academy. Quickening her pace, she decided to check the post office for any letters and write to assure them of her safety.

As she expected, Lian'er and her mother in Xing City had already heard of Qiyu's near-drowning incident. Lian'er, deeply infatuated, eagerly awaited letters from Qiyu. Having read the few sent home repeatedly, she nearly memorized them. Unable to wait for new letters, she frequently sent the family's female guards to the general's manor for news of Ah Yu. Thus, when the general's family learned of Weixi's accident, Lian'er quickly heard that Qiyu had also fallen into the water with her. Hearing of Ah Yu's danger, Lian'er had grabbed the guard's arm, nearly in tears, prompting the guard to quickly reassure her of their safety.

Though relieved, Lian'er was filled with anxiety. Would Ah Yu risk his life to save the general's daughter? Recalling Miss Lu's stunning beauty and gentle demeanor, she feared Ah Yu might have fallen for her. This suspicion tormented her, her thoughts consumed by Ah Yu, leading her to write several letters filled with concern for Qiyu's well-being, avoiding mention of her fears, too afraid of facing an unwelcome truth.

At the post office, Qiyu found nine letters waiting for her, racing back to her quarters, chiding herself for neglecting her family. Carefully reading Lian'er's letters, she pictured the sometimes willful, sometimes sensible, sometimes fragile girl. The simple, sometimes repetitive words overflowed with a young girl's longing, sweet, bitter, and sorrowful. Though perplexed by the emotions, Qiyu didn't dwell on them, instead drawing warmth from the affection, missing the little crybaby. Touching a line repeated many times, she found herself lost in thought, a gentle smile on her lips.

...

News of Miss Wu's murder spread rapidly, dispelling the ghost rumors. The envoy displayed remarkable efficiency, starting the investigation with the jade pendant, gathering evidence and witnesses, eventually catching the culprit. The murderer was a palace guard, identified by multiple witnesses as the pendant's owner, who confessed. On the day of the incident, he had encountered Miss Wu and her maid, lusting after her. When they resisted fiercely, he accidentally killed them and buried their bodies on the slope.

Qiyu accompanied Weixi to identify the culprit, but he wasn't the same guard who attacked Weixi during the spring outing. By the time they saw him, he appeared mentally unstable, his gaze vacant, silent. Weixi felt something was amiss but couldn't pinpoint it. The culprit confessed, closing the case on Miss Wu's murder.

With the envoy's return to the capital, the academy regained its former tranquility. The incidents involving palace guards prompted stricter selection to prevent unworthy individuals from being chosen, and existing guards underwent rigorous re-evaluation, removing those with any misconduct.

Qiyu's daily routine began with delivering breakfast, attending classes, practicing mechanical arts, training with the Unpredictable Sword, listening to music, and ending with escorting Weixi home. Sometimes she dined with Yun Yi and her brother, or drank with her master. Having finished Yan Huaike's mechanical books, she had grown close to Yun Ke and Yun Yi, mastered the basic Unpredictable Sword moves, and her master was honing her "martial intuition." Her drinking ability had also improved significantly.

Her relationship with Weixi grew sweeter, but such dreamlike nights were fleeting, and time slipped by, bringing midsummer May and the nearing day of departure.

Their feelings diverged; Weixi eagerly anticipated returning home to share their intentions with her parents. Confident in Qiyu's virtues, she believed her parents wouldn't object, dreaming of becoming Qiyu's devoted wife. This longing was sweet yet torturous, making each separation from Qiyu harder, deepening her reliance. Restless in bed, she realized she hadn't given him anything. Rising, she lit a lamp, asking Qing'er for sewing supplies to embroider a sachet for Qiyu.

Meanwhile, Qiyu grew increasingly anxious, fearing the day of truth would lead to their parting, dreading becoming strangers to Weixi. Unable to sleep, she rose to carve a wooden piece at her worktable, wanting to give Weixi a gift before leaving. After several nights, redoing it multiple times until satisfied, she finally completed the present.

Thus, two lamps and two hearts, though full of genuine affection, couldn't escape life's capricious twists.

The evening after finishing the gift, Qiyu brought her wooden carving to meet Weixi for music, carrying her zither case. Familiar with the path to the forest clearing, she set up the zither but didn't invite Weixi to sit as usual. Instead, holding her hand, she said, "Xi'er, I have something to give you."

Weixi's eyes widened in surprise, "I have something for you too."

"Great minds think alike," Qiyu laughed, excited by Weixi's gift. She retrieved a wooden box from her tool bag, handing it to Weixi, "Open it."

Weixi carefully opened the box, revealing a small wooden carving of a young man standing tall, smiling warmly, in simple clothes with a tool bag slung over his shoulder, holding a crossbow in one hand and an extended Unpredictable Sword in the other. The carving was intricately detailed, even the small mechanisms on the crossbow were defined. Though the features didn't exactly match, it was unmistakably Qiyu, capturing their first meeting.

Gently touching the carving's head, Weixi smiled beautifully, "Thank you, 'Young Master,' I love it." Reminiscent of their first encounter.

Qiyu, momentarily lost in Weixi's smile, stood frozen. Watching her, he was reminded of their first meeting, his heart fluttering. Only when Weixi blushed and reminded him did he snap out of it, masking his growing sorrow, "I'm glad you like it. It's made to fit your zither case." He placed the carving on the corner of the zither case, aligning the base with a carved orchid motif, making it appear as if a young spirit emerged from the flowers.

Seeing Weixi's delighted expression, Qiyu bashfully added, "If you don't mind its crudeness, it can stand there while you play." Pausing, his voice softened, "This way, it'll always accompany you when you play. And it has a crossbow and Unpredictable Sword..." it can protect you in my stead...