The Twelve Spirits: Ugly Spirit

[3]

Ning Xishi found an inn to stay in for the night. The next morning, Su Zicheng came.

His face was deathly pale as he apologized to her, his voice lined with exhaustion.

He said, 'Xishi, I've always been searching for a person. When you performed the Startling Swan dance, you looked so much like her that I thought you were the person I was looking for. But it turns out – you are not.' He stopped. 'It was I who did you wrong.'

Su Zicheng raised his gaze to meet hers, and she saw the guilt haunting his exquisite eyes.

'Apart from her, I will never love another woman. If you cannot accept this, I will annul our marriage today and aid you in remarrying into a good family. If you wish to stay, then, before she returns, you can have everything I possess.'

He spoke sincerely. The 16 years old Ning Xishi was momentarily stupefied, before she exhaled a defeated laugh, kneeling gracefully at his feet.

With a wan smile, she said, 'I am willing to stay by your side, never to part.'

Su Zicheng did not say a word. Murmuring in assent, he called for his attendant and made the necessary arrangements.

From today on, Ning Xishi would become Princess Consort De.

––

In the days which followed their marriage, Su Zicheng never once touched Ning Xishi, and she never spoke about it, but this did not stop her from rising early to prepare his breakfast every morning. When night fell, together with the servants, she awaited his return by the manor gates.

Just like that, the days passed one after another, until three years had gone by.

Once, Su Zicheng had been caught up in a discussion between the court officials. When the night grew long and still, he did not return, Ning Xishi called the servants, prepared a horse carriage, and waited for him just outside the gates of the imperial palace.

That night, the skies were dark. Ning Xishi held onto a lantern and stood quietly by the horse carriage with a few servants, watching as court officials slowly exited from the palace gates in twos and threes.

When Su Zicheng finally emerged, his gaze immediately landed on her. She was dressed in liquid blue robes, her hair pinned. Within her, the outstretched hand was a pale-yellow lantern.

On this windy night, Ning Xishi stood there, her smile blissful and gentle, as though she would always be waiting for him, no longer how long it took.

Quietly, the two of them stared at the other across the long road.

A long moment passed, and Su Zicheng's lips finally lifted in a faint smile. Swiftly, he strode over, before coming to a stop in front of her. Under the moon-lit night, he reached out, engulfing her tightly within his arms.

Many years later, when Ning Xishi recalled this memory, she finally understood that it turns out, this was the closest they would ever be in this lifetime.