Chapter Seven: Unaware of Love's Suffering (Part Two)

Shen Xinan noticed Shen Xiruo clutching her chest, her lips pale, and hurriedly asked in a gentle voice, "Ruo'er? Are you feeling unwell?"

When Shen Xiruo entered, she had seemed perfectly fine, but now, for reasons unknown, she appeared utterly haggard.

Seeing her condition, Changsun Chengmin rose and offered his seat. "Quick, quick, let her sit down."

Shen Xiruo nodded to him in thanks, then turned to Shen Xinan. "Second Prince, I... I'm fine."

No sooner had she spoken than a mouthful of blood burst from her lips.

"Ruo'er!" Shen Xinan cried out in alarm, bending to wipe the blood from her mouth with his sleeve.

Changsun Chengmin urgently jabbed the tea-sipping master, who seemed unconcerned. "Come on, take a look at her!"

Shen Xinan, anxious to the point of desperation, nearly knelt before the masked man. "Master, please save Ruo'er."

Only then did the masked man set down his teacup and reach for Shen Xiruo’s pulse.

Their eyes met, and another wave of fierce pain surged through Shen Xiruo’s chest. She slowly raised her other hand, intent on removing the mask.

But before she could touch it, the masked man swiftly evaded her.

Her hand hung suspended, then fell weakly onto the table as she let out a cold laugh.

After a moment’s silence, the masked man spoke. "It’s nothing serious—merely excessive worry, resulting in chest tightness and shortness of breath." He then instructed Sù Qingfeng to fetch medicine downstairs.

"Don’t worry," Changsun Chengmin comforted Shen Xinan, patting his back. "If he says it’s nothing, it surely isn’t grave."

At this, Shen Xinan ceased his anxious pleas, nodded, and gazed at the barely conscious Shen Xiruo.

Soon, Sù Qingfeng handed a brown pill to Shen Xinan. "Give her this quickly."

"Thank you."

Moments after taking the medicine, Shen Xiruo’s complexion improved markedly.

Shen Xinan bowed deeply to the masked man. "Thank you, Master."

The masked man remained silent, but Changsun Chengmin, ever considerate, waved off the formality. "Ah, we’re old acquaintances, no need for such courtesy. Sit down, you must be tired from your long journey. Have some tea and rest." He poured a cup for Shen Xinan.

Sù Qingfeng, watching Changsun Chengmin’s sudden hospitality, was dumbfounded, wondering if the man had taken leave of his senses.

Changsun Chengmin and Shen Xinan had known each other since childhood. Though their interactions were few, their impressions of one another were always favorable.

Shen Xinan paused at the words, "We’re old acquaintances?"

Though it was true he and Changsun Chengmin were old acquaintances, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was deeper meaning hidden in the phrase.

Chengmin realized he’d misspoken, but, unable to find a suitable excuse, stammered, "Well…um…ah…I…"

At that moment, the other four in the room all turned to him, waiting for an explanation.

"Have you come a long way seeking something?" The masked man interjected, deftly rescuing Chengmin and shifting the topic, shooting him a sidelong glance before focusing on Shen Xinan.

"Yes, yes, why are you here?" Chengmin, relieved from embarrassment, voiced his initial curiosity. He was genuinely interested in why this pair of siblings had come to Wanxu Pavilion.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiruo sat up, exchanged a glance with her brother, and explained their purpose. Yet she dared not look at the masked man, fearing that stabbing, piercing pain would seize her again.

"My brother and I have come to ask Master for the whereabouts of a certain person."

"Oh? Who?"

Shen Xiruo clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with anger, and answered, word by word, "The Grand Shaman of Ling Mountain."

Her words startled the masked man, whose hand paused mid-tea, but after a moment he regained his indifferent demeanor.

"Why do you seek him?" Changsun Chengmin was perplexed.

"Have you forgotten the culprit who caused the death of Gu Qiuci, the Crown Prince of Baixi? You were always close with him—after his tragic death, do you not wish to avenge him?" Shen Xiruo confronted him, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I do wish it, but…" Changsun Chengmin faltered. How could he say, "The one you call tragically dead is actually right before you?"

"You, the Crown Prince of the Five Kingdoms, should find avenging him effortless. Five years have passed—have you already forgotten him? Of course, now you’re exalted and powerful, with both authority and fame. How could you remember the dead? He considered you a confidant in life, what a waste."

Faced with her accusations, Changsun Chengmin felt utterly helpless, unable to defend himself. He could only cast a plaintive look at the masked man.

"Ruo'er! Do not be disrespectful to the Crown Prince."

"Your Highness, Ruo'er..." Shen Xinan hastily apologized on her behalf.

"No harm done." Changsun Chengmin forced an awkward smile.

Whenever Shen Xiruo heard anything related to Gu Qiuci, she would lose control and speak harshly. It had been this way for years. Especially after learning that Changsun Chengmin had become Crown Prince of the Five Kingdoms, her resentment toward him grew.

Everyone knew Changsun Chengmin and Gu Qiuci had been close since childhood. Yet these five years, he’d never mentioned Gu Qiuci’s death, never visited his grave, perhaps never even mourned him.

If even he was so indifferent, what could be expected of the rest of the world?

The more Shen Xiruo thought on it, the colder her heart became.

"He’s here, in Wanxu Pavilion," the masked man said.

"No wonder we couldn’t find his traces. Please, Master, hand him over to us. Name your price, we will pay whatever you ask," Shen Xinan pleaded, excitement coloring his words.

Shen Xiruo nodded in agreement.

"I have use for him," the masked man replied, making it clear that no amount of silver would persuade him.

Shen Xiruo was momentarily furious. Though the master had shown them kindness, she was determined to take the Grand Shaman. As she was about to speak, Shen Xinan shot her a look, and she fell silent.

Shen Xinan knew well that unless the masked man willingly released the Grand Shaman, the two of them could never take him from Wanxu Pavilion. This mysterious place brooked neither insolence nor testing.

Reluctantly, he acquiesced.

"We’ve heard Master has the art of summoning spirits. Ruo’er has loved Gu Qiuci for many years—might she see him?"

"Very well." The masked man’s eyes flickered.

Before performing the spirit summoning, he sent all idle persons downstairs.

…

As the golden rooster heralded dawn and the sun rose, the three sleeping at the table were jolted awake by Shen Xiruo’s wrenching cries.

Shen Xinan rushed upstairs, stumbling, with Changsun Chengmin and Sù Qingfeng following.

They found Shen Xiruo cowering in a corner, her eyes wild with terror.

Except for the masked man and Shen Xiruo herself, none knew what she had seen that night.

"I’ll send someone to collect the silver," the masked man said, gazing at Shen Xiruo with a trace of tenderness rather than coldness.

Shen Xinan understood this was a dismissal and picked up Shen Xiruo, carrying her away.

As the siblings stepped outside, the wind chimes on the wall ceased their ringing, and peace seemed to settle once more.

The masked man watched them leave, his expression unreadable.

"Hey, did you really summon your own soul last night? Shen Xinan’s beautiful sister seems deeply devoted to you. Perhaps you should yield—tell her you’re still alive..." Changsun Chengmin teased, slinging an arm around the masked man’s shoulder.

But before he could finish, the masked man threw both him and Sù Qingfeng out.

"Hey!" Changsun Chengmin pounded the door, only to be dragged away by Sù Qingfeng.

…

A month later.

"No!" Shen Xiruo jolted awake, the scenes from her dream vivid, the metallic scent of blood lingering in her nostrils.

In her dream, she saw a town awash with blood, flames consuming the sky. The sounds of battle and screams filled her ears, and beneath her feet lay severed limbs. The black-clad killers, faces twisted and eyes wild, brandished swords dripping with crimson, as if demons from hell sent to claim souls…

Panting, she seemed to recall something, flung aside the brocade curtains, and rushed out, shouting, "Second Prince! Xue Yunqian!"

Her cries alarmed every servant she passed.

The Empress, visiting as usual, had not reached her palace before seeing her running out in disarray. Overjoyed and in tears, she embraced Shen Xiruo, murmuring, "Ruo’er, my Ruo’er, you’ve finally awakened. Thank heaven, thank heaven, you truly frightened your mother."

All at once, everyone in the palace gathered to witness the commotion, but were soon dispersed by the Emperor of Northern Xiao’s icy glare.

"Mother, where is my brother, and Xue Yunqian?" Shen Xiruo broke free, clutching her mother’s arm.

"Child, your brother is naturally at his residence."

"And Xue Yunqian? Where is he?"

At her question, the Empress and Emperor fell silent.

"Answer me—where is he? Why won’t you speak?" She wept, demanding an answer.

Suddenly, the image of Xue Yunqian, blood-soaked but smiling, blocking her path, flashed through her mind. She was terrified—terrified that he truly was dead.

"Ruo’er, Lord Xue…" The Emperor struggled to speak.

"Tell me what happened to him! I beg you, Mother…" Shen Xiruo knelt before them, tears streaming down her face.

The Emperor sighed, then revealed the truth. "After Lord Xue found you and Xinan, you passed through a small town and were ambushed by bandits. Not a soul survived in that town. He died to save you both. Ruo’er, do you know you were unconscious for a whole month? Your mother prayed every day for your recovery."

Shen Xiruo felt as if struck by lightning, collapsing to the ground. The dream was real—everything in it had truly happened. Xue Yunqian had died, right before her eyes.

She had always known Xue Yunqian’s feelings for her, but never realized the depth—so deep he would risk his life.

She had blamed Gu Qiuci for not understanding her longing, but she herself had never understood Xue Yunqian’s.

Everyone said she should marry a dragon among men, but even among ten thousand, not one could match him.

Five days later, this peerless princess cast herself into the Zhanghua Pool.

The Emperor and Empress of Northern Xiao mourned her bitterly.