Song Beiting left the Taiyi Hall, his steps difficult but remarkably firm.
A small figure followed him cautiously, her face a familiar mix of trepidation and faint joy.
"Brother Wen Tang, you, you're finally awake?"
Song Beiting stopped, his gaze passing through Ling Xi, as if seeing someone else.
She looked so much like her.
Whenever she faced him, she was always so cautious, filled with anticipation.
Could it be her?
This was the first time he had looked at Ling Xi so intently, but Ling Xi did not feel happy. His gaze held confusion, scrutiny, and guilt, but none of the affection she longed for.
She felt frustrated and afraid.
Perhaps she shouldn't have rushed over today; she should have waited until Brother Wen Tang was better to visit him.
"Brother Wen Tang, you should rest well. I'll come back another day..."
"Ling Xi, don't waste your time on me. You're a good girl, and you'll meet someone who will truly make you happy in the future."
In this life, he dared not delay her any longer.
She was fierce towards everyone else, but in front of him, she displayed a woman's most extreme gentleness and care.
He knew all about her lonely nights and silent tears.
But he couldn't give her what she wanted.
His heart had withered.
I'm sorry, Yu Zi.
"You are the one who can make me happy!"
Watching Song Beiting's receding back, Ling Xi squatted down, like an abandoned puppy, and began to sob.
Ling'er hid nearby, wiping away tears.
Why did the princess like Commander Song so much? He was handsome, but he was heartless. Why couldn't she like one of the many talented young men available!
...
After Ling Yao left the city, she dared not take the main road. She followed the tree-lined path aimlessly, not knowing where she was going anyway.
When she could walk no further, she would find a deep mountain and hide, waiting for nirvana, her rebirth depending entirely on fate.
Thinking about it, her life was truly bitter.
She was a noble princess of the Sea Spirit Heavenly Realm, yet she had experienced the destruction of her world and come to this mortal realm. She had fallen for a man, and after enduring trials in two lifetimes, they still couldn't be together.
How could she be so unlucky!
In her previous life, his status was the biggest obstacle. In this life, it was the opposite; she had been reincarnated into royalty.
Damn it all!
She didn't believe in Buddhism, but it seemed there was some truth to the karma that Buddhism spoke of.
Ling Yao was tired. Her current body was like that of an old woman, more than half her hair was white, and wrinkles covered her face, feeling like old bark to the touch.
She guessed that even if Xiao Shan stood before her, he wouldn't recognize her.
"Halt! Hand over your money!"
She had only just sat down when some reckless individuals came to cause trouble.
It seemed the public order in Jing Country was still quite poor, daring to rob so close to the capital.
One, two, three, four, five of them.
"This old woman has no money."
"Huh? You old woman are really strange. Why are you dressed like a young girl, and your figure is so graceful? Are you wearing a human skin mask?"
One of the robbers reached out to check her face.
Ling Yao coughed twice and spat out a mouthful of blood.
The five robbers shrieked in alarm.
"Sorry, I have consumption. My family kicked me out. Do you need anyone on the mountain? I can cook."
"Consumption!?"
The robbers cried out and jumped back, frantically patting themselves.
"It's over, boss, will we get infected? I don't want to die yet."
"Quick, let's fumigate with mugwort. We'll be fine."
"This is our first robbery, and it's so unlucky. It's not a good omen!"
"Wuwu, I want to go home and farm."
The five robbers scrambled away in panic.
Ling Yao sighed, stood up, and brushed off the dust, continuing her journey.
When she reached the next town, she saw soldiers comparing wanted posters as they moved back and forth. She went over to take a look.
It was her portrait.
It was drawn so beautifully.
It would be a miracle if they found her.
To avoid drawing attention, she bought a set of old woman's clothes and a headscarf.
"Have there been any discoveries here?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Ling Yao looked up and met Du Ling's gaze. She was startled and quickly lowered her head.
"Continue inquiring on East Street."
Du Ling called out to his men and left.
He really didn't recognize her. Ling Yao touched her face; she had aged considerably, her hair was all white, and it fell out when she pulled it.
"Old lady, have a bowl of water!"
The tea stall owner, seeing her sitting there alone for so long, felt pity and brought her a bowl of tea.
"Thank you."
Ling Yao slowly drank the water, listening to the people at the tea stall discussing the Divine Martial General and the Divine Maiden.
It was nothing new, just the same content from the storybooks. She wondered what was up with the Green Mountain Hermit; he hadn't written any new ones.
"Old lady, you're not from Jinyang, are you? Your accent sounds like it's from the capital." The tea stall owner struck up a conversation.
Ling Yao nodded, "You're right, I came from the capital."
The few tea-drinking customers stopped their chatter and asked with interest, "Old lady, have you seen the Divine Maiden and the Divine Martial General? Are they like they are in the books?"
"Not exactly," Ling Yao said. "The Divine Maiden respects the General greatly."
"Tsk~ What you read is only the surface. I heard from my brother who returned from the army that when the Divine Maiden was at home, she chased the General with a rolling pin."
Ling Yao: "......"
Damn it, who leaked the classified information!
"Speaking of which, the General is truly remarkable. He has truly established the nation's might this time, and no one dares to bully our Jing Country anymore."
"The Divine Maiden is also powerful, predicting the flood in the Huaiyang area in advance and saving tens of thousands of people."
"With the Divine Maiden and the Divine Martial General, it is the blessing of our Jing Country."
The customers continued their lively discussions.
Ling Yao quietly put down a few copper coins and left the tea stall.
As she walked forward, she noticed that such discussions were everywhere, just like a hundred years ago when they discussed her and the Great Yao Divine Lord.
She couldn't escape his shadow anywhere.
Ling Yao finally took out the portrait she had been hiding and hid in a deserted alley, weeping bitterly.
She missed him.
She cried as she looked at the portrait.
At the foot of Changyun Mountain, the guardian heavenly general was the person she missed to the bone!
Xiao Shan, Xiao Shan, can I see you again in this life?
"Don't cry. The dead cannot be revived."
A childish voice rang out.
Ling Yao looked over with tear-filled eyes. It took her a while to see clearly that it was a little child with two small buns for hair.
He looked about ten years old.
"Is this your son? He's very imposing. My neighbor's son also died in battle, but my mother said the compensation the court is giving this time is a lot, enough for her to live comfortably in her old age. You shouldn't be too sad."
The little child comforted her earnestly.
Ling Yao's gaze fell on the candied hawthorn in his hand.
Candied hawthorn, it made her think of Xiao Shan again, sob sob sob... it never ended.
"Alas!"
The little child pondered for a long time and finally sighed heavily.
"Alright, I'll let you have one."