The Fengyuan Dynasty was quite open-minded, with many who favored male or female partners. The current princess herself set an example by keeping many male consorts.
However, Bai Qingyue never imagined she would be one of them. Her expression grew conflicted.
It seemed she had never liked any man growing up, but she hadn't particularly liked women either! She had always felt that if her father ever forced her into marriage, becoming a nun would be the most suitable option.
But plans couldn't keep up with changes. Once favored by a prince, even if she wanted to become a nun, the temple wouldn't dare accept her. A remote temple might have been able to conceal the news, perhaps allowing her to slip through, but as a young woman about to be married, she couldn't possibly be allowed to travel so far.
This delay continued until the present. Later, Feng Liyan died, and she no longer had to marry. Naturally, the idea of becoming a nun faded, as monks also had many restrictions.
Bai Qingyue felt a pang of sadness and decided to seek advice from her close friend.
"What? Cough, cough!" Wen Xingyi thought her dear friend had only come for a casual chat, never expecting her to bring such explosive news.
Wen Xingyi had been married for several years. The man she had chosen back then was indeed a man of potential, and she was now a lady of status.
"You must have sensed it before, even if you couldn't pinpoint it!" Wen Xingyi was truly curious about Bai Qingyue's thoughts. Xingyuan's intentions had been so obvious; how could she not have realized it for so long? It was a shame she had even made a bet with others back then.
"Mmm... I thought she always treated me like a sister." There was a time when she had indeed suspected Xingyuan of having other feelings for her, but after being denied by Xingyuan herself, she hadn't thought about it further.
Wen Xingyi was exasperated, feeling she couldn't help her friend. Her friend seemed so intelligent usually! How could she be so slow in matters of the heart? Xingyuan was also to blame, enduring for so long before confessing her feelings.
"So, what should I do now?" Bai Qingyue looked at Wen Xingyi for help, unsure how to face Xingyuan now.
Wen Xingyi said earnestly, "Qingyue, tell me honestly, do you have any... for her?"
Bai Qingyue's ear tips turned red, and she nervously replied, "I... I don't know." She had never been in love before, how could she know what kind of feeling she had for Xingyuan?
Wen Xingyi sighed. Thinking of their lifelong friendship, she gently guided her, "Then think about it, if from now on, you could never see Xingyuan again, how would you feel?"
The thought of that scenario filled Bai Qingyue's eyes with panic. Over the past few years, Xingyuan had successfully ingrained herself into her life. Let alone never seeing her again, even if she didn't see Xingyuan for a single day, she would feel uneasy and listless in everything she did.
If she really could never see her again, Bai Qingyue felt she would go mad.
Wen Xingyi understood everything from Bai Qingyue's expression and decided to add a little more fuel to the fire.
Wen Xingyi sighed, looking regretful. "Now that she has confessed her feelings to you, if you don't agree, how could she have the face to continue living in your home? She'd probably leave and venture into the martial world."
Startled by Wen Xingyi's words, Bai Qingyue's heart raced. Without thinking further, she rushed back.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Xingyuan standing quietly by the tree. Terrified by the scenario Wen Xingyi had described, Bai Qingyue threw herself forward and hugged Xingyuan tightly from behind.
Xingyuan's expression was one of confusion. She had considered all possible reactions from her elder sister, acceptance or rejection, and had devised solutions for each, but none could explain her current reaction.
Bai Qingyue's voice was muffled as she asked, "If I refuse, A Yuan, will you leave?"
"No!" Xingyuan turned around and looked directly at her. "No matter what decision A Jie makes, A Yuan will not leave." Because it was her, she wanted to stay by her side, no matter the method.
Bai Qingyue's confirmed answer did not alleviate her sadness; instead, it intensified. So, A Yuan must care about her deeply, which is why she always yielded. She couldn't let A Yuan always bear the brunt of things.
Her expression turned serious. "A Yuan, I don't know if I have other feelings for you right now, but I know I don't want to lose you. So, let's give it a try!"
Xingyuan's heart trembled, her expression one of disbelief. She had expected to try several more times to loosen her elder sister's stance, never imagining it would succeed in one go. Although she said "give it a try," in Xingyuan's eyes, this was tantamount to an acceptance.
It didn't matter; she had a lifetime to let her elder sister truly accept her from the heart. If a lifetime wasn't enough, then the next. Her time was long, and she had plenty of energy to wait.
From that day on, their relationship changed, and their interactions evolved significantly. For example:
"A Yuan, I want to eat that!" Bai Qingyue commanded lazily from her lounge chair.
"Alright! If A Jie kisses me, I'll go!" Xingyuan seized the opportunity to make a request.
Bai Qingyue didn't shy away and obediently gave her a kiss. Their relationship had changed now, and a little intimacy between lovers was perfectly normal.
"A Jie, do you want to leave the capital?" Xingyuan asked while feeding her.
"Of course! Why, do you have a way?"
Xingyuan chuckled and whispered her plan in Bai Qingyue's ear.
"Is this feasible?" Bai Qingyue hesitated.
"Of course! Don't worry! I've already made arrangements. As soon as A Jie agrees, we can act immediately." Xingyuan had harbored this idea since the first day she arrived at the Prime Minister's mansion. Now, the timing was perfect.
Bai Qingyue agreed with anticipation.
As night fell, a fire suddenly broke out in the small courtyard.
"Fire! Quickly, put it out!"
Servants frantically extinguished the flames, and the small courtyard was destroyed by the sudden blaze. After the fire was put out, servants carried out a body resembling Bai Qingyue. Upon seeing this, Bai Yulin fainted on the spot.
While the mansion was in chaos, Xingyuan and Bai Qingyue had already left the capital.
A substitution! Xingyuan had left a few days earlier. On the day of the fire, she brought Bai Qingyue out and replaced her with the body of a condemned prisoner. Although the Dali Temple would investigate, most of its members were Feng Liyu's people, and it was naturally not difficult for him to manipulate things behind the scenes.
This was the promise Feng Liyu had made. Xingyuan hadn't intentionally hidden her identity, and Feng Liyu, with a little thought, understood the cause and effect of the matter. He had promised to assist them fully if they ever wished to leave.
Now was the time for him to fulfill his promise. Xingyuan had also promised Feng Liyu that she would destroy the tokens of their cooperation before her death. With the matter now resolved, Xingyuan could take her elder sister to live the life she had always longed for.
Short skit: One day, Bai Qingyue found a renowned painting and became engrossed in studying it in her room, neglecting food and sleep.
Late at night, Xingyuan returned with food.
"A Jie~ time to eat!" Xingyuan glanced at Bai Qingyue, who was absorbed in her painting, with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Mmm!" Bai Qingyue replied, her gaze reluctantly fixed on the scroll.
Xingyuan placed the tray on the table, walked to Bai Qingyue with a mournful expression, and pouted, "Sister, you've been sitting here all day. You haven't looked at me all day, haven't you missed me?"
Bai Qingyue looked up at Xingyuan briefly before returning her attention to the painting on the table, her attitude as perfunctory as it could be.
Xingyuan couldn't stand it anymore. How could such a beautiful maiden be less appealing than a broken painting?
Suddenly, Xingyuan reached out and pulled Bai Qingyue into her embrace.
"Mmm~" Bai Qingyue was startled, her expression dazed as if she hadn't fully registered what was happening. Her arms instinctively wrapped around Xingyuan's neck.
Xingyuan tossed her onto the bed, not very gently, and leaned over her with a displeased expression, lightly nipping at Bai Qingyue's pale red earlobe.
Bai Qingyue instantly became fully alert. Sensing danger, her demeanor became extremely soft. "A, A Yuan, I was wrong. You are the most important, much more important than the painting."
"Is that so?" A smile played on Xingyuan's lips, her eyes tinged with desire.
"But~ I want A Jie to experience just how much more important I am than that painting."
"Mmm~"
The next second, Xingyuan sealed Bai Qingyue's lips...
Waking up, Bai Qingyue looked at Xingyuan, who was still full of energy beside her, with a face full of dissatisfaction and a sense of existential despair! Could she say she regretted it?
Hmph, it was too late to regret it!
Years passed, and the two of them left their footprints in many places across the Fengyuan Dynasty. Only when they were old did they find a place of beautiful scenery to retire.
With smiles on their lips, they left the mortal world hand in hand. I have journeyed through this world, I have cried and laughed. I do not seek for everything to go smoothly, but only that my heart's desires may be reached.