FID – Chapter 889

Chapter 889: Among the Vast Waters, I Take Only One Ladle of Longing 

While the man went to escort the Empress Dowager, the elders and the two little ones had already fallen asleep. Taking the opportunity, Liu Yusheng entered her space once more.

The space was just as it had been the last time she entered. The herbs in the medicinal field and the fruit trees all looked wilted and lifeless, lacking vitality.

The water in the spiritual spring pool hadn’t dried up, but it also hadn’t risen.

The once-rich spiritual energy that used to permeate the air had become extremely faint.

She entered the small bamboo house beside the medicinal field and checked the stored supplies. Thankfully, everything was still as it had been, unchanged.

She had no idea when things would recover or if they ever would.

Letting out a light sigh, Liu Yusheng went around watering the herbs with a bit of spiritual spring water, then exited the space.

Outside, just as she stepped out, the man pushed open the door and entered the room.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Feng Qingbai paused, surprised to see her still fully dressed.

Tilting her head and blinking playfully at him, she replied, “I just went into the space to check things and to wait for you.”

“To wait for me, or to wait for gossip?” He didn’t seem at all surprised or curious about her having gone into the space. Instead, he teased her. His calm demeanor gave Liu Yusheng no sense of triumph.

“Did General Qin escort the Empress Dowager with you?”

“Not quite. He got off at the fork in the road,” Feng Qingbai said as he came over to help her out of her outer robe. “There are boundaries between ruler and subject that cannot be crossed. If he had personally escorted the Empress Dowager back, it would’ve stirred gossip.”

Liu Yusheng fell silent.

Boundaries between ruler and subject.

Fate makes fools of people.

Between the Empress Dowager and General Qin, there was never destined to be a happy ending.

And yet, General Qin, knowing that, still chose a lifetime of celibacy, choosing instead to guard her from afar.

Among the vast waters, he took only one ladleful of longing.

A love so beautiful yet so sorrowful.

“What are you thinking about?” Feng Qingbai asked, noticing that even after lying down, she was still frowning in thought.

“I was wondering. If my father-in-law found out his daughter-in-law wanted to help his love rival steal his woman, would he scold me for being utterly rebellious?”

“……”

“Is this kind of thinking really hard to accept? Are you mad?” Liu Yusheng glanced at the man beside her a bit guiltily.

Her father-in-law was Feng Qingbai’s father — the late emperor. By any standard, such thoughts of hers were not just rebellious; they were outright treasonous.

Moreover, in this era where social status and class were clearly defined and rigidly upheld, who had the courage to break free of those boundaries and defy societal expectations?

Seeing the cautious look on her face, Feng Qingbai could only sigh. “Even if you wanted to defy the heavens, I would still clear the path for you. What could I possibly not accept?”

He had already accepted that she had reincarnated into a new life, and even that she carried a mysterious space with her. What else could possibly faze him?

He was never one to be bound by convention.

“It’s just that matters of the heart are the hardest for outsiders to interfere with. You feel regret on their behalf, but to them, their current state may already be the best possible outcome,” Feng Qingbai said calmly.

After a brief silence, Liu Yusheng asked, “Why did the Empress Dowager enter the palace back then?”

She had a feeling, a certainty, really that there had once been a story between the Empress Dowager and General Qin. Given the Empress Dowager’s temperament, she would never have bowed to power and wealth without reason.

“She was sent into the palace by her family. Even in her youth, her talent and grace were widely known. Among all the noble ladies of the capital, she was considered outstanding in both character and virtue. She was chosen by the Empress Dowager of that time to be the new empress. Her maternal family immediately agreed to the match,” Feng Qingbai explained. 

“At that time, my father had just ascended the throne. He needed to strengthen alliances with the influential families in the capital to stabilize the court. In a world where marriages are dictated by family and matchmakers, how could a woman whose life depended on her clan dare to resist?”

“With her character,” he continued, “once she entered the palace and became the empress — even if it was never her choice, she would have cut off all ties with General Qin and fulfilled her duties with honor.” Because that was her virtue.

“Decades have passed, and the past between the Empress Dowager and General Qin is difficult to trace. What I know is only this much. During the decades she was Empress Dowager, she and the late emperor treated each other with respect. Under her management, the harem was well organized, saving the emperor a lot of trouble.” He pulled the woman closer to his chest. “It’s late, you should rest.”

Liu Yusheng leaned into the man’s embrace and closed her eyes.

The past cannot be chased; what has happened cannot be predicted. Everything must just follow fate.

The two babies had reached their full month, and Liu Yusheng had finished her confinement. The Liu family discussed staying at most one more month; they also needed to return to Xinghua Village.

The farm work at home could not be neglected for long. Although Wei Lan and Wei Hong, along with villagers, helped look after things, they couldn’t always be hands-off managers.

As for the capital, the servants in the King’s Manor took meticulous care of everything. 

Feng Qingbai was always nearby, and the Empress Dowager treated the two babies like her own. There really was nothing the Liu family needed to worry about.

With the return date set, Liu Zhiqiu and Liu Muqiu began going out more frequently.

While enjoying themselves, they didn’t forget to persuade their elders: “How often can we come to the capital each year? If you have money and leisure, you should enjoy it well. Travel, see the sights, have fun, and live comfortably.”

Especially Grandpa and Grandma; they have worked hard for most of their lives and deserve to enjoy their old age in peace.

Grandma Liu was not swayed at all by his persuasion. “What’s so fun about the capital? It’s just more crowded and noisy. The scenery isn’t as good as our Xinghua Village, and the people aren’t as simple and honest as in our village.”

“That’s right. People here don’t like to chat. If someone comes over to talk, it’s usually because they want something from you. It’s not like our village. You just grab a folding stool, sit under the big pagoda tree, and say whatever’s on your mind without worrying that what you say will get around and you’ll be in trouble next,” Grandpa Liu held his tea cup and snorted, grumbling.

Even after coming to the capital, he hadn’t forgotten to bring his trusty tea cup. He wasn’t interested in fancy aristocratic habits, drinking tea in tiny cups that are empty after one sip and have to be refilled.

“We’ve been away so long, I wonder how the rice is doing at home. The rice flowers should be blooming in May,” said Liu Dalin.

Liu Erlin clicked his tongue worriedly. “I’m still worried that Wei Lan might mess up my medicinal herb field. I really don’t trust leaving it to him. The only thing he’s good at is making sesame cakes.”

Liu Yusheng, teasing the two babies who had just woken up, smiled at their words. Outside, there might be dazzling splendor, but it wasn’t as good as the humble, earthy home.

So she never planned to force her grandparents or her parents to stay in the capital. Eventually, she too would return.

There was the pure land of her heart.

“Eh? Why is General Qin here?” Liu Zhiqiu exclaimed in surprise, making the whole family look toward the door.

Outside, briskly walking over, was none other than Qin Xiao.

Although he had been reassigned, everyone still liked to call him General, for even without his armor, he remained the war god in the hearts of the people.

Seeing the worry in Qin Xiao’s eyes, Liu Yusheng stood up and asked, “General Qin, is something the matter?”

Usually, the Grand General seldom visited, and only when the Empress Dowager was present would he find an excuse to show up.

“Princess Consort, I have an impertinent request. May I bring the two little ones into the palace for a visit to see the Empress Dowager?”

“What’s wrong with the Empress Dowager?” Grandma Liu immediately frowned.

“The Empress Dowager’s health has been poor these past few days; she cannot leave the Yangxin Hall. She misses the two little ones deeply and was fussing to come out this morning,” Qin Xiao did not hide his concern before the Liu family. “That’s why this old servant dared to come and make this request, and I also ask the Princess to kindly check the Empress Dowager’s pulse.”