It's a rare sight to see Empress Yin Xiulan having a bouquet of freshly picked flowers in her left hand. And as usual, her right hand holds her fan. As bright as the sun shining up in the sky, her face doesn't have a hint of grumpiness. In fact, she isn't wearing a fierce face today. Instead, she's making an unusual happy face. Like any other traveler that finally comes home after a long journey.
She's alone, walking in the deepest part of the woods. Although the weather is fair, the area is kind of dark due to huge trees that are blocking the sun rays.
When she arrived at her destination, her majesty the empress crouched down in front of a small mound. It's the late Lieutenant General Liu's grave.
She puts the flowers on top of it and speaks like someone really is listening to her. "It's been three years, Liu Chen. I wonder if you got into the wheel of reincarnation already." The wind blows gently, making the locks of her hair wave in the air for a short while.
Only after three years did she have enough courage to visit his grave. She's afraid that her wounds that are slowly healing will open once again.
"If ever you got reincarnated as a human being again... or as a bird this time around... or even as a dog. Whatever you are now, please come back to me."
It's been three years of loneliness, three years of grief, three years have passed since Liu Chen died. Her majesty thought she'll be fine this time but she wonders why tears are starting to form in her eyes again.
"But it's okay if you won't. If you're happier in your own now, you can stay where you are." She thought her tears already dried a long time ago. She thought there's nothing left to cry further... turns out she's wrong. Empress Yin Xiulan fakes a laugh as she wipes her tears with her hands, but even her laughter trembled. She just sucks in this matter.
Her majesty noticed that his grave got weeds all over so she pulled it one by one. "Liu Chen, did you know? I adopted the late empress' little brother. I gave him a new name after yours. He's known by the name Prince Liu Cheng now."
The empress thought, if Liu Chen is still around, perhaps he'll train her adopted son himself.
"Also, I got promoted. From General, I am now the Commander-in-Chief of the imperial army. Do you know what it means? I am the new ruler of the empire now, the current empress of the dynasty. Also, the reconstruction of the imperial palace is still ongoing. I think it will be over for the next couple of years."
Now that she thinks about it, there are really a lot of things that happened within a span of three years.
"I was thinking, if you didn't die, I'll give you a promotion as well. How does Emperor Liu Chen sound? That suits you... I think." A lazy smile appeared on her majesty's lips. "What a shame that you're gone."
So how exactly Yin Xiulan become the new ruler of the empire? Well, it's quite a long story. But to make it short, it's simply because there's no one willing to take the position and lead an empire.
After Xu Zhengming had a word, and successfully got Yin Wenyan's soul into the soul trapping pouch, they took him back to Wan Moli Hua Palace just as the sect leader told them to.
After that, they all left the hard work to Zhao Yangguang.
Sect Leader Zhao didn't have it easy. Just like the sect elders have predicted, Zhao Yangguang damaged his spiritual core because of using dark arts. He vomited a lot of blood and even bleeding in his seven orifices during the process.
In the present, Zhao Yangguang is avoiding using his spiritual powers and is undergoing medications.
Meanwhile, Yin Renshu is staying at Wan Moli Hua Palace in Mount Penglai. He doesn't have an interest in the throne anymore and is not willing to become the emperor again. He isn't returning to the imperial palace anytime sooner as well. That place is a witness to his past and will only remind him of his first heartbreak.
Almost every part of the imperial palace has a memory of him and Xu Zhengming. To be honest with himself, he wishes that he could just forget all those times he spent with him. It's not that he's regretful of bringing him into the imperial palace and making him his personal eunuch. It's just he's too tired of being hurt.
Three years have past but Xu Zhengming still appears in Sect Leader Yin's mind. Even though he's busy with all the sect matters, his mind still finds time to replay some of those memories.
It's funny how it all started with such a ridiculous excuse. He remembers the first time he met Xu Zhengming. It was a chilly night. He was sneaking out from the imperial palace. He was bored back then and took the alibi that he wanted to see if his people are doing just fine to reason out with his siblings. Their meeting really is unplanned by them but destined by divine fate.
He still remembered how their lips touched for the first time. And it's just hilarious that Xu Zhengming thought Yin Renshu was a woman. Of course, Yin Renshu was enraged by what the other did. His majesty was just trying to silence the latter after all.
But when he grabbed his talisman and ignited it with his flames...
The moment he saw that beau's face...
Yin Renshu got drowned in those alluring pair of almond-shaped eyes.
In an instant, the raging fire inside him subsided. A thought appeared in his mind, "Interesting. I'll take this man with me."
"Sect Leader Yin, this disciple bids you a good day."
Yin Renshu got dragged back to reality when a disciple greeted him. He's too occupied that he didn't notice the boy coming close to him.
Just last year, their former sect leader, Zhao Yangguang, as well as Sect Elder Wang decided that they'll retire from the cultivation world. Now known as Senior Zhao, he became too weak due to his qi deviation. As the acting chief disciple at that time, he inherited his shizun's position in the sect.
He's known as Sect Leader Yin Renshu of Wan Moli Hua Palace by now.
Yin Renshu nods as a response. "Good day to you too. Do your best in today's training."
"Understood, Sect Leader Yin." The disciple clasps his little hands before he leaves.
His sect starts to accept disciples again and is slowly getting bigger. Because of this, the Wan Moli Hua Palace becomes a livelier place.
As for now, one of their long-term goals is to become the number one sect of the lower cultivation world again. He may not achieve this goal during his lifetime but he hopes, one day, the sect will make it back to the top.
After a long time, Yin Renshu finally felt he's in where he belonged. He believes that the Wan Moli Hua Palace will be his forever home. Personally, he doesn't want to leave this place anymore. And besides, his duties and responsibilities as the leader of a cultivation sect are making him busy every day.
Also, he's waiting for his brother's awakening. Zhao Yangguang told them that he'll wake up in three to five years.
On the other hand, Xu Zhengming is currently making a living in his hometown in the southern region. He finally made use of his natural talent as a writer. In the present time, he's writing novels and poems just like what his mother used to do for a living. The money he got from writing isn't much considering how hard he has to work. His salary as a eunuch in the imperial palace was even higher than what he's getting now. Even so, he does not wish to go back and work as a eunuch again. Knowing the sacrifice he has to do just to enter the imperial palace, he'd rather live in poverty than live incomplete.
In their place, he's viewed as a rising star in the field of literature. He's more known as Xu Xiansheng (Mr. Xu) now. In fact, his store located in their downtown is the biggest bookstore in town.
Xu Zhengming is peacefully writing a manuscript for his ongoing novel when he heard footsteps. Someone has entered his store.
"Xu Xiansheng!" A high-pitched voice of a young lady echoed in the entire bookstore.
Hearing that voice, he had the feeling that he doesn't have to go and entertain the customer. He's sure that it's the girl who became his fan for a while now. And even if he doesn't come and assist her, she's completely fine with it.
"I just finished your second novel. What can you recommend next?"
Xu Zhengming dips his calligraphy brush to the ink, still didn't bother to give the young lady a glimpse. "Xiaojie, all my books are worthy of recommendations. Pick whichever captures your eyes first."
He said without exerting too much energy.
The girl indeed looks around but still doesn't know which one to pick. "That won't do! You can't judge a book by its cover!"
"Fine." Xu Zhengming puts his calligraphy brush down. He finally looks in the customer's way. "Pick the one that has a green cover."
Just as Xu Zhengming recommended, the girl picks the book with a green cover and comes closer to the store owner to pay.
"Xu Xiansheng, I heard a rumor about you just this morning."
"Rumor huh?" Xu Zhengming thought, perhaps it came from his rivals in the field of literature, trying to ruin his good image. "Rumors don't bring any good to anyone."
"I know but it's just too intriguing that I can't help myself but to ask you." The young lady draws a mischievous smile on her face.
This expression she makes caused Xu Zhengming to get curious.
He put his elbows on his table, interlocked his fingers, and put his chin above his hands. "Tell me about it."
The young lady looks around the store, checking if anyone else is with them. After confirming it's just the two of them, she spilled the beans in a low voice. "I heard you were a womanizer."
"Wrong." Xu Zhengming is quick to deny. After hearing the "rumor", he lost interest in it completely. "It's women who chased after me. Since they insisted themselves to me, I don't have the face to decline them."
"Really?" His loyal customer slightly tilted her head. From the looks of it, she seems to buy his words. "Well, you're good-looking. Your side of the story is not hard to believe."
She pinches her chin and nods, believing his every word. However, she doesn't seem to let go of the matter just like that. "But why are there no woman after you now? Women must have gone crazier over you now that you're gaining popularity."
"..." Xu Zhengming is speechless for a while. He just can't say that he's not interested in women anymore, right? He won't even admit it to himself. And so, he just reasoned out. "Well... I don't have the time to mess around anymore."
Then the young lady grins in a teasing manner. "Hmmm... is that really the case? Are you sure it's not a trauma due to a heartbreak?"
"Silly girl. Are you not buying that book?" Xu Zhengming extended his hand, asking for the payment.
"I'm buying it! Geez, I was just kidding." She said before handing the money to him.
"I'll be heading now, Xu-xiansheng. I'll be back here sooner or later!" She waves her hand before she finally left the store.
Finally, Xu Zhengming has some peaceful time alone. There aren't many people who visit his store in this hour so he's consuming it by writing more.
For three years, his life is like a replay. His today is always the same as yesterday and will be the same tomorrow. There are no really interesting events that happened in his life for that span of time. He almost got no time for himself as well because of how busy he is in his career.
Well, he prefers being like this rather than spending his personal time being lonely. But of course, there are times that we can't control the thoughts that pop out of our minds.
Sometimes, he's wondering how does the empress doing in the imperial palace. The town that belongs to the empire prospers more now that the corrupt officials are being replaced. Also, as everyone expects from her majesty, Empress Yin Xiulan is strictly disciplining the men under her.
He also occasionally thinks of the new sect leader of Wan Moli Hua Palace. He thought Yin Renshu must have his hands full now that they're finally rising from their greatest downfall after more or less a couple of decades. And with their sect being mentioned, he can't help but remember that it's the place where Yin Wenyan is laid until he gains his consciousness. From the time he left Mount Penglai, he hasn't heard anything about the former emperor.
Footsteps echoed inside his bookstore. Another customer has come.
"Good day! What are you looking for? I have novels, collections of poems, biography of well-known people, and records of recent events." Xu Zhengming said loud and clear without looking at the newly arrived.
He's not being rude or anything. In fact, he's usually very amicable when dealing with customers. It's just this customer's timing is not that good.
As a writer, he is also having the same problems as any other author. There are times when he can't write anything. And there are also instances that ideas are flowing like a strong current of a stream. Now that he's in the mood to write down his ideas, he must not stop nor let himself be disturbed or else, he'll lose it all.
The customer seems not to mind it. In fact, his voice doesn't have a hint of annoyance nor dissatisfaction. "I am not looking for a particular book. I am just drawn into your store. I'd like to look around if you don't mind."
"Not at all. Please help yourself." Xu Zhengming said in a kindest tone he can.
He took a deep breath and said to himself silently, "Zhengming, that's a customer, behave yourself."
As a bookstore owner for three years, he knows different kinds of customers. And he thinks that this newly arrived customer is the type of customer that sees his store as a museum. Just looking around, read some of the books' content then leave without buying anything.
The customer speaks again. "I noticed, there's no one else here to look after your books, and you're too busy to do so. Are you not worried that your books will get stolen?"
Xu Zhengming is silent for a while. Is this person a book thief? But he finds it strange. He hasn't heard of one yet. Maybe he's just purely concerned?
"Xiansheng, readers don't steal and thieves don't read. No one's going to take that illegally." Xu Zhenming dips his brush in the ink once again. He said to himself, "Where am I again? Ah, right."
He heard his customer chuckle but not that it concerned Xu Zhengming. He may be laughing because the store owner talks to himself. Or it could be he found something that captures his humor. But then again, Xu-xiansheng is too busy to lift his head to look at him.
Not too long, the customer finally picks a book. It's a collection of poems that Xu Zhengming composed himself. "Excuse me, how much is this book?"
Xu Zhengming, "Prices are written in the table where they are placed."
"Twenty copper coins? I'd like to bargain. How about fifteen gold coins?"
"..." This is the first time Xu Zhengming meets a customer that would like to bargain for a higher price instead of a lower one. Or did this mister hear him wrong? Even so, isn't fifteen gold coins too much for a collection of poems? Because of this, Xu Zhengming got intrigued. Who is this person? Is he a young master of a wealthy family? A government official perhaps?
He finally raises his head and extends his neck upwards to see his customer. Unfortunately, his angle isn't too good and his vision towards the other's direction is blocked by a wooden post.
"Actually, I am looking for a person's biography." The customer speaks again. "Have you written about the poet named Xu Zhengming? I am fond of his poems."
Xu Zhengming can't believe it. Did he really just say his name? Someone is actually very fond of his works that he looks for a biography?
Xu-xiansheng puts his brush down and rises from his seat. He's going to face this person. He hurried, only to see a familiar face.
His heart beats fast. It feels like all his blood travels towards his head, making his face red. No matter how long he looks at him, he really is the person he hasn't seen for years.
The customer slowly turns his head towards the store owner. With his usual gentle smile, he asks, "How are you doing these past few years, Xu Zhengming?"
"Yin Wenyan?" He can't be wrong. Although he's wearing snow-white robes unlike his usual black and gold robes, Xu Zhengming can tell.
Yin Wenyan's smile widens even more, almost making his eyes look closed. He extends his arms open. "That's right. I've come for you."
Without a second thought, Xu Zhengming jumps into his arms, only to be enveloped by a warm embrace. All those long years of longing and loneliness got wiped out by joy and smiles. At last, Yin Wenyan and Xu Zhengming finally felt that they had found the missing piece which completes them.
Previous relationships won't remain in the past. First friend, first love, first heartache. Connections that got severed by the sharp blade of fate. Will the once parted and now finally reunited be separated for the second time? Well, the answer is yes, they got separated for three years... And there will be no third time of separation.