chapter 76

He longed for another kind of love.

Yue Zhiheng lifted his gaze. His face was still pale, but his eyes were bright and strangely luminous.

Zhan Yunwei couldn't help but ask, "What are you looking at?"

It wasn't just him who found it unfamiliar—she herself wasn't used to calling him that. "Lord Yue" rolled off the tongue much more naturally.

To her surprise, Yue Zhiheng remained silent for a moment before saying, "I didn't hear clearly."

She opened her mouth, but under his inexplicably bright gaze, she muttered, "If you didn't hear it, then just forget it."

Only after a long pause did Yue Zhiheng finally turn his face away, concealing the smile in his eyes.

After that brief exchange, a hint of color finally returned to his cheeks. Seeing this, the heavy worry in Zhan Yunwei's heart lightened slightly. She had been deeply anxious all day, afraid that Yue Zhiheng would not return.

Many things had changed. Even the crown prince was dead this time. She feared that the Ling Emperor would not keep Yue Zhiheng alive until that moment arrived.

Yue Zhiheng understood her concerns. "The Ling Emperor won't kill me yet."

Hearing his voice so cold and his eyes laced with ridicule, a ridiculous thought surfaced in Zhan Yunwei's mind.

By now, they both knew that the one in the palace was not the real "Ling Emperor." A thousand years ago, the true emperor of the Ling Domain had been possessed by the Lord of Duer City.

In the earlier years, it wasn't so obvious, but now, every fifty years, the Ling Emperor would select a promising prince as his heir—only to then replace his body, disguising himself as a new emperor.

From the beginning to the end, the one sitting in the palace had always been the same person.

"You say he won't kill you because…"

Because you are his true descendant, aren't you? The Ling Emperor needs a vessel that can endure the twelve layers of spiritual veins and aid his ascension.

"How did Miss Zhan figure it out?"

Zhan Yunwei said, "Because of Wen Xun. Wen Xun consumed and possessed too many evil spirits, which drove him mad and out of control. He only regained clarity before his death. But the Ling Emperor has always remained rational. I guessed that it must be because he only possesses those who share his bloodline."

The practice of possession had always been limited to the royal family. Even when a prince's aptitude was poor, the Ling Emperor would still choose them—not for legitimacy, but to ensure his own sanity.

Seeing that Yue Zhiheng listened silently without correcting her, Zhan Yunwei knew her guess was nearly spot-on.

She pressed her lips together, anger rising at the thought. "After the third prince's death, the Ling Emperor retreated into seclusion as if nothing had happened. He didn't even seem to care when Dongfang Che was captured. And when the crown prince died, he only gave a few reprimands—he didn't even order protection for the second prince. The reason he doesn't care about these princes is that he had already decided from the beginning… to take your spiritual body, hasn't he?"

The mediocre princes of the royal family could no longer support the Ling Emperor's ever-expanding soul. He must have foreseen this long ago. That was why, more than twenty years ago, he had begun trying to create his own heir.

Perhaps it was divine retribution—none of the children born of evil arts had survived past sixteen.

For so many years, Yue Zhiheng was likely the only exception.

Thinking of this, everything made sense. In his past life, Yue Zhiheng's spiritual core had been forcibly extracted before his death. A body without its spiritual core was as fragile as thin paper. Even in death, he had never fully conformed to the Ling Emperor's plans.

A bitter sadness welled up in her heart. She lowered her gaze to Yue Zhiheng.

Zhan Yunwei wanted to offer him some comfort, but instead of sorrow, his expression was calm. He raised a hand and lightly touched the corner of her eye, sighing helplessly, "Why do you look like you're about to cry?"

Hadn't she been fine just moments ago?

Yue Zhiheng, for his part, felt nothing unusual. No matter what kind of evil spirit it was, to him, they were all equally filthy.

In fact, he felt eerily calm and indifferent. Having the Ling Emperor as his biological father came with advantages—at the very least, he wouldn't be killed before the Ling Emperor successfully advanced beyond the twelve layers of spiritual veins. That meant he had ample time to cultivate his army of ghost soldiers.

For the first time, Yue Zhiheng realized that he was quite adept at both killing and insulting people. The only thing he had no idea how to do was comfort her.

So he could only promise, "Don't cry. I won't let him take over my body."

Zhan Yunwei wasn't actually crying—she was just feeling suffocated by the realization. The emotion showed on her face as a flush in her eyes.

She mumbled, "And don't go digging out your spiritual core so easily."

Zhan Yunwei knew she was asking for the impossible. If it came down to it, he might have no choice but to remove his core again. But this time, she would do everything she could to prevent that fate.

Whatever she said, Yue Zhiheng simply agreed, sounding as if he had no principles at all. "Mm."

Zhan Yunwei remembered when they had been at their most hostile. Outside the Mirage Realm, she had falsely accused Yue Zhiheng. At first, he had been so sharp-tongued that he drove her to fury. But the moment her eyes turned red, he fell silent, his lips pressed together in defeat.

"Lord Yue, when did you first realize your connection to the Ling Emperor?"

"On the day of the Cold Brew Festival, when I entered the palace. I caught a strange scent," he said. It was like sandalwood, yet also like rot.

He had found it eerily familiar. Gradually, he recalled where he had smelled it before—in the underground palace, when he was a child.

Madam Xuan had been terrified at the time, her madness triggered prematurely.

Later, Yue Zhiheng pieced it together—the Ling Emperor had been in urgent need of a new body and had come in person to inspect whether any heirs possessed extraordinary talent.

But Madam Xuan had suppressed his natural abilities, and he had been too young. The Ling Emperor had left indifferently, dismissing him as a failure.

That night, the old physician had come several times to change his medicine.

Yue Zhiheng had intended to urge Zhan Yunwei to rest in the adjacent room. But for the first time, despite his serious injuries, he slept peacefully. And Zhan Yunwei merely sat beside his bed, keeping him company without making trouble. So, he said nothing.

The weather had yet to turn warm, but thanks to proper care, Yue Zhiheng's wounds were healing rapidly, day by day.

Before New Year's Eve, due to Yue Zhiheng's repeated failures in his duties, he lost the emperor's favor. The Yue family grew cold and desolate, with few visitors, as people feared being associated with them. Some, with ulterior motives, even began eyeing the position of Chengtian Mansion's chief officer.

The Second Madam, being a perceptive woman, had already sensed something amiss. She not only restricted the Second Master from leaving the house but also spent a large sum of spirit stones to dismiss most of the servants, keeping only a few who had served the Yue family for generations.

Zhan Yunwei understood her reasoning. Now that the Yue family was on the verge of collapse, it was better for these servants to leave.

As the mansion grew quieter, Zhan Yunwei found it easier to move around freely.

Qu Lan Yue and Fang Huai each visited once.

Qu Lan Yue held no grudge against Yue Zhiheng for abandoning her in Du'e City. After so many years, she was used to it—she herself often left Yue Zhiheng behind and ran off.

After all, they were both capable spirit cultivators, and as long as they didn't drag each other down, it was fine.

During this time, Qu Lan Yue had handled the affairs concerning Qu Zhuxing at home. Seeing Zhan Yunwei, she was surprised—she had thought that Zhan Yunwei had left with Pei Yujing.

Zhan Yunwei pondered for a moment and said, "Next time, can I take a look at what you all are raising?"

She had an idea that might be of help.

She didn't specify, but Qu Lan Yue understood that she was referring to the Yin Soldiers.

Qu Lan Yue glanced at Yue Zhiheng. Yue Zhiheng, too, was curious about why the Past-Life Marriage Stone had lit up. Did they truly have a sliver of hope?

But for now, Yue Zhiheng was still under "house arrest," and the time for suppressing the Yin Soldiers had not yet arrived. Even if Zhan Yunwei wanted to see them, it would have to wait.

Fang Huai's visit was much simpler—he came merely to check on Yue Zhiheng's health.

This gesture was truly touching. It was easy to add flowers to a brocade but difficult to send charcoal in the snow. It was rare for someone to cherish their friendship even when knowing nothing of the circumstances.

On New Year's Eve, though the house was not decorated with lanterns and banners, the Second Madam still prepared an abundant reunion dinner.

This year, Old Master Yue was present, and the Second Madam sent someone to the Buddhist hall to invite the eldest sister-in-law, but Lady Xuan still refused to leave.

Zhan Yunwei couldn't help but glance at Yue Zhiheng's expression. After witnessing Qiu Yinnong and Wen Xun's tragedies, she felt that it was best to resolve matters while still alive rather than regretting them after death.

Yue Zhiheng leaned against the headboard, carving a half-finished Life Jade.

Zhan Yunwei asked, "Do you still resent her?"

She had already told Yue Zhiheng about Lady Xuan's regrets and how Yue Linxian had returned to find them. Yet, Yue Zhiheng had no reaction.

"I wouldn't say resentment—it just feels meaningless."

He had once longed for Lady Xuan's love. Whenever she forgot her pain and acted like a kind mother, he was willing to be like the mute girl, listening to her hum lullabies and falling asleep to her gentle coaxing.

But every time he let himself indulge in that fleeting warmth, a pair of cold hands would soon tighten around his throat.

Over time, anyone would stop yearning for such a fragile and fleeting love.

But he did long for another kind of love—

Zhan Yunwei had been staying in the side courtyard for quite some time now, showing no intention of leaving.

He almost wanted to ask her whether she still intended to fulfill her earlier promise about sealing the Dao Companion Mark.

Zhan Yunwei blinked. "Why are you looking at me?"

Just then, it was nearly time for dinner. Shi Hu came to summon them, mentioning that the Second Madam had already urged them once.

Yue Zhiheng met Zhan Yunwei's gaze and, for once, felt a rare sense of frustration. "It's nothing."

The last time they shared a room, he had agreed that if she didn't like it, they wouldn't do it anymore.

He hadn't asked her to move back in for that reason, but bringing it up now would make it seem like he was going back on his word.

Forget it. There was plenty of free time these days—he could take it slow.

The two walked along the small path toward the front hall. The spring wind was still chilly, and it was rare for Yue Zhiheng to still be wearing a cloak after the beginning of spring. Zhan Yunwei insisted he put it on.

She herself feared the cold and wore a fluffy cape. When the wind blew, she tucked half of her face into the cape, revealing only her delicate brows and eyes.

Shi Hu followed behind Zhan Yunwei. She had recently married a steward who had always treated her well.

After marriage, she began to understand things she hadn't before. Only now did she realize that the Young Mistress and the Young Master were not as affectionate as she had once imagined.

Thinking back, she rarely heard the Young Master call for water in the middle of the night, and the bedding was always clean.

It was as if she had stumbled upon an astonishing secret.

Yet, looking at them now, they hadn't been walking too close initially. The Young Master accommodated the Young Mistress's pace, and when she caught up, his cloak subtly wrapped around her hand beneath her cape.

Both of them looked calm on the surface, but in reality, Zhan Yunwei's steps faltered more than once.

After two lifetimes, it was only in the past few days that Zhan Yunwei truly saw Yue Zhiheng as her Dao Companion.

Though they had engaged in more intimate acts before, her feelings then were different from now.

It was no longer out of desperation, no longer a test, and no longer bound by any conditions or concerns about helping him escape the dynasty.

At first, Yue Zhiheng merely held her hand lightly. His hand was much warmer than hers. Though it was a simple gesture, Zhan Yunwei felt as if a little fish inside her heart was bubbling with quiet joy.

She quietly tightened her grip in return, only for him to hold her hand even tighter all the way.

Upon reaching the main hall, in the presence of the second household elders, Yue Wujiao, and Yue Huaile, Zhan Yunwei finally withdrew her hand.

Before long, the old master of the Yue family also arrived. Though everyone could sense that the road ahead would not be easy— the further they went, the more unpredictable the fates of the Yue family and the Ling Domain became—this New Year's gathering was a rare moment of warmth.

The old master even gave Zhan Yunwei a red silk pouch.

Neither of the two younger Yue family members received one, and they could only look on longingly. Ever since they turned twelve, the old master had stopped giving them New Year's red envelopes.

Zhan Yunwei couldn't help but glance at Yue Zhiheng. He gave the slightest nod.

Seeing her hesitation, the old master asked, "What, do you look down on your grandfather's gift?"

Zhan Yunwei accepted it with a sweet smile and thanked him, finally satisfying the old master. Judging by the shape of the silk pouch, it seemed to contain a hairpin.

The old master had been an outstanding artifact craftsman in his youth and had spent recent years focusing on refining tools at the artifact pavilion. Whatever he gave was sure to be an unparalleled treasure.

Zhan Yunwei guessed correctly— the old master knew exactly what she needed most at the moment, so he had personally forged a protective artifact for her. She hadn't expected that some of the greatest artifact craftsmen in the world would now spend their days creating magical tools tailor-made just for her.

When it came to the other grandchildren, the old master was much sterner. He simply handed each of them a pouch of spirit stones.

Yue Wujiao inwardly muttered about his stinginess, while Yue Huaile was delighted just to receive something from his grandfather again, even if it was only spirit stones. Even the second madam was moved— after weathering storms together to reach this point, no resentment or grievance could compare to the fact that their family was still here, together, and that her daughter's face was filled with joy.

When it was Yue Zhiheng's turn, the old master was silent for a long while before handing him a pouch of high-grade spirit stones.

Yue Zhiheng paused for a moment before accepting it.

The table remained quiet for a while before he finally said, "Thank you, Grandfather."

The old master lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable, then simply called out, "Eat, eat."

In that moment, he no longer seemed like the legendary artifact craftsman who had amazed the world in his youth, only to fade into obscurity in old age. He was merely an elderly man.

Perhaps the only regret was that Yue Qingluo was not here. If she had received the old master's red silk pouch, she would have been overjoyed.

Zhan Yunwei ate her meal, feeling a little dazed. In truth, since her death in her past life, this was the first time she had shared a reunion dinner.

So much had changed, yet so much was still possible. She had gained many more family members, and that was truly wonderful.