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“A-Zheng?” The man in the festive attire exclaimed in surprise, the red silk in his hand having slipped away without him noticing. He took a step forward but found himself unable to move any further.
Qi Zhen looked at the vibrant red that seemed to burn her eyes, a sarcastic smile tugging at her lips. She spoke sharply and bitterly, “Why wasn’t I invited to the Duke's Residence General Grand Wedding, Princess Gui Rong? Do you think Princess Gui Rong would stand in your way of embracing your beautiful bride?”
Song Qianzhi’s lips moved as if to say something, but just then, a loud thud echoed from the high platform.
An elderly woman with a pale face and white hair slammed her dragon-headed cane onto the ground. Her murky eyes sparkled with cold light. Though her voice was slow, it was impossible to ignore: “What is Princess Gui Rong doing? Today is my grandson’s joyous day; I ask the princess to discuss matters at another time and not to disrupt this auspicious occasion.”
“Auspicious occasion?” She stepped forward again, “…”
The warm April breeze of Chang'an brushed against her face, yet it could not warm her heart that had already turned to ice.
“The old lady is being too serious. Princess Gui Rong has come today merely to seek a decree. Once I have this decree, Princess Gui Rong will disappear without looking back, absolutely not disturbing the newlyweds.” Her gaze was fierce, showing no signs of retreat. If only she had been as stubborn kneeling outside Chaoyang Palace that year, would her father have softened even a little?
The old woman said nothing, tacitly agreeing.
Song Qianzhi looked at the woman he hadn’t seen for days, now appearing so haggard, and his heart tightened with worry. He wanted to step forward and embrace her but hesitated due to the presence of others, so he stood still, his gaze fervently surrounding her.
“I will only ask you one question…” She leaned closer, her eyes gliding over the bride’s veil embroidered with symbols of union before finally settling on the man before her. After all these years, he remained as handsome as ever; no wonder others were envious.
She gazed deeply at him, her soft eyes as if her hands were gently caressing his profile: “Why didn’t you come?”
“A-Zheng…”
She choked up slightly… “Do you know I waited for you for three nights? You never came. When I couldn’t wait any longer, I came to find you, but…” Her expression dimmed as she suddenly glared at him: “You actually got married… I waited for you like a fool for three days while you happily played the role of your Groom.”
“Song Qianzhi… you are so cruel.” She murmured, sounding both self-pitying and reproachful of his indifference. “Doesn’t Princess Gui Rong think this is too much?” The bride lifted her veil, revealing a delicate face that now bore an expression of indignation on behalf of her husband.
The scene before Qi Zhen's eyes was undoubtedly a painful irony; she couldn't even manage to force a smile anymore.
"Su Su, don't say anything," Song Qianzhi reproached the bride with a glance, then anxiously reached out to pull Qi Zhen closer, sensing something was off with her.
"Such a mutual affection," she coldly withdrew her hand. "I think I know the answer now."
"You know what?" Song Qianzhi was already oblivious to the bride beside him; his eyes were only on the woman he had guarded for fifteen years. He watched her grow from a child into a young woman, and now, through the turmoil of her life. In the second half of his life, he wanted to protect her and live together, but the current situation left no room for explanation.
"A-Zheng, stop being foolish and go back to wait for me," he spoke to her as he always had in the past.
"Okay, I'll go back and wait for you." She slowly raised her eyes to look at him.
At that moment, Song Qianzhi felt as if this was their last gaze in this world. She looked at him with such sorrow and longing...
Everything happened so quickly that Su Peijiu and Flower Mother stood frozen in the crowd, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Princess Gui Rong, such a proud person, chose to take her own life at her lover's wedding over this forsaken love!
When the bright red liquid mingled with the vibrant colors on the ground, Song Qianzhi let out a heart-wrenching cry: "A-Zheng!" Unable to contain his emotions any longer, he rushed forward and caught her body as it leaned back.
"...You have wasted my years like flowing water while giving her a beautiful life. I do not blame you..." She extended her blood-stained hand to touch his handsome face that was so close. "Actually, I knew long ago that I was unworthy of you... I'm sorry for making you wait all these years..."
"What are you saying! Where's the doctor? Someone call for help!" Song Qianzhi trembled as he pressed his hand against her wound, but his gaze froze on the dagger embedded in her abdomen; it was the very dagger he had given her.
"...I am selfish. I want you to remember me forever, even when you are celebrating your wedding and surrounded by children and grandchildren. I don't want you to forget me..." Qi Zhen forced a bitter smile in self-mockery. "How selfish am I? No wonder I could never have you in my lifetime."
“A-Zheng……” His gaze was complicated.
“……In my life, I have been waiting for someone to take me away, waiting for nine years and three days…… but he never comes. Finally, I am tired of waiting…… so I decided to leave on my own…” Those bright eyes, like peach blossoms, slowly closed for the last time…
She was truly tired this time; she could no longer wait, nor could she bear to wait any longer…
“Where is the doctor? Doctor!!! Hurry and save my A-Zheng!” He clung to the person in his arms like a child, helplessly shouting to save my A-Zheng… save my A-Zheng…
…………
“Flower Mother!” Su Peijiu quickly called out to Flower Mother, and the two rushed through the crowd. Flower Mother stepped forward to check Princess Gui Rong’s pulse. Not long after, her expression darkened as she shook her head at Su Peijiu. Su Peijiu was stunned.
Such a vibrant life had vanished before her eyes, disappearing in such a pure and noble way. Would she never forgive Song Qianzhi even in death? But she had clearly loved him deeply…
“Alas, I wish to know you… only then dare I part with you…” Each word was a low murmur. Su Peijiu realized that Song Qianzhi, who had originally been kneeling on the ground, had stood up at some point, holding the peaceful Qi Zhen, whose eyes were closed.
“Only then dare I part with you…” He continued to recite the last line to himself, bitterly smiling at the person in his arms: “The seasons have not changed; how could you bear to leave me? A-Zheng… Does the ‘Alas’ you sang to me not count?”
“Do you want me to take you away? I will take you away right now… leave Chang'an… leave this mundane world…” The man seemed mad as he pushed through the crowd and ran towards the door, ignoring the cries of the bride and the old woman behind him.
“……Flower Mother, why do people still rush forward one after another to taste this bitter flavor of love?” Su Peijiu stood on the street, watching the man running with Qi Zhen in his arms, feeling a sudden pang of bitterness in her heart.
Flower Mother sighed and pulled her: “It’s time to go back.”
“Mm.”
………………
On this day of the year, flowers were flying in Chang'an, and the setting sun was as red as blood.
He wore armor and sat atop his horse at the front of the procession. Behind him was the girl he loved most and her ten attendants in red.
A year ago, in the Nine-Bend Corridor, he promised her that once he ascended to his position, he would request the Emperor to grant them marriage. However, he never expected that fate would play such tricks on him. His first mission after ascending was to escort his beloved girl far away to marry someone else…
A-Zheng... What should I do?
As night fell, they set up camp to rest.
He sat alone by the campfire, holding a jar of wine and drinking deeply. In front of Territory, he had personally rejected her; now, what right did he have to feel this way? Song Qianzhi, you rejected her with your own words, you ignored her kneeling under the blazing sun outside Chaoyang Palace for an entire day—what right do you have to feel this way now?
“General... Our princess has something to say to you.” A palace maid in a green dress fluttered by.
In the end, he put down the jar of wine and followed the palace maid. After walking a short distance, he saw a woman in the distance illuminated by lanterns, dressed in a wedding gown as red as fire, with her back turned to him.
The palace maid had long disappeared. He took two steps forward and called out: “... A-Zheng.”
Qi Zhen did not turn around. He heard her choked voice: “... Tomorrow is the last day. Qian Zhi, I’m waiting for you to take me away…” Then she ran off.
He reached out his hand helplessly into the air as she waited for him to take her away…
In the end, he still couldn't choose to abandon everything and take her away without a care. He watched her sitting in the bridal sedan chair, her eyes dim as she looked at him. At the last moment when the curtain fell, his eyes turned warm; his body felt as if it were imprisoned, every part aching painfully.
He saw his girl murmuring: I am waiting for you...
In this final moment, she was still hoping that he would take her away...
"A-Zheng..." Hot tears finally streamed down his cheeks as the bridal sedan chair grew more distant, ultimately entering the palace, cutting off his view with the red walls. "I'm sorry..." I'm sorry for failing you...
He originally thought that this farewell would mean they would never meet again in this lifetime, but unexpectedly, nine years later, Desolate King swept through and destroyed the Outer Kingdom, bringing her back once more. After their reunion, the emotions he had suppressed for half a lifetime surged forth.
"This time... no matter what, I will take you away, A-Zheng, you can rest assured!"
"I believe you."
...
"Want to leave? Fine, marry Su Su first." Duke's Residence's Ancestor slammed the dragon-headed cane bestowed by the Former Emperor onto the table, his gaze leaving no room for refusal.
"Ancestor must keep your word!" As the eldest grandson of the Duke's Residence, he had responsibilities he could not escape.
Su Su was pregnant with his child, a consequence of a drunken night. Granting her a name was not too much to ask; after all, it was all he could give her.
A-Zheng... wait for me a little longer...
But he never expected that on the day of the Grand Wedding, A-Zheng would come to him personally and tragically take her own life before him.
With tears in her eyes, she earnestly asked him why he didn't come to take her away... why he had let her down... why she had waited for nine years and three days... why she could no longer wait...
A-Zheng... Have you been waiting for a long time?
This time, you don't have to wait. Can I come find you?
In the first half of my life, I fulfilled Territory, fulfilled Imperial Decree, fulfilled everyone, yet... I only let you down...
Is the road to Yellow Springs lonely?
Don't be afraid, I'm coming to keep you company...
...
At the Duke's Residence, they sent people to search multiple times but found nothing, and gradually the news faded.
By the year when Su Su gave birth to Big Fatty after ten months of pregnancy, she was on her way back to her family and passed through a forest. Finding the scenery nice, she lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and happened to uncover a new grave. On that grave, the tombstone was inscribed: On the right side, Song Qianzhi's grave. On the left side, Song Shi A-Zheng's grave.
They were actually buried together as a couple...
Su Su touched her son's head and looked at that new grave, murmuring, "In the end, you still carved her name in front of your grave..."
The carriage clattered past, and there was lush grass in front of that new grave...
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