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墨書 Inktalez
On the way back, I couldn't calm my thoughts; it was truly troubling. With no hint of sleepiness, I sought a quiet place, at least far from those wandering souls. I lazily lay down on a patch of grass, letting the dappled sunlight filter through the trees and warm my face. I took a deep breath, savoring the tranquility of the moment. The sun shone brightly, the forest was alive with birdsong and fragrant flowers, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a delightful "rustling" sound that was quite pleasant.
Yet, my mind kept echoing the story that Old Buddy had shared with me.
A story from nineteen years ago.
At that time, Old Buddy was a well-known young hero in the martial world, rooting out evil and upholding justice. He was talented and handsome, a striking figure who seemed destined to become a future leader. His father, the previous master of Sword Sage Villa, had taken in a female disciple named Soo Ranran. Soo Ranran was the daughter of a friend of Old Buddy's father. When her father had to travel, he entrusted his daughter to his good friend’s care. Thus, at just fourteen years old, Soo Ranran appeared at Sword Sage Villa and became Old Buddy's junior sister. Like in any cliché tale, he fell in love with her—not only for her beauty (though I believe no one could match Old Buddy's looks), but also for her unique personality. She was headstrong and quirky, full of fresh ideas. She was unlike any girl he had ever known; her smile and everything about her captivated him. He fell hopelessly in love with her, treating her with utmost kindness and affection, believing they would become a pair of celestial lovers living happily ever after. However, everything changed with an important decision made by Master.
After two years of training together, Master ordered them to descend the mountain to learn real skills in the martial world and broaden their horizons. During this journey down the mountain, they encountered Xie Yushi, who was then the youngest and most important minister in the court. Disguised for an inspection, he was recognized and attracted assassins from the martial world. It was Soo Ranran who saved him and cared for his injuries for an entire month. From that point on, everything changed; in their daily interactions, Soo Ranran fell in love with Xie Yushi. Xie Yushi also fell for the unique Soo Ranran; they became lovers. Poor Old Buddy found himself heartbroken. As a young man at that time, he couldn’t understand why this happened—after spending two years with Ranran, he couldn't compete with just one month of Xie Yushi's company. He pleaded and passionately expressed his love for Soo Ranran, but nothing could win back her heart. Even though Xie Yushi already had a family and children, Soo Ranran followed him without hesitation and married him as his third concubine. Xie Yushi genuinely loved her; for her sake, he stopped taking additional wives and spent all his time with her. This caused resentment from Zhao Clan, Xie Yushi's first wife who had supported him all along. Together with Xie Yushi's sister, she conspired to kill Soo Ranran—the woman most beloved by Xie Yushi and also by Old Buddy—his junior sister.
When Soo Ranran married Xie Yushi, Old Buddy appeared at the wedding dressed in white robes, gazing intensely at the beautiful bride: "I ask you one last time, Ranran, will you come away with me?"
The beautiful bride smiled happily and shook her head: "Elder Brother, I love him. I will not leave him."
I can imagine how much pain Old Buddy felt at that moment—how deep his hurt must have been to be rejected by the woman he loved while she wore such a blissful smile directed at another.
Though it pained him to tears, Young Sang Qin smiled lightly then—a dazzling and enchanting smile—as he addressed Xie Yushi in his red wedding attire: "Since Ranran has chosen you, I will not take her away today; however, you must treat her well so that I can rest easy."
He cast one last deep look at Ranran and spoke gently as he had for these past two years: "Ranran, you must be happy." With that said, he turned to leave behind a tear-streaked face and someone captivated by his grace and magnanimity.
Thus began an unlikely friendship between two men who would never have crossed paths otherwise. Although later on Sang Qin harbored resentment over Ranran's death, she had asked him before she passed not to hate or blame anyone—everything had been her own choice.
In truth, I began to admire that brave woman who dared to love deeply yet remained kind-hearted—even though she was my mother whom I had never met. But why did I feel so weak?
However, this story differed from what I had imagined; I couldn’t fathom how a foolish woman could forsake someone as beautiful, gentle, and remarkable as Old Buddy for a man driven by ambition without feelings—who prioritized family interests above all else. I truly couldn't understand how it could be Old Buddy who suffered heartbreak like this.
I once thought that Old Buddy and Soo Ranran were truly in love, only to be torn apart by the high-ranking official, Xie Yushi. The reason Fourth Miss Xie was not favored and forgotten in a small courtyard was that I was not his biological daughter.
My father is the Gentle and Beautiful Guardian. However, all my expectations have failed.
Old Buddy treated me like his own daughter, but it wasn't because I was his child; it was because he foolishly loved a woman who did not love him back. That love was so deep and intense that he extended it to the daughter of that woman as well.
Is this what they call a great love that remains unknown?
For some reason, I found myself envying Soo Ranran, my mother whom I had never met, being deeply loved by two outstanding men. Was she really that special?
Old Buddy said the reason he remained unfazed by some of my astonishing behaviors was that he had long been accustomed to the strange actions of Soo Ranran. This made me wonder: could that Soo Ranran also be a modern person, just like me, inexplicably appearing in this world? No way! Perhaps I was overthinking it.
As I planned to turn over and stop thinking, ready for an afternoon nap, my nose suddenly bumped into something soft. Startled, I opened my eyes to see Sima Rui smiling at me. But that wasn't the most shocking part; he had silently lain down beside me at some point, propped on his side to look at me. Lost in my memories, I hadn't realized that when I turned over, my nose had brushed against his thin lips. For a moment, I was stunned, just staring at him. After a while, I suddenly stood up and said angrily, "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're the emperor. Let me tell you, in this remote mountain area, if I killed you, no one would know you were the emperor." I raised my fist at him.
He lay on the ground without moving, still gazing at me blankly. Little Jin looked truly beautiful when angry; her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. Sima Rui thought to himself. But then his gaze darkened—why was he a man?
"What are you staring at? We're all men here; is there anyone as shameless as you?" I retorted angrily.
His eyes grew deeper, and his face moved closer to mine. Just when I thought he was going to kiss me, he suddenly pulled back and burst into laughter at my flushed face. Yet I saw the struggle in his eyes—was it because I was a man?
He patted his backside as he got up and pulled me along with him. "Get up, get up."
I awkwardly pulled away from his grip. "What do you want?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I'll take you down the mountain."
Hearing that I could go down and have some fun, I felt a surge of joy in my heart. However, I couldn't help but touch the totem on my left hand, fearing that something unusual might happen. But the thought of escaping this boredom was too tempting to resist.
Sigh, if I'm going, then I'm going. Who's afraid of whom?
I followed him down the mountain, and as I watched his back, I felt a strange illusion wash over me. He seemed different. No longer the Sima Langye from before, nor the emperor Sima Rui from the palace; he resembled a child—innocent and joyful. I wondered if I was going crazy for thinking this way, but was this truly him? No deception, no disguise—just the real him.
It seemed he sensed my unease and doubt. He walked towards me and softly said in my ear, "Little Jin, my Little Jin, I'm only different with you. Only for you."
I gazed at him, and although my heart still hesitated, seeing his sincere face made me smile lightly.
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