Chapter 443: Chapter 443: Fly Higher, Fly Farther

After drafting the abdication edict, Zhou Yang handed it to Lu Shunfu.

"Go on back."

"But Holy Emperor, aren’t you returning to the palace with me?"

"I’m not."

Zhou Yang gazed at the green mountains and clear waters, a world brimming with life. "I’m going to stay here a while longer. When you return, take a message to the Empress and Consort Qi. Tell them they no longer need to abide by the palace rules and regulations. They can just do as they please."

"Yes..." Lu Shunfu was stunned. He gathered his men and was about to leave when Zhou Yang called him to a stop.

"One more thing."

Zhou Yang looked at her, then glanced at Shuang Ye, whose face inexplicably reddened.

Song Lianhe vaguely sensed what was happening, and her expression immediately changed.

"Er, Princess Qing, I have a matter to discuss..."

"Absolutely not!"

Song Lianhe glared at him. "How old do you think Shuang Ye is? She’s young enough to be your daughter!"

Zhou Yang immediately replied, "Yes, she is. So why would that be a problem?"

"Why would it be a problem? Holy Emperor, have you no sense? She’s the age to be your daughter..."

Song Lianhe suddenly realized. "Er, you mean you want to..."

"Exactly!"

Zhou Yang said, "I am very fond of this young lady. I want to adopt her as my daughter! What could possibly be wrong with that?"

"Oh, yes, yes, yes! That’s more than okay, that’s wonderful!"

Shuang Ye quickly said, "But this servant is of humble birth..."

"The Holy Emperor said he wants to adopt you. Do you dare refuse?"

"Ah, this servant wouldn’t dare!"

Shuang Ye was about to kneel but Song Lianhe stopped her. "What are you waiting for? Thank His Holy Majesty for his grace!"

Shuang Ye froze for a moment, then knelt and kowtowed three times, her forehead striking the ground with resounding thuds.

Zhou Yang was delighted and personally drafted another edict, enfeoffing Shuang Ye as a princess with the title "Shanwei."

"This old servant congratulates you, Holy Emperor."

Lu Shunfu hurried back to the palace.

Song Lianhe, watching from the side, couldn’t help but admire his decisiveness.

"The Holy Emperor is truly making me see him in a new light! He’s acting like a kind father."

Zhou Yang chuckled. "To still be alive and in one piece is a blessing from the heavens. What is there left that I can’t let go of?"

To celebrate Shuang Ye being made a princess, the group held a banquet in the courtyard that night.

Since they were at a Taoist temple and couldn’t disturb the cultivators, they set up a tent. Inside, the small group played drinking games, carousing late into the night.

On the roof ridge, Xuan Qi watched, turning his head to ask the person beside him.

"His Lordship is busy with matters of ascension and dealing with those old codgers at Court. He ignores the Princess Consort during the day, yet at night, he rushes us over here to protect her. What’s the meaning of this?"

"Sigh, if even you can’t figure it out, how am I supposed to understand it?"

The Shadow Guard cradled his sword. "But haven’t you noticed how strange His Lordship has been lately? He brought Song Xilan into the mansion, pays her no mind, and forbids her from leaving her courtyard. That’s basically house arrest! Tell me, why would he do that?"

Xuan Qi thought for a moment. "I don’t know why, but I can see that His Lordship has raised the courtyard walls and assigned more men. It’s as if he intends to trap her inside for the rest of her life."

The Shadow Guard sucked in a sharp breath. "But why? Even if he doesn’t want to accept Song Xilan’s affections, he could have just let her return to the General Mansion! What’s the point of bringing her to our estate? If the Princess Consort misunderstands, wouldn’t the trouble outweigh any benefit?"

Xuan Qi shook his head. "I really can’t make heads or tails of it."

Down below, everyone was thoroughly drunk, and Song Lianhe was a bit unsteady on her feet.

Xuan Qi glanced at the Shadow Guard, who immediately vaulted down from the roof.

"Princess Qing, be careful."

Song Lianhe turned her head. "Oh, it’s you, Shadow."

She grinned and reached out to poke the mask covering half his face. "We’re almost at the grand finale, you know. I’ve always wanted to ask, why do you wear a mask? If you have a facial injury, just leave it to me! I guarantee I can restore your looks! Nothing to worry about!"

Xuan Qi had landed beside him by now, his gaze seeming to say, ’I’d also like to know.’

The Shadow Guard froze. "There’s nothing wrong with my face!"

Shuang Ye and the others crowded around and asked curiously, "Then why do you always wear a mask?"

The Shadow Guard lifted his chin and declared solemnly, "Someone once told me that as His Lordship’s personal guard, this makes me look ferocious and bloodthirsty!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Everyone looked at him silently.

"Is it... is it not ferocious?"

Without another word, Song Lianhe plucked off his mask. She froze instantly, then silently put it back on for him.

"You should probably keep it on."

The Shadow Guard’s true face could only be described as utterly harmless. He looked sweet and pristine. In modern terms, he was the classic "soft boy" type, popular in certain circles.

Song Lianhe patted the Shadow Guard’s shoulder and said earnestly, "The friend who told you that must have truly had your best interests at heart. They’re a friend worth keeping."

The Shadow Guard beamed. "Of course! His Lordship is the one who told me that!"

The moment she heard Zhou Cangyan’s name, Song Lianhe seemed to lose all interest. She waved her hand dismissively. "I’m drunk. Let’s all call it a night."

Shuang Ye offered to go to the kitchen and make her some soup to sober up, but Song Lianhe stopped her. "You are now Princess Shanwei, personally titled by the Holy Emperor. You don’t have to do these things anymore."

But Shuang Ye paid it no mind. "In front of you, Princess Qing, I’m still the same Shuang Ye."

Moved, Song Lianhe hugged her. "Aww, you’re the best, Shuang Ye."

In any case, she had Ah Jun escort Shuang Ye back to her room, while she herself went for a walk outside to sober up.

Xuan Qi and the Shadow Guard followed.

Song Lianhe stood on the veranda, her hands braced on the railing as she gazed up at the moon, its bright purity reflected in her eyes.

"SCREECH—"

Chun Hua was in the air, spreading its wings and soaring.

It would dive down from time to time, bringing a powerful gust of wind with it.

Song Lianhe giggled, and her laughter continued until Chun Hua landed on the railing beside her hand and gently nuzzled its head against her.

Song Lianhe raised a hand to stroke its fluffy head. "You really like it here too, don’t you?"

"SCREECH—"

Song Lianhe watched it, just staring, when something suddenly occurred to her.

Chun Hua, too, held its head high, its bright, round eyes watching her.

"You..."

Fragmented memories surfaced in Song Lianhe’s mind. "Are you... that little baby bird I saved at the hospital?"

Seeing that she had finally remembered, Chun Hua hopped about happily on its feet before flying in excited circles around her.

"It really was you!"

Song Lianhe was overjoyed.

During her most difficult days in the hospital, she had rescued a baby bird on a rainy day. The ordeal had given her a high fever, worsening her condition, and she never recovered.

In her final moments, the little bird had somehow climbed onto her bed. It lay on her chest, just like that, looking at her sadly.

Until she closed her eyes.

But what she never knew was that the little bird’s head had slowly drooped, too, until it also moved no more...

As if sensing her emotions, Chun Hua hopped into her arms, nuzzling its head against her chest as if to say thank you.

Song Lianhe smiled and said, "No, I should be the one thanking you."

Knowing that Chun Hua was the baby bird she had once saved... perhaps everything finally made sense.

Fate truly has a way of working things out for the best.

Just then, Chun Hua flapped its wings twice and took flight.

She watched Chun Hua go, shouting after its receding figure, "Fly higher! Fly farther!"

It was wonderful. It was no longer that frail little baby bird.

And she was no longer the Song Lianhe who could only lie helpless in a hospital bed.