Within the Valley of Divine Physicians, time seemed to have stopped flowing along with the seasons.
After returning to the valley, Wen Qingci never left again, while Xie Bufeng frequently went out during this period.
Later, Wen Qingci learned that the place Xie Bufeng had been going to was Shanyu Jian.
The medicine servant drove the carriage and stopped under a large tree: “Second Valley Master, Young Master Xie, we’ve arrived at Shanyu Jian.”
“Good,” Xie Bufeng’s voice came from inside the carriage.
Initially, people in the valley also addressed him as “Your Majesty.”
But later, Xie Bufeng said that when outside, they should simply call him “Young Master Xie.”
Though they had arrived at Shanyu Jian, Xie Bufeng was in no hurry to wake Wen Qingci.
In recent days, Song Junran and Wen Qingci had created the first course of antidote for “Tianci” according to ancient records.
All medicine has some toxicity, and after taking it, Wen Qingci, who was already easily fatigued, became even more prone to drowsiness.
“…Have we arrived at Shanyu Jian?”
After an unknown amount of time, Wen Qingci finally opened his eyes groggily.
The bamboo curtain in the carriage had not been drawn, and everything around was dim.
“We have,” Xie Bufeng finally pulled back the carriage curtain, gently arranged Wen Qingci’s hair on his forehead, then turned to step down from the carriage, extending his hand to help Wen Qingci down. “Watch your step.”
Summer often brought heavy rains, and Shanyu Jian had been drenched all night. The stone slabs, covered with moss, looked very slippery.
“It’s fine,” though his eyes still showed traces of drowsiness, being in a familiar place had roused Wen Qingci’s spirits. “When I was little, I loved to splash in the water after a heavy rain.”
Wen Qingci had just mentioned it casually, but Xie Bufeng couldn’t help imagining what he described.
What would Wen Qingci have looked like as a child who loved to play in the water?
The medicine servant who drove the carriage bowed slightly to them, then followed behind without speaking.
The mountain ravine was especially quiet after the heavy rain.
No sound of wind or birds.
Only Wen Qingci’s voice echoed repeatedly through the valley.
After stepping onto the green stone slabs, he paused for a moment and suddenly said, “…But Shanyu Jian wasn’t so quiet before. There wasn’t much moss on the stone slabs, nor were they as slippery as they are now.”
Wen Qingci’s tone was as calm as ever.
But the silence of Shanyu Jian gave it a tinge of melancholy.
He turned to look at a cottage to the side: “This house was once a tofu shop. When I was little, I often came here with a plate to buy tofu.”
Xie Bufeng’s gaze followed Wen Qingci’s to that place.
The tofu shop, uninhabited for twenty years, was dilapidated and gloomy.
Looking from outside, one could only see darkness.
But following Wen Qingci’s words, he seemed to see how lively this place had once been.
Xie Bufeng slowly tightened his grip on Wen Qingci’s hand.
“Your Majesty probably hasn’t seen a tofu shop like this in a small village before?” Wen Qingci returned his grip and said, “When we return to the valley, if we pass by such a place, we can go down and take a look together.”
“All right, we can go anywhere.”
After speaking, Xie Bufeng turned and used his other hand to take a bundle from the medicine servant.
-It contained vegetables, fruits, and wine for the memorial service.
“Go back to the carriage and wait for us,” Xie Bufeng instructed.
“Yes, Young Master Xie.”
After the medicine servant withdrew, only Wen Qingci and Xie Bufeng remained on the village path of Shanyu Jian.
When he left this place, Wen Qingci was only a few years old.
He had thought he had forgotten everything from the past, but upon arriving here today, he realized that it had all just been buried in his heart.
Wen Qingci walked slowly with Xie Bufeng toward his home, gently telling him about the past.
Only now did Xie Bufeng learn that Wen Qingci had narrowly escaped disaster because he wasn’t living at home at the time.
“…So Qingci was already studying medicine in Songxiu Manor at that time?”
Xie Bufeng had investigated matters related to Shanyu Jian and Wen Qingci’s past.
But he didn’t know about this experience.
“Yes,” Wen Qingci couldn’t help but look up at the sky, smiling and saying softly, “If not for that incident, I would probably be a physician in Songxiu Manor now.”
They had stayed in Songxiu Manor yesterday and arrived at Shanyu Jian early this morning.
It was still not fully light, with a few stars still hanging in the western sky.
“We might have met during the southern tour,” Xie Bufeng suddenly said.
Wen Qingci paused. Though he wanted to argue that imperial physicians accompanied the southern tour, and how could a prince possibly meet a wandering doctor, in the end he couldn’t help but smile and say, “Perhaps.”
As they spoke, the two finally reached the door of Wen Qingci’s home.
On the way to Shanyu Jian, Xie Bufeng had already confessed to Wen Qingci how he had discovered his whereabouts.
Despite being mentally prepared, when he returned home and saw the lock Xie Bufeng had described, Wen Qingci couldn’t help feeling guilty.
…Xie Bufeng was too attentive.
Under the gaze of the person behind him, Wen Qingci walked forward reluctantly and unlocked the gate with the key.
Worried that the other would remember that incident, after opening the door, he immediately looked around and said, “There’s quite a lot of grass in the courtyard. After paying our respects, we should clear it.”
As he spoke, Xie Bufeng had already placed the things in his hand under the eaves.
Wen Qingci walked over slowly and took out the yellow paper.
Then he slowly knelt down on both knees.
The weeds in the courtyard had not been cleared, so Wen Qingci knelt directly on the grass.
With the grass as a cushion, his knees didn’t hurt, but the cold moisture still seeped through his clothes.
Wen Qingci frowned instinctively.
He paused and took out a fire starter, intending to light the yellow paper.
But at the moment Wen Qingci’s fingers produced the fire starter, the person who had been standing beside him also slowly lifted his robe and knelt down beside him.
Xie Bufeng took the fire starter before him and lit another sheet of yellow paper.
The warm yellow flame leaped up, illuminating the faces of Wen Qingci and Xie Bufeng.
“Your Majesty? Why are you…”
Xie Bufeng’s action startled Wen Qingci.
…Not to mention that Xie Bufeng was now the supreme ruler.
Even as a youth, he had been stubborn and never knelt to anyone.
But today, Xie Bufeng knelt in front of his old home without even a moment’s hesitation.
Xie Bufeng put down the yellow paper and gently patted Wen Qingci’s left hand hanging at his side.
“Today I am not here as an emperor,” Xie Bufeng turned to look at Wen Qingci with a smile. “But to visit family with Qingci.”
Family…
Wen Qingci suddenly felt a tightness in his nose.
He sniffled softly, took out the yellow paper, and lit it.
Finally, he smiled and said softly, “Father, Mother, Qingci has come to see you.”
Wen Qingci’s voice was even gentler than usual.
“But this time, I haven’t come with Senior Brother.”
After speaking, Wen Qingci also turned to look deeply at Xie Bufeng.
He continued softly, “The person who came with me is called Xie Bufeng… he is the person who will spend the rest of his life with me.”
At this point, Wen Qingci suddenly felt nervous.
He noticed Xie Bufeng tightening his grip on his left hand.
Shanyu Jian was completely silent, with only a bit of warmth and sound in this small courtyard.
The departed had been gone for many years.
But Wen Qingci and Xie Bufeng were exceptionally earnest.
The next moment, a breeze came from somewhere, making the flames leap higher.
While burning the yellow paper, Wen Qingci said softly, “Don’t worry, he treats me very well. Although he’s a few years younger than me, he always takes care of me.”
After speaking, he couldn’t help but add with a smile, “Of course, I take care of him too.”
Though Xie Bufeng no longer hated gods and spirits as he once did,
He also didn’t firmly believe in their existence like most people of Wei.
But today, his heart was completely moved by Wen Qingci’s words.
Xie Bufeng hadn’t expected Wen Qingci to say such things in front of his parents…
The yellow paper they had brought was completely burned. After introducing Xie Bufeng in detail, Wen Qingci suddenly turned to him and said, “Have we not yet bowed to heaven and earth, and to our elders?”
“That’s right, we… haven’t.”
Xie Bufeng’s nerves were instantly stirred by Wen Qingci’s words.
Guessing what he wanted to do, he even forgot how to breathe.
He was somewhat at a loss.
“Good,” Wen Qingci suddenly smiled, “Then let’s do it here.”
Finally, seeing Xie Bufeng still standing there in a daze, Wen Qingci couldn’t help but joke with him, “What’s wrong, Your Majesty? Do you need to return to Yongdu and find someone at the Imperial Astronomer to calculate an auspicious date?”
“Of course not,” Xie Bufeng finally came to his senses.
As if afraid Wen Qingci would change his mind, he turned around and gently pulled him up.
Then he took Wen Qingci’s hands and silently stepped back.
By now, the day had fully dawned in Shanyu Jian.
Brilliant sunlight crossed over the mountains, shining on the two of them, bringing warmth.
Everything around became golden and bright.
The former gloom and desolation seemed to fade away in that instant.
Wen Qingci smiled, squinting his eyes slightly as he looked at Xie Bufeng.
Dressed in black, Xie Bufeng was somewhat reluctant to let go of Wen Qingci’s hand as he stepped back half a pace.
Finally, with great solemnity, he turned around and said to the rising sun in the distance: “First bow to Heaven and Earth.”
Wen Qingci slowly turned, hands folded together, and along with Xie Bufeng, made a profound bow to Heaven and Earth.
“Second bow to the parents.”
The two turned and made another bow toward the old house.
Xie Bufeng’s voice echoed throughout Shanyu Jian.
In the sunlight, even the skin of the person beside him was no longer pale.
Xie Bufeng gazed greedily at Wen Qingci and said softly: “Husband and wife bow to each other.”
Wen Qingci’s heart leaped heavily.
He smiled, slowly lowered his gaze, folded his hands, and bowed to Xie Bufeng.
A warm mountain breeze blew past.
It lifted Wen Qingci’s long hair.
And in an instant, it intertwined with Xie Bufeng’s ponytail hanging quietly at the back of his head.
After the ceremony, Wen Qingci sniffled and suddenly stepped forward to embrace Xie Bufeng tightly.
Xie Bufeng paused for a moment, then also held Wen Qingci firmly in his arms.
Neither of them spoke.
For a time, only the wind remained singing softly in the valley.
*
Wen Qingci knew that Xie Bufeng had been traveling between the Valley of Divine Physicians and Shanyu Jian during this period.
He also understood that the other’s purpose was to search for his parents’ graves.
But Wen Qingci had never imagined that Xie Bufeng would actually find the place.
After the wedding ceremony outside the house,
Xie Bufeng led Wen Qingci away from the small courtyard, toward the back of Shanyu Jian.
Wen Qingci saw-the once weed-covered wasteland had been newly renovated.
The fields were filled with medicinal herbs, some returning to how they looked in his memory.
In the center of one field stood a new stone tablet.
Xie Bufeng had cleared away all the weeds around Shanyu Jian and the trees that had grown over the twenty years.
Finally, he found a small grave mound here.
He had also seen the names that Wen Qingci had carved on stones over twenty years ago.
The scene before his eyes overlapped with his childhood memories.
The memories of those years surged back into his mind.
Wen Qingci’s vision became blurry at some point.
The mountain wind blew against his face.
Carrying the fragrance of medicinal herbs.
In that hazy moment, he seemed to truly return with Xie Bufeng to the original Shanyu Jian…
Back to those carefree days.
Through the joint efforts of Wen Qingci and Song Junran,
The Tianci poison in his body was finally mostly neutralized.
Wen Qingci no longer coughed as easily as before, and the poison attacks became more predictable.
Most importantly, his spirit was noticeably better than before.
Although most medicines in this world had little effect on medicine men,
As a late-blooming medicine man, Wen Qingci wasn’t completely without options.
He discovered that after each medicinal bath, his condition would be slightly better than before.
In the Valley of Divine Physicians, medicinal baths didn’t use tubs, but instead involved soaking directly in hot springs.
Although they were already married, bathing together… wasn’t unheard of.
But for medicinal baths, even if Xie Bufeng wanted to accompany him, Wen Qingci wouldn’t allow it.
Therefore, every morning during his medicinal bath, Wen Qingci would stay alone in the hot spring behind the bamboo forest, leaving Xie Bufeng to wait outside.
The wind in the valley rustled the bamboo leaves.
With the rustling sound, Wen Qingci heard footsteps coming from outside the courtyard.
“Where’s Qingci?” It was Song Junran’s voice.
Xie Bufeng replied, “Still in his medicinal bath.”
“Oh, I just found a formula while reading medical books and wanted to try it with him,” Song Junran yawned and said. “Since he’s in his bath, I’ll wait for him here for a while.”
“All right.” Xie Bufeng’s tone was calm, no different from usual.
Just when Wen Qingci thought the two would get along peacefully, a harsh sound suddenly reached his ears.
The next moment, even the birds in the forest flew away, flapping their wings.
Wen Qingci was startled, then realized-Song Junran was playing the zither outside.
Since returning to the valley, his senior brother had kept his zither with him.
Although he was used to the jarring music,
Wen Qingci couldn’t help but marvel that Song Junran’s playing had absolutely no sense of pitch or rhythm.
…Rather than calling it playing the zither, it would be more accurate to say his senior brother was sawing wood.
Although Song Junran was the valley master, the hierarchy in the Valley of Divine Physicians wasn’t strict.
Over the years, countless people had either directly or indirectly suggested that he play less.
Though Song Junran didn’t agree in his heart, he had restrained himself somewhat.
Wen Qingci in the bamboo forest didn’t see that the moment the zither sound started, Xie Bufeng had slowly frowned.
Now Song Junran was sitting right across from him.
The direct distance between them was only about a meter.
…What did Song Junran mean?
Was he deliberately playing such strange music by his ear to express his dissatisfaction?
The moment Xie Bufeng thought this, he immediately dismissed the idea.
-He hadn’t heard any malicious thoughts from him.
On the surface, the relationship between Xie Bufeng and Song Junran had improved.
But Xie Bufeng knew that although Song Junran appeared polite and courteous, he would occasionally curse him in his mind, showing no restraint at all.
So, he was probably genuinely unskilled and untalented at the zither.
“Hiss…”
The zither sound passed through the bamboo forest and reached Wen Qingci’s ears.
He slowly opened his eyes as he soaked in the medicinal bath, hesitated for a moment, and swam toward the curtain at the side.
Usually, before Song Junran could finish half of his tune, people around him would leave.
But today, even after the tune ended, Xie Bufeng was still sitting there.
This was rare.
Seeing this, Song Junran couldn’t help but put down his bow and ask, “How was the tune?”
Xie Bufeng had always despised pretense and flattery.
But… the person before him was Wen Qingci’s senior brother.
Thinking of Song Junran’s identity, he nodded against his conscience: “Not bad.”
Xie Bufeng’s tone was characteristically calm.
“I knew it!” Song Junran suddenly smiled. “Your Majesty must have heard plenty of palace music in the palace, which is completely different from those rustic people in the valley.”
As they spoke, Wen Qingci, having finished his medicinal bath and changed into fresh clothes, walked out from the bamboo forest.
The ends of his ink-black hair were still dripping water.
His wide moon-white robe wasn’t fully tied.
At this moment, he appeared not only gentle but also languid.
Xie Bufeng silently stood up and shielded Wen Qingci behind him.
Only then did he notice.
Wen Qingci was looking at him with a hint of sympathy.
-Sympathy?
Intuition told Xie Bufeng that something wasn’t quite right.
He didn’t know that Wen Qingci was thinking: Xie Bufeng had lived alone in the imperial mausoleum for thirteen years, and besides never learning etiquette, he seemed to have never encountered normal music either.
Otherwise, how could Xie Bufeng say “not bad” about his senior brother’s music?
*
The method Song Junran found in the medical book that day was indeed effective.
After adjusting the formula, Wen Qingci’s condition visibly improved day by day.
During this time, Song Junran’s visits to Wen Qingci’s residence became more frequent.
Unlike before, he didn’t come to the small courtyard to find his junior brother.
Having lived for nearly thirty years, Song Junran had finally met someone who appreciated his music.
Therefore, during this period, he almost forgot his identity as the master of the Valley of Divine Physicians and lived completely as a musician.
He carried his zither all day, unwilling to put it down.
Although the ear-piercing sound was indeed painful, fortunately, it didn’t affect Wen Qingci’s recovery.
As Wen Qingci’s body improved day by day, Xie Bufeng also became increasingly unrestrained.
At night, behind the house, the sound of water splashed in the spring.
Today was the new moon, and the night sky was filled with stars.
The Milky Way was clearly visible.
Wen Qingci looked up at the night sky somewhat dazedly, his mind completely blank.
Although he knew his small courtyard was in a remote location where people rarely came,
The starlight overhead and the sound of the wind still forced him to clench his teeth, not making a single sound.
However, the quieter Wen Qingci became, the more Xie Bufeng refused to let him go, the more unbridled he became.
All around was silence.
…And the more silent it was, the clearer the sudden sound of thoughts became.
A familiar voice suddenly rang out, and Xie Bufeng paused, slowly looking up at Wen Qingci.
He heard that at this moment, Wen Qingci was… secretly speaking ill of him in his mind.
Xie Bufeng lowered his eyes, his thick eyelashes blocking the starlight.
His eyes became exceptionally deep at this moment.
The next moment, Xie Bufeng narrowed his eyes.
He first smiled, then suddenly bit gently on Wen Qingci’s shoulder.
After returning to the valley, Xie Bufeng constantly stayed by Wen Qingci’s side.
He would often embrace him from behind, interrupting his work.
However, these past few days, Wen Qingci noticed that Xie Bufeng seemed to be deliberately keeping his distance, no longer clinging to him as before.
Even at night, things had become much quieter.
At first, Wen Qingci thought he was mistaken.
But later, even Song Junran came to ask if Xie Bufeng had grown tired of staying in the valley, as he had been wearing a gloomy expression all day.
Only then did Wen Qingci confirm that Xie Bufeng truly seemed to have something weighing on his mind.
Incense smoke rose in delicate wisps as the white snake emerged from the forest, appearing before Wen Qingci’s eyes.
He extended his hand and took the snake.
The next moment, the snake instinctively bit down on Wen Qingci’s wrist.
After some time, Wen Qingci had grown accustomed to the sharp pain.
But being bitten by a snake was certainly no trivial matter.
The next moment, blood welled up from his arm.
Xie Bufeng, standing guard nearby, said nothing, but stepped forward silently, taking out cotton to wipe away the fresh blood from Wen Qingci’s arm.
His movements were still as careful and gentle as ever.
Yet he remained completely silent.
“Your Majesty,” just as Xie Bufeng was about to rise, Wen Qingci suddenly pressed his hand on his wrist, “has something happened at court recently?”
Though Xie Bufeng had left the affairs of Yongdu to Xie Guanzhi, he hadn’t completely abandoned his responsibilities.
Every few days, people from Yongdu would send memorials detailing recent events to Songxiu Manor, which would then be brought back by medicine servants going out for supplies and delivered to Xie Bufeng.
Therefore, Wen Qingci instinctively thought Xie Bufeng was worried about court affairs.
Without waiting for his response, he said, “If there’s truly an issue, you can return to Yongdu first. In a few days, when I’ve recovered somewhat, I’ll return with Senior Brother.”
Xie Bufeng, half-crouching on the ground, slowly stood up and shook his head, saying, “It’s not about court matters.”
His pale amber eyes gazed deeply at Wen Qingci.
Beyond danger, there was even a hint of grievance in them.
“…Then what is it?”
Xie Bufeng slowly placed his hand on Wen Qingci’s shoulder.
Sitting on the stone bench, Wen Qingci instinctively recalled that moment from a few days ago.
The skin on his shoulder seemed to burn at his touch.
Xie Bufeng caressed the spot a few times with his fingers, then finally brought his lips to Wen Qingci’s ear and whispered, “It’s because of you.”
Wen Qingci didn’t see that after saying these words, a faint smile finally appeared at the corner of Xie Bufeng’s lips.
He instinctively asked, “Because of me?”
“Yes.”
“Because I heard…” Xie Bufeng paused, then laughed softly, “I heard you secretly cursing me in your heart.”
The subtle airflow from his breath swept across Wen Qingci’s heart like a feather.
His body involuntarily trembled at that moment.
His ears also began to ring.
Immediately after, the memory of that outrageous night all came flooding back.
That night, he had… unconsciously complained about Xie Bufeng in his mind?
And all those thoughts had been heard by him?
As the memories became clearer, Wen Qingci’s face turned completely red.
At the same time, he heard Xie Bufeng, who had clearly planned this all along, lower his voice and ask in his ear, “What punishment does my beloved think is appropriate for slandering the emperor behind his back?”
##
T/N: ‘If line’ starts tomorrow ~~
