Chapter 2: Mistakes of a Past Life

The old men of the Qin Family were still droning on and on at the side, but Qi Yunchu only hummed a few absent-minded agreements, her eyes practically glued to Qin Youning.

And so the scene at the gathering became something like this…

“The military strength of Qingzhou is formidable. Taking it will be no easy feat. Young General, are you prepared?”

“…Hm? Mm-hmm…” Qi Yunchu had been resting her chin on her hand, admiring the beauty before her. Being suddenly called by name, she took a moment to collect herself and gave a couple of careless responses.

The Old Master, who had been waiting for her to admit she was unprepared and beg for guidance: …

Fine. Young people these days. I’ll let it slide!

The Old Master forced out a smile of his own. “I hear the people of Danzhou have been living in peace and comfort lately, a rare sight of tranquility we haven’t seen in years. That is all thanks to the Young General’s efforts…”

“…Mm…”

Qi Yunchu noticed Qin Youning tilt her head slightly, glancing toward the pastries on the table. She quickly pushed the plate of refreshments over to her.

She didn’t catch another word the Old Master said, only offering the occasional vague reply, her eyes filled entirely with that cool, ethereal girl.

Truly, she was like the moon in the sky, beautiful to behold but untouchable…

What a shame. Qi Yunchu met those pale, calm eyes and broke into a smile as radiant as the morning sun, her gaze brimming with joy.

Because that moon had long since been plucked from the sky and cradled in her palm…

How could Qin Youning fail to notice such an obvious gaze, such a joyful smile?

And precisely because she knew, the ache and bitterness in her heart only deepened.

Years ago, they had first met in Bianzhou City, amid festival lanterns and fireworks, under a bright moon and a gentle breeze. But back then, not a flicker of delight had ever shown in the Young General’s eyes.

She had assumed this person was simply born that way, one who would never reveal even a trace of affection. Who could have imagined that today’s scene would shatter every one of those assumptions?

So it seemed that when Qi Yunchu truly liked someone, she could be utterly generous with her joy and her smiles.

It wasn’t that she was born cold-hearted. She had simply never cared for her.

Qin Youning set down her cup, the hand hidden in her sleeve clenching suddenly tight.

And what about Xin Ruocai?

The deeply favored Imperial Consort Xin. Did she get to see this smile every day?

She lowered her eyes, and for a fleeting moment, something cold and dark passed through them.

A flicker of amusement crossed Qi Yunchu’s gaze as she took in every subtle change of her expression.

Tsk tsk tsk. The jealousy of women…

“Cough, cough… cough, cough…” Old Master Qin was so furious his beard practically bristled. He coughed hard several times and shot a glare at his eldest grandson, who was snickering off to the side.

It had been a long time since anyone dared to openly disregard the Old Master like this. Qin Youyuan swallowed his laughter, though his gaze toward the Young General softened considerably.

Setting aside everything else, this Young General certainly had good taste. His younger sister was a renowned talent in Bianjing, and in strategy and statecraft she actually outclassed even him, her own elder brother.

Qi Yunchu froze, blinking, and finally seemed to realize where she was. Her ears flushing red, she hastily rose and apologized. “Forgive my rudeness.”

Well, what could he do?

A rising General who struck terror into enemies on the battlefield was bowing respectfully before the Old Master like a disciple. He could hardly put on airs and actually lecture her like one of the youngsters…

Old Master Qin was open-minded enough. He waved a hand and dismissed them both.

“I know you, girl. The last thing you want is to sit and stare at this old face of mine. Go on, you two haven’t seen each other in ages. Go enjoy yourselves…” The Old Master stroked his beard and chuckled.

Qi Yunchu, blushing, repeated her thanks and denials, and only after he shooed them off did she turn to look at the girl beside her.

“Female Lord, after you?” she said carefully to the girl in green, starlight glimmering in her eyes.

Reverence born of love, and with that reverence, ever greater care.

It was common knowledge that Qi Yunchu loved Qin Youning. Nearly everyone assumed they were destined to become a devoted pair.

Unfortunately, that “nearly everyone” excluded the two people involved.

Qin Youning gave a slight nod. After paying her respects to the elders, she lifted her gaze just long enough to glance at the blushing Young General, then lowered her eyes and walked out ahead of her.

Outside, the sun was warm and the sky high and clear. It was early spring, milder than in years past, without a trace of biting chill.

Qin Youning walked in front, but all her attention was fixed on the footsteps behind her.

Abruptly, she stopped and turned slightly.

“The General and I have not seen each other in a long while. Would the General care to sit with me in the pavilion and catch up?”

Her voice was cool and clear, unhurried, carrying an innate poise.

“But of course.” Qi Yunchu smiled lightly and followed her into the pavilion ahead.

The two maids exchanged a knowing smile and, quite considerately, stationed themselves outside.

The pavilion stood over the garden pond, draped on all sides with gauzy curtains. When the breeze stirred, they danced like clouds.

“Female Lord…” Qi Yunchu suddenly spoke.

Qin Youning’s steps faltered, and she answered softly.

Qi Yunchu hesitated. “May I call you… A-Ning?”

A-Ning…

It was as if a kitten’s claws had raked across her heart, leaving it aching and tingling all at once.

She pressed her lips together and said nothing for a long while.

Then a slightly dejected voice came from behind her. “…If you’d rather not, forget it.”

“…You may.”

“…Huh? You mean it?”

Qi Yunchu froze for a moment, then cried out in delighted surprise.

Even without turning around, Qin Youning could picture her expression, no doubt flushed like peach blossoms and beaming like the morning sun.

She gave a soft sound of assent.

It didn’t matter.

She told herself so.

It was merely a scheme. She only wanted to use Qi Yunchu, to make her taste that same despair of being betrayed.

And yet, when it came to it, she had no idea how to begin.

All the resentment in her heart, every careful scheme, had been thrown into disarray by a single word: A-Ning.

“A-Ning.” Qi Yunchu’s gentle voice drifted over from behind.

Then came the rustle of fabric, as if she were taking something out.

“A-Ning, look at me…”

That smiling voice reached her, and Qin Youning’s body turned before her mind gave the order.

Carefully avoiding Qi Yunchu’s tender gaze, she looked instead at the object in her hands, and froze.

This was…

“It’s a pair of Mandarin Duck Jade Pendants.”

The Female General spoken of in whispers as violent and bloodthirsty was now showing a look of shy delight before the one she loved.

Mandarin Duck Jade Pendants…

Qin Youning looked up at her in a daze, only to find those eyes filled with open, unguarded adoration, a love no longer hidden or veiled in the slightest.

It burned so hot that Qin Youning’s chest trembled, yet like a spell it held her heart in an unbreakable grip.

Across two lifetimes, she could count the times she had wept on one hand. Aside from the blurry crying of early childhood, the only memory she had was of the moment the person she had married, the one she had loved, pointed a sword at her heart. Only then had her eyes stung until tears spilled down her face.

But now, the ache in her chest, the sting in her eyes, was more than she could bear.

Why…

Why did she have to keep stirring her heart like this…

Why did this belated devotion come only now, and not in her previous life…

Why, oh why… was Qin Youning… so low?

Did she still harbor illusions?

Hadn’t she already decided on revenge? Hadn’t she already laid out the chessboard, plotted every move? Then why… why still hope?

Plip!

The sound of a tear striking the ground.

Only then did Qin Youning jolt awake, as if from a dream, to find her face already streaked with tears.

She hurriedly turned away, but she wasn’t fast enough.

A slender, fair hand caught her by the chin, keeping her from looking away.

Something soft, a cloth, brushed against her cheek.

She raised her eyes and met Qi Yunchu’s, which had dimmed ever so slightly.

“…Forgive my presumption, Female Lord. Please don’t be offended.”

Qi Yunchu carefully, thoroughly wiped her face clean, then picked up the brocade box beside them to put the pendants away.

Her voice had returned to its usual calm, and the adoration in her eyes was carefully tucked away once more.

Pressing her lips together, Qi Yunchu bowed respectfully to Qin Youning and offered her apology. “I never meant to upset the Female Lord. I am ashamed. Please excuse me for today.”

Her brow furrowed slightly. Without another glance at Qin Youning, she made to turn and leave.

But then a pair of soft, warm hands suddenly caught hers from behind.

“Why are you leaving?”

“I was only… too overjoyed.”

The cool girl spoke in a low voice, the words seemingly tinged with her own shyness, evoking the sweetest of imaginings.

Yunchu froze. She turned to look at her, scarcely able to believe her ears.

She ran her tongue over her dry lips and asked, a little nervously, “What did you say?”

Those petal-soft lips, dampened like flower petals touched by dew, looked all the more tempting, begging to be tasted.

Qin Youning’s eyes darkened. She lowered her gaze and answered, “I said, I want your Mandarin Duck Pendant…”

“I… I have feelings for you.”

The expression on Qi Yunchu’s face gradually softened. “…Truly?”

Qin Youning lifted her eyes to meet her gaze, and though her voice grew gentler, it was filled with unshakable resolve. “Truly.”

And so Qi Yunchu smiled.

The setting sun drew in its blinding rays, offering all its warm tenderness instead to the one who held her heart.

“From the moment I first met A-Ning as a child, I already loved her. But my station was lowly then, and I dared not hope for more. Now I have built something of a name for myself, so I finally dare to presume…”

Qi Yunchu lowered her eyes and opened the brocade box, drawing out a piece of flawless white jade, warm and smooth, exquisitely carved.

“If A-Ning will not disdain me, let this serve as the token of my promise. When I take Qingzhou, I will return to marry you.”

“And from then on… one lifetime, one couple together until the end.”

Qin Youning’s hand trembled violently. She looked up at Qi Yunchu, searching her face, and found her utterly earnest, with no trace of jest.

The Mandarin Duck Pendant split in two. She accepted her half of the Mandarin Duck Jade.

This person said…

One lifetime, together until the end?

Qin Youning remained silent for a long while. In the end, she gave a soft sound of assent.

Qi Yunchu was overjoyed, and just as she was about to say something, the girl before her spoke. “You intend to take Qingzhou?”

She blinked, then nodded. “Yes.”

Qi Yunchu had met Qin Youning at the age of ten, then used the Qin Family’s influence to enter the military. Twelve years had passed since then.

With the Qin Family as her starting point this time around, her rise to glory had come far faster than in her previous life.

Much faster.

Qi Yunchu was called a rising star, but in truth, the forces under her command were no weaker than those of the old established warlords. She had campaigned in every direction without a single defeat, trading blood and scars for the pacification of the entire north.

Qingzhou was a strategic stronghold, its people fierce and hardy. If she could take Qingzhou and command the Qingzhou soldiers, then her ascension would be within a single step’s reach.

Of course, the flip side was that Qi Yunchu would commit the bulk of her forces to the assault.

One defeat, and it would be… total ruin…

“Will you let me help you?”

The girl in green looked up at her, and in those cool eyes the slanting sunlight cast a tender shadow. She looked like a woman truly thinking of her beloved, lending her strength to the one she loved.

What a pity. She was only helping her beloved hasten her own death…

Yunchu sneered inwardly.

[Host, she’s going to play you.] The System couldn’t hold its tongue.

[I know.] Yunchu replied carelessly.

“Wonderful.” She smiled, looking absolutely delighted by her lover’s thoughtfulness.

[Host!]

[Shh~]

[If she doesn’t play me, how am I supposed to act out the rest of this performance?]

Tragic love has always captivated hearts, after all…

Yunchu’s mission was to give the woman before her a story carved into her very bones.

A Bone-Deep Love.

A Bone-Deep Hatred.

And…

A Bone-Deep Regret…