Chapter 336 Rebirth

Chapter 336: New Life

Qiu Heng journeyed under the stars, returning to Yunfeng Village.

She arrived there in the afternoon.

She didn't go straight home; instead, she went to the hillside where her adoptive parents were buried.

In late autumn, the southern vegetation was still lush, deep green intertwined with gold.

She thought her adoptive parents' graves would be overgrown with weeds, but to her surprise, they were very clean, with clear signs of care.

Had someone from the village tended the graves for her adoptive parents?

Qiu Heng knelt at the grave and kowtowed.

"Dad, Mom, A Heng has come back to see you. I'm a bad daughter for coming back so late."

All around was silent, save the rustling of wind through branches and the plaintive chirping of insects.

"I lost Fang Zhou." Qiu Heng pressed her forehead against the slightly damp soil of the grave, tears falling into the earth. "I brought Fang Zhou back."

She had brought back a set of clothes Fang Zhou often wore, a favorite hairpin, and a scent pendant that Fang Zhou always carried.

Fang Zhou was buried in the capital, but Qiu Heng knew she missed Yunfeng Village, missed their youthful days together.

She wanted to set up a cenotaph for Fang Zhou beside her parents' grave, so that Fang Zhou could be in the capital if she wished, or be in Yunfeng Village.

Qiu Heng tied her horse to a tree and returned home.

The long-empty house smelled musty, with cobwebs, dead grass, and decay everywhere.

Qiu Heng stood dazed, memories flashing through her mind: her adoptive father carrying a wild hare he had caught, trying to cheer her up, her adoptive mother gently watching as she bit off the thread from the dress she was sewing for her. Fang Zhou running out of the kitchen, grinning, stuffed freshly made red bean cakes into her mouth.

"Heng'er, look at this fat rabbit Dad caught! Do you want it braised or roasted?"

"Heng'er, come here, try on this skirt to see if it fits."

"Young miss, are my red bean pastries delicious?"

Qiu Heng covered her face, weeping silently.

Why do people have so many tears? It turns out tears never run dry.

She went to the woodshed, grabbed a hoe, and went back to the hillside. Next to her adoptive parents' grave, she dug a pit and finally buried the wooden box containing Fang Zhou's belongings.

By the time she finished, it was dusk. The setting sun spread like blood across the sky, sorrowfully brilliant.

"A Heng, is that you?" a hesitant voice came from behind.

Qiu Heng turned around.

"A Heng, it really is you! You're back!" The young man's face lit up with pleasant surprise as he strode over.

"Brother Xiaoshan."

"A Heng, when did you return?" Noticing the freshly raised mound of earth, Xiaoshan's expression changed. "A Heng, this—this is—"

"Fang Zhou is gone."

Xiaoshan was stunned for a long time, his eyes reddening. "How... how could this happen? A Heng, don't be too sad. If things aren't good in the capital, then don't go back."

"Brother Xiaoshan, who has been tending my parents' graves?"

"I come sometimes to clear the weeds, and the aunts and uncles in the village also come to burn spirit money for Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen..."

"Thank you all so much."

"No need to thank us. We're all from the same village."

Xiaoshan didn't ask Qiu Heng about what had happened in the capital. In his view, if she had returned alone and Fang Zhou was gone, then her time in the capital must have been filled with pain.

Xiaoshan insisted on taking Qiu Heng to his home for dinner, where she met his wife.

Xiaoshan's mother warmly welcomed Qiu Heng and told her, "Your Brother Xiaoshan got married last year. In a few more days, he'll become a father."

Xiaoshan smiled sheepishly, and his wife blushed an even deeper red.

Amidst this warm atmosphere, Qiu Heng ate her fill. Declining an invitation to stay overnight, she returned home.

The hard bed gave off a musty, rotten smell, yet she lay down and fell asleep immediately.

The next morning, Xiaoshan came early to invite Qiu Heng over for breakfast.

"Please thank Aunt and Sister-in-law for me. I have things to do, so I won't go."

Qiu Heng went into the mountains and came to that pool.

The deep, dark water held floating withered flowers and dead leaves; human reflections were crystal clear.

Qiu Heng sat by the pool, staring motionless at the water.

This was the pool that had turned her from a carefree village girl into a pawn and a blade in Master Changqing's hand. After she returned, many people's fates began to change.

If she were to sink into this pool again, what would happen?

Would she go once more to that future Great Xia?

If she did go there, at what point in time would she come back?

Could she… save Fang Zhou?

Once this thought arose, it seemed as if a soul-stealing water spirit lurked beneath the calm surface, luring her in.

Qiu Heng instinctively took a step forward, then stepped back.

She couldn't do it.

If everything started over, could she guarantee the current favorable situation?

No.

Any slight change could bring unforeseeable consequences. If she failed and plunged the millions of Great Xia's people into misery, she couldn't take that risk, nor could she bear the burden.

But the pain was so intense, the unwillingness so bitter.

This unwillingness kept Qiu Heng in Yunfeng Village.

She knew she would eventually go back to the capital—just not now.

She cleaned up the rundown home, and often villagers brought her food—sometimes some scallions, sometimes a few Chinese cabbages.

Every day she would take a walk through the village, talk to her adoptive parents and Fang Zhou at their graveside, and sit by the deep pond for a while.

Letters from the capital came one after another—from the matriarch, Third Master Qiu, her siblings, Princess Rongning, and County Princess Jiayi.

As the days passed, the void in Qiu Heng’s heart was gradually filled by these letters and the wisps of smoke from the village chimneys.

The weather grew colder, with fine snow falling like willow fluff into the unfrozen deep pond.

Qiu Heng remembered that every spring, peach blossom petals would fall into this pond, creating a beautiful sight.

Footsteps approached, and a familiar voice sounded behind her: “A Heng.”

Qiu Heng turned around and immediately fell into an embrace covered in windblown snow.

“A Heng, I’m here.” Xue Han wrapped his black cloak tightly around the slender young girl. “I missed you.”

Qiu Heng hugged him back, and after a moment of quiet, said, “I missed you too.”

The snow fell thickly, becoming heavier, falling into the deep, unfathomable pond and landing on their hair and clothes.

“Are the border matters settled?”

“Yes. Without alarming him, I’ve placed some people around him. When he conspires with Northern Qi, we can play along and trap him…”

Listening to Xue Han’s arrangements, Qiu Heng felt the last burden lifted from her shoulders.

“How did you find me here?” she asked as they walked hand in hand.

“I first asked about where you lived, then asked your neighbors. That young guy said you come to the mountain pond every day.”

“That must be Brother Xiao Shan.”

“Are your families close?”

“Yes.”

“Then we should head back soon. When I asked him about you, his wife went into labor.”

Qiu Heng didn’t waste another word; she grabbed Xue Han and ran. By the time they reached Xiao Shan’s house, he was pacing anxiously in the yard.

From inside came the cries of a woman in pain, heart-wrenching. Qiu Heng unconsciously tightened her grip on Xue Han’s hand.

After what felt like forever, a baby’s cry rang out, followed by joyful shouting: “The baby’s born! The baby’s born!”

Xiao Shan rushed inside.

Qiu Heng saw the swaddled baby.

Tiny and wrinkled, but it made her heart melt completely.

This was new life indeed.

It might still face hardships, but at least it wouldn’t grow up in a Great Xia in turmoil.

The last bit of emptiness in Qiu Heng’s heart was filled in that moment by the arrival of the baby.

No matter how many “by what right” or “why” questions lingered, what she’d done was worth it.

And from now on, she could live only for herself.

On the day of the baby’s third-day bath ceremony, Qiu Heng brought a gift for the baby’s third-day bath. When she returned, Xue Han was coming out of the kitchen.

They had been cooking together for days, so Qiu Heng wasn’t surprised. She smiled and asked, “What delicious food have you made?”

Her gaze fell on the plate, and she froze.

It was red bean cake.

“A Heng, mine might not be that tasty, but I’ll practice well and make it for you until we grow old,” Xue Han said, a bit nervous and clumsy.

He was afraid she wouldn’t like his red bean cake, but he wanted her to know that as long as he was around, there’d always be someone to make her red bean cake.

Qiu Heng picked up a piece and took a bite.

Too much sugar—a bit too sweet—but right now, she needed a little extra sweetness.

“Then don’t forget what you said today—make it for me until we’re old.”

“Alright.”

Qiu Heng ate one piece after another.

“A Heng, let’s go back to the capital.”

Qiu Heng looked up to meet the man’s hopeful eyes.

“Alright.”