In the dead of night, the moonlight poured into Levi's bedroom like water, casting mottled light and shadows through the gaps in the curtains. He lay on the bed, holding the mysterious jade pendant tightly in his hand, his thoughts surging like a tide. Since discovering the secret of the jade pendant, his world seemed to be completely overturned by an invisible force. Whenever night fell and the apartment fell into silence, the jade pendant would emit a faint and strange light. The light was not dazzling, but it carried a deep magic, as if the soul that had been sleeping for thousands of years was quietly waking up and whispering his name.
"...Wei, can you hear me?" A gentle and slightly sad female voice sounded in Levi's mind, clear and real, as if someone was whispering in his ear.
Levi suddenly opened his eyes, his heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead. He looked around, the bedroom was empty, only the moonlight was flowing quietly. He looked down at the jade pendant in his hand, the emerald green jade was gleaming faintly in the moonlight, and the red gem in the center was like a drop of solidified blood, exuding a strange and charming charm.
"Ying Yue...is that you?" Levi said tentatively in his heart, the voice echoing in his consciousness with a slight tremor.
"Yes, it's me." Ying Yue's voice sounded again, with a hint of joy in her tone, "You can finally hear me."
Levi's heartbeat became more intense. He sat up and held the jade pendant tightly, as if he could catch the ethereal voice. "What...what's going on? Why can I hear your voice?"
"The jade pendant is the bridge between us," Ying Yue explained, her voice gentle and calm. "It connects our consciousness, allowing us to communicate across time and space. But this connection is not stable, and it can only be realized at a specific moment, such as the quiet night now."
Levi took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner shock. He knew that he had encountered something that science could not explain, but at this moment, he wanted to know more about Ying Yue's story, to know about this soul that had been sealed for a thousand years. "Ying Yue, tell me your story. I want to know everything about you."
Ying Yue was silent for a moment, as if recalling the distant past. "My story... is full of sadness and helplessness. I am the most beloved daughter of Qin Shi Huang, and was given the title of 'Princess Yuehua'. I was smart since childhood, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and was deeply loved by my father. However, after my father passed away, the power struggle in the court intensified, and I was involved in it. I was eventually framed and died unjustly in the palace. My soul could not be reincarnated due to the injustice and resentment, so it was sealed in this jade pendant by a wizard. It has been passed down for thousands of years and finally came into your hands."
Levi tightly grasped the jade pendant, feeling the coldness in his palm, and an inexplicable sadness welled up in his heart. He could feel the pain and helplessness in her voice, as if that distant era was reappearing before his eyes. "What was the power struggle in the palace like? How did you get involved? How were you killed? And how was your soul sealed?"
Ying Yue's voice became low, with a hint of heavy memories. "Okay, Li Wei, since you want to know, I will tell you the past that you cannot bear to look back on."
The vortex of palace power struggle
"During the late Qin Dynasty, after the death of my father, Qin Shi Huang, the foundation of the empire was not yet stable, and the struggle for the throne was like a bloody storm that swept the entire palace." Ying Yue's voice was cold, "My brothers - Hu Hai, Fusu, Gongzi Gao, Gongzi Jianglu and others, in order to fight for the throne, used all means to fight against each other. The palace was full of conspiracies and calculations, and everyone was like a chess piece, controlled by an invisible hand."
"Hu Hai is the most ambitious one among them. He is young and hot-tempered, ruthless and has long coveted the throne. Fusu is different. He is the eldest son, kind and tolerant, and is highly valued by his father. Therefore, he has become a thorn in Hu Hai's side. Gongzi Gao is insidious and cunning. On the surface, he is respectful and polite to everyone, but secretly he is cultivating his own power. As for Gongzi Jianglu, he is taciturn and always hides in the shadows to observe the situation, like a lone wolf waiting for an opportunity to strike."
"When my father was alive, the court could still maintain superficial peace because no one dared to challenge his authority. But after my father passed away, everything changed. Hu Hai joined forces with the eunuch Zhao Gao to secretly control the government and try to eliminate all obstacles. Fusu tried to convince people with benevolence and righteousness and win over the court officials to support him. And I, as my father's most beloved daughter, naturally became the focus of competition among all parties."
Levi frowned, "Why would they want to involve you in this? You're just a princess, and you have no part in the fight for the throne."
"Because my existence is a threat to them." Ying Yue smiled bitterly, "When my father was alive, he praised my intelligence many times in the court. He even joked after getting drunk that if I were a man, he might make me the crown prince. Although this was just a joke, it caused a stir in the court. Hu Hai was worried that I would become Fusu's helper, while Fusu's followers hoped that I would stand on Fusu's side and enhance his reputation. As for Gongzi Gao and Gongzi Jianglu, they regarded me as a chess piece that could be used, and wanted to use me to weaken other opponents."
Princess Yuehua was caught in the whirlpool
"I never covet power, nor do I want to get involved in these struggles." Ying Yue's voice was filled with helplessness. "I like to play the piano and paint in the palace, and accompany my father to appreciate the moon and drink tea. But after my father passed away, my life changed completely. Hu Hai began to approach me frequently. On the surface, he cared for me very much, but secretly he was testing my position. Fusu sent someone to send me a letter, hoping that I would publicly support him and stabilize the court. And Gongzi Gao even sent someone to send me treasures, suggesting that if I formed an alliance with him, he would guarantee my lifelong glory."
"I tried to stay out of it, telling them I just wanted to be an ordinary princess, but no one believed me. In their eyes, I was either an ally or an enemy, there was no third way. In the end, Hu Hai decided to strike first and get rid of me completely."
"Get rid of you?" Levi's voice was filled with anger. "How could he do that?"
"Because he knew that as long as I was alive, I might be used by Fusu." Ying Yue sighed, "Hu Hai was a man who would not give up until he achieved his goal. He teamed up with Zhao Gao and designed a perfect conspiracy to push me into the abyss."
A conspiracy to kill
"It was a rainy night," Ying Yue's voice became low and trembling, "Hu Hai sent someone to tell me that Fusu was attacked outside the palace and was seriously injured, and asked me to go and visit him immediately. Although I had doubts, Fusu had always been very good to me, and I didn't want to see him get into trouble, so I hurried out of the palace. Who knew that it was all a trap."
"When I arrived, I was greeted not by Fusu but by Zhao Gao and his guards. They claimed to have caught me in a secret meeting with the Zhao envoys and said I was trying to collude with the enemy to murder Fusu and seize the throne. I tried to defend myself, but Zhao Gao produced a forged letter in my handwriting, in which I promised the king of Zhao to cede land in exchange for his support."
"Forged letters?" Li Wei asked in surprise, "How could they forge them so realistically?"
"Zhao Gao bribed my personal maid Xiao Cui." Ying Yue's voice was filled with pain. "Xiao Cui served me for many years, and I never doubted her. But in order to save her life, she betrayed me. Not only did she provide a sample of my handwriting, she also testified in the court that she had seen me meeting with the Zhao envoy. At that moment, I realized that I had already fallen into their trap."
"Most of the court officials were bribed by Hu Hai or intimidated by Zhao Gao's power and did not dare to speak for me. Although Fusu stood up to defend me and accused Hu Hai and Zhao Gao of conspiracy, his voice was soon drowned out by the noise of Hu Hai's party. In the end, I was convicted of treason and sentenced to death."
"How did they... execute it?" Levi's voice was a little choked.
"They imprisoned me in the palace and sent me a cup of poisoned wine." Ying Yue's tone was filled with endless sadness. "I was locked in the room, and the door was heavily guarded. I looked at the cup of wine and knew that I had no way to escape. At that moment, I felt endless despair and injustice. I drank the poisoned wine, my body gradually became cold, and my consciousness was blurred, but my soul could not leave this world because of strong resentment and unwillingness."
Seal of the Soul
"My soul roamed the palace, and my resentment grew stronger." Ying Yue's voice was bitter. "People in the palace began to feel uneasy. Some said they could hear my crying at night, and some said they saw my figure wandering in the corridor. Hu Hai was worried that my resentful spirit would threaten his rule, so he summoned a wizard named Wu Xian to calm my resentment."
"Wu Xian is a mysterious man who is said to be able to communicate with ghosts and gods. He examined my body, shook his head, and said that my soul was too powerful. If it was not controlled, it would sooner or later lead to disaster. So he decided to seal my soul away."
"How did he seal you?" Levi asked curiously.
"Wu Xian took out a jade pendant - it was a gift from my father, with my portrait engraved on it." Ying Yue's voice was filled with nostalgia, "He placed the jade pendant next to my body, lit the incense burner, and chanted a long string of spells that I couldn't understand. A strange smell filled the air, and my soul felt a tearing pain, as if it was pulled by an invisible force, and finally sucked into the jade pendant."
"After the seal was completed, Wu Xian placed the jade pendant in a special wooden box with amulets engraved on the outside. He said that the jade pendant must be buried deep underground, otherwise my resentment would break through the seal sooner or later. He buried the wooden box underground in the palace and warned everyone not to get close."
"The jade pendant has been buried for a thousand years?" Levi asked in a low voice.
"Yes." Ying Yue's voice was filled with emotion. "The wooden box slept underground for a thousand years until the palace was destroyed. The jade pendant was passed around and eventually fell into your hands. Perhaps it was fate that made me meet you."
A dialogue spanning thousands of years
Levi held the jade pendant tightly, feeling the coldness in his palm. He couldn't imagine that a princess who was once alive had experienced such a tragic fate and was trapped in the jade pendant for a thousand years. "You must be in pain..."
"Pain?" Ying Yue chuckled, but her laughter was filled with sadness. "I'm numb to the pain. I just want to break the seal and regain my freedom."
Levi was silent. He didn't know how to comfort this soul that had traveled through thousands of years. He could only help her with his actions. "I will definitely help you break the seal, Yingyue. You have to believe me."
"I believe you, Li Wei." Ying Yue's voice was filled with warmth. "Thank you for helping me."
Communication in consciousness and the budding of emotions
The night slowly unfolds like an endless ink-colored canvas, and the hustle and bustle of the city gradually fades away and returns to silence. Li Wei sits alone at his desk, with only the soft light of the desk lamp illuminating the simple jade pendant in his hand. The jade pendant is warm and moist, as if it contains a thousand years of time, emitting a faint, indescribable light. Whenever it is late at night and the outside world is quiet, this jade pendant becomes a mysterious passage connecting two time and space, leading Li Wei's consciousness to the distant late Qin Dynasty, and starting a thousand-year spiritual dialogue with the Yuehua Princess Yingyue.
Ying Yue's voice was as cool and clear as a mountain spring, and as soft as Jiangnan silk. However, in that cool voice, there was always a hint of lingering sorrow, like a lonely moon in the night sky. Through this bridge of consciousness, Li Wei listened to her talk about the twists and turns of the court at the end of the Qin Dynasty, her involuntary love and hatred, and her deep desire for freedom and true love while imprisoned in the deep palace. Every conversation was like a baptism of the soul. Li Wei seemed to have traveled through the long river of history, touched that turbulent era, and gradually walked into Ying Yue's heart that had been sealed for thousands of years.
The moonlight tonight was exceptionally bright, shining through the window into the room, adding a touch of mystery to the quiet conversation. Li Wei gently stroked the jade pendant, feeling the cool and ancient touch, and asked softly in his mind: "Yingyue, the moonlight tonight is so beautiful. Can you tell me more about your story? I want to know more about you, your past, your family, and... the people you love."
At the other end of consciousness, Ying Yue was silent for a moment, as if she was salvaging those fragments of memory that were covered by the dust of the years in the long tunnel of time. After a long time, her cold voice sounded again, with a barely perceptible sigh: "Okay, Li Wei. Since you want to listen, I will tell you slowly. My story is actually a sad song swept by the torrent of the times... My mother, Qin Wanrong, is the warmest light in my life and the deepest imprint in my memory. She is a woman who is extremely gentle, yet tough enough to make people feel distressed. In such a chaotic world, she used up everything she had to protect me and guard our weak flame. As for Zhao Yunfei..." When she mentioned this name, Ying Yue's voice trembled slightly, as if she had touched the softest and most painful place in her heart, "He... He is the person I love deeply, but is destined to be unable to stay together. The story between us is like this moonlight, seemingly bright and beautiful, but also with a hint of untouchable coldness and regret."
Qin Wanrong: A tenacious mother under the gentle moonlight
Ying Yue's voice became distant and low, as if she was telling an ancient legend, bringing Li Wei back to the turbulent court of the late Qin Dynasty. "My mother's name is Qin Wanrong." Ying Yue said slowly, her voice full of respect and nostalgia for her mother, "She was one of the many concubines of my father, Qin Shi Huang, but she was also the most special one, and she was also my biological mother. The name 'Wanrong' not only praises her beautiful appearance, but also describes her gentle and virtuous character. My mother's life is not only a sad and beautiful legend in that cold court, but also a microcosm of the tragic fate of a mother in troubled times."
A beautiful lady from a famous family, she was favored by the emperor
Qin Wanrong's origin doomed her to an extraordinary life. She was not from an ordinary family, but from a prominent aristocratic family with deep roots in the Qin State. The Qin family has been bathed in the glory of the Qin State for generations and has made great contributions to the empire. Her father was once in the court, held important positions, and was in charge of the military and political power of the Qin State. Her mother was also from a prominent family and was a talented woman who was famous in Xianyang at that time. In such a favorable family environment, Qin Wanrong received the most rigorous and comprehensive aristocratic education since she was a child. She was proficient in poetry, etiquette, chess, calligraphy and painting. Her every move was elegant and dignified, and her temperament was as gentle as jade. Her beauty was like a blooming orchid in a deep valley, pure and refined, and soon spread among the aristocratic circle. At the age of sixteen, Qin Wanrong, who was in her prime, was selected into the palace for her stunning appearance and extraordinary talent, and became one of the three thousand beauties in the harem of Qin Shihuang.
After entering the palace, Qin Wanrong's beauty and wisdom, like the brightest stars in the night sky, quickly attracted the attention of Qin Shihuang. Although she was not canonized as the queen, her status in the harem rose rapidly and she became one of Qin Shihuang's most favored concubines. Qin Shihuang often summoned her to serve him, and rewarded her with countless treasures and silks. Even when he was busy with all kinds of affairs and government affairs, he would take time out to enjoy the bright moonlight with her, recite poems, and discuss articles. Qin Wanrong was famous in the harem for her gentleness and virtue. She never participated in the jealousy and power calculations among the concubines. She always treated other concubines and palace people with kindness and generosity, and treated them equally. Therefore, she won rare respect and love in the harem. The "Yuehua Palace" where she lived became a rare quiet place in this strict palace. Even the palace maids who were always cautious and treading on thin ice in the palace vied for the opportunity to serve in Yuehua Palace, simply because Empress Wanrong was kind and generous to others and never criticized her servants.
Despite being in great favor, Qin Wanrong always kept a low profile and was cautious. She knew that the harem was like a battlefield without smoke, and that if she was not careful, she would be doomed. Therefore, she chose to stay away from the disputes in the harem, and put all her thoughts on accompanying Qin Shihuang and raising her daughter Yingyue. Her wisdom and caution allowed her to find a place to live in this dangerous harem, and also won a relatively peaceful and stable childhood for the young Yingyue.
Give all your motherly love to protect Yuehua
Qin Wanrong poured all her love into her daughter Yingyue, regarding her as the apple of her eye and the flesh of her heart. Yingyue was her first child and the only daughter in her life. When Yingyue was born, Qin Shihuang was very pleased and personally named her "Princess Yuehua", implying that she was as pure and beautiful as the bright moonlight, radiant with brilliance. From the moment Yingyue was born, Qin Wanrong secretly vowed in her heart that she must use all her strength to protect this child, so that she could have a sky of her own in this cold and cruel palace, even if that sky might not be complete and even full of haze.
When Ying Yue was young, Qin Wanrong stayed by her side almost every step of the way. She insisted on feeding Ying Yue herself, teaching her to babble and learn to walk. Whenever Ying Yue cried, Qin Wanrong always coaxed her patiently and gently, sang lullabies to her in a soft voice, and told her fairy tales full of childish fun. She often held the young Ying Yue in her arms, sat in the courtyard of Yuehua Palace, pointed to the bright moon in the night sky, and whispered: "Yue'er, look, your name is like the moonlight in the sky, pure and beautiful. Mother hopes that you can always be like this moonlight, worry-free and grow up happily." These warm and beautiful times have become the most precious and warmest fragments in Ying Yue's childhood memories. In the long years to come, whenever she recalls these, she can always feel a trace of comfort in her heart.
As Ying Yue grew up, Qin Wanrong began to give her a strict and careful education. She knew the dangers of the palace and did not want her daughter to be involved in the endless vortex of power. She hoped that Ying Yue could grow up to be a talented, wise, and independent woman who could protect herself even in troubled times. She personally taught Ying Yue to read and write, recite poems and compose essays. She also hired the best musicians and scholars in the palace to teach her piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, and the way to govern the country. Under her mother's careful teaching, Ying Yue gradually grew into a princess with outstanding talent and intelligence, and was deeply loved by Qin Shihuang.
In addition to cultivating her talents, Qin Wanrong also focused on cultivating Yingyue's character. She often warned Yingyue: "Yue'er, you must remember that this palace is like a battlefield, full of crises. If you are not careful, you will be doomed. Therefore, you must learn to protect yourself, be more careful in everything, and don't easily trust anyone, especially those who are sweet-mouthed but treacherous." She taught Yingyue to maintain a kind heart, but also to know how to distinguish between good and evil, recognize people's hearts, and never be corrupted by the intrigues of the palace. These teachings of her mother were deeply imprinted in Yingyue's heart and had a profound impact on her future life, making her always vigilant and sober in a complex and dangerous environment.
In troubled times, mother's love is as strong as a mountain
When Qin Shihuang was alive, Qin Wanrong, relying on her status and wisdom in the harem, did her best to protect Ying Yue from the wind and rain and prop up a relatively peaceful sky. She carefully dealt with the concubines in the harem and cleverly used her influence to keep Ying Yue away from the endless court disputes, allowing her to live a relatively peaceful life like an ordinary child. However, the gears of fate will not stop turning. After the death of Qin Shihuang, the rule of the Qin Dynasty began to crumble, and the power struggle in the court became more and more intense. The conspiracy of treacherous villains such as Hu Hai and Zhao Gao, like a poisonous snake lurking in the dark night, gradually surfaced. Qin Wanrong's situation became precarious, but even so, she still did not give up protecting Ying Yue, and even risked her life for her daughter. She had tried to secretly stop the conspiracy of Hu Hai and Zhao Gao, hoping to save the Qin Dynasty and win a chance for Ying Yue. However, her power seemed so insignificant in front of the powerful Zhao Gao. In the end, her efforts failed and she was placed under house arrest in the cold palace. Even during the days of house arrest, Qin Wanrong still did not give up hope. She tried every means, risking her life, to pass on messages to Ying Yue, reminding her to be careful of the people around her and beware of Zhao Gao's conspiracy.
However, fate seemed destined to play tricks on this unfortunate mother and daughter. In the end, Ying Yue still could not escape the clutches of Zhao Gao, and was framed to death. When the bad news came, Qin Wanrong was devastated. She could not accept the fact that her daughter died tragically, and she cried day and night. In despair and sadness, she fell ill and eventually died on her sickbed with endless thoughts and guilt for her daughter. Before she died, she tightly grasped Ying Yue's most cherished relic - the exquisite jade pendant, her eyes blurred with tears, and she murmured to herself, calling her daughter's name: "Yue'er, it's my mother who is sorry for you... It's my mother who didn't protect you well..." Qin Wanrong's death was not only a continuation of Ying Yue's tragic fate, but also a true portrayal of the cruel court struggle in the late Qin Dynasty, and the sadness and despair of a mother who was unable to protect her daughter in troubled times.
"In my memory, my mother is always so gentle and tenacious." Ying Yue's voice was choked with a barely perceptible sob. After thousands of years, one can still feel her deep attachment and nostalgia for her mother. "She always wore simple palace clothes, behaved elegantly and dignifiedly, but there was always a hint of melancholy between her eyebrows, as if she had already seen through all the joys and sorrows of the world. Whenever I think of my mother, her soft voice and warm embrace always come to my mind. She is not only my mother, but also the most solid support and the warmest light in my life. She used all her love and wisdom to hold up a small sky for me. Even if this sky is eventually swallowed up by the dark clouds of troubled times, she will always be the brightest and warmest existence in my life."
Zhao Yunfei: Guardian and love in life and death
In Ying Yue's intermittent narration, the name Zhao Yunfei, like the twinkling stars in the night sky, appears again and again, and each time it is accompanied by Ying Yue's deepest sorrow and the softest memories. He is Ying Yue's personal bodyguard, a young man of humble origin but with extraordinary talent and sincere loyalty. Zhao Yunfei has practiced martial arts since he was a child and has mastered superb martial arts. What's more rare is that he is loyal and chivalrous, and is deeply appreciated by Qin Shihuang. He was appointed as the personal bodyguard to protect Princess Yuehua. However, fate makes people, and the relationship between him and Ying Yue has long surpassed the boundaries of master and servant in their day-to-day interactions, and quietly evolved into a forbearing and deep love. This kind of love model is not uncommon in the hierarchical ancient Chinese society. It is destined to be full of tragedy due to the huge disparity in status, but it is also because of its sincerity and moving, and life and death, which makes people sigh.
First meeting, fate intertwined
The first meeting between Zhao Yunfei and Ying Yue seemed to be a script that fate had already written, and it quietly kicked off on a grand occasion. It was at a grand court banquet held by Qin Shihuang to celebrate the peace and prosperity of the country. At that time, Ying Yue was in her prime, only fifteen years old, with a beautiful face, like a bud about to bloom, with an innate noble temperament between her eyebrows, and every frown and smile was a royal style. At the banquet, she was dressed in gorgeous and exquisite palace clothes, like a star holding the moon, sitting next to Qin Shihuang, quietly watching the lively and noisy scene in the hall, but with a trace of calmness in her eyes that was inconsistent with her age. As the newly promoted guard commander, Zhao Yunfei stood on one side of the hall with a tall and straight figure like a pine tree, looking around vigilantly, responsible for the security of the banquet. His eyes, inadvertently, met with the noble princess on the high platform. At that moment, he seemed to be struck by an invisible light, his heart suddenly shook, and his breathing became rapid. He had never seen such a beautiful and noble woman, and he had never thought that he would have such strong emotions for this high and mighty princess.
Ying Yue, who was on the high platform, also noticed this taciturn, handsome and tall young guard. His figure was as tall as a pine tree in the mountains, and his eyes were deep and firm, like the brightest stars in the night sky, which formed a sharp contrast with the fawning and flattering courtiers in the palace. In him, Ying Yue felt an inexplicable sense of security, as if as long as he was by her side, no one and nothing could hurt her. The fate of the two was quietly planted in this inadvertent gaze, quietly waiting for the opportunity to take root and sprout.
It was a bright spring afternoon, with hundreds of flowers blooming in the imperial garden, colorful and beautiful. Ying Yue was walking alone in the imperial garden to enjoy the flowers, but she lost her way because she was not familiar with the path. Just when she was at a loss, Zhao Yunfei happened to be patrolling here. Seeing her anxious expression, he stepped forward silently and asked respectfully in a low voice if she needed help. His voice was low and gentle, with a reassuring power. Ying Yue raised her head and saw the deep and firm eyes again, and an inexplicable ripple appeared in her heart. Zhao Yunfei pointed out the way back to the palace in a gentle voice. The two walked side by side through the garden path full of flowers. At that moment, the spring breeze blew on her face, the fragrance of flowers filled the air, and the eyes of the two met again in the air. In Ying Yue's heart, like a calm lake being blown by the breeze, there were circles of small ripples, and Zhao Yunfei quickly lowered his head to hide the flash of waves in his eyes. There were not many words between them, but it seemed as if there were thousands of words silently flowing in each other's hearts.
Knowing each other, cherishing each other, and secretly feeling
As time went by, Zhao Yunfei and Ying Yue had more and more contacts. He was not only Ying Yue's personal guard, but also her most trusted and most dependent confidant. Ying Yue liked to play the piano alone in the Yuehua Palace on a moonlit night to express her emotions. At this time, Zhao Yunfei would stand quietly outside the palace like a loyal shadow, silently listening to the melodious, yet slightly sad sound of the piano. The sound of the piano contained Ying Yue's joys, sorrows, anger and happiness as a princess in the deep palace, and Zhao Yunfei was always the one who could best understand the hidden meaning of her piano. Whenever Ying Yue was depressed and unhappy because of the intrigues and intrigues of the court, Zhao Yunfei would always use his deep and warm voice to comfort her softly, telling her some anecdotes in the rivers and lakes, or interesting jokes from the folk, so that she could temporarily forget the troubles and sorrows in the palace. His words were few, but they were always able to soothe the pain deep in her heart silently like a gentle spring breeze and rain, touching the depths of her soul.
Once, Ying Yue was framed by a jealous maid in the palace and was falsely accused of stealing the queen's precious jewels. In the palace, everyone was in danger and kept themselves safe. No one dared to stand up for her and say a fair word, for fear of angering the powerful queen. Only Zhao Yunfei, regardless of his own safety, resolutely stood up to defend Ying Yue and wash away the grievances. With his extraordinary wisdom and keen insight, he secretly investigated the truth and collected evidence. Finally, in front of the emperor, in front of Qin Shihuang and the civil and military officials of the court, he exposed the maid's conspiracy and cleared Ying Yue's name. At that moment, Ying Yue looked at Zhao Yunfei's tall figure, and her heart was filled with gratitude, touching, and an indescribable feeling of dependence. From then on, her trust in Zhao Yunfei grew deeper and deeper, and their feelings grew and warmed up quietly as they spent more time together, like a seedling breaking through the soil.
Deep love, forbearance and restraint
However, in that ancient society with strict hierarchy and strict etiquette, the love between the princess and the guard was destined to be a tragedy without results. As a princess of a golden branch and jade leaf, Ying Yue has a clear and profound understanding of her identity and destiny. She is the daughter of Qin Shihuang, and her future has long been firmly bound by invisible shackles. She will either marry a prince and nobleman and become a tool for political marriage to consolidate power, or become a victim of power struggle in the court struggle. And Zhao Yunfei, he is just a guard of humble origin. Even though he is highly skilled in martial arts and loyal, how can he be compared with the noble princess, and how dare he hope to marry the princess? Despite this, the passionate and sincere love in the hearts of the two is like a wildfire. Once ignited, it can never be easily extinguished.
They have never done anything beyond the rules of etiquette, and have never even spoken a word of direct love. But this deep feeling has become deeper and stronger in the silent protection and forbearance of each other. Whenever it is late at night, the moon is bright and the stars are sparse, and Ying Yue is alone in the palace, playing the piano to express her feelings under the cold moonlight, Zhao Yunfei will always stand silently outside the door of Yuehua Palace, like a loyal guardian, quietly guarding her and accompanying her. The sorrow and longing, love and helplessness contained in the sound of the piano, only they can truly understand and empathize with each other.
Once, on a warm spring day, the sun was shining brightly. Ying Yue was enjoying the flowers in the imperial garden, and Zhao Yunfei, as usual, stayed by her side. The breeze blew gently, blowing off the delicate petals on the branches, which fluttered down like pink raindrops, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of flowers. Ying Yue raised her head inadvertently, wanting to brush away the petals that fell on the ends of her hair, but she happened to bump into Zhao Yunfei's eyes as deep as the sea. At that moment, she saw the tenderness in his eyes as gentle as moonlight, and also saw the deep love and restraint in them. Her heart, like a deer running wildly, beat violently, and her cheeks couldn't help but blush, as beautiful as a blooming peach blossom. But she immediately looked away in panic, forcibly suppressing the surging throbbing deep in her heart. She knew clearly that this kind of relationship was a taboo and absolutely could not be accepted by the world. Once discovered, what awaited them would be an abyss of no return.
Zhao Yunfei was also trying his best to restrain the burning love in his heart. He was very clear about his identity and the danger of this relationship. He knew very well that there was an insurmountable gap between him and Her Royal Highness the Princess. It was the strict hierarchy and the cold imperial etiquette. Whenever he was alone, standing silently under the moonlight, thinking of Ying Yue's beautiful face and gentle smile, a sweet and painful complex emotion would surge in his heart. He had sworn in his heart countless times that no matter what the cost, he would use his life to protect Her Royal Highness the Princess, even if he could only be a humble guard, silently accompanying her and protecting her until the end of his life.
Life and death, separation of Yin and Yang
However, the wheel of fate rolls forward and never stops because of personal will. After the death of Qin Shihuang, the rule of the Qin Dynasty was like a broken house in the wind and rain, in danger. The power struggle in the palace was like a wild horse out of control, intensifying and becoming more cruel. In order to usurp the throne and consolidate their power, treacherous villains such as Hu Hai and Zhao Gao began to frantically eliminate dissidents and exclude dissidents. Zhao Yunfei, as Princess Yingyue's most trusted and most dependent personal guard, naturally became a thorn in their eyes and a thorn in their flesh, and they must get rid of him as soon as possible.
On a pitch-black night, Zhao Yunfei escorted Princess Yingyue back to the palace as usual. When they walked to the secluded palace road, a group of masked assassins with sharp blades suddenly emerged from the darkness and attacked them like ghosts. Zhao Yunfei remained calm and stepped forward to protect Princess Yingyue tightly behind him. He drew the sword at his waist and fought a desperate battle with the assassins like a tiger descending from the mountain. The flashing of swords and the flying of blood and flesh intertwined into a tragic picture on the narrow palace road. Zhao Yunfei was a martial arts expert who fought against many people alone, but he gradually became powerless and was injured in many places. The blood stained his robes and the bluestone ground under his feet. But he still gritted his teeth and held on, the long sword in his hand, like the scythe of the god of death, mercilessly harvesting the lives of assassins, and in the midst of heavy siege, he fought a bloody path for Princess Yingyue and won a glimmer of hope. However, he himself was outnumbered and seriously injured, and finally exhausted his physical strength, like an eagle with broken wings, he fell in a cold pool of blood.
Princess Yingyue witnessed all these tragic scenes. She rushed forward regardless of everything, staggered to Zhao Yunfei, and knelt on the cold ground. Crystal tears burst out like pearls from a broken string, blurring her vision in an instant. She stretched out her hand tremblingly, tightly holding Zhao Yunfei's cold and weak hand, her voice choked with sobs, and said in grief: "Yunfei! Yunfei! Why are you so stupid? Why did you sacrifice your life to protect me? I would rather die myself! Why... why did it turn out like this..."
Zhao Yunfei used up his last bit of strength and raised his hand with difficulty, wanting to touch Princess Yingyue's tearful cheek, but it finally fell down powerlessly. The corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a weak and gentle smile, and he said in an extremely weak voice, "Princess... it is... my... Zhao Yunfei's... greatest... honor... to... die for you... Please... take care... of yourself..." After saying the last sentence, his hand slid down powerlessly, his eyes slowly closed, and he stopped breathing and beating forever.
At that moment, Princess Ying Yue's heart seemed to be torn apart by an invisible hand. She was heartbroken and her liver was broken. She hugged Zhao Yunfei's cold body and cried bitterly. Her voice was shrill, echoing through the night sky and echoing for a long time in the empty and silent palace road. She murmured to herself like a puppet who had lost her soul: "He... He was assassinated to protect me... I watched him fall in a pool of blood with my own eyes, but I was powerless... At that moment, my heart died with him..." She lost the person she loved most, and also lost the last bit of attachment and hope for this world and the future. From then on, Princess Yuehua, who was once lively, cheerful, intelligent and moving, became silent and unhappy. The former glory could no longer be seen in her eyes, leaving only endless sadness, despair, and deep resentment towards fate.
Emotional resonance, the light of the future
Li Wei listened quietly to Princess Ying Yue's sad and helpless story, and an indescribable bitterness and sadness surged in his chest. He seemed to have personally experienced that bloody history, witnessed Qin Wanrong's gentleness and tenacity, and truly felt Princess Ying Yue's deep love and longing for her mother and Zhao Yunfei. He was deeply attracted by Princess Ying Yue's intelligence, kindness, and strength in adversity, and at the same time felt sincere regret and heartache for her tragic fate. "Ying Yue, your mother, Queen Qin Wanrong, must love you very much. She used all her strength to protect you and guard you. Even in the most dangerous and desperate moments, she never gave up on you." Li Wei whispered in his consciousness, his voice gentle and firm, "And Zhao Yunfei... He is a real hero. He used his life to protect you and the precious and pure love between you."
"Yes, mother and Yunfei, they are the most important and precious people in my life." Ying Yue's voice was trembling slightly. The passage of a thousand years could not dilute her longing for her mother and lover. "If it weren't for them, I might have died in the intrigues of the court. I might have become a cold-blooded, vicious and resentful court lady. Unfortunately... fate played tricks on me. In the end, I was unable to escape the tricks of fate and ended up with such a tragic end."
With each communication of consciousness across time and space, Li Wei found that he had developed an indescribable but real emotion for Princess Ying Yue, a wonderful bond that transcended the boundaries of time and space and transcended thousands of years. Whenever he heard her voice, a warm current would always surge in his heart, warm and gentle, but at the same time, mixed with a sense of powerlessness and heartache for her predicament. He wanted to help her and change her fate, but he felt at a loss and didn't know where to start. He could only accompany her silently and give her some comfort and warmth with words. "Ying Yue, your love story and your mother's story have moved me very much." Li Wei said sincerely, "I will do my best to help you unlock the seal on the jade pendant and let you regain your freedom. In this way, perhaps you can go to find your mother, Empress Qin Wanrong, and the soul of Zhao Yunfei, and reunite with them in that distant heaven to make up for the regrets of this life."
At the other end of consciousness, Princess Ying Yue's voice revealed a long-lost sense of gratitude and expectation: "Thank you, Li Wei. After these long thousands of years, you are the first and only person I have met who truly wants to help me and understand me."
At the same time, in the real world, Li Wei also began to do his best to track down the secret of this mysterious jade pendant. He consulted a large amount of historical data, flipped through the historical books about the Qin Dynasty, and even spent a lot of money to contact the country's top archaeologists and antique experts, trying to find clues about this jade pendant, hoping to solve the mystery behind it. However, all efforts were in vain. This jade pendant seemed to appear out of thin air. There was no historical record to prove its existence, and no expert could explain its origin, its material, and the mysterious power it contained.
Once, with the last glimmer of hope, Li Wei sent the photo of the jade pendant and the information he knew to an expert in the field of antique identification, hoping to get some valuable clues. However, after carefully studying the photo and information of the jade pendant, the expert replied puzzledly: "Mr. Li, the jade pendant you sent... from the perspective of craftsmanship and material, does not conform to any known ancient technological characteristics, especially the craftsmanship level of the Qin Dynasty. It... it doesn't look like something from this world at all."
The expert's words, like a bolt from the blue, exploded in Levi's mind, making him feel more confused, more uneasy, and more curious. He began to suspect that the secret of this jade pendant was much more complicated than he had initially imagined, and might even involve some supernatural power, some mysterious phenomenon that science could not yet explain. However, the doubts and uneasiness in his heart did not make him back off, but instead strengthened his determination to unlock the seal for Princess Yingyue and explore the truth. He continued to tirelessly flip through the vast historical books and persevered in consulting experts and scholars in various fields. Although he still found nothing, the words of the antique appraisal expert, "It doesn't look like something from this world", took root in his heart like a lingering ghost. He vaguely realized that this jade pendant might not just be an ordinary ancient artifact, but a supernatural medium that communicated between the two worlds, carrying the thousand-year-old soul of Princess Yingyue and her unfulfilled wish.
The love story between Zhao Yunfei and Princess Yingyue, which was full of regrets and accompanied each other through life and death, is a microcosm of the countless love tragedies that were strangled by the hierarchy and feudal ethics in ancient Chinese society. They have different identities, but their love is as deep as the sea; they cannot stay together, but they are together through life and death. This tragic love not only shows the true face of that ever-changing, cruel and helpless era, but also deeply touches the softest part of Li Wei's heart, making him have a deeper emotional resonance with Princess Yingyue. He is determined to uncover the truth hidden behind the jade pendant no matter how much it costs, to help Princess Yingyue untie the seal that has bound her for thousands of years, so that her soul can be truly liberated, so that she can reunite with her beloved mother Qin Wanrong and Zhao Yunfei, who has been with her through life and death, in that distant heaven, and make up for the endless regrets and pains in these thousands of years. And where will this wonderful fate between him and Princess Yingyue, which spans thousands of years, go? The future is full of unknowns and hopes.
Su Qing's confusion and anxiety
Su Qing stood quietly at the kitchen door like a ghost, her figure hidden in the shadows, her eyes piercing through the dim light, locked on Levi in the middle of the living room. The old chandelier cast a dim glow, barely illuminating a corner of the living room, but also highlighting the loneliness and desolation of the space. Levi was alone in the soft sofa, as if isolated from the world around him. He tightly grasped the jade pendant he brought back from the antique market. The jade pendant in his palm was like a sleeping secret, emitting a faint light. Levi's eyes were empty and blurred, and he had lost his former spirit. His soul seemed to have been drawn by the cold jade to another distant and unknown world, a strange realm that Su Qing could not touch or understand.
Since that simple jade pendant, with an ancient and mysterious aura, broke into their peaceful life, Li Wei seemed to have changed into a different person, becoming more and more taciturn and more and more elusive. At first, Su Qing naively thought that this was just a hobby of Li Wei. After all, her husband had always had a special liking for those strange little gadgets. The corners of the study at home were also filled with all kinds of old objects, from rusty bronze mirrors to porcelain with missing corners, to some unknown stone sculptures, all of which were his favorites, but they were often three minutes of enthusiasm. Once the novelty wore off, he would put them aside and soon be forgotten in the corner. However, this time, things seemed far from that simple. As the days passed, Li Wei's obsession with the jade pendant showed no signs of abating, but intensified. His changes, like the weeds that quietly grew in spring, spread at a speed that could not be ignored, deeply troubling Su Qing, making her feel an unprecedented strangeness and uneasiness.
In recent days, Levi's condition has become extremely bad. He seems to have lost his soul, and has become absent-minded and dazed. His absent-minded state is almost impossible to ignore, and even to the point of worrying. The steaming hot food has been placed on the table. Su Qing called his name many times, and he walked slowly to the table like a sleepwalker, and mechanically pulled out a chair and sat down. However, his mind was obviously not on the food in front of him. The chopsticks in his hand stayed in the air, and his eyes stared dully at a certain place on the table, as if there was something invisible there that attracted all his attention. His lips moved slightly, and sometimes he whispered some unclear words in a low voice. The syllables were broken and scattered, sounding like ancient spells, and like a dream talk. Su Qing pricked up her ears, trying to distinguish what he was saying, but could only hear some intermittent and meaningless syllables. Su Qing tried to talk to him several times, trying to break the suffocating silence and ask him what was wrong, but he always smiled perfunctorily, with empty eyes and a stiff and forced smile, as if he was just trying to deal with her, or maybe he didn't hear what she was saying at all. His consciousness was completely immersed in another world that Su Qing could not understand.
What made Su Qing even more uneasy and unable to sleep was the scene in the middle of the night. It was late at night, and everything was quiet. The two of them lay side by side in bed. It was pitch black around them. Only the occasional chirping of night insects outside the window made the night even quieter and deeper. Su Qing was already drowsy, but she was often awakened by the sudden actions of Li Wei beside her. He would suddenly sit up from his sleep without any warning, and the amplitude of his movements was so large that it would even startle Su Qing beside him. He opened his eyes and looked around blankly in the darkness, his eyes were empty and confused, and he whispered some inaudible sleep talk in his mouth. Those voices were low and hoarse, as if they came from the distant past, and as if they came from another time and space, which made people feel creepy. Then, as if all the strength in his body had been drained, he lay back heavily on the bed, his body stiff and cold, and continued to sleep deeply, as if everything just now was just a weird dream. The first time this happened, Su Qing was startled and vaguely thought that he was having a nightmare. With worry and concern, she patted his shoulder and asked in a low voice: "Levi, Levi, are you okay? Did you dream about something scary?" But Levi just rubbed his sleepy eyes and said vaguely: "It's okay, it's okay, I'm just too tired and had a mess of dreams." After that, he turned over, turned his back to Su Qing, and continued to sleep, leaving Su Qing with a confused and restless face, alone in the dark, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
Su Qing tried to get close to him, to get into his inner world, to find the Li Wei who used to talk to her and was close to her, the sunny, cheerful, humorous, gentle and considerate husband. However, every time she approached cautiously, she felt that there seemed to be an invisible barrier between the two of them, like a transparent but indestructible wall, silently blocking all her efforts and attempts. The more she wanted to get close to him, the more she felt his alienation and indifference. The feeling of drifting away made her feel powerless and frustrated. Su Qing began to wonder if she was too suspicious, too sensitive, and thought too complicated. Maybe Li Wei was just under too much work pressure and was a little tired. Maybe everything would be fine after a while. However, Li Wei's abnormal behavior became more and more obvious and intensified day by day, making it impossible for her to deceive herself and pretend to turn a blind eye and deaf ear. Her inner uneasiness and anxiety grew like vines, tightly entwining her heart, making her feel suffocated and depressed.
Finally, on an exceptionally quiet night, Su Qing could no longer bear this depression and uneasiness. She decided to lay it all out and have a good talk with Levi. No matter what the result was, she could no longer sit back and let the relationship between them be slowly eroded by this mysterious jade pendant and move towards the edge of breaking. She carefully brewed a pot of steaming hot tea, and the fragrance of the tea permeated the air, with a hint of tranquility. She held a delicate teacup, walked slowly into the dimly lit living room, and sat down gently beside Levi. At this time, Levi was still as usual, with his head down, concentrating on the jade pendant in his hand. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the smooth edge of the jade pendant, and his fingertips slid across the cold surface of the jade, as if touching an ancient soul. His lips moved slightly, as if he was silently reciting some mysterious spell, and as if he was having a silent conversation with someone in another time and space. Su Qing took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound calm and gentle, hoping to relieve her inner tension and anxiety: "Levi, what's wrong with you recently? You are always so restless and absent-minded. It seems that you can't even hear me when I talk to you."
Li Wei's body stiffened slightly, and his eyes, which had been fixed on the jade pendant, slowly lifted up as if awakened, and moved away from the smooth surface of the jade pendant. His eyes briefly met Su Qing's in the air. A trace of barely perceptible panic flashed in his eyes, and that panic was like a meteor across the night sky, fleeting, and was soon cleverly concealed. He forced a smile, his expression seemed a little unnatural, and his tone was also deliberately relaxed, trying to cover up his true emotions: "Nothing, really nothing, it's just... I've been under a lot of work pressure recently, and I may be a little tired." His answer was understated and perfunctory, and there was even a hint of impatience in his tone, as if he was eager to end this conversation and didn't want to dwell on this issue any more.
"Work pressure?" Su Qing frowned unconsciously, her expression became serious, and her voice was a little higher than before, with a hint of questioning, "Levi, you can't fool me, work pressure is an excuse, right? You obviously lock yourself in the study every day, studying those obscure ancient books, and often stare at the jade pendant alone, absent-minded, even forgetting to eat, and sleeping restlessly. What are you hiding? Are you hiding something from me? Is there something you don't want to tell me?" She stared at Li Wei's eyes tightly, trying to find a real answer from his flickering eyes, a clue that could solve the doubts in her heart. After so many years of marriage, living together day and night, sleeping in the same bed, she knows her husband too well. She knows that every subtle expression, every small movement, and even every change in Li Wei's eyes can't escape her eyes. She knows clearly that whenever Li Wei lies, his eyes will always flicker unconsciously, his tone will become unnatural, and his smile will appear stiff and forced. And at this moment, Levi completely meets these characteristics of lying.
Li Wei's fingers tightened slightly on the jade pendant he was holding tightly, and his knuckles turned white because of the force. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickered, and finally shook his head slowly, denying firmly: "It's really nothing, Su Qing, believe me, it's really nothing, you really think too much, don't think about it, okay?" After saying that, he suddenly stood up, walked to the window with a slightly stiff movement, with his back to Su Qing. His tall figure looked a little lonely and lonely in the dim light. He put his hands in his pockets and remained silent, as if he was using silence to build an indestructible barrier to isolate himself from Su Qing and the whole world.
Su Qing sat silently on the sofa, looking at Li Wei's lonely back, with an indescribable sense of loss and sadness in her heart. At that moment, she seemed to clearly see the crack between them, which was quietly cracking. The crack was so subtle, so inconspicuous, yet so clear and so shocking, as if it indicated that their once indestructible feelings were collapsing and disintegrating little by little. Since they met and got to know each other, and walked into the palace of marriage hand in hand, the two have always supported each other, shared weal and woe, trusted each other, and treated each other honestly. Even if there were occasional quarrels and frictions in life, they could always communicate openly and honestly, and solve problems honestly, without any concealment or deception. But now, this intimate relationship based on trust and honesty seems to be collapsing and disintegrating little by little, and she is helpless about it, and doesn't even know what the reason for all these changes is. She looked down at the steaming teacup in her hand. The hot steam hung in the air, blurring her vision, but it could not warm her cold heart at all. Instead, it made her feel even colder and more helpless.
A few days later, one afternoon, the sun shone through the gaps in the curtains, casting mottled spots of light on the bedroom floor. Su Qing, as usual, began to clean the room and do housework, hoping to use her busyness to dispel her inner restlessness and anxiety. When she walked into the study and prepared to tidy up Li Wei's desk, she accidentally found a slightly old notebook spread out on the desk piled with books. In a corner of the desk, thick ancient books were piled up in a mess. The spines of those ancient books were covered with thick dust, and the pages were yellowed and frayed. It was obvious that Li Wei had read them over and over again countless times. And the notebook lay quietly next to the pile of books. The cover was a little worn, and the pages were slightly curled. The pages were densely covered with handwriting, and the strokes were sloppy and hurried. Between the lines, there was a sense of restlessness, as if the recorder was in a state of fanaticism and excitement. Su Qing hesitated for a moment, but her curiosity finally overcame her reason. She reached out and gently picked up the notebook. Her fingertips touched the rough paper, as if she had touched a long-forgotten secret. Her heartbeat accelerated involuntarily. She took a deep breath and opened the first page of the notebook.
The first few pages of the notebook recorded some trivial information about the history of the Qin Dynasty. They were all passages excerpted from history books. The content was boring and tedious. Su Qing glanced at it hastily and did not find anything unusual. But the more she turned the pages, the more bizarre and strange the contents of the notebook became. Li Wei's handwriting, which was originally quite neat, began to become messy and illegible. Between the lines, there were not only some strange symbols and incomprehensible professional terms, but also some strange sketches. The lines of those sketches were rough and the composition was weird. They looked like some mysterious rituals or some ancient formations. Su Qing was confused and could not understand the meaning of those symbols and patterns at all. There were also a few pages in the notebook that were painted black, with thick ink, almost soaking the paper, as if the recorder wanted to cover up some important information, or as if it was some kind of emotional catharsis. Su Qing's heartbeat was getting faster and faster, and an inexplicable sense of uneasiness surged into her heart like a tide. Her eyes were suddenly attracted by a line of words in the middle of the page. The words were heavily circled by Li Wei with a black pen, and the ink almost seeped out of the back of the paper, which was particularly eye-catching and dazzling: "Ying Yue... Seal... Jade Pendant..." These words, like sparks in the dark, instantly lit up the scattered clues in Su Qing's mind, making her feel faintly that she seemed to have touched on some crucial secret. She seemed to have heard the name Ying Yue somewhere, but for a moment, she couldn't remember where it was. What does seal mean? Is it some kind of ancient curse? And... Jade Pendant, this word made Su Qing's eyes involuntarily fall on a pattern roughly drawn in pencil next to the notebook. It was a rough jade pendant pattern with simple lines, but surprisingly vivid, almost exactly the same as the simple jade pendant that Li Wei had been obsessed with recently and inseparable from.
"Who is Ying Yue...? What does the seal mean? And this jade pendant..." Su Qing muttered to herself in a low voice, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rough paper of the notebook, and a cold and unfamiliar touch came from her fingertips. She frowned tightly, her temples throbbing, trying to sort out these scattered clues and connect them into a complete context, but there were only more questions and more confusions in her mind, which enveloped her like a fog, making her feel at a loss. She continued to flip through the notebook, trying to find more clues and more answers. She found that in the back of the notebook, Li Wei recorded some legends about the Qin Shihuang period in detail, including some descriptions of mysterious rituals, elixirs, and lost treasures. Those contents were full of mystery and fantasy imagination. Rather than historical research, it was more appropriate to say that they were mythological stories. Although Su Qing knew little about history, and even less about the history of the Qin Dynasty, she could clearly feel that Li Wei had an almost obsessive interest in these mysterious contents, and even an almost crazy obsession.
When she turned to the last page of the notebook, Su Qing's hand suddenly stopped, as if it was frozen by an invisible force. On that page, there was only one line of words written in bright red handwriting. The handwriting was crooked and like a ghost's painting, but it was particularly dazzling and eye-catching, like a flame burning in the dark, jumping, flickering, and burning her eyes: "The jade pendant is the key, and the way to unlock the seal lies in it." She stared at the line of words written in red handwriting, her mind was blank, her heartbeat accelerated involuntarily, as if it was about to jump out of her chest, and a strong ominous premonition, like a cold tide, slowly rose from the depths of her heart, spread rapidly, and finally completely drowned her.
Su Qing put down the notebook in her hand, as if she had dropped a hot potato. The notebook fell on the desk with a thud, making a dull sound. She looked up blankly, staring out the window with a dull look. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window lattice onto the wooden floor, casting long shadows on the floor. The warm light dyed the room with a layer of golden halo, but this warm light could not dispel the chill in Su Qing's heart, nor could it melt the coldness in her heart. She walked slowly to the living room, her eyes mechanically falling on the coffee table next to the sofa. The simple jade pendant was still lying there quietly, with a faint luster on the surface, like a sleeping devil, and seemed to be silently laughing at her ignorance and her powerlessness. Su Qing suddenly felt an unprecedented fear, that fear was like a cold poisonous snake, tightly wrapped around her heart, making her feel difficult to breathe and suffocated. She didn't know where this mysterious jade pendant would lead Levi, nor how it would change their lives and destroy all the good things they once had. She only knew that the Levi who was once familiar, gentle, and loved her was getting farther and farther away from her, like a kite with a broken string, flying higher and higher, and finally disappearing in the distant sky, and she was powerless to do anything about it, and could only watch him leave her, unable to save him.
As the night deepened, the room was quiet, with only the occasional rustling of leaves from the night wind outside the window. Su Qing lay on the bed, her body stiff and cold, and she could hear the even and steady breathing of Li Wei beside her. She turned her head carefully, and with the faint moonlight outside the window, she quietly looked at his sleeping face. His face was calm and peaceful, as if all the troubles and sorrows were relieved in his sleep. Su Qing's heart was full of contradictions and struggles, love and fear, worry and hope, all kinds of complex emotions intertwined, making her feel extremely confused and bewildered. She loved him, deeply loved this man who had walked through ups and downs with her hand in hand, and supported each other, so she was unwilling to give up easily, unwilling to watch their feelings being destroyed by a mysterious jade pendant; but she was also afraid of him, afraid that the strange and alienated Li Wei who was awakened by the jade pendant would completely change him, destroy all the good things they had, and make her lose the most important and precious person in her life. She closed her eyes tightly and made up her mind silently in the darkness: no matter what shocking secrets this mysterious jade pendant hides, no matter where it will lead Levi, she will find out the truth and solve the mystery at all costs - for the Levi she loves deeply, for their common future, and to protect the hard-earned relationship between them, she will never give up easily and will never back down.
Late-night conversation and Su Qing's determination
As night fell and the lights came on, the hustle and bustle of the city gradually faded, leaving behind a deep silence. The moonlight was as soft as flowing water, shining through the thin curtains and onto the floor of Levi's bedroom, outlining a patch of mottled light and shadow. The room was filled with a quiet and eerie atmosphere, as if time had stopped at this moment. Only Levi's slight breathing and heartbeat remained in the air, echoing softly in the middle of the night.
Li Wei sat alone by the bed, holding an ancient jade pendant in his hand. Under the moonlight, the jade pendant emitted a faint green light, like a beating life, breathing quietly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner waves. Since this jade pendant came into his hands, it has been like a key, opening a strange journey in his life. And the source of all this is the soul sealed in the jade pendant - Ying Yue.
"Levi, do you know? I once dreamed of freedom in the palace. I thought about leaving that cold palace and living in seclusion in the mountains with Zhao Yunfei. Unfortunately, that was just a dream that could never come true." Ying Yue's voice sounded in Li Wei's mind, low and distant, with a hint of melancholy and helplessness that was difficult to conceal. Her voice seemed to come from a distant time and space, passing through thousands of years of wind and dust, falling into Li Wei's heart, and arousing an inexplicable resonance.
Li Wei's thoughts were drawn by her narration, and a picture emerged in his mind: a towering palace, a cold moon hanging high in the sky, and inside the palace walls, a woman dressed in gorgeous clothes, looking into the distance, her eyes full of longing and sorrow. He could feel Ying Yue's unfulfilled wish and the regret of being locked by fate. He responded softly: "Ying Yue, your story makes me very sad. I hope you can unseal it soon and realize your wish." His voice was low and sincere, with a hint of imperceptible tenderness.
"Thank you, Li Wei." There was a hint of gratitude in Ying Yue's voice, and there was an extra touch of warmth in her tone. "All these years, you are the only one who is willing to listen to me." Her voice trembled slightly, as if the thousand years of loneliness sealed in the jade pendant found some comfort at this moment.
At this moment, the bedroom door was gently pushed open, making a slight "creak" sound, breaking the silence of the room. Su Qing stood at the door, holding a cup of steaming tea in her hand, and the fragrance of tea spread lightly in the air. Her eyes fell on Levi, with a hint of concern and inquiry. She heard Levi's mumbling, although she couldn't hear the specific content, but she could feel the emotional fluctuations in his tone - it was a complex emotion mixed with sadness, guilt and confusion. Su Qing's heart surged with an inexplicable uneasiness, she vaguely realized that Levi's abnormality was related to the jade pendant he always carried with him.
"Levi, what are you doing?" Su Qing approached slowly, her voice soft but with a hint of tentativeness. She gently patted his shoulder, trying to pull him back to reality.
Levi suddenly came back to his senses, as if awakened from a deep dream. His eyes flashed with panic, and he quickly hid the jade pendant in his hand behind his back, his movements were hasty and somewhat unnatural. "Nothing, just... thinking about something." He whispered, with a bit of concealment in his tone, trying to make his voice sound calm. However, his slightly trembling fingers and evasive eyes revealed his inner anxiety.
Su Qing's eyes stayed on his face, keenly capturing every subtle change in his expression. She saw him hiding the jade pendant, and a feeling of sadness welled up in her heart. She had already noticed that Levi always kept the jade pendant carefully, and never even let her touch it. She knew that Levi was hiding something from her, and behind this concealment, there must be some secret that she couldn't touch. Her heart sank slightly, but she chose not to ask further questions. She took a deep breath, suppressed the doubts in her heart, and whispered: "Levi, if you have anything, you can tell me. I will always support you." Her voice was gentle and firm, and her eyes revealed an unconditional trust and care.
Li Wei raised his head and met Su Qing's concerned eyes, and a strong sense of guilt surged in his heart. He knew that he should not hide it from her. Su Qing was the person closest to him, and her trust and support were his greatest reliance. However, how should he talk about Ying Yue, the jade pendant, the sealed soul - these bizarre and mysterious things? He was afraid that Su Qing would not understand, and even afraid that she would alienate him because of this. He was silent for a while, and could only force a smile and nodded: "Thank you, Su Qing. I will." His voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of bitterness that was hardly noticeable.
Su Qing looked at his reaction, but she didn't feel relieved at all. She turned and left the bedroom, her steps slow and heavy, the cup of hot tea in her hand had already cooled down. After closing the bedroom door, she leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, and sighed deeply. Her mind was full of doubts and uneasiness - Levi's abnormality, the mysterious jade pendant, the mumbling in the middle of the night, all of these were like an invisible net, tightly entangling her. She knew that Levi didn't confess to her, and this concealment made her feel a kind of alienation she had never felt before.
However, Su Qing is not someone who gives up easily. As Li Wei's girlfriend, she loves him deeply and knows that she has the responsibility to understand his troubles and help him out of the predicament. She opened her eyes and her gaze became firm. She decided to secretly investigate Li Wei's changes and find out the secrets he was hiding. She didn't know what she was going to face, but she understood that no matter what the truth was, she had to pursue it bravely.
After returning to her room, Su Qing did not fall asleep immediately. She sat at the desk and turned on the computer. The dim light of the screen was reflected on her focused face. Her slender fingers quickly tapped on the keyboard and began to search the Internet for legends about the jade pendant and the sealed soul. She didn't know whether these bizarre stories were related to Li Wei, but she hoped to find even a clue to solve the mystery behind the jade pendant. The night became darker and the moonlight outside the window gradually set in the west. Only the dim light of the computer screen and the sound of the keyboard were left in the room, accompanied by Su Qing's increasingly determined heart.
Meanwhile, Li Wei lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. The moonlight shone through the curtains onto his furrowed brows. He knew that Su Qing had begun to doubt him, and her eyes could not hide the worry and inquiry. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down, but Ying Yue's voice rang again in his mind.
"Levi, what are you thinking about?" Ying Yue's voice was soft and concerned, as if it could penetrate the fog in his heart.
"I'm thinking about Su Qing. She started to doubt me." Li Wei answered in a low voice, his tone full of helplessness.
"She is your girlfriend, you should trust her." Ying Yue's words were simple but to the point.
"I know, but I don't know how to explain it all to her." Levi smiled bitterly, his voice full of deep fatigue.
"Maybe you can try to tell her the truth." Ying Yue suggested softly.
Levi was silent for a moment, a trace of struggle flashed in his eyes. He shook his head and said to himself, "I'm afraid she will be scared and leave me." His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, like a confession to his own heart.
"If you don't tell her, she will be even more suspicious of you." Ying Yue responded calmly, with a hint of encouragement in her tone.
Li Wei didn't say anything else, just sighed deeply. He turned over and stared at the ceiling, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. He knew that what Ying Yue said made sense, but he still couldn't make up his mind. As the night deepened, his eyelids gradually became heavy in exhaustion, and finally he fell asleep in a mess of thoughts.
On the other side, Su Qing was still searching in front of the computer. The words on the screen passed by line by line, and her eyes became more and more focused. The moon outside the window had already disappeared into the clouds. The silence of the late night enveloped the entire room. Only the sound of her typing on the keyboard echoed softly in the endless darkness.
The mystery gradually deepens
The moonlight was like water, quietly sprinkled on Li Wei's desk. The jade pendant lay quietly in his hand, and the red gem embedded in it flickered faintly under the moonlight, as if whispering a thousand-year-old secret. Li Wei stared at it, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart. Since this jade pendant entered his life, everything has changed. He knew that this jade pendant not only connected him with Ying Yue a thousand years ago, but also concealed a greater secret - a power that could change his destiny. And he was getting deeper and deeper into it.
The bond between Levi and Yingyue
Since establishing a connection with Ying Yue through the jade pendant, Li Wei's life seems to be infused with some kind of magic. Whenever it is late at night, he will pick up the jade pendant, close his eyes, and feel the warm power that brings his thoughts to a thousand years ago. His communication with Ying Yue is no longer just a curious test, but gradually evolved into a deep emotional bond.
"Yingyue, are you there?" Li Wei called softly, his fingers stroking the edge of the jade pendant.
"I'm here, Levi." Her voice flowed into his mind like a spring, crisp and gentle, "You seem to be worried tonight, what's wrong?"
Levi hesitated for a moment and whispered, "I'm wondering, what exactly is this jade pendant? Why can it allow us to meet across thousands of years? Also, do you know its origin?"
Ying Yue was silent for a moment, and there was a hint of reminiscence in her voice: "This jade pendant is a family heirloom of my family. It is said that it has a mysterious power that can connect the past and the future. But I don't know what power it is. I only know that it has been passed down from generation to generation in my family until it fell into my hands."
"Connecting the past and the future..." Levi muttered to himself, becoming more and more curious about the secret of the jade pendant. "What about its origin? Who created it?"
"As far as I know, this jade pendant was made by a mage named Mo Yu." Ying Yue said slowly, "He is a master who is proficient in Buddhism and Taoism. Legend has it that he traveled all over the world, collected spiritual energy from heaven and earth, refined this jade pendant, and endowed it with mysterious power."
"Master Mo Yu?" Li Wei asked in surprise, "Is he the great monk in Journey to the West?"
Ying Yue chuckled and said, "No, not that one. This Master Mo Yu is a real mage, famous for his erudition and magical powers, but most of his deeds are lost in history and unknown to the world."
Li Wei nodded, a fire burning in his heart. He decided to uncover the secret of the jade pendant no matter what. He wanted to know why the jade pendant chose him and why it connected him with Ying Yue.
Levi's Quest
The next morning, Li Wei came to the city library early, determined to find clues from history. He read a lot of information about Master Mo Yu in the history book section, but found very few records about the jade pendant. He was unwilling to give up, so he opened his laptop and searched for relevant information online, but still gained little.
Just when he was feeling frustrated, an idea flashed through his mind - maybe he could ask an expert for advice. He remembered his history professor in college, a scholar who had studied Tang Dynasty culture. So he called the professor and gave him a general description of the jade pendant.
After listening to the professor, he pondered for a moment, with a hint of surprise in his tone: "The jade pendant you mentioned is indeed unusual. According to your description, it may be related to a mysterious artifact from the Qin Dynasty. Legend has it that Master Mo Yu once refined a treasure called 'Time and Space Jade', which is said to be able to connect different time and space. However, this is just a legend in unofficial history, and there is no solid evidence."
"'Time and Space Jade'?" Levi was shocked. "Do you know anything else about it?"
"Unfortunately, this is all I know." The professor shook his head. "Most of the records about the 'Time and Space Jade' are vague. If you really want to explore, perhaps you can look for some ancient documents or manuscripts to see if you can find any clues."
After hanging up the phone, Li Wei made up his mind. He began to run around the ancient book market and second-hand bookstores, searching for any information that might be related to the jade pendant. A few days later, he found a tattered ancient book in an inconspicuous second-hand book stall, with "The Secret Biography of Master Mo Yu" written on the cover. He couldn't wait to open the page and found a key record:
"The Time and Space Jade was refined by Master Mo Yu using the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. It has the power to travel through time and space. However, the power of this jade cannot be controlled by ordinary people. Only those with destiny can control it."
Levi's heartbeat quickened. He realized that he might be the "destined one". But the book did not explain how to harness this power, nor did it mention the other secrets of the jade pendant. He knew that the answer was hidden deeper, and he had to keep looking.
Su Qing's Secret Observation
At the same time, Su Qing was also secretly following Li Wei's every move. She was Li Wei's best friend, but she was confused and uneasy about his recent changes. She found that Li Wei often talked to himself, stared at the jade pendant in a daze late at night, and even occasionally showed a painful or intoxicated expression. She began to wonder if the jade pendant had some kind of influence on Li Wei.
One night, while Li Wei was out, Su Qing sneaked into his room. She opened the notebook on the table, which was filled with fragments of his conversation with Ying Yue:
"Ying Yue said that the jade pendant was made by Master Mo Yu and possesses the power of time and space."
"She told me to be careful, but she didn't know the whole truth either."
Su Qing was more and more shocked as she read. She couldn't believe that Li Wei had actually established a connection with a woman who lived thousands of years ago. She also noticed that Li Wei's search history was full of information about the Qin Dynasty, Master Mo Yu, and mysterious artifacts. She even found a hand-drawn sketch of a jade pendant with the words "red gem flashing" marked next to it.
In order to find out the truth, Su Qing also started her own investigation. She searched for information about Ying Yue on the Internet and found some scattered unofficial historical records. It is said that Ying Yue was a talented woman in the Tang Dynasty. Her life was mysterious. Only a few documents mentioned that she was related to a jade pendant. Su Qing also found that every time Li Wei "communicated" with the jade pendant, the red gem would emit a faint light, as if responding to something.
Su Qing's doubts gradually turned into worries. She didn't know what the jade pendant was, nor how it would affect Levi. She decided to continue observing, and secretly made up her mind: no matter what, she would protect Levi from being swallowed by this mysterious power.
The power of awakening
Late one night, Li Wei picked up the jade pendant again and communicated with Ying Yue. Just as he was asking about the limit of the jade pendant, a powerful force suddenly surged out of the jade pendant, pulling his consciousness into a strange space. He opened his eyes and found himself floating in an endless darkness, with countless light spots surrounding him like stars. Each light spot seemed to represent a time and space.
He tried to get closer to a spot of light, and a picture instantly emerged in his mind: a street market in the Qin Dynasty, with a constant stream of cars and pedestrians. He touched another spot of light and saw an ancient temple where a monk was chanting. He realized that this jade pendant could really allow him to travel through time and space and glimpse fragments of history.
Just as he was immersed in it, Ying Yue's voice rang out anxiously: "Levi, be careful! The power of the jade pendant is awakening, you must control yourself, otherwise you will be swallowed by it!"
Levi snapped back to his senses and tried to calm his mind. He felt a suction force trying to pull him deeper, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself back to reality. When he opened his eyes, he found himself sweating and his hands were shaking, but the red gem of the jade pendant was brighter than ever.
This experience made Levi realize that the power of the jade pendant was far beyond his imagination. He was both excited and scared - excited about the secrets that were about to be revealed, and scared of the consequences that might get out of control. He knew that he had to speed up the investigation and find a way to control the jade pendant.
Intertwined Fates
Su Qing happened to witness all this outside the window. She saw that Li Wei's face turned pale, his body shook, and he almost fell down after "communicating" with the jade pendant. A strong sense of crisis surged in her heart. She knew that Li Wei was walking step by step towards the unknown abyss, and she had to take action.
Under the moonlight, the jade pendant lies quietly in Li Wei's hand, and the red gemstone flickers with a faint light, as if telling a thousand-year-old secret. The fates of Li Wei, Ying Yue, and Su Qing are intertwined because of this jade pendant. And a bigger mystery is quietly approaching.
In the days to come, Levi will continue to pursue the truth about the jade pendant and try to control its power; Su Qing will secretly investigate and find ways to protect Levi; and Ying Yue will also accompany him in the time and space of thousands of years ago to face unknown challenges together.
What is the secret of the jade pendant? How will it change their fate? All of this will be revealed one by one in the future chapters.