Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Everyone! Look at the amazing and kind artist who took the time out of their busy schedule to draw something for this story, even when, no doubt, they had a million other things to do.

💕💕💕LaibaTheFairy, you are so amazing! I couldn't say this enough, no matter how many words I write to tell you so!💕💕💕

Also, this is LaibaTheFairy’s Tumblr, so please give them a follow and all the love and support they deserve!

Everyone, look at this! Look at this! It had been days, and I couldn’t take my eyes off this masterpiece! My beloved Sanren and Liu Yanli!

…(Back and forth, and back and forth, and forth and back, and back and forth… the branches moved with the winds, to the left, to the right, back and forth; a rustling sound of life resonated with the wind, amplified by the sound of the chirping birds. Back and forth the branches went, and the leaves followed; a dance that dazzled any sleepy mind, a sound that calmed every overwhelmed soul, and a color that allowed someone to relax and let go.

Moving with the wind in a predictable movement of back and forth, almost hypnotized, always stunning, and calming in a way that allowed every tension to leave your body. The sound of the wind moving through the leaves was like a white noise that calmed the frazzled souls. The leaves that fell from their perch and traveled with the wind before finally laying a claim on a patch of dirt, and the feeling of tranquility and calm that was rarely felt before…

Shen Feng sighed, closed his eyes, tilted his head, and leaned back as he enjoyed the cooling breeze… brushing his skin, running between his fingers, and cooling the fire that was burning under his skin… Shen Feng could only hum as the scent of flowers mixed with tea invaded his nose, the noises of nature and life were heard all around, and a cool breeze made itself known as it blew through his hair, around him, under him, over him; he enjoyed this little slice of heaven with an open heart and calm soul. Back and forth, the sound of the leaves, the sound of the wind, the sound of nature… and the sound of footsteps not that far behind.

“Why won't you look at that… You don’t look like shit, anymore…” A voice hummed, familiar, amused, held within it laughter and cackle that was familiar. Shen Feng blinked, opened his eyes, and turned to the man in black. A man, who took a seat beside Shen Feng, took his Weimao off, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup of tea without a care in the world or the proper manners in these situations. “Aunty! Bring sweets here!” The man waved, no care, no invitation, and no manners or decorum to follow. Still, Shen Feng did not scold him, nor did he discourage his rebellious acts, nor felt angry by it; in fact, Shen Feng felt amused by such familiarity to the point he almost laughed.

“For the first time in years… I am actually feeling good.” Shen Feng hummed softly, for once, meaning the words he said and was not saying them to cover the fact that he was tired and drained and on the brink of collapsing… for the first time in sixteen years, maybe even more… Shen Feng felt good, happy, content, and he felt like he was on top of the world… “Hua-Gongzi.” Shen Feng nodded in acknowledgment and respect to the man who, even if nothing but a healer and annoyance most of the time, was more of a friend to Shen Feng than many who claimed that title in the past years.

“Yo!” The man gave Shen Feng his signature wide smile, all teeth and mischief, before his attention turned toward the shopkeeper, his eyes trailing over the sweets set before him with a ravenous look in his eyes. It wasn’t long before the man started munching away, no care in the world other than the sweets before him, not even when the shopkeeper brought another pot of tea and another plate of sweets.

The two of them remained silent; there was no need to fill the time with empty words, reassuring nonsense, or talking just for the sake of talking. The two of them sat in their place, both holding their cups of tea, both taking in the warmth it provided, and both allowing the floral scent and the nature around to unwind all the tension and any possible awkwardness that could resurface. Shen Feng hummed as he closed his eyes, taking deep breaths as he tried to push away the exhaustion and ever-present pain, too tired by the world, and too used to the suffering for years by now, but at this moment? Right now? Shen Feng could feel his body finally relaxing and let loose.

“To what do I owe the honor of being summoned here?” Shen Feng inquired softly after what felt like minutes, maybe hours, of breathing deeply and relaxing. “You are way too early this time, Hua-Gongzi. I am no different than I was a month ago.” Shen Feng opened his eyes and stared at Hua Ming, who was munching on a mooncake and staring at the greenery before him with a carefree and nonchalant attitude.

“……They know…” Hua Ming hummed after swallowing his treat, picking up his cup and taking a long sip of the tea; the words spoken made Shen Feng furrow his brows slightly, wondering who the ‘They’ the man beside him meant… Shen Feng, it seemed, didn't even need to wonder for too long about the answer, for the healer replied. “I don’t know what you did, and I don’t care about it. However, Lord Shen sent me an intriguing letter not a few days ago, asking me about you… I wouldn’t be implicated by this, would I?” There was an amused smile painting the man’s lips, and mischief flickering in Hua Ming’s eyes, but Shen Feng could see the steel behind that look, even as he offered the letter to Shen Feng so he could skim through it.

Shen Feng, instead of answering first, read through the letter once, twice, three times, before letting out a tired chuckle at what he found within. “Ah… he found out earlier than I expected…” Shen Feng’s lips twitched into a tiny smile before he shook his head slightly, not knowing if he should feel impressed or exasperated that Lord Shen had seen through his mask and schemes and started investigating him. “Don’t worry, Hua-Gongzi. This has nothing to do with you. Answer the letter or ignore it; it wouldn’t matter in the end.” Shen Feng hummed, feeling partially amused by the way Hua Ming raised his brow before shrugging, and impressed by how fast Lord Shen’s intel was, and how quick he was to spot something amiss, even when Shen Feng made sure to bury everything and made sure that every road taken would lead to a dead end or loose thread that wouldn’t implicate him or his nephew in any way there was.

And still, despite all of that, Lord Shen suspected something and went as far as making contact with this wandering healer… Lord Shen is truly as amazing as they say… Shen Feng picked up his cup and took a long sip, wondering what his next step would be, and if he should hasten all of his plans to finish everything, or wait for Lord Shen’s next move before acting. Either way, Shen Feng did not care what was going to take place, nor did he feel scared of dying or afraid of the prospect of the law enforcement storming his home and locking him behind bars… after all, what use was fear and death to someone living on borrowed time?

“…Good to know…” Hua Ming rolled his eyes before shoving another cake into his mouth, snatching the letter from Shen Feng’s hand, and burning it with a flick of a finger. The man, even when he had shown no care or hesitation about the situation, Shen Feng could feel the stare that all but drilled a hole in the side of his head. Still, Shen Feng showed no care, nor did he act bothered or annoyed by being studied and dissected, content to drink his tea and enjoy his day like nothing was happening around him.

Shen Feng hummed, eyes trailing on the leaves swaying with the wind, on the birds chirping and some taking a flight in the sky, on the clouds drifting up above, and the life surrounding him. Truly, what care or fear does a man who lived on borrowed time have? All lives on this earth could end tomorrow or today, and still, Shen Feng did not care, nor would he feel any fear about it. His home could burn to the ground, his neck could be cut open, and his body could be dragged across the capital by horses, and still, Shen Feng would not give a damn or reaction about it, because by the end of the day, he was a dead man walking, and sooner or later, he was going to cross over the Naihe Bridge and be with his Gege and Jiejie.

Shen Feng had already made sure that everything was in order; he had already ensured that, come his death, everything was going as it should be, and no hiccup or misfortune would befall Shen Jiu when his time came. Every plan, Shen Feng had already thought of, and every counterplan was set in motion, and came his death now or tomorrow? Shen Feng made sure that Shen Jiu would not only be safe and protected from the world as a whole, but would also get everything and anything that was his from the start, left to him by his parents but was stolen from him, be it by the Tang family, the Yue Clan, or even his damned parents, who made Shen Feng, his brother, and his nephew’s lives a living hell until their death a few years ago, just because they favored Tang Rong and her spawn of hell.

“You know… You could ask for their help.” Hua Ming stated after a minute, maybe an hour, or maybe more; Shen Feng didn't know, only knew that the man’s sudden interruption snapped him out of the spiral he was in. “As much as I hate admitting it… I know that they could help. Not only do they have the Imperial Healers on their side, but I am sure they have a Miracle Flower or something that could heal you from your sickness instead of slowing it down… Hell, you could even become a Cultivator if you so desired! You have a good foundation, and while yes, you are old. It’s not too late to start cultivating and forming a Golden Core…” The man continued on and on and on, and Shen Feng could only stare at the sky above with amusement and tiredness in his smile.

Amusing fairy tales, nothing more… Shen Feng hummed slowly, eyes trailing on the leaves that detached from the branches and danced downward until they found their final resting place on the ground… But the thing is… fairy tales are not meant for the broken… Shen Feng let out a tired sigh and turned to the man sitting beside him, studying the way he was playing with his teacup and the nonchalant way he held himself. Unyielding, uncaring, and never one to stick his nose in people's business because he didn't care enough to do so… but here he was, trying to persuade Shen Feng to ask for help to live, when Shen Feng had long since accepted that he was dying before he even reached his forties.

“No, thank you. I am quite comfortable with how things are going to end.” Shen Feng raised his cup to take another sip, ignoring the way the healer stopped his ranting and was studying Shen Feng long and hard. “I am not afraid of death, for I have long since accepted my fate. I am not afraid of what’s going to happen tomorrow, for I have long since made the arrangements needed from me. If I live, then I live; if I die, then so be it. Good and bad, life and death, Ying and Yang… It’s the cycle of life, so why should I fight what the fates had foretold?” A bird landed on a branch and started chirping, a cat slept near the base of a tree not that far, and people went on with their lives, uncaring about anything around and too busy with their day and tomorrow to pay attention to the now. Through it all, there was Shen Feng, content, constant, and had long since made peace with everything and accepted what was to come, even if it was not favorable nor were the odds on his side.

Silence followed… minutes might have passed, maybe hours, but still, the silence continued without any interruption. It ended when Hua Ming let out a tired sigh, his arms raised to stretch before the man leaned back and started staring at the sky above. “Very well…” The wandering healer hummed, looking lost and confused as he seemed to try to articulate the words that pounced in his head over and over again in a chaotic fashion, and failing to make them make sense to him, even as the silence stretched and morphed and folded around them. “Your treatment for the next month…” Hua Ming’s hand went inside his robes before producing a small satchel, offering it to Shen Feng. “I increased the dose slightly, so hopefully there wouldn’t be any lingering pain this time.” Shen Feng hummed, taking the black satchel offered to him without another word. “Well then, see you next month.” That was Hua Ming’s final goodbye before he stood from his seat, put on his Weimao, and took a random direction, leaving this place.

“Madam, a new pot, please.” Shen Feng raised his hand to get the elderly woman’s attention, his eyes lingering on the black satchel with a complicated look. A minute passed, then two, then three; a new pot of tea and a tray of sweets were put before him, but still, Shen Feng’s eyes lingered on the satchel in his hand. Another minute passed, and another, and another, and… Shen Feng sighed tiredly, opening the satchel, taking one of the pills found inside, before swallowing it whole and dry.

Time passed, and Shen Feng’s eyes lingered on the nature surrounding him, the lives, the death, the cycle of life that kept on moving day and night without a stop. The world never stopped, nor did it linger. Life continued, and people moved on and forgot about the past, some of them remembering it now and then, while others put it far behind them. The world never stopped, life goes on, and fairy tales rarely become true, nor was it the end for the broken things that found themselves lingering on a life that was long since gone.

It's not like my life or death would make a difference… Shen Feng poured himself another cup of tea, his eyes lingering on the birds that flew high to the sky; they vanished from sight… It’s not like I have any dream I wanted to achieve or have someone whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life with… Jiu-er is finally safe and happy, and soon he will live his life and forget the past… A cat meowed not that far away, the sound of vendors shouting, of people laughing, of life… Why ask for help when you have no reason to live? …Shen Feng picked up his cup and took a long sip of his tea; the sweetness of the beverage hid the bitterness and the taste of copper that coated his mouth like a second skin.

“So pessimist… even now?” A voice from the past hummed, and Shen Feng needn’t even turn his head to know that his brother was sitting beside him, an exasperated look on his face as he stared at Shen Feng with annoyance. “You never change, do you, A-Feng…” An annoyed huff, a tired sigh, and Shen Feng could only blink once when he felt the world blur at the edge of his vision.

Shen Feng took another sip of his tea, then another, then another, then… he opened his mouth, moved his jaws that felt stiff and unmovable, before whispering. “…You and Jiejie hold enough optimism for all of us, Gege…” The world blurred around the edge, and Shen Feng refused to blink his eyes, content to stare at the distance and not the mirage beside him, who let out a noise that was a hybrid between a scuff and a sigh… a noise so familiar and unfamiliar that it had been years between the then and the now since he heard it… so familiar and unfamiliar, that Shen Feng’s breath couldn’t help but hitch in his chest.

“Hah! says the one who used to rave about wanting to cross the mountains and sail the seas…” Another annoyed huff, and if Shen Feng closed his eyes tightly and allowed himself to be lost in this mirage, he could almost swear that he felt the weight of his brother leaning on his side before the man started poking his cheek repeatedly to annoy him. “Tell me, Feng-er, didn't you say you would be a Cultivator one day? Wasn’t that why you always told A-Jiu bedtime stories about those heroes and encouraged him to become one? Stories of heroes, of travelers, of martial artists, who always defended the common people… what happened to the man who dreamed of flying high into the sky like those birds above?” Another poke followed, and another, and another, and Shen Feng, by then, didn't know if this was his imagination or that he was losing his mind.

Instead of answering, Shen Feng raised his cup and took a sip of his tea, and another, and another, and another, trying to wet his parched throat that felt as dry as the desert the longer this illusion continued on. “…That man’s time had come, Gege. Everyone’s time comes eventually; it’s not something to fight when it comes, but something that should be accepted.” Shen Feng blinked his eyes once, twice, three times until the blurriness around his vision disappeared and he could see the world once more.

“…………A-Jiu will be sad…” Was whispered not that far away. Shen Feng could only breathe in and then out. A small smile couldn’t help but make itself known at the mention of his nephew, and a chuckle couldn’t help but leave his throat. Just the mention of his nephew and the reminder of where he was now was enough to make all the problems in the world vanish from Shen Feng’s sight, and the weight that had crushed him since his Gege and Jiejie died was removed from his shoulders and chest, allowing him to breathe.

“That’s where you are wrong, Gege…” The memory of Lord Shen and Lord Xian’s protectiveness over his nephew, the memory of that boy who gazed at Shen Jiu with adoration and devotion, the memory of the friends that surrounded his nephew, the memory of Jiu-er shining so happily and radiating contentment, and the joy shining in those emerald orbs that Shen Feng saw after long years of them being covered… it all painted one picture and one picture only. “Jiu-er is finally happy. He is finally healing and moving on…” A happy smile, a content smile, painted Shen Feng’s face as he finally allowed the burden he had carried for years to fall from his shoulders. “The death of one of his abusers wouldn’t matter to him, not when he has a loving family and a bright future ahead of him.” Shen Feng hummed softly to himself, smiling happily as he felt relaxed and content at the reminder of his nephew and how radiant he was the last time Shen Feng saw him. A hitched breath, a tired sigh, and the lovely mirage that surrounded him finally started breaking and dissolving, but not before Shen Feng heard his brother’s last words…

“……You are a fool, A-Feng…”

A fool or not, Shen Feng did not care…

…As long as Shen Jiu was safe and happy…

…Shen Feng was content playing the role of fortune’s fool…)…

If this is a dream, I never want to wake up… Shen Jiu breathed in, and then he breathed out. He felt drained, he felt free, he felt confused, he felt overjoyed, he felt fearful, but felt like the weight of the world had vanished from his shoulders. Shen Jiu felt many emotions coursing through him, some of them he was able to make sense of, some he didn't know what to feel or think, while some were so unknown that part of him felt they were on a different plane of existence, and not ones that should be associated with him. Part of Shen Jiu was still in denial, still not believing what had happened, still looping his interaction with his Shidi in his head over and over and over again.

Is this real? Please, God. Please, let it be real… Shen Jiu prayed for it to be real, for it not to disappear, not to vanish, not to… Shen Jiu was still reeling from what he was told, what he thought he knew, what he knew, and what he believed he knew. Everything was a jumbling mess at this point, everything was strange and weird, and Shen Jiu did not know if he should believe that what was happening was real, or if it was his imagination going wild on him and trying to drive him mad… but his hand held with it a relic of the past long since gone, and Shen Jiu had mourned its loss with all his heart. The words said earlier that morning kept repeating in his head over and over again and left no room for doubt… and his Shidi…

It’s real… Gods above… it's real… Shen Jiu felt his world blur, his breath hitched in his chest, and a noise that was similar to a mix of sob and laughter resonated from his throat. He didn't know what to think, what to do, what to feel… by this point, Shen Jiu didn't know if he should laugh out loud at what he was told and how stupid he was not to suspect something amiss from the start, or cry like he had never cried before, because what happened had proven to him that he was not alone as he had always believed himself to be and there had been someone who cared about him and loved him even back then when everything was dark and bad and Shen Jiu had lost everything…

Idiot… why are you crying? You should be laughing now… should be happy… why are you crying? …Shen Jiu sniffled, hiccupping softly as he tried to control the sobs that wanted to leave him and the wails that were locked behind his throat. He was overwhelmed by everything and anything; tired in a way he never felt before, and so, so relieved and happy that the weight of the world had finally vanished from his shoulders, and Shen Jiu was allowed to breathe and break the surface of the water after what felt like years of being dragged under. Shen Jiu was happy, content, joyful, sad, and so, so angry at himself for discovering everything too late, but still, the relief he felt had almost turned his body into a puddle of water.

Hours later, after Shen Jiu decided to do the impossible (In his opinion), and Shen Jiu was still reeling, feeling like the world had shifted a few cuns to the right. Everything was still the same, but at the same time, everything was different to the point it nagged in the back of Shen Jiu’s mind. Be it from the position, the colors, the lives, the world around; everything was different. Shen Jiu, for once in his life, found himself not dreading the change, nor feeling afraid of it, even when his whole world shifted, and his view had been challenged and destroyed.

Another time traveler… that alone should have brought fear and wariness in Shen Jiu, that alone should have made him angry and hurt and suspicious. That alone should have… but instead, it brought him nothing but happiness, contentment, and joys that he had never felt before. The knowledge that even at his worst, someone had loved Shen Jiu so much that they challenged time and space to be by his side, to come back for him when everyone else had abandoned him, to fight for him when no one ever protected him after his parents, Shizun, and later his Shushu had died… that was enough for Shen Jiu to understand what his Shushu meant by his words when he said that his Shidi was one of a kind…

“He looks at you the same way Sanren used to look at Zihao…”

“……With devotion…”

And Shen Jiu couldn’t help the choked laugh that left him, followed by another, followed by a sob, followed by a shuddered breath that wrecked his whole body, and brought tears to his eyes. Truly, Shen Jiu didn't know if he should laugh in joy and happiness that someone loved him and desired him for years, or cry bitterly in sadness and anger at the years wasted in agony and pain when he could have spent them happily with his Shidi…

However, this was not here, nor now, because now? Things change, everything has shifted from its place, and time has rewound itself and offered Shen Jiu and his Shidi a second chance. A second chance to start over, a second chance to get their revenge, a second chance to save the ones they loved and cherished, a second chance to find love and live their lives how they should have in the first place… a second chance…

In all honesty… Shen Jiu never thought that he would be offered a second chance to be happy, not after all the pain and agony he had been through, not after the humiliation and isolation, not after… but here he was… in the past, where things had changed, when he was given the chance to change them, and he was given the chance to be happy and protect the people he loved and cherished with all his heart… a chance from the Gods above, a chance from the fates, and a chance from the heaven to be happy when he lived nothing but a life of misery and agony… a chance that Shen Jiu was not going to waste, not even if death came knocking on his doors tonight.

Stupid, Shidi… endangering himself so much for someone like me… Shen Jiu could only sniffle softly, wiping the tears that refused to leave his eyes, hiccupping gently as his breath hitched now and then, and feeling a tired giggle making itself known even when he desperately tried to control himself. Hours after Shen Jiu had shown Liu Qingge his face, and still, Shen Jiu was reeling as he was given more questions than answers, and truths that he never thought he would face, not once in his life.

His Shidi was a time traveler too…

It shouldn't have been shocking, now Shen Jiu started thinking about it. It shouldn't be shocking, really, for that same power that brought Shen Jiu to the past and rewound time for him could have done the same to someone else. Reviewing their interactions, since Shen Jiu got back, he could remember those few times that Liu Qingge had said some things that alluded to a hidden knowledge he had, or an action that was too uncanny that Shen Jiu couldn’t help but linger on.

And when it came to Shen Yuan and Yue Qi? His Shidi looked like he was ready to go to war or stab them with Cheng Luan every time the two of them were in the same room as him. Liu Qingge had warned Shen Jiu about Shen Yuan repeatedly; he had made his dislike, disrespect, and anger toward Yue Qi known, and Liu Qingge didn't even seem shocked or confused when Shen Jiu had brought the possibility of him and Yue Qi being together that one drunken night months ago… in fact, the man had told him to forget about it and act like it didn't even happened nor was it important, and told him in gentle words to move on and forget.

The Liu Qingge, Shen Jiu had gotten to know in the past few months, was the same one whom Shen Jiu studied with, trained with, and grew up with in the past. His Shidi was the same one whom Shen Jiu shared the hardship with, suffered the same as Shen Jiu in the past, and remembered a time that was filled with loss and pain that shaped their future. Liu Mingyu was the same one who left for the borders and spent years protecting the Empire, the same man who became famous and was known as the ‘War God’ in their time, and the one who could have it all in the future, but still, even then, had decided to follow Shen Jiu to the past……… and somewhere deep down, Shen Jiu couldn’t help the happiness and contentment in his heart at the knowledge that his Shidi was a time traveler too…

His Shidi loved and waited for Shen Jiu for over twenty years…

Shen Jiu didn't know what to think when learning that. He didn't know if he should have felt blessed and happy that someone adored him and loved him so much they waited a lifetime for him, or feel ashamed and in agony at the pain his Shidi suffered and the life he refused to live waiting for someone who never looked back. Liu Qingge had reassured him, had smiled at him, and told him that he would have waited double, triple, and more and more and more the amount he wanted, if it meant that Shen Jiu would have ended by his side.

A lifetime of loving someone and suffering because of them, yet his Shidi remained so loving and pure that he continued to love him, even when Shen Jiu brought him nothing but pain. It was then that Shen Jiu knew what his Shushu talked about when he looked in Liu Qingge’s direction. It was then that Shen Jiu realized what his Shushu meant when he talked about devotion. It was then that Shen Jiu realized what true love was, and how it drove people mad and made them do the impossible for the people they loved. It was then that Shen Jiu promised himself that he would make it up to his Shidi… in this life and the next, and the next, and the next, and if the fates were kind… Shen Jiu promised that he would make Liu Qingge happy, and the two of them would live the fairy tale they imagined in their youth…

His Shidi was there when Shen Jiu died…

And Shen Jiu wanted to cry. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't, even Shen Jiu didn't know anymore, but the fact remained, Liu Qingge was there. Just this knowledge of someone being there when Shen Jiu thought and felt like he was all alone in the world; just this one truth of his Shidi being by his side when the whole world had abandoned him; just this confirmation of having someone by his side when Shen Jiu left that dark place in the most permanent ways there was… if Shen Jiu wasn’t fall in love with his Shidi prior to the truth being known, then this fact spoken to him would have been the one that would have made Shen Jiu fall madly in love with Liu Qingge.

Liu Qingge would never know what it meant to Shen Jiu to know that someone was there for him during that dark moment. Maybe he knew, maybe he realized it, maybe he didn't understand it fully, but as it was, the fact that Liu Qingge came for him that day, stayed with him during his last breath, and then took him away to be buried with his adopted parents, tried to bring him justice, even when the whole world stood against him? That meant the world to Shen Jiu, in the past, in the now, and in the future.

Liu Qingge didn't know it yet, but Shen Jiu would make sure that it would become true. For every lovely thing his Shidi had done for him, for every day he spent loving and caring for him, for every kindness he offered Shen Jiu, be it in the past life or the present one. Shen Jiu would make sure to reward that kindness a thousand times the amount given to him………… from this day forth, never would a day pass without Shen Jiu making sure that Liu Qingge knew he was loved and appreciated…

His Shidi was there when the Demonic Emperor punished Yue Qi and Shen Yuan…

Shen Jiu laughed, and laughed, and laughed, and laughed until he doubled over when hearing this. Words that brought happiness, news that filled him with joy, and justice delivered from the last person Shen Jiu expected. Shen Jiu didn't know what to think when hearing this, didn't know if he should have been shocked or laughed until his breath all but left him, or if he should feel flattered.

Su Xiyan’s child, a boy, Shen Jiu saved and cared for as a reminder of the past. A kid, who was Shen Jiu’s last reminder of a sister and a past love long since left that world. A teenager who had just started his life, but still, the boy had taken revenge and brought justice to Shen Jiu, when people before had ignored him and refused to take action because of the Yue Clan and how powerful they were… a boy whom Shen Jiu owed a debt to, he didn't know if he could ever repay in this life or the next.

However, Shen Jiu did not care about what happened to Shen Yuan and Yue Qi after his death, as much as it was satisfying to know what their end was and the suffering they went through. What Shen Jiu truly cared for was the knowledge that Su Xiyan’s child had survived… the boy had found his cousin, the boy went to the Demonic Realm, he learned to govern his people, he ruled them with the blessing of his father and cousin, the boy became the Emperor of the Demonic Realm… he survived, he lived, and he thrived… Shen Jiu never felt as relieved as he did when Liu Qingge had told him about the Demonic Emperor.

Luo Binghe… Liu Qingge told him the boy’s name when Shen Jiu asked, causing the man to let out a relieved sigh at the knowledge that it was the same boy he helped once upon a Winter… Luo Binghe… a child who had a bright future ahead of him, and Shen Jiu was so happy and grateful that the fates were on the child’s side and allowed him to reunite with his cousin and father without the two of them hating him and trying to kill him for something he didn't have any part in… Luo Binghe… a boy who was a perfect copy of Su Xiyan, just looking at him sent Shen Jiu years to the past and brought memories he thought he had forgotten about… Luo Binghe… someone whom Shen Jiu would never forget, and would pray for the boy to reincarnate in this life, and have the loving family he desired.

The past changed; events that should have taken place didn't, and people who met in the past didn't cross paths this time, but still, Shen Jiu would pray that wherever that boy’s soul ended up reincarnated, he would be happy and fulfilled………… they say good deeds are rewarded by another; Shen Jiu never believed this to be true, not until Liu Qingge told him about Luo Binghe and what that kind child did for Shen Jiu…

His Shidi… his stupid and beloved Shidi sacrificed his life to be with Shen Jiu in death…

It broke Shen Jiu’s heart… it broke him, made him sob anew, and made him scold the stupid, stupid man until his voice all but vanished. Liu Qingge refused to elaborate, refused to explain what happened, refused to tell Shen Jiu what had taken place before his death, even when Shen Jiu hawked at him over and over and over again to tell him what Liu Qingge did… However, Shen Jiu understood the hidden cues, and the secrets refused to be said; he understood, and he knew, and he already managed to piece enough of the story to understand what his stupid Shidi did when Shen Jiu had left the world.

Shen Jiu cried… he knew he did, cried harder than he believed himself capable of. All the crying Shen Jiu had done when Liu Qingge told him he was a time traveler and gave his side of the story was on one side, and the knowledge of what Liu Mingyu did after Shen Jiu’s death? The way he bawled made his stupid Shidi panic and try to cajole him and calm him down, even when it failed and only made Shen Jiu cry harder as he held to Liu Mingyu, refusing to let him go.

Shen Jiu wasn’t strange to death and loss; he, more than anyone, had been intimate with death to the point that the entity continued to visit him over and over again, taking all of his loved ones away from him. First his parents, then his friends, then his Shizun, his Shushu, the ones he held close to his heart, the ones he looked up to, the ones who… Shen Jiu wasn’t strange to death and loss, but to have Liu Mingyu… Liu Mingyu, who had his whole life before him, chose death when he could have lived? It was an agony that hurt more than any loss Shen Jiu suffered.

Shen Jiu could have handled everything; he could have handled anything, he could have accepted it all, and lived on with his life. Shen Jiu would have been happy, content, over the moon, if Liu Mingyu had told him that he had lived his life and died of old age or doing something he loved………… but to understand that his Shidi had forsaken his whole life to Shen Jiu… It broke him in ways Shen Jiu never experienced before.

“If you loved me as you claim… then this life… no matter what happened… live for me.”

Shen Jiu remembered breaking down and sobbing, remembered crying as he hit that idiot’s chest over and over and over again. Hating himself for being so weak to stop the madness of the past, and loathing himself for believing in the lies of Shen Yuan and Yue Qi, who destroyed everything he held dear in his heart, and poisoned everything good in his life that could have been the road to a happy ending………… This time, Shen Jiu had sworn on his life and on everything he held dear that he would never allow the past to repeat itself ever again…

This time, things will be different… Shen Jiu hummed to himself, tracing the engraving on the black jade pendant that had been returned to him, trying to familiarize himself with this piece of the past that had been lost decades ago and only now returned to him. The fine craftsmanship, the branches, the leaves, the trunk that held within it the engraving of the title ‘Sanren’.

His mother’s jade pendant… It was something that his mother carried on her person ever since Shen Jiu was nothing but a child swaddled in fabric. His mother used to say that this jade used to be something she found in her home, and carried it with her as a remembrance of her home during her travels. His mother said it used to be a rock once upon a time, but someone important to her, a ‘Shield Sister,’ decided to take the rock, cut it, polish it, and engrave it with his mother’s new name as a welcome gift for staying in this land instead of leaving the place and disappearing from their world.

A piece of her home… that’s what his mother used to say when Shen Jiu would ask about the pendant his mother held with reverence… Where the past met the future… that’s what his father used to smile happily, every time he saw the jade pendant worn by his mother… Black jade… where the past met the future and formed something beautiful and breathtaking, where it formed life… Jiu is a Yu… his mother used to tease him before she flicked his forehead gently, and later dangling this pendant before him… Just like you, my little A-Jiu… Shen Jiu couldn’t help sniffling softly, letting out a choked laugh of relief and happiness as his eyes were blessed with the sight of this relic from the past that Shen Jiu had thought he had lost forever.

It was over sixteen years ago, after Shen Jiu lost his Shizun and the last person who cared for him, that Shen Jiu had lost this relic. Shen Jiu didn't remember the exact moment he lost this pendant, lost the last connection with his mother (Maybe it was during one of those dark weeks where he spent his days in a haze and nights crawling to the bottom of whatever bottle he could get his hand on. Too numb, too tired, too drained by life, and too much in agony and pain to care for the world around), but Shen Jiu remembered that he wept and wailed and cried until his voice was no more after losing this tiny piece of home that Shen Jiu had hoarded and guarded like a dragon to its hoard.

His mother’s home, his last link to his parents, and the thing that kept Shen Jiu moving on despite the many reasons that showed him he should have just given up. A piece of his mother’s home, wherever that mystical home was located, where she had allowed her past and future to melt together and form the now, where she could be with his father, and one of the only things that Shen Jiu had of his parents that wasn’t taken, so he had protected it from everyone’s eyes, Shen Yuan included.

Something that was wholly his, and his alone. Something that informed Shen Jiu that the lovely childhood he had with his parents was real, that his parents were real, that his home was real, not something that Shen Jiu imagined in the dark and lonely life inside the Shen Family home, where he was alone, utterly alone, and completely alone.

For his Shidi to find this pendant after it was lost… for Liu Qingge to find it and keep it for years and protect it for Shen Jiu… for Liu Mingyu to hold on to this relic of the past and give it to Shen Jiu even when years passed and Shen Jiu had all but forgot about this relic… that was the moment Shen Jiu realized, his Shidi was the one who was the happy ending his mother always talked about… the one who slipped away from between his hands, and the fates were kind enough to bring the two of them back together (………Shen Jiu was in love. That he knew, that he realized, that he would never lie to himself about, even when he felt shy just admitting it to himself. Shen Jiu was in love, and he finally realized what love truly meant, what it was, and how people who loved one another acted. Shen Jiu was in love; he fell fast and fell hard, and to his astonishment, Shen Jiu didn't feel scared by that truth; in fact, he felt happy and delighted and over the world. Shen Jiu was in love, and he promised everyone, God, ghost, human, or otherwise, that his devotion, loyalty, love, and everything that was Shen Jiu, would from now on be for one person and one person only, and that was Liu Mingyu, who loved him truly. Shen Jiu was in love… and he didn't feel afraid of it, not anymore, not when the one whom Shen Jiu’s heart beat for was a foolish man too loyal, too good, kind, and honorable. It was funny to compare the two of them or even pair them together… Shen Jiu was in love…)…

The tree of the world… Shen Jiu remembered the stories his mother would tell him when he was young; one story after the other, telling him the meaning of the ash tree, of the branches extended from its mighty trunk, of the meaning of every leaf, of the beliefs of her people who lived so far away from this land. It took years and years of traveling until they reached this place.

The tree that connected the heavens, the earth, and the underworld… Shen Jiu knew that this tree had another name, knew it had many different stories, knew that there were so many more truths, stories, and myths surrounding it. However, Shen Jiu was too young when he was told the stories, and so many years had passed for him to remember them or even understand them. Years had passed since Shen Jiu last saw his parents, and decades had elapsed since he last heard their stories, so forgetting was bound to happen, even though Shen Jiu loathed not remembering anything his parents had said and done.

The tree that connects all life, and the one that completes the cycle of life, death, and ascension… His Shushu would have known the stories better than Shen Jiu, maybe even his mother’s Sworn Sister, whom Shen Jiu had finally met. The stories of his mother, of her people, of her beliefs, and the reason why she stayed here. The story of the past, of the present, of the future, and the beyond. Maybe they knew, maybe they didn't, hopefully they did.

Shen Jiu stared at the jade in his hand, a soft smile filled with contentment and happiness painted his face as he traced every ridge, every shape, and every word found on the pendant. He wanted to engrave this relic in his mind, remember every detail, and never forget even one word spoken about it, no matter how silly it was… the story of the past, of the future, of the two meeting together and forming the now, and creating something beautiful, creating life… remembering his Shidi, Shen Jiu couldn’t help but smile…

It was only fair to tell his Shidi the stories this relic held…

…For the past met the future, and created the now…

…It gave them a second chance.

…(Tang Rong was tired, exhausted, pained, betrayed, and so on and so on and so on, that not even she knew what she should feel anymore. She felt hollowed out, she felt angry, and she felt fury and loathe that snuck so deep in her it soaked to the marrow of her bones. She felt tired to the point her posture never managed to straighten again, furious at the world for defying her and planning her downfall, and so sad and in pain for her loss to the point tears clouded her eyes day and night.

Tang Rong, by this point, didn't know what to do anymore or how to retaliate. For every thought she came up with, for every plan she worked on, or a scheme she wove. Nothing in her eyes worked, and everything would bring more harm than good, and do bad without solving the problem. All of the options were exhausted, all of her plans were useless, and no longer did she have any leverage on her stupid husband or shield that would have been a good sacrificial lamb.

Back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth, and… Sleepless nights spent in her rooms pacing back and forth, and back and forth, and back and forth without any use. Plan after plan, thought after thought, connection after connection, and she tried to think of everything that would help her in her quest. To save her precious son, to avenge herself, to get rid of that brat birthed by Sanren, to get on her husband’s good grace… Tang Rong had thought of it all, and tried to do it all… only to fail…

As the days passed, Tang Rong was hit with how helpless she was, how tired she was, how much of an impossible task she had. It was her, and her alone, against the heavens, against the fates, against the world, and against the child born by that seductress who destroyed her life. There was no one by her side to help, not her child, nor her maids, who were thrown away by Shen Feng as that man finally grew a backbone after Shen Jiu was adopted by Lord Shen and Yue Lin stole their child; no one was there to help her, not her family, who feared the wrath of the Pillars and Lords of this land, or her numerous connections, who ghosted her before she even said her plans… by the end of the day, Tang Rong was truly alone.

She had lost… as much as she hated the bitter taste on the back of her throat at the mere thought, Tang Rong knew better, and she knew that she had lost. Against her husband’s schemes that ripped her precious child from her arms, against the schemes of that annoying brat, who was nothing but a pest that should have been grateful for Tang Rong’s generosity when she took him in. Lost against Yue Lin and her madness and obsession over everything that involved Sanren, against her son’s stupidity when he decided not to listen to her and kill his cousin, and later decided to throw away his mind and gave everything to Yue Lin’s bastard child… Tang Rong had truly lost…

Tang Rong was tired of this losing streak that never seemed to end, ever since she met that cursed woman, Sanren, who took everything away from her. Sanren, who took away the only man Tang Rong had desired and loved, and chained him with marriage and madness that was not the norm. A woman who acted more like a man, and cared for no one’s opinion, or followed the traditions and culture into which she forcefully inserted herself. Again, and again, and again, and again, Tang Rong felt tired and angry that she continued to lose to the woman, to the point that her own husband never looked at her or cared about her, not even on their wedding day and night.

Tang Rong was furious that she was forced to take care of that rotten woman’s child. Forced to open her home to that pest who always flaunted how much better he was at everything, and how the fates gave him everything on a golden plate. From his beauty, to his smarts, to his luck, to his everything! Tang Rong was forced to bite her tongue day after day after night, when she saw how that pest succeeded and climbed higher and higher than the birds flying in the sky, just because he was Sanren’s son, and thus by default, was loved and desired by everyone around. A child who took everything away from her precious boy, just by existing in the same sphere as her Yuan-er, making everyone, even Shen Feng, forsake her child and care for and dote only on that parasitic Demon that ensnared everyone’s minds.

Tang Rong was sad, hurt, and in agony at the fate of her beloved child. Day after day, after night, after day, every time she went to that wretched woman, Yue Lin, to see her child, she could only get her heart broken over and over again at the sight that greeted her. Her precious boy, her beloved Yuan-er, the child Tang Rong did the impossible for, and tried to protect with everything she had. Her baby was withering away, he was losing the spark in his eyes, and not even his cunningness and smarts could keep up with that viper who ruled the Yue Clan with an Iroh fist. She could only feel angry, sad, and disappointed every time she looked at her boy, because by the end of the day, it was Yuan-er’s impulsiveness and refusal to follow her plans that landed the boy in this dilemma, and Tang Rong, no matter how smart and cunning she was, even she had limits to what she could do.

Days passed, weeks followed, and the months weren’t even kind to her with their arrival and departure. Tang Rong stood helplessly, not knowing how to take vengeance, and at the same time, being unable to save her son. A wound that opened again and again, and festered as she found herself all alone in this world with no one by her side to help her in this madness she found herself in.

And oh… oh, how she loathed Shen Feng as the days passed and she saw how uncaring he was about everything that wasn’t Shen Jiu, especially their son and what was happening to him in that cursed Yue Estate. She hated him, and she loathed him, and she cursed the day she was stupid enough to try to ensnare him to get closer to her beloved Shen Zihao. By the end of the day, Shen Zihao was still far away from her hands due to that whore who claimed she was his wife, and Tang Rong was shackled with this emotionless man, as cold as ice and unfeeling as a rock.

Tang Rong had lost, and her beloved son was taken away from her and was suffering in the Yue Clan, while Shen Feng had won, and that parasite he loved and adored because he was Sanren’s child was now the son of the strongest men in the Empire and was bound to have riches and fame follow him everywhere he went. Truly unfair, how some people were favored by the fates themselves, to the point that the Gods descend to this mortal realm just to grant them all of their wishes.

To add more insult to the injury, here Tang Rong was, trying to plead her son’s case to this cold, cold man, only getting indifferent stares and uncaring looks, as the man ignored her and continued to write something in a scroll. Cold, Shen Feng was nothing but a cold man, as cold as ice, and as unfeeling as a rock, with no care or love in his heart if it wasn’t for Sanren and her parasite.

Writing like he is running out of time… Tang Rong sneered as her pleas were ignored and she was left standing in the middle of the man’s office, not being able to do anything, nor being able to march to the man and rip the scroll from his hands and shred it to pieces. She could only glare at him, biting the inside of her cheek until it bled, and curse him over and over again in her head, wishing this man all ills in the world…

Tang Rong could only growl, bite her tongue as she stomped outside of that man’s office. Feeling anger, feeling loathe, feeling fury, and a fire in her heart that could never be snuffed out. Tang Rong was angry, and she was tired, and she was furious at this stupid, stupid man, not being able to stay in the same place as him without wanting to cave his head in…

If only Shen Zihao were still alive…

…If he were, then Shen Feng would have died decades ago…

…If only, if only… if only…)…

Finally!

…Oh, my…

…Gods above!

…How do I look?! How do I…?

So they finally decided to…

The banquet!

…Finally!

Ohhhhh! I will finally meet my hero!

…Did you hear?

Did you…?

…I must be losing my…

…Is it true?!

Did you know?

Gyaaaaahhhhh!

…The Demons are coming to the banquet too!

What?! Are you mad? What…?

…The peace treaty…

…Don’t you remember?

…As an act of goodwill…

…The King of the North and his people…

…I am scared.

Scared? Hah! What do you have to be afraid of?!

He is right, you know?

The Lords and their Successors…

…Disciples…

…Like, you don’t need to fear anything! Not when the ‘War God’ himself…

War God, this… Disciple that… Honestly, I am more…

…The Crowned Prince!

…I am…

For the first time in years!

…Back to the capital…

Just him? Ha! Did you not know?

…Prince Liu Xuan and his wife…

…They even say that the previous Emperor will show!

I am so…

…Nervous…

…Such a big event with so many important people…

The banquet!

Oh, my Gods!

It’s going to be…

Did you know?

…I am more excited to see Shen Zihao and Sanren’s child….

They said…

Who is…?

…An unforgettable event!

…(“Listen, and listen well…” Yue Lin’s voice resonated in the carriage, causing Shen Yuan’s mouth to twitch down for a second or so, before he managed to smooth down his face into the placid neutrality that he had been donning since the start of this morning. “…This is your last chance. I don’t care what you think; I don’t care what you do or how you do it. However, by the end of the night, I want to see some results!” A snarl was heard, the sound of fist colliding with wood, the breaking of the weak structure, and the suppressed flinches that were hidden behind indifferent masks.

“Y-yes, A-Niang…” Yue Qi answered, voice shaken and wary, and Shen Yuan, by then, could only clench his jaw so harshly that he wondered if he ground his teeth enough to chip one or two. Anger filled him, loathe coated him, and rage burned in his veins as he forced himself to lower his head and accept the humiliation.

Hate, loathe, rage, fury, anger, hate, and so many more, and so many more, and so many more emotions ran through Shen Yuan to the point that he didn't even know what he was feeling, only knowing the choking feeling that stomped on his throat, ripped his heart, and squeezed his lungs.

Still, in the end, Shen Yuan could do nothing but lower his head like a foolish little sheep, bite his tongue to stop from cursing, and swallow his damned pride before managing to spit out. “Yes, Madam.” In a tone he hoped didn't convey how much he loathed and hated the woman, and that if he could, he would have stabbed the woman over and over and over again with any rusty piece of metal he could have found.

However, Shen Yuan had days, weeks, and months of experience, and having realized that talking back would only bring more pain, agony, and attention that he couldn’t handle from this kind of madwoman. Shen Yuan lowered his head and tried to make himself as unnoticeable as he could, even when he felt the woman’s attention was on him, and that he was at the end of a harsh look, that if had more loathe and hate in it, Shen Yuan could have as well been cursed or killed.

At least, mother would be there… Shen Yuan could only bite his tongue harshly until he tasted blood, trying to calm his racing heart by reminding himself that people would be there, that his parents would be there, his mother. So, Shen Yuan was fine; he just needed to gather his wits and think of something before he went off and abandoned this asshole and his crazy family.

I could… I could plead with my father to take me back… I… I could go to the Lords or the Successors… also, the nobles who hated the Yue Clan… or… Shen Yuan glanced toward the woman whose attention was finally pulled away from him, then toward Yue Jiang, who was staring out the window with no care in the world, a jug of alcohol in his hand, as for Yue Qi… Shen Yuan didn't even stomach looking at that coward and instead turned to stare out the window, taking in the scenes that changed before his eyes the closer they got to the Imperial Palace.

I could divorce him… couldn’t I? We already got married, we already… it would explain everything, and if they tried to say something. It could be woven as trying to defame me… Shen Yuan nipped on his lower lip, trying to think of several ways to escape the dilemma he was in, and leave this insane Clan and everything found within the walls of their homes.

A crazy family, an insane Clan, and one that made Shen Yuan all but lose hair as he wondered how he hadn’t seen through Yue Qi all those years ago, if this was the family he originated from, and the situation he lived daily. If Shen Yuan had, then he would have made sure not to get close to the trash by his side, maybe even tried to set him up with that cursed cousin of his and let him suffer this humiliation and pain that Shen Yuan suffered daily…

Did he know? Did he suspect? Was that why Shen Jiu always talked about Yue Qi and their childhood together? Trying to polish the image and hide the rot? Did he know all along, and did he try to set me up? …Question after question, a thought after thought, and the feeling of being sick and angry and furious to the point he wondered how he didn't catch on fire. Know or not, that was not the important part here; the important part was that Shen Yuan was stuck in this disgusting place with the most disgusting and spineless man there was, while Shen Jiu was prancing around, enjoying freedom, fame, glory, and everything his heart desired without a care in the world.

I should have listened to A-Niang… I should have killed him and ended this whole farce… Shen Yuan’s jaws twitched at the reminder, feeling anger and loathe coating the back of his throat at the reminder of the many times Shen Yuan could have ended this madness, but had stopped himself, thinking that Shen Jiu was too valuable of an asset to get rid of, not when he could still climb higher and higher and pave the way to Shen Yuan to take what he was owed.

A shield and a sword… that was who Shen Jiu was, and would have always been if he continued to lower his head and accept his place in Shen Yuan’s world. A shield to protect Shen Yuan and his mother, and a sword to cut their enemies. That was who Shen Jiu was and would always be… however, between one breath and the next, that brat rebelled, and the sword turned on its owner, all because of a fucking brute who bulldozed his way into Shen Yuan’s perfect world and ruined everything!

If time could rewind itself… Shen Yuan would make sure to kill Liu Qingge over and over and over again, and after that, he would punish Shen Jiu for betraying him harshly… maybe even give him Yue Qi and his crazy family since Shen Jiu used to love raving about his ‘Childhood Friend’ and how the two of them promised to marry one another when they were old. Truly, if the fates favored Shen Yuan and granted him his desire, then he would make sure to teach Shen Jiu his place until that disgusted thing never dared to raise his head or think about betraying him as he did.

As the palace’s gates became larger and larger, they got closer and closer to the place. Everyone in the carriage couldn’t help but tense slightly, staring at the distance where they would spend the night celebrating the event of the century. Shen Yuan straightened his back and stiffened his shoulders, preparing himself to go into the battleground that was the palace and the people found within its walls… One way or the other… Shen Yuan was going to make everything right, and by the end of the night…

Shen Jiu was going to pay…)…

“Are you ready?” A gentle voice inquired, and Shen Jiu, who sifted nervously from place to place, turned to the speaker, relaxing almost instantly when his sight fell on Liu Mingyu. Liu Mingyu’s hand gently took hold of his hands in a firm but soft hold. His eyes were kind as they studied Shen Jiu’s nervous figure, and he did not say anything or demand an answer, but waited patiently for what Shen Jiu was willing to disclose.

Shen Jiu bit his lower lip nervously, shifting in his place, before letting out a long exhale as he tried to get rid of the nervous energy that made itself at home in his body. “I… it’s… overwhelming…” Shen Jiu admitted, his hold tightening on his Shidi’s hand, trying to find strength and calmness in Liu Mingyu’s gentle hold and warmth. “I… I am meeting your older brother… the Emperor himself… your parents too… and it’s in front of the whole Empire… I  am a little nervous…” Shen Jiu let out a choked laugh tinged with a bit of hysteria before he once more tried to calm himself lest he start panicking.

Shen Jiu tried to distract himself… the feeling of Liu Mingyu’s gentle hand holding his own, the warm grey-blue eyes that made Shen Jiu feel safe and warm, and the breathtaking sight his Shidi was making with the ceremonial robes colored not black and white in Bai Zhan’s color, but in the colors of the Emperor and the Imperial Family that showed his might and brought the attention of everyone toward him. Shen Jiu kept his eyes focused on his Shidi, and slowly, after a while, Shen Jiu managed to calm his frazzled nerves and push away the panic that nipped at his heels.

“Da-Ge already adores you. He is probably excited to finally meet you, so don’t feel nervous. He is a family, an Emperor or not, we are one family, A-Jiu, and we care for one another, not about what people would think or what empty title we hold. So don’t be afraid.” Shen Jiu took a deep breath, allowed his Shidi’s words to wash over him, pierce every nervous or bad thought he held and believed in, and let it calm him down until he finally settled. “…As for my parents… My parents were not the ones who gave me away without even a name, and ones I had long since cut ties with. My parents are my Nainai, Shushu, and my Jiujiu, and they already adore and love you, so you need not worry.” Shen Jiu’s smile fell slightly before he raised a hand to cup his Shidi’s face.

He felt sad and heartbroken hearing this, but still, anger and fury were simmering under the sadness, especially when Shen Jiu got to know his Shidi all over again in the past few weeks since their confession. Where they started everything once again, sharing stories, thoughts, fantasies, and the truths that they never told anyone before, and the pain they lived through and learned to ignore.

“Very well…” Shen Jiu smiled, one hand holding gently to his Shidi’s face, while the other squeezed Liu Mingyu’s hand, gently. “……Thank you.” Shen Jiu let out a breath that held all the remaining tension within his body, and when he saw Liu Mingyu smile, his stiff shoulders finally relaxed, and a weight he didn't know held him down started fading from the back of his mind.

Not that long after, Shen Anwei’s voice calling the two of them was heard, summoning the two of them so they would depart for the palace. A smile, a shy glance, and happiness were palpable before Liu Mingyu offered his arm for Shen Jiu to take, something that Shen Jiu was too happy to do as the two of them walked outside toward the carriage. Shen Jiu took another breath, tightened his hold on his Shidi’s arm, and let all of his worries and fear unfold. From now on, whatever was going to happen, whatever was going to take place, Shen Jiu needn’t worry anymore, and he should just relax and enjoy his life… after all…

They were given a second chance, and Shen Jiu?

…He will make sure to live his life without any regrets…

…Never again.