"Dead?"
The word was clipped and dry, devoid of any discernible emotion. Aside from Nan Yunshuang, the expressions of the other three women were a complex tapestry of shock and grief. Chu Ruo was actually... dead?
Yin Liuli let out a heavy sigh. "Muxue, you..."
"Is everything in order within the Palace?" Nan Muxue asked, her hands clasped behind her back as she headed toward the study. "I shall review the palace affairs. All of you, follow me."
"Yes."
"Sigh... look at her. Muxue is exactly as she was before," Nangong Yan said, shaking her head as they watched her march toward the study without a moment's rest. "Could Chu Ruo really be... how can it be? I still can't believe it. They finally managed to be together with such difficulty. How could she..."
"Exactly!" Duan Ning’s face was etched with sorrow. "Wasn't Chu Ruo always the one with the luck of the heavens? Muxue is being far too calm—even calmer than when Chu Ruo fell off the cliff last time. That’s not a good sign. I’d rather see her go a little mad. This look of hers... I fear her heart has turned to ash. I don't even want to provoke her. What on earth happened? Two people left in high spirits, yet only one returned. That girl, she..."
Among the four Protectors, Nan Yunshuang and Yin Liuli were usually the more solemn ones, while Duan Ning and Nangong Yan were closer to Chu Ruo. Duan Ning, in particular, had spent the most time with her. Though they bickered constantly, they were true confidantes. At this moment, her voice took on a tearful edge. "How could she just die!"
"Ning'er," Yin Liuli tried to comfort her, only for Duan Ning to bury her face directly into her embrace.
"Liuli, how could this happen? I thought Muxue had finally found someone who would be good to her, someone so she’d never be lonely again. And Chu Ruo... she was a good person. How could she be dead..."
"Ning'er..." Yin Liuli could only sigh, holding the woman as she wept uncontrollably. Aside from offering a silent embrace, what else could she do?
Nangong Yan’s eyes also reddened. "Seeing you like this makes me want to cry too. That brat Chu Ruo..."
"Perhaps," Nan Yunshuang spoke up calmly, "she isn't actually dead."
The other three looked up at her simultaneously.
"It is merely a guess," Nan Yunshuang continued as they walked. "Perhaps they encountered someone or something, and for some reason, Muxue had Chu Ruo feign death to achieve some hidden objective."
"If only that were the case," Nangong Yan said, taking a deep breath to steady her emotions. "But look at Muxue. She’s exactly like she was before Chu Ruo appeared—cold as ice."
"There is another possibility."
"What?" the three asked in unison.
"The Oblivion Pill," Nan Yunshuang explained. "Muxue seems exceptionally cold and sharp. When she mentioned Chu Ruo, there was none of her usual warmth. If Chu Ruo truly died and Muxue took the Oblivion Pill, her current behavior wouldn't be surprising. In fact, it might be for the best. It’s better than her suffering that soul-piercing agony."
Nan Yunshuang’s analysis was so logical that the others began to believe it. Yin Liuli nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Think back to when Chu Ruo fell off the cliff; Muxue was in absolute despair. Nothing is more painful than losing a loved one, especially for someone like her. If she took the pill, so be it. I fear she wouldn't have been able to endure the grief otherwise."
"Then, in that case, let us not mention this matter in front of her. Regardless of whether she took the pill or not, bringing it up will only cause everyone more pain."
"Should we tell the other disciples?"
"It doesn't matter. Word will spread sooner or later. That girl Chu Ruo got along well with the younger disciples. If they find out, they find out. We won't mention it to Muxue, but we can mourn her privately."
And so, within three days, nearly every disciple in the Hundred Flowers Palace knew the news of the Holy Envoy’s passing. Privately, they were devastated. Xiao Guo’er and her group, who had been the first to know Chu Ruo, were reduced to tears. At night, they would quietly go to her room to offer sacrifices and prayers. Meanwhile, Nan Muxue handled palace affairs, ate, and slept as usual—indifferent and detached. It was as if everything had returned to the way it was before.
The Hundred Flowers Palace seemed changed, yet unchanged. Without Chu Ruo, the place had returned to its former deathly stillness. However, the disciples felt that ever since the Old Palace Mistress had jumped off the cliff, the palace had become a bit more "human." Yet, something was missing.
Half a month passed in this manner. Life in the palace continued as normal, and Duan Ning and the others had buried themselves in work to gradually set aside their grief. Then, one night, two figures suddenly ascended the mountain, sending shockwaves through the entire sect.
"Protectors... Protectors..." It was Xiao Guo’er again, sounding completely out of breath. "Protectors..."
"Slow down. What is it?"
But Xiao Guo’er had run too hard; she gasped for air for a long time without being able to utter a single word. The four Protectors grew so anxious they decided it would be faster to go out and see for themselves.
"Zhi'er," Chu Ruo whispered, tugging on the sleeve of the woman beside her. "Look, everyone is acting so strange."
"Are they?"
"The way they're looking at me is so weird. I smile and greet them, and they either stand there with their mouths hanging open or scream and run away. Honestly, the screaming... am I really that scary?"
Bai Zhi'er suppressed a smile. "Well, not scary, exactly. Just a bit silly. Silly in a cute way."
"Zhi'er~" Chu Ruo looked around. "Where’s my Little Scorpion? Why hasn't she come out yet?"
Bai Zhi'er spoke wistfully, "Ruo'er, you're so impatient I expect a hand to reach out of your throat any second now."
"You... Hey! Little Guo'er! Duan Ning!" Seeing the group approaching from the left, Chu Ruo happily spread her arms wide, running toward them for a big hug. "Haha! Long time no see! Did you miss me? Yours truly has fought her way back!"
"A ghost!" Xiao Guo’er shrieked. "Chu Ruo’s soul has returned!" After screaming, she muttered to herself, "But shouldn't the soul return on the seventh day? Why did she wait so long..."
"I say, what is wrong with you all?" Chu Ruo realized she couldn't count on Little Guo'er, who had scrambled several meters away in terror. She turned to hug Duan Ning and Nangong Yan, but Yin Liuli and Nan Yunshuang stepped forward simultaneously, each blocking one side and pushing her back. They didn't use much force, but Chu Ruo grumbled in dissatisfaction. "What’s this? What’s this? I know they're your wives, but you won't even let me have a friendly hug?"
Normally, the two women would have blushed and jumped to hit her, but now they simply stared with wide eyes. It wasn't until Duan Ning and Nangong Yan spoke up.
"She’s warm. She’s a living person."
"Nonsense! If I’m not a living person, am I a dead one?"
Duan Ning and Nangong Yan’s eyes bulged. They rushed over, pinching her left and right, even squeezing her mouth to check her teeth. Chu Ruo mumbled incoherently, "Whah are you doing? Oh, Nan Yunshuang, you’re so unfair! You won't let me hug them, but it’s fine for them to do this to me?"
After a moment, the two finally let go and clapped their hands. "Yes, she is indeed still alive."
"Are you all sick?"
Duan Ning crossed her arms. "Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"You’re the one who’s dead! No wonder the disciples were looking at me like that on the way up. Did you have nothing better to do than spread rumors about me?"
"Pah! As if I’d waste my breath on you. I’d rather spend that time eating sunflower seeds or stinky tofu. You made Yan'er and me waste so many tears for nothing!" She had already guessed how this massive "misunderstanding" had come about. "The one who said you were dead was that 'good master' of yours—our Young Palace Mistress."
"Muxue?"
Nangong Yan looked toward Bai Zhi'er with a playful glint in her eyes. "Holy Envoy, why don't you tell us? What exactly is going on here?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You clearly left with Muxue, yet after not seeing you for half a year, you return with someone else. What, is Muxue not enough for you?"
"What kind of nonsense are you talking? I'll explain everything later. Where is... where's Muxue?"
Duan Ning pulled the others away. "Find her yourself. Who has time for you? You made us miserable for half a month. Hmph!"
"I say, you..." What kind of people were these? "I'll find her myself then, bleh!" *I can find my own wife, hmph!*
"Zhi'er, it's very late and today was exhausting. You should go back and rest. I'm going to..."
"Going to find your Little Scorpion, right?" Bai Zhi'er shrugged. "What a pity, these two weeks went by so fast. Still, I’m very happy. Alright, I’m going to sleep. Goodnight, you little dummy~"
The Hundred Flowers Palace was no longer the strange, alien place it had been when Chu Ruo first arrived. She was anxious, desperate. The closer she got to her destination, the faster her pace became. Finally, she pushed open the bedroom door. The candlelight flickered, but the white-clad figure by the bed was enough to make all her exhaustion vanish in an instant.
She rushed over. "Muxue..."
Nan Muxue held a book in her hand, neither rising nor looking up. "Go back to your own room."
Chu Ruo wasn't about to listen. She ran right up to her. "Muxue~"
Still no look. She just kept staring at the book, though heaven knew what was actually written in it. "Get out."
"Alright, alright, I missed you to death! Why are you always looking at that stupid book? Isn't it better to look at me?"
Silence. "Muxue, don't tell me you didn't miss me?"
Silence. "Muxue, Muxue~"
Chu Ruo pouted. "What are you doing? Ignoring me like this... Hey, can't you say something?"
"Little Scorpion, that’s enough! I haven't even asked you yet—why did you go around telling everyone I was dead?"
*Slap!* Chu Ruo finally got her wish as the other woman set the book down and looked up at her. It was a sharp, sidelong glare that made Chu Ruo flinch. "What..."
"Weren't you quite eager to die?"
"When did I..." *Ugh, so scary.* She quickly changed her tune. "Fine, fine, I admit it. I went behind your back and let them use me to nurture the Gestation Gu. I shouldn't have drugged you that day to trick you, and I shouldn't have hidden the risks from you. I’ve already apologized for all that! You’ve been sulking at me the whole way back, and you’re still angry now. You... you even told everyone I was dead!" *It really is that meme about 'I heard you've been telling everyone I'm dead.'*
"What, did I inconvenience you? You were busy enjoying the moonlight with a beautiful lady. Why come back now?"
"That was to save you! Later, when you woke up and I was unconscious, you were the one who agreed to her terms to save me. She made you promise I’d do three things for her. You sold me out and I didn't say a word! Besides, nothing happened between us. We just stayed at the foot of the mountain for a few extra days to play..."
Her voice turned cold. "A few days?"
"Half a month, half a month! Muxue~ stop being angry..."
Nan Muxue raised her hand. Thinking she was about to be hit, Chu Ruo reflexively shielded her head. "Don't hit the face..."
*Whiz!* Instead, a concealed weapon flew straight out the window. Immediately, the sound of someone scurrying away could be heard. One didn't need to guess to know who in the Hundred Flowers Palace had the guts to eavesdrop—it was likely Duan Ning and Nangong Yan. To Chu Ruo’s shock, it turned out all four Protectors had been listening. They could be heard laughing as they walked away. "That’s too funny, hahaha..."
With the truth of "Chu Ruo’s death" revealed, the four women all had rare smiles on their faces. Duan Ning even spoke to Nan Yunshuang, which was an uncommon occurrence. "You were so serious with your theories earlier. It turns out Chu Ruo’s 'death' was just Muxue being petty and lashing out. I should have known from her reaction—it wasn't extreme grief, it was a jealous streak a mile wide."
It was very rare for Nan Yunshuang to find something genuinely amusing. Her lips curled into a faint smile. "I couldn't believe it either. To think Muxue would play such a prank." The Young Palace Mistress of the Hundred Flowers Palace had always been a woman of her word; since when did she start doing such frivolous things?
"Muxue, *achoo! Achoo!*"
Back in the room, Chu Ruo was still trying her best to coax her lover when she suddenly felt a chill. She sneezed several times and let out a few coughs. *How did I catch a cold again? The Little Scorpion just got rid of that Gestation Gu and is still recovering; I can't pass this to her.* "Alright, alright, *achoo*... I’ll go back to my room. You should sleep early."
"Come here!" Nan Muxue commanded fiercely.
"Oh."
As soon as she walked over, the other woman pulled off her outer robe with a few swift tugs and pushed her directly onto the bed, flipping up to join her. Before Chu Ruo could react, a heavy quilt was pressed down upon her.
Nan Muxue frowned. "Why were you so careless?"
"Huh?"
"How did you catch a chill?"
"I..."
"Be quiet. Sleep."
"...Oh."
Seeing the face she had yearned for right in front of her, Nan Muxue’s lips unconsciously curved into a smile. She reached out to stroke Chu Ruo’s cheek, her heart full of ache. *Ruo'er used her own body to save you. Her vitality will be greatly damaged from now on; she will likely suffer from physical weakness and chills often.* She leaned in a bit closer. "When will you ever listen to me?" she sighed softly, afraid of waking the other. "To save me, you turned yourself into this..."
Nan Muxue gazed intently at the face—cute, beautiful, fair. Finally, unable to resist, she leaned down to kiss her and smiled. "Now that you're back by my side, you aren't allowed to leave again. And you certainly aren't allowed to spend so much time with that woman named Bai."
"Okay."
The person on the pillow responded softly. Nan Muxue froze. "You aren't asleep?"
Chu Ruo showed her beautiful white teeth in a grin. "I couldn't bear to sleep. I wanted to look at you."
"Glib-tongued."
"Even though it was only half a month, I missed you every second, every minute. I bought so many things on the way back, all for you. Muxue, don't be mad anymore, okay?"
Nan Muxue’s eyes were full of laughter, though she wouldn't admit it easily. "We shall see. You are currently a criminal awaiting sentencing." With that, she patted her. "Sleep."
"I can't sleep. Coax me."
She kissed her forehead. "Mmhmm~"
After nearly an hour, Chu Ruo spoke again. "Actually, you don't really know how to coax someone to sleep, do you?"
"So much chatter! If you say another word, I will personally strike your sleep acupoint!"
*...Wicked Little Scorpion. Telling everyone I'm dead and then being mean to me, bleh...* "I was wrong... don't pinch my face~"
***
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 124 | The Beloved's Return | Novela.app | Novela.app
