The continent of Fengyun was once divided among seven nations, but now only three remain: the Crescent Moon Kingdom, the Cloud Warehouse Kingdom, and the Azure Luo Kingdom.
The Crescent Moon Kingdom held three-fifths of the territory, while the Cloud Warehouse and Azure Luo Kingdoms shared the remaining two-fifths. Due to years of continuous warfare, the soldiers were exhausted. Qingyao issued an order for them to rest and recuperate for three months…
Qingyao and Xiaoyuer did not return to the Valley of Ruthlessness or the Crescent Moon Kingdom. Instead, they chose a wilderness area by the mountains and water, built a bamboo house, and lived a leisurely life.
This place was not far from the soldiers’ camp, so they could visit everyone when they had free time.
Listening to the wind at sunrise, admiring the moon at sunset.
Another cold winter arrived. After this winter, Xiaoyuer would be four years old. She had completely transformed into a big child, her words and actions becoming increasingly agile. She was spirited and audacious, neither like Qingyao’s calmness nor Emperor Xian’s dominance, but seemed to embody qualities of both.
When quiet, she possessed Qingyao’s wisdom; when active, a commanding aura emanated from her. At such a young age, as she moved through the army, many showed her respect, not solely because she was a princess.
In winter, the river froze over, and a night of heavy snow enveloped the entire mountain. Early the next morning, Xiaoyuer’s joyous shouts echoed.
“What beautiful snow!”
In her previous life, they rarely saw snow, and she had always yearned for the beauty of icy landscapes. She never expected to see so much of it now.
Qingyao sat by a simple dressing table, while Mochou attended to her hair. A lock of her cloud-like dark hair was gathered at the top and tied with a red ribbon, presenting a simple yet elegant style that held both masculine freedom and feminine charm. Today, she wore a peach-pink padded jacket and a pleated skirt embroidered with plum blossoms, exuding a delicate and affectionate aura.
Xiaoyuer also wore a peach-pink padded jacket and a small water-grass skirt. The mother and daughter seemed dressed in matching outfits, appearing like two vibrant flowers in the winter landscape.
“Mother, let’s go play in the snow,” Xiaoyuer rushed in, pulling her outside.
Outside the bamboo house was a world of crystal brilliance. A vast expanse of pure white stretched as far as the eye could see. A light breeze blew, causing pure snow to fall from the white branches, and dancing snowflakes filled the air, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
It was a pity that Yin Xuan could not witness such a sight. This thought suddenly crossed Qingyao’s mind. She wondered how he was doing now.
However, this thought didn’t last long. A handful of snow was hurled at her. It turned out to be the mischievous Xiaoyuer, who had seized the opportunity to ambush her. Qingyao snapped back to attention, immediately bent down, and scooped up snow to throw back. The mother and daughter began a lively snow battle, while Mochou and Bingxiao stood by the bamboo house door, watching with smiles.
Mochou couldn’t help but ask Bingxiao,
“Why hasn’t the Emperor come? I wonder if he will come to spend the New Year with mistress and the princess this year?”
Last year, they had all celebrated the New Year together, and she wondered if it would be the same this year.
“He should be coming. Perhaps he’s already on his way,” Bingxiao replied softly. Seeing the smile bloom on Mochou’s lips, she couldn’t help but remind her, “Don’t tell the Marshal. If mistress is delayed and cannot come, wouldn’t that disappoint the Marshal?”
“I know, don’t worry,” Mochou nodded. Thinking of their family reunion if the Emperor came, a sense of melancholy arose in her heart, and she thought of Shen Yu.
She wondered how Shen Yu was doing. The last time mistress had asked her to go to the capital to see the Emperor, he had asked her to stay and accompany him. She hadn’t agreed. Firstly, she didn’t want to become one of his concubines in his harem. Secondly, she belonged to mistress, having pledged her loyalty to her. How could she leave her? So, she hadn’t said anything.
Looking at the two of them playing and panting in the distance, Mochou called out with a smile, “Mistress, Princess, come back quickly for breakfast. After eating, let’s go walk in the snow and admire the plum blossoms. Yesterday, I saw a nunnery not far from here. The plum trees in its front courtyard must be in bloom.”
Qingyao and Xiaoyuer stopped what they were doing. The mother and daughter exchanged glances, smiled, and nodded, “Alright, after breakfast, we’ll walk in the snow and admire the plum blossoms.”
“Mmm,” Xiaoyuer agreed with a nod. The four of them ate a simple breakfast, and after the meal, Mochou cleaned up the leftover dishes.
They all left the bamboo house and headed to a nunnery not far away, which Mochou had discovered by chance earlier. The nunnery didn’t seem to have many visitors or much incense offerings. Standing deep in the mountains, it possessed a somewhat ethereal, secluded aura. There were few nuns in the nunnery; apart from the elder nun, there seemed to be only four or five young nuns managing everything within the temple grounds…
Walking along a relatively flat mountain path, wisps of smoke appeared. Against the white landscape, it truly felt like a transcendent realm.
The nunnery was built halfway up the mountain, hidden within the vast mountains. Apart from the occasional passerby, it was unlikely to be easily discovered.
At this moment, outside the nunnery, two young nuns in green robes were sweeping away the accumulated snow. Upon seeing Qingyao and the other three, they showed surprise before bowing respectfully, “Greetings, benefactors.”
“May we enter the nunnery to see the winter plum blossoms in the courtyard?” Qingyao spoke calmly. At this moment, she radiated a sense of peace, like a lady of leisure, with no trace of her former sharpness. Who would have known that she was the Grand Marshal who had conquered the states of Danfeng and Wanhe in two years?
“Please, benefactors.” The young nuns did not show the snobbery often seen in the secular world, nor did they look upon them differently for not offering incense or donating oil money. They spoke gently and peacefully, “Please make yourselves at home. The winter plums all bloomed this morning.”
“Thank you for the trouble,” Qingyao said and prepared to lead her companions inside to admire the plum blossoms. Just then, another young nun looked up from the side and glanced at them. She had been diligently sweeping the snow with her head bowed, so Qingyao and the others had not paid her much attention. However, as she looked up, all of them exclaimed, “Princess.”
Xiaoyuer thought they were calling her and quickly looked up, only to find Mochou and Bingxiao staring intently at the young nun who had looked up. She couldn’t help but look over, only to see the young nun in green robes not looking at them, but continuing to bow her head and sweep the snow, as if their exclamation hadn’t been directed at her.
Qingyao paused for a moment, surprised to realize that this young nun in green robes was Murong Ruyin. Hadn’t she been staying at the Prince Yin’s manor all along? How did she end up in this secluded nunnery?
“Ruyin?” she called out. The young nun ignored her, as if she didn’t recognize them at all. Her demeanor was serene, and she continued her work as usual. Qingyao couldn’t help but step forward. The young nun who had replied to her earlier glanced at her curiously and slowly said,
“Benefactor, this is Wuchen, not some Ruyin.”
“Wuchen,” Qingyao murmured. At her call, the nun named Wuchen looked up, smiled slightly, and nodded before returning to her work. Her demeanor was serene, and she appeared as peaceful as a piece of fine jade, her former fierceness completely gone. But what was going on? Why did she seem to not recognize them at all? Qingyao turned and glanced at Mochou and Bingxiao. All three were somewhat shocked as they looked at the young nun beside them.