Parting…
Everyone knew it was inevitable.
Bai Yuhe, of course, understood that Su Qing would have to leave soon.
Although she knew that Su Qing would return to accompany her after the pilgrimage was over, the fact that Su Qing was about to depart remained unchanged.
Furthermore, she did not know how many years Su Qing would be gone this time.
Therefore, she naturally wanted to cherish these final moments together.
One day.
In the evening.
Su Qing told Bai Yuhe that she would be leaving the next day.
Regarding Su Qing's sudden announcement,
Bai Yuhe did not show the slightest bit of surprise…
She had long been mentally prepared for this.
However, while she wasn't surprised, her heart was still filled with reluctance.
How could she be willing to let her go?
After all, it had been so difficult to meet again! And so difficult to stay together.
Now that they had to part, how could she bear it?
But despite the immense reluctance in her heart, she had no intention of trying to make Su Qing stay…
Because she knew that she wouldn't be able to keep her even if she tried.
After all, she had spent a lifetime with Su Qing.
She understood Su Qing's temperament more or less.
So, she never even considered trying to change Su Qing's plans.
In her view, rather than acting like a petulant child to keep her, it was better to send her off gracefully…
That way, she could leave with a lighter heart.
Bai Yuhe looked at Su Qing with a smile and said calmly, "I know you're leaving, but there's no need to be in such a hurry. Why not leave the day after tomorrow? Tomorrow, I will host a farewell banquet for you!"
Su Qing looked at Bai Yuhe, and seeing that she wasn't weeping like an ordinary woman, she breathed a slight sigh of relief. At the same time, she swallowed the words of comfort she had prepared.
She said, "Leaving the day after tomorrow? That works!"
Su Qing didn't have much of an issue with delaying her departure by a single day.
After all, it was only one day.
It wasn't worth being overly concerned about.
At most, she would just have to listen to her goddaughter nag her for a bit longer.
"Then, since you've agreed, I'll go ahead and arrange the banquet. You mustn't break your word!" Bai Yuhe propped up her head, revealing her pearly white teeth as she spoke to Su Qing with a beaming smile.
Su Qing shook her head helplessly and said, "When have I ever broken my word?"
"My dear sister, have you broken your word so few times?" Bai Yuhe gave Su Qing a playful glare and said, "Don't think I don't know—you're a better liar than I am!"
Su Qing neither admitted nor denied it upon hearing this; she simply smiled and rubbed the girl's head.
"By the way, since I'm leaving the day after tomorrow, why don't you show me the results of your cultivation today? Let me see how much you've learned from me lately."
"What do you mean, Sister?"
"Daoist cultivation, of course. What else did you think?"
"What a pity. I thought you meant finger techniques!"
"You girl, what is your head filled with all day?" Su Qing couldn't help but roll her eyes at her.
If she could, she really wanted to crack open this girl's head to see if it was filled with nothing but lewd nonsense.
How could her mind be so full of such strange things?
Facing Su Qing's criticism, Bai Yuhe simply stuck out her tongue childishly and made a face.
She didn't try to argue back.
Seeing her like this, Su Qing smiled helplessly, walked forward, and pinched her cheeks twice.
Then, they moved on to other topics.
Time passed.
The next day.
Early morning.
The morning mist had just dispersed.
Su Qing stood in the garden, looking at the flowers in full bloom, feeling exceptionally fond of them.
She was someone who enjoyed leisure and elegance.
Naturally, she delighted in beautiful things.
While she was admiring the flowers,
Bai Yuhe crept up silently behind her, wanting to startle her.
Unfortunately, how could a disciple be a match for her master?
Before the girl could even get close to Su Qing, she was discovered.
"What? Didn't you say you were going to prepare the farewell banquet? Do you still have the leisure to come and play with me now?"
"Can't I just leave the preparations to the servants? I am the ruler of a kingdom, after all. How can I do everything personally?" Bai Yuhe huffed at Su Qing.
Su Qing was slightly stunned by those words…
She had indeed been judging others by her own standards.
She was herself, and others were others; everyone's lifestyle was naturally different.
"Fair enough! Then why have you come so early in the morning?"
"To help you change your clothes, of course!" Bai Yuhe said with a smile. "Once you've changed, I imagine the banquet will be ready. Then, you can just come to the hall and sit with me. Accompany me while we listen to music and watch the dancers. Spend this last day with me!"
Su Qing glanced at the girl, then asked no more.
She simply nodded slightly and said, "Very well, I'll leave it all to you."
"Sister isn't familiar with these things, so you have to listen to me!" Bai Yuhe said cheerfully.
Su Qing pursed her lips; what the girl said was indeed true.
Soon.
Under Bai Yuhe's fussing, Su Qing changed into a dress more suitable for a banquet.
Chen Chaoyan and the others were also served by palace maids and changed into new clothes.
This was so they could better participate in the farewell banquet.
Once everything was ready,
Bai Yuhe and Su Qing led Chen Chaoyan and the group to the Eastern Pavilion for the feast.
Stepping down from the Dragon Palanquin, Bai Yuhe held Su Qing's soft, fair hand as they entered the pavilion together.
As soon as they entered, Su Qing heard the beautiful melodies of pipes and songs and saw two rows of enchanting, powdered beauties.
A grand feast was laid out in the central hall, featuring both meat and vegetarian dishes, all of which were delicacies from the mountains and seas.
However, the Queen also knew that Chen Chaoyan was a nun who did not eat meat, so she had a separate table set for her so she could also enjoy the day's fine food.
Su Qing and Bai Yuhe took their seats, and the dancers in the hall began to perform gracefully to the music…
The dance was beautiful.
Su Qing found herself somewhat entranced.
Bai Yuhe, however, had no heart for the dance; her gaze was fixed on Su Qing.
After a long while, she raised a jade cup with her slender fingers and said, "Sister, I toast to you!"
Su Qing snapped back to her senses and nodded slightly.
She took the cup of wine and drank it in one go.
This was a farewell drink.
Su Qing knew it, and Bai Yuhe knew it too.
The banquet was exceptionally lively.
Su Qing enjoyed herself thoroughly.
Bai Yuhe also drank quite a bit that day.
Time flowed slowly.
It was soon late at night.
Having drunk a lot of wine, Bai Yuhe was already fast asleep.
Su Qing, however, remained spirited.
She sat in the courtyard, staring at the bright moonlight, lost in thought.
Beside her, Chen Chaoyan sat down.
She propped her small face in her hands, elbows on the table, silently watching Su Qing.
After a long time, she asked, "Is Godmother reluctant to leave the Queen of the Women's Kingdom?"
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said:
"Yes, after all, we've spent so much time together, and with our past life's connection, there is some reluctance… but the time to leave has come, so we must go. After all, I promised to accompany you all the way to the Western Heaven, and I cannot break my word."
"I see… I thought Godmother might stay because she couldn't bear to…"
"You… how little do you trust me? What? When did I become so untrustworthy to you?"
"I naturally trust Godmother… I trust you more than anyone. It's just that sometimes I can't help but wonder."
"To wonder is to doubt." Su Qing gave a helpless smile and said, "But no matter. Having doubts also shows that you've grown; you no longer believe everything people tell you. However, I'll say it again: I will not break the promise I made to you."
Hearing Su Qing's words…
Chen Chaoyan quickly nodded and said with a smile, "I believe you, of course!"
With their departure imminent, Chen Chaoyan couldn't help but feel a bit happy.
She didn't know why she was happy.
But the thought of leaving the Women's Kingdom soon made her feel inexplicably joyful.
She thought perhaps she was happy to continue the pilgrimage.
To continue fulfilling her master's requirements.
But she also felt there might be another reason for her happiness…
She was a bit confused by it…
However, she didn't intend to dwell on it.
She felt that as long as she was happy, it was a good thing.
As for the rest, there was no need to think so much for now.
Chen Chaoyan accompanied Su Qing in watching the moon for a good while…
After a long time,
Su Qing was likely tired, so she stood up and stretched.
Then she said, "Ah~ let's go back and rest. We'll sleep for the night and set off tomorrow."
Chen Chaoyan quickly nodded upon hearing this.
She followed Su Qing back into the room.
The next day.
Early morning.
Chen Chaoyan had packed the luggage very early.
Clearly, for Chen Chaoyan, she had indeed wanted to leave for a long time.
It was only because of Su Qing that she had stayed here without leaving.
Su Qing looked at Chen Chaoyan, who was fully packed and ready to go at any moment, and couldn't help but smile slightly.
It was rare to see this girl so impatient.
Before leaving,
Su Qing went to find Bai Yuhe.
She gave her a final farewell.
Bai Yuhe said, "How about I use the Dragon Palanquin to see you out of the city?"
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said, "That won't be necessary. We arrived quietly, so we should leave quietly as well. Otherwise, wouldn't it cause a huge stir throughout the city?"
After receiving this answer from Su Qing,
Bai Yuhe did not insist further. She simply nodded helplessly and said, "Very well, since you've put it that way, I can only wish you a safe journey. But you must never forget—once you obtain the True Scriptures, you must come back to see me!"
Su Qing nodded just as she had the day before.
She indicated that she would certainly not forget.
Having received Su Qing's promise,
Bai Yuhe nodded slightly.
Then she sent people to escort them out of the city…
However, it was a low-key departure.
Su Qing mounted the white horse after a long time.
Looking at the white horse, which had grown quite fat during this period because the fodder in the imperial stables was too good, Su Qing felt a bit helpless.
If one were to ask who among them was most reluctant to leave the palace,
it would undoubtedly be the white horse beneath her.
Su Qing patted the horse's head and said, "Alright, the easy life is over. From now on, you'll have to travel with us and endure hardships again!"
The white horse snorted dejectedly and tossed its head.
But even if it was dissatisfied, it could only vent a little…
It couldn't refuse the requirement to travel with Su Qing.
After all, the person on its back possessed unknown strength… who knew if she might turn it into a horse-meat hotpot?
In short, of all people to provoke, it certainly shouldn't provoke the person on its back!
Thus, the sorrow was that great.
Su Qing ignored the white horse's reluctance for the palace and simply patted its belly, signaling it to move.
The white horse complied and stepped forward.
It carried Su Qing out of the city.
There were no obstacles in leaving the city.
No one on the streets knew that among those departing was the Empress they so frequently gossiped about.
Su Qing was naturally very satisfied with this…
Because it saved a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Once out of the city,
Su Qing rode the horse, heading west with Chen Chaoyan.
On the road, Chen Chaoyan had a face full of smiles, completely losing her usual facade of steadiness. Even Yudie couldn't help but feel that Chen Chaoyan's sweet smile was a bit strange.
Yudie's slender fingers tugged at Chen Chaoyan's sleeve as she asked, "Sister Chaoyan, what makes you so happy?"
Chen Chaoyan was slightly stunned. She touched her face and then shook her head, saying, "I'm just happy that we can finally set off! We stayed in that Women's Kingdom for so long; now that we can start our journey again, how could I not be happy?"
"So you're happy just because of that? The things that make you happy are always so strange, Sister," Yudie couldn't help but comment.
"Is it that strange? I think it's quite normal," Chen Chaoyan scratched her head, puzzled.
Yudie pursed her lips, not bothering to comment further. Instead, she returned to her mother's side to help lead the horse, preventing it from wandering off.
Chen Chaoyan shook her head and didn't care anymore, simply indulging in her own happiness.
As for Jingyue, she was as calm as ever.
Or rather, she was a bit distracted.
Although Su Qing was curious about what she was thinking, for various reasons, she didn't pry.
And so,
Su Qing and the others slowly traveled westward.
Without realizing it, several days had passed.
Another day.
Su Qing and her group were walking in the fading light of the sunset, looking for a nearby household where they could stay the night, just as they had in the past.
"I wonder if we can find anyone… if not, I suppose we'll have to sleep outdoors today," Chen Chaoyan said, looking at the waning sun on the horizon.
As she said this, Chen Chaoyan felt a sense of nostalgia for some reason.
It felt as if she hadn't said something like that in a long time.
Su Qing smiled and said, "If we sleep outdoors, then so be it! We've done it so many times before anyway."
Chen Chaoyan smiled along with her.
And it was at this moment,
Jingyue, who rarely spoke, suddenly pointed not far away and said, "There seems to be a woman over there… why don't we go and ask if we can stay at her house for the night?"
Su Qing followed the direction of Jingyue's finger…
But when she saw clearly the person Jingyue was talking about, she couldn't help but be slightly stunned.
She thought to herself, "Could it be such a coincidence?"
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