Just when he thought Shenhe would leave, she quickly returned to Jingchen's side.
Jingchen was stunned, looking at Shenhe with a face full of confusion.
"Senior Sister Shenhe?! What's wrong?!"
"Junior Brother Jingchen... I still want to continue talking to you about some topics related to me."
"Ah?? Then what does Senior Sister Shenhe want to talk about?!"
"Hmm."
Shenhe pondered, deep in thought.
"Master said my fate is that of a solitary star, right?!"
"Mm."
"The Tiansha Gusin destined me to a lonely life. My family also passed away when I was young…"
Jingchen watched Shenhe as she calmly recounted everything.
It was as if she were talking about someone else's story, but the faint sorrow in her eyes still lingered.
It was a sorrow that even the red rope seal couldn't erase.
Jingchen had long known of her tragic past, so from the moment she became a disciple of Madam Ping,
she often wanted to care more about Shenhe's daily life.
For example, after drinking the Seelie dew and eating Qingxin flowers with Senior Sister Shenhe, feeling bored.
He'd take her fishing or look for poultry to improve their meals. (The seasoning for the fish was still Qingxin.)
Of course, this was all done without Madam Ping/Cloud Retainer's knowledge.
"Jingchen, what's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, nothing. Right, Shenhe, wait for me."
Jingchen rummaged through his space backpack and then handed Shenhe some Lotus Flower Crisp.
"Shenhe, these are Lotus Flower Crisp I made. Aya really likes them."
"Aya... Jingchen, can you stop calling me Shenhe? Can you just call me Ah He?"
"This... Shenhe, that's not right, is it? Liyue values etiquette and propriety."
"Then you can keep calling me Senior Sister Shenhe, and I'll call you Achen."
"This... Senior Sister Shenhe, let's not worry about titles for now. You need to go down the mountain more often in the future."
"Why?"
"Before, on Mt. Aozang, I could still celebrate Lantern Rite with you, but now I need to take care of Columbina, and I also have to handle the Harbingers' missions.
I'm afraid it will be difficult to celebrate Lantern Rite with you in the future."
Shenhe said to Jingchen with a serious expression.
"Then... then I want to follow you and Columbina. Can I become a Harbinger too?!"
Jingchen was stunned, rooted to the spot. Senior Sister Shenhe would actually say such words.
Madam Ping/Cloud Retainer, upon hearing this, probably thought that she was the one who had misled Shenhe.
"Shenhe... this... ahem, there are a lot of scoundrels among the Harbingers, some even worse than the God's Residue."
The moment she heard the words "God's Residue," Shenhe became extremely wary.
She glared at Jingchen.
In her eyes, perhaps the term "Fatui Harbingers" wasn't inherently negative, but the phrase "God's Residue"...
That was truly Shenhe's Achilles' heel.
A Fatui Harbinger even more atrocious than the God's Residue?!
No, how could Junior Brother Jingchen stay in such a perilous place?!
"Junior Brother, quit being a Fatui Harbinger."
"Huh?! This..."
Helpless, Jingchen had no choice but to explain to Shenhe, word by word.
There were still good people among the Fatui Harbingers, like Columbina, and he could still maintain his true self within the Harbingers.
After a long while, Shenhe nodded hesitantly.
"Junior Brother Jingchen, take care."
"Senior Sister Shenhe, take care."
Watching Shenhe's gradually disappearing figure, Jingchen couldn't help but murmur to himself.
"Senior Sister Shenhe is still so independent. I hope her future will be as brilliant as her eyes."
However, during most Lantern Rites, Shenhe would be alone, sitting on the stone steps, gazing northward.
Seeing Shenhe's carefree attitude, Ningguang and Ganyu couldn't help but feel confident in themselves.
Especially Ningguang. After slightly nodding to Ganyu, she also walked forward and sat on the stone chair.
Ningguang smiled faintly; today, she had specially changed into the most beautiful robes she owned.
"Let's have a good talk one last time."
"Mm."
Ningguang surveyed the surroundings. Madam Ping had thoughtfully prepared a tea set and tea for them on the table.
She stepped forward slightly, offering the teacup to Jingchen before personally brewing the tea.
"Thank you."
Ningguang nodded silently and returned to her seat.
She had specifically chosen a very ornate robe to wear today, yet Jingchen struggled even to glance at her.
Meanwhile, Jingchen was internally admonishing himself.
Ningguang's robe is too magnificent, even more so than what The Tsaritsa wears, and combined with her natural grace...
It's like a Tianquan empress. (Don't argue, I'm just saying Ningguang's attire is more elegant and majestic than The Tsaritsa's at this moment.)
Should I praise her?
"Ningguang, I've never seen this robe before. It suits you. You have more presence than the Tsaritsa."
Ningguang smiled, wanting to reach out and hold Jingchen's hand.
But Jingchen quickly turned away.
Ningguang silently withdrew her hand and then said,
"Thank you."
It was obvious that Yae Miko's voice was exactly the same as Ningguang's, although this voice was quite familiar to Jingchen.
Unfortunately, Yae Miko really liked to tease him, finding him amusing.
Unknowingly, there was a bit of distance between him and Ningguang.
"Jingchen, is your 'disagreement' truly from the bottom of your heart?!"
Pfft.
Jingchen, who was drinking tea, hadn't expected Ningguang to ask such a question. He couldn't help it and…
"Sorry, sorry, Ningguang."
Ningguang smiled and shook her head, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her robes.
But in her eyes, a hint of anger was already faintly visible.
She said to Jingchen calmly.
"It seems this question still shocks you."
"Ningguang, I begin with Columbina, and I end with Columbina.
In all my words and actions, I will not do anything that harms her, or shows disloyalty."
Ningguang closed her eyes, enduring as she sipped her tea.
She knew.
Yae Miko's voice was very similar to her own, but Yae Miko's fate was something she didn't want to see.
If Yae Miko had succeeded back then, then she would also have had a chance.
It was a pity that the legendary Yae Miko, who enjoyed using others as entertainment, and possessed both beauty and intelligence, was completely defeated by Columbina.
A lesson learned is a lesson remembered.
Be gentle, be virtuous, don't get angry, and take good care of Jingchen.
In the past, within the Jade Chamber, she had kept him at arm's length.
"Would you like some tea and snacks? If I remember correctly, you used to enjoy drinking tea while eating Osmanthus Cake, Jingchen."
Ningguang took out the Osmanthus Cake from her space backpack and handed it to Jingchen.
Jingchen took a small bite, but his face lacked the joy he once had.
"Jingchen, what's wrong? This was specially made for you by Xiangling of Wanmin Restaurant, it should be fine, right?"
"Ah?! That was a habit from years ago; I prefer Lotus Flower Crisp now."
Ningguang was slightly taken aback. Lotus Flower Crisp?
Back when she was on the seat of the Seven Stars, during afternoon tea, didn't Jingchen mostly eat Osmanthus Cake, or perhaps Qingxin Cakes?
How could he have changed to Lotus Flower Crisp after so many years?!
Seeing Ningguang in deep thought, Jingchen could only explain.
"Columbina likes to eat Lotus Flower Crisp. As a result, I've come to love Lotus Flower Crisp in my tea breaks as well.
But, sometimes, she makes Osmanthus Cake for me herself."
Ningguang forced a smile, continuing to drink her tea to hide her embarrassment and helplessness.
Made the Osmanthus Cake herself?!
Columbina was really even stronger than she'd imagined.
Not only had she captured Jingchen's heart, but also...
Did she really have no chance at all?!
Sigh, perhaps. Probably no chance at all.
Columbina, she was truly a terrifying enemy.
Ningguang couldn't help but murmur to herself.
"Oh, I see, I see. Love extends to what they love, and made Osmanthus Cake with her own hands?! Sigh, that's nice, that's nice indeed!!"
The two of them smiled awkwardly, then fell silent again.
Ningguang wanted to know more about Columbina, so she continued to question Jingchen.
"By the way, Jingchen, how did you become a Seelie?!"
"Become a Seelie?"
Jingchen recalled that snowy night in Snezhnaya, and how Columbina had done something without his knowledge...
He finished his tea in one gulp, staring at the lake reflecting the new moon.
"Cough... It's nothing, I just wanted to spend more time with her, so I became a Seelie just like her."
"Then, before Columbina met you, what kind of girl was she?!"
"Hmm? Her reputation wasn't very good. She seemed detached from everything she did, and no matter what she thought, she seemed to be ignorant."
"That's what others say. In my eyes, Aya is clearly genuine, flawless, and kind."
"Of course, she can be a bit willful sometimes, a girl who gets jealous."
As Jingchen spoke about Columbina, his words were filled with joy and pride.
He gazed at the reflection of the crescent moon in the lake, his eyes filled with Columbina's image.
Even the intelligent Ningguang could see a hint of something.
Jealous? Isn't it because you're too outrageous?!
But what exactly happened when Columbina and Jingchen met?!
And what was really going on?!
Becoming a god, and the so-called Seelie curse.
Ningguang wasn't entirely sure if her guess was correct.
Jingchen, he was… by Columbina…
Or did he agree to it himself?
However, with Columbina and his current situation, it seemed that question was no longer relevant.
Ningguang followed Jingchen's gaze, looking towards the lake veiled by the crescent moon.
"The moonlight is beautiful tonight, isn't it, Jingchen?"
"Ah, yes. It truly is. I'd like to bring Aya here next time to see it."
Ningguang secretly glanced at Jingchen. The moonlight illuminated Jingchen's icy blue silver hair, making it appear exceptionally beautiful.
His crimson eyes also seemed more magnificent under the crescent moon.
In that instant, Ningguang felt as though she glimpsed a fairy beneath the full moon, emerging from Jingchen's shadow.
Unstained by the mundane world, handsome and unfettered.
(Ahem, the fairy Ningguang seemed to see here should be Jingliu. Jingchen and Jingliu are…)
(How beautiful Jingliu can be under the moon, Jingchen is equally as captivating.)
Several years ago, atop the Jade Chamber, Jingchen was the same under the moon.
....
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(End of Chapter)