After washing and finishing her medicinal broth, the atmosphere in the room settled into a quiet warmth.
Youqing leaned against the soft pillows, listening.
Ding Yuxuan was still chatting away about amusing things that had happened at the workshop.
Li Furong's soft laughter rose now and then.
Xie Wenyun arranged flowers in a vase, the faint clink of porcelain gentle and calm.
Suddenly, Youqing's heart jolted.
As if she had remembered something important.
Her brows knit slightly.
"…Where is Ling Dang?"
The three girls stopped what they were doing at the same moment.
Xie Wenyun was the first to respond, her tone soothing.
"Miss Ling Dang has already awakened. Don't worry."
Youqing's fingers tightened slightly.
"She woke up? She… she's really alright?"
Ding Yuxuan immediately shook her head—then remembered Youqing couldn't see.
"I mean she's fine—very fine. Just still weak. Luo Ye is guarding her like his life depends on it."
Li Furong couldn't resist adding sharply,
"'Guarding' is putting it lightly. That man's like a wolf protecting its food. Anyone who gets near gets a glare."
Youqing laughed softly at that and felt a small breath of relief escape her chest.
"Her soul thread… returned smoothly?"
Xie Wenyun sat beside the bed again, her voice gentle, as if smoothing away the last of Youqing's worry.
"Sang Qi examined her. Her soul breath is steady. When she woke up she could laugh, talk, and even tease Luo Ye."
Li Furong crossed her arms.
"And the first thing she asked was, 'You won't abandon me again, will you?' I'm telling you—Luo Ye burst into tears on the spot. Like a rainstorm."
Ding Yuxuan stifled a laugh.
"Sister Furong… keep your voice down."
Youqing listened, and something inside her twisted softly.
She remembered Ling Dang curled up in the stone hall, remembered the hollow look of a soul that seemed torn apart—so small, so fragile.
At the time she had no energy left to panic.
But now, the aftershock of fear came flooding back.
Her voice lowered.
"She's really… alright now?"
Xie Wenyun caught the unease in her tone.
"Truly. Sang Qi even said she's doing better than you."
She smiled lightly.
"If anything, you should worry about Luo Ye. Ling Dang has him crying, talking, and emotionally spiraling more than she is."
Li Furong brightened immediately.
"Exactly! When Luo Ye brought her water earlier his hands were shaking so badly the cup was almost empty before it reached her."
Youqing couldn't help smiling.
Not because she was laughing at Luo Ye—but because the relief was deep and genuine.
"That's good…"
She let out a quiet sigh, as if slowly setting down a stone she had been carrying in her chest.
Ding Yuxuan said softly,
"The first words she spoke after waking… were asking for Luo Ye."
Li Furong snorted.
"Those two are practically glued together now. If you could see them, their affection would probably blind you."
Youqing lowered her head slightly. Though her eyes held no focus, the tenderness in her expression was unmistakable.
"She's safe. That's enough."
"As long as… everyone is safe, darkness doesn't matter."
The three girls fell silent at the same time.
Ding Yuxuan reached for her hand.
"Youqing… you're not alone."
Xie Wenyun leaned closer, her voice soft.
"It doesn't matter if you can't see. We'll see for you."
Li Furong patted her shoulder firmly.
"Exactly. If anyone dares hurt you or Ling Dang again, I'll be the first one to fight them."
Youqing smiled.
For the first time, the dark corner in her heart didn't feel quite so cold.
She asked quietly,
"And Luo Ye… where is he now?"
Xie Wenyun's eyes curved with a smile.
"In the side courtyard. Guarding Ling Dang. Not leaving her side."
Li Furong sighed.
"That man won't even let us get within three steps now. Like he's guarding a priceless treasure."
Youqing felt warmth bloom quietly in her chest.
"That… is good."
Li Furong tidied the loose strands of hair by Youqing's temple.
Ding Yuxuan returned with another bowl of warm broth.
Xie Wenyun adjusted the blankets so she could sit more comfortably.
Then—
Youqing suddenly spoke softly.
"But… please stop calling me 'Miss' this and 'Miss' that."
She tilted her head slightly. Though her eyes could not focus, her smile was soft like morning wind.
"Just call me Youqing."
The three girls froze.
Xie Wenyun widened her eyes.
"But… you're the Imperial Daughter and the Saintess. Wouldn't that be improper?"
"And your friend," Youqing interrupted gently but firmly.
"We fought together. If you keep using such formalities… it will feel too distant."
Ding Yuxuan was the first to react.
Warmth lit her eyes like starlight.
She held Youqing's hand and smiled.
"Then I'll call you… Sister Qing."
Li Furong was the most straightforward of the three. After a moment's thought, she suddenly dropped to her knees and hugged Youqing's arm.
"Youqing! If you say that, I might actually cry…"
Xie Wenyun laughed.
"Furong, why are you crying?"
Li Furong sniffed.
"Because if she wants me to call her by name, it feels like we've officially become sisters."
Ding Yuxuan laughed softly and patted her back.
"You really are something…"
Youqing listened to their playful quarrel, and for the first time in a long while, she felt completely at ease.
In the darkness, she extended her hand.
Three hands immediately clasped it.
Each carried a different warmth.
Xie Wenyun's gentle.
Ding Yuxuan's steady.
Li Furong's lively.
Youqing whispered,
"Thank you."
Li Furong answered immediately,
"No—we should thank you, Youqing! Without you, Sang Qi and the others wouldn't have come to Yaodu. We wouldn't have met them either."
Xie Wenyun added warmly,
"With us here, you'll never be alone."
Ding Yuxuan squeezed her hand.
"When your eyes recover, I'll drive the Yao Carriage and take all of you on a trip. We'll go see the spring blossoms in Fuxiu Forest together."
Youqing smiled.
The smile was like a beam of light quietly piercing through darkness.
"Alright."
Yao Manor — Council Hall
Youqing had awakened.
But she could not see.
The news swept through the entire Yao Manor like a storm.
The Five Yao and the Three Generals gathered again in the council hall. Yet even the glow of qingyao stone could not dispel the shadows from their brows.
Sang Qi had already said it three times.
"She will recover. Her sight breath is only temporarily suppressed."
But no matter how many times he repeated it,
their hearts remained heavy.
Cang Yuan leaned against a pillar, unusually silent.
Lin Lie sat with his head lowered, twisting his sleeve as if punishing himself.
Luo Ye paced restlessly, like a furnace burning in the room.
Li Yan tapped the table with his fingers, the dull rhythm echoing through the hall.
The three generals were not much better.
Garo sat rigidly upright, fists clenched so tight veins bulged.
Tutan paced like a trapped bear, clutching his hair.
Lianyu appeared calm, but the fabric of his sleeve had been wrinkled by his grip.
The weight of the air pressed down so heavily the hall felt ready to split apart.
Then—
Knock.
The door was struck.
An attendant hurried in, holding a scroll sealed with black-gold wax.
"Generals… this is a letter delivered from the Nether Domain. From the Nether Emperor."
The hall fell silent instantly.
The Nether Emperor You Nian—
Youqing's father.
Garo frowned.
"At a time like this?"
Tutan stiffened.
"Could it be… he already knows the Imperial Daughter was injured?"
Lianyu spoke quietly.
"Open it."
Garo accepted the scroll and broke the seal.
The black obsidian paper glowed faintly. The handwriting cut across the page like a blade.
They expected anger.
Questions.
Accusations.
But the first line made everyone freeze.
"Qing Fei is with child."
Tutan blinked.
"…Huh???"
Garo went completely rigid.
"Q-Qing Fei? The Nether Empress? She's… pregnant?"
Tutan stammered,
"But isn't she… over thir—"
Lianyu read the next line, his voice slightly drifting.
"She is thirty-seven and must be watched carefully during this pregnancy. I myself am past forty and had long ceased expecting heaven's blessing. Yet this child… may mend the regret that Qing Fei and I carry for losing Youqing."
The hall was utterly silent.
Cang Yuan muttered softly,
"This… counts as good news, right?"
Lianyu's eyes flickered.
"The Nether Emperor rarely writes about personal matters. If he sent this himself…"
Sang Qi's eyes softened slightly.
"He wanted Xingyu to know."
Garo finally steadied himself and continued reading.
"If matters between the Nether Domain and the Yao Palace reach agreement, she may return to the Nether Domain. Qing Fei's pregnancy has only just stabilized. She should not be stirred emotionally—but her longing for our daughter is deep. Seeing her once would be better than any medicine."
The final line seemed to weigh down the entire page.
"Return soon."
Luo Ye frowned.
"But Xingyu cannot see right now. She's too weak… how can she travel?"
Sang Qi shook his head.
"In her current state, she should not travel far. Her soul threads are unstable. The aura of the Nether Domain is too heavy—she wouldn't endure it."
Lin Lie spoke quietly.
"We will do everything we can to heal her eyes. The Nether Emperor's letter is both good news and pressure. We cannot promise when her sight will return."
Li Yan clenched his fist.
"Her eyes will recover. Sang Qi said so—I trust him."
Cang Yuan sighed, a faint crooked smile appearing.
"Who would have thought… the moment we most needed saving, the Nether Emperor would send us good news."
Tutan nodded eagerly.
"Yeah… it's encouraging. So the Nether Emperor's still got it at forty!"
Garo sighed.
"…Shut up."
The Three Generals and the Five Yao finally laughed together.
But within that laughter—
lay a weight none of them could ignore