Chapter 493: They Spent the Night Under the Warmth of a Hibiscus Canopy¹

“No… no more wine already?”

Madam Yu, clearly intoxicated, shook the wine pot repeatedly, but could get no more drop out of it.

“Gu Qingcheng” observed that the situation had reached its limit for the night, and was about to stand up and leave when Madam Yu suddenly giggled, as if remembering something.

“Oh right, I still have some wine here.”

She leaned into “Gu Qingcheng’s” personal space, as though trying to share the lingering fragrance of the alcohol on her breath.

The distance between them was almost nonexistent.

At that moment, Madam Yu seemed to realize she had gone too far. A sudden shiver ran through her, and she snapped out of her drunken daze.

Looking at “Gu Qingcheng”, she hurriedly apologized, “Sorry, the alcohol got to me.” She stumbled as she tried to get up and leave.

Seeing that she was in no condition to manage on her own, “Gu Qingcheng” helped her to the bed, removing her shoes so that she could rest comfortably.

Once Madam Yu woke up, “Gu Qingcheng” would just be a dream.

With a quiet sigh, “Gu Qingcheng” acknowledged that the answer she had been waiting for wouldn’t come tonight, as it seemed Madam Yu wasn’t ready to reveal it.

Madam Yu seemed to realize that “Gu Qingcheng’s” actions were signaling her departure. She held on tightly to the hem of “Gu Qingcheng’s” robe and called out, “Qingcheng.”

“Gu Qingcheng” calmly responded, “What is it, Madam?”

Madam Yu held on even tighter. “Qingcheng, I have one more thing to ask of you.”

“Gu Qingcheng” sensed the situation was about to take an unexpected turn, but nodded anyway.

“Can I kiss you?”

Madam Yu finally gathered the courage to ask, her love so humble that it reminded “Gu Qingcheng” of Ling Jue.

It seemed that those who fell in love first, would always be destined to suffer in their love.

Madam Yu’s expression was filled with pleading, her internal struggle apparent, yet she couldn’t help but want to have this one selfish moment.

“As you wish.”

“Gu Qingcheng” gave her consent, and then sat down, waiting for Madam Yu’s kiss.

Madam Yu only gave her a light kiss on the cheek, her expression restrained, with no burning passion whatsoever.

“Gu Qingcheng” wasn’t sure how to respond to such a reserved display.

“Madam, hasn’t your husband ever taught you properly?”

“Gu Qingcheng” tried to ease the awkwardness, but immediately wanted to slap herself once the words came out. She had already complicated Madam Yu’s marriage to such an extent, and now she was even asking such a foolish question.

“My husband… isn’t interested in me…” Madam Yu stammered, her expression becoming even more lovely, tempting “Gu Qingcheng” do something.

Madam Yu’s status only deepened her desire to conquer, but “Gu Qingcheng” reminded herself that wrestling, without love, would be no different than exercising.

“Gu Qingcheng” knew she couldn’t just act on desire alone and allow this moment to develop into something deeper.

However, Madam Yu seemed to have caught onto a glimmer of hope. She looked at “Gu Qingcheng”, and asked, “Can… can you teach me? Demon Lord, you must have a lot of experience, right?”

“Gu Qingcheng” indeed had more than just experience, but seeing Madam Yu in her completely inebriated state, “Gu Qingcheng” gave in.

“Fine, I’ll teach you.”

With that, she leaned in and eagerly kissed Madam Yu. The moment their lips met, Madam Yu seemed to come alive, finally unleashing her true self.

“Qingcheng… Qingcheng…”

Madam Yu began calling “Gu Qingcheng’s” name over and over again, the fire between them burning fiercely, neither willing to let the other go.

At that moment, the gates of memory fully opened. The completed fragments flashed in “Gu Qingcheng’s” mind.

“Qingcheng, I just want a child, and I hope you can help me.”
“Qingcheng, I hope my child will be as beautiful as you.”
“Qingcheng, I think I might like you.”
“Qingcheng… In this life, my body belongs only to you.”

……

The dormant memories resurfaced as Madam Yu, reaching her peak, called out to Gu Qingcheng more passionately, as if pouring out all her pent-up feelings.

She was falling, intoxicated, into an abyss she could no longer escape.

The long-slumbering peach blossom chains began to stir. It clashed with the skeletal bride that had fused with Sword Ghost. Gradually, the peach blossom chains took control, overpowering the other aura.

Ultimately, the color of peach blossoms completely corrupted Madam Yu.

“Gu Qingcheng” watched in disbelief, then felt Madam Yu, in her hazy state, once again searching for her lips.

It seemed she had been holding it in for too long, unwilling to settle for anything less. In doing so, she had let too much time pass. It had been so long that Madam Yu had forgotten she was a woman, forgotten that what she truly craved was love.

At that moment, Madam Yu seemed a bit embarrassed. “Gu Qingcheng” was doing all the work, while she was just enjoying it.

Madam Yu gently stroked “Gu Qingcheng’s” hair and said, “Let me lead this time.”

She leaned in and got to work.

“Gu Qingcheng’s” entire being trembled, as if gripped by a special kind of magic. It was then that she felt an unusual shift in her body. The Yin Pearl, unable to withstand the intense moment, was drawn out once more.

Madam Yu was born with a Mystic Yin Physique, and with the addition of a new Yin Pearl, Sword Ghost was expelled from her body.

Madam Yu’s aura became even more vibrant and colorful, as flesh formed over the skeletal bride once more.

The newly transformed aura bore a striking resemblance to Madam Yu, as if it were another version of her.

While Madam Yu still emanated an indescribable Yin energy, she was now filled with infinite strength. The woman who had once fallen into the role of a villain, had finally undergone a true transformation.

This fusion with the Yin Pearl had brought about a significant change.

While “Gu Qingcheng” watched in astonishment, Madam Yu was completely oblivious to this change and was focused on seeking more.

It fit the saying, ‘gaining fortune through disaster’.

“Gu Qingcheng” thought of the complicated dispute between Liu Churan and Madam Yu. She could only imagine what battle these two sisters would have in the future.

The night deepened, but their performance had already concluded by the time Qiao Ni returned.

“Gu Qingcheng” felt that Madam Yu was far too calm. If it had been anyone else, they would have rushed to reveal the truth upon seeing “Gu Qingcheng”, yet it seemed that Madam Yu had no intention of doing so.

As calm returned to the night, “Gu Qingcheng” couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, yet she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

The only thing she knew for certain was that Madam Yu had temporarily escaped the danger of death, allowing her to continue on her path.

“Gu Qingcheng” let out a sigh, finding this woman harder and harder to understand.

Watching as Sword Ghost return to her side with a similarly complicated expression, “Gu Qingcheng” realized that her busy schedule was far from over.

After spending a romantic night, she now had to address another troublesome matter.

She needed to go reclaim her property.

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Footnotes:

1. 1. This is a quote from a very long poem, ‘Song of Everlasting Regret’ by Bai Juyi. It depicts the tragic events surrounding the love affair of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and his consort, Yang Guifei. It’s a pretty crazy piece of China’s history.
   
   That particular line is from a verse that talks about them making love, and marked the beginning of the emperor neglecting his duties in favor of spending more time with Lady Yang.
   
   Link to a liberal translation of it here:
   musicated.com
   
   Google Song of Everlasting Regret Wikisource for a more direct translation. ↩︎