Shu Mingye grumbled internally. History books had one job. And apparently, they had decided to take a vacation during that entire era. Either someone erased Qi Heng from history completely, or the man had pulled off the greatest disappearing act in the world. But why? Why would an emperor especially one with that powerful lightning abandon everything, live outside the wall, wear a full-face mask like an undercover villain, and raise a lightning princess in secret? Did he do something unforgivable? Was he atoning? Was he cursed? Heartbroken? Terribly bad at politics?
He didn't know. But he knew one thing for certain. Now he had a clue. "Qi Heng," he murmured softly, almost to himself. "And Yun Qi."
Linyue looked up at him. "Hmm?"
He smiled and leaned down to kiss her nose. "Nothing, Pie. Just thinking."
"Dangerous habit," she said, poking his chest.
"Only when I do it without hugging you," he said, tightening his arms around her. "Now it's safe. Very efficient."
Linyue rolled her eyes but curled closer. "You just want to stay like this."
"I do," he said happily. "And I plan to do it every day until we find your master's tragic emperor backstory. Then maybe… I'll make you your own spring."
Linyue blinked. "Are you planning to dissolve yourself? No. You're not water cultivator. You can't do that."
"No," Shu Mingye said firmly. "But I can dig a hole and name it after you. Close enough."
The white dog let out a long, suffering sigh from the foot of the bed.
Linyue giggled. "The dog disapproves."
Shu Mingye pointed at it. "That's because it knows I'm still watching it."
"Jealous."
"Extremely."
Linyue raised an eyebrow, amused. "I haven't seen the others for days. They must be worried."
Shu Mingye stretched lazily beside her, completely unbothered. "I haven't stepped out of this chamber for three days either. And not one of them came to disturb us."
Linyue frowned. "That's odd…"
"Maybe," he smirked, "they just thought you were… making babies with me."
She poked his chest again. "First, you were obsessed with chains. Now you're obsessed with babies?"
"I am still obsessed with chains," he said proudly.
Linyue rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched. "Have you ever… thought about having children?" she asked, her voice curious.
Shu Mingye chuckled. "No. Not before. Not even marriage. I always thought I'd be alone for the rest of my life. Just me and my fire… and a lot of blood."
Linyue frowned. "Really?"
"I was very dramatic back then," he admitted with a grin. "But now you're here. And honestly? Having you is more than enough." He paused, then added with a straight face, "Besides, we technically already have a fluffy dog and three loud, nosy, chaotic companions."
Linyue burst out laughing. "You're right. That's basically a full household."
"Exactly," he said smugly. "We're only missing a nosy neighbor and a kitchen that explodes every few weeks."
Linyue snuggled closer. "Let's talk about that baby thing… much, much later."
Shu Mingye nodded. "Agreed. When we've survived the demons, mysterious emperor pasts, and at least one of Song Meiyu's kitchen experiments."
Linyue sighed softly, content. "That might take a while."
Shu Mingye smirked. "All the more reason to enjoy the peace now, Pie."
*****
It was noon and the sun outside was bright and warm. Almost too cheerful considering the nonsense Linyue was about to walk into. After a long morning of snuggling in Shu Mingye's arms (which turned into more snuggling, and then some strategic teasing), he had finally dragged himself off to his study. Linyue decided it was time to visit the others. Her loyal, ridiculous, troublemaking companions who had apparently survived several days without blowing up the palace. A miracle, honestly.
She walked through familiar hallway and reached her old chamber. Technically, it was now Song Meiyu's chamber, which meant it had probably been turned into a flower-scented apothecary-slash-chaos-nest. She knocked once.
Thud thud thud—BAM.
The door burst open. Song Meiyu stood there, beaming, eyes sparkling. "Sister Linyue! You finally came out!"
Before Linyue could say anything, she was pulled into an enthusiastic hug. She smiled and hugged her back, because really how could she not? Song Meiyu radiated chaos but also felt like family.
"Come in, come in!"
Linyue stepped inside and immediately spotted He Yuying, sprawled on a chair, casually munching dried plums as usual. Shen Zhenyu sat calmly at a small table, reading a scroll and pretending not to hear anything. Classic.
Linyue sat in her usual spot, and Song Meiyu was already pouring her tea. And then it began.
"So…" Song Meiyu leaned in with a knowing grin. "How was it?"
Linyue blinked. "How was what?"
Song Meiyu lowered her voice, full of anticipation. "The babies."
Linyue choked on nothing but air. "No babies!"
Song Meiyu gasped in betrayal. "What?! You've been in that room for days and still no babies?"
He Yuying snorted. "Should've bet money."
Shen Zhenyu didn't even look up. "This is why I stayed out of it."
Linyue's face turned red. "W-we weren't—That's not what we were doing the whole time!"
"Ohhh?" Song Meiyu raised her brows. "Then what were you doing, hmm? Reading poetry? Playing go? Meditating shirtless with candles?"
He Yuying lazily added, "I bet there were shirtless candles involved."
Shen Zhenyu finally looked up, expression entirely neutral. "You're all unsupervised too often."
Linyue covered her face. She missed snuggling with Shu Mingye already.
At that moment, the white dog who had followed her loyally like a fuzzy, judgmental cloud snorted and curled up at her feet, like it too was disappointed by the current company.
Linyue gave it a gentle pat. "Anyway, the dog shared memories with me."
Song Meiyu blinked. "Memories? The dog?"
Linyue nodded and began explaining. About Qi Meng. About the dream. About the beautiful woman named Yun Qi. About her master who was not only suspiciously flirty but apparently an emperor. And finally, about the spring.
There was a heavy pause in the room. Then—
"She became a spring?" Song Meiyu whimpered. "That's so… so poetic! And tragic! She was literally too emotional to live!"
"She became a water source," He Yuying said flatly, popping another dried plum in his mouth. "So, you basically drank someone's remains."
Song Meiyu gasped. "No! It was her spiritual energy! That's different!"
He Yuying nodded slowly. "Mhm. Still basically the same."
Shen Zhenyu, unfazed as always, tapped the scroll he was holding. "An emperor, you said? Qi Heng? I've never read that name in any of the dynasty records."
Linyue nodded with a sigh. "Yeah. That's why it's so strange. No one's heard of him. But Yun Qi called him Your Majesty. It didn't sound like a pet name, either."
He Yuying tilted his head lazily. "Maybe it was a roleplay thing."
"Stop," Linyue said firmly.
"Never," He Yuying replied without blinking.
Linyue turned to Shen Zhenyu, clinging to the last shred of sanity. "Any word from Soup Man?"
Shen Zhenyu shook his head. "Not yet."
Linyue took a long, dramatic sip of tea. Then she announced, "Anyway, I have a plan."
Song Meiyu immediately straightened, eyes sparkling. "What is it?"
He Yuying groaned and slumped deeper into his chair. "If it involves drinking people, I won't agree."
Shen Zhenyu added, "If it's dangerous, Shu Mingye definitely won't let you."
Linyue held up a finger. "Actually, two plans."
The three groans in sync.
"First," she said seriously, "poke the mysterious array on the inner wall."
Song Meiyu gasped loudly, eyes wide.
"Second," Linyue continued, "go back to the spring."
All three of them spoke at the same time, overlapping like overexcited parrots.
Song Meiyu: "Are you going to visit the maiden again?"
Shen Zhenyu: "Do you want to check the spring for residual traces of her energy?"
He Yuying: "I don't want to be haunted by emotional puddles."
Linyue stared at them. "I want to make sure of something," she said. "Before she completely disappeared, Yun Qi said something. But I didn't hear it clearly."
Shen Zhenyu leaned forward slightly. "What are you going to do then?"
"Do you remember the last part of the poem?" She cleared her throat and recited:
"In halls of glass where cool winds stay,
The spring recalls what time forgot…
For time forgets those who recall."
Song Meiyu tilted her head. "Didn't that mean the water makes us remember event from the past?"
Linyue nodded slowly. "Yes. But I've been thinking. Since that spring is her spiritual energy and if she created it deliberately… then maybe there's another meaning behind it. Maybe we're not supposed to drink it."
He Yuying muttered, "Thank heavens."
Linyue gave him a side-eye but continued, "Water can retain memory. That's what I read. What if we were supposed to look through it, not slurp it down like soup?"
Shen Zhenyu tapped his scroll thoughtfully. "That's possible. If she infused herself into the spring, the water might contain her memories."
Song Meiyu sniffled. "That's… really sad. Like a puddle holding onto heartbreak."
He Yuying popped a dried plum into his mouth. "Sounds exhausting. I can barely hold onto my own memories."
Linyue ignored him and asked seriously. "So, where should we go first? The wall or the spring?"