Ruan Mei held the phoenix crown. All around her, Herta's puppets cheered her on.
"Place this peerless phoenix crown upon the great Madam Herta!"
"Don't hesitate, Madam Ruan Mei. Hesitation only leads to lost time—and defeat."
"Madam Herta possesses both beauty and brilliance! My god, is there any being in this universe more perfect than Madam Herta?"
Before her, Herta had already closed her eyes, quietly waiting for Ruan Mei to place the crown.
Ruan Mei hesitated.
"You placed a single hairpin in my hair. I'm supposed to place an entire phoenix crown on you. This hardly seems like mutual courtesy."
"And what's wrong with that? I'll have them buy you one. Later, I'll crown you too."
Ruan Mei blinked. Herta smiled calmly, as if she had anticipated this all along.
Herta #99 stepped forward with troubling news.
"Madam Herta, there's only one phoenix crown and rosy cape on the entire Luofu."
Herta frowned.
"What? Production is that low? Is it credits? Not enough credits? I'll contact Asta right now. Money's no object."
Herta #99 quickly shook her head.
"After the fall of Cangcheng, the raw materials—the silkworm silk, the sunset satin—nothing comparable has been found anywhere in the cosmos."
Herta's displeasure grew.
"The entire cosmos, and no substitutes?!"
Herta #99 nodded, then added quietly.
"There's another reason. There are only two inheritors of the craft—Jingliu, the Swordmaster, who has fallen to mara, and Baiheng, who has reincarnated."
"The crown in your hands is said to be a one-of-a-kind relic from long ago. It has survived to this day, as pristine as the day it was made."
Herta countered immediately.
"Jingliu was from Cangcheng. A master of both letters and martial arts—I can understand her involvement. But Baiheng was a foxian from the Yaoqing. How did she master such a craft?"
Herta #99 glanced at Ruan Mei. Herta shot her a look, and only then did she answer.
"Madam Herta, the crown in your hands was woven by Jingliu and Baiheng together. The two had already pledged themselves to each other."
(A/N: Why did Baiheng know how? Jingliu taught her.)
"But then came the disaster of Shuhu. That vow became a relic of history."
A flicker of surprise crossed Herta's face. So many others in this world are like me. No wonder Jingliu fell to Mara.
"Wait. How do you know all this?!"
Herta #99 froze. After a long hesitation, she produced a novel—a Mirage Maker's Tale: The Legend of the Foxian Swordmaster.
"Madam Herta, the platform can get terribly boring sometimes. I may have read this novel. You don't mind, do you?"
Herta laughed—an exasperated laugh.
"You! Do you take me for a member of the Fool's Club?!"
"Someone! Dispose of this one immediately."
Herta #99: "Madam Herta, injustice! I have crucial evidence!"
Herta had already turned away, unwilling to listen. But Ruan Mei spoke up.
"Let her speak. I find this rather intriguing. At the very least, Herta #99 has developed quite an interesting hobby."
Herta glanced at Herta #99. Praise for her is praise for me.
"Fine. Continue."
Herta #99 quickly thanked Ruan Mei, then continued.
"On the back of this crown, there is an engraving of a foxian gazing at the moon."
Herta examined it. She was right.
"And?"
"This crown was woven by Jingliu and Baiheng together. It is the very testament to their vow."
Herta was silent for a long moment. Finally, she set the crown down.
"Someone. Pack this up. Send it to Bailu. I am not one to covet what belongs to another."
With that, Herta turned and left. Ruan Mei followed.
The three onlookers were left utterly bewildered.
March 7th: "Madam Herta seems... upset."
Stelle nodded slightly.
Firefly, internally: March 7th, you're so busy watching Herta and Ruan Mei. My eyes have been on Stelle the whole time.
---
At the Ruomu Pavilion in Changle.
Herta was still unsettled, troubled. Ruan Mei played her lute.
"Herta. We don't need this particular crown."
Herta turned and gazed at her.
"If I want something, I will obtain it myself."
"Find me Jingliu someday. Once I've learned the craft, I'll teach you. Then we'll weave a crown together."
Ruan Mei was silent for a moment.
"Do you know what a phoenix crown represents?"
Herta blinked. She gritted her teeth and said nothing.
Around them, the Arbor's immortal絮 drifted. Fireworks blossomed and faded. Lanterns blazed through the night.
[Hmm? This atmosphere is quite something. Going to confess?] ♪
Ruan Mei hesitated. Then she reached out and took Herta's hand.
Herta flinched. She feigned composure with a cough, then stood and walked away from the pavilion.
Ruan Mei set down her lute and sighed.
"I haven't even said the words. And she's already gone."
[Don't give up!! Go after her! Confess!] ♪
[If not now, when? Don't be afraid of rejection. Believe in yourself.] ♪
Ruan Mei adjusted her hairpin. She made up her mind and gave chase.
But Changle was filled with Herta's puppets.
Everywhere she looked—only puppets.
"Madam Ruan Mei, go no further. Let Madam Herta have her peace."
"Stop here, Madam Ruan Mei. One step further, and you tread into an irrevocable abyss."
Only Herta #99 offered her an answer.
"Madam Ruan Mei. Turn around. Quiet your heart. Find her."
Ruan Mei turned.
There, where the lanterns faded, where dawn broke through the night, Herta stood atop the Star-Gazing Terrace, gazing at the sky.
Even geniuses yearn. Even geniuses fear.
Ruan Mei ignored the puppets. She walked straight to the terrace and stood before Herta's moonlit silhouette.
She steadied herself. Her voice, as calm as ever.
"Herta. About the crown..."
"Yes?"
"I will weave one with you. Like Jingliu and Baiheng."
Herta pulled her magic hat lower, hiding her expression.
Ruan Mei slowly reached out and took her hand.
"Herta. Last night's moon was beautiful. But you—with your unparalleled beauty—are more beautiful still."
(T/N: Lets goooooo!)