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墨書 Inktalez
In the thirty-sixth year of the Ruian Dynasty, I was fifteen years old.
As a sheltered young lady, I had no remarkable hobbies to boast about.
My mother, who was renowned for her beauty, often said that a woman should have aspirations; when beauty is at hand, all modesty is but a fleeting thought.
I held this belief as my guiding principle.
In my eyes, throughout the entire Ruian Kingdom, aside from my father, only Emperor Ruian could compare.
At forty-five, Emperor Ruian was in the prime of his life. Even with three thousand beauties in his harem, he never showed signs of fatigue.
From birth until I came of age, I had encountered only a handful of men—ten fingers could count them all.
In comparison, I had always felt that no one could be more captivating than Emperor Ruian.
That was until I met Mu Liushang.
My mother said that all admiration is reserved for one's beloved.
I used to doubt this notion because I had been amazed many times by the mastiff that Aunt Liu kept in the kitchen. Aunt Liu claimed it was a dog from the Western Regions, larger than ordinary dogs and particularly gluttonous.
I often ran to the kitchen to watch it; it would gnaw on bones and occasionally bark at me. Aunt Liu said that was its way of greeting.
It truly was a remarkable dog.
Later on, my fondness for Di Ting could be traced back to that experience; it made me feel an instant connection and deep affection upon our first meeting.
That day, he stood before Lord Penglai, gently reaching out to caress the flowers.
Among the peonies, my favorite was Lord Penglai itself, simply because its name filled my heart—restless from thoughts of Emperor Ruian—with joy.
At that moment, he stood before me, Lord Penglai, dressed in purple, harmonizing beautifully with the flowers around him.
He was not like my brother, whose every gesture exuded the charm of a young nobleman; instead, he resembled a valiant general galloping on horseback.
I couldn't see his face clearly, but I felt as if the corners of his mouth were turned upwards.
My mother once said that in this world, amidst countless beauties and the vastness of the rivers, there is only one person destined by heaven. Among millions, you can only see him. It is a fate of obsession and helplessness.
I gazed at Mu Liushang, lost in thought, standing there in a daze.
It felt as if I could see him turning to look towards the pavilion, and I seemed to witness eternity unfold before my eyes.
After that day, I felt as if my soul had been lost. I couldn't eat or drink, my heart and mind consumed only with the desire to follow my brother, just to catch another glimpse of Mu Liushang.
Once I became familiar with his presence, I grew even bolder.
Sometimes, I would sneak out of the mansion and hide at the entrance of the general's residence, eagerly waiting for Mu Liushang to emerge. Then I would follow him like a little shadow, carefully observing his every move.
I admired the way he walked with confidence and grace, noted his expressions while conversing with others; even the casual lift of his hand seemed captivating to me.
At times, I would meticulously disguise myself as a dashing young gentleman of the world, holding a folding fan and deliberately swaying past the taverns, tea houses, pastry shops, and various street stalls where Mu Liushang might be found.
Upon seeing him, I would feign surprise as if I had just discovered him there, exclaiming, "Ah! Brother Mu, what are you doing here?"
My tone was one of genuine astonishment and delight, as if it were a serendipitous encounter—though in my heart, I had rehearsed this moment countless times.
However, one day I saw Mu Liushang at the entrance, and standing before him was none other than Princess Lianhua.
Princess Lianhua was the most beloved daughter of Emperor Ruian. At sixteen years old, she was stunningly beautiful and full of life. She often donned vibrant red dresses and galloped through the streets—a rare embodiment of grace among the women of the Ruian Dynasty.
I looked at the two of them: one was the valiant and sharp-witted young general I admired, and the other was the proud princess in red, whose beauty could rival that of peonies.
I instinctively glanced at the delicacies I had carefully prepared for Mu Liushang, only to feel my heart's joy extinguished in an instant like a splash of cold water. Step by step, I slowly retreated, each movement feeling as if I were dragging a heavy weight, my heart filled with bitterness and disappointment.
In the thirty-sixth year of the Ruian Dynasty, the Ruian Kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity. But for me, this year felt unbearably heavy.
For a long time after that, I often woke from nightmares in the middle of the night. Memories of that year flashed through my dreams like a fleeting panorama—some beautiful, some mundane, some joyful, and some despairing. Each fragment felt like a boulder pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.
In the thirty-sixth year of the Ruian Dynasty, I died, right before Mu Liushang.
He stood at the edge of a cliff, his expression cold as he said to me, "I never noticed you."
I felt an overwhelming sense of unwillingness and asked, "Never?"
He replied icily, "You are ungrateful." Panic surged within me as I pressed on, "What about me? What can I do?"
He coldly stated, "If you die, it will be peaceful."
Fury surged within me as I stepped back in desperation, repeatedly calling out, "Mu Liushang! Mu Liushang!" Suddenly, my body lifted off the ground. I opened my eyes wide and shouted at the top of my lungs, "Mu Liushang! After I die, I will become a vengeful spirit! Your wife and concubines will never know peace!"
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