Yesterday, she and Liang Yuzhou went to the gravesite to pay homage to her father.
Lu Sihong even made an exception and opened the Lingxiao Pavilion for them, allowing them to offer incense to her father's memorial tablet.
In the capital, there was nothing left to hold them back.
Qiluo's mother, Liu Yan, stood under the porch, watching the people moving things in and out. Her expression was somewhat dejected.
She had spent a short time with Song Wanchu, but this short month had been the warmest and happiest time of her life.
In this small courtyard, no one treated her like a servant, and no one bossed her around.
When Qiluo came to visit her, no one treated Qiluo like a servant either.
She really wanted to go to the South of the Yangtze River with Song Wanchu, but she was worried about leaving Qiluo behind.
Song Wanchu walked over and handed her a bunch of keys.
"This courtyard is yours now, Mrs. Liu."
She had naturally noticed Liu Yan's reluctance to part. "This is not a farewell forever. We will come back."
There were still too many people in the capital they cared about.
The old lady of the Duke's Mansion, Shen Yuhe, Wen Congbai, the emperor, and Mianmian...
Liu Yan wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. When she smiled, her eyes were filled with tears again.
"Don't worry, miss. I will definitely take good care of those peony flowers for you."
Song Wanchu gave her a hug.
Compared to the excitement of Nanzhi, Suyue, Xiahe, and Yinglan, she felt more mixed emotions.
Just saying goodbye to Mrs. Liu, whom she had known for a short time, had already filled her with tears and reluctance.
She didn't know how she would face saying goodbye to Mianmian and the others.
So she and Liang Yuzhou made a joint decision.
Leave quietly.
Everyone knew that they would leave the capital once everything had settled down.
Rather than being reluctant and crying at a farewell banquet, it was better to drift away quietly like a cloud.
Without a formal goodbye, it didn't count as a goodbye.
Everyone would then look forward to the next meeting.
"Miss, we've almost finished packing everything."
Nanzhi and Suyue ran over, their little faces flushed.
The two of them had nothing to hold them back in the capital and had long been looking forward to returning to the South of the Yangtze River.
Xiahe lay on the door and peeked out for a while. "Why hasn't Taoist Priest Qingzhou come back yet?"
Liang Yuzhou had gone out early in the morning with Zhou Sheng and Zhou Yan. It was almost noon, but there was still no sign of him.
Even Song Wanchu didn't know what he was up to. He was being so mysterious.
"Let's wait a bit longer."
As soon as Song Wanchu finished speaking, she heard Xiahe let out a startled cry.
"Miss, come quickly! Come and take a look!"
She turned around, and a tall figure walked through the gate. He lightly lifted the hem of his robe and walked briskly towards her.
It was Liang Yuzhou.
But he wasn't the Taoist Priest Qingzhou she had grown familiar with over the past three years.
He had taken off his grayish-blue Taoist robe and was wearing a sky-blue brocade robe embroidered with bamboo. There was a jade-colored belt around his waist, and two sachets, one beautiful and one ugly, were hanging from the belt. They were the first and the last sachets Song Wanchu had given him.
Time seemed to have turned back. Song Wanchu was in a daze. Having grown used to Liang Yuzhou's Taoist attire, the young and elegant scholar from the depths of her memory had now returned to her side.
He looked just like the moment she first saw him, full of charm and leaving a lasting impression at first sight.
What remained unchanged were his affectionate eyes.
"Wanchu," he called softly, a smile on his lips.
"I went to the Taoist temple. I've officially returned to secular life."
His smile was so enthusiastic, just like that high-spirited young man from years ago.
It was as if he had finally shed all his burdens, and there was no trace of melancholy in his eyes.
Song Wanchu felt the warm sunlight slowly shining on her body.
Her heart was filled with bright hope.
She happily took a few quick steps and threw herself into his arms.
Liang Yuzhou gently kissed her forehead.
"Let's go."
"Okay, it's time to go."
In the carriage, Liang Yuzhou took out a red silk ribbon from his sleeve and wrapped their hands together.
"What are you doing?" Song Wanchu was puzzled.
Liang Yuzhou smiled gently. "We've never had a formal wedding banquet. I know you don't care about those lively formalities anymore, but there's always a regret in my heart. Today, as we go to the South of the Yangtze River together, let the mountains and rivers along the way bear witness for us.
My heart belongs to you, and it will never change.
May heaven and earth be our witnesses, and the sun and moon be our judges."
Song Wanchu's eyes welled up with tears.
She repeated after him.
"My heart belongs to you, and it will never change.
May heaven and earth be our witnesses, and the sun and moon be our judges."
The two of them kissed passionately in the carriage.
They left the capital by carriage and headed south. When they reached Suzhou, they switched to a water route.
As soon as the boat set sail, a figure suddenly jumped onto the boat like a flash, moving even more nimbly than a leopard.
The boatman took a closer look and was shocked to see that it was an old Taoist priest with all white hair and beard. He was at least seventy years old.
He opened his eyes wide in surprise.
At such an old age, to have such agility. Could this be an immortal descending to the mortal world?
The old Taoist priest playfully winked at him. "Don't make a sound. I'm going to scare someone."
"Who do you want to scare?"
Before the old Taoist priest could take a single step on the boat, a man and a woman walked out of the cabin. They looked like a perfect match, as if they were immortals.
The old Taoist priest showed a very disappointed expression.
Liang Yuzhou was a bit speechless. "Although my martial arts and internal strength are not as good as yours, my eyesight is fine. I noticed you when you sneaked onto the boat."
Song Wanchu looked at the familiar and cute old man and smiled. "Is Taoist Priest Qiu going to the South of the Yangtze River with us?"
"Go wherever you want, but don't get on our boat!"
Liang Yuzhou frowned unhappily.
Taoist Priest Qiu stroked his white beard, and his two white eyebrows almost stood up. "Who wants to get on your boat? Don't worry. I don't want to be stuck between you two lovebirds. It's so cheesy."
Song Wanchu gave Liang Yuzhou a look, meaning not to be so mean.
"Taoist Priest Qiu, you can travel with us."
Taoist Priest Qiu looked at her with a beaming smile. "I also miss Yunzhou and my Songhe Taoist Temple, but I want to go to the Northern Frontier first. Yaoguang has successfully restored her country and has ascended the throne as the queen. I was the one who divined that Shi Luohan's true love is Yaoguang. The two of them are about to get married, and I have to hurry there to be the officiant!"
Yaoguang led the people of the Gaochang Kingdom and cooperated with Shi Luohan's army to defeat the invading Hu people and restore the Gaochang Kingdom. This was the best news after Lu Sihong ascended the throne.
Lu Sihong issued an imperial edict, conferring the title of Queen of the Gaochang Kingdom on Yaoguang.
The Gaochang Kingdom remained a vassal state of the Great Zhou Dynasty, paying tribute to the Great Zhou and receiving its protection.
After Yaoguang ascended the throne, Shi Luohan was conferred the title of Regent.
Shi Luohan was personally promoted by Taoist Priest Qiu.
In Shi Luohan's letter, the person he most wanted to see was Taoist Priest Qiu.
"Then I wish Taoist Priest Qiu a smooth journey. Please also convey our blessings to elder brother and Yaoguang."
Liang Yuzhou noticed something was off. "If you're going to the Northern Frontier, it would be closer to set off directly from the capital. What are you doing coming to Suzhou? Don't tell me you came all the way here just to say goodbye to us."
Taoist Priest Qiu had always been a carefree person.
He didn't care about such details.
Taoist Priest Qiu winked mysteriously. "Yesterday, I divined a fortune for you two. The divination is extremely auspicious. I had to come and tell you in person."