Volume One: Hidden in the Azure Abyss Chapter Eleven

Jinli remained silent, and Ruan Tu continued, “Whether in the immortal realm or your mortal world, power is always the greatest temptation. For so-called power, anyone can become monstrous. Your father is no exception.”

The young girl’s expression was one of shock; suddenly, tears streamed down her face.

She sat upright, composed. “I don’t believe my father would commit treason.”

“Are you foolish?”

Jinli glanced at him coldly. Ruan Tu stood before her. “You know, I heard about the rebellion with my own ears. Your father wields immense power in court; do you think the King wouldn’t be wary? The very year I was sent to your family, I overheard the King’s plan. This plan has been waiting for you to come of age for marriage. Your father was never a match for the King. This time, with his attempted revolt, he is doomed to fail.”

Jinli listened to his long speech, then lowered her eyes to the pearl in her palm; tears welled in her eyes and fell onto the pearl.

Ruan Tu realized he had gone too far. He knelt before her, hesitated, and then gently reached out to wipe away the tears from her face.

“I’m sorry. I spoke too harshly.”

Jinli spoke slowly, “So everything, from the beginning, has always been about power. This plan was set in motion the day I was born. If I were a man, I would have strengthened the regent’s authority even further. But as a woman, I was to be married off, and if the Regent’s power overran the court, he would be replaced. Defeated, I am nothing but a pawn to be discarded at will.”

Hearing this, Ruan Tu’s heart ached for her. He patted her head and comforted her softly, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take you away. I’ll keep you safe.”

Jinli lifted her face, beautiful enough to topple a kingdom, now streaked with tears like dewdrops on a pear blossom—heartbreaking to behold.

For her sake, Ruan Tu had cast a barrier around the chaos and fighting so she could rest in peace for a while.

But Jinli’s grief only deepened. Suddenly, a mouthful of fresh blood spurted from her lips.

Ruan Tu was alarmed and caught her swiftly. Jinli’s body trembled, her tears unceasing. “Why? Why?”

Ruan Tu, holding her tight, was pained beyond words. Then, as Jinli loosened her grip, a small vial slipped from her palm and fell to the ground. Ruan Tu picked it up, sniffed it, and realized—had he not seen with his own eyes the Regent toss the pills from this bottle into a certain minister’s tea, resulting in the minister’s sudden death, he would not have known it was poison.

“You—did you take poison?”

Blood trickled from Jinli’s lips. She felt as though her organs were being torn apart, as if a rain of arrows was piercing her. The pain was overwhelming, and the pearl necklace in her hand was stained red.

“…Ruan… Ruan Tu…”

Her breath was faint as she called his name. Ruan Tu immediately began casting a spell to lessen the poison in her body.

“You can’t die. I told you I would take you away. You can’t die—I will save you.”

Jinli felt the pain recede somewhat, but her gaze grew vacant. “…Tell me… Why… why… not once did he come back to see me?”

“He’s blind.”

Ruan Tu propped her up, channeling his immortal energy into her. Warmth flowed through her, soothing and gentle.

With a loud crash, the bright red wedding doors were ruthlessly kicked open. Soldiers in black and red, along with King Yangchun, entered, armor reeking of blood.

Jinli sat on the bed. They could not see the now-invisible Ruan Tu. King Yangchun grinned hideously. “The Regent has already been brought to justice. I advise you to surrender quietly. Perhaps then, I might grant you the status of a concubine and let you stay by my side.”

Jinli opened her eyes slowly and sneered coldly. “You wretch. I’d be disgusted to even let you carry my shoes.”

King Yangchun, abandoning his usual gentle façade, became vile and lecherous. “Jinli, we grew up together. I’ve always liked you. Now your father’s head hangs on the waterwheel, and the Regent’s house is wiped out. But why—why would you fall for a monster, of all people? Why?”

Jinli would not look at him directly. “You never loved me. You loved power. You told my father you cared for me, and asked him to petition the King for our marriage. Then you feigned devotion and loyalty so my father would confide in you, while you plotted to reap the spoils. And now you shamelessly claim to love me? You sicken me.”

King Yangchun’s anger flared. “You refuse to drink the wine of favor, so you must drink the wine of punishment. Do you think I’d ever love someone who fancies a monster? If not for your beauty, your head would be hanging beside your father’s, not dressed in a wedding gown entering my palace.”

Jinli, already weakened, was overcome by her earlier rage. Now she could barely sit upright and collapsed to one side. Ruan Tu grew furious, and with a wave of his hand, struck down the boastful mortals.

Panic erupted as they fell. Struck down by some invisible force, pain and terror overtook them. “What was that? What was that?”

Jinli, supporting herself on the bed, looked at them. “Demoness! Demoness!”

The crowd cried out in terror.

King Yangchun’s face betrayed his fear, but he quickly tried to compose himself. Staggering to his feet, he sneered, “Just as I thought. You talk to that merman every day—what else could you be but a demoness?!”

He ordered the soldiers who rushed in, “Quick! Burn this demoness for me!”

Torches approached, but Jinli did not flinch. She glanced at Ruan Tu. “You should go first.”

With that, she closed her eyes, her expression resolute, without the slightest hesitation. But in the next instant, she felt herself being lifted up. She opened her eyes in shock to see Ruan Tu, who smiled wryly. “Now that you know my name, you little mortal, I’m not leaving you behind.”

Saying this, he leapt out the window. The river outside was shrouded in mist, the tide having risen these past days.

All Jinli felt was the icy embrace of water all around her, and gradually, consciousness slipped away.

That night, a torrential rain fell. The great river swelled and burst its banks, flooding the land. In an instant, the power of the Mengxia Kingdom was emptied. Neighboring states, long covetous, invaded from all sides. Beset by internal strife and external threat, in the wake of the spring rain, the kingdom of Mengxia was swept away, leaving no trace behind.

When Jinli awoke, she saw Ruan Tu’s swaying red tail. He was smiling at her, and his joy at seeing her awake was plain.

“You’re awake?”

Jinli nodded. Ruan Tu helped her up. Before her stretched the endless sea, and a fiery red sun was sinking beneath the horizon. The waves crashed on the shore, and the distant skyline glowed with the setting sun. The gentle sea breeze carried the scent of salt and spray.

“How beautiful,” she murmured softly.

Ruan Tu beamed with pride. “This is nothing. If you come with me to the Southern Sea, to Starry Cliff, you’ll fall in love with our home.”

Jinli felt herself growing ever weaker. “Ruan Tu, thank you.”

He didn’t reply. His heart felt weighed down by a massive stone. “Ruan Tu, all these years I’ve waited for him, but it seems today I’ll never see him again. If you truly know him, could you tell him for me—ask him why he never came to find me?”

As she spoke, blood trickled from her lips, though she felt no pain. Ruan Tu’s eyes reddened, but he stubbornly wiped away his tears. “You can ask him yourself. I’ll take you to the Southern Sea, and you can ask him in person.”

Jinli closed her eyes, feeling the evening breeze. “Ruan Tu, when you return, apologize to your elder brother for me. He’ll forgive you. He will… I know he will.”

Ruan Tu’s tears finally fell, pearl after pearl dropping onto Jinli’s crimson wedding robes as he turned his face away.

“Actually, I know you’re a good person. You’re not a bad person at all. You saved me, even though I’m just a mortal.”

“When I die, could you take me to that Starry Cliff you spoke of? That name has appeared in my dreams before. It sounds so beautiful, so beautiful.”

Ruan Tu held her close. “Little one, what nonsense are you saying? You won’t die. I told you, you’re not going to die.”

He was about to channel his magic, but Jinli stopped him. “There’s no need. I know my own condition. For thirteen years, I’ve only seen him in dreams. Only in sleep can I…”

Her words faded away. Ruan Tu’s eyes brimmed with tears that finally spilled over, falling like a torrent, each tear a pearl landing on Jinli’s blood-red gown.

He held Jinli in his arms, weeping on the shore for a long, long time.

Her soul returned.

Jinli slowly awakened in the Lotus River, gazing around in disbelief. She looked down at the tightly gripped pearls in her hand, and the single red one.

The Keeper of Fate arrived, radiant with joy. “Welcome, Lady.”

Jinli nodded, still lost in thoughts of the mortal world. She reached up to touch her face, as if the warmth of her tears still lingered.

Yun Xiang approached with the final cup of tea. Jinli closed her eyes, clutching the string of pearls, a bitterness rising in her heart.

If she was not mistaken, that person was none other than Ruan Tu, the second prince of the Southern Sea.

The Keeper said, “If Lady drinks this tea, all that happened in the mortal world will be of no concern to you.”

Jinli took the tea, hesitated a moment, but finally drank it.

Looking out at the lotus-filled pond, the tender green pear trees, and the fairy pears blooming bright and vivid in the pool, she watched as the wind and lotuses danced together.

“Where is the Young Lord?”

Without a second thought, Yun Xiang replied, “He’s been in the Southern Sea these past few days. The Lady passed away, so the Young Lord returned for the mourning. Did you forget, Lady?”

Jinli thought for a moment and then remembered. Nan Mo had indeed suffered a great calamity.

“When did the Lady pass away?”

“On the day of the grand wedding.”

Seeing Jinli’s dazed expression, Yun Xiang asked with concern, “Lady, is something wrong?”

Jinli did not answer. “Should I go to the Southern Sea to offer my condolences as well?”

“Would Lady like to go?”

Jinli considered. Would the little merman be all right in the Southern Sea?

Eventually, she changed into plain white robes and set off for the Southern Sea.

The atmosphere there was heavy; upon her arrival, Jinli learned that the Sea Lord and all the royals had gone to Xu’an Sea to bury the Lady.

It seemed Geng Yuan would be there as well. Jinli was about to leave when she heard raised voices.

She meant to avoid trouble—until she heard the name “Geng Yuan!”

Following the sound, she saw a scene that filled her with fury.