Chapter 214

Chapter 214. Memories Everywhere

She ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍would rather leave.

She ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍would rather bear all of this alone in silence than face the scene that had just appeared in her mind.

And ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if she left now, then in Chu Feng’s heart, those beautiful memories would still remain. She would forever be the woman who had stood beside him in the Imperial Garden, watching the sunset shoulder to shoulder.

She ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍would be the woman who had given him the Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura.

If ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍she truly could leave behind a few beautiful memories for him, if she could make him remember her at her most beautiful forever, then perhaps that would not be so bad...

Cailin ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍raised her head and looked out the window. A round moon was shining upon her window. The moonlight flowed like water, quiet and gentle, and beneath it, Cailin gave a soft smile.

She suddenly remembered the way Chu Feng had looked that day in the Imperial Garden when he had lightly flicked the tip of her nose.

There had been a smile at the corner of his lips, and his eyes had been full of indulgent affection. That expression, that feeling, had not seemed fake at all. Cailin had been able to feel how much Chu Feng doted on her, and that was also why she had become more and more unable to leave him.

“Rest assured. No matter what tricks they play, I will protect you completely.”

She closed her eyes, and tears slid down once more.

I’m sorry...

I’m sorry...

I cannot hold on any longer. And I will not let you keep protecting me. I do not want you to stand against so many people because of me.

That night was so dark, as black as ink.

That night was so cold that it made people shiver uncontrollably.

Cailin sat on the bed with her eyes open, staring motionlessly at the ceiling.

Without realizing it, she had been sitting like that for a full shichen.

Because of the cold, her hand unconsciously tightened around the quilt beside her. The brocade blanket still carried Chu Feng’s scent.

It was crisp and cool, carrying a faint trace of Ambergris. It was not overpowering in the least. Instead, it smelled especially pleasant and made one feel especially at ease.

It had made her feel that even in the land of another race, there was still someone she could rely on.

But tonight, that scent only made her heart feel as though it were being cut apart by knives.

She turned her head and, by the faint moonlight filtering in through the window, looked toward every corner of the Palace Chambers.

Every corner was filled with memories between them. Chu Feng had arranged all of this especially for her...

Cailin’s gaze first fell upon that eight-panel red sandalwood screen. The reason he had chosen red sandalwood, and even added so many purple decorations, was because Chu Feng had once said that purple had the most charm.

Embroidered upon the screen was a Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix. The phoenix itself had been stitched with real gold thread, and beneath the moonlight, it gleamed with a soft radiance. The painting also represented noble status.

Even now, she still remembered how, the first time she saw that screen, she had casually remarked, “It’s so beautiful”...

And the very next day, that screen had appeared in her Palace Chambers.

At the time, she had even laughed at Chu Feng and said it had only been an offhand remark, so why take it seriously?

Chu Feng had merely smiled faintly and said, “If you like it, then it is worth it!”

At the time, Cailin had not thought too much of it, but she had never expected Chu Feng to truly take it to heart, much less say something so indulgent to her. In any case, she had truly been deeply moved then.

With those memories, Cailin’s gaze slowly shifted again and fell upon the huanghuali dressing table by the eastern wall.

Chu Feng had specially found this dressing table for her as well, and it had been made entirely from the finest huanghuali wood, an extremely precious material.

At this moment, all kinds of jewelry boxes were arranged neatly upon it—some inlaid with gemstones, some carved with intricate patterns, some decorated with mother-of-pearl. Inside those boxes were all manner of precious jewels and ornaments.

Although Cailin had never liked wearing such things and found them to be a burden, every time Chu Feng came across something good, he would immediately send it to her palace.

Her eyes landed on the tiny box in the center, not even as big as a palm. That one was her favorite, because Chu Feng had carved it by hand from a piece of warm jade...

And what he had carved was a tiny Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python, coiled and winding, lifelike in every detail. And inside, it did not contain jewels or ornaments at all.

That day, when Chu Feng handed her the box and she opened it, she found several pieces of candied fruit that she loved to eat.

At the time, Cailin had been stunned. How had Chu Feng known that she liked sweets?

But before she could ask, Chu Feng had stubbornly given only his own explanation: if she grew hungry while doing her hair, she could eat one at any time.

Back then, Cailin had still stubbornly retorted that no one ate while doing their hair. But later on, she really had opened that box while sitting at the dressing table and slipped a piece of candied fruit into her mouth. It was sweet, and without fail, her mood would brighten as well.

Then her gaze turned to the bookshelf by the western wall, where many scrolls had been lined up in neat rows.

To be honest, when she had been in the Ancient Royal Clan, Cailin had never liked reading at all. But after coming here, life had been so unbearably dull that Chu Feng had recommended all sorts of books to her—strange tales from among the common folk, historical records of the Ancient Royal Clan, and even some poems he had specially had translated into the Ancient Script for her. She had become completely absorbed in them all at once.

She had found those books especially interesting.

Thinking of this, Cailin once again thought of Chu Feng...

She only remembered Chu Feng gently rubbing the loose strands of her hair, smiling softly as he said in a warm voice, “When you miss home, you can read these.”

At the time, Cailin had found it strange and had even asked him, “How did you know I missed home?”

Chu Feng had replied, “Sometimes when you dream at night, you talk about the Ancient Royal Clan.” She had been stunned then. So he had even remembered the things she murmured in her sleep.

At the thought of all this, Cailin could not help but smile.

She had once believed this was the place she would resist the most, and that he was the person she would reject the most. Yet as they gradually spent time together, feelings had grown between them.

Light purple gauze curtains hung by the window. That was her favorite color...

The gauze had been made from Flowing Cloud Silk specially transported from a very distant place. It was light and soft, and when the wind stirred it, it looked like drifting clouds and rosy mist, making the entire place seem like a fairyland.

She remembered one night when the wind had stirred those curtains and the moonlight had poured in through them, making the whole Palace Chambers seem dreamlike and unreal. She had watched, utterly captivated, and had felt as though she were a fairy herself.

Chu Feng had suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind and said, “As long as you like it, I’ll hang this kind of gauze on every window from now on.”

She had smiled and shaken her head, saying that would be far too extravagant...

But Chu Feng had simply said: “It’s worth it!”

Though it had been only two simple words, Cailin had kept them in her heart ever since.

Because at that moment, she had truly been moved, for no one had ever said such words to her before.

A thick carpet covered the floor, soft underfoot and completely soundless when stepped on.

It was because Cailin slept poorly and often got up in the middle of the night, and Chu Feng had been afraid she might catch cold.

At the time, she had thought, who would get up in the middle of the night?

But at this moment, she needed that soundless carpet. Looking down again at her bare feet, she realized that she truly did not feel cold at all. Only then did Cailin realize just how many things Chu Feng had done for her.

Even the tea set that could be seen everywhere on the table was the set of celadon she was used to using.

That set of celadon was not especially beautiful, but when she had first arrived, she had not been accustomed to the tea ware here. It had been the first tea set she used, and so she had grown used to it.

And Chu Feng had said before as well...

“When you drink tea, you should use the tea set you like. Only then will your mood be better.”