Return, We Still Must Go to the Imperial Mausoleum
Even an emperor, exalted as he is, remains helpless in the face of life and death...
Sweet Dumpling has left, carrying her endless reluctance to part from Ninth Royal Uncle, Serena, and Little Dumpling, leaving behind the home where she lived for ten years.
Whenever anything reminds them of Sweet Dumpling, Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena will think of her—think of her calling them 'Father Emperor' and 'Mother Empress' in that sweet voice, think of her acting spoiled and adorable by their side...
For a long time, Little Dumpling would suddenly call out Sweet Dumpling's name, as if she were still there. But the mischievous Sweet Dumpling would never again jump out from behind, cover Little Dumpling's eyes, and say, 'Guess who I am?'
The Valley Master and the others rushed over as soon as they heard the news, but apart from comforting Serena, there was nothing they could do. No matter how powerful they were, they couldn't bring Sweet Dumpling back.
Far away in the borderlands, William Wang Jinling received the news and interrupted his journey, racing back from afar. But by the time he returned, three months had already passed...
Three months did nothing to diminish Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena's longing for Sweet Dumpling, but the piercing grief of that day has faded somewhat.
During these three months, they've grown more certain that Sweet Dumpling must be living well in another world—after all, she's their daughter, and no one would dare underestimate her.
When William Wang Jinling returned—after three years away from the Capital—his arrival caused a sensation. On the day he entered the city, the streets emptied as countless women and girls flocked out, just to catch a glimpse of the Grand Heir.
"Back then, countless girls dreamed of marrying the Grand Heir. Even your mother wouldn't dare to think of it," a woman said to her daughter, who was nearly of age.
"That's the Grand Heir. Even though he's reached forty, he's still so elegant and refined that you can't bear to look directly at him."
"The Grand Heir is like a banished immortal. Someone so perfect—no one in this world is worthy of him."
"It's good that the Grand Heir never marries. That way, he'll always be the Grand Heir in our hearts."
Back then, the girls who threw fruit at him in the streets have all become wives, but their admiration for the Grand Heir remains unchanged. He is still the dream in their hearts, so...
Three years later, with the Grand Heir returning to the Capital, they couldn't help but come out—just to catch a glimpse of his grace. But...
This time, they were destined to be disappointed.
William Wang Jinling returned to the Capital this time solely because of Sweet Dumpling. If not for her, he wouldn't have come back now at all.
As soon as he entered the city, Little Dumpling personally came to meet him, and with the Imperial Guards clearing the way, they made it straight into the palace without a hitch...
"Godfather, after three years, you haven't changed a bit." Little Dumpling walked beside William Wang Jinling, deeply marveling at how fate had favored him.
Even after years of wind and rain, traveling far and wide, William Wang Jinling remained noble and elegant, untouched by the slightest hardship...
"You've gotten taller, and steadier too." William Wang Jinling knew that Little Dumpling's newfound composure was mostly due to Sweet Dumpling's disappearance.
"Little Treasure is about to be born. If I don't grow up, Father Emperor and Mother Empress will just worry." A hint of sadness flashed in Little Dumpling's eyes, but thinking about the soon-to-arrive Little Treasure, he felt comforted...
He would give Little Treasure all the love he once gave Sweet Dumpling. He would create a world for Little Treasure, so that the child could live a carefree life...
William Wang Jinling knew Little Dumpling had his own judgment, so he said no more—just patted him on the shoulder...
As the eldest son of Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena, Little Dumpling could never live an ordinary life.
After three years apart, there was no estrangement at all when they met again. Ninth Royal Uncle treated William Wang Jinling the same as ever, and William hadn't changed either—only his feelings toward Serena were more restrained...
William didn't even go to see Serena. He just asked about her, and once he knew she was fine, he quietly left.
He didn't return to the Wang Clan estate, but went to his little hut outside the city...
He'd traveled thousands of miles, just for peace of mind. As long as he knew Serena was safe, he was content—whether he saw her or not didn't matter anymore...
The little hut outside the city was just as it had always been—not rundown because its owner was gone, nor lively because he'd returned.
That little hut was just like William Wang Jinling himself—no matter what happened, always as calm as still water. Occasionally there were ripples, but soon everything would settle again...
One man, one hut—absolute silence.
"I thought Godfather would come to see you." After seeing William off, Little Dumpling went to keep Serena company on her walk.
Serena just smiled and said nothing, her gaze drifting now and then toward the city outskirts, but she quickly looked away...
Maybe it was because she knew her mother was grieving, but this pregnancy was unusually peaceful—Little Treasure never once troubled her. Five months in, Serena and Ninth Royal Uncle decided to visit the Imperial Mausoleum.
Even though the Phoenixfield Secret Realm was gone and Sweet Dumpling had left, there were still things they needed to clarify. Otherwise, they could never be at peace...
The whole idea of fate being intertwined was just too mysterious!
"Are you so sure I'll tell you the truth?" Lady Min, having been outwitted by Sweet Dumpling, had lost all hope. She looked like a dying old woman, shrouded in gloom, lifeless—her eyes saw everyone as if they were already dead...
But she couldn't scare Ninth Royal Uncle or Serena.
"Tell me everything you know. If I'm even a little dissatisfied, I'll have Miles Lan turned into a human swine." Ninth Royal Uncle showed Lady Min no mercy—he didn't kill her, simply because he didn't care enough to bother.
"By the way, you might not know who Miles Lan is. Let me tell you: he's Jason Lan's son, and I gave him the name 'Mo.' He's the last legitimate heir of the Lan Clan, and I will never allow him to have descendants."
"You're not human..." Lady Min glared fiercely at Ninth Royal Uncle, but he was unmoved, coldly waiting for her answer.
Lady Min gritted her teeth, but what did she have to fight with now? Still...
"I don't know much. All I know is that the Lan Clan heir and the Phoenixfield Heiress each bear a mark—the Scabbard and Sword Array. It's a lost ancient formation; I have no idea what it's really for."
"I only know that the Phoenixfield Heiress possesses a special power. Once that power awakens, the Lan Clan heir can sense it. If he takes the Phoenixfield Heiress's virginity at that moment, he can steal her special power."
"Isn't that mark the key to binding the fate of both clans?" Serena asked in surprise.
Is this different from what was recorded in the Phoenixfield Secret Realm?
"Fate binding? That was just a trick to keep the Phoenixfield Clan obedient and afraid to rebel. The Lan Clan never stopped suppressing Phoenixfield, but your people were too cunning—always holding military power, so the Lan Clan never dared act rashly."
Lady Min shot Serena a look of contempt, as if to say: your Phoenixfield Clan are just fools, played for years by the Lan Clan...
Seeing Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena still dissatisfied, Lady Min added, "If you want to know more, I'm afraid I can't help. Much has been lost in transmission. It's no use asking—I simply don't know."
"The Phoenixfield Heiress Mark can save the Heiress's life—how does that work? Is it really borrowing life?"
Probably just another lie. Why would the Lan Clan let their heir's life be used to save the Phoenixfield Heiress...
"No idea. Ancient arrays always have strange quirks, and there's not a single real benefit. How else could they trick Phoenixfield Clan members into passing down the mark for generations?" Lady Min looked bitter, even a little smug. She thought... Serena and Ninth Royal Uncle must be asking because something was wrong with the mark, but actually...
Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena just wanted some peace of mind.
Now that they knew the brand wasn't as magical as they'd imagined, both felt relieved...
Their family simply couldn't bear to lose anyone else.