Amnesiac General and Infatuated Brothel Keeper 17

On a late autumn night, the sky was as clear as water, and the moon was as bright as a mirror.

The scent of osmanthus on the long street was strong and intensely fragrant. Wherever the night breeze brushed past, the shadows of flowers and trees swayed endlessly, chasing the sounds of sheng and xiao flutes, playing with the moon and teasing the clouds.

Perhaps bewitched by this festive atmosphere, Feng Jiuli changed into a brownish-red outfit today and insisted on taking Su Jinzhi out, even forcing him to change into a pale pinkish-red robe as well.

"The color of these clothes is too bright..." The young man frowned slightly, standing at the door hesitantly.

Hearing this, Feng Jiuli stopped, smiled, and shook his head: "How is your outfit brighter than mine? Let's go quickly; it won't be good if we miss the right time."

Su Jinzhi staggered as he was pulled. After steadying himself, he asked, "Miss the right time? Aren't we going to buy bamboo strips and colored paper?"

"There's one more thing." Feng Jiuli curled his lips into a smile and brought Su Jinzhi to the Taiyin Lord Temple in the southern part of the city.

Because of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the incense at the Taiyin Lord Temple burned continuously, and the mooncakes on the offering table were stacked over half a foot high. Su Jinzhi originally thought he was just bringing him to pay respects to the Taiyin Lord, but unexpectedly, Feng Jiuli pulled him aside in a flash, going directly into a slightly dilapidated side temple nearby.

On the offering table of the side temple, there was only a large wooden tray and four bowls of clear tea. In the wooden tray lay a round mooncake about a foot wide. The two candles next to the deity statue flickered in the wind, near extinction, and the incense in the censer had also burned out, leaving not a single spark.

After bringing Su Jinzhi into the temple, Feng Jiuli took out new candles from his chest pocket. After lighting them, he took a few incense sticks, handed them to Su Jinzhi, and pulled him down to kneel on the futons.

After kowtowing three times, the two inserted the incense into the censer and stood up.

"You brought me here to... pray to the Rabbit God?" Su Jinzhi stared blankly at the deity statue and asked.

"There are many people on the streets; I was afraid you'd get lost." Like a magic trick, Feng Jiuli pulled out a red thread from who knows where and tied it around Su Jinzhi's pinky finger.

Su Jinzhi moved his pinky finger. That brightly colored thread was very conspicuous. After a moment of silence, he suddenly pulled out a vibrant green jade pendant from his collar. He gazed at it for a while before taking it off and stuffing it into Feng Jiuli's hand.

Feng Jiuli looked at the jade pendant and asked, "This is..."

"This is the only relic your mother left for you." Su Jinzhi smiled at him. "But I'm afraid you already don't remember it."

Feng Jiuli remained silent, and Su Jinzhi continued, "I've kept it safe for you for seven years; it's time to return it to you."

"Since I gave it to you, it's yours." Feng Jiuli said with a stiff body, seeming to have realized something as well.

At this moment, the originally bright full moon in the sky was half-obscured by a few grey clouds drifting in from an unknown direction. It made the originally bright and clear moonlight turn hazy, further highlighting the desolate and dead silence of this dilapidated temple.

"I do want it."

Su Jinzhi lowered his eyelids, his gaze drifting towards the red embers on the incense sticks, his voice extremely soft. "But sometimes I can't help but think, how wonderful it would have been if you had never given it to me."

Feng Jiuli stared at the young man in a daze. Within a few breaths, the moonlight broke through the clouds once more, pouring down and landing on the young man's pale cheeks. It made his entire person look as though with a gentle tug along this ribbon of silver light, he could ride the moon and depart.

Therefore, the moment his words fell, Feng Jiuli immediately grabbed his hand tightly and said hoarsely, "I was wrong."

"What were you wrong about?" The young man looked at him with a smile, raising a hand to gently caress his face, a layer of rippling watery light covering his tea-colored pupils. "You didn't do anything wrong. I've hated you and resented you, but I never blamed you. What happened between you and me was nothing more than a series of strange errors and fateful mishaps."

"It's good enough that you came back."

Feng Jiuli froze in place. The suffocating pain coming from his chest made his fingertips tremble slightly.

The young man took the initiative to hold his slightly cold hand. After a long while, he said, "You can give me the jade pendant one more time."

"But this time, please don't forget me again, okay?"

"Okay." Feng Jiuli opened his mouth and said that word with difficulty, blankly placing the jade pendant back around the young man's neck.

The cold jade pendant slipped into his collar, and after a moment, it was stained with his body heat.

In his past life, Jun Changle had never let go of this jade pendant even until his death—he still loved Feng Jiuli.

Between them, indeed, neither was at fault. There were only accidental misunderstandings and the cruel teasing of fate, which they had absolutely no power to resist.

Su Jinzhi moved his pinky again, and the red thread connecting them moved along with it. He said, "Let's go. We need to buy bamboo strips. You said you were going to make a lantern for me."

Feng Jiuli pulled at the corners of his lips stiffly, leading him towards the bustling crowds of the long street.

The street, so long that its end was almost invisible, surged with crowds. Sleeves formed clouds in the lively bustle. Under the eaves of the narrow alleys hung rows upon rows of beautiful lanterns, their shadows swaying with the night breeze. Along the riverbank bloomed extremely gorgeous peach blossoms, fluttering down heavily to fall into the river fabric woven with a sky full of stars.

The two walked hand in hand. The moment they stepped onto a stone bridge, a bright ball of light suddenly broke through the night wind. Reaching the highest point in the sky, it exploded with a loud bang, twirling down along with the clear moonlight of the full moon. It looked as if the Milky Way from the highest heavens was flowing down to the mortal realm, reflecting and complementing the autumn lanterns hung by the wealthy and the flagpole lanterns raised by ordinary commoners.

The fireworks across the entire city were dazzlingly bright, no less magnificent than the grand sights of the Lantern Festival.

Su Jinzhi lowered his eyes to look at the river water flowing under the bridge, carrying the reflections of shattered stars and floating lanterns. Amidst the dazzling and flourishing lights, he felt somewhat at a loss. It was a feeling of forgetting all the past—the unwillingness, the humiliation, and the pain all blurring away, completely abandoned behind him as if he had crossed the Bridge of Helplessness, and then obtaining a rebirth.

Such beautiful scenery on a fine evening was something Jun Changle had seen year after year for the past few years. It was just a pity that the perfectly full moon did not shine upon people's reunions.

He had hoped for ten years, hoped for a lifetime, and finally waited for the moon of this year, this day, and this hour—and only the full moon of this night had not failed his deep affection.

Su Jinzhi lowered his head, staring blankly at the red thread connecting his and Jiang Lishan's intertwined pinky fingers. The corners of his lips curved up slightly, completely out of his control.

Feng Jiuli also moved his fingers, quietly walking forward. He stopped his footsteps when he looked up and saw the two people blocking their way. Sensing his pause, Su Jinzhi also looked up ahead.

"Fourth Miss Jun," Feng Jiuli said.

Jun Changwu held a box of mooncakes, staring blankly at Su Jinzhi. The smile curving the young man's lips had not yet receded as he looked at her with that smile, just like the scenes of the past. This made Jun Changwu's eyes instantly redden.

She blinked to relieve the soreness in her eyes, then broke into a smile. She handed over the mooncakes she was hugging. "I'm heading back to Chongluo and can't stay here for the Mid-Autumn Festival, but I can treat you two to some mooncakes."

Feng Jiuli did not reach out to take the box of mooncakes, but gently hooked Su Jinzhi's pinky finger.

Su Jinzhi suddenly snapped out of his daze. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly. Stepping forward a few paces, he took the mooncake box and said softly, "...Thank you..."

"I made them myself. You have to eat them all," Jun Changwu forced a laugh, holding back her tears.

Su Jinzhi also raised his eyes to look at her, his eyes slightly red as he replied, "Okay, I'll definitely finish them all."

Hearing this, Jun Changwu nodded at Su Jinzhi. Lowering her eyelashes, she walked forward, but the moment she brushed past the young man, she closed her eyes. With a smile, she allowed the transparent, warm tears to slip past the exact same red teardrop mole under her eye as the one the young man had.

At the same time, No. 0's clear, youthful voice also rang out: "Ding—Jun Changwu's current Progress Value is 100/100. Congratulations to the host for a successful salvation!"

"Did you give away the mooncakes?" Yun Mengchen, who was waiting at the other end of the stone bridge, asked her softly.

"Mm..." Jun Changwu wiped her tears, replying between sobs.

Yun Mengchen looked at her for a moment, then looked up toward the other end of the bridge.

At that end, the young man he had secretly loved and admired for three years was raising his head, his eyes filled with countless clusters of glistening mist, gazing tenderly at the tall man before him—they were finally back together again.

"Let's go. I'll escort you back to Chongluo." Yun Mengchen withdrew his gaze, turned around, and walked towards the fading lights.

People experience sorrow, joy, partings, and reunions, just as the moon waxes, wanes, shines, and dims; such things have rarely been perfect since ancient times. Fortunately, today the full moon hung high, and no one failed to live up to its beautiful grace.

Not long after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the depths of winter arrived quietly.

An urgent dispatch arrived from Chongluo: Beiyou had once again attacked Chongluo. The old emperor issued an order for Feng Jiuli to return to the kingdom to lead the troops and guard the Chongluo border.

On the day he left, Su Jinzhi, whose body had become much healthier after saving many targets, surprisingly couldn't withstand the cold wind and fell ill once again, leaving him no choice but to lie sickly in bed and drink medicine.

Because of this, Feng Jiuli stubbornly refused to let Su Jinzhi get out of bed to see him off.

"I'll be back very soon. You're still sick, do you have a death wish?" Feng Jiuli pinned down the restless young man on the bed, frowning and scolding sternly.

"You say very soon, but who knows how long this war will be fought for..." Su Jinzhi clutched his chest and coughed twice. On his face, which should have been as pale as paper, floated two unnatural flushes of red. One glance was enough to tell he still had a low-grade fever.

Feng Jiuli sighed softly, softening his voice to coax him. "It will be very soon; it won't take long. Haven't you planted a lot of Weizi Peonies? At the latest, I'll let you wait until they all bloom. When the Weizi Peonies bloom, I'll definitely be back."

Su Jinzhi looked up and stared intently at him for a while before lowering his head and sighing softly, compromising. "If you don't come back, I will never wait for you again."

"Okay, if this concubine doesn't return, Husband can just divorce me." Feng Jiuli broke into a smile. He took Su Jinzhi's hand and kissed it again and again. He also wanted to lean down and kiss him, prompting Su Jinzhi to dodge repeatedly, afraid of passing his sickness onto him.

Seeing Su Jinzhi cough a few more times, Feng Jiuli didn't dare to tease him anymore. He turned serious and instructed him, "I'm leaving; you must take good care of yourself."

Su Jinzhi pulled out a peony fragrance sachet from under his pillow and placed it in his hand, smiling. "Take care."

Feng Jiuli focused his gaze to carefully observe the young man's expression. Seeing that his sorrow over their parting wasn't too deep, he finally relaxed. Holding the young man, he dropped a kiss on his forehead. "Take care."

Su Jinzhi smiled as he watched Feng Jiuli leave. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he suddenly threw off his brocade quilt, haphazardly threw on his clothes, grabbed his fox-fur cloak, and ran out of the pavilion. On the way, he almost bumped into Xile.

Seeing this, Xile hastily called out to stop him, "Young Master, where are you going?"

Su Jinzhi didn't even turn his head as he replied, "To see General Feng off—"

He couldn't follow closely behind Feng Jiuli as he left, or else he would be discovered; he could only wait for Feng Jiuli to leave for a bit before chasing after him, to go to the high city walls to see him one more time.

Su Jinzhi didn't know why he suddenly wanted to see Feng Jiuli again either, making him ignore No. 1's warnings. It was as urgent as if this were the last time they would see each other in this life, forcing him to suppress the physical discomfort and the painful punishment given by No. 1 to sprint outside.

But he had overestimated his own body. By the time he arrived panting heavily at the city gate, Feng Jiuli's army had already been out of the city for a long time.

The gleaming white snow of deep winter dyed the entirety of Zhuhua an extreme, plain pale hue. Only the two or three touches of red plum blossoms dotting the outskirts drifted out a bone-piercing hidden fragrance, declaring that this was the final extravagant color of this year.

Su Jinzhi pulled his snow-white fox-fur cloak tighter and ran up the city wall. He ran along the wall in the direction of Chongluo, looking into the distance as far as the eye could see. The army led by Feng Jiuli looked like a long black dragon, trampling the only remaining prosperity of Zhuhua under its iron blades and sharp claws, tearing apart the vast snowy landscape of fluttering snowflakes, and meandering majestically towards Chongluo.

The final farewell that Jun Changle hadn't seen ten years ago, he finally saw ten years later.

"Jiang Lishan—!"

"Jiang Lishan—!"

"I will wait for you! You must come back—!"

Su Jinzhi's eyes were red, and tears continuously flowed from the corners of his eyes, dampening his cheeks. Clinging to the wall bricks, he shouted loudly at the retreating figure of that man. Ignoring his already hoarse, scratchy, and painful throat, he shouted again and again. Only when the last speck of black had also vanished did his knees buckle to the ground, and he muttered lowly, "Jiang Lishan..."

Only after Su Jinzhi's emotions had slightly calmed down did No. 1 coldly speak out: "What are you being so agitated for?"

Su Jinzhi really wanted to say that those agitated emotions weren't his; they belonged to Jun Changle. The one who couldn't bear to let Feng Jiuli leave again was him too, not himself.

But these words spun around and around in his throat, only to be swallowed back down.

"Why didn't you punish me this time?"

No. 1 didn't answer his question immediately but instead asked back, "Do you feel that I treat you very poorly?"

"Actually, it's alright; there's no need for you to treat me well," Su Jinzhi said.

Whether it was No. 1 or No. 0, they could not perceive the "pain" endured by a human's body or mind.

He had also never expected a system controlled by programming to be able to understand complex human emotions. This kind of thing was something even humans themselves couldn't see through sometimes.

In this world, Jun Changle's emotions were too intense. His joy on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, his pain during their separation—these emotions were like an inescapable net trapping him tightly. If it weren't for No. 1 keeping a close eye on him all along, Su Jinzhi didn't know if he would have completely succumbed to them.

But he couldn't succumb, nor did he want to succumb.

Those emotions were not his.

Getting too immersed in the role did him no good. He should, just as No. 1 said, properly finish the mission and enjoy the rest of his life—that would be enough. He shouldn't overthink other things, had no need to overthink them, and was even less allowed to overthink them.

Su Jinzhi kept his head raised, staring blankly at the greyish-white sky above. He watched those fine snowflakes slowly drifting down, piece by piece, from the vast heavens above. After a long silence, he finally said, "Jun Changle's Progress Value has gone up. It has already reached 95 points."

No. 1 also accompanied him in silence for a while, no longer saying much else, and only stated, "Go back. You will meet again."

"Mm." Su Jinzhi gave a soft hum of acknowledgment, got up from the ground, and slowly walked back to the Huaqi Pavilion.

On the way back, it snowed very heavily. It was so grand, as if it could cover the entire heaven and earth. With a single step, a deep and cold snow pit would form, exposing the dark, pitch-black muddy ground underneath, which looked exactly like a man-eating abyss.

The Zhuhua Kingdom had never seen such heavy snow in previous years. As a result, by the time Su Jinzhi returned to Huaqi Pavilion, his entire body was almost soaked through with snow water, and icicles hung from the tips of his hair. Brought by the cold wind, even the thickest fox-fur cloak couldn't wrap him in warmth. His body, which had already been suffering from a low-grade fever, was now in an even worse condition. He had recurring fevers that wouldn't subside no matter what, to the point that for the remainder of the winter after Feng Jiuli left, Su Jinzhi spent it sleeping in bed. He slept so deeply that his mind was muddled, nearing a state of unconsciousness, making Qiu Yi and Xile so anxious that they almost fell ill right along with him.

However, within his blurred consciousness, Su Jinzhi seemed to dream of many past events. Those past events didn't belong to Jun Changle, but rather pertained to his own self—they were past events from his time on Earth in his previous life before he died. It was just that the scenes in the dream vanished without a trace after he woke up; he could only vaguely recall that he had indeed had such a dream.

He would wake up in such a daze, and then fall back into a deep, heavy slumber.

He was constantly having a dream that he would forget upon waking.

Thus, by the time Su Jinzhi's fever was thoroughly cured and he could finally get off the bed to walk, the New Year and early spring had already arrived.

Although the first month of the lunar year hadn't yet arrived, the sounds of firecrackers had already begun to ring out in advance.

Every morning, Su Jinzhi would be woken up by the giggling and playing sounds of young children in the streets and alleys. He pushed open the window and looked outside, only to see an auspicious and festive expanse of red.

The Peach Blossom Street, which had been silent for an entire winter, had become bustling with activity once more.

As far as the eye could see, orioles were flying, grass was growing, and a path of rosy clouds stretched outward.

The old things from last year, along with the melting white snow, were gradually replaced by the spring flowers blooming one after another, flourishing towards the direction of the New Year.

The Weizi Peonies were also about to bloom.