Chapter 70: Jiaozhu

For the next few days, Luo Jinsang often sneaked over to visit Ji Yunhe at early dawn. At first, Luo Jinsang thought it was because she was good at it.

Then she realized Changyi was always gone every time she came, as if he deliberately avoided them. Only then did Luo Jinsang admit he had tacitly approved of her behavior. Luo Jinsang was a bit confused. She asked Ji Yunhe, "Yunhe, what exactly do you think the fish means by this? Does he wish you well or does he not?" Ji Yunhe leaned on the bed and smiled.

"What do you think?"

"Before you were rescued, every time I mentioned you, the fish would get all mean and scary and talk like there was blood to be repaid. So I thought he wanted to rescue you just to kill you with his own hands. But now it seems that's not the case at all!" Luo Jinsang stroked her chin and said, "I think, his punishments on you used to be pretty standard, but ever since you tried to kill yourself, things became more complicated." Ji Yunhe kept smiling.

"How is it complicated?"

"It doesn't look like he's holding a prisoner here, more like hiding a mistress in a golden palace! Especially since you are ill, this is clearly to protect you. I'd be overjoyed if that baldy treated me like this." Ji Yunhe shook her head.

And to think this was when Changyi still held a grudge against her. If she told him the truth, treated him with sincerity, and then died, people would have to forget about the war out there. The desperate, homeless people, the renegade demon masters and demons, who would be responsible for them then?

He had already become the venerable Lord of the North, as a dying woman, she could not selfishly take him for herself. A couple of days later, Luo Jinsang took advantage of Changyi's clemency and pulled Qing Ji over as well.

Watching them chitchat made Ji Yunhe feel like the most ordinary type of woman in the world -- a married housewife gossiping with friends all day long. When their topic touched on the chaos out there, it would then remind Ji Yunhe of her identity.

But Ji Yunhe really liked Qing Ji. She was spontaneous, easy going, and very independent. Only those who possessed the power to control their own lives could be this confident.

She was sealed for a hundred years by her loved one inside the Ten Square Formation, and learned of his death after she got out. She did not have hatred or resentment, only acceptance. She accepted that she had loved, and that it was not meant to be.

Whenever Luo Jinsang mentioned Ning Ruochu and held a grievance for Qing Ji, she would just wave her hand and say she had made a mistake, gotten hurt, and moved on. Ji Yunhe admired Qing Ji.

With Luo Jinsang and Qing Ji's companionship, Ji Yunhe's life became much more enjoyable. But as the days passed, she grew lazier and lazier, and now did not even want to get out of bed anymore.

Sometimes while listening to them chat, her consciousness would begin to cloud up. She felt like even if Changyi were to let her go now, she probably would not make it far.

The feeling of the end being near grew more apparent, and she slept more. Changyi would be by her bedside every time she woke up, not busy and not reading, just watching her. He only looked away after she opened her eyes.

Today, Ji Yunhe teased him, "Are you afraid that one day, I won't open my eyes?"

His mouth quivered a bit and did not answer her, then he picked up a bowl and handed it to Ji Yunhe.

"Drink the medicine." Ji Yunhe smelled the medicine that was growing more bitter everyday and frowned.

"Been drinking this day and night, but I haven't gotten any better. Changyi, if you still have any goodwill toward me, you should help me prepare a coffin."