Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

Zhu had whispered so quietly, so his voice was almost drowned in the sea of clapping people. However, Xu still heard him, unexpectedly.

“… That voice just now…”

Xu abruptly raised her head and looked all round her in a fluster, before finally spotting Zhu’s figure in the midst of the crowd.

“…! No way…”

Her eyes widened in shock. She tried to stand up, but she staggered to her feet, probably because she had given all her energy to perform with great gusto. Still, she didn’t let that deter her, and she made her way step by step towards Zhu while clutching her lute.

“You seemed to have aged and gaunt, but… Is it really you?”

Xu slowly approached Zhu until she finally reached him. She then kneeled so that they would be on the same eye level, before peering closely at his face.

“Are you Master Zhu Ren?  It’s only him — that person is the only one with tastes whimsical enough to call me a fairy!  」

Xu cried out, beads of tears streaking down her face.

Her manner of speaking had reverted back to its polite way from how she spoke in the past.

「What are you saying, Xu Zi, Ah Zi, you are truly beautiful from back then and even now!  」

Zhu was about to circle his arms around her, when he noticed the white chrysanthemums in his hand.

「The sound of your lute brought me back. Indeed, I can attest that you are truly my beloved fairy of music!  」

Zhu reached out and offered the white chrysanthemum, which Xu then grasped along with his hands.

「I’ve been, I’ve been waiting for your return all this time. Welcome home, Lord Ren!  」

Xu and Zhu choked with tears, unable to utter any more words after they confirmed each other’s identity. Ten years had already passed, but they finally fulfilled the promise of meeting each other once again.

The people around them who witnessed the scene were baffled initially, but they grasped the situation soon after. Cheers of “good for you guys”, “what a relief”  and applause rang in the air, probably because they’re also caught up in the mood, and felt sympathetic to the two lovers.

Yui Mei was also one of those who applauded.

‘I’m not really sure, but doesn’t white chrysanthemum mean ‘Truth’ in flower language?’

It was a meaning given to the flower in her previous world; she hadn’t heard any mention about the language of flowers in this world. Nevertheless, even though it was unknown who chose this particular flower, Yui Mei thought it was perfectly fitting for the situation.

“Thank goodness, what a relief for you guys…!”

Yui Mei’s tears of joy welled up as she emotionally clapped her hands, when somebody handed a handkerchief in front of her.

「I know you’re so touched so the tears are understandable, but do something about that snot, it’s really unsightly.  」

Li Yong, who left Zhu from who knows when, stood beside Yui Mei and offered his handkerchief. 

「Can’t be helped, you know tears and snot go out as a set!  」

Yui Mei retorted with a pout, but she gratefully accepted the handkerchief and blew her nose on it.

She would just wash it before returning it to him.

Du, who had been watching Li Yong and Yui Mei’s exchange, snorted, making Li Yong jump out of his skin.

‘You don’t have to scare him like that.’

Yui Mei glared at Du, who snickered in reply.

While this was going on, the crown prince approached Xu and Zhu, and the applause stopped the moment he stopped and raised his hand in front of them.

“Xu Zi, it’s been an extremely beautiful rendition of the lute. It would have surely reached the souls of the soldiers who traveled to the Realm of the Dead.”

The crown prince declared with a loud voice, and Xu and Zhu righted their postures to face him properly. They were about to say something, but the crown prince continued speaking.

「Xu Zi, amnesty has been granted by His Majesty the Emperor. Xu Zi will be released from her identity as the palace courtesan from this moment henceforth.  」

Cheers erupted once again after the crown prince’s declaration. 

It’s not everyday people get to be there for an occasion such as the emperor’s amnesty being given, so it’s not surprising that people were all hyped up.

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T/N: Finally!! The star-crossed lovers aren’t star-crossed anymore hehe.. Hello guys! Super sorry for the lack of releases, been caught up and bogged down with a lot of work plus holiday rush! Struggling to get everything settled for this final quarter of 2022, but things are easing up. Will post more as soon as I can. Much love <3