Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 75

In the end, Zhijin still went to the side hall. After hearing what Zhijin had to say, Gu Xiyan furrowed her delicate brows and immediately stood up. After only a brief pause, she quickly walked out.

Mujin was pulled along by Zhijin, her heart burning with anxiety. “What if she gets drunk and acts out against my lady again? What should we do then?”

Zhijin held her back and gritted her teeth. “Mujin, the ones suffering the most right now are them. If you go, you’ll only make things worse. And for Miss Gu, the greatest pain for her is that Her Majesty refuses to see her. That kind of matter is not something we can interfere with.”

Mujin slumped back into her seat in despair, murmuring, “My lady is so kind, and she loves her so much. How could she treat her like this? But if my lady loves her so much, how could she be so ruthless toward Ye Qinming? Why? If they love each other, shouldn’t they just stay together happily, like before? Wouldn’t that be better?”

Zhijin sighed. “Throughout history, nothing has been more difficult than love. If it were that simple, there wouldn’t be so many lovesick men and heartbroken women.”

***

Gu Xiyan hurried to the side hall, but the moment she stepped inside, she was suddenly overwhelmed by hesitation. Her raised foot hovered in the air, unable to land.

It wasn’t until the sound of a wine jar shattering echoed from inside, accompanied by Ye Qinming’s pained murmurs, that Gu Xiyan lost all restraint and rushed in.

As she made her way inside, she bumped into several overturned wine jars. The heavy scent of alcohol filled the air, making her wrinkle her brows.

“Qinming?” she called anxiously, stumbling forward in the direction of the voice. Her foot brushed against Ye Qinming’s clothing, and she immediately crouched down, fumbling to help her up.

Ye Qinming lay amidst the scattered wine jars, her robes stained with liquor, completely drunk.

Gu Xiyan held her in her arms, her hands trembling. She didn’t know what to say to ease her pain, so all she could do was hug her tightly, tears silently streaming down her face.

Perhaps feeling uncomfortable from being held so tightly, Ye Qinming struggled to sit up. She grasped Gu Xiyan’s arm and rested her head on Gu Xiyan’s shoulder for balance. Gu Xiyan quickly reached out to steady her, adjusting her posture to make her more comfortable.

Sensing another person’s presence, Ye Qinming laboriously opened her hazy eyes, shaking her head in an attempt to see clearly.

Through her blurred vision, the figure of a woman in white flickered before her. She rubbed her eyes and finally recognized her. Staring blankly at Gu Xiyan, she reached out, her fingers brushing against Gu Xiyan’s cheek. Suddenly, her tears fell, landing on the back of Gu Xiyan’s hand, scorching her heart with pain.

“Qinming… don’t cry…”

Ye Qinming didn’t respond. If Gu Xiyan could see her face at this moment, she would be in even greater agony. Ye Qinming’s face was covered in tears, her expression filled with relentless sorrow and struggle, making her look utterly wretched.

“Zhuoqing, Zhuoqing… tell me, where did I go wrong? Why have we come to this? We clearly agreed not to concern ourselves with the centuries-old conflict between the Immortal and Demon Realms. I would restrain the Demon Realm, and you would keep Taiyi in check—why did you betray our promise?”

She clutched Gu Xiyan’s robes, no longer holding back in her drunken state, breaking into near-hysterical sobs. Gu Xiyan was left speechless.

She didn’t know. She didn’t know why Zhuoqing had been so blinded, why she had become so cruel, or why she herself knew absolutely nothing. The stone mirror could reveal one’s deepest memories, but she had completely lost all connection with Zhuoqing. She knew nothing at all. Other than shedding silent tears, she had no answer to give.

Thinking of this, Gu Xiyan bit down so hard on her lip that she tasted blood, her fingers clenched tightly.

The woman in white, grasped by the drunken and disheveled Ye Qinming, knelt amidst the spilled wine. Her pale face was streaked with silent tears, her eyes overflowing with despair and grief.

Without an answer, Ye Qinming’s expression twisted slightly. She yanked Gu Xiyan closer, staring intensely at the face she had adored for thousands of years, before finally losing her strength and letting go.

In the end, she buried her face in Gu Xiyan’s embrace, murmuring, “If you want my life, just say the word, and I’ll give it to you. But why are you so cruel? You want my life, yet you insist on breaking my heart too.”

Gu Xiyan shuddered violently at those words. A metallic taste surged up her throat, but she forcibly swallowed it down. Her whole body trembled, and she could no longer hold back her sobs. She clung to Ye Qinming and wept bitterly. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Seeing her like this, Ye Qinming’s eyes turned bloodshot as well. She grasped Gu Xiyan’s chin and gritted her teeth. “What right do you have to cry, Gu Xiyan? Shouldn’t I be the one crying? Huh?!”

She pressed down fiercely and kissed Gu Xiyan. The kiss was almost a bite. Gu Xiyan endured at first, but in the end, she returned it. The taste of blood in their intimacy only further ignited the fire in Ye Qinming’s heart.

When Ye Qinming pushed her against the window, Gu Xiyan realized what was about to happen. But Ye Qinming was not in her right mind. Gu Xiyan hesitated and struggled a little, yet Ye Qinming, drunk beyond reason, refused to let her go. Her strength was overwhelming, making it impossible for Gu Xiyan to break free.

A flush of red crept onto Gu Xiyan’s pale face. In the end, she simply gave up and stopped resisting, allowing Ye Qinming to have her way.

The sound of fabric tearing, the urgency and disorder of their movements—all of it rang clearly in Gu Xiyan’s ears.

She reached out and grasped Ye Qinming’s hand, her voice hoarse. “Do you really want this?” She didn’t know if Ye Qinming was touching her because she truly desired her or if she was merely venting her drunken emotions.

But at this moment, Ye Qinming’s eyes were bloodshot, paying no heed to her words. Gu Xiyan let out a deep sigh. Finally, as if surrendering, she wrapped her arms around her and kissed her back. Perhaps this would be their first and last time—let it be her one act of indulgence.

Night had already fallen deep. The surroundings of Thousand Leaf Palace were silent. Inside the inner hall, there was no lamp light—only the faint glow of luminous pearls illuminating the mess within. Suppressed breaths and stifled sounds of restraint wove together in a desperate, chaotic entanglement that spiraled on endlessly.

On this night, Ye Qinming poured out all her love and hatred. In her drunken haze, there was no tenderness—only roughness.

Especially during the spiritual cultivation, when Gu Xiyan helped repair her demon core, the warmth of the spiritual energy surged through Ye Qinming, making her tremble uncontrollably and cling to her even more.

Gu Xiyan heard her murmuring names beside her ear—sometimes “Zhuoqing,” sometimes “Xiyan.” In the end, she was too dazed to tell the difference. All she could do was close her eyes and sink into the moment with her.

By the time Ye Qinming finally stopped, Gu Xiyan had no strength left. She barely managed to lift a hand to brush Ye Qinming’s sweat-drenched cheek before falling into a deep sleep.

***

Outside, Zhijin was growing anxious. However, she didn’t dare show it in front of Mujin—otherwise, the girl would probably tear Thousand Leaf Palace apart.

In the end, she coaxed Mujin into preparing some refreshments before quietly slipping into the bedchamber.

The moment she saw the state inside—the disheveled bedding, the lingering intertwining glow of green and white spiritual energy—her face instantly turned scarlet. She hurriedly spun around and retreated.

Clutching her chest, she was still shaken. At this moment, she couldn’t even tell if she was happy or embarrassed. But… did this mean that Her Majesty and Miss Gu had finally reconciled?

When Mujin approached and saw her expression, she was puzzled. “Why is your face so red?”

Zhijin stammered. “N-nothing… It’s nothing. I… Miss Gu and Her Majesty are doing very well. It’s fine. We should leave and not disturb them. Let’s go, let’s go.”

Zhijin had always been calm and composed—this reaction of hers was rare. Mujin grew even more curious, but upon hearing that they had made up, she felt nothing but joy. Seeing her lady heartbroken over her conflict with Ye Qinming had been unbearable.

***

At dawn the next day, Gu Xiyan finally woke up.

The rich aroma of tea filled the air, but as the memories of last night flooded back, it made her heart race. Yet what followed was an even deeper bitterness.

She could feel that although Ye Qinming had become gentler toward the end, at the start, she had truly just been venting in her drunkenness.

As the realization settled, Gu Xiyan furrowed her brows. Aches wracked her entire body, making it difficult to even sit up. She reached out to smooth Ye Qinming’s furrowed brows and let out a bitter smile. This sort of thing… really hurt.

Beside her, Ye Qinming was still sound asleep, surrounded by a soft, milky-white glow. Her complexion was flushed, her breathing steady.

Although Gu Xiyan couldn’t see her face, she reached out and touched the lingering spiritual energy. A faint smile appeared on her pale lips. As expected, Ye Qinming had been right—spiritual cultivation was truly beneficial for her.

Last night, rather than being unable to refuse Ye Qinming, perhaps it was her own selfish desire.

She didn’t know if they could still be together after this. If, one day, fate truly separated them, then at least this one night would be a small, pitiful comfort.

And besides, she still worried about Ye Qinming’s old injuries.

For both of them, this was the best possible outcome.

Perhaps… perhaps when Ye Qinming sobered up, she would find it hard to accept. But how much worse could things get between them?

Gu Xiyan’s expression darkened. She lowered her head and pressed a light kiss to Ye Qinming before fumbling around for her clothes.

But her own garments were no longer wearable. Left with no choice, she reached for Ye Qinming’s clothing and put them on. The room reeked of alcohol, and the bed was a complete mess. Forcing herself to straighten up, she tidied herself as best she could before slowly walking out of the bedchamber.

“Miss Gu?” 

Zhijin had been waiting outside since early morning. The moment she saw Gu Xiyan, she quickly stepped forward, only to pause when she noticed that Gu Xiyan was wearing Ye Qinming’s clothes. The exposed marks on her body made her avert her gaze in embarrassment, while Mujin, staring at her, felt her eyes well up with tears.

“She… she bullied you again, didn’t she?”

Gu Xiyan was exhausted. She shook her head and said, “No. Ah Jin, be good.”

Mujin bit her lip, holding back her tears while cursing Ye Qinming countless times in her heart.

Mujin didn’t understand the complexities of the world, let alone these matters. Gu Xiyan didn’t know how to explain it to her, so she simply turned to Zhijin and said in a low voice, “Clean up the hall. Also, prepare some fresh clothes and bedding.”

She didn’t say much more—it was difficult to put into words. With that, she turned and went back into the bedchamber.

She didn’t want anyone else to touch Ye Qinming, so she dressed her properly and changed the bedding herself. As for everything else, she had no energy to handle it and left it to Zhijin before going to take a bath.

Zhijin stared at the torn clothing left behind, suppressing her embarrassment, not daring to say anything. But when she saw Gu Xiyan sitting there, all her usual spirit gone, she finally sensed that something was wrong.

“Miss Gu, you and Her Majesty…?”

“She was too drunk. Zhijin, please take good care of her. As for last night… just pretend you don’t know anything, can you?”

Just now, she had asked Zhijin about the Thousand-Year Drunkenness, also known as Forgetting Sorrow. If Ye Qinming had drunk so much of it, she might not even remember what had happened. If she truly forgot, that would be for the best—it would at least leave her with some dignity.

“Does that mean Her Majesty…” Zhijin trailed off, but the concern in her eyes was impossible to hide. “Miss Gu, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have asked you to come persuade Her Majesty. I thought she… I thought you two…”

“It’s fine. It’s not her fault, and it’s not a problem with her.”

“But this… this isn’t right… It’s not fair to you.”

“Zhijin, if she truly cannot forgive, why add another burden on her? It would only be pressure for her and leave me unable to face it as well.”

***

Ye Qinming had consumed too much Thousand-Year Drunkenness and remained unconscious for four or five days. During that time, Wuyin visited three times, administering acupuncture and medicine while also treating her lingering old injuries.

However, Wuyin found something odd—Ye Qinming’s recovery was unusually fast. In just a day, her body had changed dramatically. The severe cracks in her demon core had almost completely healed, leaving behind only faint traces, and her cultivation had also improved significantly.

She didn’t believe it was just her medicine taking effect, but whatever the real reason was, she chose not to ask. Though she didn’t revere Ye Qinming as much as Guiche and the others did, she didn’t dislike her either, so she did her best to help.

On the sixth morning, Ye Qinming finally woke up.

She sat up abruptly, startling Zhijin, who had just entered with a basin of water. She nearly dropped it in shock.

Seeing her awake, Zhijin’s face lit up with joy. “Your Majesty, you’re finally awake!”

When Ye Qinming saw that it was Zhijin, she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment. She then sat on the bed in a daze. It seemed like she had a dream… She tried hard to recall its details, and suddenly, Gu Xiyan’s sweat-drenched face crashed into her memory, catching her off guard and making her breath hitch. Staring blankly at her hand, she could still feel the lingering warmth and smoothness in her palm, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Realizing something, she hesitated before asking, “She… where is she? Have you been the one taking care of me these past few days?”

Zhijin pursed her lips and lowered her head. “Yes. Your Majesty drank too much that day and has been unconscious for five days.”

The answer left Ye Qinming disappointed. Noticing her own reaction, she furrowed her brows deeply but still pressed on, “After I got drunk… she never came to see me?”

“She… she did. Miss Gu was very worried about you. But that day, you said you didn’t want anyone near, that you wanted to be alone, so… And also, also…”

“And also what?”

Zhijin took a deep breath and said, “Miss Gu has been ill. She’s had a fever for the past few days. When I checked on her this morning, she was finally a little better.”

“She’s sick? How could she be sick? Her cultivation is strong; she shouldn’t be falling ill.”

Saying this, Ye Qinming immediately lifted the blanket and tried to get up. But just as she took a step forward, she forced herself to stop. Zhijin hesitated, as if wanting to say something, but Ye Qinming turned back and said, “Go and ask Master Wuyin to see her.”

“Huh?” Zhijin was taken aback. Cultivators rarely fell ill, and in the Demon Realm, no one would call for Wuyin over a simple fever. This was…

Ye Qinming, of course, understood what she was thinking. She spoke in a firm voice, “Tell Wuyin this is my request. She must go.”

After Zhijin left, Ye Qinming dressed herself and paced around anxiously. The thought of Gu Xiyan being unwell filled her chest with unbearable restlessness. But at the same time, recalling those memories made her heart ache. The lingering, unspeakable images from her dream made her feel utterly shameless. The tangled emotions left her unable to take a single step toward seeing her.

Ye Qinming was avoiding it. She forced herself not to think of the past, not to dwell on the hatred and resentment. But in doing so, she also found herself unable to face Gu Xiyan.

At noon, Guiche and the others, having heard that she had woken up, arrived at Thousand Leaf Palace.

Right now, the most pressing matter was understanding the situation in the Demon Realm during the days she had been unconscious. Seeing her subordinates covered in dust and exhaustion, Ye Qinming felt a deep sense of guilt. Because of her personal feelings, the Demon Realm had once fallen into ruin. Now, because of matters of the heart, she had indulged in heavy drinking, leaving the Underworld Water battlefield unattended.

“Your Majesty, in the past few days that you were absent, rumors have been spreading wildly among the demon clans, and morale has plummeted. Just yesterday, the Heavenly Army, led by the fire god, crossed the Underworld Water and tore open a gap in the Demon Realm’s defenses. If this continues, they will soon push their forces deep into our territory,” Guiche reported grimly. At this point, nearly everyone in the Demon Realm knew that Ye Qinming had been drinking herself into a stupor over Gu Xiyan for five days, neglecting her duties. Several clans were already expressing their dissatisfaction with her.

Ye Qinming was filled with regret. She was not someone who disregarded the bigger picture, but being forcibly made to recall her memories by Liuli had thrown her completely out of control. Her emotions had overwhelmed her reason.

Without hesitation, Ye Qinming said, “I will depart for the Underworld Water immediately. You all go ahead first—I will catch up right away.”

The battlefield was in constant flux, and every moment mattered. She could not afford any more delays.

She had already made one mistake in the past—once was enough.