Volume One, Chapter 77: The Peachwood Sword Necklace

“Hold my hand,” Chi Xingwan repeated.

Xiao Yue’s heart skipped a beat; he reached out and took Chi Xingwan’s hand.

“This way, it’ll be harder for us to get separated in the illusion,” Chi Xingwan said.

Xiao Yue suddenly felt a pang of disappointment.

Just then, people appeared backstage at the opera house, and the place quickly grew lively.

“Where’s Little Linghua? Hurry, get him ready. The Commander came today specifically to watch him perform. Tell him to behave—don’t let anything go wrong.”

“I’m here,” replied a boy who looked only about fifteen, his tone reluctant.

The owner of the opera house pushed him toward the makeup table, watching as he applied his makeup, and urged him earnestly, “Little Linghua, the Commander has taken a liking to your sister and wants to take her as a concubine. That’s your sister’s good fortune—why do you insist on being stubborn?”

Little Linghua pouted. “I’d rather my sister marry an ordinary man—even if life is harder, it’s still better than being someone’s concubine.”

Seeing he couldn’t convince him, the owner stopped persuading and simply said, “I don’t care how you feel; you must perform. If you upset the Commander and drag down the whole opera house, I won’t be able to protect you.”

Little Linghua was unhappy, but he knew his limits. “I understand. This is a separate matter—I won’t hurt anyone else.”

After the performance, having successfully seen off the Commander, Little Linghua returned backstage to remove his makeup and immediately rushed home.

“Sister, once I get paid this month, let’s leave here. Let’s run far away—once we’re out of the Commander’s territory, he won’t be able to do anything to us.”

The woman in the room wore a crescent-colored cheongsam, a necklace shaped like a peachwood sword hanging around her neck, an oddly mismatched detail.

She shook her head at Little Linghua. “Don’t trouble yourself, brother. I won’t leave. I’ll marry the Commander.”

“Why? You don’t even like him—you have someone you love.” Little Linghua was agitated.

The woman pressed her lips together, sorrow flickering in her eyes. “So what if I do? He went north to join the army and vanished without a trace. Am I supposed to wait for him my whole life?”

Little Linghua shook his head. “No, sister, I know you don’t mean it—I won’t believe you. If you won’t listen to me, I’ll go cause a scene in front of the Commander and let him beat me to death.”

The woman was startled, scolding, “Don’t do anything foolish! You don’t understand a thing!”

“If you never say anything, how can I understand?” Little Linghua was angry now, too.

They stood at an impasse for a moment before Little Linghua softened and asked, “Sister, tell me—why did you agree to marry the Commander? Don’t fool me anymore; I’m sixteen now, I’m grown up.”

The woman closed her eyes in helplessness, tears slipping down her cheeks.

“Brother, the Commander promised me that if I became his concubine, he would arrange for you to be sent abroad.”

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Little Linghua hurriedly refused. “No, I don’t want to go abroad.”

The woman gently touched Little Linghua’s head. “Listen to me, brother. The world will soon be thrown into chaos—it’s too dangerous to stay here.”

Little Linghua was still unwilling. “I’m not afraid of danger. If others can stay, why can’t I? If things get bad, I’ll just head north and join the army.”

“No!” the woman cried, her heartbreak spilling over in tears.

Little Linghua panicked, “Sister, I’m sorry—don’t cry. I just don’t want to leave you.”

The woman wiped her tears, holding the peachwood sword necklace at her chest. Her expression struggled for a moment before she finally decided to tell her brother the truth.

“Brother, do you remember our mother? She passed away when we were very young.”

Little Linghua nodded. “Of course I remember, even though I was little. She was the one who taught me to sing opera.”

As she mentioned their mother, longing filled the woman’s face.

“Brother, the year Mother died, she was thirty. Before she passed, she told me that everyone in her family died at thirty. It’s a curse, and we siblings inherited it.”

Little Linghua was visibly frightened, shaking his head repeatedly. “No, sister, what are you talking about? A curse? Isn’t that all nonsense? How could such a thing exist in this world?”

“Brother, whether you accept it or not, it’s the truth.”

The woman clutched the peachwood sword. “Ever since my twentieth birthday, I’ve felt my illness begin.”

“Sister…”

“Listen to me, brother, we can’t escape fate—but I refuse to give in. I know I can’t be saved, but I can’t bear to see you end up like me. I want to save you.”

Little Linghua was already sobbing. “Sister, it won’t happen. You won’t die—we’ll live together.”

The woman said, “I begged the Commander to send you to Su Country. Medicine is advanced there; maybe you’ll find a way to survive.”

Little Linghua shook his head desperately. “I don’t want to—I won’t leave you.”

“Brother, listen to me. This is Mother’s wish, and mine too.”

---

The autumn wind made Little Linghua shrink his neck.

He and his sister bid farewell at the docks.

“Brother, the person meeting you is a friend of the Commander. When you arrive, do as you’re told. Remember what I said—find a way to cure your illness.”

Tears welled in Little Linghua’s eyes. He nodded again and again. “Sister, I understand. I’ll live well. If I ever get the chance, I’ll come back for you.”

The woman smiled and shook her head. “Don’t come back. I’ll be content if you’re safe.”

She straightened Little Linghua’s collar, her fingers lingering on the peachwood sword necklace around his neck.

“This necklace was requested from the temple by Mother. One for each of us. Keep it safe even abroad—it’s for protection.”

Little Linghua nodded. “I will. I’ll keep it safe and pass it on to my children someday.”

The woman sniffed, fighting back tears. “Alright, it’s time. Get on the ship—go.”

Little Linghua held back his tears and embraced her. “Sister, I’m leaving. Take care.”

“Brother, you take care too.”

The huge steamship slowly pulled away from the dock. One sibling was aboard, the other on shore—from then on, separated by heaven and earth.

---

Chi Xingwan and Xiao Yue emerged from the illusion. Their hands were still joined.

“Are you alright?” Chi Xingwan asked.

Xiao Yue was dazed for a moment, then slowly shook his head. “I’m fine.”

The others gradually awakened from the illusion as well.

Chi Xingwan let go of Xiao Yue’s hand.

Xiao Yue squeezed the hand that had been held, the warmth lingering in his palm, making him savor the feeling.

Wei Shian, Grandma Xiao, and Secretary He all woke up one after another, sadness clouding their faces.

After a long while, Grandma Xiao asked, “That girl—was she the ancestor of Ah Yue’s mother, Lan Yan?”

Xiao Yue looked toward Chi Xingwan.

Chi Xingwan nodded. “She should be.”