“My token of love with Yun'er is a Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade!”
General Qing Jiang’s eyes showed a trace of nostalgia as if recalling something. “That Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade was a gift from Yun'er’s mother, who later bestowed it upon me. It was on the very night she gave it to me that we officially became husband and wife. Though we didn’t have a wedding banquet or the blessings of relatives and friends, we were both content. The Heart-Guarding Jade thus became our token of love.”
“The Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade was naturally formed. The jade contained diamonds, and when viewed under sunlight through the eyes, one could see the shape of the Big Dipper. Strangely, not everyone could see it. According to Yun'er, only those with a sincere heart could.”
“Later, I locked the Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade within a Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock, hiding the lock on a southeastern island. I then hid the key at the Spirit Observing Platform. Alas, although I have obtained the key now, I don’t know if the Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock still exists. I fear I may never see the Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade again in this lifetime.”
At this point, General Qing Jiang could not help but sigh again.
A thousand years was simply too long. Times had changed, and things were vastly different.
Listening to General Qing Jiang’s narration, Yan Shouyi suddenly felt a bit awkward.
He asked, “General, was the Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock very formidable?”
“Naturally, it was formidable. The Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock was forged from fine steel. It is absolutely impossible to open it by human strength,” the General stated with certainty.
Speaking of which, the General also sighed, “Never mind. You should throw that key away. Without finding the Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock, the key is useless. It’s not that coincidental in this world for you to obtain the key and then find the lock.”
Yan Shouyi turned to Lin Zhitong and said, “Throw the key away.”
“But… just like that?” Lin Zhitong felt it was a pity. This was a key that embodied the deep love between the General and the Princess!
Yan Shouyi, however, said, “Throw it away. It’s indeed useless, because the Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock was broken long ago, and the Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade is in my possession.”
“Heh, don’t joke with me.”
The General intended to scoff at Yan Shouyi, but he didn't expect Yan Shouyi to produce the Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade in the next second.
The token of love between the General and the Princess, the Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade, was precisely the Heart-Guarding Jade Yan Shouyi had asked for from Li Qinger according to his grandfather’s wishes!
Earlier, Yan Shouyi had tried to use the Big Dipper star map within the Heart-Guarding Jade to decipher the star map from the Lian He ancient book obtained from Bai Muxu, but there had been no results.
He hadn't expected that by conversing with General Qing Jiang at the Spirit Observing Platform, the Heart-Guarding Jade would be connected unexpectedly!
“You… this, this is impossible!”
Upon seeing the Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade, General Qing Jiang couldn't help but snatch it, holding it in his palm to examine it closely.
But no matter how he examined it, this was indeed the Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade he had personally locked within the Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock years ago!
Seeing this, Lin Zhitong silently threw the key away.
Since the Heart-Guarding Jade had appeared, the key was no longer necessary.
After confirming, General Qing Jiang couldn't help but ask, “The Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock was something even I couldn’t open. How did you manage to open it?”
“I only obtained this Heart-Guarding Jade later. I didn’t see any Nine-Layered Mechanical Lock before, but…” Yan Shouyi spread his hands, “Now that we utilize technology, what was once an unopenable lock may not be so now, and we have hydraulic presses…”
“That’s incredible!”
General Qing Jiang laughed heartily, “Fate! It’s truly fate! I never expected to see the Seven-Star Heart-Guarding Jade again in my lifetime!”
Then, General Qing Jiang’s gaze turned fervent again. “In this era, what good things are there that we didn’t have before? Tell me!”
“There are so many, we couldn’t finish telling you in three days and three nights…”
“Then tell me slowly!”
“Ahem, let’s discuss the main business first. After we’re done, you can listen for as long as you want.”
General Qing Jiang came back to his senses and nodded quickly, “That’s right, the main business is important… Huh? What main business?”
It turned out that General Qing Jiang had been appearing for quite some time, and Yan Shouyi still hadn't had a chance to mention his actual purpose.
It wasn't Yan Shouyi's fault, after all, General Qing Jiang hadn't emerged for a thousand years. It would be rude to spoil his mood after he had spoken a few pleasantries.
Yan Shouyi organized his thoughts and then steadied himself. He suddenly pulled Lin Zhitong over, asking her to open her palm, and said:
“I’ll ask other questions later. First, let me ask you, why is there a remnant of your soul within my soul, and why is it that Yun'er’s soul does not contain the remnant of Princess Yu Shu, but rather the remnant of Lian He?”
General Qing Jiang noticed the skull imprint on Lin Zhitong’s palm and couldn't help but frown. “What is this?”
“You don’t recognize this?” Lin Zhitong asked in surprise. “This is Lian He’s imprint.”
“I naturally recognize Lian He, but this imprint of yours…”
General Qing Jiang pondered for a moment, then finally shook his head and said, “Never mind. Let Lian He explain it to you herself!”
Since General Qing Jiang could manifest within the Spirit Observing Platform, Lian He could naturally do so as well, but for some reason, Lian He had been slow to appear.
As soon as General Qing Jiang finished speaking, he raised his hand and lightly tapped the imprint on Lin Zhitong’s hand. The Spirit Observing Platform immediately stirred, and countless points of light rose and flowed into Lin Zhitong’s palm.
Soon, the points of light that had entered Lin Zhitong’s palm floated out again and gathered together. Within a few breaths, they condensed into a graceful figure.
This woman was petite and seemed even more pitiable. She was dressed in simple clothes. As soon as she took form, she knelt on the ground and said excitedly,
“Your servant greets the General!”
“Lian He.” General Qing Jiang was also somewhat excited and moved upon seeing Lian He. He quickly helped her up.
“General…”
After Lian He stood up, she couldn't help but sob, as if she had a thousand words to express.
Seeing Lian He in this state, General Qing Jiang’s face also darkened. “After I died, you all suffered a lot, didn’t you?”
Upon hearing this, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong were both extremely surprised.
They had speculated that the fate of General Qing Jiang and Princess Yu Shu might not have been perfect, but they hadn’t expected their ending to be separation by death!
Could it be that during their escape, General Qing Jiang had died at the hands of the National Teacher?!
However, Lian He was still crying, so it wasn't convenient for them to ask.
Lian He nodded and wept, saying, “Your servant’s status is lowly and fate is light; it is only proper for me to suffer, but it is the Princess who suffered…”
General Qing Jiang felt a pang of heartache and gritted his teeth, asking, “After I died, tell me quickly what all of you went through!”