Sure enough, when she turned back, she saw Guan Yue and Ning’er running over without shoes. Cang Yue nodded to Guan Yue, who stepped forward and asked Xu Qiu’er, “What happened?”
Cang Yue replied, “My lady hasn’t been sleeping well. We’ve been using sleep-inducing drugs in the incense, which isn’t good for her health. She seemed to improve, but unexpectedly…” Guan Yue took Xu Qiu’er’s hand and accepted the shoes from Ning’er. She put them on Xu Qiu’er and draped her white inner garment over her. Ning’er exclaimed, “Guan Yue, you’ll catch a cold.” Guan Yue had given all her clothes to Xu Qiu’er, leaving herself with only a bodice.
Guan Yue comforted Xu Qiu’er, “Look, the entire sky of stars are the young prince’s souls, watching over you.” Xu Qiu’er raised her head.
Cang Yue urged, “Sister, let’s go to the palace to see the master. If this continues, the master will die…”
“Shut up…” Guan Yue roared.
Cang Yue retorted, “You’ve seen the master’s condition. If this continues…” Slap! Cang Yue looked at Guan Yue in disbelief. Guan Yue calmly said, “Cang Yue, do you want to kill the master?”
Cang Yue could only remain silent.
Guan Yue tried to comfort Xu Qiu’er and take her back to the palace, but Xu Qiu’er, like a child, refused to move. After a long time, Ning’er feared Xu Qiu’er might freeze. Suddenly, Xu Qiu’er pushed Guan Yue away, looked at her clothes, and handed her the thin outer garment. When Guan Yue tried to refuse, Xu Qiu’er insisted, “Wear it.” Guan Yue complied.
“Cang Yue,” Xu Qiu’er called, arms crossed.
“Yes?” Cang Yue approached.
“If someone were to push you down from a height, what would you do?”
Cang Yue was stunned. “Would you resist to the death or leap down?”
Cang Yue, confused, asked, “What is the master trying to say?”
Xu Qiu’er looked away from the night sky and replied, “Heaven wishes to make me bear great pain, watching me endure torture.” Her long hair swirled in the wind, her white clothes billowing. “I will show it that Xu Qiu’er will not be defeated. I want it to witness my downfall of this dynasty.”
