Chapter 290: Chapter 267: The Sound of Departure Breaks the Heartstrings

Ever since I learned that “Guan Canghai” was not the real Guan Canghai, but a disguise adopted by Rong Zhi, my fondness for the true Guan Canghai dropped to freezing point. Although Rong Zhi was the instigator, Guan Canghai fully cooperated with Rong Zhi’s actions, and that was an undeniable fact.

It seemed that Guan Canghai was aware of the knot in her heart. More than three years ago, he and Rong Zhi came to Ping City together, but he rarely appeared in front of her. They didn’t interact much, and for him to appear silently in her courtyard like he did now was even more unprecedented.

With a leisurely flick of the fishing rod backwards, the tall figure sitting under the tree stood up. Guan Canghai turned toward Chu Yu, his eyes still covered with a brocade sash–his blindness had lasted too long, and although Rong Zhi had tried his best to treat it, Guan Canghai was still only able to barely make out light and vague outlines. In fact, he found using his ears more effective than trying to see, so Guan Canghai simply kept his eyes covered, acting as though he was completely blind. Facing Chu Yu, he smiled and said, “I have something to tell you.”

Chu Yu hesitated for a moment before saying, “Come inside.”

The two entered the house one after the other, with Chu Yu letting Guan Canghai make himself comfortable and taking a seat herself.

Once they were both seated, Guan Canghai wasted no time and got straight to the point, “I have come here to persuade you to stay.”

Chu Yu picked up the teapot from the table beside her and poured herself a cup of cold tea.

Guan Canghai continued, “You should be well aware of why I have come and for whom. Must I really spell it out?”

Chu Yu gave a bitter smile and put down the teapot, lowering her head, “If you know I don’t wish to acknowledge those truths, why must you insist on speaking them outright?”

The two spoke in riddles, but their hearts couldn’t be clearer.

—-Do you truly not understand, or are you pretending not to?

Huan Yuan’s words still echoed in her ears. Now, thinking back, Chu Yu could only give a wry smile.

How could she possibly not understand?

Maybe in the first year, she was still able to speculate Rong Zhi’s every action with the utmost malice. But in the second year, the third year…she tried her best to avoid thinking in that direction, and even if she was reluctant to admit it, she had actually known the answer deep inside for a long time.

Focused intently on the teacup, as if she could discern a flower in the water, Chu Yu quietly said, “Even so, why should I stay? Just because he shows me kindness, am I expected to throw myself at him, drowning in gratitude for his benevolence?”

Her decision to leave was not a hasty one made in a bid to escape, but the result of calm and careful consideration. Guan Canghai’s words to her had no significance.

Looking up, Chu Yu turned her gaze to Guan Canghai. Though he likely couldn’t see her appearance, she still wanted to address him directly, “This is my will, and it has nothing to do with how Rong Zhi treated me. I felt this way three years ago, and I feel the same today.”

“People with differing principles do not plan together. He and I are not on the same path. Although we have coexisted without conflict for the past three years, that’s only because our paths happen to intersect for a while, allowing us to walk together. But now, it’s time to separate. He has his imperial ambitions, but what about me? What should I stay for?” Chu Yu spoke without emotion, her tone calm, “I don’t know what his future holds, whether he will be a victorious king or a defeated fugitive, but either way, it has nothing to do with me. Even if he unites the world and becomes the Emperor, am I supposed to be a concubine in his harem? That’s laughable.”

Chu Yu smiled faintly, though her eyes carried a hint of sorrow, “I do like Rong Zhi, that’s true. But at the same time, I cannot accept some of his thoughts and actions. Staying by his side would unavoidably lead to witnessing him harming others. I won’t resent him for not liking me because my affection for him is voluntary. Similarly, I won’t overlook all his deeds just because he changes his attitude.” Her tone remained even from beginning to end, chillingly calm, “You should understand better than I do what kind of person Rong Zhi is. I don’t expect him to change, nor do I plan to change for him.”

There’s a saying that goes, “It’s easy to fall in love but hard to live together.” Perhaps falling in love is not necessarily easy, but living together is indeed harder than the former. Merely liking someone isn’t enough to gloss over everything, at least not for Chu Yu.

Rong Zhi had his disposition, and she had her pride… In the end, their only option was to part ways.

Hearing the unwavering certainty in her voice, Guan Canghai sighed, “You are… right. It was presumptuous of me.” After a moment of contemplation, he asked, “Must you really go?”

Chu Yu nodded and replied, “Indeed.”

Perhaps in a few months, she could forget him, or perhaps she could never erase him from her life, always missing him, yet forever unable to see him.

That was just the way it was, it could only be this way.

Between them lay an insurmountable chasm, they could only gaze at each other, never to be together.

Guan Canghai seemed to want to say something more, but ultimately he didn’t, instead just offering a helpless smile and saying, “Well, it seems I’ve been too meddlesome this time, and for that, along with the deceit on behalf of Rong Zhi before, I hereby apologize to you.”

Even though Rong Zhi might be at fault in many ways, he still had to help him.

Hearing his sincere and earnest words, Chu Yu also let go of her grudges, smiling as she said, “To tell the truth, I was being petty, hanging onto it for so long.” After all, Guan Canghai had no obligation to stand by her side; it was just that her first impression of him had been too good, and she found it hard to accept at the moment.

Having reached this point in their conversation, all that needed to be said had been, and what remained unsaid was also clear in their hearts. Chu Yu’s resolve was steadfast and unchangeable, and even if Rong Zhi forcibly restrained her from leaving, he would not be able to change her determination; instead, it would only make the situation worse.

Rong Zhi was astute and insightful; he knew what would be best, which is why, compared to Guan Canghai’s incomprehension, he hadn’t even tried to hold Chu Yu back.

Because he knew he could not keep her, just like the red fades from the mirror and the flowers leave the tree.

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The day she left was bright and sunny.

The sun blazed down gloriously hot, and as Chu Yu stepped out the door, she was greeted by a dazzling expanse of light.

In the past three days, she hadn’t seen Rong Zhi again; Rong Zhi had stayed in his courtyard, and she had not once stepped foot near that place, nor had he come out.

Better not to see each other than to have such a meeting.

Chu Yu was bathed in the sunlight, the rays reflecting off her white clothes, so dazzling when she looked down that they almost hurt her eyes, and her cheeks could feel the gentle warmth. Standing beside her were Huan Yuan, Amman, and Hua Cuo. After a day of deliberation, Hua Cuo had decided to return to Luoyang with her–perhaps he had realized he was no match for Rong Zhi and thus refrained from making futile efforts.

Just as Chu Yu was lifting the hem of her gown to step into the carriage, a clear and piercing bamboo flute melody circled back, calmly cutting through the air.

The tune was not entirely coherent, its undulations deeply melancholic and plaintive. The bamboo flute’s sound, ordinarily crisp and clear, now took on the watery quality of distance and persistence.

Amidst the flute’s notes, the splendid daylight seemed to be steeped in the rich sentiment of farewell; Rong Zhi’s musical skills certainly couldn’t compare to Xiao Bie’s, but since the one playing was him and the listener was Chu Yu, all the meanings were transformed.

Chu Yu listened intently for a moment then noticed Huan Yuan’s worried expression beside her. She gave a faint smile and said, “Get on, we’re setting off.”

The carriage quickly set into motion, its wheels rolling over the cobblestone road, emitting a series of deep rumbles that left the faint bamboo flute melody far, far behind.

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Oh, that’s right, another thing, is that next month when everyone has some free time, you can make requests for side stories. Anyone from the book who isn’t a main character but whose name has appeared more than fifty times (meaning they have at least some role), you can request side stories for them~~~ I’ll write a few depending on the situation~~~