Talulah, I'm still a child.

"The Grand Tutor will arrive tomorrow, and I expect the Prefect of Shangshu and the Inspector of the Ministry of Rites will also come to visit. Don't oversleep tonight."

Lin Qingyan gently rubbed Mei Xue's head, his tone full of tenderness. The Grand Tutor was one of the rulers of the Great Yan Dynasty and held a special position. However, Mei Xue had now regained some of her memories, so she shouldn't be foolish enough to make any silly mistakes.

"Don't worry, sister, I'll be fine."

The little fox's tail swayed gently. Talking to someone like the Grand Tutor required a lot of thought, but once Mei Xue got used to thinking, he became exceptionally mature, making people wonder which one was the real him.

"Is the Grand Tutor a very powerful person in the Great Yan Dynasty?"

Cecilia, somewhat curious, held the spoon in her mouth. She was still a bit clumsy with chopsticks, so she was used to eating with a spoon.

"Well... he's a really troublesome old man, sigh, anyway, I really don't want to see him."

Nian scratched her head. She didn't have much of an impression of the current Grand Tutor, and had never even met him. But Ling had met him a few times, and based on her description, Nian felt that she wouldn't like him too much. Rather, she thought that the high-ranking officials of the Great Yan were all difficult to deal with, and each of them was a shrewd person.

"But it's probably the same for Mei Xue; no one can put on airs in front of him."

If Mei Xue were to drink any more at the dinner table, she wouldn't be able to say anything to her, so she poured herself a glass and drank it. After thinking for a moment, she realized that Da Yan undoubtedly valued Mei Xue highly, and wished they could send a team of imperial guards to Rhodes Island to watch over her, or send a few celestial masters to Rhodes Island as agents to protect her secretly.

However, considering that Mei Xue is currently at her peak, if someone could actually hurt her, then no matter how many people came, it would be in vain, so they eventually gave up on that idea.

"That's the advantage of being of a higher generation. To be honest, the reason why the Great Yan Dynasty trusted us so much in the past was largely thanks to Mei Xue."

Nian picked up a chili pepper and popped it into his mouth. He remembered that back then, the management of the Sui Beast incarnations in the Great Yan Dynasty was not as strict as it is now. The twelve brothers and sisters could freely visit each other, gather together for a family banquet, play mahjong, and so on.

Aside from the stable lifestyle of the twelve siblings in the Sui family, Mei Xue was indeed an indispensable factor for the Great Yan Dynasty. He personally registered the household registrations of these twelve people, and he personally taught them. The little fox himself made unforgettable contributions to the Great Yan Dynasty. Out of respect for him, the Great Yan Dynasty always turned a blind eye to the gatherings of Nian and others, as long as they reported it.

Because of the tragedy that happened decades ago, the third sister, Jie, never returned. The second brother was too obsessed and wanted to find a trace of the past from the chaos. He also wanted to find Mei Xue's whereabouts and seek a way, but he was helpless.

"Is only the Grand Tutor coming?"

"Yes, although the remaining officials have all sent letters to inquire about our well-being, they are unable to visit us in person due to their duties. We considered sending envoys, but felt it would be inappropriate, so we chose the Grand Tutor as our representative."

"Well, it's not a big deal."

Mei Xue's tail swayed gently. The little fox certainly didn't feel neglected; on the contrary, he was very happy. If too many people came, his social anxiety would probably flare up again.

Talulah and the others couldn't get a word in edgewise about these matters. They knew Mei Xue, but they didn't know about Da Yan, much less about the Fox Fairy. It seemed like a family affair, and it wasn't appropriate for them, as guests, to interfere.

As the group chatted, Nian successfully struck up a conversation with Du Yaoye, dispelling her concerns. Perhaps it was because Mei Xue seemed to have nothing to worry about.

Patriot ate slowly because he had to wear a mask; he didn't want to disrupt the harmonious atmosphere of everyone's meal, and he didn't say that he actually liked it that way.

I remember many years ago, when my son and wife were still alive, the family would sit together for meals like this. We would have an old TV on, and we would chat about the news and interesting things that happened that day. My wife would talk about what she saw when she went grocery shopping and complain about the rising prices. My son would talk about the interesting things that happened at school, but he would never talk about his grades.

In his memory, he had held a halberd more often than a knife, fork, or chopsticks; he had slept in military camps more often than at home; and he had fought enemy monsters more often than with his family. Looking back on the first half of his life, Patriot seemed to be fighting endlessly until he finally found the familiar feeling of home here.

"Brother, this ring is so pretty..."

Cecilia gently bit Mei Xue's chopsticks, ate the meatball on them, and then stared at Mei Xue's middle finger. The exquisite silver dragon-shaped ring and the sapphire on it were particularly charming to girls of any age. Cecilia remembered that her mother also had a similar ring, but she had never worn it.

"A ring? Wait a minute, Talulah, you really proposed!?"

Froststar was so surprised she almost dropped her chopsticks. Patriot's breathing instantly became heavy. As for Du Yaoye and Zheng Qingyue? After hearing this and understanding the situation, they were stunned. Good heavens! The fox spirit got a marriage proposal and it was accepted!

If this news gets out, Du Yaoye is sure to cause a wave of confessions, love, and marriage in the Great Yan Dynasty. Even the fox spirit is getting married. How wonderful it would be to get married at the same time and share in the joy! Even if it's not an auspicious day, with Mei Xue there, it's not a problem. The auspicious day in the Great Yan Dynasty is up to the fox spirit.

"Yeah, hehe, back then I told you, Mei Xue was amazing. I still remember what he said when he agreed, just thinking about it makes me happy..."

Despite her words, Talulah was completely unaware that Alina's fists were already clenched. Although Little Deer didn't mind letting her best friend go first, after all, she knew best how deep the friendship between Meixue and Talulah was, she was still quite annoyed to see this girl so smug.

(I really want to punch her)

Aside from Cecilia, Mei Xue, and Zheng Qingyue, even Du Yaoye felt that Talulah was now exuding an aura that begged to be beaten. It was hard to imagine that this girl could usually be so aloof and tough in front of the Reunion Movement members.

"Sister, when you laugh like that, you look like the Doctor before she was hung up by Kal'tsit."

Mei Xue's perfectly timed remark left Talulah speechless. Of course, she recognized the Doctor and had seen her being hung up by Kal'tsit; the Doctor was indeed a very unconventional person.

"I'm telling you, Meixue, Talulah is too unreliable. You should find someone else. Seriously, marrying her would probably kill you."

Froststar spoke earnestly, completely ignoring Talulah's darkening expression. Anyway, this wasn't the first time the two of them had been bickering like this. Patriot, watching from the sidelines, thought that Mudrock was still the most suitable girl for Meixue. Not only was she beautiful, but she also had a great personality—gentle, introverted, and thoughtful.

Actually, Alina is a suitable candidate, but Patriot feels that if he marries this little deer, what if she gets unhappy one day and punches Mei Xue... that would be bad.

Just as the group was arguing noisily about the ring on Mei Xue's hand, a cold wind blew across the Qingqiu cliff, and a few plum blossom petals fell. They were gently caught by a pair of slender, clean hands. The Nine-Colored Deer sat on the edge of the cliff, too lazy to turn around.

"How does it feel to return home after thousands of years?"

"...I can't say it."

The lily of the valley, or rather, Su Xue'er blew away the plum blossoms in her hand. The familiar wind, the familiar mountains and rivers, and the familiar night scene, only the reflection of the two moons in the great river were somewhat of an eyesore.

It was truly indescribable. The Su Xue'er within Linglan was merely a remnant soul, yet the feelings of nostalgia and familiarity still welled up endlessly, beyond words. So she waved her hand, and a flurry of snowflakes fell.

"Does she know about this body?"

“I told her that if she wants to be with Mei Xue, she needs to make her own choice. I am just a remnant soul; she will not become me.”

Looking at the snow, Su Xue'er and the Nine-Colored Deer both fell silent.

Chapter 4 Mei Xue's Bedtime Observations

Life and death are concepts that are easy for others to understand, but for Su Xueer and Mei Xue, they learned this lesson from others.

Because fate does not have a so-called death, nor does it disappear; it is unknown when it is born, nor where its end lies.

"From initial ignorance to gradual maturity, we have also stepped into the human world, witnessed the warmth and coldness of human relationships, life and death, separation and reunion, seen the fall of dynasties and the rise of civilizations, and watched those spaceships in the stars disappear."

Watching Su Xueer speak these words while appearing as a lily of the valley, a strange feeling arose within her. The Nine-Colored Deer listened quietly to her story. After knowing each other for so many years, this was the first time Su Xueer had told her these things.

"Finally, when the last friend we knew died, Mei and I chose to come back here, to stop caring about anything else. Fate shouldn't interfere with everything, and it shouldn't involve feelings..."

As for when Su Xueer and Mei Xue were born, there is only a rough estimate, which was just something Su Xueer made up on the spot back then.

In reality, neither she nor Mei Xue remembered anything. Spring, autumn, winter, summer, thousands of years, the past and the future overlapped with the present. Time was a meaningless thing to them, and they never deliberately tried to remember it.

In fact, no one has ever been able to find Qingqiu. The area designated as a protected area by Dayan is just a projection of it in reality. This place was long ago separated from all timelines, past and future by Su Xue'er. The Nine-Colored Deer was able to enter this place simply because of its own understanding of fate and the item Mei Xue left for it, that not-so-exquisite red knot.

"But back then, you were the one who left first, weren't you?"

"...It was me. I thought Mei Xue would be more impatient than me, but I didn't expect that she would go out first, deal with those guys, and settle things with her fists. Life seems to have become more interesting."

"Then why did you suddenly leave and never return?"

Su Xue'er's departure is a question that lingers in everyone's mind. The only certainty is that she is dead and there is no possibility of her being resurrected, because Mei Xue is now whole. However, no one would believe that he would be willing to devour his own sister.

Over the years, the Nine-Colored Deer has investigated many places, but only has some vague guesses. All the clues are too vague. Whether it is a giant beast or a beast master, Su Xue'er's traces seem to have disappeared into thin air.

“I’m insane, Nine-Colored Deer, or more accurately, we’re insane.”

This was the first time Su Xue'er had said this so directly, and only here could she speak so clearly without worrying about provoking anything.

"I'm just one of them, one of the more refreshing ones who's by Mei Xue's side, but the rest... I can't say."

"What's in the sea to the east? Da Yan can't say, and Mei Xue can't say either, but surely it can be done here?"

“This place won’t work either.” Su Xue’er shook her head. “He is just like us. He knows when someone mentions Mei Xue’s name, and he will die if someone mentions my name. In this space, we can only say some borderline things to those in front of us. If we continue, I’m afraid I will disturb him.”

Since things had come to this point, Nine-Colored Deer didn't ask any more questions. She already knew far more than she expected. She would deal with the rest later. Someone who could be sensed just by being mentioned was someone even Su Xue'er found troublesome. It probably wasn't the one she was guessing.

Just as the two were about to continue their conversation, Su Xue'er and Nine-Colored Deer's expressions suddenly changed, and they frowned slightly.

"He woke up earlier than expected...and his injuries were very serious."

"It's clear that he harbors resentment."

As Su Xue'er spoke, she stood up. She didn't want too many people to know her secret, especially her old friends. Nine-Colored Deer nodded and waved for her to leave. Linglan and Su Xue'er's consciousness returned to Shang Shu's body together. As a candidate for the Fox Fairy's bride, she certainly couldn't be absent this time. However, because of the assessment, and because Su Xue'er wanted to take some time to see Nine-Colored Deer, she chose not to have New Year's Eve dinner with Mei Xue and the others.

According to Su Xue'er, she and Mei Xue have a long future ahead of them, so there's no need to rush. Besides, no one outside of Lin Qingyan knows that she is in Shangshu and even living in Ning Ciqiu's house.

"Miss Lily of the Valley, is there anything I can help you with?"

Hearing some noises in the room, the servants of the Ning family thought that Linglan was not used to the local environment. Although they did not know the origin of this young lady, since Lord Ning treated her with such courtesy, they could not be neglected. However, she was tired from the journey and fell asleep without eating.

"It's nothing, could you please ask the kitchen if they have any food left?"

Linglan rubbed her stomach; she was indeed a little hungry. Su Xue'er had been the one talking the whole time, and she had no idea what the two of them were saying. She only knew that the pretty-looking Elafia was probably Mei Xue's old flame from before. Sigh, Mei Xue was great in every way, but this was the one thing that was particularly troublesome: there were too many females!

"Your dinner is still prepared. Also, Lord Ning would like you to go to the front hall after you wake up."

"Okay, I'll go after I finish eating."

Unlike Talulah and the others who arrived yesterday, Suzuran deliberately set off a day later. Moreover, the Great Yan side seemed to attach great importance to her, as the people escorting her were extraordinary. According to Su Xueer, they might be the Great Yan Imperial Guard.

The Fox Fairy Bride sounds like a legend, and it's easy to associate it with sacrificial rituals from some evil and backward customs. But actually... it was just a widespread marriage proposal organized by the Great Yan to prevent Mei Xue from being single. I heard that the first person to apply was a princess of the Great Yan, the one who liked to chase and bite Mei Xue.

Perhaps there are some hidden reasons behind this, which is why Da Yan is taking it so seriously, but Linglan and Su Xueer are not quite aware of them.

Meanwhile, in Qingqiu, or rather, within the Da Yan Tian Nan Nature Reserve, Ya, who had faced the second son of the Sui family that night, appeared at the foot of Qingqiu Mountain. Looking at this familiar landscape, she was filled with countless thoughts.

A thousand years have passed, and everything remains the same, exactly as I remember, including the flowers, plants, and trees.

"That's true... How could this place possibly change?"

The entire year, which repeats endlessly, does not exist in the past, nor does it belong to the present that will pass by in a hurry, and it leaves no trace in the future. This area has long been solidified into eternity and has been stripped away.

"So, you're the one guarding this place now?"

"...If you're here to reminisce about the past, I'd welcome you, but you don't really look like it."

The nine-colored deer emerged from behind a tree, holding an object resembling a tree branch. It looked like it was carved from white jade, yet also had a hint of amber. Seven-colored light swirled around it, creating a dreamlike scene.

"Long time no see."

"A thousand years, and he hasn't come?"

“He didn’t come. You shouldn’t be looking for him here, especially since you’re seriously injured right now… you’re no match for him.”

Ya is already nearing her end. The Nine-Colored Deer knows that the only one who can save her is probably Mei Xue, but given her pride, she probably won't choose that method.

Where is age?

"do not know."

Nine-Colored Deer answered casually, but the atmosphere gradually became tense. In fact, in Ya's current state, let alone the body of the agent in front of him, even if the real body came, it would not be a match for Nine-Colored Deer. It would just be a bit troublesome if Da Yan noticed it.

"You should know, never mind, why should I ask you?"

Ya turned and disappeared from in front of the Nine-Colored Deer. There was no point in staying any longer; she was no match for the Nine-Colored Deer now.

As I was leaving, I couldn't help but look back at the huge plum tree on the cliff, which was nearly thirty meters tall. I still remember that year when we all gathered together, enjoying the beautiful scenery and leisurely time.

Now, there is no place for them on this land anymore.

"Hmm, why do I feel a little cold?"