Destined Hearts of Mu and Yu (GL) - Chapter 30

Had she reached the bottom of the lake? Qin Mu felt her body had stopped sinking. She thought to herself: I can hold my breath for a while, but once my inner strength runs out, there will be no escape. Already, the warmth within her seemed to seep away bit by bit. Her consciousness grew thinner, weaker. She didn’t know how much time had passed before her vision went black, and she lost awareness.

She thought she would simply sink into eternal sleep at the bottom of the lake. Yet in that moment, a soft hand clasped her own. The touch was so familiar that her heart seemed to recover faster than her mind, pounding wildly for that person.

It was her—it was Hanyu, her elder sister of cold jade.

With great effort, Qin Mu pried open her eyes and, through the blur, caught sight of Wei Hanyu. At first she thought it must be a hallucination after fainting, but then she felt herself being pulled upward, dragged forcefully toward the surface.

Her eyelids were too heavy to lift, yet her ears remained sharp. She could sense many people gathered around.

“Is there still hope?”

“She’s been under for nearly half an hour—surely she’s gone.”

“Look at that pale face, she must be beyond saving.”

“Brother Mu, you mustn’t have anything happen to you!” That was Wei Yue’er’s voice. Qin Mu realized Yue’er had managed to climb ashore, and Wei Yanhang had not harmed her further. Relief steadied her heart.

At that moment, something warm pressed against her cold lips. Qin Mu’s heartbeat jolted to a halt. Then she felt air, faint but real, being breathed gently into her mouth.

After a pause, that warmth left her, leaving her strangely empty. A heartbeat later, it returned again. Qin Mu’s sense of smell came back, faintly catching the clean, elegant fragrance spreading between her lips and teeth.

She knew this feeling well. Those soft lips belonged to Wei Hanyu.

Qin Mu’s heart began to race uncontrollably, every cell in her body awakening from the numbness.

“Look, look—her hand moved!” someone shouted in astonishment.

Sensing her efforts were working, Wei Hanyu steadied Qin Mu’s face and pressed her lips against hers again, passing her breath into Qin Mu little by little.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!” Violent coughs tore from Qin Mu’s chest as lake water gushed out. Forcing her eyes open, she met the gentle gaze of Wei Hanyu.

At that instant, Qin Mu thought: If I were to die right now, it would still be happiness.

“To sink half an hour in the lake and live—truly a miracle, a divine one!” someone cried out.

Qin Mu, drained of strength, turned her head weakly. She caught sight of Wei Yue’er dripping wet at the side, and at last, reassured, she let her eyes close again. Her body slumped, and she lost consciousness once more.

When she next awoke, the rich scent of sandalwood drifted to her nose. Qin Mu slowly opened her eyes, her body still weak.

“Awake?” came the familiar voice beside her.

“Mm.” Qin Mu nodded faintly, coughing twice, her chest burning as though filled with water.

“Are you foolish? You can’t swim, yet you jumped in,” Wei Hanyu scolded coldly, brows furrowed as she looked at her.

Qin Mu pushed herself up weakly. Seeing she had angered Wei Hanyu, she lowered her head like a guilty child, silent.

“Drink this ginger soup first.” Wei Hanyu handed her a bowl.

Qin Mu hurriedly took it, tilting it back as though drinking wine. She didn’t realize it had just been boiled at Wei Hanyu’s order and was still steaming hot. The moment the liquid touched her lips, she hissed in pain, biting down as tears welled in her eyes.

“So grown, yet still so reckless,” Wei Hanyu frowned, her tone reproachful.

Qin Mu bit her lip, tears brimming, when the bowl was suddenly taken from her hands. Her chin was lifted, and she found Wei Hanyu leaning closer, her narrowed eyes locking onto her. Qin Mu’s little heart jumped out of rhythm, her face instantly flushing crimson.

“It’s only a little red, not injured. Stop biting it,” Wei Hanyu said softly, releasing her. She turned away, scooped a spoonful of ginger soup, blew on it for a long while, then brought it gently to Qin Mu’s lips. Seeing her obediently drink, the frost on Wei Hanyu’s face melted somewhat. She sighed faintly.

“To stay by my side is this dangerous. Those who love me, those who hate me, those who fear me—they will all seek to harm you. If you’re careless even once, you may lose your life.”

“I’m not afraid. I just want to stay with you.” Qin Mu shook her head, a smile tugging her lips as she gazed at Wei Hanyu with stubborn devotion.

Before meeting Wei Hanyu, she had no grand ambitions, no dreams. She was like a frog at the bottom of a well, living idly in the mountains. But after meeting her, the black-and-white world burst into color. Everything suddenly had meaning. As long as she could be with Wei Hanyu, she was willing to risk her life. What was life worth, if without her?

“This is only the beginning. What you’ll face in the future may be a hundred, a thousand times more frightening than this.” Wei Hanyu’s lips pressed tight, her eyes revealing a rare trace of sorrow. She was grateful—grateful that Qin Mu was not as fragile as she seemed, grateful for her skill and wit, grateful that she had survived time and again. But in the future, more dangers would surely come, just as they had with Wei Yanhang. How many could she protect her from?

“Hanyu-jie, Uncle Bo once read my fortune. He said I’d live to eighty. I’ve got a long life, so don’t worry.” Qin Mu patted her chest proudly, smiling.

Wei Hanyu looked at her. Seeing how lightly she took things, even after brushing past death, eased some of the weight in her heart.

“Give me your hand.”

Qin Mu quickly rolled up her sleeve and extended her fair, slender arm. Wei Hanyu placed a yellow talisman in her palm, instructing her to keep it close.

“It’s a protective charm. Keep it on you.”

Qin Mu examined it curiously before hanging it at her chest.

“May it truly keep you safe,” Wei Hanyu said softly, her gaze tender.

“Of course. To survive such a calamity means fortune ahead. I’ll surely top the imperial exams this time!” Qin Mu puffed her chest, full of confidence. Seeing the worry in Wei Hanyu’s eyes lessen, she stretched her limbs and teased:

“That lake water must be special. After swallowing so much of it, I feel refreshed, almost glowing. Don’t I look radiant?”

Wei Hanyu’s brows creased, her expression serious. “Better call the imperial physician again. Perhaps you hit your head on the steps and damaged your mind.”

Qin Mu froze, mouth open. Just as she began to protest, she saw Wei Hanyu cover her lips and laugh softly. Realizing she had been teased, Qin Mu could only gape. She had thought Wei Hanyu rarely joked, yet after the turtle on her face this morning and now this playful banter, she felt the distance between them shrink.

At that moment, a eunuch outside shouted:

“His Majesty has arrived!”

Qin Mu was startled. She exchanged a look with Wei Hanyu and tried to rise, but was pressed back onto the bed by Wei Hanyu.

A hearty laugh carried in from outside, and soon the golden brilliance of a dragon robe appeared. When Qin Mu saw the man in the shining yellow garment, her expression froze.

“W-Wei… Lord Wei?”

“Yes, it is I.” The Emperor arched his sharp brows, smiling as he looked at Qin Mu.

Behind him, Wei Yue’er darted forward. Seeing Qin Mu, her attitude had completely changed from her usual disdain. With embarrassment, she said:

“Brother Mu, seeing you safe puts my heart at ease.”

Qin Mu smiled back at her. The two exchanged a smile, yet at Qin Mu’s side, Wei Hanyu’s eyes flashed with a chill. That very look was caught by the Emperor. He clasped his hands behind his back and spoke to Qin Mu.

“Little brother, you saved my daughter. How should I thank you?”

Qin Mu froze again, her mind blank. Happiness had come too suddenly. The Lord Wei she had once met was actually the Emperor—and now he wanted to reward her. What should she ask for—silver, an official post? Her mind whirled with countless possibilities.

But then she heard the Emperor speak slowly.

“Little brother, this daughter of mine is already sixteen, of marriageable age. I shall bestow her hand to you in marriage. What do you say?”