Reborn Into A New Life, Everyone Loves Me Now (GL) - Chapter 28
She Had Always Been a Tool in Their Battles
After a while, the sect gate slowly opened. A young woman stepped out, dressed in light purple robes of the sect. Her black hair was tied up, secured with a single peachwood hairpin. A sword hung at her side, and her face was laced with wariness.
“Who are you? What business do you have with the Ephemeral Blossom Sect?”
Su Qishi stepped forward. “I am Prince Yue of Yun Dynasty. I have urgent matters and seek an audience with your Sect Leader.”
The purple-robed disciple hesitated for a moment, then cupped her fists. “Please remain here. I will inform the Sect Leader.”
Su Qishi returned the gesture. “Many thanks.”
Once the disciple left, the sect gate closed behind her.
Su Qishi sat down on the stone steps, idly playing with the Nine Sakura Beads at her waist.
There was a strange feeling in her heart, one she couldn’t fully explain. Even though she had long known her mother did not love her, she still wanted clarity.
What kind of feelings had her mother truly held for her?
In her past life, her mother had been the final hand that pushed her into the abyss—without hesitation. Under the guise of “for her own good,” she had even slaughtered the child Su Qi had with the person Su Qishi had personally supported.
And Su Qi… he was the mastermind behind her downfall.
Did they know that? Or did they simply not care? Perhaps, in that previous life, they had already chosen to abandon her.
Her gaze darkened, deep as the night sky around her.
As she pondered these thoughts, the sect gate opened again—and this time, another person accompanied the disciple.
This newcomer walked briskly, yet with a poised grace. His features were clean and refined, youthful despite clearly being in his forties.
—Mu Qing.
His eyes brimmed with unshed tears, flickering with countless emotions. In disbelief, he asked, “Are you… the child of Senior Sister Xiao Yue?”
Su Qishi gave a small nod. “I am.”
Mu Qing lost his composure, his usual calm replaced with excitement. “Good, good! So Senior Sister Xiao Yue’s child has grown so tall already…”
The purple-robed disciple stepped forward, cupping her fists with a touch of guilt. “So you are the child of Senior Aunt Xiao Yue. Please forgive my earlier rudeness.”
Su Qishi nodded graciously. “No matter. May I know your name?”
The disciple gestured to her teacher beside her. “This is my master, Mu Qing. I am Yun Qing. You may call me Yun Qing, Your Highness.”
Su Qishi smiled. “Very well.”
Mu Qing’s tone turned gentle. “Is Senior Sister Xiao Yue well?”
Su Qishi’s expression remained calm and composed. “My mother is well.”
Mu Qing’s gaze faltered for a moment, repeating softly, “That’s good, that’s good…” Then, as if recalling why Su Qishi had come, he asked gently, “Xiao Shi, what brings you here?”
Su Qishi replied, “To be honest, a friend’s father is gravely ill. He urgently needs Huizhu Grass from your sect for treatment.”
Mu Qing’s lips curved into a warm smile. “That’s no trouble. Ephemeral Blossom Sect has plenty of Huizhu Grass. However much you need, I’ll give it to you.”
Su Qishi’s face lit up. “Thank you, Uncle.”
So, her mother once had deep ties with the Ephemeral Blossom Sect.
Then why… why did she suddenly leave the sect and marry a man she did not love?
Su Qishi could sense that the reason behind her mother’s choices would be uncovered during this very journey.
Following Mu Qing and Yun Qing, Su Qishi stepped into the sect. Strangely, neither of them showed any doubt about her identity—something that made Su Qishi uneasy.
Could it be… just because I resemble Mother?
But she knew full well—her features more closely resembled the Emperor.
Inside Ephemeral Blossom Sect, vibrant flowers bloomed everywhere in a riot of color. Among them, Ephemeral Flowers dominated the gardens. When they bloomed, it was as though all other flowers faded in comparison—their pristine white petals symbolizing purity and grace.
Yet the Ephemeral Flower bloomed only for a fleeting moment—seen, but never truly held.
Ahead loomed the main hall, grand and imposing. Its roof was covered in glazed tiles, and delicately carved images of Ephemeral Flowers adorned its walls, vivid and lifelike.
Su Qishi was led inside. At the gates, many disciples had gathered upon hearing the news. Their hushed conversations reached her ears—impossible to ignore.
“Is that really the daughter of Senior Aunt Xiao Yue? She’s so beautiful… Senior Aunt must have been even more stunning.”
“Of course! My master told me she was the most gifted among them—and breathtakingly beautiful.”
“Then why did she suddenly leave the sect?”
“Don’t ask. If your master hears you, you’ll be punished. It’s forbidden to speak of it—it’s the sect’s first taboo.”
“She’s so pretty… If only she could train with us.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s Prince Yue of the realm, led the army against Geyue Kingdom. She wouldn’t train with us.”
At that moment, Yun Qing appeared, scaring the onlookers into scattering. He stepped forward with a slight bow, his tone apologetic. “Please forgive the disturbance, Your Highness.”
Su Qishi didn’t mind. If not for their chatter, she wouldn’t have learned that her mother’s departure had indeed been unusual.
And the reason… clearly involved the Sect Leader.
Raising her gaze, Su Qishi looked directly at the person seated at the top of the jade steps.
That person’s presence was overwhelming—Su Qishi hadn’t sensed them enter the hall. Their cultivation must be extraordinary.
Mu Qing bowed respectfully. “Sect Leader.” Then he turned and exited, his eyes lingering briefly on Su Qishi before disappearing beyond the doors.
Su Qishi stood tall and unflinching in the center of the hall, the Nine Sakura Beads at her waist glowing a deep crimson. “May I ask—are you the Sect Leader of Ephemeral Blossom Sect?”
The figure didn’t respond, simply stared at her. Su Qishi felt the silence strange and repeated, “I am Su Qishi, Prince Yue of Yun Dynasty. May I know your name?”
A deep voice echoed in the hall’s stillness. “I know who you are.”
Su Qishi’s brows drew together. “Since you know me, why not reveal your face?”
Yang Luoshi—the Sect Leader—looked into Su Qishi’s eyes, his gaze filled with a soft warmth, as though through her, he was seeing someone else entirely.
“Appearances don’t matter. I have my reasons for remaining veiled.”
“I heard from Mu Qing that you’ve come seeking medicine?”
Su Qishi answered without hesitation, “Yes. I ask for Huizhu Grass. Whatever the cost, name your price—if it’s within my power, I will do all I can.”
Yang Luoshi chuckled softly, a nostalgic tone in his voice. “You truly are your mother’s child… her very likeness.”
Su Qishi’s lips curled slightly, composed as ever. “So, you knew my mother?”
Yang Luoshi’s eyes darkened, his voice trailing off as if lost in memory. “Your mother…” he murmured.
“‘Mother’… what a distant word.”
He smiled bitterly, eyes locked onto Su Qishi’s face.
“I didn’t just ‘know’ your mother…”
Su Qishi sensed something unusual. This Sect Leader clearly had a story with her mother.
In her mind, that painting—her mother’s most treasured possession—flashed before her eyes.
Now, she was more curious than ever about the Sect Leader’s true face.
Su Qishi spoke calmly, “It seems you and my mother shared quite a close bond, Sect Leader?”
Yang Luoshi’s hands, resting on his knees, tensed slightly. Her words were like a key turning in an ancient lock—memories surged through his mind, each moment with Xiao Yue replaying vividly.
He had spent twenty years unable to forget her. Sometimes he wondered if he couldn’t let go—or simply didn’t want to.
Now, seeing the daughter of his beloved… he couldn’t stop staring. It felt like Xiao Yue in her youth stood before him again.
Deep within, the emotions he’d buried for decades began to stir.
He didn’t want to hide anymore. He wanted to tell her daughter everything.
But should the grudges of the past continue into the next generation?
Yang Luoshi’s voice was low, tinged with deep sorrow. “All of that… is in the past. Your mother and I—we can’t even meet anymore.”
Su Qishi felt the pain in his tone. Her suspicions only grew stronger. Her desire to uncover the truth intensified.
“Sect Leader, may I see your true face?”
She paused, then said quietly, “Perhaps you’re unaware… my mother does not love my father.”
She watched him closely, observing his every reaction.
“I believe the man my mother truly loved is the one in the portrait she keeps hidden, the man she dares not show anyone.”
“Does the Sect Leader know who he is?”
Her tone remained composed. “I mean no offense. I only want my mother to be free from her sorrow. She is deeply unhappy.”
Yang Luoshi’s brows furrowed, his voice tight with anxiety. “How is your mother now?”
When he heard that Xiao Yue’s heart still belonged to him, he felt a fleeting moment of joy—but it was drowned by worry.
He’d rather she didn’t love him, than live unhappily because she did.
Su Qishi’s eyes lowered, feigning concern. “Not well… not well at all.”
“I beg of you, Sect Leader. Please, tell me who he is. Let him speak to her. I’ll convey her words for him.”
Yang Luoshi was torn, emotions in chaos, his heart pulled in two.
Slowly, he closed his eyes and exhaled heavily.
Su Qishi watched him intently, tension coiled in her chest.
She could feel it—he was about to admit it.
She had recognized his eyes. They were the same as the man in her mother’s painting.
Then came his voice, low and heavy, like a thunderclap in her ear—
“It’s me. The man your mother loved… was me.”
He regretted it the moment he spoke, but when it came to Xiao Yue, his emotions always overwhelmed him.
Su Qishi pretended to be stunned. “What?! It was you, Sect Leader?”
Silence descended over the hall.
After a long while, Yang Luoshi began to speak slowly, his voice laced with bittersweet longing.
“Your mother and I met in our youth. She joined the sect a year after me. I still remember the first time I saw her—so bright, just like you. She was clever, grasping anything instantly. We trained together, faced trials together…”
“She was kind. Once, when we were sent on a mission, we saw a household abusing a young woman. She didn’t hesitate—she rushed in and drove them away. She was worried about retaliation, so… for the first time, she revealed her true identity.”
He smiled bitterly. “She once told me, she wanted someone who would love her, protect her, and choose her above all else.”
“But I… I could not do all of that.”
“At most, I could love her… from afar.”
He was weak… cowardly…
Su Qishi asked quietly, “Then why… why didn’t you end up with her?”
Yang Luoshi’s gaze darkened. He did not look at her, afraid of what he might say—or do.
“Because of your father. If it hadn’t been for him, I would have been the one to marry Xiao Yue.”
“He coveted her from the start. She respected him as an elder brother, but he… he had no such restraint. After becoming crown prince, he forced her to marry him, using her own father to coerce her.”
“We resisted. But it was useless. We couldn’t beat him…”
Su Qishi could hear the pain—the grief that had never healed.
Her father… stole someone else’s beloved.
No wonder her mother never loved her. She had been forced, trapped…
But what had she done wrong?
Why had her mother dragged her into that hatred?
Bitterness rose in her chest, a heaviness that pounded in her heart.
Her lips parted, but no words came.
Yang Luoshi’s voice broke through again, soft and filled with regret. “You are a good child. You’re… not like him.”
After a pause, he continued, “Tell your mother… I’m alive. I’m well. Tell her to live well… and not to seek me out. And if you can… tell her one last thing…”
“Yang Luoshi will love her—always.”
Wait—Yang Luoshi…
In that instant, everything clicked.
Her name—Su Qishi—had been given by her father.