Can We Get Married First?  93

Chapter 93

Chi Lin guided Lou Mi towards the light, her grip on Lou Mi’s wrist tightening slightly. She glanced back, a slight frown on her forehead, as if asking if Lou Mi was ready.

Lou Mi pulled herself together, trying not to be distracted by Chi Lin’s breathtaking beauty.

They were about to enter a dangerous era; she couldn’t afford to lose focus.

Lou Mi nodded seriously, showing her resolve.

Chi Lin, worried that her tension might hinder their progress, gently caressed her face, her smile reassuring.

Lou Mi realized for the first time that souls could touch each other.

And that souls could blush and feel their hearts race.

If this gentle touch had happened before, Lou Mi would have simply seen it as Chi Lin’s mature and caring nature, a thoughtful little sister.

But now, seeing the real, older Chi Lin before her, Lou Mi felt like Tiger, wanting to wag her tail.

Big sister was so beautiful, so gentle, and so capable…

The closer they got to the light, the brighter it became.

Still holding hands, they swam forward and suddenly saw a figure floating in mid-air.

Lou Mi instinctively gripped Chi Lin’s hand tighter.

Chi Lin didn’t stop, guiding her closer.

As they approached, they realized it was a real human body, floating with its eyes closed, identical to Chi Lin’s soul.

It was Chi Lin’s body!

Chi Lin understood.

When she had jumped into the Kunling Lake in the Imperial Garden and traveled through the abyss to the modern era, her mind had been preoccupied with Her Majesty’s death and the daunting task ahead, she hadn’t realized her soul had left her body.

She had traveled through the abyss as a soul and entered the original Chi Lin’s body.

Now, returning, her soul would naturally separate again.

The abyss’s power was to separate soul from body.

Chi Lin’s soul entered her body, and she opened her eyes, regaining control.

She looked at her hands, clenched her fists, and reached out to embrace Lou Mi.

But she couldn’t touch her.

They looked at each other, both stunned.

They both realized the same problem.

Lou Mi didn’t have a body in this era…

Just like Chi Lin’s first journey to the modern world, entering the original Chi Lin’s body, although there was a connection, it was uncontrollable.

Where Lou Mi’s soul would end up in Dayuan, in which body she would awaken, was completely unpredictable.

After a moment of silence, Lou Mi, regaining her composure, pointed towards the light above, signaling for them to go up first.

Chi Lin shook her head, anxious.

Dayuan, and even Shangjing, was a vast and complex city. If Lou Mi ended up somewhere random, without a phone or any modern communication device, how would they find each other?

If they got separated, where would Chi Lin even begin to look for her?

But Lou Mi was determined not to let Chi Lin send her back.

She seemed to have a plan and started swimming upwards.

Chi Lin followed, desperately trying to reach her, but her hand passed right through Lou Mi’s.

Just as Lou Mi was about to reach the light and enter Dayuan, she looked back at Chi Lin and mouthed two words.

Chi Lin read her lips:

Her Majesty.

Chi Lin understood instantly.

Lou Mi looked at Chi Lin one last time, then swam upwards, towards Dayuan, without hesitation.

This was her chance to prove she was the Empress, Chi Lin’s beloved.

Chi Lin hadn’t entered a random body in the modern era, but a body with the same birthmark and moles under the eyes as her own.

Following this logic, if Lou Mi truly was the Empress’s reincarnation, there must be a connection between her and the Empress’s body.

Where would her soul go upon returning to Dayuan?

Back to the Empress’s body, of course!

The closer Lou Mi got to the light, the faster her heart beat.

She hadn’t considered the possibility of not being the Empress.

She definitely was, she had to be.

She was Chi Lin’s destined one.

As Chi Lin followed Lou Mi, countless possibilities and solutions raced through her mind.

She understood Lou Mi’s thoughts.

This was a dangerous gamble, incredibly risky for Chi Lin, and even more so for Lou Mi.

Chi Lin wanted to stop her, but she couldn’t touch her.

Watching Lou Mi’s retreating figure, she felt the same familiar flutter in her heart as when she had gazed at Her Majesty countless times.

Chi Lin had believed Lou Mi was the Empress many times, but never as strongly as now.

Lou Mi and the Empress’s images overlapped perfectly in her mind, becoming one.

Chi Lin followed, desperate to protect her Majesty, to be by her wife’s side!

The light exploded before Chi Lin’s eyes, blinding her momentarily. She felt herself being pulled upwards, defying gravity.

After ascending for a long time, she suddenly felt water rushing into her lungs.

Her body began to sink in a familiar way. Chi Lin opened her eyes and found herself in a lake, the surface shimmering with light. She looked around, but there was no sign of Lou Mi.

She held her breath and swam upwards.

This was Kunling Lake, she was certain, even in the dark. This was where she and Her Majesty had sailed countless times.

When she had risked her life to return to the capital, most of the people had already fled, only a few loyal officials remained.

News of Her Majesty’s death hadn’t been released, and her body was hidden in a secret passage outside the capital, suggesting suspicion of a traitor within the palace, perhaps even someone close.

This time, Chi Lin had to be extremely cautious, she couldn’t be discovered.

She observed her surroundings underwater for a long time, making sure no one was around before quietly coming ashore.

This part of the Imperial Garden was newly built by Her Majesty and still partially unfinished. Few people came here, except for Her Majesty.

As soon as she landed, Chi Lin saw a pile of smoldering ashes where the Imperial Preceptor had stood.

Her heart sank, and she rushed over.

“Imperial Preceptor?!”

Even though the body was unrecognizable, she could tell from the clothing.

The Imperial Preceptor had known he would suffer the consequences of opening the time portal, but he had done it without hesitation.

Chi Lin bowed her head, tears streaming down her face.

Dayuan still had such loyal subjects…

Composing herself, Chi Lin noticed that the Imperial Preceptor’s body was still smoldering, meaning he hadn’t been dead for long.

Chi Lin had experienced three astral convergences in the other dimension, nine months had passed there, but here, it was only a fleeting moment.

The Imperial Preceptor’s words were true; no matter how much time passed in the other dimension, she would return to the moment she left.

Chi Lin had no time to bury him. She had to change clothes and find Lou Mi.

The dim lights along the Imperial Garden’s corridors, originally Her Majesty’s preference, now provided cover for Chi Lin.

She knew the Imperial Garden like the back of her hand and quickly found her former quarters, following the corridors.

Her Majesty, to protect Chi Lin’s family, had sent them away from Shangjing before the rebellion, all for Chi Lin’s sake. She had also ensured Chi Lin’s quarters were well-maintained.

There were no guards, and the rooms were dark, exactly what she needed.

Chi Lin quickly entered, found a small candle, lit it, and quietly searched the closet.

She remembered last autumn, when Her Majesty, on a whim, had insisted on sneaking out of the palace to visit the marketplace with her. Chi Lin had tried to dissuade her, but Her Majesty’s persistence and charm had won. Chi Lin had found a set of guard’s uniform for her, helping her disguise herself.

She had casually tossed the uniform into the closet afterwards, never imagining it would come in handy now.

Chi Lin found the uniform and took out a box of rouge from a drawer, darkening her complexion and adding some contours to her face. Her reflection in the bronze mirror looked more masculine, a more convincing disguise.

Ready, she left, heading towards the secret passage.

She hoped Lou Mi was there!

***

Lou Mi felt a heavy pressure, unable to open her eyes.

Her mouth and nose seemed blocked, making it difficult to breathe.

She struggled, her mind hazy.

Where was she…?

She tried to focus, to grasp onto something.

“Mmm, cough, cough, cough!”

Lou Mi suddenly sat up, coughing out a small, glowing orb.

The orb rolled on the ground, then stopped glowing.

She coughed violently, then, finally catching her breath, looked around.

She was in a spacious cave.

There was no natural light, the only illumination came from torches on the cave walls.

The torches were dripping oil, seemingly lit recently.

Where was she? Lou Mi looked around, but there was no sign of Chi Lin.

She was alone.

Alone…

At this thought, she looked at her hands. They were solid, real. She was no longer in her soul form.

She touched her face. It was warm!

Not very warm, but it was a human body!

Whose body had she entered?!

This was a first for Lou Mi. She was both excited and bewildered, eager to see her current appearance, but she couldn’t find a mirror.

Her hand accidentally touched the surface she was sitting on, and a wave of icy coldness made her gasp.

She realized she had been lying on a rectangular stone slab that radiated cold, surrounded by small pouches filled with herbs.

There were even pouches on her body.

It looked like an open coffin.

Had they used an ice coffin to preserve her body?

It was very likely.

Unlike Chi Lin, who had been disoriented when she arrived in the modern era, Lou Mi, a modern person, was familiar with ancient elements from movies, TV shows, novels, and meticulously researched video games. She wasn’t panicking.

She got off the ice slab and noticed she was wearing a black robe with gold trim, seemingly simple, but the satin material felt luxurious and comfortable. Looking closer, she saw embroidered dragons, a symbol of imperial authority.

Who could wear dragons in ancient times?

Only the Empress.

Lou Mi straightened her back, wanting to laugh triumphantly.

See! She was the Empress!

Wait, this wasn’t the time to celebrate.

Chi Lin wasn’t here, how would they reunite?

Lou Mi thought about it. The death of an emperor was a serious matter in any dynasty.

If news of the emperor’s death during a foreign invasion were to spread, the nation would be doomed.

Chi Lin wanting to restore her nation by triggering her past life memories meant there was still hope. Judging by the secrecy of this cave, the news of the emperor’s death was likely being kept hidden.

So, this cave should be safe, hidden from ordinary people.

Chi Lin would definitely know how to find her here. She shouldn’t wander off, the best course of action was to stay put and wait for Chi Lin.

She could use this time to try and regain her memories.

Lou Mi paced back and forth in the cave, but nothing came to mind.

What was going on…?

She was starting to get anxious.

When Chi Lin switched back with that other person, she had retained some of their memories. Why couldn’t she remember anything after returning to the Empress’s body?

This wasn’t right!

Chi Lin was heading towards the secret passage when her path was blocked.

Hundreds of imperial guards had surrounded the exit to the Imperial Garden.

Chi Lin hid behind a waterfall and listened carefully to their conversation.

The guards had surrounded a young maid, asking if she had seen any trace of the criminal Chi.

“Are, are you talking about the former Empress? Wasn’t her entire clan exiled? Why are you looking for her here…”

The maid, around 15 or 16 years old, had served in the palace since childhood and had never seen so many rough-looking men. Being suddenly interrogated, she was trembling with fear.

The Imperial Guards were the emperor’s personal guard; it was normal for them to be in the palace, but they were actually searching for her. Chi Lin was worried—had she been discovered?

The guards brushed the maid aside without waiting for her to finish and, with a single command, split into three groups to search the Imperial Garden!

In the torchlight, Chi Lin recognized the leader.

It was Cheng Xuan, the Right Commander of the Imperial Guards. Standing beside him was Liang Zheng, a lieutenant. Both of them had been arrested for colluding with rebels before Chi Lin’s exile. Why were they here?

Had someone released them…?

Chi Lin knew Cheng Xuan and Liang Zheng were ruthless and dangerous. Alone and outnumbered, she couldn’t risk a direct confrontation.

Fortunately, there was a secret passage in the Imperial Garden.

Every imperial palace had secret passages, not just for escape.

Chi Lin exited through the secret passage and found the entire capital swarming with Imperial Guards.

But many of them were unfamiliar faces.

They moved like shadows in the night, clearly searching for someone.

Chi Lin knew her return had been discovered; she was the target.

She decided not to go directly to the secret passage where Lou Mi was.

Its location was highly classified. Even though the Imperial Preceptor had taken her there once, unless someone knew exactly where to look, it was impossible to find.

If Lou Mi had returned to the Empress’s body, with her intelligence, she wouldn’t wander around.

Staying put was safer than being outside.

Chi Lin decided to return to their private residence, retrieve their letters, and leave.

After reuniting with Lou Mi, she would assess the situation. If there weren’t many guards around, she might be able to take Lou Mi out to see Shangjing.

The thought of Lou Mi possibly returning to the Empress’s body, of Her Majesty being alive, made Chi Lin’s heart pound.

It was very likely.

After all, when she entered the original Chi Lin’s body, the original Chi Lin was already dead. She had practically taken over a corpse.

Perhaps she was about to see Her Majesty again…

Chi Lin forced herself to calm down. The Imperial Guards everywhere were actually an advantage. Her disguise would allow her to blend in, especially under the cover of darkness.

She quickly left the palace and reached the main avenue.

The streets were empty due to the curfew. Chi Lin hurried towards their private residence.

She knew the streets of Shangjing like the back of her hand. Reaching their residence, she climbed over the wall and into the courtyard, listening carefully, making sure no one was around.

She entered the bedroom and found the letters, using a small candle for light.

The room was unchanged, every detail carefully designed by her and Her Majesty, filled with precious memories.

Emotions surged within Chi Lin.

She wiped away her tears and carefully wrapped the letters and some of Her Majesty’s belongings, securing the package to her back.

A sword hung on the wall, a sword she had carried for over ten years, the first sword she received after she began her martial arts training.

Her Majesty had kept everything related to her…

Chi Lin took the sword and quietly left.

The secret passage was located in the mountains north of Shangjing, where the royal family held their ancestral rites. The mountains stretched towards the sea, where a high wall had been built. The passage was hidden there.

Its remote location made it almost impossible to discover.

And even if it was discovered, it was difficult to access, with cliffs on one side and a treacherous sea filled with reefs on the other.

When she and the Imperial Preceptor had visited, they had relied on his Qinggong skills to enter.

Chi Lin had an excellent memory; she could remember any path she had taken once.

Her own Qinggong skills were exceptional, further honed by her experience navigating the challenging terrain of Snowy Peak in the game.

She flew into the cave. A voice from the darkness called out, “Who’s there?”

At the sound, Chi Lin froze, her gaze fixed on the depths of the passage, her breathing quickening.

“Chi Lin.” It was Her Majesty’s voice. “Is that you?”

“Your Majes…” Chi Lin stumbled forward and knelt on one knee.

A figure emerged from the darkness, approaching her. Chi Lin quickly stood up and walked towards it.

It was Her Majesty.

She was standing right before her, it wasn’t a dream.

This robe was something Chi Lin had pestered the Ministry of Rites to allow her to make for Her Majesty.

The person wearing this robe was the one she longed for day and night, the one who appeared in her dreams countless times.

“Chi Lin.” Her Majesty walked towards her. The torchlight flickered behind her, all other sounds fading away, leaving only the pounding of Chi Lin’s heart.

It wasn’t a cold corpse, but a living, breathing person.

Someone who could speak, walk, and look at her.

“I…” Lou Mi was about to speak when Chi Lin suddenly embraced her, holding her so tightly that her entire body trembled.

“Your Majesty.” Tears streamed down Chi Lin’s face, unnoticed.

She couldn’t say anything more, her voice choked with emotion.

Chi Lin buried her face in Lou Mi’s embrace and wept silently.

“I missed you so much…”

These words almost broke Lou Mi’s heart.

She was moved by Chi Lin’s emotions, by this person who usually kept her feelings so tightly guarded, now pouring out her heart.

At this moment, Lou Mi even thought she was willing to play the role of the Empress.

As long as Chi Lin was happy, she was willing to be anyone Chi Lin wanted her to be.

Tears welled up in Lou Mi’s eyes, a wave of sadness washing over her, bringing back a distant memory.

That clueless idiot, He something, from the Imperial Academy, pestering Chi Lin relentlessly, even grabbing her hand… Lou Mi seemed to have felt this same ache in her heart.

A sharp pain shot through her head, and she gasped.

Chi Lin, her eyes filled with tears, looked up at her.

Lou Mi froze.

The Imperial Academy, He something… why did she know these things?

“Your Majesty?”

Lou Mi’s temples throbbed. She looked at Chi Lin in her arms, who was also looking at her.

When was the last time she saw Chi Lin cry?

She remembered. They were at the Southern Palace, inseparable. She had been throwing a tantrum, wanting Chi Lin’s attention and affection. Chi Lin, as always, had been patient and gentle.

But her tantrum had been too much, and despite Chi Lin’s efforts to soothe her, she hadn’t calmed down, eventually making Chi Lin cry.

“Your Majesty, I was wrong. Jin Yi, please forgive me.” Chi Lin had cried, clutching her sleeve, her voice filled with anxiety.

Those tears were different from the tears now, but the person in her arms still cared for her deeply.

“Little Lin.” Lou Mi wiped away her tears, her gaze softening as she caressed the moles under Chi Lin’s eyes.

Chi Lin’s grip on her sleeve tightened.

“I remember.” Lou Mi said. “Our time at the Imperial Academy, our Taihua Palace, the northern border, the southern palace… everything, I never truly forgot.”

Lou Mi’s touch, her tone of voice, was completely Her Majesty’s.

But the name “Little Lin” belonged to Lou Mi.

Her Majesty only called her Lin Jie, or “my dear,” or General Chi in public.

At this moment, Lou Mi and the Empress merged seamlessly, and Chi Lin couldn’t tear her eyes away.

“You remember everything?!” Chi Lin asked eagerly.

Just as Lou Mi was trying to sort through the flood of memories, another wave of pain shot through her head, making her wince and clutch her head.

“Your Majesty! Sister! What’s wrong?!” Chi Lin cried out, her words confused.

Lou Mi gritted her teeth, but as she tried to grasp onto the fading memories, they slipped away.

For a moment, her mind was blank, she couldn’t even think.

“I’m fine, just, a little overwhelmed.” Lou Mi wanted to sit down, but suddenly, they heard faint footsteps from the cave entrance.

The enclosed space amplified every sound. Lou Mi hadn’t noticed, but Chi Lin had.

Chi Lin was startled. Who could it be?

The footsteps grew louder, steady and strong, like those of a martial artist.

And there was more than one person!

Had she been followed?

Having spent too long in the modern era and eager to see Lou Mi, Chi Lin had let her guard down, she hadn’t noticed anyone following her to the secret passage!

“Go!”

The newcomers were approaching from the mountainside. Chi Lin pulled Lou Mi towards the other end of the passage.

“What…” Every word Lou Mi spoke brought a wave of pain and confused memories, one moment she was playing a game, the next she was hunting with a bow and arrow.

There was no time to explain. The footsteps were getting closer. Chi Lin urged Lou Mi to hurry.

“Don’t let her escape! After her!”

“Capture her alive!”

It was Cheng Xuan and Liang Zheng’s voices!

Chi Lin pushed Lou Mi forward, urging her to run, as the Imperial Guards stormed into the passage.