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Chapter Text

Once upon a time in a faraway land there was a flower. Its chocolate petals curled like ribbons, giving it a fluffy appearance, but that was not its most unique quality. This was a magical flower, capable of curing any illness or ailment, and even able to turn back time and give someone’s youth back.

There was also an old woman that coveted that power for herself, and selfishly used it for centuries. But one day, the flower was no longer there. It was taken to save a pregnant queen and her child, but the wretched old woman wouldn’t have it. She tried to steal one of the newborn’s locks, but as soon as she cut the curl, it unraveled and straightened, becoming ordinary in every way.

The baby woke up crying and alerted her parents and the guards outside. Seeing that she would be caught if she didn’t act fast, the old woman took the baby and vanished into the night. That was the last time the little princess was seen.

The old woman made her way through a pitch-black forest, but her strength was failing her. She maybe should’ve stopped and sang to the flower to recover but she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was just behind her, if she slowed even a bit then it all would be over.

Her foot caught on an exposed tree root and she fell, the poor child sent flying. The old woman tried to stand up but her legs could no longer hold her, so she had to drag herself on the forest floor to where she could hear the scared cries of the child.

If only she would shut up, she cursed. What a pathetic creature. If she could get rid of the child without damaging her precious flower she would do so in a heartbeat, but right then it wasn’t a risk she could take. Something to consider later, if the little beast continued being such a nuisance. 

She finally reached the child, and with her dry and hoarse voice she began to sing. The child’s hair began glowing but it was too little too late, the woman old and harried after going without her fix for longer than she ever had since first finding the flower.

Her hand fell, her fingers just barely grazing the curls, and with her last breath, ended her song.

That was what Shen Yuan woke up to.

She had been watching a movie when she choked on a popcorn kernel and suffocated. Her whole body ached and she was laying on a damp and cold floor, nothing like her comfortable and temperature-regulated apartment. And for some reason there was a crying child right next to her.

Shen Yuan managed to right herself up and look at her surroundings. Moonlight could barely shine through the dense canopy of trees, but the glowing child was easy to spot. She wasn’t particularly good or bad with children, but her heart couldn’t take the desperate bawling. She picked up the baby and held her in her wispy arms.

“Shh, shh, it’s okay. I’m right here, you never have to worry again. I love you.” She hummed a tune and with one hand rocked the baby, the other running her fingers through soft curls.

The child began glowing more, but Shen Yuan didn’t stop her lulling. What was important was that the baby had finally calmed down, so much so that she was even tightly grasping a lock of Shen Yuan’s white hair. 

As Shen Yuan continued singing, her hair turned from white to gray and then settled into a deep black. Her hands’ wrinkles smoothed over, and her voice became clear like a bell. Suddenly, there was no need to hunch over, as she could stretch back all the way.

Fuck. She knew precisely who this child was, and who Shen Yuan had become.

“It’s ok, Luo Binghe, I have you now.” Shen Qingqiu lamented.

Why had she transmigrated as the villain?! Meant to be cruel and keep Luo Binghe locked in a tower for eighteen years? What was the alternative? Going back to the castle and giving her up? Hah! They would throw her into a dungeon before she could even try to say it was a terrible mistake.

Besides, without Binghe, Shen Qingqiu would survive a month tops. At least if she followed the plot of the story she’d have almost two decades to figure out how to avoid her tragic death, and how she could continue living once Luo Binghe left for her happily ever after. 

On top of all that, it was only logical that there had to be a villain to Luo Binghe’s story. How else would she grow up to be the strong and confident heroine she was destined to be? How else would she meet her Prince Charming Liu Qingge?

It was decided. Shen Qingqiu would follow the plot and would be the stepping stone in Luo Binghe’s path. Hopefully she could tone down the abuse and gaslighting— she didn’t think she could stomach acting like a monster, even more so to someone as sweet as Luo Binghe would grow to be. 

Then Shen Qingqiu would have a plan to cheat her damned fate.

“Binghe! Let down your hair!” 

As soon as the words left Shen Qingqiu’s lips, the sole window to the tower flew open. A cloud of dark curls fell and Shen Qingqiu used them to be hoisted up. It was a good thing she was never afraid of heights. Shen Qingqiu stepped inside and was instantly pulled into a strong hug.

“Shizun! You’re home!” Luo Binghe buried her face in Shen Qingqiu’s neck, who couldn’t help but pet her head.

“Binghe, aren’t you too old for this?” she put up as a token protest, but she didn’t really mind one bit.

Something Luo Binghe knew perfectly, as she giggled with mirth. “Then Shizun shouldn’t have taken so long.”

“Hah?” Shen Qingqiu gawked. “I was only gone for a few hours while I went to the markets.” Binghe humphed, and Shen Qingqiu knew there was no winning this argument. “Aren’t you tired from having to pull me up constantly?”

“I’ll never tire of bringing Shizun to me. But maybe that wouldn’t be a concern if Shizun never left me.” She said with an innocent smile, but Shen Qingqiu felt like she was being teased. 

“Then we wouldn’t have anything to eat.”

Luo Binghe hummed noncommittally and changed subjects. “Doesn’t Shizun want me to sing to her?”

Shen Qingqiu sighed but acquiesced. When Luo Binghe was very young Shen Qingqiu tried to not use her power unless strictly necessary. Unfortunately, the only way to get the girl to sleep was in Shen Qingqiu’s arms, just like when she was a baby.

Since then, Shen Qingqiu sang to her constantly, multiple times a day at some point, though she put a stop to it when Binghe grew into her teens.

No matter how much they both enjoyed it, Binghe had to learn how to control her power. Once Shen Qingqiu thought Binghe had the hang of it, she figured she had no reason to continue exploiting her charge. She decided to only ask for Binghe to share her power maybe a few times a year so she didn’t die. But on the very next day when Shen Qingqiu didn’t ask her to sing, she was met with the waterworks and accusations of not loving her anymore. 

That was how in almost eighteen years, Shen Qingqiu hadn’t aged a single day. She was even pretty sure she’d become slightly younger, but not by much. She held herself as a mature noblewoman whenever she had to go outside, but inside the walls of the tower, she spoiled Binghe a little too much.

“Alright, that’s enough.” It wasn’t proper for a young lady to be so clingy, what would her future husband say? “Wasn’t Binghe going to sing to me?”

They sat on the bed, Binghe resting her head on Shen Qingqiu’s chest while the older woman carded her fingers through her hair. Luo Binghe sang their lullaby and her hair glowed, aging Shen Qingqiu back by a day, but she didn’t seem to mind the labor. She quite literally demanded it every day.

Luo Binghe finished but neither moved, just basking in the warmth of their closeness. It hit Shen Qingqiu how she would lose this so soon.

“Binghe has grown into a beautiful, clever, confident young woman,” Shen Qingqiu said softly. “I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Luo Binghe shifted so she could look into Shen Qingqiu’s eyes. “Everything I have, everything I am, it’s all thanks to Shizun.” The cupid’s bow of her lips deepened with her smile. “As long as I can stay with Shizun forever, I’ll be the happiest person alive.” 

Shen Qingqiu’s easy smile fell and Binghe’s brow drew in concern. It felt like a dagger through Shen Qingqiu’s chest to say the next words. “Isn’t tomorrow a special day?”

Forgetting the somber moment, Binghe’s face brightened like the sun. “Tomorrow is my birthday! Shizun remembered,” she said fondly.

“Silly girl, how could I ever forget?” All of these years would amount to this day. The beginning of Luo Binghe’s story. 

Luo Binghe looked at Shen Qingqiu from under her eyelashes. “Shizun, there is actually something I wanted to ask for. After all, eighteen is an important age, isn’t it?”

Shen Qingqiu composed her features to be as relaxed and nonchalant as possible. “It is.”

She saw how Luo Binghe gathered her courage. “I want to see the floating lights!”

“What?” Shen Qingqiu’s carefully modulated her voice inflection to reflect genuine confusion. 

“Every year on my birthday, I don’t know why, but there are thousands of floating lights in the sky. I don’t know what they are, but something inside me tells me they’re for me,” Luo Binghe said with elation.

Shen Qingqiu had avoided acting like an abusive mother, instead taking the role of Luo Binghe’s caring teacher. Being a villain wasn’t a persona Shen Qingqiu liked to embody, but she knew right now she had to play the part. 

“Binghe must be mistaking the stars in the sky.”

“Shizun.” Luo Binghe pouted like she was being teased fondly. “I have mapped every celestial body I can see from the tower. If we’re taking into account the Earth’s rotation and the way our galaxy moves in space, there’s statistically a very small chance for such an astronomical event to occur on the same day, at the same location, every year.”

Shen Qingqiu was left speechless. Why had she taught Luo Binghe proper sciences? Or at least what Shen Qingqiu knew from general knowledge. Luo Binghe was brilliant, of course she would have counter arguments prepared.

“Well, maybe they are not stars. If Binghe is bringing this up it must be because she has something in mind.”

Luo Binghe’s smile grew wider. “I do. I want Shizun to take me to see the floating lights up close.” Shen Qingqiu looked into her big, luminous eyes and felt her heart cracking. She couldn’t look into them and go through with this.

She looked elsewhere, to the skylight, the only place that allowed the sun to shine into this room. The little bubble of safety where she’d kept Luo Binghe prisoner her whole life.

But finally, the bubble had to burst.

“No,” Shen Qingqiu said with a firm tone she’d never before used with Luo Binghe. “You want to go outside? Binghe, you know I disapprove of it.”

From the corner of her eye, she could see Luo Binghe’s shoulders slowly lower. Shen Qingqiu’s gaze shifted to her but didn’t see the heartbreak of a girl whose dreams had been shattered, more so the confusion of someone who rarely got denied anything.

But that would only be momentary. Luo Binghe would realize that enough was enough. That her imprisonment would continue for many years more if she didn’t take her destiny into her own hands.

She would fight for her dream and Shen Qingqiu would be forced to push back, no matter how much she hated the thought of it.

“I understand, Shizun.” Shen Qingqiu snapped her head back to stare at Luo Binghe. “Then, we can do something else, right? I will make roasted pheasant and, oh! Did Shizun bring chestnuts from the market? I can make her favorite dessert!” She continued rambling with as much enthusiasm as before.

What.

“Binghe. Don’t you want to see the floating lights?” Shen Qingqiu asked with trepidation.

She got a shrug in return. “It was just a suggestion. I can still see them from here. And if Shizun stays to sleep over, we can even see them together!”

No. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. “Isn’t Binghe disappointed?”

The sweet girl sighed. “Shizun is looking out for me, isn’t she?” She grabbed the short lock of straight hair near her nape. “The world outside is dangerous. What if someone captured me and abused my powers?”

How could Luo Binghe say that and not realize that Shen Qingqiu had been the one abusing them this whole time!

“I didn’t bring the chestnuts!” Shen Qingqiu said in a panic. “I’ll go bring some. It won’t take long!”

Finally Luo Binghe looked upset. “Shizun is leaving?”

“Only for a moment. It won’t be more than a few hours.” Shen Qingqiu had to leave, otherwise she’d be here by the time Liu Qingge arrived. 

Besides, things were going off-script already, she needed to leave Luo Binghe alone so she could think about how horrible Shen Qingqiu has been to her and make up her mind about going to see the floating lights through her own means if necessary. 

Reluctantly, Luo Binghe helped Shen Qingqiu descend, and looked at her from her perch up the tower. Shen Qingqiu went through the cave that separated the tower’s clearing and the forest, and hid behind a bush. She had bought those chestnuts, so there was nothing for her to do, other than wait for the plot to happen.

Shen Qingqiu had been dozing off when she heard a rustle. She sat up and peeked around her hiding spot. 

A handsome young man appeared. This was Liu Qingge, captain of the royal guard. He had been chasing a pair of bandits who’d stolen the gold and crystal crown of the lost princess. Unfortunately he’d fallen off a cliff and thus was injured and needed refuge.

Shen Qingqiu looked as he struggled to make his way toward the cave. At last, they had returned to form. Now she’d just have to wait for Liu Qingge to climb the tower and then Binghe could knock the living daylights out of him with her frying pan.

After an appropriate amount of time, Shen Qingqiu made her grand re-entrance. “Binghe! Let down your hair! I got the chestnuts!”

Immediately, Luo Binghe’s curls flew out. “Shizun! I have a surprise for you!”

“That’s my line!” She was originally going to suggest she cook for Binghe on her birthday. Shen Qingqiu’s culinary skills were passable, but nothing compared to the heroine’s. “I bought pork shoulder. Would Binghe like for me to cook breakfast tomorrow…” She reached the windowsill and slowly stopped talking as she took a look inside the tower.

“I would love that!” Luo Binghe gathered Shen Qingqiu in her arms. “Shizun is so nice to me.”

She always acted like eating meals made by her shizun were rare treats for no reason. “If you want me to cook for you more often then you should let me…” She protested, but her mind was elsewhere.

Luo Binghe breathed in deeply. “I like it when I eat what Shizun makes for me, but I like it even more when she eats mine. Shizun always praises me and looks like she enjoys herself.”

Yes. That was good and all, but why was Liu Qingge lying unconscious in the middle of the room?

Shen Qingqiu broke the embrace and walked closer to the man. “Binghe… who’s that?”

Luo Binghe looked back at the main lead with a scrunched-up nose. “That trash? He tried to sneak in but I stopped him. He also had a satchel with a crown. But I confiscated it just in case.”

Shen Qingqiu stared at Luo Binghe. “Isn’t he going to wake up? Maybe you could have secured him somewhere?”

Luo Binghe gave her an indulgent smile. “Shizun doesn’t have to worry. He’ll be lucky if he wakes up again. But if he does, I’ll protect Shizun.”

That wasn’t the point!

“Binghe is so strong! This definitely shows that she could take care of herself out there. But that won’t change my mind! She is still not allowed outside!” The words came out stilted.

“Of course.” Luo Binghe said as if she didn’t mind. “Shizun forbade it, and I wouldn’t think of disobeying her.”

You wouldn’t? Not even a little bit? Why had she raised such a filial child?!

She had to believe that Luo Binghe was simply trying to trick her. What kid would admit to their guardians they were sneaking out?

Yes, that must’ve been the case. That’s the only way things made sense.

“Binghe is such a nice girl.” She preened at the praise. “She deserves something since she couldn’t go to see the floating lights.” Shen Qingqiu then snapped her fingers like she’d had an epiphany. “Ah! Would Binghe like new paint?”

“Shizun, that would be wonderful.” Luo Binghe took Shen Qingqiu’s hand and intertwined their fingers. 

“Does Binghe remember that pretty paint made from white shells I got from a traveling merchant? He won’t come to the nearest town for a few months, but he told me about the beach town where it’s produced. I could go there and buy some myself.”

“Beach town… Shizun, we don’t live near the coast.” She turned her gaze to the kingdom map Shen Qingqiu had taught her geography with all her life. “It would take Shizun days to make the trip.” She shook her head. “I don’t mind waiting for the next time the merchant visits, I still appreciate the thought behind the gift.”

Shen Qingqiu’s placid mask began cracking. “Binghe, I insist. That would mean I won’t be around tomorrow, you know. I would be none the wiser about whatever you got up to.”

Luo Binghe looked like she’d been slapped. It took a long moment before her shock let her speak. “Shizun doesn’t want to be with me on my birthday?” Her eyes began to turn red and glassy and Shen Qingqiu knew this was nothing like her usual crocodile tears. “Have I upset Shizun so much? I swear I will never bring the floating lights again! Shizun, please forgive me.” 

Shen Qingqiu knew it was serious because Luo Binghe didn’t just burst into tears and throw herself at her. Instead, Luo Binghe took back her hand and hugged her own arms, like she was trying to appear smaller. 

“Binghe, no, I’m not upset.” It would perhaps be better for everyone if she were to make Luo Binghe believe she was, but her heart couldn't take it. “I’m sure Binghe is right. Those floating lights are there for her, and she needs to see them for herself.” Shen Qingqiu approached her as she would a wounded animal. “I’m sure if Binghe does, she’ll get her Happily Ever After.” 

Luo Binghe shed a single tear, but she didn’t move back when Shen Qingqiu was in front of her. “My Happily Ever After?”

“Yes. Binghe has read all of her books. She will find her purpose and her true love. Perhaps she already has.” At least Liu Qingge wouldn’t hold the beating against her.

At that moment, Luo Binghe’s pupils grew larger and a rosy flush colored her cheeks. “My true love,” she whispered. She stepped forward and their chest almost touched. Shen Qingqiu had to tip her head back a little to maintain eye contact. When did Luo Binghe become this tall? “Tomorrow I will become a grown up, isn’t that right Shizun?”

Wasn’t this too close? Shen Qingqiu nodded lightly so she wouldn’t accidentally hit Luo Binghe’s face. “That’s right.”

Luo Binghe brought her arms to circle Shen Qingqiu’s waist. “That means I’ll be of age to marry.”

Was it getting a little warm around here? “Of course.” Luo Binghe would marry Liu Qingge by the epilogue. Shen Qingqiu wasn’t sure how long after the movie it happened, only that they were together to make a cameo on that other movie with the ice queen Lan Wangji. 

Still, it threw Shen Qingqiu off that Luo Binghe would mention it at the ‘beginning’ of the story. “I didn’t know Binghe was already thinking about marriage.”

“Shizun would be surprised. I have been thinking about my future marriage for a long time now.”

Shen Qingqiu laughed nervously and tried to step back, but Luo Binghe’s hold was too strong. She swallowed loudly. “See? If that’s what Binghe wants, then she should fight for her Happily Ever After.”

Luo Binghe studied Shen Qingqiu’s face, her eyes still retained some moisture but her expression was nothing but serious. “Shizun thinks I won’t get my Happily Ever After until I see the floating lights in person.”

“That’s correct.” 

“Yet Shizun doesn’t want me to go,” Luo Binghe said and Shen Qingqiu grimaced. It wasn’t that she didn’t want it, but it was what had to be done. Seeing the conflicted expression in Shen Qingqiu’s face, Luo Binghe reached a conclusion. A confident smirk, darker than anything she’d shown Shen Qingqiu pulled at her lips. “I understand now.”

Shen Qingqiu felt like she was walking into a trap. She cautiously asked, “Binghe does?”

An amused glint shone in Binghe’s eyes. She brought Shen Qingqiu closer in a rough tug and their bodies collided. Shen Qingqiu had to throw her arms around Binghe’s neck so she wouldn’t fall. She felt as Luo Binghe placed a kiss on her forehead, a mirror to what Shen Qingqiu usually did whenever they had to part ways. 

“My Happily Ever After…” Luo Binghe sighed with barely contained glee. Her hold slackened, and he reluctantly let Shen Qingqiu go. But before Shen Qingqiu could put any distance between them, Luo Binghe cupped her face with a hand. “I won’t disappoint Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu’s heart softened. With Luo Binghe’s newfound determination, she felt like she could let go of that icky villain disguise, at least for now. She brought her own hand and placed it on top of Luo Binghe’s, offering a gentle squeeze. “Binghe could never disappoint me.”

Chapter Text

Liu Qingge jolted awake. The violent deluge of a bucketful of cold water splashed across his face. Startled, he tried to jump away from the onslaught, but his restraints refused to yield even an inch.

Wait, restraints? Liu Qingge looked down and found himself on a chair, long dark tendrils keeping his limbs tightly binding him to its armrests and legs. He struggled harder to equally disappointing results. They were unlike any rope Liu Qingge had seen before. Their thin thread-like appearance deceptively masquerading their true strength.

“There’s no need for that,” a light voice said from the shadows. “Any attempt at resistance is futile.” 

Liu Qingge straightened his back as much as he could and faced the direction of the voice. His frown deepened to a scowl, trying to see better the figure shrouded in darkness.

With slow, but calm steps, someone came forward. A young maiden who didn’t look quite twenty walked into the light. Her face was as hard as stone. In one hand she held a cast iron skillet and with the other she traced its edge like it was the blade of a knife. She studied Liu Qingge with her deep eyes.

“Who are you and how did you find me?” The maiden asked with a snarl.

He stared dumbfounded at her. “… What?”

She continued walking, carefully bypassing the thin dark ropes with her dainty feet. Liu Qingge’s eyes followed the threads, no, the hair. It was quite obvious now that she saw the uncommon texture of his bindings resembled the maiden’s locks. It was all around. On the floor, climbing up and down the rafters. It was a sea of darkness that threatened to swallow everything. 

The maiden’s eyes sharpened. “If you won’t answer me then there’s no need to keep you alive,” Once she was at arm’s length, she dug her pan on Liu Qingge’s breastbone, hard enough for an acute pain to shoot through his chest. “I said; who are you and how did you find me? Who else knows my location?”

His face remained unperturbed. Liu Qingge was a knight, trained from youth to serve the crown and its people. The onus was on him to protect the innocent and vanquish the wicked. 

This tower was in the middle of a forest. To reach the closest town you needed to cross hills, a marsh, and even wetlands. Not to mention the tall tower he found himself in. With his injuries, Liu Qingge was barely able to make it up here, but he knew even in perfect health he would’ve broken a sweat. 

The woman was young, but her eyes were fierce. It was clear she was frightened and saw Liu Qingge as dangerous. It only made sense that her aggressiveness was an act to protect herself. Who knew what monsters had trapped her in this place? 

It was his duty to reassure her that he posed no threat. Luo Binghe stared at her firmly and responded in a calm tone. “My name is Liu Qingge, captain of the royal guard. I apologize for intruding in the fair maiden’s home, but it was necessary to evade my pursuers. As long as they haven’t trailed behind me, this location should continue to remain anonymous.” Were there even records of this hidden place? First order of priority would be to rescue this damsel, after that he would look into things to arrest her captors for tax evasion.

“Captain?” she said uninterested. “I don’t want to imagine the dire state of the royal guard if they had to settle on you for its leadership.”

Liu Qingge felt a vein throbbing in his forehead but he did not rise to the provocation. “Why do you say that?”

“Well if you could be taken down by a poor little girl such as me…” Liu Qingge tuned her out to stave off an imminent headache. She was speaking with an innocent voice but her mockery was clear. Liu Qingge was more used to this kind of attitude than he would’ve liked. He had a younger sister, a proper and wonderful young woman, but this girl reminded him of one of her more irreverent companions.

The child pushed her pan further in Liu Qingge’s chest and he couldn’t completely suppress a flinch. She smirked. “Did you fall asleep or what?”

Liu Qingge took a deep breath while looking forward. He would rather be facing some ruffian in need of a beating but he couldn’t exactly pick and choose what his job entailed. “I must have, was the young lady saying something?”

“Who are you calling young lady?” Her smirked turned vicious and her skillet dragged a painful path up Liu Qingge’s chest and pressed down his throat.

“Would you stop that?!” Liu Qingge finally snapped. “And what else should I call you? It’s not like I have your name.”

She looked at him suspiciously but the pressure lessened somewhat. “My name.” She turned to the side. “Binghe… Shen Binghe.”

“Alright, Shen Binghe, will you stop that already?” Shen Binghe clicked her tongue but she dropped her skillet, finally letting Liu Qingge breathe properly.

“Well, well, Liu Qingge, captain of the royal guard.” She turned around and walked around the chair, studying Liu Qingge from every angle. “I want you to tell me how to get to the floating lights.”

“The… what?” She gave him a pointed look and raised her skillet. “Floating lights! Yes! But what floating lights?” She gave him a brief description, and he clocked it in. “You mean the lanterns for the lost princess?”

“I knew they weren’t stars!” Shen Binghe murmured with wonder. Then, turning to Liu Qingge, her sternness returned. “Yes. the lanterns! Tell me how to get to them and back, and I guess I’ll let you go with your life.”

Liu Qingge dismissed the threat entirely. “Back?! You want to come back here?”

Shen Binghe looked at him like he had just grown a second head. “Obviously. This is my home.” She said it so matter-of-factly. Like she wasn’t trapped in a tower?!

It must be that she’s never known another life. Even if she wanted to escape, she could fear the consequences of her captors finding out. “I’ll take you there personally,” he chivalrously offered. At her suspicion, he added, “And then back here.” 

He almost instinctively followed with, I swear on my honor as a knight. But he wouldn’t make a promise he wasn’t willing to uphold. He needed to get this girl out of this place, later he would come back with help and detain the criminals that kidnapped her. 

“What? Do you think I’m a damsel in distress who can’t look out for herself?”

“How long have you been locked up here?” 

She snarled at him, but didn’t answer. A moment passed, then, “I have memorized the map of the kingdom. That’s why I said you just need to tell me where to go and I’ll find the way. I don’t need your help.”

Liu Qingge was getting tired of this. “I live in Castle Town. I would still need to go there. You can come back on your own, if you so wish.” He would convince her to stay, to see her current situation as the prison it was. And ultimately, if she did come back, she’d have to find her way after Liu Qingge arrested whoever else lived here. 

In the end, they came to an agreement. Shen Binghe freed Liu Qingge and threw at him the precious crown that had been stolen. Did she even know what it was worth? Probably not. And if she did, Liu Qingge doubted she would care either way.

And so they set off on their journey. Shen Binghe’s eyes sparkled as she saw everything around her. Now Liu Qingge’s worries worsened. The question to ask shouldn’t have been when was the last time you were outside, but rather, have you ever left the tower?

Shen Qingqiu woke up to a small bird trying to make a nest on her head, tangling little sticks in her long pin straight hair. She carefully shooed away the little fiend and sat up languidly, her back popping after falling asleep behind this trusty little bush.

Who could blame her? She was but a poor old woman (spiritually, if not physically, thanks to Binghe’s powers) that had to climb the tower two (soon to be three) times today for the sake of the plot (nevermind that for the first two it was Binghe who pulled her up mostly). It was late in the afternoon, so by now Binghe and Liu Qingge should be on their merry way. Probably singing a musical number or two with soft-hearted ruffians, and eventually getting chased out by the bandits that were looking for the knight in the first place.

Now, Shen Qingqiu would need to track them down later when night fell. After Liu Qingge confessed his sad past as an orphan. How as a child he had resorted to stealing to feed his little sister and when the soldiers caught him and threatened to lock the scrawny 10-year old up he fought. How they said they’d let him go if he became a squire, which would also earn him some coins so he and his sister wouldn’t be destitute. How he worked hard and up the ranks until he became the pride of the kingdom. 

The lost princess would be enchanted, a true hero like the ones from her books, and she would reveal the nature of her powers. Liu Qingge, obviously, wouldn’t be able to keep his heart steady when faced with the undivided attention and awe of the princess. A feeling Shen Qingqiu had quite a bit of first hand experience with. 

Luo Binghe’s movie counterpart was gorgeous, and revolutionary for 3D animation, but she didn’t hold a candle to the true Luo Binghe. The brightness of her eyes, her radiant smile. Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but be blown away by her beauty or her mind. Her Binghe was truly the best, she only hoped Liu Qingge realized how lucky he was.

Shen Qingqiu dragged her feet as she made her way back to the tower, again. She opened the long-forgotten side entrance and climbed the absurd amount of stairs. Once she reached Luo Binghe’s room, she went for the place she knew the crown would be in. But to her surprise, there was nothing in the wooden steps. She looked in the flowerpot, under the bed, inside the closet, in the condiment cabinet, but there was nothing.

Alright, no need to panic. Maybe Luo Binghe put it in the rafters or somewhere else inaccessible to Shen Qingqiu. No need to worry about the McGuffin that basically made the plot move? Not something Shen Qingqiu wanted to dwell on, but she’d have to deal with it.

Back down the tower she went yet once more while she considered her next course of action. She would first need to find the leaders of the bandits to sell Liu Qingge out, but she really didn’t want to put Luo Binghe anywhere near the radar of those people. Besides, with what leverage if she didn’t have the heavens forsaken crown? Yes, yes, that’s how the movie went. But for what? To prove Binghe that Liu Qingge would choose his duty above his heart? There needed to be a climax to the story but did it need to be so dramatic? 

No! Shen Qingqiu didn’t even have a System that would punish her if she didn’t follow every single beat of the plot. The only thing she had to rely on was her own mind and skill to improvise. 

Shen Qingqiu would simply tell Binghe that they should go back home, no coercion needed thank you, and then when Liu Qingge came for her Binghe, the not-so evil Shizun would freely let them go! No need to stab the male lead! No need to cut Luo Binghe’s hair (when she would regain it almost immediately after for the 2D show), no need to throw Shen Qingqiu off the tower for her to plummet to her death!

She walked through the forest and beyond for hours. The sky had become a deep crimson when Shen Qingqiu saw smoke rising over the horizon. Very inconspicuous… 

Yeah right, that was a point if she ever saw one. But wasn’t it a bit too early in the day for the lovebirds to set up camp?

Shen Qingqiu slowly approached, and when she reached the site, her heart almost gave up.

There they were, Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge, but instead of being cuddled up and bonding over their past trauma, they were sitting on opposite sides of the fire. Luo Binghe was plucking a pheasant while Liu Qingge skinned a rabbit, presumably to eat it. But wasn’t this image too graphic? Wouldn’t the children in the audience be traumatized at seeing the sweet princess washing the guts off of her kill?

And why were they each taking care of their food? For this to make any sense, it should be Liu Qingge who’d hunt, and then Luo Binghe, who’s love language was at least 70% cooking, would be the one to prepare them. What was this?! They weren’t even looking at each other!

Shen Qingqiu stayed behind, waiting for her cue to make her grand entrance, but in the hours in between there was no development from the love interests. Luo Binghe stayed on her side, and Liu Qingge on his. 

Later, after they’d eaten their respective meals and Shen Qingqiu’s legs had started cramping from standing still for so long, Liu Qingge simply stood up and grunted that he’d go find more lumber. 

Shen Qingqiu saw his retreating back and sighed in relief. Finally! She wouldn’t have minded as much if there had been any sort of entertainment, but Luo Binghe and her fated lover barely acknowledged each other! Shen Qingqiu couldn’t comprehend why this was happening, but regardless, the show must go on.

With slow steps, careful not to make a sound, Shen Qingqiu crept upon Luo Binghe’s turned back. Her heartbeat started picking up, she wet her lips and braced herself for her part. Binghe, please don’t hate me.

“Well!” Shen Qingqiu exclaimed loudly. “I thought he’d never leave.”

Luo Binghe snapped her head back and stared at her with her mouth agape. “Shizun?” she said just above a whisper.

“Hello, dear.” Unconsciously, the warmth she always used with Binghe snuck up on her. She cleared her throat, she couldn’t be fucking this up already?! “I mean–”

“Shizun!” In a moment, Shen Qingqiu’s arms were full of a sticky protagonist. “How did you find me?” Her tone should’ve been that of caution, but Binghe sounded completely elated.

Shen Qingqiu blinked rapidly while she waited for her brain to catch up. “I just…” Could she really say she felt betrayed? Would she be able to pull such a bold faced lie? She threw her script to the wind and instead returned the embrace with as much force, how had she missed her girl. “I’m glad Binghe is well.” 

“Shizun…” Shen Qingqiu felt Luo Binghe burrow her face in her neck and take a deep breath and shuddered. Her heart, which had by now calmed down, picked up its pace again for some reason, so with a heavy heart, Shen Qingqiu dropped the hug. Luo Binghe looked at her with confusion and no small measure of heartbreak as Shen Qingqiu moved away from her, but she didn’t follow. “Shizun?”

“We’re going home Binghe… now.” 

They looked at each other for a long, silent moment. Luo Binghe studied Shen Qingqiu carefully, and she tried not to crumble under the heroine’s heavy gaze. Finally, Binghe seemed to find what she was looking for.

“No.” Shen Qingqiu tried to not too obviously sigh in relief. “I’ve been on this amazing journey, and I’ve seen and learned so much.” 

“And you met someone?” Shen Qingqiu asked tentatively when there was no follow up. “Don’t you think he likes you?”

Instead of acting like a lovestruck maiden, Binghe scrunched up her nose like she’d just smelled something disgusting. “I couldn’t care less what that man thought of me. Or anyone, for that matter. The only person’s favor I need is Shizun’s. As long as I’m pleasing to her eyes, that is all that matters in the end.”

“And what if you refusing to come home with me displeases me?”

“Does it Shizun?” Luo Binghe’s tone lowered and she started walking slowly towards her. “Does it, truly?” Shen Qingqiu for her part felt like cornered prey, unable to move anywhere or brush off Binghe calling her out on her hypocrisy.

“Well–”

“Stop right there!” Liu Qingge’s voice jolted the two women back to reality. From across the campsite, he pointed his sword at Shen Qingqiu. “In the name of the Royal Crown, you are under arrest for abduction and false imprisonment.” Shen Qingqiu looked at Liu Qingge not so much with alarm as outright confusion. Why had he returned so soon? Or was it that she overstayed her welcome and derailed the plot? This was too early for the final confrontation!

Before Shen Qingqiu could begin to think up what to say to get out of this mess, Luo Binghe lunged at Liu Qingge like a rabid animal. Liu Qingge immediately dropped his sword, just barely avoiding stabbing the protagonist (seriously, what the fuck was going on?!). Luo Binghe snuck up on him and punched him in the throat with her elbow, swiftly taking the poor royal guard down.

Once he hit the floor, Luo Binghe straddled him and began strangling him. “You dare threaten my Shizun?” Luo Binghe said with a cold and low voice that Shen Qingqiu had never heard before. “You really have a death wish, huh?”

“Binghe! Stop!” Shen Qingqiu commanded and Binghe turned back to look at her with big, innocent eyes. 

“Yes, Shizun?” She was not even playing at being innocent, she really looked completely unbothered after taking down someone in a whole other weight class.

“Please let go of that man.” Shen Qingqiu said, feeling like she was going mad.

“But Shizun, he threatened you!”

“He was just doing his job.” She tried to reason. “I am sure this is all a big misunderstanding.”

Reluctantly, Luo Binghe let go and Liu Qingge had a coughing fit. Binghe ignored him as she stood up and lightly kicked him in the ribs before walking up to Shen Qingqiu’s side.

“Since when does Binghe know how to fight?”

Luo Binghe beamed. “I said I would protect Shizun, didn’t I?” She had, after knocking out Liu Qingge back at the tower. However, Shen Qingqiu thought she was just trying to be cute! Where had she learned how to single-handedly defeat someone in combat?

“Aren’t you the one who kept Shen Binghe trapped in that tower?” Liu Qingge said out of breath thanks to his half-crushed windpipe. 

Shit! There were no misunderstandings here. He was right on the money!

“Uhhh…” Nothing Shen Qingqiu could say would be a valid justification.

“I wasn’t trapped. Shizun was only trying to protect me.” Luo Binghe said with so much certainty and faith that it only made Shen Qingqiu feel like the worst piece of scum.

But wait, he said something weird. “Why did you call her Shen Binghe?” The two of them stared at Shen Qingqiu with equally appalled faces illuminated by the dying fire. “What?”

“She told me her name is Shen Binghe.”

Shen Qingqiu thought it was odd for her to lie about that. It wasn’t even like her name gave her identity away! The national last name was Luo because of the sea surrounding Castle Town. “Luo Binghe?” 

The younger woman looked at her stunned. “I didn’t… know that.”

“You didn’t?” Shen Qingqiu couldn’t quite believe that.

“Shizun has only ever called me Binghe. So I couldn’t have known.”

“Ah.” Oops. Of course the original evil Shen Qingqiu would only refer to Luo Binghe with her full name or call her flower, completely ignoring Binghe’s personhood. But Shen Yuan never wanted to be like that. And Luo Binghe was always such a sweet bun, of course she talked to her casually since she was a baby!

“…”

“…”

“…”

The first one to recover from the revelation was Liu Qingge. “Still, that doesn’t answer the question. Were you the one keeping Luo Binghe locked away in a tower?”

Luo Binghe growled at him. “I told you not to speak like that to Shizun. And what are you saying? I wasn’t trapped.”

Shen Qingqiu looked at her with surprise. “You weren’t?”

The warm smile Luo Binghe gave her was completely at odds with the current discussion. “Shizun never physically restrained me.” Were you expecting her to?! Shen Qingqiu didn’t trust that mischievous glint in her eyes. “And why would I leave when I knew Shizun would always come back to me?” Shen Qingqiu looked into her bright eyes and felt her heart falter.

Liu Qingge loudly cleared his throat and broke the spell. “Great. That one’s crazy too.”

Binghe got into a combative stance. “You.”

“Binghe, could you please try to be nice to the gentleman?” After all, he no longer looked like wanted to arrest anyone. That’s a win in her book! 

“To him? But why, Shizun?” Luo Binghe pouted like a petulant child.

How could she explain to Luo Binghe that this was her one true love! They obviously got off to a rough start, but surely it still was salvageable? Although she wrestled with the idea of anyone being worthy of her Binghe, this was how things should be.

Of course, she could say none of that. “Hasn’t he been the one escorting you to your destination? I didn’t raise you to be unappreciative of others.”

Luo Binghe looked at her like Shen Qingqiu’s request to not attack on sight was a great burden, but eventually she backed down. “Fine.” She seemed disappointed, at least until Shen Qingqiu rewarded her good behavior with some head pats. Ah, Binghe had always been the best girl, always obedient and ready to please.

They ended up settling for the night, with little commentary from Liu Qingge’s part. Shen Qingqiu sighed in relief, seeing he would stay at the campsite. At first Shen Qingqiu thought he would just up and leave, but apparently he was too honor-bound to go back on his word.

“Shizun, won’t you brush my hair?” Luo Binghe asked after they had unfolded their bedrolls. Liu Qingge had offered Shen Qingqiu his when she said she had no problem sleeping on the dirt. He gruffed and basically threw it at her and said he would keep watch. Shen Qingqiu was exhausted after such a long day, so she didn’t refuse for too long. 

“I’m afraid I don’t have a brush with me.” Shen Qingqiu smiled weakly. It’s not like she had packed, and even if she had, she never thought she’d ever use Binghe’s powers again.

“That’s alright.” Luo Binghe responded without missing a beat. “Shizun can simply card her fingers through my hair.”

“Ah, then I suppose that would be fine.” Shen Qingqiu looked at the third person present from the corner of her eye. It felt a little voyeuristic to have Liu Qingge present for this intimate ritual of theirs. 

In the awkward atmosphere, he looked equally as unwilling to bear witness to the proceedings, so he stood up and said, “I’m going for more wood,” leaving the two women alone.

After that, it was easy to fall back into their usual routine. It was almost like they were back at the tower, in their own little world. Shen Qingqiu could pretend like everything was normal, act like any of this made sense. As if Shen Qingqiu wasn’t meant to taunt Luo Binghe into testing Liu Qingge’s loyalty, finally showing her true colors as the villain she was. Instead, she felt the skin on her face and hands tighten as she was continuing making use of the heroine’s boon.

Tomorrow. She could deal with everything tomorrow. It would be Binghe’s birthday and they would go into town. They would see the festival and Luo Binghe would be too busy being marveled at the sights and falling for her knight in shining armor. They would dance, and they would see the lanterns. And finally, they would become each other’s new dream.

But right now Shen Qingqiu didn’t have to worry about that. In these stolen moments she could pull her bedroll as close to Luo Binghe as it was possible, close enough that she could feel her warmth. They held each other’s hand and they drifted off, and Shen Qingqiu savored this last taste of home.