The heavy palace doors slowly closed behind Su Zui, shutting out the evening breeze flowing outside.
Su Zui slowly walked towards the throne.
The candlelight Pope Hall flickered on and off, and the hall was eerily quiet.
Su Zui walked lightly, his shoes making a very soft sound as they brushed against the stone slabs.
He had assumed that Bibi Dong on the throne had regained her composure, but upon approaching, he discovered that Bibi Dong was sobbing softly.
Su Zui looked up.
At this moment, Bibi Dong was slightly curled up against the back of the chair, one hand tightly covering her mouth, and the other hand tightly gripping the Pope's Scepter that symbolized power.
A corner of her wide, purplish-black robe slipped open, revealing her slightly trembling shoulders and back.
Tears streamed down her cold, beautiful face, splashing onto the patterns on the gilded scepter and leaving a small wet patch.
Over the years, Bibi Dong has long been accustomed to bearing everything alone.
Only now, with the main hall empty, can Bibi Dong have a small moment to vent her emotions.
Su Zui slowed her pace, making no sound to disturb them.
He climbed the steps one by one until he reached the foot of the throne, at which point he stopped.
Upon Bibi Dong froze, like a startled beast. She hurriedly wiped away her tears and struggled to sit up straight, trying to regain her Pope dignity.
"Teacher, it's me." Su Zui's voice was very soft, as gentle as willow catkins brushing against the grass.
Bibi Dong looked up at him, her purple eyes misty with tears, and a hint of dependence in them that she herself was unwilling to admit.
Su Zui walked up to the platform and squatted down beside the throne, very close to her.
Xue'er just doesn't understand and wants to know the answer; she loves you very much too.
She turned her head away, avoiding Su Zui's gaze, her voice hoarse and dry. "I... can't tell her."
"I know," Su Zui nodded gently. "I understand you have your unspeakable difficulties."
Bibi Dong slowly loosened her grip on the scepter, which leaned diagonally against the armrest of the throne. Her eyes lowered, tears still silently streaming down her face. "You don't know... it's hell. I don't want to drag Xue'er into that quagmire. Once the truth is revealed, her world will completely collapse. She's Angel; she should be pure and innocent, not burdened by the filth and sins I bear."
"So you'd rather she misunderstand you, hate you, and think you're a mother who doesn't love her?" Su Zui asked softly.
Bibi Dong's shoulders trembled violently, her nose stung, and a suppressed sob escaped her lips again. "What can I do? I so want to hug her and tell her how much I love her. But I can't get close to her."
"Every time she calls me His Holiness the Pope, it feels like my heart is being ripped out." She raised her hand to her chest, where a dull ache seemed to emanate continuously. "I am her mother, but I don't even have the right to be a mother."
Su Zui listened quietly without interrupting, and simply took Bibi Dong's hand gently.
"In Xue'er's heart, she has always longed for your love. Today, she mustered up the courage to ask you, not to confront you, but simply to get a little answer, to confirm that she is not a child unloved."
Su Zui said in a low voice, "Although she was sad, she didn't really resent you. She left room for reconciliation in her heart."
"Leave room?" Bibi Dong smiled bitterly, her eyes filled with resentment. "I personally blocked that path. Just now, when I saw her turn and leave, I almost blurted everything out. But the words caught in my throat. I couldn't take the risk."
"I understand," Su Zui said. "Some secrets are too heavy to carry alone; it's too painful. Teacher, in my eyes, you've long been my mother. You're not alone; I'll always stand by your side."
These words completely shattered Bibi Dong's last line of defense.
She turned her head and her gaze fell on Su Zui's face.
"Xiao Zui, can you call me 'Mom' one more time?"
Bibi Dong's voice trembled.
Mom... How long has it been since I last heard that title?
"Mom, I will always be on your side."
Bibi Dong pulled Su Zui into her arms, tears streaming down her face.
"Xiao Zui," Bibi Dong's voice was soft, tinged with deep weariness, "Sometimes I'm really tired. The road of revenge seems endless. The burdens I carry are suffocating me. I've endured year after year, and I don't know how much longer I can hold on."
"Then you don't have to keep putting on a brave face all the time," Su Zui said calmly. "I'm here. No matter what happens in the future, I won't force you to reveal secrets you don't want to tell, nor will I stand against you. Whenever you want to talk to someone, I'll be there."
"No matter what the future holds, I will grip my sword tightly and strike it down with a single blow."
Bibi Dong closed her eyes, her long eyelashes wet with tears.
The flickering candlelight cast the shadows of the two figures on the spacious floor of the hall, one tall and one short, quietly leaning against each other.
"Do you really have a way to fix Xue'er's hidden dangers in her Martial Soul?" Bibi Dong remained silent for a long time before suddenly changing the subject, her voice still hoarse.
"Okay, all the materials are ready. We'll get started tomorrow." Su Zui nodded.
Hearing this, Bibi Dong's tense nerves relaxed a little.
It seems that all the suffering she endured only had a little meaning if her daughter could be safe and sound.
"Take good care of her," Bibi Dong whispered. "She seems strong, but she's sensitive inside, and she's used to keeping many of her grievances to herself."
"I know she hates me, but she loves you. Mom hopes you can love her in my place."
"I know," Su Zui replied, "I will."
The hall fell silent for a while, with only the soft crackling of the candlelight. Bibi Dong slowly calmed down, the tears in her eyes gradually receding, but the deep-seated weariness remained.
She slowly straightened up, raised her hand to tidy her disheveled purplish-black Pope robe, and then wiped away the remaining tear stains on her face.
The Pope's majesty gradually returned. Yet, his gaze towards Su Zui remained tender.
"It's getting late, you should go back and rest too." Bibi Dong said softly, her tone now calm, though lacking its usual coldness.
Su Zui stood up but didn't leave immediately. He glanced at her and asked, "Are you staying here alone?"
"Hmm." Bibi Dong nodded slightly. "I'd like to sit a little longer."
She was used to being alone, used to coexisting with her own pain. But this time, her heart was no longer completely desolate and cold. The outpouring she had just given was like a small opening in her heart, which had been Ice Seal for many years.
Su Zui didn't insist, and bowed slightly. "Then I'll go first. If you want to talk to someone later, just send someone to call me anytime."
"Good."
Su Zui turned around and walked step by step toward the palace gate.
As he gripped the door, Bibi Dong spoke very softly behind him:
"Xiao Zui... thank you."
Su Zui paused, but without turning around, she simply responded softly, pushed open the door, and walked out of the Pope Palace.
The palace doors slowly closed.
Bibi Dong sat alone once more on her high throne, gazing at the flickering candlelight. Her fingertips gently traced the spot on the back of her hand where Su Zui had just touched her. Her eyes held a complex and unfathomable emotion, a mixture of sorrow, melancholy, and a touch of warmth born from loneliness.
In this life filled with hatred and shackles, thankfully, there was still Su Zui.
I guess I'm now blessed with both a son and a daughter...