Chapter 105 Pacifying the Country "Isn't it good for me to stay by your side like this?"...

Xue Chan waited before the snow fell.

The snow continued to fall for a while, but she kept waiting.

She sat under the lamp and looked at Pei Jinglan's sketches. She looked up several times, but no one suddenly pushed open the door as usual and came to her to show her the new things they had found.

Xue Chan wiped her face and let out a long sigh.

Looking at her bloodshot eyes, Yun Sheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly and said softly, "It's already very late, why don't you go to sleep first? Chu Tao and Ying Yue will take turns keeping watch and waiting for our husband to return."

Xue Chan simply said, "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up in a couple of quarters."

"......good."

She struggled to her feet, supporting herself on the small table; her hands and feet were ice-cold from sitting for so long.

Xue Chan leaned against the pillow, closed her eyes, and quietly listened to the sound of snow falling outside the window.

A vase of newly opened plum blossoms sat on the high table by the bed, its fragrance wafting gently, becoming even more intense under the warm glow of the fireplace.

It's incredibly fragrant, so strong it's suffocating; every breath is filled with this drowsy aroma.

She fell into a deep sleep.

Xue Chan felt her body being gently wrapped and tightly bound by these strands of fragrant threads.

The intense, pungent aroma seemed to be baring its fangs and claws, resembling a monster devouring its prey.

"Squeak--"

As soon as the door opened, the pure, snowy air shot out like a long arrow, pinning it to the wall and scattering a chaotic fragrance.

Jiang Ce brushed the snow off his shoulders and robes, warmed himself in front of the charcoal stove for a while until he was completely warmed up, and then walked lightly to the bed.

He took two deep breaths, trying to ease his pent-up emotions, and sat down on the footstool.

Jiang Ce crossed his arms over his shoulders and rested his face on them. He lay on the edge of the bed, tracing Xue Chan's outline with his eyes again and again.

After sketching for a while, he smiled gently and reached out to stroke her temples, nose, and face.

The movements were gentle and tender.

Even so, Xue Chan still woke up.

She opened her eyes, a slight stinging sensation rising in her chest. Suppressing the bitterness, she said, "I know everything that's happening outside. You want to go, don't you?"

Jiang Ce smiled and shook his head slightly, took her hand, and buried half of his face in her palm.

"I don't want to go."

Xue Chan took a deep breath, closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, tears welling up in her eyes.

But they didn't expose him.

She frowned, tears welling in her eyes, but Jiang Ce suddenly laughed easily, blaming her.

"We've only been married for exactly a year, and you're already tired of me? Let me tell you, I won't let you have your way. I'm going to stay by your side every day and bother you. Even if you get annoyed to death, you won't be able to get rid of me..."

Xue Chan looked at him, opened her lips, but didn't say anything.

Jiang Ce suddenly stopped talking.

He turned his head away, swallowing the emotions that were surging within him and were about to burst forth. When he turned back, a smile appeared on his face.

Those eyes were glistening with moisture as they gazed at her.

"Me, my mother, Xituan, Niannian, Lümei, Lanyu, and the red fish in the pond, the banana trees and roses in the yard... wouldn't it be better for our family to just live like this?"

His smile grew even brighter, his eyes became even more moist, and his voice trembled with sobs.

"We...we'll stay with you, happily living our lives together. Just like that, we'll stay with you..."

"Isn't it good?"

Xue Chan smiled, and tears streamed down her face.

"good"

She lifted the covers and let Jiang Ce sleep in.

Under the quilt, he held her hand tightly and never let go, falling asleep to the sound of snow falling outside the window.

She slept for an unknown amount of time before she slightly opened her eyes. It was still dark, and she had no idea what time it was.

Xue Chan turned over, and the hand that had been holding hers was nowhere to be found. She reached to her side and touched the cold pillow and blankets, finding nothing there.

She sat up. The dim light and the heavy beaded curtains revealed a blurry shadow.

Xue Chan quietly got out of bed, passed through the curtain, and stood behind the screen.

Jiang Ce sat at his desk by the window, head down, wiping the swords and blades over and over again until they gleamed silver.

She tiptoed back to her bed, pulled up the covers, and closed her eyes to sleep.

The snow had been falling for a long time, and it stopped when it was light.

Perhaps because the flames of war on the border were far from the capital, they could not reach them, and their lives continued as usual.

Jiang Ce was just like before.

He left home, entered the palace, and attended court.

After court, the duties were dismissed, and the palace was left.

Go home and be with her.

As winter deepened and the year drew to a close, Jiang Ce became increasingly busy, often leaving early and returning late.

Even as urgent reports from the border kept arriving in the capital, the two continued to eat, sleep, read, write, and paint as before.

After all, we have to fight the war, and we also have to celebrate the New Year.

Xue Chan first taught Pei Jinglan, revised her paintings, and wrote comments according to the plan. Then, she and Yu Niangzi and others put up auspicious and happy decorations and made new clothes for the Xi Tuan every year.

Even though there wasn't much time left before Xiao Yangjun's wedding, she still had to work day and night to prepare a dowry gift for her.

The Lunar New Year is a rare time for family reunion. Zheng Tan and I were busy managing the affairs of the household, preparing our dowry, and getting rid of the old year and welcoming the new. We were so busy every day that we didn't have a moment to rest.

Whenever Jiang Ce complains, she has to take a break to coax him.

By the time Xue Chan was able to sit down a little, even the act of touching the wedding troupe had become numb.

The courtyard is filled with a festive atmosphere as the Chinese New Year approaches.

Jiang Ce somehow acquired a lot of trinkets and hung them all over the eaves and swing set, making it look extremely gaudy from a distance.

He was in high spirits and pulled Xue Chan to see his masterpiece.

Xue Chan's brow twitched slightly, and she took a deep breath, saying, "Hmm, quite colorful."

Jiang Ce poked his shoulder with his finger and said resentfully, "You're just giving me the runaround again."

She sighed, "We have banana trees planted in our yard."

"Hmph, what's wrong with banana trees?" He raised his chin. "Banana trees also have to bloom in winter."

Xue Chan could only smile helplessly and took his hand as they walked out of the courtyard: "Today is New Year's Eve. Grandmother and the others are waiting for us to have a reunion dinner together. Let's go quickly and not waste any time."

"It's so slow to take it one step at a time."

"ha?"

Before Xue Chan could react, Jiang Ce had already grabbed her hand, tossed her onto his back, and then steadily supported her, saying, "This is faster."

He strode off, laughing loudly: "Hold on tight, or I won't be responsible if you fall and get hurt."

"I'm going to blame you, what can you do about it?"

"Not much, at most I'll just call out to you a couple more times when I come back."

Xue Chan quickly covered his mouth and pinched his cheek, hissing, "Are you trying to die?"

He said, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die at all."

As they approached Yi'an Hall, Jiang Ce put her down, then leaned close to her ear and laughed without any restraint.

"I could die by your hand. After all, to die under a peony is to be a romantic ghost."

Xue Chan was about to punch him, but he had already run far away, standing under the eaves smiling at her.

The New Year's Eve banquet has finally come to a lively end, but the Mingyi Earl's Mansion is already preparing for the wedding, even though the New Year has just passed.

However, perhaps the New Year boosted business, because good news came from the palace.

Consort Xue is pregnant.

The emperor, who had been toiling away in the war for a long time, was overjoyed; this was a rare piece of good news after such a long period of time.

Although Xue Chan was in the mansion, she had managed to find out some information by going to the palace a few times.

Although the emperor did not personally go to the battlefield, he kept a firm grip on the situation through the military reports that were sent to him. Military orders were issued from his hands, and so far, not a single city or territories had been lost. Facing the overwhelming force of the Western Rong, he had firmly defended the borders.

Although we don't know when the war will end, it's still good news, at least.

Xue Chan visited the Imperial Concubine in the palace. It was nearly dusk when she left the palace, and Jiang Ce was waiting for her there.

What are you doing here?

"I've come to take you home."

Jiang Ce did not ride in the carriage with her, but instead rode beside her on horseback.

Xue Chan gently lifted the curtain to look. He had originally come to the palace today, but besides smelling of alcohol, he also seemed dejected.

He had been smiling when he saw her just now, but now he sat on his horse, unusually silent.

When the two returned to the manor, Xue Chan was about to get off the carriage when Jiang Ce grabbed her sleeve.

She turned her head to the side, and Jiang Ce smiled at her, "Today is the Lantern Festival, shall we go for a night stroll to see the lanterns?"

There was rarely a curfew in the capital, but the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was always a night-long curfew.

"good"

Xue Chan reached out her hand, and Jiang Ce pulled her close. The two rode their horses toward the Golden Willow River, where pale yellow willow buds adorned the branches, somewhat resembling stars.

Actually, today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and there aren't that many stars in the sky, but there is a pale yellow full moon.

They arrived quite late, well past the busiest time of day, when far fewer people were out enjoying themselves. Yet, the city lights shone brightly, and the moon shone brilliantly, creating a scene of peaceful harmony and joy.

On the spring water's edge, the wind blows gently, the willows slender, and the new greenery is tender and fresh.

The two walked hand in hand along the riverbank.

Although it's already spring, it's still very cold, and even breathing in the air is filled with a white mist.

Jiang Ce reached out and retied the slightly loose knot in her cloak, then pointed to a high platform on the opposite bank and laughed, "Last year on the Lantern Festival, we watched a Nuo opera here. We're too late today."

Xue Chan held her hand tightly and said, "What does it matter? As long as we're together, that's enough."

Jiang Ce lowered his eyes and smiled gently: "Yes, none of that matters. As long as we're together, that's enough."

The two walked across the Bright Moon Bridge and looked up at the moon.

"I wish it could stay like this forever."

Yes, it will.

They strolled along, buying lanterns and eating glutinous rice balls, before leisurely making their way to Guanyin Lake.

Guanyin Lake was quite lively at this time, with some people gathered around the lantern hill.

Xue Chan asked in confusion, "Shouldn't everyone have finished solving this year's riddles by now? Why are we still gathered here?"

Jiang Ce grabbed her and ran over there, saying, "We'll know once we go and see."

In the very center of the lantern mountain stood a large drum. The drum body was painted with black lacquer and gold, with a long pole running through it. Above it was a canopy adorned with beaded curtains, garlands, bells, and jewels, and below it was a carved wooden base.

Large and beautiful.

Xue Chan asked the person next to her, "What are you doing with this drum?"

A tourist nearby answered her, "I heard that the owner of Ningcui Tower is from Liangzhou, and there is a custom of beating the Taiping Drum during the Lantern Festival to pray for peace and stability."

"Sigh..." he said, sighing. "Isn't there a war going on right now? That's why we set up the Peace Drum here this year for tourists to beat, to pray that this war will end soon, that the soldiers will return in triumph, and that peace and stability will be restored."

Liangzhou, Taiping Drum.

Xue Chan couldn't help but look at Jiang Ce, who was staring at the drum for a long time.

The drum was very large, and the drumsticks were quite heavy. The tourists couldn't withstand such strenuous striking; after producing a few heavy drumbeats, they put down the drumsticks, somewhat exhausted.

Xue Chan squeezed his hand, and Jiang Ce looked down at her.

She laughed and said, "I still remember when you were beating the drum on the dragon boat during the Dragon Boat Festival two years ago. You were so spirited. I still remember the charm of our Second Young Master Jiang."

Jiang Ce laughed out loud: "I didn't expect you to be interested back then?"

Xue Chan smiled and said, "That's right, so now that we have a drum, why don't you play it for me again, so we don't have to wait several more months."

"Alright!" Jiang Ce raised an eyebrow, his smile flamboyant and carefree. "Then I'll let you fall at my feet once again."

After saying that, he nimbly leaped and landed in front of the Taiping Drum.

Jiang Ce picked up the drumsticks and smiled at Xue Chan below the lantern mountain.

He raised his hand, and the drumsticks slammed heavily onto the drumhead, producing a deep and stirring drumbeat.

"Thump"

"Thump"

"Thump"

The sound of drums pierced through the willows and plum blossoms, shaking down a ground covered with shattered jade-like flowers.

Jiang Ce gritted his teeth and held back his tears, striking the drum again and again. The drumbeats gradually grew heavier, like the beating of a war drum.

Even though it was just one large drum, he beat it with the unstoppable momentum of a thousand troops.

From afar, the sounds of the harpsichord and pipa drifted in, accompanied by a war song.

The drumsticks were forcefully struck on the drumhead, producing a powerful and stirring drum sound.

A sound.

A sound.

Another sound.