Chapter 43

On the continuous snow-capped mountains, the cold wind swirls fine snowflakes, sweeping past the bare branches with a soft whistling sound.

Li Wan wrapped her faded cotton-padded coat tighter around herself, carrying a half-full firewood basket on her back, and followed behind her father, trudging through the snow step by step. The snow was ankle-deep, and each step left a deep footprint. Her father's figure was steady ahead, his firewood basket much fuller than hers, yet his steps remained firm.

"Ah Wan, walk slowly, you might slip," Father Li said, turning back to give her a word of advice.

Li Wanyang smiled and nodded, replying, "I know, Father," and slowed his pace even further.

Her gaze, however, involuntarily drifted beyond the towering mountain peaks ahead, towards the other side. From there, she could faintly hear muffled sounds—the lingering echoes of bugles and the shouts of countless people.

She stopped, held her breath, and carefully tried to distinguish the sounds.

"What are you listening to?" Seeing her stop, Li's father also stopped and followed her gaze toward the mountains, where he could only see a vast expanse of snow and the outline of the mountains.

Li Wan withdrew her gaze, looking down at the snow at her feet. Snowflakes clung to her eyelashes, bringing a slightly cool and ticklish sensation. "It's nothing," she said softly, "I just wanted to hear if there were any familiar voices on the other side of the mountain."

Father Li chuckled, lifting his back slightly, and teased, "Is there a war going on behind the mountain? These days, there are nobles from the capital living here, as well as soldiers fighting. How could a country bumpkin like you possibly know anyone?"

Li Wan smiled faintly, her eyes lowered as she looked at her red, frostbitten fingertips, which were still covered with bits of dry wood and snow.

Yes, now she is Li Wan from Niutian Village. Who can recognize her, and who can recognize her?

“Father, don’t tease me,” she raised her head, a coquettish smile on her face, “I was just kidding.”

As soon as he finished speaking, snowflakes began to fall again, this time heavier than before, swirling down and quickly turning their shoulders white. Father Li looked up at the sky, his brow furrowing slightly: "The snow's getting heavier; we need to hurry back, or the mountain roads will become even more difficult to traverse."

Li Wan responded and quickened her pace to follow her father. The two of them walked through the snow, leaving a long trail of footprints behind them, which were quickly covered by new snow.

Li Wan looked at the white snow at her feet, her thoughts filled with many emotions.

On the day she crashed into the palace pillar, what flashed through her mind was not the fear of death, but Xie Qi's deep, reddened eyes.

Did he come? Did he come when she died?

Will he be sad to see her dead? Does he still remember her now...? Even if he does, he'll only remember her as Jiang Feiwan, the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family.

When she woke up again, she was lying on the warm kang (a heated brick bed) in her own earthen house. Her mother was sitting on the edge of the kang, her eyes red and swollen. When she saw that she had woken up, tears immediately streamed down her face. She choked up and said, "Wanwan, you're finally awake. You've been in a coma for two years. You scared your mother to death."

Her father stood to the side, holding a bundle of firewood he had just chopped. When he saw her wake up, his aged face stared blankly for a while before he murmured, "It's good that you're awake, it's good that you're awake."

At that moment, looking at her familiar family, a surge of warmth washed away all her grievances and pain. She was back, back to these simple yet peaceful and stable days.

From then on, she settled down to be Li Wan in Niutian Village. She followed her father up the mountain to collect firewood, helped her mother with housework, and occasionally went to town with her brother to sell firewood. Her days were simple yet fulfilling. Those memories of the capital and Xie Qi were like a dream from a past life, buried deep in her heart, no longer easily touched.

Half an hour later, the father and daughter reached the foot of the mountain and could see the outline of Niutian Village in the distance. The village was located on a flat area at the foot of the snow-capped mountain, with dozens of mud-brick houses arranged in a neat and orderly manner. It was mealtime, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of each house.

When I got home, I pushed open the creaking wooden door and a wave of heat hit me, carrying the aroma of food.

Mother was busy by the stove when she saw them return. She immediately greeted them with a smile: "You're back. Come in and warm up. The food will be ready soon." She took the firewood basket from Li's father's back and patted the snow off Li Wan.

"Mother, let me help you." Li Wan washed her hands and went to the stove to help. The flames in the stove flickered, making her cheeks glow red, and warmth spread from the soles of her feet to her whole body.

Just as the meal was ready, my elder brother returned from town. He carried a carrying pole on his shoulder, with empty bamboo baskets hanging from both ends. His face was weathered, but his smile was honest and kind. "Father, little sister, I'm back. We sold all the firewood today."

As he spoke, he took out something wrapped in cloth from his pocket and handed it to Li Wan, saying, "Little sister, this is some spiced cake I bought for you. Just heat it up in a pan."

Li Wan accepted the pastries, which had a subtle sweetness, and smiled, saying, "Thank you, brother."

The meal was quickly prepared and placed on the kang table. There was a bowl of stewed potatoes, a bowl of stir-fried radishes, a bowl of steamed eggs, and several coarse grain buns. Though simple, it was steaming hot and smelled wonderful. The family sat around the kang table, picked up their chopsticks, and began to eat.

While taking a big bite of his steamed bun, the older brother talked about what he had seen in town. "The town was so lively today. Everyone was saying that the new emperor was going to move his army back to the capital. This new emperor is really powerful. He led a large army and defeated the Northern Qi people. In less than half a year, he drove them out of Yugu Pass. The Northern Qi will never dare to invade again."

Father Li took a sip of turbid wine and slowly said, "The new emperor is indeed a capable person."

“Yes,” my brother continued, “and the new emperor did not conscript soldiers on a large scale or waste resources on the people. He won the war entirely because of his advance preparations and the bravery of the Jinlin army. The people in the town are all praising him and saying that he is a wise ruler.”

Li Wan listened to their conversation silently, eating her food in small bites, and recalled the day she saw the imperial edict announcing the new emperor's ascension to the throne.

That day, she went to the town market with her brother to sell firewood. While wandering around alone, she came to a corner of the street and saw a crowd gathered around a wall, looking at the imperial edict posted on the wall.

Among the onlookers was an old scholar, wearing a thick cotton hat, his hazy eyes filled with joy, and he couldn't help but praise the people around him.

"I heard from a classmate who is making a living in the capital that our new emperor is truly brilliant. After his royal bloodline was confirmed, he quickly purged the princes and concubines who had colluded with the enemy, stabilizing the court. The former crown prince voluntarily abdicated, which also prevented a bloody upheaval. After ascending the throne, he immediately began preparations for war with Northern Qi. He did not conscript soldiers or burden the people, but personally led a large army to the front. In just six months, he achieved a great victory and drove Northern Qi out of Yugu Pass. Such courage and wisdom are truly rare."

"Yes, yes, he's a truly capable person," the crowd chimed in.

Li Wan stood on the periphery of the crowd, quietly listening to their discussions. Her gaze remained fixed on the two characters "Xie Qi" on the imperial edict.

Everything is fine, that's good.

Li Wan lowered her head and smiled faintly, with a sense of relief and satisfaction.

The snow was still falling outside, swirling and scattering onto the roof and in the yard. The cold wind howled, pounding against the windows with a mournful sound, but it couldn't penetrate the warm earthen house.

Li Wan's gaze swept across the faces of her family members, and seeing the smiles on their faces, a feeling of satisfaction and warmth welled up in her heart.

This is where she truly belongs. The splendor of the capital, the people of the Marquis's and Jiang's mansions—all are now just memories. She no longer needs to dwell on emotions that are not hers. She has family, simple meals, and a stable, secure life—that's enough.

And that person... is now separated by the divine realm, and will probably never see you again.

Three years have passed in a flash.

In the summer of the third year of Xuanwu, Lu family relatives and friends gathered in Niutian Village, with constant laughter, because their son Lu Liang, who had been in the army for five years, had returned home, wearing a fifth-rank blue military officer's uniform.

The state officials fawned over the newly appointed commander, Lu, and dared not show him the slightest disrespect. They even paved the muddy road in Niutian Village ahead of schedule and escorted him back to the Lu family home like a star surrounded by the moon.

The small main room was packed with people. Mother Lu's hands trembled as she wiped away tears and tightly grasped her grandson's hand, saying, "My child has suffered so much."

Others advised, "It's a joyous occasion that Liang-ge'er has made great achievements and brought glory to the family."

A woman in coarse floral cloth from the crowd chimed in, "Yes, Liang-ge'er has become a high-ranking official and is very successful. He's just waiting to marry the Li family girl and have a chubby son. You, old man, can just wait to enjoy playing with your grandson and living a life of luxury."

After he finished speaking, the noisy room fell silent.

In such a small village, nothing can be kept secret. The Lu and Li families lived next to each other, looked after each other, and had a harmonious relationship. When Li Wan was a child, she loved to follow Lu Liang up and down the mountain and down the river. So the two families hit it off and arranged a marriage between them.

The villagers all tacitly agreed that Wan Yatou would be Liang Ge'er's future wife.

Lu's father passed away early, leaving only Lu's mother, Lu Liang, and Lu Xiaomei in the family. Lu's mother was a kind and honest person. Although her son fought his way to a high position, she never had any other thoughts and still treated Wan'er as her future daughter-in-law. Today, she asked Lu Xiaomei to call Li Wan over early so that the two could meet as soon as possible.

In a moment, everyone's eyes were drawn to Li Wan, who was standing in the corner of the room outside the crowd.

Lu Liang followed the gazes of the crowd.

A girl stood in the corner, wearing a faded coarse cloth dress; the bluish-gray fabric made her figure appear even thinner.

The courtyard was crowded with people, their laughter mingling with the hustle and bustle of a summer afternoon. Yet, she seemed to be isolated from this liveliness, standing quietly with her hands clasped together, her fingertips turning white.

It's A-Wan.

Five years have passed, and the little girl who used to follow him around and call him Brother Liang has grown up. She has lost her baby fat, her jawline has become slender and neat, her eyebrows and eyes are delicate, and the corners of her eyes are slightly upturned. Her quiet appearance is completely different from the carefree little girl she used to be.

Lu Liang's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he strode toward her.

Li Wan, who was in the corner, looked up after realizing who had come, and their eyes met.

The person in front of her was taller and much stronger. He was no longer the thin young man he once was. The immaturity between his brows had faded, replaced by a heroic spirit and sharpness honed by battlefield experience, making him both strange and familiar to her.

Lu Liang stopped in front of her, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far. His Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was much deeper than when he was a child, with a hint of hoarseness from a long-awaited reunion: "Awan, I'm back."

Li Wan looked up and met his gaze calmly, "Brother Liang."

His aloof and reserved demeanor made Lu Liang pause. He wanted to say something more, but then he heard his cousins ​​shouting from behind, rushing over noisily and grabbing his arms without a word.

"Ah Liang! You'll see your wife every day from now on! Come and have a drink today!"

"That's right! Now that you've become a commander of a thousand men, we'll have to toast you a few times!"

Lu Liang was surrounded and walked forward. He paused and looked back at Li Wan. She remained standing in place. When he looked at her, she simply nodded slightly and then lowered her eyelashes.