Chapter 69, Final Chapter. Today, tomorrow, every day. ...

Luzhou.

Liang Jun's military camp.

Zhang Yin brought Zhu Qing back. She was bound hand and foot and lay on the ground of the military tent, the wet mud on her body already half-dry and sticking hard to her clothes.

Zhang Yin's mud-covered boots flashed by in my sight, followed by his voice from above: "How is the battle going?"

Liu Zhijun looked dejected. "What can we do? Our fortified camp has been breached, and the new Prince of Jin is personally leading the army. We have already suffered countless casualties."

Based on Liu Zhijun's past combat experience, he had a premonition that they would soon suffer a crushing defeat. Emperor Liang, Zhu Wen, was known for his volatile temper, and it was uncertain how he would punish them.

After Liu Zhijun finished speaking, he snorted coldly and looked at Zhu Qing on the ground with dissatisfaction: "You said you had a way to win the battle, and she is your way?"

"Someone so dirty you can't even see their face?"

Zhu Qing glanced around; it seemed she wasn't the only one who thought Zhang Yin's idea was naive and laughable.

Zhang Yin remained remarkably calm. He strolled to a table in the corner, poured himself a bowl of hot water to soothe his throat, and then slowly said, "I'll handle things as I see fit. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"You said you had a plan, but what happened? Where were you when the fortified village was breached? If this continues, even His Majesty won't let you off the hook!"

Zhang Yin put down the bowl of water, making a soft thud on the table. He turned around, his eyes darkening, and stared unblinkingly at Liu Zhijun: "Whether I live or die is none of your business."

Before Liu Zhijun could speak, Zhang Yin sneered, "Not to mention you're the commander-in-chief. Logically speaking, your fate shouldn't be much better than mine."

Liu Zhijun suddenly felt discouraged, "I'm afraid only Tian Jiuzhu is doing a little better."

Zhang Yin frowned when the name was mentioned.

If Feng Huaihe climbed to a high position on his own without any support, it would at least be clear that his father, Nian Jie, was no ordinary person. But Tian Jiuzhu was a grassroots orphan, and she was also a woman.

However, Tian Jiuzhu excelled as a strategist. Although she lacked wealth and honor while serving Zhu Wen, at least she didn't have to worry about dying at his hands.

Even if the Later Liang is replaced by the Later Tang in the future, she can continue to live on the recommendation of her former colleague Feng Huaihe.

After all, wasn't it the same in the previous life?

Zhang Yin's fingers tightened, his resentment intensifying. Why couldn't he even compare to a woman? Whether it was Zhu Qing or Tian Jiuzhu.

Liu Zhijun sighed. The battle of Luzhou was a dead end, and he had no other choice but to place his hopes on Zhang Yin, his strategist, and asked him, "What do we do now?"

"Where are Li Cunxu and Zhou Dewei?"

"According to intelligence, they have arrived and are stationed in a small town, which is only about 20 miles away."

Zhang Yin remained silent after hearing this. He squatted down in front of Zhu Qing, pulled the gag out of her mouth, and pinched her cheek. "Are you scared?"

A cold, glaring light flashed in Zhu Qing's eyes. "What do I have to be afraid of?"

"I fear Feng Huaihe won't come to your rescue, I fear Luzhou will be breached by the Liang army, I fear the gates of Hedong will be wide open, Jinyang will fall, and the Jin state will be in grave danger."

Zhu Qing stared blankly at Zhang Yin, seeing her own tiny reflection in his eyes, shimmering and ethereal in the firelight.

After a long pause, she seemed to remember something and chuckled, "During the Battle of Youzhou, I was captured alive by Liu Shouguang. At that time, you kept trying to persuade me to surrender. It was Feng Huaihe who went deep into Youzhou to rescue me."

After saying that, Zhu Qing spat forcefully at Zhang Yin's face, "Now you're just playing the role of a second Liu Shouguang. Feng Huaihe will save me a second time, and with his abilities, he can also save Luzhou."

"Based on this alone, you'll never be as good as him."

Zhang Yin trembled with anger: "You—"

"General, someone outside the camp requests an audience!" A soldier rushed in, interrupting Zhang Yin.

Before Liu Zhijun could speak, Zhang Yin looked up and said coldly, "Why are you in such a panic? If you were on the battlefield like this, you might as well die sooner."

The soldier lowered his head in shame. "Yes, yes, I was ignorant. I saw the Jin army strategist Feng Zhijian come outside and say he wanted to see the general."

Liu Zhijun was also taken aback. "Are you sure you didn't see wrong?" He never expected that person to come over on his own initiative. Could it be that he wanted to change sides at the last minute?

At this moment, however, Liu Zhijun felt uneasy and suspicious. "Could this be some kind of scheme by the Jin army?"

Zhang Yin snorted coldly, pulled Zhu Qing up from the ground, and pushed her next to the soldier. "Take her away and keep a close watch on her. No one is allowed to approach her without permission. Also, let Feng Zhijian in."

The soldier nodded and pushed Zhu Qing out.

Liu Zhijun was a little confused, but he could vaguely guess what was going on. "Was that person Feng Zhijian's purpose in coming here? What exactly do you want to do?"

You will know when it is your turn to know.

Zhang Yin gave him a cold look, straightened his clothes, and sat down on a low stool with his head held high and chest puffed out, looking aloof and arrogant.

Just as he adjusted his posture, Feng Huaihe came in from outside.

Zhang Yin looked over and saw that Feng Huaihe was carrying a silver bow and arrow that gleamed coldly, with a string of bells tied to the top of the bow, which jingled as he walked.

The moment he entered, a cold early spring breeze blew by, causing his greyish-white clothes to flutter like white pear blossoms in spring, his expression serene and detached.

Looking at Feng Huaihe's calm face, his eyes were as deep and still as a majestic and solemn fortress, concealing a thousand unfathomable secrets.

“General Liu,” Feng Huaihe called out, bowing slightly, “we meet again.”

"..." Liu Zhijun didn't know what to say to the enemy strategist, nor did he know the purpose of the other party's visit. He turned his gaze to Zhang Yin.

Zhang Yin stared at Feng Huaihe with a sullen face.

Zhang Yin clenched his fists tightly. No matter how high he stood, he seemed no match for Feng Huaihe.

Even as Feng Huaihe entered the room, he was greeted by a gentle breeze, his clothes fluttering in the wind, his demeanor as elegant as pear blossoms in the snow.

It made him look utterly ridiculous for trying so hard to strike a good pose.

Zhang Yin, displeased, spoke with barely concealed anger: "What evil wind blew you here?"

"You still like to ask questions you already know the answer to, just like before." Feng Huaihe turned his indifferent gaze to Zhang Yin. "I'm carrying Chuan Yang on my back, you can't be unaware of what I'm here for."

When Chuan Yang fell into the pit, Zhang Yin didn't care. Feng Huaihe, who was carrying it, had naturally been there and knew what had happened.

But what Zhang Yin couldn't stop thinking about was what Zhu Qing had told him about falling into a trap.

Zhang Yin said coldly, "Didn't you calculate everything and plan everything in advance? What, aren't you following my old path and pushing her out to scheme?"

Feng Huaihe's usually calm and composed face finally showed a slight wrinkle.

He frowned, puzzled: "What do you mean?"

"Looks like you're still the same as before, putting on an act."

Liu Zhijun, who was listening to the two men's barbed remarks, was completely confused. He wanted to chime in, but he didn't know what to say.

Just as he was hesitating, Zhang Yin looked at him and said, "You go out first. I will give you the battle plan later."

Liu Zhijun was reluctant, but it seemed to be none of his business, and he wasn't used to listening to others' sarcastic remarks, so he went out as well.

Inside the military tent, which was neither too big nor too small, only two people remained, facing each other in silence, and the air seemed to slowly freeze.

Zhang Yin stood up, taking advantage of his elevated position compared to Feng Huaihe, and looked down at Feng Huaihe with disdain, mocking, "Didn't you say you knew exactly what I would do, deliberately pushing her away alone to let her fall into my trap?"

Feng Huaihe asked, "Is this what she told you?"

"Isn't that right?"

Feng Huaihe pondered for a moment, "I'm not you, I can't push her out as part of the scheme."

"What do you mean?" Zhang Yin took a few steps to stand in front of him. Looking at Feng Huaihe's expressionless face, he really wanted to punch him in the face, but he had seen Feng Huaihe's kung fu in Jinyang last time, so he held back.

Feng Huaihe said in a deep voice, "Isn't it just that you want to beat me?"

"So what if it is?"

"I concede."

Feng Huaihe said, "I'll give you anything you want, as long as you let me take her away."

Zhang Yin glanced at the bow on his back: "Even this bow? What were you thinking when you gave it to my wife back then?"

The word "wife" pierced Feng Huaihe's chest, and his breath caught in his throat. "You can have the bow if you want."

As he spoke, he took off the arrow and handed it to Zhang Yin.

Zhang Yin didn't answer. He took a few steps back and looked Feng Huaihe up and down with a contemptuous gaze. "You've always been high and mighty. I once went to the Feng residence to study, and you only sent a servant to send me away."

Feng Huaihe's outstretched hand, poised to strike, froze in mid-air, but he remained composed, holding it up as he listened to Zhang Yin say, "Have you always looked down on me?"

Feng Huaihe was silent for a moment. "This answer is meaningless. Where is she?"

"Why is it meaningless? It means a lot to me."

“If I say no, you won’t believe me. If I say yes, you’ll think it’s true and your resentment will only deepen,” Feng Huaihe said clearly. “You just want the answer you want to hear, not the answer that is meaningful to you.”

Zhang Yin chuckled and glared at him unhappily: "You're just like her, so self-righteous, thinking you understand me so well?"

Where is she?

Zhang Yin looked at Feng Huaihe's still-held-high arrow and raised an eyebrow with amusement: "Kneel down and offer it to me with both hands, and I may be merciful enough to let you see her."

Feng Huaihe said almost without hesitation, "I can agree. However," he said heavily, "I want to take her away. What are your conditions?"

"Open the gates of Luzhou for our army. I will conquer Luzhou, and I will conquer you too."

Zhang Yin had considered this: as long as he won Luzhou, he could survive under Zhu Wen. And winning Luzhou was equivalent to winning against Feng Huaihe. If he defeated the renowned Feng Huaihe, would he still fear not gaining fame on par with him?

In her previous life, Zhu Qing's reputation was comparable to Feng Huaihe's. The reason she was called "First Strategist" was because she was a woman, and everyone would add the word "woman" before her. That's why she couldn't dethrone Feng Huaihe's reputation.

But Zhang Yin thought that he was different; he could directly strip Feng Huaihe of his position and remove him from power.

Feng Huaihe then said, "Okay."

Zhang Yin's smile vanished. "You agreed so quickly? You're not cheating, are you?"

"If she's in my hands, I'm worried she might use tricks. Isn't it me who's worried about you?"

After saying that, Feng Huaihe said, "I need to see her first."

Zhang Yin chuckled and agreed, "Perfect, I'd much rather see you kneel before me in front of her."

Feng Huaihe remained expressionless as he followed Zhang Yin out of the military tent.

Soldiers were waiting outside the tent, and Zhang Yin ordered them to lead the way.

After walking for a while, Feng Huaihe smelled the aroma of food and realized that they had imprisoned Zhu Qing at the kitchen staff's place.

Feng Huaihe comforted himself, thinking that this was for the best. She was so smart that she would definitely find a way to get him food so that he wouldn't go hungry.

Zhu Qing was locked in a military tent where firewood was piled up. To prevent the firewood from getting wet from the snow, a thick layer of dry grass had been laid under the firewood.

Zhu Qing was lying on the hay, which was not as cold as being directly on the ground, but she was extremely hungry, and her face gradually turned pale.

Her health, which had been so painstakingly restored by Feng Huaihe, seemed to have weakened again.

She huddled up, shivering, when she heard footsteps outside. A sliver of light then shone before her eyes, and Zhu Qing opened them, bracing herself to look.

As the greyish-white hem of her robe brushed past her eyes, Zhu Qing's thoughts drifted, as if she had returned to her previous life when she collapsed in the corridor, Feng Huaihe squatting in front of her, the blue hem of his robe brushing past her eyes, lifting her face and demanding to know why she liked Zhang Yin.

Zhang Yin was unknown, while he was famous throughout the land. Why should one like Zhang Yin?

Back then, Zhu Qing only thought that Feng Huaihe was just being displeased with his student because he felt she had fallen for an incompetent person.

Zhu Qing understands now, but that can't change anything.

Why did she like Zhang Yin? Zhu Qing thought, perhaps it's because when people are at their lowest point, they are most easily deceived by illusions of happiness and fall into the abyss of what they believe to be salvation.

At that time, Zhu Qing's family was destroyed and she also discovered the truth that Feng Huaihe had never believed her. She went to Jinyang alone. In her despair and low point, Zhang Yin was kind to her, smiled at her, and accompanied her. She thought that was salvation.

Later, she noticed something was amiss, but by then, they had been married for many years. Zhu Qing thought that they had relied on each other and shared life and death on the battlefield, so they should have developed feelings for each other.

She was fixated on her sunk costs and remained with Zhang Yin.

But after experiencing civilized society and washing away those old and outdated ideas, Zhu Qing no longer had them.

Lost in thought, I suddenly felt a warmth on my cold face.

Zhu Qing blinked and looked up to see Feng Huaihe squatting in front of her, holding a skewer in one hand and gently stroking her cheek with the other.

"How are you feeling?" Feng Huaihe's voice was low, but Zhu Qing could hear a faint tremor in it, and his dark eyes held a hint of heartache.

Zhu Qing's hands and feet were bound, and she could only blink at him. "This is not good."

Feng Huaihe tightened his grip on Chuan Yang's hand. "I'll take you out."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Yinheng's cold voice rang out: "Have you forgotten what you promised me?"

As darkness fell, Zhu Qing strained to look up and saw Zhang Yin standing behind Feng Huaihe, his back to the light, his face hidden in the shadows, his expression inscrutable.

Feng Huaihe paused for a moment, then picked up the arrowhead.

Seeing him get up, Zhu Qing instantly had the urge to pull him up, but her hands were bound, so she could only watch as Feng Huaihe stood in front of Zhang Yin.

Without any warning, Feng Huaihe knelt down, raised the arrowhead above his head, and handed it to Zhang Yin.

Zhu Qing forgot to blink and saw Zhang Yin take the slingshot and hold it up to Feng Huaihe's throat. He didn't know what Zhang Yin was thinking, but the killing intent in his eyes was clear; perhaps he wanted to use the slingshot to eliminate Feng Huaihe.

Feng Huaihe had his back to Zhu Qing, so she couldn't see his expression, only his straight back and broad shoulders.

Zhu Qing murmured, "Feng Huaihe..."

“I thought you were so capable,” Zhang Yin tilted his head slightly, a triumphant smile on his face, “but you’re nothing special.”

Zhang Yin tried to detect any trace of resentment or humiliation on Feng Huaihe's face. He stared intently at Feng Huaihe, but Feng Huaihe remained unmoved, calmly saying, "Now I'm taking her away."

"Now?" Zhang Yin gripped the slingshot tightly, gritting his teeth as he said, "When did I say you could take her away now?"

Feng Huaihe looked up at him: "Are you trying to go back on your word in front of Qingqing?"

"Anyway, I'm not a good person in your eyes anyway, so why should I care about you?"

At this moment, someone entered without being announced. The three people inside the tent looked over at the same time and saw that it was Liu Zhijun.

As soon as Liu Zhijun entered, he sensed that something was wrong. He awkwardly wiped his forehead and looked at Zhang Yin, saying, "Are you sure you can handle this? The Jin army is almost at our doorstep. I just received a letter from His Majesty urging us to fight and demanding that we take Luzhou within this month."

Zhang Yin pondered for a moment, then turned to Feng Huaihe and said, "Once the gates of Luzhou are open, I will naturally take Zhu Qing to Luzhou to find you. Once the gates are open, I will hand him over."

Feng Huaihe stood up, shook his head, and said seriously, "I don't trust you. Either let me take her away now, or you stay here. In the end, it's you, not me, who's in a hurry. I just need to wait until the Jin army attacks and your Liang army is defeated, then I can take her away myself."

"You!" Zhang Yin clenched his fist. "Don't forget this is my territory. You want to wear me down? I don't. If I don't achieve my goal, I'll kill you all."

Feng Huaihe smiled, his peach blossom eyes crinkling into crescents. "Alright. It's fine, it's not a big deal. To die with her is a kind of happiness."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qing retorted in a hoarse voice, "But I don't want to die yet."

Feng Huaihe's smile froze slightly, and he changed his words to Zhang Yin, saying, "Killing us wasn't your goal. What you should be thinking about now is what you really want."

Zhang Yin frowned.

Now, in Liang Jun's camp, he could indeed kill Feng Huaihe and Zhu Qing directly, but as Feng Huaihe said, that was not his goal.

They died, Luzhou was not captured, and he himself was doomed anyway; this was not what Zhang Yin wanted.

All he wanted was to win Luzhou, defeat Feng Huaihe, and become the next top strategist; nothing else mattered.

The problem now is that Zhang Yin is worried that if Feng Huaihe takes Zhu Qing away, he will never return, and he himself will be dead. Feng Huaihe also doesn't believe that Zhang Yin will hand over Zhu Qing after the city gates open, and that he will take Zhu Qing away first.

It's a dead end with distrust on both sides; it's a stalemate.

Zhang Yin's mind raced, unsure of what to do. Just then, Liu Zhijun interjected, "Let's each give way and set off together."

Zhang Yin looked at him: "What do you mean by that?"

Liu Zhijun said, "Since none of you trust each other, let Feng Zhijian take Zhu Qing away now. But you don't trust him either, so you lead your troops to follow them, keep track of their movements, and when you reach the city of Luzhou, if the city gates don't open or there's a trap, immediately order your soldiers to surround and kill them both at the city gates of Luzhou."

Zhang Yin thought about it and had to admit that it was a good idea.

He looked at Feng Huaihe, his eyes asking for Feng Huaihe's opinion.

Feng Huaihe nodded. "From now on, I want to have a normal life with Zhu Qing. I will not be a prisoner of your Liang army."

“You can’t bargain like that!” Zhang Yin was about to refuse without thinking, but Feng Huaihe said, “Then we can only keep dragging this out. After all, we are prisoners, and prisoners have no reason to do things for you.”

"you!"

Zhang Yin couldn't help but want to hit someone, but Liu Zhijun quickly pulled him back and said, "The most urgent thing is to take Luzhou. Don't worry about these things. It's just one more military tent and a few more meals. Why should someone who is destined for greatness fight over such trivial matters?"

Zhang Yin snorted and pushed Liu Zhijun away, but he calmed down and realized that what Liu said made sense.

He couldn't bring himself to personally arrange things for the two, so he handed them over to Liu Zhijun and left.

Liu Zhijun was unwilling to spend any more time and summoned two soldiers.

The soldiers were equally lazy, and in the end they only took Feng Huaihe and his companion to a cramped tent, where they served two bowls of perfunctory congee and side dishes.

Having gone through all this, Zhu Qing was already very content; she felt lucky to have a hot meal here.

The tent was cramped, containing only a single bed board, a small table, and nothing else.

Zhu Qing sat on the bed, and Feng Huaihe moved a small table in front of her, on which were placed food. He combined two bowls of porridge into one bowl for Zhu Qing and said, "You eat first, I'll go see if I can get you some hot water and clean clothes."

Zhu Qing nodded.

Feng Huaihe stepped out of the tent. Although it was springtime, the northern chill was still biting. Zhu Qing was shivering from the cold, but felt much better after drinking some hot porridge. At that moment, Feng Huaihe returned.

He carried half a bucket of water in one hand and a soldier's uniform in the other. After pressing the tent flap tightly, he carried the water to Zhu Qing's side.

Feng Huaihe glanced at the food on the table. "Is it ready?"

Zhu Qing was about to speak when he burped.

"Looks like you're full," Feng Huaihe said with a half-smile, placing his clothes on the bed. "Are you injured?"

"No."

Although she was in a sorry state in the pit, Zhang Yin did not actually hurt her; instead, she stabbed Zhang Yin's arm.

I'm afraid Zhang Yin won't be able to pick up a pen for a while afterward.

"Then you wash yourself?" Feng Huaihe said, "If you're tired, lie down and I'll help you."

Zhu Qing was indeed very tired. She had been on edge all day, and having just eaten, she started to feel sleepy as soon as she warmed up.

At this point, she no longer cared whether Feng Huaihe saw her or not. In any case, she had seen everything that she should and shouldn't have seen. To this day, they are still a legally registered couple.

Zhu Qing thought to herself, "Then you can help me."

Feng Huaihe blew out the oil lamp in the tent, and Zhu Qing took off his clothes, which were covered in mud, and lay naked on the bed.

The tent was pitch black, but Feng Huaihe's eyes were still able to see many things clearly.

At this moment, Feng Huaihe's gaze swept over Zhu Qing's fair skin, devoid of the lust and covetousness he once felt.

He only saw her as a wife, a wife with whom he was about to divorce, a wife who needed his respect and freedom, not a possession to be owned.

Feng Huaihe carefully wiped Zhu Qing's body, paying attention to every part. After a while, feeling that Zhu Qing seemed to have fallen asleep, he carefully pulled the blanket over Zhu Qing and covered him up.

Feng Huaihe was carrying a bucket of water and was about to go out when Zhu Qing suddenly grabbed his hand.

Feeling the sudden warmth in his palm, Feng Huaihe was stunned, frozen in place, and even forgot to look at Zhu Qing.

"Are you coming back later?" Zhu Qing's sleepy voice sounded behind me, softly tickling my heart.

Feng Huaihe couldn't help but tighten his grip on her fingers, slowly turned around, and asked gently, "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"This is Liang Jun's territory, and there are enemies everywhere. If I were alone, I would feel a little panicked."

Feng Huaihe automatically interpreted Zhu Qing's words as a need for his company, and a warmth filled his heart, enough to ward off the chill of the spring night.

"I'll be back soon."

Feng Huaihe carried the sewage out and returned shortly afterward.

The bed was small and couldn't fit two people, so Feng Huaihe sat by Zhu Qing's bedside, leaned down and touched her face, "Sleep, I'll watch over you."

"Are you confident about the matter in Luzhou?" Zhu Qing, not sleepy, turned over to face him and asked.

"Well, don't worry. What you need to do now is get a good night's sleep and save your energy for escaping tomorrow."

Zhu Qing searched for Feng Huaihe's hand in the darkness and took it, saying, "You clearly had a better way, why did you treat Zhang Yin like that?"

"Better solutions often require more patience and planning. But when it comes to your safety, I can't wait."

Feng Huaihe smiled. "Besides, saving you is nothing. In my eyes, I'm just kneeling before you. And bowing to you is something I'm used to."

Zhu Qing remained silent.

Her breathing gradually became even, as if she had fallen asleep. Feng Huaihe reached out and gently traced the shape of her eyebrows, perhaps tomorrow would be the last time they would see each other.

"Go back to Qingxi Village and live a good life away from the war." Feng Huaihe, afraid of disturbing her, bent down and kissed Zhu Qing's forehead very gently.

As he was about to get up, Zhu Qing suddenly grabbed him.

Feng Huaihe was taken aback.

Zhu Qing placed her hands on Feng Huaihe's neck, trying to make out his eyes in the darkness: "In my time, marriage was a sacred thing. Although things are complicated between us, you and I have a marriage certificate, and I will not forget you."

Feng Huaihe chuckled softly, "Really? Thank you."

Startled by his sudden politeness, Zhu Qing paused for a moment, then released him, moved to the inside of the bed, and patted the spot next to her: "We're still husband and wife, after all. Come up and sleep. Get some rest; we have a battle to fight tomorrow."

Feng Huaihe paused for a moment, not expecting Zhu Qing to offer him the opportunity to sleep.

Regardless, this was a joyous occasion. Feng Huaihe suppressed his inner joy and tried his best to appear calm, but he couldn't hide his excitement and anxiety. He quickly climbed up, lay down next to Zhu Qing, and reached out to pull her into his arms.

Zhu Qing did not resist, resting her head on Feng Huaihe's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat as drowsiness overcame her.

Half-asleep, Zhu Qing thought of something and asked in a low voice, "Why didn't you tell me about Chen Sangguo's matter from the beginning? Or was it Bao Fu...?"

Feng Huaihe sighed, "I've given you the divorce papers and decided to let you go. We may never see each other again, but I hope you'll be happy. When you return to Jinyang, you'll know what happened. And on your journey to Jinyang, I hope you'll be happy and enjoy the scenery along the way."

"How can you be so sure that if you don't tell me, I'll be happy the whole way?"

"Because you hold my divorce papers in your hand."

Leaving him was something she had longed for.

-

The next morning, Zhu Qing was awakened by a rustling sound beside her. She opened her sleepy eyes and saw the sky was just beginning to lighten. The misty blue light of dawn enveloped Feng Huaihe, who was standing by the bed. He smiled at her when he saw that she was awake and said, "Did I wake you up?"

This was the first time Zhu Qing had ever seen Feng Huaihe act so much like a normal person.

He was neither as aloof as when they were 'unfamiliar' before, nor as cold as he became after their relationship went astray. He was a normal person who could laugh and was approachable.

But Zhu Qing, having been around a madman for so long, found it hard to accept his normalcy. She propped herself up on the bed and sat up, saying, "How did you suddenly change so much?"

"Really?" Feng Huaihe said calmly, fastening his belt and jade ring, easily changing the subject. "You sleep a little longer, I'll go find some hot water and food."

Zhu Qing nodded. He didn't say anything, and Zhu Qing didn't dwell on his changes. In the end, even if he had mutated, it had nothing to do with her.

Zhu Qing dozed off for a while, thinking about the day's events, feeling somewhat uneasy. She wondered if Bao Fu had found the old woman yet; she needed to hurry back to Jinyang to see her third brother and couldn't linger in Luzhou any longer.

But regarding the matter of Luzhou, we haven't yet asked Feng Huaihe about his plans. Does he really intend to open the city gates for Zhang Yin and the Liang army?

In our past lives, we were on different sides and had different relationships, so this event did not occur.

Zhu Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Familiar footsteps sounded outside the tent. Feng Huaihe brought in hot water, just like last night. Zhu Qing got up to wash and dress.

“Back when I was in the Secretariat, I made my third wish,” Feng Huaihe suddenly said.

Zhu Qing wiped her face and turned to look at Feng Huaihe sitting at the table. He was also staring intently at her.

Is that okay?

Feng Huaihe seemed unable to face Zhu Qing's answer, and after speaking, he looked away and stared at the ground.

He didn't explain it clearly, but Zhu Qing understood what he meant.

His three wishes were: to cook sweet flower soup, to plant forsythia, and to tie up his hair.

Zhu Qing never agreed to the idea of ​​tying her hair up.

She once thought she was a substitute, but later, when she thought about everything, she also felt disgusted with him.

Zhu Qing was silent for a moment, then shook her head: "No."

After he finished speaking, Zhu Qing vaguely heard Feng Huaihe let out a heavy sigh, as if he had let go of his worries, or as if he was mocking himself as he had expected it.

Zhu Qing said, "I know you've been good to me, but you've also hurt me."

"I've never been in a relationship, so I don't know if other people's relationships are like this, with love, hate, and torment all mixed together. I'm just judging by my intuition. I admire your ability as a strategist, I admire your efforts and contributions to this era, and I also feel sorry for you because we have similar childhoods."

“But I hate your inferiority complex, your gloom, and your anxiety about wanting to control everything. I admire Feng Zhijian, but I don’t like Feng Huaihe.”

Feng Huaihe remained silent for a long time, the sunlight reflecting off his brow, and Zhu Qing could only see a patch of gray that looked like a desolate white.

"As your former husband, I am very fortunate to see you grow up to be the person you are today, with clear likes and dislikes, and making decisive and heartfelt choices."

Before Zhu Qing could speak, Feng Huaihe continued, "If I get old in the future, I'll go back to Qingxi Village..."

"Then we can still be good neighbors."

Feng Huaihe grunted in agreement, seemingly satisfied. A bugle call sounded outside the tent, and the two exchanged a glance before silently leaving.

As they walked toward the Liang army's assembly point, Feng Huaihe whispered, "This matter came suddenly, and I didn't plan it very carefully. When we get to Luzhou, find an opportunity to enter the city and go to the wounded Jin soldiers' quarters. Your elder brother is waiting for you there."

Zhu Qing was taken aback: "When did you inform my older brother?"

"When the arrowhead was found in the pit."

Feng Huaihe said, "Half of the Feng family's property has already been given to Li Cunxu. As for the other half, I have already had the land deeds and house deeds reprinted by the government and given them to you. You can live a worry-free life in Qingxi Village."

Zhu Qing stopped in her tracks. "You gave it all to me? Then you..."

Feng Huaihe turned around and took her hand. "From now on, I'll be on the battlefield. I might die in battle any day and won't be of any use. Swords have no eyes on the battlefield. No matter what happens in the future, don't come looking for me."

"I'm not coming."

“Who knows?” Feng Huaihe smiled, his peach blossom eyes curving upwards. “I once lived to be a hundred years old, and I know best that many of the ideas of youth change when one gets old. Perhaps in the future you will not be so resistant to me and will want to see me.”

Keep dreaming.

Feng Huaihe laughed out loud and said nothing more. When the two arrived at their destination, they saw Zhang Yin riding on horseback, his gaze sweeping over them from top to bottom.

Zhang Yin smiled dismissively: "You will follow the soldiers at the back."

Feng Huaihe held Zhu Qing's hand tightly and pulled her to a place a little further away from the others. While waiting for Liang Jun to prepare, after a while, they saw Liu Zhijun come over, say something to Zhang Yin, and then leave.

Zhu Qing asked in confusion, "Isn't he coming along?"

"Perhaps they're afraid to gamble."

"What are we betting on?" Zhu Qing thought for a moment. "What's your plan?"

"There are no plans."

Feng Huaihe remained silent, while Zhu Qing stared intently at him. "You used to be so eager to tell me. You wouldn't be afraid I'd tell Zhang Yin, would you?"

Feng Huaihe paused for a moment, then acquiesced.

Zhu Qing was speechless. It seemed he hadn't changed at all; he was still so suspicious. Perhaps in his heart, he was still worried that this was some kind of plan between him and Zhang Yin.

Zhu Qing didn't ask any more questions, nor did she prove anything, since Feng Huaihe wouldn't believe her anyway.

After waiting for a while, Liang Jun began to move forward.

Zhang Yin and another deputy general were in front, and he would occasionally look back at Feng Huaihe and Zhu Qing who were following behind.

Zhang Yin was actually somewhat worried.

He was worried that Feng Huaihe might be up to no good, after all, Feng Huaihe's abilities as a strategist had always been superior to his.

Zhang Yin feared falling into Feng Huaihe's trap, but he sent troops ahead of time to investigate the route of the Jin army in the previous life and confirmed that there was nothing unusual.

It is clear that Feng Huaihe did not specifically communicate with the Jin army.

But Zhang Yin was still uneasy. He felt that he had gambled too much, but the outcome couldn't be worse than it was now.

Taking a gamble offers a chance of winning; not gambling means certain death.

After this is over, he will win Luzhou, which will be equivalent to winning against Feng Huaihe. At that time, he will get everything he wants.

Zhang Yin didn't let Liu Zhijun come along, fearing a trap, as the camp was vulnerable to a surprise attack by Li Cunxu. However, he also dared not bring too few soldiers, otherwise he would be jumping into a tiger's den.

So after discussing it with Liu Zhijun, he divided all of their Liang army in two, with Zhang Yin taking one half and the other half remaining at the camp with Liu Zhijun.

As they approached the city gate of Luzhou, Feng Huaihe called out to Zhang Yin.

Zhang Yin turned back on horseback, raising an eyebrow in displeasure: "What?"

"You want me to open the city gates, but with our current situation, how can I expect them to trust me and open the gates?"

Hearing Feng Huaihe's words, Zhang Yin glanced at Zhou Wei. He was indeed in a difficult position, leading Liang Jun in such a grand manner.

No matter how capable Feng Huaihe is, he is not omnipotent. The only way to open the city gate is through deception.

Zhang Yin asked, "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Feng Huaihe pointed to the mountains and forests outside the city that could be used for cover, "You lie in ambush here. Once I enter and the city gates open, you can then attack the city."

Zhang Yin instinctively wanted to refuse, but Zhu Qing spoke first: "Have you thought this through? We have no way to get Li Sizhao to open the city gates except by deception. If you want to deceive him, your Liang army must hide. Isn't an ambush a tactic?"

Zhang Yin sneered, "What are you agreeing with? How did you know about his plan? Are you two conspiring to deceive me?"

Seeing Zhang Yin's arrogant and disdainful attitude, Zhu Qing felt nauseous. In just a short time, the refined young man had vanished without a trace.

Zhu Qing suppressed her temper and said, "Isn't it too late for you to worry about being scammed now? Do you have any other choice now?"

The deputy general said, "We've come this far, let's not waste any more time."

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Yin finally led his troops to the surrounding mountains and forests to lie in ambush.

To prevent Feng Huaihe from deceiving him, he forced Zhu Qing to stay by his side.

Zhu Qing and he lay prone behind a small shrub, their heads covered with grass. They watched Feng Huaihe walk to the city gate, say something to the people inside, and then take out a jade ring from his waist. Soon after, the city gate of Luzhou City slowly opened.

As the two enormous doors slowly opened, Zhang Yin's eyes gleamed with golden light, sensing that a victory he had never achieved in his past or present life was within reach.

Zhu Qing turned her head and saw Zhang Yin's eyes, which were restrained yet still revealed a greedy desire for victory. Suddenly, she realized that she had never really known Zhang Yin.

He had desires and wants, which is why he acted so vividly in front of her. In her previous life, she only cared that Zhang Yin was a vivid person who could make her feel trusted and cared for.

Feng Huaihe was indifferent to worldly desires and acted like an influential but invisible person. She felt that she had never been included in Feng Huaihe's world.

But if someone has one thing, they must also have another. Zhu Qing stared blankly at the light in Zhang Yinli's eyes. Wasn't it this light that once made her feel beautiful? Why did she feel so disgusted by it now?

Lost in thought, Zhang Yi suddenly turned his head and met her gaze. He was momentarily dazed, then frowned. "What are you looking at?"

"nothing."

Zhu Qing turned her head away, the grass on her head swaying. Just then, she heard a rustling sound coming from the woods behind her, the sound getting closer and closer.

Zhang Yin also heard it, and the two turned around at the same time. They initially thought it was a tiger, but in their vision, dark shadows slowly appeared.

Before Zhang Yin could react, the dark figures suddenly rushed over. They held sharp blades, wore top-quality armor, and shouted "Kill the Liang traitors!" They swarmed forward like locusts, and with swift strokes, the Liang soldiers lying in ambush at the back row were instantly killed.

Zhang Yin's mind went blank!

It's the Jin army! It was indeed a treacherous plot.

"Run!" the lieutenant shouted, scrambling to his feet and running outside.

They were already worried that Li Cunxu would launch a surprise attack on the camp, so they didn't bring all their troops out. The huge group of soldiers in front of them was clearly the majority of Li Cunxu's forces.

They are no match for them at all!

Before the deputy general and the other Liang soldiers could take two steps, Zhang Yin grabbed the deputy general's arm and shouted angrily, "The gates of Luzhou are already open! Are you going to run instead of fighting your way in?"

The lieutenant snorted, "To slaughter the entire city of Luzhou now is to make ourselves a sitting duck! To run into someone else's trap and wait for the Jin army to catch us? Fools!"

After saying that, the deputy general forcefully shook off Zhang Yin and led his soldiers to flee into the nearby woods.

It was clear that they couldn't go back the way they came. Perhaps Feng Huaihe had already anticipated this and had arranged an ambush along the original route.

Zhang Yin stood there, stunned, wondering if he was really that stupid. Why did he always lose to others when it came to being a strategist? Even a deputy general who only knew how to fight said he was stupid.

In his daze, Zhang Yin did not pay attention to Zhu Qing. When he came to his senses, he did not know where Zhu Qing had gone. Just then, a Jin soldier charged towards him, and he turned and ran.

In the instant he turned around, he saw outside Luzhou City, Feng Huaihe was the leader, followed by about a hundred Jin soldiers. Zhu Qing had already arrived beside him at some point, riding his horse and standing side by side with him, his eyes cold. They seemed to be a match made in heaven, evenly matched.

In the instant Zhang Yin was lost in thought, the Jin soldiers who were trying to kill him caught up and slashed his calf with a knife.

The Jin army, following Feng Zhijian's instructions, aimed to capture Zhang Yin alive, and thus did not strike Zhang Yin's vital spot.

Zhang Yin felt a sharp pain in his calf and fell to the ground. Behind him, the Liang and Jin armies were locked in a fierce battle, and before long, the smaller Liang army was completely wiped out.

Two soldiers came forward, grabbed Zhang Yin by both arms, and dragged him in front of Feng Huaihe and Zhu Qing.

The soldiers then withdrew and followed the Jin army to pursue those who had fled with the deputy general.

Zhang Yin lay on the ground, looking up to see the open gates of Luzhou City ahead. Victory was right in front of him, but he was unwilling to give up. He clenched his hands tightly, his fingers digging deep into the mud.

A pair of brown lotus shoes came into view.

Zhang Yin looked up and saw Zhu Qing standing in front of him, looking down at him.

Zhang Yin had expected her to look down at him with disdain, but to his surprise, Zhu Qing squatted down in front of him and looked at him with an extremely complex expression.

He couldn't describe the emotions swirling in his gaze, but as he stared intently at Zhu Qing, he suddenly remembered their grand wedding in Jinyang City.

It was initially a marriage of convenience, and everything was an act, but now that I think about it, the smile on Zhu Qing's lips back then didn't seem fake.

Zhang Yin felt a tightness in his chest, feeling both apprehensive and expectant about what Zhu Qing would say next. But she said nothing, just stared at him for a while before getting up, mounting her horse, and entering Luzhou City.

Zhu Qing didn't waste any more time. After entering Luzhou, she went to the place where the Jin army was taking care of the wounded soldiers, as Feng Huaihe had told her. She found Zhu Zhengyang and rushed back to Jinyang with him.

They have changed their accommodations and no longer stay at Xihuatang.

The new courtyard was just the right size for the family. It was filled with Zhu Yubo's herbs drying in the sun. When we arrived, Zhu Yubo was packing the herbs and his belongings.

"Second Brother!" Zhu Qing called out as soon as he entered the door.

Zhu Yubo paused in his hand, which was holding the herbs. He looked up, saw Zhu Qing, and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "Qingqing?"

"Qingqing?" Zhuo Yunmeng came out of the main room upon hearing the voice. Seeing that it was indeed Zhu Qing, who had disappeared for half a year, her eyes reddened as she rushed forward to greet her: "I thought you had been robbed on your way back to Qingxi Village..."

Zhu Qing didn't know how to explain where she had been for the past six months, so she simply left it at that and asked, "Where is Third Brother?"

“He’s in the inner room.” Zhuo Yunmeng sighed. “He’s not doing well. He kept insisting on going out. If it weren’t for Feng Huaihe’s letter saying you’d be back soon and he was waiting to see you, he would have already left.”

Zhu Zhengyang stepped forward and said, "Let's go inside."

The windows were open, letting in the spring sunshine and breeze. Zhu Feichuan sat by the window, gazing blankly at the courtyard.

In the courtyard, Nie Zhen was leading Manman in picking vegetables. Hearing the noise, they all put down what they were doing and came into the house.

As soon as Manman saw Zhu Qing, she took her hand as usual and looked up at Zhu Qing with eyes full of affection.

Zhu Qing led her closer to Zhu Feichuan, "Third Brother."

Zhu Feichuan turned around, and Zhu Qing saw that he had lost a lot of weight, his eyes were lifeless, and he looked listless, as if his soul had been forcibly taken away.

Zhu Qing felt uneasy. She had originally obtained Chen Sangguo's bell, but Zhang Yin had snatched it away from Chuan Yang. She could only hope that Feng Huaihe could get it back.

Zhu Feichuan forced a smile at Zhu Qing, "The weapons have all been transported to Luzhou. My injuries have healed considerably. Now that you're back, I can go out with peace of mind."

Zhu Qingdao: "Shall we go find mulberries?"

In her previous life, after Zhu Feichuan disappeared without a trace, it was Chen Sangguo who searched for him. During the war in Chang'an, Chen Sangguo fled with refugees and eventually ended up in Khitan.

Abaoji liked to abduct Han Chinese to the Khitan and built Han cities. Presumably, Chen Sangguo was one of those abducted.

However, things are different now than in the previous life. Bao Fu said that Feng Huaihe had searched for the Khitan, but there was no trace of mulberry fruit.

Zhu Feichuan nodded. "I can't go on like this forever. I have to find her."

Zhu Qing didn't stop her, only asking, "Is everything ready?"

"Leaving tomorrow morning."

Zhu Qing asked, "Then what about your shop in Jinyang?"

Zhu Feichuan said, "I'll leave it to my second sister-in-law and you can manage it."

"Second sister-in-law?" Zhu Qing looked at Zhuo Yunmeng in the room with a puzzled expression, only to notice that she had tied her hair up in a married woman's bun, which meant that she had married Zhu Yubo while he was away.

Zhu Qing nodded.

She was originally worried about Zhu Feichuan and was anxious to return to Jinyang, but seeing that his injuries had healed considerably, she was relieved.

But Zhu Qing started thinking about that old woman again.

But thinking that she had done everything she could to repay, and that Bao Fu was still there, Zhu Qing didn't need to worry. She wanted to spend more time with her family.

At night, just like when they were still in Qingxi Village, the family gathered around the table for dinner.

Zhu Feichuan was stunned, his movements mechanical as if he had lost his soul. Zhu Qing advised him not to force himself if he had no appetite, but since they would be apart more often in the future, Zhu Feichuan did not want to miss out.

The candlelight inside cast everyone's shadows onto the ground, creating warm silhouettes.

No one asked Zhu Qing where she went after leaving. Perhaps it was out of taboo, perhaps they were worried that hearing about her troubles would make her feel even worse, or perhaps they didn't want to bring up her unhappy experiences.

Halfway through the meal, Uncle Zhu Yu brought over Zhu Qing's medicine: "I'm also leaving tomorrow. Now that Fei Chuan is better, I have to go to the battlefield."

Zhu Zhengyang nodded: "Me too, it's time to go to the battlefield. Qingqing, we..."

"It's alright. Rather than being stuck here with me, I'd rather you all get out of here." Zhu Qing knew what her older brother wanted to say: he felt guilty that they had to leave so soon after she returned, and he couldn't stay with her.

But having lived for so long and gone through countless reincarnations, Zhu Qing knew all too well that if they didn't go out into the world, they wouldn't be able to keep their home and dinner tonight.

Zhu Zhengyang asked, "Then are you going back to Qingxi Village?"

“Since my sisters-in-law and Manman are all here, I will not go back. However, I promised an old friend that I would escort her back to Chang'an. Once this matter is settled, I will stay here.”

Nie Zhen frowned, her face showing unease: "That Feng Huaihe, he..."

Zhu Qing smiled. "He gave me the divorce papers, so don't worry." From now on, she would be free.

Nie Zhen prepared a boudoir for Zhu Qing, almost restoring her house in Qingxi Village. However, since they were no longer poor, the bed and dressing table had been replaced with better ones.

Looking out her window, she saw a pomegranate tree, which had already sprouted a vibrant green in the spring.

-

Luzhou.

Criminal prison.

The cell was damp and cold, and there was nothing there, not even any dry grass on the ground.

Zhang Yin lay on the ground, curled up and shivering. His calf was still bleeding, and his limbs were riddled with countless arrows. Every movement caused him excruciating pain.

In my delirious state from the pain, I heard the sound of the cell door opening.

Immediately afterward, the hem of Feng Huaihe's gray-white clothes came into view.

Zhang Yin opened his eyes and looked up with difficulty.

Feng Huaihe held the arrowhead, the bell at the end nowhere to be seen. He lowered his head, his gaze heavy and majestic like that of a god.

"I could have killed you, but unfortunately, you are the person I hate most in this world, in both my past and present lives."

Feng Huaihe's gaze swept over Zhang Yin.

Before imprisoning Zhang Yin here, Feng Huaihe shot sixteen arrows into his limbs.

It's not fatal, but it's very torturous.

Zhang Yin trembled and said weakly, "I don't understand. I've tried so hard, why can't I beat you..."

"Not everything in this world that we don't understand will have an answer. In my previous life, when I was as young as you, I didn't understand why, even though I did nothing wrong, I had to bleed Feng Ruling's blood and suffer the unfair treatment from Feng Yangmeng."

Feng Huaihe took out an arrow, squatted down in front of Zhang Yin, and used the sharp end to lift Zhang Yin's face, saying slowly and menacingly, "Only after Zhu Qing died did I understand. This is fate."

"Some people are born with everything, like you; others are born with nothing, like me. Some people are born with extraordinary talent, and you can never catch up with them no matter what you do, like me."

Feng Huaihe suddenly laughed, “Actually, fate is very fair. It’s just that most people are like you, only focusing on what others have but they don’t have, which is why they live such a hard life.”

Zhang Yin scoffed dismissively, "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I was once like you, staring at what you have and what I don't, and suffering terribly. If you no longer pursue becoming a renowned strategist, but only rely on your relationship with Zhang Chengye, you will become a young master in Jinyang City, living the same life as in Lingnan, won't you?"

"..."

“If I no longer need Feng Ruling, the Li family still has Feng Yangmeng… I wouldn’t have to work so hard. I did it, but you didn’t. You still blame all your misfortunes on me and on Zhu Qing, so you failed.”

Feng Huaihe used that sharp arrow to slowly slide it from Zhang Yin's chin to Zhang Yin's vital point.

Zhang Yin immediately became alert.

Feng Huaihe chuckled: "Don't worry, I won't kill you. I told you, you're the person I hate the most."

“In my past life, I hated you so much that I wanted to tear your flesh and blood off, and even after you died, I wanted to dig up your corpse and torture you. But you turned into bones. In this life, I will imprison you here forever, and torture you at any time.”

He wanted to give all the hatred from his past life a place to go.

-

The next morning, Zhu Qing saw off her three older brothers and then took the divorce papers and marriage certificate to the government office.

She and Feng Huaihe were no longer a registered couple.

On the way back, I heard the people talking about the victory in the Battle of Luzhou and the great defeat of the Liang army, but I didn't hear anything about Feng Huaihe and Zhang Yin.

This was expected; the same path had unfolded in her previous life. Zhu Qing felt little unease, only hoping that the war would end soon so that ordinary people like her could suffer less.

Lost in thought, Zhu Qing accidentally bumped into someone. She quickly apologized and looked up to see a woman coming out of the Washing Flower Hall.

Zhu Qing was stunned; he had actually arrived at the Washing Flower Hall.

The woman appeared to be cleaning. After Zhu Qing apologized, she hurried to the next house.

Zhu Qing looked at the locked door of Xihuatang and hesitated.

She had a key that Feng Huaihe forced upon her.

Zhu Qing stood there for a while, then finally stepped forward and unlocked the door.

Everything in Xihuatang is exactly as it was before. The plum tree in the center of the courtyard has withered and grown tender green leaves, and the red silk hanging on the dark brown trunk flutters back and forth.

Zhu Qing stepped forward and saw countless wishing plaques hanging among the red silk ribbons.

She scanned them one by one; each one contained the same eight characters:

"If you'd like, let's meet again."

Zhu Qing's heart skipped a beat. She reached out and picked a piece, stroking its rough, hard edges in a daze.

Feng Huaihe had told her that in his previous life he prayed to Buddha every day, wishing to see her again, and Buddha had granted his wish.

Is this it too?

Zhu Qing knew that Feng Huaihe's wish to see her again had been fulfilled, which was why she was sent back to civilized society.

After returning home, Zhu Qing kept wanting to come back.

She disliked that concrete jungle, a place where she had no home, no lover, and could only eat takeout.

Zhu Qing wanted to return to the place where her sister-in-law, niece, and brothers were, even in this time of war.

But she never held out hope, because Feng Huaihe's wish had been fulfilled, and she would not be sent to this misplaced time and space again.

But she still came back.

Zhu Qing always believed it was a blessing from heaven.

It turned out that someone had been working hard, and she herself was willing, so they met again.

Goodbye is all that matters; no outcome is required.

end

After Zhu Qing stayed in Jinyang, he never heard from Feng Huaihe again.

Feng Huaihe was clearly serving the ruler of Jinyang, and she was also in Jinyang, but he seemed to have vanished into thin air, and no news of him ever came back.

On one occasion, when Li Cunxu's wife celebrated her birthday, a large number of people were invited. After Zhu Qing took over his third brother's business and expanded it, they wanted Zhu Qing to support the military expenses, so they also sent Zhu Qing an invitation.

At that birthday banquet, Zhu Qing heard Li Cunxu's wife say that Feng Huaihe had never left the battlefield, and even during the Spring Festival, he stayed in the army with the soldiers.

At that moment, Zhu Qing felt that he was just like her in the past, spending the Spring Festival alone in a rented room, because not everyone has a home to go back to.

But Zhu Qing still didn't go to see Feng Huaihe.

Zhu Qing knew that Jinyang would not last long either, and that Li Cunxu's Later Tang would not last many years before it was conquered, followed by the loss of the Sixteen Prefectures.

Before the Later Tang Dynasty ended, she returned to Qingxi Village with her sisters-in-law and lived a secluded life. However, her eldest and second eldest brothers would return home every year to reunite for the Spring Festival.

When Zhu Qing came to her senses, she had already lived in this chaotic world she once feared for decades.

Her older brother and sister-in-law have both passed away. Manman has grown up and now accompanies her, who has white hair, in Qingxi Village.

As people age, they become more easily confused, more prone to loneliness, move more slowly, their hair turns white, and their youthful appearance fades.

Zhu Qing often sat under the big jujube tree in the courtyard, looking at the two thatched houses on the other side of the river.

The thatched hut had fallen into disrepair over the years and was increasingly unable to withstand the elements. One morning, she woke up to find that the hut had collapsed.

The still-young Manman said, "Do you think Feng Huaihe is still alive? If he's not dead, how will we live here when he comes back?"

Zhu Qing shook her head and said she didn't know.

But when she got up a few days later, she found that the two thatched houses across the street had been repaired and restored, and smoke was still coming out of the chimneys.

Zhu Qing's heart started racing.

She realized that even at sixty or seventy, one's heart could still flutter as before. In that instant, she felt as if she had returned to her youth, waking up in this house and seeing pomegranate petals drifting in through the window, feeling completely dazed.

A short while later, an old man slowly walked across the river. Half of his hair was white, and his appearance was no longer what it used to be, but Zhu Qing still remembered those peach blossom eyes.

When I was young, I found him both handsome and frightening. Now, I only feel an indescribable sense of loss. He was right when he said it in Luzhou: as people get older, many of their thoughts do change.

Feng Huaihe swayed and swayed until he finally reached Zhu Qing, and asked her with a smile, "Have you eaten yet?"

Zhu Qing glanced at the smoke rising from his chimney, knowing he must have cooked something delicious, even if she had just eaten, she shook her head.

"If not, then let's do it together. Today, tomorrow, every day."

-

(End of article)

-----------------------

Author's Note: Thank you for your support. Writing this wasn't very enjoyable; I was worried about whether it would be too... explicit, so I didn't dare to write freely. But I feel like you guys are quite receptive to it...

So I've decided to write my next book, "Chang'an Sickness," and I'll write it freely. Please add it to your favorites!

The basic premise of "Chang'an Disease" is that both the male and female leads travel through time, but the female lead comes from the 21st century and the male lead comes from a more distant future, so the male lead will have some superpowers. Well... that's right, you can think of it in a different way!

If you want to see any extra chapters, please leave a comment. If there's nothing else you'd like to see, then this book will end.

Thank you for your company, everyone! I'm so touched that someone followed the whole thing from beginning to end, sob sob!