Belongings and Letters

"Uncle Ban, can't even you go in?" Lang Rong hadn't had time to change out of his soft armor. Frustrated, he unfastened the sword from his waist and slammed it heavily onto the stone table in the courtyard. His handsome, thick eyebrows were twisted in a frown. He was full of questions he wanted to ask, but the person in question had gone into the study after returning and ordered that no one else be allowed to enter.

"I just knocked on the door, but the King did not respond." Without a reply, Uncle Ban dared not enter rashly. Uncle Ban couldn't understand why everyone who had been fine before leaving had returned looking so dejected and worried. He had a bellyful of questions he wanted to ask, but seeing that Lang Rong and the others seemed even more depressed than him, Uncle Ban gave up the idea of ​​asking.

Uncle Ban frowned, a sense of unease creeping into his heart, as he searched for Ah Chou but couldn't find her. He casually placed a slender finger on Aunt Pan's arm, and with just a glance, Aunt Pan understood and followed him out of the courtyard.

"Where is Ah Chou who went with you? I haven't seen him come back." After all, Ah Chou was entrusted to his training since he entered the manor, and Uncle Ban had a different kind of affection for Ah Chou than for ordinary servants.

Now that Ah Chou and Wang Zun's relationship has become even closer, Uncle Ban has to pay even closer attention to Ah Chou's movements. Ah Chou went there in good condition, but when he returned, he was nowhere to be seen. Furthermore, Wang Zun had locked himself in his study and forbade anyone from entering. Captain Lang Rong looked bitter and resentful, making it hard for Uncle Ban not to think the worst.

When Uncle Ban learned from Aunt Pan that Ah Chou was actually Prince Losang of the You tribe, and that he had been taken back to the You tribe by Urentuya, and that everything was secretly planned by the King, Uncle Ban's brain short-circuited for a moment. His slightly parted red lips couldn't organize his thoughts for a long time.

Who could have imagined that the slave Wang Zun casually bought on the road would be the missing prince of the You tribe, who had secretly lain dormant in the Jiangbei Royal Palace for many years without anyone knowing his identity? So how did Wang Zun discover him, and after discovering him, send him back to the You tribe unharmed? How deep was the affection hidden in this? Uncle Ban dared not think about it, nor could he.

Looking at Lang Rong sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard, with an air of determination to get to the bottom of things, Uncle Ban sighed. After all, she was a woman who had never experienced love and could not understand the heartbreak Wang Zun was going through.

Uncle Ban adjusted the fur cloak over his shoulders. "Go and persuade Commandant Lang not to stay outside. He won't be able to see the King today." His eyes then fell on Aunt Pan's face. "You shouldn't stay here either. I'll wait here. Today's events are probably too many people to keep from the General. You go back to the camp with Commandant Lang and tell the General everything that happened."

Although he was in charge of managing the household affairs, Uncle Ban handled external matters with ease, like a gleaming sword drawn from its sheath, dazzling and captivating. Aunt Pan's gloom vanished, and she nodded in agreement, "I'll do as you say."

After Lang Rong successfully lured Aunt Pan away from the Prince's mansion under the pretext of reporting to the General, the courtyard where the study was located suddenly became deserted. A chilly spring breeze brushed past, giving one the illusion that winter had arrived.

Uncle Ban's prediction was correct. It wasn't until the next morning, when the dew that had accumulated overnight evaporated, that the tightly closed study door opened from the inside. Jiang Yanhui calmly walked out. If it weren't for her pale face and bloodshot eyes, and Uncle Ban having already heard about yesterday's events from Aunt Pan, he probably wouldn't have noticed Jiang Yanhui's abnormality and would have thought she was just tired from working on official documents all night.

"Your Majesty, would you like breakfast?" Uncle Ban asked casually as usual, glancing at the layout of the study. There were no signs of damage; it seemed Wang Zun had been sitting in the study all night. Concealing his shock, Uncle Ban couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"No need." Jiang Yan's voice was low and hoarse, her eyes filled with lingering fatigue. She rubbed her temples, where veins were bulging. "I'm going back to my room to sleep for a while."

"I'll have someone help you wash up right now." Uncle Ban breathed a sigh of relief. If you can sleep, it's not too serious. He immediately ordered the servants in the main room to get busy and wash away the king's fatigue from the night.

The windows of the main house were covered with opaque cloth, making it as dark as night even during the day. Apart from the birds that could not be driven away from the branches, the main courtyard was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Under Uncle Ban's instructions, no one dared to risk their lives to disturb the King's rest.

Exhausted, Jiang Yan lay stiffly on the luxurious, soft bed, her long, thick, raven-feather-like eyelashes casting small shadows under her eyes as she closed them.

It was another scene of A Chou leaving with Urentuya. Jiang Yan Hui could see the man's sadness, reluctance, and inner turmoil; she knew clearly how much pain and torment A Chou was going through when faced with this choice. But this was the biggest concession Jiang Yan Hui could make, letting A Chou choose his own future and returning freedom to Prince Losang of the You tribe.

Having lost her father, Jiang Yanhui understood how much the letter left by her father held sway over Losang, and knew that this parting might be their last. Given Urentuya's character, she was determined not to let Losang set foot in Lingzhou again.

Ever since accidentally learning Losang's true identity, Jiang Yan had considered many ways to keep him by her side. As long as he didn't return to Youbu, she was confident she could hide Losang away forever. Everything shattered like bubbles in the kiss under the fireworks of the palace banquet. Her dark possessiveness transformed into a dignified act of letting go, hoping that the one she loved could make his own choice.

Two years ago, Lang Rong of Mingyue Pavilion made a statement that Jiang Yan Hui had dismissed as a promise of true companionship until old age. Now, Jiang Yan Hui can finally truly appreciate the beauty and sincerity in that statement. Mutual affection is precious, but staying together until old age is even rarer.

Even the unruly King of Jiangbei had his moments of cowardice and fear. He dared not step onto the deck to watch Losang's departing figure, fearing that the sacrifice he had so painstakingly made to convince himself would be ruined, and that he might be tempted to use force to subdue him and take him back. But how heartbroken Losang would be if that happened! He had finally found his family, finally seen the letters his father had left behind; he couldn't let his own selfish desires destroy everything.

Jiang Yanhui clutched the brocade quilt tightly. Although it was already spring, she felt a chill in the air, a cold draft seeping into her bones. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and her consciousness sank further.

"Quickly, fetch Doctor Zhang! Go now!"

"Place the charcoal brazier next to the bed, close the windows in the inner room tightly, and leave only a crack in the outer room. We must not let the King get cold."

"The news of the King's old illness recurring must not be spread. Everyone keep your mouths shut. If I find any of you gossiping behind his back, you will be punished according to the rules of the manor!"

Uncle Ban's intimidating words made the servants inside the room too afraid to breathe. As long as he was there, no matter how chaotic the situation was, it could be brought under control instantly, which made people feel extremely at ease.

Uncle Ban was initially relieved that the King knew to rest and protect his health, and that he hadn't allowed the servants in the house to disturb the easily startled King. But as noon had passed and there was still no sign that the King was waking up to eat, the servants in the main courtyard sensed something was wrong and quickly went to Uncle Ban for advice.

Uncle Ban immediately entered the room, only to find that Jiang Yanhui had fallen into a coma. Wang Zun's old ailment had not flared up for a long time, and Bi Lang was immediately thrown into a panic, but fortunately Uncle Ban was there to take charge and arrange everything in an orderly manner.

Doctor Zhang was well-versed in Jiang Yanhui's physical condition and quickly administered acupuncture and acupoints. The prescription he wrote was immediately taken away to be prepared and boiled, and the servants returned to their orderly state.

As evening approached, the sky was ablaze with orange-red sunset clouds, like burning flames, which painted the faces of the men entering and leaving the house with color. In Lingzhou, springtime was just right for wearing a padded jacket, but now everyone was sweating profusely, pulling at their collars as they came out because of the heat.

The main room was warm, like a hot summer day. Jiang Yanhui, wearing a white nightgown, regained her rosy complexion after her pale face. She was skillfully fed spoonful by spoonful of medicine, and her dry lips became rosy and glossy.

After a busy afternoon, the people inside could finally take a breather. Only after the tension subsided did they realize that they felt sticky and uncomfortable all over. When they reached inside to touch themselves, they found that their inner lining was soaked with sweat, without them even noticing.

The tension wasn't just felt by the well-treated Jiangbei Prince's Mansion; it was also by the fact that the powerful Jiangbei Prince was in trouble, and that lurking villains would be stirring, potentially igniting another war. Ordinary people certainly didn't want war, because war meant conscription, fleeing the war-torn lands, and possibly watching their beautiful homeland turn to ruins.

Although Lingzhou has many drawbacks, it is the land where many people truly grew up and have an extraordinary emotional connection to it.

As the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky darkened, the lights of the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion came on. Aunt Pan, who had just returned from the military camp, sensed something was amiss upon entering the mansion. She immediately went to the main courtyard to investigate and learned that the Prince's old illness had relapsed.

"Dr. Zhang administered acupuncture and medicine, and she has recovered. She should wake up by tomorrow morning at the latest." Uncle Ban slowly and methodically told Aunt Pan the story. His calm attitude also influenced Aunt Pan, making her much more composed.

"It's good that Wang Zun is alright, but how could his old ailment, which hasn't flared up for many years, suddenly flare up in the spring?" Aunt Pan was puzzled. Logically speaking, Jiang Yan Hui's old ailment was aggravated by the cold, so every winter, everyone in the Wang residence would be on high alert to keep Wang Zun warm. Who would have thought that he would suffer such a setback in the spring?

Uncle Ban shook his head helplessly. "Doctor Zhang said it has nothing to do with the temperature. It's because Wang Zun has some emotional distress that his health problems are caused." Seeing the person in front of him rushing back, unaware that his robes were covered in dust, Uncle Ban bent down and lightly dusted off his clothes. "We don't need many people in the house. Go back inside to wash up and change your clothes. Someone will stay by Wang Zun's side."

"I'm not tired." Aunt Pan smiled slightly and patted the dust off her arms apologetically. "You stayed with Wang Zun last night. There are many things to do in the manor, and you can't rest during the day. Go and rest. I'm worried about leaving Wang Zun with someone else, so I'll sleep on a makeshift bed in the outer room. That way, if something happens, I can at least make some decisions."

Uncle Ban nodded without much persuasion. He had originally left the servants behind because he was worried that they would panic if something happened. With the trustworthy Aunt Pan by Wang Zun's side, he could rest in peace.

Once an old ailment relapses, there are many more things to pay attention to and take care of; one probably can't let one's guard down until summer arrives. The most important thing in a long battle is to maintain good mental health, a principle Uncle Ban understands well.

——

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, dotted with countless stars, a beautiful sight worthy of pausing to admire. Yet, the convoy traveling late at night had no interest in looking up to appreciate the starry sky, rushing headlong towards their own territory, somewhat neurotic as they watched the swaying of the surrounding vegetation.

"Eat some more, you haven't eaten much all day," Urentuya coaxed the other person sitting in the carriage, her soft voice urging him on. A plate of dairy pastries glistened enticingly in the candlelight, the aroma of milk and sugar tempting the palate. However, Losang, his lips tightly pressed together and his face pale, had no appetite whatsoever. Even the most exquisite delicacies placed before him tasted like chewing wax.

Urentuya's expression gradually turned cold. The silver plate clinked slightly against the table, revealing the woman's displeasure. "Are you planning to starve to death before you even reach the You tribe?"

Losang's lips twitched slightly, and with a sliver of hope, he dipped his fingertips in water and wrote what he wanted to say on the table. He had barely left a trace of water when Urentuya grabbed his wrist, stopping him. Their faces, bearing a striking resemblance, met. Urentuya sighed softly, "I know you still want to return to Jiang Yanhui's side, but you two have always been from two different worlds. You also bear the hopes of the You tribe's future on your shoulders. Do you really not care about the lives of your people and stubbornly pursue your so-called love?"

Urentuya understands love the least. In her eyes, love is nothing more than a bewitching potion disguised in beautiful words, which makes a normal person lose all rationality and inevitably be influenced by it, losing the most correct judgment of things. Losang is just like that in her eyes, and she will not let Losang fall into the trap set by Jiang Yanhui again.

Looking at her younger brother's increasingly red eyes, Urentuya's heart hardened as iron. "I will help you get rid of your painful emotions and let you be the carefree prince of Youbu again."

"No." Losang's face flushed red as he struggled to utter the words. The words he had spoken so easily in the Jiangbei Prince's Mansion now sounded incredibly awkward and embarrassing. His bright eyes glared at Urentuya's autocratic behavior, unable to accept that his sister, who had always protected him in his memories, would one day force him to make a choice against his will.

Everything around him was too unfamiliar to Losang. At this moment, he desperately hoped to see Jiang Yanhui, so that his restless and wandering heart could find some peace.

Urentuya's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Losang's hand excitedly, saying, "When we get back, I'll summon the best doctors to treat your throat, and you'll definitely be able to speak again!" Urentuya completely ignored Losang's refusal, immersing herself in joy. Her ruthless coldness seemed to have never existed, and she beamed as she described the wonderful future life to Losang.

Looking at the unfamiliar older sister, Losang's heart sank, as if a huge rock had crashed down on him, making it hard for him to breathe.

As Losang had anticipated, Urentuya arranged for him to stay in a palace within the royal palace complex. The palace was luxuriously decorated, with all the necessities of life provided. More than ten attendants served him personally, and countless servants were assigned to clean and perform other chores. The extravagant furnishings perfectly reflected Losang's noble status as a prince. At the same time, Urentuya, citing his safety, also stationed more than ten guards outside the palace, patrolling continuously around the clock.

Losang knew these servants and guards were merely Urentuya's eyes and ears, preventing him from escaping or taking any drastic action. If he hadn't met Jiang Yanhui after losing his memory, hadn't been moved by dreams of the future, and had been found by Urentuya after regaining his memories, Losang would have been incredibly happy. But… there are no ifs. If the amnesiac Losang hadn't been taken back to the palace by Jiang Yanhui, he might have died a violent death far from home, and there would be no later story.

It was Jiang Yanhui's power that saved him from having nothing after losing his memory, and it was Jiang Yanhui's love that nurtured Losang's transformation. Their lives had become intertwined and inseparable; how could they simply forget each other?

The luxurious bedchamber and exquisite food held no appeal for A-Chou. Urentuya's promise to give him a letter from his father remained unfulfilled. Losang, unable to find the busy Urentuya, was left alone in the empty palace. Sitting under the eaves, watching the sunrise and sunset, observing the hurried footsteps of the palace servants, Losang gradually withered and faded like a flower whose life force had been drained by the palace.

The sensitive Losang couldn't eat or sleep. Her bright, clear eyes had lost their former sparkle, and she had dark circles under them. Her round cheeks were sunken and withered. She sat against the door frame like a withered branch, lifeless.

Upon hearing Bilang's frantic report, Urentuya dropped everything and rushed over, only to be met with this heartbreaking scene. She quickly walked to Losang's side and knelt down, not caring at all that her fine clothes were soaked by the rain from the previous night. She tenderly touched Losang's thin cheeks, saying, "It's only been half a month since I last saw you, how did you get like this? It's my fault for being too busy and neglecting you."

With a face full of guilt, Urentuya suddenly changed her expression and looked at the palace servants around her. Her murderous look frightened the servants, who all knelt down with a thud. "It's all because of your negligence that the prince has become so haggard. Drag you all out and behead him!"

The cries and wails immediately echoed in the palace. Losang's dark eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes. His slender fingers tugged at Urentuya's sleeve with barely perceptible force, and his dry lips opened and closed, silently telling a story.

Urentuya understood what he meant. Losang was begging her to spare the negligent palace servants and demanding his father's belongings. Urentuya closed her eyes, pulled Losang into her arms, and hugged him tightly, but he was as light as a feather, as if he would be blown away by the wind and impossible to hold onto.

Even though the struggle for the throne was fraught with danger, Urentuya never gave up the idea of ​​finding her brother. But when she saw Losang, who was dying like a cat that had fallen into the water, she suddenly felt lost and confused, and doubted whether her actions were right.

Even though Losang's eyes were red from crying when they met again on the ship, it was clear that he had been carefully cared for. How could his condition have changed so drastically in just half a month in her care? Urentuya pursed her lips and put on a stern face. She placed the thin Losang on the soft bed, took a step back, and comforted him, "Sister will have someone bring Father's belongings over now. Close your eyes and rest for a while."

Losang's numb expression subtly changed; a glimmer of light appeared in his dull eyes. He blinked hard, his dry eyes hard, determined to wait until he received his father's belongings. Urentuya offered no words of persuasion, but simply instructed the palace servants to hurry. Soon, a wooden box carried by one person was brought over.

The jujube wood box wasn't large, but it was quite heavy to move. Losang couldn't wait to get out of bed, his legs feeling weak, and he needed Urentuya's help to squat down steadily. He lovingly stroked the wooden box with both hands, vaguely remembering this item; his father always liked to put important things inside.

Losang didn't ask for help and laboriously opened the wooden box. There were no precious jewels, no rare ancient books, only toys worth a few copper coins, yet they brought tears to Losang and Urentuya's eyes. Each item inside represented a memory; Losang even clearly remembered fighting with his sister over a rattle drum.

His fingertips trembled as he picked up the letter placed in the center. The sealing wax was intact and had not been opened.

“Father seemed to have foreseen that he would be drawn into the struggle for the throne sooner or later, so he wrote his will long ago. I have already read mine. I hope you will open the one your father wrote for you yourself.” Urentuya got up and walked to the side, giving Losang enough space to read the letter, while her gaze lingered on the objects in the box that were filled with memories.

The long-awaited thing was finally within reach. His trembling fingers failed to tear off the sealing wax several times. Losang took a deep breath, suppressed his body's reaction, and finally opened the long-sealed comfort in one go.

The familiar tone conveyed genuine concern, and as the story progressed, Losang's tears flowed more and more freely, as if he were speaking to his loving father again across time, a heartwarming yet poignant moment.

“Father and your assassination were not accidents, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve already killed the culprit.” Urentuya’s tearful eyes were filled with fierceness, and her hands, hanging by her sides, were clenched into fists. “From now on, no one will be able to threaten our safety. Losang, my good brother, the hard times are over.”

Losang clutched the letter to his chest, sobbing softly. His shoulders trembled like a butterfly helplessly tossed about by a storm, making one worry that his life was slipping away. After a moment, Losang raised his eyes, looked resolutely at Urentuya, and his red lips parted twice, saying very awkwardly, "I want to go back."

Before Urentuya could utter her refusal, Losang had already unfolded the letter for her, pointed to a spot, and repeated, "I want to go back." This time, the conversation flowed much more smoothly.

The place it points to is clearly written by his father, meaning that he should bravely pursue what he wants and that his father hopes he can find happiness.

Urentuya's pupils shrank sharply, and she immediately said, "You know the relationship between the You tribe and Lingzhou. As a prince of the You tribe, if you return to Jiang Yan Hui's side, you will be a lamb to the slaughter. They will devour you without leaving even a bone fragment! What makes you so confident that Jiang Yan Hui will protect you? Do you really believe that such a person has love?"

"I want to go back!" Losang repeated, and no matter what Urentuya said, he could not sway his mind.

In a letter to Urentuya, her father wrote that he hoped she could protect her younger brother and ensure he grew up happily and got married. Urentuya felt guilty for failing her father's trust and for not fulfilling her responsibilities as an older sister to Losang. So she tried every means to find her missing brother, risking danger to bring him back to her side, hoping that Losang could live a carefree life under her protection.

But now, Losang's stubbornness, brimming with tears, and his withering body reminded Urentuya that her methods were wrong. Urentuya could only use coldness to mask her inner panic, not understanding what actions could be considered correct, what actions could restore her beloved brother's vitality.

Urentuya's gaze swept over the letter again, the unspoken answer being the result she least wanted to admit. She slowly exhaled, her strength waning, and knelt down to embrace Losang tenderly, her voice choked with emotion, "In this world, you're the only family I have left, so I can't bear to part with you. But I feel I was wrong; I shouldn't have forced myself on you against your will. You have your own life, and I respect your choices."

Urentuya cupped Losang's face in her hands, wiping away her tears. Her gentle smile softened her coldness, revealing an unexpected warmth. "Sister will take you back to Lingzhou."

Losang opened his mouth and called out, "Sister."

After her initial joy, Urentuya's expression turned grim again. She coldly snorted, "Even in Lingzhou, I have ways to protect you. If Jiang Yanhui dares to lay a finger on you, I can turn the entire Lingzhou upside down!"

Losang finally smiled for the first time in days. Her sweet smile made Urentuya feel heartbroken. She thought that she should have done this sooner so that Losang wouldn't have suffered so much. She felt that she, as the older sister, had failed in her duty.

Urentuya gently stroked her younger brother's head. "Lingzhou is located on the border. It's not something you can just enter on a whim. I need to contact Jiang Yan first and ask her to send someone to bring you in safely. Please wait patiently for a while, okay?"

His eyes, washed clean by tears, regained their luster. With hope in his heart, Losang's spirits lifted. He blinked his bright, watery eyes, a shy blush appearing on his cheeks. He slowly moved to the bedside and pulled a ruby-encrusted dagger from under his pillow.

Upon seeing what it was, Urentuya's eyes widened in a rare display of surprise. How could she not recognize the dagger? Jiang Yanhui always carried it with him; possessing this dagger was tantamount to representing Jiang Yanhui. Let alone entering Lingzhou City, she could even use the dagger to mobilize the troops stationed there.

Sensing her sister's burning gaze, Losang cautiously clutched the dagger to her chest. Urentuya chuckled, "Your sister wouldn't stoop to using your things to scheme against you; she's just surprised Jiang Yanhui would leave something so important to you."

Before this, Urentuya had many concerns, but all her worries vanished upon seeing the dagger. Jiang Yanhui's willingness to give the dagger to Losang proved that she was not just playing around with Losang, but had genuine feelings for him and was not worried at all that Losang might use the dagger to turn the tables on her.

What immense trust, and what arrogance!

Urentuya laughed, never expecting that after years of conflict between the You tribe and Lingzhou, such an extraordinary and unparalleled relationship could have developed between them. It was truly astonishing.