Chapter 84 The Finale
Chapter 84 The Finale
In the blink of an eye, Li Qianche and Su Su had been traveling outside the palace for almost a year. In this year, they had traversed countless mountains and rivers hand in hand.
They once ventured deep into the Lingnan region, and amidst the magnificent mountains and waters of Guizhou, they sailed on the Li River, watching the winding blue waves and the reflections of the strange peaks, as if walking through a painting.
I once visited Sichuan and experienced the prosperity and leisure of the "Land of Abundance". I strolled through the old streets in the drizzling rain and tasted the spicy flavors that lingered in the city, leaving a lingering fragrance on my palate.
They traveled further north to Dunhuang, where they admired the magnificent sunset over the vast desert and the long river, and quietly observed the solemnity and compassion of the murals and Buddha statues in the Buddhist caves that had been eroded by time.
Wherever he went, Li Qianche would always send someone ahead to prepare an elegant residence.
He held her hand and said, "We travel far and wide, how can we stay in a guesthouse for long? Wherever we go, we need a place to call home for each other."
Su Su nodded. This was his thoughtful and considerate gesture, allowing her to find solace and comfort amidst the beauty of nature.
Now, they are in the vast frontier region. The sky is high and the land is wide, with the vast sky like a canopy.
Contrary to the imagined scene of only felt tents and cattle and sheep, Li Qianche had already ordered people to set up a manor in a valley with abundant water and grass, sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, which combined the comfort of the Central Plains with the style of the frontier.
The manor's walls are constructed with local rough stone mixed with rammed earth, while the interior is complete with pavilions, terraces and corridors, like an exquisite bonsai embedded in this magnificent land.
At this moment, Su Su was sitting under the spacious veranda of the manor, holding a bowl of mare's milk wine, a specialty of the northern frontier.
This wine is fermented from mare's milk. It has a slightly sour and astringent taste, but it also has a unique, strong aroma of the grassland. It may take some getting used to at first, but it can make you feel warm all over.
She sipped her drink slowly while looking at the two letters from home that had just been delivered by fast horse from the capital...
She opened Zi Mo's letter first. Her son's handwriting was steady. He first inquired about his parents' well-being and reported that everything was going smoothly in the court. Then, he changed the subject and mentioned his younger sister, Zhao Yue.
The letter stated that Pei Jingnian had always felt differently towards Zhaoyue since childhood. In early spring of this year, he finally mustered the courage to confess his feelings to her, but Zhaoyue politely declined. Jingnian, that boy, was quite persistent, saying he would wait for her forever.
Seeing this, Su Su couldn't help but smile, feeling that this scene was like a story written in a folk tale, innocent and beautiful, with two childhood sweethearts.
She pondered to herself that she knew the Pei family well, and that Sister Hanyan was aloof and gentle, and had watched Zhaoyue grow up since she was a child. If Zhaoyue could marry into the Pei family in the future, it wouldn't be a bad thing if the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along well.
She continued reading, but Zi Mo's next words made her frown slightly.
The letter stated that during the summer season, Prince Leng Beixu of the powerful northwestern kingdom personally led a delegation to visit China in order to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Northwest Kingdom boasts a vast territory and powerful national strength, and has always coexisted peacefully with this dynasty, forming a mutually supportive relationship. At the welcoming banquet, Leng Beixu fell in love with Zhaoyue at first sight, and the next day he solemnly proposed to Zimo.
In his letter, Zi Mo stated frankly that neither the gentle Jing Nian nor the powerful Leng Bei Xu were worthy of his sister. One was too "weak" and the other too "strong," neither of them were a good match.
He wrote: "Although A-Yue has come of age, I think that her marriage need not be rushed and she can take her time to choose."
Upon seeing this, Su Su couldn't help but laugh out loud. She turned to Li Qianche, who was flipping through local chronicles, and said, "Look at your son. He's protected Zhaoyue like the apple of his eye since she was little. In his eyes, no man who gets close to Zhaoyue is good enough for her. At this rate, our Zhaoyue is probably going to stay in the palace and become an old maid."
Li Qianche didn't even raise his head, only replying indifferently, "If she doesn't want to marry, then she doesn't want to marry. I can support her for the rest of her life."
Su Su glared at him reproachfully and continued reading the letter.
Zi Mo later wrote that he did not agree to Leng Beixu's request, stating that it depended on Zhao Yue's own wishes.
However, ever since that day, Leng Beixu has been like a shadow, always appearing "coincidentally" wherever Zhao Yue goes.
"I've never seen A-Yue so afraid of anyone, always avoiding him. But strangely..." Zi Mo's tone shifted, tinged with confusion and worry, "Later, I vaguely felt that A-Yue... seemed... perhaps had some feelings for him? I feel this is very bad. The Northwest is far away, and I really don't want Yue'er to marry so far away. When will Father and Mother return home? I hope they will come back soon and persuade Zhao Yue not to develop genuine feelings for that Leng Beixu."
After reading the letter, Su Su's brows furrowed with worry. She handed the letter to Li Qianche and asked anxiously, "Husband, how much do you know about the Crown Prince Leng Beixu of the Northwest Kingdom? What if... what if Zhaoyue really falls in love with him? Does she really have to marry him to such a faraway place?"
Li Qianche took the letter, quickly glanced through it, put it down, and pulled the worried Su Su into his arms, comforting her, "As far as I know, Leng Beixu is a man of both literary and military talent, a carefully cultivated successor of a powerful ruler of the Northwest Kingdom. His appearance, character, and abilities are all top-notch, making him a rather good person."
He paused, gently patting Su Su's back. "However, marriage is a major life event, and ultimately it depends on Zhao Yue's own heart. If she truly loves someone, our constant obstruction won't make her happy. Zhao Yue has already written a letter, hasn't she? Why don't we see what she has to say first?"
"Right, right, let's see what Zhaoyue has to say first." Su Su suddenly realized and quickly picked up Zhaoyue's thick letter.
Unfolding the letter, Zhaoyue's lively and spirited words, seemingly carrying a voice, leaped to life before my eyes:
"Father Emperor and Mother Empress, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person."
Are Father and Mother in good health? I miss Father and Mother every single day while I am in the palace!
"I have important news to report, hoping to bring a smile to Father and Mother's face—it seems my brother Zimo has already found someone he loves! The other day, I invited my cousin Su Hua and Wan Ying, the daughter of the current Minister of Justice Xia, to the palace for a small gathering. It just so happened that my brother came looking for me. After everyone had left, he deliberately returned to inquire about Wan Ying's family background. Since that day, the Xia family has been invited to every palace banquet. Even more wonderfully, I recently witnessed my brother, disguised, "accidentally" meeting Wan Ying near the Xia residence on her way home. If Mother had seen it with her own eyes, she would know that with my brother present, Wan Ying would surely blush and stammer, unable to speak. I secretly think that I'm probably about to have a sister-in-law!"
Seeing this, Su Su and Li Qianche exchanged a smile, delighted that Zi Mo's marriage was finally settled. Su Su continued reading:
There is another matter… I don’t know how to bring it up. I met a man by chance; his behavior was domineering and tyrannical, which initially disgusted me. Then… whenever he stared at me, his gaze was intense, which inexplicably instilled a sense of fear in me. And now… now, observing his words and actions, and discerning his intentions, it seems… he is not as unruly as he appears. This shifting sentiment truly frightens me. Mother, I am filled with anxiety and eagerly await your return. I have many things on my mind, and I wish to tell you them in detail before you…”
At the end of the letter, the girl's shyness, bewilderment, and hesitant expression are vividly present.
Su Su gently put down the letter, feeling both amused and sentimental. She said to Li Qianche, "It seems we should go back. Not only is Zhaoyue facing difficulties, but even Zi Mo, that iron tree, has blossomed."
Li Qianche nodded and pulled her into his arms: "Then let's go back. Anyway, there's plenty of time to explore the world, and I'll accompany you to see it all. Once we've dealt with these two little troubles at home, I'll take you out again to travel the world."
Su Su nestled in his arms and nodded reassuringly. He immediately ground ink and laid out paper, writing a letter home, stating that he would soon be setting off to return to the capital, and instructing Qiu Ju to have it sent back by fast horse.
The capital city, the imperial palace.
Zi Mo and Zhao Yue received the reply almost simultaneously. Upon learning that their father and mother were about to return home, they were both overjoyed.
A smile appeared on Zi Mo's composed face, while Zhao Yue happily spun around in the palace, eagerly anticipating her father and mother's return every day.
…………
--- over---
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