Chapter 126 The Sun Rises and Sets over Xiawei Pavilion, Its Glory Fades
In a secluded alleyway, in a quiet courtyard, a simple shed served as a noodle stall with few customers. Bathed in sunlight, Shen Yujiao's hair exuded a lazy comfort. She took a deep breath of the wheat aroma floating in the air and exclaimed, "The aroma of good wine in a secluded alley is truly wonderful."
This adorable little face wasn't just noticed by the person opposite; even the old woman carrying the noodles smiled broadly, saying, "Come on, young man or young woman, how about trying my bowl of noodles?"
When the two men saw the old woman carrying two large bowls, they quickly got up to help her carry them. The old woman smiled and let them take the bowls, then turned back to the stove and brought them a few side dishes.
"I only have noodles here, nothing else. Here are some side dishes for you to enjoy."
Shen Yujiao is beautiful and has a sweet tongue. Holding the large bowl, she looked up at the old woman with great appreciation and smiled, "My brother and I smelled the aroma of these noodles from afar, and we found our way here by following the scent."
The old woman wiped the water off her hands, supported her back, and sat down next to the two of them, looking at them expectantly: "Then try it quickly."
"It smells so good!"
The moment Shen Yujiao tasted the first bite of noodles, she was amazed. She considered herself to have eaten many delicacies, and since arriving in Daxia, she had been served by imperial chefs, but no bowl of noodles could compare to the amazing taste of the one in front of her.
The aroma of wheat mingled with the warmth of the sun. The clear noodle soup looked ordinary, but it was so delicious that it was amazing. The aroma of scallions blended perfectly with the rich wheat fragrance. Shen Yujiao was really hungry and ate half a bowl in no time.
Seeing her eating with such satisfaction, the old woman couldn't stop smiling and kept urging, "Oh, little girl, eat slowly, there's more on the stove, I'll bring you another bowl."
Jiang Yu has always been particular about the finer things in life, and most of the people around him are the same. From the preparation of the food to its consumption, every step is done with great care. Therefore, he was somewhat taken aback when he saw the young girl in front of him enjoying her meal.
He couldn't remember when he last saw Ah Jiao looking so vibrant.
Aren't you going to eat?
While eating her noodles, Shen Yujiao glanced at him, assuming he wasn't used to the food. She was about to say that Grandma had worked so hard to make it, so he should eat some, but the next second, Jiang Yu answered her with his actions—
"tasty."
The bowl of noodles looked incredibly appetizing when it was served, and the satisfaction of swallowing it was indescribable. Jiang Yu couldn't stop eating after taking a bite. Seeing that he agreed with her food review, Shen Yujiao smiled at him from the bottom of her heart for the first time.
During their escape, they could only eat dry rations on the carriage. This was the first time they had ever had hot soup noodles. This long-lost feeling of happiness almost made them forget that they were in danger.
A mouthful of soup noodles, a bite of side dish—the rich aroma of the noodles paired with the refreshing taste of the side dish—and the two finished both bowls of noodles completely. Looking at the empty bowls and plates on the table, they both looked at the old woman with some embarrassment: "Grandma, how much is it? I'll settle the bill for you."
"No need, no need," the old woman waved her hand at them. "This old woman is treating you to a meal. If you like it, you can come again next time. I live alone, and not many people come here. I think you two siblings have a connection. Come over, and I can talk to you."
His hand holding the gold coin paused slightly. Even in his current impoverished state, His Highness Prince Huan was not short of money. He was treated to a bowl of soup noodles costing several dozen coins, simply because he wanted someone to talk to.
While he was still in a daze, Shen Yujiao smiled sweetly and said, "Okay, Grandma. My brother and I just returned home from our travels today, and we didn't bring any change with us. Grandma, please treat us to noodles. I'll wash the dishes for you."
Seeing that Shen Yujiao had already started rolling up her sleeves to wash the dishes, Jiang Yu finally realized what was happening and quickly followed behind. The usually decisive and ruthless Prince Huan was now standing by the stove like a clueless fool. Shen Yujiao caught a glimpse of his bewildered expression and smiled, "Brother, help Grandma clean the yard."
The bowl that Sun Xiaosi had broken earlier was still lying alone on the ground. Jiang Yu nodded subconsciously, turned around and found a dustpan and a broom, and began to carefully clean every corner of the yard.
They worked diligently, and the old woman didn't stand on ceremony with them. She sat on a stool, supporting her back. Few people visited the small courtyard, so the old woman and the two children worked in the sunshine.
Although no one spoke, this silent warmth was etched in the memories of the three people present for a long time, so long that even at the very last moment of their lives, this scene flashed before their eyes.
Of course, that's a story for another time.
As darkness fell, the old woman kindly reminded them, "You just returned to the capital today? Hurry home. The city is under curfew at night. If you don't go home soon, you'll be arrested and interrogated at the yamen."
The two stayed partly out of gratitude, wanting to help the old woman, and partly to avoid being searched in the city. With curfew approaching, they didn't delay any longer, said goodbye to the old woman, and reminded her to close the doors and windows.
"These past two days, things may not have been very peaceful in the capital. Grandma, please rest well for a few days before you resume business."
"That's fine, that's fine too."
The old woman listened to their advice and smiled as she agreed. She walked back home with a hunched back only after seeing them off at the alley entrance.
Shen Yujiao and Jiang Yu watched the old woman's figure gradually disappear from their secluded spot at the alley entrance before heading towards the Prince's Mansion.
During the day, if the two were still speculating about the strict checks in the city, then at night, that speculation became a reality. They walked from the alleyway at the southern end of the East Market all the way to the wards where the powerful and nobles lived. The closer they got to the imperial city, the more heavily guarded the area became.
"We can't get in. There are four patrol teams patrolling in all directions a hundred miles away from the Prince Huan's mansion. They all look like they're trained fighters."
Jiang Yu shielded Shen Yujiao behind him, their backs pressed against the wall. One looked around, the other looked up. Seeing a dark shadow flash by, Shen Yujiao quickly pulled Jiang Yu to stand facing the wall.
Feeling the rough friction of the wall, Shen Yujiao muttered under her breath, "That madman Zhao Wang even has people watching from the rooftop. Does he want you back or not?"
Jiang Yu was also pondering this matter. From the perspective of the palace coup, he could understand why Jiang Jin was so heavily guarded in the city. But why were the Huan Prince's Mansion and the city gates so tightly guarded? Could it be that something had gone wrong with Jiang Yan and Jiang Lin?
At this point, it would be too late even if problems arose. Jiang Yu pondered for a moment and quickly made a decision: "Let's go in through that path and enter the mansion from Xiawei Pavilion."
In the darkness, Jiang Yu's eyes shone brightly. Shen Yujiao nodded without the slightest hesitation. What Jiang Yu was talking about must be a shared childhood memory. Even if she didn't know it, she couldn't hesitate.
Jiang Yu led Shen Yujiao through the city in several winding paths before finally stopping at a seemingly ordinary courtyard. The courtyard was uninhabited and looked like a long-abandoned dwelling. Jiang Yu opened the door a crack as if he knew the way well, and after the two of them slipped inside, he led Shen Yujiao straight to the woodshed.
Watching him struggle to carry the heavy objects, Shen Yujiao felt inexplicably uneasy until all the bags were moved away, and a small secret passage appeared before her eyes.
"Ah Jiao, you go down first. I need to restore this place to its original state."
The dark, narrow path reflected endless gloom. Shen Yujiao subconsciously took a half step back, but she knew in her heart that at this point, there seemed to be no other way but to follow Jiang Yu. She hesitated for a moment, but finally carefully walked down the steps.
As the wooden door slammed shut with a heavy thud, the last glimmer of light in the passage was cut off. Faced with absolute darkness, where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, Shen Yujiao instinctively stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.
"Ah Jiao?" Jiang Yu's gentle voice rang out. Shen Yujiao wanted to say that she was alright, but her body was so stiff that she couldn't even speak.
Sensing her fear, Jiang Yu tentatively placed his hand on her shoulder. Although it was light, it startled Shen Yujiao so much that she immediately squatted down, hugging her knees and turning herself into a ball, as if this would give her a sense of security.
Shen Yujiao has mild claustrophobia, which Shen Yujiao does not have.
It was during the summer vacation before Shen Yujiao and Jiang Chen were about to start elementary school. One day, they were playing hide-and-seek with their friends in the courtyard. Jiang Chen lost rock-paper-scissors for once, so Shen Yujiao had to hide with the other friends.
The little boy who ran away with Shen Yujiao had a mischievous thought while they were hiding. He tricked Shen Yujiao into a small storage room where odds and ends were kept, and then locked the door with a key. He originally planned to open the door after the game of hide-and-seek was over, but he lost the key halfway there. If the little boy hadn't been somewhat afraid of Jiang Chen, Shen Yujiao would have been locked up inside for who knows how long.
When Jiang Chen opened the warehouse door, Shen Yujiao had already cried herself to sleep from fright. Jiang Chen eventually pinned the little boy to the ground and beat him until he couldn't even get up, but the trauma this incident left on Shen Yujiao was indelible.
From that moment on, the light in Shen Yujiao's bedroom was never turned off.
The sudden emptiness of losing weight in his palms made Jiang Yu freeze in place. This road, which they had "explored" countless times together, now terrified her. He subconsciously thought that perhaps in the years they had been apart, she had experienced suffering that he had never been there for.
A sharp, tingling pain shot through his heart, causing Jiang Yu to unconsciously lower his voice. He slowly crouched down and gently comforted her, "Don't be afraid, Ajiao, I'm here."
His words of comfort had little effect. Shen Yujiao desperately needed someone to rely on, but for her, that person could only be Jiang Chen. Fourteen years ago, it was Jiang Chen who opened the door to the light, and since then, no one has been able to cross that threshold.
Jiang Chen... Jiang Chen... Fine sweat seeped from her palms as Shen Yujiao silently called out in her heart. Her breathing gradually became rapid and heavy. After being separated for so long, this was the first time she had ever wanted Jiang Chen so intensely.
After squatting with her knees drawn up to her chest for a while, Shen Yujiao's consciousness gradually returned. She had long been afraid of this endless darkness, but her strong longing for Jiang Chen kept reminding her: she had to go out.
Because she had been squatting for too long, Shen Yujiao felt a little dizzy when she stood up. She stumbled a few steps before Jiang Yu steadily supported her. His eyes, hidden in the darkness, were filled with a complex expression. Shen Yujiao did not shake off his hand and let him hold her sleeve as they walked out.
It felt like an eternity had passed. When she saw the moonlight again, Shen Yujiao almost burst into tears. She didn't know if it was because of her mental stress or her body's physiological reaction to Xiawei Pavilion, but she felt a stinging sensation in her nose.
This place is a completely different world from the Xiawei Pavilion she saw last time. With Shen Yujiao there, Xiawei Pavilion was so dazzling and dreamlike, with peach blossoms fluttering down like rain, a paradise on earth that was like a fairyland.
But here...
Shen Yujiao raised her hand and gently fanned her nose a few times, then covered her mouth and nose to block out the dust in the air. The walls and fences were covered with moss, and the once bright red lacquer had long lost its vibrant color. The entire courtyard was shrouded in moonlight, which made it appear particularly desolate under the cold moonlight.
This is an abandoned courtyard.
Tears welled up in her eyes and finally spilled out. Shen Yujiao couldn't tell whether she felt more pity for Shen Yujiao or more regret for this courtyard. The tears fell onto the stone table, and the marks eroded by time showed some of the original knife marks: "Looking at the clouds in the sun, the clouds rise and the rosy clouds are magnificent."
Jiang Yu stood at a distance, watching Shen Yujiao's fingertips lightly touch the stone table, feeling no less bitterness in her heart than she did.
Perhaps the Huanwang Mansion still retains its magnificence and grandeur in the eyes of the world, but the splendor of Xiawei Pavilion can never be regained.
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