Chapter 41: Sharing Life and Death Yan Heng corrects Ji Yunchan...
Yan Heng straightened the collar of Ji Yunchan's dress, brushed the loose hair from her face behind her ears, and moved closer. Looking into her eyes as she looked into his, he asked her first question: "Do you know you're marrying me?"
Ji Yunchan nodded, not understanding why.
"Okay then."
Yan Heng retreated a little, his expression calm and serious. "Ji Yunchan, if you understood that we share life and death, you would hold my hand instead of standing there alone, saying nothing."
I just hate that you are too stubborn and I have a bad temper.
There was no anger or irritation, no joking or teasing, he just looked at her like that - that was the expression Yan Heng would show whenever he made some solemn promises to Ji Yunchan.
Seeing this, Ji Yunchan breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he was not getting married.
She met his gaze, and then became a little dim.
Ah Heng thought he had uncovered the essence of the matter, but that was not the case.
Sharing life and death... I was just his concubine, what right did I have to share life and death with him? At most, I could only pull on his sleeve, which could only be called seeking protection.
The first words are always the hardest to say. Yan Heng said the first, and then the second and third. Seeing she remained silent, he continued, "I could have been less angry, but you took a hundred steps back."
"Since you've married me, I expect you to take a step towards me, even just one step." Yan Heng lowered his voice.
He originally just wanted to talk to Ji Yunchan. Both of them had complicated thoughts, you guessing me and I guessing yours, so it would be better to just talk it out. But when he got to this point, he suddenly figured it out.
It would be better to be honest and tell her whatever you think of her instead of constantly testing her reaction.
So he looked into Ji Yunchan's eyes and asked, "Do you understand?"
Ji Yunchan nodded when she heard that. How could she not understand?
She just looked back and forth, taking a step forward cautiously, fearing that he would be unhappy.
Did he feel that she didn't love him enough? Ah Heng was really greedy, Ji Yunchan thought.
She looked at those handsome eyes that only held her at the moment, and suddenly felt that it was okay to be greedy, Ah Heng deserved to be favored.
So she hugged Yan Heng all of a sudden, thinking, let's share life and death together.
I know you won't abandon me...you'll just give it to someone else.
She held the ground tightly and refused to let go, saying in a low voice, "I was wrong."
"Okay, let's move on from this."
Yan Heng didn't want to care at all. He put his arms around her waist and back and hugged her tightly.
"Get up and eat something. You were hungry last time."
After the two of them were affectionate and had dinner peacefully, they were considered to have reconciled.
Halfway through the meal, Yan Heng suddenly said, "Today is the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month."
It’s the end of the year, Ji Yunchan thought and nodded.
Yan Heng pondered for a moment and sighed softly, "Looking at the situation this year, I'm afraid I won't be able to return to Beijing for the New Year." He said regretfully, "Otherwise, I could take you back to see my parents."
Ji Yunchan felt ashamed to face Yan Heng's parents. Although it was only a matter of time, hiding for a while was better than meeting them.
But it was not easy to say these words to Yan Heng, so he just said "hmm".
Yan Heng could guess what she was thinking at the moment, and seeing that she was still cautious, he asked, "Do you want to see me?"
Seeing that he had asked, Ji Yunchan hesitated for a moment: "Maybe after a few days."
She lowered her head and took a sip of porridge. After thinking for a while, she finally spoke: "I have done something to let my husband down, and I have also let down Uncle Yan and Aunt Yan. I am a little scared."
"Let's not talk about this," Yan Heng comforted her: "Have you forgotten the letter my mother wrote?"
Ji Yunchan had actually forgotten, but after he reminded her, she said, "...I haven't forgotten."
He felt relieved, so he smiled obediently at Yan Heng.
"As the year draws to a close, there are many things to do, both big and small. In the past, I was alone and had nothing to take care of, but this year may be different." Yan Heng said, "I'll trouble you to take care of all the preparations for the New Year at the mansion."
Ji Yunchan nodded and asked some more questions about Yan Heng's interpersonal relationships. After listening to his answers one by one, the atmosphere was harmonious, like a young couple who each did their own job.
After finishing his meal, Yan Heng was about to go to the military camp. Before leaving, Ji Yunchan stood up and walked him to the door.
Yan Heng held her hand and carefully reminded her: "Don't go out too much during your menstrual period. It's very cold outside. I will be back late, so don't wait for me to have dinner."
Ji Yunchan blushed and responded.
After Yan Heng left, she began preparing for the New Year's shopping, which took a long day. As Yan Heng worked, so did she, and in the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. That day, Yan Heng finally had no more official duties.
The mansion started putting up couplets early in the morning. Yan Heng, who had some free time, went to take a look after dinner with some interest. The couplets were pasted on all the doors, big and small, all the way inside. When Yan Heng went out, he had just reached the door of the main house.
There was originally a wedding couplet on it from when he and Ji Yunchan got married.
The paste was smeared on it, and the servant brought a new couplet to cover the original one.
Yan Heng frowned slightly when he saw this, but relaxed when he saw the words on the new couplet and nodded slightly.
That was written by his Yuanyuan himself.
After the servants finished pasting the door, they moved on to the next one. Yan Heng walked into the room in a good mood, parted the curtain and peeked in: "Ji Yunchan?"
Ji Yunchan was fiddling with something at the table, her sleeves hanging down as she raised her hands, a delightful sight. She turned around and said with a smile, "General Fang was out for a moment, how did he come in?"
"Did you write the couplet? I think it looks refined."
Yan Heng walked in. The room was filled with the smell of alcohol, mixed with the subtle fragrance of plum blossoms. He couldn't help but say, "What a nice smell."
"I haven't written many. The rest were written by the masters in the mansion. I just joined in the fun. As for those that can be posted, they are naturally selected from the best ones." Ji Yunchan picked up a green cup, walked forward gracefully, handed it to Yan Heng, and said expectantly, "General, try it."
Yan Heng took it and tasted it. He could smell the aroma of wine and plum blossoms, which was so refreshing. "It tastes good. Where did you get it?"
Ji Yunchan's eyes curved, "I brewed it myself a few days ago, but it's still a short time old and not fragrant enough, so I tried it for something new."
"It's already very good." Yan Heng put down the cup and decided, "We'll drink this tonight while we stay up all night."
The red plum blossoms outside were still in bloom. He walked to the clothes rack, picked up Ji Yunchan's cloak, and put it on her neatly. Then he pulled her out and said, "Let's go and see the plum blossoms."
He was in high spirits, striding with long strides. Ji Yunchan trotted after him, her eagerness and joy evident. The vibrant red couplets echoed with the red plum blossoms, evoking a festive atmosphere.
"The red plum blossoms bloomed the day my husband returned. But I made him angry, so he probably wasn't in the mood to appreciate the flowers." Ji Yunchan sighed, walked up to Yan Heng, and took his hand: "Wait until the evening, I'll dance for you, okay? Just like we did back then."
Just like the night many years ago when he walked back from the banquet for all officials with Hongmei on the snow.
Seeing her serious expression, Yan Heng felt even happier. He hugged her tightly, his Adam's apple rolling, "Okay."
Holding hands, they strolled slowly among the blossoming red plum blossoms, chatting as they went. Winter days are short and nights are long, and a few waves of early New Year's greetings arrived in the afternoon. After entertaining them, it was evening.
The New Year's Eve dinner was placed on the table in the main room. The dishes were much more sumptuous than usual. Ji Yunchan dressed festively, with red plum blossoms pinned in her hair, and sat opposite Yan Heng.
Yan Heng was busy with official duties, and the two of them were rarely together. It was rare for them to have free time like today when they sat together for a drink. Newlyweds always had a lot to talk about, and before they knew it, it was past midnight.
Ji Yunchan picked up the wine jug and poured it a little too full. She raised the cup, her jade-like fingers tinged with pink, her eyes unnaturally bright. "I wish my husband a safe and healthy year ahead."
"Thank you, Yuanyuan." Yan Heng raised his glass in greeting, drank it in one gulp, and poured more for himself and Ji Yunchan. He said seriously, "Do you have any wishes? I wish that all your wishes will come true in the coming year."
Ji Yunchan's face flushed, her spirits high, and her voice was soft: "Husband, you are so kind."
Yan Heng was so delighted that he said lightly, "If I can achieve it, I can have whatever I want."
Ji Yunchan just looked at him and laughed out loud, with a rare bit of cuteness in her laugh.
"So happy..."
Yan Heng couldn't help but touch her cheek, and when he noticed the unnatural heat on her face, he suddenly stopped talking in the middle of his words.
Considering her unusual behavior just now, Yan Heng asked suspiciously, "Yuanyuan, are you drunk?"
"I'm not drunk." Ji Yunchan denied it categorically, shook her head, and supported her chin with her hand.
Yan Heng could easily tell that she was drunk from the frequency of her shaking head. He didn't know when she got drunk. He had just been so passionate with her that he didn't realize it.
Thinking about how he was in such a passionate relationship with her, but she was so drunk that she didn't know what to say, Yan Heng was so helpless that he almost laughed. He said perfunctorily: "Okay, I got it."
Ji Yunchan was so clever, usually just holding back, but when drunk, she had no such scruples. Seeing Yan Heng didn't believe her, she held her chin in her hand and said dissatisfiedly, "I'm really not drunk. If you don't believe me, I'll tell you."
Yan Heng raised his chin teasingly, "You go."
"Let me think about it..." Ji Yunchan spoke slowly, thinking to herself without moving for a long time.
Just when Yan Heng thought she had forgotten, Ji Yunchan suddenly spoke: "My father was very strict with me. I hadn't read the storybook until I was fourteen. Later, I was really curious, so I secretly borrowed it from a close friend. I hid in the yard and read it so fascinatedly that my father almost saw me, so he threw it to your house just across the wall..."
Yan Heng was supposed to be listening to a story, but when she got to this point, he suddenly felt something was wrong. Why did this story seem so familiar? Seeing that Ji Yunchan didn't say anything for a long time, he couldn't help but sit up straighter. "I'm listening, please continue."
"Well... Ah Gui picked it up. The child didn't know better, so he gave it to Uncle Yan." Ji Yunchan continued slowly, "The storybook was called something like 'Widowed Sister-in-law'... something like that."
Some not-so-nice memories came flooding back.
Yan Heng took a deep breath, incredulous: "Did you do this?"
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