There weren't many prey, but even the scattered wild rabbits couldn't escape Gu Qian's crossbow bolts.
He Lin and his servant also caught two, while Liang Yuchen was responsible for gathering them together and finally putting them into the bamboo basket behind them.
Along the way, due to frequent contact, the awkwardness between Liang Yuchen, Gu Qian, and He Lin disappeared, and they began to get along well.
These two high-ranking individuals also understood the realities of everyday life.
On the other side, Qiu Yan, Qin Susu, and Mayi were cooking, and had already cooked a full pot of wild vegetable porridge.
Of course, these wild vegetables were all gathered by his three or five attendants.
During their visit, they also picked quite a few mushrooms.
The wild vegetable porridge with mushrooms, though made with simple ingredients, tasted quite good thanks to Qiu Yan's special fresh seasoning.
We arrived in Qin County at dusk.
Qiu Yan was quite familiar with Qin County, and that evening, everyone dined at Shuangxi Restaurant.
When the owner arrived, the shopkeeper and his servants greeted him one by one.
At Shuangxi Restaurant, He Lin looked at the enormous storefront with some surprise.
Surprisingly, Qiu Yan still owned businesses within Qin County. He couldn't help but look around.
As expected of Qiu Yan.
Mayi followed behind He Lin the whole time, looking around with him.
Regarding Qin County, Qiu Yan has visited from time to time over the years.
Qin Susu, however, has never returned since she left with Qiu Yan years ago.
Now, she reappears, drooling.
"Xiaoyan, my son Ting'er wants to eat the squirrel fish that his aunt makes."
Even after all these years, she still remembers that taste vividly.
"You want to eat this, right?" Qiu Yan smiled, rolled up her sleeves, and went straight to the kitchen.
Gu Qian followed up and began assisting Qiu Yan.
After waiting, the food was served.
Qiu Yan personally cooked, which satisfied Qin Susu and the others, who all praised her culinary skills.
During the meal, Qiu Yan noticed a woman in a brown dress drinking alone on the second floor, which seemed unusual, so she couldn't help but take a second look.
She had a gut feeling that the person looked familiar, and upon closer inspection...
Qiu Yan recognized it at a glance—it was none other than…
It was Song Jiao.
Gu Qian, He Lin, and the others did not recognize Song Jiao, only thinking she was an old friend of Qiu Yan. Their appearances had not changed much.
As Qiu Yan stared blankly at Song Jiao, Song Jiao also stood motionless, looking back in shock.
Gu Qingyu looked around, then yawned, snuggled into her father's arms, and fell asleep with her eyes lowered.
Liang Zaiting was also being held by Qin Susu, who was feeding him bite by bite. This made Liang Yuchen frown, saying that he had his own hands.
However, Qin Susu insisted on spoiling her precious son, whom she had finally obtained, leaving Liang Yuchen speechless. He simply kept quiet.
Enough said. Saying more will only earn him Qin Susu's dislike. It's better to teach his beloved son in private.
“Miss…” Song Jiao whispered, then took a few quick steps and jogged downstairs.
Looking at Qiu Yan again, after all these years, the biggest change in her is the invisible, noble aura that belongs to those in a superior position.
At this moment, Qiu Yan's dark blue dress accentuated her well-maintained waistline, and her hair was styled in a high bun, giving her a simple and capable look.
Apart from appearing more mature, her appearance seemed unchanged.
As for myself, I am already weathered and worn.
"Qiu Yan, is that you?" Song Jiao asked in disbelief, unable to contain her emotions, and tightly grasped Qiu Yan's wrist.
Qiu Yan: "It's me!"
She nodded earnestly, feeling a deep sense of regret at Song Jiao's transformation.
Flowers don't bloom for a hundred days, and everyone is ultimately subject to the ravages of time.
Song Jiao's current appearance made Qiu Yan feel that she had no will to live, and seemed to be waiting for something.
Some people live a carefree life, some live happily, while others are plagued by misfortune.
Women should know how to cherish themselves.
Qin Susu only noticed Song Jiao's presence the moment she got close, and was inevitably shocked.
She tightened her grip on the restless child, and finally placed the child in the hands of Liang Yuchen, who was sipping his wine with his eyes downcast, and asked excitedly...
"Song Jiao, are you Song Jiao?"
Song Jiao was a beautiful and charming girl back then.
But now, he is a completely different person.
Her complexion was sallow and she looked listless; she was simply not surviving the ravages of time.
Whether you're doing well or poorly, it's all clear at a glance.
Song Jiao nodded, and after a long while, she finally recognized Qin Susu.
"Qin Susu?"
She thought to herself that Qin Susu's figure had become quite rounder.
Although it has aged a bit, it still retains its charm.
Only I myself have lost my original appearance.
A few years ago, Tang Yi came looking for me.
After being rejected by her, he returned home dejected.
After that, she knew nothing more.
Tang Yi, on the other hand, already has a large harem of wives and concubines.
A romantic man, romantic by nature.
Tang Yi fully embodies the true nature of a man.
"Miss." Song Jiao smiled, her face weathered, but her back was very straight.
"I have always wanted to repay the kindness you showed in saving my brother and sister-in-law back then, but I have no way to repay you, and I am truly ashamed." Song Jiao lowered her eyes slightly, silently condemning herself.
With her eldest brother and sister-in-law both deceased, and her second brother also gone, she, a woman raising a child alone, was finding it difficult to walk due to her advanced age.
Over the years, she has relied on Qi Yan's financial assistance to make ends meet.
But now... there's no one to help anymore.
Before Qi Yan left, he gave her a box of jewelry so that she could live a comfortable life.
This allowed her to support herself and her brother and sister-in-law's orphaned children.
"It was just a small favor, nothing to mention." Qiu Yan's contribution at the time was only of modest measure.
...The two had a brief meeting, and then parted ways again the next day.
At the time of parting, Song Jiao saw Qiu Yan off and gave her all the musical scores she had studied throughout her life.
Qiu Yan gave Song Jiao some silver, wishing her a worry-free future.
However, Song Jiao refused, saying that she could support herself.
This meeting was their last.
Song Jiao left Shuangxi Tower, a place that once held countless beautiful memories but now always brought her sadness and tears whenever she returned. Alone, she returned to her small rural courtyard near the Qin Emperor's Mausoleum.
He spent the rest of his life raising his brother and sister-in-law's young nephew.
After leaving Shuangxi Tower, Qiu Yan and her group went to a mountain temple.
Qin Susu found it strange and pulled Liang Yuchen and her young son Liang Zaiting along.
They bow to the Buddha whenever they see him and make donations everywhere.
He Lin and Mayi also prayed devoutly.
Qiu Yan, Gu Qian, and their youngest daughter, Gu Qingyu, finished their prayers to Buddha and savored the rich aroma of incense within the temple.
I wandered around the various temples and enjoyed the sights.
Gu Qingyu, carried on her father's shoulders, excitedly grabbed Qiu Yan's wrist.
She pointed to the long string of beads in the Buddha statue's hand.
"Mother, I want that string of Buddhist prayer beads."
"We can't wear those," Qiu Yan said with a smile, shaking her head.
Finally, I took the small reddish-brown Buddhist prayer beads I had just bought outside the temple and put them on my daughter's wrist.
"This is suitable for you."
Since she was already there, Qiu Yan wanted to see if Master Vera was still there.
Just then, she had some questions she wanted to ask.
I only found out after inquiring.
Vera traveled far and wide, and was not here.
Over the years, Master Vera has traveled extensively to preach, and his whereabouts have always been uncertain.
Qiu Yan stopped insisting on it.
As they walked, they paused at a monk's cell.
I couldn't help but look inside.
This time, that lonely figure was not among them.
Seeing Qin Susu and He Lin's groups strolling to this place, Qiu Yan nodded to everyone.
Gu Qingyu was led by the wrist by her parents, and the group left the temple together, preparing to continue their journey westward.
The group set off from behind the temple.
Behind the temple was a slender bamboo grove.
At the end of the bamboo grove lies a peach orchard.
In the peach garden,
A series of well-restored pavilions have appeared here.
It seems to be a scenic spot.
"Wow, this place is so beautiful!" Gu Qingyu immediately ran forward, eager to explore the pavilion.
"Qing'er, wait for me." Liang Zaiting, who was behind him, also ran after him, looking very curious.
Having traveled together for a while, the two little playmates found it easiest to play together.
Qin Susu, who was jogging behind, couldn't help but tease her.
"Xiaoyan, how about we arrange a marriage between our two children?"
Qiu Yan also followed behind the two children. The actions of the four of them left the three men far behind.
Meanwhile, Mayi, along with her master and servant, stopped and waited quietly.
Years of life in the palace had worn away Mayi's former curious nature.
She's currently at home attending a funeral and has lost all interest in anything.
"If the two children agree, I have no objection," Qiu Yan replied with a smile to Qin Susu, meaning that, of course, the children's opinions should be sought when it comes to matters like arranged marriages.
She didn't want to impose this invisible constraint on her daughter. If the two children had incompatible personalities when they grew up, that would be the greatest sin of parents.
"What you said is as good as nothing. These two children are only five years old." Qin Susu smiled.
Continue walking forward, opposite the pavilion,
Qiu Yan immediately felt refreshed and relaxed.
She pulled Gu Qingyu forward to examine the scene.
Qin Susu also grabbed Liang Zaiting's wrist.
Upon closer inspection, the two adults were startled.
Inside this pavilion, there was a perfectly crafted carving.
Blue stone tombstone!
The tombstone sent a chill down everyone's spine.
Gu Qian, He Lin, and Liang Yuchen, who followed closely behind, stared blankly at the tombstone in front of them.
Looking further, behind the pavilion, there were rows of blue stone tombstones, resembling a cemetery...
Yes, this is a cemetery.
In the farthest distance, there is a farmhouse courtyard, which must belong to the person who keeps the tomb.
"I apologize for disturbing you," Qiu Yan said softly, rising to leave.
But upon seeing the inscription on the tombstone, he stood frozen in front of the grave.
On the tombstone,
First row, horizontal text
From right to left, it is engraved with
"A long and rich history!"
Gu Qingyu read the four characters aloud, lost in thought. What exactly did these four characters mean?
On the lower side, four large characters are also engraved vertically.
"The Tomb of Qin Feng!" Liang Zaiting also recited.
Below, in smaller print, are his birth year and year of death.
The year of her death was precisely after Qiu Yan's last departure.
The fifth year!
The tombstone was simple, with no other words on it.
That is, five years ago,
That's right, thanks to Qiu Yan's prescription, Qin Feng's life expectancy, which was originally one year, was extended to five years.
Qiu Yan couldn't help but think of the day they parted ways that year.
The sentence Qin Feng said,
"Until we meet again."
Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.
She was filled with mixed feelings.
There was bitterness and regret.
Looking at Qin Susu again, her face was filled with sorrow.
"So it was him, it was him! Qin Feng, you despicable scoundrel! You didn't die on the battlefield, but you secretly hid here..."
Qin Susu murmured something, leaving Liang Yuchen completely bewildered.
"Susu, do you know him?"
Qin Susu: "More than just acquaintances!" She couldn't help but recall the moments when Qin Feng, searching for Qiu Yan in the dead of winter, inadvertently stumbled into the old Qiu family compound...
"Back then, he was a sickly man who was always on his hands and feet."
Liang Yuchen was even more puzzled.
Seeing that neither Gu Qian nor He Lin asked any questions, he also kept quiet and said nothing more.
Gu Qian felt no emotional reaction to Qin Feng's death, but he felt a strange sense of sorrow.
When He Lin saw the name Qin Feng, he immediately thought of him as a descendant of the Western Qin dynasty, and showed no reaction whatsoever.
After all, he knew all about the great battle between Gu Qian and Qin Feng.
At this moment, he could only gaze swayingly at these rows of tombstones.
The winner is king, the loser is a bandit.
May the world be at peace from now on!
Gu Qian and He Lin exchanged glances, then walked into the distance to begin examining the cemetery.
The two countries had previously maintained contact.
Since we've run into each other, let's go up and say hello.
Qiu Yan and Qin Susu remained standing there, stunned. Liang Yuchen did not accompany Gu Qian and He Lin on their visit; instead, he stood quietly to the side, watching over the two children.
"Qiu Yan, you've arrived." Vera's kind voice rang out from behind, breaking Qiu Yan's complicated state of mind.
Vera's sudden arrival also drew everyone's attention.
The two children, in particular, were genuinely curious about the monk with the foreign appearance.
"Master Vera." Qiu Yan turned around and saw Vera smiling at her.
His smile, as gentle as a spring breeze, dispelled the lingering sadness in Qiu Yan's heart.
I thought I wouldn't run into him today.
"Master Vera!" Qin Susu was shocked again.
Today, they actually ran into Master Vera.
I'm so glad.
Vera: "You've come to see him."
"I..." Qiu Yan was just passing by, and only passing by, but her heart was filled with such sorrow.
It was quite heartbreaking; she never expected this.
When we parted that time, we met again, but we were already in the grave.
Life is but a fleeting few decades.
Being born as a human being is the most difficult thing; cherish every moment.
“To be reborn in the Pure Land is also a state of being for humans,” Vera said, still smiling.
"That Northern Qi... Qi Yan, where has Qi Yan gone now?" Qiu Yan knew that the two brothers shared a deep bond.
After Qin Feng left, Qi Yan must have been heartbroken and might even return to his hometown.
That's what she thought, but unexpectedly, Vera said:
"After Qin Feng left, Qi Yan followed him and went to the Pure Land with him. These two made me realize that emotions in this world do not only exist between men and women. The feelings between two brothers are the purest. They did not seek to procreate, but only for the sake of their hearts."
"...What?" Qiu Yan was shocked, her gaze falling once again on the blue stone tombstone.
"It was I who personally helped them to be buried together here." Vera clasped her hands together in front of the tombstone.
"With one heart and one mind, Qin Feng and Qi Yan, may you two meet again and be together in the next life."
Qiu Yan shook her head, muttering to herself.
"They went together, but their hearts were not the same." They died without even a name; they came with a name, but left without one.
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