Rain overnight
After the two guards crossed the border, they headed southwest and, as expected, encountered "Qiusha".
"Tell me, do you think we can make it?"
"You stubborn fool! If you can't get through, just say you didn't see him. Blame it all on the messenger; it definitely won't be our fault!" Char kicked the horse in the belly, and the horse worked even harder, carrying the sand and dust. He squinted and looked up, thinking that even if he really saw the Half-Day Flower, it was still uncertain whether it was a mirage.
"Let's not die here." Usa squeezed out five words with his head down. He squeezed the water pouch, which was almost empty—besides the water for drinking, there was also the water used to rinse his eyes.
"Damn Usa! Always spouting such discouraging words! I shouldn't have, cough, I shouldn't have let you come." Charles spat out sand as he spoke, seemingly taking the opportunity to spit at Usa. He turned his horse around, and the two drew closer.
"Hey! Look over there!" Usa raised his whip and pointed to a settlement on the slope in the distance.
What an auspicious place! The village is situated in a basin, which not only avoids sand but also retains water—it couldn't be better. Charles thought to himself, then continued on his way.
Villagers had already spotted two people dressed in exotic clothing on the slope and gathered around the village entrance, discussing it animatedly. When the two men arrived at the village entrance on horseback, they jumped down and, imitating Han Chinese, bowed and said, "Good folks, is there anything we can buy? If not, please leave us a meal. We've been traveling for three days and three nights, and our water is gone." As Wusa spoke, he subtly observed the villagers' attire, and upon seeing someone wearing a Guanyin pendant, he deliberately added, "If you give us some food, consider it an act of kindness."
The villagers looked at each other, all wanting to call Jin Tao out. Just then, Zhao Peiming walked out from behind the crowd. His eyes were fixed on the two of them. When the people around saw this, they stopped talking and subconsciously stepped aside.
Zhao Peiming recognized the "old acquaintance" at a glance. Feigning nonchalance, he raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying, "Two distinguished guests have come from afar; I should personally entertain them." The two men naturally sensed something was amiss, and upon closer inspection, they realized this was the "Wan Jinren" who had been locked up in the stable that day. However, this man was dressed exactly like a villager, completely lacking the imposing presence of a general. Upon hearing this, the villagers were relieved and prepared to exchange their goods, then dispersed in small groups.
Zhao Peiming stepped forward, put his arm around the two men's shoulders, and led them towards the village. He said in a low voice, "It's been months since we last met. It seems Sarenmandula's lackeys have come to 'do business' in the village? Come, let's catch up in my tent." He glanced to his left, "Usa," then to his right, "Char," he tightened his grip on their shoulders. "So someone's already in a hurry to kill me? I wonder what letter that lord wrote to your leader this time? But… if you want a reward, one dagger each isn't enough, is it?" As he spoke, Usa and Char felt a chill at their waists as something hard pressed against them. They tried to turn around, but the daggers were snatched away. Zhao Peiming's hand reached for their necks. "Don't look, don't get any funny ideas, or you'll regret it."
Xiao Han and Wang Sheng were holding knives at their sides from behind. The two followed quietly behind the three until they entered the tent.
Once the group entered the darkness, Zhao Peiming dismissed everyone around him, specifically leaving Xiao Hanjin behind. He pulled out a riding whip from somewhere, rolled it up, and held it in his hand. Instead of sitting down, he circled around the two men—the same action they had taken when they were on guard duty, only now the roles of offense and defense had reversed.
"Sarenmandula's bounty has spread throughout the grasslands, hasn't it? Sending two of your acquaintances here, that's quite 'caring.' Are you planning to let me experience being a prisoner again?" Zhao Peiming's voice echoed in the tent, even clanging against the iron frame. "He sent just the two of you. Is it because he really has no one else under him, or does he want to take this opportunity to make your hard work in guarding me completely disappear? Oh, no, you've failed in your duty. If you can't make amends this time, your heads will roll when you get back." Usa and Char were speechless. They weren't the leader's confidants; their lives were at the mercy of a single order.
Zhao Peiming secretly observed the two men. Seeing that Usa was hesitant and wavering, he thought to himself that this was truly an effortless victory. So, he changed his tone and said softly to Usa, "I remember you. When I had a persistent high fever, you brought me an extra bowl of leftover goat's milk. I'll remember that kindness." As soon as he finished speaking, Charles's hawk-like eyes fixed on Usa, swearing through clenched teeth. Usa, his legs weak, staggered back two steps, trying to avoid him.
“But today you were here to investigate the situation, and according to military law you should be executed without mercy for being assassins. But considering that friendship, I will give you two choices.” Zhao Peiming pressed the two of them down to their seats, and Xiao Han walked around to the back and slowly sat down as well.
The rain pattered lightly outside the tent. Usa and Char dared not breathe, silently waiting for Zhao Peiming to speak. Zhao Peiming laughed, "First one, I'll have the man sitting behind you drag you both out right now, behead you in front of the villagers, and then hang your heads on the Huayuan Gate for half a day." As he spoke, Usa couldn't help but sob, a warm flow running down between his legs. Char gritted his teeth in anger, "To your leader, it's just a matter of losing two servants who leaked his oversight from back then. As for your families, it's just two more orphans and widows on the grassland."
“You!” Charles roared.
"Hmm?" The moment Xiao Han drew his sword, the cold blade clanged.
Charles immediately lowered his head and whispered, "Then... what about the other way?"
“Take this defense map with you, cut a lock of your hair, dab some of your own blood, and go report to your leader.” Zhao Peiming said, taking out a fragment of the Half-Day Flower defense map. The picture on it was already blurry, but the three characters “Half-Day Flower” could still be barely made out. It was also stamped with an official seal, making it look very real. “You tell him that there is a high-ranking official in the court who has long been in cahoots with one of your high-ranking officials. The two of them released me while you were guarding me, so that I would stir up trouble on the border so that they could reap the benefits. Now that the high-ranking official in the court thinks I am useless, he deliberately revealed my whereabouts to use me as a tool to kill me and push this dirty task of silencing me onto your leader.”
Char and Usa exchanged glances. If they really did that, their guilt for failing to guard Zhao Peiming properly when he escaped would be reduced, and they could even gain Sarenmandula's trust, which would be a huge turnaround.
"I wonder which official delivered the message so accurately. I'm very curious," Zhao Peiming said thoughtfully. Xiao Hanjin pulled the knife out a little more, and the sound was chilling, like bone being scraped.
"Whether you are beheaded or enjoy wealth and glory, the choice is yours!" Xiaohan added.
"Deal!" Charles agreed. "The...second one, deal!" Usa followed, kneeling to accept the defense map.
“Very good. Remember, what you take back concerns your own heads and the lives of your families! Saying one more or one less word could mean certain death. Also, don’t try anything funny. We’ve been playing mind games for thousands of years longer than you.” Zhao Peiming said, then stepped out of the tent first.
After Xiaohan brought the two men back, Zhao Peiming declared in a loud voice, "If they try to escape to report elsewhere, kill them on the spot!" He pointed to the two men's horses not far away: "Get lost!"
The two were completely baffled on their journey. They had assumed Zhao Peiming was seeking refuge in Banrihua, but they hadn't expected him to bring so many people with him, and he seemed to be recovering very well. At that moment, the torrential rain in Banrihua was miraculously blown upwards, and there were signs of clearing skies in the west.
Xiao Han arranged for a few efficient people to follow the two men at a distance, while she and Zhao Peiming returned to the tent, where several plates of cooked food prepared by the villagers were laid out, steaming hot.
Xiao Han picked up a sweet potato and casually asked, "Gan Lin hasn't been causing trouble these past few days, has he? He's young, so you should keep a close eye on him."
The guards lowered their heads even further, remaining silent. Zhao Peiming, however, wore an amused expression and continued to observe.
Xiaohan sensed something was amiss and looked up somewhat hastily, saying, "I'm asking you a question!"
"Please forgive me, Your Excellency. It's unusual for it to rain today. He was so excited that he rushed out to see it and told us not to chase after him, so we..." Wang Sheng said, kneeling on one knee with one hand over his chest.
"Damn it!" Xiao Han threw down her chopsticks, grabbed a thick cloak, and rushed out of the tent.
"Prepare the horses for the young master!" Wang Sheng shouted as he ran to the door. "Gan Lin has headed northwest!"
Zhao Peiming and Xiao Han rushed out, then stopped Wang Sheng and asked, "When did they start?" Wang Sheng looked puzzled and said, "Governor, please forgive my ignorance, but... when?" Zhao Peiming examined him for a long time, then chuckled and said, "It's nothing, you can go about your business."
Xiao Han mounted his horse and galloped northwest, a dark shadow chasing the setting sun in the twilight, while rain continued to weave haphazardly between heaven and earth.
Xiao Han soon spotted Gan Lin running in the rain. He was both anxious and angry. He rode his horse over and blocked Gan Lin's path, glaring down at him.
"Young Master? Are you here to run through the rain too?" Gan Lin's voice was softer than a light drizzle.
Xiao Han then remembered that Gan Lin was still getting wet in the rain. She quickly jumped off her horse, unfolded the cloak in her arms, draped it over Gan Lin's head, and then angrily shoved the hood over Gan Lin's head.
Gan Lin lifted his hood slightly in confusion, just in time to meet Xiao Hanjin's gaze.
"...You're still sick. I just told you not to catch a cold, but you've forgotten everything." Xiaohan looked at Ganlin's rabbit-like eyes and her tone softened.
"Ganlin remembers." Ganlin reached out and kept wiping the rain off Xiaohan's body, and continued, "Ganlin has never run in the rain before, and has been fascinated by it for a long time."
“You should wear a cloak. This is too reckless, not like you.” Xiaohan grabbed Ganlin’s wrist and pulled it into her chest to warm it, saying, “Look at your hands, they’re like ice.”
Gan Lin smiled slightly, the tip of her nose turning a little red.
That was the first time he had withstood Xiao Hanjin's strength and broken free from her grasp. He turned towards the setting sun, cupped his hands to his lips, and shouted a few words in his hometown dialect. After speaking, he took a step forward and opened his arms.
A few white birds flew through the vertical raindrops, and perhaps his hometown lay in the distant clouds, a peaceful place he could feel with his heart. Gan Lin stood there, as if he too wanted to grow a pair of wings and fly into the sky.
Xiao Hanjin walked over and gently hugged him, their hair tangling at their temples. Gan Lin then whispered something in his hometown dialect, seemingly to Xiao Hanjin, before lowering his head.
Xiao Han couldn't understand a word, but he knew Gan Lin was happy. Looking at the face favored by the setting sun, he couldn't help but press closer.
He secretly made up his mind that one day, when Hu Han was no longer entangled with him, he and Sa Taqi would completely control Baharche, so that he could go to Ganlin's parents and ask them for Ganlin.
Gan Lin seemed lost in thought. After a few seconds, he said, "Let's go back."
"Why? Aren't we going to run in the rain?" Xiaohan said, "I'll go with you."
Gan Lin shook his head vigorously and said, "I've run enough. There are more important people here now."
Xiao Han tightened her grip, picked Gan Lin up by the waist, put him on the horse, and then ran back to the military camp with her arms around his back.
Wang Sheng saw the two from afar, dismissed the rest of the guards in the camp, and waited by the door with a handkerchief in his hand.
Xiao Han first escorted Gan Lin into the tent, then took the towel, nodded to Wang Sheng, indicating that he could leave.
Wang Sheng beckoned, and a guard came over with ginger and jujube tea, then followed him into the tent. Once everything was settled, Wang Sheng left with the guard.
"Young Master is soaked. Let me help you change." Gan Lin said, reaching out to help Xiao Han take off his outer clothes.
After taking off a few pieces of clothing, Xiaohan suddenly grabbed Ganlin's hand and said, "No need."
Gan Lin didn't make any further moves, but obediently withdrew and stood aside to watch.
Xiao Han glanced at Gan Lin with obvious unease. At that moment, the young boy who had forgotten to take off his cloak when he entered was covered in sweat, his neck glistening under the light.
He looked away and said, "At least turn around, don't just stare like that."
Gan Lin said "Oh," turned her back gently, and changed her clothes by herself.
He removed his cloak, his slender body swaying in the candlelight. Layer by layer, he removed his undergarments, plucking them as gently as if picking flower petals, folding them up before searching for new garments. All his movements were silent, as if he too would soon vanish.
Xiao Han suddenly hugged Gan Lin without saying a word, just holding her. Gan Lin noticed the strangeness behind her, and felt something amiss, so she said, "Young Master, you..."
"Let me hold you for a while," Xiaohan said absentmindedly.
"Let me help you," Gan Lin said, her voice still carrying a hint of childishness.
It was too clean. Xiao Han had been on the battlefield for many years, his body stained with the blood of tens of thousands of people, and he had no intention of letting this pool of sweet spring water be tainted by mud.
"No, you should sleep." Xiaohan released him, walked to the wooden chair, and casually picked up a book from the small table to read. His expression remained tense, and his eyes were misty.
Gan Lin followed, slowly knelt on the ground, and said in a very soft voice, "Where we come from, a girl can get married at sixteen."
He broke the last string.
Gan Lin searched through the layers of clothing and soon found it; it was his first time trying it out.
Xiao Han was a high-ranking official in the Imperial Household Department, a close guard of the governor. Gan Lin was initially afraid that he would be kicked aside, but after the rain, he was no longer afraid of anything.
The two hearts, separated by a single sheet of paper, have now been completely melted away by those warm, soft lips and tongue.
The trickle burst forth from the soft mud, only to seep back into it, where it was thoroughly cleaned.
The book fell to the ground, flipped through a few pages, and then slowly came to a stop. On that page, it was clearly written:
A fleeting dream must eventually end.
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