Chapter 55 Chapter 55 "Lust makes one lose one's mind... Lust makes one lose one's mind...
Chu Yao followed him from a distance, her steps slow, keeping a moderate distance between them. Xie Guijing walked down the street, his expression dazed, seemingly unaware that someone was following him.
He still reeked of alcohol and his steps were light as he walked. He stopped in front of a small liquor store on the street.
The wind blew up the banner hanging at the door of the wine shop, and the corners of the red cloth rolled up, revealing a big word "wine" written on it.
Xie Guijing looked up, then finally sat down and said to the shopkeeper calmly, "Give me a pot of strong liquor."
Soon, the wine jug was on the table. He picked it up and poured a glass. He drank it all in one gulp, then filled another glass. He drank again, and filled it again. The wine made a crisp sound as it fell into the porcelain cup.
Chu Yao hid in the shadows at the alley entrance, watching him quietly.
Xie Guijing suddenly chuckled, not knowing whether he was laughing at himself or at fate. He dropped his wine glass, raised the jug, tilted his head back, and took a large gulp. The wine dripped from the corner of his mouth, but he didn't care. A dark shadow appeared in his eyes.
He murmured, his voice so soft that it was almost blown away by the night wind:
"Ah Ci...if I had asked Dad to go to your house and propose marriage earlier, I would be the one sitting beside you and enjoying the moonlight with you now."
After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and clenched the wine jug with his fingers, as if he wanted to crush it.
A gust of wind blew by, the lights flickering, and the sadness between his brows became even more pronounced. He raised his hand to his chest and took another sip of wine, as if trying to suppress the depression that was clogging his heart.
Chu Yao at the corner of the alley looked at him with an unfathomable expression, then turned and left silently.
The next morning, it was almost dawn and the yard was still quiet, with only a few birds singing.
Jiang Ci was about to wash up when she heard a slight noise. She stood up and opened the door, only to see Ji Yang standing outside with a calm expression.
He looked at her and said gently, "I wonder if I can borrow Wan Niang for tomorrow night?"
Jiang Ci was slightly startled, then asked, "But what's the matter?"
Ji Yang said, "We'll set off back to Fengdu the day after tomorrow. We've been staying in Ningling for quite some time now, and the Dongyang Army and the people are in the same boat. I thought I'd ask Wanniang to make some roast venison and a few jars of good wine so we can get together and say goodbye to our past here, and also pay tribute to those...who were unable to return."
After hearing this, Jiang Ci responded slowly, "Okay." She knew that he was loyal and righteous. Even if Ji Yang didn't mention it, Jiang Ci had already decided to take care of it for him. This was a coincidence.
Ji Yang nodded, but did not leave immediately. Jiang Ci looked up at him, and saw him pause for a moment before speaking again: "Come with us."
She hesitated for a moment and replied, "Okay."
Ji Yang then said goodbye softly and turned to leave.
Jiang Ci retracted his gaze, called Yin Shuang and Chu Yao, and said, "It's almost time for us to pack our bags today. We will set off back to Fengdu the day after tomorrow." When Yin Shuang heard "return to Fengdu", her eyes immediately lit up and a long-lost look of joy appeared on her face.
Chu Yao stood aside, looking hesitant. After a moment, she asked softly, "Madam, should I...should I stay in Ningling?"
Jiang Ci glanced at her and said gently, "If you're willing, come back with us."
Chu Yao was stunned for a moment, her eyes suddenly reddened, and she suddenly knelt down with a plop, grabbed Jiang Ci's hand, and choked out, "Really, big sister? I will definitely do my best to serve you."
Jiang Ci frowned slightly, slowly pulled his hand out, bent down and helped her up: "If you have nowhere to go, come back to Fengdu with us first. Once there, if there is anything you want to do, tell me and I will do my best to help you."
Chu Yao wiped her tears and nodded repeatedly.
Jiang Ci turned to the two of them and said, "Go ahead and start packing."
Jiang Ci returned to the house, closed the door, and sat down at the desk. He picked up the half-finished garment and gently rubbed his fingertips against the fabric. The stitches were now mostly finished, with only the shoulder remaining unfinished.
She pondered for a moment, took out the embroidery thread, and the needle and thread flew in her hand, her movements a little faster than usual.
After a long time, the patterns on those shoulders gradually took shape, two tiger heads. Although the stitching was not complicated, the outlines were clear. She chose not gold or red thread, but just a subtle ink color, hidden in the color of the cloth, unassuming, yet sharp as always, just like him.
The courtyard was covered with mottled shadows of trees, and at dusk, the sky was filled with twilight.
Yin Shuang was squatting in the corner of the room, sorting her clothes and checking her luggage. "These are the girl's cloaks. Take the books over there too... and that small basket of spices by the window. I'll pack them later."
Chu Yao was helping to fold clothes beside her, with her head down and no word, but her eyes quietly swept across the wooden couch.
On the couch lay a plain white handkerchief, delicately embroidered with a kingfisher. It was something Jiang Ci always carried with him to wipe away sweat. She had seen it several times in the past.
Chu Yao's fingertips paused unconsciously. After a moment, while Yin Shuang was not paying attention, she tiptoed to the couch, pretending to tidy up the mattress, and with a flick of her fingertips, she hid the handkerchief in her sleeve.
The handkerchief was extremely thin, and when folded it was no larger than the tip of a finger, so it was unnoticeable when hidden in the sleeve.
When she turned around, an indescribable smile flashed across her eyes, with a hint of vague uneasiness.
Yin Shuang looked up at her and said, "These pieces haven't been folded yet, don't just stare blankly."
Chu Yao quickly smiled, her tone as gentle as ever: "I'll be right there."
Early in the morning, Wanniang led several Dongyang Army soldiers to the Ningling morning market.
It was hunter season, and the market was overflowing with fresh mountain goods and game. Wanniang stood before the butcher's stall, letting the owner unhook the hunted deer while she carefully selected them, bending over from time to time to examine the leanness and fatness of the bones. She selected a few lean and strong deer and had someone prepare a few birds. A soldier beside her skillfully lifted the selected items one by one.
"We need to get some more good wine from the restaurant," Wanniang said. "The governor said he's treating the soldiers to a good meal tonight, so we can't neglect them."
So she turned into the tavern again and ordered twenty jars of osmanthus wine mixed with strong liquor from the owner, and agreed to have it delivered to the camp west of the city before dusk.
After paying, Wanniang went to the beef stall on the side and picked out a piece of top-quality beef with a rosy hue and fine texture. Jiang Ci had specifically told her last night that the governor loved her braised beef the most.
The Dongyang soldiers behind her watched her busying around with bags and bags, and someone jokingly said, "Wan Niang, this looks like quite a big deal."
Wanniang laughed angrily, "The governor is treating us to dinner today, how dare we be careless?"
A young soldier said with a grin, "The roasted venison Wan Niang made last time was so delicious, but it was too little. All our brothers went crazy trying to grab it."
"Yeah!" another one chimed in. "If I could still eat that flavor today, I'd have more energy to fight."
Wanniang smiled and glanced at them: "How old are you? You all look like greedy ghosts."
Some said eighteen, others said just over twenty.
Wanniang smiled and said, "He's about the same age as my chubby son. Come on, let's go quickly. If we're any later, the venison won't be fresh."
Everyone smiled and followed her to carry the food back to the camp.
Meanwhile, in the mansion, Jiang Ci was standing in front of a bronze mirror, holding two different colored dresses in his hands. He turned around and looked at Yin Shuang and Chu Yao behind him: "Which of these two do you think looks better?"
Yin Shuang said without hesitation: "They all look good."
Chu Yao stood aside, her eyes soft and envious, and whispered, "Let's take the first one. Wearing it will make Big Sister look even more beautiful."
Jiang Ci laughed at this and finally chose the light yellow skirt with a fine gold embroidery at the collar. It was simple and elegant with a hint of joy. She also picked out two not-so-plain pearl hairpins and earrings from her jewelry box and handed them to Yin Shuang: "Come, help me comb my hair."
Yin Shuang responded and came forward. Jiang Ci sat quietly in front of the mirror, but he saw Chu Yao looking at him calmly in the mirror, with envy in her eyes.
She suddenly stood up and took out another plain dress from the closet. She walked over and sat Chu Yao down in front of the dressing table. She said softly, "I heard you had an older sister. Now that you call me Big Sister, I'll treat you as my younger sister too. Come, let me comb your hair."
Chu Yao was stunned and didn't dare to move for a moment.
"It's okay." Jiang Ci smiled lightly, "Just sit down."
Yin Shuang also helped. Jiang Ci picked up the wooden comb and gently combed her hair.
Suddenly, Chu Yao spoke up and whispered, "I...I really like Big Sister. Can...I want Big Sister Yin Shuang to help me style my hair like you?"
Jiang Ci smiled at her appearance in the mirror: "Of course."
After her hair was combed, Yin Shuang inserted the last pearl hairpin and looked at Chu Yao carefully: "Looking at her now wearing the lady's clothes, she does look a bit like me."
Chu Yao's eyes lit up, and an almost childish joy appeared on her face.
Jiang Ci turned around and ordered, "Yin Shuang, have you packed the clothes you made for the governor?"
"It's packed."
"Okay, take them all with you."
So the three of them packed up and headed towards the camp west of the city together.
The camp was already bustling with activity, with bright fires all around, making everyone look cheerful and energetic.
The venison sizzled over the charcoal, its aroma filling the air. The Dongyang army and the common people gathered around it, laughing and chatting, clinking glasses of wine, as if the shadows of war and plague had briefly faded.
Lu Linchuan and Xie Guijing stood side by side, cups in hand, their laughter and chatter lingering in the air. In the distance, Ji Yang was drinking with the prefect, slightly tipsy, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, but his expression more relaxed than usual.
The prefect's face was filled with shame, and he clasped his hands in self-blame. "General, I deserve to die. I failed to see through the Hanbei spies' plan and mistakenly employed a treacherous person... Truly, I failed to judge people. If it weren't for the general's stabilization, Ningling would have been lost long ago."
Ji Yang raised his hand to stop him, his tone steady, "The difficulty of judging people is not solely your fault. The world is in chaos now. He claims to be from Liangzhou, and with old friends testifying, it's difficult to verify. Furthermore, it's pointless to pursue further charges. The prefect should feel guilty and do more practical work in the upcoming reconstruction, so as not to let down the people of Ningling."
"The governor is very generous," the county magistrate said, and punished himself with three cups of wine.
Ji Yang raised his hand and drank it with him.
Just as he finished drinking, he heard a faint sound of footsteps behind him. Ji Yang subconsciously turned around and saw Jiang Ci walking slowly out of the crowd, followed by Yin Shuang and Chu Yao.
Jiang Ci was dressed in a simple, elegant new dress, her hair neatly combed, her expression gentle, her eyes no longer the fatigue of a few days ago, but a calm and peaceful radiance. She stepped into the firelight, followed closely by Yin Shuang and Chu Yao.
A brief moment of confusion appeared in Ji Yang's eyes.
For some reason, he felt that she was more charming now than ever before. He was silent for a moment, then bowed to the county magistrate and said, "County magistrate, please drink with the deputy general. I will be gone for a moment."
After saying that, he put down his wine cup and left towards Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci looked up and met Ji Yang's gaze. He was already standing in front of her and whispered, "You're here."
Jiang Ci nodded slightly, then took a package from Yin Shuang and handed it to him, saying, "This is for you."
"What is it?"
"See for yourself."
Ji Yang lowered his head and unwrapped it, immediately catching sight of the coat. Its rich color and intricate stitching dazzled him. He paused for a moment, then unfolded the garment before him, measuring it for a moment. Instantly, his eyes lit up with unconcealable joy, like a child's. "It fits perfectly! Wait for me, I'll go change."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and ran towards the tent quickly, as if he was a young man who had found a treasure, and was actually a little anxious.
Chu Yao, standing by, watched his back, the light in her eyes dimming. His emotions, from beginning to end, seemed to be solely for Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci looked at Ji Yang's back, a smile on his lips. He turned around and said to Yin Shuang and Chu Yao, "There's a banquet today. You don't have to wait on me. Go and have fun with everyone. If you don't want to make a fuss, you can go help Wan Niang."
The two men took the order and left.
Not long after, Ji Yang came out of the tent in new clothes. The coat was tailored to fit him well.
He walked up to Jiang Ci and said seriously, "Thank you, the size is perfect. I like it very much."
Jiang Ci gently held his arm. Ji Yang's body stiffened slightly, but he did not move away.
"Let's go sit over there."
He murmured softly, letting her lead him to his spot next to the fire.
Not far away, Xie Guijing raised his glass and took a sip, his eyes fixed on the two people. Jiang Ci, holding Ji Yang's arm, walked closer. His expression paused, and his action of raising his glass was also a little slow.
Lu Linchuan seemed to have noticed, glanced at him sideways, and said, "Master Xie, sometimes, if you can't pick it up, just let it go. You will find that everything will suddenly become clear."
Xie Guijing chuckled softly, "But what if something that originally belonged to you is taken away by someone else?"
Lu Linchuan casually glanced at the two figures sitting side by side, his tone still relaxed: "I don't think anyone will truly belong to anyone. Even if I get married in the future, she should be a free person, not an appendage of a man. Even if she marries you, she will still be herself."
Xie Guijing looked over at the fire. Jiang Ci was talking with his head tilted to one side, the firelight reflected on her eyelashes. Ji Yang listened quietly with extremely focused eyes.
He lowered his eyelashes and said in a lighter tone, "What Lu Sima said is true. I was shallow for a moment."
Lu Linchuan touched his wine cup to him and said with a smile, "My lord has asked you to return to Fengdu with him tomorrow. I do know a few girls in Fengdu. If you are interested, you might want to take a look. Liangzhou and Dongyang will one day be on equal footing. It's better to settle down in Fengdu first."
Xie Guijing looked at his reflection in the wine, his smile calm, "Sima Lu really knows how to joke."
Jiang Ci and Ji Yang sat in the center of the camp, the light of the campfire illuminated their faces, and the warm flames danced inch by inch in their eyes.
Suddenly, a Dongyang Army soldier threw a pot of wine to him with a smile: "My lord, it's time to be cheerful tonight."
Ji Yang caught it, tilted his head back and took a sip without saying anything.
Seeing this, Jiang Ci extended his hand and said, "Commander-in-Chief, good wine should be shared."
Ji Yang turned his head to look at her, a smile flashed across his eyes, and he handed over the wine jug.
Jiang Ci raised her head and took a sip, only to find that the wine was much stronger than before. It felt like fire in her throat, and her facial features wrinkled together. Ji Yang saw her like this and chuckled: "Why, are you still drinking?"
Jiang Ci said nothing, holding the wine jug in his arms, straightened his body, and said with an unyielding look: "Of course."
The two were speechless for a moment, just passing the wine back and forth, the firelight illuminating their shadows where their shoulders were touching.
The camp was gradually becoming lively. Soldiers and civilians gathered around the fire, singing Tingzhou folk songs. Without any instrumental accompaniment, the tunes flowed in harmony, the soft chants recounting the past and ushering in a new chapter of release.
Ji Yang was silent for a long time, then he whispered, "If I had tried harder, maybe not so many people would have died when the dam broke that day... They should have been drinking and chatting with us."
He looked at the circle of dancing people, with an indescribable heaviness in his eyes.
Jiang Ci glanced at him gently, his tone soft but firm: "You are not a god, you are just a mortal. You have tried your best, but the world is unpredictable. You can't be responsible for every accident."
Ji Yang didn't turn his head, but he heard it clearly.
Jiang Ci continued, "I think if those people are still alive, they would also hope that you, the Governor, can regroup and live up to the people. They would not want to see you fall apart because of their departure."
Ji Yang lowered his head, clenched his knuckles, and remained silent for a long while.
At this moment, Deputy General Du Mengqiu came over drunkenly and grabbed Ji Yang's arm. "My Lord, tonight is a rare night! It would be unreasonable not to dance the Breaking Formation Dance with the brothers!"
The Dongyang Army has always performed the Breaking Formation Dance after winning a battle. It is powerful and inspiring.
Before Ji Yang could refuse, he was pushed and dragged over by the crowd. Jiang Ci drank her wine and watched him leaping among the crowd. At that moment, she seemed to see a long-lost sense of ease and freedom on his face, a kind of relaxation after taking off the armor.
She suddenly understood what the words "relieved" meant.
The firelight danced between his eyebrows, and his smile was more genuine than ever. At that moment, she couldn't take her eyes off him.
Just as she was lost in thought, a Dongyang Army soldier suddenly walked up to Jiang Ci and bowed to her: "Madam, come dance too!"
Jiang Ci was stunned: "I can't."
The soldier smiled and said, "Madam, now that you have married into Dongyang, you will need to learn how to perform sacrifices and go to war. The governor will definitely teach you."
Everyone started to make a fuss, and Jiang Ci was pulled into the middle of the crowd, feeling uneasy for a moment.
At this time, Ji Yang stepped forward and stretched out his hand: "I will teach you."
He held her hand, and for a moment it felt as if fire shot up from her palm to her heart. They danced with the crowd, her stiff and clumsy, but he always held her hand.
In the firelight, his eyes reflected her shadow, and so did hers.
Wanniang stood outside the crowd, watching with Yinshuang. Yinshuang murmured, "This time, Madam is really going to be trapped."
Wanniang sighed softly, "Who would have thought that the two people who were originally at loggerheads would one day become so close."
The wine was brought to Jiang Ci. It was brewed by the people themselves. They all toasted her for running around for them during the epidemic.
Jiang Ci had a low alcohol tolerance, but she drank every glass she was offered. Ji Yang helped her sit down, and she leaned on his shoulder, her eyes hazy with drunkenness, and smiled, "At this moment, I am really happy."
Ji Yang turned to look at her. Her eyelashes drooped and there was a smile on the corner of her mouth.
Suddenly, she sat up, stared into his eyes, and whispered, "Commander-in-chief, I know that in your heart, there are mountains and seas between you and Liangzhou, and mountains and seas cannot be leveled. You are jealous of me and avoid me. I never expected to be in love with you, but at this moment, I feel that we are like this..."
Before she finished speaking, her lips suddenly felt hot.
Ji Yang kissed her.
The heat from the fire, the intoxication from the alcohol, and all the suppressed emotions burst out at this moment.
Jiang Ci was stunned for a moment, but didn't move. The next moment, she slowly closed her eyes.
Ji Yang was startled, then abruptly let go of her. He didn't even know what he was doing, only his heartbeat. Jiang Ci had passed out drunk, her body gently tilted to one side. He subconsciously reached out and supported her head, his palm touching her soft hair, and for a moment, he felt even more uneasy.
He cursed in a low voice: "Lust makes one lose one's mind... Lust makes one lose one's mind."
Before he finished speaking, he turned around and called out, "Yin Shuang, come quickly! Help her go back and rest!"
Across the camp, the alcohol was getting stronger.
Xie Guijing and Lu Linchuan sat around the fire, drinking and chatting, and unknowingly drank a few more cups. Lu Linchuan smiled and raised his cup: "Mr. Xie, you can drink quite well, why is your face red?"
Xie Guijing gently shook his wine cup, a hint of drunkenness already visible in his eyes. He murmured, "Perhaps it's because the moonlight is so beautiful tonight that the wine is particularly strong."
Lu Linchuan smiled, put down his wine glass, and bowed goodbye: "In this case, I will not disturb Mr. Xie's sweet dreams any longer. We will talk more in detail tomorrow when we set off."
Xie Guijing nodded and said goodbye, then turned and walked out of the camp. The night wind was a little cool, which made his clothes move slightly and also confused the thoughts in his eyes.
When he reached a corner, he suddenly stopped.
The firelight reflected the figure of a slender woman in front. She was wearing simple clothes, with her hair tied up high, and she stood quietly in the wind. Was it Jiang Ci?
Xie Guijing's heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward, put his hand on her shoulder, and whispered, "Aci."
The woman slowly turned around and saw a strange face - it was Chu Yao.
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