Chapter 85 Treading on Snow and Mud: Returning to the Capital
Isn't it better to be a little confused?
The night in Xia Nan after the victory was filled with a long-awaited liveliness.
One by one, lights illuminated the city, and bursts of laughter and cheerful voices echoed through the streets.
The people even took out firecrackers that they had prepared for the New Year, and the crackling sounds seemed to express their joy at surviving the disaster into the night.
The night wind blew up the snow on the eaves, creating wisps of snow mist.
Tang Yu tried to reach out to catch it, but it was too thin and melted into water upon contact, so she had to pull her hand back into her cloak.
Bathed in the lamplight of the night, her striking and assertive features, typical of women from the southern frontier, appeared exceptionally gentle. The slight smile on her lips made her face, still bearing the marks of illness, appear less haggard in the moonlight.
Xie Xingzheng looked down at her, raised his hand, and tucked a strand of hair that had been blown into her temple by the wind behind her ear.
The lingering warmth of Tang Yu's cheek on his fingertips made him pause slightly.
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, Tang Yu tilted her head to the side.
Following his hand, she gently nuzzled against him like a kitten.
Tang Yu's weak body had no support, and she fell towards him, not caring at all whether she would fall.
Xie Xingzheng's heart tightened, and he dared not pull his hand away. He quickly pressed his face against hers, then turned around swiftly, raised his arm to embrace her, and used his body to stabilize her balance.
Martial arts practitioners, who wield weapons year-round, have calloused fingertips, yet when their fingers touch her cheek, the touch is light and gentle, making one's heart itch with desire.
Tang Yu leaned against him, raising her eyes with a hint of smugness. Her face was flushed with a sickly redness, which only made her more charming and alluring.
The outer streets were still bustling at night, but the area between them was unusually quiet.
Tang Yu blinked and asked, "Don't you think this posture is a little awkward?"
This was especially true for her, a patient who already had little strength.
Xie Xingzheng sighed helplessly and helped her sit up straight. "Then sit down properly."
"But I want to lean on you."
The eyes that looked at him were like stars falling into a lake, making Xie Xingzheng unable to look away for a long time.
After a long while, he took a few steps closer to her so that Tang Yu could lean against him in a more comfortable position.
Tang Yu was finally satisfied and looked up at the silver moon again.
“Such a beautiful night,” she said lazily, with a touch of wistfulness, “If only we had some wine.”
"You're not fully recovered yet, you can't drink alcohol," Xie Xingzheng said in a low voice.
"Such fallacies, could they have been instructed by the God of Calamity?" Tang Yu looked up at him with displeasure.
Xie Xingzheng shook his head.
"Then why won't you let me drink?" She smiled. "Besides, today is your triumphant return, and it's also our first meeting since we parted ways with Qimeng. Wouldn't it be a shame not to have a drink with you?"
Xie Xingzheng remained silent for a long time.
He should have refused.
But he didn't know which sentence had gently touched a chord deep within his heart.
In the end, he actually nodded and sent someone to find her some wine.
By the time the wine arrived, it was already late at night, and the noise outside had subsided considerably.
Xie Xingzheng only poured her a small cup.
The warmed wine is extremely smooth on the palate, with a very light flavor and a unique sweetness characteristic of rice wine, and it is almost not intoxicating.
Tang Yu took another sip, feeling a warm sensation all over her body, and happily squinted her eyes.
"Aren't you going to drink?" she asked.
“Someone has to stay awake,” Xie Xingzheng said, his eyes unreadable.
Tang Yu shook her head, her tone disapproving: "A clear-headed person isn't necessarily truly clear-headed, and a confused person isn't necessarily completely confused. Why set so many rules for yourself?"
"Isn't it better to be a little confused?"
Xie Xingzheng looked at her and remained silent for a long time.
Tang Yu raised her glass and gently swirled it in front of him.
"Besides, drinking alone is just drowning one's sorrows in alcohol."
She smiled, her eyes crinkling, "You still need someone to accompany you to truly enjoy yourself."
Finally, Xie Xingzheng followed her raised hand and drank the wine from the rim of the glass.
The liquor wasn't strong, but it was very comforting.
She's right. People are always wise for a lifetime, but foolish for a moment.
But sometimes, being a little oblivious is really good.
While Xie Xingzheng was drinking with his head down, Tang Yu naturally moved closer.
A pale, pretty face came into his view, followed by emerald green eyes and long, curled eyelashes that trembled slightly.
The soft, warm fabric, carrying the scent of wine, pressed against me.
Xie Xingzheng's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and only then did he belatedly realize what had happened. His body almost froze, and his heart pounded uncontrollably.
They had kissed before, but each time, it left him feeling so lost and wanting to run away.
But this time, he did not back down.
Perhaps it was because the night was too beautiful, or perhaps it was because this moment held too much uncertainty about the future.
He suddenly didn't want to think about it anymore.
Xie Xingzheng raised his hand and placed his fingertips on her cheek. The slightly cool touch made Tang Yu tremble slightly.
His hand slid down her cheek, then moved to hold the back of her neck, deepening the kiss that hadn't yet faded.
Tang Yu's breathing became erratic, her body went slightly limp, and she nestled into his arms.
Xie Xingzheng pulled her arm around and gently lifted her from her original position, letting her sit on his lap with her back to him.
She was so light that it made my heart clench.
Tang Yu placed her hand on his chest, feeling his warm and rapid heartbeat through the fabric.
The silvery moonlight poured down, casting long shadows of the two people.
Entangled in the night, ambiguous yet tender.
*
Tang Yu had been drinking and was in a very weak state.
Not long after leaning against Xie Xingzheng's chest, she was so tired that she quickly fell asleep.
The clear moonlight shone through the window paper into the inner room, allowing him to see the features of the person in his arms even in the darkness.
As she slept, her eyes, which usually held a hint of shrewdness and cunning, closed, and her eyelashes cast soft shadows beneath them, making her appear almost unrealistically docile.
Tang Yu in this way is also extremely captivating.
His rough fingertips gently stroked her face, and Xie Xingzheng couldn't help but press his lips against her soft lips, a faint smile appearing on his face.
He carefully recalled their past and realized...
It turns out that I didn't actually spend much time with her.
At first glance, she was a thief who broke into the Xia Nan Prince's mansion. At second glance, she was a quack doctor who could lie without batting an eye and wore a human skin mask to conceal her true appearance.
A person who is strange in every way, yet somehow, does not evoke any dislike in others.
Instead, all that remained was curiosity about her.
In the subsequent cases, the truths that were gradually revealed showed that beneath her nonchalant attitude lay a genuine kindness and an unyielding soul.
Xie Xingzheng thought that Yueying was actually quite right.
Tang Yu is indeed a lucky girl.
Bearing a destiny as predictable as the moon's dream, she miraculously escaped due to the war. She should have been adrift like duckweed, living a life of hiding, but instead, she met a family who showered her with love.
All of this allowed her to remain steadfast as Tang Yu, even when she was forced into the Nan Yue conspiracy, without being swayed by anyone.
They did not fall into resentment towards their fate, nor did they suffer from the pain of identifying with their origins.
Tang Yu was a very self-consistent person from beginning to end, living without any scruples.
Therefore, Yueying's jealousy stems from her inability to become that kind of person.
He likes it because he aspires to be that kind of person.
Therefore, he hoped that this "luck" could stay with her forever.
Xie Xingzheng couldn't help but raise his hand again and gently stroke her face.
Even with her eyes closed, you could see her ethereal beauty.
Then, he gently pressed on Tang Yu's acupoint.
She is so good.
So beautiful, smart and kind.
Like a spirit bird that should be soaring between heaven and earth.
The world is vast, she can go anywhere.
Therefore, he neither wanted to nor needed to take her back to Zhongjing.
What awaits her there, even if she survives by chance, is imprisonment in a dark dungeon, year after year.
no need.
He didn't want to see it either.
So after you leave, it will only take a short time for everything to settle down.
Just wait until she forgets and lets it go.
Xie Xingzheng knew, of course, what awaited him for disobeying the imperial decree.
But as a member of the Xie family, he had already placed death in some corner of his future from the day he went to the battlefield.
It might be in the border region, or it might be during a battle.
It is also possible that, amidst the treacherous political landscape of the imperial court, a single imperial decree propelled him to his final destination.
Whether it was earlier or later, it didn't make much difference to him.
He had long been accustomed to waiting alone in the devastated ruins for night to fall and for death to come.
A general is not afraid of death; death is the medal of a soldier.
He wasn't afraid of dying, but he was afraid of Tang Yu dying.
So, he should leave.
Let it be that this time, he lied to her.
In the future, she will see new scenery and will surely meet someone she likes again.
That person may not have so many shackles on their body, nor such heavy thoughts.
But she will definitely love her just as much as he does.
Xie Xingzheng looked at the sleeping person in his arms. He should have let go, but he couldn't help but hug her tighter, unwilling to let go.
Even though I had already made my decision, when it came time to leave, my heart still ached so much that I could hardly breathe.
As dawn broke, a light kiss landed on her forehead.
Xie Xingzheng finally let go and embarked on his journey back to Beijing.
*
When Tang Yu woke up, it was already bright outside.
It wasn't the soft light of early morning, but the blinding glare of the sun, which shone through the windowpane and made her adjust for a while.
As if she had slept for an extremely long time, Tang Yu felt her body had recovered somewhat.
She wasn't surprised that Xie Xingzheng wasn't in the room, and was about to get up and wash up.
At that moment, the door was pushed open.
Tang Yiqing came in carrying a bowl of medicine. When she saw that her eyes were open, she was obviously stunned for a moment, and then quickly walked closer.
"You're awake?"
Tang Yu paused, finding the question odd: "You're awake?"
Tang Yiqing sighed deeply, "Do you know how long you've been asleep?"
Noticing her strange attitude, Tang Yu had a bad feeling.
"how long?"
"Three days."
"...?" Tang Yu didn't react for a moment.
Three days?
But she remembered the moonlight of last night, the aroma of rice wine, and the warmth and scent of Xie Xingzheng's embrace. Everything seemed so close, almost within reach.
But how could it be... that it's already been three days?
"Where is Xie Xingzheng?" Tang Yu frowned.
Tang Yiqing paused for a moment, then replied, "He went back to Zhongjing."
Tang Yu's breath hitched, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the corner of the blanket, but her voice remained calm: "When did you leave?"
Tang Yiqing sighed, "They left two days ago."
Tang Yu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.
It wasn't relief, it was more like laughing in anger.
"You run really fast."
Her tone was so indifferent that it was almost emotionless. "She's afraid I'll catch up with her."
Upon hearing this, Tang Yiqing knew that she was truly angry. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something several times, but ultimately did not interrupt.
Tang Yu closed her eyes.
How could she not understand Xie Xingzheng's plans?
It's nothing more than taking all the risks upon himself and keeping her out of the game; it's nothing more than thinking that as long as he dies alone, the matter will be over.
However, since she had already agreed, she was prepared to go through thick and thin together.
Regardless of whether the road ahead leads to life or death.
If that's the case, why should she be completely excluded in the end due to this scheme?
"How inexplicable," Tang Yu muttered under her breath.
She was never someone who needed to be protected.
Whether she lives or dies is a choice she must make herself.
Tang Yu raised her hand and threw off the blanket, her movements swift and decisive. "I have to go to Zhongjing."
"I knew you wouldn't obediently come back to the Tang Clan with us." Tang Yiqing looked at her and suddenly smiled. "That's why the carriage was prepared for you a long time ago."
She paused for a moment, then said, "I just didn't expect you to sleep for so long."
Tang Yu was taken aback.
Tang Yiqing was a little reluctant to part, but still gave her a gentle hug.
"Go ahead, I'll be waiting for you to come back at Tang Sect." Her tone was gentle.
Even though they knew the trip was dangerous and Tang Yu might never return.
Whether she goes or not, it's Tang Yu's choice, and as her family, all she can do is trust her.
Tang Yu hugged her tightly, then quickly let go and hurried towards the carriage outside.
The sun is shining brightly outside.
The warmth of winter fell on her eyelashes, casting a small, light shadow.
But it couldn't hide the determination in her eyes.
Now, getting to Zhongjing as soon as possible is her only thought.
[Author's Note]
The reason I'm doing this is that I've always felt the main title "Great Xia" wasn't accurate enough, so I plan to change all the titles to main titles containing subheadings, which will be clearer. The titles of all the previous chapters won't change much, but I'll add a subheading like this.
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