Chapter 154 Pride Fills the Road (Sixteen) I miss you so much.
On the seventh day of the eighth month, an imperial edict suddenly descended upon the Song residence, ordering Zhi Rou to enter the palace for an audience.
The eunuch escorted her to the palace gate and then withdrew. At that moment, a palace attendant stepped forward and said with bowed eyes, "Please, Miss Song."
A hazy golden light filled the hall, and the only sound was the soft rustling of one's own clothes as one walked.
Upon reaching the imperial desk, Zhi Rou bowed and said, "Your subject, Song Zhi Rou, greets Your Majesty."
From the moment she entered the hall, the emperor's gaze silently swept over her. Seeing that she was unadorned and had an upright demeanor, as if she had been raised by the Song family, he spoke after a moment: "Rise."
Zhi Rou stood up, her gaze fixed on the ground in front of her, when she heard a deep voice coming from above her.
"General Ling has submitted a memorial requesting commendation for you, stating that you intercepted a secret letter, eliminated spies in the army, and offered a solution to the crisis in Lancheng. Your contributions to the country are invaluable and deserve reward."
After a brief pause, the emperor looked at her and said, "What do you want? Speak freely."
Zhi Rou had been in the manor for several days, and she already knew why people were talking about her. Therefore, when the imperial edict arrived, she did not fail to consider that it might be related to matters at the border.
At this moment, she said respectfully, "What I did was merely to fulfill my duty as a subject of the Yan Dynasty, and I do not seek any reward. Your Majesty is wise."
The tone was clearly not that of a reward, but rather carried a hint of probing.
Zhi Rou was slightly confused and subconsciously defended herself: "This daughter went there for her own reasons and did not tell her parents."
"One's own thoughts?"
Zhi Rou pursed her lips, suppressing the discomfort of standing before the Emperor, and answered truthfully, "This humble woman is going to see off a friend."
The emperor had already had her whereabouts verified and knew that what she said was true. He smiled slightly and said, "Young man..."
Gradually, the smile on his lips faded like the autumn sun retreating from the palace, wrinkles appeared on his aged skin, his brows furrowed slightly, and his words changed abruptly: "My Empress is ill."
The emperor's voice was low, and Zhi Rou felt a tightness in her chest from his sudden words. Her hands, which were pressed against her sides, couldn't help but clench slightly.
The news of the Empress's illness did not cause a ripple in the court, presumably because a strict decree had been issued and the news had been kept secret.
Addressing the daughter of a minister who held no official position and was uninvolved in the matter, the emperor spoke naturally: "The Imperial Medical Academy has been helpless for many days, and many of the Empress's attendants have also fallen ill. At first, they suspected it was an epidemic, but those sent to attend to her were all unaffected. It wasn't until the end of last month that the cause of the illness was discovered, and it turned out to be an item from a foreign tribe."
This item was found on a female official; it was a sachet made from exotic flowers from the grasslands. Prolonged exposure to its fragrance can cause palpitations and nausea, and in severe cases, lead to unconsciousness. However, those who have long inhabited the grasslands are accustomed to its pollen and are therefore unaffected.
The female official was brought out of the Song residence by the Empress's people.
The emperor waved to a nearby eunuch and held up a picture in front of Zhi Rou: "I heard that when Huai Xian was sent to marry Bei Li, I asked the Empress to have you accompany her. Take a look, do you recognize this?"
His words, though seemingly casual, were actually extremely dangerous.
Among the evidence left by Su Du was an old note, the words of which seemed to indicate collusion with the enemy. The paper was fine and resilient, unlike anything found in ordinary people. Given Su Du's style, he would never have rashly confronted the Sun and Song families if the owner of the note was unknown.
The owner of that plain letter... could it be the Empress?
My heart was pounding, and the huge hall remained silent for a long time.
Zhi Rou's muscles tensed silently as she bowed her head and knelt, saying, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and ignorant."
The Emperor gazed at her for a long time, also harboring many doubts about the Empress's illness. For instance, since no one in the Song household was ill, it was known that the sachet had been carried by the female official before or after she entered the palace, by which time Song Zhirou had already left the capital; why would the Empress have met Huaixian to give it to a maid from the Song household?
Seeing Song Zhirou kneeling before the table, her body showed no trembling as one would expect from someone filled with fear, nor any trace of guilt. Although her face and expression were not visible, her every move seemed strikingly similar to that of someone else.
Considering her merits on the frontier, the emperor refrained from further probing. Concealing his stern expression, he slowly smiled and said, "No need to be nervous. I went off on a tangent just now. I summoned you to the palace today only to discuss rewards. Speak freely of whatever you desire. Once lost, it cannot be regained, so think it over carefully."
He then called her to get up.
Zhi Rou straightened up little by little, and her young and bright face reappeared after she stood up.
Her eyelids were slightly lowered, she seemed to be pondering what reward to give, and she did not speak for a moment.
Many thoughts flashed through my mind.
Thinking of Su Du, she seemed to understand why he acted that way.
This matter involves the royal family. How easy would it be to get the emperor to exonerate the Chang family? There's no doubt that the emperor himself might be behind it.
But how could the emperor be wrong?
The only one who can be wrong is an outsider.
In this situation, it seems that the only way for Su Du to be freed from his nineteen-year obsession is to take revenge himself.
Did he hand the evidence to his mother to prove to her that all those he killed were guilty, or did he want her to do what he had not yet accomplished?
Zhi Rou's heart was in turmoil, unable to distinguish whether she felt fear, anger, or hatred. Her inherently clear-cut principle, fueled by her reckless audacity, allowed her to finally speak: "This humble woman..."
After uttering those two words, she suddenly remembered the promise she made to her mother in Xixiang Garden.
She hadn't noticed him that night, but now she suddenly understood. Her mother had foreseen this and didn't want her to be involved in the old case.
She only uttered half a sentence, then trailed off, but it immediately drew the emperor's attention, who asked, "What?"
The hall was empty, and the gazes fixed on her felt tangible. Zhi Rou's throat tightened, and soon a layer of cold sweat broke out on her back.
She cherished her life immensely, and had escaped misfortune several times, not to waste it here.
However, thinking of Sut...
Although Chang Yu was no longer in her memory, Chang Jinchen had come to be. He was a man of flesh and blood, guilty and scheming, not the lonely ghost on the road to exile nineteen years ago.
Are you truly content with not clearing the Chang family's name?
Zhi Rou stood in the hall for a long time, her breathing gradually becoming shallow and shallow.
The emperor's gaze remained unmoved, and he did not urge her to do so.
After a long silence, her voice, low but strong, finally rang out: "Your Majesty, I have something I wish to offer."
The emperor raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sweeping over the eunuch's face. He immediately walked over, and waited for her to pull a envelope from her sleeve, which she then handed to the emperor.
After the seal was broken, the first thing that caught the eye was a few pages of accounts. The emperor's expression gradually turned cold. When he turned to the last blank sheet of paper and saw the handwriting on it, he was stunned.
The rustling sound of paper scraping against her ears made Zhi Rou's heart pound like a drum.
Her presentation of evidence to the emperor at this point cannot be said to be without the suspicion of using her merits to coerce the emperor.
Such a provocation against the emperor's authority caused his hands behind the desk to tremble uncontrollably, whether from shock or anger, it was unclear.
"Song Zhirou".
Upon hearing the hoarse voice, everyone in the hall lowered their heads.
The emperor maintained his composure, but the tone of his voice was still cool and sent chills down one's spine.
"You have some nerve."
...
The west wing was extremely quiet. Dim sunlight streamed in through the windows, dappling the floor tiles through the windowpanes.
Zhi Rou had been led into the hall for an hour.
The doors and windows of the hall were tightly closed, and guards were stationed outside, making it virtually impossible for her to break out.
In truth, from the moment she presented the document to the Emperor, it was destined that she would not be able to leave the palace smoothly today. Regardless of whether the letter came from the Empress or not, by presenting it to her, she was essentially pointing her finger at the Emperor.
After the initial panic, Zhi Rou had calmed down. She recalled that when she first returned to the capital and was summoned by the Empress, her father had exchanged letters with Wei Mingying and had also placed people in the inner court.
If the Empress intended to harm her at that time, how would her father's secret agents try to save her?
Zhi Rou pondered carefully and concluded that this person must have a high status in the palace and be well aware of her every move.
She should do something... Her eyes darted around, and after a moment, she reached out and pushed open the palace door.
The imperial guards on duty outside all turned to look, their armor clanging steadily. Zhi Rou then said, "I have something I wish to report to Your Majesty, but I wonder if..."
Before she could finish speaking, the person closest to the door interrupted her: "His Majesty has not given an edict, we are not allowed to leave without permission. Miss, please return."
Expecting such an evasive answer, she changed her tune: "If I don't report it today, I'm afraid I won't have the chance in the future. Could you please provide me with some writing materials so I can write a report?"
Not many people were left in the West Side Hall by His Majesty, but their fates were all the same.
The young lady Song standing before me is on the edge of the microcosm. Her superiors have neither ordered her to be executed nor allowed her to leave. I fear that she is indeed adorned with something that her master desires.
After hesitating for a while, he finally ordered someone to deliver a message to the palace eunuch outside the hall.
Just moments ago, it was only a dim yellow light outside, but in the blink of an eye, the light of day quickly faded, and lamps were lit inside the palace.
The emperor walked to the bedside and sat down. The empress's face appeared exceptionally pale in the lamplight. Upon seeing him, she quickly rose and said, "Your Majesty."
"You're still sick, don't get up." The emperor held her hand and helped her lean back against the pillow. Seeing the medicine prepared by the imperial physician on the table, he asked softly, "Did you just wake up? Why didn't you take your medicine?"
As he spoke, he picked up the medicine bowl, preparing to serve her personally.
Such closeness with the emperor only lasted for the first few years of their marriage. After having children, their affection gradually changed with the passing years. Seeing the deep lines around his eyes now, and the way he moved, just like when they first met decades ago, a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
"I have been recovering from this illness for over a month, but my body is growing weaker day by day. I'm afraid I will never recover. It's better not to take this medicine."
The emperor's brow furrowed, his hand holding the spoon paused slightly, and he muttered under his breath, "These useless people from the Imperial Medical Academy."
"Your Majesty, please do not punish them. Plants wither in their time, and so do people. I have little to complain about in my life, no regrets, and nothing to be dissatisfied with. I only hope that Your Majesty will not be troubled by my plight."
Hearing her words, the emperor finally felt sorry for her. The question about the plain note was still in his throat, so he comforted her, saying, "Lan Ci, don't think about it so much. Take good care of yourself, and you will get better."
The Empress smiled faintly upon hearing this, but remained silent.
Seeing that she looked tired, the emperor raised his hand to call for palace servants to attend to her until she fell asleep, and then he returned to Ningyuan Palace.
After entering the palace, the emperor changed into casual clothes. Glancing at the palace door out of the corner of his eye, he turned to the eunuch beside him and asked, "Is there any movement in the west wing?"
“Before the incense stick burned, the west side hall requested my calligraphy.”
"You gave it to her?"
The eunuch lowered his eyes and said with a slight embarrassment, "Your Majesty, I was just about to ask you for instructions."
The emperor gave a soft snort, his words seemingly directed at either himself or the person in the west wing: "They certainly know how to stall for time."
He slowly withdrew his gaze, walked behind the desk and sat down, recalling the lithe figure he had seen that afternoon, which was exactly the same as that person.
Nineteen years ago, the Chang family's case was personally tried by the Emperor. What she is doing today is questioning the Emperor's judgment, and she should be killed.
Yet the plain paper she presented, in terms of both paper and handwriting, seemed to have been written by the Empress; and her trip to the Northwest had also brought her great merit to the nation.
This inevitably brings to mind the time when Chang Yu, imprisoned, struggled to raise his head and said to him, "I would rather be crushed to pieces than commit treason. Your Majesty does not trust me, and I... have nothing to say."
He softened his heart and ordered her to be imprisoned in a side hall. He remained undecided about what to do with her.
There are too many pretexts to kill her. But to let her go, one must convince oneself to do many things.
The candlesticks in the hall seemed to have been rearranged, and the sword guards cast shadows in the lamplight. The long sword dragged a sharp black shadow on the ground, as if it were carrying the weight of countless bloodstains on the battlefield, constantly reminding people of something.
With a heavy heart, the emperor stood up and called out, "Ji Zhang."
The eunuch stepped forward, bowed his head to listen to his instructions, and then silently withdrew, heading towards the west side hall.
Not long ago, Zhi Rou tried to lure someone with her literary talent, but only a junior eunuch came to relay her message. Through the palace gate, she overheard him exchanging a few words with the guards outside, and vaguely sensed the unspoken message: someone was advising her to be patient.
Zhi Rou remained restless. Faced with life and death, she disregarded social status and wandered throughout the hall, searching for anything useful while frantically devising a plan.
Just as she walked behind a screen and reached out to touch a hidden dividing line on the wall, a royal decree was suddenly delivered from the palace gate.
Zhi Rou glanced at the screen, her hand fell instantly, and she quickly turned away from the screen.
The newcomer was clearly not the eunuch from before. After he relayed His Majesty's decree, the palace doors opened from the outside.
As Zhi Rou approached the threshold, she saw a slightly broad-shouldered eunuch with white eyebrows and eyes smile at her. His kind face was covered with wrinkles: "It's getting late. Minister Song is already waiting outside the palace. Miss Song, you should go back quickly."
It was pitch black all around, and the flickering palace lanterns looked like clusters of will-o'-the-wisps. A sudden gust of cool wind made her realize that her inner clothes were somewhat damp. Zhi Rou clasped her hands together, silently straightened her shoulders, and responded with a sound of agreement.
A moment later, the eunuch's voice came softly to her ears again: "Miss, in the future, you must not act so willfully."
She was taken aback for a moment, then bowed to him and said, "Thank you, sir."
Ji Zhang nodded, summoned a palace maid to escort her out of the palace, and returned to Ningyuan Palace to report back to the emperor.
As she approached the palace gate, the palace maid carrying a lantern stopped in her tracks: "Miss Song, this is the way to escort you." She bowed to her and turned to leave.
Losing the attention of outsiders, Zhi Rou's body suddenly went limp, and she braced herself against the wall with her elbows, feeling an intense, inch-by-inch confinement within her chest.
After an unknown amount of time, she regained her strength, corrected her appearance, and tried to appear before her family without revealing any flaws.
Unexpectedly, just a few steps outside the palace gate, she saw Song Congzhao standing under the clear and gentle moon. The lanterns on the eaves of the carriage blurred his expression, but his hands, which were exposed outside his sleeves, were clenched tightly. When he saw her, he slowly loosened his grip.
Zhi Rou's eyes stung with tears; the fear that she had been able to bear before now overwhelmed her.
"Father……"
Song Congzhao took the cloak from Xinghui and draped it over Zhirou's shoulders, saying, "It's autumn now. Wearing so little will make you sick from the cold."
He pressed on her shoulder, as if about to say something, but finally lowered his hand, turned around and personally lifted the felt curtain for her, saying, "Get in the car, let's go home."
The emperor was very hesitant in dealing with the evidence presented by Song Zhirou.
The paper she presented for the "letter of treason" was made of Zhaolingtai paper, which had been exclusively used by the imperial court since the previous dynasty. Sun Siren's embezzlement case had far-reaching implications, and if the old case were to be reviewed, the officialdom of Yanjing would surely be wiped out in blood.
Now, with wartime and the Empress seriously ill, neither investigating the Empress nor purging the officialdom are things he is unwilling to do. Let alone reopening old cases; if the Empress and Lady Sun are secretly involved, where will that leave the Crown Prince?
However, upon closer examination of Song Zhirou's identity, the crime of deceiving the emperor is enough to cost her her life.
No matter what you think, it's cheaper to deal with her alone.
What ultimately changed the emperor's mind was the discovery, during the investigation into the massacre of the Sun family, that Sun Siren was colluding with the Wanyuan Merchant Guild, which secretly communicated with Beili and involved spies within the army. The emperor was furious and ordered a thorough investigation.
The Crown Princess pleaded several times for an audience with the Emperor, but was refused each time. The Crown Prince also pleaded for Lady Sun, but was reprimanded by the Emperor and imprisoned in the Eastern Palace.
Within ten days, numerous pieces of evidence were uncovered in the Sun family case: embezzlement of military supplies, private maintenance of merchant groups, and repeated delivery of messages from Yanjing to the northern border.
With irrefutable witness testimony and physical evidence, the crime of treason was clear. Although the entire Sun family was executed by the end of June, their crimes could not be erased. The Emperor ordered an investigation of the remaining accomplices, and their property was confiscated.
Five days later, the verdict in Chang Yu's case was finalized. The news spread by word of mouth throughout the neighborhood, and the only sentence mentioned was: The Chang family was full of loyal and righteous men, but they were framed by Sun Siren for corruption and suffered this injustice.
As for who wrote the forged letter of treason, and whether it was orchestrated solely by Sun Siren, the verdict was not recorded.
After Chang Yu's clothes were recovered, he was buried on Guiluan Mountain. Some people said that they saw two women paying their respects at his tomb. One of them was about twenty years old, and the other was exceptionally beautiful. Upon closer inspection, she turned out to be Ling San, the famous young lady of the capital, and Chang Yu's wife.
"Back then, the general's wife and daughter disappeared without a trace. If they had survived, wouldn't the child have been around nineteen or twenty years old?"
“Oh dear, watch your words! If the officials hear this… In short, don’t say it again.”
"So what? Maybe the officials knew about their background all along, felt sorry for them, and secretly protected them right under their noses."
“He is right. I also heard that after Miss Song returned to the capital from Daizhou, she tearfully recounted the old case in the main hall, begging the emperor to review the verdict, and she also said, ‘I do not ask for favors, but only for clear judgment.’”
"Do you perhaps have relatives in the Forbidden City? But where did you hear this from?"
"..."
Zhi Rou spent her days caring for Ling Xi, and whenever she had free time, she would go to the inn to see her master. She ignored the gossip of others and went straight up to the third floor, knocking on the door of the first room.
Xue Nan opened the door and saw Zhi Rou standing in front of her with a smile: "Master!"
He waved the food box in his hand and glanced at it: "What did you bring this time?"
"Stewed mutton in wine. Don't you like it?" Zhi Rou walked into the house and put down the food box.
Xue Nan chuckled as she closed the door: "Is there anything you brought that I don't like? If this continues, I'm afraid I won't be able to leave Yanjing."
Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou was surprised for a moment: "You're leaving?"
"Yes. Let's wait for Yuanzhan to come back. I'll only be at ease when I see that you two are healthy."
"Where is Master going this time?"
Xue Nan walked to the table. The room was a bit cold because there was no charcoal fire burning. He personally poured tea for Zhi Rou and handed it to her, saying, "Anywhere is fine. This vast land should be explored."
Zhi Rou lowered her eyes in agreement and said softly, "I want to go too."
"So Rou'er wants to come with me?" he asked with a smile.
She fluttered her long eyelashes twice, half-covering her eyelids, her gaze fixed on the desk, and remained silent for a moment.
Xue Nan looked at her for a while, then sat down and opened the food box: "Eat." She didn't continue the conversation from before.
The sunlight inside the room fell like a warm, yellow mist over her face. Xue Nan glanced at her again: "Have you received any news from Yuan Zhan?"
"Not much, just one letter."
Military reports from the border drifted into the capital like snowflakes, and she and Song Hanjin eagerly awaited letters from the north every day.
Song Qiyu was always taciturn, and his letters always contained only a few short lines. However, Wei Yuanzhan's army was marching even faster, and his letter contained only a few strokes: "Peace."
Xue Nan frowned as well, and sighed softly, "I wonder how long this war will last..."
In September of the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Emperor Shuo De, Xi Long led his army to attack Chang Xuan and was victorious.
At the end of the month, the Beili Tar tribe joined forces with Xilong and marched north from Changxuan, directly threatening Daizhou. Ling Cunyu led 20,000 elite troops out of the city to meet the enemy, while Suyuan cavalry launched a surprise attack from the rear, blocking the remaining Beili forces west of Changxuan and preventing them from advancing eastward.
Xilong also sent another cavalry force south from Changxuan. Chongqiu's troops were weak and unable to withstand the attack. They lured the enemy into the city and burned the four corners of the city. Xilong and the Tar tribe's troops gradually showed signs of collapse.
The grain and fodder in Chongqiu City were burned to ashes, leaving the people without food and the cries of hunger echoing across the land. Fortunately, Su Yuan urgently dispatched supplies southward, traveling day and night, which finally stabilized the chaos in Chongqiu.
In the same month, Enhe led a large army to regroup from Mingshui Mountain, dispatched Ao Yun to attack Pingzhou east of Yuyang, and personally led elite cavalry to attack Lancheng.
At that time, several deputy generals who had been operating in Pingzhou City for a long time secretly colluded with foreign invaders and plotted to surrender the city. Song Qiyu was the commander of Pingzhou. While pursuing the enemy, he fell into an ambush. He fought his way back and was wounded countless times. He still personally killed the traitors and his reputation shook the army.
Beginning in late August, Wei Yuanzhan led his elite cavalry to garrison east of Langshan Mountain. Taking advantage of the terrain, they ambushed and killed 10,000 troops of the Beili Zuoqin tribe. Upon hearing that Enhe had returned to Lancheng, he rushed south without rest. Enhe was harassed by enemy forces en route and a stalemate ensued for some time. By the time he had surrounded Enhe's forces behind the besieged city, it was already the tenth day of the tenth month.
Enhe, wary of Wei Yuanzhan's cavalry, mobilized various forces to attack Pingzhou and Yuyang, resulting in a protracted and stalemate in the Battle of Lancheng.
In mid-November, heavy rains made the roads muddy and difficult for the troops to travel. Gao Hongyu dispatched a light cavalry force to launch a night raid outside the city, which finally eased the stalemate in Lancheng.
In early December, Song Qiyu achieved a great victory over the enemy army at the foot of Xiaoshan Mountain, personally beheading the enemy general Ao Yun. The enemy army's morale plummeted, and they scattered and fled.
In the first month of the twenty-seventh year of Shuo De, the north wind blew, carrying layers upon layers of snowflakes, suffocating even the smell of war. The two armies had been fighting fiercely for months, and the soldiers and generals were exhausted. Before the end of the month, the Northern Li's morale had already been depleted.
Enhe besieged Lancheng several times without success, and the morale of his army wavered, eventually retreating to the Yanju Grassland. The emperor ordered Gao Hongyu to abandon his rest and reorganization, and lead the main force of Lancheng westward to pursue the enemy in victory.
This resounding victory completely reversed the balance of power between Beili and Yan Dynasty.
When Wei Yuanzhan charged, an arrow struck his arm, yet he still held his spear high, clearing a path and felling Xilong from his horse. He died instantly, displaying unparalleled bravery. When the news of the victory reached the imperial palace, the emperor was overjoyed and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Weishuo.
From then on, Zhi Rou received letters more frequently, almost every two days. These letters were sent by Wei Yuanzhan whenever he passed through a certain place.
This morning, as soon as she stepped out of Longyue Pavilion, Song Hanjin walked slowly down the corridor and handed her a letter: "The long journey has hindered my travels, but I have kept sending you letters."
In February, they received the imperial decree to return to the capital. Based on the journey, they should be nearing the capital and arriving soon. Song Qiyu, having set off from Pingzhou, should have done so two days earlier.
Zhi Rou, seeing Song Han Jin staring intently at her, smiled slightly, tore open the letter, and dropped it, the letter and a withered plum blossom falling into her hand.
Although Song Hanjin was curious, she kept her gaze fixed on Zhirou and did not urge her. However, she saw Zhirou's eyebrows slightly curved: "We have already passed Chengzhou, so it should be soon."
He then put the letter into an envelope, twirled two fingers over the withered plum blossom, and smiled.
...
"Knowing Rou is like meeting you:"
Now I've arrived in Chengzhou, and the plum blossoms along the roadside are in full bloom, the air still carrying the lingering fragrance of firecrackers. I regret that the New Year has passed and I couldn't spend it with you. This plum blossom was broken off on the way; I wonder if it will still be in its current state when we reach the capital.
The journey home was long, and even though I rode my horse at full speed, it still felt slow.
The chill of spring lingers; I only hope you take good care of yourself.
Yuan Zhan. "
...
Even after the Qingming Festival, the rain in Beijing did not stop. The noisy sound of rain tapping on the tiles and bricks composed a low lullaby that enveloped the courtyard.
Zhi Rou lay on her bed reading, idly fiddling with her pen. When she came across something useful, she would dip her hand in ink and write comments on the paper.
Xinghui entered from outside, and the dense sounds of voices outside were swept into the room.
Zhi Rou tilted one eye to the side and asked, "Sister Xing Hui, what's that noise outside?"
Xing Shou put down the stack of peach shortbreads on the table, her voice filled with joy: "Miss, the eldest young master has returned! I saw him from afar, and he looks much thinner than when he left the capital. He must have suffered a lot... Now that he has returned safely, Third Miss can finally rest easy."
Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou immediately turned over: "Is she in your courtyard, sister?" She straightened her clothes, brushed past her to take out her umbrella, and said, "I'll go check on her."
It was raining today, and Song Hanjin sent all of Jue Xu's servants back to their rooms. When Zhi Rou entered the courtyard, there was not a single person in the misty rain.
Further on, the door opened, and the woman's voice could be faintly heard through the sound of rain: "...Gossip outside...Fourth Sister grew up with us. How could I not know who she is? What Chang family orphan? Humph...She is a member of our Song family."
The next moment, a helpless laugh echoed from inside the room: "Little sister, did I say something?"
Looking along the doorway, the first thing you see is a pair of feet in military boots. Following the footsteps upwards, you see his hands resting on his knees, his body steady, his chin slightly lowered, and a gentle smile on his lips.
Zhi Rou pushed open the door and entered the room. Song Qi Yu turned his head and looked over. His handsome face, which was of the same lineage as Song Han Jin's, was darker due to the erosion of the frontier, but his pupils were even more deep and bright.
"Sister, big brother." She greeted him with a smile.
Song Qiyu stood up, his gaze lingering on her face for a while. Remembering what his sister had just said, he tentatively asked her, "Did you gain anything from your trip north?"
As they spoke, Zhi Rou approached him. After a moment's reaction, she smiled and said, "It's better than nothing. There's nothing that needs to be changed."
Song Qiyu couldn't help but slightly twitch the corner of her lips, a fleeting expression.
"Did Fourth Sister taste the peach shortbread I sent over?"
Their last meeting was in Yuanzhou. They parted ways then, and there was bound to be some sadness at their separation. She told him that on New Year's Eve next year, she would wait for him to bring back peach cakes, just like her third sister.
Unexpectedly, he really remembered.
Zhi Rou smiled and said, "I haven't had time yet, I'll eat when I get back."
Song Hanjin raised her eyebrows slightly, her gaze sweeping over the two of them. She leaned closer, her shoulder touching Zhirou's, and asked, "What are you two talking about? I don't understand."
"Isn't it the time I went to visit my grandmother and met my older brother on the way?" Zhi Rou paused. "That time, I wasn't going to Jiangdong, but to Qinyang."
"Then, Fourth Sister, will you... stay in the Song family?" Her tone softened, as if she were somewhat uncertain.
Although her mother had rarely neglected Zhirou over the years, she still refused to give her a proper name. And now, things have gotten even worse; the girl's surname isn't even Song.
Outside, a heavy drizzle swirled, and inside, the candlelight was dim, obscuring the true or false expression on Zhi Rou's face. All that could be heard was her saying, "Does my sister want me to leave?"
"No! Don't misunderstand me!"
A rare moment of playfulness ensued between the two. Song Qiyu took a step back and sat back in her chair, watching with a smile, before finally lowering her eyes and shaking her head.
The following day, after the court session, the officials gathered in one place, moving very slowly. Several officials in blue robes who had just stepped out of the palace gate looked over and saw that the person being surrounded was none other than the Marquis of Weishuo, whom His Majesty had newly appointed.
Going back a few generations, the Wei family was also a military family. Now that the heir of the Wei family has made meritorious contributions and been ennobled, the family has become even more prominent, which is why it is common for many people in the court to take notice.
Where there are those who favor, there are those who despise.
Standing in the crowd beneath the palace gates, a voice suddenly murmured, "I heard that Young Master Wei and Miss Sun once went on a date, but what happened? The Sun family is ruined. This young marquis might be... a jinx!"
Just then, a passerby overheard this and stopped, scoffing, "The Sun family deserved what they got. What, Lord Wang, have you also done something wrong? Are you afraid that the young marquis will expose your true colors when he looks in the mirror?"
Seeing this, the man scoffed, "He can't get close to the Marquis's mansion, but does he think the Song family is easy to climb up to? Just wait and see."
The surrounding sycophantic voices suddenly grew louder. Song Qiyu turned her head and saw Wei Yuanzhan walking over. She made way for him, squeezed next to him, and spoke casually.
"You have been standing here for a long time, and the wind and cold may easily seep in. I have important matters to discuss with General Song, so I will take my leave first. Please forgive me."
With a tug, he was pulled out of the crowd.
After walking for a short while, they separated again. Under the bright sunlight, Wei Yuanzhan's face was extremely bright, with no expression on his face.
"Thank you." Song Qiyu could get away even without him. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.
Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhan glanced at him for a moment and said, "Cousin, you're too kind."
Once outside the palace gates, neither of them spoke again. Wei Yuanzhan let him go first, and Song Qiyu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and glance at him several times.
The doubts in my heart slowly dissipated like twilight when I returned home in the afternoon and heard that he had brought a betrothal goose to my door.
When the same news reached Zhi Rou's ears, she immediately dropped what she was doing and rushed outside without thinking. Suddenly remembering that she hadn't changed her clothes, she turned back and hurriedly changed.
Upon reaching the front yard, vermilion chests filled the field of vision. Turning his head to look into the hall, he saw Wei Yuanzhan sitting to the left of Song Congzhao.
He was wearing a dark blue round-necked robe, his shoulders and back straight. After half a year apart, his aura had become even sharper. He turned his face slightly and paused for a moment.
Zhi Rou's heart was pounding in her chest.
Wei Yuanzhan's gaze lingered on her face, and a smile spread across his lips. He could no longer hold back, and without waiting for Song Congzhao's permission, he stood up and strode towards her, quickening his pace.
Her heart pounded like thunder for a moment, and Zhi Rou ran straight to him and threw herself into his arms. He opened his arms, picked her up, and spun her around a few times, his voice softly falling above her head: "Zhi Rou."
Overjoyed, Wei Yuanzhan put her down after a moment and carefully examined her. She seemed to have lost some weight, or perhaps it was the lighting, but her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her amber eyes shone brightly.
He smiled contentedly, about to say something, when Zhi Rou hugged him tightly again, her voice muffled against his chest.
"Wei Yuanzhan, I miss you so much."
(End of text)
Author's Note: After several revisions, I've decided to stick to the original outline and stop the main text here. There are a few side stories that I started writing from the beginning; I'll revise and integrate them before posting them.
Two articles are currently confirmed:
1. Continuing from the main text, the focus will be on the married life of the two children.
2. The little Easter eggs hidden in the main text will be written as short side stories, which will be collected in the same article.
Because "bonus chapters" can only be published after the story is completed and settled, which takes at least 7 days, I marked the story as completed first so that I can publish the bonus chapters as soon as possible.
Thank you so much to all the readers who have followed my story and supported me all this time, some of you even since I started writing! You are all so lovely! Meeting like-minded people on my writing journey is the greatest fortune, thank you all!
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