Chapter 69 Drinking Snow (Part 9) Unwilling to say goodbye to him like this...
After that, Zhi Rou spent most of her time on that alien.
Upon careful recollection, Zhi Rou realized that his beaded necklace resembled the necklace she had read about in the book. Considering what had happened in the group over the past two months, Zhi Rou had a gut feeling that he was from Bei Li.
These past few days, in order to wait for him to come, she deliberately separated herself from her companions. While others would go together to fetch water, she alone was like a monster.
People say behind her back that Miss Song is not to be trifled with, and that she has a rather sinister air about her.
Zhi Rou paid no attention to him, only feeling a tightness in her chest as the man failed to reappear. She had seen his face clearly, yet he hadn't come to find her. Was it because he had taken her knife that he was so calm and fearless?
Zhi Rou was unwilling to wait any longer.
She began learning the language of the Northern Kingdom from Ma Tongshi①. Although it was difficult, she was diligent and showed some talent. Compared to Huai Xian and others, Ma Tongshi was more satisfied with her as a student.
She had made up her mind. Once she arrived at the grasslands, she would seek an opportunity to find a job at the royal court. Firstly, to find a way out for herself from the Yan Dynasty; secondly, to use the power of the grasslands to track down the person who stole her dagger in the forest.
The weather was getting colder and colder. After passing Liangzhou, there was only one road ahead, with sparse vegetation and yellow sand as far as the eye could see.
The marriage procession stopped in Yunchuan City. High earthen walls surrounded the territory, and a few jujube trees could be seen standing alone among them. Compared with the scene in the capital, it was indeed somewhat dilapidated.
Fortunately, after those incidents, no further trouble arose in the group, and the people of the Northern Li delegation treated the Crown Prince and Huai Xian with utmost respect.
As they approached the border between the two countries, they mentioned that the Khan had sent the seventeenth and nineteenth princes to escort the bride, and their voices became weak, as if they were embarrassed by what had happened before.
Initially, the charge of assassinating Princess Huaixian in the tent was pinned on the nineteenth prince; then, the trouble in the forest aroused suspicion on the seventeenth prince. Ironically, it was these two who came to fetch the princess, making it seem less like a marriage alliance and more like a deliberate act of enmity.
The envoys came to Yan on the Khan's orders to establish friendly relations. Although they did not obtain any cities or land, the Khan's intention was to strengthen the friendship between the two countries, and they must not allow these matters to cause any discord with Yan.
For the rest of the journey, the group was much calmer, but Huai Xian's temperament became increasingly gloomy and unpredictable.
Knowing that Rou was preoccupied with her own thoughts, she didn't notice that Jing Yao, who was serving by the princess's side, was genuinely feeling quite tired.
As his fear grew deeper and deeper, perhaps out of a desire to vent, Huai Xian became resentful of everything these past few days, and several of his servants had already been punished.
The Crown Prince noticed her anxiety and, wanting to soothe her, ordered her to stay an extra day so that she could celebrate the Moon Festival with the locals.
Yunchuan is an ancient village, long residing in a remote area, where many customs have been preserved to this day, retaining the appearance of hundreds of years ago. Every year on the full moon of October, people in the town worship the moon goddess, praying for a year of favorable weather and protection from disasters.
That night, as dusk fell, bonfires rose in the open space, next to neat earthen houses. The Yan people and members of the delegation sat or stood, all feeling either unreal or excited by the scene before them.
If it's unreal, it's naturally the feeling of those accompanying the deceased. The palace servants gazed at the rolling, blazing flames, and watched the villagers pass around wine, sing, and dance after the sacrificial ceremony. Suddenly, it felt like they had entered a dream world, making them both apprehensive and somewhat restless.
After all, once you go to the grasslands, who knows if you'll still have such peaceful days?
His Highness the Crown Prince did not make a fuss about the princess's encounter in the forest, but there were countless people present that day, and if someone had seen it, the news would naturally have leaked out.
Considering how disrespectful the people of Beili were to the princess, they felt that they should just live each day as best they could in Yan.
Among the delegation, some young men saw the campfire, brought out musical instruments from their tents, casually sat cross-legged, and played exotic music that carried a hint of violence yet also contained a touch of tenderness.
The palace servants beside Huai Xian glanced at her expression and dared not make a move. However, several of the bolder ones from the Crown Prince's side walked towards the fire, laughing and pulling their companions along: "Come on, let's warm ourselves up a bit."
As a result, more and more people gathered in the open space, and the hems of their clothes, reflecting the firelight, trailed in the dark ink, as dazzling as starlight.
Zhi Rou stood under the jujube tree watching them. The campfire flickered, and a sense of loneliness gradually crept into her eyes.
It's October now. I wonder if Mother is feeling any better? With her gone, is there anyone left to talk to her? Winters in the capital are colder than in Luoyang. Every winter, Mother's hand ailment flares up. I wonder if the people at Xixiang Garden are treating her well, if they're taking good care of her…
Zhi Rou lowered her eyes, her thoughts drifting from Lin Hedu to Wei Yuanzhan. Without any motive, she would think of him from time to time.
I remember their wrestling match at Xiaocang Mountain, and Wei Yuanzhan's triumphant expression after his victory; I remember them practicing martial arts at Qiyun Garden; I remember them getting into trouble together, and being scolded and forbidden from leaving the house for ten days afterward.
When will I see Wei Yuanzhan again?
Will he... forget her?
Thinking of this, Zhi Rou's heart suddenly ached for a moment, as if something had been growing in her heart for many years, and only today had it broken through that outer layer and been stirring wildly in her cavity.
Zhi Rou's fingers curled slightly, as if she was thinking about and comparing her emotions.
She would miss her third sister, her brother, and Xinghui; they were all people close to her. When she left the capital, besides her mother, the people she would miss the most were them and Wei Yuanzhan.
But in the past few months, she has not been able to remember her third sister's features clearly anymore. She only remembers that her third sister also loved to laugh, but always kept a straight face and would always pretend to be angry to scare her.
As for Wei Yuanzhan, she remembered his appearance clearly, and even his every move could be vividly displayed before her eyes.
The "he" in her memory was like a living thing, drawing nourishment from her and growing stronger, making her heart feel both full and empty.
At that moment, Zhi Rou realized with a start that he was different from everyone else.
In the silence, footsteps approached her, and a gaze swept over her: "Would you like to go, young lady?"
Before she could react, she glanced at the person who had just arrived and asked, "What?"
“Dance with them,” Jing Yao said with a smile, her eyes glancing at the campfire with eager anticipation.
Zhi Rou had no such thoughts and slowly shook her chin: "I won't."
Jing Yao remained silent for a while, then gently smiled and said, "Then I won't go either."
Observing her expression, Zhi Rou knew that she was somewhat longing for it: "Sister, you don't need to worry about me. If you are interested, you can go over. I think they are quite happy."
Jing Yao looked hesitant.
The accidental ingestion had alienated her from her peers, and now that she was working for the princess, they would definitely say something strange if she went over, so she decided against it.
She turned her face away and quietly took a step closer to Zhi Rou. Although she was older, it didn't stop her from following Zhi Rou. Being with Zhi Rou gave her a lively yet secure feeling.
A moment later, she raised her eyebrows and caught sight of a tall, elegant figure in the distance, pausing slightly. She seemed to have seen them before, outside the post station.
"Miss Zhirou, is that someone you know?" Jing Yao asked thoughtfully.
Zhi Rou followed her gaze and saw Wei Yuanzhan standing with the people of Yunchuan behind the swaying dresses. Guards patrolling back and forth would occasionally block his figure, only to reveal him again in an instant.
Zhi Rou gradually straightened up and seemed to move forward.
When Wei Yuanzhan saw her looking over, he smiled silently, his gaze never leaving her.
Yunchuan is less than a hundred miles from Yuyang. After today, he will no longer be able to see her off. Once he arrives in Yuyang, he will have to pay his respects to Governor Zhang. He doesn't know when he will see her again.
They stood silently facing each other. Zhi Rou's heart suddenly raced. She vaguely understood something, so she was unwilling to say goodbye to him like this, without even being able to say a word.
She looked around. Yun Chuan was too peaceful. Behind the earthen wall was Huangshan. The guards had enclosed the area where the team was temporarily staying, and there was nowhere for her to slip out.
Zhi Rou was getting anxious, but then she gave up and couldn't wait any longer.
She strode quickly, initially running, but as she got closer, she slowed down, as if wanting to approach but then pulling back, seemingly afraid of something.
Jingyao followed her the moment she lifted her leg, worried that she might collide with the guards and cause unnecessary trouble.
Wei Yuanzhan was three or four zhang away from them, and their figures flowed by like water.
When the guards saw them running over, they stared at them suspiciously for a while. Fortunately, Jingyao was quick-witted and took Zhirou's hand to cover for her, making it look like the two girls were looking at the people over there.
"Wei Yuanzhan." Zhi Rou called out very softly, so softly that Jing Yao, standing beside her, couldn't hear what she said.
Having spent so much time together, she had never seen Zhi Rou so unruly tonight. She looked away, fixing her gaze on the person opposite her. Was that her brother?
Jingyao observed the handsome young man. He didn't look like Zhirou at all. The fact that he had followed her from the first post town to this place suggested that they had a very good relationship and were reluctant to part.
She tactfully stepped back, not standing too far, her eyes secretly watching the patrolling guards.
On the other side of the line, Lan Ye and Chang Huai were standing on either side of Wei Yuanzhan. They noticed that the Fourth Miss was dressed in men's clothing and seemed to have grown taller. The wind blew her hair and robes, making her figure appear particularly lonely in the clothes.
For some reason, seeing her like this, Lan Ye felt a little uncomfortable. He turned around and walked away.
Under the dark shadows, Wei Yuanzhan's eyes were slightly red, and a feeling of soreness welled up in his heart. He suppressed it and looked at her without saying a word.
They say saying goodbye is no easy thing, and this time it really is difficult.
Even if he could walk up to her and actually touch her, he still wouldn't know how to phrase things without upsetting her. His mouth, when it came to her, became incredibly stiff.
The flames danced in front of and behind the two men, and the moon in the sky seemed to sway as well, creating momentum for the young man's petition.
Zhi Rou could only see his lips moving. She was too far away to hear his voice, but in that instant, all the noise in the world stopped, and only her heart vibrated in her chest.
"Wei Yuanzhan..."
You must, you absolutely must, wait for me.
Author's note: ①通事: Translator.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
