Chapter 84 Year After Year the Geese (Part Six) If I continue reading, it will be impolite...
Gao Hongyu and Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Rites were arranging for the troops to retreat and return to the city to welcome the princess's carriage again. Wei Yuanzhan had made a special trip to the procession to see Zhirou.
Jing Yao glanced at the figure on horseback, then leaned close to Zhi Rou and whispered, "You two know each other? I thought he was here to invite His Highness..."
Not only her, but everyone else in the group thought so too. To their surprise, the young general didn't even bother to greet His Highness.
Huai Xian glanced out of the carriage for a moment, vaguely recognizing Wei Yuanzhan, but he didn't care. He looked away and patiently waited for the convoy to enter the city.
Before long, the troops received the order to advance, and the distracted and speculative gazes finally subsided.
Zhi Rou gazed at Wei Yuanzhan's figure in the distance. He was wearing gleaming black armor, which looked unreal in the sunlight, so she suspected that he was an illusion.
Upon entering Lancheng, Zhao Yan and the others dismounted and went forward to greet them.
Huai Xian was helped out by a maid. She had fair hands and a beautiful face, and looked extremely gentle. Zhao Yan was the first to bow to her, which she accepted calmly, occasionally responding with a few words.
The sun in the northwest is bright, but it doesn't feel very warm when it's on you.
Zhi Rou stood next to Huai Xian, while Wei Yuanzhan stared intently at her, his eyes burning with passion. His gaze followed her face to her slender waist, where the dagger he had given her still hung.
For the first time in her life, Zhi Rou felt so awkward in front of others that she couldn't help but look away.
“Your Highness must be tired from your journey. Why don’t you rest at the post station first? Tomorrow, I will send someone to show you around. Although there are many soldiers in the city, they have learned of Your Highness’s return and have prepared many theatrical performances, just waiting for Your Highness to watch them,” Zhao Yan said, cupping his hands in greeting.
Huai Xian did not show much joy upon hearing this.
Rather than staying in the border town for another day, she would rather return to the capital as soon as possible. After all, it was too close to Beili, and the environment was not much different. The loess and sandstorms were rampant, how could it compare to the capital? She had also not seen her father for a long time.
Huai Xian casually replied, "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Zhao and General Gao."
"Your Highness, please." Zhao Yan gestured with his hand, leading Huai Xian and her attendants into the post station.
Although Zhi Rou wasn't exactly her personal attendant, since they hadn't arrived in the capital yet, Huai Xian might not have given her any instructions. Zhi Rou also wanted to live with Jing Yao, so she followed him.
Unexpectedly, after taking only one step, a tall shadow descended in front of her, and the sound of armor clashing was faint. She looked up and saw that it was Wei Yuanzhan.
People in ceremonial processions passed by one after another. The army stood guard outside the post station, their discipline strict, and not a sound could be heard.
Wei Yuanzhan was a major general, free to act as he pleased, but in front of his comrades, he restrained himself and kept his voice down, saying in a low voice, "Don't go."
He was eager to catch up with Zhirou. If he couldn't do it now, he was afraid he would disregard etiquette, barge into her room, pull her out, and examine her closely to see what was different about her.
When I saw her just now, my heart was pounding so hard, it felt like firecrackers were going off in my chest, making a rapid and continuous sound inside.
He hadn't heard her voice for three years. Why was she so stingy, not saying a single word to him? Thinking this, Wei Yuanzhan looked down at Zhirou with a hint of dissatisfaction and grievance.
Because they had been apart for so long, they felt somewhat estranged, or rather, a little unfamiliar. Although they were two very familiar people, Zhi Rou looked at Wei Yuanzhan and always felt that there was something between them, making her hesitant to get closer.
Right now, she met his gaze and deeply felt that he was Wei Yuanzhan. That arrogant yet humble look only seemed natural when he wore it.
"Wei Yuanzhan," Zhi Rou said. Her voice was the same as she remembered, but clearer and stronger, crisp and refreshing, like a gentle rain after a storm.
Upon hearing her words, Wei Yuanzhan subtly lowered his chin, his gaze fixed intently on her face, awaiting her next words.
Zhi Rou looked at him for a while, then tilted her head and smiled. The sun adorned her face with colorful lights, making her look radiant and bright, as if she were being adorned with sunlight.
After a moment, she turned back and said to Wei Yuanzhan, "His Highness may call me; I cannot stand here."
He paused for a moment before arrogantly saying, "Who cares about her?"
People passing by kept glancing at them. Wei Yuanzhan took them in, then stepped back half a step and called to Zhirou, "Come with me."
As he spoke, he turned his back to the other side, pulling off his boots while occasionally glancing sideways to see if she was following.
Zhi Rou stopped under a jujube tree outside the inn and casually looked around. It was quite different from the grassland. All she could see was the color of sand, vast and desolate, which made her feel lonely, yet also a little tender.
She averted her gaze and looked at Wei Yuanzhan's face: "What do you want to say?"
Her directness, without a single superfluous word, left Wei Yuanzhan somewhat speechless. He raised an eyebrow, and after a long pause, said, "You don't have anything you want to say to me?"
To Zhi Rou, these words sounded like a counterattack. She raised her deep-set eyebrows in imitation of his, her face showing a puzzled expression: "Didn't you ask me to come with you?"
The tone of her voice startled Wei Yuanzhan for a moment, causing him to gasp in surprise, then exclaim in anger, "Song Zhirou, you really are..."
She didn't say anything more, and it was unclear what she was going to say, but she pursed her lips, trying to hide a smile.
She had originally intended to tease him, but now she said normally, "You've grown taller; I'll never be as tall as you again."
When she was eleven, her master always said that she could still grow taller, and she was indeed much taller than girls her age. At that time, she and Wei Yuanzhan were at a point where they couldn't stand each other, so she always hoped that she could grow taller and preferably surpass Wei Yuanzhan.
Now that her height has stabilized, Wei Yuanzhan has grown two inches taller than he did three years ago. His shoulders are above her forehead, and if he were to stand any closer, she fears she would feel a strong sense of threat.
Wei Yuanzhan did not respond to her words, but instead said softly, "You've become more beautiful."
Compared to when she was a child, Song Zhirou is now a graceful and elegant young woman. It's hard not to be moved when her eyes, which seem to sparkle with light, gaze upon him. Since he first saw her, his heart has never been at peace.
Zhi Rou was slightly surprised by his words, perhaps because she was not used to his praise. The way he spoke made her feel flustered.
He chuckled softly, turning his head away to hide his embarrassment, and after a while asked, "Weren't you going to Yuyang to join the army? What are you doing in Lancheng?"
“Governor Zhang looked down on me, but fortunately General Gao had a discerning eye and kept me by his side.”
Zhi Rou nodded, her voice muffled, tinged with disappointment: "I wrote you a letter, but it was addressed to Yu Yang. It seems you didn't receive it."
“Received it,” Wei Yuanzhan replied. Zhi Rou turned to look at him, and he continued, “Song Qiyu gave it to me.”
"Big brother?"
"Um."
"Did he join the army too?" Zhi Rou fluttered her eyelashes, thinking to herself, "Third Sister must be heartbroken."
Having finally reunited and had time to themselves, Wei Yuanzhan didn't want to dwell on other people. He had many questions about her from the past three years, and he wanted to know everything. He picked out the most important one.
"In Beili, has anyone bullied you?"
Zhi Rou retorted rather arrogantly, "Who dares?"
Wei Yuanzhan gazed at her for a long time. She noticed his gaze was calm, gentle, and seemed to contain some obscure emotions.
Zhi Rou looked back at her: "You don't believe me?"
"There is no best." Wei Yuanzhan slightly averted his gaze, moving away from her face before returning it to her neck. The collar covered her, revealing not an inch of skin, though her hands were clean and flawless. She practiced martial arts, yet he still worried that she couldn't protect herself.
"Two years ago, Changhuai told me he saw you in Suyuan City. I wanted to see you, so I entered through a tunnel outside the west gate and infiltrated the Beili Army camp."
Wei Yuanzhan paused, looked back at her, and observed her expression. "You're not there, but your jade pendant is in a man's hands."
Zhi Rou was surprised when she heard this: "Chang Huai is alive?"
At that time, she thought that Su Du's archery skills were ruthless and that few would survive. Whenever she thought of it, she felt very sad, as if her heart was being torn apart. She lost her appetite and became very thin.
Wei Yuanzhan nodded: "He said that you protected him, and he felt indebted to you, thinking about how to repay you every day."
Zhi Rou smiled genuinely. She was overjoyed that Chang Huai was alright, but when she thought of Su Du, her lips slowly softened: "I..."
There were some private matters that she was unsure whether or not to discuss, or how to bring them up. These concerned her mother and the reputation of the Song family, as well as her own identity, which remained unclear, so she was reluctant to share them with others.
Wei Yuanzhan neither urged nor forced her; the wind from the border still chilled him somewhat. He pulled off his cloak, stepped forward, and wrapped his hand around Zhi Rou's neck, making it appear from a distance that he was almost holding her in his arms.
Those slender yet strong hands moved beneath Zhi Rou's collar. Being so close, she didn't feel uneasy, but for some reason, her breathing became slightly tight. She could only feel his fingertips tracing across her collar with a very light touch, as if his hands were freely caressing her neck, accompanied by a soft whisper falling from above her head.
"Have you gotten your jade pendant back?"
He asked casually, tied the ribbon in knots with both hands, and then let go of her, but his gaze couldn't leave her.
Zhi Rou shook her head: "No."
Ever since Su Du showed her the inscription on the jade pendant, she had never mentioned returning it to him again.
Su Du is not one to lie easily; in fact, he is quite straightforward. She was afraid that if she said anything too much, she would hear something she didn't want to hear from him.
Wei Yuanzhan remained silent.
He had fought with Su Du more than once. Su Du was ruthless, brave and resourceful. Wei Yuanzhan had been defeated by him several times and knew his ability to threaten people.
Did Su Du also threaten her?
They remained silent. Zhi Rou straightened her cloak and looked up at Wei Yuanzhan intently.
It's strange. Three years isn't a short time. When she first met him, she felt it wasn't real, and she was even a little cautious when getting close to him. But in just a short while, it seemed like there was no longer any barrier between them. She enjoyed talking to him and wanted to be with him.
How did he spend those days when she couldn't see him? Zhi Rou was extremely curious.
My eyes moved to the jujube tree; the branches were still covered in unmelted snow, fluffy and white.
She tiptoed and shook a branch, causing snowflakes to fall softly, landing on Wei Yuanzhan's nose. The icy sensation interrupted his thoughts. He frowned, raised his hand to brush it away, and looked back at Zhirou.
His deeply furrowed brows exuded a powerful aura, a natural aggressiveness that even he himself was unaware of.
Zhi Rou was used to playing around with Wei Yuanzhan and didn't notice him. Seeing that her prank had succeeded, she smiled happily, as if she had returned to her childhood.
Before she knew it, Wei Yuanzhan suddenly reached out and grabbed her, pulling her close with his palm.
Zhi Rou stumbled a couple of steps and almost fell into his arms. He didn't even try to help her up; he was only concerned with making sure she couldn't break free from his grasp. With his other hand, he grabbed a tree branch, wanting to retaliate.
Snowflakes fell like fireflies, and Zhi Rou dodged them all over the ground, her voice sounding both a warning and a plea for mercy: "Wei Yuanzhan!"
He pretended not to hear, a smile playing on his lips, showing no intention of letting her off the hook.
When Zhi Rou went north, Wei Yuanzhan went to the army. He had no playmates left. This long-lost feeling aroused his playful spirit. Seeing her dodge, he simply grabbed a handful and pressed it against her cheek.
Her wrist was still in his hand, and her cheek was also held to one side. Their eyes met, and the not-so-close distance suddenly became somewhat ambiguous.
Wei Yuanzhan was bewildered by her gaze; his heart was in turmoil, and his eyes were unfocused. If he continued to stare, he would be making a fool of himself.
He hurriedly wiped the snow off her cheek with his hand; it was already damp, and he couldn't tell if it was cold or hot, but it felt like it was burning, and a faint pain came from it.
Wei Yuanzhan stopped, coughed twice, and slowly clenched his fist where she couldn't see him.
Zhi Rou's eyelashes trembled, and she suddenly regretted teasing him. The touch on her face seemed to still be there. She wiped it with her sleeve, but it did little more than nothing.
When she put her hands down again, a blush crept onto her cheeks. The two who had been fidgeting just moments before were now silent, letting the cold wind drift around, gradually fading away any trace of their attraction.
Zhi Rou wasn't the type to be coy; once she made up her mind about someone or something, she wouldn't easily change it. But strangely, when she finally saw Wei Yuanzhan again, the slightest touch made her want to run away. Was it because she'd grown up?
Wei Yuanzhan probably sensed that if she didn't speak up soon, she would run back to the inn like a coward.
On second thought, how much bolder was he than her? They had only just met, and he was worried that if he wasn't careful, he might overstep his bounds and she would ignore him.
This is not unprecedented. When he was young, he angered her, and she ignored him for two months. She could tolerate it when she was young, but she could not bear it this time.
Remembering something, Wei Yuanzhan said to Zhirou, "I went back to the capital this year and visited the Song residence."
"You've seen my mother?" Zhi Rou's heart stirred slightly, and she took a step closer to him.
Wei Yuanzhan shook his head: "Song Hanjin said that your mother is in good health, but she doesn't like to talk."
Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou lowered her eyelashes and pondered for a moment. Actually, it was good news. Correspondence between the two countries was difficult, and she had only received three letters from her father in total. The most recent message about her mother was from a year ago.
He still remembered to ask about her when he returned to the capital. Zhi Rou smiled and looked at Wei Yuanzhan: "Thank you, Wei Yuanzhan."
His reply carried a hint of arrogance. He glanced at her sideways and said lazily, "You owe me a favor, and I'm afraid you can't repay it in a single sentence."
When the topic turned to personal relationships, Zhi Rou remembered the several debts she owed him in Beijing. Just as she was about to speak, someone called her name from behind. She turned around and frowned.
Wei Yuanzhan turned around, and a figure in a narrow-sleeved robe walked into his field of vision. He raised his eyebrows and looked him over. The figure got closer and closer. After meeting several times on the battlefield, Wei Yuanzhan had a deep impression of that face and recognized him. After a moment of surprise, hostility appeared in his eyes.
He stepped forward, blocking Zhi Rou's path, his gaze cold and stern, yet his words were very polite: "Su Du. How have you been?"
Unlike Wei Yuanzhan, Su Du's sharpness was relatively restrained. While Wei Yuanzhan was scrutinizing him, Su Du was also scrutinizing him, but more so, he was guessing about the relationship between Wei Yuanzhan and Zhi Rou.
After a short while, Su Du smiled and asked, "Were you two very close before?"
"What's it to you?" Wei Yuanzhan spoke sparingly, glancing discreetly at the army, his eyes full of wariness.
Su didn't step forward again. His gaze seemed to pass right through him and find Zhi Rou: "I have something to say to her. Please excuse me, General."
Before he could make a move, Zhi Rou stepped out, her expression revealing dissatisfaction: "Do we have to say it here?"
"Any later, and it will be too late to say."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhi Rou keenly sensed something and raised an eyebrow slightly: "You're leaving?"
Judging from their appearance, they were not strangers. Wei Yuanzhan bit his cheek, clenched his fists slightly, and reluctantly retreated a little.
Huai Xian's caravan was moving slowly. Su Du and they weren't traveling together anyway, and now that they had entered Yan, there was nothing left for them to follow. He was going to the capital and wanted to see Lady Ling of the Song family.
Zhi Rou naturally refused, but her heart felt as if it had been split in two. Another voice bewitched her, making her want to know if what she suspected was true.
The longer they talked, the longer Wei Yuanzhan suffered. Su Du's appearance was a stark reminder that he was unaware of the three years she had been with him; the reality of their separation was stark, painful, and something he couldn't bear to hide.
If he were still as arrogant as he was three or four years ago, he would have turned his back and left by now, wouldn't he?
Under the pale blue sky, Su Du took out a letter from his sleeve, handed it to Zhi Rou, and after saying only a few words, turned back the way he came. Before leaving, he glanced at Wei Yuanzhan without leaving a trace.
Zhi Rou was a little annoyed. Seeing Wei Yuanzhan standing a few dozen steps away, she walked towards him, paused for a moment, and said, "I'm going back to the post station."
Wei Yuanzhan remained silent, simply nodded his chin, and stepped forward to escort her back.
The two remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts. General Gao led his troops to guard the area around the post station, while the remaining men of his unit camped outside. They were largely infected by the Lancheng army, and not a single cough could be heard, making the place rather desolate.
When they reached the door of the second-floor room, Wei Yuanzhan stopped. Seeing that he looked worried, Zhi Rou didn't push the door open and go in, as if she was waiting for him or keeping him company.
There were sounds coming from the next room; it was Huai Xian and her maid, the sounds coming through the door, but they were not very clear.
Zhi Rou had no intention of probing; her mind was temporarily focused on Wei Yuanzhan. After a while, he said somewhat solemnly, "After you went to Bei Li, I thought about you every day."
His voice was low, and his eyes held tenderness and restraint.
Zhi Rou slightly bent her fingers, her heart pounding under his gaze, but she didn't look away.
Seeing her like this, Wei Yuanzhan asked, "Haven't you thought of me?"
Almost as soon as he spoke, he heard her response, not loud, but loud enough for him to hear.
I miss you so much.
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