Chapter 86 Year After Year the Geese (Part 8) Someone's coming, and things could get complicated...
Night had fallen, and only Huai Xian and a few of her close maids remained in the second-floor wing. Jing Yao and Zhi Rou did not share a room, and having not seen Zhi Rou during the day, she quietly left her room at this time to inform her of her departure from the palace.
Several candles were lit in the room, casting a bright, daylight-like glow. Jing Yao sat on a round stool, her eyes filled with joy: "His Highness has agreed to release me from my fiefdom. Once I return to the capital and receive the official document, I will be a free man."
Zhi Rou smiled and asked, "Does Sister plan to stay in the capital?"
“My parents passed away early, and I have no family left. Actually, it doesn’t matter where I am.” Jing Yao looked at Zhi Rou. “However, I met you on this trip. I think if I can make a living in the capital, I can still see you often.”
Our country has an open social atmosphere, but when women show their faces in public, it's inevitable that people will gossip, especially under the emperor's nose. Zhi Rou understood that what she was asking for was not easy, and wanted to help her, but didn't know where to start. The two talked briefly in the room, and then the night wind picked up outside the window.
Wei Yuanzhan stepped across the threshold, his gaze sweeping over the long staircase for a moment before hesitating. Although he had been stationed on the border for three years, he had not forgotten the etiquette he had learned since childhood. Going to Zhi Rou's room to find her late at night would damage his reputation.
So she stood downstairs for a while, and when she heard a "click," she looked up and saw a thin figure emerge from the door. The next moment, Zhirou followed and whispered goodbye to the person.
After seeing her off, Zhi Rou noticed a figure downstairs and cautiously glanced down, remaining lost in thought for a long time.
It was Wei Yuanzhan; he actually dared to come in.
"You..." Zhi Rou opened her mouth, her voice low, filled with surprise and panic.
She didn't plan to see Wei Yuanzhan tonight. The journey back to the capital was still long, and it wouldn't make a difference. Besides, they rarely met at night in the past, which was against the rules.
The candlelight inside the room seeped through the cracks in the door, making the entire inn dimly lit. A long wind swirled erratically. Wei Yuanzhan stood downstairs, staring straight at her. His posture and gaze seemed to show no restraint, yet he did not take another step closer, maintaining a proper distance.
Zhi Rou, unable to do anything about him, turned her back, gently closed the door, went downstairs, and looked up at Wei Yuanzhan: "Is there something you need?"
Since arriving in Lancheng, Zhirou has changed into plain white clothes, and her black hair is tied up with a hairpin, making her look very elegant and quiet.
Wei Yuanzhan lowered his eyes and stared at her, his words blunt: "I haven't seen you yet today."
Behind him was the half-open main gate of the post station, bathed in the soft moonlight, while the interior of the post station was pitch black.
This chaotic and ambiguous feeling inexplicably reminded Zhi Rou of his sixteenth birthday, when the two of them were in a dark room together, and his breath was so close that it made her palms clench slightly.
Right now, she also clenched her fingertips and stepped out of the door first: "I saw you today."
Wei Yuanzhan turned around: "Where?"
There was a long bench under a tree in the courtyard. Zhi Rou sat down, grabbed her clothes, and looked back at him: "When you and General Gao were patrolling the city, I happened to be in the shop next door. I heard them calling you, Little General Wei."
"Why didn't you call me?" Wei Yuanzhan raised an eyebrow and stared at her for a moment, slightly puzzled.
If it were a chance encounter on the street before, she wouldn't have just stared at him like that. Now, she wouldn't even leave him a cloak. He didn't understand when their relationship needed to be drawn so clearly.
Zhi Rou was unaware of the so-called boundaries, and her every word and action was spontaneous. She slightly curled the corners of her lips and said, "How dare I disturb General Wei's official business?"
She spoke lightly, but Wei Yuanzhan secretly pondered her expression and stood there without saying a word.
Under the moonlight, the two sat and stood, their faces and shoulders swaying in the light. Zhi Rou found turning her head too tiring, so she simply turned around to face him directly, looking up at him intently.
"Are you unhappy?" Seeing his furrowed brows, Zhi Rou's relaxed posture suddenly became more upright.
To say she was unhappy wouldn't be accurate; it was just that she seemed to be avoiding something, yet when you met her eyes, they were completely open and honest.
Wei Yuanzhan relaxed, strode towards her, and sat down beside her: "No."
Suddenly, two raindrops hit her face. Zhi Rou brushed them off and looked up at the sky. A cool breeze had picked up around her; it was going to rain.
She casually lowered her hand, turned her face and stared intently at Wei Yuanzhan: "I heard from Changhuai that you were badly injured... Have you received proper treatment?"
The moonlight reflected in her eyes, as gentle as water, and a hint of heartache welled up within them. She was very afraid of pain, and judging suffering by her own senses, she assumed that what Changhuai meant by almost losing his life must be an unbearable experience for an ordinary person.
Wei Yuanzhan remained silent for a moment, then smiled leisurely: "They are all minor injuries, none of them are life-threatening."
Seeing his reaction, Zhi Rou refrained from pressing the matter further. She placed her hands on the edge of the stool and asked the question she had been pondering all day: "Will you stay at the border forever?"
"No." He didn't hesitate. "Once the country is stable, I will naturally go back. My father and mother are still waiting for me at home, and there are people in the capital that I want to see."
As he spoke his last words, Wei Yuanzhan's gaze lingered on Zhi Rou's face, his exceptionally handsome eyes burning with intensity, as if he could touch her.
Zhi Rou's eyelashes trembled, and the feeling of palpitation returned, causing her to instinctively look away.
Wei Yuanzhan paid close attention to her every expression. It was still too dark, and he vaguely felt that she was avoiding him. His heart sank slightly, and he clenched his hands on his knees.
He had originally planned to confess to her, but seeing her now, he was afraid she would run away, so he suppressed his anger and changed the subject: "You and Su are very familiar with each other?"
Thinking back to their conversation yesterday, when Su Du said she was leaving, she clearly sounded flustered. Wei Yuanzhan felt even more choked up. "He's dangerous."
If they weren't on opposing sides, he might have showered Su Du with praise, but ultimately they weren't on the same side, and Su Du's methods were insidious. He still remembered Su Du's demonic face in Changxuan City.
Zhi Rou didn't know how to answer. After all, in their eyes, Su Du was an enemy general, but to her, he was perhaps an elder brother.
She was unwilling to reveal anything that wasn't entirely certain, so she carefully replied, "He has no loyalty to the new Khan. This trip to Yan is for personal matters."
What were meant to reassure Wei Yuanzhan sounded particularly grating to him.
Have she and Su Du already reached a point where they can even confide in each other about private matters?
Wei Yuanzhan chuckled softly, not seeming angry, and said in a calm tone, "Is that really the case?"
His youthful sharpness was revealed. Zhi Rou frowned and asked him, "Didn't you know? Otherwise, the troops from Lan City would have set off to chase after them yesterday, and you wouldn't be staying here."
There's nothing new under the sun. The current situation in Bei Li is familiar to the nation, which has experienced similar events before and knows that internal turmoil is imminent. Otherwise, why would His Majesty have allowed Huai Xian to return to the country?
With internal strife breaking out in Beili, no one would care about the life or death of Princess Yan. However, the current emperor has always been known for his benevolence and virtue. The memorial from Huai Xian requesting to return home was written with such heartbreaking emotion that it has been read by many people after several twists and turns. How could Your Majesty not grant it?
Su had foreseen this and planned it all along, which is why he advised her to return to Huai Xian's camp.
After hearing what Zhi Rou said, Wei Yuanzhan clenched his fists tighter and tighter, annoyed that she was so smart, yet she couldn't understand his feelings.
He secretly regretted that he should have spoken louder back in Yunchuan, so that she could hear him and remember him, instead of three years later, only he remained unchanged in his feelings.
Sometimes he truly couldn't understand whether she was genuinely oblivious, or simply didn't want to be. Or perhaps, had he been too frivolous and hasty?
Young love often leaves one feeling lost and helpless. As for Zhi Rou, she disliked the feeling of not being able to control her emotions.
For some reason, in Beili, whenever she thought of Wei Yuanzhan, her heart would feel light and happy, making her feel relaxed; but now, when she faces him, she always feels nervous, nervous like Song Zhirou.
No matter how perfectly she appeared on the surface, her burning ears, her fingers gripping the edge of the stool, and her evasive gaze all betrayed her true nature.
Many times, Zhi Rou felt that she and Wei Yuanzhan were like two magnets, sometimes attracting each other and sometimes repelling each other.
The sudden silence made them both a little uncomfortable. Wei Yuanzhan turned to look at her. The Song Zhirou beside him was real. Her voice, her temper, and her occasional teasing were all real.
It was a blessing from heaven that she was able to return to his side; as for anything else, he could plan for it slowly.
Unlike when they were children, Wei Yuanzhan no longer needed her to speak first. He softened his voice and took the initiative to change the subject: "Can you ride a horse now?"
Zhi Rou glanced at him for a moment: "What, are you testing me?"
His tone wasn't particularly gentle, nor was it cold; the corners of his lips were slightly upturned, with a hint of teasing.
Wei Yuanzhan smiled slightly; her sharp words, however, gave him a sense of familiarity.
“You once said that one day you would be more skilled in archery and horsemanship than I am. I still remember that.”
Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou recalled that it seemed to have happened outside the Ling residence on the day Wei Yuanzhan thought she was ill.
Long-forgotten memories flooded her mind, and she scrutinized him for a while. When he looked at her, his pride remained unchanged.
Zhi Rou's delicate eyebrows gradually rose: "You don't believe me."
Wei Yuanzhan had been in the army for a long time and had been skilled in horsemanship since childhood. She herself was not confident that she could catch up with him in three years.
It's clear that Rou can withstand anyone's provocation, but she can't withstand Wei Yuanzhan's. He looked at her, neither saying he believed her nor that he didn't, and tapped his fingers on his knees twice, displaying a somewhat flippant attitude.
Before long, he took out a plum blossom from his sleeve and pinned it to her collar. His light touch brushed against Zhi Rou's collar, and the fragrance of the flower filled the air.
Before she could react, Wei Yuanzhan stood up, a smug, mocking smile on his face: "Go upstairs, or you'll have trouble explaining yourself when someone comes over."
Chang Huai and Lan Ye were outside, so the soldiers stationed at the post station did not come in to check from time to time.
Zhi Rou's cheeks flushed slightly. She brushed her clothes and got up to go upstairs, but before she could even step into the inn, Wei Yuanzhan added from behind, "When we get to Yuyang, I'll take you to the martial arts arena."
This refers to mounted archery.
Yu Yang. Is your older brother there too?
Zhi Rou stopped and turned around. The night was deep, and withered flowers danced in the moonlight. Wei Yuanzhan stood tall and elegant, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes, and a figure as heroic as a military general. He subtly smiled at her.
To others, Zhi Rou liked his smug and flamboyant manner; but towards her, Zhi Rou was not convinced.
She deliberately retorted, "Given my identity, I wonder how Prince Wei will allow me to enter?"
Yuyang is a strategic location in the Northwest. Although she had never served in the military, she had seen what strict military discipline meant in Beili, where not just anyone could come and go as they pleased.
Hearing that she had changed her form of address, Wei Yuanzhan stared at her intently for a long time. A plum blossom was pinned to her lapel, her white dress adorned with crimson, adding to her beauty. Song Zhirou was much more radiant than she had been as a child, yet her temperament remained the same.
Wei Yuanzhan smiled and said decisively, "If I say it's okay, then it's okay."
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