My heart has been waiting for you for many years.
Before they knew it, the day to return to Sangkyung was fast approaching.
Morning light streamed through the carved wooden window, casting dappled patterns of light on the bluestone slabs.
The bronze mirror in front of the dressing table reflected the two figures. Pei Qinzhou stood behind Wen Zhibai, his hand holding the comb was awkward but gentle, and then he picked up a strand of her long hair.
Wen Zhibai's legs were intentionally or unintentionally brought together, her hands resting on her knees: "Why did you think of combing my hair?"
Pei Qinzhou was still wearing a plain white nightgown, his long hair loose and flowing down. His usually aloof brows were now filled with tenderness. His thin lips parted, and his voice was as clear as a glacial spring: "I've heard that married couples do this."
The cool scent of cedar lingered in his nostrils, and Wen Zhibai felt her cheeks slightly flush: "But we... aren't yet."
Her fingers twitched slightly, as if she still had reservations about such an intimate gesture.
"Um, do you mind?"
Wen Zhibai glanced at the person in the mirror and whispered, "...I don't mind." Then, as if remembering something, she added, "By the way, we're setting off back to the capital tomorrow. I'll be going down the mountain in a bit and will be right back."
"I'll go with you."
Wen Zhibai stood up and faced him: "No need, just wait for me, I won't be gone for long, okay?"
He bent down, placed his hands on the dressing table behind her, and hugged her tightly: "...Okay, come back soon."
town
Following the route in his memory, Wen Zhibai found the carpenter's workshop where the wooden pendant was repaired.
She successfully obtained the wooden pendant, but unlike before, it was not in the same style. She asked the craftsman to divide the pendant into two complementary halves.
——
Pushing open the door, one sees incense burning in the room, and Pei Qinzhou sitting at the table, playing chess alone.
Hearing the noise outside the door, he immediately threw the chess piece in his hand back into the chess box: "You're back."
Wen Zhibai nodded, took off his cloak, and walked to the other side of the chessboard.
"What are you hiding?" He rested his chin on one hand, looking at her hand hidden behind her back, a faint smile on his face.
"Hasn't Lord Pei noticed that something is missing from him?"
"Found it."
"Really? Then why don't you look for it?"
"Why should I search for it again after it has been returned to its rightful owner?"
Wen Zhibai handed the wooden pendant to him and then broke it in two: "When I got it, it was already broken. It was right there where your armor was worn. I thought it was better to be safe than sorry, so I had the carpenter make two complementary pieces. From now on, one piece will be yours and the other will be mine."
Pei Qinzhou took his half and stroked it carefully: "Okay."
As morning light streamed through the window, Wen Zhibai raised half of the wooden plaque in his hand to the light, and then Pei Qinzhou also raised his half, putting the two halves together.
They both laughed at the same time.
The next morning, they all packed their bags and prepared to set off.
Qi Yuning was the first to leap onto the horse's back, tighten the reins, and the horse reared up and neighed. She looked in the direction of Shangjing and said, "Indeed, riding on horseback is still the most suitable for me."
Each of the six men rode a horse, facing the faint sunlight, and embarked on their journey home.
The rising sun cast long shadows of them, and the horses' hooves crushed the morning dew, raising a light dust on the newly opened road.
"Miss Qi, would you like to have a race to see who gets to the next post station first?" Xia Chengen rode alongside her, the wind whistling past their ears.
"Alright, but compared to you and me, it's not lively enough. You guys come along too."
Seeing their eager expressions, Wen Zhibai couldn't help but smile: "Among the six of us, only I don't know martial arts. Isn't that too much of a bullying?"
Pei Qinzhou turned his head to look at her, his gaze gentle: "If you are willing, you may ride with me."
Wen Zhibai shook his head: "That would be pointless. Why don't you give me half an hour? I'll go first, and you can follow."
Everyone except Pei Qinzhou nodded in agreement.
"drive!"
Wen Zhibai gave a soft shout, flicked the reins, and charged off first.
The horse's hooves kicked up a light dust, her black hair flew in the wind, and her silhouette appeared particularly unrestrained and flamboyant.
Seeing Pei Qinzhou looking helplessly at the departing figure, Xia Chengen couldn't help but chuckle and said, "She's young, so it's normal for her to be playful."
Qi Yuning winked mischievously from the side and drawled, "You have feelings, but I have no feelings for you~ Hahahaha."
"boring."
Pei Qinzhou uttered two words expressionlessly, but his gaze remained fixed on the increasingly smaller figure ahead, silently counting down the half-quarters of time.
When the time came, the five steeds shot out simultaneously like arrows released from a bow.
The sound of horses' hooves echoed along the forest path.
The trees on both sides rushed past.
Although Wen Zhibai had a half-minute advantage, he was quickly caught up.
Qi Yuning turned back and smiled brightly at her; Xia Chengen also walked past her calmly, his clothes fluttering.
Xie An and Guangxi swept past her on either side, creating a gust of wind.
Only Pei Qinzhou followed behind her at a steady pace, maintaining a just-right distance.
"Your Highness has told me everything."
Pei Qinzhou: "What?"
"The matter of the engagement."
Upon hearing this, Pei Qinzhou seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
“However, it seems impossible for the Emperor to bestow a marriage upon us.” Wen Zhibai said, stopping the horse. “Will you regret it?”
"Whether or not we are betrothed is no longer my concern." He met her gaze: "I'm thinking that if you are unwilling, even if we are betrothed, I will not force you. What I want is always your willingness."
The wind rustled through the trees.
“When I was about to die, you suddenly appeared before me. The moment I saw you, nothing else mattered. I, Pei Qinzhou, have never regretted anything related to you in this world.”
Looking at Pei Qinzhou, who was no longer naive, her heart was stirred with ripples.
My heart has been waiting for you for many years.
No rush, not for a moment, not for a day, not for a year...
What would you do if I never wanted to marry you?
"Hmm...actually, I don't mind taking it by force."
As sunset approached, the earth was bathed in a golden light, and horses galloped across the boundless land.
It has a more unrestrained, wandering spirit.
The horses needed food and supplies, so the six of them found an inn to stay at.
Qi Yuning asked the waiter to bring her several wine jars, and the wolf tooth necklace between her collarbones was very eye-catching.
"What is that necklace Miss Qi is wearing?" Xia Chengen asked.
Qi Yuning picked it up and glanced at it: "Your Highness is talking about this? My brother once went hunting in the mountains and hunted a wolf king. He took its tusks and made a necklace for me."
Xia Chengen: "May I take a look?"
"Of course." Qi Yuning took it off and handed it to Xia Chengen's palm.
Xia Chengen held it in his hand and examined it carefully: "I really envy the brother-sister relationship between General Qi and Miss Qi. This wolf king's tooth is not so easy to obtain."
"If you like it, I can make one for you when we get back to Shangjing. I have another one like this."
“Okay.” Xia Chengen readily agreed: “Then thank you very much, Miss Qi.”
Wen Mansion
Red silk ribbons hung high, and the doors and windows were covered with auspicious characters, but the atmosphere inside the house was unexpectedly somber.
The room, which had been neglected for a long time, was once again illuminated by the daylight. Wen Xian, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, looked at herself in the mirror with lifeless eyes. Qin Yanzhen stood behind her, tying a red ribbon around her hair. From her perspective, she looked like a puppet made by Qin Yanzhen using kinship as its thread.
After a long while, Qin Yanzhen put down the comb in her hand, put her hands on Wen Xian's shoulders, and pretended to be affectionate as she leaned close to Wen Xian: "As expected of my daughter, you are so beautiful, just like me when I was young."
Wen Xian slowly raised her dull eyes: "Isn't Father coming to see me?"
Mentioning Wen Lingchen, Qin Yanzhen's face suddenly darkened: "He will be there when you go out the day after tomorrow."
"Mother, will you still treat Xian'er the same way as before?" Wen Xian's hand covered Qin Yanzhen's hand on her shoulder.
"Good girl, Xian'er."
Upon hearing this, Wen Xian suddenly gave a cold laugh, a laugh mixed with tears, which made Qin Yanzhen shrink back and withdraw her hands.
Wen Xian turned to the side, grabbed Qin Yanzhen's wrist, her eyes wide and bloodshot: "Mother, don't worry, Xian'er is the best. Whatever you want to do, Xian'er will do it for you at all costs."
“Everyone outside is saying that Mother did something wrong to Wen Zhibai and was abandoned by Father.” Wen Xian frowned, looking worried, and touched Qin Yanzhen’s face: “But Mother, don’t worry, Xian’er will kill them all to apologize to Mother.”
"...On such a joyous day, let's not talk about these things."
"Heh...heh heh heh..." Wen Xian's laughter was chilling, even the maids exchanged glances, not daring to utter a sound: "Does Mother really think this is a joyous occasion?"
"Is it a great joy to marry your own daughter to a madman who's mentally challenged?" She raised an eyebrow and pressed, "Don't worry, I won't blame you, Mother. I should thank you, Mother, for making me a member of the Prime Minister's household."
Qin Yanzhen nodded and said nothing more.
Wen Xian: "By the way, Mother, I want to go see my brother."
Her expression was innocent, but it made Qin Yanzhen uneasy.
Finally, after Wen Xian's repeated pleas, Qin Yanzhen allowed her to go to Wen Fushi's room.
She was dressed in a red silk wedding gown, her long black hair reaching her waist, and her exquisite embroidered shoes stopped beside Wen Fushi's bed: "Brother, Xian'er has come to see you."
Wen Fushi heard her voice, slowly opened his eyes, and sat up with Wen Xian's help: "In the blink of an eye, you're about to get married."
Wen Xian smiled and nodded: "Is brother happy for me?"
Wen Fushi's gaze dimmed as he looked at his empty arm.
He felt guilty and helpless.
"It's because my brother is useless..."
Wen Xian gritted her teeth and hugged Wen Fushi, saying, "Xian'er understands, it's not your fault, brother."
After a long while, when she released Wen Fu, she said, "I will definitely avenge my brother. And I also promised my mother that I would do whatever it takes."
She turned around, stepped out of Wen Fushi's room, and casually stuck the silver needle she had been hiding in her hand into the soil of a flowerpot outside the door.
She said she would do anything for Qin Yanzhen at all costs... including her brother's and mother's lives.
Wen Xian went back to her room, washed her hands with a basin of hot water infused with rose petals, and after drying them, she looked at her bare index finger: "This is the perfect match for Mother's ruby ring."
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