Chapter 39 Chapter 39 "Can you, hug me?" ...
"The Lament of Pear Blossoms" ended perfectly. Xue Yuanyin returned to the stage, wet her handkerchief, and washed her makeup in front of the bronze mirror.
Zhang Jingxuan took a few steps behind the stage and came over to return his costume. They looked at each other as they passed by her.
Xue Yuanyin's cheeks flushed slightly, and she was the first to look away. She asked, "Did you wash off your makeup?"
It seemed like he was just making small talk. It was obvious that he hadn't had time to wash off the actor's makeup on Zhang Jingxuan's face.
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at her, but didn't expose her. He replied:
"I haven't washed it yet."
Xue Yuanyin responded, and Zhang Jingxuan got up and left, going to the next room to wash off her makeup.
She let out a breath and finally relaxed.
The kiss just now was tacitly skipped by the two of them, but there was actually nothing to mention - it was understandable that they were just pretending for the sake of the play, not to mention that there was a red veil between them, so there was no skin contact at all, so it couldn't be considered a kiss.
She just felt the shape of the other person's lips. Well... Zhang Jingxuan's lips were a little thinner. As for whether it was kissable or not, she didn't have time to feel it, and there was nothing more.
She felt a little awkward, but Zhang Jingxuan's expression remained the same from beginning to end. He was as calm and indifferent as usual, which made her seem as if he had never seen the world.
It was just a kiss! Humph, what's the big deal! It wasn't the first time she kissed him.
After Xue Yuanyin finished washing off her makeup, she heard the sound of Western Qiang people toasting each other outside the stage.
She walked out of the stage and looked outside. It was already dark. The Western Qiang people were skinning the mutton, chopping it up, marinating it, and making a fire with firewood. They were about to start roasting it.
The wind is a bit strong tonight, but the rain hasn't come yet, so we can still barbecue and drink as usual.
These Western Qiang people were usually responsible for secretly transporting ironware to trade with the county magistrate here. They never encountered any danger, so they were quite greedy and lazy.
The sounds of chatting, laughing, scolding, and joking... The Western Qiang people obviously didn't care about the Sanqing Troupe. They were in a good mood, clinking glasses and drinking, and the sound of heroic laughter and talk could be heard everywhere.
Even though they came to receive their wages, they were told to stay or go as they pleased, but had to leave tomorrow at the latest.
It might rain tonight. If we go down the mountain suddenly, we might encounter a mudslide. That's no joke and could kill the entire Sanqing troupe.
Mrs. Luo thought for a moment and decided to rest for a night and leave tomorrow to see how the situation develops.
The aroma of roasted lamb drifted faintly from between the tents to the backyard. The opera singer was eating brown rice. She raised her head and sniffed the aroma of the meat. Her tongue felt a little greedy, and she said to Xue Yuanyin:
"Those foreign soldiers certainly wouldn't invite lowly people like us to eat with them. If I were particularly beautiful and noticed, I might be able to get a bite or two, but I've heard that the Western Qiang people are crude, barbaric, and brutal, and don't know how to care for others... Forget it."
Zhang Jingxuan came out from behind the scenes, and seemed to have something to say, but when he saw that there was someone else next to Xue Yuanyin, he stood aside and did not speak.
The actor also saw Zhang Jingxuan, a blush appeared on his face, and he said to Xue Yuanyin enviously:
"Your husband is so handsome, just like the scholarly young man in the painting. He's simply priceless... Where did you find such a good husband?"
Xue Yuanyin laughed twice: "You can find it too."
She and Zhang Jingxuan were not husband and wife at all. Saying they were husband and wife was just a lie and a pretense.
These days, she heard many people in the Sanqing class talking to her about similar topics, asking openly or secretly where this handsome man was found and who he was... She couldn't say much and just brushed it off.
Xue Yuanyin walked to Zhang Jingxuan's side and waved to the actor, saying:
"My husband is looking for me. I want to talk to him. You can go back first."
The actor was tactful enough not to disturb him and left with the brown rice.
Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan left the crowded and noisy place, returned to the house, and closed the door before she asked:
"What do you want from me?"
"Those Western Qiang people were roasting lamb, drinking wine, and chatting about random things. I heard a piece of news."
Zhang Jingxuan's expression was somewhat grim as he spoke slowly, "A batch of ironware will be cast in a few days. The two parties have already contacted each other and asked Xiqiang to escort the goods back. The quantity of ironware is huge, so we need help. The deputy of Xiqiang's dreaded killer may come to Xiaocang Valley tonight."
Xue Yuanyin digested the news before saying:
"Wait, which killer? The one who loves killing people on the battlefield, Ashlie?"
"It's Ashlie, the most important general under the Western Qiang Khan."
Zhang Jingxuan paused briefly before explaining, "I also heard a few words from my adoptive father. His terrifying reputation is well known to everyone, and it's still talked about in the Great Zhou Dynasty. His subordinates are also cruel and bloodthirsty. Tonight, it's A Shilie's deputy, called A Shi Yanfeng, who is here to escort the ironware."
Xue Yuanyin thought about it and felt that the problem was not serious. She didn't understand why Zhang Jingxuan looked so serious, so she said:
"The man who came isn't Ashlie, but just his deputy. I won't confront him head-on, I'll just run away. Besides, there's no guarantee we'll run into him."
Zhang Jingxuan frowned slightly and said:
"The Ashi family is well-known for holding grudges. If our deputy, Ashi Yanfeng, were to catch us, he might not be able to do anything to us, but he might report it to Ashi Lie, prompting him to seize the opportunity to lead the Western Qiang troops into war with the Great Zhou."
Xue Yuanyin asked, "Then are we still going to fight tonight?"
Zhang Jingxuan nodded and said, "Let's do it. Disaster is inevitable, there's no point in looking back. The emperor's reinforcements will arrive soon, and we need you to help hold these people off."
"We'll play it by ear."
Xue Yuanyin was in a better mood than him and said, "Helian Ba is also one of the main generals of the Western Qiang. He happened to be drunk as hell. Tonight is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to eliminate him for the Great Zhou."
She ignored Zhang Jingxuan and tied her cuffs, legs and feet tightly.
As soon as the banquet outside is over, she will take action.
…
At the end of the hour of Hai, the barbecue and drinking came to an end.
The nights at the end of September were already very cold, especially in the northwest, but Helian Ba had drunk a lot of wine and was drunk, so his body felt warm. He had been resistant to cold since he was a child and was not afraid of the cold.
After having sex with several actors, he felt very happy and planned to go back to his tent to take a bath and rest.
There were no servants here, only the cook. He took off his outer helmet, armor and wrist guards in the tent alone, soaked in the bathtub and fell asleep. The afterglow of drunkenness made him completely defenseless against this place.
Suddenly, he heard a light whistle in the air, and his years of battlefield intuition made him open his eyes suddenly. He wanted to roll over and avoid it, but unfortunately the alcohol had already paralyzed his brain, causing him to stagger when he stood up.
The dagger pierced his heart, blood gushed out, his eyes were bloodshot, and he growled:
"There's an assassin!"
Severe pain spread to every part of his body. His arms tensed, his eyes widened, and he fell to the ground with a thud, splashing water all over the floor.
The noise immediately spread to the surrounding tents. Several drunken Western Qiang soldiers who were cleaning up the leftovers sobered up a bit, picked up their weapons and shouted:
"who?!"
Xue Yuanyin ran out of the main tent in his nightgown and saw three enemies coming from all directions in the west.
Without stopping, she escaped from the gap, stepped on the dry racks of roasted lamb, and went straight to the door. She snatched the horse tied to the pillar, climbed on it, and pulled the reins hard:
"drive!"
The cry of "There is an assassin" spread throughout Xiaocang Valley in an instant, causing Lady Luo and other actors in the backyard to become agitated.
Xue Yuanyin needed to grab a weapon, so she didn't leave in a hurry. She caught a glimpse of a Western Qiang soldier shooting a bow and arrow from the side. She dodged the arrow easily, fought with the man for a few moves, and snatched the bow away.
There was a small cut on the palm of her hand, but she didn't care. She tried to grab his arrow, tightened the reins, rushed out of the gate, and threw the bow and arrow to Zhang Jingxuan who was waiting for him at the door.
A Western Qiang man with a knife in hand rode up to attack from the side. She kicked him off his horse, snatched the knife, and said to Zhang Jingxuan:
"This horse is for you."
Zhang Jingxuan jumped onto his horse, holding his bow and arrow, and glanced towards the outside of the valley. He could hear the rustling noises, and his expression turned a little grim:
"There is a Western Qiang army stationed on both sides of the mountains and forests here."
Xue Yuanyin didn't need his reminder. She looked around the mountains and forests. On the opposite bank, there were several soldiers with bows and arrows at attention. She had already heard the noise.
An arrow flew through the air and Xue Yuanyin barely dodged it. She heard the horses and men chasing after her from behind. She spurred her horse forward, a little anxiously saying,
"There's about a group of Western Qiang cavalry. They're naturally skilled at riding horses and are much stronger than us. Even if we run into the mountains and forests, this is their familiar territory. You and I won't be able to hold them off."
She suddenly made up her mind, looked at him, her eyes lit up, and said:
"I want to enter the mountain stream! There is only one entrance and one exit. If they go around to the exit to block me, the mountain forest will make a big circle and their speed will be slower than mine. If they follow me, the terrain inside the mountain stream is rugged and difficult to catch up with, and I will lose them!"
As she was about to spur her horse to the mountain stream, Zhang Jingxuan suddenly grabbed her reins and said coldly:
"Are you seeking death? These are Western Qiang archers. If they don't take the bait and instead spread out across the mountain and shoot arrows at you into the stream, what will you do? Do you want to be shot to pieces down there?"
Xue Yuanyin looked at him with sparkling eyes and said, "Don't you still have me?"
Zhang Jingxuan paused his movements and looked slightly stunned.
Xue Yuanyin blinked, her dark, round eyes seemed to have a burning flame, and she smiled, just like the bet they made in their childhood:
"Isn't it just a mountain stream? I'll tell you a secret. I'm actually the mortal form of Wu Quxing. I can brave dangers alone and travel thousands of miles on horseback!"
Zhang Jingxuan looked at her and didn't say anything for a while.
The sounds of pursuit from both sides were getting closer. She had killed the main general of the Western Qiang people, and they would not let her go.
His Adam's apple moved, as if he was reluctant to agree, but in the end he swallowed all the words, looked at her calmly, and said:
"If it were any other time, and you said you wanted to ride a thousand miles alone, I would definitely not agree, and I might even let you suffer a loss as a lesson. But now is different. Since you are so determined, then go ahead."
He rode his horse to the rocks beside the mountain stream, glanced at the Western Qiang soldiers on the other side who were holding their bows and arrows, and said slowly:
"On both sides of the mountain stream, you only need to pay attention to the lone archers. I will help you keep an eye on the other side. But I can promise you——"
He paused for a moment, raised his bow towards the mountain stream, raised his eyes slightly, and spoke in a calm tone, with a hint of his former youthful arrogance and frivolity, saying:
"Wherever I look, no arrow will fall on you."
Xue Yuanyin had always disliked Zhang Jingxuan's calm and confident tone, thinking that he was confident in everything and not afraid of any disaster.
But at this moment, when this confidence is applied to himself, he has to admit that he does have a unique charm that makes people look up to him, admire him, worship him, and ultimately fall in love with him.
She smiled softly and said in a clear voice:
"Okay! Then let's have a competition. Who can shoot down more arrows on horseback, me or you on the shore?"
He immediately threw the reins, shook off the pursuers in front and behind, and jumped into the rugged and steep mountain stream.
As expected, it became difficult to chase him once he hid in the mountain stream.
Several soldiers' target was only Xue Yuanyin, so they stopped and raised their bows towards the mountain stream on the opposite bank.
…
Xue Yuanyin rode his horse to avoid the arrows from above. The night was dark, and the moonlight faintly seeped in through the gaps in the trees in the mountain stream, making the road even more rugged and difficult to travel.
However, she couldn't see the road clearly, and the people above her couldn't see her clearly either, so the journey was much easier than she had imagined. In addition, a considerable number of arrows were blocked by Zhang Jingxuan.
I'm afraid it wasn't just the bow and arrow that was used to block it, his internal strength also played a role.
After rushing out of the mountain stream, she suddenly saw a forest illuminated by the moonlight in front of her. Having escaped the pursuit range, she breathed a sigh of relief and took a detour to return.
Unexpectedly, there were several soldiers waiting at the gate of Xiaocang Valley. An arrow came at her head. Her eyes changed and she bent down to avoid it. The arrow grazed her arm and was nailed to the tree behind her.
Blood gushed out of his arm, and then a burning pain spread.
Xue Yuanyin tore off the hem of her clothes and roughly wrapped her arm, frowning. Zhang Jingxuan hadn't arrived yet, so he must have been stuck in some trouble.
She had no intention of dealing with the people in front of her. She swept her long sword and took advantage of the gap when they retreated to ride her horse in.
Zhang Jingxuan was confronting a man with thick eyebrows and aquiline nose in front of him who was holding a scimitar. Xue Yuanyin didn't recognize who this Western Qiang man was, but seeing his bloodthirsty and murderous aura, it was not difficult to guess his identity.
Her expression changed. Ashlie's deputy actually came!
Ashyan Feng watched this scene coldly.
Zhang Jingxuan turned the arrow in his hand and said nonchalantly:
"Our emperor's reinforcements are coming soon, and you only have a small, scattered team hiding in the valley. What do you think? Will we capture you first, or will you kill us first?"
Ashyanfeng snorted coldly. He naturally realized that something had happened in Xiaocang Valley, and he happened to be late. But it didn't matter. He went back and reported to his elder brother, asking Ashlie to launch a war to vent Helian Ba's anger!
He spoke in an unskilled Central Plains dialect, coldly saying, "Who was the mastermind behind the murder of Helian Ba, you or her?"
Xue Yuanyin rode her horse to his side and was about to admit it, but Zhang Jingxuan raised his arm to block her. He was not afraid of the threat in the other party's words at all, and said calmly:
"I was the mastermind who killed your Xiqiang commander. So what?"
The remaining scattered Western Qiang soldiers and attendants came over one after another. Ashyan Feng sneered, staring at the person in front of him with a sinister look, and said:
"Young man, just wait! Our commander, Ashilie, will definitely come and avenge you until you die! As long as you live, Ashilie will definitely come and take your life!"
Zhang Jingxuan's expression turned cold in an instant, and he sneered:
"I hate being threatened the most. Do you think I'm afraid?"
A Shi Yanfeng looked at him deeply, turned around, rode his horse, and fled with the few remaining soldiers behind him.
Xue Yuanyin hurriedly wanted to ride her horse to chase after him, but Zhang Jingxuan stopped her and said coldly:
"You're injured, why are you still trying to show off?"
She looked at the blood oozing from her arm and had no time to think about it. She stared at the fleeing enemy in front of her and anxiously tried to shake off Zhang Jingxuan's hand:
"Ashilie has always only killed his enemies, and he will definitely kill them! If he learns of this, he will never give up on you! He has plenty of ways to incite the emotions of the people in the border areas and use their hearts to force you to the battlefield. Even if you hide in the capital, it will be useless! I will chase him back and delay him until the emperor's reinforcements arrive. It is possible to capture him and the remaining troops to prevent them from leaking the secret..."
"Your Majesty's reinforcements will not arrive tonight."
Zhang Jingxuan looked at her calmly. Seeing her stunned expression, he explained softly:
"The emperor is dispatching troops to investigate the county magistrate's alleged treason. They could have arrived tonight, but the sky suggests a sudden downpour, and to prevent us from getting trapped by mud and rocks, reinforcements won't arrive until tomorrow at the earliest. It would be fine if you weren't injured, but you've already lost blood. Going after Ah Shi Yanfeng would be like walking into a tiger's mouth."
Seeing Xue Yuanyin stop chasing, he paused for a moment and continued:
"A lean camel is bigger than a horse. His retreat doesn't mean he's afraid of us. He's just worried that Xiaocang Valley isn't Western Qiang territory, and he's unsure how many reinforcements we have coming, so he's just retreating temporarily."
Xue Yuanyin knew that what he said made sense, but she was unwilling to let Ashyanfeng escape, so she said:
"So we're just going to let him go back and tell on the secret?"
"Maybe he's just trying to scare me."
Zhang Jingxuan didn't want to talk about this topic any more. His eyes fell on her arm and he frowned, saying, "Your arm is seriously injured. You need to see a doctor as soon as possible."
It would have been better if he didn't say anything. Once he made it clear, Xue Yuanyin realized that his arms were shaking slightly and his mouth was dry, which were obviously signs of exhaustion.
She looked ahead at the direction where Ashyan Feng had left, and was about to chase him, but Zhang Jingxuan grabbed her other wrist and said without hesitation:
"Go bandage it. This is their base. If there's a cook, there must be a doctor."
Xue Yuanyin's injuries really couldn't wait any longer, so she just gritted her teeth and persevered, giving up the pursuit. By the time she found the doctor, she was almost fainting from exhaustion.
The doctor had already been frightened by the noise just now, and without saying a word, he tremblingly handed over the medicine. There was not much in the valley except for herbs, and several of them could be found all over the mountain.
Xue Yuanyin applied the medicine and went to cut off Helian Ba's head. It was already the hour of the Rat.
The rainstorm arrived just in time, creating a desolate and isolated atmosphere in the Little Cang Valley. She was exhausted, and as she listened to the heavy rain outside, she lay on her bed, unable to sleep.
Everyone in the Sanqing Troupe was trembling with fear. Zhang Jingxuan went to explain to the troupe leader, Mrs. Luo, that the most important thing was that they could not leave immediately, but had to keep it secret and wait for the emperor's reinforcements to arrive and capture the county magistrate and his entourage before leaving.
As for the losses suffered by Madam Luo and her group, she and Zhang Jingxuan don't need to worry about them. The emperor will send people to deal with the aftermath and give them a generous amount of hush money.
In the end, Xue Yuanyin fell asleep around 3:00 AM after taking the medicine.
…
The reinforcements sent by the emperor arrived at Xiaocang Valley at 9:00 a.m. the next day. They were led by the commander of the imperial guards, Qin Fang, and an accompanying court official.
When Xue Yuanyin woke up and saw Qin Fang, he had been there for quite a while and was having lunch. Seeing her wake up, he put down the rice bowl and called out:
"Xue Ling."
Xue Yuanyin was a little surprised to see Qin Fang after not seeing him for a few days. The bandage on her arm had not been untied yet. She squatted on the curb without any image and asked:
"Why are you here?"
Qin Fang briefly recounted the experience of the three of them escaping after their separation. In short, they finally met the emperor without any danger.
Originally, it was not his turn as the commander of the imperial guards to conduct a thorough investigation of Quanyang County, but he was a personal participant after all and was already very familiar with Quanyang County, so he was sent there again.
But this time he didn't have to live a wandering life. He held the emperor's oral order and carried the military order. He could arrest anyone he saw, and those who refused to obey would be taken away by force.
Xue Yuanyin was very envious and said, "After three days of absence, people look at each other with new eyes! You have become more impressive."
"Look at what you said."
Qin Fang rolled his eyes and squatted beside him without any dignity, holding a piece of dogtail grass in his mouth. He said, "When you return to the capital to report on your work, the emperor will also reward you. A promotion is not realistic, but a generous reward is definitely inevitable."
Xue Yuanyin was not so excited when she heard the word "return". She also picked up a piece of dogtail grass and said with a lack of interest:
"I'm not interested in these rewards. It would be more practical to give me something else."
Qin Fang said casually: "What do you want the emperor to give you? If it is possible, I can secretly help you say a few words."
Xue Yuanyin's mind flashed back to Zhang Jingxuan's gentle and calm face, as well as his beautiful figure that was easily visible even under his clothes. He subconsciously said, "Nothing much, I just want a beautiful..."
Looking up, she saw Zhang Jingxuan coming towards her. She coughed lightly and said, "Nothing, I was just joking."
Qin Fang asked, "Beautiful what?"
Xue Yuanyin spat out the dogtail grass, stood up to get rid of Qin Fang's questioning, and changed the subject:
"Zhang Jingxuan, what did you do just now?"
Zhang Jingxuan glanced at her. Her question seemed to be a conversation starter. After a few seconds, he said:
"I just went to entertain the officials who came with me."
Xue Yuanyin didn't know why he was hesitating to answer this kind of question. He always felt that he was just trying to confirm whether there was a trap in his words.
She said "oh".
Zhang Jingxuan, on the other hand, seemed to have something to say. He looked at her, paused for a moment, and said, "I heard that His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are on their way."
Xue Yuanyin uttered an "ah" and didn't react for a long time. She said in a daze:
"What are they...what are they doing here?"
"Inspect the situation. By the way..." He glanced at her and whispered, "Pick someone up."
Xue Yuanyin uttered another "ah" sound, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable. She asked, seemingly asking knowingly:
"Who can they come to pick up? Shouldn't we go with Qin Fang?"
Qin Fang looked at her strangely and said:
"How could you possibly wait for me? I'm going to stay here for a while to thoroughly investigate the corrupt officials in Quanyang County, and you won't join me. Besides, the Winter Sacrifice is coming soon. It's a grand event that all the dignitaries will attend. Aren't you going back to prepare for the Winter Sacrifice?"
When they heard Dong Si, the expressions of the other two people present changed for a moment.
Xue Yuanyin quickly glanced at Zhang Jingxuan, but unexpectedly he was looking at her too. Their eyes met in the air, and the air was silent for a moment. She suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
Just as she was about to say something to change the subject, Zhang Jingxuan took the initiative to answer her previous question, saying:
"His Royal Highness Prince Yu and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are here to pick someone up, naturally they are picking you and me up. You will follow His Royal Highness Prince Yu back to the capital, and I will follow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince back to the capital."
Xue Yuanyin pretended not to understand what he meant and said with a smile:
"What difference does it make? There's only one official road from Quanyang County back to the capital. Aren't we still on the same road?"
“There is a difference.”
Zhang Jingxuan looked directly into her eyes and said softly, "I will board the carriage of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and you will board the carriage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu. Although we are going the same way on our return journey, we are taking different routes."
Xue Yuanyin suddenly fell silent, so silent that Qin Fang realized that something was wrong with the atmosphere, and he made an excuse to slip away.
It's just her and him here.
She brushed the strands of hair from her ear, feeling a little irritated. She was irritated by his usual calm consideration and meticulousness, his ability to always pick up the conversation at the right time and never let the topic fall through.
I was also annoyed by his occasional lack of tact, as he always brought up topics that I couldn't answer out of the blue.
Didn't he always boast of being a son of an aristocratic family? Didn't he see the topic was almost falling to the ground? Why not pick it up and round it off?
Xue Yuanyin's face gradually turned cold, and he said calmly:
"What do you want to say? You want to say that you and I are strangers after all. Remind me to forget everything between us, including that kiss—"
"Qiaoqiao."
Zhang Jingxuan suddenly interrupted her, paused, and a sigh escaped his throat. He turned around and said:
"Forget it... Blame me for telling you this."
He started to leave, but stopped halfway and asked, tilting his head:
"Is the wound better?"
Xue Yuanyin nodded silently, then realized that he couldn't see and replied, "It won't affect the operation."
Zhang Jingxuan nodded slightly and said, "Then pack your bags. We'll set off for Beijing in three days."
After saying this, he walked away.
-
Three days later, on the first day of the tenth lunar month, the autumn sky was clear and crisp after the rain.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu arrived at Xiaocang Valley. After seeing off the Sanqing Troupe, they prepared to take people back to Beijing.
Xue Yuanyin had a bandage on her arm, but it no longer affected her movements. She came out with her bag on her back and saw two people walking towards her.
One has a warm smile and noble air, looking like someone who grew up immersed in wealth; the other has a deep and sharp temperament, a solemn expression, and a dignified demeanor.
Seeing Xue Yuanyin, King Yu smiled at her. Since he was born to be a superior and had fought on the battlefield for many years, he had a majestic demeanor. Therefore, the smile did not seem to reach his eyes, which made people tremble for no reason.
He stopped in front and said in a low voice, "Xue Ling, come here."
Xue Yuanyin nodded in response, but his steps were somewhat heavy. He lowered his head and said, "Your Highness Prince Yu, I will go back to the capital with you after I have brought back Helian Ba's body."
Prince Yu nodded slightly, turned back to the carriage, and gave her a look, meaning that he was waiting for her in the carriage.
He withdrew his gaze, and the vague feeling of oppression finally disappeared. Xue Yuanyin breathed a sigh of relief.
Unlike His Royal Highness Prince Yu, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had a much better temper and would nod politely when he saw her. However, when he saw Zhang Jingxuan approaching, the smile on his face finally became genuine and warm.
He walked over quickly, lifted Zhang Jingxuan's arm as he was about to salute him, and said gently, "Jingxuan, you've been exhausted on this trip. Would you like to rest for a few days before leaving? I can explain the situation to my father after returning to the capital. It's fine."
Zhang Jingxuan shook his head slightly and said:
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine. My luggage has already been packed and I can leave today."
He said, "Your Highness, please return to your carriage and wait for me. I want to chat with an old friend."
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince glanced at Xue Yuanyin vaguely, and agreed without saying much. He only gave an additional instruction before leaving:
"Don't delay too long. I've missed you so much and wanted to have a good chat with you in the carriage."
Zhang Jingxuan bowed, and only after His Royal Highness the Crown Prince left did he put down his hand and stand up.
After the two of them left, he turned to look at Xue Yuanyin and called softly:
"Qiaoqiao."
Xue Yuanyin hummed and said, "I have something to give you."
As Zhang Jingxuan looked over, she pulled out a smooth, polished little fox wood carving from her sleeve and handed it to him, saying,
"Here, today is your coming-of-age birthday, so I'm giving you a birthday present."
Zhang Jingxuan took it with some surprise and looked at the little fox.
The little fox was carved exactly like the one in her painting, but the wood carving was much more three-dimensional and vivid than the portrait. Although it was obvious that the craftsmanship of the person who polished it was clumsy, it was also clear that she had carefully prepared it for many days and it did not seem to have been completed in a hurry.
Seeing that he was silent, Xue Yuanyin raised her eyebrows and asked, "Did you forget your birthday?"
Zhang Jingxuan looked up at her and didn't answer for a moment.
It was certainly impossible for him to forget his own coming-of-age birthday, but he was surprised that she would give him a gift.
Over the years, they had a falling out and their two families had stopped communicating. He and she hadn't given each other birthday gifts for a long time.
Neither openly nor privately.
This was the first time since they had fallen out that she took the initiative to give a gift.
Zhang Jingxuan played with the little fox wooden sculpture. The little fox had proud eyes and eyebrows, and was very beautiful. He asked, "Why did you give me this?"
Xue Yuanyin raised her chin slightly and said, "I just wanted to give it to you. I feel that the fox is very similar to you. Today is the Cold Clothes Festival. No one will celebrate your birthday, but I still remember it, so I will just celebrate it for you. Are you very touched?"
Zhang Jingxuan nodded and replied in a half-hearted tone, "It was indeed a bit unexpected."
Xue Yuanyin had nothing else to say, so she responded. Seeing that the atmosphere was about to become awkward again, she turned around and picked up the box containing Helian Ba's head.
She looked down at the box and thought that it was time for her to leave and go back to report to the emperor.
Xue Yuanyin took a step forward and thought, doesn't Zhang Jingxuan have anything to say to her?
Sure enough, he called her.
But what he said made her wonder whether to be happy or disappointed. He said:
"When we return to the capital, the winter sacrifice will not be far away."
Xue Yuanyin didn't look back at him, but nodded slightly and said, "I know."
This is a sacrifice held only once during the reign of each emperor, implying prosperity and good weather in the coming year. Its purpose is to accumulate fame and reputation for the next heir to the throne. Historically, only the crown prince can be elected as the "sacrifice official" to preside over the sacrifice.
The current emperor's health has not been good for two years, and it is unknown how much longer he can last. The rumor that the winter sacrifice will be held this year was already circulating at the beginning of the year.
Logically speaking, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should be elected as the chief consecrator, but His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu has quite a few supporters, so it is hard to say who will be the chief consecrator. This sacrificial ceremony is destined to be a fierce competition.
After returning to the capital, there will be peace only when the new emperor ascends the throne and the dust settles.
The air fell silent, the wind rustling the flags on the parade grounds. Only between her and him, though they were only a few steps apart, it was eerily quiet.
Seeing that she had her back to him and didn't say anything else, Zhang Jingxuan seemed to sigh softly, which was almost inaudible in the sound of the wind.
Xue Yuanyin took the box and walked forward a few steps. Suddenly, she stopped and turned around. Her thin figure looked a bit lonely and desolate in the empty training ground. Her eyes were red and she choked up a little:
"Zhang Jingxuan...can you, hug me?"
Zhang Jingxuan suddenly looked up and paused on her, looking her over, with dark emotions surging in his mind, and did not move for a moment.
Xue Yuanyin realized her own misconduct and smiled.
"Forget it. You're so noble, how could I embarrass you? I was just kidding."
She turned to leave, but Zhang Jingxuan called her from behind:
"Qiaoqiao."
Xue Yuanyin turned her head to look at him.
Zhang Jingxuan walked up to her, pulled her towards him, and held her tightly in his arms, hugging her face to face. He lowered his eyes, lowered his body slightly, and rested his chin on her thin shoulders.
Xue Yuanyin's head was slightly tilted back in his arms, and her body froze in place. Her heart was filled with turmoil, and the box in her hand fell to the ground with a bang.
After a long time, she gently hugged him back, quietly grasped his clothes, and then slowly let go; she grasped them again, and then let go.
It turned out that Zhang Jingxuan had grown from the young boy with a smile as bright as the moon to a grown man. His shoulders had become so broad that he could actually hold her whole body in his arms.
It turned out that she felt so safe in his arms, as if he could protect her from the wind and rain and ensure a smooth and happy life for her, making her reluctant to leave.
Xue Yuanyin felt that she must have eaten something that caused discomfort in her eyes and throat, otherwise why would she feel so sour and want to cry so much?
After a moment, she heard the young man's low voice beside her ear:
"Qiaoqiao, don't you have anything to say to me?"
Xue Yuanyin came to his senses, closed his eyes, and finally, when he opened his eyes again, all the emotions that were suppressed in his heart disappeared without a trace.
She clenched her fists, stretched out her hand and pushed him away, looked at Zhang Jingxuan in front of her, raised her chin slightly, and her eyes became completely unfamiliar and proud, as if they were meeting for the first time.
The autumn wind blew the banners in the training ground, and in a blink of an eye she realized that she and he had spent nearly half a year there.
It is desolate, remote, and without any grass, but new souls and flesh grow crazily in this place, making it a romantic paradise.
And now, she has to bid farewell to this secluded place with unfinished regrets.
Xue Yuanyin suppressed the slight hesitancy in her throat, stared into his light brown eyes, and spoke coldly, word by word:
"Zhang Qu, once we leave here, we will be enemies."
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Author's note: The third volume is finished! The next volume will have a big event coming up, hehehe.
Since I've been working nine for two days in a row, I'll take a day off tomorrow! Okay?!
Come back on Monday, there will be no update tomorrow, don’t miss it!!!
Are there any readers who have followed this far?
I don't think I've given out red envelopes since I started writing, so I'll give out small red envelopes in this chapter! Xoxo everyone! =3=
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