Chapter 25 The Young General Yes, it was just a coincidence that we met.
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[Reunion]
The majestic city gates of Chang'an are wide open, and the Zhuque Avenue leads straight to the imperial palace, with the road as smooth as a whetstone.
The red tiger-patterned battle flag with black characters fluttered in the spring breeze. The bustling city of Chang'an was already boiling with excitement under the raised battle flag. People lined the streets, eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of the triumphant young general.
"Since the fall of Qingyuan Pass, the imperial court has not won a battle for many years. It is thanks to the bravery of Prince Qin that the Qiang and Wu enemy forces were defeated!"
"Still calling him Prince Qin? He should be addressed as General Who Guards the West!"
"Having attacked Fudong on the left and fought Lannu on the right, and now achieved a great victory over Qiang and Wu, in just five years, the illustrious name of General Zhenxi has become known to all. This time, upon returning to the capital in triumph, he will surely be ennobled and appointed prime minister!"
"General Qin is back—"
The deafening sound of iron hooves drew nearer, and the cold armor, reflecting the shimmering sunlight, advanced solemnly like dark clouds pressing down on a city. The leader, seated high on his horse, stood tall and imposing, as majestic as a pine tree.
Qin Jin, clad in black armor, had his former high spirits tempered into a restrained composure by the battlefields of war, but the youthful exuberance could not be buried by the yellow sands of the frontier.
The long sword at his waist gleamed coldly, and his eyes shone brightly. The lazy and unruly playboy of yesteryear had long since been transformed. He had become famous at a young age, and his name as the General Who Guards the West was renowned throughout the world.
The streets and alleys were bustling with people. It was the season when peach blossoms were in full bloom, with thousands of trees ablaze with color, and the crimson hue permeated Chang'an.
Elegantly dressed children and young women frolicked and played on the rooftops, tossing down peach branches they had already broken off amidst their deafening cheers—
The fallen petals, like rain, scattered and fluttered, softening the menacing aura of the black armor.
A peach branch fell squarely into Qin Jin's arms.
Qin Jin looked up and saw the young lady on the pavilion bowing to him. He smiled slightly and nodded in return, as if he had returned to his days as a wealthy young man riding his horse through the Imperial Street.
"Do you regret it?"
Jiang Shiyan's stiff, cold voice interrupted Xue Rongyue's gaze.
He sneered, "Young general, the emperor values you highly, your future is limitless. If you had followed him back then, you would have enjoyed wealth and honor to the fullest."
Xue Rongyue watched him without showing any emotion.
Seeing her silence, Jiang Shiyan's words were unmistakably sarcastic: "If I had known that Madam Xue wanted to climb the social ladder, why would I have bothered to go to the dilapidated temple to bring you to Chang'an, only to ruin your promising future for nothing?"
Xue Rongyue frowned: "Don't go crazy—"
"Am I going crazy?"
Jiang Shiyan suddenly stood up and sneered repeatedly: "If you really regret it, it's not too late. I can recommend you to the Qin family. With our past relationship and your face, you definitely can't become the Crown Prince's wife. Becoming a concubine would be a great step up for you now. I just don't know if Qin Jin still recognizes who you are!"
Xue Rongyue's eyes darkened, and she clenched her hands tightly on her knees. The murderous intent that surged within her was instantly suppressed. She quickly composed herself and said calmly, "What affection did I have for him in the past? Only hatred. If he is doing well, I am not doing well. Why do you have to reopen my wounds?"
With his expression softening slightly, Jiang Shiyan looked at her suspiciously: "Really?"
Xue Rongyue's tone was filled with hatred: "He is the one who caused my family to be destroyed and my family to die. How can I let him go? I will never let him live under the same sky."
Jiang Shiyan felt relieved and stepped forward to apologize with deep affection: "Rongyue, I was wrong just now. I talked nonsense in my anger..."
He bent down to pour Xue Rongyue a cup of hot tea, embraced her, and lovingly stroked her hair: "I just love you too much, and I'm afraid you'll abandon me for him."
Xue Rongyue raised her lips, but the smile did not reach her eyes: "I know. If you hadn't told me that he was the culprit, I would still be in the dark."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shiyan's eyes flickered, and he turned his face away.
Looking at the dragon-like procession on the Vermilion Bird Avenue and Qin Jin sitting high on his horse, enjoying boundless glory, a flash of jealousy and hatred appeared in his eyes: "He is nothing but a hypocritical villain. You must not be deceived by him. In this world, only I am the one who truly cares for you."
Rarely seeing such tenderness, Jiang Shiyan was eager to take things further when a servant rushed in: "Young master, the madam is ill again. Please go back and see her as soon as possible."
Jiang Shiyan frowned, suppressing his displeasure, and said gently to Xue Rongyue, "I'm going back to visit my mother. Don't worry, this time I will definitely be able to persuade her to let you come into the family as my concubine, so that you won't have to stay in this inn anymore."
Watching Jiang Shiyan leave in a hurry, Xue Rongyue made no attempt to hide the disgust and hatred on her face. She turned her hand over and poured the tea into a flowerpot, lightly tapped the table with her fingertips, and closed her eyes in deep thought.
Jiang Shiyan is obsessive, unpredictable, and far from reliable. Since abducting her, his desire for her has only intensified, and he is impatient to escape. She must find a way to break free from Jiang Shiyan's control and cannot simply sit and wait for her to die.
The barking of dogs in the distance never stopped. Xue Rongyue sat alone until night fell, and finally made up her mind, put on her veil and went out.
Qin Jin has now returned in triumph after defeating the enemy. The Qin family is holding a grand banquet, and the house is full of guests who have come to congratulate and pay their respects to Qin Jin.
Xue Rongyue stood at a secluded corner gate, nimbly climbed the tree, and shook the golden bell in her hand.
The mansion was bustling and noisy today, and Xue Rongyue wondered if the sound of the bell would reach inside as she wished.
Fortunately, not long after, a large black dog, wagging its tail and panting, came galloping out from the side gate of the Qin residence.
"Zhiquan!"
Xue Rongyue leaped lightly down from the treetops.
The dog pounced on her, knocking her to the ground, and happily spun around as she stroked it.
She discovered it by chance.
Qin Jin had not yet gone to war at that time. He was strolling around the market with a black dog by his side. Although time had passed, Xue Rongyue recognized the black dog as the Zhiquan she had raised when she was a child.
After Qin Jin took it away, she thought Zhiquan was long gone. Unexpectedly, Qin Jin took good care of it, and its fur was shiny and it looked majestic.
She quietly followed, and Qin Jin happened to be teasing Zhiquan. Xue Rongyue was surprised to find that as long as Zhiquan heard the sound of the specially made golden bell in Qin Jin's hand, it would rush over no matter how far away it was and obediently sit down.
So, taking advantage of the crowds in the market, she devised a way to steal the golden bell from Qin Jin's waist. On days when Qin Jin was away from the mansion, she would ring the golden bell at this secluded side gate.
Zhiquan, perhaps still remembering her, showed no shyness and happily rushed towards her. She took the opportunity to train Zhiquan, just in case.
Just as Xue Rongyue was about to order the dog to lure Qin Jin over, a faint sound of footsteps suddenly came from the side gate.
Xue Rongyue stiffened and looked up warily—
The young man had removed his black armor and stood tall and elegant, holding a bright yellow lamp in his hand. His purplish-red round-necked, narrow-sleeved robe with cloud patterns accentuated his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. His face was open and easygoing, lacking the fierceness of the soldiers entering Chang'an, but instead showing a more approachable side.
This was not a plan that Xue Rongyue had envisioned beforehand.
She had intended to use the training she had received recently to lure Qin Jin out with the dog, so that she could just happen to be passing by and create a seamless encounter.
Unexpectedly, the reunion came unexpectedly.
Her lips pressed tightly together, Xue Rongyue's fingertips unconsciously curled as she pondered: Had Qin Jin heard the bell ringing earlier? Would he realize she had stolen it? More importantly…
Will Qin Jin recognize her?
She was wearing a veil, and in the thick of the night, the thin veil concealed her face. How could she naturally remove the veil? If he didn't recognize her, should she take the initiative to approach Qin Jin and talk to him?
Before his thoughts had even settled, Qin Jin stopped in his tracks, casting the warm yellow light of his lantern three inches in front of Xue Rongyue.
"Xue Rongyue".
Qin Jin's voice was deep, his profound gaze fixed on her: "Long time no see."
"My lady, the carriage is ready, and Prince Qin is already waiting outside the courtyard."
Jingnu stood under the eaves and knocked on the window.
As she stroked the original booklet with her fingertips, Xue Rongyue leaned back on the soft couch, supporting her head with her left hand, and snapped out of her reverie.
From this chapter of the original plot, we can conclude that after the destruction of the General's Mansion, she managed to escape and hide in a dilapidated temple. For some reason, she was kidnapped by Jiang Shiyan. In order to get rid of Jiang Shiyan, she wanted to use Zhiquan to reunite with Qin Jin.
Thinking of this, Xue Rongyue pouted, her face showing resentment and frustration.
In the original novel, she was imprisoned, while Qin Jin became a general. Why?
Heaven is truly blind, and fate is unfair!
Jingnu knocked on the window twice more to urge her on, and placed the original book on the soft couch. Xue Rongyue reluctantly got up: "I know, I'm coming."
Today, she made an appointment with Qin Jin to visit the dog that was kept at her private residence.
Lifting the blue curtain, Qin Jinying's tall and handsome figure came into view.
Coincidentally, he was wearing a round-necked robe in carnation purple today, with a black belt inlaid with black jade around his waist. His skin was as white as jade. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and turned around.
Their eyes met, and they quickly looked away, both belatedly realizing how unnatural it was.
For more than a decade, Xue Rongyue had been at odds with Qin Jin. She never imagined that one day she would stand shoulder to shoulder with Qin Jin and walk together peacefully.
Qin Jin hadn't expected it, and neither had Princess Yu'an.
The two remained silent as they walked along the Begonia Corridor, when they bumped into Princess Yu'an.
After a night of heavy drinking, Princess Yu'an was so surprised to see this scene that she even doubted whether she was still drunk. Amid the servants' greetings, her surprised gaze swept over the two of them: "Why are you two walking together?"
They remained so peaceful, and neither of them argued to the point of getting red in the face.
Is this some kind of ghost?
Remembering the two carriages prepared in front of the mansion gate, Princess Yu'an couldn't help but have an even more absurd guess, and exclaimed in astonishment, "You two aren't going out together, are you?!"
Caught off guard, Xue Rongyue coughed lightly and spoke first: "No, we just happened to bump into each other."
As soon as she finished speaking, she nudged Qin Jin beside her, who was forced to nod: "Yes, we just happened to run into each other."
The female official hesitated, as if she wanted to speak.
Princess Yu'an couldn't help but ask sincerely, "Your courtyards are in the east and the west respectively. Can you tell me how you happened to meet?"
A note from the author:
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Next chapter preview: Let's go out and have fun! We even ran into my fiancé while out having fun!
I'm thinking of changing the title to: "Turning My Nemesis into a Love-Struck Fool." What do you guys think? I quite like it, or does anyone have any better ideas? I'll send a red envelope if I choose the best one! [Sprinkling flowers]
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