Chapter 116 Epilogue 1: Sweet Words.
Yuan Chaolu was exhausted. Traveling through the snow all the way, all her strength seemed to have been drained by the wind and snow. After reaching the border, she finally relaxed. The moment she dismounted, her body went limp and she slid down uncontrollably.
Her last conscious thought before losing consciousness was that Xiao Zhuo caught her by the waist in time.
When Yuan Chaolu woke up again, she was in a completely unfamiliar place. There was a burning charcoal fire by the bed, the flickering flames casting a soft light on the bed curtains. The faint sounds of conversation could be heard.
Yuan Chaolu slowly sat up, supporting himself on the edge of the bed with one hand. His other hand instinctively reached out to the outside of the curtain, but he didn't grasp the curtain. Instead, a hand gently held hers.
“Aju”.
The curtain was lifted, letting in light, and a familiar face came into view.
Yuan Chaolu stared at the man's face.
With arched eyebrows that reached his temples and eyes as black as lacquer, he was born with a beautiful appearance.
"What's wrong?" He asked, sitting down by the bed when she remained silent.
Yuan Chaolu gripped his hand tightly, moved closer, and stared at him with slightly furrowed brows.
The wind howled outside the window, but inside the tent it was so quiet you could hear each other breathing.
"I can't tell if I'm awake or dreaming. I feel like I'm still dreaming. I walked on the snowfield for a long time. The road was so long, longer than the journey from Longxi to Luoyang."
Xiao Zhuo held one of her hands in his own, letting it slowly touch his cheek. The sensation of skin against skin caused her fingertips to curl slightly.
He looked at her tenderly, and Yuan Chaolu's beating heart gradually calmed down.
He said, "We have arrived in Daqi. Once your shoulder injury has healed, we will return to our home, to Luoyang."
Yuan Chaolu looked down at her shoulder, where the wound left by the eagle's claws had been carefully bandaged and wrapped with clean strips of cloth.
Suddenly remembering something, she went to his side and looked at his left arm. "I heard you talking to the doctor about your arm injury. What did he say? How much of it can be recovered?"
Xiao Zhuo saw the worry in her eyes, "Of course it wasn't a fatal injury. Once it heals, you can still draw a bow and shoot arrows."
The flickering candlelight outlined the soft lines of his face. Yuan Chaolu gazed at him, "I never expected you would come looking for my younger brother, all for me..."
Yuan Chaolu's voice trembled slightly, and her last words were just a "Third Brother" as she stepped forward and threw herself into his arms.
Xiao Zhuo reached out and put his arm around her, lowering his eyes. "I know you're alright because you can still call me Third Brother."
He paused, then said, "You have no idea what I saw in Rongbei."
Yuan Chaolu: "What?"
Xiao Zhuo's eyes held a smile: "The Buddhist cave that you and your father repaired."
Yuan Chaolu was stunned by these words, and after a long while, she finally spoke: "You've seen it?"
She was a little nervous, and her voice was hoarse.
"I saw it."
"So, what do you think?"
“I have never seen such a mural before,” Xiao Zhuo said, his eyes reflecting her face. He took her hand and brought it to his cheek, placing a gentle kiss on it. “My heart felt as if it had been struck, as if a ray of Buddha’s light had shone into my world.”
A tingling sensation first spread from her wrist, then surged to her heart, and finally permeated her limbs and bones.
"My Aju, you are so amazing." His eyes shone brightly in the light, gentle as if they were filled with spring water, with a faint smile.
Her heart skipped a beat.
He held her tightly in his arms, his breath like a fine net enveloping her. She was laid down on the bed, and before she could speak, his lips were already on hers.
The ultimate in tenderness.
The five fingers tap together, and the bridge of the nose touches the bridge of the nose.
All the unspoken words were contained in this intense kiss.
Yuan Chaolu was in a daze from the kiss. Her arm slowly rose and probably touched his arm. She heard him hiss in a hoarse voice. Then his lips covered hers again. The two of them, entwined in each other, were cast on the curtain.
“But…” He suddenly stepped back.
Yuan Chaolu's chest heaved, her lips were red from the kiss, and she looked at him with disordered breathing.
He stroked her cheek and said, "It would be a waste to leave such a Buddhist cave in Rongbei."
"Aju," he kissed her again, saying these words—
“One day, I will bring that place into the territory of Daqi, and let this Buddhist cave be illuminated by the sunshine of my Daqi.”
**
Later that evening, Yuan Chaolu met Ji An.
The young man took off his patched and tattered robe and put on a brocade robe. His handsome features and elegant clothes made him look dashing, but he was still too restrained and could not shake off his restraint in his every move.
Ji An told her to lie down on the bed first, but Yuan Chaolu shook her head and said, "It's nothing." She looked him up and down, tears welling up in her eyes.
Yuan Chaolu: "I only had time to say a few words to you in Rongbei. Now that I see you are doing well in front of me, I can finally say that I have not let down my father and mother. You have grown so much taller and changed so much."
Before coming, Ji An repeatedly told himself not to shed tears, but Yuan Chaolu's hand that stroked his cheek was so soft, just like his mother and father had always stroked him.
She was his only family in the world.
Ji An raised his hand and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand: "Sister has changed a lot too. I only learned from my brother-in-law these past few days that you went through so many hardships in the capital."
He choked up again, “I always felt that after my father left, I was like a floating weed, drifting without a fixed place, not knowing where home was. But my sister came from afar to find me. The moment you appeared outside the tent, I felt that I had not been abandoned by heaven and earth, but still had you.”
Yuan Chaolu's heart throbbed violently.
They have relied on each other for many years and grown up together. The deep bond between them is akin to blood ties.
Yuan Chaolu suddenly turned to look at Xiao Zhuo: "My brother is guilty of a serious crime. We agreed that we would bring him back first, and then punish him as appropriate. Now, he is right here."
“His crime deserves punishment,” Xiao Zhuo said.
Ji An knelt down, lifting his robe, and said, "Please punish me, Your Majesty."
"But he led the enemy tribe to fight against Daqi, and twice encountered our main force, which led to the enemy army being defeated and wiped out."
Yuan Chaolu was stunned.
Xiao Zhuo glanced at Ji An, whose face was flushed red: "I can only say that it is fortunate that your brother led the wrong way. He is safe and sound in Daqi, but he has brought a lot of trouble to the enemy country. If he were really a person from the enemy country, I would definitely send several envoys to welcome him into Luoyang and personally treat him as an honored guest."
Upon hearing this, Ji An broke out in a cold sweat and knelt deeply on the ground, saying, "This humble subject deserves to die a thousand deaths."
Xiao Zhuo walked up to him, casting a shadow over him. "You'd do anything for your sister?"
“Of course, I am at my sister’s beck and call all my life. If there is anything she wants, I will get it for her.”
"I want you to rise from a common soldier to the rank of Colonel Xuanwei, a fifth-rank official, within three years. Can you do it?"
The Xuanwei Colonel was an official in charge of military training, holding the rank of fifth grade, a position Ji An had never dared to dream of.
And this is just the beginning.
Ji An was still in a daze when Xiao Zhuo spoke again, his voice carrying an undeniable authority, "Three years, is that enough?"
Ji An said, "Your Majesty has given me this opportunity to redeem myself. How could I dare to fail you? I will certainly do my utmost to serve the Great Qi!"
"I am not doing this for you, but because your elder sister has no one else to rely on, and she needs you."
Ji An's last lingering concerns vanished. The fact that this man had paved a way out for Yuan Chaolu was enough to demonstrate his sincerity.
He looked up and saw Yuan Chaolu's gaze seem to be touched. She walked to Xiao Zhuo's side and took his hand.
Ji An said in a deep voice, "If I can't do it within three years, then I'm truly incompetent. Please rest assured, brother-in-law."
He spoke the last words with utmost seriousness, gritting his teeth.
"good."
Xiao Zhuo said, "You should first go to Luoyang and stay with your sister for a while. Then return to the Northwest for me and familiarize yourself with the territory of Rongbei. Make sure you know all the routes. If there are any more mistakes than before, your sister will not be able to save you."
Yuan Chaolu's eyes crinkled with amusement: "You must help me push him forward."
The siblings had so much to talk about that they chatted until nightfall before Ji An reluctantly left.
Tonight, the moon is full and the sky is clear. Yuan Chaolu stood under the eaves, watching Ji An leave. Her gaze lifted from him and fell on the moon. A warm cloak came over her from behind, and she was pulled into a pair of strong arms.
Her neck was warm and moist from his breath. He rested his forehead on her shoulder and murmured "Aju," which made her feel a ticklish sensation.
She said, "The wind is so cold at night."
"Then let's go back."
Yuan Chaolu smiled and shook her head, saying no, then turned around with a sly glint in her eyes: "It's cold outside, but it's very warm in Third Brother's arms."
She could easily utter sweet words, and as soon as she finished speaking, she felt his gaze on her grow even hotter.
Where are we now?
"Jinzhou City".
Upon hearing the name, Yuan Chaolu paused slightly.
Jinzhou City in Longxi is her hometown.
Seeing her lost in thought, he asked, "You've been away from home for a long time. Would you like to go back and visit together tomorrow?"
Yuan Chaolu took a deep breath. That was the place where she had grown up, riddled with wounds, her memories scarred and painful to the touch, buried deep in her heart, unwilling to be shown to anyone...
But his embrace was so warm; with him there, it felt as if all the chill could be dispelled and all the pain could be soothed.
Yuan Chaolu looked at him and softly replied, "Okay."
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Red envelopes will be dropped in this chapter!
A few days ago, we made some revisions to the previous plot.
The main changes are to the storyline of Chaolu and Xiaozhuo from their wedding to their married life. The focus has been increased on their post-wedding period, so now the story is: the two are in a sweet newlywed state until the false pregnancy incident, which causes a small cold war. Some details have been changed to make the post-wedding period smoother, but the overall plot remains largely the same.
The following side stories might be written at present:
1. First, the daily life of the emperor and empress is described, which is quite extensive. Later, the story will cover the pregnancy of the morning dew.
2. IF Route: In Xiao Zhuo's dream, the emperor steals the wife of a minister. Chao Lu discovers Pei Xi's true colors on his wedding day and doesn't consummate the marriage with him. She begins plotting her escape. This time, it truly is the emperor falling in love with the married woman, Chao Lu. Would you like to see this route?
3. IF Route 2: Chaolu didn't get separated from her family and had a fulfilling childhood with her sister. Of course, she and her cousin have known each other since childhood. What about this route?
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