fifteen
Thanks to Xuan Yuan Tianyi's meticulous care along the way, Zhan Zhao's injuries had fully healed by the time they returned to the capital. He accompanied Bao Zheng to the palace to report the imperial decree, and Zhao Zhen, unusually, granted him two days of leave. Although not explicitly stated, Zhan Zhao knew that Zhao Zhen was very displeased with his injury. Alas, he needed to find a way to evade the royal guards. Perhaps he could seek help from Xuan Yuan Tianyi, after all, she had personally trained the royal guards.
After Duan Qingyuan arrived in the capital, she was first placed in a post station specifically for receiving envoys from various countries. After half a month of learning court etiquette, she was conferred the title of Consort Ru and moved into the Xihe Palace. Only then did the marriage alliance come to an end.
Looking at the woman in front of him, Zhao Zhen shook his head helplessly: "Are you really leaving?"
"Ye Zi's birthday is on the third day of next month, which is less than ten days away. I need to get to Luoying Manor as soon as possible." Xuan Yuan Tianyi smiled lazily. "I have already brought your bride back for you, and I have also brought the Imperial Cat back for you unharmed. There is nothing more for me to do. Are you not allowing me to leave?"
Zhao Zhen opened her mouth, but ultimately remained silent. The Chai family's affairs couldn't be resolved in a short time. Having Xuan Yuan Tianyi stay would only make Chai Wenyi more cautious; her departure might be the best strategy to lure the enemy. Smiling and nodding, Zhao Zhen softly asked, "When will you be back?"
"I don't know, maybe when I want to come back. After all, this isn't my home." Xuan Yuantian smiled gently, but as he turned around, Zhao Zhen's cold voice came from behind him: "You just don't want to consider this place your home."
Yes, I don't want to. Xuan Yuan Tian smiled bitterly to himself. I simply don't want to share you with anyone, I don't want that most prestigious title for a woman in the world. The imperial court? The martial world? I have my own path to walk, you have your own responsibilities to bear. But you shouldn't have chosen my future for me. Zhen, nearly twenty years together, I thought we understood each other and could continue like this forever, but I forgot that the one I love is that high and mighty emperor…
At the palace gate, Chai Wenyi watched as Xuan Yuantianyi, dressed in red, walked gracefully toward him. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. He then revealed a carefree smile and spoke in a flirtatious tone typical of the pleasure quarters: "What a coincidence, I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Didn't you wait for me here on purpose?" Xuan Yuan Tianyi smiled lazily, the vermilion mark on his forehead shining brightly in the sunlight.
After a moment of distraction, Chai Wenyi quickly regained his elegant demeanor, gently touching his forehead with one hand and pointing at Xuan Yuantian with the other, he chuckled, "You really can't hide anything from me. Shall I treat you to a drink?"
Looking at Chai Wenyi's overly natural elegance, Xuan Yuantian chuckled teasingly, "You're not inviting me to drink with courtesans, are you?"
"Look at what you're saying, I wouldn't dare take you to a brothel." With that, Chai Wenyi lifted the carriage curtain and gestured for you to enter.
After whispering a few words to Leng Moyan, Xuan Yuantianyi turned and got into Chai Wenyi's car. Chai Wenyi then got into the car and sat next to Xuan Yuantianyi.
The face that had only appeared in his dreams countless times was now so close to him that Chai Wenyi was slightly dazed. He stared at Xuan Yuan Tianyi without blinking until Xuan Yuan Tianyi turned his head and looked back at him with a playful expression. Only then did Chai Wenyi awkwardly turn his head to the side.
"Has Your Highness always looked at women so rudely?" Xuan Yuan Tianyi's tone rose, but no one could tell whether he was happy or angry.
Unperturbed by Xuan Yuan Tianyi's teasing, Chai Wenyi slightly curled his lips and glanced at Xuan Yuan Tianyi sideways: "Tianyi, I really didn't expect you to go to the Southern Frontier with the delegation."
Slightly shifting to a more comfortable position, Xuan Yuan Tianyi smiled charmingly: "I never imagined that one day I would almost lose my life at the hands of the Chai family's retainers."
Although he knew he couldn't hide it from Xuan Yuan Tianyi, Chai Wenyi hadn't expected her to be so blunt. He looked at the woman in front of him with a complicated expression: "You know everything?"
"What do you think I know?" Xuan Yuantian met Chai Wenyi's gaze, asking instead of answering.
“Tianyi, although we can’t be considered childhood sweethearts, we’ve known each other since we were little. There’s no need to beat around the bush, is there?” Chai Wenyi leaned against the car wall, looking at Xuan Yuan Tianyi with a calm and composed expression.
Xuanyuan Tianyi withdrew his gaze, turned to look at the carriage curtain, and said with a hint of nostalgia in his voice: "I really miss Chai Wenyi when he was a child. Although he was a bit arrogant, he was very kind and would not do anything to achieve his goals."
"Unscrupulous? If we really investigate, Zhao Kuangyin was the one who truly used any means necessary. He seized this vast empire from an orphan and a widow without firing a single shot, relying entirely on scheming and trickery." Chai Wenyi's voice was filled with intense hatred.
"While Zhao Kuangyin's conquest of the empire from an orphan and a widow was not exactly glorious, as you yourself said, he did it without firing a single shot and without causing the people to be displaced. In another sense, that is commendable. Now, the country has been established for a long time, and the people are living in peace. If you were to provoke war, the people would inevitably suffer. Even if you were to seize the empire, looking at those piles of white bones, could you really look down upon the land with a clear conscience?" Xuan Yuan Tianyi, his smile gone, now seemed to possess an even greater innate magnanimity.
After a long silence, Chai Wenyi finally spoke in a deep voice: "Back then, when heroes rose up all over the land and war raged, the country was torn apart, which was somewhat understandable. However, now that the country has been established for many years, there are still powerful enemies outside that are eyeing our Han dynasty covetously, and bandits within that country are constantly harassing the people. The current emperor does not think about quelling internal troubles or recovering lost territory. As a result, our Han dynasty only owns half of the once vast land. Since the descendants of the Zhao family are incompetent, then it is time for a capable person to rule this country. Besides, I am only taking back what is rightfully mine."
Shaking his head helplessly, Xuan Yuantian said quietly, "The victor is king, the loser is villain. Are you so sure you will be the final winner?"
Upon hearing Xuan Yuan Tianyi's words, Chai Wenyi narrowed his eyes slightly, braced his hands against the car wall, and wrapped Xuan Yuan Tianyi in front of him. He slowly leaned closer to Xuan Yuan Tianyi until they were pressed tightly together. Only then did Chai Wenyi chuckle and say, "If you are willing to help me, I am naturally sure."
"I will not help someone who plunges the people of the world into war for his own purposes." Ignoring the dangerous aura in Chai Wenyi's eyes, Xuan Yuantian calmly met Chai Wenyi's gaze.
Staring intently at Xuan Yuan Tianyi for a long time, Chai Wenyi withdrew, straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, sat up straight, and stared intently at his fair hands with his lowered eyes. His voice was slightly low and deep: "Is it only because Zhao Zhen is the true Son of Heaven you have chosen?"
"I didn't choose Emperor Zhao Zhen, nor do I have the ability to do so. You only see the annual tributes the court has to pay to other countries, but you haven't seen the smiles on the faces of the people who are able to live in peace and prosperity because there is no war." Xuan Yuantian's lips curled up as he looked at Chai Wenyi thoughtfully.
Chai Wenyi shook his head in disagreement, then turned and asked, "Do you really want to be my enemy for Zhao Zhen's sake?"
“Wenyi, I am not acting for Zhao Zhen, but for the people of this world. It is not my wish to be your enemy, but if you really want to overthrow the court, Xuanyuan Tianyi will never sit idly by.”
Hearing Xuan Yuan Tianyi's words, Chai Wenyi sighed softly. Neither of them spoke again; the atmosphere in the carriage was somewhat oppressive. Chai Wenyi reached out and lifted the curtain, looking at the satisfied smiles of the people on the street. For the first time, he had a slight doubt about his decision. However, the next moment, his father's dying words echoed in his ears. He gently shook his head, banishing the last trace of hesitation from his mind, and a resolute light shone in Chai Wenyi's eyes.
The carriage stopped in front of Huixianlou, the largest restaurant in the capital. Chai Wenyi gracefully helped Xuanyuan Tianyi down from the carriage. A waiter immediately came forward: "Your Highness Chai, you've arrived. A private room has been prepared for you." He then led the two upstairs.
This was a private room tucked away in a corner of the restaurant, with windows on two sides and an elegant ambiance. Xuan Yuantian glanced around the room and nodded slightly: "The room is decorated in a quiet and elegant style. Sitting here, one can enjoy a panoramic view of Kaifeng's streets. With windows on two sides, it's easy to observe and also convenient to escape. It's indeed a good place for a conspiracy."
Chai Wenyi, who was pulling out a chair for Xuanyuan Tianyi, smiled slightly upon hearing Xuanyuan Tianyi's words: "Do you now see everything I do as having ulterior motives?"
"You said that yourself, I didn't say anything." Xuan Yuantian chuckled and looked at Chai Wenyi's somewhat helpless expression, his eyes full of teasing.
With a nonchalant smile, Chai Wenyi sat down opposite Xuan Yuantianyi: "It's rare that you're willing to sit down with me. Let's just talk about feelings and nothing else, okay?"
"That depends on what kind of relationship we're discussing." Xuan Yuan Tianyi took a small sip of tea.
Chai Wenyi twirled a strand of hair around his finger while glancing sideways at Xuan Yuantianyi: "What kind of relationship do you want to talk about?"
Shrugging, Xuan Yuantian carefully examined Chai Wenyi in front of him. After a long while, he asked casually, "Are you very disappointed that I didn't die?"
“I’m not disappointed that you didn’t die, but I’m a little disappointed that Zhan Zhao didn’t die.” Chai Wenyi said this with a smile on his lips. “I never thought that you would jump down with Zhan Zhao when he fell off the cliff.”
"I don't know why either," Xuan Yuan Tian said with an indifferent smile.
Chai Wenyi met Xuan Yuantianyi's gaze, his eyes full of scrutiny, as if trying to see through the woman before him. However, Xuan Yuantianyi's eyes were devoid of any emotion, and he helplessly lowered his head. Undeterred, Chai Wenyi asked, "If I had fallen off the cliff back then, would you have jumped with me?"
"I don't know." Xuan Yuan Tianyi's straightforward answer startled Chai Wenyi, who then looked disappointed. "Tianyi, how could you be so heartless! I've been so devoted to you, and you treat me like this."
"You're so devoted to me? Then who gave birth to your precious son?" Xuan Yuantian raised an eyebrow and looked at Chai Wenyi.
Upon hearing Xuan Yuan Tianyi's words, Chai Wenyi's previously exaggerated expression instantly vanished, and a chilling light flashed in his eyes as he looked at Xuan Yuan Tianyi. Before he could speak, Xuan Yuan Tianyi smiled and said, "Only now are you truly yourself, and only now is your ambition completely undisguised."
Ignoring the teasing in Xuan Yuantian's words, Chai Wenyi asked in a deep voice, "Zhao Zhen knows too?"
"Whether he knows or not, how would I know? But don't worry, I won't tell him." Just as Xuan Yuan Tianyi finished speaking, the waiter's voice came from the doorway: "Sir, the dishes are here."
After glancing at Xuan Yuantianyi, Chai Wenyi suppressed his aura, paused for a moment, and then said, "Come in."
Seemingly sensing the unusual atmosphere in the room, the waiter quickly placed the dishes on the table and then quietly left. Only after the waiter had left did Chai Wenyi speak, "Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me. Actually, it's safest for them, mother and child, to stay in the capital. If Fangzhou falls one day, have you considered how you would ensure their safety amidst the flames of war?" Xuan Yuan Tianyi looked at Chai Wenyi, who was filling his wine cup, and knew that what he could think of, Chai Wenyi couldn't possibly be unaware of. He also understood that Chai Wenyi's hasty departure of his wife and child indicated that he was prepared for a desperate gamble. But how could a small place like Fangzhou, even if it were truly impregnable, withstand the imperial army?
"I'm afraid that if things change, I won't have time to take them away." Chai Wenyi understood that what Xuan Yuantianyi said was true, but at this moment he was even more afraid that Zhao Zhen would use his wife and children as bait to lure him into submission.
“You underestimate Zhen. Based on your understanding of him, do you think he’s the kind of person who would take women and children hostage?” Xuan Yuantian asked softly, knowing Chai Wenyi’s concerns.
Chai Wenyi looked up at Xuan Yuantianyi, who was looking at him, and said without thinking, "People change, especially when they sit in that position."
With a slight sigh, Xuan Yuan Tianyi was unwilling to continue the topic. He lowered his head, looked at the table full of his favorite dishes, and a thought struck him. He smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to still remember."
"Some people and some things may be forgotten, but some people and some things will never be forgotten in a lifetime." As he said this, Chai Wenyi looked at Xuan Yuantianyi with deep affection in his eyes. This was the first time that Chai Wenyi had made no attempt to hide his feelings and looked directly into Xuan Yuantianyi's heart.
Stepping out of the gates of the Huixian Tower, Xuanyuan Tianyi looked at the blinding sunlight overhead, yet felt no warmth in his heart. The bustling streets and clamor seemed to fade away, and a strange pain in his chest made him shiver. The next moment, Xuanyuan Tianyi collapsed into a warm embrace. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in his carriage. Lazily turning over, Xuanyuan Tianyi murmured softly, "Mo Yan, I sense that the seal on the Southern Frontier is loosening."
With a barely perceptible frown, Leng Moyan said with unusual seriousness, "The deadline hasn't arrived yet. This shouldn't be the case. If something happens now, it will likely be another catastrophe for the world."
"Although there are signs that the seal is loosening, it should still take at least two or three years. By then, things here should be settled." Xuan Yuan Tianyi's voice was tinged with worry due to this sudden change.
Understanding Xuan Yuan Tianyi's concerns, Leng Moyan gently comforted him, "Don't worry, a six-hundred-year deadline is normal, even if it's a few years ahead. Once this matter is settled, we'll go to the Southern Frontier."
Without answering Leng Moyan's question, Xuan Yuantian gently pressed his hand to his heart, intently sensing the impending change thousands of miles away.
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