Chapter 91 My heart is filled with emotion
Ye Wanning's face flushed red, but she couldn't help but laugh out loud. The two took the deposit and went to several other pharmacies, negotiating a few small orders to raise enough money for the army's urgently needed pay and provisions. They then rushed back to the border that same day.
When Pei Zhi distributed the military pay to the soldiers, the entire camp erupted in cheers. Clutching their silver, the soldiers were moved to tears: "Thank you, General! Thank you, Miss Ye!"
Pei Zhi looked at Ye Wanning beside him and said with a smile, "No need to thank me, thank your God of Wealth."
Looking at the soldiers' joyful expressions, Ye Wanning felt a great sense of accomplishment. But she knew this was just the beginning; from now on, she would work with Pei Zhi to guard the border, protect these lovely people, and safeguard their homes.
The border region was exceptionally lively in summer. Crickets chirped in the grass, frogs croaked by the pond, and fireflies twinkled like stars scattered across the sky, illuminating the entire valley. Pei Zhi finished his military duties and saw Ye Wanning sitting at the tent entrance, lost in thought, her eyes fixed on the fireflies in the distance, like a curious child.
He walked over and sat down next to her: "What are you looking at? You seem so engrossed."
“Fireflies.” Ye Wanning pointed into the distance. “When I was a child in the capital, my mother often took me to Begonia Valley to see fireflies. She said that every firefly holds a wish, and if you catch it, it will come true.”
Pei Zhi smiled and said, "Then let's go catch fireflies, okay? I'll take you to a good place."
He took Ye Wanning's hand and walked towards the hillside behind the military camp. The hillside was covered with green grass and bloomed with unknown wildflowers, and there were even more fireflies, like countless little stars dancing in the air.
"It's so beautiful here," Ye Wanning couldn't help but exclaim, reaching out to grab it, but she couldn't grasp it no matter what she did.
Pei Zhi couldn't help but laugh at her anxious expression. He quietly approached the hillside, pinched his fingers, and caught the firefly that was resting on the petal. He opened his palm and presented it to Ye Wanning, inside which lay a small, flickering "lamp".
"Here you go." Pei Zhi's eyes were so tender they could drown a person. "I've heard that fireflies can reveal true feelings. Do you see how bright it is?"
Ye Wanning looked at the firefly in his palm; its green light reflected in his eyes like a sky full of stars. She gently reached out and touched the firefly's wings, and the little creature suddenly flew up, circled above their heads once, and landed on Pei Zhi's shoulder.
"Bright, exceptionally bright," Ye Wanning said softly, her eyes full of smiles.
Pei Zhi suddenly grasped her hand, the warmth of his palm flowing through her fingertips into her body. He looked into her eyes, his voice low and earnest: "Wan Ning, my feelings are brighter than these fireflies."
Ye Wanning's heart seemed to skip a beat, her cheeks instantly turned red, and she tried to pull her hand away but he held it tightly.
"I fell in love with you the first time I saw you at nightfall. I loved your strength, your intelligence, your kindness, and even your occasional temper. At the border, you brewed medicine for me, embroidered a vest for me, and even helped me solve the problem of my military pay. I knew then that you were the one I had been waiting for."
He paused, then knelt on one knee, pulling a small brocade pouch from his robes. Inside were the two dried crabapple blossoms pieced together: "I know it was wrong of me to lie to you and pretend to be Boss Li to get close to you. But I truly love you, love being with you, and love protecting you. Wan Ning, will you be my wife?"
Ye Wanning looked at Pei Zhi kneeling on one knee, at the dried crabapple blossoms in his hand, and at the love filling his eyes, and tears streamed down her face. She remembered the fate that had brought her mother to save him twenty years ago, the days and nights they spent together at the border, and every time he had stood up for her and helped her out of trouble; her heart was filled with gratitude.
"I do, I do." She nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion, "Pei Zhi, I do."
Pei Zhi's eyes lit up instantly, as if stars had fallen into them. He stood up, pulled Ye Wanning into his arms, and held her tightly, wishing he could meld her into his very bones.
"That's great, Wan Ning, that's great." His voice was choked with emotion. "I thought you would blame me for lying to you."
"I don't blame you." Ye Wanning leaned against him, smelling the faint scent of grass on him. "I know you did it for my own good, I know all that."
Fireflies danced around the two of them, their green light casting long shadows. Pei Zhi lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, his voice solemn: "Once the Turks are pacified, I will ask the Emperor to grant us a marriage, to marry you in grand style, so that everyone will know that you are my wife."
Ye Wanning nodded, her heart filled with joy. She knew that from now on, she was no longer alone. She had someone to rely on, someone to love, and her own happiness.
The two sat on the hillside, letting fireflies hover around them, until late at night before returning home. Pei Zhi held her hand the whole time, his palm never cooling. Ye Wanning sat beside him, thinking quietly: So what Mother said was true; fireflies really can grant wishes. Her wish was to be with Pei Zhi forever, never to be separated.
Upon hearing in the capital that Pei Zhi and Ye Wanning were growing closer at the border, Ye Lingwei was so enraged that she smashed everything in her room. That wretched Ye Wanning, what right did she have to win General Pei's favor? What right did she have to be so glamorous at the border?
"Miss, please don't be angry. It's not worth ruining your health." Cui'er handed over a cup of tea and said cautiously, "I have an idea that can ruin Ye Wanning's reputation and make her lose the general's favor forever."
"What idea?" Ye Lingwei raised her eyes, her gaze filled with malice. "Speak quickly!"
"Let's make some snacks, add some medicinal powder to them, and then send them to the border, saying that Ye Wanning specially sent them to General Pei. When General Pei thinks that Ye Wanning wanted to harm him, he will definitely hate her and never speak to her again!" Cui'er sneered.
Ye Lingwei's eyes lit up: "Great idea! Let's do it your way! Quickly make some desserts, the sooner the better!"
Cui'er immediately went to prepare. That day, she bought some exquisite pastries, added some medicinal powder, and sent them to the border military camp with her trusted confidant. She specifically instructed the messenger: "These are pastries that Miss Ye Wanning asked me to send to General Pei."
When the messenger arrived at the military camp, Ye Wanning was brewing medicine for Pei Zhi. The soldiers led the messenger into the tent, and Pei Zhi looked at the snacks on the table, wondering to himself: Wanning just brewed medicine for me, why is she bringing snacks now?
The messenger quickly said, "General, this was specially sent by Miss Ye. She said you've been working hard lately and you should have some snacks to nourish yourself."
Pei Zhi picked up a pastry, brought it to his nose, and smelled it. Besides the aroma of the pastry, there was also a faint medicinal smell. He immediately understood—it must be Ye Lingwei's conspiracy to frame Wan Ning.
Just then, Ye Wanning came in carrying the medicine and was taken aback when she saw the snacks on the table: "This is..."
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