Dream Realm
The most remote village south of Qinglong City is called Qingshi Village. Qingshi Village is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with high mountains, low slopes, and hills, as well as countless river valleys and streams. The village streets and alleys are octagonal, with the square circular Muyan Alley as the center, from which eight roads open in the four directions of east, south, west, and north, leading out of the village through eight gates.
On a cool autumn morning in the south, before the heat of the day had fully set in, a touch of morning coolness lingered. The sky, a pale white, slowly transformed into a pure blue. Dew and mist clung to the verdant plants and wild grasses. As the sun rose, the dew and mist gradually evaporated, the rising vapors shrouding the mountains and fields in a white mist, making them appear as mysterious and beautiful as a fairyland or a secluded paradise.
Near the foot of the mountain outside Qing Shi Village, several streams and brooks flow. The streams and brooks are crystal clear, their mirror-like surfaces shimmering in the rising sun, like countless tiny diamonds leaping and playing on the water. The weeds along the streams sway in the wind, their slender leaves rustling against each other, as if whispering secrets. Round pebbles, smoothed by the flowing water, are embedded in the clean sand, half-exposed in the gently flowing stream.
At this moment, a young girl in a simple cloth dress and a bamboo hat was wading barefoot in the stream. Her clean but worn dress was half-tied to her waist, but the hem was still damp, clinging tightly to her slender legs. Her youthful, oval face had round, beautiful almond-shaped eyes, a pert nose, and chubby cheeks, but her skin was fair with a rosy glow. She was clearly a beautiful young girl, no more than twelve or thirteen years old.
She was Ye Ruxue, who was only twelve years old.
Ye Ruxue's eyes shone like stars as she intently stared at the deep puddle hidden beneath the stream's weeds, her hands deftly groping in the water. At first, she carefully dug out pebbles, fine sand, and silt, hoping to easily find the small fish and shrimp hiding beneath. Sometimes she would swiftly reach in and scoop up several translucent shrimp in her palm. The shrimp struggled and thrashed, but couldn't escape her grasp. She placed them in a bamboo fish basket on the stream bank and quickly closed the lid. Other times, she would slowly approach a group of small fish gathered together, then with lightning speed, close her hands, trapping them in her small palm. The fish frantically bumped against her fingers and palm, feeling a ticklish sensation, but she didn't laugh; she simply tossed them back into the basket.
After exploring one deep pool in the stream, Ye Ruxue moved on to a new one and waded in barefoot. Whenever there was a large splash in the deep pool, her face would flush with excitement, and she would immediately hold her breath and bend down to catch it. Occasionally, she would catch a larger fish. Then, she would have to bend down and use both hands to scoop the fish out of the stream. Afterward, she would deftly kick open the lid of the fish basket, quickly put the fish inside, and then close the lid again.
Soon, Ye Ruxue's fish basket was filled with lively freshwater fish and shrimp. After washing her hands and feet in the stream, she got out of bed, loosened her dress, shook the water off her feet, and put her embroidered shoes back on. Before heading home, she opened the basket lid a crack and peeked inside in the sunlight. She saw the lively fish struggling to jump, splashing tiny droplets of water. The plump shrimp waved their long pincers, seemingly still trying to escape their narrow cage and desperately trying to avoid being crushed by the fish. Looking at her morning's harvest, Ye Ruxue's face radiated a rare, satisfied smile. Her smile was as bright and captivating as a blooming peach blossom.
Humming an unknown country tune, Ye Ruxue, carrying her fish basket, walked cheerfully towards Qing Shi Village along the narrow mountain path, just wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The path, like a light brown ribbon, meandered through lush farmland and shimmering mountain streams. Scattered along the path were various wildflowers swaying in the breeze, a few smooth pebbles, and tenacious weeds. The slowly rising sun generously showered its warmth upon the vast earth. The soft morning sunlight, occasionally filtering through the dappled leaves of the roadside trees, cast sparse, warm shadows that fell on the winding country path and the girl's face.
A gentle breeze carries the fragrance of ripe grains and the scent of freshly turned earth from the distant fields to the girl. Occasionally, a few specks of dust from the country lanes are stirred by the breeze and then slowly settle down.
In this peaceful and beautiful moment, the sound of rapid, powerful hooves shattered the tranquility. The girl looked up and saw a tall, handsome young man riding a magnificent white horse, galloping along the country road like an arrow, about to collide with her. Ye Ruxue immediately leaped across the stream and stood on the hillside, making way for the young man on horseback.
The young man on horseback, his clothes billowing in the wind, had sharp, focused eyes, but his face was filled with simmering anger. He gripped the reins tightly, letting the horse gallop forward, kicking up clouds of dust.
As the distance between them closed, Ye Ruxue saw the handsome face and luxurious clothes of the young man on horseback. But she only glanced at him before lowering her head, waiting for the horse to carry the young man past so she could return to the original country path and continue home.
The young man on horseback spotted the beautiful girl dressed in peasant attire, carrying a fish basket. He abruptly pulled on the reins and stopped beside Ye Ruxue. But the horse was too fast and continued running forward for a distance. After stopping, the young man dismounted, took the reins, and walked back to Ye Ruxue's side.
The young man on horseback watched as a farm girl, avoiding him on horseback, approached from the mountainside. He noticed her; she wore a simple yet clean cloth dress, and her long hair was simply tied back under her straw hat. She had almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, fair and radiant skin, and eyes as clear as a mountain spring. Her appearance was both noble and refined, harmonious yet incongruous with her surroundings.
As the boy on horseback gazed at the beautiful face of the farm girl beside him, a blush crept onto his face and earlobes.
Ye Ruxue, the girl carrying a fish basket, noticed the young man on horseback stop beside her and watched his movements expressionlessly. When their eyes met, Ye Ruxue's gaze became even more wary. She clutched the fish basket tightly, staring at the unfamiliar young man on horseback.
"I am Qin Yuan. What is your name?" The young man on horseback looked at Ye Ruxue and asked softly. His gaze was fiery and direct.
"I don't know you." Ye Ruxue glared warily at the young man on horseback, Qin Yuan. She crossed the stream and returned to the country path, hurrying forward. As she walked, she remained vigilant, watching the young man's movements behind her.
The young horseman, Qin Yuan, dared not touch the beautiful girl's arm, nor did he dare ask to fetch the fish basket. He simply held the reins of his white horse with a sullen expression, following behind the girl, Ye Ruxue, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
Seeing the young man on horseback following her, Ye Ruxue panicked and hurried forward. Once she reached Qing Shi Village, she ran like a rabbit, clutching her fish basket. She weaved through several narrow alleys, too narrow for horses to pass through, and quickly disappeared from the young man's sight.
After shaking off the young horseman following behind, Ye Ruxue circled a narrow alley before reaching Muyan Alley in the center of Qing Shi Village. She hurried along the village's large pond towards her family's residence. As she neared her house, she noticed several unfamiliar men standing a short distance from the pond, warily observing their surroundings. They glanced at her before casually looking away.
Ye Ruxue paused, but still pushed open the red gate of her family's mansion and rushed inside. As soon as she entered, she bolted the gate shut. As she entered the courtyard, she called out loudly, "Eldest brother, second brother, I just encountered a lecherous man who wanted to follow me home. Luckily, I just shook him off. You..."
As soon as the young girl Ye Ruxue walked around the screen wall and entered the courtyard, she discovered that there were many unfamiliar men there. Upon seeing her enter, they all turned to look at her.
Ye Ruxue stopped in surprise, clutching the fish basket tightly to her chest. Only after she noticed that her eldest brother Ye Jingfeng and second brother Ye Jingyang were safe and sound in the crowd did she slowly walk over to them.
Ye Jingfeng was just a young man who had just turned twenty. He looked at Ye Ruxue, feeling a bit of a headache and a bit of helplessness, and said, "Little sister, why are you going to the stream to catch fish and shrimp again? You are a lady from a respectable family, not a peasant girl."
Ye Ruxue raised her head and said to Ye Jingfeng, "I know, but Mother needs to nourish her body. Fish and shrimp can be used to make porridge to help her recover."
Upon hearing this, Ye Jingfeng fell silent. Seeing this, Ye Ruxue naturally handed the fish basket to her second brother, Ye Jingyang, and asked him to take it to the kitchen.
Ye Ruxue looked at Ye Jingfeng, then at the others in the courtyard, and asked, "Brother, are these family relatives?"
Ye Jingfeng pondered for a moment before saying, "These are people from the City Lord's Mansion of Qinglong City. The two young masters of the City Lord's Mansion are coming to Qingshi Village to stay for a while, and they need to stay at our house for a few days first. The two young masters can also be considered our cousins, as their mother is the daughter of one of our great-aunts."
Ye Ruxue was a little surprised, but she didn't ask any more questions on the spot: "Okay. Then let's hurry up and tidy up the yard and come out."
Before Ye Ruxue could leave to help tidy up the yard, she saw someone open her front door and welcome a young man into the house.
As soon as the boy entered the courtyard, he met Ye Ruxue's surprised gaze. Seeing Ye Ruxue standing beside Ye Jingfeng, and noting the slight resemblance between the two, the boy burst into laughter.
Ye Ruxue stood dumbfounded in the courtyard, but she didn't know how to tell her two brothers that Qin Yuan, the young master of the city lord's mansion who had just entered their courtyard, was the lecherous man she had mentioned.
...
Ye Ruxue quickly ascertained the situation of the two young masters from the city lord's mansion who were temporarily staying at her home. The city lord of Qinglong City had many wives and concubines, and numerous offspring, more than twenty in total. After his first wife passed away, the city lord of Qinglong City immediately married a new wife, and soon had a new legitimate son. His concubines also had new children.
The two unfavored sons of the Azure Dragon City Lord's Mansion, the brothers Qin Huai and Qin Yuan, were sent to the most remote Qing Shi Village after the death of the former City Lord's wife, their mother. At this time, Qin Huai was only twenty-two years old, and Qin Yuan was only fourteen.
Qin Huai was already married with children. He came to Qing Shi Village with his wife and eldest daughter. Qin Yuan was still young and unmarried. The two brothers were exiled to the remote Qing Shi Village, essentially severing their chances of becoming city lords. As a result, the two brothers experienced firsthand the fickleness of human relationships and the coldness of the world.
Although they were exiled to remote areas, they still had plenty of money.
Qin Huai's family and Qin Yuan settled down in Qingshi Village. They stayed at Ye Ruxue's house for about a month before moving to the newly renovated courtyard next door.
During the month Qin Yuan stayed at the Ye family's house, he generously used some of his own money to help pay for the medical treatment of Ye Jingfeng, Ye Jingyang, and Ye Ruxue's mother, and also helped her recover her health. Over time, he became familiar with Ye Ruxue. After that, he spent all his time by her side, whether going up the mountain or down the river, cleaning the yard, or doing laundry and cooking.
Qin Yuan had only known the Ye family for less than six months when he finally managed to persuade them to agree to his engagement to Ye Ruxue. Less than two years after the engagement, he again pleaded with them to marry Ye Ruxue first, but agreed that they wouldn't live together until Ye Ruxue turned eighteen. Thus, Qin Yuan and Ye Ruxue married early and lived in the same courtyard, but Ye Ruxue occupied the master bedroom while Qin Yuan temporarily resided in a side room.
When Qin Yuan was almost twenty, the health of the Azure Dragon City Lord deteriorated. The old city lord summoned all his descendants back to the main city of Azure Dragon City, including the brothers Qin Huai and Qin Yuan. After discussing it, Qin Yuan and Qin Huai decided to take their families back to the main city of Azure Dragon City as soon as possible. They estimated that they could pack all their belongings in about a week and prepare to return.
That very night, after deciding to return to Qinglong City, Ye Ruxue came to Qin Yuan's room with a heavy heart and knocked on the door. The two went into the hall to discuss the follow-up matters.
That night, the moonlight was cool and clear. The full moon hung high in the sky, as bright as day, illuminating the courtyard outside the hall clearly. From outside the courtyard, one could faintly hear the chirping of birds and insects.
Ye Ruxue and Qin Yuan sat facing each other. Ye Ruxue poured out a bunch of her worries, but Qin Yuan held her hands and gently soothed her anxiety.
Ye Ruxue frowned. She looked into Qin Yuan's eyes and asked, "Qin Yuan, once we return to Qinglong City, will things be the same as they are now? Will your other brothers plot to kill us in order to seize the position of city lord?"
Qin Yuan remained calm and composed throughout. He reassured her, "Don't worry, we're together. Once we've settled down in the main urban area of Qinglong City, we'll come back to take your mother back. This time, your two older brothers will also be coming back to the main urban area with us. If there's any danger, we'll run away tonight."
The two talked for a long time before Ye Ruxue's brows finally relaxed. Just as Qin Yuan was about to return to his own room, Ye Ruxue grabbed his arm. She asked, "Qin Yuan, why don't you move back to the master bedroom tonight, and we can live together from now on?"
Qin Yuan's eyes widened at first, then slowly brightened. He took Ye Ruxue's hand, looked at her beautiful face with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, nodded, and replied, "Okay!"
After that, Qin Yuan, along with Ye Ruxue and his brother Qin Huai's family, returned to the main city of Qinglong City. Having endured a brutal power struggle among the brothers, Qin Yuan ultimately became the city lord of Qinglong City, and Ye Ruxue became his only wife.
For many years afterward, Qin Yuan waged numerous campaigns in the south and north, conquering the small cities surrounding Qinglong City. He and Ye Ruxue were married for many years, eventually having a son and a daughter, and remained together until their old age.
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