Chapter 32 What you hold in your heart will surely come to pass…
Jiang Yinyue, carrying wine, roamed the beautiful mountains, enjoying the misty light and the shadows of flowers. She was extremely happy and carefree. Holding the "wine jar," she smiled, and it made a sound like silver bells striking jade in the dim light of the moon hanging in the branches.
A touch of naivety.
But the next moment, her lightly closed eyelids slowly lifted, her gaze changing from hazy to clear, and the drunken woman was awakened by her own laughter.
The hangover hit her, and she rubbed her stomach in discomfort, but then suddenly let go of something and looked down at the large hand resting on her chest.
"Um......?"
Enveloped in the familiar scent of bamboo mixed with soapberry, she turned her head and her nose bumped into something hard.
It was Wei Qin's chest.
Realizing she was lying on her side in Wei Qin's arms, Jiang Yinyue's mind went blank. She froze there, not daring to move. After taking a few breaths, she carefully removed Wei Qin's hand and quietly sat up.
Her long, messy hair was draped over her chest and back. She casually smoothed it down and looked down to check her clothes.
The clothes were intact, the collar was slightly crooked, but they were still presentable.
As long as he didn't lose control after drinking, that's good.
She breathed a sigh of relief, her guilt vanished, and gazed at the man on the bed in the unlit darkness.
The man lay on his side fully clothed, with one arm outstretched, which she used as a pillow.
Doesn't your hand feel numb?
Jiang Yinyue crawled back into bed, rested her head on her own pillow, and gently massaged Wei Qin's arm.
The force was as light as a feather.
Wei Qin remained undisturbed, whether from a deep sleep or from a reluctance to wake up, it was unclear.
Meanwhile, at a horse farm in a county town thirty miles away from Yangzhou, Manager Xie sighed and leaned against the fence, alone in the night wind.
An hour ago, a dark and powerful Akhal-Teke horse broke through the reins of the stable, leaped over the fence, and fled like a shooting star amidst the pursuit of the stable owner and his servants.
It was the farewell gift that the Crown Prince gave to Yan Zhuyi.
Although it was an old horse, it had been resold multiple times by various horse farms due to its purebred lineage. Manager Xie spent an entire day searching before finally finding the horse's whereabouts.
It was still too late.
Manager Xie was filled with anxiety, hoping that Yan Yi would be able to intercept the horses on the road.
Within a radius of thirty miles, the paths crisscross, making the possibility of interception extremely slim.
"I hope I'm just overthinking it!"
An old horse may not know the way...
On the Yangzhou city gate tower closest to this county town, a dozing gatekeeper suddenly awoke, leaning on the crenellations and gazing into the deep darkness of the night.
The clatter of hooves was powerful and resounding, kicking up layers of dust.
"A horse!"
"General, a horse is galloping towards us!"
The defending general, holding his helmet, ran to the battlements and examined the horse's skeleton. It was no less than a warhorse, and even superior to the mounts of ordinary cavalrymen, which was extremely rare.
"It's the imperial horse."
The general recognized the Akhal-Teke horse as the one led by the man and woman he had ordered to pass that day.
"Quickly go to the post station and inform His Highness the Crown Prince!"
After an unknown amount of time, the Akhal-Teke horse galloping wildly down the street was intercepted by a dark figure that suddenly darted out.
The horses reared up and neighed.
The man in black moved with agility, leaping onto the horse and grabbing its long mane with one hand. In just a few movements, he subdued the powerful steed.
The man in black, straddling his horse, looked around, spurred his horse, and led it away down the deserted street, disappearing into a nearby alley.
Where should I take you?
They always had to conceal the horses' movements and prevent them from going to the post station.
The man in black, who was covering his mouth, nose, and cheekbone scars, was pondering how to quietly "disappear" through the maze of alleys when a white-feathered arrow suddenly shot towards him. He instinctively raised his hand to shield his heart, and the arrow struck his palm.
"hiss!"
The moment the pain struck, the man in black leaped into the air from his horse's back, scaling walls and rooftops in the alleyways.
Clusters of torches converged into the alleyways, illuminating the daytime and casting their light upon the man holding the bow.
Hidden high above, Wei Xichen lowered his bow, signaling the guards to follow.
He walked up to the Akhal-Teke horse, stroked its neck to soothe it, and his amber eyes were tinged with a chilling aura by the cold moonlight.
When the gatekeeper reported this, he ordered the witnesses not to leak the news and instead let the horses into the city to see if anyone would intercept them.
During the three years of war in the Great An Dynasty, the imperial horses in the palace were always on standby, ready to be sent to the border to replace warhorses at any time. During these three years, under his personal supervision, most of the imperial horses were trained to know their way around, just so that one day they could carry the wounded or killed soldiers back to their hometowns.
This old horse is one of them.
Fortunately, the commander of the Shenji Battalion improved the firearms and, together with the border soldiers, repelled the enemy and quelled the war.
"Capture alive."
"promise!"
A large number of accompanying guards chased after the man in black as he fled, their agile figures weaving through the dark night.
As Wei Xichen led his horse back to the post station, his thoughts raced. There were only two possibilities for the horse to run back: either Yan Zhuyi had pawned it for money, or Yan Zhuyi had encountered danger.
He leaned more towards the second possibility, which is why he set this trap to lure the other party in, and this moment confirms the second possibility.
"A cold letter is sent to see me."
On the night he entrusted Han Jian to take Yan Zhuyi away, he learned of Han Jian's choice.
The bond between master and servant has ended; they are now strangers. The lonely Yan Zhuyi has no one to rely on...
Fu Zhongcai, who was following behind, immediately responded and sent someone to summon Han Jian, who had been freed from slavery.
As dawn broke, the pursuing guards cornered the man in black in a bustling marketplace.
The deputy commander of the guards, gritting his teeth, ordered a siege, emphasizing that there could be no mistakes.
If a group of well-trained palace guards cannot catch a single "prey," it is tantamount to dereliction of duty.
"Separate teams to search!"
"Let's go take a look over there."
At 3:45 AM, the deputy commander of the guards ran to the alley where the main gate of the Wei family was located and met Wei Qin, who was on his way to the yamen.
"Did Wei Yunpan see a man in black? He was eight feet tall, lean and slender."
Wei Qin chased Qi Bao, who had been following him out, back into the house, then turned around and asked, "I didn't see anyone. Who is Deputy Commander Qi tracking?"
"Sorry, this is confidential and cannot be disclosed."
Wei Qin nodded and stepped aside to make way.
The deputy commander led his men to continue the search, leaving no household behind. Because of the secret pursuit, they did not cause a great disturbance to the people. They would either peek through door cracks or climb over walls, keeping a low profile.
A guard asked in a low voice, "Boss, have we left the Wei family behind?"
The deputy commander didn't care at all, sticking his butt out and peeking at the Wei family's house next door. "The guard dogs haven't barked, there won't be any intruders."
"That's His Highness the Crown Prince's beloved dog..."
The deputy commander lost his patience and slapped the guard's head repeatedly. "Don't I know Qi Bao? But Qi Bao is a dog too, born to guard the door."
The guard rubbed his head and said, "I've learned a lot."
Wei Qin watched the departing guards, his calm face expressionless, and walked into the dawning light.
As dawn broke through the window, the guards returned to the post station, covered in dust and dirt, and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
Wei Xichen's expression wasn't bad, but it was tinged with coldness. "Step back."
He continued eating breakfast, but it tasted bland.
Are the two groups of people who interfered in Mr. Gong and Yan Zhuyi's affairs the same group?
If so, what is their purpose?
Suspicion clouded his mind, prompting the young crown prince to put down his porcelain spoon and signal the imperial chef to remove the meal.
Fu Zhong stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Ever since Gong Fei was intercepted, this old servant has been sending people to keep an eye on the county magistrate's residence. Logically speaking, it wasn't ordered by County Magistrate Huai Jin."
Lady Cui had her reasons for opposing the Crown Prince, and Fu Zhongcai, wanting to ease the Emperor's worries, reluctantly offered a reminder.
Wei Xichen drank his tea, not ruling out Cui Shihan's suspicion, but also not wanting to make a big fuss about questioning her and accidentally hurting an innocent person.
Those "men in black" were in the shadows, while he was in the open; they needed to plan this carefully.
Right now, we need to send someone to find Yan Zhuyi.
When Han Jian was brought to the palace guards, she had not yet brushed the flour off her sleeves.
The man shed his swordsman attire and changed back into his ordinary clothes, typical of people in the alley.
"This humble subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Wei Xichen looked him up and down, then chuckled and asked, "Now you're making a living with your skills?"
"Your Highness, I have taken over a noodle shop and am running it with my two younger sisters."
It was a long-established business. The owner, being elderly, was going to Jiangning to stay with his younger brother and transferred the shop to the three siblings of the Han family. The owner had no children and worried that his skills would be lost, so he simply passed the business on to the three siblings.
Upon seeing Han Jian again, Wei Xichen felt as if he had been reborn. Perhaps letting go of his inner turmoil was the key to rebirth. The burly swordsman before him seemed like a completely different person.
"Take a seat."
Han Jian said awkwardly, "This humble subject..."
"Sit down, I have something to ask you."
Han Jian knew what the Crown Prince wanted to ask, so he did not hide anything and recounted in detail how he had severed his master-servant relationship with Yan Zhuyi. Afterward, he waited quietly for the Crown Prince to ask his questions.
Wei Xichen didn't ask any more questions. He just felt that Han Jian had done a very decent job, ending the relationship in a dignified manner, while he himself had not only failed to give Jiang Yinyue dignity, but had also made her extremely embarrassed.
Time has passed, and the one who feels guilty does not deserve to be forgiven.
The sense of relief you feel is nothing but self-deception.
**
When the sun was high in the sky, Jiang Yinyue woke up from her nap, and the hangover was finally gone.
After washing up, she stared at herself in the mirror and felt that something was off.
Her lips were a uniquely deep red.
She didn't pay much attention, opened the door, and saw her mother-in-law combing Qi Bao's hair in the yard.
"You're awake. I'll have Dujuan make some mushroom soup to warm your stomach."
Jiang Yinyue scratched her nose as she walked over, somewhat embarrassed. Yesterday, she had acted impulsively and drunk heavily with the young county princess who called herself a lone traveler, without considering her own alcohol tolerance.
Madam Gu took out an invitation from her sleeve. "It was sent by a woman who calls herself Han Yan."
Jiang Yinyue opened the invitation and couldn't help but smile.
The three Han siblings took over a nearby noodle shop and invited her to try it when she had free time.
There's no time like the present.
My stomach is empty; I'm actually hungry.
Jiang Yinyue drank a bowl of mushroom soup and then took Dujuan to the noodle shop.
The golden signboard of a time-honored brand is the old shop owner who has passed away. Without the old shop owner, the business is much quieter.
There were two or three tables of diners.
Jiang Yinyue found a corner spot, clasped her hands in a fist and coughed, "Shopkeeper, two baskets of shumai, please."
Han Yan came out of the kitchen upon hearing the commotion and was momentarily speechless. She hadn't expected Jiang Yinyue to be so supportive. The invitation had just been sent out, and the person had arrived almost immediately.
Jiang Yinyue wasn't doing it out of consideration for the two sisters, but rather because of her slight friendship with Han Jian.
Are two drawers enough to fill you up?
"You can eat your fill, you can eat your fill, it's coming right away."
Jiang Yinyue noticed the shame on Han Yan's face, sighed and shook her head, hoping that the puppet with broken strings would no longer be controlled by people and would no longer act as an accomplice to evil.
After the shumai was served, she pushed a tray to Dujuan and asked in a low voice, "You're a native of Yangzhou, why don't you try it? Is the taste any different from before?"
Du Juan picked up a shumai, blew on it, took a big bite, and her eyes welled up with tears from the heat. She covered her mouth and replied, "The taste is a bit off."
As the master and servant were whispering to each other, they suddenly saw Han Jian leading two people toward the shop door.
Jiang Yin's bright eyes suddenly dimmed.
Enemies meet on a narrow road.
Wei Xichen, who hadn't expected to run into Jiang Yinyue in the shop, paused slightly before stepping across the threshold as usual, passing several tables of diners, and sitting down at the four-person table near the master and servant.
Han Jian hadn't expected Jiang Yinyue to come today. He went over to greet her and asked, "How's the taste?"
Jiang Yinyue hesitated for a moment, "Not bad..."
I want to hear the truth.
"It's a bit salty and a bit greasy."
Han Jian nodded. "The old shop owner left me the secret recipe. I'll think about it some more later."
Jiang Yinyue also looked the burly swordsman up and down, feeling a mix of sighs and relief, but because someone was present, she was unwilling to say anything more.
Fu Zhongcai ordered four baskets of shumai, and as was his habit, he took out a handkerchief to wipe the table and chairs before His Highness the Crown Prince took his seat.
Wei Xichen caught a glimpse of Jiang Yinyue tugging at the corner of her mouth and raised his hand to stop her, saying, "No need."
In their youth, they would also search for delicacies in the nooks and crannies of the capital. Jiang Yinyue would always ask the palace servants accompanying her to wipe the tables and chairs. His arrogant attitude was what he thought was arrogance. Now it seems that she was just acting in accordance with his obsession with cleanliness, and she didn't care about these details at all.
After quickly finishing her shumai, Jiang Yinyue left a copper coin and was about to leave when Fu Zhongcai stopped her with a smile.
"Let's pay the bill together."
Han Jian stepped forward, "No need..."
Fu Zhong realized that everything is difficult at the beginning, "Yes, yes."
The old eunuch waved his hand at Han Jian and picked up a copper coin to return to Jiang Yinyue, but was refused.
With outsiders present, Jiang Yinyue did not reveal the other party's identity, and said in a calm tone, "Strangers should settle accounts clearly."
She pulled Dujuan toward the door and heard a voice even more indifferent than hers, unhurried yet meticulous.
"Since we're settling accounts clearly, please return Qibao to Madam Jiang."
Even though Jiang Yinyue didn't want to get entangled with Qi Bao, she still wanted to argue her case based on reason. "Shouldn't we also respect Qi Bao's choice?"
Wei Xichen lost interest in tasting it. He walked up to the master and servant, his gaze fixed on Jiang Yinyue's face. "Alright."
Two groups of people walked one after the other through the marketplace leading to the Wei residence. Jiang Yinyue was unsure whether Qibao would abandon Wei Xichen, who had been with it longer, and choose her instead.
The woman walked along the road, stopping frequently, and bought many little trinkets that Qibao would like.
We may never see each other again.
She suddenly felt sad.
Watching Jiang Yinyue go in and out of several shops, Wei Xichen, who was following at a distance, was not impatient. On the contrary, he wanted to prolong this short journey as much as possible.
The old wound in his heart throbbed with pain, and the handsome man gradually lost his color.
Having devoted a great deal of energy to Yan Hongchang's case, and having not slept all night because of the Akhal-Teke horse, coupled with not eating much for breakfast and lunch, he suddenly felt quite exhausted.
But he didn't show it, not even when he was feeling unwell.
The young crown prince, who had been warned by the emperor and his maternal grandfather since childhood not to show weakness in front of others, pressed his swollen forehead.
The misty sky before the rain blurred the view, but the crimson figure moving through the shops, without the delicate fragility of a willow swaying in the wind, was lively and agile, becoming a bright color in the mist without being dazzling.
The four arrived at the main gate of the Wei family. Jiang Yinyue's hands, which were carrying large and small paper bags, turned icy cold. She instructed Dujuan to bring Qibao out.
"We've agreed that after today, there will be no further disputes regarding Qi Bao. A gentleman's word is his bond."
Wei Xichen did not answer. When he saw Qi Bao grinning and running out, when he saw Qi Bao excitedly stretching out her paws, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart.
It had thought it could live a carefree life among them without making any choices.
"You can keep it. Take good care of it."
Jiang Yinyue blurted out, "Really?"
Suddenly he's doing me a favor? Would he really be that kind?
Wei Xichen looked at Qi Bao, who was wagging her tail as she approached him, smiled gently, and suddenly turned around, but collapsed to the ground after taking a few steps.
Fu Zhongcai exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness!"
The guards quickly appeared and rushed over.
After a moment of stunned silence, Jiang Yinyue ran toward Wei Xichen, who had fallen to the ground.
A series of urgent calls pulled Wei Xichen back to his senses. He opened his thin eyelids, which felt incredibly heavy.
Before fainting, Jiang Yinyue's silhouette became the last sight before his eyes.
"Nian Nian".
Jiang Yinyue's small characters are repeated.
What you keep in mind will eventually come to pass.
But even after he completely lost consciousness, Nian Nian didn't utter a single sound, only staring blankly at him.
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Author's Note: [Heart emoji]
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