First meeting
The Duke of England's mansion was indeed covered with white banners, and white lanterns with the word "奠" (meaning "offering sacrifice") hung in front of the gate.
Xu Qiu knocked urgently on the tightly closed gate. The gatekeeper of the Duke's mansion poked his head out, "Who is it? So early in the morning—"
Before the doorman could react, he rushed inside through the crack in the door, his hands trembling. He looked utterly disheveled, a far cry from his usual dignified demeanor.
"Lord Xu, please... slow down. You need to offer incense. I'll go inform the master and young master—"
The main hall was set up as a mourning hall, with a coffin made of nanmu wood in the foreground, followed by a spirit tablet and an offering table...
Everything was white, and the memorial tablet bore Gu Yu's name.
Xu Qiu was filled with sorrow as he stepped forward and embraced the coffin.
Did she really die? How did she die? Could she no longer remain in this world? Did her obsession dissipate, and her soul return to the underworld?
What should he do then?
What will he do now that she's abandoned him?
If her soul is scattered, where will he go to find her in the underworld?
Gu Jin, dressed in white mourning clothes, rushed over upon hearing the noise and saw Xu Qiu, who was holding a coffin and looked utterly despondent.
"She wanted to see you one last time, and waited under the hibiscus tree all day, but you didn't come..."
"I was wrong, I was really wrong, I shouldn't have kept her waiting."
Xu Qiu was dazed, his whole body still trembling. "I want to go down and look for her, but I don't know if I can find her..."
He was completely absorbed in his own thoughts, as if he were speaking to the person in the coffin, or perhaps to Gu Jin.
Before she left, she told me...
What did she say?
Gu Jin closed her eyes, and her voice, filled with a sense of relief and joy, seemed to echo right beside her.
Each word, each phrase, fell clearly in the cold wind.
“Xu Qiu, I have redeemed you. If one day you no longer wish to be an official, you can retire unscathed. Or if you really end up like Sun Gu, the new emperor will spare your life. You are free.”
Xu Qiu viewed the world as a tool to be used, and those in power viewed him as a tool as well. Even he himself regarded himself as a heartless knife.
However, for Tang Qingning, Xu Qiu was just Xu Qiu herself, no longer the blade she used to point at her enemies.
Xu Qiu wanted to laugh, but his laughter was miserable. "She's so smart, how could she not understand my feelings? Wealth, fame, and fortune are all good, but none of them can compare to her."
"I only want her."
"I didn't have much to begin with, and after twenty-three years of hard work, all I've gained is a fleeting illusion."
"She abandoned me...she doesn't want me anymore..."
He cried miserably, tears and snot streaming down his face, "She abandoned me again... It's always like this... I always have to go find her..."
He pleaded with Gu Jin, "I want to see her one last time before I go to the underworld to find her..."
"Could you open the coffin so I can see her one last time?"
Gu Jin opened his eyes, knelt before the coffin, and bowed three times. "The coffin contains Gu Yu's clothes from when she was alive. She is not here."
"W-What do you mean?"
"She is in the place where you first met."
“A mass grave?” Xu Qiu’s eyes were filled with anger. “Even if she wasn’t your sister, you shouldn’t have left her in a mass grave. She hates that place.”
Gu Jin thought to himself, "How come someone who is usually so smart becomes a fool when it comes to her affairs?"
"Go on," Gu Jin said with a helpless smile. "If you didn't have this attitude, I wouldn't want to talk to you."
“She’s waiting for you there.” His tone was a mix of urging and relief.
Xu Qiu understood. He couldn't believe it. He staggered to his feet and ran out the door.
Gu Hanying stood behind a pillar, looking sadly at Gu Yu's memorial tablet. "I originally thought it would be too lonely for her to go alone. It would be good for Xu Qiu to accompany her."
"Neither of them can live without the other. If they get together, they might be able to have a long and lasting relationship."
Gu Jin nodded. "Father, I want to take Ayu's memorial tablet back to the North, so that our family can stay together forever and never be separated again."
"......good."
Gu Hanying opened his mouth, but swallowed back the words of patriotism he was about to say. "I'll go tell that brat that the border is now secure, and I'll hand over my military power. From now on, I'll just be an ordinary father and not a great general anymore."
He planned to use this last bit of power to ensure Tang Qingning and Xu Qiu's peaceful later years; this was the last thing he could do for her.
Xu Qiu arrived in such a hurry that he certainly didn't care about anything that happened after his death.
“That Xu Qiu abducted my daughter, he should still remember me as his father-in-law. If he doesn’t bring Qingning to the north to see me, I’ll curse him in my dreams when I’m in the underworld.”
“They will,” Gu Jin said. “They will come.”
Even though it was already the time between 3 AM and 5 AM, the sky was still overcast.
At such an early morning, the morning court session in the palace had already begun, and most of the people in Shengjing City were also up and busy making a living.
However, the main road leading to Yongdingmen was still deserted, with only a few pedestrians yawning and walking along the road.
A young man dressed in a scarlet official robe was running hurriedly down the main road, as if he had gone mad. Pedestrians were unable to avoid him and thought they had encountered some kind of lunatic.
The two young men who had been bumped into looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Why do I feel like that person is wearing official robes?"
"How could that be? A scarlet official robe—that's a third-rank official, he should be at the morning court session right now, why would he be running around on the street?"
"That's true, maybe they secretly put on the costume and ran away."
"But I feel that the costumes shouldn't be like this."
"I feel like he looks a bit like Scholar Xu, who just returned to the capital. I saw him when Scholar Xu came back."
The man seemed to have discovered some earth-shattering secret, and was somewhat shocked. "It really seems to be him."
"Why is he skipping court and running out of the city?"
In front of Yongding Gate, a simple horse-drawn carriage rumbled forward in the chill of the early morning.
"Oh my, sir, why is a high-ranking official of the third rank running this way?" The coachman, encountering such a scene for the first time, stared at him with some surprise and suspicion.
Wei Cong lifted the curtain and saw an old friend. "Is it time for the morning court session?"
"Yes, it's time for the morning court session."
But Xu Qiu hurried past the carriage without even glancing at him. Wei Cong touched his nose, feeling a bit uneasy.
He owed Xu Qiu and Gu Yu a favor, but Xu Qiu seemed to be about to back out.
Xu Qiu has abandoned his post, so the burden has fallen on his shoulders.
Looking at the stone carvings on Yongdingmen Gate, Wei Cong smiled bitterly, "He saved my life, and now he's even dumped his burdens on me."
Now I really dare not die, and I cannot die.
In the late winter of the twenty-third year of Shengyuan, he rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and argued with his indignant brother Hongyao in front of the city gate with the petty officials who were demanding entry fees.
He turned his back and didn't see the elegant young lady sitting in the carriage; that one missed connection would last a lifetime.
He could never have imagined that he would be where he is today, with the new salt tax law in place, his political achievements remarkable, and his triumphant return to Shengjing.
A smooth road lay before him.
The coachman laughed and joked with him, "Lord Wei, if you ever become the Grand Secretary in charge of two capitals and thirteen provinces, and if you still remember me, how about you bestow a piece of your calligraphy upon me, so that my child can also benefit from the official's aura?"
Wei Cong lowered the carriage curtain and shook his head helplessly. Becoming an official is not that easy. The position of Grand Secretary is not something that can be obtained so easily.
I wonder what the new emperor wants in his cabinet as the chief minister. Will he be the next Sun Gu?
*
Xu Qiu ran forward as if possessed, oblivious to everything around him.
His world was a chaotic darkness. The mottled corners of the walls, the lanterns swaying in the wind, and the shadows and voices of people all vanished in the cold wind.
Until a bright spot appeared in his vision, Xu Qiu looked at her back as she held up the plum blossom umbrella, breathing heavily.
He caught up, he finally caught up, and this time he would never let her leave him again, never in this lifetime.
The stench of decay mixed with the smell of blood from the mass grave lingered in the air.
A light drizzle soaked his scarlet clothes, or perhaps from sweat; he looked disheveled and dejected.
Is it not appropriate to see her looking like this?
Xu Qiu wanted to straighten his clothes.
But Tang Qingning had already turned around upon hearing the commotion, her clear voice startling several crows that had landed on the withered branches—
"Young master, it's a pleasure to meet you."
“I was born and raised in Shengjing. I am the descendant of a disgraced official. To avenge my family, I once disguised myself as a noble lady and used any means necessary. Finally, I got my revenge and saw the light of day again.”
"Now I am just an ordinary citizen, surnamed Tang, named Qingning."
"This humble woman is not talented, but I wish to seek your company, young master, to roam the streets and alleys, only to practice medicine and save lives, so as to wash away the blood on my hands. May I ask if you would be willing?"
He saw the smile on her face; the gloom of the past had finally dissipated, revealing a face cleansed of all worldly cares.
"I lost my parents at a young age, and I am just an ordinary commoner..." His voice was terribly sore and choked with sobs.
She gets to see the clear blue sky, and so does he.
"Fortunately, Heaven took pity on me... After twenty-three years of striving and struggling in this world, having gained immense power and wealth, I was still not satisfied and was willing to give up everything to marry a girl named Tang Qingning..."
He waded through the mud and filth before the Golden Jade Hall, brushed aside the turbulent world, and came before her once again.
"My name is Xu Qiu. I wish to stay by Miss Tang's side until death, never to leave her. May I ask if you are willing?"
The soft light fell on her snow-white face.
It illuminated the dreary winter day, making it bright as if a ray of light had burst forth from the darkness, and the withered trees were reborn in spring.
The winter wind rustled, the dark brown branches drooped, and the flickering light fell into his eyes, severing his life of wandering since birth.
She said, "Xu Qiu, come with me."
Her clear, melodious voice sounded like heavenly music at that moment.
"Okay." Tears welled up in his eyes, burning hot.
Suddenly, a rain shower falls upon the branches, washing away the dust of half a lifetime from the past.
The sparse drizzle stained his dark eyebrows and black eyes. Xu Qiu took a few steps forward and hugged Tang Qingning tightly, with a force that seemed to want to meld her into his very bones.
Tang Qingning also wrapped her arms around him, dropping the plum blossom umbrella she was holding to the ground. Seeing that he was only wearing thin official robes and was shivering uncontrollably, she opened her cloak and pulled him in as well.
Life shouldn't be judged by winning or losing; just follow your heart and seek freedom.
Tang Qingning let him hold her, and only spoke when she could catch her breath, "You're dressed so lightly? Xu Qiu, you'll be accompanying me on so many journeys in the future, you can't afford not to take care of your health."
Xu Qiu buried his face in her neck and said in a sticky voice, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say, Madam. We'll go to the front and buy a winter coat later. I'll have someone send this official robe back with my resignation letter."
She was just Miss Tang a moment ago, and now she's a lady. Well, this person just knows how to climb the social ladder.
“Xu Qiu, you must pursue me, win my heart, and then... you must also betrothed and marry me in a grand procession. You can’t call me Madam now, it’s too easy for you.”
"Alright, I'll listen to Miss Tang." He chuckled. "I've never learned how to woo a girl, Miss Tang, please teach me how to win your heart?"
"How can we just let the person who set the question give us the answer? You're so smart, figure it out yourself."
Tang Qingning patted him, telling him to loosen his grip a bit, "You carry me on your back, and I'll hold the umbrella. We'll reach a village in about two miles."
"good."
Xu Qiu bent down and carried Tang Qingning on his back.
"Xu Qiu, did you forget your money?" Tang Qingning suddenly remembered this.
"I left in a hurry and didn't bring it with me."
“I did bring some, but not much. You did so much for the late emperor, and the wealth you accumulated shouldn’t be given away to others.” Especially that kid Jing Zichen.
She redeemed him from his servitude, so everything Xu Qiu owns belongs to him.
“After this storm passes, I will have someone deal with my properties in Shengjing. Right now, I am penniless and will have to rely on Miss Tang for the time being.”
Xu Qiu trudged through the withered grass and broken branches, one step deep and one step shallow.
The intrigues of the imperial court, the secrets of the royal palace, and the power struggles between the emperor and his ministers were finally no longer their concern.
Tang Qingning, leaning on Xu Qiu's shoulder, looked at the handsome young man in front of her, smiled, and kissed his cheek, watching his ears turn bright red.
He wasn't lying to her; kisses really do turn red.
"Miss Tang is being so proactive; I suppose you are also fond of me. How about we get married tomorrow?"
Tang Qingning laughed and scolded, "Dream on."
Xu Qiu's departure was so smooth because Wei Cong was still around. The Great Sheng Dynasty didn't need another Sun Gu; what it needed was a loyal and virtuous minister like Wei Cong who had no selfish motives.
After the hatred and resentment were resolved, what filled her heart was no longer a heart full of resentment, but a soft and bright love.
There were those who respected their fathers and brothers, those who cherished spring moons and autumn chrysanthemums, and many others who felt gratitude and respect.
The most important and purest thing is Xu Qiu's unwavering and biased love for Tang Qingning—
In the end, it was he who held her back from the brink of death.
Because Xu Qiu is still in this world, Tang Qingning wants to stay in the human realm.
Their roots had long been intertwined in the dark mire; neither could survive without the other.
Through wind, frost, winter snow, and the trials of life, she wanted to walk a longer road with him. Perhaps... they wouldn't have a long and happy marriage, but cherishing each day was good enough.
If she leaves him a child, will Xu Qiu remain in the mortal world after she leaves, watching the spring flowers and autumn moon, summer rain and winter snow for her?
Tang Qingning didn't know what the future held, but she felt neither worried nor afraid. She knew that from now on, she would no longer be alone; Xu Qiu would always be with her.
Long, long ago, Tang Qingning was immersed in darkness, unable to see any light ahead.
She would never have imagined—
One day, she not only redeemed herself, but also redeemed a handsome and charming top scholar who loved to act coquettishly.
—End of text—
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