The archery range here is a bit rudimentary, but I held the bow and arrow in my hand and shot at the target. Fortunately, my strength didn't wane. I still have the strength in my arms, even though I carry Yu'er around every day.
"Not bad," the people next to me said. They even told me how to shoot closer to the bullseye, and I actually hit the target using their method.
"Wow, you guys are amazing! You even noticed that!"
“We’ve spent a lot of time in the Western Regions and beyond the Great Wall, so these are things we absolutely must know. Try it again, and from now on, just follow this method, and your archery skills will become excellent.”
"Thank you so much, you are such kind people."
When they heard that I was a good person, they looked a little awkward, but I changed the subject and we started talking again.
I was practicing archery with them on the side, and I didn't even notice Xie Yuancheng coming out. Just as I was about to shoot another arrow, Xie Yuancheng came over and grabbed my hand, along with three arrows.
"Good!" Everyone around was clapping, but why wasn't anyone clapping when I hit the target!
"Thank you everyone, my brother Ying always likes to play."
"My lord, your young man is incredibly clever."
"Yes, you'll learn it after being taught once."
"You flatter us too much. We still have a long way to go, or something bad might happen if we are late."
Xie Yuancheng pulled me out of the crowd, made me bow to a person who was completely covered in clothes, and then waved goodbye to the villagers.
I was especially happy sitting on my horse: "Yuancheng~ You didn't see it, I was really amazing just now."
“Yes, everyone’s being accommodating to you.” Xie Yuancheng laughed from behind. He rode his horse very fast, and after we crossed the suspension bridge, he took out his red cloak again.
"Ying'er, if you're tired, lean on me and rest." That's what I heard Xie Yuancheng say to me, and then I fainted.
When I woke up, it was already dark. We were in a place with the sound of running water, and there was a tent above us.
"How did I fall asleep?"
Xie Yuancheng leaned closer: "I let you smell my sleep fragrance so you can sleep so soundly."
"Ugh~ It's not like I couldn't stand it, why did you let me fall asleep?"
Xie Yuancheng touched my face, and I leaned into his arms: "What time is it now?"
"It's almost midnight. We've covered 150 li this afternoon, so I've sent the horses to rest."
"One hundred and fifty li, this should be the northwest, nearing the Western Regions, right?"
"Yes, it's not far from the city, but we can't go into the city yet, or your man might get stolen."
"You're dreaming." I thought of the people in the village: "Are they really from the Western Regions? They have high cheekbones, fair skin, and deep-set eyes."
"Yes, but they are prisoners from the Western Regions who are living in seclusion here."
“Prisoners? No wonder they looked uneasy when I praised them as good people today.”
"I remember avoiding the route, but we still ran into each other. Luckily you're a man, otherwise you would have been in trouble if I went in."
“I’m quite far away from them. Even when they’re shooting arrows, you’re the only one leaning against me. If it were anyone else, I would have slashed them with a knife.”
"That's why we have to run faster; if we're any later, we'll probably be caught and taken back."
Xie Yuancheng's expression didn't seem like he was joking. I didn't want to guess what would happen if we were taken back. As long as we were safe now, that was enough. I held him tightly and wouldn't let go.
"Ying'er~ You're all energetic now, all you do is come and bother me."
"I'm not feeling well, it seems like my breasts are engorged," Xie Yuancheng said, looking down at the tinderbox.
"It's alright, I have a way."
"It must be that Su Ling and Xi Zhi miss me. My darlings, they don't have their parents by their side."
"Ying'er, stop thinking nonsense, or I'll regret it again." Xie Yuancheng lit a lamp with a tinderbox beside me. I saw the sadness in his eyes, so I didn't say anything.
Living in the wilderness still brings a lot of writing. It's summer now, so I can hear mosquitoes buzzing outside the tent at night. I was initially annoyed, but then I remembered that Xie Yuancheng used to live this kind of life, and it made me feel better.
I touched his hand and said, "I really don't know how he grew up. He's still so handsome even though he's been wandering around outside."
"That's because your in-laws have good genes; that's why I was able to charm you~"
"Why aren't you asleep yet?" I slept too much during the day and can't fall asleep. That bastard Xie Yuancheng is still awake.
It's already past midnight. If he doesn't go to sleep soon, I'll have a hard time traveling tomorrow.
"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng leaned against me: "Let's rest tomorrow. After we pass this city, we'll be in the border region. You'll have a hard time there."
"It's okay, I have you by my side. I didn't know before, but now that I'm with you, even if it's tough and tiring, I can persevere."
"Then you said that if it's too hard, you can't complain to me, let alone think about anything else."
"No way, you underestimate me. I spent some time with my dad in a military tent when I was a kid."
"When did this happen?" Xie Yuancheng's eyes lit up.
“When I was a little over five years old, I would secretly hide in the truck where he stored military rations when he went out. When we got to Sanlitun, my father found out, but we couldn’t go back. So I stayed in the military camp for a month, without any good food or fun things to do.”
"You little rascal, no wonder your mother-in-law always says Yu'er is like you when you were little."
"At that time, I just wanted to go out with my father to see the world. Later, my father won a battle, so he ordered his deputy to escort me back home. After that, I could no longer leave the house."
Xie Yuancheng laughed arrogantly beside me. I should have known better than to tell him. I was trying to coax him to sleep, but he just kept getting more and more awake.
Finally, unable to sleep, we packed up the tent and led the horses into the city. This city connected to important places, and although it was a small town, it was bustling with people.
No wonder he kindly took me into the city; it turns out he wanted to buy clothes from the Western Regions beyond the Great Wall. Although it's summer here, it's only hot at noon, and it gets cool in the afternoon. You get cold at night without a blanket.
"Do I really have to wear this?" I looked at the clothes from the Western Regions; they weren't very nice, and they were a bit thick. But the clothes worn by the women of the Western Regions were so beautiful; I couldn't take my eyes off them.
“Ying’er~ We are men. Even though you have married me, you still can’t wear women’s clothes.”
I was so angry I almost vomited blood. He actually talked about me in public, and the people buying and selling things nearby laughed.
"Sir, the young man is still young. Since he's become your male wife, he'll naturally like women's clothes. Why don't you buy him one?"
I almost pulled Xie Yuancheng's arm away, but he held on tightly: "No need, we need some light clothes. These days, it's not good to do any business. We need to go to the Western Regions to collect debts, otherwise we won't be able to support our families."
"Oh dear, so you're going out to collect debts. I'll get you some clothes and a softer saddle. It'll be tough once you get out of the city."
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