Chapter 2 Epilogue 1: Pouting and Farewell
In the distance, the mountains were shrouded in a white mist, their outlines soft and hazy, while the trees on both sides of the official road were washed by the rain and looked lush and green.
The car wheels rolled over the muddy road, and the fine rain pattered against the roof, making a soft, rustling sound.
The carriage was filled with a damp steam. After their heartfelt conversation at the port, their clothes were mostly soaked and clung tightly to their skin, making their bodies, nestled together, even more intimately sticky.
Pei Heng's arms were wrapped tightly around her, his palm firmly resting on her other arm, his chin gently touching the top of her head, and with each breath, he could smell the damp and sweet fragrance of her hair.
Yuezhi felt the rise and fall of his chest, his heartbeat pounding against her back through the slightly damp fabric, a sound so soothing and making her feel languid and slightly tipsy.
"Won't staying today cause any problems?"
She shifted slightly, tilting her head back to look at him. The car was dimly lit, but the lines of his jaw remained sharp and defined.
Pei Heng lowered his head, his nose almost brushing against her forehead, his voice deep and relaxed, "The dragon boat goes first, a mix of real and feints, which is actually safer. We'll leave with the child tomorrow, and nothing will be delayed."
Yuezhi was taken aback for a moment, then understood, and her eyes curved into a gentle smile: "So you had planned this all along."
Her tone was knowing and reproachful, yet it couldn't hide her sweetness.
Hearing her laughter, Pei Heng felt a ticklish, full feeling in his heart, as if gently teased by a cat's tail. He buried his face in her warm neck, like a large dog seeking comfort, rubbing against her affectionately.
Her skin was delicate, her pulse was gentle, and she carried her unique body temperature and fragrance.
"Hmm..." he mumbled, his voice low and content, with a kind of simple, honest charm. "I just want to spend more time with you."
The warm breath of his on her neck tickled Yuezhi, making her shrink back and chuckle softly.
She raised her hand and gently stroked his cool cheek, her fingertips touching his slightly damp temples.
Pei Heng took her hand and held it in his palm, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the back of her hand. He held her, as if he were holding onto all the peace and security in the world.
Yuezhi stopped talking, leaned back into his arms with peace of mind, and wrapped her other arm around his waist.
Listening to the even breathing around me and the sound of rain outside the window, I felt that the ups and downs and anxieties of the past few days had all settled down in the dense sound of rain and the close embrace, turning into a tranquil lake.
The rain fell steadily, and the carriage moved at a leisurely pace, leaving two deep ruts that were quickly filled with the newly fallen rainwater.
The two people in the carriage nestled together quietly.
Unseen by anyone, through the rain curtain at a distance, several mounted guards, dressed in raincoats, slowly followed behind the carriage, quietly protecting the happiness the emperor had painstakingly sought.
*
The carriage left several watermarks on the bluestone road before swaying and coming to a stop outside the courtyard gate.
The rain hadn't stopped, though it was lighter than before, silently soaking the stone steps in front of the door and the green branches peeking over the wall.
As soon as the car came to a stop, the gate of the house creaked open.
Cui Xianglan and Huachun, holding umbrellas, hurried through the front yard and arrived at the gate one after the other, looking worriedly at their family's carriage parked outside.
Cui Xianglan: "It's raining so hard, and you rushed out without even eating breakfast this morning. What urgent matter could it be?"
Before the words were finished, the carriage curtain was lifted by a large, well-defined hand.
Immediately afterwards, a tall and upright man dressed in a sky-blue brocade robe jumped off the carriage, opened an oil-paper umbrella, turned around, and reached out to help Yuezhi, who was about to get off the carriage.
Why are they together again? Judging from the situation, the atmosphere between the two is obviously different from usual. Pei Heng's eyes are always glued to Yue Zhi, and the sticky intimacy can be felt even through the rain.
Pei Heng held up the umbrella and helped Yue Zhi stand firm. He lingered on her face for a moment to make sure she was alright before looking up at the two women standing at the door. He nodded slightly as a greeting.
His expression was not as cold and stern as usual, but revealed a hint of gentleness that was not easily detected.
"Are the children awake?" Pei Heng asked Yuezhi in a low voice.
“At this hour, she should have just woken up, and the nannies should be preparing baby food,” Yuezhi replied.
"I'll go check on them," Pei Heng said, handing the umbrella to Yue Zhi and then saying to Cui Xianglan and Hua Chun, "Excuse me."
After saying that, he opened an umbrella, went inside and walked towards the backyard, leaving the three of them some space to be alone.
Cui Xianglan and Huachun then came to their senses and hurriedly stepped forward to pull Yuezhi back, looking at her half-wet clothes, and escorted her into the house, saying, "Come in quickly, come in quickly, don't get wet! What happened?"
Once inside the front hall, it was much warmer.
Yuezhi went into the side hall alone. She first asked a maid to help her tidy up her long hair, which had become completely disheveled. Then she wiped her hair and face with a damp cotton cloth and changed into clean clothes before feeling much refreshed.
As he stepped out, a determined smile appeared on his face as he looked at his two friends, whose faces were full of curiosity and concern.
She drank the ginger soup the two offered to warm herself up, and after making all the necessary preparations, she solemnly said, "Xianglan, Huachun, I have made up my mind. I will return to the capital with Pei Heng."
They had a vague premonition when they saw that scene, but they were still stunned when they heard Yuezhi say it out loud.
Cui Xianglan laughed first, and grasped Yuezhi's hand: "This is great news! He is the emperor, and when you go back this time, you will be an empress!"
Two days before Yu Shao was beheaded, she learned that the "lover" she had mentioned to Yuezhi was actually the current emperor. Some of her previous unresolved doubts were answered at that time, and thinking back on the past, she naturally knew that the two of them had a deep and lasting affection for each other.
Huachun also realized what was happening and nodded repeatedly, feeling happy for Yuezhi as well, "My wife has finally overcome her hardships."
She had personally witnessed how Yuezhi had struggled to raise her child alone over the past few years, and now that the hardships were over, she was naturally happy for her.
While she was happy, practical problems also came to mind. Hua Chun, being observant, asked, "But you still have your shops and houses in Qingzhou. Are you just going to leave them there? These are all your hard work."
On the way back, Yuezhi had already thought about this matter. She pulled the two of them to sit down and said, "Of course we won't leave it unattended. I've roughly figured out how to handle it, and I'll make sure to take proper measures before we leave."
The two nodded, approving of her arrangement.
After laughing, Cui Xianglan thought of another aspect. She lowered her voice and asked with some worry, "It would be good to go back to the capital to become an empress... but his palace will probably have no shortage of beauties in the future. Are you really sure? Won't you feel wronged?"
Upon hearing this, a sly glint flashed in Yuezhi's eyes, and she moved closer to the two of them, speaking even softer.
"If he dares to have any other thoughts, I will leave the palace. The world is so big, is there no place for me? If he betrays me, I will never give him another chance."
"Good! That's how it should be!" Cui Xianglan clapped her hands and said, "Our Yuezhi can make a name for herself wherever she goes!"
Hua Chun smiled and nodded: "Speaking of which, returning to the capital is indeed a good thing. After all, the two children are imperial heirs. They will enter the Imperial Academy in the future, receive the best education, and grow into well-mannered gentlemen and ladies with a bright future."
When the children were mentioned, Yuezhi's eyes softened even more.
Cui Xianglan then remembered something and teased, "Besides, the Emperor's harem is now empty. If you go back to be a concubine, you will naturally have to manage the harem. You'll handle countless amounts of gold and silver treasures. Your love of making money will come in very handy! It's a win-win situation!"
They all laughed, and Yuezhi smiled along with them, without offering any further explanation.
She had indeed thought about this: being in the palace, which was both a prison and a protection, seemed to leave her with nothing to do. However, if she could manage the money in Pei Heng's private treasury and the inner palace properly, it would amount to an unimaginable fortune. The money saved could be used effectively, allowing him to focus on water conservancy projects, establishing schools, and providing relief to orphans and widows with less worry, thus doing more good for the people. In that sense, she could still accomplish something significant within the palace.
It's interesting to think about it. The same thing, viewed with a different mindset, is not a dead end, but another broad road, a life worth trying.
After a quick breakfast, the three of them went about their own business.
The rain outside the window pattered softly without stopping.
In the room, Yuezhi sat at her desk, spreading out papers. Pei Heng stood beside her, grinding ink for her and handing her a brush. She was there to draft the deed for the transfer of the shop.
Pei Heng moved a chair over and sat down right next to her, leaving no space between them.
His arms wrapped around her from behind, his strong arms holding her waist tightly. His chin rested on her slender shoulder, and his cheeks would occasionally brush against her neck and shoulder sockets like a sudden breeze. His warm breath brushed against her skin, bringing a slight tickle.
Yuezhi was so bothered by him that she couldn't concentrate on writing. Her pen paused on the paper for a moment, and she finally couldn't help but chuckle softly. She turned her head to look at his head buried in her shoulder.
"You've been sticking it on for so long, isn't that enough?"
Her voice carried a mixture of indulgence and helplessness, as well as a hint of sweetness at being cherished.
Pei Heng raised his head, his bright black eyes fixed on her profile so close to his, his arms tightening around her, his expression filled with joy and lingering happiness.
"Not enough. Yuezhi, you said you love me, do you know how happy I was?"
He wanted to tell her all the emotions surging in his chest, so he hugged her tightly around the waist and pulled her closer to him. "I want to be with you like this for the rest of my life, never let you leave me for a moment, and never let go."
He spoke frankly, with a touch of childlike stubbornness, and Yuezhi's heart softened completely.
She put down her pen, raised her hand, and gently touched his thick black hair, her fingertips running through the strands, soothingly saying, "Now that you've told me, I know, don't I?"
With a gentle smile, she said, "Loosen up a bit, let me finish what I need to do. You're making my clothes all wrinkled."
Pei Heng calmed down a bit, still holding her close, his gaze following the movement of her pen tip, looking at the calligraphy she had practiced at some point. Although it wasn't exactly beautiful, it was her own handwriting, written stroke by stroke.
As he watched her write down the terms for transferring and entrusting the shop, the excitement and joy in his eyes gradually faded.
After a moment of silence, she said with remorse, "I'm sorry that you had to give up all of this... the life you've worked so hard to build for me."
Yuezhi continued writing, her tone calm: "There are gains and losses, I've already weighed them, and besides..."
She turned her head and pressed her cheek against his forehead. "I'm able to live such a peaceful life in Qingzhou and run my shop thanks to you, the emperor. The prefect you appointed is an honest and capable official. Only with peace and prosperity can we ordinary people survive. So, all this wealth and stability is not entirely due to my efforts alone."
Pei Heng smiled, and when he heard her praise the prefect, he hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"There's something I've always wanted to tell you... The current prefect of Qingzhou is Liang Zhang. I was truly bewitched when I impersonated him to get close to you... Would you like to go and see him before we leave?"
Yuezhi smiled slightly, her expression calm: "I already knew. Liang Zhang came to see me before he went to Lizhou and told me everything. We've already talked it out."
Turning to look at Pei Heng's astonished expression, she continued, "He is a good official, wholeheartedly devoted to the people, and his mind is always on government affairs. He is not the kind of person who would be bound by petty feelings or entangled in the past."
Hearing Yuezhi say that the two of them had already let go, Pei Heng felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, and a surge of immense joy welled up inside him.
But then, a sour feeling of jealousy welled up inside him. He pouted, a hint of resentment in his voice: "You praise him for being honest and serving the people... but what about me? I just love you so much, I'm obsessed with our love, but I haven't neglected my duties, have I?"
With her eyes slightly upturned, her expression clearly showed she was seeking praise; she was practically bursting with jealousy.
Yuezhi burst out laughing at his adorable appearance. She put down her brush, turned around, cupped his face in her hands, and rubbed his cheeks with her thumbs.
"Yes, you are the most diligent and wise ruler."
"I didn't say that focusing on love is bad. Everyone makes different choices, so why compare and make the emperor seem petty? If I were to praise you, I would use far more creative ways than I do to praise him."
Speak kindly and gently, and you'll make him smile.
Seeing his simple happiness, and remembering her previous words that they were on different paths, Yuezhi felt a little apologetic.
She said earnestly, "I was wrong before. You and I have different personalities. You are passionate and I am quiet, but we are the same at our core. We both want the warmth of a home. Aren't we different paths leading to the same destination?"
Pei Heng looked into her clear eyes and saw overflowing sincerity and love.
His heart was burning with warmth. He placed his palm on the back of her hand and smiled sweetly, "With you here, I have a home."
The sound of rain outside the window became distant and gentle, and the room felt as warm as springtime.
*
The rain gradually subsided in the afternoon, leaving only intermittent dripping raindrops from the eaves, tapping on the bluestone slabs with a crisp pattering sound, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees after the rain.
Yuezhi went to Cui Xianglan's room first and showed her the draft contract.
Cui Xianglan took the few sheets of paper with the ink still wet and looked at them carefully. The more she looked, the wider her eyes widened. The contract clearly stated that 80% of the profits from the winery, 30% of the profits from the Honey Fruit Shop, and the house they were currently living in would all be registered under her name.
“This…this won’t do!” Cui Xianglan hurriedly pushed the contract back, shaking her head like a rattle drum.
"Yuezhi, this is too much! The winery and shops are your hard work, and the house was a gift from the Emperor to your child. How can you give it to me? We already agreed that I would only take 20% of the profits from both businesses. I will receive a separate wage for bookkeeping. This business is enough for me to make a living!"
Yuezhi had anticipated this reaction, so she reached out and pressed down on Yuezhi's trembling hand, speaking gently.
"Xianglan, listen to me. If you hadn't found a way to get that money out of the Yu family, my business would never have been able to get off the ground. You contributed the most to the opening of the distillery, and you deserve this most of it."
She paused, looking at Cui Xianglan's slightly red eyes, and her voice softened, "You have no family to support you here. Who knows if they will ask you for money if they find out about you. There's a long road ahead. I'll feel more at ease if you have more property and money to rely on."
Cui Xianglan looked at her, her nose tingled, and she took her hand in return. Tears finally fell, and her voice choked with sobs.
"Yuezhi, ever since I lost my mother, you're the only one who has ever truly cared for me..."
"Qingzhou is a wonderful place nestled between mountains and the sea. I will stay here for the rest of my life. Don't worry, I will take good care of your shop and house. No matter how far apart we are, I will never forget our bond."
Yuezhi's eyes welled up with tears, and she stroked the back of her hand: "Let's not talk about these things between us, things will get better and better."
Having settled the matter, Yuezhi opened her umbrella, went out, boarded a carriage, and headed to Miguozhai.
It was raining non-stop today, and there weren't many customers in the shop. Huachun was behind the counter, focused on calculating the accounts.
"Huachun," Yuezhi called softly.
Hua Chun looked up and saw that it was Yue Zhi. A smile immediately appeared on her face. She put down the account book and said, "Madam, you've arrived? There's not much business today. Shall we sit in the back room for a while?"
The two went to the back room and sat down together. Yuezhi took out another contract and pushed it in front of Huachun.
"These are your shares in the shop and the winery. I've reserved them for you. You're most familiar with Miguozhai, so I'll give you six shares, and you'll still be the manager in the future. You'll get ten percent of the profits from the winery. As for the remaining shares, I plan to distribute them to the most dedicated master craftsmen in the shop and the winery, so they can also make a living."
Hua Chun looked down at the contract and listened attentively.
Yuezhi continued, "I gave the house to Xianglan. She provided most of the capital for the business, so it's what she deserves, but you can continue to live there. Before leaving the capital, I promised you that I would prepare a generous dowry for you. It concerns your lifelong happiness, so I naturally won't forget."
As he spoke, he pulled a stack of papers from his sleeve and pushed them in front of her.
"These are the land deeds for twenty acres of fertile land outside Qingzhou City, the deeds for two shops inside Qingzhou City, and two five-hundred-tael silver notes. Keep these safe. Also..."
She took out a five-hundred-tael silver note and placed it on top of the pile of contracts and silver notes. "This is for you to buy jewelry, clothes and other necessities. A young lady should always dress up beautifully."
Hua Chun froze as she stared at the stack of papers in front of her, a stack that guaranteed her and her family a comfortable life for the rest of their days.
She stared blankly at Yuezhi, her lips trembling, tears streaming down her face, instantly soaking her clothes.
"My lady, this, this is too precious..." she sobbed, her words incoherent.
Yuezhi picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears: "Silly girl, take it, it's what you deserve."
Hua Chun gasped, "My lady, I've been a servant for over ten years. Back then, I followed my master into disgrace and thought I had no hope for the rest of my life. But the Emperor chose me to serve you. When we left the capital, you trusted me and took me with you, treating me like your own sister. You taught me so many skills to make a living, and now you're giving me so much in return..."
She raised her teary eyes, filled with gratitude: "What have I done to deserve this? What good fortune must I have accumulated over countless lifetimes to meet such a kind person like you!"
Yuezhi felt a pang of sadness as she listened.
He got up and gently hugged Huachun, patting her back and softly comforting her: "Don't say that. Meeting is fate, and being together is a blessing for both of us. When I gave birth and was in confinement, if it weren't for you and Su Jingyun taking care of me, how could I have had such a smooth experience? I will always remember your kindness."
She released Huachun, looked into her tearful eyes, and said earnestly, "Sincerity begets sincerity. We all worked together to achieve what we have today. Although I am leaving, I will never forget the days I spent with you all."
Hua Chun nodded vigorously, but her tears flowed even more fiercely.
Outside the window, the sound of raindrops dripping from the eaves gradually subsided, and a faint ray of sunshine seemed to peek through the sky.
After leaving the Honey Fruit Shop, Yuezhi was still thinking about Su Jingyun, so she turned around and walked towards the pharmacy.
Upon entering the shop, only the young shop assistant was behind the counter, head down, grinding medicine. Hearing footsteps, the young shop assistant looked up and, seeing it was Yue Zhi, quickly put down the pestle: "Miss Yue, have you come to see Doctor Su?"
"Hmm, is he seeing patients in the back room?" Yuezhi glanced into the inner room, which seemed quieter than usual.
The young waiter shook his head, a hint of confusion on his face: "Dr. Su said he was going out at noon today, but he hasn't come back yet. He didn't say where he went, and he looks... not very well."
Yuezhi wondered: He was always well-behaved, either at home, at the pharmacy, or making house calls. Where did he go today?
After thanking the shopkeeper, and thinking that Pei Heng was still at home taking care of the child, he headed home, figuring that it would be the same to give the things to Su Jingyun when he returned that evening.
Back home, as soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I looked up and saw Su Jingyun sitting on the veranda on one side of the front yard, staring blankly at a pomegranate tree in the yard that was dripping with water droplets.
“Jingyun?” Yuezhi called to him and walked up to him. “I just went to the pharmacy to look for you, but the clerk said you went out at noon.”
Su Jingyun turned around at the sound of her voice, and when he saw her, he forced a slightly unnatural smile: "Yuezhi...you're back."
He paused, his voice sounding tired, "I was feeling a bit unsettled, so I went for a walk."
"What happened?" she asked.
Su Jingyun was silent for a while, then slowly said, "It's nothing serious, I just felt a bit suffocated. As I walked, I reached the outskirts of the city. Looking at those mountains and roads, I suddenly realized how big the world is. I'm almost thirty years old, and it seems like I've been going around in circles between this small pharmacy and my house all this time."
He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "After that trip, I felt a bit better, but when I came back..."
He stopped, looking at Yuezhi with a complex expression, a mixture of genuine joy for her and undisguised disappointment: "I heard you're going back to the capital with the Emperor."
Yuezhi nodded, understanding most of what was going on.
Su Jingyun let out a relieved sigh and murmured, "Yuezhi, I used to be trapped in the palace, with no control over my own life. Later, I came here with you, and although I am much more at ease, in the end, I still depend on you for my livelihood... I am a man after all, and I also want to go out and see the world on my own. Although I don't know martial arts, I have medical skills. Even if I travel slowly, I won't starve to death."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Yuezhi nervously, as if afraid that she would think he was ungrateful.
Yuezhi listened attentively, a smile appearing on her face. "It just so happens that I came to see you about the pharmacy. I plan to give you the shop, the medicinal herbs, and all the equipment."
Su Jingyun was stunned and opened his mouth to refuse.
Yuezhi raised her hand and gently pressed the back of his hand, stopping him from speaking: "Let me finish. Going out and traveling to broaden your horizons is good, but people eat grains and will eventually get tired and weary. If you leave a business here, you won't have to worry about making a living for the next thirty or fifty years. That way, you can leave with a carefree attitude, right?"
She took out a silver note from her bosom and placed it in his palm. "I gave half of the cash to Huachun, and you can keep the other half for your travel expenses. I hope you live well, whether in Qingzhou City or anywhere else in the Great Zhou territory."
Su Jingyun looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing, a thousand words stuck in his chest, but in the end he could only say, "Yuezhi... thank you."
This thank you contained so much.
I thank her for her gifts, for her understanding, and even more so for giving me the courage to break free from constraints and find my own world.
The leaves of the pomegranate tree swayed gently in the wind, scattering a string of crystal-clear water droplets, as if bidding him farewell on his new journey.
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