Although unsigned, the handwriting seemed more and more familiar to Wang Yanzhou the more he looked at it. After walking around the room with the letter, Wang Yanzhou's expression changed slightly. After throwing the letter into the charcoal basin, he picked up his cloak and whip and hurried away.
Steward Wang was just checking on the horses in the stables when he saw Wang Yanzhou hurried over with Taxue leading him. He asked curiously, "Master, where are you going?"
After Wang Yanzhou got on his horse, he said, "I'll go to the thatched cottage and tell my wife that I'll be back tomorrow at the latest."
Steward Wang said with concern, "Yes. The snow on the road hasn't melted yet, so be careful on the road, sir."
"Well, the weather is cold. You can go back after you finish watching and take care of yourself." After saying that, Wang Yanzhou rode his horse down the mountain.
At the turn of spring and winter, the harsh winter weather prevailed. The days were getting shorter, and by the time Wang Yanzhou arrived at the thatched cottage on his fast horse, it was already getting dark.
After seeing Wang Yanzhou from a distance, Mother Zhou went into the house and called Lin Qinghui out. After Wang Yanzhou handed Taxue to Mother Zhou, he asked, "I heard someone wants to see me?"
Lin Qinghui led his men into the courtyard in a mysterious manner: "Let's talk inside."
As soon as he entered the room, he saw a man in a black robe sitting by the stove sipping hot tea. Wang Yanzhou glanced at Lin Qinghui, and Lin Qinghui said nothing, closed the door and left.
Wang Yanzhou sat down opposite the man, took the teacup he handed over, and asked, "Who are you?"
Shi Jun took off his cloak and mask, revealing a somewhat shocking face. He smiled and asked, "Uncle Wang, it's been a long time since we last met. I wonder if you still remember Yaochen."
To be honest, Wang Yanzhou had no recollection of Yaochen's voice. Technically, his uncle was actually a few years younger than him. After all, they had grown up together, and while he couldn't quite remember his voice, he remembered Yaochen's eyes clearly. They were pure, bright, and tinged with a hint of rebelliousness and arrogance.
Although his face has become like this, the tone of his voice, as well as the expression between his eyebrows and eyes, seem to be the same as many years ago, with almost no major changes.
When Wang Yanzhou received the letter and saw the familiar font and symbols, he actually thought he had seen a ghost. He didn't know why he had come to the appointment alone with only a piece of paper: "...Are you really still alive?"
Shi Jun laughed at himself and said, "Yeah, I also want to sigh that I am still alive. However, I am no longer Yao Chen. I gave myself a new name, Shi Jun."
Look, his uncle Wang and his little sister recognized the man who was supposed to have been dead for ten years at a glance. But his father, when he saw him like this, only had disgust in his eyes. His own son was standing right in front of him, but he didn't even notice. It was really pathetic...
Wang Yanzhou silently repeated the name Shi Jun several times in his mind and shook his head. Putting aside other matters, as of now, he and Shi Jun had no conflicts of interest or grudges.
He didn't want to know how he had survived the fire that burned all day and all night. Since he had appeared today despite being discovered by Emperor Gan Zhao, he naturally asked, "Why did you come to me?"
Shi Jun didn't like beating around the bush, so he said directly, "I'd like to ask Uncle Wang to reward someone."
Wang Yanzhou asked, "Who is it?"
Shi Jun replied: "Xihe."
Wang Yanzhou was slightly stunned: "...Are you the one who was chasing her earlier?"
Upon hearing this, Shi Jun suddenly burst into laughter: "Hunting? Xihe is my savior, how could I hunt her down?"
Wang Yanzhou then asked, "So, did the Qianlixiang on Heiya and Shangguan Bing'er also come from you?"
Shi Jun knew that the Qianlixiang incident had made Wang Yanzhou somewhat nervous. He had no ill intentions and was just looking for someone. "Don't worry, Uncle Wang. I'm just looking for someone. I don't have any other intentions. If I had any other intentions, I wouldn't have asked you to meet here today."
Wang Yanzhou chuckled and said, "Xihe is not from my family. If she is willing to go with you, you can take her back yourself."
Shi Jun couldn't help but sigh, "Her temper was so bad. After she'd seen the world, she couldn't control herself anymore. We went to great lengths to find her back then, and now, she's out running around again after just a few days."
After Xihe disappeared, Yan Shaoqing found her in Xiaoshan. The gunpowder burns on her body were real, as was the Xiaoshan landslide. The dozens of strangely poisoned corpses that emerged from the mountain's belly were even more real. Yaochen had no idea what Xihe wanted. But it was clear that he hadn't emerged from the fire ten years ago simply to survive.
Although Xihe and Wang Yanzhou were not close friends, he had promised Tang Chen what he wanted, and he couldn't go back on his word just because of Yao Chen's words: "I can't help you with this matter, you should find another way. Goodbye."
It was already dark, but Wang Yanzhou didn't want to stay any longer. As soon as he opened the door, Shi Jun called him, "Uncle Wang, wait a minute."
"Everything depends on human effort. I know Uncle Wang isn't obsessed with power, nor is he short of money, so I've specially prepared some things." Shi Jun whispered something into Wang Yanzhou's ear. Although Wang Yanzhou's face remained expressionless, the meaning behind his words shifted drastically: "...I'll give you an answer in fifteen days."
Shi Jun bowed and said, "Then, in fifteen days, Yaochen will be waiting here for your arrival, Uncle Wang."
After Wang Yanzhou left the thatched cottage overnight, Lin Qinghui came out from the side and stood side by side with Shi Jun, watching Wang Yanzhou's disappearing figure disappear into the cold night.
Lin Qinghui patted Shi Jun on the shoulder and asked, "Is that woman really that important to you? Is she worth it?"
Shi Jun said with a firm expression: "She is one of the goals I pursue in this life, and I will never hand her over to others easily."
Lin Qinghui didn't ask any more questions, just thinking that Yaochen was deeply in love with this woman. Thinking about Yaochen's experience and the fact that he was also a love-struck person like himself, he felt a sense of mutual appreciation.
…It was already late at night when Wang Yanzhou returned home. Aside from the candles and lanterns that illuminated the mansion, there was almost no light in the house. Only the plum garden was still lit, as if waiting for someone to return.
Wang Yanzhou gently pushed open the door. Tang Chen, who was sitting by the charcoal basin embroidering, heard the voice and quickly looked up: "I told you that you would definitely come back today. I left you a bowl of bird's nest, it's still hot!"
Wang Yanzhou shut the wind and snow behind him, leaving all his tenderness to the person in front of him: "It's so late, why don't you sleep? What if I don't come back?"
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