Chapter 75 Love had already...
This case spanned the entire year-end holiday, disrupting everyone's peace and quiet during the New Year celebrations.
A few days ago, news came from the palace that Consort Pei was punished for pleading for her father, Pei Shen. Not only was she demoted, but she was also banned from leaving the palace for three months. The Third Prince was also implicated in the incident.
The Emperor had already given his word; the verdict would only be announced after the New Year. Only then could Yu Tan finally breathe a sigh of relief.
It's impossible for them to return to the Marquis's residence at a time like this, and this year it's just the two of them celebrating the New Year.
Aunt He bought a lot of New Year's goods and decorated the small courtyard with a festive atmosphere. Auspicious paper-cut window decorations were pasted on the doors, windows and pillars, and the whole courtyard became lively.
As usual, Yu Tan gave out gold leaves as red envelopes, rewarding everyone inside and outside the courtyard. She even asked Changming to send a copy to the guards stationed in the courtyard.
It snowed heavily on New Year's Eve, and the snow piled up to almost calf level.
She and Yuhe sat on the soft couch by the window, playing chess and brewing tea. White steam slowly rose as she looked up at the swirling snowflakes outside the window.
"Brother, tomorrow is your birthday again."
Tomorrow is Yuhe'an's twentieth birthday. He should be celebrating his coming of age with a banquet and receiving a courtesy name from his elders. But now, nothing is happening.
"It's just me left with you."
Yu He'an's gaze fell on her, the corners of his mouth turned up, and a smile spread across his eyes.
She put down the chess piece, propped herself up, and stepped over the small table, placing a gentle kiss on Yu He'an's lips. Unlike his cold appearance, his lips were warm, and the kiss was passionate.
"Brother, let me compensate you with something."
"OK."
Yu He'an cupped her face in his hands and deepened the kiss, their lips entwined for a long while.
The chess pieces on the board were scattered all over the ground, making a crackling sound. Only then did she realize something was wrong. She had somehow crossed the small table and straddled Yu He'an, collapsing into his arms.
It's still broad daylight, and it was just done last night.
Her eyes were glazed over as she struggled to sit up and create some distance between herself and the demon, like a mortal bewitched by a fairy who had finally regained her senses.
"Brother, I want to build two snowmen right there."
Following the tip of his fair finger, Yu He'an saw the big tree in the yard, with a swing hanging on its trunk and snow on the wooden planks.
The hand gripping her waist tightened forcefully, as if trying to meld her into his very bones.
She felt the intense heat, her face flushed red, "I...I..."
After a while, Yu He'an seemed to have recovered, and the hand around her waist loosened a bit. "Let's go, let's build your snowman."
It seems like she's always making Yu He'an compromise, and she's a little reluctant to let him.
She hugged Yu He'an back, resting her chin on his shoulder, as if she had made a great decision. Her tone was soft and indulgent, "We can go later..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she was thrown onto the couch, her slender fingers gripping her knees and pressing down harder and harder.
Until she was so bullied that her eyes were glazed over, and she regretted saying those things earlier.
The only good news was that the snowman was finished before dark.
Two snowmen, one big and one small, stand side by side under a big tree, looking like siblings or lovers.
With the holiday over, Yuhe'an is busy again.
The Pei family's verdict has not yet been released, and things are more complicated than expected.
Spring arrived in the blink of an eye. The snowman survived most of spring, but ultimately couldn't withstand the scorching spring sun and melted in the thawing of the early spring.
The sunlight dried up the last drop of water from the snowman, leaving only a clean courtyard. She sat on the swing in the courtyard, lost in thought.
Yuhe returned from his shift with news of Pei's execution.
The male members of the Pei family were executed, and the female members were exiled more than two thousand miles away. Consort Pei's rank was reduced by two levels, and the third prince was confined to the prince's residence.
Yu He'an handed her a notice stating that Xie Ling and Zhao Ziyin's cases had been declared innocent by the Dali Temple.
She now has a clear and innocent past, and can speak out about it without having to hide or conceal it anymore. She can live freely in the sunlight.
She held the notice in her hands, remaining silent for a long time. Unconsciously, the notice became wet with tears. She choked up for a while, only managing to utter a few dry words.
"Brother, thank you."
After she finished speaking, she felt that her words were too weak. Yu He'an had risked his life and future, and all he got in return was a thank you. It was a losing proposition.
Yu He'an gently patted Yu Tan's head and said, "It's all in the past, why are you still crying? Don't cry, things will only get better from now on."
The reshuffling more than a decade ago was a disaster for both Yu Tan and Zhao Qiuci, but he was the only beneficiary.
He thanked God for sending Yu Tan to his side.
*
On the day of Pei's execution, the fall of a prominent family drew many people from Bianjing to watch the spectacle.
When the truth came to light and everything came to a satisfactory conclusion, she began to feel uneasy. She had mentioned her plan to Yu He'an long ago: she would head south to Huizhou when the incident came to an end.
In late spring, all things are full of vitality.
She went to the Marquis's residence to say goodbye. Old Madam Song held her hand, her eyes filled with tears, and asked her if she would come back and if they could meet again in this life.
Madam Song was very old and feared that this meeting would be their last.
She grasped Madam Song's hand in return, comforting her that she would return as soon as possible.
Even if Wu Niang doesn't want to return to Bianjing, she will still make time to go back and visit.
Zhao Qiuci saw her off at the gate of the mansion, talking all the way. The gist of it was that after a while, she and Yuzheng would go to the border to give the soldiers guarding the frontier the rewards they deserved. At the end, she just hugged her and said goodbye, and told her to come back soon.
She waved her hand, signaling Zhao Qiuci to go back.
Looking back, she saw that Yu Zheng had returned from his shift sometime earlier and was standing under the corridor, watching her silently.
She had seen that look before. When Yu Zheng returned to Bianjing after many years of guarding the border, he was at a loss when he saw his children who were completely different from those in his memory. He didn't know how to cross the flood to come to their side.
She smiled, waved goodbye to Yu Zheng, and turned to walk the rest of her way.
Parting is always bittersweet, except for Yuhe An.
Whether it was because Yu He'an's cold mask was firmly welded to his face, or because he had become accustomed to parting ways with people during his studies abroad, Yu He'an did not show any difference; at least, she did not notice any difference.
She packed her last belongings into a suitcase, placing the official document from the Dali Temple announcing Xie Ling and Zhao Ziyin's innocence at the very back.
The luggage was packed into boxes and stacked in the outer room, filling the entire room; there were several times more boxes than she had imagined.
Did she pack that much stuff?
The house and yard became empty, and even Aunt He actively packed her bags, wanting to go with them.
She was to depart early tomorrow morning, and as the time for parting approached, a faint melancholy enveloped her, making even the lamplight appear hazy, as if veiled in sorrow.
She hugged Yu He'an from behind, tightening her grip on his arms.
He had just finished showering, and his body smelled of the same bath beans as hers. Yu He'an thought it was just an ordinary day, but she knew that from tomorrow onwards, she wouldn't see him for a long time.
Yu Tan's voice was soft and sweet, full of reluctance, "Brother, I'm leaving tomorrow. I went back to the Marquis's residence this afternoon, and everyone was very reluctant to see me go. I was also very reluctant to leave them."
Yu He'an's tone was normal, as if she were just going to the countryside for a spring outing tomorrow. "Well, if you're setting off tomorrow, go to bed early."
Her face was buried in his broad back: "Brother, have I ever told you that I miss you the most?"
"Yes, I know." Yu He'an turned around, rubbing Yu Tan's hair. Her long, tangled hair was draped over her back, with a few strands falling on her face. Her eyes were red, with a hint of allure, but the rest was full of grievance.
"I won't see you for a long time." Her voice trembled with a hint of tears.
But there are still many things she needs to do.
Yu He'an said helplessly, "You know that too?"
She buried her face in Yu He'an's chest: "We've been apart for five years. This time I'll try to make it shorter, even shorter."
His large hand gently stroked her back, a gesture that was usually tender and soothing, but because they were so familiar with each other's bodies, it seemed erotic.
With separation imminent and return date unknown, she was unusually bold.
"Brother, can I do whatever I want today?"
"Really, anything is possible?"
She nodded, then was pushed onto the desk, watching as Yu He'an picked out a lacquered brush with a lotus scroll pattern from the brush holder. The brush handle was made of bamboo and covered with yellow lacquer, with a bamboo-green painted lotus scroll pattern and a purple bristle brush tip shaped like an orchid stamen.
This pen is exquisite, and I have never seen Yu He'an use it before.
The penholder parted the hem of her clothes, revealing a large expanse of smooth, snow-white skin.
The brush tip dips in water and glides across the white paper, the purple bristles winding and meandering across the ravines, the coolness carrying a tingling sensation.
Wandering back and forth, they converge at one point, revealing itself to be a blooming Jade Epiphyllum flower.
The jade epiphyllum blooms freely. The brushstrokes point downwards, beginning to draw the delicate roots supporting the epiphyllum. The jade epiphyllum is rooted in fertile soil, and to make the flowers bloom beautifully, loosening the soil and watering are key.
Yu He'an was not a skilled gardener, but he studied diligently. The strange sound of water made her toes curl up.
The strange sensation made her regret her words, and she repeatedly begged for mercy in a low voice.
Fingers, instead of the cold pen tip, slowly measured, while warm lips gently licked away the tears from the corners of her eyes. Yu Tanhua was so overwhelmed by the sight that her tears flowed like pear blossoms in the rain.
"Brother."
The ordeal was finally over, and she was gradually satisfied.
She hugged Yu He'an's neck, her eyes blurry with tears, "Brother, I've already started missing you even before you've left."
"Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? We're clearly the closest people right now."
Like a kitten, she arched her back in fright from the violent jolting, and then her fur was slowly soothed and stroked.
They fooled around until midnight, but the inevitable dawn still came.
She watched as the luggage was loaded onto the carriage and the procession headed towards the dock.
Yuhe helped her into her carriage and escorted her all the way to the dock. As if that wasn't enough, he then helped her onto the passenger ship and stood with her on the deck, basking in the sunlight.
I don't know how long I stood there, so long that the ship was about to depart.
Yu Tan urged softly, "Brother, you should go back."
Yu He stood motionless on the deck, the river breeze ruffling his hair, even giving him a sense of ease.
The boatman weighed anchor, and the boat slowly sailed away from the shore.
"Brother, the boat has set sail?" She turned around in surprise and looked at Yu He'an. After several breaths, she belatedly realized, "Brother, you decided to come with me a long time ago."
"Yes, the transfer order has been issued."
It was just a very soft response, yet it didn't disappear into the sound of the oars cutting through the water.
She heard it clearly, but she chose not to ask why Yu He'an was keeping it from her, or whether his transfer from Bianjing would affect his future.
Holding Yu He'an in her arms, pressing for an answer was far less important than him being there for her.
She originally wanted to be strong, to finish this journey alone, and then return to Bianjing to find Yu He'an.
Separation is too painful; it would be best if we could walk the road ahead together.
Sunlight streamed down as the ships braved the wind and waves, sailing southward.
The shadows grew longer and longer, embracing each other tightly.
It's like when we were kids, we went to buy candy together. Yu Tan got tired, and Yu He'an carried her home happily.
Whether it's the sibling relationship in childhood or the romantic relationship in adulthood.
Love had long bound them together, never to be separated.
Author's Note: Thank you, MiMao, for the nutrient solution. [Hugs]
Commander, there are a few more side stories ending here [covering face and peeking]
I know some of you don't read the extra chapters, so I'll say goodbye here for now. See you again sometime! [Cat emoji][Cat emoji][Cat emoji]
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