The most beautiful thing is to be reunited after a long separation.
The Tang Mansion in Jingzhou was filled with joy.
The coming-of-age ceremony was finally completed. Several firecrackers were set up in front of the door. Tang Yan, as the protagonist, stayed far away. She had been so frightened by the deafening firecrackers when she first came home that she almost lost her soul. She was still a little scared when she saw these things now.
Today, the Tang family is holding a grand banquet, both to celebrate her coming-of-age ceremony and to welcome her back. As a result, guests are arriving in droves, and even the imperial palace has sent three generous gifts. Tang Yan recognizes one of them; it is from Sheng Xingxing.
Only he could tie a bow so badly. Tang Yan curled her lip in disgust.
As for the other two gifts, she guessed that one of them must have been from Princess Yun'an. But as for the last one, Tang Yan had no clue. Could it really be some grand gift from His Majesty before she left the palace?
She hadn't forgotten the look in Emperor Ming's eyes when she and her mother left the palace; it was as if he wanted to slowly torture her to pieces.
He hated her so much, and he hated the Tang family so much too. Fortunately, Tang Yan shared the same hatred.
As Tang Yan stared blankly at the last generous gift, a familiar figure appeared outside the door.
Cheng Junshi strode in, his eyes immediately locking onto Tang Yan. She noticed that there was a young man following behind him.
Lu Juezhen steadily brought the carriage to a stop at the door. Tang Yan looked over and saw that the cart was loaded with what appeared to be... wine?
Just as she was wondering, Cheng Junshi was already in front of her.
“Fifteen jars,” he said slowly. “Buried on the day you were born.”
Tang Yan was stunned.
“Someone once asked me to give this to you at your coming-of-age ceremony,” Cheng Junshi said gently. “He hoped you would continue to be passionate.”
Tang Yan immediately realized who Cheng Junshi was talking about.
“My brother…” Even today, she still chokes up when she mentions Tang Qi.
“He is very free.” Cheng Junshi took out another gift and placed it in Tang Yan’s hand: “Happy birthday, you may be just as free.”
Certainly, definitely free.
"The court is saying that it was you who surrendered to His Majesty to save Lord Cheng, which caused everyone to fall apart." Tang Yan still looked at him: "I don't believe it."
During her three years in the palace, Tang Yan witnessed firsthand the falling out between Ye Qian and Cheng Junshi, which even led to the formation of two factions in the court. The relationship between the two was no longer harmonious as before; now, it seemed more like an undercurrent was surging between them.
"Lord Ye and I do indeed have differing political views." Cheng Junshi put away his gentle expression and looked at Tang Yan, continuing, "Today is your coming-of-age ceremony, and I wish you a happy birthday. There is no need to mention the past in the future."
Clearly, everyone is reluctant to talk about what happened back then.
"The gift has been delivered. I have official business to attend to, so I must take my leave now."
Cheng Junshi had just turned around and walked out of the main gate of the Tang residence when he suddenly stopped.
In an instant, as if experiencing tinnitus, his mind suddenly went blank.
The person at the entrance wore a red-tasseled felt hat, a loose-fitting long-sleeved dress, and a single gold and jade earring on the left side. His complexion was rosy, but his face was rough from the cold.
Three years have passed, and he seems to have changed a lot. He's unrecognizable.
But the only thing that remained constant was those bright, clear eyes.
Tang Qi stopped in front of Cheng Junshi.
"Excuse me, sir, could you please move your foot? You're blocking my way." He raised an eyebrow.
Cheng Junshi took a step forward. There was no long-awaited embrace, but when his eyes met Tang Qi's briefly, a soft voice echoed in their ears: "Long time no see."
Lu Juezhen: "...?"
He looked left and right but couldn't figure out who was standing in front of his master.
His already puzzled brow furrowed even deeper.
Tang Qi couldn't help but laugh out loud when she saw his silly look. Although three years had passed, Lu Juezhen had shed his naivety and could now be described as handsome, but his brain... hadn't improved at all.
"I should have taken you to the Northern Frontier; you might have become smarter than you are now," Tang Qi said with a smile.
He had barely uttered a word when Lu Juezhen across from him stared in disbelief, his mouth agape, and exclaimed, "You...you...Brother Zhengye!?"
He didn't recognize Tang Qi at all.
"Genuine, guaranteed authentic." Tang Qi clapped his hands.
He had just raised his hand when a bear hug came over, and Lu Juezhen's delighted voice rang in his ears: "Brother Zhengye! I've missed you so much! You've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you!"
Tang Qi had to push and kick him to get him off her.
"Shh, I'm not called Lin Zhengye anymore, you have to call me... Ta Qing."
“Taqing?” Lu Juezhen looked at him. “Is that a name from the Northern Frontier?”
Tang Qi nodded: "I need a new identity."
Lu Juezhen said "oh" several times, then raised an eyebrow at Tang Qi mysteriously and said, "I understand. In the stories, when those reclusive masters return to fight, they always have to disguise themselves with a false identity. Zheng Ye... oh no, Brother Ta Qing, don't worry, I will definitely keep my mouth shut and cover for you!"
Tang Qi was amused by his sudden burst of enthusiasm and laughed out loud, saying, "You really understand Ah Hu's stories."
Speaking of Hu Xingche, Lu Juezhen glanced at Tang Qi's back several times and asked curiously, "Why don't I see Hu? Didn't he come back with you?"
Tang Qi became mysterious again: "He didn't go to the northern frontier."
Lu Juezhen: "...Huh?"
Cheng Junshi chuckled and pulled Lu Juezhen, who was still puzzled, back to look at Tang Qi.
"It seems you've made all the preparations."
"I wouldn't dare come back if things weren't going well," Tang Qi said, still smiling.
They exchanged a knowing glance, and a few seconds later Cheng Junshi suddenly reached out, finally giving them a long-awaited hug.
You've lost weight.
“You’ll laugh now, Junshi.”
They didn't stay long, each with their own things to do. Time urged them to go their separate ways, but—Cheng Junshi's lips slowly curled up, and the person behind him raised his hand and waved it forcefully where he couldn't see.
Long time no see.
＊
Tang Yan stared blankly at the person waving at him for a moment.
She didn't know this person.
Tang Qi stopped in front of her and formally introduced himself: "I've come to offer my congratulations on behalf of the First Prince."
Tang Yan followed the gaze and saw that the third generous gift finally had an owner.
This really puzzled Tang Yan. She didn't know the Crown Prince, so why would he send someone to congratulate her?
Tang Yan was just beginning to have doubts when the person opposite her immediately spoke up to explain: "Princess Yun'an has returned to the capital. His Highness is currently in the palace. He was friends with your brother and is deeply sorry that he cannot come this time. Therefore, he specially sent me to congratulate you on your birthday. Your Highness can call me Ta Qing."
Tang Yan looked at him and remained silent for a moment before speaking with certainty, "You're from the Northern Frontier?"
The person on the other end responded.
"You're not from the northern frontier."
Tang Qi hadn't expected her to be so certain. He was about to speak when she practically exposed his past: "Are you from the Central Plains?"
“I used to be from the Central Plains, but later I followed the First Prince to guard the northern frontier.”
Tang Yan said "oh," and quickly followed up with, "Were you among those who captured Jue City?"
Tang Qi was speechless for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "You're very interested in me?"
Tang Yan shook his head, his expression calm: "I've heard of your name."
This time, it was Tang Qi's turn to be stunned.
Taqing was a name he adopted after he went to the Northern Frontier. He followed the First Prince to guard the Northern Frontier and used the name Taqing. Although he had fought in several battles, he was the kind of person who was inconspicuous and could be easily lost in a crowd.
Logically speaking, no one in the Central Plains should have heard of it.
But now—
"I was just kidding, just kidding," Tang Yan said, spreading her hands and looking at him. "Isn't it funny? Why aren't you laughing?"
"Hiss." Tang Qi gasped. Strange, why did this scene seem so familiar?
Especially the expression on his sister's face, it looked so familiar.
"Young Master Taqing, please make yourself at home." Tang Yan made a "please" gesture, and quickly looked away from him.
Since the Katyu incident, the siblings have finally had a proper conversation. After three years apart, they have both changed a lot.
Tang Yan's eyes have always been cold, and she is shrouded in an unfathomable sadness. She rarely smiles anymore, and she is always sullen and alone.
The little girl who used to be held in his arms and begged for candy has now become a hedgehog covered in thorns.
Tang Qi looked at her with an indescribable emotion in his eyes—heartache? Guilt? He couldn't tell.
Sometimes Tang Qi felt it was good for Tang Yan to be more assertive, but when she really grew into a capable young adult, Tang Qi still felt a pang of sadness.
She shouldn't have grown up so fast.
Human innocence is the rarest of things, yet he failed to preserve his sister's innocence. He left her to endure the cruelest and most painful three years alone.
Happy birthday!
--Feel sorry,
Tang Qi's voice was filled with regret yet endless tenderness.
"Your Highness."
—My dear, Ayan.
Perhaps it was because his gaze was too pure, but Tang Yan actually froze on the spot because of a simple blessing. A different face, a different voice, but... but...
“You look a lot like someone,” Tang Yan said.
She continued to stare, as if trying to see through Tang Qi.
“But it’s impossible.” Her eyes dimmed, but she quickly looked up at Tang Qi again and smiled faintly at him: “Thank you. Thank you, and thank you, Your Highness.”
"Who is it? Why is it impossible?" The person opposite suddenly asked, his throat bobbing for a moment.
Tang Yan's tone remained calm: "Because he is dead."
"If he were still alive, he wouldn't have disappeared without a trace, wouldn't have abandoned me and my mother, and wouldn't have failed to come back." Her voice seemed to carry a hint of resentment, but her expression was one of extreme grief.
Although she refused to accept it, her brother was indeed dead.
The person on the other end immediately fell silent.
Yes, if "Tang Qi" were still alive, she wouldn't have disappeared without a trace, wouldn't have abandoned her and her mother, and wouldn't have failed to return.
So Tang Qi is indeed dead.
"Then...do you hate it?" he asked cautiously, his lips slightly parted.
"I hate him for him."
Tang Yan's voice remained as cold as ever, but his eyes were extremely serious: "The world treated him unfairly. He died too young, which was a great loss."
I don't like it.
After a brief silence, Tang Yan withdrew his gaze, nodded slightly, and walked towards the door.
The person had already walked quite a distance, but Tang Qi remained standing in the same spot. After a long while, he suddenly curled the corners of his lips and chuckled softly.
They are no longer the weak and vulnerable people they once were.
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