Chapter 78 Pei Yu, you're not allowed to corrupt the children. ...
While quickly changing Haoling's clothes, Heshi gossiped, "Sister, is that the one outside your ex?"
Huiyin went over to lend her a hand and nodded upon hearing this. Her affair with Pei Yu couldn't be kept secret at all. In that situation, how could a weak woman like her cross thousands of miles and persuade the Jieluo tribe to help? The truth behind it was intriguing.
Moreover, she had Fang Mu by her side, always there to protect her. Fang Mu was talkative but not talkative. In the beginning, he kept his mouth shut and wouldn't say anything about Huiyin's past no matter how much Song Jingchuan pressed him.
Later, Huiyin's beauty could not be concealed, and since she had been traveling with caravans all over the country, many people knew that there was a beautiful girl from the Southern Dynasty in Dayuan City, and there were quite a few suitors, including nobles from Dayuan and Wusun.
This made Fang Mu immediately uneasy, and he chased away all the people who came to propose marriage. Although Song Jingchuan was also unwilling for Huiyin to marry far away, Fang Mu's actions clearly intended to ruin his sister's marriage, so he couldn't sit still either. He interrogated Fang Mu relentlessly, and finally, at Huiyin's prompting, Fang Mu explained her past with Pei Yu in detail, with Huiyin occasionally adding a few words.
As for Huiyin, she didn't feel ashamed of having a past with Pei Yu, nor did she want to hide it from her younger brother. Subconsciously, she always felt that one day she and Pei Yu would meet again.
Haoling then tugged at Heshi's arm, leaned close to her, and whispered a few words in her ear. Heshi covered her mouth in surprise, patted Haoling's little bottom, and scolded her, "You're quite clever."
After tidying up Haoling, Heshi turned to Huiyin and asked, "Sister, what are your thoughts about him now?"
Huiyin turned her head to look out the window. Heshi couldn't see her expression, but she could hear her voice sounding somewhat lost. "I don't know either. He hasn't come to see me. I was already planning to give up on him. But then he suddenly appeared in front of me, and my heart suddenly panicked. I don't know what to do."
Her voice was as light as the wind, quickly dissipated. This was the first time He Shi had seen her like this. In the three years they had lived together, Huiyin had been the backbone of their family. She quickly learned how to handle the caravan's sourcing and sales, leading the caravan to grow stronger.
He Shi hadn't read many books, and could only speak and write the language of the Southern Dynasties. She didn't know how to describe Huiyin. In the words of the Dayuan people, she was a very capable girl.
So even a capable and beautiful girl like this can be insecure and anxious in romantic relationships?
He Shi was about to go over and comfort her when he saw Hui Yin quickly return to normal. She turned around with a smile, her eyes sparkling, and she was breathtakingly beautiful. He Shi heard her say, "There's nothing to worry about. Just follow your heart."
As night fell, the cold wind howled, but fortunately their carriage was spacious, and the bottom was lined with windproof and warm blankets, making it comfortable and cozy. He Shi and Hao Ling had already fallen asleep, with Hao Ling lying in the middle, flanked by He Shi and Hui Yin on either side.
Huiyin wasn't sleepy for the time being. She rested her head on her pillow, gazing out of the carriage, as if trying to see the person outside through the door. The coachmen who had driven them for the past few days had tents to sleep in at night. Pei Yu was a foreigner, and the Dayuan people wouldn't allow him into their tents.
In this cold weather, even with his martial arts skills and robust physique, he probably couldn't withstand it. Huiyin gently got up, found an unused blanket under the seat, carried it to the carriage door, and gently knocked, "Pei Yu?"
"I am here."
Hearing "I'm here," Huiyin couldn't express her feelings. Although the Dayuan army was safe with her, Heshi was unable to move easily, and Haoling was too young. She couldn't rest easy at night and would wake up every now and then to check on her.
She unlocked the door, leaving a crack, and a gust of cold wind rushed in. Huiyin handed her a blanket and whispered, "It's windy and too cold. Wrap yourself in this."
The oil lamp outside the carriage was blown about by the wind, its orange light flickering and shining on Huiyin's fair face. Pei Yu stared at the blanket she had thrown out, and the emotions he had been suppressing welled up uncontrollably.
He wrapped himself in a felt blanket and approached the small opening. "Shall we talk?"
Looking at the sliver of warm light filtering in, Huiyin sat by the car door, clutching her blanket, and softly replied, "What do you want to ask?"
She waited a while before hearing the man outside say in a somber tone, "Is he good to you?"
Huiyin recalled the daily life Jingchuan and Heshi spent together, and without hesitation took it and put it on herself. "He was very good to me. When the weather was nice, he would take me horseback riding. Every time he came back from trading, he would bring me gifts. He always kept my favorite foods at home. He gave me all the money to manage, and I didn't have to worry about anything else."
Pei Yu felt as if a huge hole had been torn in his chest, and the thick blanket couldn't stop the wind from whistling in, making him shiver with cold.
He had initially thought that the man was no good and treated Huiyin poorly, so he still had a chance. But now, listening to Huiyin recount the time she spent with that man, every word filled him with intense jealousy.
He could no longer deceive himself. Huiyin had only found a man because she was struggling to survive far from home. He knew her inherent resilience and stubbornness; she must have really, really liked that man to marry him and have a child. After all, during the time he and Huiyin were together, she had been secretly taking contraceptives.
Pei Yu wiped her face, breathing heavily. The child looked to be about two years old, so it seemed she had gotten married not long after arriving in Dayuan.
Pei Yu asked a few more questions in a hoarse voice, wishing he could find out everything about their relationship. He repeatedly recalled the details in his mind, torturing himself as if he were doing something self-destructive.
Huiyin felt uneasy as she listened to the increasingly hushed voices outside. Had she gone too far? She gripped the car door and leaned out to check the situation.
The lamp oil had burned out, and the flame flickered and was not very clear, but Huiyin could see the tear stains on Pei Yu's face. This seemed to be the second time he had shed tears since their reunion.
She was somewhat dazed. She remembered that he hadn't shed a tear the night they broke up, so why was he crying more and more now? Could it be because he was getting old?
She silently retreated, presumably because he didn't want her to see her in such a disheveled state. After a long while, Huiyin felt sleepy and vaguely heard Pei Yu ask, "Can you break up with him and come back to me?"
The voice contained pleading and pain. Huiyin thought she was hallucinating until Pei Yu repeated it again, and she came to her senses. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. "I'm already married and have children. Don't say such things."
The words weren't explicitly stated, but the implication was clear: rejection. Pei Yu gave a self-deprecating laugh; so this was the taste of reaping what one sows.
With his abilities, he could easily kidnap Huiyin. As long as he takes Huiyin back to the Southern Dynasty, she will never be able to leave his side again, they will get married, and she will slowly forget everything in Dayuan and forget that damned man.
As for that little girl, considering she is Huiyin's daughter, he will take her back to the Southern Dynasty and raise her as his own daughter.
He could have done that, but he didn't dare. He was afraid to see Huiyin's disgusted look, afraid that she would completely ignore him, and even more afraid that she would spend the rest of her life in unhappiness.
He had always been like this, autocratic and domineering. Huiyin had told him off several times, but he had never changed. He didn't want to be like before, making her angry and disgusted.
"You don't have to break up with him, but could you please not reject me either?"
Huiyin wondered if she had misheard. She slowly turned her head, looked at the door, and asked incredulously, "Do you know what you're saying?"
Pei Yu: "I am very clear-headed and I know what I am saying. Huiyin, I will not ruin your relationship, and I will not let your husband find out."
Huiyin: "..." Should I thank you then? How did she ever realize that Pei Yu was so shameless, openly poaching her boyfriend?
She refused, saying, "My husband treats me very well, and I can't betray him."
Afraid that he might utter some shocking statement again, Huiyin slammed the car door shut and said to the outside, "It's getting late, I'm going to sleep, you should rest too."
She hugged the blanket and lay back down, saying she was going to sleep, but in reality, she was already wide awake from Pei Yu's words. How could he say such a thing?
Huiyin turned over and, by the moonlight, saw the sleeping Haoling clearly. She noticed that Haoling's face was flushed and her breathing was hot. She held the child in her arms and checked her temperature; it was burning hot. Perhaps she had sweated during the day and hadn't been exposed to a draft, causing her to develop a high fever by night.
She quickly woke Heshi, took out the pills she always carried, mixed them with water, and fed them to Haoling. She also wiped Haoling's body with medicated wine. After all this, there was no improvement, and Heshi cried out in desperation.
Pei Yu, who hadn't slept outside the car, heard the noise inside and knocked on the door, asking, "What's wrong?"
Huiyin said anxiously, "Haoling is sick; her high fever won't go down."
He Shi, terrified, clung tightly to Hao Ling, completely disoriented, repeatedly kissing Hao Ling's forehead. Back in Dayuan, their neighbor's child had also developed a high fever in the middle of the night and, unable to be saved in time, had become mentally disabled due to the high fever.
Huiyin quickly calmed down after a moment of panic. She took Haoling's clothes and dressed her from head to toe. She said to Heshi, "Don't worry, the Jieluo tribe is not far from here. They have a very skilled shaman there. I'll take Haoling to find him."
Heshi wiped away her tears and hurriedly put on her clothes. "I...I'll go with you."
Huiyin dissuaded her, saying that Fangmu and Jingchuan would catch up tomorrow, and she could only return by noon tomorrow at the latest on horseback with Haoling. Heshi had to stay behind to inform them of the news.
She calmed herself down and reassured He Shi, "Don't worry, with Pei Yu here, we'll be fine."
As Heshi calmed down under Huiyin's composed gaze, he got up to open the car door for her.
Huiyin stepped out of the carriage, where Pei Yu was already waiting with his horse, Wuzhui. Upon seeing her, he stepped forward to take Haoling from her, helped Huiyin onto the horse, and then wrapped the two of them in a felt blanket to prevent them from catching a cold while riding.
He remained silent throughout, yet his movements were reliable and steady as he led Huiyin away at full speed.
Huiyin was held in Pei Yu's arms, while she held Haoling in her arms. She was nestled in the blanket and didn't feel the cold at all. She leaned quietly against Pei Yu's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, her gaze fixed on Pei Yu's tense chin.
She closed her eyes and hugged Pei Yu's waist tightly.
After riding for nearly an hour, the sky began to lighten. Pei Yu stopped his horse, picked up Huiyin, and landed. The Jieluo tribe had moved to a new location in the past two years, and the terrain here was uneven and winding. The last part of the journey could only be completed on foot.
Pei Yu held Hao Ling in his arms and led Hui Yin forward. After a short while, he turned to the side and asked, "Are you tired? Do you want me to carry you?"
Huiyin shook her head. She just looked a little thinner than before. In the past three years, she had traveled all over the country with the caravan, and her health had improved a lot. This distance was easy for her.
Pei Yu didn't say anything more, but held Huiyin's hand tightly and wouldn't let go.
Huiyin noticed, but said nothing.
"Where's Fang Mu? I haven't seen him at all."
Huiyin thought to herself, "You finally remembered to ask him. Fang Mu really misses you, the young general." She replied, "Our luggage wheels broke down, causing us to be stranded for two days. We should arrive by noon today."
The two traveled quickly and soon arrived at the Jieluo tribe. Hachi was overjoyed to see them and, upon hearing that they had come seeking medical treatment, readily sent someone to fetch the shaman.
Huiyin stayed by Haoling's side, watching her body temperature slowly drop and return to normal. The tension in her heart finally eased. If anything had happened to Haoling, she wouldn't have been able to face Jingchuan and Heshi.
Pei Yu stayed behind Huiyin the whole time, watching her worry and feel sad for Haoling, but he had no right to comfort her.
Seeing that the child's fever had subsided, Hachi smiled and invited Pei Yu to come over for a chat. Pei Yu looked at Huiyin and waited for her to nod before leaving with Hachi.
Hachi watched this scene with a sense of pride. His judgment was never wrong; giving away that Ferghana horse was a worthwhile investment. His beard twitched as he thought of sending someone to remind Haqing not to let Pei Yu slip that he had once coveted Huiyin.
The medicine from the Jieluo tribe's shaman was very effective. After Haoling woke up, she was lively and energetic, showing no signs of the high fever she had suffered the previous night.
She woke up and nestled softly in Huiyin's arms, crying that she was hungry. But it was getting late, and they had to get back to the group as soon as possible. If they got back too late, Jingchuan and Fangmu would definitely get restless, and it wouldn't be good if they went out to look for them and missed them.
Pei Yu and Hachi finished their discussion. Hachi looked delighted, clearly pleased with what Pei Yu had promised him to satisfy him. Before leaving, Pei Yu specifically instructed Hachi to prepare food, including some warm milk that children could easily digest.
He held Haoling in one arm and fed her with the other. Huiyin walked beside Pei Yu, surprised that he was so patient with the child. Haoling was still young and often got her clothes dirty while eating. Pei Yu's chest was stained with milk, a dark patch, but he showed no disgust.
Huiyin quickly finished the flatbread in her hand, then reached out her hand, "Haoling, give it to me, you should eat something first."
Pei Yu's expression remained unchanged as he calmly refused, "You can't hold her, let me do it." He paused, then tentatively added, "I don't have a free hand, so why don't you feed me?"
He was just holding Haoling in one arm and feeding her with the other, walking on the undulating slope as if it were flat ground. Now he can't free his hands? Huiyin didn't expose him. She broke the flatbread in her hand into small pieces and fed them to Pei Yu.
He was fine at first, looking serious, but after a couple of bites, his true nature was revealed. When he lowered his head to eat the sesame cake, he would always inadvertently brush his tongue against Huiyin's fingertips. When Huiyin did not react, he intensified his actions, sucking on her fingers, his dark eyes fixed on Huiyin, his emotions surging.
Huiyin withdrew her hand, took out the kettle and carefully washed it clean. She was speechless at Pei Yu. She was still someone else's wife. What was he trying to do by making this commotion? Was he trying to entice her to have an affair?
Pei Yu: "..." He saw Huiyin washing her hands with disgust, as if he had been slapped hard across the face.
Hao Ling looked at her aunt with a puzzled expression, then at the man in front of her, and asked in a childish voice, "You're so big, why do you still need to be fed?"
Huiyin blushed, glared at Pei Yu in embarrassment and anger, and quickened her pace. It was all his fault for being so improper in front of the child.
Pei Yu touched his nose. Huiyin's eyes were like spring water, and her glare made half of his body go numb. His heart, which had just died, slowly came back to life. He patted Haoling's head and coaxed her, "You are not allowed to tell your father what you just saw, understand?"
"Why?" Hao Ling's big eyes were full of doubt.
Pei Yu showed no embarrassment and continued to deceive the child: "Because your father will be unhappy if he finds out, and your mother will be unhappy too. Haoling is a good child and doesn't want her parents to be unhappy, right?"
Hao Ling bit his finger in confusion. His aunt was feeding him. Why were his father and mother unhappy?
Huiyin, unable to bear it any longer, turned around and scolded, "Pei Yu, you are not allowed to corrupt the child!"
——
When they were still some distance from the Dayuan envoy's encampment, Pei Yu saw two horses galloping towards him from afar. He recognized the man in front; it was Fang Mu, whom he had sent to protect Huiyin three years ago. The man behind him had a handsome appearance and gave him a sense of familiarity, as if he had met him before.
Fang Mu waved and ran over excitedly. He was speechless when he saw Pei Yu. Pei Yu rode forward and gently patted Fang Mu's shoulder, speaking familiarly, "It's been three years. You've gotten quite strong. Have your martial arts skills declined?"
With tears in his eyes, Fang Mu said, "Young General... Fang Mu thought he would never see you again, never see those brothers again in this lifetime."
Pei Yu: "I said I would come to pick you up, and I won't go back on my word. Chi Yan and the others are here too; you'll see them in a few days."
Fang Mu nodded repeatedly, covering his eyes and wiping away tears.
As they were talking, Song Jingchuan arrived. He looked at Pei Yu warily and did not go forward to exchange pleasantries.
Pei Yu glanced at him, only to find that the man looked very familiar, though he couldn't quite place where he had seen him before.
Song Jingchuan gave Pei Yu a slight nod and asked Huiyin, who was standing in front of him, "Sister, are you alright?"
Huiyin smiled and said, "I'm fine, and Haoling is alright too."
Pei Yu's heart skipped a beat. He remembered that he had seen Song Jingchuan's portrait. Song Jingchuan's appearance was five parts similar to Huiyin's, but he was more handsome and refined, while Huiyin was more gentle and beautiful.
His mind was in a state of confusion. Didn't Haoling say that she didn't have an uncle? So what was going on?
Hearing her father's voice, Haoling peeked out from Huiyin's arms, dancing with joy, "Father! Father!"
Song Jingchuan finally smiled, rode forward to take Hao Ling in his arms, looked her over gently for a while, and finally kissed Hao Ling's forehead lightly, asking her softly if she was hungry.
Pei Yu: "..."
In a flash, he understood everything. Huiyin had never married anyone else, Song Jingchuan was not dead, Haoling was Song Jingchuan's daughter, and everything she had said was a lie!
He lowered his head and pulled her into his arms tightly, saying fiercely, "Is it fun to lie to me? Does it feel good to see me so badly fooled?"
Huiyin raised the corners of her eyes, crossed her arms, and snorted softly, "That felt good. What do you want now?"
Pei Yu let out a heavy sigh, buried his face in Huiyin's shoulder and took a deep breath, saying with some lingering fear, "How could I bear to do anything to you? I'm so glad I didn't come too late, and you were still waiting for me."
Huiyin turned her head away. "Don't flatter yourself. I didn't wait for you on purpose."
Pei Yu didn't speak. He buried his head in Huiyin's shoulder in silence. Huiyin could feel the dampness on her neck. She pursed her lips and didn't say anything more hurtful.
The group returned to the camp before noon. After a short rest, they set off again towards the Southern Dynasty. Huiyin left the carriage with Jingchuan and his family of three, and rode alongside on horseback. Fang Mu and Pei Yu flanked her on either side.
Fang Mu asked Pei Yu, "Young General, were you delayed on your way here? Why are you only arriving now?"
Huiyin appeared indifferent, but her ears were already perked up. She heard Pei Yu say, "Although the Xiongnu have retreated to the south of the Gobi Desert, there are still many places that need to be negotiated. I was ordered to go to the south of the Gobi Desert to pick up Prince Suiyang, which caused some delay."
"Did Suiyang go back?" Huiyin couldn't help but ask.
Pei Yu: "No, Le Tai won't release them."
Huiyin was somewhat indignant, "He's already lost the battle, why are they still holding him captive!"
Pei Yu explained the reason to Huiyin, "Jule is willing to be on good terms with the Southern Dynasty and pay tribute to the Southern Dynasty with cattle, sheep and horses, on the condition that Suiyang be left behind."
Seeing the look of disgust on Huiyin's face, he added an explanation: "I went to see her in Monan. She's doing quite well, and Jules treats her well too."
Huiyin said coldly, "How do you know she's doing well? Maybe she's just putting on a brave face in front of you."
Pei Yu glanced at Fang Mu, who then mounted his horse and rode away, leaving them alone.
Pei Yu approached Huiyin, grabbed her reins, and leaped behind her, pulling her into his arms as he explained, "Jules built a palace for her to live in on the grasslands, and also asked me for several chefs from the Southern Dynasty, saying that Suiyang couldn't get used to the food on the grasslands."
Huiyin stopped struggling and looked up suspiciously. "Are you trying to trick me?"
Pei Yu rested his chin on Huiyin's head, stroked her earlobe with his fingers, and whispered in her ear, "How could I dare to lie to you? I also know that Yule has no other women besides Suiyang, and the entire Xiongnu respect Suiyang greatly and dare not offend her."
He hesitated for a moment, “I met with Suiyang alone. She looked very well and expressed her willingness to stay in Xiongnu to contribute to the restoration of peace between the two countries. She should be doing well.”
Huiyin did not respond. Even though life was good in the Xiongnu, it could not make up for the loneliness of being far from home and unable to see her relatives and friends.
"Huiyin, I have so much to tell you." Pei Yu hugged Huiyin tightly and gently inhaled her fragrance.
He talked on and on in Huiyin's ear about how much he had missed her over the years, how lonely he was at night, and how uneasy he felt when he couldn't see her.
Huiyin nestled against his broad, warm chest, listening to Pei Yu's gentle murmurs. Sleepiness washed over her, and she lazily shifted her position, finding a comfortable spot. She interrupted Pei Yu, "I'm sleepy, I'm going to sleep for a while."
Pei Yu swallowed back the sweet words he was about to utter. He awkwardly swallowed his words, slowed down the horse's speed, and relaxed his body so that she could lean against him comfortably.
After Huiyin fell asleep on his shoulder, her soft breaths brushed against Pei Yu's neck, softening and calming his heart. He gently placed a kiss on Huiyin's forehead.
He still has plenty of time to tell Huiyin his feelings; they have a long future ahead of them.
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