Once the imperial edict for his appointment was issued, the matter was settled.
On the day Liu Yifu left the capital, Shen Tangning and Chi Yan went to see him off.
Below the city gate, Liu Yifu heard the sound of horses' hooves and turned around.
The carriage slowly came to a stop, and Chi Yan jumped down first. He turned around to help the person inside. He always did things in a nonchalant manner, a habit that seemed to be ingrained in his bones. His movements were gentle and meticulous.
Shen Tangning lifted her skirt as she stepped off the carriage. The hem of her light blue robe fluttered in the wind after the rain, making her stand gracefully like a lotus flower, serene and elegant.
The moment she looked up at him, Liu Yifu concealed the emotions in his eyes and slightly raised the corners of his lips.
A complex emotion flickered across Shen Tangning's eyes without leaving a trace: "Lord Liu."
They gazed at each other from afar, and he nodded in greeting.
Chi Yan seemed oblivious, a habitually flippant smile playing on his lips: "I came all this way to see you off, isn't that thoughtful of me?"
A smile appeared in the depths of Liu Yifu's eyes as he solemnly thanked her, "Thank you very much."
He never formed factions in the court, and now he volunteered to go to such a desolate place. Everyone thought he was courting death, his future was bleak, and he probably would never have the chance to return to the capital.
So few people came to see them off; how could one word describe the tragedy?
Liu Yifu didn't care about these things, but he appreciated Chi Yan's kindness.
Shen Tangning quietly observed him from the side. Compared to the naive and immature boy he used to be, his eyebrows and eyes had become more mature and steady, but the rest of his appearance had not changed much.
Even after years of struggling in the officialdom, he never followed the crowd or changed his original aspirations, which is truly commendable.
She slowly spoke, "Lord Liu, are you truly prepared?"
Liu Yifu paused for a moment, and Chi Yan coughed lightly, his eyes darting around: "You guys talk first, I'm going to get some fresh air."
He slowly made his way to the shady spot on the city wall, his eyes seemingly wandering aimlessly, but in reality, he was watching the situation closely.
Liu Yifu's lips curled up slightly, and his eyes showed a hint of determination as he faced Shen Tangning's question: "Yes, my mind is made up."
Her lips moved, but she didn't know what to say.
He explained understandingly, "You don't need to feel guilty. I made this decision for myself, without anyone else's consent."
Shen Tangning pursed her lips slightly, clearly not believing it.
If it was his own idea, why hadn't he revealed it before, and why now of all times... How could she not overthink it?
He raised his head, his gaze falling on a distant place, a solemn look appearing in his eyes: "Yongzhou has always been a barren place, constantly plagued by bandits, and the people suffer terribly. After much thought, I've concluded that it needs me more there than Yanjing."
Yanjing is a place where many talented people emerge; even without him, there would be even more outstanding individuals.
But Yongzhou was different. People always strive for better opportunities, and no one wanted to rush to such a desolate place, fearing that such a difficult task would fall on their shoulders.
Rather than waiting for His Majesty to make arrangements, he should volunteer himself.
Of course, he wasn't entirely acting out of altruism, but there was no need for her to know that.
After listening, Shen Tangning looked thoughtful, then her brows relaxed: "In that case, I was narrow-minded."
She paused, then continued, "But the journey is long and arduous, and we don't know when we'll meet again. Lord Liu, please take good care of yourself."
She had a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind, but she swallowed them back before she could speak.
Since you've already rejected their idea, don't hesitate and give them hope again; a swift and decisive action is the best way to cut through the mess.
Liu Yifu noticed her hesitation and understood her dilemma. A sense of disappointment flashed through his heart, but he remained expressionless: "Take care, you and Chi Yan."
Chi Yan on the other end was getting impatient. He couldn't hear their conversation because they were too far apart, but he could see them laughing and talking, and he felt like he was being scratched by a cat.
However, his act of pretending to be magnanimous and offering to avoid the situation, followed by his eagerness to approach her now, seems rather petty...
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