Return journey
After Tang Feng and Haqiya came down, Haqiya lost her appetite for playing around. After bidding farewell to Zhou Ziliang and Tang Feng, she returned to the palace. Seeing Haqiya leave, Tang Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I was afraid... I might have upset her, but there was no other way. It's much better to be clear about these things than to leave things unresolved."
"This injury probably won't heal for several years," Zhou Ziliang shook his head. "You're quite something, now that everything's resolved, can you tell me about your own situation?"
Hearing Zhou Ziliang's tone, which sounded like he was about to interrogate Tang Feng, Tang Feng shuddered and gave Zhou Ziliang an awkward smile. "Ziliang... what are you talking about? What could possibly be wrong with me?"
"What's wrong?" Zhou Ziliang took out the letter Tang Feng had sent him, admitting his mistake. "Doesn't Tang Sicheng want to explain himself properly? I rode seven or eight horses to death all the way here, just waiting for Xiao Feng's explanation!"
"Are you out of your mind?!" Tang Feng said, trying to snatch the envelope from Zhou Ziliang's hand. "Why did you bring a letter when you came to see me?! Haqiya did take care of me, but... but I had no idea! I was delirious with fever, and I didn't even know she was still in the carriage that night... It's not my fault, how was I supposed to know I suddenly had a fever?"
"Alright, alright, I'm not blaming you," Zhou Ziliang couldn't bear to see Tang Feng looking aggrieved, seeing tears about to fall, and felt comforted.
"You ask about this right away... without even asking how serious my illness is." Looking at Tang Feng's expression, Zhou Ziliang couldn't help but laugh. "It's not that I didn't ask; you didn't write anything in your letter, which scared me half to death. I went to the post station and Liu Yiwan told me everything. It wasn't Haqiya who took care of you all night, it was Qin Liuliu. Don't worry anymore."
"Not Hachia? Then why didn't anyone tell me..."
"Our driver Tang is so busy every day, he can't eat or sleep properly, how could he have the mind to care about this?"
Tang Feng curled his lip. "You know this has nothing to do with me, so why do you want me to explain? You're doing this on purpose. Today, just turn right and find somewhere to sleep!"
"Hey? Xiao Feng? Xiao Feng!" Tang Feng couldn't help but chuckle behind Zhou Ziliang's back, biting his lip to suppress it.
The next day, Tang Feng and his delegation were to leave. This time, it wasn't Sujiha who saw them off; Tang Feng was even a little happy. Haqiya stood at the city gate and smiled, "With you leaving... will we never see each other again?"
"Yes..." Tang Feng held the reins, head bowed. "It's alright, don't be afraid, I won't go back on my word, Tang Feng... Have a safe journey." Hachia placed the flower wreath on Tang Feng's head. "You are one of the Eight Blessed Ones of our grasslands, we should send you off with the highest honors."
Tang Feng nodded and mounted his horse, bowing respectfully. "Haqiya, I take back what I said before... Although we can't meet, we can keep in touch by letter. If you ever find true love, write to me, and I will send you my highest blessings."
It took Tang Feng a year and two months to complete the task Li Yunrui gave him, and he returned to Yanyun with the contract signed by the Qiang and Hu Khan. Actually, Tang Feng looked at the matter from a different perspective and felt it wasn't so bad. Although he had suffered greatly among the Qiang and Hu people over the past year, it was still much better than being stabbed in the back in Yanyun. Even if Su Jiha was cunning, he was far less treacherous than Xu Chang'an. Originally, they were supposed to each ride a horse, but Tang Feng insisted on riding with Zhou Ziliang, which frightened Qin Liuliu into the carriage. After all, in Qin Liuliu's memory, Tang Feng had never been one to act coquettishly; he had always been a calm and collected person. She just hadn't expected... that Tang Feng would become a completely different person the moment he met Zhou Ziliang.
Tang Feng was also secretly plotting his own plans. He had initially intended to tell Zhou Ziliang about their marriage upon returning, but now he decided against it. He wanted to surprise Zhou Ziliang. Tang Feng knew Zhou Ziliang had been waiting for him, and he didn't want to keep him waiting any longer... After all... Tang Feng felt that Zhou Ziliang was the kind of person he wanted to look back on with fond memories and grow old with deep affection. If he married Zhou Ziliang, not only would his relatives and friends in Xiling be happy, but perhaps... even his grandmother in the real world would be pleased for him!
Tang Feng smiled. Having a blessed wedding was nice. Zhou Ziliang noticed Tang Feng's shoulders trembling in his arms. "What are you thinking about? You seem so happy."
"Oh! Don't ask! I won't tell you even if you ask."
Stepping onto the borders of Yan Yun, Tang Feng felt as if it were still the same as before, yet something was different. He had experienced so much in the past year, yet Xiling remained unchanged. Tang Feng dismounted and said to Zhou Ziliang, "I should have gone home, but... I think Prince Duan wants to see me more, so I might have to go to Prince Duan's residence."
"I'll go with you!"
"No need, it's just a contract." Tang Feng led his horse and the delegation to see Li Yunrui. After all, Tang Feng's efforts over the past period were all for Li Yunrui's benefit.
"I knew you could do it!" Li Yunrui held the contract, his hands trembling with joy. "Tell me! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."
"I've thought it over! Your Highness promised me hundreds of acres of fertile land, thousands of bolts of silk, and gold and silver jewels to choose from, but I don't want any of those. All I want is for Your Highness to give me a stable life, nothing more. Please reconsider, Your Highness." In Li Yunrui's eyes, this was the first time Tang Feng had sincerely knelt before him. He had bowed before before, but it always seemed more like a formality.
"You really don't want to work for me? I have high hopes for you." Li Yunrui stood up and sat down in front of Tang Feng. "It's just the two of us in the study today, so there aren't many rules. Get up!"
"Although this encounter with the Qiang and Hu people was ultimately without serious harm, Tang Feng has learned a valuable lesson: In this world, you can live without anyone, but I don't want to lose my life. The Qiang and Hu people are simple and straightforward, yet I almost died a violent death. I've never witnessed the deceit and treachery within the imperial court, but I've heard of it. Rather than risk my life, it's better to stay out of it." Tang Feng remained kneeling on the ground, showing no intention of rising.
"Tang Feng, to be honest, I don't want to let you go, but I don't want to force you to stay either. How about this? You'll stay at the pawnshop, but... I'll give you two years to reconsider."
"Your Highness...it's me!"
"Don't rush to reject me. Go back and think it over carefully. At least for the next two years, you can stay in Xiling in peace and spend time with your family and Zhou Ziliang. Isn't that great? Don't worry, I mean what I say. I won't bother you for the next two years."
"In that case... thank you, Your Highness." Tang Feng left the Prince Duan's residence, unsure of Li Yunrui's intentions. But it was alright; he could refuse him in two years. Now, he only needed to prepare for his wedding with Zi Liang. Tang Feng arranged for Liu Yiwan and Qin Liuliu to return to report to Old Master Tang and Qin Jiujiu that they were safe. He himself went to the Marquis's residence to visit Old Madam Zhou and the old Marquis, which was Zhou Ziliang's intention. However, Zhou Ziliang never expected that Tang Feng would come without even returning home.
Madam Zhou scrutinized Tang Feng, frowning and scolding, "How did you become so thin? I remember you had a good appetite when you came before, with a round face, and your waist wasn't like this anymore. You're just a skeleton now. Have you suffered a lot and been wronged?"
"No, no, Auntie, don't worry. I just had some water and soil acclimatization issues after going to the Qiang and Hu regions, and my appetite hasn't been very good. I just want to eat Auntie's cooking. How about I have some braised pig's trotters?" Tang Feng dared not tell Madam Zhou about what had happened before. If Madam Zhou heard about it, she would tear Zhou Ziliang apart just because Haqiya almost snatched him away.
"Haha, Ziliang also told me that you've had a long and tiring journey, and that eating mutton and chicken will upset your stomach. It's alright! In our Marquis's mansion, we won't eat them anymore, okay?" As soon as Madam Zhou finished speaking, she heard the old Marquis slam his teacup heavily on the table. "You just spoil him! What's wrong with him? He can't eat mutton and chicken! I still want to eat them! Make mutton with dipping sauce tomorrow! Do you hear me!"
"Hey? Zhou Wuhai, you're getting cocky, aren't you? Xiaofeng is a member of the Zhou family, what's wrong with taking care of her?! Will she die if she misses a meal of mutton?! Let me tell you, don't push your luck, or I'll teach you a lesson today!"
"Auntie! Auntie!" Tang Feng, seeing the situation was getting out of hand, quickly pulled Madam Zhou back. "Auntie... it's alright. The old Marquis likes mutton, so let him eat it. At worst, I'll just stop eating at the table."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou's anger flared even more. She shoved Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang outside, about to slam the door shut. "No, no, Xiao Feng, you and Ziliang can just eat out today. And eat something good, don't deprive yourselves. I'm going to teach this old bastard a lesson today!" Tang Feng, left outside, stared blankly at Zhou Ziliang. "I...did I mess this up?"
“No, they’ve always been like this,” Zhou Ziliang sighed. “Let’s go! Haven’t you been saying you’re hungry? I’ll take you to eat. What do you want to eat?” Tang Feng thought carefully for a while. Actually… he had meat to eat every day in Qianghu, but the food hadn’t changed, which was why he ended up not eating much. He had gained a few pounds when he first arrived, and he could clearly feel his waist getting tighter when he tied his belt. The oil in his stomach hadn’t been digested since returning to Xiling, so he said to Zhou Ziliang, “Do you remember… that night, the Yangchun noodles we ate? I want to eat at that place… I haven’t really wanted to eat meat lately. You know I ate meat every day in Sangyan; it was so hard to get a vegetable dish…”
"Okay, then I'll take you there."
To Tang Feng's surprise, the old man who sold noodles actually recognized him and greeted him, "Young master, you're here again! Please have a seat; there aren't many people today, so take any seat you like."
"Uncle, a bowl of vegetarian noodles, please. I've been gone for over a year, I didn't expect you to still remember me." Tang Feng and Zhou Ziliang found a place to sit down, and the old man came over and started wiping the table. "What are you saying? Every day, no less than a hundred people come and go from my little stall, but you are the only one who comes dressed in fine clothes to eat vegetarian noodles."
The plain noodles arrived quickly; it was just a bowl of clear broth noodles with an egg poached in it, a touch of soy sauce, and a sprinkle of chopped scallions on top. Tang Feng picked up the bowl and started eating. After taking a bite, he glanced at Zhou Ziliang, then picked up a mouthful of noodles and offered it to Zhou Ziliang, saying, "Ziliang, try this. Uncle's noodles are delicious."
Zhou Ziliang took a bite of Tang Feng's hand and said, "No wonder you like it. I think the old man's cooking is much better than that of restaurants outside!"
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