Chapter 57: Tying the Knot with You
The carriage passed through Xuancheng Gate.
The place was bustling with activity, making it impossible to tell that just two months ago, the entire city was under martial law, war seemed imminent, and everyone lived in fear and unease.
On the city wall, the banners celebrating the New Year, which had been hanging for more than a month, had not yet been taken down, and the joy of the Spring Festival was still evident everywhere.
Xiao Xun sat in the carriage with his eyes slightly closed.
As I left, Qu Yang's words continued to echo in my mind.
The sun was setting in the west, and the prison was gloomy, as if dusk had arrived early.
"Have I been disloyal in serving others? Have I been untrustworthy in dealing with friends?"
Xiao Xun sighed, “You plan for him, but your plans are based on ambition; you associate with him, but your association is based on righteousness.”
He slammed his clenched fist down on the table, his eyes filled with anger.
"But what about me? Qu Yang, what are your plans for me? What are your alliances with me for?"
Qu Yang remained silent.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Xiao Xun turned and left.
"What I plan is for the sake of the country."
As I turned around, an old voice came from behind me.
"The relationship was based on... feelings."
Xiao Xun paused, but did not turn around.
“Your Majesty, whether you believe it or not, on that day, in Xuanqu Palace, I forged an imperial edict to send troops to persuade the rebellious ministers and traitors to surrender, to protect Your Majesty’s empire… and Your Majesty. Fifteen years have passed, Your Majesty, fifteen years have passed.”
I don't know. When he said fifteen years, he meant the fifteen years that initially felt like father and son, but later became like enemies.
I still want to say that these long fifteen years of having the power of life and death, and doing whatever he wanted, have long since changed his mind and thoughts.
Xiao Xun remembered that a long, long time ago, he had asked Qu Yang why everyone was an ant.
He said that His Majesty would know if he had been to the battlefield.
Every person, like an ant, has a life that is light and insignificant.
Xiao Xun looked up in confusion and asked again, "Then why did you say that everyone is not an ant?"
Before Qu Yang could answer, he seemed to have figured it out himself. Lost in thought, he put his hands behind his back, like an adult. "Because living is important. Important to everyone, isn't it? Is that why the Grand Marshal wants to end the war, to cease conquest, to stop fighting?"
Qu Yang stood under the green pine tree, the north wind howling on the high platform, the sunlight flickering, but his eyes shone brightly: "Your Majesty, I have not misjudged you."
Before them, the daylight had long since faded. Qu Yang's choked sobs echoed between the four walls, which were less than three zhang wide, like an incessant wind.
"I only wish to save his life, to save his life."
"Fourteen years ago, you set that fire, didn't you?" Xiao Xun asked, still with his back turned.
The sobs behind me grew fainter and fainter.
Finally, it sounded like it was buried in the mud.
Even the most spacious rooms in the imperial prison felt cramped and the air was thick; after a while, it was hard to breathe.
Xiao Xun paused for two breaths, but when he didn't hear an answer, he strode away.
His thoughts returned, he opened his eyes, drew back the carriage curtain, and summoned Ling Feng, who was riding alongside him.
"Issue my decree: Qu Qingchuan, send him back to the Qu family's ancestral home in Hedong County. Build a new tomb for him five li away from their ancestral graves."
He paused, looking at the silver needle tea leaves swaying on the tea table inside the carriage, rising and falling, gathering and dispersing, indistinguishable from one another.
“Rise, two acupoints.”
Just now, when he pulled back the curtain of the car window, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a woman in the crowd, dressed in a simple blue dress, carrying a few vermilion flowers in her arms as she walked towards him.
After the order was given, the curtain was lifted again, and all that could be seen was a slender figure passing by the carriage.
Xiao Xun couldn't help but clench the curtain on the car window.
Suddenly, a young man stepped forward and began to undress the woman.
The steaming warmth inside his arms revealed a sesame cake.
The woman stopped and smiled, then took out a handkerchief to wipe the man's sweat.
The flower branches trembled, and she turned her head to the side; she was a woman with narrow eyes and a round face.
Looking closer, the flower wasn't a plum blossom, but an early-blooming spring apricot.
Xiao Xun sighed and lowered the carriage curtain.
After a while, he instructed Li Shun, who was following beside him, to go to the front and buy a flatbread as well.
Li Shun returned quickly and carried the flatbread into the carriage.
"Send it to them."
Xiao Xun pointed at the young couple and frowned slightly: "It's unsightly and uncivilizing for two people to share a single flatbread on the street."
The aroma of flatbread lingered in the carriage. He sat back down and absentmindedly opened the food box on the table.
Li Shun had been diligently serving Emperor Xiao Xun in Huaiyang for some time, pondering Xiao Xun's intentions. He also considered the Emperor's injury from falling from his horse, which had damaged his internal organs, and the arduous journey from Huaiyang to Chang'an. Even after arriving at the palace, the Emperor would need to recuperate for several days, taking bowl after bowl of bitter medicine. He instructed the palace eunuchs to prepare hazelnut cakes, eggs, and honey.
The hazelnut cake is about the size of a palm, small and cute, and light brown in color.
As soon as you pick it up, a layer of coarse crumbs falls off the outer millet, which is coated with hazelnut pieces, and lands on the bamboo leaves underneath.
rustling sounds.
On the day I bid farewell to Lin Yuan, the wind was strong, and fallen petals rained down.
His shoes trod over fallen bamboo leaves and scattered plum petals. And that was the sound he made.
He reached Lin Yuan's door and reached out to knock.
After thinking for a moment, they turned onto the passageway between the east and west wing rooms.
The bells under the eaves had been moved by Lin Yuan at some point and were now suspended high inside the windproof brackets.
He chuckled and rang the bell.
Through the window, shadows flickered. He took two steps back and admired the butterfly-like shadows that danced gracefully in the air.
With a creak, the side door next to them opened, and Lin Yuan bumped into him.
She adjusted her hair, looking somewhat flustered, and stared intently at his injury.
Seeing the concern in her eyes, Xiao Xun's brows relaxed and his eyes brightened. Before she could ask, he said, "It's nothing, the wound has already scabbed over. Following your advice, I didn't touch the hot spring water until it healed. After the scabs formed, I used sulfur water, and it really healed faster."
Lin Yuan breathed a soft sigh of relief.
"And who is His Majesty here to visit?"
"I've come to tell you that I'm going back to Chang'an."
"when?"
"First thing tomorrow morning."
Lin Yuan nodded, her cheeks still flushed from her afternoon nap: "That's quite a coincidence, I was just about to go back anyway..."
Hearing this, Xiao Xun was both surprised and delighted, and smiled broadly: "Then how about I give you a ride? I just didn't know how to bring it up. This is perfect, firstly because it's on the way, and secondly because the journey is long and it's good to have someone to look after you."
He said a lot in one breath.
I've pondered these words over and over in my mind these past two days, and I've spoken them flawlessly.
The journey between Dongping Township in the western suburbs of Chang'an and Weiyang Palace is only two hundred li more, a day's travel.
Although there is a straight road from Huaiyang to Chang'an, which does not require crossing mountains and ridges, the continuous Zhongnan Mountains can still be seen in the distance along the way.
Lin Yuan tilted her head and thought for a moment, then calmly retorted, "It's not that it's too far. I can actually go back by myself..."
"What if we encounter refugees or bandits?" Xiao Xun interrupted. "It's spring now. A few days ago, I issued an edict that all regions should take Huaiyang Kingdom as an example and build shelters to accommodate homeless refugees. I also encouraged all prefectures and kingdoms to rent oxen and wasteland. With so many refugees coming and going, it's inevitable that there will be bandits and outlaws mixed in. You are a woman, and it's not easy for you to travel. You should be careful everywhere you go."
Seeing that Lin Yuan seemed hesitant to speak, and fearing that she might have changed her mind, Xiao Xun quickly said solemnly, "Then it's settled. I'll come to pick you up early tomorrow morning at dawn."
Lin Yuan was taken aback by his words and realized there was some truth to it. She slowly said, "Then, I must go to Tingquan Courtyard and tell my brother, Master He, and the two old ladies."
She muttered to herself, "Aunt Li's back isn't fully healed yet, so a carriage is more stable..."
The rest of the words were scattered in the wind.
Xiao Xun smiled and said, "It's alright. It's windy and a bit chilly today. Let's take a car tomorrow morning. It's just a detour."
His gaze followed her hair, which had been disheveled by the impact.
Her black hair swirled in the wind, and one strand brushed against Xiao Xun's chest.
Just as Lin Yuan was about to reach out to brush it away, a strand of black hair wrapped around Xiao Xun's fingertip.
She wondered if his earlier mention of taking a detour referred to a stretch of road or a hairpin turn.
But then I saw him reach out and scoop up his long hair that was scattered in the wind.
With her other hand, she reached over Lin Yuan's cheek and pulled out the half-dangling white jade hairpin.
As her palm brushed against her earlobe, Lin Yuan's ear tips felt slightly hot.
"What are you doing?"
The voice was so soft, as if one were still in a midday dream.
Xiao Xun smiled and said, "What do you think?"
Lin Yuan remained silent and dared not move.
All I noticed was a pair of hands fluttering awkwardly up and down behind me, like a pair of moths.
I don't know if it's strands of hair or fingertips, but they keep rubbing against my back and the back of my neck.
Finally, it fell heavily.
"alright."
He tied her hair up and turned around.
The white jade hairpin was still in his hand.
"It's too plain."
He shook the simple, smooth jade hairpin in his hand, which resembled a maid's attire, and admired his masterpiece with a smile, "This is just right."
Lin Yuan looked suspicious and reached out to touch it.
"Don't touch it yet." Xiao Xun reached out to protect the swaying hair bun.
Their fingers intertwined.
"It's my first time doing my hair up, so it's not very well done," Xiao Xun explained.
As dusk fell, a rosy hue appeared on the tips of his ears.
Even after Lin Yuan withdrew her hand, his hand remained on the hair bun. "Be careful, don't mess it up."
That is indeed the case.
It was only about ten steps from her return to the room to sit in front of the dressing mirror when she accidentally lost her balance. When Lin Yuan reached the mirror, she saw a person wearing a phoenix headdress adorned with pearls and gold and jade, but with messy hair and many strands fluttering in the wind coming through the room.
It resembles a pheasant.
Xiao Xun watched the side door close and remained standing in the passageway for a long time.
The clouds gradually spread, turning the phoenix-headed jade hairpin with cloud patterns on his hair into a brilliant gold.
Until I heard laughter coming from inside that room.
Like the bells under the eaves that gently rang a few times.
It hit me hard.
He chuckled softly.
The day she fell asleep leaning on his shoulder, his hand rested on her back, circling her long, dark hair countless times.
The moonlight was dim, but the hairstyle I had arranged in my mind was still crystal clear.
Yes, wearing Huasheng would suit him best.
The next day.
The wind was still strong at dawn.
The wind rustled the carriage curtains, scattering Li and Wang's exclamations of wonder about the carriage walls, shafts, carriage compartment, carpet, incense burner, and lacquer table inside.
Xiao Xun leaned against the car window, propped his head up with his hand, and closed his eyes.
He remained silent the entire way, only when Lin Yuan echoed Li Ao's words, "The carriage is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate four people," and Wang Ao followed closely behind, "More than four people; if the two teachers weren't riding horses, they could easily fit in this carriage back to Cuiwei Mountain," did he lazily raise his eyelids and mutter a mocking remark:
"In my opinion, it's better if it's not spacious or stable."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yuan felt a little embarrassed.
However, before she could speak, a jolt caused Li Ao, who was holding onto the gilded and silver-inlaid window frame, to be thrown backward and crash into the carriage wall with a loud thud, overturning the smoky incense burner.
As Wang Ao was touching her bright moon pendant, staring at the wisps of incense smoke, she was determined to absorb some of the last glittering beauty of her jewelry before returning to the prefectural academy where only the moon and the breeze existed. Suddenly, she saw the incense burner tilting straight towards her bulging bundle.
The ginseng and lingzhi inside were more precious than her life, so she was no longer afraid of being burned or burned, and swept them away with a wave of her hand.
Suddenly, I was transported back to the time when I held a broom on Mount Cuiwei, sweeping away the miasma.
The incense burner lid was knocked off, and the still-burning agarwood incense flew towards Lin Yuan like shooting stars.
Lin Yu and He Ji rode ahead on horseback, but they didn't hear a sound.
In the blink of an eye, we arrived at the school gate.
He Ji dismounted, grabbed the reins, and headed up the mountain path, craning his neck to look ahead.
Lin Yu patted He Ji on the shoulder: "Let's go inside and tidy up first."
He smiled and said, "I'll also need to trouble you to start a fire and cook some hot soup for A-Yuan and the two old ladies to warm them up."
He glanced behind him.
Bathed in the sparse morning light, the carriage gradually grew larger in view.
The bamboo leaves open and close.
The horses neighed and whistled.
The morning breeze lifted Xiao Xun's robes.
He stood beside the carriage, not wearing a fox fur coat.
The snow-white fur coat was speckled with several holes burned by the lingering smoke from the burning sandalwood.
He looked rather thin and lonely.
The same goes for sound.
It was as if, when he threw himself in front of Lin Yuan to shield her from the sparks, his throat was burned.
"You, really, aren't you going back to Chang'an?"
"Hmm."
Lin Yuan gave a muffled reply and hugged the flat bundle tighter.
She twisted a corner of the cloth between her fingers and gave an awkward laugh: "I've only been at Cuiwei Mountain for three or four days. First, I fell ill, then I encountered a snowstorm. I haven't had a chance to properly see this place, or even Huaiyang. If I go back to Chang'an, I don't know when I'll be able to..."
The wind was too strong, and she sniffed.
"You...were you sick?"
"Hmm." Lin Yuan replied, quickly curving her lips into a smile. "It's just a cold. With Master He here, I'll be fine soon. But, you know, when I'm cold, I feel lethargic and slow to react. These days, I've been supposed to be taking care of you, but I haven't been able to do anything right."
She stammered, "I'm sorry." Then she added, "Fortunately, you're going back to the palace."
“It would be inconvenient if you weren’t here.”
Incomplete, imperfect, and not perfect.
Xiao Xun said wistfully, "In the days you were gone, every day in Weiyang Palace felt like the moon was waning."
His voice was low and hoarse, and with the strong wind and the rustling of bamboo leaves in his ears, Lin Yuan couldn't hear him clearly.
She stared at him for a long time: "I thought you wouldn't let me leave the palace and would take me back to be punished."
She pursed her lips and said, "Thank you."
I wish it were that simple. If only it were that easy. To seize territory by force, to conquer cities and territories—how simple!
But because it's you, I can't bear to part with you. There are so many things I can't bear to part with.
Xiao Xun heard Lin Yu and He Ji laughing and joking from afar, and sighed softly: "Do you know what it means to say that in military books?"
"Hmm? Military strategy?"
A smile crept onto his lips: "Strike first. Hinder others."
Lin Yuan chuckled.
After saying this, Xiao Xun turned around and took a lacquer box from the carriage.
I thought you were coming back to Chang'an with me, and I was thinking of sharing food along the way.
He handed it over, saying, "Here, take it all."
Lin Yuan took it.
Inside was a light brown hazelnut cake, candied plums, and honey cakes drizzled with golden honey.
She lowered her head, looking at the dazzling array of pastries, and after a long while, her cherry lips moved slightly.
"Fortunately, I don't like sweets." He smiled, stopping her from saying anything more. "As for anything else, we can talk about it next time we meet."
He hesitated before saying, "The time shouldn't be too far off."
Before Lin Yuan could speak, Xiao Xun got into the carriage without looking back. "It's too cold. Let's go back."
Upon seeing this, the Imperial Guards waiting a mile away hurried over to drive the carriage.
The wheels are rolling.
The carriage curtain wasn't fully drawn and was whipped up by the wind, fluttering wildly.
He eventually turned his head and peered out through the gap.
Lin Yuan remained standing in the same spot, neither looking up nor watching them leave.
The bundle was placed at his feet.
She held the food box in one hand and picked up a piece of hazelnut cake with the other, chewing it slowly.
He laughed silently.
But cold dew was blown in by the wind from outside the carriage curtain.
Before I knew it, my face was wet.
He reached for the pouch at his waist.
A single strand of hair lay there.
As if by divine intervention, he raised his hand, plucked a strand of his own hair, and put it into the pouch.
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Author's note: Xiao Xun (to Lin Yuan): I really don't know how to start this.
The author grumbles: Weren't you quite the talker in front of Qu Yang? You rambled on for five thousand out of eight thousand words, hahaha!
I'm just asking for comments, please! [Please!]
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