Chapter 161: Different Paths in Life
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Two days later, Liu Buwang was buried.
According to the customs of Jiyang, after a person passes away, the coffin is placed on a wooden boat and set afloat for a water burial. The wooden boat is also called the “vessel of the soul,” as the people of Jiyang believe that the Water Goddess uses boats to carry the souls of the departed to the other shore.
He Yan went to bid farewell to Liu Buwang on his final journey.
Liu Buwang laid peacefully in the wooden coffin, his expression calm. It was unclear what he had thought before his death, but there was a smile at the corner of his mouth. He Yan placed a handful of flowers on the wooden boat.
The master disciple relationship between He Yan and Liu Buwang was, in fact, quite short-lived. It was Liu Buwang who pulled her out from a pile of corpses, taught her the arts of sword, archery, and horse riding. His Qimen Dunjia, combined with the military strategies she learned, changed He Yan’s life forever.
If it weren’t for Liu Buwang’s helping hand back then, she probably would have died in the desert of Moxian. Living a second life, encountering Liu Buwang again was thought to be a heaven-sent gift, but this fate was like the fleeting blossoms, vanishing in an instant.
He Yan regretted not having said more to Liu Buwang. She hadn’t had the chance to ask about the past between Liu Buwang and Mu Hongjin, nor inquire about where he had traveled these years. She also hadn’t had the opportunity to confide in Liu Buwang about her own thoughts and uncertainties. Her relationships with elders seemed to be cursed, and her connections with parents and relatives were extremely thin. Liu Buwang, both a teacher and a father figure, had now left.
Regrets in life are often more numerous than fulfillments.
“Your Highness,” He Yan heard Cui Yuezhi speak behind her. She turned around to see Mu Hongjin approaching.
Mu Hongjin wasn’t wearing the red robe this time. She had changed into black attire, her long hair braided and adorned with a golden crown. She still exuded the same beauty and strength as before, but now, a hint of confusion appeared in her expression. She seemed like a lost child, showing a touch of vulnerability.
He Yan stepped aside, and Mu Hongjin walked forward, approaching the wooden boat.
The man on the boat, buried with only a sword and a zither, would stay inside the wooden coffin. He departed the mortal world with the same elegance he had when leaving the secular world. The white-clad youth, even though aged, still appeared youthful.
Mu Hongjin stared blankly.
When Lord Xiaojie mentioned that Liu Buwang was gone, she initially found it unbelievable. Then she thought it was ridiculous. After that, a profound sense of loss overwhelmed her, making it difficult to believe that this had truly happened.
But it did happen, and many things are beyond human will. She was no longer the ignorant girl she once was; she couldn’t just bury her head in her pillow and convince herself not to believe it.
So, she came.
Liu Buwang died protecting the city of Jiyang. Before his death, he set up a formation on the riverbank near the Hulu mouth, facing hundreds and thousands alone. He didn’t tell anyone.
He remained as silent as ever.
He was the only man she had loved in her entire life. Even though Liu Buwang had another person in his heart, and they had been estranged for many years, feelings still lingered. Now that he was gone, Mu Hongjin couldn’t help but feel sorrow.
“Your Highness,” He Yan thought for a moment, then walked up and opened her palm, “Do you recognize this?”
Mu Hongjin slowly turned her head and saw a silver bracelet lying in He Yan’s hand. The bracelet was worn smooth, and one could faintly see a circle of delicate daisies engraved on the edge. In an instant, past scenes filled her mind, as if the kind voice of an old woman echoed in her ears.
“This is called the ‘Yuexin Bracelet.’ Buy one and gift it to your beloved, and you’ll be inseparable for a lifetime.”
“Hero Liu, did you hear that? Hurry up and buy one for me!”
“She’s not my beloved.”
Mu Hongjin stared at the bracelet in front of her, like looking at a belated gift. She felt her throat tighten, and she asked in a hoarse voice, “How do you have this?”
“My master clutched this bracelet tightly before he passed away. I think it must be important to him.” He Yan looked at Mu Hongjin and said, “Is this not Your Highness’s bracelet?”
Mu Hongjin took the bracelet from He Yan’s hand and muttered, “I don’t know.”
How could she know? Those jokes from the past had long been buried in the depths of her memory, and she dared not bring them out for recollection. She had already confronted Liu Buwang about not liking her in the past. Now, this bracelet made it clear, telling her that Liu Buwang once had her in his heart.
How could she believe it?
How could it be possible for her to believe it?
In He Yan’s heart, a wave of powerless sorrow rose. Liu Buwang was gone, and nobody knew the truth about what happened back then. Still, she wanted to defend Liu Buwang to some extent.
“Your Highness, I always feel that there might have been many misunderstandings between you and my master in the past.” He Yan said, “But now that he’s no longer here. If Your Highness recognizes this bracelet, please take care of it. If you find it troublesome… you can put it back in the wooden coffin.”
“But I think,” He Yan said softly, “If my master were still here, he would want you to keep it.”
A gift that was never given, an explanation that came too late, and a sincere confession—this was probably the most regretful thing he did in his lifetime.
But what use was regret? When a person dies, all the grievances and ties associated with them, whether willing or unwilling, fade away.
The story ends here.
Mu Hongjin looked at the silver bracelet in her hand. After a moment, she slowly clenched her fist, whispering, “I understand.”
Seeing her like this, He Yan felt a slight relief. There wasn’t much she could do for Liu Buwang, and now, this was the only thing left.
The wooden coffin closed, and the boat was surrounded by various wildflowers. Liu Buwang descended from the mountain in spring, and now, he was returning to the spring. The clear river gently pushed the small boat forward, getting farther and farther away, gradually disappearing into the azure waves between the mountains.
“What exactly is the other shore?” He Yan murmured softly.
But who could know? Just like when Liu Buwang descended the mountain and met Mu Hongjin, scoffing at the flower-selling woman’s words about “a lifetime together.”
Back then, life seemed long, but having met a few people, heard a few tunes, several meetings and partings later, life passed by.
…
After Liu Buwang’s funeral, He Yan and the others were about to set off back to Liangzhou Garrison.
Cui Yuezhi came to see them off, standing at the gate of the Cui Residence, overseeing the continuous loading of belongings onto the carriage.
“These are specialties from Jiyang. Take more back with you. Liangzhou doesn’t have these things.”
Lin Shuanghe fanned himself, supporting his head, and said, “You don’t need to bring these roast rabbits; they’re greasy, and it’s inconvenient on the carriage.”
“Take it,” Cui Yuezhi insisted. “Take it with you on the road in case you get hungry. Zhongfu,” he called the steward over, “Are the apricots ready?”
“Ready.” Zhongfu brought a sack of red apricots, saying, “All washed clean. If the Commander and the miss get thirsty on the road, eat a couple. They’re refreshing and delicious.”
He Yan: “…”
If someone didn’t know better, they’d think they were going on a picnic.
Really overwhelming.
“Alright, that’s enough, Lord Cui,” He Yan laughed. “If you pack more, the Commander and I won’t have any place to sit.”
Cui Yuezhi looked at the packed carriage and finally stopped, smiling, “Fine, let’s leave it at that. You’ve stayed in my Cui Residence for too short a time. If you stay longer, I’ll take you both to tour the entire Jiyang City. On this occasion of solving the difficulties in Jiyang City, it was all thanks to Commander Xiao and Miss He, as well as Master Liu. For this great kindness, Cui will never forget, and the people of Jiyang will remember your benevolence. If there’s ever a need for Cui in the future, a need for Jiyang City, Cui and the people of Jiyang will go through fire and water without hesitation.”
“Miss He, if you have the chance in the future, you must come to Jiyang City to play,” said Cui Yuezhi’s Si Yiniang with a smile. “Next time, stay a bit longer, and we’ll make delicious food for you.”
Er Yiniang looked at Xiao Jue and said with a smiling face, “Commander Xiao too.”
San Yiniang frowned at the two of them, went forward, grabbed He Yan’s hand, and advised, “Be careful on the road.”
He Yan nodded with a smile. Just as they were talking, someone outside came to report, “Lord Zhongqi, Mu Yi and his people are here, saying they want to bid farewell to Miss He.”
Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow, and He Yan asked, “Bid farewell to me?”
Mu Yi brought his people, and it was the fifty people who had planned to set fire to the Wutuo warships along with He Yan. Among these fifty people, about twenty had died in the war, but at least half of them had survived. Now, the remaining twenty or so people heard that He Yan was leaving, so they came with Mu Yi to express their gratitude.
“Thanks to Miss He,” a young man scratched his head. “Otherwise, we might not be alive now. Before Miss He leaves, the brothers planned to come together to thank Miss He.”
Mu Yi took out a wooden frame from his bosom and handed it to He Yan. “This is a gift from everyone to Miss He.”
He Yan took a look. It was a wooden painting carved from a whole piece of wood. On it was carved a scene of a young woman in armor standing at the bow of a ship amidst a sea of fire. The woman held a long whip, and her long hair was tied high behind her head, looking heroic and dazzling.
After looking at it for a while, He Yan hesitated and asked, “Is this… me?”
“Yes.” Another person said, “We pooled together some silver, and found the best craftsman in Jiyang City to carve it out. But we still couldn’t capture Miss He’s charm. When Miss He whipped down the Wutuo warship, it was really exciting to watch, much more powerful than what’s carved on this painting!”
“Exactly, this painting can’t capture Miss He’s appearance, not even close to the beauty of Miss He!”
“That’s right, Miss He’s beauty can’t be painted by immortals.”
Towards the end, it was all a sincere praise, making He Yan blush. Well, she could feel the enthusiasm of the men in Jiyang now.
Cui Yuezhi smiled and looked at them.
Mu Yi looked at He Yan and said, “Miss He, do you really have to return to Liangzhou?”
He Yan was momentarily stunned, nodded, and replied, “I have other matters to attend to.”
“I see.” A hint of regret flashed in the young man’s eyes, but in a moment, he stared into He Yan’s eyes and asked seriously, “Will you come back to Jiyang City in the future?”
Mu Yi, originally handsome and masculine, with sincere and slightly embarrassed eyes, was truly irresistible. Even if He Yan was a bit slow to realize, facing such eyes, she understood a few things. She felt a bit awkward but also deeply moved. Anyone facing sincere affection would not remain indifferent.
Being liked and admired by someone was indeed an honor.
“I really like Jiyang City.” She smiled and looked at Mu Yi. “If I have the opportunity, I will definitely come back.”
Mu Yi was taken aback, scratched his head, and smiled foolishly.
“Well,” Lin Shuanghe shook his fan, leaned in close to Xiao Jue’s ear, and said, “I told you earlier, my sister He is so charming and amiable. Look at all these admirers; tut-tut-tut, you have to take care of my sister He.”
Xiao Jue sneered, as if finding it absurd, “What taste.”
“Of course, it’s good taste.” Lin Shuanghe put away the fan. “You have to know, gold always shines.”
While the two were talking, someone else came out of the mansion. This person wore a sky-blue robe, was slender and gentle; it was Chu Zhao. Yin Xiang beside Chu Zhao was carrying a package in her hand.
“Fourth Young Master Chu?” Cui Yuezhi was momentarily surprised.
Cui Yuezhi already knew about the relationship between Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue from Mu Hongjin. The relationship between these two was difficult, and their positions were different. Mu Hongjin arranged them together, which indeed had the rationale of checks and balances. However, Cui Yuezhi was a martial artist, and he had a sense of camaraderie with Xiao Jue. After working side by side with Xiao Jue in the battle, his balance had already shifted towards Xiao Jue. So, towards Chu Zhao, he felt a bit unfamiliar and distant.
“Where is Fourth Young Master Chu going?” Cui Yuezhi asked.
“I came to Jiyang this time for the matter of the Wutuo people. Since this matter is resolved, it’s time to bid farewell to everyone.” He smiled slightly, “I didn’t tell Lord Cui earlier because I didn’t want to trouble Lord Cui. In the past few days, cleaning up the battlefield near the canal, Lord Cui must also be extremely busy.”
“This sounds like he’s very understanding, and we’re just putting on a show.” Lin Shuanghe approached Xiao Jue and whispered, “He’s too good at talking.”
Cui Yuezhi smiled, “Fourth Young Master Chu is polite. If he had informed me in advance, even if I were busy, I would have time to accompany Fourth Young Master Chu. However,” Cui Yuezhi looked at Xiao Jue, “If Chu Fourth Young Master is setting off today, wouldn’t it be possible to travel with Commander Xiao? This way, the journey won’t be too lonely.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jue’s expression turned cold, withholding any semblance of joy or friendliness.
In her thoughts, He Yan felt that Cui Yuezhi’s courtesy seemed a bit forced. Chu Zhao probably deliberately chose today for departure, hoping they would travel together.
However, what she didn’t expect was that Chu Zhao, upon hearing this, smiled and said, “Yes, that’s right. Our destination is also Liangzhou Garrison.”
Liangzhou Garrison?
He Yan was puzzled, “Chu… Fourth Young Master, why would you go to Liangzhou Garrison?”
Xiao Jue raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on Chu Zhao. “I have already written a letter to inform Xu Xiang about the military affairs in Jiyang.” Chu Zhao smiled, “Until the imperial decree arrives, I will stay in Liangzhou Garrison. After all, I have been present from the beginning to the end of the events in Jiyang.”
He didn’t finish his words, but everyone understood what he meant.
Cui Yuezhi secretly sighed in his heart. The political struggles in the court had escalated to such an extent? No wonder it provided an opportunity for the Wutuo people.
Hearing this, Xiao Jue first chuckled and then said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “If Fourth Young Master Chu wants to stay in Liangzhou Garrison, it’s acceptable.”
“But the Liangzhou Garrison is under my command.”
Chu Zhao responded with a smile.
Without paying any more attention to Chu Zhao, Xiao Jue turned and boarded the carriage. He Yan, looking at Chu Zhao, sensed something different about this person. It seemed like… he was intentionally doing something.
Intentional to the point where he wouldn’t even bother to conceal it.
She bid farewell to Chu Zhao, “Brother Chu, I’ll board the carriage first.”
Without waiting for Chu Zhao to speak, He Yan hastily got on the carriage. With Chu Zhao’s provocation, Second Young Master Xiao must be displeased. At this critical moment, one cannot pluck fur from a tiger’s head. If Xiao Jue is angered and doesn’t allow her into Nanfu Army, this trip would truly be in vain.
Chu Zhao saw her hurriedly getting on the carriage, and he was astonished for a moment, shaking his head with a smile. After bidding farewell to Cui Yuezhi and others, he calmly followed Ying Xiang onto his own carriage.
The carriage headed towards the outskirts of the city.
Lin Shuanghe lifted the carriage curtain and glanced outside. Jiyang City had just experienced the incident with the Wutuo troops, so it was not as lively as before. However, the rivers, large and small, flowed quietly. It wouldn’t be long before the lively and vivid scenes of the past would return.
When he came, he treated it as a playful event. Now that he was leaving, unexpectedly, he felt a lot of sentimentality. Lin Shuanghe looked outside and sighed.
He Yan still tightly held the woodblock paintings given to her by a group of people, including Mu Yi. As she traced her fingers, the woman depicted on the painting had a charm reminiscent of a female general from a previous life.
Xiao Jue saw her actions and mocked, “Aren’t you afraid to bring it back and let others in the Liangzhou Garrison see it?”
Before, she hesitated a lot over a mere figure, but now, with such a large woodblock painting, she treated it as a treasure. She didn’t mention the words like “being discovered as a woman would be the end.” Women’s thoughts were indeed hard to fathom.
“If it doesn’t work, I can say it is for my fiancée. Isn’t that what you, Commander, taught me?” He Yan said, “So many people, so much goodwill, it’s hard to decline such kindness.”
She spoke modestly, but her eyes revealed a sense of satisfaction. Xiao Jue found it amusing, tilted his body slightly, a hint of a smile passing through his eyes, and said casually, “Quite popular.”
The carriage gradually moved away.
Mu Hongjin stood on the shore, facing the heavy mountains, unable to see the shadow of the boat of souls. The once young man had returned to the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, while she had to continue here, in the cold palace hall, sitting on the high seat.
This was her responsibility.
“Little Highness is already on the way back.” The maid beside her said softly, “Your Highness, let’s return to the mansion.”
Mu Hongjin nodded and took a last look at the end of the long river. She turned around, her wide-sleeved robe elegant and beautiful, a faint silver light seeming to flash on her wrist, disappearing quickly.
A traveler appeared from somewhere, wearing a straw hat and holding a bamboo stick, walking along the riverbank while singing. The voice scattered in the river with the wind, gradually fading away.
“The returning person still thinks of home, how can I console my loneliness now… Thinking of your thin clothing in bitter cold, riding a thin horse under the waning moon… Knowing that life requires farewells, but fearing the fleeting years. Facing each other with cold lamps, when will I hear the sound of night rain…”
——Side Note——
The Jiyang subplot is complete!
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Many thanks
Happy Valentine’s Day
That was tragic and beautiful at the same time. Ueueue
Gorgeous in every sense. Beautiful subplot.