Chapter 268 Extra 1 – Free and Unfettered (Part 1)
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In the capital of Shuojing, April, the weather was gradually warming up.
By the riverbank, children were flying kites, the strings stretching far into the distance, competing to see whose kite flew higher. Laughter echoed beyond the long beach, attracting passersby to stop and watch.
Near the city gate, several carriages were parked, as if someone was leaving the capital and relatives had come to see them off. Across from the carriages, a young man in a long robe was talking incessantly, carefully instructing, “The journey is long, be sure to stay safe. Yaoyao hates bumps the most. When you hold her, remember to wrap her in a blanket…”
“He Yunsheng,” the woman opposite him couldn’t help but interrupt him, “If you keep talking like this, we won’t be able to leave even when it gets dark.”
“Yes,” the woman standing beside He Yunsheng scolded him with a glare, looking at He Yan, “Older Sister, don’t worry about going to Jiyang. Yunsheng and I will take care of things at home.”
He Yan nodded, letting Xiao Yao who was being carried by Xiao Jue wave to He Yunsheng and Song Taotao. Xiao Yao shouted in a childish voice, “Uncle, aunt, goodbye.”
“Be good on the road,” He Yunsheng approached Xiao Yao, pinched her chubby cheeks, and smiled, “Uncle will buy you candy when you come back.”
Xiao Yao giggled and nibbled on her finger at him.
“Alright, you two go back now,” Xiao Jue said, “We’re leaving.”
The curtain of the carriage was drawn down, and it headed towards the outskirts of the city.
Time passed quickly, seven years had passed since the battle with the Wutuo people.
Seven years were enough to turn a youth into a towering man. He Yunsheng was no longer the green boy who used to sell pastries with He Yan on the streets. Over the years, he had excelled in martial arts, worked hard, and fortunately caught the attention of Emperor Zhaokang. Step by step, he had steadily risen, and now he was the vice commander of the Fifth Camp.
His official position had risen, but others looked at him and thought he was proud and aloof. Only He Yan knew that He Yunsheng was still the same worrisome person as before. With such a temperament, it was strange how Song Taotao admired him.
Four years ago, Song Taotao became engaged to He Yunsheng.
Her engagement to He Yunsheng did take He Yan by surprise. After all, the one she was originally engaged to was Cheng Lisu. However, Song Taotao and Cheng Lisu had never felt any affection for each other. After a few years, it remained the same, and later both the Song family and the Cheng family dissolved the engagement. It wasn’t a big deal, but as soon as the engagement was dissolved, Song Taotao ran to the door of the He family and bravely confessed her love to He Yunsheng, startling everyone.
Old Master Song was also a scholar. When he heard the news, he almost fainted from anger, and Old Madam Song felt that Song Taotao’s behavior was too outrageous. The only one who supported Song Taotao turned out to be her former fiancé, Cheng Lisu.
Cheng Lisu sneaked to the door of the Song family and encouraged her, saying, “Well done, Miss Song, you finally did something that impresses me. Don’t care about what others say. My Brother He is one of the most outstanding young talents in Shuojing. Once you let this opportunity slip away, you might not find it again. Don’t give up because of other people’s words. Trust me, your former fiancé,” he patted his chest, speaking earnestly, “I will definitely help you make your dreams come true!”
After encouraging Song Taotao, Cheng Lisu went to find He Yunsheng. He Yan once saw Cheng Lisu coaxing He Yunsheng, “Uncle He, although my former fiancée is willful, capricious, and fierce as a tiger, she is not entirely without merit. She’s fairly good-looking and comes from a wealthy family. More importantly, she loves you deeply. Why don’t you give her a chance? Maybe as you spend more time together, you’ll develop feelings for each other?”
He Yunsheng looked at him coldly, “Why don’t you give it a try yourself?”
“Hey,” He Yunsheng replied sincerely, “A gentleman appreciates beauty in an adult manner.”
He Yan, who accidentally overheard the entire conversation, thought at that moment that if Cheng Lisu was anything, he was a real troublemaker.
He Yunsheng didn’t like Song Taotao at first either. He Yan considered herself quite familiar with this little brother, and according to him, the girl he liked should be gentle and lovely like Xia Chengxiu or Bai Rongwei, but right from the beginning, Song Taotao stuck to him like glue, and he remained unmoved. Later, when Song Taotao stopped coming to the He family, He Yunsheng held back for a long time. One day he found He Yan and hesitated for a long time before finally saying that he wanted her help to propose to the Song family.
He Yan was speechless.
From being Xiao Jue’s nephew’s wife to becoming her sister-in-law, Song Taotao’s identity had become quite prominent. He Yan didn’t care much about what outsiders said, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder. Fate, indeed, had no logic to it. Who would have known that, at the very beginning, Song Taotao was supposed to be her “fiancée”?
The affairs of young people were unpredictable; let them do as they pleased. After all, prosperity doesn’t come from strangers’ fields.
Moreover, men were generally inconsistent in their words and actions.
As for Cheng Lisu and his notion of “adult beauty,” he was still single. Due to his previous involvement with Song Taotao, his family didn’t dare to hastily arrange a marriage for him. However, Cheng Lisu himself didn’t care much about it. He busied himself making friends, visiting others, still being the same “playboy” as before. At first, his family hoped he would improve, but later they couldn’t be bothered.
In this world, having a carefree heart was itself a kind of happiness.
The carriage jolted, and Xiao Yao hid in Xiao Jue’s arms, wide-eyed, gazing at the scenery outside without crying or fussing, full of curiosity. He Yan snapped her fingers, and Xiao Yao suddenly turned her head, staring at He Yan without blinking, her eyes moist. He Yan couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Xiao Jue: “…”
He chuckled, “With you as a mother, indeed.”
“The road is long,” He Yan shrugged, “Why not have some fun along the way? Otherwise, it’s too dull.”
Xiao Yao was almost three years old now. When she was born, Lin Shuanghe had summoned his father and grandfather to wait at the door of the Xiao family, fearing something might happen. Fortunately, Xiao Yao was born smoothly, He Yan didn’t suffer much, and the little one was very obedient. She wasn’t as lively as He Yan or as calm as Xiao Jue. He Yan thought she was a bit silly, like a little fool. Give her a grasshopper, and she could happily play all day. She was easy to handle.
That’s why He Yan decided to bring Xiao Yao with her this time to Jiyang.
She went to Jiyang with Xiao Jue to attend Mu Xiaolou’s wedding.
When they first rescued Mu Xiaolou from the hands of the bandits in Jiyang, Mu Xiaolou was just an eleven-year-old girl. Now she had grown up. Not only that, but Mu Hongjin also passed on the position of princess to her. This time, as Mu Xiaolou married the prince, Mu Hongjin sent invitations to He Yan and Xiao Jue, hoping they would attend the wedding in person if they had the chance.
Since the defeat of the Wutuo people, Great Wei had been stable and peaceful. Apart from training soldiers, there wasn’t much else to do daily. He Yan and Xiao Jue took the opportunity to take Xiao Yao to Jiyang. He Yan thought that if Liu Buwang were still alive, he would probably like to see Mu Hongjin’s granddaughter starting a new life. Since Liu Buwang was no longer around, she would go see on behalf of Liu Buwang.
Moreover, she missed her friends in Jiyang.
As the carriage traveled outside the city, there were people selling peaches on the road. When the carriage in front stopped, He Yan heard Lin Shuanghe’s voice outside, “Hey, little sister He, the road is long. Buy two peaches to eat!”
Fei Nu stopped the carriage, and He Yan got off. Lin Shuanghe was standing in front of the peach vendor, carefully selecting fresh peaches from the bamboo basket. He Yan couldn’t help but smile.
Leaning against the carriage, she said, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t eat anything from street vendors?”
Lin Shuanghe pretended not to hear her and said, “These peaches look good. Let Xiao Yao taste them.”
Seven years had passed, and Lin Shuanghe had changed from a dashing young man in white clothes to a man seven years older, but there wasn’t much difference in appearance. His extravagant temperament had never changed. However, after the Wutuo War seven years ago, he was depressed for half a year after returning to Shuojing. Later, he opened a medical clinic in Shuojing. There were many medical clinics in the Lin family, but his was different. He didn’t treat people, only taught medical skills. The doctors in Shuojing who were obsessed with medical skills often went to his clinic to study together. Over the past few years, he had come up with quite a few new medical methods. Although Lin Shuanghe’s reputation was not as good as Lin Qingtan’s, it gradually surpassed Lin Mu.
Despite his achievements in medicine, his marriage had always been a headache for the Lin family. Although Cheng Lisu also refused to marry, he was younger than Lin Shuanghe, and Lin Shuanghe was Cheng Lisu’s “uncle.” His classmates, such as Xiao Jue, already had children running around, but he was still alone.
But to say that he was pitiful and lonely was far from the truth. All the women in the capital were his ‘little sister’ and his clinic was always bustling. In general, he had not encountered a woman who truly captured his heart, so he didn’t push for marriage.
He Yan walked over to Lin Shuanghe and picked up some peaches with him. The peaches were fresh and tender, looking sweet. She picked a few and sighed, “If Qingmei were here, that would be great. Qingmei was the best at picking these fruits.”
“Enough,” Lin Shuanghe replied without hesitation, “One Xiao Huaijing is enough for me. Do you want me to stay here and watch them, master and servant, take care of the child together?” Then he supported his forehead and said, “I never thought before that some men, after becoming fathers, would be like this.”
After Xiao Yao was born, Xiao Jue always held her whenever they were out, and he always doted on her at home. This was fine, Xiao Yao was mild-tempered, relatively easy to handle. But the brat from the Chiwu family was a different story. He caused trouble all the time, mischievous to the extreme. Every time, he angered Qingmei to the point where she chased him around the courtyard with a stick, causing chaos. Yet, Chiwu still wanted to protect him, saying, “The child is still young and doesn’t know any better. Don’t be so harsh. Put down the stick and talk nicely.”
The usual result of this situation was Qingmei chasing both of them together.
He Yan sometimes found it astonishing. She never imagined that the weak and often tearful maid from years ago could now be so bold.
Qingmei married Chiwu three years after the Wutuo War.
Although He Yan used to tease Qingmei, she never took it seriously. Qingmei’s preferences and whom she wanted to marry were entirely up to her. However, fate brought them together, and they fell in love naturally.
Initially, He Yan planned for Qingmei and Chiwu to go together to Jiyang. However, just before they were set to depart, it was discovered that Qingmei was pregnant and shouldn’t travel far. He Yan advised Qingmei to rest well at home, accompanied by Chiwu.
He Yan picked a few peaches, and Lin Shuanghe paid for them. She washed the peaches clean with water from the vendor’s nearby bucket and returned to her carriage.
“Here,” she handed the peaches to Xiao Jue, “Try them.”
Xiao Jue took the peaches, peeled them with a blade, and fed a little to Xiao Yao. Xiao Yao ate a bit and happily said in her childish voice, “More—”
He Yan: “…”
Sometimes she felt like she and Xiao Jue had reversed roles as parents. She taught Xiao Yao to walk, even taught her how to hold small stones, planning to teach her martial arts when she was older. Xiao Jue, on the other hand, took care of all the trivial matters, such as what Xiao Yao ate, wore, and played with.
In handling childcare matters, his patience rivaled that of Xia Chengxiu.
Xia Chengxiu…
Muxia was now seven years old. He resembled Yan He a lot and was taller than most kids his age. Although he was born after his father’s death, the Yans’ and Yan He’s friends took good care of him, preventing any feelings of inferiority or resentment. He was lively, competitive, and his archery skills needed improvement, so he trained tirelessly for three months until he became the best.
The last time He Yan saw Muxia, the young boy held a long sword and proudly said to Xiao Jue, “Commander Xiao, in a few years, you’ll surely be defeated by me!”
Unable to contain her laughter, He Yan, who was watching from the side, chuckled. Muxia looked up and snorted, “What are you laughing at? This includes you too!”
He Yan thought that with his high ponytail and silver robe, Muxia looked exactly like Yan He did in his youth.
Xia Chengxiu said, “That’s just how he is. He’s said that many times and won’t change. Don’t mind him.”
“No, he’s very cute,” He Yan smiled, “Muxia is a lot like Brother Yan.”
Xia Chengxiu lowered her head. “Yes, everyone says that.”
He Yan felt that Muxia’s personality was quite good. At least, his lively and spirited nature could provide a lot of comfort to Xia Chengxiu.
Nowadays, Xia Chengxiu not only took care of Muxia but also helped out at the academy. A few years ago, the women’s academy Yongxu Academy was established in Shuojing. It was managed by Madam Wei, the wife of Wei Xuanzhang, the head of Xianchang Academy. With the approval of Emperor Zhaokang, now that there was a female general like Marquis Wuan in the court, who knew if there would be female officials in the future?
Although progress was slow, things were gradually getting better.
He Xinying also helped out in the Yongxu Academy. After Wei Xuanzhang’s death, He Xinying accompanied Madam Wei every day, and they formed a deep bond. Madam Wei even formally adopted her as her goddaughter. He Xinying worked as a music teacher in Yongxu Hall, teaching the girls to play the qin. Being surrounded by young girls every day made her more cheerful and open-minded, and she no longer clung to the past as she did before.
He Yan also visited her often. It was said that a young teacher who taught arithmetic in Yongxu Academy secretly admired He Xinying. He Yan had someone investigate the background of this teacher, who turned out to be a person of integrity and virtue. However, what He Xinying thought in her heart was something she had to figure out for herself.
There was no rush for the future.
Xiao Yao had eaten enough peaches and fell asleep on Xiao Jue’s lap. He Yan asked softly, “Are you tired? Do you want me to hold her for a while?”
Xiao Jue shook his head. “Not tired.”
He Yan looked at Xiao Yao sleeping on him and sighed inwardly. She thought she had done a good job birthing her. She could eat and sleep well, easy to take care of.
She opened the carriage curtain and looked outside. Along the way, the river flowed, the embankments were green, and the warm sun and breeze made her feel sleepy.
She leaned on Xiao Jue’s shoulder and gradually fell asleep, just like the little girl in Xiao Jue’s arms.
…
Seven years later, Jiyang City looked much the same as it did seven years ago.
At the city gate, Cui Yuezhi, who had received the news, arrived early in the morning.
When He Yan and her group got off the carriage, the first thing they saw was Cui Yuezhi with his four concubines. Cui Yuezhi still looked the same, round and hearty, but a bit older. In the arms of his first and fourth concubines were a boy and a girl, Cui Yan and Cui Yingying respectively, the son and daughter of his first and fourth concubines. The second concubine was still as charming and beautiful as before, while the third concubine coughed weakly after taking a few steps, not much different from before.
He Yan walked up to them and pinched Cui Yingying’s cheek. It was soft, comparable to Xiao Yao’s, and she smiled, saying, “Lord Cui, these are…”
“Yan Er and Yingying,” Cui Yuezhi proudly interrupted, “How about it? Everyone says they are becoming more and more like Commander Xiao. I can see it too.”
He Yan: “…”
Although she admitted that Cui Yan and Cui Yingying were attractive, they didn’t resemble Cui Yuezhi much. However, they definitely didn’t have anything to do with Xiao Jue!
Cui Yuezhi’s eyes lit up when he saw Xiao Yao in Xiao Jue’s arms. “Ah, this must be Yaoyao! So adorable! Together with our Yan Er, they truly are a golden boy and jade girl. How about…”
Xiao Jue stopped him from getting any closer with a cold glance and said calmly, “Cui Yuezhi.”
The second concubine hurriedly pulled Cui Yuezhi back and said with a smile, “Master is just joking. Miss Xiao is still young…”
Xiao Yao, puzzled, looked at Cui Yuezhi and then at Xiao Jue. Finally, she reached out to He Yan, wanting to be held, “Mom—”
He Yan picked her up, and Lin Shuanghe cleared his throat, “This is not the place for chatting, Lord Cui. Let’s go to the mansion first.”
Cui Yuezhi’s mansion was large, and this time in Jiyang, they stayed at the Cui mansion as before. However, last time He Yan and Xiao Jue were still clearly in a superior-subordinate relationship, but now they were husband and wife, bringing along a little one. It was really unpredictable.
He Yan walked behind, carrying Xiao Yao, and curiously looked at Cui Yuezhi beside her, asking softly, “Since the first and fourth concubines have given birth to children for Lord Cui, why are they still concubines? Doesn’t that make Lord Cui’s son and daughter shuzi?”
She originally thought that since Cui Yuezhi only had four concubines, he might eventually marry one as his wife. But after so many years, he hadn’t married, and even his concubines had children. He Yan was a bit puzzled.
“Lord He doesn’t know,” Cui Yuezhi smiled, “The customs here in Jiyang are different from the Central Plains. Women in Jiyang, once married, rarely remarry. If the husband dies and the wife becomes a widow, she has to remain so for life. As for me, being a Zhongqi, I could have lost my life at any time in the past. Marrying a wife would have been unfair to her. Concubines are different. Even if I die, they can still find their place.”
“Who knows, my luck has been good these years. It’s just that I’ve gotten used to them. If I were to promote one to a formal wife, would there be any peace in the household? This way is good,” Cui Yuezhi sighed, “Treat them equally, and each of them is my favorite! Being shuzi, there’s no distinction between high and low!”
He Yan had nothing to say. She could only say that Cui Yuezhi was truly a man who had crossed the lover’s bridge four times. Although his perspective on things was peculiar, it made sense in its own way.
When they arrived at the Cui mansion, a middle-aged steward came to greet them. Lin Shuanghe asked, “Where’s Zhongfu?” He remembered that last time he came to the Cui mansion, the steward was an old servant with gray hair.
“Zhongfu passed away a year ago,” Cui Yuezhi said, “He was old, and he passed away peacefully in his sleep. This is Zhongfu’s son, Zhonggui.”
He Yan felt a bit dizzy, as if only now did she truly feel that seven years had passed. Even though Jiyang was so similar to the past, it was not seven years ago after all.
Cui Yuezhi had ordered the courtyard to be cleaned before their arrival. He Yan and the others settled in, and Xiao Yao had fallen asleep. He Yan put her on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and looked around the room. Suddenly, she remembered that back then, she had stood in front of this bed and watched Cui Yuezhi carefully arrange the spring paintings for them.
Xiao Jue glanced at her, seeing He Yan standing by the bed with a thoughtful smile on her face, raised an eyebrow, “Miss He, are you regretting that Cui Yuezhi didn’t put up the paintings here this time?”
He Yan came back to her senses and shook her head, “How could that be? After all, we have Yaoyao now. Lord Cui knows the boundaries.”
She indeed showed a hint of regret, as if she hadn’t had enough. Xiao Jue found it both furious and amusing.
Although Xiao Yao was almost three years old, He Yan’s cheekiness grew day by day. Perhaps it was because she often trained new soldiers at the martial arts field, spending all day with those young men, becoming more straightforward and carefree, without any reservations.
Seeing Xiao Yao sleeping soundly, He Yan whispered, “I’m a little hungry. Let the maid come to watch Yaoyao, and let’s go eat something first.”
Xiao Jue nodded.
The dishes at the Cui mansion were still as exquisite as usual. While eating, He Yan mentioned Mu Xiaolou’s husband.
Cui Yuezhi said, “The eldest son of the Qin family, I’ve met him. He’s handsome and skilled. When the little princess sneaked out to play and encountered bad guys, it was Qin’s eldest son who saved her. The little princess has good taste. In Jiyang City, there aren’t many handsome men like the eldest son of the Qin family!”
Cui Yuezhi usually judged people based on their appearance.
However, He Yan also knew that this eldest son of the Qin family had no issues. She had instructed Bai Xian to investigate, and found out that Luanying had been injured during a mission a few years ago and couldn’t work anymore. Bai Xian, who had grown up, took over Luanying’s duties. He was lively in nature and excelled in completing tasks. He also liked He Yan very much, especially her embroidery. Every once in a while, he would ask He Yan for one. At one point, because he asked too often, it annoyed Xiao Jue, who seized an opportunity to send him away to handle tasks in a distant place.
Although He Yan didn’t particularly enjoy feminine activities, it wasn’t easy to find someone who appreciated her. Especially since Bai Xian always sincerely praised her embroidery as “exquisite and unparalleled,” He Yan would try to fulfill every request from him as much as possible.
The information Bai Xian gathered revealed that this Qin young master was a decent and trustworthy man, someone who could be entrusted with a lifetime commitment.
Although in Xiao Jue’s view, He Yan was worrying over nothing. After all, when Mu Xiaolou was to be married, Mu Hongjin would have long since investigated the background of the Qin young master. But He Yan always felt that since Mu Xiaolou was the granddaughter of Liu Buwang’s lover, she should do her best.
“Tomorrow at the wedding banquet, you’ll see what he looks like,” Cui Yuezhi said, then sighed, “The little princess has grown up too. She’s decisive, just like the princess back then. We old folks are getting older, and in the future, it will be the world of the young people.”
The second concubine said coquettishly, “Master isn’t old, he’s just dignified and prudent.”
He Yan: “…”
What a dignified and prudent person indeed.
After dinner and a bit more conversation, Xiao Yao woke up too. The eldest concubine instructed the kitchen to prepare some food suitable for children. He Yan and Xiao Jue fed Xiao Yao, and when she was full, they played with her.
As the sky darkened, the fourth concubine knocked on the door. He Yan went out and heard the fourth concubine say, “Miss He, I’m going to the water market later to buy some red silk for tomorrow’s gift wrapping. Would you like to come and pick some? The red silk in Jiyang is different from that in the Central Plains…”
He Yan turned to ask Xiao Jue, “Do you want to come with me?”
“There are too many people, not convenient for Yaoyao.” After a pause, Xiao Jue said, “You go, I’ll come find you after I put her to sleep.”
Before Xiao Yao slept, she needed someone to coax her. At first, He Yan was the one who did it, until one day Xiao Jue heard her telling Xiao Yao a bedtime story: A female swordsman chopped off the bandit’s head with a sword, and the head rolled in front of the female swordsman… Xiao Yao blinked her eyes and listened with relish.
After that, Xiao Jue didn’t let He Yan coax Xiao Yao to sleep anymore.
He Yan said to the fourth concubine, “Okay, let’s go first.”
The fourth concubine smiled, “Alright.”
…
The water market in Jiyang City was still bustling.
Although the Water God Festival had passed, the various vendors, large and small, hadn’t left yet. In the past two years, the city’s pass system had been loosened a bit, and many merchants came to Jiyang to do business, making the water market even more prosperous. Goods from the Western Regions to Jiangnan could be seen everywhere.
The fourth concubine was the youngest among them, almost the same age as He Yan. As they walked, she explained to He Yan, “The city is different now from before. Lord He, do you feel that it’s much livelier than before?”
He Yan sighed, “Indeed.”
On the river, boats of all sizes were brightly lit, illuminating both banks as bright as day. Peddlers shouted loudly to sell their goods. He Yan walked and stopped occasionally. Occasionally, she saw some interesting items and bought them to play with Xiao Yao later.
She was no longer the impoverished soldier she used to be. At the very least, she had a salary now, and the rewards from her military achievements in the past filled the courtyard. Over the years, although her purse wasn’t exactly overflowing, it wasn’t as thin as it used to be, like a flat biscuit.
As they walked together, they were occasionally passed by young men from Jiyang, their eyes inevitably lingering on He Yan.
He Yan noticed their gaze and asked the fourth concubine, “Is there something on my face?”
The fourth concubine chuckled and explained, “No, Miss He Yan, they are admiring your beauty.”
He Yan covered her lips with her hand and coughed lightly twice, “…You flatter me.”
The fourth concubine smiled without saying a word. The men of Jiyang couldn’t distinguish the hairstyles of women and girls from the Central Plains. They just saw this young girl as bright and spirited, like a refreshing breeze, naturally arousing admiration in their hearts. After all, everyone has a love for beauty. However, they didn’t know how Second Madam Xiao managed to look the same after seven years. Time hadn’t left traces of aging on her, her appearance was not much different from before, but there was something different. Perhaps it was the hint of gentleness between her brows and eyes, which added a touch of warmth.
This touch of tenderness combined perfectly with her cheerful disposition, making her shine among the crowd, like a pearl that emits light, hard to ignore.
He Yan saw a crowd gathered ahead, took a few steps forward, and saw a vendor sitting in front of a cast-iron pot, skillfully scooping red sugar from the pot and shaping it on a white stone slab. She exclaimed happily, “It’s sugar figures!”
“Isn’t there sugar figures in Shuojing City?” The fourth concubine was surprised by her excitement.
“There are, but they’re not as well made as the ones made by the masters in Jiyang City, and there aren’t as many varieties.” He Yan smiled, “Since we’re here, I’ll just buy one. I’ll bring it back for Yaoyao to eat later.”
She said to the fourth concubine, “There are too many people here, you wait here for me, I’ll come back after I’ve bought it.”
Before the fourth concubine could say anything, she saw He Yan already making her way through the crowd towards the vendor selling sugar figures.
He Yan squeezed through the crowd and took out a string of copper coins, saying, “Young man, I want a big tiger, please make it majestic.”
“Sure thing—”
The vendor’s hands were skillful, and in no time, a majestic tiger was stuck on a bamboo stick. He Yan handed over the money and took the sugar figure, looking very satisfied.
Before, Qingmei had made a cloth tiger for Xiao Yao, which she liked very much. She held it when she ate and slept. Later, that cloth tiger accidentally fell into the brazier and burned. Xiao Yao cried for half a day. Qingmei hadn’t finished making a new one yet, and He Yan had to set off for Jiyang.
Xiao Yao loved tigers so much, so she should be happy to see this sugar tiger.
He Yan was holding the sugar tiger and about to leave when suddenly she heard someone behind her call her name, sounding a bit hesitant and uncertain, “….He Yan?”
He Yan turned her head and saw a young man in green standing not far away, looking surprised and complicated.
“Chu… Fourth Young Master?”
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