Chapter 269 Extra 1: Free and Unfettered (Part 2)
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Amidst the hustle and bustle, the man in blue with wide sleeves seemed like a scene of spring, softening the night.
He Yan never expected to meet Chu Zhao here.
He looked elegant, his demeanor as gentle as ever, but thinner than before, with a hint of something missing in his eyes, like pearls dimmed, silent and tranquil.
He Yan took two steps towards him, then stopped and asked, “Fourth Young Master Chu… What are you doing here?”
After the crown prince’s downfall and the fourth prince’s ascension to the throne, news of Chu Zhao had been scarce. It was rumored that someone had seen him outside the city, speculating that he had left Shuojing. After Emperor Zhaokang ascended the throne, he deliberately cleaned up the remnants of Xu Jingfu’s faction, and naturally, the Chu family was among those suppressed. Over the years, the Chu family had declined, and even Chu Linfeng had dispersed his concubines, relying on his wife’s family to make a living. As for Chu Zhao, everyone had gradually forgotten about him.
After all, Xu Xiang seemed like a name from a long, long time ago.
Year after year, handsome and brave young men emerged in the capital, and the two brothers of the Xiao family had long since married and had children. This Chu Zhao, like a dream in the vast wilderness, disappeared into the river of time after a brief appearance.
Yet here he was again, making He Yan feel as if she had returned to Jiyang many years ago.
Chu Zhao smiled and said, “I’ve always been in Jiyang.”
He Yan remained silent.
If he was in Jiyang, it was understandable that no one could find him. But perhaps, it was better this way.
He Yan couldn’t describe her feelings towards Chu Zhao. Although he was Xu Jingfu’s student, he hadn’t really harmed her back then. It was just a difference in positions. He Yan knew that Chu Zhao was someone quite scheming, not as harmless as he appeared on the surface. But many years had passed, and both love and hatred had gradually faded. Meeting here again, they couldn’t be called friends, nor could they be called enemies, just… old acquaintances.
She noticed that there was no glamorous maid by Chu Zhao’s side, and she already had some expectations in her heart. After a pause, she asked, “Fourth Young Master Chu, what are you doing in Jiyang now?”
“I’ve opened a studio for calligraphy and painting here to make a living,” Chu Zhao answered with a smile. “And what about you, Ah He? Why did you suddenly come to Jiyang?”
“The Princess is getting married, and my family and I came to attend the wedding,” He Yan replied without hiding anything. The marriage of Mu Xiaolou was a major event in Jiyang City, known to all the people of Jiyang.
“Did Commander Xiao also come?” he asked.
He Yan nodded.
Chu Zhao looked at He Yan with a smile. Her expression was still cheerful. He had seen many people, many women, but such an open and vigorous expression was only seen on her face. His gaze fell on the sugar tiger in He Yan’s hand. After a moment of shock, he asked softly, “Ah He… Do you have a child?”
“Yes,” He Yan replied, “I have a daughter, she’s almost four years old, named Xiao Yao.”
“…Xiao Yao?”
“I chose the name, isn’t it nice?” He Yan said proudly, “I don’t have many expectations for her, as long as she’s safe and healthy, living free and unfettered and happily, I’m satisfied.”
She wasn’t talented in poetry and prose, but everyone praised the name “Xiao Yao” she chose.
“With white clouds everywhere and broad rivers, I roam free and unfettered.” Chu Zhao looked at her and smiled, “Ah He is good at naming.”
“Thank you,” He Yan smiled and asked, “Fourth Young Master Chu, do you have someone special now?”
Back then, Chu Zhao had tricked her out at night and made an extremely cheesy confession, which made Xiao Jue very angry in the end, and she had to coax him for quite a while. Now that time had passed, many things had been let go, although he was still called “Fourth Young Master Chu”, in reality, he should now just be “Chu Zhao”.
Would Fourth Young Master Chu’s sincere or fake confession to her be due to interests and positions, and who would the real Chu Zhao’s beloved be? He was so smart and talented that he wouldn’t lack admirers no matter what.
Chu Zhao was stunned for a moment when he heard this, then smiled and lowered his head, “Not everyone is as lucky as Commander Xiao.”
He Yan was about to speak when suddenly, someone’s voice came.
“What are you doing here?”
She turned around and saw Xiao Jue walking towards them from the darkness, his face slightly cold, his gaze sharp like a blade.
“Commander Xiao,” Chu Zhao was also surprised, then smiled, “Long time no see.”
The fourth concubine at the cosmetics stall nearby trembled with fear. Earlier, He Yan had gone to buy sugar figures and met a handsome young man, and the two of them were talking on the side. There was nothing wrong with that at first, maybe they had met an acquaintance, but the concubine looked at them and sensed that something was amiss. Second Madam Xiao’s expression was open and honest, but the handsome young man’s gaze seemed affectionate towards Second Madam Xiao.
But it wasn’t that kind of infatuation, how should she put it, it seemed like the feeling of being deeply in love and then abandoned, a sense of loss and loneliness.
The fourth concubine had mixed around with the other concubines for a long time and felt that she had developed a good eye. She regretted not having a plate of melon seeds at the moment, otherwise, she could sit here and crack them for a few hours. A handsome young man who was disappointed in love was probably someone to be pitied. Just as the concubine was thinking about what kind of entanglement these two had in the past and how Second Madam Xiao had wronged this talented young man, she suddenly felt a shadow beside her, and when she looked up, she was almost scared out of her wits.
Commander Xiao at some time had arrived!
He was standing next to her, calmly watching the two people in the distance with narrowed eyes.
The fourth concubine swore she saw Commander Xiao’s fingers on his waist where his sword was hanging turn slightly pale.
In Jiyang City, many jealous men would fight for their beloved girls, which was fine, but… looking at the gentle young man, he was probably going to be beaten to death by Commander Xiao. And Second Madam Xiao…. it was said that people from the Central Plains valued women’s reputation especially, and she might not be able to bear the accusation of adultery.
The fourth concubine wanted to remind them, but she was afraid of the pressure from the person beside her, so she took two steps back. Seeing Second Madam Xiao saying something just now, the gentle young man’s expression became even more desolate.
Then, Commander Xiao walked up—
The moment He Yan saw Xiao Jue appear, she muttered to herself that it was bad. For some reason, this person always appeared at such times. Back then, he had a grudge against Chu Zhao. After so many years, judging from his current expression, he probably wouldn’t be magnanimous.
“I’m here to buy sugar figures, and I happened to meet Fourth Young Master Chu and exchanged a few words,” He Yan explained politely, “I just spoke a few words, and you came.”
Xiao Jue glanced at Chu Zhao, then looked back at He Yan and said, “Let’s go.”
Each word was chilly.
He Yan bid farewell to Chu Zhao, “Well then, Fourth Young Master Chu, we’ll go first.”
Chu Zhao nodded with a smile, watching He Yan and the others walk away until their figures disappeared into the crowd before retracting his gaze.
The water in Jiyang was still clear and bright. He thought that after so many years, he had already been calm towards old acquaintances, but he realized in the moment he saw her again that he had never let go.
But, it could only be like this.
The vendor selling sugar figures was crowded with lively crowds. The young man in blue walked in and murmured softly, “Brother, I want a flower basket.”
…
Xiao Jue walked quickly.
He Yan followed behind him, feeling overwhelmed, and called out, “Wait, Xiao Jue, Fourth Concubine is still behind…”
“She’s gone back already.”
He Yan: “?”
Fourth Concubine was so unkind, just throwing a firecracker in front of her like that, and she had to deal with it herself.
He Yan caught up to Xiao Jue in three or two steps, regardless of whether he was happy or not, or what expression he had, she grabbed his arm, “Xiao Jue…”
“What, you’re not going to continue catching up with your Fourth Young Master Chu?” he said sarcastically.
“No catching up, just saying hello,” He Yan thought to herself. Xiao Jue and Chu Zhao must have some unresolved karma from their past lives. Whenever Xiao Jue encountered Chu Zhao, he became especially agitated. In life, there are generally three precautions: fire prevention, theft prevention, and Chu Zhao prevention.
“Even if I had the ability, I can’t predict the future,” He Yan said, looking at him. “I also didn’t expect him to be in Jiyang City now. Do you think the Emperor knows about this?”
Xiao Jue sneered, “He knew a long time ago.”
Although she had vaguely guessed it already, hearing it from Xiao Jue made He Yan feel a bit melancholic. Since Chu Zhao had entered Jiyang City, he probably wouldn’t leave again in the future. His later life was like being imprisoned here, but… for him, it might not be a bad ending.
Seeing her expression, Xiao Jue chuckled coldly. “You seem to be very worried about him.”
Here it comes again, He Yan sighed inwardly. She said, “Brother, it’s been so many years, why are you still holding a grudge? I think about you all the time. Look,” she pushed the sugar tiger in her hand towards his mouth, “I spent a lot of money to buy this sugar figure for you as a gift, consider it as an apology—”
Xiao Jue brushed her hand away, amused by her ability to lie with a straight face. “You can’t even lie properly now?”
“Who’s lying to you? Do you want me to stand on the rooftop and shout, ‘I, He Yan, love Commander Xiao the most, we even looked at spring paint —'”
“He Yan—”
He Yan grinned, “You already know in your heart…”
Xiao Jue looked at her for a long time, finally giving in. Oh well, she always had ten thousand ways to coax people, even if sometimes her coaxing wasn’t very sincere.
He warned, “This time, I will let it go, He Yan. If you meet him privately again…”
He Yan thought, as if she would come to Jiyang often. Once this matter passed, who knew when she would come here again.
“But,” Xiao Jue glanced at the sugar figure in her hand, “I don’t accept this apology.”
“What do you want then?”
He raised an eyebrow, silent, staring at her.
He Yan: “…”
She gritted her teeth, “Xiao Jue, you’re just lusting after my beauty, coveting my body!”
Xiao Jue grunted in agreement, “That’s right.”
He Yan had nothing more to say.
…
It was another confused night.
The next morning, Xiao Yao woke up, and the sugar tiger had already melted into a puddle of syrup during the night. He Yan held a bare bamboo stick and earnestly said to Xiao Yao, “Ti-ger—Did you see it? This is a tiger—”
Xiao Yao looked at her with a puzzled expression on her face.
Xiao Jue walked in from outside, seeing her teasing Xiao Yao again, he was silent for a moment, then came over and picked up Xiao Yao, saying, “It’s time for breakfast.”
The breakfast at the Cui family was as sumptuous as usual. After breakfast, Cui Yuezhi was going to help in the palace. The customs of Jiyang City were different from those of the Central Plains, and the formal wedding ceremony was held in the evening.
Xiao Jue took care of the younger one while also pushing He Yan’s favorite dishes in front of her. Passing by, Fourth Concubine saw this and was stunned for a moment. After finishing the meal, she secretly pulled He Yan aside, hesitated for a moment, and then asked softly, “Second Madam Xiao, can you teach me a bit of your husband-taming technique?”
He Yan almost doubted if she had misheard. She asked, “What technique?”
“The husband-taming technique!” Fourth Concubine said somewhat embarrassedly, “Last night, it wasn’t that I wanted to leave first. It was just that Commander Xiao had already come, and I didn’t want to disturb. It’s definitely not because I’m not loyal and deliberately left you alone! But… at that time, Commander Xiao didn’t seem very happy, and today he seems the same as before. I just wanted to ask, how did you do it?”
How did she do it? She had to ask her waist.
He Yan laughed awkwardly, “Actually, I don’t have any husband-taming technique…”
“How is that possible?” Fourth Concubine was anxious, “Back then, the words you said to Miss Ling in the mansion, I still remember them. After so many years, I’m sure Second Madam Xiao’s husband-taming technique has become even more refined. If you can teach me a bit, I promise not to spread it.”
Not spread it? Was it like some kind of secret manual? He Yan couldn’t believe that the nonsense she had come up with in the Cui Mansion all those years ago could still be regarded as a classic.
But facing the eager-to-learn gaze of Fourth Concubine, He Yan didn’t want to disappoint her, so she began to speak mysteriously again, “This art of husband-taming seems to be about control, but it’s actually about letting go. You just need to… have a sense of relaxation, be both near and far, sometimes cold as ice, sometimes passionately clingy. Ah, perhaps as you practice, you’ll become skilled at it.”
“A sense of relaxation?” Fourth Concubine murmured.
He Yan patted her shoulder, “You ponder over it slowly, I’ll leave first.” She ran off like escaping, leaving Fourth Concubine standing there to contemplate.
When she returned to her room, Lin Shuanghe was standing at the door. As soon as he saw He Yan, he urged, “He Yan, where did you go? We need to go to the royal palace immediately. Since it’s this day, the wedding hasn’t started yet, let’s go meet the Princess first.”
He Yan hurriedly agreed.
After quickly tidying up, they boarded the carriage and followed Cui Yuezhi to the royal palace.
Perhaps because of Mu Xiaolou’s wedding, the royal palace was much livelier than before, with decorations and “joy” characters everywhere. So the once deserted royal palace now looked splendid.
As soon as they entered, a servant came forward, smiling, “Lord Cui, Commander Xiao, Lord He, Young Master Lin, Her Highness is already waiting for you.”
He Yan and the others followed the servant inside. When they reached the main hall, a smiling voice came, “You’ve arrived.”
He Yan looked up.
Mu Hongjin walked out from behind the hall.
She was wearing the royal attire of Jiyang, and today, for Mu Xiaolou’s wedding, she naturally wore red. However, this red was different from the bright red of the past; it had a bit of darkness to it, making her face not as dignified and glamorous as before, but with a hint of softness.
Her long hair was braided behind her head without a crown. She was no longer a princess, so she only inserted a dark red velvet flower. Her eyebrows and eyes were still beautiful, but upon closer inspection, there were still some white spots in her braided hair, she had aged, but became gentler. Looking at them, her eyes were like those of an old friend reuniting after a long separation, with a bit of long-lost joy.
“Your Highness.” He Yan and the others bowed to her.
“It’s been a long time since it’s been this lively here, I’m very happy that you can come to attend Xiaolou’s wedding,” she said.
Lin Shuanghe smiled, “It’s been many years, Your Highness is still as radiant as before, like a blooming flower in spring, and beautiful as always.”
He had become much more adept at teasing women over the years. Mu Hongjin chuckled at his joke, then shook her head and touched her sideburns, sighing, “I’m old now, what radiance and beauty.” Her gaze was drawn to Xiao Yao in Xiao Jue’s arms, and she said softly, “Is this Commander Xiao’s daughter? How old is she this year?”
He Yan said, “Her name is Xiao Yao, she’s almost three years old.”
Mu Hongjin reached out to Xiao Yao, who hesitated for a moment before extending her chubby arms, indicating that she could be held. Mu Hongjin hugged her, and Xiao Yao seemed very close to her, giggling and saying, “Auntie…” before planting a kiss on Mu Hongjin’s face.
He Yan calculated in her heart. If it weren’t for some accidental circumstances, if Liu Buwang hadn’t met Mu Hongjin, she might have called Mu Hongjin ‘Grandmother’, but now she called her ‘aunt’, a difference in generation indeed.
But Mu Hongjin didn’t mind Xiao Yao calling her this way, on the contrary, she seemed very happy. She casually took off a gemstone ring from her hand and stuffed it into Xiao Yao’s hand, saying, “Call me ‘aunt’, and I’ll give you a little gift. Do you like this?”
Xiao Yao’s eyes lit up, nodding vigorously, “Like it!”
He Yan couldn’t bear to look straight. If you said Xiao Yao was a treasure in the Xiao family, she hadn’t lacked anything in terms of food and clothing in her daily life. Why was she so obsessed with wealth, it was embarrassing.
Mu Hongjin held Xiao Yao, chatting with them, when soon, another guard came forward, saying, “Your Highness, the people from the Qin family are about to arrive.”
He Yan saw that this guard looked somewhat familiar, couldn’t help but look at him a few more times, Cui Yuezhi smiled, “Second Madam Xiao, do you still remember Mu Yi?”
Mu Yi? He Yan remembered. During the battle in Jiyang years ago, she fought side by side with a Jiyang city soldier named Mu Yi. When she left, the young man even gave her a wooden painting. That wooden painting was still well-preserved by her now. However, the Mu Yi in front of her was very different from the Mu Yi back then, all the greenness and youthfulness had disappeared, and he now looked like a mature man.
However, as soon as Mu Yi saw He Yan, that hint of maturity and steadiness quickly dissipated, replaced by hesitation and excitement. He seemed to want to look but dared not, feeling inexplicably shy.
Cui Yuezhi said, “Mu Yi is now the chief personal guard of Her Highness in the palace, not the greenhorn kid from before. Mu Yi, do you still remember Second Madam Xiao, the Miss He Yan from back then?”
Mu Yi scratched his head and whispered, “I remember.”
Xiao Jue looked at the two of them coldly, while Lin Shuanghe coughed a few times, quickly changing the subject to prevent the young guard leader from rubbing Xiao Jue the wrong way. He pretended to be curious and said, “What about the little princess? We’ve been here for so long and still haven’t seen the little princess. When she was young, she wasn’t even as tall as my chest. I wonder how much she has grown now?”
Mu Hongjin smiled and said, “Go see for yourselves why Mu Xiaolou hasn’t come yet.”
Just as she spoke, a woman’s voice came from behind the hall, “Grandmother, why are you in such a hurry? I’m here.”
The girl who walked out from behind, dressed in fiery bridal attire, had the best embroidered wedding dress in Jiyang City, adorned with delicate tassels and bells, which tinkled as she walked. Her skirt was extremely long, like a blooming flower. More dazzling than this wedding dress was the girl’s face, framed by a golden crown, her face was fair and delicate, similar to Mu Hongjin, with red makeup at the corners of her eyes, exquisite and dazzling, but with a bit more lively and willful charm than Mu Hongjin.
At a glance, she was a girl who grew up wildly in Jiyang City.
She caught sight of He Yan’s group at a glance, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, but she still pretended to be aloof, saying nonchalantly, “So you’ve come.”
“It’s been many years, and the little princess has grown into a young lady.” Lin Shuanghe looked at her for a while, feeling a hint of paternal pride, but then sighed, “I didn’t expect the little princess to get married already, and here I am, still alone.”
Mu Hongjin smiled, “If Young Master Lin feels lonely, why not stay in Jiyang City for a while? There are many good girls in the city, who knows, you might meet your fate.”
“Fate cannot be forced.” Lin Shuanghe opened his fan, “Besides, my aspirations lie elsewhere. Whether I obtain it or not is up to fate. Heaven has its own arrangements, there’s no need to rush.”
Mu Hongjin said, “Young Master Lin is broad-minded.”
There wasn’t much time for reminiscing, as the royal wedding ceremony in Jiyang was complicated and intricate, and the Qin family’s people were about to arrive. Mu Hongjin and Mu Xiaolou went to the platform outside. He Yan’s group followed the maidservant’s arrangements to rest first.
By nightfall, when the sky darkened, lanterns in the palace lit up one by one. Near the spacious platform, long red carpets were laid out, and the lights illuminated the grandeur of the platform. Around it were ceremonial officials, guiding a couple to ascend the high platform together.
He Yan saw the eldest son of the Qin family, a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, who, even in festive attire, looked quite heroic. However, he also took care to help Mu Xiaolou tidy up her long skirt. His gaze towards Mu Xiaolou was full of sincere affection.
From then on, another couple was added to the world, they would become the guardians of Jiyang City, guarding this land and its people.
He Yan couldn’t help but look down at Mu Hongjin.
The beautiful woman with deep and enchanting features smiled as she looked at the young men and women on the stage, her lips smiling, but her eyes faintly shimmered with tears.
Perhaps, when she put on this wedding dress back then, she was filled with helplessness and resentment towards fate’s twists and turns. But now, as Mu Xiaolou stepped onto the stage, at least at this moment, Mu Xiaolou was happy, and she truly loved the man in front of her.
Being able to witness the birth of happiness was itself a happy thing. Her past regrets and unwillingness seemed to have been fulfilled through Mu Xiaolou in front of her.
He Yan quietly squeezed Xiao Jue’s hand, and Xiao Jue raised his eyes, his lips slightly curled.
Lin Shuanghe loved festivities, and he was happier to see others getting married than he would be for his own marriage. As the formal ceremony proceeded, he joyfully wandered around, toasting and drinking with people. However, his tolerance for alcohol was not that great. After drinking a few too many, he got completely drunk and started loudly complaining about the unfairness of fate. He lamented why someone as handsome and elegant as him was still alone, which was extremely annoying.
He Yan listened silently, and when he was completely sloshed, about to crawl under the table to find someone, she finally called on the servants from the Cui household to help lift him onto a carriage and send him back.
Amidst the cheerful congratulations from all sides, He Yan also had a few drinks with acquaintances. Her tolerance for alcohol was somewhat better than when she was stationed at Liangzhou Garrison, although it couldn’t compare to when she was the Flying Phoenix General in her past life. Nevertheless, she dared not drink too much, especially with Xiao Yao around. As for Xiao Jue, despite being toasted continuously, his demeanor remained unchanged, truly immune to alcohol.
Xiao Yao, being young, started to feel sleepy when it was time, nodding off like a chick pecking at grains. He Yan glanced outside and saw that it was already late at night, so she explained the situation to Mu Hongjin and decided to take Xiao Yao back first.
Mu Hongjin liked Xiao Yao very much, gently patting her head and saying, “Let’s go.”
He Yan thought for a moment and finally smiled, “Now that the little princess and the young master of the Qin family are happily married, the mandarin ducks are paired, please take care, Your Highness.”
Mu Hongjin had also drunk quite a bit, her face slightly flushed. She chuckled at the words, “Alright.”
After they left, Mu Hongjin picked up her wine cup and walked to a comfortable spot near the window in the hall. Outside the window, the willow trees swayed gently in the wind, as if it were spring many years ago, as if a young man in white was coming gracefully, step by step, with melodious music and a graceful long sword, as if it were yesterday.
In the lively hall, the noisy music seemed to gradually fade away, and it felt like a rare beautiful dream. Mu Hongjin found a comfortable position, rested her head on the soft cushion, and slowly closed her eyes.
A section of her fair wrist peeked out from her wide sleeve, adorned with a rough silver bracelet engraved with delicate daisies, layer upon layer, vibrant and beautiful.
A maid approached quietly, seeing the woman pretending to be asleep with a smile on her lips, as if she were having a pleasant dream. So she whispered a “shh” and instructed the people behind her, “Her Highness is asleep, don’t disturb her.” Then she gently covered her with a thin blanket and quietly left.
….
Outside, He Yan and Xiao Jue walked towards the carriage.
It seemed that there were no autumn or winter days in Jiyang City, always as long as summer. The river breeze brought a refreshing coolness. He Yan walked side by side with Xiao Jue, with Xiao Yao lying on Xiao Jue’s shoulder, breathing steadily, sleeping soundly.
Faintly, she could hear the sounds of singing and laughter coming from the palace.
She lowered her head, feeling a tranquility she had never experienced before.
Things that were once considered extravagant and unattainable were now all around her. She didn’t ask for much in this life, just simplicity.
In this life, she could ask for peace and freedom without asking for anything else. Everything was incomparable to this moment of freedom and ease.
Perhaps dreaming of something delicious, Xiao Yao smacked her lips in her sleep.
He Yan glanced at her for a moment and smiled, “Xiao Jue, do you want to eat tanghulu?”
——– The End ——–
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