Chapter 110.1
On that day, she went to the river to catch a basket of fish before bringing them back home, and Aunt Chen from the Chen family came over.
Yue Li quickly put down the work in her hands and went to greet her. Her father had arranged for Yue Li to marry into the Chen family.
Both families had already agreed on the marriage, with the Xue family saying they would pick a day to finalize the arrangements. Aunt Chen probably came this time to discuss the matter.
"Auntie," Yue Li brought out a stool, inviting Aunt Chen to rest.
Aunt Chen looked at Yue Li, sweating profusely, her face momentarily embarrassed. After hesitating for a while, she finally spoke, "Yue Li, don't work so hard. I just have a few words to say before I leave."
Seeing her uncomfortable expression, Yue Li guessed that the response from the Xue family was not favorable and asked directly, "Auntie, did the Xue family change their mind?"
"Yes," Aunt Chen dragged her voice on, finally mustering the courage to nod and say, "The news about your family encountering trouble with the soldiers somehow spread to them. They said your father was captured and accused of being a rebel, and that when the imperial troops return, he will be executed. I tried to reason with them, but they were afraid of getting into trouble and decided to cancel the marriage."
After speaking, she looked at Yue Li with a hint of worry and pity in her eyes.
This girl was exceptionally beautiful, but her marriage arrangements had not been smooth. First, her engagement with the Jingzhe's family fell through, and then she was rejected by several families for being raised without a mother and for potentially having to take care of her crippled stepfather in the future.
This was the first time they had found a suitable match in every aspect, and they even agreed to let her father accompany her, but now they encountered this issue. A woman's youth is like a flower; the most beautiful days are fleeting. Yue Li was already at a suitable age, and further delays in marriage would make it even more challenging.
Yue Li was initially surprised by the news, but after thinking it over, she understood the situation.
The world was in turmoil in recent years, with changes between the imperial army and the rebel forces. The ordinary villagers were reluctant to get involved in such matters.
"When disaster strikes, everyone looks out for themselves," she thought to herself. In the past, when she was engaged to the Jingzhe family, they were able to choose to preserve themselves during difficult times. In this case, she had only superficial ties with the Xue family.
Yue Li was a broad-minded person. She simply pursed her lips and said, "It's okay, Auntie. If they've decided to cancel, then let it be."
Aunt Chen sighed and said, "Unfortunately, the Xue family missed out on having a good girl like you. I'll help you find another good match in the future."
"Thank you, Auntie," Yue Li smiled, her dimples showing a cheerful expression, without a hint of shyness or anxiety.
She wasn't too concerned about getting married. Finding a suitable husband was good, but if she couldn't, she had the ability to support herself. If the villagers gossiped about her, she could live in the mountains with her father.
Her father was just worried about her being alone in the future, so he kept trying to find her a husband.
She would talk to him later and tell him not to worry so much.
*
Yue's father and his brothers had not returned for a while, but Tie Sheng showed up a couple of days later as the sky darkened. He mentioned that Li's family had already gone to the capital, and the new emperor was about to ascend the throne.
Many palace rooms were destroyed by the war, and repairs were needed before the new emperor's coronation. Yue's father and his brothers heard that the pay for the work was very high, so they all went to work on the palace repairs. They wanted to reassure their family, so they asked Tie Sheng to come back to deliver a message and bring some winter clothes into the city.
He had been busy learning a craft from Physician Lin recently, barely having time to catch his breath, and he would be leaving again soon.
As his mother turned away, he lowered his voice and said to Yue Li, "By the way, Sister, Uncle asked me to give you a message. He said your marriage matters will be settled when he returns around the beginning of winter."
Yue Li knew that her engagement to the Xue family had already been called off, so she wasn't in a hurry. She nodded and instructed Tie Sheng, "Once my father and his brothers recover, visit them more often and help out."
"I understand," Tie Sheng replied as he continued to prepare some cakes his mother made, holding the winter clothes for the four men in his arm.
The winter clothes for four big men took up quite a few bundles, causing his arms to ache from carrying them, and he complained, "Alright, alright, there's too much stuff. I'm not a donkey, I can't carry all this."
His mother gave him a slap on the back of his head, scolding him, "With all this extra food you're eating, you could plow the fields. You just love to complain. Your father and his brothers are still recovering from their injuries, and colds come with injuries. If you don't wear enough layers, you'll get sick. What will we do then?"
Tie Sheng pouted, looking unhappy.
"You're still not satisfied, are you?" his mother scolded him again.
"Alright, alright, it's not easy for Tie Sheng to come back. Don't scold him, Auntie. You two pack up the things first; I'll ride the donkey and take him to the city later."
"It's getting late now. A young lady like you riding there and back, it'll be dark by the time you return; it's too dangerous." Auntie frowned.
Tie Sheng quickly reassured her, excitedly saying, "It's fine, I can stay at my master's clinic. Sister can sleep in my bed, and I'll manage in the woodshed for the night."
With that, Auntie relaxed and said, "You must look after your sister and don't let anyone bully her."
Tie Sheng pounded his chest firmly, "No problem."
When Yue Li returned home, she packed some warm clothes for her father, and while rummaging through the bottom of a cabinet, she found a brand new tiger skin.
It was the skin of a white tiger she and her father had hunted together in the mountains last winter. It was a large tiger with glossy fur. Her father couldn't bear to sell it and had decided to keep it as a dowry for her, neatly stored at the bottom of the trunk.
Seeing the tiger skin, she vividly remembered the majestic appearance of the old tiger in the snowy wilderness.
Unknowingly, she thought of the young general on horseback with a sword.
He exuded a majesty akin to that of a white tiger.
She still hadn't repaid the debt of saving her life.
Lost in thought, she wrapped up the tiger skin and placed it on the donkey's back.
She remembered his name was Wei Zhan, living next to the An family. Her marriage arrangements were still up in the air, but as long as she gathered enough dowry, she could leave it for later. For now, she would repay the debt of saving her life.
Under the bright sunlight, she and Tie Sheng's shadows stretched long. The donkey carried a load of things, causing it to move very slowly.
Tie Sheng, feeling mysterious, asked Yue Li, "Sister, what was that thing Uncle mentioned?"
"Never mind," Yue Li brushed him off.
Tie Sheng was still keen on introducing her to Mountain Brother. Last time, Physician Lin had brought Brother Shang back, but Sister had already left. This time, he was determined to take Sister to Physician Lin's clinic.
"If you don't mind, Tie Sheng persisted, "Tonight, there's a fireworks celebration in the city for the new emperor's coronation. If you don't go home, I'll take you to see the fireworks."
Yue Li nodded, "Okay."
They entered the city, and Tie Sheng led her straight to the outskirts of the imperial palace.
This morning, Tie Sheng could freely enter and exit the palace, but Li's patriarch had already agreed to ascend the throne amidst the three urges and requests of the court officials. With his entry into the palace, the entire palace was now under strict lockdown, and they couldn't go any further.
The gatekeeper said, "You can leave your things here, and someone will bring them in, but you cannot approach any closer."
"Why not?" Tie Sheng questioned, "I went in this morning."
The guard explained, "That was in the morning. The Emperor, Crown Prince, and Crown Princess have already entered the palace in the afternoon. Without their permission, ordinary people are not allowed to enter the palace."
"Do you think the palace is a place where just anyone can enter? Get lost!" another guard raised his voice, hand on his sword at his waist.
Wen Qiang followed Wei Zhan down the high steps, immediately seeing the siblings quarreling with the guards at the palace gate.
"Miss Yue?" he murmured.
Wei Zhan heard this and looked around, only to see a guard drawing his sword at his waist.
While Tie Sheng was still speaking, putting Yue Li behind him and stepping forward with a chest held high.
Seeing the guard about to act, Wei Zhan reprimanded, "What are you doing?"
Yue Li turned back at the sound of his voice, seeing him in shining silver armor under the sunlight. She instinctively squinted her eyes, and as he approached, she joyfully called out, "Young General."
Wei Zhan looked at her, feeling an overwhelming mix of emotions. He reminded himself that she would soon be married, so he shouldn't entertain any other thoughts, not even a second glance at her.
But he couldn't control his gaze.
His eyes uncontrollably landed on her face.
Perhaps due to recent hardships, her face had tanned in the sun, but her eyes remained large and bright, like misty pools.
Clear and sparkling, with a shimmering light.
"What are you doing?" Wei Zhan's gaze shifted from Yue Li's face to the guard's hand on the sword.
The guard didn't expect these seemingly ordinary siblings to know the highly popular young general in the court. Feeling a bit unsure, he replied, "I didn't know they were friends of the Major General. I thought they were trying to force their way into the palace, so I intervened."
"That's not true, my sister and I were not trying to force our way in. It was your disrespectful words that prompted us, and you wanted to lay hands on us," Tie Sheng grunted.
The guard began to make excuses, but a glance from Wei Zhan shut him up. Knowing that the young general was strict and decisive, fearing he might be reprimanded later for offending them first, the guard swallowed his explanations and respectfully bowed, "I was wrong and am willing to accept the punishment."
Wei Zhan waved his hand, indicating he should go where punishment awaits.
Once the guard left, Wei Zhan turned to explain to Yue Li, "This afternoon, the new Emperor has already entered the palace, so it's not as easy to enter as the past few days."
Yue Li's face was still slightly flushed from the dispute earlier as she looked at Wei Zhan and nodded, saying, "I didn't intend to force my way in. It was they who started it; Tie Sheng almost fought back."
"I know," Wei Zhan replied without hesitation.
Yue Li looked up at him in surprise.
Wei Zhan, unable to meet her eyes, absentmindedly rubbed his nose and said to her, "Your father and uncles are working on repairing the Wuji Palace. Do you want to go in and see them?"
Hunting in the mountains was tough and prone to accidents, so Yue's father couldn't work there all year round. Thus, he deliberately had news of the palace repair work spread to them, allowing them to establish themselves in the city first and consider finding them a job later.
Making a living in the city was easier than in the mountains, and Yue Li wouldn't have to endure so much...hardship.
He didn't understand why he was doing this, knowing she was about to get married, and wouldn't get anything out of it. But like not being able to control his eyes, he also couldn't control his brain.
"Didn't they say we're not allowed in?" Yue Li raised her eyebrows.
"That was for others," Wei Zhan touched his nose again, "If you want to go in, I can take you."
Yue Li's heart skipped a beat, and she raised her gaze to Wei Zhan. In that moment of eye contact, both of them seemed slightly uncomfortable and looked away.
After pondering for a moment, she still shook her head, handing over the items she had brought from the village to Wei Zhan. "Since there are rules that must be followed and cannot be easily broken, I won't go in. But, can I trouble you to deliver these things to my father and uncles?"
"Of course," Wei Zhan replied promptly and called two guards over, instructing them to take the items to the Wuji Palace.
He watched as the two unloaded the packages on the ground, with one final bundle that Yue Li held onto and refused to let them take. He asked, "What's that? Wasn't it meant to be sent into the palace?"
Yue Li shook her head, clutching the bundle to her chest, fingers tightly gripping the leather wrapping. "It's not for that."
Wei Zhan was not one to pry, so he didn't ask further.
After a moment, Yue Li approached Wei Zhan, holding out the bundle, her voice slightly shaky. "This is for you."
"For me?" Wei Zhan's tone involuntarily lifted slightly.
Yue Li nodded.
Wei Zhan lifted a corner of the bundle and saw a piece of tiger skin inside, quite surprised. "Tiger skin?"
"Yes," Yue Li said, "You saved us, and there's nothing I can do to repay you. This tiger skin was hunted by my father and me in the mountains last year, the most valuable possession in our family."
"Although you have fine silk quilts, fur is the warmest in winter on snowy ground. I thought since you are likely often outdoors, you could make use of it, so...I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind," Wei Zhan said, holding the tiger skin, feeling as soft as cotton in his heart, light and airy, as if he could float away at any moment. The corners of his eyes curved up slightly as he smiled, "This is the best gift I've ever received."
Yue Li's lips, tensed from nervousness, relaxed slightly upon hearing his words, a smile appearing on her face.
Tie Sheng, noticing the darkening sky, tugged at her sleeve and quietly reminded her, "Sister, the fireworks display is about to begin."
Wei Zhan heard his voice once again.
Just as Yue Li was about to speak, Wei Zhan preempted her, "Ah Heng and the others have returned. They were talking about you the other day. Do you want to go see them?"
Yue Li hesitated for a moment, looking at Tie Sheng with some conflict.
Wei Zhan added, "Ah Heng might soon be moving into the palace with the Crown Prince, so it might not be easy to meet later. How about I take you to see her now?"
Tie Sheng still had Ah Li and Brother Shang on his mind, but upon hearing Wei Zhan's suggestion, he gently tugged at Yue Li's sleeve and whispered, "Sister..."
"Ah Heng isn't keen on entering the palace, and she can't bear to part with the Crown Prince. She's been in tears these past few days. Seeing you might lift her spirits." As Wei Zhan adjusted the armor on his forearm, he cast a casual glance at Yue Li's face without making it obvious.
Turning to Tie Sheng, she said, "I'll go see Ah Heng first. I'll accompany you to the fireworks display next time, okay?"
Not giving up, Tie Sheng persisted, "Can you come to the clinic tomorrow morning? Bring a basket of steamed buns for me."
"Alright," Yue Li patted his head.
Wei Zhan noticed the slight quirk of the boy's mouth and suddenly realized why Tie Sheng insisted on Yue Li making a trip to the clinic. His eyelashes drooped slightly.
After settling everything, Wei Zhan had Wen Qiang escort Tie Sheng back to the clinic while he took Yue Li to the streets.
To celebrate the new Emperor's ascension, the court had decreed a temporary suspension of the curfew and a half-month-long fireworks display. As night descended, the streets were bustling with crowds, filled with the lively atmosphere of lanterns and revelry.
After enduring more than a decade of war, peace had finally returned to the land, and the streets were bustling with activity and life.
Yue Li was surrounded by the lights, looking at Wei Zhan, who stood out in the sea of lanterns. Raising her voice over the din of the street, she asked, "Aren't we supposed to go back?"
With the noise of the crowd, Wei Zhan was afraid she couldn't hear him clearly. He leaned in slightly to speak beside her, "Ah Heng came out to see the fireworks today too. We'll have to head back later to meet them. Don't you want to see the fireworks?"
Yue Li naturally wanted to see the fireworks display. Her home was so far from the capital city, and just being able to come to the city for a market day was already a luxury for her. She had never been to a fireworks display in the city before, so she nodded and said, "I want to see."
Wei Zhan's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I'll take you to see."
At that moment, a carriage passed by, and something suddenly flew out of the window and landed right in Wei Zhan's arms. He turned around in surprise to see the window partially open, with a young girl holding a scented fan, half of her face smiling mischievously at him.
In turbulent times, the people were more open-minded, and it was common for women to throw scented handkerchiefs at men they admired as a gesture of affection. If the man reciprocated, it could lead to a romantic story.
Wei Zhan looked down at the scented sachet in his hand, feeling a creepy sense of unease. He tossed the sachet back, hitting the girl's cheek, causing some of her face powder to come off.
The girl, wounded in pride, furrowed her delicate eyebrows, her watery eyes full of tears as she drew the curtain.
"That was terrifying." Wei Zhan, as if facing a ghost, took Yue Li by the hand and headed towards a nearby mask stall.
Yue Li was puzzled about what he was afraid of and asked, "She's so beautiful, don't you like her?"
"Weird, just because she's beautiful, should I like her?" Wei Zhan kept his head down as he selected a mask at the stall. Pausing for a moment, he added, "Besides, I don't even think she's that attractive."
Yue Li was baffled. Through the partially open carriage curtain, she had seen the girl's half-face â delicate eyebrows, slender eyes, and a pointed chin, even more stunning than the goddesses in the temple.
Wasn't that attractive enough in his eyes?
"What do you consider attractive?" Yue Li asked, feeling curious.
Wei Zhan thought to himself, These shoulders that can't carry anything, what use do they have like a vase at home? He never appreciated delicate beauty; he preferred things that were robust and powerful.
Such as a galloping steed, a powerful bow, or a lively maiden â in his eyes, these were truly beautiful.
With each passing thought, a tinge of disappointment crept into his eyes.
Nothing â just when he finally met someone he hadn't had a chance to speak to yet, she was already betrothed, soon to be someone else's bride.
Masking his disappointment, he picked up a Peach Blossom Fairy mask, gestured a few times on Yue Li's face, then handed it to her with a smile. "This one is truly beautiful."
Even though she knew he was referring to the Peach Blossom Fairy on the mask, Yue Li's heart still fluttered at his words.
It was strange, as if her heart wanted to leap out of her throat.
After Wei Zhan picked out the Peach Blossom Fairy mask for Yue Li and one for himself, they continued to stroll through the city, exploring various attractions.
They first went to Hejiang Riverside to see the lanterns being released, then to Hejiang Villa to pick ripe osmanthus flowers. After leaving the villa, they went to Maishi Street to drink the wine brewed by the Hu people, and finally ended the night at Mingyue Tower to watch the fireworks.
Mingyue Tower was the tallest tower in the city, where they could see the entire city from their private loft.
Seated on the floor, Yue Li was already a bit tipsy, holding onto the railing as she gazed at the fireworks in a trance.
Despite having a much higher alcohol tolerance, Wei Zhan drank the wine by the Hu people and then ordered two pots of Mingyue Tower's bamboo leaf white wine.
"Having fun?" Standing behind Yue Li, slightly tipsy but remarkably clear, Wei Zhan asked.
Yue Li, feeling a bit fuzzy-headed, nodded slowly, "Having fun."
She turned her head and saw Wei Zhan holding the wine pot, her eyes sparkling slightly as she asked, "What are you drinking?"
"Bamboo leaf white wine, the specialty of Mingyue Tower." He looked at her slightly flushed face, unable to contain the smile in the corners of his eyes.
Blinking slowly, Yue Li asked, "Is it tasty?"
Seeing her state of intoxication, Wei Zhan knew she shouldn't drink any more, so he shook his head and said, "It's not tasty."
"If it's not tasty, how can it be the specialty?" Yue Li didn't believe him, turned her head to look at him, full of suspicion.
Wei Zhan rubbed his nose, tilted his head back to take a sip, and laughed boldly and carefree, "I'm drunk, talking nonsense."
"I don't believe you, unless you let me taste it," Yue Li licked her lips and eagerly looked at him.
Wei Zhan turned away and stopped looking at her, "No, you'll get drunk if you drink more."
"Stingy." Yue Li huffed coldly and continued to prop her chin up, watching the fireworks below.
Seeing that she had no intention of asking for more, Wei Zhan lifted his robe and sat down beside her. But as soon as he sat down, Yue Li suddenly turned around and tried to snatch the wine pot from his hand.
Instinctively moving aside to avoid her, Wei Zhan inadvertently left Yue Li reaching for nothing and about to stumble to the ground. He leaned in to help her, feeling something icy and soft brush against his ear, igniting a fiery sensation that seemed to burn from his ear to his heart.