Chapter 64: 064: Stealing Wife

Suxi sat in the coach headed toward Min State.

The coach moved very slowly.

The “coachman” seemed quite at ease.

He even began to play the flute.

The sound of the flute was clear, distant, and melodious, like the music of the heavens.

But Suxi really wasn’t in the mood to listen.

She lifted the curtain and looked at the person driving the coach, “Hero Tan, could we go a bit faster?”

Tan Yunjian stopped playing when he heard her and turned around, but his gaze landed on her swollen belly, “You are with child; it’s not advisable to travel hastily.”

It was as if Suxi had just remembered her pregnancy. She touched her belly and murmured absent-mindedly, “Do you think he will mind?”

Tan Yunjian shook his head with a smile, “He won’t.”

Suxi was puzzled, “Why are you so certain, Hero Tan?”

Tan Yunjian explained with a smile, “On the way here, I already asked him: if you had relations with another and became pregnant, would he mind? He said that he loves you, no matter what you are.”

“I was overthinking it.”

Tears fell from Suxi’s eyes, “He never minded that I came from a singer’s background, even when I was with another man.”

Tan Yunjian nodded, his eyes expressing approval, “Yu Pochuan is a gentleman. A gentleman is open and magnanimous; how would he be troubled by mundane social conventions?”

“But this child—”

Suxi closed her eyes, hardly able to bear it.

She could even feel its heartbeat.

Tan Yunjian said, “The child is innocent.”

Suxi didn’t reply.

She let the curtain fall and sat back down.

The coach continued on.

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

They were getting closer to Min State.

Longing for home, Suxi couldn’t help but urge Tan Yunjian to speed up.

Tan Yunjian also wished to deliver her swiftly and so he drove through the night.

The moon shone bright, and the stars were sparse.

The bamboo forest rustled.

A dark figure blocked the coach’s path.

“Whoa—”

Tan Yunjian pulled on the horse reins and sized up the stranger: a young man in black clothes, tall and lean, with a handsome face like jade, but his eyes were sharp, faintly revealing a murderous aura.

“May I ask who you are?”

He didn’t recognize the man.

When did such an outstanding young hero appear in the worldly society?

“I am Jiang Ke.”@@novelbin@@

After Jiang Ke introduced himself, he looked inside the coach and stated his purpose, “I have come to take the Sang Family’s second young wife back.”

Tan Yunjian had already guessed his intention, bowed with hands clasped, and said with a smile, “So it’s Young Hero Jiang. I’ve heard a great deal about you; it is an honor to meet you at last. Forgive my manners.”

Jiang Ke had no interest in pleasantries and said coldly, “There’s no need for talk. Today, no matter what you say, I will take her back.”

His tone was firm, showing no consideration for the other’s feelings.

Even though he knew that Tan Yunjian was a knight renowned across the land.

“Then allow me a few words at least.”

Tan Yunjian still wore a good-natured, smiley face, and with a nonchalance that belied Jiang Ke’s impatience, he said, “Since you could find this place, you must have some clout in worldly society, and you should be aware that I’ve come for Yu Pochuan. Suxi was originally Yu Pochuan’s wife. Sang Jue’s act of secretly keeping another’s wife is unjust. We both belong to the same society, we should be motivated by chivalry and righteousness.”

“I have no interest whatsoever in the deed of traveling a thousand miles to return another’s wife. All I know is that she is the second young lady of the Sang Family, and you have abducted her here.”

With that, he drew his sword and thrust it forward.

The two of them, finding no common ground, began to fight.

Tan Yunjian, in the prime of his youth and with a wealth of combat experience, held a slight advantage.

But Jiang Ke was a youthful and extraordinary talent, able to learn his opponent’s techniques during battle and use them against him.

Thus, with two strong opponents facing off, the fight was intense and neither were willing to back down.

“Bang!”

“Boom!”

Their figures whirled and darted through the bamboo forest, with swords clashing mid-air, sending out sparks, and wherever the sword energy passed, bamboo stalks were cut down.

Dust filled the air.

Both men lightly tapped their toes and ascended into the high bamboo forest.

The night wind howled, causing their robes to flap wildly and rustle loudly.

“Suxi once a singer in Lord Min Shen Kaitai’s household, cherished by Lord Min, was allowed to stay by his side. Yu Pochuan served as his aide, young and talented, and earned his trust, also remaining close by his side. Known to each other in such a way, with time affection grew, but it started from emotions and ended with propriety. Unexpectedly, Lord Min noticed their deep feelings, and, suffering, let go of his love to make their union possible.”

In the midst of their duel, Tan Yunjian narrated their love story.

He aimed to touch Jiang Ke with the tale of love.

For he, too, had been moved by their complicated romance.

“Four years ago, the Emperor launched an attack on Min State. Lord Min was defeated and fled. Suxi followed Yu Pochuan in his escape. Unfortunately, their whereabouts were leaked in Song City. The Emperor’s troops pursued them. Lord Min killed himself in despair. Suxi and Han Pochuan chose to die for their lord by jumping from Wugu Cliff. And the one who leaked their location was none other than Sang Jue.”

“I don’t have time for your stories! Who Sang Jue is, is also none of my business!”

Jiang Ke had come in search of the woman solely to please Sang Yan.

After all, it was a matter of the Sang Family.

Sang Yan must be worried about the safety of this young lady from her family.

If he could return the second young lady of the Sang Family safe and sound, perhaps Sang Yan, moved by the gesture, would agree to marry him.

Thinking thus, he shouted, “Tan Yunjian, they are now the past, stop meddling in others’ feelings!”

Having said that, he lunged with his sword.

Tan Yunjian parried and backed away, continuing, “It is not that I wish to meddle, but I must. Because this tragic fate began with me.”

Jiang Ke didn’t listen, and continued his pursuit to kill Tan Yunjian.

Tan Yunjian avoided the fight, simply running in circles.

His qinggong was really exceptional!

Jiang Ke, infuriated, cursed, “What are you shrinking back for? Is there no end to this?”

Tan Yunjian laughed, “It’s almost over. Young Hero Jiang, don’t be impatient. The story is about to come to an end.”

Jiang Ke: “…”

He really didn’t want to hear the story at all!

But Tan Yunjian, caught up in his own narrative, said, “Sang Jue is resolute and adaptable; once, to become my disciple, he willingly became a servant. I had owed Lord Min a favor and promised to protect him for three years. However, I truly dislike constraints, so I entrusted the task to Sang Jue. Little did I expect that after gaining some skills, he indeed went to serve Lord Min, but betrayed him at the most critical moment.”

Forced to listen to this point, Jiang Ke replied, “Are you trying to say, that while Sang Jue was protecting Lord Min, he also fell for Suxi, and betrayed Lord Min to get her?”

Tan Yunjian shook his head, “No, Sang Jue served He Country and naturally wouldn’t be loyal to Lord Min. This is a matter of political stance, and I can understand that. But what he should not have done is to save Suxi and then, taking advantage of her amnesia, keep her as his wife. The man is cunning and selfish, stealing love with a heavy hand, relying on power, deceiving and taking possession; indeed, he is not fit to be a husband.”

Jiang Ke: “…”

Listening to this did make one’s fists clench.

“So, you’re going to return her to Yu Pochuan?”

“Correct.”

Tan Yunjian nodded seriously and continued, “After jumping off the cliff together, Yu Pochuan and Suxi fell into the torrential river, luckily surviving, but with a broken leg. For four years, he dragged his crippled leg in search of Suxi. A month ago, he found her in the Imperial City, yet due to the Sang Family’s influence, he could not take his wife back and sorrowfully returned to Min State. Now, pining away, he lies sick in bed, fearing his life is at its end.”

It was truly pitiable.

How could Tan Yunjian sit idly by and do nothing?

After hearing the whole story, Jiang Ke hesitated at last, “Really? Is Yu Pochuan truly dying?”

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