At the age of fourteen, I was sold into the Chen family and became the child – bride of the nine – year – old young master, Chen Qingye.
The young master was arrogant and overbearing. He loathed my appearance and always made things difficult for me.
In winter, he demanded live fish; in summer, he wanted ice; in autumn, he disliked fallen leaves; and in spring, he detested flowers.
I kept enduring it, thinking about the ten taels of silver, until five years later when the Chen family was suddenly massacred.
I carried him from the ruins into the countryside, and then from the border back to the capital.
When the Chen family was vindicated and the emperor bestowed a marriage, the young master was in high spirits.
On the day he was to marry a new wife, I handed him the ten taels of silver I had painstakingly saved and said, “Young master, I want to go home.”
“Wish you all the best in the future.”
But he, contrary to his usual coldness, angrily threw the silver on the ground.
“Wen Qiushui, you’ve long been a member of the Chen family. You’re not going anywhere!”
1
When the first autumn rain fell in the capital, Chen Qingye returned in triumph.
The little maids in my courtyard chattered that the welcoming procession for him stretched across the whole street, and many girls were throwing flowers at him.
“Our young master is good – looking and has just returned from a great achievement. Naturally, he’s in the limelight!”
“Hey, have you heard? Prime Minister Zhou has submitted a memorial to the emperor, asking him to bestow a marriage for his daughter.”
“Could it be… with our young master?”
They tacitly lowered their voices and almost whispered.
“Miss Wen is still here. How could the young master marry Miss Zhou!”
One maid said indignantly, but was interrupted by others.
“It’s not your place to meddle in the master’s affairs!”
So she closed her mouth and whispered, “Miss Wen is seriously ill. Why hasn’t the young master come to see her?”
I looked up at the pattern of the flower railing on the bed, dazed. Chen Qingye wouldn’t come.
He hated me. Ever since he was too young to make his own decisions, he had been reluctant to see me.
Now he was so busy that his feet never touched the ground. Naturally, he wouldn’t think of me, the person who should have long been forgotten by him.
I suppressed the fishy sweetness in my throat and felt a dull pain starting in my left leg again.
It must be because of the rain.
“Xiaohe.”
“Hey, miss!”
The little girl had already composed herself and didn’t show any dissatisfaction in front of me.
She said, “The young master just came back and was summoned by the emperor, so it’s hard for him to come and see you, miss.
“Don’t be sad, miss.”
I curved my lips and nodded as a response.
“Miss, eat something and then take your medicine. The young master will come back!”
She kept chattering, and then the servant boy following Chen Qingye trotted into the room.
“Miss, the young master asked me to deliver a message. He said he won’t be back tonight and told you not to wait.”
I blinked and somehow thought that we hadn’t seen each other for five months.
Xiaohe puffed out her cheeks, as if very dissatisfied.
“Where has the young master gone!”
“Xiaohe.”
I softly stopped her, then said to the messenger, “Tell the young master I know.”
After receiving the reply, he didn’t leave but just stood there looking at me.
“Miss, is there nothing else to say?”
I thought for a while and then said, “If the young master comes back, no matter how late it is, please ask him to come and see me.”
I turned my head and could see the small box I had neatly arranged on the dressing table.
Inside was something I had protected like my life these years.
“Just say I have something to tell him.”
The servant boy heaved a sigh of relief and started laughing while shaking his body.
“Alright, I’ll definitely deliver the message!”
When he was almost out of sight, I reacted and pulled Xiaohe’s hand to remind her.
“Go and catch up! Say that if the young master is busy, there’s no need to rush.”
Xiaohe bit her lip and agreed, then quickly ran out.
Unexpectedly, almost the next second after the meal was served, I heard Xiaohe’s exclamation.
“The young master is back!”
It was just getting dark outside.
My heart sank. Before I could put down my chopsticks, Chen Qingye pushed the door open and strode in.
He had become much darker than a few months ago. When he didn’t smile, he even looked a bit fierce.
I silently compared him in my heart with the soft and white dumpling he was when he was a child, feeling that he had changed a lot.
He sat opposite me, staring straight at me with his mouth downturned, as if very unhappy.
“You have something to tell me?”
When he asked like this, I didn’t know how to start.
We had a big fight a few months ago, and the next day Chen Qingye went to the battlefield. Since he rarely came home today, I still didn’t want to make him unhappy.
So I changed the topic: “Have you eaten?”
Chen Qingye still looked at me with a heavy gaze. “Say what you want to say now!”
He seemed extremely annoyed. He rubbed his forehead and stopped talking.
I had to put down my chopsticks too, thinking that tonight’s salt – baked chicken should be delicious.
It’s a pity I can’t have a bite.
I picked up the box I had prepared for a long time and held it in front of him. “Young master.”
Chen Qingye suddenly looked at me. Maybe it was my illusion, but his teeth seemed to be grinding.
I ignored his gaze. This had to be said. Even after dragging it for five months, it still had to be said.
I steeled myself and opened the box in my hand.
“This was given to me by Madam back then. She said it was a bracelet for her daughter – in – law.”
“Since it’s a bracelet of the Chen family, it’s not appropriate for me to keep it.”
I pushed the box forward, not looking up at him.
“Besides, here are ten taels of silver.”
I took a deep breath and endured the dense pain in my leg before saying, “Young master, I want to go home.”
Chen Qingye showed his first smile tonight.
“Wen Qiushui, you still have a home?”
“Your father sold you to me long ago. Don’t you remember?”
I lowered my head. Of course, I knew. He always said these years that I owed him ten taels of silver.
That was the price my father sold me for.
I was only worth ten taels.
“So now… I’m returning it to you.”
Chen Qingye seemed to not want to waste any more words with me. He stood up, took out the bracelet from the box, bent down close to me, and forcefully put it on my wrist.
It hurt a bit, and I shrank back.
Chen Qingye’s breath was close at hand. I could feel his anger burning beside my ear.
“Wen Qiushui, you’ve long been a member of my Chen family. You can’t go anywhere!”
After the bed curtain fell, I wanted to struggle, but my left leg was held in his hand, and I couldn’t move.
His hand was very warm, slowly moving from my ankle to my knee, again and again.
“Young master…”
“Wen Qiushui,” he said without looking up, “you can shut up.”
So I closed my mouth and my eyes, pretending to sleep.
Maybe because Chen Qingye was by my side, the rainy day wasn’t so hard to endure.
I actually fell asleep.
In the last second before my consciousness dissipated, I heard him call me.
“Qiushui, it’s raining.”
For a moment, I forgot where we were.
I could only vaguely reach out my hand to touch his back.
I said, “Young master, it’s okay.”
“I’m here.”
I thought this rain was really heavy, dropping on my face.
I really hated the rain.
2
“Get out of here, all of you!”
At the age of fourteen, I first stepped into the Chen family.
The young master was throwing a tantrum and refused to go to the school.
With a “snap”, a beautiful glazed vase shattered at my feet.
I looked in the direction of the sound and saw Chen Qingye for the first time.
He stared at me with his beautiful eyes and quickly turned his gaze away.
“Tsk.”
He said, “Another ugly girl!”
“Don’t arrange her in my room!”
He stood with his arms crossed, giving orders about where I should be placed.
“Young master, this is Miss Wen from the Wen family.”
The nanny who led me in said with a smile in a low voice.
“The Wen family?” The young master’s eyes widened, as if he had seen a ghost. “This is the daughter – in – law my mother arranged for me???”
He “clattered” and ran outside. Just as he was about to disappear around the corner, he suddenly turned around and grabbed my hand.
He was half a head shorter than me. I could see his eyelashes just by tilting my head slightly.
I thought in my heart that the young master of the Chen family was really good – looking.
He had never suffered.
“Don’t look at me!”
I stumbled under my feet. He had a bad temper, I thought again.
“Mother!”
He started shouting loudly from afar.
I had already met Madam Chen, so I just curtsied.
“Qiushui is here.”
“I won’t marry her!” Chen Qingye let go of my hand before he even caught his breath. “I will never marry an ugly girl!”
Madam Chen’s face instantly turned cold.
“Apologize.”
She led me by the hand and stood in front of Chen Qingye, repeating, “Apologize!”
Chen Qingye’s eyes widened, as if he didn’t expect her to be angry. He just turned his head and remained silent.
I smiled at Madam Chen. “It doesn’t matter.”
It doesn’t matter. I’ve said this sentence too many times since my mother passed away.
But Madam Chen’s eyes turned red.
She called for the family rules and beat Chen Qingye until he couldn’t get out of bed.
Our first meeting was unpleasant, and the following years wouldn’t be pleasant either.
It would be a long time before I understood this truth.
From that day on, I was arranged in the room next to Chen Qingye’s.
I tried to do some easy work, but the people in the mansion seemed to encounter a huge problem and always said it was not allowed.
So I had nothing to do, and going to the school with the young master became my only daily task.
Chen Qingye hated going to school and also hated me.
The servants in the courtyard didn’t want to provoke him, but I still had to bite the bullet and push open his door to tell him to go to school.
“Wen Qiushui! Do you understand the difference between men and women!”
Chen Qingye glared at me with gritted teeth because I had just lifted his quilt.
“Qingye, it’s time for you to go to school.”
The young master blushed with anger, glaring at me like a little beast and shouting loudly, “Wen Qiushui! Who allowed you to call my name!”
“Madam.”
He jumped out of bed, got dressed in a few quick movements, and stood in front of me. “You’re not allowed to call my name!”
I looked at him calmly. “I’m your fiancée. It’s appropriate for me to call your name.”
He got angry again and suddenly pushed me back. A sharp pain shot through my waist. The carved pattern on the bedside was so hard that it made me want to cry.
“Wen Qiushui! Don’t use that messy marriage contract to pressure me! I warn you, you were sold to my family by your father. I don’t recognize that marriage contract!”
“You! You’re just here to serve me! No different from others!”
“Got it?”
Seeing that it was almost time for school, I casually perfunctorily replied to him.
“Got it, Qingye. Go to school.”
“Don’t call my name!”
“…”
Chen Qingye was very persistent in not allowing me to call his name. I regarded him as a half – grown child and deliberately teased him, making him angry every time.
Until he had a sweetheart.
3
Chen Qingye’s first outburst at me was in the fourth year after I entered the Chen family.
I was eighteen years old this year.
Madam Chen regarded me as her own daughter and handed over all the affairs of the huge Chen family to me.
One afternoon, she smilingly handed the Chen family’s heirloom jade bracelet to me.
“Qiushui, after the New Year, we’ll hold the wedding for you and Qingye.”
I held the bracelet and nodded, saying okay.
Even if Chen Qingye didn’t like me, it didn’t matter. I would do my duty as a good wife, help him manage the family business, and take care of his parents.
But Chen Qingye didn’t want to.
He had grown taller and was no longer just using words to express his reluctance.
He knelt in the ancestral hall with his back straight for two days, without eating or drinking.
I took a food box to see him, but he slapped it to the ground.
“Wen Qiushui, I won’t marry you.”
He already had the appearance of a young man, and there was hatred in his eyes when he looked at me.
I felt inexplicably flustered.
“Qingye, major marriage matters are decided by parents and matchmakers. I will treat you well.”
I comforted him feebly.
“I said don’t call my name!”
He raised his voice. “I have someone I like, Qiushui. I’ll find a good family for you and marry you off properly. You don’t have to marry me, do you!”
“Please, Qiushui. Please plead with mother for me. I really… can’t marry you.”
I thought at that time that the young master had never been willing to yield.
Even when he deliberately made things difficult for me when he was a child, shouting for live fish in winter and forcing me to catch them in the frozen lake. In the end, I didn’t catch the fish and got sick from the cold.
Madam Chen beat him severely that time and locked him in the ancestral hall for three days without food.
He lay in bed for as long as I was sick.
He didn’t even apologize to me then.
But now his eyes were red, saying please to me.
I said okay.
“I’ll try.”
Madam Chen sighed and pressed me to eat at the table.
“Qiushui, you can’t always follow his wishes.”
She said this.
I didn’t succeed.
The young master didn’t give in until he fainted from hunger.
After that, Madam Chen strictly confined him. He was not allowed to go out except for school. No one in the mansion helped him, so he came to knock on my door.
I often thought of his expression that day later. It seemed very difficult for him to speak.
“Qiushui, there’s a lantern festival on the street today. I… I’ll take you to see it.”
His expression was so fake, as if someone was holding a knife to his neck, forcing him to say something he couldn’t say.
But I still said okay.
I don’t remember what the lantern festival on the street was like that day. In the noisy crowd, I only remember his expression.
Gentle, soft, and nervous.
In the many years that followed, I hoped he would smile at me like that.
But he never did.
He only smiled like that at one person, Miss Zhou, Zhou Meisheng.
The lantern festival ended early that day because the weather was not good, and it started to rain lightly.
I think I started to hate rainy days from this day.
On that day, I stood at the street corner, watching my future husband holding an umbrella for someone else.
He smiled gently, as if he could offer everything with both hands as long as she needed it.
My heart turned into a lake at that moment, and it rained in it.
I turned around and walked in the opposite direction. When I entered the mansion, the servant greeted me and asked, “Miss, why are you crying?”
I smiled. “It’s raining. I didn’t bring an umbrella.”
I really hated the rain.
Chen Qingye returned to the mansion in a good mood and even brought me osmanthus cakes, which was a rare thing.
“Wen Qiushui, this is for you.”
Chen Qingye didn’t eat these. Presumably, Miss Zhou liked them.
“Thank you, young master. I don’t like osmanthus cakes.”
He frowned and looked at me. “Are you sick?”
I shook my head and said I was going back first.
From that day on, I stopped calling his name.
The bracelet Madam Chen gave me was carefully put away by me. I still needed to save up the ten taels of silver my father took away back then.
I thought Miss Zhou was really beautiful, the girl Chen Qingye dreamed of marrying.
I didn’t want him to be unhappy.
After the New Year, I would return the money and leave the Chen family.
But neither of us thought that the change would come so quickly.
5
When it entered the twelfth lunar month, Chen Qingye became restless.
He guarded my door every day, repeating, “Wen Qiushui, when are you going to talk things clear with mother!”
I coldly mended the clothes in my hand and said today.
“Today?”
He was stunned for a moment, then turned around and walked two steps in the yard, talking to himself again.
“Today…is too hasty, isn’t it?”
“Tomorrow, tomorrow is also fine.”
I bit off the silk thread. “Madam is already preparing for the wedding. If we don’t say it now, it will be too late.”
Most importantly, I had already saved up ten taels of silver.
It was far from enough to pay back the Chen family, but it was still a token of my gratitude.
Chen Qingye was uncharacteristically quiet. He pointed at the clothes in my hand and said, “Is this for me?”
I spread out the clothes and asked him, “Do you want it?”
Since I came to the Chen Mansion, I had made a new piece of clothing for him every New Year, but he never wanted them.
At first, he thought the clothes I made were ugly, and later it became a habit.
As if he had never thought I would ask like this, Chen Qingye hesitated for a while before saying, “Well, consider it as a parting gift.”
I said okay.
As soon as it got dark, we got up and went to the main hall.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was very strange. The master and madam neither agreed nor disagreed. They just sat there in silence.
Finally, they left me alone.
“Qiushui, do you want to leave the Chen family?” Madam Chen asked me gently.
“Yes.”
She said softly, “Qiushui, I was very close to your mother. She passed away early, and you’ve suffered a lot. I originally thought… if you could be settled, the Chen family could also be your home.”
“But…”
With a “click”, I stepped on and broke a dead branch on the ground.
“How is it? How is it?” Chen Qingye circled around me. “Did you talk things clear with mother?”
I looked up at him, thinking about what Madam Chen had said to me.
She said that in the court struggle, the Chen family had chosen the wrong side and there was no way to turn things around.
She said that there was an uncle of the Chen family in the northern border who could ensure Chen Qingye’s safety.
She said to let me think again. If I didn’t want to, I could leave at any time.
Finally, with red eyes, she still said, “Qiushui, please help the Chen family, help Qingye.”
I said okay.
Madam Chen arranged for us to set off the next day. So I said to Chen Qingye, “Do you want to leave the mansion?”
“Leave the mansion? What for?”
“To see Miss Zhou.”
Chen Qingye naturally agreed. He excitedly packed a bunch of strange things, a wooden – carved bird, glass marbles, and colorful jade stones.
He showed them to me shyly. “I saved for a long time to buy these.”
“To give to Mei as a token of my love.”
I thought, out of nowhere, that he didn’t need to give this jade. His eyes were a hundred times more beautiful than this jade, full of clear affection.
Miss Zhou was no stranger to me. She called me, “Miss Wen.”
I nodded.
She was one year younger than Chen Qingye, but she had grown into a graceful young lady.
“Qingye, are these for me?”
Chen Qingye didn’t dare to touch her hand. He just put the jade on the handkerchief in her palm.
He said, “Mei, what I’ve promised will always stand.”
I slightly turned my head. The light reflected from the jade seemed so dazzling that it made me want to cry.
After seeing Miss Zhou off, Chen Qingye hummed a song and walked in front of me.
“Qiushui, thank you. I won’t treat you badly. I’ll give you all my private money, and you don’t need to pay back the ten taels of silver you owe my family. I’ll buy you a house and a piece of forest.”
“From now on, we’ll be like siblings. What do you think?”
This was the last thing Chen Qingye said to me before we saw the fire.
I said okay.
Then my memory became chaotic. Looking from afar, the black smoke burned down the Chen Mansion. The master, madam, and more than a hundred people in the family all died in it.
A notice was posted on the street, saying that the Chen family had committed treason and all of them had committed suicide. Only the youngest son had escaped, and now the whole city was searching for him.
We became fugitives.
I carried Chen Qingye, who was crying unconscious, and disguised ourselves as siblings fleeing from the disaster. Without looking back at the ruins, we staggered out of the city gate.
6
I took Chen Qingye along the small paths. Carrying a man was always a bit inconvenient.
I put him down and went to find some water for him.
When I came back, he had already woken up.
“My father wouldn’t betray the country.” He looked at me stubbornly.
I poured water into his throat. “Can you walk?”
“I want to go back, see the emperor, and clear my father’s name!”
I ignored him and picked up the young master, who hadn’t eaten for two days and couldn’t walk, and continued to walk out.
“Save your energy. The emperor won’t see you. You’ll be killed by the soldiers with a sword at the city gate.”
At first, he struggled, saying that he wanted to go back and die with his parents. Later, he became silent, and finally, he lay on my shoulder.
Tears fell drop by drop on my clothes.
“Wen Qiushui, is it only you and me left?”
I was silent.
“You can leave too. Change your identity, and no one will make things difficult for you.”
I adjusted his position on my back.
“I still haven’t paid back the ten taels of silver.”
His body stiffened. “I don’t want it anymore.”
“There’s no reason to owe others.”
He seemed to calm down a bit. He lowered his head again, and there were no more tears on his face.
“Then we’ve made a deal. You can’t leave until you pay me back. I’m very poor now and I really need that ten taels of silver.”
“Okay.”
We walked for almost half a month, mostly on mountain roads.
We pawned everything we had, and the food we bought was only enough for the two of us to eat a little bit every day.
Before the food was used up, I found a rabbit’s nest.
I originally thought that if I caught it, we could have something to eat. Unexpectedly, I was careless and fell into a huge pit.
It was a hunting trap.
When I woke up, I was lying in a warm bed.
A bearded man was patting Chen Qingye’s shoulder with a smile. He trembled under the pat but still tried to hold back his laughter.
“Miss, you’re awake? Your husband was really worried about you.”
A gentle woman helped me up and fed me some water.
“Thank you.”
She waved her hand. “Don’t mention it. The trap was set by our family. We’re really sorry for hurting you.”
I said it was okay.
“Qiushui, does it hurt?” Chen Qingye turned to look at me, seemingly very worried about my leg.
“It’s okay.”
He sat down beside me, looking worried. “Your bone was almost broken. You still say it’s okay.”
I was thinking about something else.
“It won’t delay our journey.”
I propped myself up with my arms, trying to get up, but he pushed me down with a cold face.
“Rest for a while before leaving.”
The woman also came forward to persuade me. “You should take good care of your leg. Otherwise, you’ll have problems with it in the future.”
“Miss, you can stay here at ease. It’s not too late to leave after the New Year.”
After the New Year, when spring comes, the road will be easier to walk, and there are some living things in the mountains. We won’t have to live so hard.
I thought for a long time and then said okay.
“Then we’ll trouble you. By the way, sister,” I added with a smile, “we’re not husband and wife. We’re siblings.”
“My little brother is shy. Don’t make him embarrassed.”
Chen Qingye’s face darkened, and he went out to chop wood without saying a word.
“Ah? It was the young master himself who said you were husband and wife…”
We always felt a little embarrassed to eat and live in someone else’s house for free.
So during the day, Chen Qingye would go hunting in the mountains with the bearded man, and I would do some needlework with the sister.
At night, Chen Qingye and I slept in the same room.
“Your leg is hurt. It’s not good to trouble sister. I can take care of you.”
I frowned and objected. “There should be a proper distance between a man and a woman.”
He slept in his clothes on the outside. “Call me if you need anything.”
…
Day by day passed until my leg was almost healed, and the New Year arrived.
The bearded man bought wine. The tough life of this month had made Chen Qingye a bit stronger. He sat opposite the bearded man, drinking cup after cup.
The sister whispered to me, “My husband has taught the young master many skills. You don’t have to worry about going hungry on the road.”
The couple were simple – hearted people. They knew we were on the run but didn’t ask too many questions. They were very considerate and gave us a lot. I was very grateful.
“Sister, thank you.”
“Hey! What are you thanking for!”
The bearded man drank too much and was carried back to the room by the sister, muttering. Chen Qingye also drank a lot. He sat straight at the table, looking at me.
I walked over and pulled him up. “Let’s go back to the room.”
He just sat there, not moving. He only asked me, “Qiushui, is it New Year’s Day today?”
I said yes.
“Then why aren’t there any fireworks?”
In previous years in the Chen Mansion, the young master would have been pulled to set off one round of fireworks after another. But now, in this wild mountain, where could we get fireworks for him?
But he stared at me, and I couldn’t say anything else. I pulled him outside to sober him up and took an unlit candle by the way.
I opened the fire – starter and coaxed him. “Light it. This is the firecracker.”
The drunk man was overly obedient. He obediently picked up the fire – starter and lit it, then watched the candle burn little by little.
He didn’t ask why it didn’t make a sound or why it wasn’t bright.
He just sat there until the candle completely burned out.
He turned to me and said, “Qiushui, Happy New Year.”
The night was dark, but his eyes were shining, like that crystal – clear gem.
So I leaned forward and gently held his hand and shook it.
“Happy New Year.”
7
After the seventh day of the first lunar month, we officially said goodbye to the couple.
The sister stuffed a big bag of food to me, and the bearded man pulled Chen Qingye, asking him to come back and visit often.
The sister insisted on giving me the money from selling her embroidery, and the bearded man also gave Chen Qingye the money from his hunting.
We couldn’t refuse, so we just said that if we had the chance, we would definitely repay them.
Even though we all knew that the repayment was far away, we still made the promise.
Chen Qingye stuffed all the money into my pocket and patted it casually.
“Take it well.”
On the fifteenth day, Chen Qingye pulled me into the city despite my protest. He said, “There are lanterns today.”
I didn’t really like watching lanterns, but he was so excited that I didn’t object.
I have to say that the lanterns at the fair were really beautiful. I just looked at the rabbit lantern with moving ears for a while, and then I painstakingly spent 100 copper coins on it.
I regretted it and quietly complained about Chen Qingye.
“Young master, we’re not what we used to be now.”
He stood in the crowd, frowning and asking me, “Don’t you think it’s strange to call me young master now?”
We were wearing coarse – cloth clothes, and our faces were full of the wind and frost from the journey. Calling him like this… indeed seemed a bit strange.
I whispered, “I won’t call you that in the future.”
“Then what will you call me?”
I thought for a while. “Hey!”
Chen Qingye ignored me all night.
Before leaving the city, he bought a horse and then went to the post station to send a letter.
Presumably, it was to express his lovesickness to Miss Zhou.
Looking at the rabbit lantern in my hand, I thought that it was indeed a by – the – way thing.
After leaving the city, Chen Qingye asked me to get on the horse, and he led the horse and walked in front.
“Why don’t you get on?”
“This horse isn’t a valuable one. It can’t carry two people to the northern border.”
I covered the horse’s ears and said to him, “Then we’ll take turns riding.”
He sneered. “Stop talking nonsense. Just ride obediently.”
The young master had some money and regained his young – master temper. I stopped talking to him and just walked quietly.
I whispered to him, “Are you close to your uncle?”
“I don’t even remember what he looks like.”
“…Then can he take us in?”
Chen Qingye turned his face to look at me and said yes.
I was still worried. I thought the northern border was cold and bitter, and no one would spend money on my embroidery. When would I be able to save up ten taels of silver? The prices were rising very fast.
Just as I was thinking…
“Whoosh!”
An arrow narrowly passed my cheek and was firmly nailed into the tree trunk in front.
It was the pursuers!
I instinctively protected Chen Qingye, but he turned over and blocked me behind him.
“Giddyup!”
The horse under us got the order and ran like crazy. I was so jolted that I wanted to vomit.
“Young master… two people can’t run far…”
Chen Qingye didn’t hesitate much. He threw away the horse and grabbed my hand, running.
“Quiet. Let’s find a cave to hide.”
I said okay, lifted my left leg, which was faintly hurting again, and quietly followed him.
“Young master, if we’re discovered, I’ll lead them away. You go first.”
I took off the money – bag on my body and handed it to him, but he didn’t take it.
“Wen Qiushui, I’ll only say this once. We’ll go together.”
He was just a little boy five years younger than me, but what he said carried a tone that couldn’t be refused.
I thought this might be the growth brought about by heartbreak.
After a night, we crawled out of the cave. I didn’t dare to enter the city again, but Chen Qingye insisted on buying a horse.
I refused stubbornly, so he carried me.
Lying on his back, I thought he had really become an adult.
Finally, we were still caught up with. Fortunately, we were already at the border of the northern border.
We could see the tall horses standing in front from afar. The people behind no longer hoped to catch us.
I turned my head to look and saw the leader pulling the bow full.
The next second, the arrow flew towards Chen Qingye with a menacing look as if it was bound to draw blood.
I don’t know where I got the strength. I stepped forward and pushed him down, pressing him tightly under me.
“Whoosh.”
It was still my unlucky left leg.
The pain was so intense that I couldn’t speak.
8
Chen Qingye was right. His uncle hardly saw him.
Except for the first time, when he picked us up like chicks, threw us in the side room, and simply treated my wound, he never came again.
But I had a high fever.
I still remembered to give him the money – bag.
Chen Qingye stuffed the money – bag back to me and went to kneel in front of the main hall alone for a day.
He managed to get two doctors, one to see him and one to see me.
Fortunately, we were both lucky enough to survive.
But my leg often hurt.
I didn’t know what Chen Qingye had said to his uncle. After I woke up and saw him once, I rarely saw him.
But he would come back at night and sleep in his clothes on the outside of my bed.
“Chen Qingye.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you go out and fight every day?”
He turned over and faced me. “What do you want to say?”
“You smell strongly of medicine.”
He closed his eyes again. “That’s the medicine smell on you.”
“How could it be! It’s clearly you!”
Chen Qingye lost his patience. “Do you want to eat crab – roe cakes?”
“…Yes.”
“Okay. I’ll bring you some tomorrow.”
The northern border was cold and bitter, with people eating meat and drinking wine. Where could there be crab – roe cakes? It was just a way for Chen Qingye to make me shut up.
I kicked him hard to vent my anger. Just as I was about to withdraw my leg, he caught it.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
He gently pinched my calf. “Don’t get hurt again, Qiushui.”
My body stiffened. I silently withdrew my leg and turned around to sleep.
The next day, a small plate of delicate crab – roe cakes was placed on my table, and there was also a little girl standing beside the cakes.
She said her name was Xiaohe.
“The young master asked me to take care of you, miss. Just tell me if you want anything!”
I asked her where Chen Qingye went every day.
The little girl whispered, “The young master gets beaten every day.”
I sat back at the table and didn’t respond to Xiaohe’s words to go and see him. Since he didn’t want me to see him, I wouldn’t go.
“Miss, try the crab – roe cakes. The young master knocked on every door in the neighborhood to find a chef who can make this trendy pastry.”
“Is this made by the chef?”
Xiaohe secretly smiled. “It was made by the young master.”
In the evening, I told Chen Qingye that the crab – roe cakes were delicious and casually asked him when I could move out.
Chen Qingye bent down to carefully examine the wound on my leg. “There’s no extra room.”
“Then I’ll live with Xiaohe.”
Chen Qingye frowned again. “What do you want to live there for?”
“Now you don’t need me to wake you up for school or serve you. What are we living together for?”
Chen Qingye clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, “You haven’t paid back the ten taels of silver you owe me.”
I said I knew.
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Whatever!”
Chen Qingye lay on the bed, saying impatiently.
When summer came, I could get out of bed and walk a little. Chen Qingye would also come back at noon.
He would lean against the railing and tell me to walk around the yard.
He had grown more. His originally beautiful eyes had gained more sharpness from the training ground.
When he stood in front of me, he was a full head taller than me.
“Do you seem to have grown a bit taller?”
He seemed to be smiling. “I’ll grow even taller.”
Then he easily picked me up and placed me on the porch. “Don’t walk for too long. It’s not good for your recovery.”
He always had a strong smell of medicine on him. Xiaohe said he was always seriously injured.
“Chen Qingye, is your uncle really your blood – related uncle?”
How could he treat people like this.
He smiled and handed me a delicate small knife.
The blade came out of the sheath, and the light was dazzling.
“Qiushui, happy birthday.”
I thought he really wasn’t good at giving gifts. Why didn’t he give me a piece of colorful jade?
9
Chen Qingye was beaten on the training ground for almost half a year. When he officially went to the battlefield, he was still very scared.
After vomiting, he had a fever.
He was sleeping restlessly. I kept putting ice – cold handkerchiefs on his forehead, but his body temperature still didn’t drop.
I was really worried and asked Xiaohe to find a doctor, but was told that the general didn’t allow anyone to call a doctor.
The general was Chen Qingye’s uncle.
I was so angry that I rushed straight to the main hall.
Chen Zhuo was sitting on the upper seat, looking at me calmly.
“Wen Qiushui, right?”
I stood there, gritting my teeth, not saluting.
He smiled slightly. “We all approved of your marriage with Qingye.
“But things change. You’ve accompanied Qingye all the way, which is more than enough. By now, you should leave here.”
I felt like I was splashed with a basin of cold water and didn’t know what to say.
“I… I’ll leave when he gets better.”
“She’s not leaving!”
I suddenly turned my head. The man who seemed to be on the verge of death just now was standing by the door frame, holding on to it.
His face was flushed, but what he said was beyond doubt.
“She’s not leaving!”
Chen Zhuo put the cup down heavily. “Don’t forget what you promised me!”
“Yes! I said I would go to the battlefield like a man! I would return to the capital! And clear my parents’ names!”
Chen Qingye staggered and knelt down beside me.
“Wen Qiushui is coming with me.”
He raised his eyes to look at the person on the upper seat and said, “Wen Qiushui has to be with me.”
“Qingye, those who achieve great things can’t have weaknesses. Do you understand?”
Chen Qingye stood up, pulling my hand. He said softly, “Uncle, I’ll get better soon.
“I’ll do everything I promised you.”
Chen Qingye was burning hot, and he still unreasonably accused me.
“Who told you to come out and meet him by yourself?”
I was worried about him and also really angry, so I didn’t say a word.
He got even angrier. “Cough! Cough! Cough! Are you listening to me!”
“I heard you, young master. Don’t be angry.”
Chen Qingye’s eyes seemed to pop out, but he really had no strength. He could only fall back on the bed and say to me, “Wen Qiushui!”
I leaned closer to listen.
“Does your leg hurt?”
“It’s a cloudy day today.”
I suddenly felt a bit of a nose – twitch. I lifted the quilt and got in.
“You’re burning like a stove, young master.”
He said slowly, “Oh, then I’ll warm you up.”
We hugged each other and had a good sleep. We didn’t wake up until Xiaohe called him to get up and drink medicine.
He was a bit embarrassed.
“Did I talk nonsense?”
I said yes. “You called for your mother in your dream.”
“Do I look like Madam Chen?”
Chen Qingye became angry from embarrassment. “My mother! She’s so beautiful!”
“Got it! Drink your medicine!”
I said resentfully.
After settling him to sleep, I still got up and opened the door for Chen Zhuo.
The man sized me up in the moonlight. After a long while, he smiled. “Qiushui, you really look like your mother.
I looked up at him. “I’m not leaving.”
Chen Zhuo didn’t mind my rudeness. He smiled and said, “I, my younger brother, my sister – in – law, and your mother grew up together.
“When your mother was your age, she also insisted on marrying the man she loved. You’re really like her, not giving up until you hit the wall.
He continued, “Qiushui, the path Qingye has chosen is too hard and tiring. Staying by his side won’t be easy for you.
He looked at me with a smile, as if looking at someone else.
“Compared to Qingye, I care more about… your life.
“Living an easier life, as your mother expected of you, isn’t that good?”
I shook my head. “I want to stay by his side.”
Chen Zhuo was silent for a long time. There were stars in his eyes that I couldn’t understand.
After a while, he laughed softly.
“Well, that’s fine too.
“For people living a life of danger, having some concerns is a good thing.
He stared at me for a long time. Until I looked up impatiently, he finally turned around.
It was like saying goodbye to a long – distant dream.
He said, “If you encounter difficulties, come to the northern border to find me.”
10
After a serious illness, Chen Qingye became the decisive young master on the battlefield.
He was no longer being beaten. I could also go to the training ground to watch him practice martial arts.
The next year, the barbarians invaded. The emperor sent the crown prince to lead the army, which shocked the whole court.
People said that the emperor favored the fifth prince and the crown prince had already lost power.
The barbarians were fierce, and the crown prince was weak. This time, it seemed that there was more danger than hope.
In this big battle, Chen Qingye broke two ribs and was shot in the chest. He firmly protected the crown prince behind him.
When he was carried back, his whole body was covered in blood. I could hardly see his face.
Xiaohe held me back tightly from behind, not allowing me to go forward.
“Miss, you can’t go now. Let the doctor take a look first.”
My mind was in a mess. I said no, I had to go in.
“The smell of blood is too strong, miss. You can’t go!”
Chen Zhuo came out. “Let her in.
“Qiushui, call him.”
I lay beside the bed, not daring to touch him at all. He seemed to have stopped breathing, and there was more blood on him than I had ever seen in my life.
“Pat, pat.”
My tears fell on him.
“Chen Qingye…”
“Don’t scare me…”
“Open your eyes and look at me. I’m Qiushui.”
I said a lot of things in a muddle. Going around in circles, I still said, “I still owe you ten taels of silver. Don’t die.”
“Qingye, Qingye… Open your eyes and look at me.”
Don’t leave, don’t leave me.
The doctor used ginseng soup to keep him alive. I stayed by the bed all night until dawn.
The man on the bed coughed up blood bubbles again.
My tears streamed down. Just as I was about to call someone, he hooked my finger.
I leaned closer to listen.
“Wen Qiushui… I… I tore my pants, and you still remember. You’re really… petty.”
The second day I moved into the Chen family, the young master set a trap and watched me fall into it. But before I even walked over, he fell out of the tree, tore his pants, and ran back to the room alone.
I laughed at him for a long time.
Laughing until today.
“Ten taels of silver, you also remember… Stingy.”
“The osmanthus cakes were especially bought for you.”
My tears stopped.
Chen Qingye slightly raised his hand and touched my lips.
He said, “Qiushui, I’m sorry.
“I should have treated you better.
“Later… I’ll make it up.
“Make it all up to you.”
My tears couldn’t stop flowing. I wanted to ask him if I didn’t have to pay back the ten taels of silver, if I didn’t have to leave, if…
Did he like me too?
But he woke up for too short a time, and I couldn’t ask a single question.
But the lake in my heart no longer rained. It melted into a small gem, shining brightly.
Chen Qingye recuperated for half a year. Although it was called recuperating, he started going out every day as soon as he could get out of bed, and I didn’t know what he was busy with.
He would come back for dinner at night.
On the day of his seventeenth birthday, I gave him a peace amulet.
I made it stitch by stitch with my own hands, and knelt in front of the Buddha, praying for the gods to bless him.
Hoping he would be safe.
Chen Qingye solemnly put it in the inner pocket of his chest, then said to me, “Qiushui, I won’t make you wait too long.”
I said okay.
We spent another New Year together, with Chen Zhuo.
Chen Qingye said that his uncle had been alone for many years, and at first, he didn’t mean to make things difficult for us.
But he only said these two good words for Chen Zhuo, and he didn’t even stay for an extra second.
This year, he gave me a small sleeve arrow.
“Do you like it?”
He didn’t even look at me, just stuffed the gift into my hand and then ran to the window to look at the scenery.
As if he didn’t care about my answer at all.
He taught me again and again until I shot a rabbit for the first time.
He bent down and kissed my lips lightly.
“Qiushui, you’re amazing.”
I stood there, at a loss, suspecting that my heart was malfunctioning. It was beating so fast.
The next year, the emperor was seriously ill. The fifth prince rebelled. The crown prince sent a pigeon – letter, ordering Chen Qingye to return to the capital to save the emperor.
They won a great victory. The emperor passed away, and the crown prince ascended the throne smoothly.
Chen Qingye was promoted and given a higher rank.
This year, he was nineteen years old, and I was twenty – four years old.
Xiaohe and I sat in the carriage, dreaming leisurely.
Chen Qingye would lift the curtain from time to time to look at me, and I would look at him in a daze.
“Young master.”
He still had a cold look. “Don’t sleep so much. You’ll get stupid.”
I thought he wasn’t as cute as when he was a child, but I didn’t care about it.
In a few months, we arrived in the capital.
We moved into the original courtyard of the Chen Mansion. The emperor even bestowed the adjacent courtyard to Chen Qingye, making him extremely prestigious.
The next day after we settled down, Xiaohe told me that rumors were spreading all over the capital.
“They said! The young master is going to get married!”
“It’s the Zhou family’s girl! Zhou Meisheng!”
I was stunned.
Raindrops crackled down. It was already spring.
11
I wanted to talk to Chen Qingye, but he was really busy. Now he didn’t even sleep in the same room with me at night.
I finally blocked him at the door, but could only see his tired eyes and brows.
“Something?”
I summoned up my courage and asked him, “Where do you sleep?”
He smiled, lowered his head, and whispered in my ear, “Qiushui, there should be a distinction between men and women.”
I watched him walk out of the door, and he didn’t come back for several days.
During these days, I met an acquaintance.
“Miss Zhou.”
“Miss Wen.”
Zhou Meisheng was even more beautiful. She said gently, “Miss Wen, you have kindness to Qingye, but kindness is always just kindness. Do you understand?”
I didn’t understand, but since she was sitting here telling me this, she must understand.
So I nodded.
She still smiled. “Now my father is the prime minister. It’s also the emperor’s will for me to marry in. But Miss Wen, I will treat you well.
“You were… not unkind to me before.”
She slightly turned sideways, and I saw the familiar jade that made my eyes sore hanging from her waist.
Crystal – clear, just like before.
I don’t remember how I sent her out and how I sat at the table in a daze.
I hadn’t seen Chen Qingye for a long time. I no longer remembered that he had said he wouldn’t make me wait too long. Was it to wait for him to express his feelings to me, or was it that I could leave when he restored his official position?
Now I thought it was the latter.
Xiaohe brought me dinner. She was a bit worried. “Miss, the young master must have his difficulties.”
I smiled. “Yes.”
What difficulties did Chen Qingye have?
I had mistaken our years of kindness for love. He just couldn’t say no.
I had been wrong all along.
“Xiaohe, isn’t the young master coming back tonight either?”
Xiaohe hesitated for a long time before saying, “The young master, he went to the Zhou Mansion tonight.”
“Miss, let’s go to bed early.”
I fell asleep in a daze. I wasn’t at ease in my dream. I felt a heavy weight on my heart, as if a big rock was pressing on it.
It was so heavy that I couldn’t breathe. When I opened my eyes, I saw a handsome face close at hand.
“Young master…”
Chen Qingye wasn’t awake yet, and I couldn’t push him away.
“Chen Qingye!”
He opened his eyes sleepily and asked me what was wrong.
“I have something to say.”
He stretched out his hand and held my left leg, gently kneading it.
“Say it.”
“You’re going to get married.”
“Hmm.”
“I want to leave.”
Chen Qingye’s hand suddenly stopped. He opened his eyes and asked me, “Leave? Where to?”
I pulled my leg out and sat up straight to look at him.
“You asked me to leave five years ago. Don’t you remember?”
Chen Qingye’s breathing quickened a bit.
“I had already told Madam Chen back then. She said that if I wanted to leave, I could leave at any time.”
“Wen Qiushui!”
I interrupted him. “Later, I went to the northern border with you. You don’t need to be grateful to me. Madam Chen begged me to do this.
“The Chen family has kindness to me. It’s right for me to repay the Chen family and treat you well.”
He suddenly lifted the quilt and stood up. “Fine! Wen Qiushui, you’re just repaying me, right?”
I closed my eyes. “Since I came to the Chen family, I’ve received five years of protection and kindness from the Chen family. From the northern border to the capital, I’ve accompanied you for another five years.
“We should be even.”
My voice got smaller and smaller because Chen Qingye looked like he was about to be made to cry by me.
He clenched his fists until they creaked, and he seemed to be steaming with anger.
“Wen Qiushui, don’t even think about it. As long as I’m alive, you’ll never leave this door!”
I was also a bit angry.
“Why do you get to decide everything! You say I should leave, so I have to leave. You say I should stay, so I have to stay. What you say never counts!”
“You said we should be like siblings, and you would give me your private money, buy me a house, and a piece of forest.
“You’ve forgotten all about it!”
With tears welling up in grievance, I said, “You’ve forgotten every word you said.”
Chen Qingye was obviously very angry with me. He said something without thinking.
“Yes! You remember all these! Then what about what you said? You’ve forgotten that too!”
“What did I say!”
“You promised to leave only after paying back the money! You owe me ten taels of silver!”
I looked at him, biting my teeth, and said word by word, “I’ll pay you back!”
Then I wanted to cry again. Now he was a favorite of the emperor, and he still wanted my ten taels of silver.
He was the stingy one.
Chen Qingye stared at me. Seeing that I was about to get out of bed to find the silver, he quickly stepped forward and grabbed me back onto the bed with one hand.
He said fiercely, “Wen Qiushui!”
“We’ll talk about it when we come back.”
On that day, he led the troops to go on an expedition. It lasted for five months, and he just came back today.
12
I felt warm all over and had a good sleep, which was rare.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Chen Qingye staring straight at me.
I moved back a little.
“Why are you always looking at me?”
He reached out his hand to touch my forehead. “Xiaohe said you were seriously ill. Wen Qiushui, you can’t even take care of yourself. Where else do you want to go?”
I slapped his hand away. “I can take care of myself! I’ve always been the one taking care of you!”
He wasn’t angry. “Then why did you get sick?”
…
I was at a loss for words for a moment.
“Wen Qiushui, you’re not going anywhere.”
Chen Qingye pressed his forehead against mine and touched it. “Just stay by my side.”
I had nowhere to retreat. “You’re going to get married.”
“Hmm, marry you.”
Chen Qingye raised his head, and I saw those clear eyes again.
Different from before, they were filled with me.
He said, “I said I wouldn’t make you wait too long.”
I stared at him, speechless.
“Wen Qiushui, you always look down on me.”
He was really a bit dissatisfied. “Is it because I was not sensible when I was young and treated you badly, so you want to look down on me for the rest of your life?”
Maybe feeling that his attitude was not good, he came closer and kissed me.
Muttering, he said, “Qiushui, don’t leave me.”
He said, “I might have liked Zhou Meisheng once, but I love you.
“I won’t marry anyone else. The only one who can be my wife is you.”
“Pat.”
Another raindrop fell. This time, it didn’t fall in my heart but at the corner of my eye.
“But Zhou Meisheng said you only have feelings of gratitude towards me.”
“You believe whatever she says?” Chen Qingye loudly expressed his dissatisfaction. “Why don’t you believe what I say?”
I was even more annoyed. “You also said I was ugly!”
He smiled softly and came closer to say sweet words.
“My wife is extremely beautiful. I wish to put on makeup for you every day.”
The autumn rain had stopped long ago.
I heard Chen Qingye say softly, “Qiushui, let’s get married.”
I said okay.
Chen Qingye, don’t make me wait anymore.
When spring arrived, Chen Qingye lifted my red veil and called me his wife.
We went to worship the ancestors together. Chen Qingye knelt in front of the graves of his parents in the Chen family and said that he had grown up.
“Mother, don’t worry. I will treat Qiushui well.”
Chen Qingye’s uncle sent extremely generous wedding gifts. In the letter, it was written that they were only added to my dowry.
Chen Qingye didn’t seem to have any dissatisfaction.
“Anyway, I’ll rely on my wife to manage the family from now on. If my wife gives me money, I’ll spend it. If not, I’ll just starve to death.”
I laughed at him for being a rascal, and he kissed me.
“Qiushui, don’t get sick again.”
I said okay.
He pressed my left leg again. “Don’t get hurt again either.”
I put my palm on his chest and said the same words, “You too, don’t get hurt again.”
He told everyone to go out, then hugged me and rolled onto the bed.
“Qiushui, I promise you.
“For you, I will definitely come back alive.”
In the autumn of the same year, Prime Minister Zhou was reported for embezzlement and bribery. The amount was so huge that it shocked the whole court.
Zhou Meisheng sent letters one after another, each word sincere, saying that she only hoped to be a peaceful concubine and begged me to be magnanimous.
Chen Qingye tore up all the letters. Then, one late night, he came back and only said that he had solved the trouble.
Prime Minister Zhou was beheaded in public. The male members of the Zhou family were exiled, and the female members were sent to brothels. Only Zhou Meisheng was quietly removed from the list and sent to the distant south.
We met once before she left the city. She was a bit down – and – out, but her beauty still couldn’t be concealed.
I gave her some money and wished her a safe journey.
She held back her tears and thanked me. Then she asked Chen Qingye, “If I hadn’t told my father your whereabouts back then, would you not hate me so much?”
Chen Qingye sighed helplessly. “Meisheng, when I sent you the letter, I made it very clear. Our relationship has ended. The road ahead is long. I have Qiushui by my side. Even if the future is long, please forget our promise and choose another husband.
“I never hated you, and I never thought of marrying you again.
“Meisheng, the friendship we had when we were young, this is all I can do. The road ahead is long. Take care of yourself.”
On the way back in the carriage, I was sulking alone. Chen Qingye held my hand and asked, “Why are you still unhappy?”
I pinched his arm. “Why didn’t you give me such a beautiful jade? Why do you only give me ugly swords and daggers!”
I was so angry. “Obviously, your love isn’t that deep. All your words are useless!”
He smiled and pinched my face. “Wen Qiushui, you’re so unreasonable.”
I turned around and ignored him.
He put his chin on my shoulder, and his voice was a bit distant.
“Qiushui, you’re my root.
“As long as you’re alive, I’m alive.
“I only have you.”
I lowered my head and didn’t look at him. He gently pressed his face against mine.
“Qiushui, don’t be angry anymore.
“Long, long ago, we were each other’s only one.”
Long, long ago, I loved you.
**Extra Chapter: Chen Qingye’s Perspective**
After returning to the capital, it was even more annoying than in the northern border. There were so many rumors in the capital. I couldn’t sleep with Wen Qiushui until I married her.
Sleeping in a cold bed at night was really hard.
Fortunately, I wouldn’t have to wait too long.
I wanted to tell Wen Qiushui that we would be together forever when it got a little warmer.
But there are so many annoying people in this world.
Like the emperor.
After the crown prince became the emperor, he was no longer my good brother. Chen Zhuo had already reminded me of this.
He was the second most annoying person. Let’s not talk about him for now.
Back to the emperor, I can understand that he is no longer my good brother.
But I can’t understand that he hopes I marry Zhou Meisheng to stabilize the court.
I entered the palace and waited for him in front of the main hall.
Kneeling.
I knelt for a whole day, and he finally condescended to let me in and kneel again.
…
“Your Majesty, I won’t marry!”
The emperor looked a bit helpless. The throne was not easy to sit on. There were traces of vicissitudes on his young face.
He rubbed his forehead. “Qingye, don’t make things difficult for me.
“This is just a temporary measure. I’ve made it clear to you! The position Zhou Cheng holds now isn’t something I can decide at will!”
I knelt on the ground, listening to him throw an object at me, hitting my shoulder hard.
It hurt, but I didn’t dodge.
“Your Majesty, I won’t marry.”
He seemed really helpless.
“I know you like Miss Wen. Miss Wen isn’t an unreasonable person. Marry Zhou Meisheng as a co – wife. After a few years, when things are settled, you can divorce her. Isn’t that okay?
“Just a woman is making you so hesitant!”
I raised my head and said to him seriously, “Your Majesty, I can’t marry Zhou Meisheng.
“Wen Qiushui isn’t just a woman to me.
“I have feelings of gratitude, affection, and appreciation for her, and I’m also guilty. More importantly, I love her.
“Your Majesty, I’ve told you that when I was young, I liked Zhou Meisheng. But to me, she was like a fairy in the sky. I wanted to hold her, dress her up, and give her all the good things.
“But that was too illusory. It would break at a touch. Qiushui is different. Qiushui is my root.
“I grew on her and became what I am today.
“Without her, there would be no me. I can give her everything, including my life.
“Your Majesty, Qiushui is everything to me.
“If I marry Zhou Meisheng, although Qiushui won’t say anything, she will definitely be unhappy in her heart. I’m afraid of my wife. I don’t want to make her unhappy.”
I smiled and straightened up, saying to the person on the throne, “Your Majesty! I won’t marry! If you insist on me marrying, I’ll hit my head against this main hall pillar and die today!”
The emperor was furious and pointed at my nose, scolding, “You’re threatening me!”
I stood up and aimed at the pillar. “I’m ready!”
“Guards!”
Two or three little eunuchs came up and held me tightly.
“Drag him out and beat him hard for me!”
The little eunuch asked cautiously, “How many boards, Your Majesty…”
“Beat until there’s blood! Beat until he can’t get up! Beat until he can’t threaten me anymore!”
The emperor rarely got angry. I was severely beaten and bled a lot.
The servant boy following me had red eyes. “General, you’re so badly injured. Miss Wen will definitely be heartbroken.”
I grabbed him tightly. “Don’t say anything!”
“Carry me to the manor to rest. The injury will heal after some rest. Don’t tell Wen Qiushui.”
She was so fond of crying. If she knew, she would cry again.
My beating wasn’t in vain. A few days later, the emperor issued an order sending me to fight.
If I won, I didn’t have to get married.
This battle was very difficult for me. When I set off, my injury hadn’t healed, and I was also very angry with Wen Qiushui.
I threw the pen, angry at the stack of letters in front of me.
“Wen Qiushui didn’t even write me a single letter?”
The people around me didn’t dare to answer.
I was really worried. If she didn’t write me a letter, how could I send out my fifty letters?
On the day I won the battle, the servant boy finally came up with an idea.
He said, “General, have you ever told Madam that you like her?”
I was shocked. “Can Wen Qiushui not even feel this?”
The servant boy laughed. He said, “General, Madam may be waiting.
“Waiting for you to say this.”
I suddenly understood. Coincidentally, the first autumn rain came. I hurriedly packed up the battlefield and rushed home.
Someone behind me shouted at me, “General, why are you in such a hurry to go?”
I held fifty family letters and ran on the road.
I said, “Go home!”
Go home and tell my wife: I like you.
Don’t wait anymore.
I won’t make you wait anymore.
– End –
