HXC Chapter57

The dry and bleak autumn wind blew the wind chimes in front of the tent, making a crisp clinking sound.

 

“Ji An, hurry up.”

 

Under the pale sun, Ji Zhen stepped out of the tent wearing a long purple and white robe with a cross-collar print. He had a white fox fur scarf wrapped around his neck, a fur hat on his head, and long boots. This outfit made him look like the young master of a wealthy nomadic family on the grasslands.

 

While he was stroking the fluffy fox fur and waiting for Ji An, he saw his elder brother walking over from a distance and called out crisply, “Gege!”

 

A few days ago, Jiang Yunyu and his elder brother told him that there was an acrobatics show at the market. Ji Zhen loved to join in on the fun, so he immediately decided to go watch. He woke up at dawn to get ready. Tonight, he would be staying at an inn in the market, and he was also going to see the sunrise in the Gobi Desert early tomorrow morning, so he wouldn’t be in the military camp for these two days.

 

Ji Jue stepped forward to straighten his crooked hat brim and then said to the two men next to him, “I’ll trouble you two to watch over him.”

 

The market was a place with many people and distractions, so Ji Zhen always had guards with him whenever he went out alone.

 

Ji An rushed out of the tent. “Young Master, I’m ready.”

 

When Ji Zhen saw him, Ji An had two braids and was wearing a round hat, looking very adorable and silly. Ji Zhen couldn’t help but burst into laughter. He grabbed the end of a braid and said, “You didn’t braid this well. Let me redo it for you…”

 

Ji Jue looked at the sky and said, “Zhen Zhen, it’s getting late. If you go any later, you might not get a good spot.”

 

Ji Zhen then gave up the idea of re-braiding Ji An’s hair, said goodbye to his elder brother, and happily rode his horse out of the military camp.

 

As soon as he left, Jiang Yunyu, who was hiding behind another tent, walked out and mused, “We deliberately sent him away. If he finds out, he’ll probably blame us.”

 

Today, not only was there a lively event at the market, but there were also guests arriving at the military camp.

 

Ji Jue watched the figure disappear into the distance. “There’s no need to let him feel any more sadness.”

 

The list of imperial officials sent to Khitan had been delivered to them long ago, but no one expected Shen Yanqing’s name to be on it.

 

Back then, Jiang Yunyu defied the imperial decree in Nanyuan to protect his family line. He led 5,000 elite soldiers to defend against 30,000 cavalry. There were several times he felt he was going to die on the battlefield, truly a one-in-a-hundred chance of survival. Later, his family in the capital became the bargaining chip used to control him, and he was forced to be stationed in the desert without being able to return.

 

Shen Yanqing was involved in both of these events. Although Jiang Yunyu knew that in a struggle between two parties, one must lose, he still couldn’t view Shen Yanqing without considering their political opposition, not to mention that their relationship was more than just political enemies…

 

Shen Yanqing’s visit this time was perplexing. Jiang Yunyu and Ji Jue were irreconcilably opposed to him. If he were in the capital, he would still have the power to contend with them, but in the desert, Jiang Yunyu could easily find a way to kill him. A person as sharp-witted as him couldn’t possibly be unaware of the danger of this trip, unless he was knowingly walking into a tiger’s den, having already put life and death out of his mind.

 

Ji Jue couldn’t guess Shen Yanqing’s purpose, but he also would not let Ji Zhen, who had just managed to start letting go, meet him. That was why he had sent Ji Zhen out of the military camp.

 

“Tomorrow, you’ll escort the envoys to Khitan. Zhen Zhen and I will stay at the military camp. You’ll act as the situation dictates.”

 

Originally, Ji Jue was supposed to travel with Jiang Yunyu, but with Shen Yanqing added to the mix, he didn’t dare to leave Ji Zhen alone here.

 

Jiang Yunyu nodded. “I understand.”

 

Their actions this time, whether they succeeded or failed, were not honorable, and they were suffering for it. Both of them looked solemn, and for a moment, they said nothing.

 

At the beginning of the Sishi[mfn]9-11 am[/mfn], the envoys’ carriages stopped in front of the military camp.

 

Shen Yanqing dismounted and walked steadily forward. He looked up and met the gaze of Jiang Yunyu, who stood in front of the camp in silver armor. His eyes were calm and indifferent, as if he had never had any conflict with Jiang Yunyu. His manners were also impeccable. He and the other two envoys bowed together. “Young General Jiang.”

 

Their eyes met for a moment and then looked away, with an undercurrent of tension.

 

A moment later, Jiang Yunyu raised his hand with a smile. “All lords, you’ve had a difficult journey. Please come into the tent to rest with this general.”

 

Shen Yanqing, who was standing on the far left, listened to the pleasantries and slowly looked around, not seeing the person he longed for. Yet, he still looked around with a hint of stubbornness.

 

Jiang Yunyu interrupted his search. “It seems Lord Shen is very interested in the military camp. Later, this general will have a subordinate show you around. However, the camp life is tough and not as prosperous as the capital. I’m afraid it might disappoint Lord Shen.”

 

Shen Yanqing heard the hidden meaning in his words and only said softly, “Thank you, Young General.”

 

After the reception, a soldier led Shen Yanqing on a tour of the military camp. Shen Yanqing walked on the rough sand, feeling every step that Ji Zhen had taken. His body, which had been depleted for a long time, seemed to be slowly filling up.

 

Every tent looked the same and had nothing special about it. The soldier gave a running commentary: “Lord Shen, this is the water trough in the camp. Water is scarce in the desert, and our brothers in the army transport water from the market every day…”

 

“The market?”

 

“That’s right. There’s even an acrobatics show at the market today.”

 

Shen Yanqing lowered his eyes without speaking, but his steps slowed down as he passed a certain tent.

 

A string of silver wind chimes was tied to the tent door, making a clear tinkling sound when the wind blew. The crisp sound added a touch of fun to the otherwise dull life of the military camp.

 

He suddenly couldn’t walk any further.

 

“This is Little Brother Qin’s tent. He is the best confidant of our General. It’s a pity he’s not in the camp today, or you would see how interesting the General’s interactions with him are. We brothers often secretly laugh and say that they are… flirt…” The soldier hissed and slapped his head. “Flirting with each other!”

 

Shen Yanqing’s hand, clasped in his sleeve, clenched slightly.

 

The soldier noticed him standing still and was about to speak when he suddenly looked into the distance and called out, “Master Qin.”

 

Shen Yanqing turned around and saw Ji Jue standing in the wind and sand.

 

The outside of this tent was no different from the others, but the inside was a different world.

 

On a long table were mud dolls of various sizes and colors such as red, yellow, green, and orange. They were all plump and round, and a few had mustaches drawn on them with ink, looking both adorable and funny. The tent walls were decorated with many colorful pictures, and strands of braided silk hung from the top of the tent. Such bright colors shouldn’t have appeared in the drab military camp, but when one thought about who the owner of the tent was, everything seemed to make perfect sense.

 

Shen Yanqing’s eyes were burning as he examined the room inch by inch, as if afraid of missing the slightest detail.

 

He stroked the wooden table, and his fingers slowly curled into a half-fist. Before Ji Jue could speak, he said calmly, “Lord Ji, there’s something that has confused me for a long time. I hope you can clear it up for me.”

 

—

 

The market was packed with people, and the noise was deafening.

 

An acrobat spat out a mouthful of fiery liquor, and the torch in his hand suddenly shot up three zhang[mfn]Around 10 meters[/mfn] high, illuminating the night.

 

The crowd gathered in the wide space constantly cheered, and Ji Zhen was no exception. The firelight made his cheeks flush slightly, and his eyes were full of smiles.

 

The desert nights were chilly, and few people went out, but these acrobats were from the capital and were so skilled that they attracted herdsmen from all directions. The entire market was still bustling with activity even after dark.

 

Ji Zhen’s hands were numb from clapping. He bit into a candied hawthorn that Ji An handed him, feeling as if he had returned to his time in the capital.

 

“Young Master, they have a ring toss game over there.”

 

Ji Zhen excitedly ran over and bought ten wooden rings with a few copper coins. He was a good hand at the pitch-pot game, and his skills for these kinds of “precision crafts” were also not bad. He won several bracelets in a row, which made the stall owner’s face turn as green as river water.

 

He put all three bracelets on his wrist at once, and they made a pleasant clinking sound as he walked.

 

The master and servant were having the time of their lives, while the two guards dared not slack off, following them closely.

 

The crowd grew denser. Ji Zhen, who was tired from walking, leaned against a wall to rest, his mouth still full of crunchy walnuts. His cheeks puffed out as he chewed, and he said indistinctly, “Ji An, you’re getting lazier and lazier. You’re already out of breath after just a few steps.”

 

Ji An was huffing and puffing. “Young Master, your energy is too boundless. Let’s rest a bit longer…”

 

Ji Zhen grabbed a handful of crushed nuts from his pouch and shoved them into Ji An’s hand. “I still want to win a rabbit to give to Gege. No more resting.”

 

After he finished speaking, he darted back into the crowd, and the guards and Ji An quickly followed.

 

Everywhere were people of different ethnicities with thick eyebrows and deep-set eyes, and laughter and joy filled the air.

 

A fine horse stopped outside the market, and the young man in a dark blue brocade robe attracted a lot of attention. Unlike the sturdy, native men of the wilderness, the newcomer was as elegant as a fairy, like a clear pearl in the light. Standing under the bright moon, he was a vision of beauty on his own.

 

The straightforward foreign girls brazenly looked at the guest from afar, praising him generously in their native language.

 

Shen Yanqing took a step into the sea of people. The deafening noise was almost palpable. He looked over people’s shoulders, searching for every unfamiliar face—ten, a hundred, even a thousand. He saw red-haired, green-eyed foreigners, graceful and delicate women, strong and robust men, and old people with wrinkled faces… but he could not find the person he had been yearning to see.

 

He had dreamt this too many times.

 

He searched and searched, only to find himself alone in the end.

 

He also remembered that day of the street parade. It was also crowded with people. Under the pale spring sun, he had only unintentionally looked down and remembered that pair of clear and bright eyes.

 

He couldn’t forget nor could he get rid of it.

 

Shen Yanqing could no longer remain calm. He squeezed through the dense crowd, trying to find a needle in a haystack.

 

Fifteen minutes passed, then half an hour, and the once-bustling market started to see tourists trickling away. Shen Yanqing looked at the people coming and going in front of him, feeling an unprecedented sense of helplessness.

 

Those destined to meet will come together even from a thousand miles apart; those not destined to meet will not recognize each other even when they were face-to-face.

 

He couldn’t find him; he couldn’t see him.

 

His only remaining hope also came to an empty end.

 

From a distance, a man came with a donkey cart. The bell on the donkey’s head made a clinking sound, adding a touch of clarity to the noisy market.

 

Shen Yanqing avoided the coming and going tourists and stepped back a few steps, but he accidentally bumped into a jumping young man behind him, and then he heard something fall to the ground.

 

A translucent jade bracelet fell next to his boot. He bent down to pick it up and held it out.

 

The person he bumped into staggered and steadied himself, then turned around. He was wearing a purple and white cross-collar robe with a white fox fur scarf. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and the smile on his face hadn’t faded yet. He had a pair of clear and bright eyes.

 

The noise faded away, and a gentle breeze stirred. On the crowded street, the two seemed to be under a spell and just standing still, their eyes flickering as they looked at the blurry figure who should only have appeared in a dream.

 

Though only a brief moment had passed in reality, it felt like an eternity.

 

Ji An caught up. “Young Master—”

 

Shen Yanqing’s fingertips trembled, and he finally found his voice, which had been locked away. “Your bracelet.”

 

Back then, he had given flowers during a street parade; tonight, he returned a bracelet in the busy market. It was in spring then and now it was autumn; morning then, night now.

 

As the saying goes, “When the Golden Wind and Jade Dew meet, they surpass countless moments on Earth[mfn]It describes a rare, perfect, and almost otherworldly union or moment that feels more precious and profound than anything mundane on Earth.[/mfn].”

 

The author has something to say:

Lord Shen (raising his chin): What else could this be but fate? My wife and I are destined to be lovers!