Chapter 254

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

In the fine rain of early spring, the triumphant army camped outside Hongnong Commandery; officials of the commandery invited the generals into the post station to rest and wash off the dust.

Hongnong Commandery was a place of outstanding people and spiritual land; the head of the Yan Clan of Hongnong, a clansman of the current Grand Chancellor Yan Mian, had drawn the founding emperor into his confidence and aided him at the very start of his uprising, thus enabling his later great achievements.

But the head of the Yan Clan and his wife died in battle midway through the Great Enterprise, leaving behind a young child, Yan Mian; this was why the late Emperor treated Yan Mian with special affection and regard, carefully cultivating and supporting him.

The Yan Clan still produced outstanding talents, Hongnong Commandery was prosperous and peaceful, and its post station was more imposing than those of ordinary prefectures and counties.

Commander-in-Chief Lu Ding had just entered the post station with his deputy generals and imperial guards when the governor of Hongnong Commandery came personally to welcome them and host a wind-receiving banquet for these meritorious officers.

A banquet was held in the station; the governor beamed, raised his cup repeatedly, first praised the army's valor, then said Commander Lu used troops like a god, and then, introduced by the deputy general, he looked at the two seated at the lower seat and exclaimed, "So these are the famed pair of young heroes, one martial and one literary!"

The governor examined them closely and saw that one was full of heroic spirit and the other proper and handsome, both of superior bearing; he could not help but praise again from the heart: "Such heaven-sent talents are truly the protection of the High Heaven for our Liu family's realm!"

This governor was also surnamed Liu, his blood relation to the current Liu family twisting through countless devious turns, yet he was skilled at currying favor, shamelessly climbing upward and never arrogant downward, and possessed genuine talent, forcibly gathering the favor of heaven, earth, and man to reach his present position.

Such a prefect naturally had discerning eyes and a shrewd mind; seeing these two fine young men now, he thought of his unmarried youngest daughter, who happened to be fastidious and fond of good looks...

He had long heard of these two youths' reputation; their performance in pacifying the Huaiyang Zheng Clan rebellion had been remarkable, and they had subsequently joined the war against Liang Guo, also establishing no small merit; they would surely have a future ahead—the only drawback was no family backing, no patron, but this was both bad and good, very suitable to be taken as a son-in-law.

The governor smiled kindly, like a benevolent elder: "I may be overstepping to ask, but I wonder if the two heroes have any marriage arrangements?"

Ji Jin hurriedly replied: "Reply to the prefect, this junior already has a marriage contract."

The governor nodded with some regret, then smiled at the other; before the youth could speak, Lu Ding spoke first: "This junior officer currently has no marriage contract, but after entering the capital there will likely soon be one—thank you, prefect, for your hospitality and concern; Lu Mou hereby raises this full cup to you!"

Lu Ding finished speaking and drained the cup; after drinking, he turned the bronze wine cup downward, not a drop remaining.

Sensing this food-protecting hint, the governor smiled on the surface but cursed Lu Ding inwardly as a greedy fellow, relying on proximity to gain advantage; having military merit was not enough, he also wanted to claim the person for himself—where was any justice?

Lu Ding had previously wanted to adopt Shan Gu as a godson, but was refused; and because their bond grew deeper afterward, he came up with this second-best idea—his household had two unmarried daughters and three nieces, all young people; surely one would catch his eye, and if none did, so be it; at least let his Lu family pick through five rounds first.

Lu Ding had long told Shan Gu his simple and crude idea; Shan Gu was now imagining the scene after returning to the capital, quite nervous and anxious, not knowing how to respond, and unconsciously drank two extra cups of steadying wine.

The rain stopped and the banquet dispersed; the governor, feeling regret, took his leave, and everyone went to rest; Ji Jin walked halfway, saw the last glow of sunset after the rain, and could not help but slow his steps.

He thought of that year in Xi Shan, when he and Jiang Sister had successfully rescued Stone Shan Gu from the cave; outside the cave the sunset was brilliant, his chest felt expansive, he wanted to write a poem but failed, so he cupped his hands by his mouth and let out a joyous cry, causing Jiang Sister, who focused on imitating human behavior, to follow and do the same.

Now that entering the capital was imminent, Ji Jin's chest felt expansive and surging, with endless longing and eager anticipation; seeing this sunset after rain, he could not help but feel the impulse to write a poem again; just as he had weighed the first line in his mind, his train of thought was disturbed by the lowered voices of a passing errand runner delivering things.

"Who exactly is coming? Those three don't look old; the station is busy right now, why did the station warden let people vacate rooms without a word..."

"They say they are traveling by order of a lord, only showed the marquis seal, did not reveal the destination, and the station warden is not allowed to pry or spread gossip..."

The questioner sensibly closed his mouth; the two walked away, and Ji Jin could not help thinking that near the capital region, indeed powerful nobles were everywhere.

And speaking of lords, Jiang Sister was also a lord, and a Heavenly Mechanism Lord of extraordinary significance.

When he first heard that Jiang Sister had become a great witch god, he was so astonished he could not sleep all night; afterward he wrote to the capital to convey his shock, but not long after, he heard of Jiang Sister's background and her possession of the Heavenly Mechanism, and then she was even ennobled and granted a fief...

He simply stopped writing letters; the speed of sending letters back and forth could not keep up with the speed of his astonishment, his amazement piled higher and higher, seeming so dense and cheap that it was no longer worth wasting brush, ink, letters, and the legs of wandering knights.

When he heard that Crown Prince Cheng plotted rebellion, the great witch god requested troops to take charge, and used the power of Heavenly Mandate to eliminate the Sixth Prince's congenital illness, Ji Jin was already in a half-numb, dazed state.

He was not a fool and knew such Heavenly Mandate matters often had human contrivance; after all, his teacher had previously made a plan to hype his reputation for him, and the fame of Shan Gu's general star appearing had initially been deliberately exaggerated; but Jiang Sister, with mortal power, created the phenomenon of Heavenly Mandate, dominated the succession of the heir and the affairs of the state—man-made Heavenly Mandate showed her ability all the more.

Thinking of this, Ji Jin's heart surged even more, and he could no longer focus on writing poetry.

As he walked to his lodging, he recalled his state of mind when he first left Taoxi Township; then he had lofty ambitions, wanting to govern water for the people and also seek a bright and stable position for his family and friends; he imagined he could one day be a county official like his father...

Who knew that after many twists and turns, Jiang Sister, Shan Gu, and A Jie all had achievements and gains, while he failed to become a pillar and instead became a lucky tree sheltered by that sky-supporting pillar Jiang Sister.

Looking back on this journey, whether himself, Shan Gu, or including A Jie, all had once been trapped in dire straits or even desperate situations; it was Jiang Sister who repeatedly rescued them, as if forcibly reversing their fate, making fate make them pity each other, and also making their fates completely connected.

Ji Jin felt there would be no knight more generous than Jiang Sister under heaven, and there would likely not be a deeper fate bond than that between the four of them.

In three days they could meet; after such a long separation, he did not know if Jiang Sister had grown taller again, if A Jie had changed, if Zhan Zhan still recognized him; what expressions would they have when they met? Were his aunt and uncle all well?

For the first time in his life, Ji Jin felt three days were so long; if not for having to follow the army, he only wished to travel without rest day and night, hurry along the road, until he saw the person he wanted to see.

In such a state of mind, Ji Jin came to the door of his lodging; as he was about to push the door open, his expression changed slightly; he withdrew his hand warily, turned sideways, held his breath, and listened to distinguish.

No longer as before, he had added much caution and perceptiveness; in the unlit room there were faint rustling sounds; after concentrating to distinguish for a moment, Ji Jin determined that there was indeed someone hiding in the room.

Not like an assassin; an assassin would hold his breath and hide until striking, not continuously make rustling noises; this was more like rummaging and stealing.

Ji Jin could not help but sink into thought and reflection—could it be that his fate was so plagued by black shops that even being in an official post station could not exempt him?

Reason told Ji Jin that this thief dared to act in an official station, avoiding many gazes to sneak into his room, must have some means; he should retreat and call soldiers and errand runners, but he feared that once he left, when he returned, the room would be empty, and the thief and his luggage would both be gone without a trace.

Meager money and changes of clothes were merely external things; what mattered was that scroll of "He Shu."

When Jiang Sister first gave him this book, he took it to Chenliu; afterward he was washed away by water, and his teacher set up a clothes-and-crown tomb for him, originally intending to transcribe this book he cherished and burn it for him, but then heard the shocking news that he had returned from the dead, so there was no need to burn it for him; instead, it was sent directly to him, reuniting him with this book in the world of the living.

He feared this thief was too discerning and would take this precious book along, which Ji Jin could not bear; he hesitated for a moment, and finally between retreating to call people and directly rushing in, he chose a middle course; speaking through the door in a low shout: "This is an official station; the thief in the room, quickly leave empty-handed through the back window, and I will not pursue—"

Before his words fell, the door was suddenly pulled open a crack by that audacious thief from inside.

Ji Jin was alarmed and wanted to flee, but he never knew there was such a fast movement technique in the world; the arm reaching out from the darkness swiftly grabbed him, and the figure, not as tall as him, with immense strength pulled him into the room, and could also free a hand to cover his mouth; in the instant he was pulled into the room, the person nimbly lifted a leg to close the door, and let out a short "Shh!"

Ji Jin's violent struggling, along with the motion of drawing the short knife from his sleeve, both paused.

At this moment, a candle lamp in the room was lit, and someone holding a candle appeared; the candlelight revealed a pair of excited tearful eyes and a choked low call: "Yan Family Brother!"

Ji Jin's eyes twitched; he called out in a trembling voice, "A Jie," then looked at the person grabbing his arm—not an audacious thief, but a friend he thought of day and night and was just thinking of...

Hot tears suddenly welled up in Ji Jin's eyes; Shaowei hurriedly released his arm: "Did I pull and hurt you?"

Ji Jin shook his head, wanted to speak, but let out a sob; he was too happy and too wretched, and could not help but raise his sleeve to cover his face, but Shaowei reached out and pulled it down, so that the tearful A Jie could examine him closely.

Afraid that the shadow of someone lighting a lamp would be noticed by passersby, Shaowei pushed Ji Jin behind the screen and pressed him to sit on the straw mat.

Qing Wu knelt holding the candle; Shaowei also sat cross-legged; Ji Jin still wept without stopping; he wanted to cover his face with his sleeve again, but Shaowei, quick-eyed and quick-handed, pressed down his right sleeve in advance, so he could not pull it for a moment.

Seeing this, Qing Wu broke into a smile through tears; Ji Jin also could not help but laugh; in Shaowei's bright black eyes there was a flicker of smile, and her upright shoulders revealed silent joy.

Not allowing him to cover his face so she could not see, but tears could always be wiped; Ji Jin wiped his tears with his left sleeve, then barely found his voice and asked: "How did A Jie and Jiang Sister come to this place?"

"The army moves too slowly, and A Jie and I couldn't wait, so I simply brought A Jie here secretly to see you and Shan Gu ahead of time."

Ji Jin's eyes, just dried, grew moist again as he looked at the speaking girl; Jiang Sister was still Jiang Sister, always running to do what she cared about, running to see those she cared for.

Originally counting down each day, thinking only three more days until they could meet, these three days were not three days of urgent importance, but when they were suddenly erased and the person they longed to see appeared before them at once, it was still a great surprise, like an extra gift beyond a destined plan; though there were no stormy waves in it, the mood of this moment was enough to be remembered until the day of old age and death.

Ji Jin felt a strong impulse to hug A Jie and Jiang Sister tightly to express his current mood and longing, but ultimately restrained by propriety and the distinction between men and women, while maintaining restraint, he suddenly heard a voice from behind; Ji Jin then noticed there was a fourth person in the room, who asked: "Can I eat this cake?"

Ji Jin suddenly felt a sense of redemption in finding an emotional medium; he turned around and hugged Mo Li, who was crouching by the table, from the side, crying as he said: "Edible! Eat it!"

Mo Li then forcibly pulled out a hand, grabbed the pastries on the table, maintained the posture of being tightly hugged by the crying Ji Jin, and ate without interference.

Qing Wu, seeing this, also shed tears again, while Shaowei ordered Ji Jin to arrange: "Stop crying first; Shan Gu's house is adjacent to General Lu's, not suitable for sneaking in to talk, so you need to lure him here."

"Right..." Ji Jin reluctantly came back to his senses, released Mo Li, wiped his tears, stood up, and hurried outside; when he opened the door, he couldn't help but look back again; before the lamp by the screen, Shaowei and Qing Wu, sitting still, both looked at him, Mo Li ate the cake seriously, and Zhan Zhan, crouching on the screen, turned his head to stare at him, like a painted picture.

"Hurry up." With Shaowei's soft urging, the picture in Ji Jin's eyes came to life, and all things became vivid; he nodded with a smile and hurried out.

Hurriedly arriving at Shan Gu's room, Ji Jin put the outer clothes Shan Gu had just taken off back on him; Shan Gu asked doubtfully: "Brother Ji, what exactly happened?"

Ji Jin wanted Shan Gu to experience the same surprise, so he said nothing, only instructing: "Follow me and you'll know, but remember, no matter what you see, do not cry out in shock."

Shan Gu solemnly agreed; he was not someone easily shocked anyway, and besides, he had experienced battlefield trials, fought dozens of battles big and small, and had now made mental preparations, so he believed he could face whatever he saw calmly.

Shan Gu, accompanying Ji Jin, exuded a mighty aura of being impervious to blades and spears, as if he would not change countenance even witnessing the sky collapsing and the earth splitting; however, when the room door was pushed open, the scene did not collapse the sky and split the earth, but what truly shattered in an instant was his mood.

Suddenly seeing Shaowei, Shan Gu's eyes widened, his mouth opened then pursed, tears gushed like a spring, his voice wailed like a dog returning home, and he suddenly flew toward Shaowei, falling to his knees.

He came with great force; Shaowei leaned her upper body back and pressed one hand against his forehead.

Ji Jin closed the door and hurried after him, passing both hands under Shan Gu's armpits, barely pulling him away from Jiang Sister's crossed legs and dragging him off.

Shan Gu had lost all composure, but at least did not cry out; he just raised his face, choked with sobs, and asked: "A Jie, did you come specially to see me and pick me up?"

Shaowei made an "en" sound, while tidying her skirt hem, saying: "The March 3rd sacrificial ceremony is approaching; I am to enter seclusion in the Back Hall of the Divine Shrine, and specially ordered A Jie to accompany me to serve the incense in the hall, but actually used the golden cicada shedding its shell to come see you."

Since Mo Li had to drive the carriage, Jiang Fu naturally knew this matter, and couldn't help but sigh: 【Just hiding the leftover flatbread in the doghouse isn't enough; even the newly baked flatbread that needs cooling after coming out of the pot makes her unable to wait a moment, she must eat it immediately into her mouth to be satisfied.】

Since learning of the army's triumphant return, Qing Wu and Shaowei had been counting the days; Shaowei knew the army's journey was not as convenient and swift as traveling alone, but she couldn't help but feel anxious. Also, because the day before yesterday the sky was overcast, and she feared further delaying the army's march, dragging it on was truly unbearable, so she simply came to Hongnong Commandery.

Seeing Ji Jin and Shan Gu now, Shaowei saw that both had grown a little taller; Ji Jin, while upright, had added steadiness, Shan Gu's facial angles were more distinct, his spirit and demeanor were very good; the only bad thing was too many tears.

The tears that could not be restrained also turned into a crystal bridge, spanning the river and creek of the months spent apart, connecting the two banks; neither side needed the slightest strangeness or watchfulness, only joyfully rushing to hold hands and gather.

Qing Wu handed out three towels separately; two were given to Ji Jin and Shan Gu to wipe tears, and one was given to Mo Li to wipe his mouth.

Shaowei lightly sniffed her nose and asked Shan Gu doubtfully: "Did you suffer a new injury?"

This was the smell of hemostatic wound medicine; since the Liang Guo war ended nearly fifty days ago, this injury should not have been sustained on the battlefield.

"Shan Gu was injured protecting me," Ji Jin explained: "Five days ago, while resting on the journey, we encountered a group of people disguised as itinerant merchants who launched an assassination attempt; they were remnants of the Huaiyang Zheng Clan, resentful and unwilling, dissatisfied that I returned to the capital to receive merit, so they came to seek revenge against me."

"A Jie, you should have come earlier; you could have killed them to your heart's content." Shan Gu felt no fear, only regret that A Jie had not been able to participate.

Shaowei nodded, also feeling a bit of regret.

Qing Wu then asked: "Where is the injury? Is it serious?"

"On the lower back, just a superficial wound!" Shan Gu said here, presenting it like a treasure to Shaowei: "A Jie, I learned a mysterious gate healing method from them in the army, very effective—"

Shaowei was very interested and immediately urged him with her eyes; only to hear Shan Gu say: "Give the wound a name, give it a grand and noble name, call it 'it cannot withstand that name,' and it will soon be scared away!"

Shaowei fell silent for a moment, looked at his lower back: "... What did you name it?"

"Martial Peace Lord Bai Qi!"

Shaowei was speechless for a moment, feeling this method had nothing to do with the mysterious gate, but was rather an evil way.

Yet she couldn't help but quietly note it down, and randomly thought that if she were injured again in the future, she would try naming it Nuwa or Pangu.

The four sat facing each other, whispering privately, staying awake all night.

Mo Li ate too much cake and was too tired to bear it; he collapsed on the table and fell asleep; Zhan Zhan discovered first, pecked him awake, drove him to the bed; after Mo Li warmed the bedding, the bird then burrowed in to sleep together.

Shan Gu and Ji Jin, who had chatted all night, when they set out the next day, scared Lu Ding badly; but seeing the two, who had been fine at yesterday's banquet, now had weary faces yet hidden joy, swollen eyes like rotten peaches yet dark circles under them, appearing as if encountering ghosts and evil, with yang qi wandering.

Lu Ding questioned the two with obvious traces; seeing their answers were normal, he then reluctantly felt relieved, but still had someone bring fresh peach branches, inserted on the carriage they rode to ward off evil.

Shan Gu originally wanted to ride a horse, but Lu Ding ordered him to sit in the carriage; if such a fine person rode a horse again and fell, good fortune would turn into misfortune, and he could not explain it to Lord Lu and his two daughters and three nieces.

On the twenty-first of the first month, the peach branches by the roadside sprouted anew, the weather had turned warm; Zhan Zhan, who had been hiding all winter, could finally soar freely; along the way, he also carried back many newly sprouted peach leaves and several green, unripe flower buds, placing them on the small table in the carriage, arranging this temporary bird's nest fortress.

The young men who walked out of Taoxi Township, guided by the swaying peach branches and flying peach leaves, drove into early spring.

When the carriage slowly passed through the Chang'an City gate, Ji Jin lifted the curtain to look; facing this prosperous yet crisis-filled Jingji region, for him, coming here for the first time, there was very little strangeness and anxiety in his eyes, but more belonging and great longing.

This is Chang'an City, and also the new Taoxi Township.

The day after the army returned to the capital, Ji Jin and Shan Gu were named to accompany the generals into the palace to receive rewards.

Shaowei secretly returned to the capital and openly ended her seclusion; on this day, she also knelt with the ministers in the Main Hall of Weiyang Palace, eagerly participating and witnessing this matter.

?? Sorry for not being able to update daily recently, sorry sorry; the status of updating every other day may continue (no update on the 11th), but today there are over five thousand words! I really like writing the foursome hhh; long-awaited full gathering; only when everyone reunites is it the true Taoxi Township.

? Thank you for the monthly votes, thank you to book friends iampetty, Yun Mu Xiang Feng, Cong Cong Bao Bao, Rang Bu Xiang Bu Dao, Qi Chun, Yan Zhi Hu 1, Ying Tao 2008, Xing Yue Wan Li, Tatiana, Wu Dao sss, Ai Ling, Gu Jiu Wu, Kou Shui Bao Er 123, Fen Si Bu Tou Ming, Universe's First Cat Cat Strongly Recommended, Ting Yu xlh, and so on and so on, dear ones, for your rewards!

? Good night!