"These are all trivial matters, Zhili, don’t be disheartened by them," Yin Zhan said, "The Jiang Family’s failure to keep their word will naturally co at a price. Our urgent priority is to remain in Yanjing, and once we’ve stayed in Yanjing City, the first one we must deal with is Duke Su, Jih Heng."
Yin Zhili opened his mouth, wanting to ask why, but ultimately fell silent. He had actually asked Yin Zhan this question before, but Yin Zhan wouldn’t tell him, and Yin Zhili could only let it go. Even if he were to ask today, he wouldn’t get an answer. He could only numbly agree.
When he walked out of Yin Zhan’s house, Yin Zhili’s footsteps were incredibly heavy.
Behind him, the lights in the study were bright, as if they would burn all night until dawn. Yin Zhan was such a person. He had endless official duties to attend to, even when he was in Yunzhong, where many people ridiculed him as a hollow general who would never return to Yanjing City, Yin Zhan remained the sa. As a child, Yin Zhili was very puzzled, not understanding how in Yunzhong, so far from the emperor, Yin Zhan could still have so much to do every day. When he grew up, this puzzle remained unsolved, but Yin Zhili had learned not to ask, perhaps out of habit.
He walked very slowly, step by step. Unconsciously, he found himself outside Yin Zhiqing’s yard.
When he ca to his senses, Yin Zhili shook his head, turned to leave, when suddenly, a voice stopped him: "Yin Zhili!"
Yin Zhili turned around and saw in the courtyard, Yin Zhiqing sitting at the stone table, looking at him with sadness.
In everyday life, she called him "Brother," but in private, she always called him by his na. Yin Zhili had indulged her, and seeing Yin Zhiqing with her face full of tears, he sighed and walked over. He looked left and right, and not seeing Madam Yin’s figure, he asked: "Mother?"
"I said I wanted to sleep and sent her away," Yin Zhiqing replied.
"What’s the matter with you?" Yin Zhili said, "Hurry up and wipe your face; it’s covered in tears."
Yin Zhiqing rubbed her face with her sleeve haphazardly. For the palace banquet today, she had taken great care to dress up and apply makeup. Now the tears had washed all the makeup away, revealing a different kind of beauty. If soone else had been there, they would have felt pity for the beauty in tears, but unfortunately, the beautiful crying beauty was for soone else.
"What did Father say?" Yin Zhiqing asked, "Is there any room for negotiation regarding this arranged marriage?"
Yin Zhili said, "It was a royal decree; defying it ans losing one’s head."
Hearing this, Yin Zhiqing was greatly disappointed and looked at Yin Zhili with a forlorn heart, saying, "We truly do share a common plight."
She hadn’t hidden her own thoughts from Yin Zhili, and likewise, he hadn’t concealed his from her. It would seem that the objects of affection for these siblings had ironically beco an engaged pair. If this were written in a storybook, even those listening to the play would scarcely believe it.
"Father must have consoled you," Yin Zhiqing said with a muffled tone, "Telling you not to be sad, that the next one will be better?"
Yin Zhili gave a wry smile. Everyone thought he was the favored child, and naturally, Yin Zhiqing took it for granted that Yin Zhan would share in all his joys and sorrows, but this was not the case. Sotis Yin Zhili himself was perplexed; he knew his father cared for him deeply, those hands-on lessons of fatherly affection filled his heart with gratitude. Therefore, from childhood, Yin Zhili strictly demanded of himself to be the most perfect son in his father’s heart, the most outstanding one. And indeed, he did very well, being exceptional in both military tactics and elegant prose. Every ti he saw the proud smile on his father’s face, he felt it was all worth it.
But Yin Zhili was in his twenties now. As a child, he could do things according to his father’s wishes, but as he grew older, he had his own ideas. Especially when his father often didn’t tell him why, just instructed him to do sothing, as ti went by, Yin Zhili himself would start to resist.
This trip to Yanjing City, this marriage alliance with Jiang Li, Yin Zhili originally had also refused. If it weren’t for later hearing about the tales and deeds of Jiang Li, and having seen Jiang Li personally, Yin Zhili wouldn’t have been so willing in his heart. But sadly, it was one of the rare matters he wished to do that aligned with his father’s will, and now it had unexpectedly failed.
Yin Zhili said, as Yin Zhiqing was very upset: "Don’t cry, it’s alright. Look at , I’m in the sa situation, and I haven’t cried. You’re so beautiful; naturally, you’ll find soone better in the future."
"Even if soone better cos along, I might not like him," Yin Zhiqing replied stubbornly.
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