"It’s fine, Situ’s dicine works very well," Jih Heng said. "There’s no need to worry about such a minor injury."
"But you were badly hurt."
"Not badly," Jih Heng said. "Have you been injured?"
Jiang Li shook her head. She still wanted to check Jih Heng’s injuries, but he avoided her. Zhao Ke, however, ca over to say Jih Heng was alright, so Jiang Li began to ask what exactly had happened between Yin Zhan and Jih Heng. She only knew that Yin Zhan had died.
Jih Heng looked at her, his smile fading slightly. "Do you really want to know?"
Jiang Li nodded.
At this point, it seed pointless to keep it hidden any longer. Jih Heng said, "Alright, I’ll tell you."
Jiang Li listened for a very long ti.
Jih Heng told her everything, from the entanglents between Yu Hongye, Jih Minghan, and the affair of Yin Zhanlin and Lin Roujia, to what Yin Zhan had done for Lin Roujia over those many years. He even went back to earlier tis, when as a child, he had begun to search for the truth, retraining the Flying Dragon Cavalry, and reassigning the Jinwu Army. The battle at the Red Building was at worst expected to end in mutual destruction with Yin Zhan, yet it culminated in Old General Jih sacrificing his life.
Jiang Li could hear the depth in Jih Heng’s words, seemingly indifferent, yet his heart ached for the old general’s passing. Speaking of the past, his tone was flat, but Jiang Li could imagine the bitterness he had experienced while growing up from a naive boy. While others from noble families strived for a glorious future, he had thrust himself into hell. He had gambled on an uncertain ga, forsaking his own future.
He was never sincere, for soone like him, sincerity was sin.
Perhaps those who exist in darkness yearn even more for the light. The lonelier he beca, the more colorful clothes he would wear, the livelier the plays he would listen to. Walking through the bustling crowd as if it ant he wouldn’t be discarded. But the truth was, his loved ones left one by one until, in the end, he was still all alone.
He reflected on a lot, then, with a smile, turned to Jiang Li and said softly, "Now that I have nothing, do you want to back out?"
Jiang Li looked at him.
His gaze was gentle, yet Jiang Li felt incredibly sad. The continuous scheming of these days, the matter with Yin Zhan had co to a close, but now there was Yin Zhili. And with the Yin Family Troops in Qingzhou, the upcoming battle would surely be exhausting for Jih Heng.
She said, "Who says you have nothing left?" Without waiting for Jih Heng to answer, she continued, "Don’t you still have ?"
He chuckled, "You really are... just like you’ve always been."
Years ago on a spring night, after listening to her sing an opera, he knew she was not the most astute of won. Once she loved soone, she would do so recklessly, like a moth to a fla. She clearly had missed once before, yet she still dared to love soone again, courageously giving her true heart.
Her earnest and simple heart, yet it ensnared him so deeply that he was willing to give his all. So, he turned from a cunning hunter into a tender beast, happy to be tad by her.
"I hadn’t thought of it before," Jih Heng said. "I only had people protect the Jiang Residence, but I didn’t expect that Yin Zhan would use the Ye Family as leverage to threaten. I’ve already sent Kong Liu and his n to the Ye Family, and such things won’t happen in the future."
Jiang Li said, "It has nothing to do with you, Yin Zhan was too despicable."
To think of such a asure, he was a general, after all. Even though deception is not taboo in war, it was still unbecoming, even low, to resort to such tactics.
"I’ll send you back to the capital as soon as possible. Once back, I’ll have Kong Liu arrange for a team to always follow and protect you. Try not to leave. The people from the Ye Family can stay at the Duke Residence," Jih Heng said. "Inside the Duke Residence, it is sowhat safer than outside."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li sensed sothing was wrong and looked at him, questioning, "Aren’t you coming back with ?"
"Yin Zhili has started a rebellion in Qingzhou, and the Yin Family Troops are not few. Yin Zhan plotted for many years with the intent to rebel. I’ve promised the emperor to lead the Jinwu Army to quell the revolt. I cannot leave," Jih Heng said with a smile.
"You... you have never been on a battlefield," Jiang Li said anxiously.
He laughed, "Is that doubt I hear, Ah Li?" He continued, "In many matters, there is no room for choice. Only by personally killing Yin Zhili can I be at peace. I don’t know how long this war will last, but when I return, I will marry you."
"Jih Heng..."
"You can’t marry soone else." He pulled Jiang Li toward him and gently pecked her lips.
"Have you really decided?" Jiang Li felt a piercing sadness. She didn’t want to be separated from Jih Heng and knew his departure was fraught with danger. Yet she also knew Jih Heng had made up his mind. If she were in his shoes, if she were Jih Heng, she too would go to settle the feud that lasted two generations. She had no right to sway Jih Heng’s decision. To love soone is not to hold them back, and she respected his choice.
"If I have to leave you, will you forgive ?" he asked with a smile.
Jiang Li smiled and said, "If you promise that you will definitely co back to marry , then I will forgive you."
Her eyes were bright and honest, clear and pure. Jih Heng felt a profound sense of satisfaction and gratitude. Her effortless touch had soothed all his ferocity and darkness, leaving him at ease.
He answered her solemnly, "I promise you."
Reviews
All reviews (0)