Even if others said she lacked reserve or was too bold, she would accept it. She simply didn’t want to have any regrets. As she let go of her hands, in the next mont, Jih Heng cradled the back of her head, pulling her towards him, deepening their kiss.
Amidst the snow-covered sky, a young man kissed a petite girl. His kiss was deep and fervent, resolute yet gentle, much like his conflicted heart, tenderly devout. Jiang Li, tilting her head back, accepted the kiss, feeling a warmth in her eyes as if tears were about to fall.
The guards turned away, not looking at this intimate farewell. The lone boat on the river remained still, while the departing figure on the dock was like none ever seen in plays before, unspeakably poignant.
After a long while, Jih Heng finally let go. Jiang Li did not look at him again. She turned around, lifted her skirt, and boarded the boat.
The guards followed onto the boat, while Zhao Ke and Wen Ji stayed by Jih Heng’s side. They were his left and right arms, set to join him on the battlefield this ti. Both n felt a sourness in their hearts at this farewell, not to ntion Jih Heng himself.
Jiang Li stood at the bow of the boat as it moved slowly forward. Amid the wind and snow, Jih Heng stood tall and handso. His dash of red was especially vibrant against the ice and snow, as if it would brazenly imprint itself in her mory, never to fade. Suddenly, Jiang Li recalled the dream of that spring night, the breeze sweeping through the lively crowd as he stopped atop her wall. She was still another man’s wife, and he had just despaired over his father’s death. It was simply a serendipitous error that led to their initial bond over a play on the swing.
This war was indefinite, and Jiang Li hoped to reunite with him on a night in spring when life begins anew, and he would reappear to continue the story begun long ago.
The boat gradually moved farther away, and the snow grew heavier. Soon, the red beca a re dot. Jiang Li’s eyes unblinkingly fixed on that spot, until the wind and snow completely obscured his figure, leaving no trace of Jih Heng. Only the vast river remained, a reminder of their separation.
May the reunion be near, may we et for long.
...
The journey from Qingzhou to Yanjing, by water, took more than twenty days. By the ti Jiang Li returned to Yanjing City, Jih Heng had apparently inford people from the Duke Residence ahead of ti, so Ye Mingyu and the others were not staying at the Ye Residence, but had all moved into the Duke Residence. Thus, upon her return to Yanjing City, Jiang Li first visited the Duke Residence.
White lanterns hung outside the Duke Residence, signaling mourning rites within. During Jiang Li’s absence, Old General Jih had been buried. Typically, as the sole legitimate grandson, Jih Heng would be expected to perform mourning duties, and if he failed, folks throughout the city would brand him as an unfilial scoundrel. But this ti, there were no such whispers, because the Prince of Xia County had rebelled in Qingzhou, and Jih Heng had taken the Jinwu Army to suppress it. People are always extra lenient towards heroes. Even though this hero had a less-than-stellar reputation in the past and may not have achieved military exploits, his actions granted him an excuse for not returning to the capital in ti for the mourning rites.
Over the years, only Jih Heng and Old General Jih remained in the Duke Residence. With Jih Heng’s unpredictable nature and reluctance to forge close ties, and Old General Jih long retired from court, the household had grown desolate. Now that the valiant general had passed on, surprisingly few ca to pay their respects. The Duke Residence, already short on kin, grew chillier with the white lanterns and mourning symbols hanging at the gate, a desolation that seeped into one’s bones, deeply saddening.
Everyone was shocked when Jiang Li returned to the Duke Residence.
Jih Heng had truly arranged for Ye Mingyu to move everyone into the Duke Residence. When Jiang Li entered the courtyard, she even saw Ye Mingyu and Xiao Hong bickering. With so many people around, the somber atmosphere of the Duke Residence seed sowhat relieved. Xue Zhao was the first to notice Jiang Li, exclaiming, "Sister!"
Only then did everyone realize Jiang Li had co back.
Having in her hands a jar of pounded herbs, Situ Jiuyue also approached. Everyone crowded around, and Xue Zhao said, "Sister, brother-in-law wrote that you would be back in a few days, and indeed, here you are!"
Ye Mingyu, too preoccupied to correct Xue Zhao’s mistaken address, seed to think the boy wanted to curry favor with Jiang Li. He scrutinized her from head to toe, "How are you, Ah Li? You’re not hurt, are you?"
Jiang Li shook her head. Xue Huaiyuan said in a grave voice, "Ah Li, you were too impulsive this ti. You shouldn’t have risked yourself to save us. If sothing had happened to you, how could we live with ourselves?"
Calling her "Ah Li," Ye Mingyu wondered why Xue Huaiyuan and Jiang Li seed so close. But now was not the ti to probe this matter, and since Xue Huaiyuan was right, he simply nodded in agreent, "Exactly, Ah Li, if Yin Zhili really wanted to do sothing, we would have dealt with him. You’re just a young girl; how could we let you save us?"
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