Inner Residence arc ー Chapter 17 (Part 3): Three Tenths The Past, Seven Tenths The Future
Xiao Xuan chuckled. "Yixin? She's the daughter of Tai Zhou's Senior Provincial Zheng. His Majesty appointed this marriage to me as what he fancied was that Tai Zhou is at the south of Xi Yao. In the future……if there are any movements in the court, Tai Zhou can be a buffer for me for a while."
I was curious. "How is she like?"
The expression in Xiao Xuan's eyes dimmed as he said, "It has almost been three years since she passed away."
Ah? Also died?
"Her health wasn't good. The physician exhorted her to not have a child but she just didn't listen. When she was five months pregnant, she had a miscarriage. I invited physicians from all over but every single one of them were helpless and at a loss of what to do. Ultimately, she couldn't be saved……She was a very good woman."
I thought, 'Five months. I presume the child also didn't survive. He lost his wife and lost his child. The people at His Highness Prince Yan's side seems to always not live a long life. If he has his fortune told, perhaps he will be those kind of people who were born under the Star of Death*.'
*T/n: Basically, the person is extremely unlucky and is the bane of others' existence. Thus, the person is destined to live a lonely life.
I wanted to say a few caring and intimate words but my experience was shallow and my vocabulary impoverished. I actually unexpectedly said as if the demons and gods were at work, "Then what about Elder Sister Feihua?"
Xiao Xuan turned his head around and looked me as he smiled. My face turned red and I pulled back a little. Xiao Xuan sighed and shook his head. I thought that he was going to lecture me again but he said, "Feihua and I are childhood sweethearts. I did think about marrying her."
He mentioned it casually but I could hear the strong helplessness.
"Now you don't want to anymore?"
"I don't even consider about this matter now. Right now, whichever woman who follows me will have to bear hardships. If I suffer a defeat, I will also encumber her. What for? Lord Qin and I are bound to be on opposing ends. It's also difficult for her to be sandwiched in the middle. I know that she's living well and that will do."
I wanted to say, 'People beside you have died until you're afraid.' But this kind of words were too mean so I didn't say them out.
I brought up the old topic once again. "When are you returning to Xi Yao City?"
Xiao Xuan said. "After daybreak."
"Huh?" I was flabbergasted. "In such a rush?"
"I have already stayed in the capital long enough."
"But what about this awful mess?"
Xiao Xuan smiled cunningly. "Why do you think I want to escape?"
I suddenly realized. "Shameless!"
He presented in return. "Unreasonable*."
*T/n: The first character for 'shameless' and 'unreasonable' is the same. In this case, the Xiao Xuan can also be calling Xie Zhaohua 'shameless' but I tried to differentiate them since the words used in the original text were different.
I was angry. "How was I unreasonable?"
"You're straightforward and upright? In that case, stay behind to be Second Imperial Princess Consort. Xiao Li's market is very high in demand. Before long, you'll muddle along as a crown princess consort. Following that, you can be the empress and the motherly model of the nation."
I discerned an inkling. "Why why? You want to bring me away?"
Xiao Xuan rebuked softly. "Stupid like a pig." But his tone was very gentle.
He finally started to scold people. That proved that his tenacious spirit had come back again. That Prince Yan from before who was laden with grief, reproaching himself, gloomy and indignant had temporarily retreated and vanished gradually.
I let out a sigh of relief. I clung onto him with a face full of shamelessness and flattery. "Second Elder Brother values relationship and full of the spirit of loyalty and self-sacrifice. Of course you won't cast me behind and let me slip away on my own."
Xiao Xuan smiled as he asked. "What did you call me?"
I said sweetly. "Second Elder Brother."
Xiao Xuan reached his hand over. I thought he was going to rub and pinch my face again but I didn't expect that he would gently embraced me instead. I heard the sound of his steady yet powerful heartbeat which was transmitted over while separated by his warm chest.
He said, "I'm originally living for Second Brother so I'll naturally also look after you for him."
My heart gently moved a little. I reached out my hands to hug his waist.
Xiao Xuan moved and departed. He told me, "I still have matters to attend to. Zijing will bring you away. You two will travel upwards to north all the way. After passing Chuan Jiang, it will be Hu Zhou. Let's promise to meet up at Ren Shan County." After he finished talking, he repeatedly advised me while acting like an elder. "You have to be well-behaved and listen to Zijing's words on the way. Don't stir up trouble and eat fewer snacks."
I rolled my eyes. "What benefit is there for me being obedient."
Xiao Xuan grinned cunningly. "Elder Brother will find a good husband's family for you."
I kicked him out of the door.
After Xiao Xuan left, the sky had already turned slightly bright. I couldn't sit still and went to find Song Zijing with my dark circles under my eyes.
This was the time when the dogs were still asleep but the chickens have already awaken. The Xie Residence was extremely quiet. I slipped into the academy like a thief. In the end, when I took a glance, wasn't the one standing elegantly at the entrance of the door of the room Song Zijing, Teacher Song?
He was wearing a convenient and neat blue home clothes. Without the long gown and extensive sleeves of the former days, only now did I see clearly that although he was thin, he wasn't weak. His figure was slender and well proportioned. He had broad shoulders and narrow waist. He looked extremely comfortable. If he were really a knight-errant*, he would definitely be a high level intellectual among the noble warriors. They all said that this atmosphere of Dong Qi produced particularly a lot of scholarly generals. From what I see, they maybe also produced scholarly knight-errants.
*T/n: A link to a short Wikipedia page if you're interested:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youxia
He asked me, "When are we leaving?"
This actually seemed to be what I should be asking him.
I asked, "Have you packed everything already?"
Song Zijing smiled brightly and openly. "What's there to be packed?"
Admirable! Everything was merely worldly possessions.
I rubbed my fists and wiped my palms as I was eager to get into action. "Good good! Wait for me to call Yun Xiang along and we'll set off!"
"Now? The sky's not bright yet?"
I revealed my teeth while my eyes radiated radiant rays. "Eloping naturally has to be when it is pitch dark."
"Eloping?" Song Zijing stared blankly for a moment.
I laughed heartily. "Eloping! Eloping! Fourth Young Lady Xie emotions of love were stirred up and eloped to the frontier region with her lover. What else is more logical and natural than this?"
Song Zijing comprehended and revealed his teeth as he smiled. "You're the clever one after all."
I smiled in satisfaction. "Teacher, I'll have to call you elder brother in the future."
Song Zijing lowered his head and smiled. "You really have many elder brothers."
My face was a little red. "There are benefits for having many."
Song Zijing didn't know whether to cry or laugh. He said softly, "Let's go."
He grasped my hand and pulled me over, enveloping me in his arms. I was stunned. Before I registered what was happening, he had already released me. I felt an additional common bead ornament at my waist.
"This is?"
"There's a fragrance on the beads. Ordinary people can't smell it but birds can recognize it. When that time comes, we can pass on information to each other."
I complimented. "Really thoughtful."
Song Zijing brought me and Yun Xiang out of the Xie Residence. At that time, I could already see the fishbelly white color* of the sky. There were birds that woke up early on the trees starting to sing and the dog from Magistrate Wang Residence next door had also risen early and was barking with 'woof woof'. I breathed the cool and clear air as I turned my head back for the last time to take a look at this home which I had resided in for half a year.
*T/n: Often used to describe the color of the sky at dawn. It may be something like this:
This place couldn't bind me up so I didn't have the carefreeness and freedom from inhibition from flying out of a prison but rather a fresh feeling of going out on to travel.
I gazed at the sky in the north and that hue of blue which was hazy like a drop of ink dropping into clear water and slowly diffusing outwards as my heart sketched out the outlines of a vast and boundless prairie.