On the night of the Spring Lantern Festival, Jiang Li met Ji Heng again after a long separation at the entrance of Qinglian Pavilion in Tongxiang.
A full year had passed, experiencing a spring, autumn, winter, and summer. During this time, she had cried and laughed, and also felt heartache. Originally thinking there would be no possibility of meeting again in this life, yet fortunately heaven showed mercy and gave lovers another chance.
The four words “lost and regained”—just hearing them brought forth from the heart a kind of gratitude for surviving calamity.
However, after the initial lingering affection and excitement passed, it was time for settling accounts.
In the Xue residence, in Jiang Li’s boudoir, Jiang Li unceremoniously drove out all the people who came to watch the excitement and spectate. She threw Ji Heng into her room.
Ji Heng wasn’t annoyed either. He leisurely smoothed out the wrinkles on his sleeves before unhurriedly surveying the furnishings in the room, sighing, “Ali, your boudoir really doesn’t look like a place where a girl lives.”
Although Jiang Li couldn’t be called a daughter of a military household who loved wielding swords and spears, she also had none of the embroidery or delicate trinkets of ordinary daughters. It wasn’t that Xue Huaiyuan was unwilling to buy them for her, but compared to those things, Jiang Li preferred the novelties Xue Zhao brought her to see. Hoarding pretty things around herself wasn’t her habit—this point was exactly opposite to Ji Heng.
“Cut the nonsense.” Jiang Li said irritably. She sat down at the table, didn’t even pour tea for Ji Heng, and went straight to the point, saying, “For a year, you didn’t die, so why didn’t you appear? Where exactly were you this whole year? Even if it wasn’t convenient for you to show yourself, you could at least have found someone to inform me. You remained silent like this—everyone thought you truly died. I…” She couldn’t continue.
On the surface she was calm and composed, but the anxiety in her heart had nowhere to vent. Clearly still holding onto a thread of hope, yet this thread of hope was so slim, making people not dare to truly hope it could succeed. Such days were truly very difficult, very hard to endure.
“I’m sorry, Ali.” He sighed, reached out his hand, and brushed away the tears at the corner of Jiang Li’s eyes. Only then did Jiang Li realize that unknowingly, she herself had shed tears. This was truly disheartening. Now the only one who could easily make her cry seemed to be Ji Heng. What was hateful was that what he did wasn’t as detestable as Shen Yurun, making it impossible to hate him. Instead, it made her heart ache even more.
“I didn’t deliberately want to hide it from you. In fact, after I woke up, I found a way to return to Yanjing City and originally planned to see you. Only…” He paused, then said in a low voice, “The Emperor made a wager with me using you. I didn’t want you to lose, so I could only temporarily not see you.”
Jiang Li was astonished. “His Majesty?”
Ji Heng touched her hair and said, “Correct.”
It turned out that on that day in the Qimin mountains, Ji Heng’s old ailment truly recurred. The arrow wound he received when surrounded by Yin Zhili earlier was already very deep. Those days, Ji Heng had been forcing himself to hold on. That day he couldn’t hold on anymore. He was ambushed by Yin Zhili’s deputy general and fell from his horse. Pursued by people, he mistakenly entered a hunter’s trap in the mountains. Using his last bit of strength to kill the pack of wolves eyeing him hungrily outside the trap, he lost consciousness and fell into a coma.
At that moment, Ji Heng truly thought that this time, he probably couldn’t return alive. His heart was full of reluctance and attachment—not attachment to this world, but unwillingness to part with his girl. For this human world, his relatives left him one by one. Only Jiang Li was someone he couldn’t let go of. If Jiang Li knew he had died, that foolish girl would definitely be very sad.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this attachment that Ji Heng desperately wanted to keep himself alive, until a hunter searching for prey in the mountains discovered him.
The hunter was a Qimin local who usually lived in the mountains. Solitary and alone, he was already a middle-aged man with no one around who knew him. Seeing Ji Heng, he too was startled. After hesitating for a while, he still carried Ji Heng back and casually found some medicinal herbs to apply to Ji Heng’s body. He wasn’t a real physician and didn’t even know about the two armies facing off in the Qimin mountains—probably someone who lived outside the mundane world. That Ji Heng could survive relied entirely on his tenacious willpower and that little bit of luck.
In any case, in that cold winter, in a mountain cave, after being unconscious for several days and nights, he woke up. When he woke, he discovered he had gone blind.
He couldn’t see anything. Couldn’t see the person who saved him, couldn’t see what the situation outside was. The hunter had never actively spoken to Ji Heng—not knowing whether he was naturally mute or had become this way after living alone in the mountains for so long. Ji Heng gradually felt out the general situation. But with his eyes like this, he didn’t dare easily trust the hunter, nor could he wander around everywhere. If he stumbled into remnant Yin family soldier forces, it would only be even more troublesome.
He could only temporarily stay in the cave the whole time.
This cave was already extremely hidden. When Lu Ji sent people to search, they surprisingly didn’t find it several times. However, this was also because this place was already a dangerous area deep in the mountains with no people—others simply wouldn’t think there could actually be living people here. In any case, by the time Ji Heng could grope his way out himself, the war between the Jinwu Army and the Yin family soldiers had already completely ended.
From Qimin to Yanjing was a very long journey. And Ji Heng, having lost his sight, was no different from an ordinary person. What was frightening was that everyone under heaven thought he was dead and would never return. He couldn’t reveal his identity. Announcing he was Ji Heng without being able to protect himself would be tantamount to telling his opponents to quickly come and strike him down.
Ji Heng returned to Yanjing from Qimin. Along this journey, his difficulties could be imagined. He even learned to make himself look like a normal person who wasn’t blind. He could normally pick up things, speak with people, without any flaws. This performance wasn’t easy. After Ji Heng became an adult, he had rarely encountered such an awkward situation. But he still kept doing it. Even if it was extremely dangerous, he had to succeed, only because he must safely return to Jiang Li’s side.
Ji Heng wasn’t like what was written in opera texts—because he himself was blind, he felt he no longer deserved his beloved and had to stay away from her. His feelings, like his appearance, were resolute and intensely passionate, vigorous and fervent. Once he determined someone, whether searching the azure sky above or the yellow springs below, it was this person. No matter what he became, no matter what Jiang Li became, they would be together and wouldn’t separate.
When he returned to Yanjing, the Jinwu Army had long since returned triumphantly to the capital. Emperor Hongxiao’s hidden guards stationed in Yanjing City discovered him, and Ji Heng entered the palace to see Emperor Hongxiao.
The feelings between Emperor Hongxiao and Ji Heng were probably very complex. On one hand, because of the young Emperor’s past experiences, he harbored a measure of suspicion toward anyone, even his most important and trusted ministers. On the other hand, Emperor Hongxiao always felt Ji Heng shared his misfortune, and they happened to have common enemies. Toward Ji Heng, he held a bit more genuine feeling than toward loyal ministers.
It was precisely this complexity that made Ji Heng realize early on that after great revenge was achieved, he couldn’t continue staying in court. Of course he could do so—even if he set his heart on that position, he could continue. From the past perspective, Ji Heng hadn’t been without such thoughts, but now, with Jiang Li in the picture, this matter held no meaning for him. Jiang Li also wouldn’t like palace life. Ji Heng had long stopped considering this already distant thought.
Emperor Hongxiao told Ji Heng he would have people find ways to cure Ji Heng’s blindness, but Ji Heng couldn’t expose the fact that he was still alive, especially couldn’t tell Jiang Li.
“Why?” Hearing this, Jiang Li couldn’t help but ask.
“If I died, the remnants of the rebel faction would think the Emperor had lost his support and would stir restlessly. For the Emperor, it was precisely a good opportunity to see clearly who were humans and who were ghosts. He could use this opportunity to thoroughly purge the court and countryside, eliminate those with different intentions, and usher in a completely clean court.”
Jiang Li could understand these words. Just the phrase “Ji Heng is dead” could draw out some monsters and demons hiding in the shadows. Not to mention anything else—back when some people wanted to use this to strip the Ji family of their title, Jiang Li had already witnessed it.
“But why couldn’t you tell me?” Jiang Li asked. “I wouldn’t tell others. His Majesty’s meaning also doesn’t seem to be that he doesn’t trust me, but rather intentional?”
Ji Heng smiled and said lightly, “Perhaps he doesn’t trust me.”
At that time, Emperor Hongxiao told Ji Heng he couldn’t tell Jiang Li about this matter. Because from beginning to end, Jiang Li knew too much. She knew matters concerning Lin Roujia and Yin Zhan, knew imperial family scandals, and also knew the true cause of Yu Hongye and Ji Minghan’s deaths. This was because Ji Heng had no secrets from Jiang Li. Emperor Hongxiao probably feared Jiang Li would become a second Lin Roujia—a beauty who brought disaster. He didn’t trust Jiang Li and had even once harbored killing intent because Jiang Li knew too much.
“I’ll make a wager with you—not telling Jiang Li the fact that you’re still alive. Let’s see if she can remain faithful to you for one year. If you win the bet, I’ll agree to never again interfere in your affairs. If you lose, I want Jiang Li’s life, and you’ll act as if this person never existed.” Emperor Hongxiao’s words echoed once more in Ji Heng’s ears.
“He doesn’t trust me? Thinks I’ll remarry? Take these secrets and marry someone else?” Jiang Li was astonished. “But I already said I would never marry for my entire life.”
“That’s just a verbal agreement,” Ji Heng raised his lips in a smile. “Many people in this world can’t even remember what they themselves have said. The Emperor thinks you’re the same.”
“I didn’t want to make this wager with him. This was a waste of time. I knew what the result would be. You’re so stubborn and quite foolish. How could you do something as difficult as bending with the wind?” Ji Heng smiled. “But I still agreed to him, because only this way would things be easier in the future. He won’t inquire about this matter again. Enduring for a time was all.”
Jiang Li fell silent. So this was the truth. She really couldn’t find a reason to blame Ji Heng. Ji Heng could certainly defy the imperial decree, but if so, it would bring countless troubles to the Xue family, the Ye family, and even the Jiang family. Emperor Hongxiao was after all the Son of Heaven. Once words left the golden mouth and jade speech, they wouldn’t change. This decision of Ji Heng’s was indeed the most prudent choice.
“Later the imperial physicians in the palace cured my eyes. It originally wasn’t any serious illness. I could see people again.” Ji Heng said, “Actually, I was always following you from the shadows, afraid you’d be too heartbroken and something would happen. On New Year’s night, I actually came and was at your door—I almost got discovered by Zhao Ke.”
New Year? Jiang Li remembered. That night, she seemed to hear someone knocking on her door. After rushing out, there was nothing. When she crouched on the ground crying sadly, she encountered Ye Shijie. Originally thinking it was a hallucination from missing Ji Heng too much, it turned out it wasn’t any hallucination. Ji Heng had truly appeared.
Jiang Li’s face immediately reddened. Feeling annoyed in her heart, she realized Ji Heng originally knew all about her wretched appearance. She said resentfully, “You just stood there watching me cry with your own eyes. You’re really something!”
Ji Heng raised an eyebrow. “You walked close with that Ye Shijie boy. I haven’t said anything, yet how are you turning the tables?” The corner of his mouth hooked up, seeming displeased yet also mocking. “Our little miss has quite a few people coveting her. One left, another came. You’ve really grown capable.” He pinched Jiang Li’s chin with a vicious motion, yet his touch was gentle.
“What nonsense are you talking about,” Jiang Li said unnaturally. “What does this have to do with Cousin Shijie?”
“I don’t care about any cousin,” Ji Heng snorted lightly. “You’re my wife. In life you’re my person, in death you’re my ghost. I’m also your person. If you want to abandon me, even heaven won’t agree.”
Jiang Li was truly about to be driven to laughter by his anger. She’d never discovered Ji Heng was such a childish person. She asked, “Then what about Azhao and my cousins?”
After recognizing Ji Heng, Ye Rufeng and Ye Jia’er who suddenly disappeared, and Xue Zhao and Situ Jiuyue all appeared. Jiang Li then understood that it turned out only she alone didn’t know about this matter. Everyone else had long known.
“My agreement time with the Emperor arrived. Knowing you planned to return to Tongxiang, I followed along the way. That night, I originally wanted to come out and see you but was spotted by Xue Zhao.” Speaking here, Ji Heng was somewhat uncomfortable. Thinking that he’d always been cautious yet could be caught by Xue Zhao showed he’d been somewhat distracted at that time.
After Xue Zhao discovered Ji Heng, he was first astonished that Ji Heng was actually still alive, extremely happy and excited. Ji Heng also planned to find Jiang Li and inform her of the fact that he was already alive. But he was stopped by Xue Zhao. Xue Zhao said, in any case tomorrow was the Spring Lantern Festival—why not give Jiang Li a surprise? Just have Ji Heng pretend to watch opera, let Ye Rufeng get into a dispute with Ji Heng, then have Ye Jia’er lead Jiang Li there.
After Jiang Li knew the entire sequence of events, she was rather speechless. She said, “What kind of messy method is this from Xue Zhao? You actually agreed?”
“I thought he was your younger brother and of course understood you very well. Xue Zhao said if I appeared directly, you would definitely be very angry. Doing as he said, you wouldn’t be able to spare energy for anger. But now looking at it,” he mused, “knowing you’d be angry either way, I should have come to see you last night. Then I wouldn’t have had to endure an extra day.”
Jiang Li was at a loss for words. Xue Zhao must have been naughty again. His boldness grew larger and larger—he actually dared to play tricks on Ji Heng. However, Jiang Li guessed perhaps Xue Zhao was also venting anger on her behalf, only this method of venting anger really couldn’t be called very clever.
“So you just did it like this? My father and they also knew in advance?” Jiang Li pressed on relentlessly. “You concealed it from me alone like this?”
She wasn’t someone who liked getting to the bottom of things like this, and she knew Ji Heng truly had his difficulties. She was just somewhat unable to get over her anger. Speaking of it, it was also strange—she could be tolerant toward anyone, even willing to wrong herself a bit. But before Ji Heng, she could forever be an unrestrained little girl, saying what she wanted to say, doing what she wanted to do.
Because she knew that no matter what, Ji Heng would tolerate her.
“I’m sorry.” He leaned forward slightly and pecked Jiang Li’s lips. “From now on, I won’t hide anything from you. The Duke’s manor is yours, and as for me,” he smiled enticingly, “I’m also yours.”
“From now on?” Jiang Li raised an eyebrow. “What happens in the future—no one can say for certain.”
“What do you want to do?”
“However you treat me, I’ll treat you the same way.” Jiang Li deliberately provoked him. “Wherever I go, you’d better not follow.”
“Miss Jiang Li,” he called her name, lowered his head and kissed her. “You can’t start something and then abandon it.”
…
In Tongxiang in April, Jiang Li and Ji Heng reunited. Xue Zhao and Xue Huaiyuan had already seen Ji Heng long ago, so naturally there was no need to mention them. But the Ye family was seeing him for the first time. They marveled at Ji Heng’s beauty and elegance, and also knew that back then he led the Jinwu Army to a great victory over the Yin family soldiers—his methods and temperament were completely different from his appearance. Although Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan felt Ji Heng’s background was too complicated and might not necessarily be good for Jiang Li, Old Madam Ye was very satisfied with Ji Heng. Back when Jiang Li returned to Xiangyang, Old Madam Ye could see that although Jiang Li appeared fine on the surface, in her heart she was very sad. More than once, Old Madam Ye prayed to the Ye family ancestors, praying that a miracle could happen—perhaps Ji Heng was truly still alive and would appear again someday in this life, allowing her granddaughter to live happily.
Now her wish was fulfilled. Naturally, she found Ji Heng good in every way. Moreover, even without Ji Heng deliberately trying to please anyone, just standing there with a smile would unconsciously draw people’s gazes to him. Being good-looking was advantageous—anyone would be somewhat more tolerant toward him.
Old Madam Ye held Jiang Li’s hand on one side while asking Ji Heng, “Aheng, you were previously already granted marriage by His Majesty. Now that you’ve returned, have you thought about when to marry?”
Jiang Li froze, her cheeks slightly flushed. Old Madam Ye’s personality was straightforward and wouldn’t maintain airs like large household families. Moreover, in Old Madam Ye’s view, previously to protect Ji Heng, Jiang Li even said she’d never marry for her entire life, showing her heart had never considered other plans. Since this was so, this marriage would happen sooner or later anyway—might as well plan early.
“If Ali is willing,” Ji Heng said, “any time is fine. It’s just that I’m unwilling to wrong Ali, so when we return to Yanjing City this time, I’ll come to fetch the bride. I wonder if Ali is willing?”
He deliberately inquired of Jiang Li before others, his eyes full of laughter, his tone carrying a trace of teasing. Jiang Li turned her head away and saw Xue Zhao couldn’t help but want to laugh. She glared at Xue Zhao and said, “Why are you asking me?”
Xue Huaiyuan seemed to see her embarrassment and said, “It’s nothing. Let’s just do as Aheng says. The weather happens to be good too. We’ll also need to write a letter to Chief Minister Jiang.”
Jiang Yuanbai had now arrived in Yongzhou and settled there. If Jiang Li truly married, perhaps the Jiang family would come. They also hadn’t expected Ji Heng would still be alive.
“If Master Jiang can’t come, it’s also nothing.” Xue Zhao said, “Father and I are also Sister’s family, and there’s Old Madam Ye, Master Ye, and them. Although Sister is no longer a miss of the Chief Minister’s family, she’s still a treasured daughter held in everyone’s palms. Brother-in-law, don’t you agree?” He called Ji Heng warmly and familiarly.
Ji Heng smiled. “Of course.”
Knowing they were teasing her, Jiang Li didn’t say much more, lest Ji Heng catch her in another slip. This person was becoming increasingly presumptuous, almost fearless, relying on that face to commit beauty-powered crimes. No one could do anything about him.