With Shen Wushuang’s medicinal baths, Wei Yun’s wounds healed much faster, though he still had no sensation in his legs. Chu Yu massaged his legs in the morning and went out to gather information in the afternoon.
The area of Sha City controlled by the anti-war tribes of Northern Di was also a major trade city, an important supplier for Northern Di’s military needs. Thus, even with war raging outside, Sha City remained unaffected. People from all over flocked here, and various nationalities passed through the streets with ease.
Chu Yu was initially nervous, but after a couple of days, she realized that many Great Chu people already lived in Sha City, like Shen Wushuang and Bai Shang who had come as refugees. Whether she concealed her identity or not made little difference. So she relaxed and spent her afternoons visiting casinos, drinking tea in teahouses, and listening to news from various places.
Zhao Yue was a capable person. He and Gu Chusheng quickly consolidated Great Chu’s national power in the rear, detained Yao Yong, and then divided military power among Chu Linyang, Song Shilan, and Qin Shiyue, reclaiming most of Great Chu’s territory.
Meanwhile, Northern Di was in internal strife. Su Cha occupied the Northern Capital and declared himself king, while Su Can reached the Chatu tribe and confronted Su Cha. In this situation, Su Cha had to guard against both Su Can and the front lines. Even though Northern Di was known for its bravery in battle, signs of fatigue were showing.
Hearing this news, Chu Yu guessed that Su Cha might soon sue for peace and withdraw his troops. She returned to the room and happily shared this news with Wei Yun, but Wei Yun remained silent as he listened. Chu Yu found it strange: “Little Seven, why aren’t you happy?”
Wei Yun held his teacup, slowly raising his eyes. He wanted to say something but ultimately couldn’t.
Why wasn’t he happy?
Zhao Yue was in power and was now governing the country well. How could he be happy about that?
If Zhao Yue were a bit worse, a bit more despicable, like Emperor Chunde, then he could raise his banner in rebellion, and fight cleanly and decisively.
But it was precisely the current situation – Zhao Yue had done bad things, but now everything he did was just right. Rebelling against him would only lead to more suffering for the people.
Wei Yun was ultimately not Zhao Yue; he couldn’t sacrifice thousands of lives for personal vengeance.
But the family grudge still buried in his heart, Wei Yun lowered his head without speaking. He feared that if he voiced these thoughts, Chu Yu would despise him for them.
He took a sip of tea and said lightly, “Is today the Lantern Festival?”
Chu Yu was stunned for a moment, then brightened up, “It will be tonight. But Mr. Shen said,” Chu Yu hesitated a bit, “you can’t be out for too long. I’ll just take you around the neighborhood, and he’s prepared dinner for when we return to the clinic to watch the lanterns…”
As she spoke, Chu Yu seemed afraid he would be disappointed: “But don’t worry, when you’re better, I’ll take you out again.”
Wei Yun chuckled lightly, “I’m not a child.”
Chu Yu’s lips curved into a smile, but she didn’t say more.
She got up and went to fetch some snacks for Wei Yun.
As night fell, Wei Yun was still reading in his room when Shen Wushuang squeezed in and patted his wheelchair, saying, “Brother, can you help me out?”
Wei Yun raised an eyebrow as he watched Shen Wushuang spin around in front of him: “How does this outfit look?”
Shen Wushuang was dressed all in white, looking somewhat ethereal. Wei Yun nodded, “Passable.”
Shen Wushuang frowned and went behind the screen. After some rustling, he came out again: “How about this set?”
Wei Yun nodded again, “Not bad.”
Shen Wushuang went back behind the screen.
This went on for five outfit changes before Wei Yun finally couldn’t take it anymore. He frowned and asked, “What exactly are you doing?”
“Brother, how about this one?” Shen Wushuang asked enthusiastically.
Wei Yun nodded patiently, “Looks good.”
“Alright then.”
Shen Wushuang was wearing a long pink embroidered robe, with half his hair tied up with a jade-colored cloth band, and holding a fan painted with peach blossoms. He looked quite flamboyant. He tossed his hair and grinned, “I think I look particularly attractive in this outfit.”
Wei Yun’s face remained expressionless. Shen Wushuang glanced at him and said, “Tsk, tsk. You should change out of that deathly white for tonight’s outing. I’m getting aesthetic fatigue just looking at you.”
Wei Yun’s expression didn’t change as he said flatly, “Get out.”
Shen Wushuang shrugged and turned to leave. Just as he reached the door, he heard from inside, “Wait.”
Shen Wushuang turned his head to look at him and saw Wei Yun staring out the window, the tips of his ears slightly red: “There’s a water-blue robe in my wardrobe. Take it out for me.”
Shen Wushuang had an “I knew it” expression as he went back to help Wei Yun dress.
After dressing Wei Yun, following his instructions, Shen Wushuang helped him put on a hair crown.
Wei Yun was growing quickly, his face at that transitional stage between adolescence and youth. With the hair crown on, he looked much more mature. From outside came Shen Jiaojiao’s excited knock, “Uncle, let’s go.”
“Alright, I know,” Shen Wushuang said as he inserted a hairpin into the crown. He let Wei Yun look at himself in the mirror, patted his shoulder, and asked, “How’s that, brother?”
“Mm,” Wei Yun responded, then thinking he should praise more, added: “Passable.”
Shen Wushuang clicked his tongue and pushed Wei Yun out. The two waited in the corridor for a moment before hearing Bai Shang and Chu Yu approaching, chatting and laughing. Shen Wushuang and Wei Yun looked over simultaneously, seeing the two girls laughing under the lantern light, their smiles seeming to bring the spring with them.
Wei Yun rarely saw Chu Yu laugh so freely. Away from the seemingly man-eating Huajing, she seemed reborn, full of vitality, like a lotus emerging from the water at dawn, gently shaking off the morning dew, its petals trembling slightly.
He stared unblinkingly as Chu Yu approached him, hearing her laugh and say, “See? I didn’t lie to you, right? Isn’t it beautiful?”
Wei Yun lowered his eyes, bowing his head with a smile: “Beautiful.”
“Alright,” Chu Yu said, pushing Wei Yun’s wheelchair, “let’s go.”
Shen Wushuang picked up Shen Jiaojiao and said to everyone, “Let’s go, I’ll show you around.”
With that, the group walked out the door onto a dim little path. The clinic was in a remote location, and the path was so dark they could barely see their hands in front of their faces. Chu Yu and Wei Yun didn’t speak, but they heard Shen Wushuang say happily, “Sister-in-law, you can’t see, right? Let me lead you!”
Wei Yun and Chu Yu: “…”
Chu Yu thought for a moment and silently slowed down the wheelchair, distancing themselves from Shen Wushuang and Bai Shang. Wei Yun also felt somewhat awkward for no apparent reason.
The two of them tacitly understood but didn’t speak of it, quietly following behind Bai Shang and Shen Wushuang, watching them tease each other.
The Lantern Festival in Sha City was different from Great Chu. In Great Chu, lanterns were everywhere, but in Sha City, lanterns were hung in rows above, lighting up the city as bright as day. All around were the sounds of vendors, with strange objects from various countries displayed on small stalls. Shen Wushuang bought things for Bai Shang along the way, while Chu Yu pushed Wei Yun forward. Wei Yun held back for a long time before finally asking, “Sister-in-law, is there anything you want?”
Chu Yu was taken aback. She looked up. If she were sixteen, she would probably be very interested in these things. But she wasn’t sixteen anymore. The older one gets, the harder it becomes to feel likes and dislikes. Everything becomes increasingly bland, and life becomes as still as dead water.
She watched people on the street joking and playing. A young girl wearing a flower crown made of fresh flowers ran by laughing. Chu Yu’s gaze fell on the flower crown, she smiled, then looked away.
She shook her head and said to him, “Just see if there’s anything you like.”
Wei Yun didn’t speak. He looked up at Chu Yu. Under the lantern light, Chu Yu’s eyes were filled with fragments of light. For a moment, he felt this person was very far from him as if there were more than ten years between them.
He couldn’t help but raise his hand and grasp Chu Yu’s sleeve. Chu Yu looked at him curiously, smiling, “What’s wrong?”
Wei Yun lowered his head. Chu Yu saw a half of her sleeve in his hand and pressed her lips together: “Do you want something? Are you acting coy?”
Wei Yun still didn’t speak. He just held her sleeve like this, feeling her temperature, feeling her slowly come back to his side. He finally felt at ease.
Just at this moment, Shen Wushuang called out, “Mrs. Wei, could you take Jiaojiao to buy a clay figurine?”
Hearing this call, Chu Yu knew Shen Wushuang was tired of Jiaojiao and wanted to send her away. She was about to push Wei Yun over when she heard Wei Yun say, “I want to look at that mirror. You can leave me here and come back for me later.”
Chu Yu looked around. Shen Wushuang was not far away, and the place selling clay figurines was also nearby. So she patted Wei Yun and said, “Be careful.”
With that, she got up and took Jiaojiao to the clay figurine stall. Wei Yun turned his head and saw an old lady selling flowers next to the mirror. He pushed his wheelchair forward and said to the old lady, “Grandmother, I’d like to buy some flowers.”
As he spoke, he chose and bought a willow branch, then selected several types of flowers to go with it.
When Chu Yu returned, she saw Wei Yun lowering his head, making a flower crown.
The lantern light fell on Wei Yun. The youth’s water-blue wide sleeves hung on both sides. He seemed to be trying hard to act like an adult, but when he lowered his head, he still revealed that unique youthful innocence and gentleness.
The tips of his ears were slightly red as his hands, not particularly dexterous, placed flowers into the willow branch. Those hands that could wield an eighty-jin-long spear were now pinching flowers with extreme care and caution.
Chu Yu didn’t know why, but she didn’t dare to go up and disturb him. She stood at a distance, watching people come and go until Wei Yun finished the flower crown and raised his head to see Chu Yu.
There was a moment of surprise in his eyes, followed by a smile that curved his brows.
All the rivers and mountains and years seemed to fall into his eyes as he spoke gently.
“A Yu, come here.”
Mini Theater
Wei Yun: “A Yu, come here.”
Chu Yu: “Oh no, it’s the feeling of falling in love.”
Wei Yun: “Zhao Yue, come here.”
Zhao Yue: “Oh no, it’s the feeling of impending death.”
The same “come here,” why is there such a big difference between people?