Shan He Zhen – Chapter 88

As these words were spoken, Wei Xia immediately became tense. However, since Jiang Chun was ultimately the mistress in the Wei household, he didn’t dare to express anything and could only stand aside waiting, desperately trying to catch the eye of Wei Qiu who was standing at the door in the distance. Wei Qiu saw him winking and making faces, and after a moment, turned away in disgust.

Wei Xia: “…”

Jiang Chun stood in the long corridor watching for a while. Chu Yu and Wei Yun were talking continuously, and though they made no improper movements, the atmosphere was always floating with soft emotions like flower fragrance. Jiang Chun looked at them, her gaze calm. After waiting for a long time, Jiang Chun suddenly spoke: “Are they always like this?”

Wei Xia understood what Jiang Chun was talking about. He wasn’t a fool and had long understood many things. At this moment, however, he could only pretend to be stupid and said: “What is Second Madam asking about? Is it about how the Marquis and First Madam interact? The Marquis is young, so he relies more on First Madam…”

“Who do you think you’re fooling?”

Jiang Chun laughed angrily and turned to look at Wei Xia: “He’s young, but are you young too? Don’t you understand what I’m asking? Do I have to spell it out and make everyone lose face?”

“This servant truly doesn’t understand what Second Madam is saying.”

Wei Xia’s face didn’t look too good after being scolded. Jiang Chun pursed her lips without speaking. She stared at Wei Xia, and after a moment, finally said: “You may withdraw first.”

Wei Xia responded with a “Yes” and turned to stand aside.

Inside the room, Wei Yun was lying with his head propped on his hand, chatting with Chu Yu on and off.

After discussing serious matters, they talked about some interesting things. As they talked into the night, Wei Yun yawned, and Chu Yu looked at the sky and said to him: “Go back to sleep, you’re tired too.”

Wei Yun got up from the ground, yawning and saying: “Then I’ll go, Sister-in-law, rest well.”

Saying this, Wei Yun picked up his cloak and walked out the door. As he walked out of Chu Yu’s courtyard and turned around the long corridor, Wei Yun saw a person standing in the middle of the corridor, holding a lantern waiting for him.

She was wearing a blue-white embroidered outer robe with a moon-white undershirt. Her married woman’s hairstyle made her look dignified and steady, even though she was only in her early twenties.

Wei Yun saw her and was somewhat surprised, cautiously calling out: “Second Sister-in-law?”

Jiang Chun nodded and beckoned. Wei Yun came to Jiang Chun’s side and respectfully said: “Does the Second Sister-in-law have any instructions?”

The two walked side by side in the long corridor, and Jiang Chun slowly said: “Before your elder brother left, he always told me that among all his brothers, he worried about you the most. You have a stubborn temperament and don’t know how to adapt. You’ve been like this since you were young, always wanting to get what you want.”

Wei Yun nodded, his expression becoming increasingly respectful. Jiang Chun continued: “But Xiao Qi, things in this world are not always obtainable just because you want them.”

Wei Yun was stunned for a moment. He raised his head and looked at Jiang Chun: “If Sister-in-law has something to say, please speak directly. I don’t understand when you beat around the bush like this.”

Jiang Chun nodded and looked up at the sky: “What time is it now?”

Wei Yun didn’t understand her meaning but answered honestly: “It’s the hour of Hai (9-11 pm).”

“Why don’t we go sit in my room for a while?” Jiang Chun said lightly. Wei Yun was stunned for a moment, then stammered: “It’s late now, if Sister-in-law has something to discuss, perhaps tomorrow…”

“Why won’t you come to my room?” Jiang Chun stopped and turned to look at him, her eyes calm. Wei Yun felt somewhat awkward and after struggling for a while, finally said: “It’s late now, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go to Sister-in-law’s private chamber…”

“If you know it’s not appropriate, why do you still stay in your elder Sister-in-law’s room?”

Hearing these words, Wei Yun finally realized why Jiang Chun had taken such a roundabout approach.

With these words out, the previous conversation felt like slaps, hitting him in the face one after another. Although Jiang Chun hadn’t said anything explicitly, Wei Yun felt his face burning and aching. He lowered his head, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Jiang Chun turned to look at the servants nearby and waved her hand, dismissing everyone.

“Xiao Qi,” she sighed: “Tell me honestly, do you… like your elder Sister-in-law?”

Wei Yun froze. Jiang Chun looked at him, her gaze gentle.

“Xiao Qi, when you like someone, every gesture and movement can’t be hidden. When your Second Brother lifted my veil, I felt I liked him. Later, I was happy every day just looking at him, but I didn’t want him to know my feelings, so I always hid them. But everyone could see that I liked this person.”

“You’re still young,” Jiang Chun’s eyes held some bitterness as if remembering her past: “Looking at you, it’s like seeing myself back then.”

“I…”

Wei Yun hurriedly opened his mouth, seeming to want to explain, but he stopped himself, standing there silently. After a long while, he took a deep breath and looked up at Jiang Chun.

“Yes,” he said seriously: “I like Chu Yu.”

Jiang Chun looked at him calmly. Wei Yun slowly said: “I know I shouldn’t betray my brother, so I’ve thought about it for a long time and held back many times. But you’re right, since I was young, if I want something, I won’t let it go. However, I don’t necessarily need to obtain it. I think of her, I care about her, but I only hope she lives well. I never thought about using my feelings to interfere with her in any way.”

Jiang Chun’s expression was gentle, without any blame, but her words carried a tone of interrogation: “You don’t interfere with her, but what if she likes you?”

Wei Yun stared blankly at Jiang Chun, seemingly having never considered this possibility. Jiang Chun looked at him quietly: “If you like her, and she likes you too, is this matter still unrelated to her?”

“If she likes me…” Wei Yun pursed his lips tightly: “Second Sister-in-law, everything she likes in this life, I will help her obtain it.”

Saying this, he looked up at Jiang Chun, his gaze determined: “Including myself.”

Jiang Chun didn’t speak. She looked at Wei Yun, and after a long while, she finally spoke: “Xiao Qi, do you know that any girl who hears these words would be moved?”

Wei Yun listened to her words. Jiang Chun’s eyes held some helplessness. As she walked with Wei Yun, she said casually: “But this isn’t necessarily a good thing. Although A Yu isn’t much older than you, her wisdom is completely different from yours. I’m much older than both of you and in my eyes, you’re still a young man. But when I face A Yu, I feel that even if she were older than me, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

“Her wisdom is much more mature than yours, and her thoughts are much more delicate. The reason I can be sisters with her is that many things between us are very similar.” Saying this, Jiang Chun stopped walking and raised her hand towards a leaf on the treetop that was about to fall, slowly speaking: “For example, emotions.”

“For women, investing in a relationship always requires more courage, because we have to sacrifice more. If A Yu were to be with you, she would face not only what ordinary women face in childbirth and family care, but also gossip and slander. For the rest of her life, no matter how good or excellent she is, accusations pointing at her spine will always accompany her. Can you imagine how harsh those words can be?”

Jiang Chun turned to look at him. Wei Yun pursed his lips, clenching his fists. Jiang Chun used a gentle voice to speak those vulgar words: “No matter what you two are like, they will say she betrayed your brother, they will speculate that you and she might have had an affair while your brother was still alive, they will say her behavior is improper, they will say you disregard human ethics…”

“Your feelings, no matter how pure, are dirty in this world.”

“You claim not to have hurt anyone, but for this world, you both must use your pain to commemorate your elder brother.”

Wei Yun remained silent. He had prepared himself for this, but when hearing Jiang Chun say these words, imagining these words falling on Chu Yu, he felt a bitterness between his lips and teeth.

Jiang Chun’s words were already euphemistic. If others were to say it, he didn’t know what he would do.

He remained silent, and Jiang Chun sighed softly: “But Xiao Qi, actually these aren’t the most frightening things.”

“These things, for A Yu and me, aren’t the most difficult. We can overcome our hearts and endure people’s words, but what we fear most is that after we’ve sacrificed everything, you wake up from your youthful passion.”

Wei Yun stared blankly at Jiang Chun. Jiang Chun smiled bitterly: “The human heart is fickle, especially when you’re so young. You say you like her now, but Xiao Qi, can you distinguish between liking, dependence, possessiveness, or even desire?”

“I…”

Wei Yun wanted to explain urgently, but Jiang Chun just looked at him steadily: “You don’t need to tell me the answer. You just need to know that most men are sincere when making promises. But they are also sincere when they leave in the future.”

“If you make A Yu travel thousands of miles to come to you, but then easily turn away, what should A Yu do?”

Wei Yun stopped speaking. He quietly looked at Jiang Chun. Jiang Chun’s gaze was calm and composed. She looked at Wei Yun and spoke calmly: “So, Xiao Qi, don’t tempt her.”

“I didn’t…” Wei Yun said hoarsely. Jiang Chun gently plucked a leaf: “If you didn’t, then in the future, for everything you do, think about whether you would do it if that person were me.”

“What the etiquette between uncle and sister-in-law should be like, I think you know better than I do.”

Wei Yun didn’t speak. Jiang Chun turned around, gently flicking the dewdrops off the leaf, and said lightly: “It’s late, Young Marquis should go to sleep.”

“Second Sister-in-law…” Wei Yun spoke hoarsely: “You say I don’t know if I like her or not, then tell me, how do I know if I truly like her?”

Jiang Chun had her back to him, looking at the bright moon.

“Wait until you grow up.”

“Then how do I know when I’ve grown up?”

“Xiao Qi,” Jiang Chun turned her head, quietly looking at the young man with confusion in his eyes: “Go to a place without her. Don’t see her, don’t be disturbed by anyone. Just stay there quietly. Go see many girls, meet many people. You’ll find that the world is vast, and many people are good. You can even try a relationship, it doesn’t matter.”

“If you’ve seen this world and you find that you still want that person,” Jiang Chun looked at him quietly, her expression complex. After a long while, she finally spoke: “Then it depends on what you think at that time.”

Wei Yun didn’t speak. Jiang Chun looked at him and sighed: “I’ll keep today’s matter a secret, don’t worry. Go to sleep now.”

After saying this, Jiang Chun turned and left first.

Wei Yun stood in the long corridor. After a long time, he finally said: “Wei Xia.”

“This servant is here.”

Wei Xia came forward. Wei Yun turned to look at him: “When you look at me, do you always think I’m a child?”

“Young Marquis,” Wei Xia sighed softly: “Strategy, warfare, arts, and literature, these can all be learned from books, mastered quickly with talent. Only in matters of the heart is there no shortcut.”

“Do you think Second Sister-in-law’s words make sense?”

Wei Yun chuckled. Wei Xia didn’t speak. Wei Qiu slowly said: “Actually, why should the Marquis be troubled?”

He looked quietly at Wei Yun: “After all, you’re going to the North, aren’t you?”

Wei Yun listened to Wei Qiu’s words, and after a long while, he smiled lightly. He looked up at the bright moon and slowly said: “Yes, I’m going to the North.”

Jiang Chun was right. He was still too young. At this moment, he was homeless and couldn’t help Chu Yu avoid gossip, nor could he confirm his own heart. He knew he was immature and young.

He looked up towards the North.

When he comes back…

He will probably have grown up by then.

Although Wei Yun’s departure for the North had been decided early on, Chu Yu hadn’t thought he would leave so hurriedly.

Chu Yu hadn’t even had time to react before Wei Yun had already prepared for his departure date. When it was mentioned at the dinner table that he would leave the next day, Chu Yu was still somewhat in a daze. She couldn’t help but say: “Is it this urgent?”

“Although the war situation isn’t urgent now, it’s better to go earlier,” Wei Yun replied respectfully.

Chu Yu was stunned for a moment, then nodded woodenly, “That’s true…”

Jiang Chun looked up at Chu Yu and said with a smile, “It’s good for Xiao Qi to go early. The earlier he goes, the earlier he can return.”

Hearing this, Chu Yu finally managed to smile, “That’s right.”

In the evening, Chu Yu sat restlessly in her room. After thinking for a long time, she finally got up and went to Wei Yun’s room.

Wei Yun was packing his things. Chu Yu stood at the doorway, watching him busy himself.

She didn’t say anything, just leaned against the door frame watching him. Wei Yun sensed her presence and looked up to see her.

Her hair was loose, and she wore a casual white gauze robe that looked especially bright in the moonlight. Her face without makeup was furrowed with worry, making the usually lively girl appear somewhat frail.

Wei Yun stared at her for a while before coming to his senses. He smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, you’re here?”

“Mm.” Chu Yu walked in and looked at his luggage, saying, “I came to see if you’ve forgotten to pack anything.”

“Everything’s prepared,” Wei Yun said with a smile. “Sister-in-law doesn’t need to worry, Second Sister-in-law is always thorough in her affairs.”

With these words, Chu Yu didn’t know what to say.

It seemed there was no real reason for her to come, and now she had nothing to say, so she could only stand there.

In the past, it was always Wei Yun who found topics to talk about with her. Now that he suddenly stopped, she realized for the first time how poor her conversation skills were.

After a long silence, she said dryly, “It’s good that you’ve packed everything… I’ll go back then. Get some rest early.”

“Thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law.”

After Wei Yun said these words respectfully, Chu Yu nodded and turned to leave. As she stepped out of the door, she felt something was off. She turned back and saw Wei Yun standing not far behind her, his head slightly lowered, his expression full of respect.

This posture was faultless, but Chu Yu instinctively felt something was wrong. She couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was wrong, so after a moment of silence, she slowly said, “Xiao Qi, have I done something wrong?”

Wei Yun looked up at Chu Yu and smiled, “Why would Sister-in-law say that?”

Then why… why are you suddenly so respectful?

Chu Yu wanted to ask, but no matter how slow she was, she knew that these words shouldn’t be said.

What’s wrong with a younger brother-in-law being respectful to his elder sister-in-law?

If she asked, it would be a joke.

So she shook her head and said, “I’m overthinking.”

Wei Yun didn’t ask what she was overthinking about. He just stood there respectfully, listening to Chu Yu’s instructions like “Take good care of yourself” and “Don’t be reckless on the battlefield”. After obediently agreeing, he walked Chu Yu out.

After walking a few steps, Chu Yu couldn’t help but turn back.

“Xiao Qi,” she said carefully, “I’ll write to you. Will you write back to me often?”

The word “Yes” almost slipped out, but Wei Yun pressed his lips together and finally stopped himself. He only said, “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I’ll send news of my safety to the family.”

Sending news of safety to the family and writing back to her were completely different things. Listening to this, Chu Yu understood that Wei Yun knew what she meant, and he had refused her request.

She was a person with quite a temper, so she smiled and didn’t persist. She nodded and said, “Alright.”

Saying this, she turned around and left without looking back, decisive and calm.

After her figure disappeared, Wei Yun returned to the room, picked up the tea cup from the table and took a sip, then violently threw the cup to the ground.

Wei Xia anxiously poked his head in: “Marquis, what’s wrong?”

“The tea is cold,” Wei Yun glared at Wei Xia, gritting his teeth. Wei Xia looked confused. Wei Yun shouted angrily, “It’s cold! How do you do your job? Bringing me such cold tea to drink, what use are you!”

“Then… shall I bring you a cup of hot tea?”

“Are you trying to scald me to death?!”

“Then… shall I bring you a cup of cold tea?”

“Are you trying to freeze me to death?!”

“Young Marquis,” Wei Xia was somewhat helpless, “Are you just teasing this servant?”

“Haven’t you done anything wrong?!” Wei Yun stared at Wei Xia, raising his voice.

Wei Xia: “…”

After a moment, he realized what was happening. He coughed lightly and said, “Marquis, it’s all our fault. Please don’t be angry. If you’re still angry, should I ask First Madam to come and persuade you?”

This time Wei Yun ignored him and slammed the door shut with a “bang”.

Wei Qiu silently looked at Wei Xia. Wei Xia coughed lightly and said in a low voice, “He’s being quite emotional, isn’t he?”

Wei Qiu nodded: “Just like you.”

Wei Xia: “…”

Why was he being criticized everywhere he went?

Chu Yu walked back to her room, slowly calming down.

Thinking about it, Wei Yun hadn’t done anything wrong. He was just being a bit more respectful to her. What was there to be angry about?

Perhaps she had become too accustomed to the freedom in the Northern Di, and now the rules in Huajing seemed particularly cold, giving her a chill that rose from the bottom of her heart.

She restrained the discomfort in her heart, trying to accept this version of Wei Yun.

A respectful and courteous Marquis Zhenguo didn’t seem to be a bad thing for anyone.

However, despite this, she still had a sleepless night. The next morning when she got up, Wei Yun was already prepared to leave. Chang Yue helped her get dressed and said, “Why does Madam look so spiritless?”

Chu Yu looked at her lazily and responded, “Tired.”

“Haven’t you slept enough? Didn’t you go to bed early last night?”

Chu Yu didn’t say much, just said lightly, “Didn’t sleep well.”

Chang Yue smiled, “So you have times when you don’t sleep well too?”

Chu Yu nodded, not saying anything more.

Then she went out. Everyone was already waiting at the main gate. Wei Yun was standing at the door talking with Liu Xueyang. Chu Yu walked up and raised his head, saw Chu Yu, his gaze falling on her face. He was stunned for a moment, then smiled, “Sister-in-law doesn’t seem to be in good spirits?”

Chu Yu also smiled, “It was stuffy last night, couldn’t sleep well.”

Saying this, she glanced at the troops outside, “Is everything ready?”

“Yes,” Jiang Chun interjected.

Chu Yu nodded, her gaze falling on Shen Wushuang who was hiding in the crowd. She looked at Wei Yun with some confusion. Wei Yun understood what she was asking and said, “He was originally a doctor, it’s convenient for me to take him along. Besides, it’s not convenient for him to stay in the capital.”

He had a grudge against Zhao Yue, and if he was recognized without changing his appearance, it wouldn’t be good.

Chu Yu understood Wei Yun’s concerns and nodded, “Any other instructions?”

Wei Yun thought for a moment. Everything that needed to be arranged had been arranged. He had already handed over the account books and personnel to Chu Yu and told her what needed to be done. So he said, “Nothing else.”

Their conversation was very bland. After Wei Yun finished speaking with her, he turned back to comfort Liu Xueyang. Liu Xueyang was crying, sobbing. Wei Yun talked to her for a while, and when it was time to depart, he finally mounted his horse.

When he looked back from the horse, the whole Wei family was standing at the door. Chu Yu and Liu Xueyang led everyone standing straight. Rather than seeing him off, it was more like waiting for him to return.

Chu Yu’s expression was calm, just like when he returned from Baidi Valley, steady and peaceful. Above her head, the characters “Wei Mansion” stood strong, supported by an unexpectedly delicate strength.

Wei Yun looked at her and suddenly understood why Chu Lingyang never let family members see him off.

When family comes to see you off, it becomes hard to leave.

But no matter how reluctant, one must be willing to part. So Wei Yun turned his head, spurred his horse, and galloped out into the morning rain.

Liu Xueyang watched his retreating figure and finally couldn’t hold back anymore. Her soft sobs suddenly turned into a downpour, and she burst into loud cries. Chu Yu supported Liu Xueyang and sighed, “Mother-in-law, Xiao Qi will return safely.”

Liu Xueyang was crying inconsolably. She had always been prone to crying. She had lost her husband and son, and now that her son had finally returned safely, he had to leave again. It was inevitable that she would be heartbroken.

Liu Xueyang cried all morning until she was finally exhausted from crying. After helping Liu Xueyang to bed, Chu Yu went straight back to her room.

The room was filled with thick account books and documents, all related to the Wei family affairs.

The land she had bought in Lan Prefecture before after Tianshou Pass fell, a large number of nobles rushed into Lan Prefecture. She had people sell the land immediately at five times the price, clearing Chu Lingyang’s debt with some left over.

So she took this money and opened gambling houses and brothels, and also established private schools, specifically to teach children who had nowhere to go in the war, training them to become retainers for the Wei family. A series of things were done, keeping her extremely busy.

These account books were thick, and she went through them one by one. She flipped through the hot summer, then through the cold winter.

By the time these businesses provided a strong economic source for the Wei family, it was already spring of the fourth year of Yuanhe.

By this time, the Northern Di and Great Chu had been fighting for nearly five years, and Wei Yun had been on the battlefield for four years.

After Wei Yun went to the battlefield, he discussed it with Chu Lingyang and Song Shilan. He would lead light cavalry into the Northern Di territory again to harass from the rear, while Chu Lingyang and Song Shilan would attack from the front. This time Wei Yun’s expedition to the Northern Di was different from the last time. He prepared twenty thousand elite soldiers, equipped with compasses and all necessary military supplies, along with a living map Tu Suo and the doctor Shen Wushuang. The first incursion turned the Northern Di upside down.

In four years, Wei Yun made five deep incursions into Northern Di territory. His soldier casualty rate was extremely high, but each time he went, he almost always returned with a great victory.

He spent most of his time in the Northern Di and rarely sent letters home. Even when letters came, they only contained two words — “Safe and sound.”

Chu Yu learned most of his activities from Chu Lingyang’s letters.

Chu Lingyang said Wei Yun was a heaven-sent military talent, with extremely accurate judgment of timing and unexpected tactics.

He said that thanks to Wei Yun, Great Chu was fighting very smoothly and had now recovered all lost territory.

He said that in the battle of Northern Di’s surprise attack on Jiang City, Wei Yun won with inferior numbers, singling out seven fierce generals from among tens of thousands of troops, taking the heads of all seven, and hanging them on his horse.

This battle was fought with difficulty, but after this war, the entire battlefield situation had already shown a definite trend. The Northern Di’s offensive could no longer be fierce, just a desperate struggle. Because of this, Wei Yun’s fame spread far and wide, earning the admiration of many girls and the respect of enemy troops.

That dashing figure on a white horse with a silver spear, from the mouths of storytellers in the north, spread to the mouths of storytellers in Huajing.

Chu Yu and Jiang Chun’s daily pleasure was to go to teahouses to listen to storytellers tell stories about the battlefield, especially loving to hear the part about Wei Yun killing seven generals.

“At that time, the general came riding alone. His horse was a blood-sweating treasure horse, his spear a silver one carved with dragons. On his head was a jade crown inlaid with pearls, on his feet were colorful cloud battle boots. His eyebrows were like painted brushstrokes, his eyes like drops of lacquer, his skin like congealed cream, his lips like cherries. Everyone sighed, ‘Ah, what a handsome young general!'”

“…”

“Only to see that general’s long spear sweep across, heads flying up in a patch, blood gushing out like a mountain torrent, unstoppable. The crowd exclaimed in shock, which general is so valiant?”

Saying this, the storyteller paused and looked at the audience, “Do you all know?”

Chu Yu cracked melon seeds, smiling as she looked towards the north.

On this day, the spring light was just right, the sky was as blue as if it had been washed. She listened as the whole hall called out that name together—

Wei Qilang.

Birds were startled into flight by the sound.

Chu Yu watched the birds in the sunlight, listening to his name.

Wei Qilang of the Northern Frontier.